os could be heard loud above the others
calling to the troops to come to his aid. The soldiers began to crowd
about the house, when, at a signal from Captain Wadsworth, the
train-bands came on the scene and prepared to grapple with the soldiers.
A bloody fight seemed inevitable; but Governor Andros, who was a coward
as well as tyrant, at sign of danger, begged peace.

"Lights! Light the candles!" he cried, "and we will have peace." When
the candles were relighted, the members were seen seated about the table
in perfect order; but the charter could nowhere be seen. For a few
moments, the outwitted governor stood glaring at first one and then the
other of the assembly. His passion choked him to silence at first; but
as soon as he partially recovered his self-possession, he demanded:

"Where is the charter?" No one answered, and, with bosom swelling with
indignation at being cheated by a device of the shrewd members of the
assembly, he threatened to have them arrested.

"Governor Andros, we dispute your authority here, and have disputed it
before," said a member of the assembly. "You have your soldiers at the
door and we have the train-bands of Connecticut ready to defend us
against violence."

"Who of you has the charter?"

"I have not," answered one.

"Nor I."

"Nor I," answered each and every one.

"It was the boy," cried the enraged governor. "I saw him; he struck my
hand in the dark; yet I knew it was he. Where is he? Whose son is he?"

Every member of the assembly shook their heads.

"We do not know him. He does not live in Connecticut."

"Where does he live?"

"He is from Massachusetts and beyond even the claimed bounds of your
jurisdiction."

"So this is another trick. You have imported one from a distant colony
to steal the charter," the indignant governor cried.

"We resent your insult!" cried an officer of the assembly. "The
imputation is false!"

A scene far more stormy than any which had preceded it followed. The
governor threatened the colony with the fury of his vengeance, and vowed
he would report them to the king as in open rebellion against his
authority. The colonists were shrewd and firm, and though some made very
sarcastic answers to the governor's charges, they were, in the main,
quite respectful.

Meanwhile, Captain Wadsworth and his wife's nephew, having the charter,
hurried through the crowd, which opened for them to pass and closed
behind them. Once in the street they hastened