ment requires you, at once, to remove from
these lands--entirely to forego their use and possession, and within
forty-eight hours to yield them up to the authority which now claims
them at your hands." Here the officer proceeded to read all those
portions of his commission to which he referred, with considerable show
of patience.

"All that's very well in your hands, and from your mouth, good sir; but
how know we that the document you bear is not forged and false--and that
you, with your people there, have not got up this fetch to trick us out
of those possessions which you have not the heart to fight for? We're up
to trap, you see."

With this insolent speech, Dexter contrived to show his impatience of
the parley, and that brutal thirst which invariably prompted him to
provoke and seek for extremities. The eye of the Georgian flashed out
indignant fires, and his fingers instinctively grasped the pistol at his
holster, while the strongly-aroused expression of his features indicated
the wrath within. With a strong and successful effort, however, though
inwardly chafed at the necessity of forbearance, he contrived, for a
while longer, to suppress any more decided evidence of emotion, while he
replied:--

"Your language, sirrah, whatever you may be, is ruffianly and insolent;
yet, as I represent the country and not myself in this business, and as
I would perform my duties without harshness, I pass it by. I am not
bound to satisfy you, or any of your company, of the truth of the
commission under which I act. It is quite enough if I myself am
satisfied. Still, however, for the same reason which keeps me from
punishing your insolence, and to keep you from any treasonable
opposition to the laws, you too shall be satisfied. Look here, for
yourselves, good people--you all know the great seal of the state!"

He now held up the document from which he had read, and which contained
his authority; the broad seal of the state dangling from the parchment,
distinctly in the sight of the whole gang. Dexter approached somewhat
nearer, as if to obtain a more perfect view; and, while the Georgian,
without suspicion, seeing his advance, and supposing that to be his
object, held it more toward him, the ruffian, with an active and sudden
bound, tore it from his hands, and leaping, followed by all his group,
over his defences, was in a moment close under cover, and out of all
danger. Rising from his concealment, however, in the presence of