said he of the cloak. Enoch was still
maneuvring to get a sight of this man, but the shadow of the high mantel
was cast across his face. All the boy could see was the gleam of his
eyes as he turned with an angry gesture toward the audience. "The
boldness of these outlaws is astonishing."

"That Allen appears to have many followers," suggested a mild mannered
man beside the sheriff.

"He is a bully; they fear him!" declared the former speaker, vigorously.

"How is that, John Norton?" cried the Whig, who evidently was a bold man
to so flout the sheriff and his friends. "You know Colonel Allen
personally. Should you call him a bully and say that he governs men by
fear?"

"Not I!" exclaimed the innkeeper. "And saving your presence, sheriff, it
would be a man of some stomach who would dare say that to Ethan Allen's
face. As for these same Green Mountain Boys, it is not fear that keeps
them together."

"I tell you they are a set of masterless villains!" cried the dark man,
turning angrily about so that at last the collar of his cloak fell back.
"They should be driven out of the colony and their houses burned to the
ground----"

Suddenly he stopped. His harsh voice died to a whisper and his
astonished companions looked at him in amazement. For a moment he seemed
to have been frozen in his chair, and their eyes following his glance
fell upon the white and angry face of Enoch Harding who had pushed
through the ring of listeners. "And it is you who would set the torch to
their homes!" exclaimed the youth, his voice shaking. "You already have
one count of the kind against you, and if you ever come to Bennington
again there'll be more than a beech-sealing awaiting you--you villain!"

Some of the crew sprang up in astonishment, and some in anger. "Who is
that bold rascal, landlord?" demanded the sheriff. "Bring him here."

But Lot had fairly dragged the angry Enoch to the door and now pushed
him out of the inn. "What's the matter with you, Nuck?" he demanded.
"D'you want to get us all into trouble?"

"That's Simon Halpen!" exclaimed Enoch, panting with excitement. "I'd
have flown at his throat in another moment."

"Zuckers!" exclaimed Lot. "The feller that burned down your marm's
house? Don't blame ye for bein' mad. But ye don't wanter stir up a fuss
here. Our game is ter lay low and let the Tories start the row if
they're minded to. You'll see. Mr. Lewis an' some others is goin' to see
the judges to-morrow an' try to ke