ow.

"What! have ye not heard? There was a packet came from Boston
yesterday."

"We have seen nobody this week," declared Enoch.

"There has been blood shed, friends," said the giant, earnestly, his
eyes flashing and the color in his cheek deepening. "American freemen
have been shot down like sheep in the slaughter!"

"Where? Who were killed? What was the cause? Who did it?" were some of
the queries hurled at their informant by the little group.

"Fifty men, they say, were murdered. At Lexington, in Massachusetts.
There were munitions stored there belonging to the militia. The British
got word of it and marched from Boston to destroy the goods. They fired
on our people at the bridge and when the poor fellows broke and ran they
followed and potted them like rabbits! War has begun, friends. Nothing
under the blue canopy can stop it now. American blood has been shed and
I tell you it is but the beginning of the flood which must pour from our
veins until these colonies are free!"

"Oh, Colonel! you do not believe that?" cried the widow. "Surely this
trouble can be averted. Calmer and more honest men will gain control and
prevail. War is an awful thing."

"True, Widow Harding. And well may you say it who have two sons to give
for freedom. But mark my words, madam! Those two boys of yours will be
needed, and if the Almighty spares them they will be some years older
before either side in this controversy gives in.... Now friends, I must
away. You know what is expected of you, 'Siah. Young Nuck, you'll be
wanted at Bennington to-morrow."

"Oh, shall our people really attack Ticonderoga?" cried Kate. "The
schoolmaster says that is the strongest fortress in the Colonies."

"Your schoolmaster is a bit of a Tory, I fear, miss," said Allen,
smiling down upon her. "We shall have to 'view' him if he tells such
tales in school," and waving his gauntleted hand he rode swiftly away
from the homestead.

"I am off at once, folks," said 'Siah, beginning to make his pack for
the journey. "I'll see you up near Old Ti, Nuck, for the Colonel means
business sure! We may have some such doin's up there as your father and
I had under Rogers and Old Put years ago."

He went away shortly and there was little the Hardings could do that day
but talk over the wonderful news and let their fancy run upon the
future. The widow saw that coming which she had feared for months, but
she was cheerful. Nuck must go on this expedition to Lake Champla