tion. When Ethan Allen returned and heard of these
reinforcements he immediately desired to bring in more of his own people
for the work proposed.

"This is our work," he declared. "We have planned to lead this campaign
and lead it we shall. We must show the southerners that we are one in
heart and intention and therefore every able-bodied man in the Grants
must come in. It isn't enough for us to have some men; we must have the
most men and thereby control the expedition. We want the honor of it!"

"You must lead us, Colonel!" exclaimed Warner, who, although he had no
such following as did Allen, was sure of a goodly company of determined
men to join the expedition. "We'll follow you into Old Ti or anywhere
else; but no stranger must command."

"Then I must have more men to my following than anybody else," declared
Allen, vigorously. "I have seen a great many myself, but there are
districts I haven't been able to reach."

"We must send out a cross of fire to rouse the clans," Captain Warner
said, with a smile. "But who shall go? Bolderwood?"

"'Siah has reached his own land--where he's let the light in upon some
acres, I understand--near Old Ti. And he's got his work cut out for him
there. No; I have the chap in mind to send up along the Otter. There's
only one thing I fear. I understand that a plaguey Yorker has been seen
about Manchester for a week past. Just what he's so attentive to certain
people for at this time bothers me, Seth."

"But if he's only a surveyor, or speculator----"

"A Yorker means a King's man these times," exclaimed Allen. "I got a
sight of him--a lean, hook-nosed fellow with a face puckered like a
walnut; but we didn't pass the time o' day. I think he's spying on us."

"If he is----" began Warner, wrathfully.

"I'm sorry for him, that's all," declared the Green Mountain leader. "If
I catch him and it's proven against him, I'll hang him to the highest
limb in this neck of woods."

"But the person you will send out with the warning, Colonel?" cried
Warner. "Whom have you in your mind?"

"I see him coming now," declared the leader, laughing. "I sent word to
him last evening. He should have been to Castleton ere this; but the
widow----"

"It's young Harding!" cried Captain Warner. "I recognize him. And,
Colonel, from what I have seen of the young man, he'll bear out your
confidence in him."

Enoch had approached near enough to hear this last and he flushed
deeply. "I was told you want