"You cannot cross there!"

The horse, about to plunge again, turned suddenly, while the children
shouted the direction to the ford, much farther up the stream.

The last cow had by that time appeared. Driving the six ahead, Jacob and
Elizabeth wondered together who the strange rider might be, and then
turned their discussion to family affairs which kept the home atmosphere
constantly clouded.

"Elizabeth, I must find some way to go to school," declared Jacob, "but I
know father cannot send me now. They say all the furs, lumber, and fish
that have been sent from here to England cannot cover the expense of
these people. What can be done?"

"We must find a way, Jacob," replied Elizabeth thoughtfully, "for you to
go to that Cambridge school called Harvard College. All boys ought to be
educated." She gave no thought to herself, for in those days girls were
taught only home interests.

Still deep in conversation, the children reached home to find that the
same stranger, caught so dangerously on the marshes, had arrived at the
Manor. He brought Francis Norton a written message, which had come by way
of Boston from a newly-arrived English ship.

Norton, standing at the door while the rider waited, read the word and
exclaimed--

"So we're to shift for ourselves! The owners of the Mason property can no
longer be responsible for their New Hampshire estate."

Many settlers who had come for the purpose of furthering the interests of
this estate were involved in this crisis. With no returns from England
and back dues long unpaid, the situation seemed hard and serious. Some of
the occupants claimed the land they lived upon; some the creatures they
cared for; but the most daring of all was the plan of Francis Norton.

Jacob heard it first and hurried the astonishing news to Elizabeth, whom
he found at the well.

"Beth, father is going to drive a hundred oxen to Boston, almost sixty
miles! He is to sell them there! What is more, we are all to go with
him!"

This crafty plan was actually carried out. It was a long, slow journey,
but successfully made. The cattle sold in Boston at twenty pounds
sterling a head, the current price of that day, which brought Norton a
snug little sum. He did not return to Strawberry Bank, but established a
home in Charlestown. He was then able to give Jacob an education.

THE CUT OF THE HAIR.

So many settlers had come to New Hampshire that, as early as 1641, the
need of a government w