CHAPTER IX
THE OTTER CREEK RAID
The late visitor at the Otter Creek settlement shrank away from the doorand, dumbfounded by the sword-thrust which was evidently meant for hisheart instead of his coat, waited to see what the next move of those inthe blockhouse would be. He heard low voices and words which soundedlike military commands. Suppose the occupants of the wooden fort shouldfire upon him?
At this idea he dropped upon all fours and it is perhaps well that hedid so, for one bullet did come from a loophole, singing viciously abovehis head. Then an angry voice of command rose on the night air: "Haudyir hand, mon! Let's see an' it be fri'nd or foe." The tone and accentwere broadly Scotch, and this, too, added to Enoch's amazement. He hadnot heard of Scotch people coming to Otter Creek since those placedthere by Colonel Reid had been driven forth. At once his suspicions werearoused, but he cried aloud:
"I am a friend and am alone. I only came for a night's lodging."
"'Tis a laddie, mon! There's naught t' fear," declared the voice within,as though answering some objection which Enoch could not hear. Thecandles were lighted and in another moment the door was opened again,revealing a tall, raw-boned Scot with a shock of red hair and beard. Hegrasped a bared sword, almost as big as a two-handed claymore, and helooked sternly upon the boy as the latter approached.
"Ha! 'tis wrang for a laddie t' be oot this time o' night," he declared."Air ye sure alone?"
"Quite alone," Enoch replied. "I have been hunting west of here and wecamped at the mouth of the creek. My comrades have gone northward and Iwas returning home by way of the creek. I did not know that the settlershere were in fear of Indians----"
"Ha! 'tis little we think o' them rid chiels. There's war nor they inyon forest-land, an' well we ken that."
"Who do you mean?" demanded Enoch, now stepping within the open door.
"Why, the robber Allen, an' his followers. We do oor wark wi' guns inoor han's for fear of them same outlaws. Eh, mon! but they're a boldmob."
Enoch made no reply, but advanced to the gun rack and stood up his rifleand dropped his pack. He knew now what had occurred at the settlement.The land-grabber Reid had come back to the Grants, ousted the Hampshiresettlers, and again established minions of his own in their places. Theboy glanced about and saw at least a dozen hardy looking Scots. Everyone of them had doubtless served in Colonel Reid's regiment ofHighlanders. They were descended from men almost as wild andbloodthirsty as the red Indians themselves, and although ordinarily theymight be harmless enough, that thrust of the sword had shown Enoch thatthey were likely to fight first and inquire the reason for it afterward.They had come to Otter Creek in force this time, and evidentlydetermined to battle for their master's holdings under the New York law.
But the man who had let him in, and who was a Cameron, was evidentlybent upon treating hospitably the guest which he had so nearly runthrough with his sword. "Jamie Henderson," he said to one of the solemnfaced Scots, "speir ane o' the wimmen t' gie us a bite for the lad," andthe repast which was prepared and put before him was generous and kindlygiven. While he was eating and John Cameron sat by to watch him enjoythe food, Enoch gathered courage to ask a few questions.
"We heard down Bennington way that Colonel Reid's people had left thisland and the settlers who formerly owned it had come back," he said,suggestively. The Scot's eyes contracted as he looked at the visitor."Aye, aye?" he said, questioningly. "How long have you been here?"queried the boy.
"Sin' June. The men ye call settlers were nae proper holders o' theirtitles. Lieutenant-Colonel Reid bought this land and put fairmers herefirst."
"But he did not get his title from New Hampshire," Enoch said.
"Nae--w'y should he? New York owns the land to yon big river--th'Connecticut call ye it? Our fri'nds settled here in '69. The titlesthese auld settlers held wes no guide--na, na! But Colonel Reid is aguide mon--'deed yes."
"How do you make that out?" demanded Enoch. He wanted to tell the Scotwhat he thought of this business, but he dared not. He knew Ethan Allenand the other leaders of the Green Mountain Boys should know of it, andas he, perhaps, was the first to learn of the return of the Scotch, hemust get away early in the morning and reach Bennington in the quickestpossible time. While the Grants men were resting in supposed safety andpeace because of Governor Tryon's letter promising inactivity on thepart of the land speculators, the latter were hurrying their minionsover the line, evicting the rightful owners of the Grants, and stealingtheir farms. The boy's heart swelled with anger; but he was wise enoughto hold his tongue and say nothing to rouse the suspicions of the Scots.
In reply to his question regarding Colonel Reid's "guideness" Camerontold how he, with other Scots, had landed in New York early in June andhad been engaged by the Colonel at once to go and occupy his land in theDisputed Territory. Reid came with them to the settlement, being atconsiderable expense to transport them, their wives, children andbaggage. The day after their arrival while viewing the land covered byReid's title, they observed a crop of Indian corn, wheat, and gardenstuff, and a stack of hay belonging to two New England men who,according to Cameron, had squatted on the land without right or title.Reid paid these two men $15 for their standing crops and the hay andmade over the same to his new tenants. This was a novel way of tellinghow the owners of the titles to the farms received from the NewHampshire governor years before, were evicted. But Enoch held his peace.He had considerable doubt in his own mind regarding Colonel Reid's"guideness," nevertheless, and rose early in the morning and left thesettlement in Bolderwood's canoe. Instead of keeping on up the Otter heturned back to the lake. The route by which he and the ranger had comefrom Bennington would be far shorter than the one he had started upon;so he went back that way. News of the return of Reid's people must beconveyed to Ethan Allen and the other leaders of the Green Mountain Boysas quickly as possible.
He scarcely stopped for food, so anxious was he to get home. He metnobody on his trip until he reached Manchester and there his story washardly believed, for the letter of the New York governor in May,inviting the Grants representatives to a council, had made a strong andfavorable impression upon public sentiment. This council had advisedthat all legal processes against the Grants settlers cease and even nowthe echoes had not died away of the jubilation of the deluded peopleover what was considered the end of the bitter controversy.
But when he arrived at home and told his mother of his discovery she,like the truly patriotic woman she was, became vastly disturbed. "Youmay not rest idly here, Enoch, while such wrong is being done. ColonelAllen should know of it at once. He rode past here but yesterday on hisway to Bennington, and gave us a cry. He asked for you, too," she said,with pride, "and told me how well you carried yourself at training.There is a council being held in town to-day, I believe, for I suspectthat Colonel Allen and Captain Warner have not been deceived by thefalse promises of Governor Tryon. And this business at the Otter Creekwill wake up many of those who would cry 'Peace!' when there is nopeace. Bryce will saddle the horse for you, Enoch," she added, "andwhile you eat I will prepare your best breeches and coat. You cannotappear at the inn before the gentlemen in your old clothing."
The careful woman bustled away and laid out her son's Sabbath suit andhis boughten shoes and, tired as Enoch was, he rode away towardBennington an hour after reaching the ox-bow farm.
As his mother had declared, Colonel Allen and several other leaders werein conference in Stephen Fay's private parlor, and when he had whisperedhis story to the innkeeper, the latter brought him at once before thegentlemen, rightly considering the matter of such importance as to brookno delay in the telling. Never before had Enoch seen Ethan Allen in anycapacity but that of a leader in action. In the boy's mind he had everbeen connected with scenes of riot, or in the capacity of a commander ontraining day. But it was a very serious looking group which surroundedthe table now, and the man at the head of the board lacked nothing indignity and stern bearing in comparison with the other members of thecomm
ittee.
It was Allen, however, who turned from the subject under discussion andbeckoned Master Fay and Enoch nearer. "What have we here?" he asked."Something of moment, I warrant, from the look on Stephen's face. Andthere is young Nuck Harding. Is aught amiss in your district, lad?"
"Nay, Colonel," Enoch replied; "but I have been in the north and bringback news that my mother was sure you would wish to hear at once. So Irode over without delay to tell you, sir."
"God bless the woman!" Allen exclaimed, heartily. "She's fighting awaythere in the wilderness with her pack of babies in a way to make grownmen blush. I was by there but yesterday.... And what's the news youbring, Nuck?"
"The Yorkers have come back to the mill on Otter Creek."
"What, sir?" cried Allen, leaping from his chair.
"That's not to be believed," cried one of the others. "How know ye this,boy?"
Enoch told them, using few words; but the tremor in his voice showed thedepth of his feeling. The injury done the settlers--the treachery of theYorkers--had affected him as it had his mother. Allen listened withmarked attention, having dropped back into his wide-armed chair, but hewatched the boy's countenance the while. "Egad!" cried he when the storywas done, "there's a boy after my own heart. He knows when he sees asnake in the brush!" Then he turned instantly to his companions. "Wewill postpone this other matter, gentlemen. What we may do in the eventof his Majesty's placing other and more onerous burdens upon thesecolonies, affects us not so nearly as what these New York Tories do tous now. We have no standing either with the colonies or with the King;we are outlaws, forsooth; our hand is against every man's and everyman's hand against us. Yet, belike in time the trouble between the Kingand the colonies may be the salvation of the Hampshire Grants.
"We have other business now. I am away at once, friends," he said,rising again. "Do so to me and more also, if I allow more time than isnecessary to pass before I fall upon those Scotch scoundrels and smitethem hip and thigh! Send the word around, Stephen Fay. Let them thatwill gather here. Be sure Warner knows of this; I will send for 'Membermyself. His company will be first ready, I have no doubt. 'Member'swound is scarce yet healed, and the sting of it needs dressing," and helaughed, knowing Captain Baker's fiery temper and his hatred of theYorkers who had served him so evilly that very spring. "Let it be knownthat we start from Bennington by sunrise."
Enoch returned home, more than a little puffed with pride because ofColonel Allen's commendation and although he was too young to join theparty which, under Allen and Captain Baker, marched to punish the Scotsat Vergennes, he knew that his fortunate discovery would make himsomething of a hero in the eyes of his mates. The Green Mountain Boysfell upon the Scots unexpectedly, burned the cabins, pastured theirhorses in the standing corn, broke the millstones to pieces, and drovethe New York settlers to Crown Point where they took shelter until theland-speculator, Reid, could gain them transportation to other and morehonestly acquired lands. As for Reid himself, had he been overtaken bythe Grants men he certainly would have been "viewed"--a phrase used bythe Green Mountain Boys, meaning to be whipped. The settlement was,however, for the time being abandoned by both parties, for it was sodeep in the wilderness that neither could properly defend it fromattack.
With Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga Page 9