"There's more'n a hundred men up there. They're
awful mad with the governor. There was some powder put in the straw,
and when the fire came to't, it blew up, and the people laughed. But
Cap'n Hamlin said 'twas a pity to waste the powder. They might need it
all before this business was through with. And then they cheered
again. He meant there'd be fighting, father."
In the new excitement there was no thought of resuming the
conversation which Jonathan's advent had broken off so opportunely for
Desire, and the latter was able without further challenge to escape to
her own room. Scarcely had she reached it when there was a sound of
fife and drum, and presently a hundred men or more with hemlock in
their hats came marching by on their way from Laurel Hill, and Perez
Hamlin was riding ahead. They were singing in rude chorus one of the
popular songs of the late war, or rather of the stamp act agitation
preceding it:
"With the beasts of the wood, we will ramble for food,
And lodge in wild deserts and caves;
And live as poor Job on the skirts of the globe,
Before we'll submit to be slaves, brave boys,
Before we'll submit to be slaves."
Such was the rebels' response to the governor's proclamation of
mingled mercy and threats.
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