“It’s just as the captain pleases,” answered the wily demagogue; “though, to my notion, the people have a right to know all, in an affair that touches the common interest.”

“Attention! men”—­cried the serjeant—­“By platoons, to the right”

“No matter, Joyce,” interrupted the captain, waving his hand—­“Let the men remain.  You have held communications with our visiters, I know, Strides?”

“We have, captain Willoughby, and a desperate sort of visiters be they!  A more ugly set of Mohawks and Onondagas I never laid eyes on.”

“As for their appearance, it is matter of indifference to me—­what is the object of their visit?”

“I mean ugly behaved, and they deserve all I say of ’em.  Their ar’nd, according to their own tell, is to seize the captain, and his family, in behalf of the colonies.”

As Joel uttered this, he cast a glance along the line of faces paraded before him, in order to read the effect it might produce.  That it was not lost on some, was as evident as that it was on others.  The captain, however, appeared unmoved, and there was a slight air of incredulity in the smile that curled his lip.

“This, then, you report as being the business of the party in coming to this place!” he said, quietly.

“I do, sir; and an ugly ar’nd it is, in times like these.”

“Is there any person in authority in a party that pretends to move about the colony, with such high duties?”

“There’s one or two white men among ’em, if that’s what the captain means; they pretend to be duly authorised and appointed to act in behalf of the people.”

At each allusion to the people, Joel invariably looked towards his particular partisans, in order to note the effect the use of the word might produce.  On the present occasion, he even ventured to wink at the miller.

“If acting on authority, why do they keep aloof?—­I have no such character for resisting the laws, that any who come clothed with its mantle need fear resistance.”

“Why, I s’pose they reason in some such manner as this.  There’s two laws in operation at this time; the king’s law, and the people’s law.  I take it, this party comes in virtue of the people’s law, whereas it is likely the law the captain means is the king’s law.  The difference is so great, that one or t’other carries the day, just as the king’s friends or the people’s friends happen to be the strongest.  These men don’t like to trust to their law, when the captain may think it safest to trust a little to his’n.”

“And all this was told you, Strides, in order to be repeated to me?”

“Not a word on’t; it’s all my own consait about the matter.  Little passed between us.”

“And, now,” said the captain, relieving his breast by a long sigh, “I presume I may inquire about your companion.  You probably have ascertained who he is?”