“Neither the real wishes of the people of America, nor of the people of England, will avail much, in carrying on this war,” he said.  “Its conduct will fall into the hands of those who will look more to the ends than to the means; and success will be found a sufficient apology for any wrong.  This has been the history of all the wars of my time, and it is likely to prove the history of this.  I fear it will make little difference to us on which side we may be in feeling; there will be savages to guard against in either case.  This gate must be hung, one of the first things, Joel; and I have serious thoughts of placing palisades around the Knoll.  The Hut, well palisaded, would make a work that could not be easily carried, without artillery.”

Joel seemed struck with the idea, though it did not appear that it was favourably.  He stood studying the house and the massive gates for a minute or two, ere he delivered his sentiments on the subject.  When he did speak, it was a good deal more in doubt, than in approbation.

“It’s all very true, captain,” he said; the house would seem to be a good deal more safe like, if the gates were up; but, a body don’t know; sometimes gates be a security, and sometimes they isn’t.  It all depends on which side the danger comes.  Still, as these are made, and finished all to hanging, it’s ’most a pity, too, they shouldn’t be used, if a body could find time.”

“The time must be found, and the gates be hung,” interrupted the captain, too much accustomed to Joel’s doubting, ’sort-o’-concluding manner, to be always patient under the infliction.  “Not only the gates, but the palisades must be got out, holes dug, and the circumvallation completed.”

“It must be as the captain says, of course, he being master here.  But time’s precious in May.  There’s half our plantin’ to be done yet, and some of the ground hasn’t got the last ploughin’.  Harvest won’t come without seed-time; for no man, let him be great, or let him be small—­ and it does seem to me a sort o’ wastin’ of the Lord’s blessin’s, to be hangin’ gates, and diggin’ holes for that—­the thing the captain mentioned—­when there’s no visible danger in sight to recommend the measure to prudence, as it might be.”

“That may be your opinion, Mr. Strides, but it is not mine.  I intend to guard against a visible danger that is out of sight, and I will thank you to have these gates hung, this very day.”

“This very day!—­The captain’s a mind to be musical about the matter!  Every hand in the settlement couldn’t get them gates in their places in less than a week.”

“It appears to me, Strides, you are ‘playing on the music,’ as you call it, yourself, now?”

“No, indeed, captain; them gates will have to be hung on the mechanic principle; and it will take at least two or three days for the carpenter and blacksmith to get up the works that’s to do it.  Then the hanging, itself, I should think would stand us in hand a day for each side.  As for the circumvalley, what between the cuttin’, and haulin’, and diggin’, and settin’, that would occupy all hands until after first hoein’.  That is, hoein’ would come afore the plantin’.”