With Force and Arms

its to join my little army. I judged that this would be a good time, since it could not be said when we would make the first venture against Canad

g after much labor written on several papers what I wanted

e Indians. It was also noted that some skirmishes might take place before the arrival of Sir Francis with his men. The notices,

of mating songs. The trees waved their branches in the wind as it sighed through them. I

knew not what. To be acting, fighting, leading my men on. I wanted to walk, to run, to l

house where Lucille dwelt. It was the first time I had been so near it since the night I brought her home from the glen. I was about to pass on, thou

ad I wished to, for she had heard m

Captain,"

as a school boy, though she was as cool as only a maid can be who knows that it is for the man to make the next advance. No

d, then, in desperation, lest I might turn and run in the very face of the enemy,

nded me and I a

raised h

ommand then, Capta

rror. "A word, a wish, a look, from you, madame, were enough," I rep

walked in to stand beside her. I judge we must have been thus for near a minute ere she bu

will not talk you must work," and

arden tool, and I hoped that none of my future soldiers would pass by to see in what manner of warfare I

e apple tree, while I plant thes

s she b

k," she

ll I say?

sun, the Indians, the battles you have fought, the war

saw her sweet face before me, and her eyes looking to mine,

with the women. So we conversed of many things until of a sudden I noted that the sun

rgot it," I

asked

ome feeling below my belt. "I was to go back to th

and sup with me. 'Tis true, I cannot make amends for the companionship to be found at the inn, nor can I boast of such cookery as can Mistress Willis. Yet if you will but deig

had no appetite, that I must be at Salem inn to

h a stately bend of her head. "Since you

er me to sit on the threshold, and see her eat. (My, but how the hunger gripped me then). Verily I was afraid she would take me at my last words. But at

ached the inn later I had to rout up Willis, and dine again on cold meat. But, though the memory of the meal passes, I can see 56Lucille yet, as sh

e tavern, I found myself humming a lov

n. While the recruits were not much to boast of in looks they lacked not in spirit, which, after all, is the need of a soldier. Like some comrades with whom

ular, though small man, and Richard Nicols, who had some notions of warfare. We marched the men back and forth on the common in front of the tavern, pu

goodly store of powder and ball. Flints, matches and guns we had 57enough of, and, als

and I took considerable pride in them. Sturdy fellows they were, most of

he little brook that flowed through the fields. Then, coming to the top of a little hill I saw, on th

rn," I said. "Keep at it, men, and l

and Nicols pointed to a heavy musket. "Giles did but grasp the end of the six-foot barrel in his

had often done before while loitering about camp. But the crowd gaped, and, as for Cory, he

?" I asked

a barrel of cider th

ft it from the boat. But Cory, with no other aid, raised it by the edges, and, holding it close

e their strength. For, when by the closeness of the fight, sword and musket are of l

to Sir William, and the reading of his in reply, most of my hours had been taken up. Now, it seemed, here was a time when I might, without seeming to boast, show my me

weight perhaps 400 pounds, and it was bedded in the earth. To raise it, and cast it from one might be no little task, ev

d. "You are of goodly girth, and th

muscles were in bunches, and stood out like hanks of wool on a distaff. Then, as he clenched his hands and opened them, to feel if his sinews were limber, the muscles played beneath

g a fair hold, and, when he had perceived two small projections near the ground,

ay lift the weight, then I will move this stone from its bed. T

, and put forth all his strength into a mighty lift. His sinews and muscles stood out under the skin, and were 60li

hance it is buried a foot or more in the earth. Yet, if it is to be

les in it made it as rough as a ploughed field. But, though he tugged,

h for either of us. I must choose something mor

strength, for I wanted to try the weight. Then, of a truth, I feared I had set myself too great a task, for the rock seemed as immovable as the e

I might tear the rock out. Slowly I pulled upward again, straightening my bent body, as the stone gave, ever so little, in i

earth. Summoning all my efforts until I thought my head would burst from the strain I poised the stone above me. It shadowed me from the sun, and was like to crush me with its weight.

e bottom of the slope, Lucille right in the path of the bounding stone. She was walking along the brook, and had not seen

nable, from very fear, to move out of the way. The stone was now scarce a fathom's distance from h

see her killed, and my heart seemed like to burst through m

s. With a sound like a cannon shot, these had scattered all about Lucille, but not one had struck her. She stood trembling with fright, in th

, much unnerved, for, somehow, h

lied. "Now, Captain, take m

ng crowd behind, I hea

none like it was ever be

remark, though n

rocks easily, can be held by light

or I knew that I loved Lucille, as I