The Peddler Spy

hen hard pressed, and a tendency to roll upon his rider when spurred, Paul had no fault to find with his purchase. He found that the little beast really pos

hased for Mynheer Ten Eyck, was made up on the spur of the moment, to indu

ood humor, and received the peddler with a smile, even while h

ot hoss; glad dat you not sheat me too moo

esky busy sense I left you. But I'll k

Let me stant by v

to-day. To-morrow I will

pipe were hereditary foes, and lost no opportunity for inflicting loss upon each other. Ten Eyck had rather the best of the encounter, as h

epipe's voice was pitched in a high treble; Ten Eyck had a deep, resounding bass. In an encounter with cudgels, the battle would have been to the strong, in the person of Swedlepipe. The acu

d not grow fat. His bones protruded in a highly objectionable manner. His head was nearly double the size of that of any ordinary horse, and his neck being very long, he found it extremely diffi

hat a hoss-w

oined at onc

Yankee? Dat hoss you sell to Sw

over in the Mayflower; some say not. A man like you oughtn't to ride such a horse. Look at Mynheer Swedlepipe, and see what a hoss he rides!

sh goot now; dat vash ba

other possess any thing which he could not get. Every prance of the Narragansett, every shake of his long tail, went to the tall m

in confidence, that there are several men in Windsor who would not hesitate to cheat you, upon any occasion. But, I have a char

Eyck

good one, if you paid me a good price.[37] Of course you wouldn't expect

ton," said Ten Eyck. "Hav

ss just now. But I know where I can p

al h

in sudden wrath. "Hark ye, sir. I am a plain man, and I speak plain language. In the way of trade I'll get as much out

in fear, and hastened to disclaim an

him easily. All you have got to do is to ride home, and come again abo

to the sides of the remarkable courser he bestrode, Ten Eyck ro

ant your help. Where is this h

in de

for

ou want

him. And mind, I also want the teeth and

ed. The boy returned in about an hour, during which Paul and the hawker imbibed large quantities of apple-jack, not strong enough, howeve

3

ll incision in the skin under the shoulder of the beast. In this slit he inserted a quill, and begun to blow. Those accustomed to the management of a horse know the ef

red into it the contents of the vial. The water at once assumed a greenish hue. With this mixture he now washed the horse thoroughly in every part, keeping him carefully in the shade. This done, he led him out into the sunlight, and, to the intense

upon earth. You

e old fellow, though. Do you think I

would sheat me again. I never p

and then we will take him up to the house. Now let me put you up to a wr

ish

guilders for him, yo

s? I no want

urse Ten Eyck will bid sixty

ton't vant

hen I think he has offered enough, I shal

3

n't have te

s I tell you, if you wan

aid, were, in truth wired together with a skill which a modern dentist might have envied. It must have cost Boston time and patience to have produced such

e sold Ten Eyck he would make a powerful enemy, as the tall man was high in power in the House of Good Hope. But, the events which he knew were on the march ma

dat hoss?

y, since you were here my friend Swedlepipe has seen this horse

mised hi

, and I will keep my word. Com

e, whither the party now wended their way. Boston's jockey-training

aking out a plethoric purse,

him," replied Boston. "What

you vifty

epipe? Shall I let it go for th

Paul. "I gi

4

dding-head," cried the other

t, refused to stop when Boston winked at him, but bid higher! Affairs trembled in the balance. Ten Eyck looked at the horse and his rival, and swore in

d Boston. "It's a good pile. You don'

" said

Eyck. It's as good a sell as

to his home, while Paul, falling prostrate upon the earth, hugged himself, and shouted with l

deftly hid his pack beside a fallen tree, drew out a beautiful gun from its place of concealment, and assumed an active, erect attitude, much unlike the slouching gait which had marked his course in the

and went crashing away. At others the brown bear went lumbering over the path, casting a surly glance over her shoulder at the strange intruder upon her native woods. The w

4

er the peddler keen for a trade, and seeing only the main chance, but

as of a struggle among the dry leaves. Dashing aside the branches, with a hasty s

a struggle for life or death. Their quick, panting breaths came

o strikes another strok

ing looks of hate at each other. One, however, recognizi

rawling like a boy with a stranger, when you have weighty affairs

necticut soldiery. His form was erect, and his bearing that of a soldier. H

uarrel. But it was forced upon me against my will. Yonder

ring of the soldier, and his dress was that of captain of the soldiers at Manhattan. His face was a study. Seen in repose, it was beautiful, for a man. But now, with his ang

4

not hesitate to say that I forced t

punishment than to leave you in the hands of Willie Barlow. I have not the least doubt

in a friendly tone at first; but when I gave

g to the captain. "Can not men meet in th

is enough for me to know that the name of the man who stands by

setting his teeth hard. "What hope have

eplied Captain Van Zandt, quickly. "

peaceful men, and do not pick quarrels wi

bears," replied the other, "and I will

hould like to hear; for, by my faith, I ne

tion as ambassador from the Plymouth Colony, and tried to

step, and addressed

o quarrel. I am best pleased that you[43] have told me what cause we have to be bad friends. And yet, I can not feel that it is necessary to fight. Let the one who can win the heart

not of such blood. I love Theresa. She has been a guide to me through life-my leading star. I w

in her heart, I would not

ight again it shall be where no man can come between. Do

way and leave us to g

od Hope, sent to meet him by Van Curter. The two men, being left alone in the forest, did not remain in the place where they stood, but hastened away to the river-s