of our
lives and properties as a matter of grace or favour on your side.
You will permit us to make a positive and immediate demand of it."

The Quakers were frightened, incensed, and perplexed. Their
preachers went about the streets urging upon the people the
doctrine of non-resistance, and picturing the horrors of warfare.
The Assembly debated and debated, but invariably came to the
conclusion that they must withstand the Governor to the last upon
the question of taxation.

All the city was in a tumult and ferment; but when the news came
that a settlement only sixty miles away, Tulpehocken by name, had
been destroyed and its inhabitants massacred, even the advocates of
peace grew white with fear, and the House began to draw up a
militia law--the most futile and foolish perhaps that had ever been
suggested even by lovers of peace--in the vain hope of appeasing
the people.

But the people would not be appeased by a mere mockery. They
clamoured for the raising of money for a systematic defence of
their colony, and the ground was cut from beneath the feet of the
Assembly by a letter received from England by the Governor--not
indeed in response to his recent urgent appeals, but still written
with some knowledge of the unsettled state of the country. In this
letter the proprietaries promised a donation of five thousand
pounds as a free gift for the defence of the provinces threatened
in so formidable a manner, provided it was regarded as a gift and
not as any part of a tax upon their estates, which were to remain
free according to the old feudal tenure.

The Assembly upon hearing this could hold out no longer. They were
forced by the clamour of public opinion to strike out the debated
and debatable clause from the long-contested bill, and immediately
it was passed into law by the Governor.

"Ay, they have come to their senses at last--when it is well nigh
too late!" spoke John Stark, with a touch of bitterness in his
tone. "They will furnish money now; but what can be done with the
winter just upon us? For six months we must lie idle, whilst the
snow and ice wrap us round. Why was not this thing done before our
settlements were destroyed, and when we could have pushed forth an
army into the field to drive back the encroaching foe, so that they
would never have dared to show their faces upon our border again?"

Charles looked up with burning eyes.

"What say you? Six months to wait? That will not do for me! My
bl