delights to reign over a free people," a
proviso worth noting; also worthy of note is the fact that this
resolution pledged them to do everything in their power for the
defence of American liberty. Indeed, many of the men shook hands on an
agreement to march to the defence of Boston if necessary. Some of them
were to be called upon to fulfil this promise.

Such demonstrations away out there on the frontier ought to have
served as a warning to the royalists, but they gave it little heed.
The "Chevalier" forbore to take part and looked upon the whole affair
with a pitying smile. "I know of none more in need of being ruled
over, than you, my merry lads," he said and laughed at the scowls in
the faces of his associates. He laughed, too, at the retort of
Ferguson, "Sure, me gallant warrior, 'tis we as will have a word to
say aboot the ruler an' how he rules, mind ye."

Ferguson had expressed the temper of the men composing the army, while
the "Chevalier," with his confident smile, was a type of many
throughout the colonies who did not for a moment doubt the ability of
England to govern the new land as she might wish.

At the post where the men received some of the pay for their service,
Rodney Allison was to undergo temptations and experiences that were to
cause him bitter reflections. The soldiers had endured privations and,
as frequently happens, many sought relaxation in debauch at the first
opportunity. Liquor was to be had by those with money to pay for it,
and many a frontiersman would not leave it until his last penny should
be spent and then would resume his life of wandering and peril. With
the drinking there was gambling with cards and dice.

The drinking had no attraction for young Allison; on the contrary he
looked upon it with deep disgust. Ordinarily the gambling would have
had no fascination for him. Indeed, until his captivity, he had not
known one card from another. One of the accomplishments Ahneota had
learned from his acquaintance with white men was the use of cards, for
which he had a great passion, and to please him the boy had spent many
an hour playing various games.

Rodney's grief over the reported death of his father, his dread of
returning home with the sad news to face debt and poverty, coloured
his thoughts,--often woke him from sleep, and made him reckless. As he
watched the games he heard a familiar voice and, looking, saw
Mogridge at a table with large winnings at his hand. Rodney, from