ad monk, said he?"

"Yes, those were his words--a mad monk."

"Boys, you have heard the report; shall we beard this Britisher in his
home and find out if any maiden is imprisoned by him?"

A loud shout of assent rose from the Mountain Boys, and almost before
it died away the men were on the march.

Farmer Mervale was at the door, an old musket in his hand, waiting for
the "rebels."

"In the name of the king, what do you want here?"

Seth Warner answered:

"In the name of the Colonial Congress I demand the surrender of this
house for the purpose of a search."

"Search! for what?"

"Guns, ammunition or anything that may be useful to the cause of
liberty."

"Thieves! Whoever passes this door will have to do it over my dead
body."

"Farmer Mervale, we mean you no harm if you are innocent, but if you
are guilty then you must bear the punishment."

"Of what do you accuse me?"

Warner was about to equivocate and say that he believed arms were
secreted on the premises, but he was too open for subterfuge, so he
replied:

"We charge you with abducting and imprisoning a young maiden----"

"Ah! you have seen the mad monk?"

"Answer. Have you any maiden imprisoned on your premises?"

"If I had I should deny it, and if I have not I should still say that
you are impertinent and a rebel who ought to be shot down."

The farmer had his weapon pointed at Warner and was about to shoot him,
when his arm was knocked up from behind and the ball passed over his
intended victim's head.

Instantly the man was seized and bound.

The musket had been seized by the hired hand, who had been the cause of
the farmer's intention being frustrated.

"If you will let me join you I will fight for the cause of liberty,"
the man said, very earnestly.

"You must report to Col. Allen at Ticonderoga."

"I will go at once."

"Better stay with us and return when we do; we can vouch for your good
act."

The farmer changed his tone when he was bound and therefore helpless.
He cried out for mercy, declared that all he had said was in a joking
sense, and that he hoped the Provincials would win in their fight
against England.

"You coward!" hissed Warner. "I have a great mind to shoot you as an
example and a warning to others."

"Spare me! I am old and----"

"Old? Why, man, you cannot be forty. Search the house!"

In a few minutes the searchers returned, leading Martha Baker, who was
almost too weak to stand unsupported.