old or that the boiled carrots had
got soggy through long standing.

At two a large crowd had assembled at the courthouse, and all were in
great excitement.

It was just three minutes after the hour, as shown by the sundial,
which stood in front of the courthouse, that the sheriff appeared.

Not a murmur was heard. Even the children were silent.

The sheriff was trembling.

He held in his hand a piece of parchment, bearing a big red seal at the
bottom, and he tried to read it, but his voice failed him.

After several attempts he succeeded, and the people learned that he had
received a proclamation from Gov. Tryon, of the Colony of New York, in
which he claimed all the territory west of the Connecticut River, and
ordering him to send a list of all persons holding land under grants
from the Colony of New Hampshire.

The country west of the Connecticut, now known as Vermont, was then
only known as "New Hampshire grants."

When the sheriff had finished he asked what he should do.

"Why did you receive it?" asked one of the oldest residents.

"It was sent to me as sheriff."

"Even so, but you are the sheriff of the district which holds its lands
from the Colony of New Hampshire."

The sheriff trembled, fearing he had done some wrong.

"It is in the name of his majesty, the king," he muttered; "and I was
bound to receive it."

Through the crowd a young man pushed his way. He reached the side of
the sheriff, and in a mild but firm voice asked to be allowed to look
at the proclamation.

It was no ordinary man who made the demand. He would have attracted
attention anywhere, and among those who knew him best he was esteemed,
though the devout believed there was something uncanny about him and
his family.

He was Ethan Allen, the head of the Allen boys, who had stayed away
from the meeting the day before.

"Men," he said, after glancing at the proclamation, "we hold our lands
from the governor of the Colony of New Hampshire. Is it not so?"

"You are right, Ethan."

"We pay our quota to the expenses of that colony. Is it not so?"

"It is."

"Then we have nothing to do with the Colony of New York."

"Nothing, and never want to have anything to do with that colony."

"You are right, Seth Warner; so I tell you what we will do with this
piece of parchment."

The people looked at the speaker, and wondered what he was about to
propose.

When they saw him take a knife from his pocket and slit the par