caught in the Varsche river. A secret expedition was immediately
set on foot to surprise the fortress. The crafty enemy, knowing the habits
of the garrison to sleep soundly after they had eaten their dinners and
smoked their pipes, stole upon them at the noonstide of a sultry summer's
day, and surprised them in the midst of their slumbers.

In an instant the flag of their High Mightinesses was lowered, and the
Yankee standard elevated in its stead, being a dried codfish, by way of a
spread eagle. A strong garrison was appointed of long-sided, hard-fisted
Yankees, with Weathersfield onions for cockades and feathers. As to
Jacobus Van Curlet and his men, they were seized by the nape of the neck,
conducted to the gate, and one by one dismissed with a kick in the
crupper, as Charles XII dismissed the heavy-bottomed Russians at the
battle of Narva; Jacobus Van Curlet receiving two kicks in consideration
of his official dignity.

FOOTNOTES:

[34] The following cases in point appear in Hazard's "Collection
of State Papers:"--"In the meantime, they of Hartford have not
onely usurped and taken in the lands of Connecticott, although
uprighteously and against the lawes of nations, but have hindered
our nation in sowing theire own purchased broken-up lands, but
have also sowed them with corne in the night, which the
Nederlanders had broken up and intended to sowe; and have beaten
the servants of the high and mighty the honored companie, which
were labouring upon theire masters' lands, from theire lands,
with sticks and plow staves in hostile manner laming, and, among
the rest, struck Ever Duckings [Evert Duyckink] a hole in his
head with a stick, so that the bloode ran downe very strongly
downe upon his body."

"Those of Hartford sold a hogg, that belonged to the honored
companie, under pretence that it had eaten of theire grounde
grass, when they had not any foot of inheritance. They proffered
the hogg for 5s. if the commissioners would have given 5s. for
damage; which the commissioners denied, because noe man's own
hogg (as men used to say), can trespass upon his owne master's
grounde."

CHAPTER IV.

Language cannot express the awful ire of William the Testy on hearing of
the catastrophe at Fort Goed Hoop. For three good hours his rage was too
great for words, o