CHAPTER IV.
"THE RISING OF THE MOON."
Eben Pike burst open the door of Ethan Allen's house without any ceremony.
Ethan and Seth Warner were sitting on the settee in the chimney, talking about the inaction of the governor of New York.
Off flew one of the bolts, and Ethan jumped to his feet and caught the lad by the shoulder, and was giving him a good shaking, when Eben cried out:
"Kill me if you like, colonel, but hear me first."
"Well, what is it?"
"The sheriff of Albany and a big lot of armed men are on their way here. I heard all their plans, and I have run all the way from Eagle's Bridge to tell you. You, colonel, are to be dispossessed first, and then Seth Warner, and if they can kill you, colonel, they will do so."
"Is this true?"
"Every word. I stole the wallet containing the writs, and here they are. I took them out of the wallet and threw that away, 'cause they might recognize it and find out how it was lost. Then I tore the governor's seal off the writs, 'cause that would be treason to steal them."