to possess him, and not heeding how fatally it would prejudice his
cause at the impending hearing to violate the order of the Court, he
again sent a gang of men to cut wood on the land in controversy. The
following shows the result:--

"Hugh Jones, aged 46 years, and Alexius Reinolds, aged 25
years, testify and say, that we, these deponents, being
desired by Mr. Zerubabel Endicott to cut up some wood, for
his winter firewood, accordingly went with our teams, which
had four oxen and a horse; and there we met with several
other teams of our neighbors, which were upon the same
account, that is to say, to help carry up Mr. Endicott some
wood for his winter firewood, and when we had loaded our
sleds, Thomas Preston and John Tarbell came in a violent
manner, and hauled the wood out of our sleds; and Francis
Nurse, being present, demanded whose men we were. Mr.
Endicott, being present, answered, they were his men."

These witnesses testify that this "battle of the wilderness" lasted
two days,--Endicott's men cutting the wood and loading the teams, and
Nurse's men pitching it off. The altercations and conflicts that took
place between the parties during those two days may easily be
imagined. Whether there was a final, decisive pitched battle, we are
not informed. Perhaps there was. The woods rang with rough echoes, we
may be well assured. A lawsuit followed; the result could not be in
doubt. Endicott had no right there; he was there in direct violation
of the order of Court. Nurse was in possession, had a right, and was
bound, to keep the land from being stripped.

Shortly after this, Endicott broke down, under the difficulties that