among ourselves, knowing something about the wants and wishes of the
people, and willing to provide for their distresses in times like
these. I have little to say about individual men, or their acts of
oppression; for such men and such acts we may expect to see, so long
as this accursed system of foreign rule is suffered to remain. We had
better, therefore, not waste much of our ammunition on this or that
tool of royalty, but save it for higher purposes. And, for this
reason, I highly approve of the course that my young neighbor,
Woodburn, has just taken, in _his_ case; although, from what I have
heard I suspect it was an outrageous one."

"Thank you, thank you, Colonel Carpenter," said Woodburn, coming
forward and cordially offering the other his hand; "the approbation of
a man like you more than reconciles me to the course which, I confess,
cost me a hard struggle to adopt."

"Ay, you were right, Harry," rejoined the former, "though a hard
matter to bear; and though I am willing this, and all such outrages,
should go in to swell the cup of our grievances, that it may the
sooner overflow, yet you were right; and it was spoken, too, like a
man. But let me suggest, whether you, and all present, had not better
now disperse. The powers that be will soon have their eyes upon us,
and I would rather not excite their jealousy, at this time, on account
of certain measures we have in contemplation, which I will explain to
you hereafter."

"Your advice is good," returned Woodburn, "and I will see that it is
followed, as soon as I can find some one to dispose of the body of my
luckless pony; for then I propose to throw the harness into some
sleigh, and join such of the company here as are on foot on their way