"Again nothing," replied Sedgwick. "In a word, we refused to yield to
any of the demands of the malcontents, or to hamper the Legislature
with any specific recommendations. You know that we Berkshire people,
thanks to our delay in recognizing the State authority, have an evil
repute at Boston for a mobbish and ungovernable set. It seemed that
this was a good opportunity, when the conventions of all the other
counties were sending up seditious petitions, to make the moderation
of our conduct such a contrast that there might be an end of such talk
in the future."

Meanwhile, as it became apparent to the crowd on the green that they
were not likely to be vouchsafed any information unless they asked for
it, a brisk disputation, conducted in an undertone, so that it might
not reach the ears of the gentlemen, arose as to who should be the
spokesmen.

"I jess ez leeve go 's not," said Jabez Flint, the Tory, "only they
wouldn' hev nothin tew say ter me ez wuz a Tory."

"Ef I were ten year younger, I'd go in a minute," said Israel
Goodrich, "but my jints is kinder stiff. Abner, thar, he'd orter go,
by rights."

"Why don' ye go, Abner? Ye ain't scairt o' speakin tew Squire, be ye!"
said Peleg.

"I ain't scairt o' no man, and ye know it's well's ye wanter know. I'd
go in a jiffey, only bein a young man, I don' like tew put myself
forrard tew speak for them as is older."