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"Does one Ethan Allen reside here?" asked the sheriff.
"I am he."
"Then in the name of the king I am here."
"Pleased to see you, sir. But I cannot think of any business the kingmay have with me."
"I am a sheriff."
"Indeed! and I should fancy a credit to the shrievalty."
Merrit bowed. The reception was far different to what he had expected.
He glanced into the room, and saw only the younger man sitting in thechimney corner.
"You are a loyal man?" queried the officer.
"I am loyal to king and country," answered Allen, boldly.
"I am glad to hear that, for my business would be unpleasant were itnot that you are loyal."
"Sheriff, tell your business without delay."
"I have a writ of dispossession, and I am to enforce it. It means thatyou are required to give up and surrender this farm, and afterward tomake such terms with His Excellency Gov. Tryon as he may suggest."
Allen had allowed the sheriff to finish his speech. In fact, it reallyappeared to the Yorker that Allen was afraid.
"Let me see the writ."
"You do not doubt my word?"
"No, only as I am a loyal subject I have a right to see that the orderis in a legal form."
"Oh, it is legal enough, and properly sealed as well."
"In that case there ought to be no difficulty. Let me see the writ."
Sheriff Merrit opened his wallet, never once doubting that he had thewrits and warrants safe in his possession.
He drew forth the seal and was ready to drop with excitement, for theseal was all he had; the writ had been torn away.
"I have been robbed," he cried. "Gerston, I have been robbed!"
"That is a pretty
tough thing to say. Do you mean to say that you havenot the writ you spoke about?"
"I had. I have been robbed. See, that is the seal which was at thebottom of it. You see that seal?"
"Yes, but I am not going to surrender the farm unless you can producethe writ."
"You refuse?"
"I do."
"Then, by thunder, I shall have to arrest you."
"Indeed, you are mistaken. The moon has risen."
