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Warner, quick-tempered, was about to seize Edwards, when Allen pulledhim back. "Sit down, Seth; the fellow is only trying to embroil us,so that our enemies may get the better of us."
"You may be right, Ethan, but I have got that fellow's face printed onmy mind, and when I meet him, as I shall, I will pay him with compoundinterest."
Edwards saw that he could not provoke a breach of the peace, so hewalked down the street, wondering of what sort of stuff this mountainhero was made, when he would restrain his friend from avenging aninsult.
Early in the morning Gov. Wentworth sent for Ethan Allen and told himthat he should refuse to meddle with the application for extradition,and that Allen could go back to the mountains and defend his right andtitle to the lands in any way he chose.
"Go tell your men that I have created an office for you. You shall becalled the high custodian of the grants, and whatever you thinknecessary to repel the claims of the Yorkers you can do in my name."
Thus we have seen that the man sent for as a prisoner, with a gallowsstaring him in the face, left Concord a victor.
The conflict between the two colonies was to assume a new phase, and inthat conflict Ethan Allen was to bear a most prominent part.
The Mountain Boys did not believe in wasting time, so they ralliedtheir forces and started back as soon as they had attended to theirhorses and provided themselves with provisions for the journey.
Allen rode first with Seth Warner.
"Seth, what was that man's object in provoking a quarrel?"
"I am at a loss to understand."
"He was a Yorker."
"Think so?"
"Sure of it."
"Then it was mere curiosity to see you, and when he saw you he couldnot restrain his temper? He wanted to fight?"
"I don't think so."
"What is your idea then, colonel?"
"He wanted to embroil us in a quarrel so that the watch could be calledout and we should be placed in the wrong."
"Perhaps you are right. Anyway, we are rid of him."
"Are we?"
"Yes, of course."
"Do not be too sure. The Yorkers will be mad enough to follow us, and,if a chance offers, we shall have to fight."
"What do you think of the dispute with the king?"
"For my part, I think the colonies should have the right to make theirown laws."
"The king will give that right."
"No. George has all the pig-headedness of his ancestors. If thecolonies get the right they will have to fight for it."
"You do not think there will be war between England and the colonies?"
"I do not know, but if there should be I shall ask that our mountainlands shall be independent."
"With you as first governor."
"I care not for that. I only want to see the people get all theydeserve. Look, Seth! What do you see over there?"
