We have had to fight with the wilderness for our land and with the Indians and the French for our lives, and now the British come along and tell us what we must and mustn't do and burn up our houses." "An' spit on us an' talk as if we was a lot o' boar pigs," said Solomon.

"But ol' Jeff tol' me 'twere the King an' his crowd that was makin' all the trouble." "Well, the King and his army can make us trouble enough," Jack answered.

"It's as necessary for an American to know how to fight as to know how to walk." "Now ye stop worryin' an' go to sleep 'er I'll take ye crost my knee," said Solomon.

"They ain't goin' to be no great damage done, not if ye do as I tell ye.

I've been an' looked the ground over an' if we have to leg it, I know which way to go." Solomon had heard from Preston that evening that the Lieutenant was the best pistol shot in his regiment, but he kept the gossip to himself, knowing it would not improve the aim of his young friend.