“Well, Mr. Beeman,” began the surveyor, in a pompous tone, “I sent your son to bring you to me, but it seems you did not please to come.” “No,” said Seth quietly; “it does not please me to leave my affairs at the beck and call of every stranger that comes this way.” “Well, sir, I’d have you understand that I am Marmaduke Felton, duly appointed and licensed as a surveyor of His Majesty’s lands within his province of New York. Furthermore, be it known, I have come here in the regular discharge of the duties of my office, to fix the bounds of land purchased by my client, Mr. Erastus Graves,” bowing to the person, “of the original grantees, with patent from His Excellency the Governor, who alone has authority to grant these lands. I find you, sir, established on these same lands belonging to my client. What have you to say for yourself? By what pretended right have you made occupation of lands belonging to my client?” “I have to say for myself,” Seth answered, in a steady voice, “that I bought this pitch of the original proprietors, and I have their deed, duly signed and sealed. They got their charter of His Excellency Benning Wentworth, His Majesty’s Governor of the Province of New Hampshire.” “Your title is not worth the paper it’s written on,” scoffed Mr. Felton. “Governor Wentworth has no more authority to grant lands than I have. Not a whit. The east bounds of New York are fixed by royal decree at the west bank of Connecticut River, as everybody knows, and Wentworth’s grants this side that limit are null and void. No doubt you have acted in good faith, but now there’s nothing for you but to vacate these betterments forthwith; yes, forthwith, if you will take the advice of a friend,” and the little man regaled himself with a pinch of snuff. “I shall not go till I am forced to,” Seth answered with determination. “When it comes to force both parties may take a hand in the game.” “Very well, very well! I have given you friendly advice; if you do not choose to take it the consequences be on your own head. Come, Graves; come, men, let us go about our present affairs;” adding, after some talk with Graves, “We shall be back to spend the night with you, Mr. Beeman. You cannot refuse Mr. Graves the shelter of his own house.” Seth flushed with anger, but answered steadily: “I can’t help it, but you will not be welcome.” The men who had been idling about, taking little interest in the parley, now followed their employers back to the woods, trampling through the young wheat in their course. “I wish you a pleasant night on’t,” said Seth under his breath, and turned to reassure his wife. “Don’t be frightened, my girl. They won’t get us out of here. Keep a stout heart and wait.”