accompanied by Mr. Doolittle,
preceded the troops boldly down the street, Captain Hollister led on, with his
head elevated to forty-five degrees, with a little, low cocked hat, perched on
his crown, carrying a tremendous dragoon sabre at a poise, and trailing at his
heels a huge steel scabbard, that had war in its very clattering. There was a
good deal of difficulty in getting all the platoons (there were six) to look the
same way; but, by the time they reached the defile of the bridge, the troops
were in sufficiently compact order. In this manner they marched up the hill to
the summit of the mountain, no other alteration taking place in the disposition
of the forces, excepting that a mutual complaint was made by the Sheriff and the
magistrate, of a failure in wind, which gradually brought these gentlemen to the
rear. It will be unnecessary to detail the minute movements that succeeded. We
shall briefly say, that the scouts came in and reported, that, so far from
retreating, as had been anticipated, the fugitives had evidently gained a
knowledge of the attack, and were fortifying for a desperate resistance. This
intelligence certainly made a material change, not only in the plans of the
leaders, but in the countenances of the soldiery also. The men looked at one
another with serious faces, and Hiram and Richard begun to consult together,
apart.
    At this conjuncture, they were joined by Billy Kirby, who came along the
highway, with his axe under his arm, as much in advance of his team as Captain
Hollister had been of his troops in the ascent. The wood-chopper was amazed at
the military array, but the Sheriff eagerly availed himself of this powerful
reinforcement, and commanded his assistance in putting the laws in force. Billy
held Mr. Jones in too much deference to object; and it was finally arranged that
he should be the bearer of a summons to the garrison to surrender, before they
proceeded to extremities. The troops now divided, one party being led by the
captain, over the Vision, and were brought in on the left of the cave, while the
remainder advanced upon its right, under the orders of the lieutenant. Mr. Jones
and Dr. Todd, for the surgeon was in attendance also, appeared on the platform
of rock, immediately over the heads of the garrison, though out of their sight.
Hiram thought this approaching too near, and he therefore accompanied Kirby
along the side of the hill, to within a safe distance of the fortifications,
where he took shelter behind a