"How now, Lambert! you have been at dead fault," was his sudden address,
as he returned, to one of the party. "You assured me that old Snell and
his two sons were the whole force that he carried, while I find two
stout, able-bodied men besides, all well armed, and ready for the
attack. The old woman, too, standing with the gridiron in her fists, is
equal of herself to any two men, hand to hand."
Lambert, a short, sly, dogged little personage, endeavored to account
for the error, if such it was--"but he was sure, that at starting, there
were but three--they must have have had company join them since. Did the
lieutenant make out the appearance of the others?"
"I did," said the officer in command, "and, to say truth, they do not
seem to be of the old fellow's party. They must have come upon him since
the night. But how came you, Lambert, to neglect sawing the axle? You
had time enough when it stood in the farmyard last night, and you were
about it a full hour. The wagon stands as stoutly on its all-fours as
the first day it was built.
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