"A slight fall of snow had taken place the morning I arrived, and, this
suggesting to Tom's mind a possibility of hunting up the felons, a party
had gone out and tracked them to a small swamp on the Bellevale
Mountain, wherein they had undoubtedly made their head-quarters.
Arrangements had been made on all sides--forty or fifty stout and active
men were mustered, well armed, though variously, with muskets,
ducking-guns and rifles--some fifteen couple of strong hounds, of every
height and color, were collected--some twenty horses saddled and
bridled, and twice as many sleighs were ready; with provisions,
ammunition, liquor and blankets, all prepared for a week's bivouac. The
plan prescribed was in the first place to surround the swamp, as
silently as possible, with all our forces, and then to force the pack
out so as to face our volley. This, should the method be successful,
would finish the whole hunt at once; but should the three-legged savage
succeed in making his escape, we were to hunt him by relays, bivouacking
upon the ground wherever night should find us, and taking up the chase
again upon the following morning, until continual fatigue should wear
out the fierce brute.
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