As the Roost, from its lonely situation on the water's edge, might be liable to attack, he took measures for defence. On a row of hooks, above his fire place, reposed his great piece of ordnance, ready charged and primed for action. This was a duck, or, rather, goose-gun of unparalleled longitude -- with which it was said he could kill a wild goose, though half way across the Tappan Sea. <* Indeed, there are as mauy wonders told of this renowned gun as of the enchanted weapons of the hero es of classic story.

"In different parts of the stone walls of his mansion he had made loop-holes, through which he might fire upon an assailant. His wife was stout-hearted as himself, and could load as fast as he could fire ; and then he had an ancient and redoubtable sister, Nochie van Wurmur, a match, as he said, for tiie stoutest man in the country. Thus garrisoned, the little Roost was fit to stand a siege, and Jacob van Tassel was the man to defend it to the last charge of powder.

"He was, as I have already hinted, of pugnacious propensities; and, not content with being a patriot at home, and fighting for the security of his own fireside, he extended his thoughts abroad, and entered into a confederacy with certain of the bold, hard-riding lads of Tarrytown, Petticoat Lane and Sleepy nohow -- who formed a kind of holy brotherhood, scouring the country to clear it of skinners and cow-boys, and ail other border vermin. The Roost was one of their rallying points. Did a band of marauders from Manhattan island come sweeping through the neighborhood, and driving off cattle, the stout Jacob and his compeers were soon clattering at their heels ; and fortunate did the rogues esteem themselves if they could but get a part of their booty across the lines, or escape themselves, without a rough handling.