A Hero of Ticonderoga Part 9

Peering through the overhanging branches, Job saw a group of red-coated soldiers gathered on the other sh.o.r.e, and presently saw a boat putting out from it.

"Looka here," said he sternly, as he c.o.c.ked his piece and aimed upward; "I don't want tu be obleeged tu hurt you, but stop yer hollerin' an'

come right down."

"Me no onstan', Ah tol' you! h.e.l.lo-." The l.u.s.ty hail was cut short by the report of the long smooth-bore. The Canadian's cap went spinning from his head, and he came scrambling down in a haste that threatened to leave half his clothes behind.

"Ah comin'! Ah comin'! Don't shot some more!" he cried in a voice trembling with fright.

Job arrested his descent till his gun was reloaded; then, when his captive slid to the ground, he quickly tied his hands behind with a fathom of cord, one end of which he held. Then he removed the woolen sash from the Canadian's waist and bound it about his mouth.

A glance upon the lake showed the boat half-way across, and approaching as fast as two pairs of oars could impel it. Job hurried his man into an evergreen thicket some twenty yards away, and, leaving him tied to a tree in charge of the hound, he stealthily returned to ascertain if possible whether the nature of the alarm had been comprehended by the soldiers. The boat drew rapidly toward the place where he lay concealed, and, at a little distance, the occupants lay upon their oars while they held consultation, so near that he could hear every word of it.

"Well, boys," said the sergeant in command, "whathiver it was, Hi don't hear nothink more of it. But Hi'll 'ail the sh.o.r.e. 'Ello there, whathiver is the row?" An answer was silently awaited till the echoes died away.

"Ah't was some o' thim Yankee divils huntin' just," said one of the soldiers, "and that's all about it. Divil a word could I make out but the dog yowlin' an' a man phillalooin', an' thin the shot. They kilt whativer they was at an' thin wint away."

"Hi believe you're right, Murphy, an' we'll no bother to go ash.o.r.e, but just pull back and report to the captain," and off went the boat to the western sh.o.r.e.

With a sigh of relief Job sped back to his prisoner, to whom he motioned the homeward way, and set forth with him in front at a break-neck pace, which was occasionally quickened by a punch of the gun muzzle in the rear, and so was the captive driven to the camp.

Ticonderoga's evening gun had long since boomed its vesper thunder, and the shadows of evening were thickening into night in the forest, when Job emerged from them into the glare of the camp fire with his hound and prisoner, and received the warm commendations of Allen and his a.s.sociates for his promptly and skilfully performed exploit.

"I don't claim no credit for't. It was all Gabe's doin's, an' if I'd left him tied up to hum as I laid out to, our cake would all 'a' ben dough."

"Here, Newton, here's your man. Put him under guard with that Tory, Toombs," said Allen.

A tall man of n.o.ble, commanding presence, but of a quiet, modest mien, stooped to caress the hound. "Why," he said, "it's one of Sunderland's dogs, that haven't their equal in New England."

"You've got an eye for houn' dogs, Capt'n Warner. He sartain is one o'

them dogs an'll foller anything he's told to, though 't ain't no gre't trick to track a Canuck more'n an Injin. They're both strong-scented critters."

CHAPTER XV-LEADERS AND GUIDE

Even while Nathan watched Gabe and his master depart into the forest southward, he became aware the a.s.semblage was moved by some new object of interest. Turning, he saw Colonel Allen and another gentleman, eagle-eyed, eagle-beaked, in handsome military dress, talking angrily in the midst of an excited group. At length Allen turned his pa.s.sionate face toward the men and called in a loud voice:

"Men, fall in for a moment. Here," waving his hand toward his companion, as the men rapidly fell into line, "is Mr. Benedict Arnold. He bears a colonel's commission from the Connecticut Committee of Safety, and claims the right to command you to-night. Men of the Green Mountains, whom do you follow-Arnold or Allen?"

"Allen, Allen," came in response, loud and decided.

The chosen chief turned a triumphant smile upon his rival, who strode away in silence of restrained pa.s.sion. Soon returning, however, he addressed Allen in a clear, steady voice:

"Sir, I submit to the will of these men, but let me be a volunteer in this glorious enterprise. The Green Mountain Boys and their famous leader are too generous to refuse this."

Allen, touched at a vulnerable point, grasped the speaker's hand heartily and answered:

"Indeed, so brave a man as I well know you to be, is most welcome, and, by the Great Jehovah, if the men don't object, you shall be second in command."

A shout of approval went up from the men, who gathered around their camp fires again, while Allen and Arnold, together with Warner, walked apart in amicable consultation. Soon the first called loudly for any information concerning a lad named Nathan Beeman. At the sound of his name, Nathan started, blushed, hesitated, and then stepped bashfully forward, and was quickly recognized by Allen in spite of his added stature.

"Here, this is the youngster, Colonel Arnold, that Mr. John Brown tells of in this paper, whom he saw and conversed with last winter about Ticonderoga."

The two colonels then asked the boy many questions about the Fort, its entrance, the interior, the number of the garrison, and the disposal of the sentinels. Evidently satisfied with his straightforward replies, Allen said, low and impressively:

"You have such a chance to serve your country as don't often fall to a boy. Will you lead us into the Fort to-night? Will you do it faithfully?"

Nathan looked steadily into the earnest, searching eyes fixed upon him, but did not answer.

"Speak," cried Allen, sharply.

"If the commandant's lady won't be hurt, I will," he said at last, his left hand thrust into his pocket, fumbling his cherished s.h.i.+lling piece.

Allen laughed good-humoredly. "So the lady is a friend of yours. Well, never fear. We may disturb her morning nap, but she shall not be harmed.

We are not waging war in the wilderness against women and children.

Here, my boy, stick this twig of hemlock in your hat. Don't you see we've all mounted it? There, now," as he himself put the evergreen sprig in Nathan's hatband, "you wear the Green Mountain Boy's c.o.c.kade. See that you never disgrace it."

The boy thrilled with pride as he walked with measured step behind the stately chieftain and his lithely built companion. Presently the sound of oars was heard and a large batteau swept into the landing, navigated by two of Newton's sons, who gleefully related how, with a jug of rum, they had lured Skeene's old negro with the coveted craft into their toils, as he was voyaging homeward from Crown Point. It was capable of carrying twenty-five persons and was a welcome prize. Though one by one, and in little flotillas, boats continued to arrive, still, at two o'clock in the early May morning, there were not enough to transport half the men gathered. After brief consultation, it was determined that as many as possible should at once cross to the other sh.o.r.e and there await the coming of the others in the returning boats.

Embarkation began at once under the superintendence of Allen, Arnold, and Warner. Nathan found himself with the first two in the leading boat, Warner being left in charge of the party remaining on the eastern sh.o.r.e.

At a low word of command, the flotilla swept out of the flickering glare of the fire into the darkness. It pa.s.sed down the creek and was soon upon the lake, heading for the other sh.o.r.e, being guided to the chosen landing by the mountain peaks that loomed black against the western sky.

The night was windless. The shrill piping of hylas, the monotonous trill of toads, and the rush of running brooks filled the air. Such sounds faded out as the middle of the lake was reached, where nothing was heard but the light plash of m.u.f.fled oars, to rise again in increasing volume from the other sh.o.r.e.

As the last boat grounded on the shelving beach, Nathan was startled by the loud, hollow hoot of an owl, uttered thrice, almost in his ear. A few moments later there came, like an echo from the distant creek, the answer to this preconcerted signal of safe arrival. The men quickly disembarked, and the boats returned to those who, under Seth Warner, were eagerly awaiting their turn.

Those who had made the pa.s.sage tramped to and fro to stir their blood, for there was a creeping chill in the night air. The first light of dawn was stealing up the eastern sky, the woods and mountains showing in sharp relief against it, yet no signs came to strained eyes and ears of the returning boats.

"The lazy-bones," growled Allen, forgetting the long distance. "What has gone wrong? Daylight will betray us if we wait much longer. What do you say, my men-shall we wait, and maybe lose our best chance of success, or go on with what strength we have?"

There was a murmur of universal a.s.sent, and Allen commanded:

"Fall in, in three ranks!"

Instantly the men formed in the order of the ranger service. "I want no man to go against his will. You that wish to go with me, poise arms."

Every gun was brought to the position.

"Shoulder arms! Right face! Forward, march!"

Before the last word was fairly given, Arnold stepped in front of the speaker.

"I swear," he cried, shaken with his pa.s.sion, "I will not yield my right. I planned this enterprise. My money set it on foot. I swear I will command, and not yield my right to Ethan Allen or the devil."

There was a muttered growl of dissatisfaction among the men, and Allen was raging. "What shall I do with this fellow? Put him under guard?" he asked, turning to one of his captains.

"Gentlemen," said Captain Callender, a staid and quiet man, "for the sake of the good cause, don't quarrel. Yield a little, both of you.

Share the command equally, and enter the Fort side by side."