CHAPTER XV.
THE HERO OF TICONDEROGA.
Arnold appeared to agree with every suggestion made by Allen, and noman could be more pleasant.
Not one atom of distrust of Arnold was to be found in the whole of themountaineer's mind.
Certainly he had no reason for it save the strong distrust manifestedby Remember Baker because of the stories Martha had brought from NewHaven.
On the evening of the ninth of May the combined forces of Allen andArnold appeared on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, oppositeTiconderoga.
The march had been so well planned and executed that the English had noknowledge of the movement of the Mountain Boys.
A difficulty, which had not been foreseen, had to be overcome.
There were only three small boats in which the men could be conveyedacross the lake.
Usually there was quite a fleet of boats there, but the soldiers hadtaken most of the boats farther up the lake.
Arnold suggested the construction of rafts, but the felling of treesmight make so much noise that the attention of the garrison might becalled to it and the whole plan fail.
Men were sent up the shore to search for boats, while others wereinstructed to look for anything which could be utilized for rafts.
Half the night was wasted in the vain search, and some of the boys werediscouraged.
Allen called the leaders together and asked the simple question:
"What shall we do?"
Let it not be thought that he hesitated. No, Ethan Allen never didthat; he knew just what would be best, but he also knew that the menwere more confident if they were consulted.
Eli Forest was the first to answer.
"It is impossible for us to cross, so I think it would be best toretire into the woods and fell trees, so that we might fashion rafts."
"How long would that delay us?"
"Not more than a week."
"What say you, Baker?"
"I do not like delay, yet--Ticonderoga is strong, and ten men couldhold the place against a hundred."
"And you, Col. Arnold?"
"I am a soldier, and am ready to follow my superior. What he orders Ishall loyally help to carry out."
"We will all do that," said Baker, half ashamed that he had shown anyshadow of doubt about the advisability of attacking the fort.
"I know you are all true soldiers," replied Allen, "and I am ready tolead you against the fort. I think we can breakfast on the rationsEngland has provided."
"Lead on and we will follow."
"Forest, do you pick the men in your company who have the strongestnerves and the pluckiest spirits to cross first; take the largest ofthe two large boats and get as many of the men over as possible."
"It shall be done."
"And you, Baker, follow the same instruction in reference to theMountain Boys. The small boat we will reserve for Col. Arnold andmyself. When you reach the other side, remember that there must not bea sound. No word must be uttered, no fire made, but let every man liein the long grass and wait for orders."
A crew was selected for each boat, and the work of transporting thelittle army across the lake was commenced.
The men pulled steadily and noiselessly across the waters of thebeautiful lake which the Indians called "Troquois," [Transcriber'snote: Iroquois?] and the early French settlers, who objected tohonoring the explorer, Samuel de Champlain, "Mere les Iroquois," andstill later, "Iracosia."
It was slow work, and the men asked permission to swim across, butAllen was afraid the swim would be too exhausting.
When day broke the work had to cease, for the men at the fort wouldhave seen the boats and been put on their guard.
Arnold looked at the handful of men and predicted failure.
Allen counted the men and found eighty-three.
That was the strength of his little army.
It seemed absurd to think of attacking one of the strongest fortresseson the continent with such a handful of men.
True, the garrison was small, but it was intrenched behind strongwalls, a well-filled moat and a line of breastworks carefully designed,and improved bastions.
Allen called all his men together and addressed them.
"It is for your country that you will risk your lives," he said, "andwhile you take care not to run into needless danger, remember that onlythe daring will succeed. If we enter the fort, as we shall undoubtedlydo, set up a shout which shall make the garrison think we have eighthundred instead of eighty men. Be brave, and the victory will be ours."
A thrill of excitement made every heart beat fast; cheeks glowed withpleasure, heads were borne erect with pride, and the few men lookedinvincible.
Allen and Arnold led the way; they never were in the rear.
When close to the fort they made a dash and gained the gateway.
"Stand back!" exclaimed the sentry.
He raised his musket to fire, but Allen knocked it on one side.
"Are you mad? Do you want to die?" he asked.
"Better die than be craven," answered the English soldier, bravely.
Allen had seized him round the waist and thrown him to the floor; hepicked himself up and ran into the fort, closely followed by themountaineers.
Suddenly the Green Mountain Boys set up such a shout as few garrisonshad ever heard.
"We are inside," said Baker, exultingly.
"Ay, but not out," answered Forest, rather gloomily.
"Form into line!" shouted Arnold.
The men formed, facing the barracks, and were ready to fire should thegarrison show fight.
Allen left the command of the men in the hands of Arnold, while herushed to the quarters of the commandant.
Capt. Delaplace was asleep.
He had not heard the shout, though it was loud enough to wake the deadalmost.
A sentinel stood guard outside the commandant's door.
Allen placed a pistol at his head and ordered him to stand aside.
The man obeyed like one in a dream.
Allen stood by the bedside of the sleeping commandant.
"Get up!" shouted the mountaineer.
The voice was loud enough to rouse the sleeper, who thought that theFrench had taken a fancy to come down the lake and try to recapture thefortress.
"Get up!"
The commandant sat up in bed.
"What do you want? Who are you?"
"Surrender this fortress instantly."
"By what authority?"
Allen flourished his sword as he replied:
"In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!"
Delaplace did not hesitate.
A sword was in close proximity to his heart, the shouts of the menoutside showed that the enemy was in possession of the fort, so whatcould he do but surrender?
He reached to the side of the bed and took his sword.
"There is my sword, sir. I trust that you will allow me to dress."
"Certainly; report to me in half an hour. Sorry to disturb your sleep,captain, but war, you know, is not always considerate."
The English flag was borne on the breeze, and floated proudly over thefort.
Allen looked up at it and sighed.
It was a gallant flag, and a brave man does not like to see a flag of agreat nation humiliated, even though he is fighting against it.
"Haul down the flag!"
"What shall we run up, colonel?"
The Provincials had no flag, and Allen ordered the English flag to beagain run up, but with the Union down.
Across the waters of the lake the men were watching, and when they sawthe flag run up, with the Union down, they knew that the fort had beentaken, and they set up a cheer that could be heard across the water.
A hundred and twenty cannon and a vast amount of military stores fellinto the hands of the Americans.
Great Britain had expended forty million dollars on Fort Ticonderogafrom first to last, and a few undisciplined Mountain Boys wre
sted thisproud possession from her.
Boats brought over the rest of the combined forces of Arnold and Allen,and the leader of the mountaineers made good his promise that theyshould breakfast in the fort on rations paid for by their enemy.
When an inventory had been made and sent in duplicate to the assemblyof Connecticut and of Massachusetts by trusty messengers, Allen calledtogether his officers and thrilled them by declaring that their workhad only just begun.
"To-day we have captured the strongest fortress in America; in two daysmore we must be in Crown Point."
"And again we pledge ourselves to the hero of Ticonderoga, who willlead us to triumph!" exclaimed Baker.
"Ay, and our cry shall be," echoed Forest, "Liberty Freedom andIndependence!"