CHAPTER XVI.
THE TEMPTATION.
Capt. Delaplace was fretful and soured by his defeat.
"If it had been in open fight," he said, "I should not have cared somuch; but to be caught in a trap, it is enough to make a man killhimself."
He was speaking to Benedict Arnold, and that patriot was ready tolisten almost gloatingly to the story.
Arnold was a peculiar man; he was kind and sympathetic, yet was readyto rejoice over the sufferings of the fallen.
Allen had asked Arnold to spend a portion of the day with the defeatedofficer, so that he might be more consoled, for company is alwayssoothing.
Delaplace was a diplomat; he had imbibed the idea that every man hadhis price; in other words, that every man could be influenced for oragainst a cause by bribery in some form or other.
Being a quick reader of character, he saw that Arnold was ambitious,and he at once began to wonder whether ambition would lead him to befalse to Allen.
"You have treated me very kindly," he said to Arnold, "and I shallreport to my superiors, though----"
He paused, and there was a world of meaning in that sudden silence.
"Why do you hesitate? I know what you would say."
"Do you?"
"Yes; shall I tell you?"
"If you please."
"And you will tell me whether I am right?"
"On my honor as a soldier and a gentleman."
"You were about to say that such a recommendation would not even be aplea in mitigation of the death penalty if I should fall into the handsof the English."
Again there was silence.
"I am answered. Your silence proves that I am right. You need notthink I am offended. I know I should be treated as a rebel, not as aprisoner of war."
"And, knowing this, you joined these men against the rule of yoursovereign?"
"I knew that if the colonists failed the leaders would be hanged; ifthey succeeded they would found a new nation, and the chances wereworth risking."
"Did you not think that England has a large army and a strong navy ather back?"
"Yes, and I knew it had strong forts; this is one of them."
"You sneer! I admit that England behaved scurvily in allowing me tohave so few men."
"Nay, nay, captain. Fifty men, if they felt an interest in their work,could hold this fort against an army."
"You are the victor and so have a right to rebuke me. But do not thinkEngland will allow the colonies to be independent."
"Perhaps not, but at any rate the colonies will have won respect forthemselves."
"But the leaders will be hanged."
"So let it be."
"Can you face the thought of death like that?"
"I can, for my country will be saved from a serfdom which noself-respecting nation should submit to."
"If--mind, I say if, for I do not think there is the remotestchance--but if the colonies were successful, what could they do foryou? I suppose you might be a governor, or something like that, withno salary to speak of, while if you had remained loyal to your king youmight have a chance----"
"Of being snubbed, insulted and laughed at."
Delaplace smiled. He had learned the cause of Arnold's action injoining the colonists--it was disappointed ambition. Could he play onthat and win over Arnold? If so, then he would regain the fort, andthat by treachery; but what of that? Would not the result justify themeans?
"My dear general"--Arnold smiled at the title--"if anyone insulted orsnubbed you it was through a misunderstanding. Tell me about it, and Ithink all can be rectified."
"It is too late."
"Not so; it is never too late for a great nation to rectify a wrongdone to even the humblest of its subjects, let alone a man of suchundoubted courage and rectitude as Gen. Arnold."
"I am not a general, but only a captain--in this adventure only aprivate."
"You should be a general. If the king knew you as well as I havelearned to do in these few hours, you most likely would have thecontrol of the army in the colonies."
"But the king will never have an opportunity to know me."
"Why not?"
"Only success can make me known to the king."
"Or failure; and then it would be too late."
"You see how impossible it would be for the king to know me."
"If I speak confidentially will you treat it as sacred to you alone?"
"Certainly."
"Pledge me your honor that you will never divulge what I am going tosay."
"I am a soldier and a gentleman. My word is enough."
"Then I will accept your word. If I were free I could gain the ear ofthe king's advisers."
"But you are not free yet, and it may be some time before an exchangecan be made."
"Exchange! Do you not know that there will be no exchange possible?If any of the rebels fall into the hands of the English they will beshot or hanged at once."
"In that case you would stand a poor showing."
"How so?"
"Because the first man taken by your side and hanged would lead us tohang an equal number of your men, and officers would have the firstpiece of rope."
Delaplace had not expected to hear such strong sentiments from Arnold,but he laughed and said that a soldier dealing with rebels knew that hetook great risks, and that he must be prepared for them.
"But," he added, in a whisper, "if I could slip out of this fort andgain the English lines----"
"But you cannot slip out."
"If you were to help me I would guarantee that you would be a generalof the English army in less than forty-eight hours, and, once gain thatposition, there is no limit to your success."
Arnold listened.
It was wrong of him to do so.
There was a temporary hesitation, but in a few seconds of time thatpassed.
"Captain, you have dishonored yourself by suggesting treason, and Ihave dishonored myself in listening. Know this: I have given myallegiance to the cause of the Provincials, and I will rise or fallwith them."
"Be it so. I shall live to see you hanged as a rebel."
Arnold bowed very low in acknowledgment of the kindly expression ofopinion.
"Thank you, Capt. Delaplace. I have no wish to see you hanged, butshould the English hang even a private in our ranks, I should have nohesitation in hanging you with my own hands."
Questionable sentiments on both sides, but Arnold felt strongly at thattime, and expressed himself as he thought.
He left the room and called the sergeant on guard.
"Double your guard. If Capt. Delaplace escapes I shall hold youresponsible, and your neck will feel the effects of a tightened noose."
It was a blunt way of speaking, but Arnold never was very courteous tothose of lesser rank.
"I hate that man," Arnold soliloquized, "and yet--well, the die iscast. I might have risen to a proud distinction had I remained loyalto the king, but I have not, and so my lot is with the colonists, andmay they win, or our lives are of but little value. How couldDelaplace get the ear of the king? Zounds! I believe it was only totempt me into disloyalty to the colonies that he made the proposition."
His soliloquy was interrupted by the entrance of Eli Forest.
"Colonel, your advice is needed. Col. Allen wishes to confer with you."
"I will be with him immediately. Ah! here he is. You honor me toomuch, Gen. Allen."
"Nay, we are on equal footing, my dear Arnold. I wanted to consultwith you about two things. We must secure Crown Point, that is asettled fact, and we must maintain our possession of this fort. Now,what shall we do with the prisoners?"
"Keep them well guarded and wait until some of our men fall into thehands of the enemy, and then act with them as they do with us."
"Perhaps that will be the wisest plan. I had thought of liberatingthem on parole."
"It would be madness."
"You think so?"
"I am sure of i
t. In the eyes of these men we are rebels and outlaws,and their parole would not prevent them from bringing the whole forceof the English against us."
"You are right. Will you appoint the guard?"
"Let Forest have charge of the prisoners and the fort."
"An admirable suggestion! So it shall be done."
"Ay, Forest, and shoot anyone who attempts to leave the fort, whetherfriend or foe."
"You are very stern, Arnold."
"These times demand sternness."