CHAPTER XXII.
EBEN'S ADVENTURES.
Among the men who were to lead the colonial armies Allen had hisattention attracted to Richard Montgomery, who was to share withSchuyler the responsibility of the invasion of Canada.
Montgomery was one of the most fascinating men who rallied to thestandard of the colonies.
He was an Irishman, the son of a member of the British parliament, andwas educated in Trinity College, Dublin.
In 1754 he obtained a commission in the army, and with his regimentcame to this country, and, although only eighteen years old, hedistinguished himself for personal bravery in many an action.
In 1760 he was with Gen. Wolfe, and became the adjutant of the regiment.
After distinguishing himself in the expedition against Havana andMartinique, he returned to England and stayed there nine years.
But he yearned for America, and so sold his commission and came to NewYork, where he married and took a leading part with the sturdy men whorefused to bow the knee to English tyranny.
When the Continental Congress was held Montgomery was a delegate, andhe pledged his sword in defense of the popular rights.
No wonder that Ethan Allen should be pleased with the Irishman. Theywere kindred spirits.
Montgomery asked Allen to tell him of the struggle of the Vermontersagainst the pretensions of New York.
Allen did so, but somewhat bitterly.
"Nay, my dear Allen, do not let that irritate you. We shall soon makecommon cause, and instead of the colonies we shall have a nation, andwe shall be citizens, not subjects."
"Citizens!" Allen repeated.
"Yes, mark me. If the colonies become a nation there will be a freegovernment based on equal rights, and none will be subject to another,but all be equal before the law."
Montgomery saw more clearly into the future than did even Washington.
When the Congress was over, and Washington commenced his work ofcreating an army, Allen returned home, somewhat disappointed.
He had expected a commission in the new army, but his name was passedover by Congress.
It was afterward proved that the omission was the result ofinadvertence, for it was supposed that he had a commission from thegeneral in command of the Colonials at Boston, and the order was madeconfirming all such commissions.
The summer was passing, and no action had been taken.
Allen was getting weary of the delay.
He could not understand why Boston had not been taken and the Englishdriven out. Then he heard that Benedict Arnold had received acommission, and was leading an army into Canada to attack Quebec.
In despair Allen left his home and crossed to Ticonderoga, determinedto offer his services to the Connecticut captain who was in command ofthe little garrison.
He was sitting on a gun on the day of his arrival on the scene of hisgreat exploit, when a boy, dirty, ragged and half starved, entered thefort and stood opposite Allen.
"Don't you know me, colonel?"
"Is that you, Eben?"
"Yes. I am Eben Pike, and right glad I am to see you."
"How did you enter? Where have you been?"
Eben did not answer. He was too weak. His body swayed, his limbstrembled, and he would have fallen had not Allen caught him.
As gently as a mother carries her child, the hero of Ticonderoga borethe half-famished boy into the barracks and asked that he shouldreceive attention.
The boy was undressed and washed, then little sips of beef tea weregiven him.
In an hour he showed signs of returning vitality, and they knew that hewould live.
"He left here a month ago," explained the captain; "I sent him on adelicate mission, knowing that he could be trusted. When he did notreturn I thought him dead."
"You knew I should be true to the cause then?" whispered Eben.
"Yes, my boy; no one would ever doubt your loyalty. You shall tellyour adventures later. You must rest and get stronger."
"But I have news I must tell. Gen. Montgomery is on his way toTiconderoga to join Arnold in his invasion of Canada. He will be hereto-morrow."
The speech was long for him, and his flushed cheek and quivering voicetold how the message had shaken his frame.
Late that night he woke from a good sleep, and seeing Allen by his bed,he put out one hand.
"I am so glad to see you, colonel. I feel all right now. I thought Ishould die without seeing you."
"Where have you been?"
"I cannot tell you all, but when I left here I fell into the hands of atory, and he knew me. He called me a spy, and wanted to hang me, butbefore he could get a rope a new idea came to him. He called some moretories together and they laughed at his suggestion. He wanted to coverme with tar and then set light to it."
"His name? I will serve him that way."
"The tar was poured all over me, and my clothes were saturated with it.But when he went for a light to set me on fire, his little boy, a sweetlittle fellow, ran from the house and called 'fire,' and just then aflame did break out through the windows. The tory thought more of hishouse than he did of me, so I ran away as fast as I could."
Eben rested after telling that adventure, and it was more than an hourbefore he could resume his narrative.
"I ran as fast as I ever did in my life, and, as bad luck would haveit, I fell into the hands of some English soldiers. They did not knowme, and thought I was some ignorant country lad, so I fared prettywell, and only stayed with them two days. When they broke camp theyinsisted that I should go with them, and as I had told them I was goingin the very direction they intended going, I could not help myself."
"You were in hard luck."
"Yes, but that was not the last of my adventures, for I was recognizedby another tory, who had been birched by some of our men for histreachery. He claimed me as his prisoner, and to get me had to swearthat I was his apprentice, who had run away."
"And of course the soldiers gave you to him?"
"Yes, and a nice time I had of it. The farmer stripped me and thengave me fifty strokes with a strong cane----"
"The villain!"
"But that was not the worst. He threw me naked into a cellar and keptme without food until I began to lose my senses, and then he gave methese old clothes and some food. I managed after a long time toescape, and for a week I wandered about the woods, living on what Icould pick up, until I managed to reach here. I dare not go to ahouse, for the tories were searching for me, and I was afraid to evenjump into the river for fear that I might be seen and have no chance ofescape."
"Poor fellow. So you failed in obtaining the information for which youset out."
"Failed? No, I got it, and though it is a trifle late, I find it is intime."
Col. Hinman was so pleased with the thoroughness of Eben in everythinghe undertook that he sent a special dispatch to Gen. Washington,commending Pike as one of the best scouts and secret service officersany country could produce.
Hinman tried to persuade Ethan Allen to join him, but the GreenMountain hero wanted more stirring work than could be found in a fortwhich might never be attacked.
The news that Montgomery was near the fort was sweetest music to him,and he resolved to unite with his army, even as a private soldier.