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He gave the order to march back to their homes and see to the wounded.
Only one man died from the effects of his wounds, though others were ina bad way.
Save for the attendance upon the wounded, the farmers of Benningtonmight have thought the fight with and pursuit of the Yorkers only adream, so readily did they settle down to their farm duties.
Several weeks passed and no sign of any move was made by the Yorkers.
Ethan Allen had sent a full account of the affair to the Governor ofNew Hampshire, by the hands of his brother Ira, but save for sayingthat the account should be read carefully, the governor had taken nofurther notice.
Seth Warner had a cousin in Albany, and he induced him to send regularreports of the doings in New York, in so far as they effected the NewHampshire grants.
And during all those weeks the news came that nothing was being done.Ethan believed in the old adage that a quiet always preceded a storm,and he held himself in readiness to meet it.
The Green Mountain Boys were drilled regularly, and the watchword waslooked for whenever any met the chosen messengers of the colonel.
Eben had proved himself very useful, but for several days he had beenaway, and Ethan was getting uneasy about him.
July had come, with all its heat and unpleasantness, and still Eben wasabsent.
That something had happened to him all believed, for he had never beenknown to absent himself from his friends for so long a time before.
It was on the tenth of July that Eben craved entrance to the residenceof Ethan Allen.
"Where have you been?" asked the colonel.
"Do not be cross with me. I have only been doing what I thought oughtto be done. I have been in Concord."
"What have you been doing there?"
"Keeping my mouth shut and my ears open."
"And what have you heard?"
"Much that you ought to know, and I will tell you if you are not crosswith me."
"I am never cross with you, Eben."
"Then you are to be sent for to Concord, and will be sent as a prisonerto Albany. Gov. Tryon says he will hang you as soon as you reach thatcity."
"How learned you this?"
"Nay, should I tell you I might never learn anything more."
"When am I to be sent for?"
"The messenger is on his way. If y
ou do as we would like you would notgo."
"Why?"
"Because the governor will purchase peace for himself by having youhanged."
"Hush! there is some one even now at the door."
"Welcome, most worthy Talbot!" exclaimed Allen, when Assistant DistrictAttorney Talbot entered. "What brings you so far from Concord?"
"A message to you, Ethan Allen."
