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"It looks to me like a number of horsemen."
"Yes, and they are trying to head us off."
"Think so?"
"Why, look! Baker, come here. What are those men doing over there?"
Remember Baker shaded his eyes with his hand and looked for severalminutes before speaking.
"'Pears like as though they were trying to ambush by the side of theroad and stop us."
"Just what I thought. Ask Sunderland to come here."
Peleg Sunderland was a good scout. He was a hunter from Wayback, andcould find the trail of a deer or a bear quicker than any man in theGreen Mountains.
"Colonel, we are in for it. Them fellows are waiting for us."
"Dismount!"
The order was obeyed, though many of the men wondered what could be thereason.
"We will have lunch----"
"But, colonel, I----"
"We will have lunch."
"Eben, get onto the trail, my boy. Find out who those men are about amile ahead of us, and report quickly. Take care you are not seen."
The boy started off in a direction which was at right angles with theroad by which the men were camped.
Ethan Allen bade the men appear to eat, whether they were hungry or not.
He told them that he feared a surprise.
The mountaineers rather liked the idea of a fight, though the odds wereagainst them.
Every man had his musket ready for use and awaited the order to move.
Eben returned and reported that there were twenty-two men, well armedand apparently waiting for the Vermonters.
"They are led by that man who wanted to fight you, captain."
"Are you sure?"
"I took his measure when he was at the inn and I cannot be mistaken."
"Then they are Yorkers."
"That is just what they are. And, colonel, would it not be better topass them on the road to the right, and then return and fight?"
"No, Eben. If we pass them we will not return. If we are attacked weshall give as good as we receive."
"Fight it will be."
"Yes, Seth, and we shall have tough work before we are through."
"We are ready to follow you."
