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"No."
"I heard him give the order."
"You did?"
"Yes, colonel."
"Is Martha Baker still in the fort?"
"Yes, colonel; and I think she would like to stay here until herbrother can look after her."
"And you would not object to her staying?"
"No; why should I?"
"I thought that you liked her society."
"So I do, colonel, when I can see her, but Col. Arnold has kept herpretty close in the room which was assigned her."
It was the end of May, and Ethan Allen was waiting news from Boston.
News had just reached him that the Continental Congress, sitting inPhiladelphia, had drawn up articles of confederation, and that thosearticles had been signed by the representatives of thirteen colonies.
And the news also came that on the same day the people of NorthCarolina had held a convention at Charlotte and declared themselvesindependent of the British crown, and that they had organized a localgovernment and pledged themselves to raise and equip an army.
This was pleasing news, but Allen wanted to hear more from Boston.
The information conveyed to him by Eben was disquieting.
Was it possible that Benedict Arnold was taking things into his ownhands and acting without consulting him?
He sent for Arnold.
"Well, sir, you wished to see me?"
"Yes, colonel; I wanted to know if it were true that you had arrangedto send a portion of our cannon and ammunition to New Haven?"
"It is quite true."
"Why did you not consult me?"'
"It was not necessary."
"I am commander here."
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Allen."
Allen passed over the insulting way in which Benedict Arnold addressedhim, and very calmly replied:
"You came to me as a volunteer, and I accepted your services and thoseof your men."
"Quite true."
"Since when, then, have you been given the command?"
"It is time, Mr. Allen, that we should understand each other. I am acommissioned colonel. I bear that rank according to the laws of mycolony, Connecticut. Moreover, I was commissioned a colonel by theProvincial Assembly at Cambridge. You hold no rank except that givenyou by some farmers who have not even the right to elect arepresentative, but are only squatters on land belonging either to NewHampshire or New York. When the fort was captured it became a militarynecessity that some one should be in command who would have power totreat with the enemy, and, as you were only--well, a Green MountainBoy, the command fell upon me."
"Indeed!"
