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Hinman was commissioned to aid Allen in any way that he could, and toact under his direction.
Allen, however, determined on a wider field for himself and men thanmerely remaining as a garrison of a fort, with the mild excitement ofan occasional scrimmage with the enemy when out on a foragingexpedition, so he handed over the forts to Col. Hinman, taking areceipt for the same.
That curious old document is perhaps the only one in existence of thekind, for it is a receipt for the delivery of the forts of Ticonderoga,Crown Point and Skenesburgh, and is made out much in the same way as areceipt for a few dollars would be.
Arnold was to remain with Hinman for a time, but with the lower rank ofmajor.
With only a small number of followers, including Seth Warner, RememberBaker, Eben Pike and twenty trusty mountaineers, Allen, the hero ofTiconderoga, left the fort and proceeded to Albany.
CHAPTER XX.
A ROADSIDE ADVENTURE.
It was a daring thing to do, but Ethan Allen thought only of hiscountry, and how to benefit the national cause.
The proclamation offering a large reward for him, dead or alive, wasstill to be seen on the public buildings of the towns and villagesthrough which he passed.
Though every one knew him, for his identity could not be concealed, hewas as safe as in his mountain home.
The people of New York were ready to cast in their lot with thecolonies which had declared their independence, and, though nominallyloyal to England, the Yorkers were only waiting an opportunity toopenly throw off the yoke and declare themselves independent.
"The Hero of Ticonderoga," as Allen was called everywhere, was lionizedby the people, though those in authority were compelled to appear asthough they did not recognize him.
When Allen reached Albany he at once went to the Assembly Hall.
Marching up to the speaker's desk he said, in a loud voice:
"I am Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain Boys, and I have come,not to surrender to you or to lower my claims to the lands in the NewHampshire grants, which we now call Vermont, but to ask you to listento a plan by which our country may become a nation, free andindependent."
"I propose that the assembly go into secret session to hear the Hero ofTiconderoga."
The speaker was one who had been most bitter against Allen when he hadappeared there sometime before to argue in favor of the men of Vermont.
"Let it be understood that New York, in listening to Ethan Allen, doesnot relinquish its claims to the lands which he culls Vermont."
"That matter can well be left in abeyance," said Allen. "There is agreater one--that of our independence as a nation."
"On that subject we will hear you!"
"I ask that the proceedings shall be secret."
"That is understood."
Ethan Allen, with a natural eloquence and rugged fervor, laid beforethe representatives of the people a plan for the invasion of Canada.
He showed how, with daring and quickness, the country north of the St.Lawrence could be captured, thereby inflicting an injury on theBritish, and taking from them a large tract of country, which could bemade so valuable an adjunct of the colonies south of the St. Lawrencewhen they became independent.
He had gathered information which showed how easily all Canada could becaptured, save, perhaps, the citadel of Quebec.
He was listened to patiently. He was cheered when he spoke of thegallant attack on Quebec by Wolfe and the heroic defense of the Frenchgeneral, Montcalm; and tears rolled down many cheeks when he recalledhow the French hero, wounded unto death, expressed a pleasure that heshould not live to witness the surrender of Quebec.
Then, with solemn voice, he told how the English had but a smallgarrison at the citadel, and how it could be taken unawares and maybecaptured as easily as Ticonderoga.
In one thing did Ethan Allen fail.
He hinted that perhaps the French Canadians would help the Yorkers andparticipate in the driving out of the British from North America.
We say that was a mistake, because the people still remember the greatstruggle against the French, and the fierce war between the coloniesacknowledging England and France.
