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"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.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FORAGING.
Eben's news was in every point correct. Gen. Schuyler had beenstricken down by sickness, and Montgomery assumed command of one of thearmies of invasion.
Allen went out to meet the Irish general and received a warm welcome.
Montgomery was full of praise of the plan of invasion.
Arnold and Morgan were marching through Maine to attack the citadel ofQuebec, and Montgomery was to march into Canada to the westward, andafter capturing Montreal and other important places, form a junctionwith Arnold and drive the English out of Quebec.
