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"Yes, I say that you are Ethan Allen, the man who surprised thegarrison at Ticonderoga."
"Am I to understand that these soldiers have listened to the ravings ofa creature like you?"
The sergeant in command of the squad saluted Allen, and replied:
"I am compelled to obey orders. This man reported that he could leadinto ambush one Ethan Allen, and I was detailed to effect his arrest."
"Sergeant, I acknowledge that you have a duty to perform, but cannot amerchant pass through Canada without being suspected of being a spy?"
"With that I have nothing to do; I must ask you to surrender."
"The asking is compulsion. With a pistol at each head, how can we doanything else but surrender?"
Allen wished to delay surrender as long as possible, for he was a firmbeliever in the doctrines of possibility, and a chance of escape mightpresent itself.
The sergeant laughed at Allen's question.
"It does look like surrender or death, but my orders were to take EthanAllen, dead or alive."
"Is he then so much feared?"
"If you are Ethan Allen it may be some consolation to know that he ishated by the British authorities more than any man who has joined theAmerican rebels; and if you are not Ethan Allen, as I hope you are not,then you may know that it is a great honor to be mistaken for such arebel."
"Logical, very. We are merchants in search of skins of a very peculiarshade of color. We work for a customer who is willing to pay largelyfor such skins--dyed ones will not do--and this fellow pretended thathe was French, could not speak English, and told my trapper that heknew where we could get the skins. In all trust we followed. Now Iask you: Is it likely that this Ethan Allen would allow himself to beentrapped?"
"No, you are right; but I am not the judge, and you will have to go toSabrevous and see the colonel."
"That will take time, and I am anxious to get the skins. I will makeyou a proposition: I will go with you to Sabrevous, but this man mustgo with me, and as a prisoner, for I have charges to make against himwhich will cause him to be hanged. My friends must go free to searchfor the skins."
"I cannot accept the offer--all must go."
"But you said you were to arrest Ethan Allen; now, we cannot all beEthan Allen, and I am the one accused."
Allen knew just as well as the officer that all must surrender, but hewanted to confuse the Englishman, and perhaps find a way of escape.
"I am very sorry, but if you are Allen, the party with you may be alsowanted. I must demand the surrender of all."
"Before I surrender I demand the arrest of that man."
"What for?"
"Murder!"
The informer almost shrieked as he heard the charge. His kneestrembled, the blood left his cheeks, and he looked a most guilty wretch.
"Look at him," Allen exclaimed. "Tell me, is he not guilty?"
"I did not do it. He--he shot himself."
"And you took the skins. Ah, my fine friend, Frenchman or Canadian,you may well tremble. England does not accept the services ofmurderers. You sought to save yourself by denouncing me. Your trickhas failed. I shall not surrender on the accusation of a murderer. Iwill give my parole to appear against you on your trial."
"You refuse to surrender?" asked the sergeant, in amazement.
"If my accuser was a man of honor instead of a murderer I should bow tofate, but unless you have some one to accuse me who is not tainted Ishall resist you, and if I fall my family will hold you accountable formy death."
The sergeant was in a quandary.
He had been ordered to arrest Ethan Allen, and here was a man who hadput him to the proof. The only accuser was one whose word was of noaccount, for he was a self-confessed murderer.
