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"Cannot say; but Eben is on the alert, and unless they shoot us withoutthe usual twenty-four hours' reprieve, he will have Montgomery come toour rescue."
"Did you give him instructions?"
"Only general ones; he is wide awake, and knows just as well as I dowhat ought to be done."
"Don't you think the 'mad monk' will betray us?"
"No; he is a sympathizer with our cause, and---- Let us change thesubject; one of these soldiers is getting suspicious."
When the party reached Sabrevous the sergeant handed his prisoners overto the proper authorities and reported that he was convinced that amistake had been made, and that the prisoners were peaceful merchantsand not American rebel spies.
The monk was examined in secret, and he also bore testimony to thetruth and honor of the chief prisoner.
The accuser was called and asked about the murder
he had committed, andunder the terror of the accusation he made a full confession, but askedfor mercy, because he had followed Ethan Allen and handed him over tothe authorities.
His plea for mercy helped Allen, for the English officer believed thatthe accusation against Allen was only made to obtain favor with theauthorities.
He was remanded to prison until the civil power could take him and meteout the punishment he merited.
Allen and his party received the apologies of the officers for theirarrest and detention, and were at once liberated.
It had been a narrow escape, but they did not value their liberty anythe less for that fact.
Some weeks afterward Allen learned that the officers had been severelyreprimanded for allowing the "rebel spy" to escape.
CHAPTER XXVI.
AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT.
Two days later Allen was not so fortunate.
He had been talking to the people and urging them to remain neutral,allowing the soldiers on each side to fight out the issue, when one ofthe people of the little town, near which was a small fort, left thehouse and ran to the fort.
"Ethan Allen, the rebel, is at my house," he cried, almostbreathlessly, as he reached the outworks. Instantly there wascommotion among the garrison. It was true Allen was dreaded by theBritish more than the men who were besieging Boston.
He was a freelance, and it was never known where he might strike.
His daring at Ticonderoga was not forgotten, and although no moneyreward was offered for his arrest, it was known that promotion would bethe reward of those who captured him.
A small force was sent at once to the farmhouse and Allen called on tosurrender.
The lieutenant who had been consigned to the lead was of a differentnature to the sergeant of Sabrevous, for he would not listen to anyspeech.
"I am here to arrest you and your party, and save your breath, for youwill need it at the court-martial. Surrender or we shall make you."
"We shall not surrender," answered Allen, calmly.
Allen, Baker and Old Buckskin had got into a corner of the room anddragged tables and a heavy dresser in front of them.
The English fired at the "rebels" and succeeded only in damaging thewalls and furniture.
Old Buckskin raised his musket, an old friend that had brought downmany a bear and wolf in the forests; he patted it affectionately andtook aim.
Every movement was as calm as though the enemy was a defenseless animaldestined to fall beneath the unerring aim of the hunter.
The soldiers had reloaded and awaited the order to fire.
