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The Green Mountain Boy would have preferred to stay with the army andparticipate in the siege of St. John, but he was a soldier, and asoldier's first duty is obedience.
He addressed the people in every town and village, and the result wasfar beyond his expectations.
In a week he had traversed the country as far as St. Ours, twelve milessouth of Sorel, and had enlisted two hundred and fifty Canadians andhad armed them.
He wrote to Montgomery, telling him of his success, and adding that hehoped to be with him in three days to take part in the assault on St.John.
The return march was commenced, and on the second day the advance guardencountered a regiment of Americans under command of Maj. Brown.
Allen was delighted to meet a brother officer, and regretted that hehad sent half his men forward under command of Remember Baker.
Brown was sanguine and saw a chance of striking a great blow at theEnglish power.
"Montreal," he said, "is defenseless, and, with your forces united tomine, we can capture it."
Allen fell in with the suggestion, and a plan was discussed.
The men had met on the east bank of the St. Lawrence, between Longueuiland Laprairie, and it was arranged that Allen was to cross the river incanoes a little north of the city, while Brown and the men under hiscommand were to cross to the south, and, advancing from differentdirections, make themselves masters of the works and the garrison.
The difficulty of obtaining canoes delayed Allen.
He sent up and down the river to get boats, either by purchase or byforce, but only succeeded in getting a very few.
He had to cross and recross three times before he landed his littleparty on the opposite side.
The night was squally. The wind blew in fearful gusts, and often thefrail boats were in danger of being wrecked.
Allen cheered his men and promised them a glorious victory.
It was sunrise before all had crossed, and then the little partyawaited the signal from Maj. Brown.
An hour passed and no signal was heard.
Half an hour more, and then Allen knew that Brown had not crossed.
His position was critical.
He would have retreated had it been possible, but he would be seen bythe enemy, and a fire opened on the canoes would speedily sink them.
"Men, we are lost. Brown has failed to cross the river. If we couldretreat we would, but that would mean death without glory. We muststand our ground and die with glory. Our country must never say wewere cowards."
There was a suppressed cheer, and Allen knew that his few men wereready to make a determined stand.
Very soon they were to be put to the test.
The gates of the city were opened and a body of red-coated Britishregulars was seen to emerge; after them came two hundred Canadians, andan equal number of Indians.
The Americans saw they were outnumbered five to one.
"We will resist to the death!" Allen said to one of his officers, andthe men heard the words and got ready to fight like brave heroes.
Although the British outnumbered the Americans five to one, they actedwith the greatest caution, sheltering themselves behind woodpiles,houses and in ditches.
Allen's men returned the fire with vigor, and for two hours preventedthe enemy from emerging into the open.
The British regulars began to be irritated at the stubborn resistanceof the few Americans, and made a move which Allen knew was to be anattempt to flank him.
He called Capt. Lossier and bade him take fifty men and advance to theright and post himself in an advantageous ditch and to maintain hisposition there.
