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Lossier and his men advanced, but as soon as they came in sight of theredcoats they made a wild rush for the woods and scattered in alldirections.
To make Allen's position worse, a small detachment on the left, underthe command of Lieut. Young, a Canadian volunteer, also broke rank andfled, giving the enemy a chance to take up several strong positions.
Allen now found himself with only forty-five men, including the braveyoung Eben Pike.
They poured in their volleys as fast as they could load and fire.
In order to do more effective work five men were told off to load, andas the men who had run away had thrown down their muskets, there was agood chance to keep the guns cool.
But what could forty-five do against five hundred?
Allen saw that unless he retreated while his rear was open, he would besurrounded and all his men slaughtered, for he knew the command hadgone out to butcher all found with arms in their hands.
With great reluctance he gave the order to retreat. The Indians wererapidly gaining in the direction of the rear, and only fleet feet wouldgive the Americans a chance.
Although the Americans could run, they were no match for the Indians,and Allen found himself surrounded.
He had only twenty-eight men left, and yet he would not surrender.
With fixed bayonets the little band waited the onslaught of theBritish, who were only a few yards away on all sides.
An English captain, mad at the way in which his men had been kept atbay, snatched a musket from the hands of one of his men and fired atAllen.
Although only a few yards distant, the ball missed, and Allen, not tobe thought wanting in reciprocal feelings, fired at the captain, butboth were too much blown to take aim, so the shots were wasted.
"Coward!" shouted Allen--"cowards all! To think that it took fivehundred men to capture twoscore patriots!"
The captain answered back and demanded surrender.
"As prisoners of war?" asked Allen.
"No. As rebels."
"Then, by the great Jehovah, I will die fighting! Men, let us resistto the death!"
To the surprise of the English, a volley was fired into their ranks,and the Americans prepared to load again.
Seven more of Allen's men had fallen wounded, while twelve of theEnglish had been made to bite the dust.
"On what terms will you surrender?" asked the captain.
"That we shall all be recognized as prisoners of war and receivehonorable treatment."
"On the word of a British officer, your terms shall be accepted."
The Americans threw down their arms.
As Allen presented his sword to the officer a naked savage, withhellish visage, made still more repulsive by the fact that half hishead was shaved and the other half adorned with feathers, rushed atAllen and placed his musket at his head.
Allen caught the English captain and swung him between the Indian andhimself, but the savage flew round with incredible swiftness and greatfury, trying to kill the brave mountaineer without injuring the officer.
Allen succeeded in keeping the Englishman between him and the savage,but another Indian came rushing up and Allen gave all up as lost.
"Arrah, be jabers, if I can shtand that same!" shouted an Irishman inthe service of England.
He rushed forward with fixed bayonet, risking punishment for breakingrank, and swearing by his forefathers that he would kill the "haythen,"rescued Allen.
Thus, while Montgomery was waiting for him at St. John, Ethan Allen wasa prisoner in the hands of the English and being marched into Montreala captive.
