AllFreeNovel
Share Us
going to land."
Eben spoke so seriously that even the captain thought it might havebeen an accident; so, after cursing the young Vermonter, he left theplace.
Then Eben laughed heartily.
"Forfeited all right, have we? Well, I have found one way of humblingan Englishman."
"Eben, you ought not to have done it."
"Ought not? Why, I only regretted that we were not near enough to theside so that he would have fallen into the water."
"Hush!"
"You are not to have anything to drink, nor anything to eat, but hangme if I'm going to see you starve, so here, stow this into your mouthand suck like mad."
The kind-hearted sergeant pushed a piece of hard boiled beef intoAllen's mouth.
Allen was too good a hunter not to know that the beef was prepared insuch a way that, though tasteless, it nourished, and by sucking on itthe saliva was promoted and thirst quenched.
After Eben had been served in the same way the sergeant laughed.
"I didn't give you aught to drink, nor aught to eat, but you'll getthere all the same, and I ain't broken the rule."
"If ever I get the chance to remember your kindness, my memory willserve me."
"That's all right. I expect you'll get hanged, but blow me if I couldsee a dog starve, and you're a trump anyway, though you be a rebel."
CHAPTER XXIX.
ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.
Three days after his capture, Ethan Allen heard an extraordinary noiseon the upper deck, and he knew that the _Gaspee_ was about to sail.But its destination he did not know.
After the first day the prisoners were allowed to have one meal a day,for, as Prescott told Allen, he did not want to cheat the gallows.
The _Gaspee_ was bound for Quebec, and the prisoners were overjoyed atthe prospect of a change.
"It cannot be for the worse," said one of the Americans to Allen;"therefore we shall be the gainers."
"I wish they would hang us right away," answered the hero ofTiconderoga, "for I am tired of this life."
"We shall all be free----"
"Yes, when in our graves."
"Do not get downhearted, colonel; we have pulled through many a hardrow before now."
There was a consolation in having company, and the prisoners from theother ships had been crowded on the _Gaspee_.
"March out the rebels."
All heard the order given, and each looked at his fellow with anxiousglance.
It might be a farewell to them. Who could tell?
The leg irons were unlocked and the prisoners marched up thecompanionway to the upper deck.
As they reached the deck the fresh air was almost overwhelming, forthey had not breathed any for several days.
