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He had aged much during those two years, and his friends would scarcelyhave known him.
As he reached the deck he heard a voice, which seemed very familiar,say:
"Colonel, don't you know me?"
A tall, bearded young man stood before him with extended hand.
"Eben!"
"Ah! then I have not changed so much."
It was Eben Pike, dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant of theAmerican army.
"What brings you here? You are not a prisoner?"
"No; at this moment I am a guest of His Majesty the King of England,and am acting on behalf of the United States of America, and moreespecially the commander-in-chief, Gen. Washington, and----"
"I am so glad to see you, Eben, that I do not know what you have beensaying. I feared you were dead."
"No, colonel, I had a work to do, and I have done it. You see, we,that is, the American army, took a certain English colonel prisoner,and England wanted him very badly, so Gen. Washington said: 'You shallhave him in exchange for Col. Ethan Allen,' and at last the order forthe exchange was made and you are free."
What did it mean?
Allen heard the word "free," but it seemed like an echo of fairyland,having nothing in common with this matter-of-fact, cruel world.
"Yes, Col. Allen, you are free."
This time the word was spoken by an English officer.
Allen staggered like a drunken man, and would have fallen had not Ebencaught him.
"Come, colonel, we must not trespass on the hospitality of the King ofEngland any longer; I have promised to escort you with all duediligence to the headquarters of the commander-in-chief."
Allen stood still, looking, with glassy eyes, at the speaker.
In a few moments he asked;
"Am I dreaming?"
"It looked very like it, colonel, for you acted as though you wereasleep; but come now, we must be going."
"Do you mean it? Are you really Eben Pike?"
"Ask the captain here. He will vouch for that. The document reads:'The bearer, Lieut. Pike, of the Army of the United States of America,'does it not?"
"Yes, Col. Allen, the whole thing means that you are exchanged. Wehave got our man, and we pay for his liberty by giving you yours.Good-day, and may I never see you again--at least under recentconditions."
Allen entered a small boat with Eben, and two stout seamen pulled theboat to the dock, where a carriage was in waiting.
Eben almost pushed the astonished and half-dazed Green Mountain herointo the carriage, and soon the waterside was left far behind and thecarriage rolled along the roads to the place where Gen. Washington hadmade his headquarters.
By that time Allen had begun to realize that he was really free.
Washington met him at the door and grasped his hand warmly.
"For over a year we have been trying to secure your release, but couldnot get the English to consent. You have to thank Lieut. Eben Pike foryour release. He is a real hero."
"General, I only did my duty."
