AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I wish every soldier did his duty as well. I must tell Col. Allen; Iam sure he will be prouder than ever."
"No, general, it was a mere nothing."
"I am the best judge of t
hat. You must understand, colonel, that Pikeenlisted in the cavalry and did excellent service as a private soldier;he was speedily promoted, for he deserved it. But it was at the battleof White Plains that he distinguished himself. Almost single-handed hefought a company of cavalry when most of our men had retreated. He wassurrounded and refused to surrender. 'I have been a prisoner ofEngland once,' he said, and that was enough for him. He cut his waythrough the enemy, and even that enemy has borne testimony to his greatbravery. I am proud of him."
"I am sure that a braver man than my young friend, Pike, never drewsword," added Allen, proudly.
"After he had gallantly cut his way through the enemy, he says hethought he could have done better, so he turned his horse and rodeafter the British. They evidently thought that he was the advanceguard of a regiment, for they stuck their rowels into the horses androde for life. Pike followed up closely and overtook Col. Jameson; hedemanded his surrender, and Jameson had to submit, for Pike had theadvantage."
"Yes, he could not help himself and live," Eben said, with a smile.
"Pike took his captive into camp, and the affair was reported to me.Sergt. Pike became lieutenant, but he was not satisfied. He knew thatJameson was a most important personage, almost as valuable asCornwallis himself, so what does the young lieutenant do but ask me torefuse to exchange Jameson unless you were the captive given up by theBritish. The difficulty had been that you had no commission; I did notknow it until I heard it from Montgomery and Schuyler, and so theBritish looked upon you as an outsider; but they wanted Jameson, andthey got him, and you owe your freedom to Pike's pertinacity."
We can easily imagine Allen's feelings as he listened to the accountgiven by Washington.
The pride he had felt in Eben's career was intensified, and he feltthat the young Green Mountain scout would become one of the greatheroes of the Revolution.
Allen was so broken down by his long and cruel imprisonment that hetook a vacation and retired to Bennington to recuperate.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
BEVERLY ROBINSON'S OFFER.
As though the colonies had not enough work on hand in fighting thegreat power of Britain, they must needs quarrel among themselves, or atleast New York picked a quarrel with New Hampshire over the title toVermont.
Vermont was more than ever determined to remain independent of eitherNew Hampshire or New York, and Ethan Allen admired the sturdy spirit ofhis mountaineers.
He was urged to take command of the Green Mountain forces, and heconsented, writing Gen. Washington and telling him how he regretted thenecessity of staying at home instead of entering the army ofemancipation.
Washington replied in a friendly letter, reminding him that he deserveda rest after his trials, and also telling him that a man's first dutywas to his own people and country.
Acting on this letter, Allen applied to the Congress for the admissionof Vermont into the Confederation of States; but the rivals of New Yorkand New Hampshire were too powerful in the councils of the new nationfor Allen, and Vermont remained outside, a debatable territory.
Ethan Allen was sitting by the great, open fireplace in his house oneevening in the early fall, when a visitor was announced.
"You have forgotten me, Col. Allen?"
"I do not remember having had the pleasure of your acquaintance."
"I am Beverly Robinson."
"Indeed! Ah, now I remember. May I ask what brought you here?"
The tory did not like the brusque question, but he was a diplomat andfenced ably.
"I have heard of your prowess on the field and of your sufferings incaptivity, and I have felt that, though we differ in politics, we arechildren of the same mountains and ought to be friends."
"If you are loyal to Vermont, differences of opinion will not affectme."
"Spoken like the brave man I knew you to be."
"Did you come here to tell me this?"
"Partly, and more especially to discuss the future of Vermont."
"Ah!"
