CHAPTER XVI--TICONDEROGA
A halt was silently signalled, and Job, the skilfullest scout of allthis band of woodsmen, was sent forward to reconnoitre. Silently, as aghost, his tall figure melted into the obscurity of dawn, and presentlyappeared, out of the blur of shadows, bearing whispered tidings that allwas quiet within the Fort, and only one sentinel carelessly guarding theopen wicket of the main entrance.
A whispered word of command drifted back along the ranks and the troopsmoved forward. They mounted a slight declivity and advanced to the righttoward the gate. Now the sentinel could be seen pacing his beat; now thewhite cross-belts and the facings of his uniform made out, and still hemaintained his deliberate pace, unconscious of the enemy, while,perhaps, his thoughts were far away in the green fields of merryEngland, where the hawthorn was blooming and the lark singing "atheaven's gate."
The heads of the files were close upon him when his wandering thoughtswere suddenly recalled. Too much surprised to challenge or call analarm, he levelled his fusee at Allen's towering figure and pulled thetrigger. The life of the bold chieftain hung for an instant in thetrembling balance of fate, but not a spark followed the stroke of theflint. The guard turned and fled through the open wicket with Allen andArnold, side by side, close upon his heels. After them came Nathan; andthe crowding files of men swarmed through the narrow gate in animpetuous rush, and, guided by the boy, onto the parade. This wasenclosed on three sides by lofty stone barracks. Here they caught a lastglimpse of the flying sentry dodging into a bombproof, like a woodchuckinto a hole. Another sentinel made a bayonet thrust at Nathan, whenAllen's sword fell quick as a thunderbolt upon the man's head in adownright blow that must have cleft the skull, had it not glanced on ametal comb that held his hair in place.
The assailants quickly formed in two ranks, facing outward upon the eastand west lines of barracks, and gave three cheers that made the graywalls ring with quick, rebounding echoes.
"Quick, my boy, show me the commandant's quarters," said Allen, and hisguide led to a flight of outer stairs arising to the upper story of thesouth barracks. Ascending them, Allen shouted:
"Come forth, commandant, come forth." But receiving no answer hethundered on the door with the pommel of his sword and shouted stilllouder:
"Come out of your hole, you damned old skunk," and thereupon the doorwas drawn a little ajar. Allen flung it wide open, and disclosed thebewildered face and undignified figure of Captain Delaplace, clad onlyin his shirt and nightcap, with his breeches in his hand. Behind himstood his night-gowned wife, her pretty face pale with alarm. For amoment the captain gaped at his unceremonious visitor.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"I want the Fort and all it contains. Surrender, instantly."
"Surrender? Is this a mad joke or treason?"
"Neither; but honest men claiming their own. Surrender."
"In whose name? By whose authority?" asked Delaplace, assured of theearnestness of the summons.
"In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress."
"I know no such authority."
"Sir, do you deny the authority of the King of Kings? And Congressseemeth to have some power here this morning. Waste no more time. We arefour to your one. Do you surrender?"
"I see no choice. But it consoles me that you rebels will hang forthis."
"You are welcome to the consolation of the hope, but it gives me nouneasiness and I run no new risks. I am Ethan Allen. You may have heardof me and have lusted for the shekels the sons of Belial offer for myhead. But get on your clothes and parade your men without arms. Madam,"bowing low to the lady, "pardon the intrusion, but my business isurgent. Permit me to close the door." So doing he awaited thereappearance of the commandant.
"This is a pretty kettle of fish," the chopfallen captain groaned."Courage, my dear; this handsome giant has something of the manners of agentleman, and will not let a lady be maltreated by his rebel band."
"Oh, William, the Fort surprised, and we prisoners, and not a blowstruck for defense."
"There could be no defense with such numbers. Well, there's no usecrying over spilt milk. Did you see that pet cub of yours with the bigrebel? What did I tell you?" said the captain, putting the finishingtouches to his hasty toilet.
He rejoined Allen and proceeded to the parade, where, presently, hemustered his little force without arms and formally delivered them tothe captors, who marched them away to their quarters under guard. Twodays later, with an armed escort, they were on their way through thewilderness to Connecticut, and Nathan saw the last of the lady of theFort.
Warner and the remainder of the men arrived at Ticonderoga soon afterits surrender, disappointed that they had not participated in itsachievement.
Still guided by the boy, the officers made a tour of investigation,which revealed a wealth of guns and ammunition--supplies greatly neededby the army of patriots then gathered at Boston. As the boy listened tothe rejoicings, his heart was full of proud thankfulness that he hadborne so important if humble a part in this service of his country.
Warren and Sunderland and a hundred men set forth for the easy conquestof Crown Point and its insignificant garrison, while, on Lake George,another party took possession of Fort George and its garrison of a man,his wife, and a dog.
Arnold hastily fitted out a schooner taken at Skeenesborough, and, withAllen in a batteaus filled with armed men, sailed down the lake tocapture the British sloop at St. Johns. Job's knowledge of the lake,gained in years of ranger service upon it, made him valuable as pilot,in which capacity he accompanied Allen; and where Job went there wentNathan. The brisk south wind swiftly wafted Arnold's craft far inadvance of her sluggish consort, whose crew saw their chances of glorylessening and fading with the white wings of the schooner.
The voyage was a pleasant one to Nathan, for beyond the mouth of OtterCreek everything was new to him, with strange and changing shores andsuch an expanse of water as he had never seen. His old friend pointedout to him notable landmarks and scenes of past adventure. Here was thecleft promontory of So-baps-kwa and the opposite headland ofKo-zo-aps-kwa, there the solitary rock of Wo-ja-hose. Then they passedthe isles of the Four Winds and Valcour, and Grand Isle's low, woodedshore stretching along the eastward water line. At last, as they werenearing the northern end of the lake and saw on their right the ruin ofan old French windmill, the only vestige of civilized occupation theyhad seen except the ruins of Fort St. Anne on Isle la Motte, theydescried two sail rapidly bearing down toward them from the north beforethe shifted wind.
For a few moments they were in an excitement of alarm, not knowingwhether these were friends or foes. Soon Allen, who had been watchingthrough a glass, lowered it, and, waving his cocked hat above his head,shouted:
"Hurrah, boys, it's our friends with the British sloop. Give her threecheers."
While the last lusty cheer was scarcely uttered, an answering salutefrom the cannon of the sloop and schooner was thundered forth.
"Give 'em powder for powder, boys. Fire," Allen shouted, and a rattlingvolley of muskets, rifles, and long smoothbores reawakened the echoes.
The crew of the batteau was then transferred to the schooner and herprize--the same armed sloop Nathan so well remembered seeing when shebrought supplies to the Fort he had just borne a part in surprising.While amid loud rejoicings the story of her bloodless capture was told,they went merrily bowling homeward with the clumsy batteau surging alongin tow at such speed as she had never known before.
A Hero of Ticonderoga Page 16