Page 6 of The Hero of Ticonderoga; or, Ethan Allen and His Green Mountain Boys

"We'll surprise him. You see, the governor has waited until the GreenMountain Boys, as they call themselves, got tired, and then he sendsus; 'cause why? There isn't another sheriff in the colony as could baga fellow like that same Allen."

"Do you know the way to his farm?"

"Yes, every turn in the road. We shall reach there soon after sunset,and then I'll walk right up to him, and say: 'In the name of the king,surrender!' and he will be so surprised that he will almost drop deadwith fright."

"But suppose he is not alone?"

"He will be; at least, there will only be the young boys, and they willnot fight."

"He will not expect us."

"No; and, seeing so many, all armed, he will surrender at once. Thenwe go to Seth Warner's place, and he might show fight, for there aretwo others live with him, but we will silence him by keeping Allen inthe front rank, so that, if he shoots, he has to kill the leader first.Ha, ha, ha! It will be as good as play-acting, and the fun will besomething to talk about as long as we live."

"Aren't you afraid to leave this wallet on the grass?" asked one of themen.

"I shouldn't forget it, for in that wallet is the order to eject andcapture one Ethan Allen, a rebel and traitor."

Every word was heard by Eben Pike.

"If I could get that wallet!" he thought; but it was kept pretty closeto the sheriff.

Eben crawled a little nearer, sheltered by the thick undergrowth of thewood.

He cut a long stick and-held it ready to use if he should bediscovered, for he fancied they would not be very lenient with him ifhe should be caught.

The sheriff and his posse sat talking, and telling of their deeds ofdaring. Each one seemed to try to out-bid the other for bravery.

The conversation became animated, and a strange idea entered thelistener's head.

He crawled still nearer, taking care that he did not move far withoutresting, so that he might be sure he was not observed.

He pushed his stick a little closer to the wallet, and found that heonly needed to be six inches nearer.

After a little more inaction he wriggled his body a few inches farther,and then, quickly and almost silently, with his stick drew the wallettoward him.

He secured it, and fastened it under his vest, the safest place hecould think of.

Backward he crawled, as noiselessly as possible, until he reached aclump of sumach bushes. Then he rose to his feet and ran.

Eben was a child of nature, and, as Ira Allen had said, he would beuseful in carrying a message quickly.

He had been in the possession of the wallet less than five minutes whenthe sheriff proposed that the journey should be continued.

He sprang to his feet, and looked for the wallet; he could not see itin the long grass.

He felt in his pockets, but it was not there.

"I say, men, that isn't a fair joke."

"What isn't?"

"Who has the wallet?"

"Now, that's a good one! Who should have it but the sheriff?"

"Come, a joke's a joke, but don't carry it too far."

"What do you mean?"