Page 74 of The Hero of Ticonderoga; or, Ethan Allen and His Green Mountain Boys

"Are you Ethan Allen?" the sergeant asked, most innocently.

"If you think so arrest me. I shall not answer any questions exceptbefore a proper tribunal."

"You are a brave fellow, and I wish there was some one here who knewyou."

"I know him!"

All turned toward the door and saw a man with a long white beard andpatriarchal appearance, though his garb was that of a monk.

"I know him," the monk repeated. "And I say that, whatever his namemay be, he is an honest man."

"You said you knew him, and yet do not know his name; is not thatstrange?"

"Not at all. In these troublous days a man may have more names thanthere are days in the week, and yet be honest."

"By what name did you know him?" asked the officer.

"As one who did good wherever he might be."

"He is accused----"

"The man who accuses him of wrongdoing must be bad at heart, for I willswear that he is innocent."

"But they say he is a spy?"

"A spy? Accuse him of being a spy? Why, one might as well accuse me.He is too open for a spy, and if he was one he would acknowledge it."

"And so criminate himself?"

"If he were a spy, I repeat, he would never deny it if put to the test.Who is his accuser?"

"This man----"

"That shivering wretch! He looks half dead."

"He will be dead soon," Allen interjected, "for he is a murderer, aswell as one who bears false witness against his fellows."

"You say that you believe that miserable reptile, instead of thishonest man? Beside, think of the illogical position. If this man is aspy, you have to admit that there is a war between your people and his,and that your government denies."

"I am a soldier and must obey orders."

Allen rose in the dignity of his manhood, and rather startled his ownfriends by saying:

"I never asked a man yet to disobey orders. Do your duty. I will gowith you to Sabrevous; but, mark me, I shall hold your governmentresponsible for my loss of time and for the indignity of this arrest."

Eben Pike had not been under arrest, and now he stood at the door,waiting developments. He saw clearly what should be done. If Allenwas condemned, then Montgomery must be informed, and a quick move madeon Sabrevous and Allen liberated.

The procession was formed and Eben walked at a little distance from theparty, apparently taking no more interest in the affair than one ofidle curiosity.

The accuser was pinioned, a musket being secured under his arms acrosshis back, but Allen and his friends were allowed to march entirelyunfettered.

The monk, whom we have recognized as the "mad monk" who rescued MarthaBaker, walked by the side of the sergeant, while Remember Baker walkedwith Allen, the soldiers marching in front and rear of the small party.

"How did you know that he was a murderer?" Baker whispered, pointing tothe miserable informer.

"I cannot tell. I felt that he was. I had but one thing to guide me.A trapper was found murdered near Ticonderoga, and I heard that the onelast seen with him was a fellow who could talk French as well asEnglish, and I guessed this man might be the one, so I hazarded theaccusation, and struck the bull's-eye."

"What will become of us?"