The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-05-27

Beman.
Nothing particular, father, only
they've got barber there"
"A what?"
"A barber, man who cuts hair and
shaves you. The soldiers were all being
shaved; it was fun to see some of them
vince and squirm."
did You see the commandant?"
Eyes, Capt de la Place bought the
chickens and eggs himself, and took me
to his room to pay me. He told me,
mother, that he did not get such nice
eggs as yours anywhere else"
Mrs. Beman smiled with pleased van
ity. well, keep good hens and feed
them well, and l always sell my eggs
fresh," she said.
"Yes, mother, said her husband, land
you make more money from your poul-
try than l do from my farm. However,
we've always worked together. But,
Nathan, you are sober, what are you
thinking about?"
''0h, | was thinking how easy old I'll
could be taken" answered Nathan.
Capture old Til" exclaimed his ia
Their, why, lad, the things impossible,
Abercromb lost two thousand men
there in '5s, and young Lord Howe was
killed. wasn't ten feet from him when
he fell. The forts impregnable. But
what in the world put the thought in
your head? Who is there to take it9''
Il don't know, father, but ever since
we heard of the battle of Lexington be-
tween the rcdcoats and our farmers,
have been thinking how old I'll might
be taken. You don't know how care
less they are. There were no sentinels
on duty this afternoon, and the soldiers
were drinking and gambling"
THAT may be, but Ticonderoga isn't
a gal to be taken by the first wooer.
'Twould be a great stroke for liberty,
but no, no. there's nobody to do it."
And Farmer Beman, who was thor
oughly patriotic American, shook his
head firmly.
But as the farmer and Nathan were
milking the cows that night, tramp,
tramp, tramp, came the sound of many
feet, and, rising with their filed pals
to see what the matter might be, they
saw the road filled with more than three
hundred armed men.
They are not redcoats, but who can
they be, Nathan, and what can their
GRAND be?" asked the elder Beman
with honest surprise.
He was answered by the appearance
of two officers of rank-one a large,
tall man of Herculean cast, dressed in
high heavy boots, buff brooches and
waistcoat, and a high-c ollared white
shagcoat; the other slighter man,
but well made and of noble bearing,
whose garments were richer and more
fashionable in their cut. Both were on
horseback and wore swords epaulettes
and other insignia of rank.
AS I'm alive, it's Col. Ethan Allenr'
exclaimed Farmer Beman, addressing
the colossal figure.
And are you Ebenezer Beman, - cried
the famous Green mountain hero.
This is Col Arnold, and we are on our
way to take old IT,
lyon must be mad, Col Allen" cried
the farmer, aghast. Gen. Abercrom-
'--~~-- ..-.. -roU wen. y UcrcrOmD1e, nor
does insanity run in my family" an
swered Allen, sturdily. "Yonder fort
will be in the hands of free men to-
morrow morning, or Ethan Allen will
be no more among the living
Young Nathan Beman stood looking
with all his eyes upon the stalwart
figure of the Green mountain hero, who
to him was the personification of every
thing great and glorious in the world.
The looks of Arnold he did not like as
well. He had areckless air and proud,
contemptuous expression of counter
ance, but those flashing eyes and SIMS
ter lips did not then foretell the i'll
fame that was to come to this brave
and gifted man.
II suppose You have made provision
Tor boats to transport your troops
across the lake, Col. Allen" said the
farmer.
81 have sent a party to secure what
boats they could above here, and an
other party has gone to Skenesboro.
but trusted to find certain craft at this
place, answered Allen. Gould | have
been misinformed?"
There is an excellent scow half
mile above here, and there are a dozen
skiffs down wonder tn at You are well
come to-"
And now, Mr.. Beman," said Allen.
bending upon him the steady gaze of
his stern blue ewes, do YOU know of
anyone that we can depend on as a
guide, some one that knows all about
the fort and its approaches? l wish to
avoid if possible any danger from the
salute of a charge of grape shot or can
lister from the wide-mouthed war dogs
of old Tt"
Il don't know of any one who knows
old Ii better than my son Nathan
here; he goes over there as often as once
a week "
And can you, my young man. con-
duct us to the fort and show US the way
to the commanders quarters? Are YOU
sure you can do it?" Col. Aliens
voice was stern and decisive. for it was
an important task that was REQUIRED.
and the person that served him must
not fail him.
Il know the fort as we'll as | know
our house yonder," declared Nathan.
boldly. I've been all over it by dav-
light, Or, and think l could find nv
way OVER it by night"