Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-06-03
But, Nathan, you are thoughtful. What
are YOU thinking about2"

BILE. Abercrombie lost two thousand
men there in '58, and young Lord Howe
was killed. Iwasn't ten feet from him
when be fell. The forts impregnable
But what in the world put the thought
in your head2 Who is there to take it. !"
81 don't know, father, but ever since
we heard of the battle Of Lexington be-
tween the redcoats and our farmers,
have been thinking how old I'll might be
taken. You don't know how careless
they are. There were no sentinels on
duty this afternoon, and the soldiers
were drinking and gambling"
gal tc be taken by the first wooer.
'Twould De 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 former and Nathan were
milking the COWS that night, tramp,
tramp, tramp, came the sound of many
feet, and rising with their filled 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 be2" 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 breeches and waistcoat,
and high collared white shagcoat; the
other a slighter man, hut we'll made and
of noble bearing, whose garments were
richer and more fashionable in their cut
Both were on horse back and wore swords,
cpaulettes and other insignia of rank.
"As I'm alive, its Colonel Ethan AL.
len !" exclaimed Farmer Beman, address
ing the colossal figure.
"And you are Ebenezer Beman," cried
the famous Green Mountain hero. "This
is Colonel Arnold, and we are on our way
to take old IT,"
"You must be mad, Colonel Allen, I"
cried the farmer aghast. "Gcneral Aber-
crombie had fifteen thousand men and
failed"
"But am not General Abercrombie,
nor does insanity run in my family" an
swered Allen, sturdily. "Yonder, fort
will be in the hands of free men to-mor-
row morning, or Ethen 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 everything
great aud glorious in the world. The
looks of Arnold he did not like as well,
the had reckless air and proud, con-
emptuous expression of countenance, but
those flashing eyes and sinister lips did
not then foretel the ill fame that was to
come to this brave and gifted man.
81 suppose you have made provision
for boats to transport your troops across
the lake, Colonel Allen" said the farmer
81 have sent party to secure what
boats they could above here, and another
party has gone TO Skenesboro, but |
trusted to find certain craft at this place."
answered Allen. "Could I have been
misinformedT
"Therc is au excellent scow half-milo
above here, and there are dozen skiffs
down yonder that you are welcome to-"
"And now, Mr.. Beman,h said Allen,
bending upon him the steady gaze of his
stern blue eyes, "do you know of any
one that we can depend on as a guide,
some one that knows all about the fort
and its approachesl l wish to avoid il
possible any danger from the salute of
charge of grapeshot or canister from the
wide-mouthed war dogs of old til
al don't know of any one that knows
old III better than my son Nathan here.
He goes over there as often as once a
wsck.
Sand can you, young man, conduct
us to the fort aud show US the way to the
commandant's quartersl Are you sure
you can do i'll" Colonel Aliens voice
was stern and decisive, for IL was an i'm
portant task that was required, aud the
person that served him must not fail
him.
~ know the fort as well as | know
our house yonder," declared Nathan
boldly. "I've been all over il by day
light, sir, aud think | could iud my
way over it by night"
Sand do you know where the COM
mandant's quarters aref" inquired
Arnold.
"Ive been there dozen times, sir.
aud should know the place blindfolded,"
answered the lad.
"rhcn you are the boy for u.s." re.
turned the other "Colonel Allen, II we
get the boats, the morning sun will see
the red dag of England pulled down
from wonder ramDarts"