Part 5 (1/2)
”As early as you are ready to see it.”
”Good! I am ready.”
Silva.n.u.s stepped quite lively, and Eben, on looking back, saw him going toward the colonel's with his musket over his shoulder.
The next farm was occupied by John Smith.
”John Smith, are you there?” shouted Eben, as he opened the door and looked in.
”Ah, my boy! What brings you here now?”
”The moon will rise to-night.”
”Is that so? That is great news. At what time?”
”As early as you are ready to see it.”
”Good! I would leave the best boiled dinner or get up at any hour of the night to see the moon rise. What do you think? Will there be any bears about a night like this?”
”Most likely.”
”Then I will take my old musket; it may be handy to have.”
A like reception Eben met with at Peleg Sunderland's and James Breakenridge's houses.
Within an hour thirty of the Green Mountain boys had gathered in the home of their colonel, Ethan Allen.
”Boys, we are in for it this night. Remember that it is your own kith and kin that will be opposed to you. They are brothers, all these Yorkers, and we do not want to be the first to shed blood; but if they fire, that will be our signal. By the great mountains! we will give two bullets for their one, and may victory be with the right!”
After giving instructions as to the mode of procedure, Allen told them how he had heard the news.
”Never let any of the boys call Eben Pike a sissy any more. He has won his spurs as a true knight.”
Had Ethan not cautioned the boys against loud talking, there would have been a rousing cheer given for the youthful hero.
”Whenever we have to distinguish our hero,” said Allen, ”we will call him Eben Pike, the hero of Eagle's Bridge.”
There is no doubt that Eben's face flushed when he heard the words of praise, but he could not speak a word, for his tongue seemed too large for his mouth, and his heart would beat so rapidly that it made him believe he was going to choke.
It was Allen's plan to hide all the boys and appear as though he was unarmed and unprepared when the sheriff came.
Seth Warner had returned to his colonel's house and reported that he had made all arrangements for a speedy message if the sheriff from Albany went to his house first.
Eben had slipped out and had gone to reconnoiter.
It was unknown to Allen, or he would not have allowed the brave boy to run any more risks.
”Where is Pike?” he asked, as soon as he missed him.
”He went out a moment ago,” answered Ira.