"A soldier's first lesson is that of obedience," he said to them, "and I am going to try you in many ways. In the expedition we are about to undertake I shall only be of the same rank as yourselves. Obey whoever may be your commander, but be ready to accept me as your leader at any time." Eli, on behalf of the guards, promised that whatever Arnold might order it would be their pleasure to obey. "Sergt. Eli Forest, stand forward." Eli obeyed and saluted. "Lieut. Percival has obtained leave of absence. He will join the army in Cambridge when that leave expires. The grade of lieutenant is an important one, and I appoint you, Eli Forest, first lieutenant of the Governor's Guards." Eli thanked his chief for the new honor, and Arnold had bound him still closer to him. CHAPTER XIV. ARNOLD'S POWERS OF FASCINATION. "On the choice of friends Our good or evil name depends." "Colonel, a number of armed men are marching this way, and I like not their appearance," said the young Eben Pike, hurriedly and with gasping breath, as he entered the presence of Ethan Allen. "They most likely are friends, Eben." "They may be, colonel, but I thought you ought to know." "You acted wisely, as you usually do. Did you meet Mistress Baker?" "Yes, colonel, and a fair young maiden she is. I wish I had a sister like her." Allen laughed and looked at the boy, whose face was a brighter color than usual. "You will learn to like some one else's sister better than your own, if you had one." Eben blushed still more and was about to leave when the colonel made him send Baker at once. Remember Baker had a sister, pretty and winsome. She had been visiting for a year in New Haven, and decided to return to her brother's home at the very time he was on the march with Allen. Baker had an aunt living near Lake Champlain, and he decided to place Martha with her. Good friends escorted Martha to a place a few miles from where the Mountain Boys were to camp prior to their attack on Fort Ticonderoga, and Eben was dispatched to escort the young maiden to her brother. Eben had fulfilled the task and wished the distance had been several times as far; but a few miles from the camp he had seen the regiment of guards on the march, and at once thought it his duty to report. Remember Baker entered the presence of Ethan Allen and listened to the story told by Eben. "Martha saw them," said Baker, "and she declared that their leader was a man who was noted for being a great loyalist in New Haven." "So! Let all the men be ready in case of emergency, and do you see that they are well prepared for attack!" "I shall see to it." "Does Mistress Martha feel tired after her long journey?" "No; she very naively says that she was tired until she was met by Eben, and from that time her weariness ceased." "Natural, very. Eben felt that way also, and his face was as red as a turkey gobbler's comb when he entered here."