Ethan Allen jumped from his horse, and stood among his countrymen, the most honored man among them. He had been sent to Albany to represent the farmers who held the lands from the governor of New Hampshire. New York had commenced a suit against New Hampshire, and the trial was in Albany. "Men, I know not whether you call the news good or bad, but it is just as I tell you; New York has won." "And all our titles are upset?" "Ay, that is just what it means." "What are we to do?" "I know not what you will do; I know what I shall do." "What will you do, Ethan?" "When the sheriff comes to dispossess me I shall be there with my musket, and if I fall Ira will be there, and if he falls Ebenezer will have a musket, and if he, too, falls, then John will try what he can do. That is what I shall do." "But the decision says that New York is in the right." "Courts have made mistakes before, and the strong right arm of good mountaineers have set them right." "What said they in Albany?" Allen told them of the trial, and then, with a glow on his face, he added: "They told me that the gods were against me, and I retorted that the gods of the valleys are not the gods of the hills." "Bravo, Ethan! you are a brave chap." "If I had a score of men I would tell the New Yorkers to stay at home, and, if they did not, I would send them home." "A score, did you say?" "Ay, a score would do." "Count me one." "Just as I expected, Seth Warner; you know no danger when homes are to be protected." "I shall join you." "Why, Peleg Sunderland! you know what you will risk?" "My neck, I guess; but, as I have only one, the risk is not much." This was said with such seriousness that the people could not help laughing. "Don't forget me," said Remember Baker. "I shall be sure to remember you, Remember." "If my man won't join you, I will." The people turned to look at the speaker, and as they encountered the firm face of Mistress Cochrane, they knew she meant it. "But I will join, Ethan," her husband, Robert Cochrane, said. "Of course you will, Robert; but I don't know but I'd prefer a score of women like Mistress Cochrane to twoscore men." Mistress Cochrane was a big, well-formed woman, and as her sleeves were rolled up above her elbows, she showed a wealth of muscle which many a man might envy. Twenty men gave in their names, and Ethan was delighted. "I'm proud of my Green Mountain Boys," he said, "and I shall be prouder still when we have won the victory." "Hurrah for our leader!" shouted Seth Warner. The next day Allen called his men together, and put them through their drill. He wanted them to be soldiers, and so the discipline was strict. He was elected colonel of the regiment, and Seth Warner was made captain. The fame of the Green Mountain Boys grew, and many of the men around wished to join, but Allen had no idea of forming a large army, for his object was defense, not defiance.