Not one atom of distrust of Arnold was to be found in the whole of the mountaineer's mind. Certainly he had no reason for it save the strong distrust manifested by Remember Baker because of the stories Martha had brought from New Haven. On the evening of the ninth of May the combined forces of Allen and Arnold appeared on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, opposite Ticonderoga. The march had been so well planned and executed that the English had no knowledge of the movement of the Mountain Boys. A difficulty, which had not been foreseen, had to be overcome. There were only three small boats in which the men could be conveyed across the lake. Usually there was quite a fleet of boats there, but the soldiers had taken most of the boats farther up the lake. Arnold suggested the construction of rafts, but the felling of trees might make so much noise that the attention of the garrison might be called to it and the whole plan fail. Men were sent up the shore to search for boats, while others were instructed to look for anything which could be utilized for rafts. Half the night was wasted in the vain search, and some of the boys were discouraged. Allen called the leaders together and asked the simple question: "What shall we do?" Let it not be thought that he hesitated. No, Ethan Allen never did that; he knew just what would be best, but he also knew that the men were more confident if they were consulted. Eli Forest was the first to answer. "It is impossible for us to cross, so I think it would be best to retire into the woods and fell trees, so that we might fashion rafts." "How long would that delay us?" "Not more than a week." "What say you, Baker?" "I do not like delay, yet--Ticonderoga is strong, and ten men could hold the place against a hundred." "And you, Col. Arnold?" "I am a soldier, and am ready to follow my superior. What he orders I shall loyally help to carry out." "We will all do that," said Baker, half ashamed that he had shown any shadow of doubt about the advisability of attacking the fort. "I know you are all true soldiers," replied Allen, "and I am ready to lead you against the fort. I think we can breakfast on the rations England has provided." "Lead on and we will follow." "Forest, do you pick the men in your company who have the strongest nerves and the pluckiest spirits to cross first; take the largest of the two large boats and get as many of the men over as possible." "It shall be done." "And you, Baker, follow the same instruction in reference to the Mountain Boys. The small boat we will reserve for Col. Arnold and myself. When you reach the other side, remember that there must not be a sound. No word must be uttered, no fire made, but let every man lie in the long grass and wait for orders." A crew was selected for each boat, and the work of transporting the little army across the lake was commenced.