"But you said you were to arrest Ethan Allen; now, we cannot all be Ethan Allen, and I am the one accused." Allen knew just as well as the officer that all must surrender, but he wanted to confuse the Englishman, and perhaps find a way of escape. "I am very sorry, but if you are Allen, the party with you may be also wanted. I must demand the surrender of all." "Before I surrender I demand the arrest of that man." "What for?" "Murder!" The informer almost shrieked as he heard the charge. His knees trembled, the blood left his cheeks, and he looked a most guilty wretch. "Look at him," Allen exclaimed. "Tell me, is he not guilty?" "I did not do it. He--he shot himself." "And you took the skins. Ah, my fine friend, Frenchman or Canadian, you may well tremble. England does not accept the services of murderers. You sought to save yourself by denouncing me. Your trick has failed. I shall not surrender on the accusation of a murderer. I will give my parole to appear against you on your trial." "You refuse to surrender?" asked the sergeant, in amazement. "If my accuser was a man of honor instead of a murderer I should bow to fate, but unless you have some one to accuse me who is not tainted I shall resist you, and if I fall my family will hold you accountable for my death." The sergeant was in a quandary. He had been ordered to arrest Ethan Allen, and here was a man who had put him to the proof. The only accuser was one whose word was of no account, for he was a self-confessed murderer. "Are you Ethan Allen?" the sergeant asked, most innocently. "If you think so arrest me. I shall not answer any questions except before a proper tribunal." "You are a brave fellow, and I wish there was some one here who knew you." "I know him!" All turned toward the door and saw a man with a long white beard and patriarchal appearance, though his garb was that of a monk. "I know him," the monk repeated. "And I say that, whatever his name may be, he is an honest man." "You said you knew him, and yet do not know his name; is not that strange?" "Not at all. In these troublous days a man may have more names than there are days in the week, and yet be honest." "By what name did you know him?" asked the officer. "As one who did good wherever he might be." "He is accused----" "The man who accuses him of wrongdoing must be bad at heart, for I will swear that he is innocent." "But they say he is a spy?" "A spy? Accuse him of being a spy? Why, one might as well accuse me. He is too open for a spy, and if he was one he would acknowledge it." "And so criminate himself?" "If he were a spy, I repeat, he would never deny it if put to the test. Who is his accuser?" "This man----" "That shivering wretch! He looks half dead." "He will be dead soon," Allen interjected, "for he is a murderer, as well as one who bears false witness against his fellows."