Allen saw that unless he retreated while his rear was open, he would be surrounded and all his men slaughtered, for he knew the command had gone out to butcher all found with arms in their hands. With great reluctance he gave the order to retreat. The Indians were rapidly gaining in the direction of the rear, and only fleet feet would give the Americans a chance. Although the Americans could run, they were no match for the Indians, and Allen found himself surrounded. He had only twenty-eight men left, and yet he would not surrender. With fixed bayonets the little band waited the onslaught of the British, who were only a few yards away on all sides. An English captain, mad at the way in which his men had been kept at bay, snatched a musket from the hands of one of his men and fired at Allen. Although only a few yards distant, the ball missed, and Allen, not to be thought wanting in reciprocal feelings, fired at the captain, but both were too much blown to take aim, so the shots were wasted. "Coward!" shouted Allen--"cowards all! To think that it took five hundred men to capture twoscore patriots!" The captain answered back and demanded surrender. "As prisoners of war?" asked Allen. "No. As rebels." "Then, by the great Jehovah, I will die fighting! Men, let us resist to the death!" To the surprise of the English, a volley was fired into their ranks, and the Americans prepared to load again. Seven more of Allen's men had fallen wounded, while twelve of the English had been made to bite the dust. "On what terms will you surrender?" asked the captain. "That we shall all be recognized as prisoners of war and receive honorable treatment." "On the word of a British officer, your terms shall be accepted." The Americans threw down their arms. As Allen presented his sword to the officer a naked savage, with hellish visage, made still more repulsive by the fact that half his head was shaved and the other half adorned with feathers, rushed at Allen and placed his musket at his head. Allen caught the English captain and swung him between the Indian and himself, but the savage flew round with incredible swiftness and great fury, trying to kill the brave mountaineer without injuring the officer. Allen succeeded in keeping the Englishman between him and the savage, but another Indian came rushing up and Allen gave all up as lost. "Arrah, be jabers, if I can shtand that same!" shouted an Irishman in the service of England. He rushed forward with fixed bayonet, risking punishment for breaking rank, and swearing by his forefathers that he would kill the "haythen," rescued Allen. Thus, while Montgomery was waiting for him at St. John, Ethan Allen was a prisoner in the hands of the English and being marched into Montreal a captive. In the barrack yard Gen. Prescott confronted him. "Are you the Col. Allen who captured Ticonderoga?" he asked. "I am."