The Hero of Ticonderoga; or, Ethan Allen and His Green Mountain BoysDe Morgan, John
History
The Hero of Ticonderoga; or, Ethan Allen and His Green Mountain Boys
De Morgan, John
Allen, Ethan, 1738-1789 -- Juvenile fiction; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
Eben was lying at Allen's feet, enduring the most horrible tortures
because of the irons, but never complaining for fear that he might be
separated from his hero.
Suddenly their sleep was disturbed by a loud voice asking where the
rebels had been placed.
It was the captain's voice, and he knew well, for he had ordered every
detail.
"They are here, captain."
"Let them stand up."
Allen rose with difficulty, and staggered as he tried to stand at
"attention."
"Drunk, eh? Here, sergeant, see to it that this rebel does not have a
drop of anything to drink for twenty-four hours."
"Except water, captain?"
"I said not a drop of anything. He is drunk."
"Please, sir, he has had nothing to----"
"Silence! Do you want to be ordered to the hold?"
The sergeant was silent, though his whole nature rebelled against such
treatment.
The captain looked at Allen for a minute, then he asked:
"You were at Ticonderoga?"
"And I treated the prisoners with justice," answered Allen.
The only reply was a vigorous kick from the officer's well-shod foot.
Allen bit his lips, but did not resent the affront.
He knew that it was done to provoke him so that his persecutors might
have an excuse for inflicting some terrible punishment on him.
"See to it that these rebels do not sit down until I give permission."
It was the parting order of the captain, and the sergeant blushed with
shame as he heard the command.
When the officer left the deck Allen sat down.
"You must not do that, sir," said the sergeant, kindly; "you heard my
orders."
"I know, but I shall die unless----"
"Lie down, sir; I shall not stop you doing that. The orders were that
you must not sit."
Once more the two prisoners were lying down on their backs; the irons
prevented their reposing on their sides.
By daylight the prisoners were nearly dead with thirst, but not a drop
of water was allowed them.
The captain made his round of inspection at seven o'clock, and Allen
asked if they were to be allowed to have anything to eat or drink.
"No. You will get a rope round your necks soon, and it won't matter
whether you are hungry or not."
"But, sir, you have no right----"
"Stay, there! You are a rebel and have forfeited all right to be
considered in the matter."
Eben listened to the insulting words, and he was in such a position
that he was able to drag his iron bar right across the captain's path.
As the officer stepped back he tripped over the iron and fell sprawling
on the deck.
"Beg your pardon, captain, but I am not accustomed to move about with a
bar of iron on my leg, so couldn't tell where it was going to land."
Eben spoke so seriously that even the captain thought it might have
been an accident; so, after cursing the young Vermonter, he left the
place.
Then Eben laughed heartily.
"Forfeited all right, have we? Well, I have found one way of humbling
an Englishman."
"Eben, you ought not to have done it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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