ou joined these men against the rule of your
sovereign?"

"I knew that if the colonists failed the leaders would be hanged; if
they succeeded they would found a new nation, and the chances were
worth risking."

"Did you not think that England has a large army and a strong navy at
her back?"

"Yes, and I knew it had strong forts; this is one of them."

"You sneer! I admit that England behaved scurvily in allowing me to
have so few men."

"Nay, nay, captain. Fifty men, if they felt an interest in their work,
could hold this fort against an army."

"You are the victor and so have a right to rebuke me. But do not think
England will allow the colonies to be independent."

"Perhaps not, but at any rate the colonies will have won respect for
themselves."

"But the leaders will be hanged."

"So let it be."

"Can you face the thought of death like that?"

"I can, for my country will be saved from a serfdom which no
self-respecting nation should submit to."

"If--mind, I say if, for I do not think there is the remotest
chance--but if the colonies were successful, what could they do for
you? I suppose you might be a governor, or something like that, with
no salary to speak of, while if you had remained loyal to your king you
might have a chance----"

"Of being snubbed, insulted and laughed at."

Delaplace smiled. He had learned the cause of Arnold's action in
joining the colonists--it was disappointed ambition. Could he play on
that and win over Arnold? If so, then he would regain the fort, and
that by treachery; but what of that? Would not the result justify the
means?

"My dear general"--Arnold smiled at the title--"if anyone insulted or
snubbed you it was through a misunderstanding. Tell me about it, and I
think all can be rectified."

"It is too late."

"Not so; it is never too late for a great nation to rectify a wrong
done to even the humblest of its subjects, let alone a man of such
undoubted courage and rectitude as Gen. Arnold."

"I am not a general, but only a captain--in this adventure only a
private."

"You should be a general. If the king knew you as well as I have
learned to do in these few hours, you most likely would have the
control of the army in the colonies."

"But the king will never have an opportunity to know me."

"Why not?"

"Only success can make me known to the king."

"Or failure; and then it would be too late."

"You see how impossible it would be for the ki