a sergeant and twelve men
composed the garrison.

Seth Warner was delighted at the honor conferred upon him by his chief.

Ethan Allen had a reason for keeping as strong a garrison at
Ticonderoga as possible, for he feared that Delaplace might try to
escape and perhaps recapture the fort.

Arnold was surly. He thought that Allen had lost confidence in him,
but Allen reasoned the matter with his Connecticut hero, and satisfied
him that no insult was intended.

Crown Point is about eleven miles north of Ticonderoga. The town
itself lies six miles away from the fort.

Seth Warner started on his march, his men highly elated at the prospect
of winning renown.

When about halfway they were met by a man dressed in the garb of a monk.

He carried a crucifix and a long staff.

His hair was white, and a long beard, which reached nearly to his
waist, was as white as driven snow.

Waving his staff above his head, he called to the soldiers to stop.

Warner had no great liking for monks, though he was honest enough to
respect every man's religion.

"What is it you would have, good father?" asked Warner.

"In the name of the ever true and good, I crave your assistance, and,
if you will grant it, I will give you my blessing, which is better than
rubies and more valuable than gold."

"In what way can we assist you, good father?"

"You are soldiers of liberty. Heaven will bless your swords, and you
will live to see the flag of the tyrant go down in the dust, and a flag
of a free nation will float over a free people. I am not allowed to
fight, or I would gird on a sword and smite me right and left until the
friends of the tyrant were all beneath the sod!"

"We thank you for your patriotic exhortation, but we have a mission to
fulfill and we must not loiter."

"The mission is one which will not fail; I know that you have captured
the strong fort at Ticonderoga, and that you will enter within the
fortifications of Crown Point, but will you assist me?"

"What would you have us do?"

"To the east of you, one mile and one hundred yards, stands a house.
It is a farmhouse. Its owner is no friend of the Provincials, and has
a captive whom he holds for ransom."

"A captive? Held for ransom? Explain yourself!"

"This farmer, fearing that the English might be driven out of the
country and that he would lose his possessions, because he is a great
worker for the enemy, did find a young girl, who was related to one of