of men. I shall call them all together and ask them
to volunteer as soldiers in the new Continental army, and the officers
shall retain the rank they hold at present."

"You have developed the plan very fully."

"Yes, and believe me, Mr. Allen, that I only wish that I could ask you
to volunteer; you see yourself that it would be impossible."

"Yes, it would."

"Having been the commander, it would be humiliating for you to accept a
lower rank, and besides, the men might think you had a right to give
general orders, and thus there would be confusion."

"You are right."

"When can you be ready to leave?"

"I do not know."

"What do you say to the first of June?"

"It depends."

"On what? I will give you an escort."

"When I leave I will arrange for my own escort, should I need one. But
it was not of that I was thinking."

"Of what, then?"

"The return of the messengers from New Haven."

"That need not bother you. The report will be made to me, as
commanding officer."

"Will it?"

"Certainly, so you can arrange to leave on the first of the month."

"Thank you."

"That is settled, then?"

"Is it?"

"Yes. I am very glad, for I have had a very unpleasant task."

Allen had remained so calm that Arnold was deceived.

He staggered like a drunken man when Allen turned on him, and, in tones
which could not be misunderstood, said:

"I have heard all you have to say, and I now tell you that in the name
of the Great Jehovah I shall remain here as long as I please, or until
the general of the Continental Congress removes me, and, what is more,
I shall remain in command, and if you dare to interfere with me or my
command, by the Great Jehovah I will send you to Philadelphia in irons!
You are removed from all responsibility until further orders. Go, or I
may forget myself!"

CHAPTER XIX.

NEWS FROM BOSTON.

Benedict Arnold had found his master.

This man, whose ambition was colossal, had imagined that the Green
Mountain farmer would quail before him and surrender the command.

Arnold's ambition was plausible. What could a farmer know of military
affairs? True, Arnold had been a merchant, but then he had studied at
Yale and had made military subjects his special forte, and he had been
complimented by soldiers of high repute.

Then, had not the English Capt. Delaplace told him he should be a
general, and if he remained with the colonies he should have the
command of all the forces the