He could not understand why Boston had not been taken and the English
driven out. Then he heard that Benedict Arnold had received a
commission, and was leading an army into Canada to attack Quebec.

In despair Allen left his home and crossed to Ticonderoga, determined
to offer his services to the Connecticut captain who was in command of
the little garrison.

He was sitting on a gun on the day of his arrival on the scene of his
great exploit, when a boy, dirty, ragged and half starved, entered the
fort and stood opposite Allen.

"Don't you know me, colonel?"

"Is that you, Eben?"

"Yes. I am Eben Pike, and right glad I am to see you."

"How did you enter? Where have you been?"

Eben did not answer. He was too weak. His body swayed, his limbs
trembled, and he would have fallen had not Allen caught him.

As gently as a mother carries her child, the hero of Ticonderoga bore
the half-famished boy into the barracks and asked that he should
receive attention.

The boy was undressed and washed, then little sips of beef tea were
given him.

In an hour he showed signs of returning vitality, and they knew that he
would live.

"He left here a month ago," explained the captain; "I sent him on a
delicate mission, knowing that he could be trusted. When he did not
return I thought him dead."

"You knew I should be true to the cause then?" whispered Eben.

"Yes, my boy; no one would ever doubt your loyalty. You shall tell
your adventures later. You must rest and get stronger."

"But I have news I must tell. Gen. Montgomery is on his way to
Ticonderoga to join Arnold in his invasion of Canada. He will be here
to-morrow."

The speech was long for him, and his flushed cheek and quivering voice
told how the message had shaken his frame.

Late that night he woke from a good sleep, and seeing Allen by his bed,
he put out one hand.

"I am so glad to see you, colonel. I feel all right now. I thought I
should die without seeing you."

"Where have you been?"

"I cannot tell you all, but when I left here I fell into the hands of a
tory, and he knew me. He called me a spy, and wanted to hang me, but
before he could get a rope a new idea came to him. He called some more
tories together and they laughed at his suggestion. He wanted to cover
me with tar and then set light to it."

"His name? I will serve him that way."

"The tar was poured all over me, and my clothes were saturated with it.
But when he wen