en, captain, I thought that this man, Allen, knew nothing of
fighting save a sheriff's posse, and you could become the general and
lead the men to Ticonderoga and then to Crown Point, and who knows, you
might drive the English back into Canada, and, joining with the French,
compel England to sue for peace, and you could name your own terms."

"Talk, talk, talk! How easy it is to talk, Eli, but how different is
action. Go; when I have thought over your suggestion I will let you
know my decision."

Eli Forest had the most implicit confidence in Benedict Arnold. As
boys they had gone to the same school, and when they left school they
entered college and graduated at the same time. During all those years
Eli had always looked upon Arnold as a superior being. When the men
were enrolled as guards Eli felt that the height of his ambition was
reached, for, with Arnold as captain, the guards would rival any
military body in the country.

Arnold was as fond of his friend as he could be of anyone; he gave him
greater freedom of speech, and listened to him when others would have
been treated very cavalierly.

When Benedict Arnold was alone he showed by every line on his face how
pleased he was with the suggestion made by his old-time friend.

"It is the opportunity of my life. What does Ethan Allen know about
war? He is a country farmer, and can fight a sheriff's posse, and
perhaps a few soldiers in his mountains; but to take Ticonderoga? Bah!
He will fail unless I help him, and then the glory shall be mine."

Arnold walked quickly up and down the floor, his hands clinched, his
face lighted up with ambitious fire.

"Yes, the glory shall be mine," he continued, "and once let me have
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and then---- Ah! what then?"

He crossed to the window and looked out.

John Stark was marching past at the head of his sturdy New Hampshire
boys, and the people cheered.

"If I hold Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains I can dictate my own
terms. I shall hold the key to the situation. Canada can be mine, and
Massachusetts will be glad to make terms with me. If I fail to make
good terms with the colonies I can go to England and say: 'You will be
driven out of America unless I say stay, and I shall not say that
unless you give me----' Well, what now?"

The orderly entered and told Arnold that he was wanted at the
headquarters of the Provincial army at once.

"Tell the council that I--will not----