sted
by Remember Baker because of the stories Martha had brought from New
Haven.

On the evening of the ninth of May the combined forces of Allen and
Arnold appeared on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, opposite
Ticonderoga.

The march had been so well planned and executed that the English had no
knowledge of the movement of the Mountain Boys.

A difficulty, which had not been foreseen, had to be overcome.

There were only three small boats in which the men could be conveyed
across the lake.

Usually there was quite a fleet of boats there, but the soldiers had
taken most of the boats farther up the lake.

Arnold suggested the construction of rafts, but the felling of trees
might make so much noise that the attention of the garrison might be
called to it and the whole plan fail.

Men were sent up the shore to search for boats, while others were
instructed to look for anything which could be utilized for rafts.

Half the night was wasted in the vain search, and some of the boys were
discouraged.

Allen called the leaders together and asked the simple question:

"What shall we do?"

Let it not be thought that he hesitated. No, Ethan Allen never did
that; he knew just what would be best, but he also knew that the men
were more confident if they were consulted.

Eli Forest was the first to answer.

"It is impossible for us to cross, so I think it would be best to
retire into the woods and fell trees, so that we might fashion rafts."

"How long would that delay us?"

"Not more than a week."

"What say you, Baker?"

"I do not like delay, yet--Ticonderoga is strong, and ten men could
hold the place against a hundred."

"And you, Col. Arnold?"

"I am a soldier, and am ready to follow my superior. What he orders I
shall loyally help to carry out."

"We will all do that," said Baker, half ashamed that he had shown any
shadow of doubt about the advisability of attacking the fort.

"I know you are all true soldiers," replied Allen, "and I am ready to
lead you against the fort. I think we can breakfast on the rations
England has provided."

"Lead on and we will follow."

"Forest, do you pick the men in your company who have the strongest
nerves and the pluckiest spirits to cross first; take the largest of
the two large boats and get as many of the men over as possible."

"It shall be done."

"And you, Baker, follow the same instruction in reference to the
Mountain Boys. The small boat we will