om her.

Boats brought over the rest of the combined forces of Arnold and Allen,
and the leader of the mountaineers made good his promise that they
should breakfast in the fort on rations paid for by their enemy.

When an inventory had been made and sent in duplicate to the assembly
of Connecticut and of Massachusetts by trusty messengers, Allen called
together his officers and thrilled them by declaring that their work
had only just begun.

"To-day we have captured the strongest fortress in America; in two days
more we must be in Crown Point."

"And again we pledge ourselves to the hero of Ticonderoga, who will
lead us to triumph!" exclaimed Baker.

"Ay, and our cry shall be," echoed Forest, "Liberty Freedom and
Independence!"

CHAPTER XVI.

THE TEMPTATION.

Capt. Delaplace was fretful and soured by his defeat.

"If it had been in open fight," he said, "I should not have cared so
much; but to be caught in a trap, it is enough to make a man kill
himself."

He was speaking to Benedict Arnold, and that patriot was ready to
listen almost gloatingly to the story.

Arnold was a peculiar man; he was kind and sympathetic, yet was ready
to rejoice over the sufferings of the fallen.

Allen had asked Arnold to spend a portion of the day with the defeated
officer, so that he might be more consoled, for company is always
soothing.

Delaplace was a diplomat; he had imbibed the idea that every man had
his price; in other words, that every man could be influenced for or
against a cause by bribery in some form or other.

Being a quick reader of character, he saw that Arnold was ambitious,
and he at once began to wonder whether ambition would lead him to be
false to Allen.

"You have treated me very kindly," he said to Arnold, "and I shall
report to my superiors, though----"

He paused, and there was a world of meaning in that sudden silence.

"Why do you hesitate? I know what you would say."

"Do you?"

"Yes; shall I tell you?"

"If you please."

"And you will tell me whether I am right?"

"On my honor as a soldier and a gentleman."

"You were about to say that such a recommendation would not even be a
plea in mitigation of the death penalty if I should fall into the hands
of the English."

Again there was silence.

"I am answered. Your silence proves that I am right. You need not
think I am offended. I know I should be treated as a rebel, not as a
prisoner of war."

"And, knowing this, y