an army of twenty thousand men, who were undisciplined, without
weapons, without arms of any kind worth speaking of, and having no money
to pay for the food they would require, not mentioning arms.

The question of salary was next discussed, but Washington stopped it by
emphatically declaring that he would not touch one penny of salary, and
only asked that out-of-pocket expenses should be paid.

In the midst of the cheering which these words evoked, Ethan Allen
entered the hall.

"Who is that man?" asked John Hancock.

"Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga," answered Sam Adams.

The cheering broke out again, but this time it was for the Green Mountain
leader.

Again and again did the walls re-echo with the plaudits.

Then Sam Adams called Ethan Allen to the chairman's desk, and John
Hancock warmly congratulated the hero.

A resolution of thanks was passed, and Allen was asked to introduce his
friends.

Seth Warner and Remember Baker were welcomed as able coadjutors, and
Allen took care to say that they were typical of all the Mountain Boys,
and that what they had done was only a foretaste of what they would do if
necessary.

Eben Pike was called up, and the boy bashfully wriggled--no one could
call it walking--up to John Hancock's desk.

When Allen told of the bravery of the young scout and of the way in which
he had so recently saved his friends from falling into the hands of the
English, Hancock rose from his seat and called for three hearty cheers
for the young hero.

Then the Congress settled down to work and appointed officers to assist
Washington.

What a brave lot of men! Their names cannot be too often repeated.

The major-generals were Artemus Ward, Charles Lee, Phillip Schuyler and
Israel Putnam--the famous wolf-den Putnam. Then the brigadier-generals
comprised Richard Montgomery, Seth Pomeroy, David Wooster, William Heath,
Joseph Spencer, John Thomas and Nathaniel Greene. The adjutant-general
was Horatio Gates.

Allen overheard Gen. Schuyler speak of Canada and of its importance.

Allen made his acquaintance and asked him to allow him to tell of the
plan New York had rejected.

Schuyler was delighted, and thanked the Vermonter warmly.

"If ever you are in command of such an army of invasion," said Allen, "I
shall ask to be allowed to join as a volunteer."

"My dear Allen, there is not a man in all Philadelphia at the present
moment I would rather have," answered the general.

Ala