llen was unprepared for the encounter.

When he found he was in for a fight, he felt better satisfied to think
he met foemen worthy of his steel, instead of a set of half-fed and
badly armed farmers' men.

The English can fight well, and Allen knew that his troops were
inferior in every way to the enemy, but he did not hesitate.

"Men, we are outnumbered, but we are not beaten; shall we retire as
prisoners, or fight until death claims us?"

"Fight!"

"We cannot surrender without a struggle."

"Who can tell but we may defeat them?"

Allen, pleased with the speeches of his comrades, gave the order to
charge the enemy.

The fight was a sharp one.

Hand-to-hand struggles always partake more of the brutish, and the
truth about such encounters is far more horrible than any description.

Allen was in the thickest of the fight all the time; his sword was
dripping with blood every time he raised it above his head, and that
was just as frequently as he could free his arm from the crush to wield
his weapon.

Only a few minutes did the struggle last, but the carnage was out of
all proportion to the number engaged.

Seven of Allen's men were killed, while the enemy lost twelve, and what
seemed remarkable, all who fell were dead. No one seemed to be wounded
or maimed; death came to all who were stricken.

The return journey was a sad one, though from the point of view of a
soldier it was glorious.

Montgomery congratulated the mountaineer on his bravery, and told him
that his record should be known at headquarters.

The next day the march was resumed, and through lack of guides the army
took a wrong course.

The vanguard, in crossing a wide stretch of what seemed level country,
found themselves in a marsh, and up to their waists in water.

The worst of it was that the bottom was treacherous, for the soil
seemed like quicksand, and drew them in until they had difficulty in
raising their feet.

After considerable floundering about they got out of the marsh just in
time to warn the main body of the army.

The adventure was amusing except to the participants, and many a laugh
was had at the expense of the unlucky men.

After a number of strange adventures the army reached Isle-aux-Noix,
where Montgomery intended to camp for a time.

Two days after reaching there Allen was delighted to welcome Eben Pike,
who had promised to follow as soon as his strength was regained.

He looked as hearty as ever, though less