ed what had come over her stern husband.

She knew he had not been drinking, for he would not allow even as much
as a drop of dry cider to come into the house.

"What have you been doing, Zeke?" she asked him.

"Nothing; it's only a little surprise we have. Isn't it so, Zeb?"

But Zeb had disappeared, and so no answer was forthcoming from him.

Zeb had seen more than he had heard, and he knew of the encampment on
Lake Dunmore.

He had watched the men, and found out that they drilled at night. He
had become suspicious, but had no means of verifying his suspicions
until that conversation with Eben.

When Eben had incautiously mentioned his name, Zeb remembered that he
had heard a man tell his father that Allen was accompanied by a young
scout whose name was Pike.

Zeke was getting very fidgety.

He kept looking at the tall clock, which his father had brought from
England many years before, and wondered whether his plot had failed.
But his face brightened when a knock at the door betokened the presence
of visitors.

He opened the door himself, and Ethan Allen and Remember Baker stepped
in.

"Welcome, most welcome! I would rather see you here than the king of
England."

Allen placed his finger on his lip as a hint not to speak too loudly.

Zeke laughed.

"I respect your caution; a day will come when your name will be shouted
from the housetops."

"You are too flattering, farmer."

"Not so; but come to supper. My good wife knows how to tickle the
palate of my friends, and you are my friends. Where's Zeb, mother?"

"He went out."

"He is a bad fellow; I am sure I shall never tame him. I would he were
old enough to join the----"

"Yes; what age is he?"

"Only sixteen."

"He is old enough if he has inclination----"

"A truce to such talk; let us get some supper. By my father's memory,
I smell pig's head and cabbage. Good thing, even if it is late at
night. Come, friends, and we will talk after."

Zeke led the way into the kitchen and bade his guest be seated.

Scarcely had they commenced eating when a knock at the back door caused
the farmer to drop his knife.

The door opened and a man's voice was heard:

"In the king's name surrender, Ethan Allen, and you, Remember Baker!"

"Treason!" exclaimed Allen.

"Trapped!" added Baker.

"Yes, rebels, and the reward will be mine!" shouted the farmer in a
joyous voice.

CHAPTER X.

ZEB'S DOUBLE DEALING.

"Scoundrel!" shouted Bak