the very front rank, caught
sight of his young friend Enoch. The latter waved his hand to the tall
woodsman and Bolderwood, knowing that discipline was lax on the march,
beckoned Enoch forward. "Come here, youngster, and hear what news I've
got for ye," he cried. But Allen caught at the matter instantly, and
understood to whom Bolderwood referred by his appellation of "the
serpent."

"You mean to say you've got Simon Halpen?" he asked.

"That's the identical sarpint, Colonel," declared the ranger. "We caught
him tryin' ter cross to Old Ti and thought it was best, under the
sarcumstances, ter keep him close till this leetle business is over.
What he was doin' riskin' his carcass on this side of the line is more'n
I can tell----"

"The boy was right, Major!" exclaimed Allen, turning to Warner. "Harding
met the fellow while he was stirring up our folks in the Otter country
last week. He thought he was up to some rascality then, and the fellow
did try to take his life."

"Tried it again, did he?" cried 'Siah, as Enoch approached. "Is that so,
Nuck?"

Enoch repeated his adventure with the murderous Halpen. "If I'd knowed
this," the ranger declared, "I'd saved the grub the scoundrel is
eating."

"We'll make an example of him when we reach the lake, 'Siah," declared
the leader of the Green Mountain Boys. "But now for this other matter.
It is most important. Every bateau within reach must be secured."

"I know where there are three of 'em. And there may be others down the
lake furder."

"You shall have charge of this, Bolderwood!" the commander cried. "I
make you our captain of scouts. Take any reasonable number of men with
you and hurry ahead. Every moment is precious."

"Good!" said the ranger. "With Smith and Brown I won't need but eight or
ten more. And I'll begin by taking young Nuck here. He's a good oar."

"Take whom you wish. We depend on you," replied Allen, and within the
hour the ranger and his party, including Enoch Harding, set off on their
mission ahead of the more slowly moving army.

CHAPTER XXI

THE ESCAPE OF THE SPY

In sixteen hours 'Siah Bolderwood had traveled from his camp on the
shore of Lake Champlain opposite the frowning walls of Fort Ticonderoga;
when the long ranger was in a hurry he did not spare himself. Perhaps no
other man in the Vermont wilderness could have covered so much ground
afoot as he, within the time. But he set off now on his return journey,
with nearly a doz