e was
nothing showing of the swimmer but his head and one hand which clutched
the painter.

"Come aboard here, ye young rascal!" exclaimed the woodsman, with a
chuckle. "You'll have that whole spatter of Tories arter us. Couldn't
you hide your clothes better 'n that? Might have left 'em ashore. If the
old gentleman hadn't been blinder'n a bat at midday, he'd seen 'em."

"I didn't think of that," Enoch admitted, rather ruefully, climbing over
the bow of the canoe and then passing the thong to 'Siah, who fastened
it to the stern of the bateau. "I heard him say you couldn't have both,
and I thought it too bad. This canoe will hold a dozen men."

"Wall, grab that sweep. Never mind your clothes just now. I warrant
ye'll keep warm enough till we git to the camp."

The newly made captain of scouts and his young companion were by no
means the first to reach the rendezvous on the shore opposite
Ticonderoga. Nor is it to be supposed that the boats being there
collected were brought boldly up in daylight. They were hidden in little
coves near by, which could be reached by the scouts without attracting
attention from the fort, to be brought after dark to the landing from
which Ethan Allen expected to embark his troops. There were but two
craft moored opposite the camp which Bolderwood and his companions had
occupied for more than a week. Bolderwood held the title of a long strip
of land along the lake shore, but he had never built a cabin. A shack,
or hut, of branches was all the shelter the trio enjoyed.

Here the ranger and Enoch found several of their friends beside Smith
and Brown in waiting. The shore of the lake on this side had been fairly
scoured for bateaus. They dared not cross to the New York side to obtain
boats, for by so doing they would be sure to excite suspicion. With
those already obtained and some which their companions were now gone
for, the expedition must be content. The one mistake of their bold
leader might bring about failure to the enterprise; yet so confident
were they in Ethan Allen's ability that they firmly believed he would
find some way to overcome the lack of transportation. The forced march
of the scouts the day before, and for a good share of the night as well,
had brought them to the lake long before the expedition itself could
possibly reach the landing. Besides, the leaders would hold back until
after dark. The attack upon the fortress must be accomplished under the
cover of night. Bolderw