indomitable Allen climbed the slope
and approached the covered way which led into the fort. Not a word was
spoken. The sullen tramp of the column was all that broke the stillness
of the dawn. The sentinel placed here to guard the entrance--a matter of
military rule rather than of precaution--leaned half asleep upon his
musket. Had he been alert the approach of the troops must have been
discovered ere they were visible. But Providence willed that he,
together with all the garrison, should be totally unsuspicious of the
planned attack of the provincials.

Suddenly, through the curling mist, appeared the head of the column. The
sentinel started from his dream and, scarce understanding what he saw,
advanced his musket, crying: "Halt! who goes there?"

The Americans accelerated their pace while Ethan Allen, whirling his
sword above his head, shouted: "Forward!" The attacking force reached
the mouth of the covered way at a double-quick. Repeating the command to
halt the sentinel darted back, raised his weapon to his shoulder, and
aiming full at the head of the commander of the Green Mountain Boys,
pressed the trigger!

CHAPTER XXIV

THE GUNS OF OLD TI SPEAK

The fate of more than a brave man hung in the balance at that moment.
The ultimate happiness and secure footing of a state was at stake when
the sentinel pressed the trigger of his weapon. Had the ball reached its
mark, the establishment of Vermont as a free state might have been
postponed for many years. Ethan Allen's diplomacy in later dealing with
the British agents who sought to wean Vermont from her federation with
the struggling colonies, doubtless saved the Green Mountains from being
overrun by a horde of Hessians and Indians who would have brought death
and disaster to the patriotic settlers.

But Providence had other work for the leader of the Green Mountain Boys
to do. The musket missed fire and flinging down the piece the sentinel
turned and ran through the passage into the fort, shrieking that the
enemy was at hand. With a cheer the little band of patriots followed,
and before the garrison was awake to its situation, the Green Mountain
Boys had reached the parade. Instructed by their captains what to do,
the men ran hither and thither to seize the guns whose threatening
muzzles peered through the embrasures of the walls, and to guard the
entrances to the barracks where the garrison slept.

'Siah Bolderwood, seizing an axe, attacked the door of