"Now really, Colonel," said Jones, suspending his elevated implement, and holding it back over his head in readiness for another blow, "I wish you would let me settle with this devilish old oak door before Why, I never was so bothered with such a small potato in my life!"

I stop.

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No, no!" answered the other, smiling; "let us have silence a moment, and we will save you all troubles of that kind."

Well, then, here goes for a parting blessing!" exclaimed the woodsman, bringing down his ax with a tremendous blow, which brought the shattered door tumbling to the ground.

The British commandant then calling his officers around him, informed them that he had surrendered the fortress, and ordered them to parade the men without arms. While this was in performance, a second detachment of Green Mountain Boys reached the shore, and having eagerly hastened on to the fort to join their companions, now, with Warrington at their head, came pouring into the arena. A single glance sufficed to tell the latter that he was too late to participate in

aught but the fruits of the victory. With a disappointed and mortified air he halted his men, and approached to the side of his leader. "Ah! Colonel," said he, "is this the way you appropriate all the laurels to yourself, entirely forgetful of your friends?"

Pooh! pooh! Charles," replied Allen, turning to the other with a soothing, yet self-complacent 1 smile, at the half reproachful compliment thus conveyed, "you need not mourn much lost glory in this affair. Why, the stupid devils did not give us fight enough to whet our appetites for breakfast! But never mind, Charles, there is more business yet to be done; Crown Point and Major Skene's stone castle must both be ours tonight. The taking of the first shall be yours to perform. And after breakfast and a few bumpers in honor of our victory, we will dispatch you for that purpose, with a corps of your own selection."

"Thank you, thank you, Colonel," replied the other with a grateful smile.

The brief ceremonies of the surrender were soon over; when, as the fortress was 1Self-complacent, self-satisfied.

pronounced to be in full possession of the conquerors, the heavens were again rent by the reiterated huzzas of the Green Mountain Boys, while British cannon were made to peal forth with their deep mouthed thunders to the trembling hills and reverberating mountains of the country around, the proclamation of victory!-the first triumph of Young Freedom over the arms of her haughty oppressor.

DANIEL P. THOMPSON.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

Find out all you can about Ethan Allen and Ticonderoga. Why was this battle so important? Is the description a good one? Can you not almost see the impatient "Green Mountain Boys"? Which passage do you think the most vivid?

Daniel P. Thompson, 1793-1868, was a Vermonter, a "Green Mountain Boy," himself. Hence he wrote with enthusiasm of "The Green Mountain Boys," of whom Ethan Allen was one.

MARION

"THE SWAMP FOX "1

We follow where the Swamp Fox guides,
His friends and merry men are we;

1"The Swamp Fox," a title given to General Marion.

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And when the troop of Tarleton rides,
We burrow in the cypress tree.
5 The turfy hammock is our bed,

Our home is in the red deer's den,
Our roof, the tree top overhead,

For we are wild and hunted men.

We fly by day, and shun its light,

But, prompt to strike the sudden blow, We mount and start with early night,

And through the forest track our foe. And soon he hears our chargers leap,

The flashing saber blinds his eyes, 15 And, ere he drives away his sleep

And rushes from his camp, he dies.

Free bridle bit, good gallant steed,
That will not ask a kind caress,
To swim the Santee1 at our need,
When on his heels the foemen press,
The true heart and the ready hand,
The spirit stubborn to be free,
The twisted bore,2 the smiting brand,
And we are Marion's men, you see.

1 Santee, a river of South Carolina.

2 Twisted bore, a gun barrel made of twisted steel,

25 Now light the fire, and cook the meal, The last perhaps that we shall taste; I hear the Swamp Fox round us steal,

30

And that's a sign we move in haste. He whistles to the scouts, and hark! You hear his order calm and low Come, wave your torch across the dark, And let us see the boys that

go.

We may not see their forms again,

God help 'em, should they find the
strife!

35 For they are strong and fearless men,
And make no coward terms for life;
They'll fight as long as Marion bids,
And when he speaks the word to shy,
Then - not till then they turn their

40

steeds,

Through thickening shade and swamp to fly.

Now stir the fire, and lie at ease,

The scouts are gone, and on the brush I see the colonel bend his knees,

To take his slumbers too but hush! 45 He's praying, comrades; 'tis not strange; The man that's fighting day by day,