Allen called a council of the boys and asked what should be done with the prisoners.
"Hang them all, every one of them," was the advice of Peleg Sunderland.
"I say, keep them as hostages, and if any of our men are caught, deal with the Yorkers as they deal with our men," said Baker.
"And I think," remarked Allen, slowly and with great deliberation, "that we ought to liberate the soldiers, who only did as they were ordered, and punish Farmer Garvan."
"Let us leave the whole matter to the colonel."
"Good! he is always right."
This course was adopted, and Allen accepted the trust.
He ordered the soldiers to be brought before him, and then addressed them, telling them how some had counseled hanging, but as they were fellow-Americans it was resolved to liberate them, because they had only obeyed orders.
He expressed a wish that they would go back to their own colony and tell the Yorkers that the men of the mountains would never give up their lands while one of them remained alive.
The officer in charge spoke for his men.