"They may be, colonel, but I thought you ought to know."
"You acted wisely, as you usually do. Did you meet Mistress Baker?"
"Yes, colonel, and a fair young maiden she is. I wish I had a sister like her."
Allen laughed and looked at the boy, whose face was a brighter color than usual.
"You will learn to like some one else's sister better than your own, if you had one."
Eben blushed still more and was about to leave when the colonel made him send Baker at once.
Remember Baker had a sister, pretty and winsome. She had been visiting for a year in New Haven, and decided to return to her brother's home at the very time he was on the march with Allen.
Baker had an aunt living near Lake Champlain, and he decided to place Martha with her. Good friends escorted Martha to a place a few miles from where the Mountain Boys were to camp prior to their attack on Fort Ticonderoga, and Eben was dispatched to escort the young maiden to her brother. Eben had fulfilled the task and wished the distance had been several times as far; but a few miles from the camp he had seen the regiment of guards on the march, and at once thought it his duty to report.
Remember Baker entered the presence of Ethan Allen and listened to the story told by Eben.
"Martha saw them," said Baker, "and she declared that their leader was a man who was noted for being a great loyalist in New Haven."