"Haul down the flag!"
"What shall we run up, colonel?"
The Provincials had no flag, and Allen ordered the English flag to be again run up, but with the Union down.
Across the waters of the lake the men were watching, and when they saw the flag run up, with the Union down, they knew that the fort had been taken, and they set up a cheer that could be heard across the water.
A hundred and twenty cannon and a vast amount of military stores fell into the hands of the Americans.
Great Britain had expended forty million dollars on Fort Ticonderoga from first to last, and a few undisciplined Mountain Boys wrested this proud possession from her.
Boats brought over the rest of the combined forces of Arnold and Allen, and the leader of the mountaineers made good his promise that they should breakfast in the fort on rations paid for by their enemy.
When an inventory had been made and sent in duplicate to the assembly of Connecticut and of Massachusetts by trusty messengers, Allen called together his officers and thrilled them by declaring that their work had only just begun.
"To-day we have captured the strongest fortress in America; in two days more we must be in Crown Point."
"And again we pledge ourselves to the hero of Ticonderoga, who will lead us to triumph!" exclaimed Baker.