Into this space thirty-four American prisoners were pushed, handcuffed in pairs.
Allen refused to enter.
The captain asked who he was that he should dare to disobey orders.
"I surrendered to the British under a pledge that I should be treated as a prisoner of war, and I demand that we shall all be treated as human beings, not as cattle."
The captain laughed brutishly.
"Ha! ha! ha! That is good! Do you think I would treat cattle that way? They would all be dead before they reached England. No, no, my dear rebel! you are treated as rebels, not cattle."
Two seamen took hold of Allen and threw him into the little inclosure, closing the door as soon as he was within.
An hour later Allen was called out.
A lieutenant had asked to see him.
"So you are Ethan Allen?" the English lieutenant asked.