"Most likely."
"Then I will take my old musket; it may be handy to have."
A like reception Eben met with at Peleg Sunderland's and James Breakenridge's houses.
Within an hour thirty of the Green Mountain boys had gathered in the home of their colonel, Ethan Allen.
"Boys, we are in for it this night. Remember that it is your own kith and kin that will be opposed to you. They are brothers, all these Yorkers, and we do not want to be the first to shed blood; but if they fire, that will be our signal. By the great mountains! we will give two bullets for their one, and may victory be with the right!"
After giving instructions as to the mode of procedure, Allen told them how he had heard the news.
"Never let any of the boys call Eben Pike a sissy any more. He has won his spurs as a true knight."
Had Ethan not cautioned the boys against loud talking, there would have been a rousing cheer given for the youthful hero.
"Whenever we have to distinguish our hero," said Allen, "we will call him Eben Pike, the hero of Eagle's Bridge."
There is no doubt that Eben's face flushed when he heard the words of praise, but he could not speak a word, for his tongue seemed too large for his mouth, and his heart would beat so rapidly that it made him believe he was going to choke.