"I think they will let us reach them before they emerge, and they will fire at us from each side; so, Seth, you take half our men and I will look after the others. You give back good answers to the men on the right; we will take notice of those on the left."
"All right, sir."
"Mount!"
The men swung themselves in the saddles as unconcerned as though they had been partaking of lunch and suspected no enemy to be on the lookout for them.
They rode forward, and were within a few yards of the enemy, when the Yorkers leaped from their ambush and massed themselves on the road.
"In the name of the king, surrender, Ethan Allen!"
"In the name of common sense, who are you? A lot of clowns from a country fair?"
"We are the king's good subjects, and command you to surrender yourself a prisoner."
"Stand out of the way, you fool, or I will have to teach you a lesson."
Allen had spoken sharply, for he was sick of the formality which prefaced the fight which was to come.