“Come out of your hole, you damned old skunk,” and thereupon the door was drawn a little ajar. Allen flung it wide open, and disclosed the bewildered face and undignified figure of Captain Delaplace, clad only in his shirt and nightcap, with his breeches in his hand. Behind him stood his night-gowned wife, her pretty face pale with alarm. For a moment the captain gaped at his unceremonious visitor.
“Who are you and what do you want?”
“I want the Fort and all it contains. Surrender, instantly.”
“Surrender? Is this a mad joke or treason?”
“Neither; but honest men claiming their own. Surrender.”
“In whose name? By whose authority?” asked Delaplace, assured of the earnestness of the summons.
“In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.”
“I know no such authority.”
“Sir, do you deny the authority of the King of Kings? And Congress seemeth to have some power here this morning. Waste no more time. We are four to your one. Do you surrender?”
“I see no choice. But it consoles me that you rebels will hang for this.”