Page 36 - A Hero of Ticonderoga

your bread bag. Stir yourselves. We have weighty business pending."

The men ate their meat and bread with the appetite of those whom no
emotion can cheat of a meal, but Felton and Graves would have none of it.

The Green Mountain Boys sat apart, chatting in low tones, till the smokers
were filling their pipes after their meal, when Allen rapped the table with
the butt of his pistol, and his clear, deep voice broke the silence that ensued.

"Friends of the Grants, you all know we have come here to erect the

’Judgment seat’ this night, and mete out such punishment as doth unto
justice appertain. Yea, verily, for wrongs done or sought to be done upon
the people of these New Hampshire Grants. We will at once elect a judge.

To save time, I will nominate Ethan Allen as a proper person for that office.
You that would elect him say ’Aye.’"

There was a unanimous affirmative response, even Nathan, proud of the
opportunity of giving his first vote, made his piping treble heard among the

deep voices of the men.

"Contrary minded, make the usual sign."

There was only a sullen "No" from Felton.

"You are not entitled to vote in this meeting, sir. I have a clear majority and

will take my seat." So saying, Allen seated himself upon the table.

"The plain facts of the case are these: This Mr. Felton and this Graves, also,

were taken by me, and certain other good men, about one month ago, in the
act of surveying, under the pretended authority of the tyrannical New York

government, lands already granted by His Excellency Benning Wentworth,
His Majesty’s duly appointed Governor of New Hampshire. The said
persons were ordered to desist from such unlawful business and to depart

from these Grants, and were duly warned not to return for a like purpose
under pain of being ’Viewed.’ Furthermore, they were suffered to depart

without bodily harm. Here the surveyor comes again, like a bad penny as he
is, bearing the King’s mark, but a base counterfeit none the less. And this