Corporal 'Lige's Recruit: A Story of Crown Point and Ticonderoga

“Do you allow an old chap like him could put anybody through in very great shape?”

“You mustn’t talk like that about Corporal ’Lige where anybody will hear you. Why, he’s a regular soldier; fought under General Abercrombie in ’58, an’ I reckon if it hadn’t been for him the king’s troops would have got it terrible bad.”

“An’ that’s about the way they did get it.”

“Well, Corporal ’Lige is here now, an’ it’ll be different. Did you ever see the fort?”

“See it? Why, I’m over there pretty near very week. Our folks sell eggs an’ chickens an’ such truck to the garrison, an’ I know the place jest like I do my own home.”

“Do you s’pose we can take it?”

“There seems to be a sight of you here; but I shouldn’t want to make a guess till after I’d seen whether there’s going to be a row among all hands or not. Father says when thieves fall out honest men get their due.”

However frightened Isaac might be, he was not disposed to allow any boy of his own size to call the members of this army thieves, even though they were in a state of insubordination, and forgetting all his fears he demanded sternly:

“Who are you calling thieves?”

“Now, you needn’t get so huffy, ’cause I didn’t mean anything,” Nathan replied quietly, and yet with no show of alarm; “but father is always sayin’ that, an’ I s’pose it means – well I don’t know what, except that all hands of you are fightin’ here, an’ it looks like as if Captain Delaplace would get the best of it.”

“Who’s he?”

“The commandant of the fort, of course.”

“Well, see here, Nathan, it begins to look as though there was goin’ to be a row for a fact, and I hoped you lived close by so I could go to your house till it was over.”

“But you’re a soldier, ain’t you?”

“Not much of one.”

“Well, if you’ve enlisted, a fight is right where you belong,” and Nathan appeared to think this settled the matter beyond any argument.

“I ain’t so certain of that; but even if I do belong in a fight I shan’t stay in one. It seems like as if Corporal ’Lige had turned me off, an’ all he’s thinking about is helping our crowd get the best of the Stockbridgers.”

“Well, there ain’t anything very dangerous here yet awhile; suppose we wait an’ see how things turn? I don’t care overmuch for fightin’ myself; but that’s no reason why I shouldn’t want to know whether there’s likely to be a row or not.”

Isaac admired the courage of his new acquaintance and immediately adopted him as a protector, taking up his position a pace or two in the rear of Nathan as he watched the threatening movements.

The recruits from Pittsfield and vicinity were standing in close order with the corporal at their head, evidently ready for whatever turn might come in affairs.

Some of them retained their weapons; but the majority appeared to have more confidence in their fists, and with arms bared to the elbow were awaiting the word which would precipitate them upon the small body from Stockbridge who guarded the treasure.

This last detachment had either learned of the advice given by Corporal ’Lige, or scented danger because they were so few in numbers as compared with the other two factions, and were standing shoulder to shoulder ready to resist an expected attack.

A short distance away the Green-Mountain Boys remained strictly by themselves; but not giving any sign of taking part in the lawless proceedings. So long as Ethan Allen was considered the head of the expedition they were satisfied to stand aloof from any brawl.

As has been said before, the leading officers were nowhere to be seen; some of the better informed declared they were in the shelter near by which had been used as their quarters during the night, and with Colonel Arnold were discussing the question of superiority in rank.

Corporal ’Lige hesitated to give the word which should precipitate the riot.

He had been elevated to the position of leader and perhaps the responsibility weighed heavily upon him, for certain it is that after advising what should be done, he evinced a disposition to retire from what might be the scene of a conflict.

“Look here, old man, we’re ready to do as you have said. Now give the word and lead us on to those recruits. We’ll soon find out what they’re made of,” one of the men said as the corporal turned toward the rear much as though intending to join Isaac and Nathan:

“Yes, give the word. This is your plan, and we’re ready to carry it out as you have said!”

“Fair an’ easy; fair an’ easy, comrades,” Corporal ’Lige said soothingly. “A good general doesn’t depend wholly on his plan until he’s made certain of the enemy’s position. You don’t allow that we can rush in hilter-skilter an’ hope to work our purpose, eh?”

“Why not? There are only a dozen of them to near fifty of us.”

“But look at Colonel Allen’s regiment.”

“Well, what of them? They are not in this quarrel, for their commander is leader of the expedition so far.”

“No, they are not in it,” the corporal said; “but what assurance have we they won’t take a hand as soon as we begin operations? Don’t you allow they know what the Stockbridge men brought with them?”

“Why, everybody in camp knows that.”

“Then do you suppose they’re goin’ to stand by idly while we take the money and munitions?”

The men began to murmur among themselves, and Corporal ’Lige appeared well satisfied that they should thus consume the time; but before many minutes had passed one and another spoke derisively of the old man, asking what his plan was good for if he didn’t dare carry it out, or why he had not made mention of what Colonel Allen’s men might do in event of his suggestion being acted upon?

At first the corporal was not minded to take heed of these disparaging remarks; but as the clamor increased he was forced to defend himself, and made answer sharply:

“The plan was good, and the only one likely to succeed. When I got that far with it you jumped to the idea that it should be worked out at once. Now all the while I was keeping my eye fixed on Colonel Allen’s men, tryin’ to make up my mind what they’d do when we struck the first blow, and I haven’t decided yet.”

“You’re a coward! You claimed to be an old soldier, and to know more of warfare than any one in this encampment, not excepting the commanders, but yet you don’t dare lead fifty men against a dozen!”

“If I don’t dare it isn’t because I’m afraid of bodily injury; but I can’t afford to stake my reputation as a soldier where the chances are likely to be so heavy against us. It’s one thing to have a good plan, an’ just as important to know when to carry it out. If we hang together an’ are ready to take advantage of the first opportunity that comes, then we’ll be showing our strength; but not by rushing in hilter-skilter like a crowd of boys primed for a rough-an’-tumble fight.”

Corporal ’Lige’s argument was evidently considered a good one, for at once the outcries which had been raised against him died away, the men yet remaining in position as if ready to act upon any suggestion he might make.

“I don’t reckon there’s goin’ to be much trouble ’round here after all,” Nathan said in a tone of disappointment, and Isaac gave vent to a sigh of relief. “It strikes me that old man crawled out of a pretty small hole.”

“Do you mean to say he wouldn’t dare do what the men wanted?”

“Well, he would be a pretty poor stick if he didn’t. There’s four of this crowd to one of that. What I allow is he’s afraid of the officers, and if this is any kind of a military company he’s got good cause to be, accordin’ to the way things run up to the fort. There you wouldn’t hear privates tellin’ who should command ’em, an’ who shouldn’t, else they’d find themselves in trouble.”

At this moment a great shout went up from the Green-Mountain Boys, and as the two factions who had stood facing each other ready for the encounter glanced around quickly, they saw Colonel Ethan Allen approaching.

Then the Stockbridge men set up a shout, for Colonel Arnold stepped to Allen’s side as if of equal rank, and the Pittsfield detachment remained silent, because Colonel Easton was walking in the rear of these two officers.

“It looks as if our colonel had given in, an’ wasn’t countin’ on standin’ up for his own rights,” Corporal ’Lige said mournfully. “Let one of you run over there an’ tell him what we’re ready to do. Say we’ll begin the scrimmage as soon as he gives the word.”

This order was obeyed, and the little troop watched the messenger as he approached the colonel, and, without so much as touching his cap by way of salute, spoke earnestly during a few seconds.

Then Colonel Easton was seen to shake his head decidedly, and the man returned to his fellows looking thoroughly ashamed.

“What’s the matter?” Corporal ’Lige asked sharply.