CAPTURE OF ETHAN ALLEN.

"OVER with you, boys!" said old Ethan, as a boat, crowded with his men, pushed off into the St. Lawrence; "Over with ye, and keep quiet, or ye'll have warm work on't."

"Ay, ay, Curnell!" was responded from the boat as it passed heavily through the water. Ethan and the remainder of his band stood upon the bank, watching its slow and toilsome progress, until it was no longer discernible through the darkness of night. The dull sound of oars was still heard, coming at intervals upon the fitful and gusty night-breeze.

"Well, boys," said Allen, as the sound died away in the distance, "we've got a devilish hard job before us, but we'll just let the red coats know we're the size for it."

"Sartin, Curnell," returned a six-foot Green Mountain Boy at his elbow. "You may depend on the Varmounters. They war'nt born in the woods to be scared at owls-but I tell you what, I don't like these ere Canady chaps. I'd give 'em all for half their number of trueblue Varmounters."

"Indeed you would!" said a Canadian, turning fiercely on the last speaker. "If it war'nt for making a rumpus, I'd learn ye better manners."

"Come on, and be darn'd to ye," said the unblenching Vermonter. "I could lick a dozen like ye."

The uplifted arm of the Canadian was struck down by the tremendous fist of Allen. "What, are ye for fighting?" he exclaimed; "ye'll have enough of that before morning, and you, Mike Hunter," turning to his townsman, "let me hear no more of your palavering, or"-and he clinched his determination with a terrible oath-" I'll knock you into the river."

"Well, jist as you say, Curnell," said the Vermonter, somewhat mortified at the rebuke of his commander, "but hang me if I don't think I'm right, arter all."

"Silence!" thundered Allen.

The whole party knew the mood of their commander, and an almost breathless silence succeeded. In a few moments the sound of oars was again heard, and a dark object appeared moving on the river.

"Who goes there," demanded Ethan; "friend or enemy!"

"Joe Cady," was the laconic answer. "Ay-'tis the boat," said Ethan; " make yourselves ready, my men, we must all go now."

The boat soon came to land, and Cady, a stout, rough-featured fellow, stepped from it leisurely. "Have you got a drop of comfort for a body?" he inquired, dropping his tobacco quid into the river.

"Holloa there! Bring out the rum bottle," vociferated Allen.

He drank long and heartily, and handed it to Cady, who in his turn passed it to his companions.

"Are ye ready?" demanded Ethan.

"Ay, ay, sartin!" was the quick response of the company, who were exhilarated by the draught they had just taken.

"Tumble in then, all hands," said Allen, seating himself in the boat, where he was speedily followed by his company. "Off, off