"I had no time to find my messengers," he began, "so came myself. The engineers of Burgoyne have succeeded in hoisting six of their best cannon up the north side of Sugar Loaf Mountain. To-morrow morning they will be run across to the south edge, and the fort will be at their mercy. You must retreat to-night."
"If I do, it means leaving my cannon and stores for the enemy," the general growled, more to himself than to his visitor. "Tell me how they did it? I thought such a plan impossible."
Rapidly the young scout described the methods used to accomplish the feat, and added:
"I also have another item of news. General Fraser's division is in readiness to pursue you, if you attempt to leave the fortification. I have been sent here to see that you do not get away," and he and the officer laughed. "The general has orders to put his troops in your rear in the morning."
"Hum! hum!" the commander muttered. "That does look as though I must move quickly, if I am to save my men for future fighting," and he relapsed into deep thought.
In silence Ira waited. At length the general spoke.
"If I could have until to-morrow night, I believe it might be possible to slip away with men, guns, stores, everything. Is there any way by which the movements of the red-coats could be delayed, say for twenty-four hours?"
It was a full minute before the lad replied: Then he said slowly: "If those cannon on the mountain were disabled, they would have to spend another day hoisting up a second battery, and in all probability General Fraser would not be sent to your rear until the guns were in position."
"Exactly," broke in the officer eagerly, "if those guns can be spiked to-night, I am likely to secure the delay I need. Now the question is, can it be done? Are those cannon under guard?"
"I think not," his visitor replied. "The British camp is so close to the foot of the hill, and as you are not supposed to know that the guns are on its summit, they have not deemed such a precaution necessary."
"It is worth trying," the commander said half to himself. "If I can only find a man who is willing to undertake the job," and again he relapsed into deep thought.
"Yes. I believe I can do it without much risk. Once I climbed that hill from this side, just for the pleasure of saying I had accomplished the feat. I am sure I can do it again. Give me the implements needed; say nothing to any one, and I will make the attempt. Two cries of a night-hawk from the south edge of the mountain, twice repeated, will be token that I have succeeded. Three cries, unrepeated, is that I have failed. There will be time for you to slip away with your men if I am obliged to report a failure."