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it was a fool’s errand and that Knox’s plan was impossible. But he was a soldier under orders, and he gave the travelers all the help he could. While there, Henry studied his maps and arranged for the building of sturdy carts and sleds. When these were ready, they would be rushed north.
    Two days later, the men left Albany and headed toward their final goal. Fort Ticonderoga was at the northern tip of a huge body of water called Lake George. Beyond this was another big lake called Lake Champlain. The French had built their fort between these lakes so they could control both waterways. First it was called Fort Carillon, but when the British had seized it they gave it an Indian name,
Ticonderoga
. Early in 1775, with the country in rebellion, the fort was attacked again. Now it was in the hands of the colonists. Benedict Arnold, who had helped capture the outpost, reported that it was filled with cannons—weapons hauled there over many years, first by French troops and later by the British.
    Riding beside his brother, William felt his excitement building. He could hardly believe his good fortune. Only a few weeks ago he’d been bored and unhappy, afraid that the war would pass him by. Now here he was on a vital mission, under secret orders from General Washington himself!
    Turning toward Henry, Will noticed him frowning. Something was on his brother’s mind and Will was curious. “Do you think,” he asked, “that Captain Arnold’s report is really reliable?”
    The big man shrugged. “He said there were close to two hundred guns, and I don’t doubt the count is right. But that doesn’t mean they’re
usable
, Will. Guns aren’t any use if they’re pitted and rusted—or if they were deliberately spiked by the British. We may be in for a disappointment, but there’s no sense worrying. Good or bad, we’ll know soon enough.”
    For three days the brothers rode north through the woodlands, cooking over small campfires and sleeping under the frosty stars. On December fourth they reached Fort George at the lower end of the lake. They stayed overnight to rest, and Henry took this opportunity to write letters—one an official report to George Washington, the other a note to Lucy. He told her again how much he loved her and closed by confessing, “I think of you continually.”
    Next day the two men sailed up the full length of Lake George. Will stared ahead, alive with anticipation—and there was Ticonderoga at last. The old fort was held by militia from nearby towns, and the commander had been told to give Colonel Knox all the men and supplies he needed. The travelers were overjoyed to reach their goal—and even more excited to find hundreds of cannons inside the fort.
    â€œArnold was right!” Henry exulted. “Look at them all—enough artillery here for ten armies!” Along the high fortress walls and in the huge arsenal, they found weapons of every shape and size: iron cannons and brass cannons, mobile guns on wheels and fixed guns bolted to wooden frames, heavy fat mortars and small bronze ones called cohorns. Some of the cannons had stubby barrels only twelve inches in length. Others were great iron brutes eleven feet long and weighing two tons each. Colonel Knox also found, to his joy and relief, that some of the weapons were in very good shape.
    Their next job was to choose a team. “We’ll take volunteers only,” Henry told Will, “but no clerks or city lads. We want roughnecks, the rougher the better. Mountain men, hunters, lumberjacks—fellows used to hard living. We’ll have our share of work before we see Cambridge again.”
    Will was put in charge of assembling boats. These would ferry the prizes down the lake to the waiting carts. On Lake George there were three main kinds of boats: flat-bottomed barges, or scows; wide-beamed shallow vessels known as bateaux; and small, fast sailboats