ward Isaac while the latter was hurried away by Corporal 'Lige, as if
there were yet other questions concerning this project which he would
like to ask.

"Don't turn back, lad," the old soldier said when his _protege_ made a
move as if to return. "There's to be no time lost, and you'll have good
opportunity for talking once we're on the road."

"How did it happen the colonel sent you and me?" Isaac asked when the
two were so far from headquarters that his words could not be overheard.

"That's owing to the hint I gave Colonel Allen when that young skinflint
made his talk. A lad who won't take sides in this matter 'twixt the
colonies and the king, but holds out for whatever money he can get, is
not to be trusted, accordin' to my way of thinkin'. While he was settin'
himself down for a cold-blooded, close-fisted specimen of humanity such
as you wouldn't look for in one so young, I made up my mind that there
had best be a sharp watch kept of him, else a word or two might be
dropped at the fort which would upset all our plans."

"Do you believe he would take Colonel Allen's money and then betray
him?"

"I am certain a lad who would haggle for six shillings under such
circumstances as this would sell out to the next man who offered half as
much more, and the colonel was of the same mind after I'd mentioned the
matter."

"I don't see why I should go."

"Don't you want to?" the corporal asked in surprise.

"Of course it would be more pleasant than marching with the troops; but
still I can't understand what good it is possible for me to do."

"I don't reckon you will be of any service; but the boy had taken a
notion to have you with him, so it seemed like a good chance for me to
put my oar in, and between the two of us I reckon he won't have much
show of playing double."

In a very few seconds the corporal and Isaac had made their preparations
for the journey, which simply consisted in gathering up all their
belongings, much to the surprise of the lad, who questioned whether, if
they were to go to the fort apparently from motives of curiosity, it was
well they carried muskets.

"If it seems necessary we can leave them where this boy lives; but it is
certain we cannot depend on any one else bringing our luggage along for
us, so take what we own, lad, an' then be at home wherever we stop."

When the two returned to headquarters they found Master Phelps awaiting
their coming, and Nathan kept close and suspicious watc