a chance to go with that crowd, for
they won't get anywhere near there until the wind changes, and it seems
as though whoever is in charge of the job, ought to know it."

"I suppose the plan is to take the fort by surprise, as was this one,
and unless our people get there soon, it will be a failure, because the
news of what has been done here must fly over the country quickly."

"While the wind blows this way, and so strong, no one will get up the
lake, therefore the garrison won't learn of the surrender of Ticonderoga
unless some one goes across the country. However, we needn't bother,
seein's our work is all cut an' dried, and we had better not waste too
much time here."

Isaac was beginning to entertain a very friendly feeling toward this lad
now that he had changed his views so entirely regarding the value of his
services, and, as a matter of course, Nathan could be a most pleasing
traveling companion when it suited his purpose, as it did at present.

The journey to Sudbury proved to be a longer one than was anticipated.

A strong wind which blew directly down the lake, carried the boys fully
two miles below the point at which they should have landed, and Nathan
was much averse to following back along the shore in order to gain the
trail which led to Sudbury.

"It will be just that much useless labor," he said emphatically, "and I
am not given to walking more than may be necessary."

"But there's a chance of going astray if we strike across from here,"
Isaac suggested, for, as has already been shown, he knew little of
woodcraft, and this traveling blindly around a section of the country
where there was every reason to believe enemies might be found was not
to his liking.

"I'd be a mighty poor sort of a guide if I couldn't go across from here
without straying from the course so much as a dozen yards," Master Beman
said decidedly. "To walk up the shore two miles or more only for the
purpose of striking the trail, is foolishness."

"But the thicket is so dense here," Isaac suggested timidly, almost
fearing to venture an opinion lest he should provoke the mirth of his
companion. "It will be harder to make our way through than to go
around."

Nathan made no reply.

He bestowed upon Corporal 'Lige's recruit a glance as of pity, and then,
without further words, plunged into the underbrush.

Master Rice could do no less than follow.

Before the boys had traveled half an hour on the direct course to
Sudbury,