at it
might be painful for him if the answer was delayed.

He was not so devoted to the cause as to be willing to suffer in its
behalf, and, therefore, said surlily:

"We were going to Captain Remember Baker at Sudbury."

"Who sent you?"

"Colonel Allen."

"Where is the message you are carrying?"

"He gave us none save by word of mouth."

"Repeat it, and be careful lest you make the mistake of telling another
lie."

"There is nothing in it of importance or interest to you. It was simply
that Captain Baker should come at once to Ticonderoga."

"Then the fort was taken last night?"

"I thought you knew that?" Nathan cried in surprise, now understanding
that he had divulged what it was most important should have been kept a
profound secret until Crown Point had been captured.

"We heard that the rebels were marching toward the fort; but could not
get there in time to warn the commandant."

"Why was it you made prisoners of two boys if you were not knowing to
all that has taken place?" Nathan asked, his curiosity getting the
better of his fears.

"We took the chance that you could give us the desired information,
because it was not reasonable old Beman's son should be in this section
unless on business of his father's, and in these times one can well
guess what that business might be. Therefore, having heard you
floundering through the thicket, we drew near to listen to such
conversation as you might indulge in."

"Are you going to waste time explaining our purpose to that young cub,
Jason Wentworth?" one of the men asked impatiently, and he who had been
addressed replied with a laugh:

"We are not in as much haste now as we were half an hour ago, Ezra
Jones. Captain Baker will not get the message, and while the wind holds
in this quarter I'm allowing the rebels won't reach Crown Point before
we do."

"They will if we loiter here all day. Truss up the lads, so they can do
no mischief, and let us be off."

"Would you leave them here in the thicket, Ezra Jones?"

"Why not?"

"They might starve to death, and while I'm willing to serve the king in
all things, it is not my intent to be thus barbarous."

"They can make themselves heard if any one passes by on the trail," the
third man replied very carelessly, and Ezra added quickly:

"Ay! I had not thought of that. They must be gagged, or, what may be
better for us, shot offhand."

"Are you willing to kill two boys in cold blood, Ezra Jones?"

Ther