t.

That these three Tories were bent on hanging the old soldier, or at
least so nearly doing so as to frighten him into disclosing all he knew
regarding Colonel Allen's plans, there could be no question, and young
Rice, trembling with fear though he was, had no other thought than as to
how it might be possible for him to aid his comrade.

It did not seem probable the men were ignorant regarding the boy's
presence, and the only explanation which can be made as to why they
failed to secure him is that he was so nearly a child as to appear of
but little consequence. They evidently had no thought that he could in
any way thwart their purpose, and, therefore, no heed was given to him.

It can readily be imagined that Isaac did not waste much time in
speculations as to why he was allowed to remain at liberty.

Now was come the moment when he might repay some portion of the debt he
believed he owed Corporal 'Lige, and the only anxiety in his mind was
lest he should not do it in proper military fashion.

He could not even so much as guess what a genuine soldier would do under
the same circumstances; but he had a very good idea as to how a boy
might extricate himself from such a difficulty, and lost no time in
beginning the work.

The three men were so busily engaged trying to frighten the corporal
into telling them what he might know of Colonel Allen's forces as not to
heed the noise Isaac made when he rolled himself toward the bushes in
that direction where the two muskets had been set up against a tree
under the foliage in such manner that they might not be affected by the
dew.

It was impossible for him to say exactly what these intruders were doing
to Corporal 'Lige, but, from the noises, he judged they had first made a
prisoner of the old man by seizing him around the throat, perhaps while
he was yet asleep, and now there was every indication that they were
making ready to carry out the threat of hanging.

"Give him another chance to tell what he knows," one of the men cried,
and immediately afterward the old soldier replied:

"String me up if you will, for there's no need of waiting any longer
with the idea that I'm goin' to give you any information, even if I have
it."

"Then up with him!" the man who had first spoken shouted, and Isaac,
without looking in that direction, heard the confused noises which told
him the enemy were trying to raise the old man to his feet.

By this time the boy had his hand on on