Committee of Safety
recognized as good and sufficient authority for him to lord it over
our people, and we ask each other what will become of his munitions of
war in case he doesn't, or how may the plans be changed if he does?"

"What I can't understand in this whole business is why the corporal
shouldn't be the third officer in command, instead of Master Warner,
who I have no doubt is a very worthy gentleman; but of course cannot
claim to be any such soldier as Corporal 'Lige. He says there's always
a lot of jealousy among officers in the army, and that's why he isn't
to be given a chance to show how much he can do."

"The food I brought from home was used up the second day--the corporal
had what he called a 'coming appetite'--and perhaps it was just as
well, for I had all the load any fellow could want to carry. I never
believed before leaving home that father's musket was so heavy; I held
it over my shoulder until it seemed as if the flesh was worn right
down to the bone; then lugged it in my hand till my arm ached as if it
was going to drop off, and I verily believe I would have thrown the
thing away but that Corporal 'Lige said a soldier didn't amount to
very much unless he had a weapon of some kind."

"The corporal says I am to give you his dutiful compliments, and to
say that if his life is spared, by the blessing of God, he will
capture Ticonderoga before we come back.

"As for me, I wish I was at home now, though it will be a fine thing
if we do what the old man says is our duty in these times, without
being hanged.

"I haven't yet found out why people think there is so much honor to be
gained in being a soldier. To my mind it's much like any other way of
running around the country; but the corporal says if he had the
management of affairs things would be different, because he'd keep the
men right up to their work, though I don't see how it could well be
done. For my part, I shouldn't carry a musket over my shoulder when I
was lame and tired just because any man said so. It would be as well
whatever fashion I lugged it, providing the labor was lessened; but
the corporal says it would make all the difference in the world if we
marched the same as we would at a muster.

"I love you all very much, and shall be precious glad to find myself
at home again.

"From your obedient and dutiful son,