, I should think."

"Women and children?"

"Yes, 'most twice as many, I reckon, though I never counted 'em."

"And you say you know all the ins and outs of the fort?"

"Look here, how many times do you want me to tell you? Of course I do;
but what's that got to do with you?"

Nathan spoke in such a disrespectful tone that Isaac literally trembled
lest the corporal should fall upon him in his wrath.

"Wait you here till I come back, an' see to it that you don't move from
this spot."

The corporal gave this command in his sternest tones, and without
waiting for a reply hastened off in the direction where the officers had
disappeared, while Nathan stood looking at his new acquaintance in
mingled surprise and bewilderment.

"Now, what does that old man mean when he tells me to wait here? What
right's he got to order me 'round?"

"Don't get disgruntled," Isaac said imploringly. "I tell you he's a
great soldier, and you'll see that his order means something, 'cause the
corporal don't make foolish talk."

"Then, what was it I heard when I come up here an' he was tellin' the
men what to do, but backed down after findin' they were ready to follow
him?"

"That part of it was all right. The time hadn't come for him to carry
out his plans, and he explained it. Couldn't you hear him?"

"I heard what he said; but that didn't deceive me."

Then Isaac explained with many a detail why the old man was the ablest
soldier in the encampment, and while he was trying to convince the
skeptical Nathan, Corporal 'Lige returned, looking very important and
mysterious.

"You're to come with me," he said tapping Nathan on the shoulder.

"Where?" the boy asked sharply.

"I said you were to come with me."

"Well, you may say it again before I go. I want to know what you're
thinkin' of doin'. I ain't one of these make-believe soldiers that can
be ordered 'round by such as you."

During an instant the corporal glowered at the boy as if of a mind to
chastise him for his too familiar words, and then Isaac interposed to
save his new-found friend from what he feared would be most severe
punishment.

"He'll go with you, Corporal 'Lige; don't be angry with him. You see
he's a stranger here, an' doesn't understand what----"

"I understand enough not to go till I know what he's about," Nathan
cried angrily, wrenching himself free from Isaac's detaining grasp and
leaping back a few paces.

The corporal clapped his hand to his side as