was in possession of Fort Ticonderoga; but April
passed, and Esther declared that she did not believe the Americans
wanted the fort.

"I am going to tell my mother everything. All about our going to Lake
Dunmore, and my letter, and something else," declared Faith.

It was one day early in May, and she and Esther were coming up from
Beaver meadow, where they had been watching the little creatures,
who Were very active and did not seem to fear the two little figures
at the edge of the woods. The beavers were building a dam; they had
dragged trees to the side of the stream, and it seemed a very
wonderful thing to Esther when she saw the beavers sink one end of
these stakes, while others raised and fastened the other end, twisting
in the small branches of the trees, and plastering mud over all with
their feet and tails. She was thinking to herself that there were more
strange things to see in the Wilderness in one day than in a whole
year in a village, when she felt Faith seize her arm and say
laughingly:

"You haven't heard a word. Now, listen! I am going to tell my mother."

The little girls were now in sight of the clearing, and, before Esther
could answer, Faith stopped suddenly and exclaimed:

"Look, Esther! There's a man just leaving the mill, and running up the
trail as fast as he can go. A stranger."

Quite forgetting beavers and secrets the two little girls ran toward
the house. "There's my father," said Esther as they reached the door.

Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge were both in the kitchen of the Carew house, and
none of the elder people appeared to notice the two girls.

Mr. Carew was loading his musket, and Faith's mother was packing a
knapsack with provisions.

"Here are the children," said Mrs. Eldridge, as she turned toward the
door; and then Esther saw that her father was waiting for Mr. Carew.

"Faithie dear, your father is going to Castleton," said Mrs. Carew,
fastening the knapsack, and in a moment Faith was held close in her
father's arms, and then the two men were off, striding down the trail.

"Are they going to take Ticonderoga?" Faith questioned eagerly.

The two women looked at her in surprise, but Mrs. Carew answered
quickly:

"Of course they are. Americans are guarding the trail, so we are safe
enough at present. But neither of you girls must go beyond the
clearing."

"When shall we know about the fort, mother? When will we know?" asked
Faith.

"Soon, I hope, child. But talk not of it