For perhaps half an hour he and Aunt Martha talked in low whispers. Then he raised his voice and spoke of events that had happened concerning the Continental army, and both boys bent forward eagerly to listen. “You boys just ought to see Cambridge,” he said. “Soldiers everywhere--fine-looking fellows from up north, dark, handsome boys from the South. I tell you it’s a sight to see them on parade. And tents--hundreds of ’em of all sorts. Those of the Rhode Islanders are all canvas, but the others--why, they’re part sailcloth and part wood, and some are mostly mud and branches. And fortifications all over; Boston Neck and Charlestown Neck are sealed tight, you might say.” Glen paused and filled his pipe. “It’s a funny thing,” he continued; “not many years ago the settlers faced their fortifications the opposite way to protect their homes against the Injuns; now it’s an enemy from the east they’ve got to protect themselves against.” “And have you seen Colonel Washington?” asked Jud. “Seen him! I should say so!” The old trapper’s face lighted up, and his eyes gleamed in the shadows. “There’s not a better officer alive. He’s what you call an officer and a gentleman, and he looks the part every inch when he’s on his big horse. He wears a blue uniform faced with buff and a black cockade in his hat--but you ought to see him. I’m no hand at describing.” Glen had another talk alone with Aunt Martha before he finally shook everyone by the hand, bade them keep up their spirits and then, muffling his face with the collar of his coat, slipped noiselessly out into the night. “Now, you boys, to bed with you,” said Aunt Martha. “And don’t lie awake, talking.” But her good advice was given in vain; the boys lay awake until long into the night, talking of the wily old trapper who somehow had entered the town right under the Redcoats’ nose without their knowing it. “I told you he’d come if he wanted to,” Don repeated exultantly. “Yes, and he’ll get back easily too,” said Jud. “I’d pity any Redcoat who tried to stop him.” “So would I,” said Don, thinking of how Glen had acted on the evening when they had crossed the flats together and had met the British sentry. “Are you boys asleep?” came the voice of Aunt Martha. Only the echoes answered her question. CHAPTER XI THE LIBERTY TREE By the end of July both the people of Boston and the King’s soldiers were beginning to feel the ill effects of the siege. One of the main troubles was the food. Civilian and soldier alike were obliged to eat much salt fish and meat--so much in fact that sickness and fever broke out, especially in the army. Don and his aunt were rather better off than most folks, for at the beginning of the trouble the store had been well stocked, and, moreover, Aunt Martha now had money with which to buy fresh eggs and vegetables.