They had been better fed than their soldier hosts, for, if it was not much at a time, there was something to be had at every hut or campfire, and by this accumulation of forage they kept themselves fairly supplied. But sausage and slapjacks and fried chicken! The boys had their fill for the first time since they left home. Then they lay on the floor before the fire. The twins looked expectant. “You promised us a story,” said Bill, “when you came back.” “I shall be as good as my word.” “I don’t want it to begin with ‘Once on a time,’” said Harry, now quite at home. “They always begin that way. The Count told us a story on Christmas Eve about an angel and it turned out that it wasn’t a real one after all.” “That was terrible,” said the Captain. “My story is true. Now and then I go into Philadelphia to see the troops and where they are.” “But isn’t that dangerous?” asked Tom, who knew well what was the fate of a spy. “Well, rather. I should be hanged if I were caught, but you see they don’t catch me. Two days ago I rode with a trooper to a deserted barn, and there I put on a Quaker bonnet, and old woman’s clothes and shoes and horn spectacles and with a crutch and a basket of eggs I got of a farmer, I walked down Lancaster Pike and hobbled over the floating bridge. “Any one with provisions can get in and have a pass to get out and I have been in town several times and am pretty well known as Mrs. Price. I sold my eggs, some of them to Sir William Howe’s cook. Then I went to your house.” “Oh, and you saw mother?” cried Harry. “Shut up,” said Bill; “I want to hear.” “When I came to your house, I went to the back gate and was let in by a black cook----” “That’s Nancy,” said Bill. “I said I had eggs for sale. Then she took me to the hall and I sat down. There I saw that red-nosed Colonel come in. I was knitting a stocking and was pretty busy, with my spectacles on. Your mother asked the price of my eggs and where I lived. When the Colonel heard I lived near Valley Forge and had had a lift on a farmer’s cart to get to town, he asked about the troops here. I told him some fine yarns, and with this he went away. I should like to catch him and swap him off for your father.” “Did you see Captain Verney?” asked Tom. “Yes. I am a bit afraid of him. When he came through the hall I had to turn my back because my garter was coming down. “Your mother and I bargained for my eggs and at last the maid took them. Then I whispered, ‘Could I see thee alone?’ She said ‘Yes’ and took me into the parlor. “I said: ‘Mrs. Markham, thou hast no need to be troubled. The boys are safe at Valley Forge. The horses ran away.’ “When I said this she cried, and just sat down and said: ‘I have been so distressed, but--I knew--Tom--was to be trusted.’” “Oh!” exclaimed Tom, “did my mother say that?”