Had the corporal been invested with the proper authority he would have had these raw recruits marshaled into ranks and forced to step in unison, carrying their muskets at the same angle, and otherwise conforming themselves to his idea of soldierly bearing--all this he would have had them do; but whether he could have brought about such a condition of affairs is extremely problematical. "I allowed Colonel James Easton came somewhere near bein' a soldier, even though he is only a militiaman," the corporal said in a tone of intense dissatisfaction to Isaac as the two marched solemnly side by side in the midst of their disorderly companions, "and I did think we could set out from here and capture Ticonderoga, if all hands were willin' to put their shoulders to the wheel; but I take back that statement, lad, and am sorry I ever was so foolish as to enlist. I ought to have known better when I saw the crowd that was signin' the rolls." "Why, what's the matter, corporal?" and Isaac looked around in surprise, for until this moment he had believed everything was progressing in proper military fashion. "Matter?" Corporal 'Lige cried angrily. "Look around and see how these men are comportin' themselves, an' then you'll know. Here are them as should be soldiers, seein's they've signed the rolls, mixed up with citizens till you couldn't tell one from the other unless personally acquainted with all hands. Then how are they marchin'? Why, a flock of geese couldn't straggle along in any more ungainly fashion." "I shouldn't suppose it would make any difference how they marched so that they got there in time," Isaac ventured to suggest timidly. "Shouldn't, eh? Then what's the good of calling themselves soldiers? Why don't they start out like a crowd of farmers an' try their hand at taking the fort?" "Well?" Isaac replied calmly. "Why shouldn't they? They are not soldiers, you know, corporal, and so long's the fort is taken why wouldn't it be as well if they didn't try to ape military manners?" The old man gazed sternly at the boy while one might have counted ten, and then said in a tone of sadness: "It's a shame, Isaac Rice, that after bein' with me all these years, an' hearin' more or less regardin' military matters, you shouldn't have more sense." "Why, what have I said now, corporal? Is it any harm to think that farmers might take a fort?" "Of course it is, lad. If anything of that kind could happen, what's the use of having soldiers?" "But I suppose it is necessary to have an army if there's going to be war," Isaac replied innocently, and this last was sufficient to completely fill the vials of the old man's wrath. That this pupil of his should fail at the very first opportunity to show a proper spirit, was to him most disappointing, and during the half-hour which followed he refused to speak, even though Isaac alternately begged his pardon for having been so ignorant and expressed regret that he had said anything which might give offense.