The rations served these volunteers who proposed to reduce the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point ere they yet knew a soldier's duties were not generous, and he who, from a desire to avoid seeming greedy, delayed in applying for them, generally found himself without food, save he might be so fortunate as to beg some from his more provident companions. Corporal 'Lige was exceedingly friendly to his stomach; he made it a rule never to allow modesty to deprive him of a full share of whatever might be served out, therefore it was he had drawn rations for himself and Isaac almost before the troops came to a halt, and the hindermost were yet marching into camp, weary and travel-stained, when he said to his small comrade: "There is nothing to keep us here longer, and the sooner we are at a goodly distance from these silly youngsters who fancy that the taking of a musket in their hands makes them soldiers, the better I shall be pleased." Isaac gave token of willingness to continue the march by shouldering his weapon once more, and the two set off, attracting no attention from their companions-in-arms, each of whom had little thought save to minister to his own comfort, for this soldiering was rapidly becoming more of a task and less of a pleasure-tour than had been at first supposed. Not until he was fully a mile from the foremost of the main body did the corporal give any evidence of an intention to halt, and then he showed remarkably good judgment in his selection of a camping-place. At the edge of a small brook about fifty yards from the main road over which they had been traveling, he threw down his knapsack, and announced in a tone of satisfaction that they would spend the night there. "It is not too far away, and yet at such a distance that we shall not be forced to listen to the gabbling of those geese," he said as he set about building a small campfire in order to prepare the food he had procured. "Make yourself comfortable, Isaac Rice, for it is a soldier's solemn duty to gain all the rest he can." "Do you think we shall be safe here?" the boy asked almost timidly, for it seemed little short of a crime to question any proposition made by the corporal. "Safe, lad? What's to prevent? If you keep your ears open for stories of danger while you are with the army, you'll never know peace of mind, for there are always those faint-hearted ones ready to exaggerate the falling of a leaf into the coming of the enemy. I have as much regard for my own safety as for yours, and I say that here we can camp in peace and safety." This was sufficient for the corporal's recruit, and he set about making himself comfortable, with the conviction that none knew better than his comrade the general condition of affairs. CHAPTER III. AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.