"If you should be paid six shillings, would you be willing to guide one of these gentlemen into the fort and come back with him to where our troops might then be stationed?" "Which one wants to go?" Nathan asked, not intending to commit himself until the full details were given. "This gentleman," and Colonel Allen pointed toward Master Phelps, one of the Committee from the Connecticut Assembly. Nathan looked at him critically a moment, and then asked, as if suspicious some portion of the plan was being kept secret from him: "Does he want to see Captain Delaplace?" "He simply wishes to view the fort, and it would be necessary you should pretend he was a neighbor who had come with no other motive than that of curiosity." "You couldn't pass him off for any neighbor of our'n." "Why not?" "'Cause he's dressed too fine, an' his face is so pale that anybody'd know he didn't live 'round here." "All that may be readily changed," Master Phelps interrupted. "I'll promise to look so nearly like one of your neighbors that there shall be no question raised." "When do I get the six shillings?" Nathan asked. "After you have performed the work faithfully to the extent of bringing Master Phelps back to me," Colonel Allen replied, now speaking quite sharply. "It would be a serious matter indeed if you were to betray him to the commandant of the fort, or indicate that this body of men are near at hand." "If I take the six shillings, I'll earn 'em. It's none of my business where you folks are, nor what's goin' on 'round the fort; all I'm looking after is the cash I can make." "Will you undertake the task?" "Yes," Nathan replied, and then, as if a sudden thought had come to him, added: "I will if this boy goes along too." "Is he a friend of yours?" "I don't s'pose so, 'cause I never saw him before; but it's goin' to be mighty pokey all alone with a man like him," and Nathan pointed to Master Phelps. At this point Corporal 'Lige stepped forward and saluted, thus attracting the colonel's attention, after which he motioned toward the outside as if to ask for a private interview. The colonel immediately left the hut, followed by the corporal, and Nathan looked after them suspiciously, whispering to Isaac: "Now, what do you s'pose that old imitation soldier is up to? He mustn't try to get the best of me." "You needn't be afraid Corporal 'Lige will do anything that's wrong, 'cause he's an honest man, an' no imitation of a soldier; but a true one." "I ain't so certain about all that; but you seem to have a pretty good idea of him, so perhaps he is half-way decent after all." At his point the old soldier and the colonel returned, the latter saying when he was inside the hut once more: "In order that you may have no lack of company I propose that Master Phelps, Corporal Watkins, and the lad all go with you." "Who's Watkins?" Nathan whispered to Isaac. "Why, that's Corporal 'Lige, of course." "I knew he was stickin' his nose into it some way."