"You'll be glad to have him, 'cause he's jest as good as he can be after you get acquainted." Nathan remained silent a few seconds, and then asked abruptly: "When does the crowd want to go?" "At once. It should be possible to visit the fort before sunset." "Well, that's accordin' to how fast they can walk; but if they start, an' don't get there in time, father'll keep them overnight without chargin' more'n what's right for the lodgings." "Very well; you may make ready to set out immediately, and when you have returned the money shall be paid you." "I'm ready now." "Master Phelps will need a few moments in which to prepare himself for the journey, and I doubt not but that the corporal and his comrade have some belongings which they will want to take with them. Remain you here, lad, until the others have made all necessary preparations and are in condition for the journey." This was a command which Nathan could not well disobey; but he looked toward Isaac while the latter was hurried away by Corporal 'Lige, as if there were yet other questions concerning this project which he would like to ask. "Don't turn back, lad," the old soldier said when his _protege_ made a move as if to return. "There's to be no time lost, and you'll have good opportunity for talking once we're on the road." "How did it happen the colonel sent you and me?" Isaac asked when the two were so far from headquarters that his words could not be overheard. "That's owing to the hint I gave Colonel Allen when that young skinflint made his talk. A lad who won't take sides in this matter 'twixt the colonies and the king, but holds out for whatever money he can get, is not to be trusted, accordin' to my way of thinkin'. While he was settin' himself down for a cold-blooded, close-fisted specimen of humanity such as you wouldn't look for in one so young, I made up my mind that there had best be a sharp watch kept of him, else a word or two might be dropped at the fort which would upset all our plans." "Do you believe he would take Colonel Allen's money and then betray him?" "I am certain a lad who would haggle for six shillings under such circumstances as this would sell out to the next man who offered half as much more, and the colonel was of the same mind after I'd mentioned the matter." "I don't see why I should go." "Don't you want to?" the corporal asked in surprise. "Of course it would be more pleasant than marching with the troops; but still I can't understand what good it is possible for me to do." "I don't reckon you will be of any service; but the boy had taken a notion to have you with him, so it seemed like a good chance for me to put my oar in, and between the two of us I reckon he won't have much show of playing double."