For a time Nathan avoided making any direct answer; but when his mother pressed him closely he answered her quite as pertly as he had Colonel Allen, by saying: "I'm to be paid for holdin' my tongue about whatever is goin' on--I'll have six shillings by this time to-morrow night, an' I can't afford to talk to anybody." "Six shillings just for holding your tongue, Nathan?" "Well, it's for that an' a little more; but I ain't goin' to make any talk, so if you want me to earn the money you'd better stop askin' questions." "Is your father going to get as much?" "I don't know anything about his trades; it's all I can do to take care of my own, an' work 'em through accordin' to the agreement, when there's so much questionin' goin' on," Nathan replied quite sharply, and his mother, who was evidently as prudent as himself in financial matters, desisted from pressing him further. After this brief conversation Isaac felt positive Corporal 'Lige need have no fear regarding possible treachery on Nathan's part, for if the boy refused to tell his mother he surely would be close-mouthed in the presence of others. When the party finally made their appearance and were seated at the supper table, the three men evidently on the best of terms with each other, Mrs. Beman's curiosity was still further aroused, as was but natural. Yet no word was dropped during the progress of the meal, nor so long as the guests remained downstairs, which could have given her the slightest clew. It was Nathan's purpose to have Isaac for a bed-fellow; but to this his mother made emphatic protest, and when the time for retiring came the three guests were conducted to a room adjoining the kitchen, while the farmer's family retired to the loft above. Then it was in cautious whispers that Isaac told the corporal why he felt confident there was no danger Nathan would betray them, and the old soldier said grimly: "He didn't have a fair test when he was talking with his mother, 'cause there was no chance she would pay him for the information. What I'm afeared of is that some one may offer him more than Colonel Allen did, an' then I'll go bail everything he knows will come out in short order." "I don't believe he would do other than he has agreed." "Well, lad, you hold to that opinion, an' I'll have my own, an' 'twixt the two of us I reckon he won't be able to do any mischief. His father is a proper kind of man; holds to it that the colonists are right in making war against the king, and stands ready to do all he can in furtherance of the cause. Therefore if this young jack-a-napes holds himself too high an' mighty in the mornin' we shan't be wholly in his power." When day dawned, however, Corporal 'Lige had no reason to complain of Nathan. The lad showed himself of the mind to earn the six shillings, and now that he was at home, appeared less suspicious of his companion's intentions.