Perhaps this was due in part to the fact that his father, well knowing what the visitors would have, took it upon himself to give the guide positive instructions, and at an early hour Nathan set out accompanied by Master Phelps. It was his intention that Isaac should be one of the party; but to this the farmer made decided objections, insisting that more than one stranger might cause suspicion, and therefore it was that Corporal 'Lige and his pupil remained quietly at the farm until noon of that day, when the delegate from the Connecticut Assembly returned well pleased with what he had seen. In a private conversation held with the corporal he reported that strong though the fortification was, the walls were in a state of great dilapidation; few, if any, precautions taken against surprise; military discipline was hardly known, and the sentinels in particular were remiss in their duty. Master Phelps had no difficulty in making such investigations as he chose, and declared that in his opinion, providing the garrison could be taken by surprise, there was nothing to prevent a capture of the fort. However, in order that all this might be effected, boats were necessary, and there was not a sufficient number on the shores near about to convey one-tenth of the men in Colonel Allen's command. "It is well you have come with me," Master Phelps said to the corporal, "for while I am returning, you and the lad, accompanied by the farmer, shall set about seizing all the boats which may be found in this vicinity, having due heed to your movements, however, lest you proceed so far in the direction of Crown Point as to arouse suspicions in that quarter. Work as expeditiously as is in your power, for the troops will arrive here not later than midnight, and it is absolutely necessary there be ready proper craft to convey them across the lake." Then Master Phelps, still holding to Nathan as a guide, set off to meet the force, which was believed to be rapidly approaching, and the farmer said impatiently to the corporal: "If it so be, sir, you count on carrying out the orders given 'twixt now and dark, it is time for us to be moving, for boats are not plentiful hereabout, and we shall have a long tramp before gathering as many as will carry your force across." CHAPTER VII. TICONDEROGA. It was not necessary Farmer Beman should urge Corporal 'Lige to make haste in this matter which had been intrusted to him, for the old soldier understood full well how necessary it was that means of transportation for the troops should be at hand when the men arrived, and had good reason to believe that such task as was assigned him could not be readily performed. He even showed himself more eager in the work than the farmer, for when the latter would have delayed in order to eat the noonday meal, the old man positively refused as he said: