Amherst with eleven thousand men scared the French out; they didn't fire a gun, but abandoned the fortification and fled to Crown Point. Since that time the king's forces have held it." "How many are there now?" Isaac asked, not so much for the purpose of gaining information as to tempt the old man to continue his story. "I can't rightly say, lad, though it's somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty. The commandant is, or was when I last heard, one Captain Delaplace, and it is said that he's a thorough soldier, though I'm allowin' he hasn't got any too much of a force with him." "Do you think the Connecticut gentlemen can raise men enough between here and there to take a fort which resisted General Abercrombie's entire army?" "That remains to be seen, lad. If they are willin' to act on such advice as can be got from some people hereabouts, I allow there's a good chance for it, more especially if the Green Mountain boys take a hand in the matter, as Master Phelps thinks probable. In that case Colonel Ethan Allen would most likely be in command." "And you are really going, corporal?" asked Isaac. "Yes, lad, it don't seem as though I ought to hang back back when I'm needed. If all we hear from the other provinces is true, you'll be old enough to take a hand in the scrimmage before the fightin's over, so here's a chance to serve an apprenticeship. If it so be you're of the mind I'll take you under my wing, an' by the time we get back you'll have a pretty decently good idea of a soldier's trade." "Do you really mean it, corporal?" and Isaac sprang to his feet in excitement. "Do you really mean that I may go with you just as if I was of age to carry a gun?" "Ay, lad, if it so be your mother an' father are willin', an' I can't see why they shouldn't agree, seein's how they know the company you'll be in. It would seem different if you talked of goin' with the general run of recruits, who are green hands at this kind of work." "But will the committee allow a lad of my age to go as a soldier?" "Isaac, my boy, when Corporal 'Lige says to Master Phelps, says he, 'This 'ere lad is goin' under my wing, so to speak,' why bless your heart, that's the end of the whole business. They've got to have me, an' won't stand out about your joinin' when it's known my heart is set on it." "Will you come now while I ask my mother?" "Well, lad, I ain't prepared to say as how I will; but this much I'm promisin': Go to her an' find out how she's feelin' about the matter. If there's any waverin' in her mind I'll step in--you see I'll be the reserves in this case--an' when I charge she's bound to surrender. But if it so happens that she's dead set against it at the start, why, you had best not vex her by tryin' to push the matter." Having perfect faith in the corporal's wisdom Isaac was thoroughly satisfied with this decision, and after the old man had promised to await his return at that point, the lad set out for home at full speed.