Now, Nathan's fears were as great as Isaac's; but he made one more effort at asserting himself, and began by telling a lie. "What have I done at the fort? I am but just come from my father's house." "Take that for the falsehood, and this for believing us to be fools, who can be deceived by such as you," the man replied as he viciously kicked the boy twice. "You have but just come from Ticonderoga, and must have been sent by the rebels who captured the fort." "What reason have you for saying that?" Nathan asked in a more subdued tone. "First, the fact of your being here, and secondly because your comrade spoke, while we were within hearing, of your having been sent from Ticonderoga." Nathan shot an angry glance toward Isaac as if Corporal 'Lige's recruit alone was to blame for this unpleasant interruption to the journey; but he ventured no reply lest further chastisement might follow. "Tell me to whom you are sent, and have a care in the replying, for we are not minded to waste much time upon such as you." Nathan was beginning to understand that he was wholly in the power of an enemy, whom he could not readily deceive, and also believed that it might be painful for him if the answer was delayed. He was not so devoted to the cause as to be willing to suffer in its behalf, and, therefore, said surlily: "We were going to Captain Remember Baker at Sudbury." "Who sent you?" "Colonel Allen." "Where is the message you are carrying?" "He gave us none save by word of mouth." "Repeat it, and be careful lest you make the mistake of telling another lie." "There is nothing in it of importance or interest to you. It was simply that Captain Baker should come at once to Ticonderoga." "Then the fort was taken last night?" "I thought you knew that?" Nathan cried in surprise, now understanding that he had divulged what it was most important should have been kept a profound secret until Crown Point had been captured. "We heard that the rebels were marching toward the fort; but could not get there in time to warn the commandant." "Why was it you made prisoners of two boys if you were not knowing to all that has taken place?" Nathan asked, his curiosity getting the better of his fears. "We took the chance that you could give us the desired information, because it was not reasonable old Beman's son should be in this section unless on business of his father's, and in these times one can well guess what that business might be. Therefore, having heard you floundering through the thicket, we drew near to listen to such conversation as you might indulge in." "Are you going to waste time explaining our purpose to that young cub, Jason Wentworth?" one of the men asked impatiently, and he who had been addressed replied with a laugh: "We are not in as much haste now as we were half an hour ago, Ezra Jones. Captain Baker will not get the message, and while the wind holds in this quarter I'm allowing the rebels won't reach Crown Point before we do."