"So the fort has been taken by our people!" Captain Baker cried joyously as he clasped the messenger by the hand with such force as to make the boy wince. "Tell me quickly! When was the work done?" More than once before he had come to the story of his and Nathan's adventures was Isaac interrupted by the eager soldier; but after a certain time he succeeded in imparting all the information, and was rewarded by hearing the captain say: "You showed rare good sense in leaving the prisoners outside the settlement, for while we in Sudbury are with the colonists in their task of teaching the king a much-needed lesson, there are some who might have tried to work mischief had you applied to them asking the location of my dwelling. Wait here until I can summon a few of the Green Mountain Boys, who have been awaiting word from Ethan Allen, and we'll soon relieve you of the Tories." Captain Baker ran out, not stopping for a reply, and while he was absent his wife insisted on Isaac's eating such food as she had already prepared, until it seemed to the boy that he would not need anything more for twenty-four hours. Then six men, each armed with a musket, arrived, and were ushered into the house, and Isaac was called upon to tell once more of how Ticonderoga had been captured, after which the party set out to find the prisoners. Corporal 'Lige's recruit acted the part of guide, and in less than an hour the three Tories, having been given a liberal supply of cornbread, were being marched back on the trail toward the captured fort. Both Isaac and Nathan believed it was their duty to accompany the prisoners; but Captain Baker insisted that they remain at his home in order to gain the repose which was needed, promising that they should arrive at Ticonderoga nearly as soon as if they had gone with the company escorting the Tories. Therefore it was the boys remained, well content with the work they had performed, and not until the morning of the twelfth of May was the return journey begun. Then the wind was blowing gently from the southward, and Nathan said mournfully: "We have of a surety lost the chance of going to Crown Point, for the hunter will be up and doing this morning, and is likely well on his way by this time." Overhearing his words the captain added: "Ay, lad if he didn't get there yesterday, which I misdoubt, you may count that he started before daybreak this morning; but you can have the satisfaction of knowing that save for your work, his task might not be so easy." "Think you he can surprise the garrison?" Isaac asked. "I see no reason why it should not be done, especially after your capture of the Tories, for thus far Colonel Allen has succeeded in keeping his movements a secret, at least from the people in this section of the country, and why may you not say the same of Crown Point?"