Feeling more like a man than ever before in his life, Isaac set forth from his home with a heavy musket over his shoulder, and the bag of provisions hanging at his back, glancing neither to the right nor to the left until he arrived at the corporal's dwelling. An exclamation of surprise and delight burst from his lips when he saw the old man, armed and equipped as he had been in '58, wearing the uniform of a British soldier, even though by thus setting out he was proving his disloyalty to the king. "Well you do look fine, corporal. I dare wager there are none who will set forth from this town as much a soldier as you!" "I reckon Colonel Easton will come out great with his militia uniform; but what does it amount to except for the value of the gold lace that's on it? All I'm wearin' has seen service, an' though it ain't for me to say it, I shouldn't be surprised if him as is inside this 'ere red coat could tell the militia colonel much regarding his duty." "Of course you can, corporal, every one knows that, an' I'm expecting to see you put next in command to Colonel Allen, if it so be he goes." "Not quite that, lad, not quite that, for there's jealousy in the ranks the same as outside of them, though I warrant many of 'em will be glad to ask Corporal 'Lige's advice before this 'ere business is over. Now let's have a look to your stores, and we'll be off." The examination of the impromptu haversack appeared to be satisfactory to the old man, and without doing more in the way of securing his dwelling from intruders than shutting the outer door, he marched down the street with such a swagger as he evidently believed befitting a soldier. Isaac followed meekly at his heels, troubling his head not one whit because he lacked a uniform, but believing he shared to a certain degree in Corporal 'Lige's gorgeousness and martial bearing. The two came to a halt outside the inn, standing stiffly at "attention," and there they remained until Master Phelps was forced to go out and bid the old man enter, that the formality of signing the rolls might be gone through with, after which Isaac Rice was duly entitled to call himself a militiaman. CHAPTER II. A SECLUDED CAMP. When these raw recruits departed from the town--Corporal 'Lige insisted that they did not march--they were followed for several miles by nearly all the men and boys in the vicinity. The old man was greatly exercised because Colonel Easton, who now assumed command, allowed such an unsoldierly proceeding as that his troops should walk arm in arm with their friends, each in his own manner and at his own convenience.