He was sitting by the great open fireplace, looking at the blazing logs and watching the curling smoke ascend the chimney, when his brother, Ira, came in, and threw himself on the settee in the chimney corner opposite Ethan. Ira was thirteen years younger than Ethan, but as bold and daring as his brother. At the date of the formation of the Green Mountain Boys, Ira was eighteen, and as bright a lad as ever shouldered musket or hunted a bear. "Ethan, I saw Eben Pike to-night." "Well?" "He wants to join us." "Oh!" "Won't you let him?" "What to do? If we wanted a kitchenmaid he might apply." "I told him I would speak to you." "Well, you have done so." "I wish you would admit him." "Into the ranks?" "Yes." "My dear Ira, you forget that we may have to fight." "I don't." "What use would Eben be in a fight? He could run." "That is just it; he might be serviceable when you wanted a message sent." "I will see him." Ira went to the door. "Come in, Eben. The colonel will talk to you." Ethan had no idea that the youth was outside, and he blushed like a girl as he thought the boy might have heard all he said. Eben Pike was an orphan, and was not generally liked by the people of the district, simply because he was unlike the general run of boys. He was very effeminate, and with his hair worn long, looked more like a girl than a boy of sixteen. He was soft and gentle in his dealings with everyone. He had often shuddered as he saw a sheep killed by the butcher, and refused to hunt because it was cruel. It was a strange freak for him to take, when he expressed his wish to join the mountain boys, and Ethan could not understand it. "Well, Eben, I hear that you are ambitious." "No, Master Allen, not ambitious, but I want only to be of some use." "Can you fight?" "I do not want to do so, but if we have to--well, I'd do my best." "None of us could do more. Why do you wish to join the boys?" Eben's face was scarlet; he hung his head, and looked very sheepish. "Because, sir, the boys all say I am girlish, and I want to prove that I am no girl." "But you might get hurt." "I can stand that. When the bear attacked me last summer he tore pieces out of my thighs. Did I complain?" "No, Eben, I will give you credit for pluck. As to joining us, why, I will think over that." "Thank you. I am sure I could be of use to you." CHAPTER III. A CHILD OF NATURE. Several weeks had passed since Eben Pike had signified his wish to join the ranks of the Green Mountain Boys, and not once had he been summoned to take part in their drills. "It is always the same," he murmured; "they think me too girlish for men's work. I will show them yet that I can be of use." Every day he wandered through the country, and even crossed into New York Colony, hoping to find out if any attempt was to be made to carry out the decision of the courts.