“Then give us regular duties to perform. We can stand guard in the daytime as well as any other, for our eyes are as sharp as yours, and if we take that work upon ourselves, then it will be possible for all the men to remain on duty during each night.” It was a most welcome proposition she had made, since, by following it, we who counted ourselves men would not be heavy-eyed while standing guard in the darkness, when we knew the most danger threatened, and so it was arranged, save that I would have put her off until the next day. “Let us begin at once,” she said, firmly, “and then it will come more natural when danger thickens.” Well, without consulting my comrades, I stationed Esther Hinchman and three other women on the stockade at once, and Giles March asked, laughingly: “Have you turned your command into Minute Girls, Jonathan Ogden?” When I had stated what was to be the arrangement while we were so short-handed, he, as well as all the others who heard me, believed it was a wise plan, and, now that there was no longer need of us on the lookout platforms, we went here and there examining the defences, strengthening them as much as possible by setting other logs where any showed signs of weakness. The canoes had long since been brought inside the stockade, and every lad and man in the company was working to the utmost of his ability, when a low cry from Esther Hinchman took me to her side. “A canoe is coming down on the other side, keeping well inshore,” she said. “I cannot make out that there are more than two persons in her.” “Master Bartlett was right when he said some of those curs would come down to see what had become of Andrew Hardy and his companions!” I cried involuntarily, and then, like a flash of light, came to me an idea which, if properly carried out, might be turned much to our advantage. “Call the women down from the platforms without delay, and as quietly as may be. See that they all go into the blockhouse, taking the children with them,” I said, hurriedly. “I believe we may trap those curious ones if we work quickly.” Esther did not delay to ask questions; but, running from one platform to another, called off her sentinels, and while I was talking with Master Bartlett, I saw that the dear girl was gathering the children up as one does a flock of sheep. “If we keep out of sight those curs will be likely to stroll inside the stockade through curiosity,” I said to the old man, after telling him of what Esther had seen. “Now I cannot say in what way it would advantage us to hold prisoners, although the time may come, before we have regained possession of the valley, when a few of those wolves in a cage would be something with which we might drive a bargain.” “How will you do it?” Master Bartlett asked, without declaring for or against my plan.