h upon each
person and everything within his range of vision.

The messenger from the General Assembly had made a very decided change
in his personal appearance, and Isaac was forced to look twice before
feeling positive this was the same Master Phelps whom he had seen a few
moments before.

Now he was clad after the fashion of a farmer, in garments which he had
probably borrowed from some member of the troop; his face was browned
and soiled, while his hands were exceedingly dirty, and even Nathan must
have been satisfied that the commandant of the fort would not see in
this visitor other than he professed to be.

"If that lad had a trifle more sense he'd understand there wasn't
anything to be gained by deceiving him," the corporal said in a low tone
to Isaac; "but he's so self-opinionated he thinks everybody is plotting
mischief against him."

"You don't seem to like him very well," Isaac ventured to say, and
Corporal 'Lige replied emphatically:

"Neither do I."

"Then unless he an' I go off by ourselves, I don't reckon this will be a
very pleasant journey," Isaac said to himself as he thought of the
corporal and Nathan, each distrusting and making complaint against the
other.

Colonel Allen was determined there should be no delay in the setting out
of this spying expedition, and immediately the corporal and Isaac showed
themselves he insisted that the little party start without further loss
of time.

Young Beman at once showed his preference as to a traveling companion,
for he ranged himself by Isaac's side, and when the corporal would have
joined them, said curtly:

"You'd better keep back with the other man. I s'pose I'll have to lead
the way, and when we strike off the main road the path ain't wide enough
for more than two."

"Don't the highway lead to Shoreham?" the corporal asked suspiciously.

"Yes; but we can save more'n four miles by cuttin' through the woods,"
and Nathan hurried Isaac on as a means both of putting an end to the
corporal's inquiries, and forcing him to join Master Phelps.

Once the journey was well begun young Beman presented himself in a more
favorable light.

He ceased to refer to the corporal as an "imitation soldier," and gave
no further evidence of being suspicious; but questioned Isaac as to what
the town of Pittsfield was like, and concerning Boston, where young Rice
had visited two years previous in company with his father.

Master Phelps was not accustomed to this m