eld prisoners by the king's troops once we are
arrived at Crown Point," Isaac ventured to say after they had traveled
steadily, although slowly, onward for nearly half an hour, and young
Beman replied in a petulant tone:

"That goes without saying, and it shows what a fool I've been in running
around with those who would oppose the king's will. If father is eager
to ruin himself, that's no reason I should be a fool, and I'd better
have listened to mother."

"Why speak of what has been done?" Corporal 'Lige's recruit asked in
what he intended should be a soothing tone. "I am not acquainted with
the country as you are, neither am I so brave; but yet it seems as if we
should be on the alert for a chance to escape."

"Now you talk like a fool! How may we escape with these three men on
watch, all of whom are willing to shoot us at the first chance we give
them. I'm not minded to have a bullet put through my body; but would
rather trust to the king's troops, in the hope that after a time we may
be set free."

"Yet if we could give these men the slip?"

"You may be certain we shan't have a chance."

"Yet, suppose we did?"

"Why will you be so weak-headed, Isaac Rice? If this is really war
between the king and the colonies, the lives of boys like us count for
but little, especially since two of these men are eager to be rid of
us."

Isaac understood that it was useless just at this time to make any
attempt at arousing his companion from the petulant despondency into
which he had fallen, wherefore wisely kept silent; but at the same time
was firmly resolved to be on the lookout for any opportunity of gaining
his freedom.

His timorousness had fled before the thought that there might yet be a
chance, he knew not how, of preventing the information of the fall of
Ticonderoga from being carried to Crown Point.

The boy had in his heart just then what is commonly called courage, and
his will was good, at whatever cost to himself, to repair the mischief
which had been done.

He had hoped to animate his companion to the same pitch, but the failure
to do this did not discourage him, and while obeying strictly the orders
given, he was keenly aware of everything which might be of benefit.

He heard the men discussing what they would do in case of a failure to
find a boat near by where they gained the shore, and learned that in
such an event one of them would return to the landing-place to get the
craft of which they knew,