, dropping to his hands and knees,
crept toward Master Wentworth.

When the plan had so far succeeded that they were on their feet, a bold
scheme came into Isaac's head, and he believed now was come the time for
him to gain the good opinion of Corporal 'Lige, if he should be so
fortunate as to see the old soldier again.

Moving with infinite care, and giving no heed to what Nathan might be
doing, the boy crept to Master Wentworth's side, and it was with
difficulty he repressed a cry of exultation as his fingers closed over
the musket.

Cautiously rising to his feet, and at the same instant assuring himself
the flint was in place, but forgetting that he had no powder with which
to prime the weapon, Isaac stepped back to where he had left his
comrade.

Nathan was no longer there, but from a short distance away came a slight
rustling of the foliage, and Isaac waited, his heart beating so
violently that it seemed positive the thumping must awaken their
enemies.

Before Corporal 'Lige's recruit could have counted twenty, Nathan stood
by his side, and it needed but one touch of the hand to tell the former
that all the weapons had been secured.

Young Beman had done his work well, for he not only held the two
muskets, but a powder-horn well filled, and a shot pouch heavy with
bullets.

Now it was that, having all the advantage, Nathan began to be sensible
of a glow of patriotism, and he whispered to his comrade as he carefully
primed one of the muskets:

"It wouldn't be a hard task to take these fellows into Sudbury, if we
had something with which to fetter their hands."

"My mother made the cloth of this coat I am wearing, and I promise that
it's as strong as a rope."

Without waiting for a reply Isaac began stripping the garment into
narrow bands, by aid of his teeth, and the noise caused Master Wentworth
to half rise as he cried:

"Hey! White! Jones!"

"Stay where you are!" Nathan shouted. "We've got all the muskets, and
are in the mood to shoot if you make any trouble. It won't go much
against the grain to put a couple of bullets into the two who wanted to
leave us trussed up in the thicket, where we would starve to death!"

Master Wentworth sank back upon the ground very quickly, and at the same
instant must have discovered that his ammunition had not been seized,
for he cried to his companions:

"They can't prime the muskets, and it is the same----"

"You'll know whether we can or not if you make any