anded sternly:

"Who are you calling thieves?"

"Now, you needn't get so huffy, 'cause I didn't mean anything," Nathan
replied quietly, and yet with no show of alarm; "but father is always
sayin' that, an' I s'pose it means--well I don't know what, except that
all hands of you are fightin' here, an' it looks like as if Captain
Delaplace would get the best of it."

"Who's he?"

"The commandant of the fort, of course."

"Well, see here, Nathan, it begins to look as though there was goin' to
be a row for a fact, and I hoped you lived close by so I could go to
your house till it was over."

"But you're a soldier, ain't you?"

"Not much of one."

"Well, if you've enlisted, a fight is right where you belong," and
Nathan appeared to think this settled the matter beyond any argument.

"I ain't so certain of that; but even if I do belong in a fight I shan't
stay in one. It seems like as if Corporal 'Lige had turned me off, an'
all he's thinking about is helping our crowd get the best of the
Stockbridgers."

"Well, there ain't anything very dangerous here yet awhile; suppose we
wait an' see how things turn? I don't care overmuch for fightin' myself;
but that's no reason why I shouldn't want to know whether there's likely
to be a row or not."

Isaac admired the courage of his new acquaintance and immediately
adopted him as a protector, taking up his position a pace or two in the
rear of Nathan as he watched the threatening movements.

The recruits from Pittsfield and vicinity were standing in close order
with the corporal at their head, evidently ready for whatever turn might
come in affairs.

Some of them retained their weapons; but the majority appeared to have
more confidence in their fists, and with arms bared to the elbow were
awaiting the word which would precipitate them upon the small body from
Stockbridge who guarded the treasure.

This last detachment had either learned of the advice given by Corporal
'Lige, or scented danger because they were so few in numbers as compared
with the other two factions, and were standing shoulder to shoulder
ready to resist an expected attack.

A short distance away the Green-Mountain Boys remained strictly by
themselves; but not giving any sign of taking part in the lawless
proceedings. So long as Ethan Allen was considered the head of the
expedition they were satisfied to stand aloof from any brawl.

As has been said before, the leading officers were nowhere to be se