'round the fort; all I'm
looking after is the cash I can make."

"Will you undertake the task?"

"Yes," Nathan replied, and then, as if a sudden thought had come to him,
added:

"I will if this boy goes along too."

"Is he a friend of yours?"

"I don't s'pose so, 'cause I never saw him before; but it's goin' to be
mighty pokey all alone with a man like him," and Nathan pointed to
Master Phelps.

At this point Corporal 'Lige stepped forward and saluted, thus
attracting the colonel's attention, after which he motioned toward the
outside as if to ask for a private interview.

The colonel immediately left the hut, followed by the corporal, and
Nathan looked after them suspiciously, whispering to Isaac:

"Now, what do you s'pose that old imitation soldier is up to? He mustn't
try to get the best of me."

"You needn't be afraid Corporal 'Lige will do anything that's wrong,
'cause he's an honest man, an' no imitation of a soldier; but a true
one."

"I ain't so certain about all that; but you seem to have a pretty good
idea of him, so perhaps he is half-way decent after all."

At his point the old soldier and the colonel returned, the latter saying
when he was inside the hut once more:

"In order that you may have no lack of company I propose that Master
Phelps, Corporal Watkins, and the lad all go with you."

"Who's Watkins?" Nathan whispered to Isaac.

"Why, that's Corporal 'Lige, of course."

"I knew he was stickin' his nose into it some way."

"You'll be glad to have him, 'cause he's jest as good as he can be after
you get acquainted."

Nathan remained silent a few seconds, and then asked abruptly:

"When does the crowd want to go?"

"At once. It should be possible to visit the fort before sunset."

"Well, that's accordin' to how fast they can walk; but if they start,
an' don't get there in time, father'll keep them overnight without
chargin' more'n what's right for the lodgings."

"Very well; you may make ready to set out immediately, and when you have
returned the money shall be paid you."

"I'm ready now."

"Master Phelps will need a few moments in which to prepare himself for
the journey, and I doubt not but that the corporal and his comrade have
some belongings which they will want to take with them. Remain you here,
lad, until the others have made all necessary preparations and are in
condition for the journey."

This was a command which Nathan could not well disobey; but he looked
to