Just before leaving the younger Tory said to the older:
“Father, if Ira went up to Fort Stanwix, he will stop at the farm when he returns. Likely he is there now, so we may as well go back. I hope, since they are on their way up the river, that Captain Brant and Master Turnbull will go with us, to be our guests for as long a time as possible.”
“That’s right, Hiram,” the old man replied, and with such understanding the four friends of the king left the hut, striking off through the thicket toward the road that led to Master Le Geyt’s home.
Two minutes later the three scouts had descended from their hiding-place and were making preparations for breakfast. While working they talked.
“It’s lucky for you, Ira,” Late began, “that those Tories decided to go home.”
“Yes,” was the brief reply.
“I wish we had been outside the hut when those fellers came,” Joe said half to himself.
“Why?” asked young Wentworth.
“We might have captured the whole gang,” the former explained. “It would have been a great haul.”
“I should have been glad to put my hands on that spy,” Ira said grimly.