Mrs. Carew listened in amazement; but she had no word of blame for Faith. She realized the dangers the child had so unknowingly faced with a sense that her little girl had been guarded by a protection greater than any by which she could have surrounded her; and she wondered, too, if it were not possible that Faith might not really have helped in the great undertaking for which her father was ready to give all that he had to give.
“Mother dear, I despise secrets,” Faith whispered, as she finished the story, “and I mean never to have another one.”
Three days later Mr. Carew came swinging across the clearing. He waved his cap in the air as Faith came running to meet him.
“Ticonderoga is ours,” he called, “and the English prisoners are on their way to Hartford. And so it was you, little maid, who helped Phelps to a plan of the fort, and told Ethan Allen of young Beaman!”
“Did it help, father? Did it help?” Faith asked eagerly.
“Help? Indeed it did. Young Beaman led the way to the fort, and we were in without firing a shot. And Colonel Allen and his men hold the fort,” replied Mr. Carew.
He could stay for but a few hours, as he was carrying the news to the settlements. It was several days before he was at home again, and told them more fully of Allen’s triumph, and of the capture of Crown Point by Seth Warner and his followers.
Toward the last of May Aunt Prissy, accompanied by Nathan Beaman, arrived at the log cabin, and Faith heard the story of Louise’s arrival at Ticonderoga.
“Her father has been taken a prisoner to Hartford, and Louise will stay with me,” Aunt Prissy said. “I will adopt her for my own daughter if her father consents.”
“I do hope he will,” said Faith, glad indeed to know that her friend was safe.