“Good-morning, Mr. Scott,” he said, and then turned smilingly to speak to the boys.
“Faith, this is Nathan Beaman,” said Donald, and the tall boy bowed again, and Faith smiled and nodded.
“I’ve been up to the fort to sell a basket of eggs,” explained Nathan, turning again to Mr. Scott.
“You are a great friend of the English soldiers, are you not, Nathan?” responded Mr. Scott.
“No, sir!” the boy answered quickly. “I go to the fort when my errands take me. But I know well enough what those English soldiers are there for; all the Shoreham folk know that. I wish the Green Mountain Boys held Ticonderoga,” he concluded.
Mr. Scott rested a friendly hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“Best not say that aloud, my boy; but I am glad the redcoats have not made you forget that American settlers have a right to defend their homes.”
“I hear there’s a reward offered for the capture of Ethan Allen,” said the boy.
Mr. Scott laughed. “Yes, but he’s in small danger. Colonel Allen may capture the fort instead of being taken a prisoner,” he answered.
Nathan now turned toward the children, and Donald showed him the bow he was making for his cousin. “I’ll string it for you,” offered Nathan; and Donald was delighted to have the older boy finish his work, for he was quite sure that anything Nathan Beaman did was a little better than the work of any other boy.