“Who knows?” responded Mrs. Scott, cheerfully. “A brave girl might be of great service. But I do not believe the Tories will dare go much farther. At all events, we will be ready for them. Run to the door, Faithie; there comes Louise.”
Louise was as pleased over Faith’s presents as Faith herself, and delighted at the prospect of going to the lake with Faith and Donald that afternoon. Faith and Donald promised to draw her on the sled, and Aunt Prissy was to be their companion.
“Mother can skate like a bird,” Donald declared admiringly.
Louise was no longer the sullen, sad-faced child whom Faith had first seen. She knew that she had friends; she was included in all the pleasant happenings with Faith; her father seemed to take pride in her appearance; and best of all, she thought, she was to begin school when the spring term opened. To-day as they started off for the lake she was as full of happiness as any child could be.
There were a number of children and young people on the ice, skating and sliding. A number of boys had built a bonfire on the shore, where they could warm their chilled toes and fingers.
Nathan Beaman was there, circling about in skilful curves, or darting off with long swift strokes, greatly to the admiration of the other children. He was quite ready to take the sled rope and give Louise a fine ride up the lake toward the fort, and back to the fire, and to guide Faith in her clumsy efforts to skate.
Faith and Louise were warming their fingers at the fire when they heard loud voices and a commotion on the ice.
“What is it? Indians?” exclaimed Faith, looking around, for the settlers never knew at what moment the Indians might become mischievous.
“No! Soldiers. Soldiers from the fort,” replied Aunt Prissy, drawing the little girls away from the fire. “Perhaps they are only coming to warm their fingers.”
Two red-coated soldiers came swinging close to the shore. They were talking loudly, and as they neared the fire they called out: “Clear away from that fire. We’ll have no fires built on this shore. ’Tis too good a way to send messages across the lake.”