“Go you on ahead, lads,” Captain Baker 245 said when the boys had been intrusted with the message. “I won’t spoil a good fortune by seeming to accompany you; but will linger here until you are well on the way, and after having given Ethan Allen the best news he could possibly receive at such a critical time, I very much question whether you may not ask whatsoever you will from him.”
Hurriedly the messengers departed in order that they might arrive well in advance of Captain Baker’s company, and when they were pulling down the lake, Isaac said thoughtfully:
“You heard what Captain Baker said, that Colonel Allen might grant anything we asked?”
“Yes, and I know what is in your mind this minute.”
“Name it then.”
“You think I am counting on asking him for money.”
Isaac’s face flushed and he made no reply.
“I might have done so a few days ago, but now I am coming around on the same track with father, and say that the colonists do right in resisting the king. If it so be he permits, I will enlist this day.”
And Nathan Beman kept his promise, even going so far as to desire Corporal ’Lige should stand sponsor for him when, the message having been delivered, Colonel Allen thanked them again and again for the cheering intelligence and asked what they would choose as their reward.
“Only the permission to enlist,” Nathan said, and the colonel stared at him in open-mouthed astonishment for several seconds, after which he asked with a laugh: