“Mine’s Isaac Rice.”
“What made you come out with a crowd like this?”
“All the folks ’round our way was enlisting, and they said it was the duty of everybody to fight against the king. Besides that the corporal was going, an’ he agreed to put me through in great shape.”
“Who’s the corporal?”
“That’s him over there with the red coat on.”
“Do you allow an old chap like him could put anybody through in very great shape?”
“You mustn’t talk like that about Corporal ’Lige where anybody will hear you. Why, he’s a regular soldier; fought under General Abercrombie in ’58, an’ I reckon if it hadn’t been for him the king’s troops would have got it terrible bad.”
“An’ that’s about the way they did get it.”
“Well, Corporal ’Lige is here now, an’ it’ll be different. Did you ever see the fort?”
“See it? Why, I’m over there pretty near 91 very week. Our folks sell eggs an’ chickens an’ such truck to the garrison, an’ I know the place jest like I do my own home.”