“Since rebellion first showed its head in these colonies. Now, answer my question, or it will be the worse for you!”
Isaac, thoroughly alarmed, had made no resistance either by word or movement when the stranger searched him, and although ignorant, as he had often said, of warfare, he understood now full well that they were fallen into the hands of enemies, who would not hesitate at the taking of human life in order to compass their ends.
Therefore he remained stretched upon the ground as when the men first came upon them, so terrified that it was almost impossible either to move or speak.
Young Beman was frightened, but not to such an extent as to prevent him from displaying anger, and instead of replying to the question he attempted to rise to his feet.
A blow delivered with unnecessary force 186 sent him headlong to the ground again, and his captor said warningly:
“Have a care what you are about, Nathan Beman, for we are not disposed either to bandy words or waste much time on such as you, who, having professed friendship for those in the fort, was ready to betray them.”
Now, Nathan’s fears were as great as Isaac’s; but he made one more effort at asserting himself, and began by telling a lie.
“What have I done at the fort? I am but just come from my father’s house.”
“Take that for the falsehood, and this for believing us to be fools, who can be deceived by such as you,” the man replied as he viciously kicked the boy twice. “You have but just come from Ticonderoga, and must have been sent by the rebels who captured the fort.”
“What reason have you for saying that?” Nathan asked in a more subdued tone.