“Repeat it, and be careful lest you make the mistake of telling another lie.”
“There is nothing in it of importance or interest to you. It was simply that Captain Baker should come at once to Ticonderoga.”
“Then the fort was taken last night?”
“I thought you knew that?” Nathan cried in surprise, now understanding that he had divulged what it was most important should have been kept a profound secret until Crown Point had been captured.
“We heard that the rebels were marching 189 toward the fort; but could not get there in time to warn the commandant.”
“Why was it you made prisoners of two boys if you were not knowing to all that has taken place?” Nathan asked, his curiosity getting the better of his fears.
“We took the chance that you could give us the desired information, because it was not reasonable old Beman’s son should be in this section unless on business of his father’s, and in these times one can well guess what that business might be. Therefore, having heard you floundering through the thicket, we drew near to listen to such conversation as you might indulge in.”
“Are you going to waste time explaining our purpose to that young cub, Jason Wentworth?” one of the men asked impatiently, and he who had been addressed replied with a laugh:
“We are not in as much haste now as we were half an hour ago, Ezra Jones. Captain Baker will not get the message, and while the wind holds in this quarter I’m allowing the rebels won’t reach Crown Point before we do.”
“They will if we loiter here all day. Truss up the lads, so they can do no mischief, and let us be off.”