But Nat shook his head.
“Except for one journey into York State, I’ve kept pretty close to the Wyoming valley all my life,” he replied.
Ezra looked puzzled. That he would like to have asked a great many questions was plain; but that there was something that kept him from doing so, was equally evident.
“It seems to me,” and the boy from New England smiled as he said it, “that your acquaintance with Mr. Washington and his comrades is somewhat mysterious.”
“Oh, no,” replied Nat. “It happened that I was able to be of service to them a night or two ago. That is how I came to make their acquaintance.”
For a moment Ezra gazed steadily into the speaker’s face.
“A few nights ago,” said he, an odd note in his voice.
“Yes,” returned Nat, calmly. “It was rather an urgently needed service; and it just happened that I was at hand to render it.”
There was another pause, and then Ezra spoke again, this time very quietly.
“Such things are sometimes long remembered,” said he.