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diff --git a/26723-h/26723-h.htm b/26723-h/26723-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf558f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/26723-h/26723-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5293 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Little Maid Of Ticonderoga, by Alice Turner Curtis. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + td {vertical-align: top;} + + hr.large {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + div.centered {text-align:center;} /*work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;} /* work around for IE problem part 2 */ + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .centerbox {width: auto; /* heading box */ + margin-left: 10em; + margin-right: 10em; + text-align: center; + padding-bottom: 3.15em;} + .bbox {border-style: none;} + + .jpg {border: solid 2px;} + .ispace {margin-top: 2em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .right {margin-left: 15em;} + .right2 {margin-left: 18em;} + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem span.i20 {display: block; margin-left: 5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's A Little Maid of Ticonderoga, by Alice Turner Curtis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Maid of Ticonderoga + +Author: Alice Turner Curtis + +Illustrator: Wuanita Smith + +Release Date: September 29, 2008 [EBook #26723] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 323px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="323" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<h1>A Little Maid of<br /> +Ticonderoga</h1> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Alice Turner Curtis</span></h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">AUTHOR OF</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Province Town”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Narragansett Bay”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Bunker Hill”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Old Connecticut”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Old Maine”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Old New York”</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">“A Little Maid of Virginia”</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Illustrated by Wuanita Smith</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 103px;"> +<img src="images/002.jpg" width="103" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3>THE PENN PUBLISHING<br /> +COMPANY PHILADELPHIA</h3> +<p class="center">1929</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT<br /> 1917 BY<br /> THE PENN<br /> PUBLISHING<br /> COMPANY</p> + +<p class="ispace"> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 103px;"> +<img src="images/003.jpg" width="103" height="100" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center">A Little Maid of Ticonderoga</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 332px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" class="jpg ispace" width="332" height="500" alt="“MY NAME IS ETHAN ALLEN”" title="" /> +<span class="caption">“MY NAME IS ETHAN ALLEN”</span> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><a name="Introduction" id="Introduction"></a>Introduction</h2> + +<p>This is the story of a little girl whose home was among the Green +Mountains of Vermont, then known as “The Wilderness,” at the beginning +of the American Revolution; and at the time when Ethan Allen and his +brave soldiers were on guard to defend their rights. Ethan Allen was +the friend of Faith, the heroine of the story, whose earnest wish to +be of help is fulfilled. She journeys from her Wilderness home across +Lake Champlain to Ticonderoga, and spends a winter with her aunt and +cousin near Fort Ticonderoga. Here she learns a secret about the fort +that is of importance later to Ethan Allen’s “Green Mountain Boys.”</p> + +<p>There are two very interesting bears in this story. Like the earlier +volumes of this series, “A Little Maid of Province Town,” “A Little +Maid of Massachusetts Colony,” “A Little Maid of Narragansett Bay,” +and “A Little Maid of Bunker Hill”—the present volume introduces the +heroes of American history and tells of famous deeds and places of +which all American children should know.</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" summary="CONTENTS"> + +<tr> +<td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Esther and Bruin</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#A_Little_Maid_of_Ticonderoga">9</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Faith Makes a Promise</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">22</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">More Mischief</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">33</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A New Plan</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">42</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Kashaqua</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">51</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Journey</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">59</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">New Friends</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">70</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Shoemaker’s Daughter</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">81</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IX.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Louise</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">90</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">X.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Major’s Daughters</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">100</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Day of Adventure</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">110</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Secrets</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">119</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Louise Makes a Present</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">129</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Birthday</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">140</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">New Adventures</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">150</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Louise Disappears</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">161</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Faith Again visits the Fort</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">172</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Home Again</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">184</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIX.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Faith Writes a Letter</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">194</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XX.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Capture of the Fort</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">208</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="A_Little_Maid_of_Ticonderoga" id="A_Little_Maid_of_Ticonderoga"></a>A Little Maid of Ticonderoga</h2> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>ESTHER AND BRUIN</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Faith Carew</span> was ten years old when Esther Eldridge came to visit her. +Faith lived in a big comfortable log cabin on one of the sloping +hillsides of the Green Mountains. Below the cabin was her father’s +mill; and to Faith it always seemed as if the mill-stream had a gay +little song of its own. She always listened for it when she awoke each +morning.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if Esther will hear what the brook sings?” thought Faith as +she drew on her moccasin slippers and dressed as quickly as she could, +for her mother had already called her twice, and Faith had just +reached the top of the stairs when the third call of, “Faith! Faith! I +shall not keep your porridge hot another instant,” sounded from the +kitchen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>“I’m coming, mother dear,” the little girl called back, and hurried +down the stairs, wondering to herself why grown people who could +always do exactly as they pleased should think it best to rise before +the sun was really up.</p> + +<p>“Your father was off to the mill an hour ago,” said Mrs. Carew, +setting a bowl of steaming porridge on the end of the table beside a +narrow window, “so you will have to eat your porridge alone.”</p> + +<p>Faith sat down at the table, looking out through the open window +toward the mill.</p> + +<p>“I do hope Esther Eldridge and her father will come to-day,” she said. +“Do you think they will, mother dear?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, child; they will probably arrive before sunset. Your father +expected them yesterday. It will be a fine thing for you to have a +little girl for a companion. But she is a village child, and may not +be happy in the Wilderness,” responded Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>“Why, of course she will like being here! Just think, she has never +seen wheat ground into flour! And she can see that in our mill; and +she has always walked on real roads, and here she will not even see a +road; and I know many pleasant paths where we can walk, and I can +tell her the names of different trees and flowers. I’m sure she will +think the Wilderness a fine place,” said Faith, nodding her head so +that her yellow curls seemed to dance about her face.</p> + +<p>“I hope they make the journey from Brandon safely. Your father has +been told that the Indians have been troublesome to the settlers near +Lake Dunmore; and besides that, there are many bears coming out into +the clearings these fine autumn days. But Mr. Eldridge is a good shot, +and I am seeking trouble in naming Indians or bears. Finish your +breakfast, Faithie, and run to the garden and bring me in the ripest +of the pumpkins; for I must make some cakes for our company.”</p> + +<p>The Carews lived in a log house on a slope of cleared ground running +down to the mill-stream. There were no roads, only rough trails, and +they had no near neighbors. Faith’s father had a large grant of land, +a “New Hampshire Grant,” it was called, which ran toward the eastern +shore of Lake Champlain. Faith had no playmates, and when Mr. +Eldridge, of the town of Brandon, had sent word that he was coming to +see Mr. Carew on business and would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>bring his small daughter with +him, Faith had been overjoyed and had made many plans of what she +would do to entertain her visitor.</p> + +<p>Faith finished her breakfast, and helped her mother clear the table +and wash the dishes, and then went up the slope to where a number of +fine pumpkins and squashes, growing among the corn, were ripening in +the early September sunshine. She looked about carefully, and selected +a yellow pumpkin. “This is about as large as my head,” she said aloud, +“and I guess it is about the same color,” and she ran back to the +house carrying the pumpkin, which Mrs. Carew set to bake in the brick +oven beside the fireplace.</p> + +<p>“When it is baked may I fix the shell for a work-basket for Esther?” +asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” answered Mrs. Carew smilingly. “Your Aunt Prissy was +greatly pleased with the one you gave her when she visited here last +autumn.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I could go to Ticonderoga and visit Aunt Prissy,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“Why, so you shall some day. But ’tis a troublesome journey, since one +must be set across the strait,” replied her mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> “But look, child! +Can it be that Mr. Eldridge has arrived at this early hour?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed. I see his little girl! Look, mother! Father has lifted +her down from the horse; and Mr. Eldridge is walking, too! Oh, mother! +See the fine hat she has on!” and Faith ran to the open door to get a +better look at the little girl who was walking so slowly up the path +to the log house.</p> + +<p>In a moment the little girl looked up toward the open door and Faith +waved her hand.</p> + +<p>“She didn’t wave back, mother dear,” exclaimed Faith, and then the +travelers were close at hand, and Mrs. Carew was greeting the tall, +grave-faced man and welcoming Esther.</p> + +<p>“My little girl was so tired that we stopped for the night at your +neighbor Stanley’s house, five miles east,” said Mr. Eldridge; “and +that is why we are in good season this morning.”</p> + +<p>While Mr. Eldridge was speaking Esther held fast to her father’s +hand, her large black eyes fixed on Mrs. Carew. Faith looked at her +admiringly, wishing that her own eyes were black, and that her feet +were small like Esther’s, and that she had a hat with a wide scarlet +ribbon. +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>“Esther, this is Faith,” she heard her mother say, “and she will try +and make you so happy here that you will wish to stay all winter.”</p> + +<p>The two little girls smiled shyly, and Esther let go her clasp on her +father’s hand and followed Mrs. Carew into the pleasant kitchen. Faith +watched her eagerly; she wondered why Esther looked about the big room +with such a curious expression. “Almost as if she did not like it,” +thought Faith.</p> + +<p>The little gray kitten came bouncing out from behind the big wood-box +and Esther gave a startled exclamation.</p> + +<p>“It’s just ‘Bounce,’” said Faith, picking up the kitten and smoothing +its pretty head. “I named it ‘Bounce’ because it never seems to walk. +It just bounces along.”</p> + +<p>Esther smiled again, but she did not speak. Faith noticed that she was +very thin, and that her hands looked almost like little brown shadows.</p> + +<p>“Are you tired?” she asked, suddenly remembering that she had heard +her father say that “Mr. Eldridge’s little maid was not well, and he +thought the change would do her good.”</p> + +<p>Esther nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> “Yes, I’m always tired,” she answered, sitting down in +the low wooden rocker beside the light stand.</p> + +<p>“For pity’s sake, child, we must see to it that you are soon as strong +and well as Faith,” said Mrs. Carew, untying the broad scarlet ribbon +and taking off Esther’s hat. She smoothed back the dark hair with a +tender hand, remembering that Esther’s own mother was not well, and +resolving to do her best for this delicate child.</p> + +<p>“I think the pumpkin is cooked by this time, Faithie. I’ll set it in +the window to cool and then you can take out the pulp and I’ll make +the cakes,” said Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p>Bounce jumped up in Esther’s lap, and Faith sat down on the braided +rug beside her.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to make the pumpkin shell into a work-basket for you,” said +Faith. “Did you ever see a pumpkin-shell work-basket?”</p> + +<p>Esther shook her head. She did not seem much interested. But she asked +eagerly: “Are the pumpkin cakes sweet?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed. You shall have one as soon as they are baked; may she +not, mother dear?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes; only if Esther is not well it may not be wise for her to +eat between meals,” responded Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>“Oh! But I eat cakes whenever I want them,” declared Esther, “and I +love sweets. I had a fine cake when I left home and I ate it all +before we got to Lake Dunmore.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew thought to herself that she did not wonder Esther was +always tired and not strong. Esther did not say that the “fine cake” +had been sent as a gift to Faith. But her face flushed a little, and +she added, “I meant to bring the cake as a present; but I was hungry.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you were,” agreed Faith quickly. “Is not the pumpkin cool +enough to cut, mother dear?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied her mother, setting the yellow pumpkin on the table.</p> + +<p>“Come and see me do it, Esther,” said Faith, and Esther, with a little +sigh, left the comfortable chair and came and leaned against the +table.</p> + +<p>With a sharp knife Faith cut a circle about the stem of the pumpkin +and took it off, a little round, with the stem in the center. “That +will be the work-box cover,” she explained, laying it carefully on a +wooden plate. Then she removed the seeds and the pulp, putting the +pulp in a big yellow bowl, and scraping the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>inside of the pumpkin +shell. “There! Now when it dries a bit ’twill be a fine work-box, and +it is for you, Esther,” she said; but Esther was watching Mrs. Carew, +who was beating up eggs with the pumpkin pulp.</p> + +<p>“Do you put spices in the cakes?” she questioned eagerly. “How long +before they will be baked?”</p> + +<p>Faith stood holding the yellow pumpkin shell, and looking at her +visitor wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“All she cares about is something to eat,” thought Faith, a little +scornfully, setting the fine pumpkin shell on the table.</p> + +<p>Esther’s face brightened as she listened to Mrs. Carew’s description +of pumpkin cakes, and of pumpkin pies sweetened with maple syrup.</p> + +<p>“I think I must teach you to cook, Esther. I am sure you would soon +learn,” said Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p>“I guess I wouldn’t be strong enough,” responded Esther in a listless +tone, going back to the rocking-chair, without even a glance at +Faith’s present.</p> + +<p>“Come, Esther, let’s go down to the mill. I’ll show you the big wheel, +and how father raises the water-gate,” suggested Faith, who was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>beginning to think that a visitor was not such a delightful thing, +after all.</p> + +<p>Esther left her chair with a regretful sigh, and followed Faith +out-of-doors.</p> + +<p>“Listen!” said Faith. “That rippling, singing noise is the brook.”</p> + +<p>Esther laughed. “You’re funny,” she said. “Why should I listen to a +noisy old mill-stream?”</p> + +<p>“I thought perhaps you’d like to hear it. I do. Sometimes, just as I +go to sleep, I hear it singing about the stars, and about little foxes +who come down to drink, and about birds....” Faith stopped suddenly, +for Esther was laughing; and as Faith turned to look at her she +realized that Esther cared nothing about the music of the stream.</p> + +<p>“I do believe you are silly,” Esther responded. “Do you think your +mother will bake the cakes and pies while we are away?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Faith dully. Only that morning she had said to herself +how nice it would be to have a girl friend to talk with, but if Esther +thought she was “silly”—why, of course, she must not talk. “I’ll let +her talk,” resolved Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p><p>For a few moments the two little girls walked on in silence, then +Esther said suddenly: “Does your mother ever let you boil down maple +molasses for candy?”</p> + +<p>“Sometimes,” replied Faith.</p> + +<p>Esther slipped her little brown hand under Faith’s arm. “Ask her to +let us make candy this afternoon. Do. Tell her it will keep me from +being lonesome. For my father will be going to Ticonderoga as soon as +dinner is over; he will be gone for days. Will you ask her, Faith?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ll ask her,” Faith answered.</p> + +<p>“I know I’m going to have a fine visit,” declared Esther, with more +interest than she had shown since her arrival. “Does your mother ever +bake little pies, in saucers, for you?”</p> + +<p>“No,” said Faith, still resolved to say no more than was necessary.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Doesn’t she? That’s too bad. I wish I had asked her to. Then we +could play keep-house in the afternoon, and have the pies to eat. Will +your mother make pies again to-morrow?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>Esther did not care much about the mill. She hardly glanced at the big +water-wheel, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>was eager to get back to the house. Several times +she reminded Faith of her promise about the maple candy. Faith had +expected that she and Esther would be the best of friends, but the +time before dinner seemed very long to both the children.</p> + +<p>Soon after dinner Mr. Eldridge went on his way. He left his horse in +Mr. Carew’s care, as he was to walk to the shore of Lake Champlain and +trust to good fortune to find a canoe or boat in which he could cross +the narrow strait to Ticonderoga. He would not return for a week, and +he seemed greatly pleased that his little daughter was so contented to +be left with her new friends.</p> + +<p>“She is an only child, like your own little maid,” he said to Mrs. +Carew, “and I am glad they are to be friends.”</p> + +<p>They all walked down the slope with him, and watched him striding off +along the rough path.</p> + +<p>“He’s going to fetch me some rock-candy,” said Esther as they turned +back to the house.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew stopped at the mill, and the two little girls went back to +the house.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>“We’ll make the maple candy now, shan’t we?” said Esther, as they +reached the kitchen door. “See, the kettle is all clean, and I know +where the molasses jug is,” and before Faith could remind her that she +had not yet asked permission, Esther was dragging the heavy jug from +the pantry.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look out, Esther. You’ll spill it,” cautioned Faith, running to +help her.</p> + +<p>“No, I won’t. Here, help me turn it into the kettle and get it over +the fire before your mother comes back,” urged Esther, and the two +girls lifted the jug and turned the maple syrup into the kettle. +“There, that will make a lot of candy,” said Esther. “You stir up the +fire and put on more wood.”</p> + +<p>Faith obeyed. She hardly knew what else she could do, although she was +sure that her mother would not want them to use all the syrup for +candy. As she piled on the wood, she heard a scrambling noise at the +door, and a sudden scream from Esther: “Faith! Faith! A bear! A bear!” +and looking over her shoulder she saw a big brown bear coming in +through the kitchen door.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>FAITH MAKES A PROMISE</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">For</span> a second Faith was too frightened to move. Then pulling one of the +newly kindled sticks from the fire she hurled it at the big creature +and ran for the stairs, up which Esther was already hurrying.</p> + +<p>The flaming brand halted the bear for a second only, but the little +girls had reached the upper floor before he was well into the kitchen, +and, sniffing the molasses, he turned toward the empty jug and the +full kettle.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do? What shall we do?” sobbed Esther. “He will come up +here and eat us. I know he will.”</p> + +<p>“We must get out of the window and run to the mill,” whispered Faith. +“We mustn’t wait a minute, for mother dear may be on her way to the +house. Come,” and she pushed Esther before her toward the window. +“Here, just take hold and swing yourself down,” she said.</p> + +<p>“I can’t, oh, I can’t,” sobbed Esther.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>“You must. I’ll go first, then;” and in a moment Faith was swinging +from the windowsill, had dropped to the ground, and was speeding down +the path to the mill, while Esther, frightened and helpless, leaned +out screaming at the top of her voice.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew was just leaving the mill when she saw Faith racing toward +her. “A bear! A bear in our kitchen,” she called.</p> + +<p>“Hugh!” called Mrs. Carew, and Mr. Carew came running from the mill to +hear the story.</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky I keep a musket at the mill,” he said. “Here, you take +Faith into the mill and fasten the door on the inside. I’ll attend to +the bear,” and he was off, racing toward the house, while Mrs. Carew +hurried Faith into the mill and shut the heavy door.</p> + +<p>“I do hope Esther will stay in the chamber until your father gets +there,” said Mrs. Carew anxiously. “I do not believe the bear will +venture up the stairs.”</p> + +<p>“He was after the syrup,” said Faith, “and if he tried the stairs +Esther could drop out of the window.”</p> + +<p>It was not long before they heard the loud report of the musket.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>“Mayn’t we open the door now, mother dear?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Not yet, Faithie. We’ll wait a little,” and Faith realized that her +mother’s arm trembled as she drew the girl to her side.</p> + +<p>There was silence for what seemed a very long time to Mrs. Carew and +Faith, and then they heard Mr. Carew calling; “All right, open the +door. Here is Esther safe and sound.”</p> + +<p>Esther, sobbing and trembling, clung to Mrs. Carew, and Faith held +tight to her father’s hand while he told the story. The bear, with his +nose in the kettle of syrup, had not even heard Mr. Carew’s approach, +and had been an easy mark.</p> + +<p>“You’ll find your kitchen in a sad state, Lucy,” said Mr. Carew, as he +finished. “I have dragged the bear outside, and he will furnish us +some fine steaks, and a good skin for a rug; but your kettle of syrup +is all over the floor.”</p> + +<p>“Kettle of syrup?” questioned Mrs. Carew. “Why, there was no kettle of +syrup.” Neither of the little girls offered any explanation. Mr. Carew +looked about the clearing to see if any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>other bear was in the +neighborhood, but it was evident that the creature had come alone.</p> + +<p>“’Tis not often they are so bold,” said Mr. Carew, as they neared the +cabin, “although last year an old bear and two cubs came down by the +mill, but they were off before I could get a shot at them.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew looked about her kitchen with a little feeling of dismay. +The kettle had been overturned, and what syrup the bear had not eaten +was smeared over the hearth and floor. The little rocking-chair was +tipped over and broken, and everything was in disorder.</p> + +<p>Esther looked into the kitchen, but Mrs. Carew cautioned her not to +enter. “You and Faith go to the front door and go into the +sitting-room,” she said. “There is nothing that either of you can do +to help;” so Faith led the way and pushed open the heavy door which +led directly into a big comfortable room. The lower floor of the cabin +was divided into two rooms, the sitting-room and kitchen, and over +these were two comfortable chambers. The stairs led up from the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>Faith thought the sitting-room a very fine place. There was a big +fireplace on one side of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>the room, and the walls were ceiled, or +paneled, with pine boards. On one side of the fireplace was a broad +wooden settle, covered with a number of fur robes, and several big +cushions. Between the two front windows stood a table of dark wood, +and on the table were two tall brass candlesticks. A small narrow +gilt-framed mirror hung over the table.</p> + +<p>There were several strongly-made comfortable wooden chairs with +cushions. The floor was of pine, like the ceiled walls, and was now a +golden brown in color. There were several bearskin rugs on the floor, +for Mr. Carew, like all the men of the “Wilderness,” was a hunter; and +when not busy in his mill or garden was off in the woods after deer, +or wild partridge, or larger game, as these fine skins proved.</p> + +<p>“What a funny room,” exclaimed Esther, with a little giggle. “Our +sitting-room has beautiful paper on the walls, and we have pictures, +and a fine carpet on the floor. What are you going to tell your mother +about that maple syrup?” she concluded sharply.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,” responded Faith.</p> + +<p>“Well, don’t tell her anything,” suggested Esther.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>“I guess that I shall have to tell her,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“You mean about me? That I teased you to make candy? Well, if you do +that I’ll get my father to take me home with him instead of staying +until he comes next month,” declared Esther.</p> + +<p>“I shan’t tell anything about you,” answered Faith.</p> + +<p>Esther looked at her a little doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Of course I shan’t,” repeated Faith. “You are my company. No matter +what you did I wouldn’t talk about it. Why, even the Indians treat +visitors politely, and give them the best they have, and that’s what I +shall do,” and Faith stood very straight and looked at Esther very +seriously.</p> + +<p>“Truly? Truly? What is the ‘best’ you have? And when will you give it +to me?” demanded Esther, coming close to her and clasping her arm. “Is +it beads? Oh! I do hope it is beads! And you can’t back out after what +you have said,” and Esther jumped up and down in delight at the +thought of a possible string of fine beads.</p> + +<p>For a moment it seemed as if Faith would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>burst into tears. She had +meant to tell Esther that she would do her best to be kind and polite +to her because Esther was a guest, and now Esther was demanding that +Faith should do exactly as she had promised and give her “the best she +had.” And it happened that Faith’s dearest possession was a string of +fine beads. Aunt Priscilla Scott, who lived in Ticonderoga, had +brought them as a gift on her last visit. They were beautiful blue +beads,—like the sky on a June day,—and Faith wore them only on +Sundays. They were in a pretty little wooden box in the sitting-room +closet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Esther let go of Faith’s arm. “I knew you didn’t mean it,” +she said scornfully.</p> + +<p>Faith made no reply. She walked across the room and pushed a brass +knob set in one of the panels. The panel opened, and there was a +closet. The little wooden box that held the beads was on the middle +shelf. Faith took it up, closed the door, and turned toward Esther.</p> + +<p>“Here! This is the best thing I have in all the world, the prettiest +and the dearest. And it is beads. Take them,” and she thrust the box +into Esther’s eager hands and ran out of the room. She forgot the dead +bear, the wasted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>syrup, the danger and fright of so short a time ago; +all she could think of was to get away from Esther Eldridge.</p> + +<p>She ran across the clearing and along a narrow path that circled +behind the mill into the woods. She ran on and on until she could no +longer hear the sound of the brook, and the path began to grow rocky +and difficult. Then, tired and almost breathless, Faith sat down on a +big rock and looked about her. For a few moments she could think of +nothing but her lost beads, and of the disagreeable visitor. Then +gradually she realized that she had never before been so far along +this rough path. All about her rose huge, towering pines. Looking +ahead the path seemed to end in a dense thicket. She heard the rustle +of some little forest animal as it moved through the vines behind her, +and the call of birds near at hand. Faith began to recall the +happenings of the morning: the excitement of Esther’s arrival, the +sudden appearance of the bear in the kitchen doorway, her terror lest +her mother should come before she could be warned; and then, again, +Esther and the loss of her beads. She began to cry. She felt very +tired and unhappy. She felt Esther <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>was to blame for everything, even +for the appearance of the bear. Never before had a bear dared come to +the house. Faith leaned back against a friendly tree with a tired +little sigh. She would rest, and then go home, she thought, and closed +her eyes.</p> + +<p>When she awoke, she thought she must still be dreaming; for, standing +a little way down the path, was a tall man leaning on a musket. He +wore a flannel blouse, and his homespun trousers were tucked into high +leathern gaiters.</p> + +<p>The man smiled and nodded. “Do not be frightened, little maid,” he +said in a friendly voice. “I did not want to leave you here in the +woods until I was sure that you could make your way home. Are you +Miller Carew’s little girl?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered Faith, wondering who this tall, dark-eyed man, +who knew her father, could be, and then adding, “My name is Faith.”</p> + +<p>The tall man smiled again, and took off his leather cap.</p> + +<p>“My name is Ethan Allen,” he responded; “it may be that you have heard +your father speak of me.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>“Yes, sir! You are a Green Mountain Boy; and you help the settlers to +keep their ‘Grants,’” Faith replied quickly; for she had often heard +her father and mother speak of the trouble the settlers were having to +prove their titles to land taken under the “New Hampshire Grants,” and +she remembered hearing her father say that Ethan Allen would help any +man defend his rights. She wished that she could tell him all about +Esther Eldridge and the blue beads, but she remembered her promise. “I +guess there are times when people don’t have any rights,” she decided, +and was quite unconscious that she had spoken aloud until she heard +her companion say very clearly:</p> + +<p>“There can never be such a time as that. People would be slaves indeed +not to uphold their just and rightful claims. But why is a small maid +like yourself troubling about ‘rights’?”</p> + +<p>“I have company at my house——” began Faith.</p> + +<p>“I see, I see!” interrupted Colonel Allen. “Of course you have to let +the guest do whatever she pleases,” and he smiled and nodded, as if he +understood all about it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> “And now we had best start toward your +father’s mill, for it is well toward sunset.”</p> + +<p>“Sunset? Have I slept all the afternoon!” exclaimed Faith, jumping up.</p> + +<p>As they walked down the path Ethan Allen asked Faith many questions +about the people who came along the trail from the settlements on +their way to Lake Champlain.</p> + +<p>When they reached the clearing where the mill stood Faith’s father and +mother came running to meet them. They welcomed Mr. Allen, and said +that they had been sadly worried about Faith. “But where is Esther?” +asked Mrs. Carew. “Is she not with you, Faith?”</p> + +<p>“I left her in the sitting-room, hours ago!” answered the little girl.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>MORE MISCHIEF</h3> + +<p>“‘<span class="smcap">Hours</span> ago,’” repeated Mrs. Carew. “Why, dear child, it is only an +hour since Esther came up from the mill with the dishes.”</p> + +<p>Faith looked so bewildered that her mother exclaimed: “Why, child! +Have you forgotten that you and Esther had your dinner at the mill?”</p> + +<p>“But I did not have any dinner,” declared Faith. “It was not dinner +time when I ran off and left Esther in the sitting-room. I——” and +then Faith stopped suddenly. She resolved that she would not tell her +mother that she had given Esther the blue beads,—not until Esther was +found.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>“Well, I declare. Esther came into the kitchen just as I was preparing +dinner, and asked if you girls could not have a picnic dinner at the +mill, and I was well pleased to let you. I put some cold meat and +bread, a good half of pumpkin pie and some of the pumpkin cakes in a +basket, and gave her a pitcher of milk, and off she went. An hour ago +she came in to ask for a lunch and I gave her a good piece of molasses +cake. Your father was busy skinning the bear, and we gave but little +thought to you children. But when I called your name, and found +neither of you at the mill, I became alarmed. But where can Esther be +now?” concluded Mrs. Carew, looking anxiously about the clearing.</p> + +<p>“Go back to the house with Faith and give the child something to eat. +Colonel Allen and I will search the mill again,” said Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>“I’m tired,” said Faith, as they reached the house, “and I don’t like +Esther.”</p> + +<p>“Hush, Faithie. She is your guest. And if she has wandered into any +harm or danger I do not know what we can say to Mr. Eldridge,” +responded her mother; “but I do not understand about the food,” she +added, half to herself, wondering if Esther could really have eaten it +all.</p> + +<p>Faith looked about the kitchen. “It looks just the same. Just as if +the bear had not come in,” she said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>Mrs. Carew brought her a bowl of milk and a plate of corn bread, and +another plate with two of the pumpkin cakes.</p> + +<p>“I’ll run back to the mill while you eat your supper, Faithie, and see +if Esther has been found. When I come back you must tell me what you +were turning syrup into the kettle for.”</p> + +<p>Faith was hungry, but as she ate her bread and milk she felt very +unhappy. She remembered her promise to Esther not to tell Mrs. Carew +about the syrup.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what I shall do,” she said aloud. “I guess I’ll go and +rest on the settle until mother dear comes,” so she opened the door +and entered the sitting-room. As she lay back among the cushions of +the settle she heard a faint noise from the further side of the room. +“I guess it’s ‘Bounce,’” she thought.</p> + +<p>Then the noise came again: “Gr-r-r! Gr-rrr!” Faith sat up quickly. She +wondered if another bear had made its way into the house. The big +black bearskin rug in front of the table was moving; it was standing +up, and coming toward the settle.</p> + +<p>“It’s you, Esther Eldridge! You can’t frighten me,” said Faith, and +Esther dropped <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>the rug from her shoulders and came running toward the +settle. Her black eyes were dancing, and she was laughing.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’ve had the greatest fun! I ate all your dinner, and I hid under +that bearskin and your mother and father hunted everywhere for me. +Where have you been?” concluded Esther, looking down at Faith. The +little girls did not notice that, just as Esther began speaking, Mrs. +Carew had opened the sitting-room door.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been way off in the woods, and my mother has asked me to tell +her about the maple syrup,” replied Faith accusingly.</p> + +<p>“Well, Esther!”</p> + +<p>Both the girls gave an exclamation of surprise at the sound of Mrs. +Carew’s voice. “You may go to the mill and tell Mr. Carew that you are +safe, and then come directly back,” she said a little sternly, and +stood by the door until Esther was on her way. Then she crossed over +to the settle and sat down beside Faith.</p> + +<p>“I will not ask you about the syrup, Faithie dear,” she said, +smoothing Faith’s ruffled hair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> “And you had best go up-stairs to bed. +I will have a talk with Esther, and then she will go to bed. It has +been a difficult day, has it not, child? But to-morrow I trust +everything will go pleasantly, without bears or trouble of any sort.”</p> + +<p>“But Esther will be here,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“Never mind; I think Esther has made mischief enough to-day to last +all her visit,” responded Mrs. Carew; and Faith, very tired, and +greatly comforted, went up to her pleasant chamber which Esther was to +share. She wondered to herself just what her mother would say to +Esther. But she did not stay long awake, and when Esther came +up-stairs shortly after, very quietly, and feeling rather ashamed of +herself after listening to Mrs. Carew, Faith was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>But Esther did not go to sleep. She wondered to herself what her +father would say if Mrs. Carew told him of her mischief, and began to +wish that she had not deceived Mrs. Carew about the dinner. She could +feel her face flush in the darkness when she remembered what Mrs. +Carew had said to her about truthfulness. Esther’s head ached, and she +felt as if she was going to be ill. Down-stairs she could hear the +murmur of voices. Ethan Allen would sleep on the settle, and be off at +an early hour the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>next morning. It seemed a long time before the +voices ceased, and she heard Mr. and Mrs. Carew come up the stairs. +Esther began to wish that she had not eaten the fine pumpkin pie and +all the cakes. It was nearly morning before she fell asleep, and she +was awake when Faith first opened her eyes.</p> + +<p>“It’s time to get up. It always is the minute I wake up,” said Faith +sleepily.</p> + +<p>Esther answered with a sudden moan: “I can’t get up. I’m sick,” she +whispered.</p> + +<p>Faith sat up in bed and looked at Esther a little doubtfully. But +Esther’s flushed face and the dark shadows under her eyes proved that +she spoke the truth.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell mother. Don’t cry, Esther. Mother will make you well before +you know it,” said Faith, quickly slipping out of bed and running into +the little passage at the head of the stairs.</p> + +<p>In a few moments Mrs. Carew was standing beside the bed. She said to +herself that she did not wonder that Esther was ill. But while Faith +dressed and got ready for breakfast Mrs. Carew smoothed out the +tumbled bed, freshened the pillows and comforted their little visitor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>“Run down and eat your porridge, Faithie, and then come back and sit +with Esther,” said Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p>When Faith returned Mrs. Carew went down and brewed some bitter herbs +and brought the tea for Esther to drink. The little girl swallowed the +unpleasant drink, and shortly after was sound asleep. She had not +awakened at dinner time, and Mrs. Carew was sure that she would sleep +off her illness.</p> + +<p>“The child must be taught not to crave sweet foods,” she said, as she +told Faith to run down to the mill and amuse herself as she pleased. +“Only don’t go out of sight of the mill, Faithie,” she cautioned, and +Faith promised and ran happily off down the path. She was eager to ask +her father about Mr. Ethan Allen.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carew was busy grinding wheat. There were few mills in the +Wilderness, and nearly every day until midwinter settlers were coming +and going from the mill, bringing bags of wheat or corn on horseback +over the rough trail and carrying back flour or meal. When Mr. Carew +had tied up the bag of meal and his customer had ridden away, he came +to where Faith was sitting close by the open door and sat down beside +her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>“Why do you call Mr. Allen a ‘Green Mountain Boy’?” asked the little +girl, after she had answered his questions about Esther; “he is a big +man.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Carew smiled down at Faith’s eager face, and then pointed to the +green wooded hills beyond the clearing. “It’s because he, and other +men of these parts, are like those green hills,—strong, and +sufficient to themselves,” he answered. “Every settler in the +Wilderness knows that Ethan Allen will help them protect their homes; +and no man knows this part of the country better than Colonel Allen.”</p> + +<p>“Why do you call him ‘Colonel’?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Because the Bennington people have given him that title, and put him +in command of the men of the town that they may be of service to +defend it in case King George’s men come over from New York,” replied +her father; “but I do not know but the bears are as dangerous as the +‘Yorkers.’ Do you think Esther will be quite well to-morrow?” +concluded Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>Faith was quite sure that Esther would soon be as well as ever. She +did not want to talk about Esther. She wanted to hear more about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>her +friend Colonel Allen. “I heard him tell mother that he slept in a cave +one night on his way here,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes; he can sleep anywhere. But you must talk of him no more +to-day, Faithie,” answered Mr. Carew; “and here is ‘Bounce’ looking +for you,” he added, as the little gray kitten jumped into Faith’s lap.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A NEW PLAN</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Esther</span> was much better the next morning, but she was not well enough +to come down-stairs for several days, and when her father appeared he +agreed with Mrs. Carew that the little girl was not fit to undertake +the journey on horseback along the rough trail to Brandon.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew was able to assure him, however, that he need not be +anxious about his little daughter, and he decided to go directly home, +leaving Esther to regain health and strength in Mrs. Carew’s charge.</p> + +<p>“I will come for you the first Monday in October, three weeks from +to-day,” he told Esther, “and you must mind Mrs. Carew in everything +she bids you.”</p> + +<p>Esther promised tearfully. She did not want to stay, but she resolved +to herself, as she watched her father ride away, that she would do +everything possible to please Mrs. Carew and make <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>friends with Faith. +She could hardly bear to think of the first day of her visit.</p> + +<p>As she lay on the settle comfortably bolstered up with the soft +pillows, and a little fire crackling on the hearth, Esther looked +about the sitting-room and began to think it a very pleasant place. +Faith brought all her treasures to entertain her little visitor. Chief +of these was a fine book called “Pilgrim’s Progress,” with many +pictures. There was a doll,—one that Faith’s Aunt Priscilla had +brought her from New York. This doll was a very wonderful creature. +She wore a blue flounced satin dress, and the dress had real buttons, +buttons of gilt; and the doll wore a beautiful bonnet.</p> + +<p>Faith watched Esther a little anxiously as she allowed her to take +Lady Amy, as the doll was named. But Esther was as careful as Faith +herself, and declared that she did not believe any little girl that +side of Bennington had such a beautiful doll.</p> + +<p>“I think your Aunt Priscilla is the best aunt that ever was. She gave +you this lovely doll, and your blue beads——” Esther stopped +suddenly. She had lost the beads, and she did not want to tell Faith. +She had resolved to hunt <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>for them as soon as possible, and give them +back. She was sure she could find them when she could run about again.</p> + +<p>Faith did not look at Esther. She wished Esther had not reminded her +of the beads. But Esther had been so grateful for everything that Mrs. +Carew and Faith did for her that they had almost forgotten her +mischief, and were beginning to like their little visitor.</p> + +<p>“Yes, my Aunt Prissy is lovely,” said Faith. “She is a young aunt. Her +hair is yellow and her eyes are blue; she can run as fast as I can,” +and Faith smiled, remembering the good times she always had when Aunt +Prissy came for a visit to the log cabin. “When I go to visit her I +shall see the fort where the English soldiers are,” she added.</p> + +<p>“Colonel Ethan Allen could take the fort away from them if he wanted +to; my father said so,” boasted Esther; and Faith was quite ready to +agree to this, for it seemed to her that the tall, dark-eyed colonel +could accomplish almost anything.</p> + +<p>“How would you and Faithie like to have your supper here by the fire?” +asked Mrs Carew, coming in from the kitchen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> “Faith can bring in the +light stand and use her own set of dishes. And I will make you a fine +dish of cream toast.”</p> + +<p>Both the little girls were delighted at the plan. And Faith ran to the +kitchen and, with her mother’s help, brought in the stand and put it +down in front of the settle. She spread a white cloth over it, and +then turned to the closet, from which she had taken the blue beads, +and brought out her treasured tea-set. There was a round-bodied, +squatty teapot with a high handle, a small pitcher, a round +sugar-bowl, two cups and saucers, and two plates. The dishes were of +delicate cream-tinted china covered with crimson roses and delicate +buds and faint green leaves.</p> + +<p>One by one Faith brought these treasures to the little table, smiling +with delight at Esther’s exclamations of admiration.</p> + +<p>“My grandmother who lives in Connecticut sent me these for my last +birthday present,” said Faith. “My Grandmother Carew, whom I have +never seen. And they came from across the big salt ocean, from +England.”</p> + +<p>“To think that a little girl in a log cabin should have such lovely +things!” exclaimed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>Esther. “I have a silver mug with my name on it,” +she added.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew brought them in the fine dish of cream toast, and filled +the china teapot with milk so they could play that it was a real +tea-party. There were baked apples to eat with the toast, and although +Esther longed for cake she did not speak of it, and, bolstered up with +cushions, and Faith sitting in a high-backed chair facing her, she +began really to enjoy herself.</p> + +<p>“My father made this little table,” said Faith, helping Esther to a +second cup of “tea,” “and he made these chairs and the settle. He came +up here with Mr. Stanley years ago, and cut down trees and built this +house and the barn and the mill; then he went way back where my +grandmother lives and brought my mother here. Some day I am to go to +Connecticut and go to school.”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you come to Brandon and go to school?” suggested Esther. +“Oh, do! Faith, ask your mother to let you go home with me and go to +school this winter. That would be splendid!” And Esther sat up so +quickly that she nearly tipped over her cup and saucer.</p> + +<p>“I guess I couldn’t,” replied Faith. “My mother would be lonesome.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>But Esther thought it would be a fine idea; and while Faith carried +the dishes to the kitchen, washed them with the greatest care, and +replaced them on the closet shelf, Esther talked of all the +attractions of living in a village and going to school with other +little girls.</p> + +<p>“I feel as well as ever,” declared Esther as the two little girls went +to bed that night; “but I do wish your mother thought sweet things +would be good for me. At home I have all I want.”</p> + +<p>“Mother says that is the reason you are not well,” answered Faith. +“Hear the brook, Esther! Doesn’t it sound as if it was saying, ‘Hurry +to bed! Hurry to bed!’ And in the morning it is ‘Time to get up! Time +to get up!’”</p> + +<p>“You are the queerest girl I ever knew. The idea that a brook could +say anything,” replied Esther; but her tone was friendly. “I suppose +it’s because you live way off here in the woods. Now if you lived in a +village——”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to live in a village if it will stop my hearing what the +brook says. And I can tell you what the robins say to the young +robins; and what little foxes tell their mothers; and I know how the +beavers build their homes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>under water,” declared Faith, with a little +laugh at Esther’s puzzled expression.</p> + +<p>“Tell me about the beavers,” said Esther, as they snuggled down in the +big feather-bed.</p> + +<p>“Every house a beaver builds has two doors,” began Faith, “and it has +an up-stairs and down-stairs. One of the doors to the beaver’s house +opens on the land side, so that they can get out and get their +dinners; and the other opens under the water—way down deep, below +where ice freezes.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?” questioned Esther, a little doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Father told me. And I have seen their houses over in the mill meadow, +where the brook is as wide as this whole clearing.”</p> + +<p>Before Faith had finished her story of how beavers could cut down +trees with their sharp teeth, and of the dams they built across +streams, Esther was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Faith lay awake thinking over all that Esther had said about school; +about seeing little girls and boys of her own age, and of games and +parties. Then with a little sigh of content she whispered to herself: +“I guess I’d be lonesome without father and mother and the brook.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>Mrs. Carew had heard Esther’s suggestion about Faith going to Brandon +to go to school, and after the little girls had gone to bed she spoke +of it to Faith’s father, as they sat together before the fire.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps we ought to send Faithie where she could go to school and be +with other children,” said Mr. Carew, “but I hardly know how we could +spare her.”</p> + +<p>There was a little silence, for the father and mother knew that their +pleasant home on the slope of the hillside would be a very different +place without their little maid.</p> + +<p>“But of course we would not think of Brandon,” continued Faith’s +father. “If we must let her go, why, her Aunt Priscilla will give her +a warm welcome and take good care of the child; and the school at +Ticonderoga is doubtless a good one.”</p> + +<p>“Esther seems sorry for her mischief, but I should not wish Faith to +be with her so far from home. Perhaps we had best send some word to +Priscilla by the next traveler who goes that way, and ask her if Faith +may go to her for the winter months,” said Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p>So, while Faith described the beaver’s home to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>the sleepy Esther, it +was settled that as soon as it could be arranged she should go to stay +with her Aunt Priscilla in the village of Ticonderoga, across Lake +Champlain, and go to school.</p> + +<p>“If ’twere not that some stray Indians might happen along and make a +bonfire of our house and mill we might plan for a month’s visit +ourselves,” said Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>“We must not think of it,” responded his wife. For the log cabin home +was very dear to her, and at that time the Indians, often incited by +the British in command of the forts at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, +burned the homes of settlers who held their land through grants given +by the New Hampshire government.</p> + +<p>“More settlers are coming into this region every year. We shall soon +have neighbors near at hand, and can have a school and church,” said +Mr. Carew hopefully. “Colonel Allen is not journeying through the +wilderness for pleasure. He has some plan in mind to make this region +more secure for all of us. Well, tell Faithie, if she has aught to say +of going to Brandon, that she is soon to visit Aunt Priscilla. I doubt +not ’twill be best for the child.”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>KASHAQUA</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Esther</span> did not find the blue beads; and when her father came for her +she had not said a word to Faith about them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eldridge found his little daughter fully recovered from her +illness, and in better health than when she came to the Wilderness. +When she said good-bye Faith was really sorry to have her go, but she +wondered a little that Esther made no mention of the beads, for Esther +had been a model visitor since her illness. She had told Mrs. Carew +the full story of the attempt to make maple candy, which the bear had +interrupted, and she had claimed the pumpkin-shell work-box with +evident delight. All these things had made Faith confident that Esther +would return the beads before starting for home, and she was sadly +disappointed to have Esther depart without a word about them.</p> + +<p>Esther had asked Mrs. Carew if Faith might not go to Brandon, and so +Mrs. Carew had told <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>the little girls of the plan for Faith to go to +her Aunt Priscilla in Ticonderoga for the winter and attend school +there.</p> + +<p>“Oh! But that’s New York. Why, the ‘Yorkers’ want to take all the +Wilderness. I shouldn’t want to go to school with ‘Yorkers,’” Esther +had responded, a little scornfully.</p> + +<p>For she had often heard her father and his friends talk of the +attempts made by the English officials of New York to drive the +settlers on the New Hampshire Grants from their homes.</p> + +<p>“’Tis not the people of New York who would do us harm,” Mrs. Carew had +answered. “And Faith will make friends, I hope, with many of her +schoolmates.”</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful October morning when Esther, seated in front of her +father on the big gray horse, with the pumpkin-shell work-box wrapped +in a safe bundle swinging from the front of the saddle, started for +Brandon. Their way for most of the journey led over a rough trail. +They would pass near the homes of many settlers, then over the lower +slopes of Mooselamoo Mountain, and skirt Lake Dunmore, and would then +find themselves on a smoother road for the remainder of their journey.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>Faith walked beside the travelers to the edge of the wood and then the +two little girls said good-bye.</p> + +<p>“I’ll come again in the spring,” Esther called back.</p> + +<p>Faith stood watching them until the branches of the trees hid them +from sight. The maples seemed to be waving banners of scarlet leaves, +and the slopes of the Green Mountains were beautiful in the glory of +autumn foliage. The sun shone brightly, the sky was as blue as summer, +and as Faith turned to run swiftly along the path to the mill she +almost wished that she too was starting for a day’s journey through +the woods. The path ran along beside the mill-stream.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Faith that the brook was traveling beside her like a gay +companion, singing as it went. The little girl had had so few +companions, none except an occasional visitor, that she had made +friends with the birds and small woodland animals, and found +companionship in the rippling music of the stream. There was a fine +family of yellow-hammers just below the mill that Faith often visited, +and she was sure that they knew her quite well. She had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>watched them +build their nest in the early spring; had seen them bring food to the +young birds, and had sat close by the nest while the young birds made +their first efforts to fly. She knew where a fine silver-coated fox +made its home on the rocky hillside beyond the garden-slope, and had +told her father that “Silver-nose,” as she had named the fox, knew +that she was his friend, and would lie quite still at the entrance to +its hole, while she would sit on a big rock not far distant.</p> + +<p>But Faith was not thinking of these woodland friends as she ran along +toward the mill; she was thinking of what she had heard her father say +to Mr. Eldridge that morning. “Tell Colonel Allen the men of the +Wilderness will be ready whenever he gives the word,” Mr. Carew had +said; and Mr. Eldridge had answered that it would not be long. Faith +wondered what her father had meant, and if Colonel Allen would again +visit the mill. She hoped he would, for he had seemed to know all +about the woodland creatures, and had told Faith a wonderful story +about the different months of the year. She thought of it now as she +felt the warmth of the October sunshine.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>“October is stirring the fire now,” she called to her father, who was +watching her from the door of the mill.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that, child?” asked her father, smiling down at +Faith’s tanned face and bright eyes.</p> + +<p>“’Tis what Colonel Allen told me about the months. All twelve, every +one of the year, sit about the fire. And now and then one of them +stirs the fire, and that makes all the world warmer. July and August, +when it is their turn, make it blaze; but the other months do not care +so much about it. But once in a while each month takes its turn,” +answered Faith. “That’s what Colonel Allen told me.”</p> + +<p>“’Tis a good story,” said Mr. Carew. “Did your mother tell you that I +have sent word to your Aunt Priscilla about your going to her house as +soon as some trustworthy traveler going to Ticonderoga passes this +way?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, father. But I am learning a good deal at home. Mother says I +read as well as she did when she was my age. And I can figure in +fractions, and write neatly. I do not care much about school,” +answered Faith; for to be away <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>from her mother and father all winter +began to seem too great an undertaking.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed; your mother tells me you learn quickly. But ’tis best +for you to become acquainted with children of your own age. And you +have never seen your cousins. Three boy cousins. Think of that. Why, +your Aunt Prissy says that Donald is nearly as tall as you are; and he +is but eight years old. And Hugh is six, and Philip four. Then there +are neighbor children close at hand. You will play games, and have +parties, and enjoy every day; besides going to school,” responded her +father encouragingly.</p> + +<p>Then he told her of his own pleasant school days in the far-off +Connecticut village where Grandmother Carew lived; and when Mrs. Carew +called them to dinner Faith had begun to think that it would really be +a fine thing to live with Aunt Priscilla and become acquainted with +her little cousins, and all the pleasant, well-behaved children that +her father described, with whom she would go to school and play games.</p> + +<p>“It is nearly time for Kashaqua’s yearly visit,” said Mrs. Carew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> “I +have knit a scarf for her of crimson yarn. She generally comes before +cold weather. Don’t let her see your blue beads, Faith.”</p> + +<p>Faith did not make any answer. Kashaqua was an Indian woman who had +appeared at the cabin every fall and spring ever since the Carews had +settled there. When Faith was a tiny baby she had come, bringing a +fine beaver skin as a gift for the little girl. She always came alone, +and the family looked upon her as a friend, and always made a little +feast for her, and sent her on her way laden with gifts. Not all the +Indians of the Wilderness were friendly to settlers; and the Carews +were glad to feel that Kashaqua was well disposed toward them. She +often brought gifts of baskets, or of bright feathers or fine +moccasins for Faith.</p> + +<p>“I hope she will come before I go to Aunt Prissy’s,” said Faith. “I +like Kashaqua.”</p> + +<p>“Kashaqua likes little girl.”</p> + +<p>Even Mr. Carew jumped at these words and the sudden appearance of the +Indian woman standing just inside the kitchen door. She seemed pleased +by their warm welcome, and sat down before the fire, while Faith +hastened to bring her a good share of their simple dinner. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>Faith sat +down on the floor beside her, greatly to Kashaqua’s satisfaction, and +told her about Esther Eldridge’s visit, about the bear coming into the +kitchen, and of how she had jumped from the window and run to the mill +to tell her father. Kashaqua grunted her approval now and then.</p> + +<p>“And what do you think, Kashaqua! I am to go to my Aunt Priscilla +Scott, to Ticonderoga, and stay all winter,” she concluded.</p> + +<p>“Ticonderoga? When?” questioned Kashaqua, dipping a piece of corn +bread in the dish of maple syrup.</p> + +<p>“I am to go just as soon as some one goes over the trail who will take +me,” answered Faith.</p> + +<p>“I take you. I go to Ticonderoga to-morrow. I take you,” said +Kashaqua.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE JOURNEY</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Mother</span> dear, mother dear! Did you hear what Kashaqua says: that she +will take me to Aunt Prissy’s to-morrow?” said Faith.</p> + +<p>The Indian woman had turned quickly, and her sharp little eyes were +fixed on Mrs. Carew’s face.</p> + +<p>“You ’fraid let leettle girl go with Kashaqua?” she said, a little +accusing note in her voice.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed. Kashaqua would take good care of Faith. I know that. But +to-morrow——” Mrs. Carew spoke bravely, but both Faith’s father and +mother were sadly troubled. To offend the Indian woman would mean to +make enemies of the tribe to which she belonged; and then neither +their lives nor their property would be safe; and she would never +forgive them if they doubted her by refusing to let Faith make the +journey to Ticonderoga in her care.</p> + +<p>It was Faith who came to the rescue by declaring:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> “Oh, I’d rather go +with Kashaqua than anybody. Mother dear, you said Aunt Prissy would +see about my shoes and dresses. I don’t have to wait to get ready,” +and Faith ran to her mother eager for her consent, thinking it would +be a fine thing to go on a day’s journey through the woods with the +Indian woman, and quite forgetting for the moment that it meant a long +absence from home.</p> + +<p>Nothing could have pleased Kashaqua more than Faith’s pleading. The +half-angry expression faded from her face, and she nodded and smiled, +grunting her satisfaction, and taking from one of her baskets a pair +of fine doeskin moccasins, which she gave to Faith. “Present,” she +said briefly.</p> + +<p>“They are the prettiest pair I ever had!” said Faith, looking +admiringly at their fringed tops, and the pattern of a vine that ran +from the toes to insteps, stitched in with thread-like crimson and +blue thongs.</p> + +<p>“It is a fine chance for Faith to go to her Aunt Priscilla,” said Mr. +Carew. “Do you know where Philip Scott lives, across Champlain?”</p> + +<p>“Me know. Not great ways from Fort,” responded Kashaqua. “Me take +leettle girl safe to Scott’s wigwam.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p><p>“That’s right, Kashaqua,” said Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>“Then me come back to mill and get meal an’ get pie,” said Kashaqua.</p> + +<p>“Of course. I will make you the finest pie you ever tasted,” said Mrs. +Carew, with a little sigh of relief. For she had wondered how long it +would be before they could get news that Kashaqua had kept her +promise, and that Faith had reached her aunt’s house in safety.</p> + +<p>In the surprise and excitement of this new decision neither Faith nor +her parents had much time to think about their separation. Although +Aunt Priscilla was to see that Faith was well provided with suitable +dresses, shoes, hat, and all that a little girl would need to wear to +school and to church, there was, nevertheless, a good deal to do to +prepare and put in order such things as she would take with her. +Beside that Mrs. Carew meant to give the squaw a well-filled luncheon +basket; so the remainder of the day went very quickly. Faith helped +her mother, and talked gaily with Kashaqua of the good time they would +have on the journey; while Kashaqua smoked and nodded, evidently quite +satisfied and happy.</p> + +<p>When night came the Indian woman made <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>her preparations to sleep +before the kitchen fire, and the Carews went up-stairs to bed. The +mother and father lay long awake that night. While they assured each +other that Faith would be perfectly safe, and that the Indian woman +would defend the little girl from all danger, they could not but feel +an uncertainty. “We can trust the strength and love that has protected +us always to go with our little maid,” said Mr. Carew; “perhaps +Kashaqua is the safest person we could find.”</p> + +<p>“We must hope so; but I shall not draw a good breath until she is here +again, and tells me Faithie is safe with Priscilla,” responded Mrs. +Carew.</p> + +<p>The little household was awake at an early hour the next morning. +Faith was to wear the new moccasins. She wore her usual dress of brown +homespun linen. Faith had never had a hat, or a pair of leather shoes, +and only the simplest of linen and wool dresses. She had never before +been away from home, except for a day’s visit at the house of some +neighboring settler. She knew that when she got to Aunt Prissy’s she +would have a hat, probably like the one Esther Eldridge had worn, +ribbons to tie <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>back her yellow curls, shining leather shoes, and many +things that she had never before seen. She had thought a good deal +about these things when planning for the journey, but now that the +time was so near when she must say good-bye to her mother and father +she forgot all about the good times in store, and wished with all her +heart that she were not going.</p> + +<p>“Don’t let Kashaqua see you cry, child,” her father whispered, seeing +Faith’s sad face; so she resolutely kept back her tears.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was soon over. Kashaqua had stowed Faith’s bundle of +clothing in one of her baskets and swung it over her shoulder. The +basket of luncheon also was secured by stout thongs and hung across +her back, and they were ready to start.</p> + +<p>“Be a good child, Faithie, dear,” whispered Mrs. Carew.</p> + +<p>“I’ll fetch you home when it is April’s turn to stir the fire,” said +her father smilingly, and Faith managed to smile back, and to say +good-bye bravely, as she trudged down the path holding tight to +Kashaqua’s brown hand.</p> + +<p>“I be back to-morrow night,” Kashaqua called back, knowing that would +be a word of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>comfort to the white woman who was letting her only +child go from home.</p> + +<p>Neither Faith nor Kashaqua spoke for some little time. At last Faith +stopped suddenly and stood still, evidently listening. “I can’t hear +the brook,” she said.</p> + +<p>Kashaqua nodded, and the two walked on through the autumn woods. But +now Kashaqua began to talk. She told Faith stories of the wild animals +of the woods; of the traps she set along the streams to catch the +martens and otters; and of a bear cub that the children of her village +had tamed. But it had disappeared during the summer.</p> + +<p>“The papooses catch birds and feed them,” she continued, “tame birds +so they know their name, and come right to wigwam.” Faith listened +eagerly, and began to think that an Indian village must be a very +pleasant place to live.</p> + +<p>“Where is your village, Kashaqua?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“You not know my village? Way back ’cross Mooselamoo,” answered +Kashaqua.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I can go there some time,” suggested Faith. But Kashaqua +shook her head.</p> + +<p>For several hours they walked steadily on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>through the autumn woods. +They climbed several rocky ridges, crossed brooks, and carefully made +their way over a swampy stretch of ground. Faith was very tired when +Kashaqua finally swung the baskets and bundles from her shoulders and +declared that it was time to eat.</p> + +<p>The trail had led them up a hill, and as Faith, with a little tired +sigh, seated herself on a moss-covered rock, she looked about with a +little exclamation of wonder. Close beside the trail was a rough +shelter made of the boughs of spruce and fir trees, and near at hand +was piled a quantity of wood ready for a fire. There was a clearing, +and the rough shelter was shaded by two fine oak trees.</p> + +<p>“Does somebody live here?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Traveler’s wigwam,” explained Kashaqua, who was unpacking the lunch +basket with many grunts of satisfaction. “White men going down the +trail to big road to Shoreham sleep here,” she added, holding up a +fine round molasses cake in one hand and a roasted chicken in the +other.</p> + +<p>Faith was hungry as well as tired, and the two friends ate with good +appetite. Kashaqua repacked the basket with what remained of the food, +and with a pleasant nod to Faith declared <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>she would “sleep a little,” +and curled herself up near the shelter.</p> + +<p>Faith looked about the rough camp, and peered down the trail. She +decided she too would sleep a little, and stretched herself out close +beside Kashaqua, thinking that it was a wonderful thing to be so far +from home,—nearly in sight of Lake Champlain, Kashaqua had told her, +with an Indian woman for her guide and protector; and then her eyes +closed and she was sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Faith that she had not slept a minute before she awakened +suddenly, and found that Kashaqua had disappeared. But she heard a +queer scrambling sound behind her and sat up and looked around. For a +moment she was too frightened to speak, for a brown bear was clawing +the remainder of their luncheon from the basket, grunting and +sniffing, as if well pleased with what he found.</p> + +<p>As Faith looked at him she was sure that this creature had dragged +Kashaqua off into the woods, and that he might turn and seize her as +soon as he had finished with the basket.</p> + +<p>“Kashaqua! Kashaqua!” she called hopelessly. “What shall I do? What +shall I do?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>There was a rustle of leaves close behind her and the Indian woman +darted into the clearing. Without a word to Faith she ran straight to +where the bear was crouched over the basket. Faith could hardly +believe what she saw, for Kashaqua had seized the basket and pushed it +out of the bear’s reach, and was now belaboring him with a stout piece +of wood that she had seized from the pile by the shelter. As she hit +the bear she called out strange words in the Indian tongue, whose +meaning Faith could not imagine, but which the bear seemed to +understand. The creature accepted the blows with a queer little +whimper which made Faith laugh in spite of her fear. And when Kashaqua +had quite finished with him he crept along beside her, looking up as +if pleading for forgiveness.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Kashaqua! Is it the bear that your papooses tamed?” exclaimed +Faith, remembering the story told her on the way.</p> + +<p>Kashaqua nodded, at the same time muttering words of reproach to the +bear.</p> + +<p>“He like bad Indian, steal from friends,” she explained to Faith. “His +name Nooski,” she added.</p> + +<p>Nooski was quite ready to make friends with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>Faith, but she was not +yet sure of his good-nature. It seemed to the little girl that the +bear understood every word Kashaqua uttered; and when they went on +their way down the trail Nooski followed, or kept close beside them.</p> + +<p>It was still early in the afternoon when they reached level ground and +Faith had her first glimpse of the blue waters of Lake Champlain and +saw the heights of Ticonderoga on the opposite shore. For a moment she +forgot Nooski and Kashaqua, and stood looking at the sparkling waters +and listening to the same sound of “Chiming Waters” that had made the +early French settlers call the place “Carillon.” She wondered if she +should ever see the inside of the fort of which she had heard so much, +and then heard Kashaqua calling her name.</p> + +<p>“Canoe all ready, Faith.” The Indian woman had drawn the birch-bark +canoe from its hiding-place in the underbrush, and the light craft now +rested on the waters of the lake. The baskets and bundles were in the +canoe, and Kashaqua, paddle in hand, stood waiting for her little +companion.</p> + +<p>“Where’s Nooski?” asked Faith, looking about for the young bear.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>Kashaqua pointed toward the distant range of mountains which they had +left behind them. “He gone home,” she said.</p> + +<p>Kashaqua told her how to step into the canoe, and how to sit, and +cautioned her not to move. Faith felt as if the day had been a +wonderful dream. As Kashaqua with swift strokes of her paddle sent the +canoe over the water Faith sat silent, with eyes fixed on the looming +battlements of the fort, on the high mountain behind it, and thought +to herself that no other little girl had ever taken such a journey.</p> + +<p>Kashaqua landed some distance below the fort; the canoe was again +safely hidden, and after a short walk across a field they reached a +broad, well-traveled road. “’Most to Philip Scott’s house,” grunted +Kashaqua. “You be glad?” and she looked down at the little girl with a +friendly smile.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>NEW FRIENDS</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">An</span> Indian woman and a little girl with yellow hair are coming across +the road, mother,” declared Donald Scott, rushing into the +sitting-room, where his mother was busy with her sewing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Scott hastened to the front door. “Oh, Aunt Prissy,” called +Faith, running as fast as her tired feet could carry her, and hardly +seeing the brown-haired little cousin standing by his mother’s side.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy welcomed her little niece, whom she had not expected to +see for weeks to come, and then turned to thank Kashaqua. But the +Indian woman had disappeared. The bundle containing Faith’s clothing +lay on the door-step, but there was no trace of her companion. Long +afterward they discovered that Kashaqua had started directly back over +the trail, and had reached the Carews’ cabin, with her message of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>Faith’s safe arrival at her aunt’s house, early the next morning.</p> + +<p>“Come in, dear child. You are indeed welcome. Your father’s letter +reached me but yesterday,” said Aunt Prissy, putting her arm about +Faith and leading her into the house. “I know you are tired, and you +shall lie down on the settle for a little, and then have your supper +and go straight to bed.”</p> + +<p>Faith was quite ready to agree. As she curled up on the broad sofa her +three little cousins came into the room. They came on tiptoe, very +quietly, Donald leading the two younger boys. Their mother had told +them that Cousin Faith was tired after her long journey, and that they +must just kiss her and run away.</p> + +<p>Faith smiled up at the friendly little faces as they bent over to +welcome her. “I know I shan’t be lonesome with such dear cousins,” she +said, and the boys ran away to their play, quite sure that it was a +fine thing to have a girl cousin come from the Wilderness to visit +them.</p> + +<p>Faith slept late the next morning, and awoke to hear the sound of rain +against the windows. It was a lonesome sound to a little girl so far +from her mother and father, and Faith was already <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>thinking to herself +that this big house, with its shining yellow floors, its white window +curtains, and its nearness to a well-traveled road, was a very dreary +place compared to her cabin home, when her chamber door opened and in +came her Aunt Prissy, smiling and happy as if a rainy day was just +what she had been hoping for.</p> + +<p>“We shall have a fine time to-day, Faithie dear,” she declared, as she +filled the big blue wash-basin with warm water. “There is nothing like +a rainy day for a real good time. Your Uncle Philip and the boys are +waiting to eat breakfast with you, and I have a great deal to talk +over with you; so make haste and come down,” and Aunt Prissy, with a +gay little nod, was gone, leaving Faith greatly cheered and wondering +what the “good time” would be.</p> + +<p>Uncle Philip Scott was waiting at the foot of the stairs. “So here is +our little maid from the Wilderness! Well, it is a fine thing to have +a girl in the house,” he declared, leading Faith into the dining-room +and giving her a seat at the table beside his own. “Did you have any +adventures coming over the trail?” he asked, after Faith had greeted +her little cousins.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>Faith told them of “Nooski’s” appearance, greatly to the delight of +her boy cousins, who asked if the Indian woman had told Faith the best +way to catch bear cubs and tame them.</p> + +<p>“Come out to the shop, boys,” said Mr. Scott as they finished +breakfast, “and help me repair the cart, and fix ‘Ginger’s’ harness. +Perhaps Cousin Faith will come, too, later on in the morning.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll see. Faithie and I have a good deal to do,” responded Mrs. +Scott.</p> + +<p>The boys ran off with their father, chattering gaily, but at the door +Donald turned and called back: “You’ll come out to the shop, won’t +you, Cousin Faith?”</p> + +<p>“If Aunt Prissy says I may,” answered Faith.</p> + +<p>“Yes; she will come,” added Aunt Prissy, with her ready smile.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Faith that Aunt Prissy was always smiling. “I don’t +believe she could be cross,” thought the little girl.</p> + +<p>She helped her aunt clear the table and wash the dishes, just as she +had helped her mother at home; and as they went back and forth in the +pleasant kitchen, with the dancing flames from the fireplace +brightening the walls and making <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>the tins shine like silver, Faith +quite forgot that the rain was pouring down and that she was far from +home.</p> + +<p>“I am going to begin a dress for you this very day. It is some +material I have in the house; a fine blue thibet, and I shall put +ruffles on the skirt. That will be your Sunday dress,” said Aunt +Priscilla, “and your father wrote me you were to have the best shoes +that the shoemaker can make for you. We’ll see about the shoes +to-morrow. Did you bring your blue beads, Faithie? But of course you +did. They will be nice to wear with your blue frock. And I mean you to +have a warm hood of quilted silk for Sunday wear.”</p> + +<p>Faith drew a long breath as her aunt finished. She wondered what Aunt +Prissy would say if she told her about giving the blue beads to Esther +Eldridge. But in the exciting prospect of so many new and beautiful +things she almost forgot the lost beads. She had brought “Lady Amy,” +carefully packed in the stout bundle, and Aunt Prissy declared that +the doll should have a dress and hood of the fine blue thibet.</p> + +<p>“When shall I go to school, Aunt Prissy?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>“I think the school begins next week, and you shall be all ready. I +mean to make you a good dress of gray and scarlet homespun for school +wear,” replied her aunt. “The schoolhouse is but a half-mile walk from +here; a fine new cabin, and you and Donald may go together. I declare, +the rain has stopped. ‘Rain before seven, clear before eleven’ is a +true saying.”</p> + +<p>Faith ran to the window and looked out. “Yes, indeed. The sky is blue +again,” she said.</p> + +<p>“You’d best run out to the shop a while now, Faithie. I’ll call you +when ’tis time,” said her aunt.</p> + +<p>Faith opened the kitchen door to step out, but closed it quickly, and +looked around at her aunt with a startled face. “There’s a little bear +right on the door-step,” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“A bear! Oh, I forgot. You have not seen ‘Scotchie,’ our dog,” said +Aunt Prissy. “No wonder you thought he was a bear. But he is a fine +fellow, and a good friend. I often wish your dear father had just such +a dog,” and she opened the door and called “Scotchie! Scotchie!”</p> + +<p>The big black Newfoundland dog came slowly into the room.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>“Put your hand on his head, Faith,” said Aunt Prissy, “and I’ll tell +him who you are, and that he is to take care of you. He went to school +with Donald all last spring, and we knew he would take care of him. +Here, ‘Scotchie,’ go to the shop with Faith,” she concluded.</p> + +<p>Faith started for the square building on the further side of the yard, +and the big dog marched along beside her. Donald and little Philip +came running to meet her.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to make you a bow and some arrows, Cousin Faith,” said +Donald, pushing open the shop door. “I have a fine piece of ash, just +right for a bow, and some deerskin thongs to string it with. I made +bows for Hugh and Philip.”</p> + +<p>The workshop seemed a very wonderful place to Faith, and she looked at +the forge, with its glowing coals, over which her Uncle Philip was +holding a bar of iron, at the long work-bench with its tools, and at +the small bench, evidently made for the use of her little cousins.</p> + +<p>The boys were eager to show her all their treasures. They had a box +full of bright feathers, with which to tip their arrows.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>“We’ll show you how to make an arrow, Cousin Faith,” said Donald. +“First of all, you must be sure the piece of wood is straight, and has +no knots,” and Donald selected a narrow strip of wood and held it on a +level with his eyes, squinting at its length, just as he had seen his +father do. “This is a good straight piece. Here, you use my knife, and +whittle it down until it’s about as big as your finger. And then I’ll +show you how to finish it.”</p> + +<p>But before Faith had whittled the wood to the required size, they +heard the sound of a gaily whistled tune, and Donald ran toward the +door and called out: “Hallo, Nathan,” and a tall, pleasant-faced boy +of about fifteen years appeared in the doorway. He took off his +coonskin cap as he entered.</p> + +<p>“Good-morning, Mr. Scott,” he said, and then turned smilingly to speak +to the boys.</p> + +<p>“Faith, this is Nathan Beaman,” said Donald, and the tall boy bowed +again, and Faith smiled and nodded.</p> + +<p>“I’ve been up to the fort to sell a basket of eggs,” explained Nathan, +turning again to Mr. Scott.</p> + +<p>“You are a great friend of the English soldiers, are you not, Nathan?” +responded Mr. Scott.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>“No, sir!” the boy answered quickly. “I go to the fort when my errands +take me. But I know well enough what those English soldiers are there +for; all the Shoreham folk know that. I wish the Green Mountain Boys +held Ticonderoga,” he concluded.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scott rested a friendly hand on the boy’s shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Best not say that aloud, my boy; but I am glad the redcoats have not +made you forget that American settlers have a right to defend their +homes.”</p> + +<p>“I hear there’s a reward offered for the capture of Ethan Allen,” said +the boy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scott laughed. “Yes, but he’s in small danger. Colonel Allen may +capture the fort instead of being taken a prisoner,” he answered.</p> + +<p>Nathan now turned toward the children, and Donald showed him the bow +he was making for his cousin. “I’ll string it for you,” offered +Nathan; and Donald was delighted to have the older boy finish his +work, for he was quite sure that anything Nathan Beaman did was a +little better than the work of any other boy.</p> + +<p>“Who wants to capture Colonel Allen?” Faith asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>“The ‘Yorkers.’ The English,” responded the boy carelessly; “but it +can’t be done,” he added. “Why, every man who holds a New Hampshire +Grant would defend him. And Colonel Allen isn’t afraid of the whole +English army.”</p> + +<p>“I know him. He was at my father’s house just a few weeks ago,” said +Faith.</p> + +<p>“Don’t tell anybody,” said Nathan. “Some of the people at the fort may +question you, but you mustn’t let them know that you have ever seen +Colonel Allen.”</p> + +<p>Donald had been busy sorting out feathers for the new arrows, and now +showed Nathan a number of bright yellow tips, which the elder boy +declared would be just what were needed.</p> + +<p>Nathan asked Faith many questions about her father’s mill, and about +Ethan Allen’s visit. And Faith told him of the big bear that had +entered their kitchen and eaten the syrup. When Mrs. Scott called them +to dinner she felt that she was well acquainted with the good-natured +boy, whom Mrs. Scott welcomed warmly.</p> + +<p>“I believe Nathan knows as much about Fort Ticonderoga as the men who +built it,” she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>said laughingly, “for the soldiers have let him play +about there since he was a little boy.”</p> + +<p>“And Nathan made his own boat, too. The boat he comes over from +Shoreham in,” said Donald. For Nathan Beaman lived on the further side +of the strip of water which separated Ticonderoga from the New +Hampshire Grants.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Faith and her aunt worked on the fine new blue dress. +The next day Mrs. Scott took her little niece to the shoemaker, who +measured her feet and promised to have the shoes ready at the end of a +week.</p> + +<p>As they started for the shoemaker’s Mrs. Scott said:</p> + +<p>“The man who will make your shoes is a great friend of the English +soldiers. Your uncle thinks that he gathers up information about the +American settlers and tells the English officers. Do not let him +question you as to what your father thinks of American or English +rule. For I must leave you there a little while to do an errand at the +next house.”</p> + +<p>Faith began to think that it was rather a serious thing to live near +an English fort.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE SHOEMAKER’S DAUGHTER</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> shoemaker was the smallest man Faith had ever seen. She thought to +herself that she was glad he was not an American. When he stood up to +speak to Mrs. Scott Faith remembered a picture in one of her mother’s +books of an orang-outang. For the shoemaker’s hair was coarse and +black, and seemed to stand up all over his small head, and his face +was nearly covered by a stubbly black beard. His arms were long, and +he did not stand erect. His eyes were small and did not seem to see +the person to whom he was speaking.</p> + +<p>But he greeted his customers pleasantly, and as Faith sat on a little +stool near his bench waiting for her aunt’s return, he told her that +he had a little daughter about her own age, but that she was not very +well.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps your aunt will let you come and see her some day?” he said.</p> + +<p>“I’ll ask her,” replied Faith, and before they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>had time for any +further conversation the door opened and a tall man in a scarlet coat, +deerskin trousers and high boots entered the shop.</p> + +<p>“Any news?” he asked sharply.</p> + +<p>“No, captain. Nothing at all,” replied the shoemaker.</p> + +<p>“You’re not worth your salt, Andy,” declared the officer. “I’ll wager +this small maid here would have quicker ears for news.”</p> + +<p>Faith wished that she could run away, but did not dare to move.</p> + +<p>“Well, another summer we’ll put the old fort in order and have a +garrison that will be worth while. Now, what about my riding boots?” +he added, and after a little talk the officer departed.</p> + +<p>It was not long before Mrs. Scott called for her little niece and the +two started for home.</p> + +<p>Faith told her aunt what the shoemaker had said about his little girl, +and noticed that Aunt Prissy’s face was rather grave and troubled.</p> + +<p>“Do I have to go, Aunt Prissy?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see, my dear. But now we must hurry home, and sew on the new +dresses,” replied Aunt Prissy, and for a few moments they walked on in +silence.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p><p>Faith could hear the musical sound of the falls, and was reminded of +the dancing mill-stream, of the silver fox and of her own dear +“Bounce.” Every hour since her arrival at Aunt Prissy’s had been so +filled with new and strange happenings that the little girl had not +had time to be lonely.</p> + +<p>“What is the name of the shoemaker’s little girl, Aunt Prissy?” she +asked, as they came in sight of home, with Donald and Philip, closely +followed by “Scotchie,” coming to meet them.</p> + +<p>“Her name is Louise Trent, and she is lame. She is older than you, +several years older,” answered Aunt Prissy, “and I fear she is a +mischievous child. But the poor girl has not had a mother to care for +her for several years. She and her father live alone.”</p> + +<p>“Does she look like her father?” questioned Faith, resolving that if +such were the case she would not want Louise for a playmate.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no. Louise would be pretty if she were a neat and well-behaved +child. She has soft black hair, black eyes, and is slenderly built. +Too slender, I fear, for health,” replied Mrs. Scott, who often +thought of the shoemaker’s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>motherless little girl, whose father +seemed to resent any effort to befriend her.</p> + +<p>“Why, that sounds just the way Esther Eldridge looks. Only Esther +isn’t lame,” responded Faith; and, in answer to her aunt’s questions, +Faith described Esther’s visit to the cabin, omitting, however, the +fact that she had given Esther the blue beads.</p> + +<p>Faith did not think to speak of the red-coated soldier until the +family were gathered about the supper-table that night. Then she +suddenly remembered what he had said, and repeated it to her uncle, +who was asking her about her visit to Mr. Trent’s shop.</p> + +<p>“So that’s their plan. More soldiers to come another summer! ’Twas a +careless thing for an officer to repeat. But they are so sure that +none of us dare lift a hand to protect ourselves that they care not +who knows their plans. I’ll see to it that Ethan Allen and the men at +Bennington get word of this,” said Mr. Scott, and then asked Faith to +repeat again exactly what the officer had said.</p> + +<p>In a few days both of Faith’s new dresses were finished; and, greatly +to her delight, Aunt Prissy had made her a pretty cap of blue velvet, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>with a partridge’s wing on one side. She was trying on the cap before +the mirror in the sitting-room one afternoon when she heard a queer +noise on the porch and then in the front entry. Aunt Prissy was +up-stairs, and the boys were playing outdoors.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what it is?” thought Faith, running toward the door. As she +opened it she nearly exclaimed in surprise, for there, leaning on a +crutch, was the queerest little figure she had ever imagined. A little +girl whose black hair straggled over her forehead, and whose big dark +eyes had a half-frightened expression, stood staring in at the +pleasant room. An old ragged shawl was pinned about her shoulders, and +beneath it Faith could see the frayed worn skirt of gray homespun. But +on her feet were a pair of fine leather shoes, well fitting and highly +polished.</p> + +<p>“I brought your shoes,” said this untidy visitor, swinging herself a +step forward nearer to Faith, and holding out a bundle. “Father +doesn’t know I’ve come,” she added, with a little smile of +satisfaction. “But I wanted to see you.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t you sit down?” said Faith politely, pulling forward a big +cushioned chair.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>Louise Trent sat down as if hardly knowing if she dared trust the +chair or not.</p> + +<p>“Your aunt didn’t let you come to see me, did she? I knew she +wouldn’t,” continued Louise. “What you got?” she questioned, looking +at the pretty cap with admiring eyes.</p> + +<p>“It’s new. And I never had one before,” answered Faith.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ve never had one, and I never shall have. You wouldn’t let me +try that one on, would you?” said Louise, looking at Faith with such a +longing expression in her dark eyes that Faith did not hesitate for a +moment.</p> + +<p>“Of course I will,” she answered quickly, and taking off the cap +placed it carefully on Louise’s untidy black hair.</p> + +<p>“If your hair was brushed back it would look nice on you,” declared +Faith. “You wait, and I’ll get my brush and fix your hair,” and before +Louise could reply Faith was running up the stairs. She was back in a +moment with brush and comb, and Louise submitted to having her hair +put in order, and tied back with one of the new hair ribbons that Aunt +Prissy had given Faith. While Faith was thus occupied <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>Louise looked +about the sitting-room, and asked questions.</p> + +<p>“There,” said Faith. “Now it looks nice on you. But what makes you +wear that old shawl?”</p> + +<p>Louise’s face clouded, and she raised her crutch as if to strike +Faith. “Don’t you make fun of me. I have to wear it. I don’t have +nothing like other girls,” she exclaimed, and dropping the crutch, she +turned her face against the arm of the chair and began to sob +bitterly.</p> + +<p>For a moment Faith looked at her in amazement, and then she knelt down +beside the big chair and began patting the shoulder under the ragged +shawl.</p> + +<p>“Don’t cry, Louise. Don’t cry. Listen, I’ll ask my aunt to make you a +cap just like mine. I know she will.”</p> + +<p>“No. She wouldn’t want me to have a cap like yours,” declared Louise.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t your father good to you?” questioned Faith. And this question +made Louise sit up straight and wipe her eyes on the corner of the old +shawl.</p> + +<p>“Good to me! Of course he is. Didn’t he make me these fine shoes?” she +answered, pointing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>to her feet. “But how could he make me a pretty +cap or a dress? And he doesn’t want to ask anybody. But you needn’t +think he ain’t good to me!” she concluded, reaching after the crutch.</p> + +<p>“Don’t go yet, Louise. See, that’s my doll over on the sofa. Her name +is ‘Lady Amy,’” and Faith ran to the sofa and brought back her beloved +doll and set it down in Louise’s lap.</p> + +<p>“I never touched a doll before,” said Louise, almost in a whisper. +“You’re real good to let me hold her. Are you going to live here?”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to school,” replied Faith. “I’ve never been to school.”</p> + +<p>“Neither have I,” said Louise. “I s’pose you know your letters, don’t +you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. Of course I do. I can read and write, and do fractions,” +answered Faith.</p> + +<p>“I can’t read,” declared Louise.</p> + +<p>Just then Mrs. Scott entered the room. If she was surprised to see the +shoemaker’s daughter seated in her easy chair, wearing Faith’s new cap +and holding “Lady Amy,” she did not let the little girls know it, but +greeted Louise cordially, took Faith’s new shoes from their wrapping +and said they were indeed a fine pair of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>shoes. Then she turned to +Louise, with the pleasant little smile that Faith so admired, and +said: “You are the first little girl who has come to see my little +niece, so I think it would be pleasant if you two girls had a taste of +my fruit cake that I make just for company,” and she started toward +the dining-room and soon returned with a tray.</p> + +<p>“Just bring the little table from the corner, Faithie, and set it in +front of Louise and ‘Lady Amy,’” she said, and Faith hastened to obey.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy set the tray on the table. “I’ll come back in a little +while,” she said, and left the girls to themselves.</p> + +<p>The tray was very well filled. There was a plate of the rich dark +cake, and beside it two dainty china plates and two fringed napkins. +There was a plate of thin slices of bread and butter, a plate of +cookies, and two glasses filled with creamy milk.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t this lovely?” exclaimed Faith, drawing a chair near the table. +“It’s just like a party, isn’t it? I’m just as glad as I can be that +you brought my shoes home, Louise. We’ll be real friends now, shan’t +we?”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>LOUISE</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">I must</span> go home,” said Louise, with a little sigh at having to end the +most pleasant visit she ever remembered. The two little girls had +finished the lunch, and had played happily with “Lady Amy.” Mrs. Scott +had left them quite by themselves, and not even the small cousins had +come near the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>As Louise spoke she took off the blue velvet cap, which she had worn +all the afternoon, and began to untie the hair ribbon.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Louise! Don’t take off that hair ribbon. I gave it to you. It’s a +present,” exclaimed Faith.</p> + +<p>Louise shook her head. “Father won’t let me keep it,” she answered. +“He wouldn’t like it if he knew that I had eaten anything in this +house. He is always telling me that if people offer to give me +anything I must never, never take it.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>Before Faith could speak Aunt Prissy came into the room.</p> + +<p>“Tell your father I will come in and pay him for Faith’s shoes +to-morrow, Louise,” she said pleasantly, “and you must come and see +Faith again.”</p> + +<p>“Yes’m. Thank you,” responded Louise shyly, and nodding to Faith with +a look of smiling understanding, the crippled child made her way +quickly from the room.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Prissy, I like Louise Trent. I don’t believe she is a +mischievous girl. Just think, she never had a doll in her life! And +her father won’t let her take presents!” Faith had so much to say that +she talked very rapidly.</p> + +<p>“I see,” responded her aunt, taking up the rumpled hair ribbon which +Louise had refused. “I am glad you were so kind to the poor child,” +she added, smiling down at her little niece. “Tell me all you can +about Louise. Perhaps there will be some way to make her life +happier.”</p> + +<p>So Faith told her aunt that Louise could not read. That she had never +before tasted fruit cake, and that she had no playmates, and had never +had a present.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> “Why do you suppose she came to see me, Aunt Prissy?” +she concluded.</p> + +<p>“I cannot imagine. Unless it was because you are a stranger,” replied +Aunt Prissy. “I have an idea that I can arrange with Mr. Trent so that +he will be willing for me to make Louise a dress, and get for her the +things she ought to have. For the shoemaker is no poorer than most of +his neighbors. How would you like to teach Louise to read?”</p> + +<p>“I’d like to! Oh, Aunt Prissy, tell me your plan!” responded Faith +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Wait until I am sure it is a good plan, Faithie dear,” her aunt +replied. “I’ll go down and see Mr. Trent to-morrow. I blame myself +that I have not tried to be of use to that child.”</p> + +<p>“May I go with you?” urged Faith.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes. You can visit Louise while I talk with her father, since he +asked you to come.”</p> + +<p>“Has the Witch gone?” called Donald, running into the room. “Didn’t +you know that all the children call the Trent girl a witch?” he asked +his mother.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>“No, Donald. But if they do they ought to be ashamed. She is a little +girl without any mother to care for her. And now she is your cousin’s +friend, and we hope to see her here often. And you must always be +polite and kind to her,” replied Mrs. Scott.</p> + +<p>Donald looked a little doubtful and puzzled.</p> + +<p>“You ought to be more kind to her than to any other child, because she +is lame,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“All right. But what is a ‘witch,’ anyway?” responded Donald.</p> + +<p>“It is a wicked word,” answered his mother briefly. “See that you do +not use it again.”</p> + +<p>Faith’s thoughts were now so filled with Louise that she nearly lost +her interest in the new dresses and shoes, and was eager for the next +day to come so that she could again see her new friend.</p> + +<p>Faith had been taught to sew neatly, and she wondered if she could not +help make Louise a dress. “And perhaps Aunt Prissy will teach her how +to make cake,” she thought; for never to taste of cake seemed to Faith +to be a real misfortune. For the first night since her arrival at her +aunt’s home Faith went to sleep without a homesick longing for the +cabin in the Wilderness, and awoke the next morning thinking about all +that could be done for the friendless little girl who could not accept +a present.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>“We will go to Mr. Trent’s as soon as our morning work is finished,” +said Aunt Prissy, “and you shall wear your new shoes and cap. And I +have a blue cape which I made for you before you came. The morning is +chilly. You had best wear that.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t look like Faith Carew, I am so fine,” laughed the little +girl, looking down at her shoes, and touching the soft cloth of the +pretty blue cape.</p> + +<p>As they walked along Faith told Aunt Prissy of her plans to teach +Louise to sew, as well as to read. “And perhaps you’ll show her how to +make cake! Will you, Aunt Prissy?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I will, if I can get the chance,” replied her aunt.</p> + +<p>The shoemaker greeted them pleasantly. Before Mrs. Scott could say +anything of her errand he began to apologize for his daughter’s visit.</p> + +<p>“She slipped off without my knowing it. It shan’t happen again,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“But Faith will be very sorry if it doesn’t happen again,” replied +Aunt Prissy. “Can she not run in and see Louise while I settle with +you for the shoes?”</p> + +<p>The shoemaker looked at her sharply for a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>moment, and then motioned +Faith to follow him, leading the way across the shop toward a door on +the further side of the room. The shop occupied the front room of the +shoemaker’s house. The two back rooms, with the chambers above, was +where Louise and her father made their home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Trent opened the door and said: “You’ll find her in there,” and +Faith stepped into the queerest room that she had ever seen, and the +door closed behind her. Louise was standing, half-hidden by a clumsy +wooden chair. The shawl was still pinned about her shoulders.</p> + +<p>“This ain’t much like your aunt’s house, is it? I guess you won’t ever +want to come again. And my father says I can’t ever go to see you +again. He says I don’t look fit,” said Louise.</p> + +<p>But Faith’s eyes had brightened, and she was looking at the further +side of the room and smiling with delight. “Oh, Louise! Why didn’t you +tell me that you had a gray kitten? And it looks just like ‘Bounce,’” +and in a moment she had picked up the pretty kitten, and was sitting +beside Louise on a roughly made wooden seat, telling her of her own +kitten, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>while Louise eagerly described the cleverness of her own pet.</p> + +<p>“What’s its name?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Just ‘kitten,’” answered Louise, as if surprised at the question.</p> + +<p>“But it must have a real name,” insisted Faith, and it was finally +decided that it should be named “Jump,” the nearest approach to the +name of Faith’s kitten that they could imagine.</p> + +<p>The floor of the room was rough and uneven, and not very clean. There +was a table, the big chair and the wooden seat. Although the morning +was chilly there was no fire in the fireplace, although there was a +pile of wood in one corner. There was but one window, which looked +toward the lake.</p> + +<p>“Come out in the kitchen, where it’s warm,” suggested Louise, after a +few moments, and Faith was glad to follow her.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you want to try on my new cape?” asked Faith, as they reached +the kitchen, a much pleasanter room than the one they had left.</p> + +<p>Louise shook her head. “I daresn’t,” she replied. “Father may come in. +And he’d take my head off.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p><p>“You are coming to see me, Louise. Aunt Prissy is talking to your +father about it now,” said Faith; but Louise was not to be convinced.</p> + +<p>“He won’t let me. You’ll see,” she answered mournfully. “<i>I</i> know. +He’ll think your aunt is ‘Charity.’ Why, he won’t make shoes any more +for the minister because his wife brought me a dress; and I didn’t +wear the dress, either.”</p> + +<p>But there was a surprise in store for Louise, for when Mrs. Scott and +Mr. Trent entered the kitchen the shoemaker was smiling; and it seemed +to Faith that he stood more erect, and did not look so much like the +picture of the orang-outang.</p> + +<p>“Louise, Mrs. Scott and I have been making a bargain,” he said. “I am +going to make shoes for her boys, and she is going to make dresses for +my girl. Exchange work; I believe that’s right, isn’t it, ma’am?” and +he turned to Mrs. Scott with a little bow.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is quite right. And I’ll send you the bill for materials,” +said Aunt Prissy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>“Of course. Well, Louise, I warrant you’re old enough to have proper +dresses. And Mrs. Scott will take you home to stay with her until you +are all fixed up as fine as this little maid,” and the shoemaker +nodded to Faith.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean I’m to stay up there?” asked Louise, pointing in the +direction of the Scotts’ house. “I can’t. Who’d take care of you, +father?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Trent seemed to stand very straight indeed as Louise spoke, and +Faith was ashamed that she had ever thought he resembled the ugly +picture in her mother’s book.</p> + +<p>“She’s a good child,” he said as if whispering to himself; but he +easily convinced Louise that, for a few days, he could manage to take +care of himself; and at last Louise, happy and excited over this +change in her fortunes, hobbled off beside Mrs. Scott and Faith, while +her father stood in the shop doorway looking after them.</p> + +<p>It was a very differently dressed little daughter who returned to him +at the end of the following week. She wore a neat brown wool dress, +with a collar and cuffs of scarlet cloth, a cape of brown, and a cap +of brown with a scarlet wing on one side. These, with her well-made, +well-fitting shoes, made Louise a very trim little figure in spite of +her lameness. Her hair, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>well brushed and neatly braided, was tied +back with a scarlet ribbon. A bundle containing underwear, aprons, +handkerchiefs, and hair ribbons of various colors, as well as a stout +cotton dress for Louise to wear indoors, arrived at the shoemaker’s +house with the little girl.</p> + +<p>Her father looked at her in amazement. “Why, Flibbertigibbet, you are +a pretty girl,” he declared, and was even more amazed at the gay laugh +with which Louise answered him.</p> + +<p>“I’ve learned a lot of things, father! I can make a cake, truly I can. +And I’m learning to read. I’m so glad Faith Carew is going to live in +Ticonderoga. Aren’t you, father?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Trent looked at his daughter again, and answered slowly: “Why, +yes, Flibbertigibbet, I believe I am.”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE MAJOR’S DAUGHTERS</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> day that school began Faith returned home to find that a letter +from her mother and father had arrived. It was a long letter, telling +the little girl of all the happenings since her departure at the +pleasant cabin in the Wilderness. Her father had shot a deer, which +meant a good supply of fresh meat. Kashaqua had brought the good news +of Faith’s arrival at her aunt’s house; and, best of all, her father +wrote that before the heavy snows and severe winter cold began he +should make the trip to Ticonderoga to be sure that his little +daughter was well and happy.</p> + +<p>But there was one sentence in her mother’s letter that puzzled Faith. +“Your father will bring your blue beads,” her mother had written, and +Faith could not understand it, for she was sure Esther had the beads. +She had looked in the box in the sitting-room closet after Esther’s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>departure, hoping that Esther might have put them back before +starting for home, but the box had been empty.</p> + +<p>“Who brought my letter, Uncle Phil?” she questioned, but her uncle did +not seem to hear.</p> + +<p>“Father got it from a man in a canoe when we were down at the shore. +The man hid——”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Hugh. You must not repeat what you see, even at home,” +said Mr. Scott.</p> + +<p>So Faith asked no more questions. She knew that the Green Mountain +Boys sent messengers through the Wilderness; and that Americans all +through the Colonies were kept notified of what the English soldiers +stationed in those northern posts were doing or planning. She was sure +that some such messenger had brought her letter; and, while she +wondered if it might have been her friend Ethan Allen, she had learned +since her stay in her uncle’s house that he did not like to be +questioned in regard to his visitors from across the lake.</p> + +<p>“I’ll begin a letter to mother dear this very night, so it will be all +ready when father comes,” she said, thinking of all she longed to tell +her mother about Louise, the school and her pretty new dresses.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>“So you did not bring your beads,” said Aunt Prissy, as she read Mrs. +Carew’s letter. “Did you forget them?”</p> + +<p>Faith could feel her face flush as she replied: “No, Aunt Prissy.” She +wished that she could tell her aunt just why she had felt obliged to +give them to Esther Eldridge, and how puzzled she was at her mother’s +reference to the beads. Faith was already discovering that a secret +may be a very unpleasant possession.</p> + +<p>As she thought of Esther, she recalled that her aunt had spoken of +Louise as “mischievous,” and Faith was quite sure that Louise would +never have accepted the beads or have done any of the troublesome +things that had made the first days of Esther’s visit so difficult.</p> + +<p>“Louise isn’t mischievous,” she declared suddenly. “What made you +think she was, Aunt Prissy?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy was evidently surprised at this sudden change of subject, +but she replied pleasantly:</p> + +<p>“I ought not to have said such a thing; but Louise has improved every +day since you became her friend. How does she get on in her learning +to read?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>For Faith stopped at the shoemaker’s house every day on her way home +from school to teach Louise; and “Flibbertigibbet,” as her father +generally called her, was making good progress.</p> + +<p>“She learns so quickly,” replied Faith, “and she is learning to write. +I do wish she would go to school, Aunt Prissy,” for Louise had become +almost sullen at the suggestion.</p> + +<p>Faith did not know that Louise had appeared at the schoolhouse several +years before, and had been so laughed at by some of the rough children +of the village that she had turned on them violently and they had not +dared come near her since. They had vented their spite, however, in +calling, “Witch! Witch! Fly home on your broomstick,” as Louise +hobbled off toward home, vowing that never again would she go near a +school, and sobbing herself to sleep that night.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy had heard something of the unfortunate affair, and was +glad that Louise, when next she appeared at school, would have some +little knowledge to start with and a friend to help her.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps she will go next term, now that she has a girl friend to go +with her,” responded Mrs. Scott.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>Faith was making friends with two girls whose seats in the schoolroom +were next her own. Their names were Caroline and Catherine Young. +Faith was quite sure that they were two of the prettiest girls in the +world, and wondered how it was possible for any one to make such +beautiful dresses and such dainty white ruffled aprons as these two +little girls wore to school. The sisters were very nearly of an age, +and with their soft black curls and bright brown eyes, their flounced +and embroidered dresses with dainty collars of lace, they looked very +different from the more suitably dressed village children.</p> + +<p>Caroline was eleven, and Catherine nine years old. But they were far +in advance of the other children of the school.</p> + +<p>They lost no time in telling Faith that their father was an English +officer, stationed at Fort Ticonderoga; and this made Faith look at +them with even more interest. Both the sisters were rather scornful in +their manner toward the other school children. As Faith was a +newcomer, and a stranger, they were more cordial to her.</p> + +<p>“You must come to the fort with us some day,” Caroline suggested, when +the little girls had known each other for several weeks; and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>Faith +accepted the invitation with such eagerness that the sisters looked at +her approvingly. Their invitations to some of the other children had +been rudely refused, and the whispered “Tories” had not failed to +reach their ears.</p> + +<p>“We like you,” Caroline had continued in rather a condescending +manner, “and we have told our mother about you. Could you go to the +fort with us to-morrow? It’s Saturday.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes; I’m sure I may. I have wanted to go to the fort ever since I +came. You are real good to ask me,” Faith had responded gratefully, to +the evident satisfaction of the English girls who felt that this new +little girl knew the proper way to receive an invitation.</p> + +<p>It was settled that they would call for Faith early on Saturday +afternoon.</p> + +<p>“I may go, mayn’t I, Aunt Prissy?” Faith asked, as she told her aunt +of the invitation, and was rather puzzled to find that Aunt Prissy +seemed a little doubtful as to the wisdom of permitting Faith visiting +the fort with her new friends.</p> + +<p>“It is a mile distant, and while that is not too long a walk, I do not +like you to go so far from home with strangers,” she said; but on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>Faith’s declaring that the sisters were the best behaved girls in +school, and that she had promised to go, Mrs. Scott gave her consent; +and Faith was ready and waiting when Caroline and Catherine arrived, +soon after dinner on Saturday.</p> + +<p>“Is your father an officer?” asked Caroline, as the little girls +started off.</p> + +<p>Faith walked between her new friends, and looked from one to the other +with admiring eyes.</p> + +<p>“No, my father is a miller. And he owns a fine lot of land, too,” she +answered smilingly.</p> + +<p>“Our father is a major. He will go back to Albany in the spring, and +that is a much better place to live than this old frontier town,” said +Catherine. “We shan’t have to play with common children there.”</p> + +<p>Faith did not quite know what Catherine meant, so she made no +response, but began telling them of her own journey through the +wilderness and across the lake. But her companions did not seem much +interested.</p> + +<p>“Your uncle is just a farmer, isn’t he?” said Caroline.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he is a farmer,” Faith replied. She knew it was a fine thing to +be a good farmer, so she answered smilingly. But before the fort <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>was +reached she began to feel that she did not like the sisters as well as +when they set out together. They kept asking her questions. Did her +mother have a silver service? and why did her aunt not have servants? +As they neared the fort Catherine ran to her sister’s side and +whispered in her ear. After that they kept close together, walking a +little way ahead of Faith. At the entrance to the fort Faith was +somewhat alarmed to find a tall soldier, musket in hand. But he +saluted the little girls, and Faith followed her companions along the +narrow passageway. She wondered to herself what she had done to offend +them, for they responded very stiffly to whatever she had to say. The +narrow passage led into a large open square, surrounded by high walls. +Faith looked about with wondering eyes. There were big cannons, stacks +of musketry, and many strange things whose name or use she could not +imagine. There were little groups of soldiers in red coats strolling +about.</p> + +<p>“Where is your father, Catherine?” she asked, and then looked about +half fearfully; for both her companions had vanished.</p> + +<p>None of the soldiers seemed to notice Faith <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>For a moment she looked +about with anxious eyes, and then decided that her friends must have +turned back to the entrance for some reason.</p> + +<p>“And they probably think that I am right behind them,” she thought, +running toward an arched passageway which she believed was the one by +which she had entered the fort. But it seemed much longer than when +she came in a moment before. She began running, expecting to see the +sisters at every step. Suddenly she found that she was facing a heavy +door at the end of the passage, and realized that she had mistaken her +way. But Faith was not frightened. “All I have to do is to run back,” +she thought, and turned to retrace her steps. But there were two +passageways opening behind her at right angles. For an instant she +hesitated, and then ran along the one to the right.</p> + +<p>“I’m sure this is the way I came,” she said aloud. But as she went on +the passageway seemed to curve and twist, and to go on and on in an +unfamiliar way. It grew more shadowy too. Faith found that she could +not see very far ahead of her, and looking back it seemed even darker. +She began to feel very tired.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>“I’m sure Caroline and Catherine will come and find me,” she thought, +leaning against the damp wall of the passage. “I’ll just rest a +minute, and then I’ll call so they will know which way to turn to find +me.”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A DAY OF ADVENTURE</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Caroline!</span> Caroline!” called Faith, and the call echoed back to her +astonished ears from the shadowy passage. “I’d better go back! I’m +sure the other was the right way,” she finally decided; and very +slowly she retraced her steps, stopping now and then to call the names +of the girls who had deserted her.</p> + +<p>It seemed a long time to Faith before she was back to where the big +solid door had blocked the first passage. She was sure now that the +other way would lead her back to the square where she had last seen +her companions. But as she stood looking at the door she could see +that it was not closed. It swung a little, and Faith wondered to +herself if this door, after all, might not open near the entrance so +that she could find her way to the road, and so back to Aunt Prissy.</p> + +<p>She could just reach a big iron ring that swung from the center of the +door; and she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>seized this and pulled with all her might. As the door +slowly opened, letting in the clear October sunlight, Faith heard +steps coming down the passage. The half-opened door nearly hid her +from sight, and she looked back expecting to see either Caroline or +Catherine, and, in the comfort of the hope of seeing them, quite ready +to accept any excuse they might offer. But before she could call out +she heard a voice, which was vaguely familiar, say: “I did leave that +door open. Lucky I came back,” and Nathan Beaman, the Shoreham boy, +was close beside her.</p> + +<p>When he saw a little girl still grasping the iron ring, he seemed too +surprised to speak.</p> + +<p>“I’m lost!” Faith whispered. “I’m so glad you came. Major Young’s +little girls asked me to come to the fort, and then ran away and left +me,” and Faith told of her endeavors to find her companions.</p> + +<p>“Lucky I came back,” said Nathan again, but this time his voice had an +angry tone. “It was a mean trick. Those girls——” Then Nathan stopped +suddenly. “Well, they’re Tories,” he concluded.</p> + +<p>“I was afraid it was night,” said Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>“No, but you might have wandered about in these passageways until you +were tired out. Or you might have fallen from that door. Look out, but +hold close to the door,” said Nathan.</p> + +<p>Faith came to the doorway and found herself looking straight down the +face of a high cliff to the blue waters of the lake. Lifting her eyes +she could look across and see the distant wooded hills of the Green +Mountains, and could hear the “Chiming Waters” of the falls.</p> + +<p>“It’s lovely. But what do they have a door here for?” Faith asked.</p> + +<p>And then Nathan explained what forts were for. That a door like that +gave the soldiers who held the fort a chance to look up and down the +lake in order to see the approach of an enemy by water. “And gives +them a chance to scramble down the cliff and get away if the enemy +captures the fort from the other side.” Then he showed Faith the two +big cannon that commanded the lake and any approach by the cliff.</p> + +<p>“But come on. I must take you home,” he declared, moving as if to +close the door.</p> + +<p>“Could we get out any other way than by going back through that +passage?” asked Faith, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>who thought that she never wanted to see the +two sisters again, and now feared they might be waiting for her.</p> + +<p>“Certainly we could. That is, if you are a good climber,” replied +Nathan. “I’ll tell you something, that is, if you’ll never tell,” he +added.</p> + +<p>“I won’t,” Faith declared earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Well, I can go down that cliff and up, too, just as easily as I can +walk along that passage. And the soldiers don’t pay much attention to +this part of the fort. There’s a sentry at the other end of the +passage, but he doesn’t mind how I get in and out. If you’ll do just +as I say I’ll take you down the cliff. My boat is hidden down by +Willow Point, and I’ll paddle you alongshore. ’Twill be easier than +walking. That is, if you’re not afraid,” concluded Nathan.</p> + +<p>“No, I’m not afraid,” said Faith, thinking to herself that here was +another secret, and almost wishing that she had not agreed to listen +to it.</p> + +<p>“Come on, then,” said Nathan, stepping outside the door, and holding +tightly to the door-frame with one hand and reaching the other toward +Faith. “Hold tight to my hand and don’t look down,” he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> “Look to +the right as you step out, and you’ll see a chance for your feet. +I’ve got a tight hold. You can’t fall.”</p> + +<p>Faith clutched his hand and stepped out. There was room toward the +right for her to stand. She heard the big door clang behind her. “I +had to shut it,” Nathan said, as he cautiously made his way a step +down the face of the cliff. Faith followed cautiously. She noticed +just how Nathan clung to the outstanding rocks, how slowly and +carefully he made each movement. She knew if she slipped that she +would push him as well as herself off into the lake.</p> + +<p>“I mustn’t slip! I mustn’t,” she said over and over to herself.</p> + +<p>Nathan did not speak, except to tell her where to step. At last they +were safely down, standing on a narrow rocky ledge which hardly gave +them a foothold. Along this they crept to a thick growth of alder +bushes where a clumsy wooden punt was fastened.</p> + +<p>Faith followed Nathan into the punt, and as he pushed the boat off +from the bushes she gave a long sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>“That was great!” declared Nathan triumphantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> “Say, you’re the +bravest girl I know. I’ve always wondered if I could bring anybody +down that cliff, and now I know I can. But you mustn’t tell any one +how we got out of the fort. You won’t, will you?” And Faith renewed +her promise not to tell.</p> + +<p>Nathan paddled the boat out around the promontory on which the fort +was built. He kept close to the shore.</p> + +<p>“Does Major Young stay at the fort?” questioned Faith.</p> + +<p>“Not very long at a time. He comes and goes, like all spies,” replied +Nathan scornfully. “I wish the Green Mountain Boys would take this +fort and send the English back where they belong. They keep stirring +the Indians up against the settlers, so that people don’t know when +they are safe.”</p> + +<p>It was the last day of October, and the morning had been bright and +sunny. The sun still shone, but an east wind was ruffling the waters +of the lake, and Faith began to feel chilly.</p> + +<p>“I’ll warrant you don’t know when this lake was discovered?” said +Nathan; and Faith was delighted to tell him that Samuel De Champlain +discovered and gave the lake his name in 1609.</p> + +<p>“The Indians used to call it ‘Pe-ton-boque,’” she added.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p><p>But when Nathan asked when the fort was built she could not answer, +and the boy told her of the brave Frenchmen who built Ticonderoga in +1756, bringing troops and supplies from Canada.</p> + +<p>“The old fort has all sorts of provisions, and guns and powder that +the English have stored there. I wish the American troops had them. If +I were Ethan Allen or Seth Warner I’d make a try, anyway, for this +fort and for Crown Point, too,” said Nathan.</p> + +<p>The rising wind made it rather difficult for the boy to manage his +boat, and he finally landed some distance above the point where +Kashaqua had reached shore. Faith was sure that she could go over the +fields and find her way safely home, and Nathan was anxious to cross +the lake to Shoreham before the wind became any stronger. Faith felt +very grateful to him for bringing her from the fort.</p> + +<p>“You’ll be as brave as Colonel Allen when you grow up,” she said, as +she stood on the shore and watched him paddle off against the wind.</p> + +<p>He nodded laughingly. “So will you. Remember your promise,” he called +back.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p><p>The wind seemed to blow the little girl before it as she hurried +across the rough field. She held tight to her velvet cap, and, for the +first time, wondered if she had torn or soiled the pretty new dress in +her scramble down the cliff. Her mind was so full of the happenings of +the afternoon that she did not look ahead to see where she was going, +and suddenly her foot slipped and she fell headlong into a mass of +thorn bushes, which seemed to seize her dress in a dozen places. By +the time Faith had fought her way clear her hands were scratched and +bleeding and her dress torn in ragged ugly tears that Faith was sure +could never be mended.</p> + +<p>She began to cry bitterly. “It’s all the fault of those hateful +girls,” she sobbed aloud. “If they had not run off and left me I +should be safe at home. What will Aunt Prissy say?”</p> + +<p>Faith reached the road without further mishap, and was soon walking up +the path. There was no one in sight; not even Scotchie was about. A +sudden resolve entered her mind. She would slip up-stairs, change her +dress, and not tell her aunt about the torn dress. “Perhaps I can mend +it, after all,” she thought.</p> + +<p>As she changed her dress hurriedly, she wondered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>where all the family +could be, for the house was very quiet. But she bathed her hands and +face, smoothed her ruffled hair, and then looked for a place to hide +the blue dress until she could find a chance to mend it. She peered +into the closet. A small hair-covered trunk stood in the far corner +and Faith lifted the top and thrust her dress in. At that moment she +heard Donald’s voice, and then her aunt’s, and she started to go +down-stairs to meet them.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>SECRETS</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Did</span> you see all the fort, and the guns, and the soldiers?” asked +Donald eagerly, running to meet his cousin as she came slowly into the +sitting-room. “Why, your hand is all scratched!” he added in a +surprised tone.</p> + +<p>Faith tried to cover the scratched hand with a fold of her skirt. Aunt +Prissy noticed that the little girl wore her every-day dress.</p> + +<p>“Didn’t you wear your blue dress, Faithie?” and without waiting for an +answer said: “Well, perhaps this one was just as well, for you might +have hurt your blue dress.”</p> + +<p>Faith sat down on the big sofa thinking to herself that she could +never be happy again. First, and worst of all, was the ruined dress. +Then the remembrance of the way she had been treated by Caroline and +Catherine; and, last of all, her <i>secrets</i>!—every one a little more +important and dreadful than the other. First the blue beads; then +Nathan’s knowledge of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>hidden entrance to Fort Ticonderoga; and then +the dress. She was so taken up with her unhappy thoughts that she did +not realize she had not answered Donald, or spoken to her aunt, until +Donald, who was standing directly in front of her, demanded: “What’s +the matter, Cousin Faith? Does your tooth ache?”</p> + +<p>Faith shook her head. “I’m tired. I didn’t have a good time at all. I +don’t like those girls,” and, greatly to Donald’s alarm, she put her +head on the arm of the sofa and began to cry.</p> + +<p>In an instant she felt Aunt Prissy’s arm about her, and heard the kind +voice say: “Never mind, dear child. Don’t think about them.”</p> + +<p>After a little Aunt Prissy persuaded Faith to lie down and rest until +supper time.</p> + +<p>“I’ll sit here with my sewing and keep you company,” said Aunt Prissy. +“It’s an hour to candle-light.”</p> + +<p>Donald tiptoed out of the room, but was back in a moment standing in +the doorway and beckoning his mother; and Mrs. Scott went quietly +toward him, closing the door softly behind her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>“It’s those girls. The ones Faith went with to the fort,” Donald +explained in a whisper. “They’re on the door-step.”</p> + +<p>Caroline and Catherine were standing, very neat and demure, at the +front door.</p> + +<p>“Has your little girl got home?” inquired Catherine in her most polite +manner; “she ran off and left us,” added Caroline.</p> + +<p>“Faith is safe at home,” responded Mrs. Scott in a pleasant voice.</p> + +<p>“Why didn’t you ask them to supper, mother? You said you were going +to,” demanded Donald, as he watched the sisters walk down the path.</p> + +<p>“Your cousin is too tired for company,” said his mother, who had +planned a little festivity for Faith and her friends on their return, +but had quickly decided that her little niece would be better pleased +not to see the sisters again that day.</p> + +<p>“All the more cake for us then,” said Donald cheerfully, for he had +seen a fine cake on the dining-room table; “there comes the +shoemaker’s girl,” he added. “Shall you ask her to stay, mother?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” and Mrs. Scott turned to give Louise a cordial welcome.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>“Faith is resting on the sofa, but you may go right in, Louise. I know +she will be glad to see you,” she said, smiling down at the dark-eyed +little girl. “When are you coming to make us another visit?”</p> + +<p>“Father said I might stay all night if you asked me,” responded +Louise, who now felt sure that Mrs. Scott was her friend.</p> + +<p>“We shall be glad indeed to have you, my dear. Let me take your cap +and cape. And go in and cheer up Faithie, for I fear she has had an +unhappy time,” said Mrs. Scott.</p> + +<p>Louise’s smile faded. She had never had a friend until Faith Carew +came to Ticonderoga, and the thought that any one had made Faith +unhappy made her ready to inflict instant punishment on the offenders.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Louise! I’m so glad it’s you!” exclaimed Faith, as she heard the +sound of Louise’s crutch stubbing across the floor.</p> + +<p>Louise sat down beside the crumpled little figure on the sofa.</p> + +<p>“What did they do, Faith?” she demanded.</p> + +<p>Faith told the story of the walk to the fort; of the disagreeable +manner of both Caroline and Catherine toward her, and of their +disappearance <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>as soon as they were inside the fort. But she did not +tell of her efforts to find them, nor of Nathan Beaman’s appearance.</p> + +<p>“They are hateful things!” Louise declared, “but it won’t be long +before they’ll go to Albany with their father. Oh!” she ended a little +fearfully. “I ought not to have told that. It’s a secret,” she added +quickly.</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t. They told me,” answered Faith, “and if it were a secret +I shouldn’t want to know it. I hate and despise secrets.”</p> + +<p>Louise looked at her friend with a little nod of comprehension. +“That’s because you have a secret,” she said.</p> + +<p>“How did you know, Louise?” and Faith wondered if it were possible +Louise could know about the blue dress.</p> + +<p>“I know,” said Louise. “It’s dreadful to know secrets. I can stay all +night. My father has gone to the fort. Oh!” and again she put her hand +over her mouth. “I ought not to have told that. He doesn’t want any +one to know.”</p> + +<p>Faith leaned back against the sofa with a little sigh of +discouragement. It seemed to her there was nothing but secrets. She +wished she was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>with her mother and father in her pleasant cabin home, +where everybody knew about everything.</p> + +<p>“Where’s ‘Lady Amy’?” asked Louise, quite sure that such a beautiful +doll would comfort any trouble. And her question made Faith remember +that Louise was a guest.</p> + +<p>“I’ll get her,” she said, and in a few moments “Lady Amy” was sitting +on the sofa between the two little friends, and Faith was displaying +the new dresses that Aunt Prissy had helped her make for the doll.</p> + +<p>“Father says he will buy me a doll,” Louise announced, “and he’s going +to get me a fine string of beads, too, when he goes away again;” for +the shoemaker went away frequently on mysterious business. Many of the +settlers were quite sure that he carried messages for the British +officers to other forts; but he came and went so stealthily that as +yet no proof was held against him.</p> + +<p>“I have some blue beads. My father is going to bring them when he +comes to see me,” said Faith. “I hope yours will be just like them.”</p> + +<p>Louise shook her head a little doubtfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> “I may never get them, +after all. Father forgets things,” she said.</p> + +<p>Before supper time Faith was in a much happier state of mind. She had +helped Louise with her reading lesson; they had played that the sofa +was a throne and Lady Amy a queen, and that they were Lady Amy’s +daughters; and the unpleasantness of the early afternoon had quite +vanished when the candles were lighted, and supper on the table.</p> + +<p>The supper seemed a feast to the shoemaker’s daughter. Every time she +came to visit Faith Louise tasted some new dish, so daintily prepared +that she was at once eager to learn to make it. Faith was hungry, too, +and, as no reference was made to her trip to the fort, she enjoyed her +supper; and not until it was finished was she reminded of her +troubles.</p> + +<p>“To-morrow Louise may go to church with us, and you may wear your blue +dress that you are so careful of,” Aunt Prissy said.</p> + +<p>Faith made no response. She did not know what to do or say. She was so +quiet that her aunt was sure her little niece was overtired, and soon +after supper sent the little girls off to bed.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter, Faith?” questioned <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>Louise, when they were safely +in the big chamber, with its high white bed, curtained windows, and +comfortable chairs, and which to Louise seemed the finest bedroom in +all the world.</p> + +<p>Faith threw herself face down on the bed. “I don’t know what to do! I +don’t know what to do! I’ve spoiled my blue dress!” she sobbed. There! +That was one secret the less, she thought. And Louise would never +tell. “I can’t go to church. I don’t dare tell Aunt Prissy about the +dress. It was to be my best dress all winter,” she added. “What shall +I do, Louise?”</p> + +<p>Louise shook her head. That Faith Carew, who seemed to her to be the +most fortunate girl in all the world, should be in trouble was a far +more dreadful thing to Louise than any trouble of her own.</p> + +<p>“Let me see the dress,” she said; “perhaps it isn’t very bad.”</p> + +<p>Faith opened the trunk and pulled out the blue dress, which only that +morning had been so fresh and dainty. Now it was rumpled, soiled and +torn. Faith’s tears flowed afresh as she held it out for Louise to +see.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>“I guess you’d better tell your aunt,” Louise said soberly. “Tell her +now, this minute,” she added quickly; “the sooner the better.”</p> + +<p>Faith looked at her in surprise. She wondered at herself that she had +hidden the dress, or even thought of not telling Aunt Prissy.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go now,” she said, and, still holding the dress, walked out of +the room. She no longer felt afraid. As she went down the stairs she +thought over all Aunt Prissy’s goodness toward her. “I’ll tell her +that I can wear my other dress for best,” she decided.</p> + +<p>The boys were already in bed; Mr. Scott was attending to the evening +chores, and Aunt Prissy was alone in the sitting-room when Faith +appeared in the doorway.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Prissy, look! I tore my dress coming home to-day, and I was +afraid to tell you! Oh, Aunt Prissy!” for her aunt had taken Faith and +the blue dress into her arms, and held the little girl closely as she +said:</p> + +<p>“Why, dear child! How could you ever be afraid of me? About a dress, +indeed! A torn dress is nothing. Nothing at all.”</p> + +<p>“Louise, you are my very best friend,” Faith declared happily, as she +came running into the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>room a few minutes later. “I am so glad you +made me tell.”</p> + +<p>Louise looked at Faith with shining eyes. She wished there was some +wonderful thing that she could do for Faith as a return for all the +happiness her friendship had brought into her life.</p> + +<p>The clouds had lifted. Faith had disposed of one secret, and felt the +others would not matter very much. The two little friends snuggled +down in the big feather bed and were soon fast asleep.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>LOUISE MAKES A PRESENT</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> week following Faith’s visit to the fort proved rather a difficult +one for her at school. Caroline and Catherine seemed to think they had +played a fine joke, and accused her of running home when they were +waiting for her. Faith had resolved not to quarrel with them, but +apparently the sisters meant to force her into trouble, if sneering +words and ridicule could do it.</p> + +<p>“You’re an American, so you don’t dare talk back,” sneered Catherine +one day when Faith made no reply to the assertion that Faith had meant +to run home from the fort alone.</p> + +<p>“Americans are not afraid,” replied Faith quickly.</p> + +<p>Catherine jumped up and down with delight at having made Faith angry.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>“Oh, yes they are. My father says so. Another summer the English +soldiers are going to take all the farms, and all you rebels will be +our servants,” declared Catherine.</p> + +<p>“Another summer the Green Mountain Boys will send the English soldiers +where they will behave themselves,” declared Faith. “Ethan Allen is +braver than all the men in that fort.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care what you say. We’re not going to play with you any more, +are we, Caroline?” said Catherine. “You play with that horrid little +lame girl.”</p> + +<p>“She isn’t horrid. She is much better than you are. She wouldn’t say +or do the things you do!” responded Faith, now too angry to care what +she said, “and she is my very best friend. I wouldn’t play with you +anyway. You’re only Tory children,” and Faith walked off with her head +lifted very proudly, feeling she had won the battle; as indeed she +had, for the sisters looked after her in silent horror.</p> + +<p>To be called “only” Tory children was a new point of view, and for +several days they let Faith wholly alone. Then one morning they +appeared at school with the news that it would be their last +appearance there.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>“We’re going to Albany, and never coming back to this rough common +place,” Catherine said.</p> + +<p>“I am glad of it,” Faith replied sharply; “perhaps you will learn to +be polite in Albany.”</p> + +<p>Some of the other children overheard these remarks, and a little +titter of amusement and satisfaction followed Faith’s words. For the +sisters had made no effort to be friendly with their schoolmates, and +not one was sorry to see the last of them.</p> + +<p>Faith awoke each morning hoping that her father would come that day, +but it was toward the last of November before he appeared. There had +been several light falls of snow; the ground was frozen and ice formed +along the shores of the lake. The days were growing shorter, and Mrs. +Scott had decided that it was best for Faith to come straight home +from school at night, instead of stopping in to help Louise with her +lessons. But both the little girls were pleased with the new plan that +Mrs. Scott suggested, for Louise to come home with Faith on Tuesdays +and Fridays and stay all night. Louise was learning a good deal more +than to read and write. Mrs. Scott was teaching her to sew neatly, and +Faith had taught her to knit. She <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>was always warmly welcomed by +Donald and the two younger boys, and these visits were the bright days +of the week for Louise.</p> + +<p>At last, when Faith had begun to think her father might not come after +all, she returned from school one night to find him waiting for her. +It was difficult to tell which of the two, father or daughter, was the +happier in the joy of seeing each other. Mr. Carew had arrived in the +early afternoon, and Aunt Prissy was now busy preparing the evening +meal and Faith and her father had the sitting-room to themselves. +There was so much to say that Faith hardly knew where to begin, after +she had listened to all her father had to tell her of her mother.</p> + +<p>“I would have come before, but I have been waiting for Kashaqua to +come and stay with your mother,” said Mr. Carew. “She appeared last +night, and will stay until I return. And your mother could have no +better protector. Kashaqua is proud enough since we proved our +confidence in her by sending you here in her charge.”</p> + +<p>Faith told him about Louise, and was surprised to see her father’s +face grave and troubled. For Mr. Carew had heard of the shoemaker, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>was sure that he was an English spy, and feared that his daughter’s +friendship with Faith might get the Scotts into some trouble.</p> + +<p>“She is my dearest friend. I tell her everything,” went on Faith.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid her father is not a friend to the settlers about here,” +replied Mr. Carew. “Be careful, dear child, that you do not mention +any of the visitors who come to your uncle’s house. Your friend would +mean no harm, but if she told her father great harm might come of it,” +for Mr. Scott was doing his best to help the Americans. Messengers +from Connecticut and Massachusetts with news for the settlers came to +his house, and Mr. Scott found ways to forward their important +communications to the men on the other side of Lake Champlain.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Prissy likes Louise; we all do,” pleaded Faith; so her father +said no more, thinking that perhaps he had been overanxious.</p> + +<p>“Your mother sent your blue beads. I expect you would have been +scolded a little for being a careless child if you had been at home, +for she found them under the settle cushion the very day you left +home,” said Mr. Carew, handing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>Faith two small packages. “The larger +package is one that came from Esther Eldridge a few weeks ago,” he +added, in answer to Faith’s questioning look.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what it can be,” said Faith; but before she opened Esther’s +package she had taken the blue beads from the pretty box and put them +around her neck, touching them with loving fingers, and looking down +at them with delight. Then she unfastened the wrapping of the second +package.</p> + +<p>“Here is a letter!” she exclaimed, and began reading it. As she read +her face brightened, and at last she laughed with delight. “Oh, +father! Read it! Esther says to let you and mother read it. And she +has sent me another string of beads!” And now Faith opened the other +box, a very pretty little box of shining yellow wood with “Faith” cut +on the top, and took out another string of blue beads, so nearly like +her own that it was difficult to tell them apart.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carew read Esther’s letter. She wrote that she had lost Faith’s +beads, and had been afraid to tell her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> “Now I am sending you another +string that my father got on purpose. I think you were fine not to say +a word to any one about how horrid I was to ask for your beads. +Please let your mother and father read this letter, so they will know +how polite you were to company.”</p> + +<p>“So it was Esther who lost the beads! Well, now what are you going to +do with two strings of beads?” said her father smilingly.</p> + +<p>When Aunt Prissy came into the room Faith ran to show her Esther’s +present and the letter, and told her of what had happened when she had +so rashly promised to give Esther anything she might ask for. “I am so +glad to have my own beads back again. And most of all I am glad not to +have the secret,” she said, thinking to herself that life was much +happier when father and mother and Aunt Prissy could know everything +that she knew. Then, suddenly, Faith recalled the fort, and the +difficult climb down the cliff. “But that’s not my secret. It’s +something outside. Something that I ought not to tell,” she thought, +with a little sense of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“But which string of beads did Esther send you? I can’t tell them +apart,” she heard Aunt Prissy say laughingly.</p> + +<p>When the time came for Mr. Carew to start <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>for home Faith was sure +that she wanted to go home with him. And it was only when her father +had promised to come after her early in March, “or as soon as March +stirs the fire, and gives a good warm day,” he said, that Faith could +be reconciled and persuaded to let him go without her. She was glad +indeed that it was a Tuesday, and that Louise would come to stay all +night. Faith was eager to tell Louise the story of the blue beads, and +to show her those Esther had sent, and those that Aunt Prissy had +given her. Faith was sure that she herself could tell the beads apart, +and equally sure that no one else could do so.</p> + +<p>Louise was waiting at the gate when Faith came from school. At the +first sight of her Faith was hardly sure that it was Louise; for the +little girl at the gate had on a beautiful fur coat. It was made of +otter skins, brown and soft. On her head was a cap of the same fur; +and, as Faith came close, she saw that Louise wore fur mittens.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Louise! Your coat is splendid,” she exclaimed. “And you look so +pretty in it; and the cap and mittens.” And Faith looked at Louise, +smiling with delighted admiration.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>Louise nodded happily. “My father sent to Albany for them. A man +brought them last night,” she said. “You do truly like them?” she +questioned, a little anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Of course! Any girl would think they were beautiful. Aunt Prissy will +be just as glad as I am,” declared Faith. “What’s in that big bundle?” +she added, as Louise lifted a big bundle from beside the gate.</p> + +<p>But if Louise heard she made no reply, and when Faith offered to carry +the package she shook her head laughingly. Faith thought it might be +something that Louise wanted to work on that evening, and was so +intent on telling of her father’s visit, the blue beads, and the +promised visit to her own dear home in March, that she did not really +give much thought to the package.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy was at the window watching for the girls, with the three +little boys about her. They all came to the door, and Aunt Prissy +exclaimed, just as Faith had done, over the beauty of Louise’s new +possessions. “But what is in that big bundle, Louise?” she asked, when +the little lame girl had taken off coat, cap and mittens, and stood +smiling up at her good friend.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>“Once you said to me that a present was something that any one ought +to be very happy to receive,” she said.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I remember. And I know you are happy over your father’s gift,” +replied Mrs. Scott.</p> + +<p>Louise nodded, and began unwrapping the bundle.</p> + +<p>“This is my present to Faith,” she said, struggling to untie the heavy +string.</p> + +<p>“Let me, Louise; let me,” and Donald was down on his knees and in a +moment the bundle was opened, and Donald exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“My! It’s a coat exactly like Louise’s.”</p> + +<p>“There’s a cap too, and mittens,” said Louise eagerly. “Do try it on.”</p> + +<p>Donald stood holding the coat; and Faith, as excited and happy as +Louise, slipped on the coat, put the cap on her head and held out her +hands for the mittens.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Louise! They are lovely. I may keep them, mayn’t I, Aunt Prissy?” +she asked, turning about for her aunt to see how nicely the coat +fitted.</p> + +<p>Neither of the little girls noticed that Mrs. Scott looked grave and a +little troubled, for she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>was thinking that this was almost too fine a +present for her little niece to accept from the shoemaker’s daughter. +But she knew that to refuse to let Faith accept it would not only make +both the girls very unhappy, but that Mr. Trent would forbid Louise +coming to the house, and so stop all her friendly efforts to help +Louise; so she added her thanks to those of Faith, and the two little +friends were as happy as it is possible to be over giving and +receiving a beautiful gift. Faith even forgot her blue beads in the +pleasure of possessing the pretty coat and cap.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>A BIRTHDAY</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Can</span> you skate, Cousin Faith?” asked Donald, on their way to school +one morning in late December. There had been a week of very cold +weather, and the ice of the lake glittered temptingly in the morning +sun.</p> + +<p>“No, I never had any skates, and there wasn’t a very good chance for +skating at home,” answered Faith regretfully; for many of the school +children were eager for the sport, and told her of their good times on +the ice.</p> + +<p>“Mother has a pair of skates for you; I heard her say so; and father +is going to teach you to skate,” responded Donald. “I can skate,” he +added, “and after you learn we’ll have a fine time. Nat Beaman comes +across the lake on the ice in no time.”</p> + +<p>It was rather difficult for Faith to pay attention to her studies that +day. She wondered when Aunt Prissy would give her the skates, and +Uncle Phil teach her how to use them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>And when the schoolmaster +announced that there would be no school for the remainder of the week +Faith felt that everything was planned just right for her. Now, she +thought, she could begin the very next day, if only the cold, clear +weather would continue.</p> + +<p>The sun set clear and red that night, and the stars shone brightly. +Faith was sure the next day would be pleasant. Donald found a chance +to tell Faith that the skates were a “secret.” “But I didn’t know it +until just a few minutes ago,” he explained, adding briefly: “I hate +secrets.”</p> + +<p>Faith agreed heartily. If the skates were a secret who could tell when +Aunt Prissy would give them to her? She went to bed a little +despondent, thinking to herself that as soon as she was clear of one +secret another seemed ready to interfere with her happiness. But she +was soon asleep, and woke up to find the sun shining in at her +windows, and Aunt Prissy starting the fire with a shovelful of coals +from the kitchen hearth. And what were those shining silver-like +objects swinging from the bed-post?</p> + +<p>“Skates! My skates!” she exclaimed, sitting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>up in bed. “Oh, Aunt +Prissy! I did want them so to-day.”</p> + +<p>“They are your birthday present from your father and mother,” said +Aunt Prissy, coming to the side of the bed, and leaning over to kiss +her little niece. “Eleven years old to-day! And you had forgotten all +about it!”</p> + +<p>“Why, so I am! Why, so I did!” said Faith. “Well, I like secrets that +end this way. May I go skating right away, Aunt Prissy?”</p> + +<p>“Breakfast first!” laughed Aunt Prissy, and was out of the room before +Faith had noticed that lying across the foot of her bed was a dress of +pretty plaided blue and brown wool. A slip of paper was pinned to it: +“For Faith to wear skating,” she read.</p> + +<p>“Lovely! Lovely!” exclaimed Faith, as she hastened to dress in front +of the blazing fire.</p> + +<p>“Why, here are new stockings, too,” she said, as she discovered a pair +of warm knit brown and blue stockings.</p> + +<p>She came running into the dining-room, skates in hand, to be met by +her uncle and little cousins with birthday greetings. Donald had at +last finished the bow and arrows that he had promised her weeks +before, and now gave <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>them to her; Hugh had made a “quiver,” a little +case to hold the arrows, such as the Indians use, of birch bark, and +little Philip had a dish filled with molasses candy, which he had +helped to make.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful morning for Faith, and the broiled chicken and hot +corn cake gave the breakfast an added sense of festivity.</p> + +<p>Soon after breakfast Mr. Scott, Donald and Faith were ready to start +for the lake. Donald took his sled along. “So we can draw Cousin Faith +home, if she gets tired,” he explained, with quite an air of being +older and stronger than his cousin.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy watched them start off, thinking to herself that Faith had +never looked so pretty as she did in the fur coat and cap, with her +skates swinging from her arm, the bright steel catching the rays of +sunlight.</p> + +<p>They crossed the road, and went down the field to the shore. The hard +crust gave Faith and Donald a fine coast down the slope, and both the +children exclaimed with delight when Mr. Scott, running and sliding, +reached the shore almost as soon as they did.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scott fastened on Faith’s skates, and held <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>up by her uncle on one +side and Donald on the other, Faith ventured out on the dark, shining +ice. After a few lurches and tumbles, she found that she could stand +alone, and in a short time could skate a little.</p> + +<p>“Father, are those Indians?” asked Donald, pointing to a number of +dark figures coming swiftly down the lake from the direction of the +fort.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scott looked, and answered quickly: “Yes. They have seen us; so we +will skate toward them. They will probably be friendly.” But he told +Faith to sit down on the sled, and took fast hold of Donald’s hand. In +a few moments the flying figures of the Indians were close at hand. +There were six of them, young braves, and evidently racing either for +sport, or bound on some errand of importance, for they sped straight +past the little group, with a friendly call of salutation.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what that means,” said Mr. Scott, turning to watch them. “It +may be they are on their way to Albany as messengers from the fort,” +he added, as if speaking to himself.</p> + +<p>“What kind of a message, Uncle Philip?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>“Heaven knows, child. Perhaps for troops enough to crush the American +settlers, and drive them from their homes,” replied Mr. Scott. For +news of the trouble in Boston, the blockade of the port, and the lack +of supplies, had reached the men of the Wilderness; and Mr. Scott knew +that the English were planning to send a larger body of troops to Fort +Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the sight of these speeding Indians +made him wonder if they might not be English messengers.</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t we stop them, uncle?” asked Faith, so earnestly that her +uncle looked down at her in smiling surprise.</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t we? It will be dreadful to leave our homes,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scott swung the little girl gently around. “Look!” he said, +pointing down the lake. Already the Indians were but dark specks in +the distance. “If trouble comes there are brave Americans ready,” he +said; “and now we had best be going toward home, or you will be too +tired to come out this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>Faith and Donald were surprised to find that it was dinner time. They +had a great deal to tell Aunt Prissy of their morning’s adventures.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>“Could a little girl do anything to help, Aunt Prissy, if the English +do try to drive us away?” Faith asked, as she helped her aunt clear +the dining-room table.</p> + +<p>“Who knows?” responded Mrs. Scott, cheerfully. “A brave girl might be +of great service. But I do not believe the Tories will dare go much +farther. At all events, we will be ready for them. Run to the door, +Faithie; there comes Louise.”</p> + +<p>Louise was as pleased over Faith’s presents as Faith herself, and +delighted at the prospect of going to the lake with Faith and Donald +that afternoon. Faith and Donald promised to draw her on the sled, and +Aunt Prissy was to be their companion.</p> + +<p>“Mother can skate like a bird,” Donald declared admiringly.</p> + +<p>Louise was no longer the sullen, sad-faced child whom Faith had first +seen. She knew that she had friends; she was included in all the +pleasant happenings with Faith; her father seemed to take pride in her +appearance; and best of all, she thought, she was to begin school when +the spring term opened. To-day as they started off for the lake she +was as full of happiness as any child could be.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>There were a number of children and young people on the ice, skating +and sliding. A number of boys had built a bonfire on the shore, where +they could warm their chilled toes and fingers.</p> + +<p>Nathan Beaman was there, circling about in skilful curves, or darting +off with long swift strokes, greatly to the admiration of the other +children. He was quite ready to take the sled rope and give Louise a +fine ride up the lake toward the fort, and back to the fire, and to +guide Faith in her clumsy efforts to skate.</p> + +<p>Faith and Louise were warming their fingers at the fire when they +heard loud voices and a commotion on the ice.</p> + +<p>“What is it? Indians?” exclaimed Faith, looking around, for the +settlers never knew at what moment the Indians might become +mischievous.</p> + +<p>“No! Soldiers. Soldiers from the fort,” replied Aunt Prissy, drawing +the little girls away from the fire. “Perhaps they are only coming to +warm their fingers.”</p> + +<p>Two red-coated soldiers came swinging close to the shore. They were +talking loudly, and as they neared the fire they called out:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> “Clear +away from that fire. We’ll have no fires built on this shore. ’Tis +too good a way to send messages across the lake.”</p> + +<p>With a couple of stout sticks they beat out the flame, kicking snow +over the coals, and extinguishing the last bit of fire.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Scott had helped Louise toward the ice, but Faith had lingered a +moment. As one of the soldiers turned from the fire he found himself +facing a little fur-clad figure with flushed cheeks and angry eyes.</p> + +<p>“That was our fire. You had no business to put it out,” Faith +declared.</p> + +<p>“Oh, ho! What’s this?” laughed the soldier. “Do you own this lake? Or +perhaps you are our new captain?”</p> + +<p>“It is a mean thing to spoil our fire,” continued Faith; “we wouldn’t +do you any harm.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not so sure about that,” replied the soldier. “You have a pretty +fierce expression,” and with another kick at the fire, and a +“good-bye, little rebel,” to Faith, the two soldiers started back to +the fort. The skaters now, troubled and angry by the unfriendly +interference, were taking off their skates and starting for home.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>“I wish American soldiers were in that fort,” said Nat Beaman.</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you ask Colonel Allen to come and take it?” asked Faith +earnestly; she was quite sure that Ethan Allen could do anything he +attempted.</p> + +<p>“Ask him yourself,” responded Nathan laughingly.</p> + +<p>“I guess I will,” Faith thought to herself, as she followed Aunt +Prissy up the field toward home. “Perhaps that would be doing +something to help Americans.”</p> + +<p>The more Faith thought about this the stronger became her resolve to +ask Colonel Allen to take possession of Fort Ticonderoga. She was so +silent all the way home that her companions were sure she was +overtired. Louise had to return to her own home, and soon after supper +Faith was ready to go to bed.</p> + +<p>“I’ve got a real secret now; even if I don’t like secrets,” she +thought to herself. For she realized that she could not tell any one +of her determination to find some way to ask Ethan Allen to capture +Ticonderoga and send the troublesome English soldiers back to their +own homes.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>NEW ADVENTURES</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">It</span> will be a good day to put a quilt in the frame,” said Aunt Prissy, +the morning after Faith’s birthday. “You and Donald can help me with +it right after breakfast; then while you children are off to the lake +I will mark the pattern.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t I help mark the pattern?” asked Faith, who had sometimes helped +her mother, and thought it the most interesting part of the quilting.</p> + +<p>The quilting-frame, four long strips of wood, was brought into the +sitting-room and rested on the backs of four stout wooden chairs, +forming a square. The frame was held firmly together at the corners by +clamps and screws, so that it could be changed and adjusted to fit the +quilt.</p> + +<p>This quilt was a very pretty one, Faith thought, as she watched Aunt +Prissy fasten it to the frame with stout linen thread. It was made <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>of +bits of bright woolen cloth. There were pieces of Faith’s new dresses, +and of the dresses made for Louise, and they were neatly stitched +together in a diamond-shaped pattern. Faith had made a good many of +these, and so had Louise in the evenings as they sat with Aunt Prissy +before the open fire.</p> + +<p>First of all Aunt Prissy had fastened the lining for the quilt to the +frame. Over this she spread an even layer of soft wool, and then over +this the bright patchwork was spread and fastened. And now it was +ready to mark the quilting pattern.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy took a ball of firm twine and rubbed it well with white +chalk. The cord was fastened tightly across the surface of the quilt.</p> + +<p>“Now,” said Aunt Prissy, and Faith took the tight cord up and “snap” +it went when her fingers released their hold, leaving a straight white +mark across the quilt. Back and forth they stretched the cord and +“snapped” the line, until the quilt was marked in a checkerboard +pattern of white lines, which the quilters would follow with their +neat stitches.</p> + +<p>“I believe I’ll have a quilting bee to-morrow,” said Aunt Prissy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> “When you and Donald start out you can go down and ask the minister’s +wife, and be sure and say that we shall expect Mr. Fairbanks to tea. +Then ask Neighbor Willis and her husband, and Mrs. Tuttle. I think +that will be a pleasant number.”</p> + +<p>“May I help quilt?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Of course you may. Tell Mrs. Tuttle to bring her daughter. And now, +my dear, in what manner will you ask our friends to the quilting party +and to tea?” asked Aunt Prissy, looking down at her little niece with +her pretty smile.</p> + +<p>“I shall rap at the minister’s door first, of course; and when Mrs. +Fairbanks opens the door I shall make my best curtsy, like this:” and +Faith took a bit of her skirt in each hand, and bent in a very pretty +curtsy indeed; “and I shall say: ‘Good-morning, Mrs. Fairbanks. My +Aunt Prissy will be very happy if you and the minister will come to +her quilting bee to-morrow afternoon and stay to tea.’”</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy nodded approvingly. “I think that will do very nicely +indeed. Now put on your things and run along. Donald is waiting.”</p> + +<p>Donald and “Scotchie” were at the door when Faith was ready to start. +The big dog barked <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>his delight at being allowed to go with the +children.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to harness him to the sled; he could draw us both,” +suggested Donald, but Faith was sure that “Scotchie” would upset the +sled; so her cousin gave up the project.</p> + +<p>“We can go on the lake just below Mrs. Tuttle’s house, and skate along +the shore home; can’t we, Cousin Faith?” asked Donald, after they had +stopped at Mrs. Willis’ house and that of the clergyman.</p> + +<p>“Let’s call and get Louise,” suggested Faith.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there won’t be time. Look, there goes an English soldier into the +shoemaker’s now. The boys all say that the shoemaker is an English +spy,” answered Donald.</p> + +<p>They were nearly in front of Mr. Trent’s shop now, and Faith noticed +that the soldier was the one who had been on the lake the previous +day, and who had called her “a little rebel.”</p> + +<p>“Come to the back door, Donald. Just a moment, while I speak to +Louise. And make ‘Scotchie’ keep still,” said Faith, turning into the +path leading to the back door.</p> + +<p>“Scotchie” was barking fiercely as if he resented the sight of the +redcoat.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p><p>The soldier turned quickly. “Stop that dog before I put a bullet into +him,” he called.</p> + +<p>“He’s afraid,” Donald whispered to Faith, with a word to “Scotchie,” +and Faith ran up the path and entered the house.</p> + +<p>Donald and “Scotchie” stood waiting, the dog growling now and then, +whenever the soldier moved about on the door-step. It was evident that +the shoemaker was not at home, for no answer came to the raps. In a +moment Louise appeared at the door and told the man that her father +was not at home.</p> + +<p>“Send that boy with the dog about his business,” said the soldier.</p> + +<p>“’Tis the public road, sir; and ’tis not likely he’d mind what I might +say,” responded Louise smilingly, as she closed the door.</p> + +<p>Donald rested his mittened hand on “Scotchie’s” head.</p> + +<p>“You needn’t be afraid. I won’t let him hurt you,” Donald called.</p> + +<p>The soldier came down the path scowling.</p> + +<p>“I’ve a great mind to kick the beast,” he said.</p> + +<p>“You’d better not,” said Donald.</p> + +<p>Evidently the man agreed, for he went past as quickly as possible. +Donald watched him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>with a little scornful smile. The boy was not old +enough to realize, as Faith did, the difference between these hired +soldiers of England, and the brave Americans who were ready to +undertake any sacrifice to secure the freedom of their country, but he +was a brave boy, and thought poorly of this soldier’s courage.</p> + +<p>Louise listened to Faith’s hurried account of the proposed quilting +party.</p> + +<p>“And you must come too, Louise,” she concluded, “and come early.”</p> + +<p>Louise promised. She had never been to a quilting party, and was sure +that it would be a great experience. She could not go to the lake, for +she must not leave the house until her father returned.</p> + +<p>When Faith rejoined Donald he told her of the soldier’s evident fear +of the dog. “I don’t see what made ‘Scotchie’ growl so,” added Donald.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad he did,” responded Faith. “Come on; let’s hurry, or we won’t +have much time on the ice,” so off they went across the field.</p> + +<p>But as they reached the shore they looked at each other questioningly. +The lake seemed to be in the possession of the redcoats. At least <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>half the garrison of the fort were on the ice; skating, racing, and +evidently enjoying themselves.</p> + +<p>“We had better go home,” said Faith, and Donald made no objections. +The two children, disappointed of their morning’s sport, went slowly +back toward home.</p> + +<p>“That’s the way they take everything,” declared Faith, renewing her +promise to herself to try in some way to let Ethan Allen know how easy +it would be to drive the English from Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>“I am glad you did not venture on the ice,” Aunt Prissy said when +Donald and Faith told their story. “The English become less friendly +every day. Well, we will not think of them when there is so much to do +as we have before us.”</p> + +<p>“I asked Louise to come to the quilting,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“That’s right; and I am going to send Donald to ask a number of your +schoolmates to come in the evening. The moon will be full to light +them home, and you children can have the kitchen to yourselves after +supper, and make molasses candy,” said Aunt Prissy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p><p>This seemed a very delightful idea to both Faith and Donald. The +thought of making candy reminded Faith of Esther Eldridge, and of the +bear’s sudden appearance at the kitchen door. Mr. Carew had promised +Faith to ask Esther’s father to bring her to visit Faith on her return +home, and Faith often thought of how much she and Esther would have to +tell each other.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Faith helped her Aunt Prissy in preparing for the +quilting. Aunt Prissy was cooking a ham, and the brick oven held some +of the spiced cakes that the children liked so well. Donald cracked a +big dish full of hickory-nuts, while Faith rubbed the pewter plates +and pitchers until they shone like silver. The two younger boys ran in +and out of the kitchen, thinking a quilting party must be a great +affair.</p> + +<p>Mr. Scott had been cutting wood at the edge of the forest, and did not +return until nearly dusk; and when he arrived there was a man with +him—evidently a traveler, for there was a pack on his back, and he +was tired. Faith heard her Aunt Prissy call the stranger by name, and +welcome him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>“Why, it is Esther’s father. Of course it is!” she exclaimed suddenly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Eldridge told her all about Esther, and promised that his little +daughter should again visit the Wilderness cabin. Faith wondered what +business it was that took Mr. Eldridge through the Wilderness and up +and down the lakes. Long afterward she discovered that he was one of +the trusted messengers of the American leaders, and through him the +American settlers along the lake shores and through the New Hampshire +Grants were kept informed of what the English were doing. She did not +know that he underwent constant danger.</p> + +<p>The little boys went early to bed that night, but Faith was not +sleepy. The firelight in the sitting-room made dancing pictures on the +wall, as she sat in a small chair at the end of the sofa. The sound of +Aunt Prissy’s knitting needles made her think of the silvery tinkle of +the mill-stream under the winter ice in her Wilderness home. Mr. +Eldridge and her uncle were talking quietly. She heard her uncle say +that: “Ticonderoga was the lock to the gate of the country,” and Mr. +Eldridge respond that until Crown Point and Ticonderoga were taken <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>by +the Americans that none of the colonies could be safe.</p> + +<p>“If there were any way to get into Fort Ticonderoga,” said Mr. +Eldridge. “They say there’s a secret passageway.”</p> + +<p>Faith was all attention at this. She quite forgot that she was +listening to conversation not intended for her ears, as she heard her +uncle answer:</p> + +<p>“There is such a door, but no way for an American to find it. If some +one could get entrance to the fort in that way, discover just the plan +of the place, and escape, it would be of the greatest service to the +Americans when the right time came to take the fort.”</p> + +<p>“Time for bed, Faithie,” said Aunt Prissy, and, very reluctantly, the +little girl went up-stairs. She was thinking of all that her uncle and +Mr. Eldridge had said, and of the unguarded door opening on the cliff +at the fort. She wondered if she could make her way up that steep +cliff as easily as Nathan had declared he had so often done.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Nathan will help capture the fort,” she thought.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> “Anyway he +could show the Green Mountain Boys the way. If I were at home I would +put a note in that cave near Lake Dunmore and tell Ethan Allen about +Nathan.”</p> + +<p>Only Ethan Allen and a few of his friends knew of this mountain cave, +and it was there messages were left for him by the men of the +Wilderness.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>LOUISE DISAPPEARS</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> guests for the quilting party arrived at an early hour in the +afternoon. All that morning Faith and Aunt Prissy were busy. Dishes +filled with red apples were brought up from the cellar; cakes were +made ready, and the house in order before dinner time.</p> + +<p>Only one little girl, Jane Tuttle, had been asked to come in the early +afternoon. Jane was about Faith’s age, and at school they were in the +same classes. She was not very tall, and was very fat. Jane was one of +the children whom Caroline and Catherine Young had taken especial +delight in teasing.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i20">“Jane, Jane! Fat and plain;</span> +<span class="i20">With a button nose and turned-in toes,”</span></div> + +<p>they would call after her, until the little girl dreaded the very +sight of them. When Faith <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>had proved that she was not afraid of the +sisters Jane Tuttle became her steadfast admirer, and was greatly +pleased to come in the afternoon with her mother. But she was +surprised to find Louise Trent there before her, and evidently very +much at home. However, she was too kind-hearted a child not to be +pleasant and polite to the lame girl, and Louise was now as ready to +make friends as, before knowing Faith, she had been sullen and +unfriendly.</p> + +<p>Each of the girls was encouraged to set a few neat stitches in the +quilt. Then, on the arrival of Mrs. Fairbanks and Mrs. Lewis, Aunt +Prissy told Faith that if she wanted to take the little girls to her +own room she might do so.</p> + +<p>There was a glowing fire on the hearth, and Faith was pleased for Jane +to see her pleasant chamber, and to introduce “Lady Amy.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I had brought my doll,” said Jane, as the little girls +gathered in front of the fire. “Mine is one my mother made for me.”</p> + +<p>“There, Louise! We could make you a doll!” exclaimed Faith, knowing +how much her friend had always wished for a doll of her own.</p> + +<p>But Louise shook her head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> “I guess I am too old for dolls; I’m +twelve,” she said slowly, “and I don’t have time to make dresses for +dolls now that I’m learning to read and write. You see,” and she +turned to Jane, “I keep house for my father.”</p> + +<p>Jane looked at Louise, wondering to herself why she had ever imagined +that Louise Trent was a girl that she could not have for a friend. +Why, Louise was really pretty! thought fat little Jane, looking +admiringly at the smooth black hair, and the neat and pretty dress. +And so nearly grown-up, too. Twelve years old! Jane resolved to go and +see Louise, and to ask her to come for a visit.</p> + +<p>“I shall always play with dolls,” she heard Faith declare. “I’d like +to have a regiment of dolls, and play games with them. Wouldn’t it be +fun to have dolls that we could make up names for, and then have them +do all sorts of things?”</p> + +<p>Louise and Jane agreed that would be a fine game.</p> + +<p>“We could dress up the pillows on your bed for dolls,” suggested +Louise.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and put my dresses on them,” responded Faith eagerly, running to +the closet <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>and bringing out the blue dress, a skirt and a small +shawl. It was not long before two “cushiony” figures, as large as +Jane, were seated on the bed.</p> + +<p>“Let’s put our coats and caps on them, Faith; and when the other girls +come this evening we’ll make them think the pillows are company,” +suggested Louise.</p> + +<p>Jane jumped about the room with delight as Faith and Louise adjusted +the caps and fur coats.</p> + +<p>“We’ll introduce them as Annie Snow and Mary White,” said Faith. “It +will be fun to see what the girls will say.”</p> + +<p>Four little girls were expected, and several boy friends of Donald’s. +Aunt Prissy wondered a little at Faith’s eagerness to take the girls +directly up-stairs on their arrival, but she was greatly pleased to +see that Louise, Jane and Faith were evidently having a delightful +time.</p> + +<p>It was nearly dusk when the little visitors arrived, and Faith’s room +was rather dim and shadowy. The little girls coming in were rather +surprised to find that there were strangers, evidently just arrived, +sitting on Faith’s bed.</p> + +<p>“Girls, these are two of my best friends, Annie Snow and Mary White,” +said Faith, trying <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>hard not to laugh, as her schoolmates bowed +politely and greeted the stout figures on the bed, who, apparently, +did not hear the introductions.</p> + +<p>Jane, giggling with delight, circled around the newcomers; while +Louise seated herself on the bed and began talking to Annie Snow. +Faith endeavored to make the newcomers at ease, and it was not long +before she had to run down-stairs to help her aunt with the supper, +leaving Louise and Jane to carry on the game.</p> + +<p>The children were to have their supper in the kitchen. The tables for +young and old had been spread before the arrival of any of the guests, +so there was but little for Aunt Prissy and Faith to do before calling +the guests to supper.</p> + +<p>Louise was the last one to enter the kitchen, her face radiant with +fun and delight at the success of “Annie Snow” and “Mary White.” She +found a chance to tell Faith that “Annie” and “Mary” had managed to +say that they didn’t feel like eating supper, and that the girls had +not yet discovered the joke.</p> + +<p>“We’ll bring them down after supper,” Faith whispered.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>“Are your friends from the Wilderness?” asked Peggy Tibbetts, the +oldest girl of the party, as Faith sat down beside her.</p> + +<p>“No,” Faith answered slowly. “They are both coming down after supper, +and I know you will be surprised when I tell you that they live right +in this house.”</p> + +<p>Peggy Tibbetts was surprised. She looked almost frightened, and lost +no time in whispering this information to the other girls; so that +when Faith announced that she would run up-stairs and ask “Annie” and +“Mary” to come down there was an anxious silence.</p> + +<p>Faith asked Jane to go with her, and in a few moments they returned +with the two clumsy “girls.” In the brightly-lit kitchen the +dressed-up figures could no longer be mistaken, and the children were +greatly pleased and amused by “Annie” and “Mary,” who were established +in straight-backed chairs, and urged to share in the supper.</p> + +<p>There was so much laughter and merriment in the kitchen that Aunt +Prissy looked in for a moment. “Faithie dear, who are the little girls +in the corner?” she asked. To Louise and Jane this seemed a triumph +indeed, and when Aunt Prissy, entering into the spirit of the affair, +insisted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>upon being introduced to “Annie” and “Mary,” and said she +was very glad to see them, the children danced about, greatly pleased +with this unexpected fun.</p> + +<p>When the clock struck nine the grown people and children were all +ready to start for home. Louise was to stay all night with Faith. As +the children said their good-byes and stepped out into the +snow-trodden path they called back messages to “Annie” and “Mary.” The +full moon shone down so brightly that the path could be plainly seen, +and in the distance the dark line of the forest, and the heights of +Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>“It’s the best time I ever had in all my life,” declared Jane, as she +trotted off holding fast to her mother’s hand.</p> + +<p>And Faith said the same as she bade Aunt Prissy good-night. “It’s fun +to have parties, isn’t it, Aunt Prissy,” she said, “and all the girls +are so pleasant.”</p> + +<p>“That is what makes the good time, isn’t it?” responded her aunt.</p> + +<p>“I hope it won’t storm to-morrow,” Louise said, as the two girls +prepared for bed.</p> + +<p>“What makes you think of a storm?” questioned Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>“There was a ring around the moon,” said Louise; “that’s one sign, and +the air felt like snow.”</p> + +<p>But Faith was too happy over the evening to think about weather signs. +She had, for that night, quite forgotten about the English soldiers +and her resolve to send a message to Ethan Allen.</p> + +<p>Louise’s predictions proved right; for when the morning came snow was +falling steadily, and great drifts were heaped up against the walls +and fences. A chill east wind came sweeping across the ice-bound lake, +and it was plain that there would be no more skating for many days.</p> + +<p>For nearly a week trails and roads were impassable. Mr. Trent, knowing +that Louise was safe and happy with her friends, made no effort to +reach her; and the Scotts were glad to keep indoors, safe from the +fierce cold and wind.</p> + +<p>Donald and Hugh dug a tunnel to the shop, and Mr. Scott kept a path +open to the barn, while indoors Aunt Prissy kept the two girls busy +and happy. She declared that she had been hoping for a day to dye some +recently woven blankets, and asked Faith what color she thought would +be best.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>“But how can you make any color you like, Aunt Prissy?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not ‘any color I like,’ but I have a good lot of colors to +choose from,” replied Aunt Prissy. “People who live in the wilderness +need only to step outdoors to find almost anywhere some plant that +furnishes dye, and I gather my dye-plants and roots every summer, as I +am sure your own mother does.”</p> + +<p>“I know mother always gathers the dogwood roots to make a scarlet dye. +Kashaqua told her about that,” answered Faith. “The Indians use it for +their feathers.”</p> + +<p>“And I am sure your mother dyed your brown dress with the shells of +the hickory-nut,” said Aunt Prissy, “and the yellow root is what I +used to color the covers on the chair cushions in your room.”</p> + +<p>This was all new to Louise, and she listened eagerly, thinking to +herself that she would color the faded quilts on her own bed; and that +another summer she would gather a good supply of the roots and plants +of which Mrs. Scott spoke.</p> + +<p>“The pokeweed berries will color a good red,” continued Mrs. Scott; +“but for scarlet we must use the dogwood roots.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p><p>Then Mrs. Scott showed the little girls her bundles of dyestuffs, each +plant and root tied up and marked carefully with its name and use. A +large number of the dogwood roots were put into a huge iron kettle, +the kettle filled with water, and hung over the fire. When it had +boiled for several hours there would be a good scarlet dye in which +the new blankets would be dipped. Then they would be hung to dry in +the shed.</p> + +<p>The next day the sun came out and shone brightly down on a white and +glistening world, and that afternoon Mr. Trent came to take Louise +home. He would not come in, but waited at the door until she was ready +to go. But he thanked Mrs. Scott for all her kindness to his little +daughter.</p> + +<p>Faith was quite sure that Mr. Trent must be sorry to be a Tory instead +of a loyal American. “But I suppose he can’t help it,” she decided, +and always thought of her friend’s father as unfortunate.</p> + +<p>Faith and Louise always had so many things to talk about that they +seldom spoke of the redcoats; and when they did Louise seemed to +dislike them more than Faith herself.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p><p>Faith and Donald both had snow-shoes, and on their way to school, a +few days later, Faith stopped at the shoemaker’s door. But there was +no response to her knock, and when she tried the door it would not +open. She wondered where Louise and her father could be, but not until +the next day did she hear that the shoemaker and Louise had left their +home, apparently not to return. They had gone with a number of English +families, on sledges, down the river, without a good-bye to the kind +friends who had grown to love the little lame girl.</p> + +<p>“I know Louise couldn’t help it,” Faith declared, when Aunt Prissy +told her the news. “She will write to me, I know she will,” but it was +a long time before any word came to her from her little friend. And +now Faith became more and more eager for March to come, that she might +once more see her father and mother, and make some attempt to send a +message to Ethan Allen.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>FAITH AGAIN VISITS THE FORT</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> night after hearing that Louise had gone Faith felt more nearly +homesick than at any time since her arrival at her aunt’s house. +Everything seemed to remind her of her friend. Even “Lady Amy” made +her remember that Louise had never owned a doll of her own.</p> + +<p>“And I had meant to give Louise one of my strings of blue beads just +as soon as I had asked Aunt Prissy,” she thought, regretfully, holding +up the pretty beads, and recalling how much Louise had admired them.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Prissy,” she called, running down the stairs and into the +sitting-room, “may I not give Louise one of my bead necklaces?”</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy looked up in amazement.</p> + +<p>“But how can you, Faithie, dear? We do not know where she is,” she +answered.</p> + +<p>“We shall know some time. Of course we shall. And when we do, may I? I +meant to ask you the day of the quilting,” said Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>“Of course you may, child. I was sure that you would want to when +Esther sent the beads. I only hope you may have a chance to give them +to Louise at an early day,” responded Aunt Prissy.</p> + +<p>This decision proved a comfort to Faith. As the weeks went by, and no +news of the shoemaker and his little daughter was received, she would +often look at the string of blue beads which she meant to give her +friend. “I wish I had given them to her on my birthday,” she thought +regretfully, “but she shall have them some time,” for Faith was quite +sure that it could not be very long before Louise would find a way to +let them know where she was.</p> + +<p>March came, “stirring the fire” vigorously from the day of its +arrival. The ice in the lake broke up rapidly, the snow melted, and by +the middle of the month Faith began to expect her father. Nathan +Beaman, in his clumsy boat, had crossed from Shoreham a number of +times. He often teasingly reminded Faith of her plan to ask Ethan +Allen to come and take possession of Fort Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>“You’d better hurry. The British will be sending men down from Canada +by early summer, and then ’twill be of no use for the Green Mountain +Boys to try to capture the fort,” he said.</p> + +<p>“How do you always know so much about what the English are going to +do?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p>The children were all in the shop. Nathan was helping Donald in the +construction of a small boat, and Faith and the two younger boys had +been filling a basket with chips and shavings to carry into the house.</p> + +<p>“Can’t help knowing,” answered Nathan. “I hear the men at the fort +talking about all their fine plans to own all this country every time +I go there.”</p> + +<p>“Nathan,” and Faith lowered her voice so that the other children would +not hear, “you know I promised not to tell about the door at the +fort?”</p> + +<p>Nathan nodded; he was looking at her sharply, and half feared that she +was about to tell him that she had broken the promise.</p> + +<p>“Well, of course I shan’t tell. But if my telling some American would +help send the soldiers away, mayn’t I tell then?” and Faith’s face was +very serious as she waited for his response.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>“Yes. I meant you weren’t to tell Louise Trent, or those Young girls,” +said Nathan. “And don’t tell any one unless you are sure it will be of +some use. You see I may tell, if it comes to that.”</p> + +<p>Faith drew a long breath. “Thank you, Nathan,” she said, in so serious +a tone that the boy laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>“You are as grave about that old fort as my father and the Shoreham +men are. You ought to hear my father tell about the big fight here in +1758. He was a young man then, and the French held the fort, and the +English were after it.”</p> + +<p>Donald had stopped his work, and he and Hugh were listening eagerly. +“Tell us, tell us about it,” said Donald.</p> + +<p>“Father says there’ll never be anything like it again. All the +Colonies sent men, and Lord Howe brought thousands of English +soldiers. England was our friend then,” said Nathan.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> “They had +thousands of boats, and rafts to carry their big guns. They had big +flags, and music; and they didn’t lurk or skulk about. Their boats +came right down the lake in fine shape; they landed, and marched +toward the fort. But the French were ready for them, and beat them +back. However, the next year the English and Americans drove the +French out.”</p> + +<p>“I guess the English are brave,” Donald ventured, returning to his +work.</p> + +<p>“Of course they are. Why, we’re all English ourselves,” declared +Nathan, “and that’s why we won’t stand being treated so unfairly. We +can’t stand it.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not English. I’m an American,” said Faith; “and when the +Americans take Ticonderoga that will be American too.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the way to talk, little maid,” said a gruff voice, and the +children turned quickly toward the door.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t mean to listen,” and a tall man, dressed in deerskin jacket +and trousers, with moccasins, and wearing a fur cap, stepped into the +shop, resting his musket against the wall near the door. “Shouldn’t +have dared come in if I had not heard I was in good company,” he said +laughingly, his sharp eyes looking carefully about the shop.</p> + +<p>Nathan, with a half-muttered word of good-bye to the children, had +started toward the door; but the newcomer’s hand grasped his arm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>“Wait a minute!” he said, swinging the boy about. “I’m not so sure +about letting you start off so smart. You may head straight for the +fort, for all I know. What’s your name?”</p> + +<p>Nathan stood silent. His face flushed, but he looked the newcomer +steadily in the face.</p> + +<p>“Let go of Nathan!” said Donald sturdily, clutching at the man’s arm, +and kicking at his legs. “This isn’t your shop. You let go of him.”</p> + +<p>“I guess I’d better,” laughed the man, taking a firm hold of Donald +and looking at both his captives in evident amusement. “Well, Philip +Scott, what sort of a hornet’s nest have you here?” he called out, and +Faith turned around to see her Uncle Philip standing in the doorway. +“I’ll not let go these men until you promise to defend me,” continued +the stranger.</p> + +<p>“You are safe, Phelps,” responded Mr. Scott, coming forward and, as +Nathan and Donald were released, giving the stranger a cordial +welcome. Nathan vanished without a word, but on Mr. Scott’s saying +that he was the son of Mr. Beaman of Shoreham, the stranger was +reassured. It was evident he did not wish his arrival to become known +at the fort.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>Faith heard the stranger say that he had come from Hartford, and that +he would cross to the New Hampshire Grants as soon as he could safely +do so.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to look in at Fort Ticonderoga if I could without the +soldiers knowing it,” she heard him say, and her uncle replied that it +would be impossible.</p> + +<p>Faith was sure that this stranger was on some errand to the Green +Mountain Boys, for he spoke of Remember Baker, and Seth Warner.</p> + +<p>“I’d like to take Colonel Allen a plan of the fort,” she heard him +say, as she helped Aunt Prissy prepare an early dinner for their +visitor.</p> + +<p>Faith wished that she was grown up. Then, she was sure, she would dare +to tell this stranger of the way up the cliff to the unguarded +entrance. “He could go up this evening, and then he could tell Colonel +Allen all about it,” she thought, and before dinner was over she had +resolved to find a way to tell him. But after a talk with Mr. Scott +the visitor had declared he must get a few hours sleep. He said that +he had been on the trail since very early that morning, and must be +off again soon after sunset.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>“Run in the sitting-room, Faithie, and fix a cushion for Mr. Phelps,” +said Aunt Prissy, and the little girl started obediently.</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell him now,” she resolved, and as the tall man followed her +she said quickly: “I know how you can get into the fort and no one see +you. It’s a secret. I’ll show you. But Uncle Phil won’t let me if you +tell him.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll not tell him. You are a brave child. Tell me quickly,” responded +the tall stranger.</p> + +<p>“There’s a canoe under the big willow at the bottom of the field——” +began Faith, but he interrupted.</p> + +<p>“Yes! Yes! I know. I am to cross the lake in it. But how can I get +into the fort?”</p> + +<p>“I could show you. I can’t tell you,” answered Faith.</p> + +<p>“Then ’tis of small use. Harm might come to you, child,” he answered, +stretching himself out on the long settle with a tired sigh.</p> + +<p>Faith went slowly back to the kitchen. Here was the very chance she +had so long hoped for, and this stranger would not let her attempt it.</p> + +<p>All that afternoon Faith was very quiet. She walked across the fields +to the shore and looked at the big willow tree where the canoe was +concealed. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>She looked off toward Mount Defiance, and Mount Hope, +rising clearly against the sky, as if standing sentinels for Fort +Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>“I’ll try, anyway,” she said to herself, as she turned toward home.</p> + +<p>After supper she went early up-stairs. But she did not undress. She +knew that her uncle would not go to the lake shore with his visitor, +for that might attract the attention of some hunter or fisherman. It +would not be long before Mr. Phelps would start. There was no time to +lose. She put on her fur cap, and a knit jacket, and then peered out +of the window. The sky was clear, and the moon made it almost as light +as day. The sound of the falls came clearly through the quiet air.</p> + +<p>“He could find his way up the cliff as plainly as if it were +daylight,” thought Faith, as she turned from the window.</p> + +<p>She opened her door and closed it silently behind her. Her cousins +were in bed, her uncle and aunt in the sitting-room with their +visitor. Faith would have to pass the sitting-room door and go through +the kitchen; the slightest noise would betray her. She had put on her +moccasins, the ones Kashaqua had given her, and she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>stepped +cautiously, without a sound. In a few moments she was safely +out-of-doors and running across the field. She crouched down in the +canoe and waited.</p> + +<p>Faith did not hear or see the stranger as he came toward the +shore—not until he grasped the canoe to push it into the water.</p> + +<p>“King of Britain!” he whispered under his breath, when Faith spoke his +name. “What are you doing here?”</p> + +<p>“I’m going to show you the way into the fort. Yes! ’Twill take not +more than an hour or two. Then you can leave me here. ’Twill do me no +harm, and you will tell Colonel Allen about the fort,” said Faith, in +a whisper.</p> + +<p>The man slid the canoe into the water. “You are well-named, Faith,” he +responded. “Well, ’tis a chance, and no man will harm a little maid,” +and with a stroke of his paddle he sent the canoe clear of the willows +and headed toward the fort.</p> + +<p>“Keep close to the shore,” whispered Faith, peering anxiously ahead.</p> + +<p>Several hours later Faith stepped from the canoe, and said a whispered +good-bye to the stranger, and watched the canoe dart off straight <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>toward Shoreham. He had scaled the cliff, while Faith kept the canoe +close under the alder bushes, entered the door of the fort, and +skilfully made his way about the fortifications, determining the right +place for an attack and assuring himself that the fortress contained +valuable stores.</p> + +<p>As Faith stepped from the canoe the man tried to thank her.</p> + +<p>“Some day your Uncle Scott will hear of this, and be proud indeed of +so brave a child,” he said, “and I shall tell Colonel Allen your name, +and of your courage. Be sure of that. You have helped the American +cause more than a regiment of soldiers.”</p> + +<p>Faith said over his words as she made her way across the fields. She +recalled her first visit to the fort. “I’m glad those girls ran off +that day,” she thought, as she gently tried the back door. It was +securely fastened. A low warning growl from “Scotchie” made her fear +to lift a window. He would arouse the household. She stood on the +steps, shivering a little in the sharp March wind. “I must get in +without making a noise,” she thought. But she could think of no way to +accomplish it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>In spite of her silence “Scotchie” realized that some one was outside. +He barked, growled, and once or twice threw himself against the door. +Then suddenly his growls stopped, and, before Faith had time to move, +the kitchen door opened slightly and she heard her uncle say, “Who’s +there?” and knew that, musket in hand, he was awaiting her answer.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>HOME AGAIN</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Scotchie’s</span>” warning growl turned to a joyful greeting as Faith spoke +his name.</p> + +<p>“Great Cæsar! Faith!” exclaimed her uncle, drawing her into the +kitchen. “What on earth are you doing out-of-doors at this time of +night?”</p> + +<p>“You locked the door,” whimpered Faith.</p> + +<p>“But why did you not call out? We thought you went straight to bed,” +said her uncle.</p> + +<p>“I went down to the shore——” began Faith, and then stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>“Well, go straight to bed, and tell your aunt about it in the morning. +She is fast asleep now.”</p> + +<p>Faith was glad to obey. She was too tired and sleepy to be greatly +troubled by what would happen in the morning. She had resolved that if +Aunt Prissy questioned her she would tell the truth. But she hoped +earnestly that in some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>way the secret could be kept even from her +aunt and uncle, until Mr. Phelps should tell them.</p> + +<p>When she came down to breakfast it appeared that her uncle had only +told Aunt Prissy that Faith had run out after supper, and, instead of +calling and knocking until some one opened the door, had waited until +“Scotchie’s” bark had brought him to the door.</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy was more surprised and alarmed at this news than Faith had +expected. She cautioned Faith never to go out without telling some one +of the family.</p> + +<p>“Why, some wolf or wildcat might have been about; or a party of +Indians might have happened along and taken you off,” she said. “And +we should never have known what had become of you.”</p> + +<p>Faith promised never again to leave the house without her aunt’s +permission, and was glad indeed that she had escaped without telling +of her journey to the fort.</p> + +<p>“Aunt Prissy! Do you know what day this is?” she asked, so soberly +that her aunt looked at her a little anxiously. “It is the very last +day of March; it has been a warm and pleasant month, and my father has +not come for me.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>“And are you so anxious to say good-bye to us, Faithie? You know that +instead of your making a visit home your father has decided it is best +for you to stay; not come back unless for a visit, until another +autumn,” responded Aunt Prissy.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I know. But why does he not come?” persisted Faith.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps to-day will bring him,” Aunt Prissy answered hopefully.</p> + +<p>Faith came and stood close beside Aunt Prissy’s chair. She wanted to +say that she loved her cousins and uncle and Aunt Prissy very dearly; +to tell her that she had been happy; and that it had been a beautiful +visit; but that now she wanted to see her own dear mother more than +anything else. But how could she say all this so that Aunt Prissy +would understand?</p> + +<p>Aunt Prissy put down her knitting and drew the little girl into her +lap.</p> + +<p>“There! Now tell me all about it, dear,” she said, resting her face +against Faith’s yellow curls.</p> + +<p>And Faith told her all that she had been thinking; all that she had +thought would be so difficult. And Aunt Prissy listened, saying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> “Of +course,” and “Yes, indeed,” from time to time, and understanding even +more than Faith found words to tell.</p> + +<p>“Why, Aunt Prissy, it’s almost like having two homes,” concluded +Faith.</p> + +<p>Before Aunt Prissy could answer there was the sound of voices in the +kitchen, and Donald, closely followed by Mr. Carew, came into the +room.</p> + +<p>“It’s the very last day of March!” Faith reminded him.</p> + +<p>“And I came near not getting here to-day,” her father replied, as +Faith drew him to the big chair near the window, and climbed to a seat +on his knees. “I was held up on the trail by a tall fellow, from +Connecticut, as it proved. He was bound to make me own up that I was +an English spy. I told him my name, and my errand, and when I spoke +Faith’s name, why, he was at once my best friend, told me of his visit +at this house, and could not say enough in praise of my little +daughter,” responded Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>“The Americans seem to be gaining courage,” said Aunt Prissy. “The men +of the Wilderness do not mean to let the other Colonies do all the +fighting, I’m sure.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>“Indeed we’ll do our part, Priscilla,” her brother assured her.</p> + +<p>Faith told her father of the disappearance of Mr. Trent and Louise; of +the quilting party, and of all the happenings since his November +visit. But she did not tell him of guiding the Connecticut man to the +pathway up the cliff to Fort Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>It was evident that Mr. Phelps had kept the secret for some purpose of +his own; so, much as she wanted her father to know, Faith resolved +that she would not tell him. This secret did not worry and trouble her +as the others had done. “I guess it’s because this secret means +helping somebody, and the others were just—well, just mean secrets,” +Faith decided, as she thought it over.</p> + +<p>The next morning Faith and her father were ready to start at an early +hour. Uncle Phil, Aunt Prissy, the boys and “Scotchie” walked with +them to the shore.</p> + +<p>“You will come back when summer comes, won’t you, Cousin Faith?” said +Donald. “You’ll come for a visit even if you don’t stay and go to +school.”</p> + +<p>“I will if I can,” Faith promised,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> “and when Louise comes back give +her the blue beads, Aunt Prissy.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, dear child,” responded her aunt, wondering to herself if +Louise and her father would ever again be seen in that vicinity. Then +there were messages for Faith’s mother, and not until she was in the +canoe were the good-byes really said.</p> + +<p>The little group stood on the shore watching the canoe for some +minutes, and then turned back toward the house. They were all very +quiet, but as they reached the road Donald called out: “There’s +somebody on our door-step! Why, it is Louise! Yes, it is,” and with a +gay call he was off, running swiftly toward the house while the others +hurried after him.</p> + +<p>“Where is Faith?” Louise asked eagerly, when Mrs. Scott had welcomed +her, and they were in the big kitchen.</p> + +<p>“She’s gone home,” said Donald, before his mother could answer. But +Mrs. Scott told the little girl of how much Faith had missed her, and +of the string of blue beads that she had left to be given to Louise.</p> + +<p>It was evident that Louise was greatly disappointed to find that her +friend had gone. But <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>she fastened the beads about her neck, and +touched them with loving fingers.</p> + +<p>“Faith was my very first friend,” she said. “My father says that we +have come back to stay,” she added, “and perhaps Faith will come in +the summer?” There was such a pleading, questioning look in the girl’s +dark eyes that Mrs. Scott felt a new tenderness and sympathy for her, +and put her arm about Louise as she answered:</p> + +<p>“Perhaps she will. But you must come often and see me; for we shall +both miss her very much.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, may I, Mrs. Scott? I was afraid you wouldn’t want me to come,” +and Louise’s face brightened.</p> + +<p>“Why, I am to help you with your studies, and Donald is to call for +you when you begin school. Faith arranged all that,” responded Mrs. +Scott smilingly.</p> + +<p>Faith was silent as the canoe went swiftly across the lake, and they +had nearly reached the shore before she began asking questions about +“Bounce,” whom her father declared to be now a “grown-up cat,” and +about all the familiar things about the house and mill.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>“Listen, father!” she said, as they landed, and he drew the canoe to +its hiding-place in the alder bushes. “Hear the falls!” and for a +moment the two stood quietly hearkening to the “Chiming Waters.”</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Carew adjusted the pack, containing Faith’s belongings, +picked up his musket, without which no woodsman dared travel in those +days, and they started up the trail.</p> + +<p>Everywhere were evidences that spring was near at hand. Many trees and +shrubs were showing the delicate gray green of coming buds; and now +and then the fragrance of the wild arbutus was in the air. Birds were +busy; wood-thrushes and pewees were calling; now and then a +golden-throated warbler sounded his clear note. The air was soft and +warm for the season, and Faith was so happy in the thought of being +really on her way home that she forgot for a time that Mr. Phelps had +said that no American settler’s home in the Wilderness could be safe +until Fort Ticonderoga was held by American soldiers.</p> + +<p>“It’s lovely to be going home, isn’t it, father?” she said; and Mr. +Carew smiled <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>down at his little daughter, and agreed with her that +nothing better could be desired.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i20">“We shall see with glad surprise</span> +<span class="i20;">Lilies spring, and verdure rise;</span> +<span class="i20">And soon, amidst the wilds, we’ll hear</span> +<span class="i20">Murmuring waters falling clear,”—</span></div> + +<p>sang Mr. Carew softly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that is mother’s song,” exclaimed Faith. “It just means home, +doesn’t it?” And again her father was quite ready to agree.</p> + +<p>They walked slowly up the rocky trail and when they reached the top of +the first ridge they stopped to rest and eat the excellent lunch that +Aunt Prissy had prepared for them. But Faith declared that she was not +tired. It seemed to her that she could run all the way if her father +would only permit. And when in the early afternoon she first heard the +sound of the mill-stream she did run, until, out of breath, she had to +rest on a moss-grown stump for her father to catch up with her.</p> + +<p>And then, in a short time, they were standing on the edge of the +clearing. The brook was dancing and singing as if eager to welcome +Faith; the sun shone warmly down on mill <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>and cabin and running down +the path came Mrs. Carew; while standing near the cabin was Kashaqua, +in her gayest feathers, grunting and smiling.</p> + +<p>“Mother dear! Mother dear!” called Faith, as she ran forward and was +held close in her mother’s arms.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>FAITH WRITES A LETTER</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Kashaqua</span> was evidently delighted to see Faith safely at home once +more. She had brought a present for her little friend; and after Faith +had talked to her mother, and yet, as she declared, had “not begun to +tell her” all she had to tell, Kashaqua unrolled a soft bundle and +spread out the skin of a black bear cub. It was hardly larger than the +skin of a good-sized puppy; but the fur was so soft and glossy that +Faith and her mother exclaimed admiringly over its beauty, and Faith +said that she would take the greatest care of it. She questioned +Kashaqua about “Nooski,” the tame bear which had followed them on +their journey to Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>“Gone!” replied Kashaqua, and had no more to tell of the wild creature +that she had tamed, and, suddenly, Kashaqua disappeared in her usual +silent fashion without a sign or word of farewell.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>Faith was tired, and quite satisfied to rest on the big settle and +talk to her mother, while “Bounce,” steady and well-behaved, curled up +on the hearth rug. Faith told her mother about Louise; about Caroline +and Catherine and their mischief, and of the quilting party. She told +her about Nathan Beaman, and of the skating on the lake, and how the +English soldiers had extinguished the fire and spoiled their fun. But +she did not tell her of the evening when she had guided Mr. Phelps up +the moonlit lake to the foot of the cliff, and told him how to make +his way into the fort. Some time, she resolved, her mother should know +all about it; but she still felt that she must keep it a secret.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew asked many questions about the fort.</p> + +<p>“There is more travel over the trails than ever before,” she told the +little girl, “and we hardly know who are our friends. The English are +sending their spies everywhere. Be very cautious, Faithie, and say +nothing to any stranger that you have ever been near Fort Ticonderoga. +This part of the country will not be safe until American soldiers take +the place of the English in the fort.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>“Oh, mother dear, I hope they will soon. I wish that I could help take +the fort.”</p> + +<p>“Who knows but you may help in some way, when the right time comes,” +her mother responded, smiling at her little daughter’s eagerness. +“Now, I am going out to get something for you. Something that you will +like very much,” she added, and left Faith alone.</p> + +<p>Faith closed her eyes, wondering happily what it was that her mother +would bring. She thought of the caraway cookies, of the little round +pies made of the dried pumpkin, and then a noise at the door made her +open her eyes. For an instant she believed that she must be asleep and +dreaming, for Esther Eldridge was standing in the door—Esther grown +taller and stronger, with red cheeks and shining eyes.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it’s really Esther,” Mrs. Carew called over the little girl’s +shoulder, and Esther ran toward the settle as Faith started forward to +meet her.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t this a fine surprise?” Esther exclaimed. “I was so afraid you +would hear about our living here before you got home.”</p> + +<p>“Living here?” questioned Faith, looking so puzzled that both Mrs. +Carew and Esther laughed aloud.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>“Yes! yes, indeed! My father and mother and I,” answered Esther +delightedly.</p> + +<p>“But where? I have been up-stairs, and all over the house and I didn’t +see anybody, or anything,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we live in our own house—a house just like this; or it will be +just like this when it is all finished,” and Esther told of her +father’s decision to bring his family to the Wilderness to live. He +had purchased a grant of land adjoining that held by Mr. Carew soon +after Esther’s visit in September. The timber for the cabin had been +cut early in the winter, and the cabin begun, and now it was nearly +finished. “We moved last week,” said Esther, “and you can see our +house from your back door.”</p> + +<p>Faith forgot all about being tired and ran to the back door to look. +Yes, there it was; the big new cabin, near the path down which Ethan +Allen had led her home, when, angry at Esther, she had run off to the +woods.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it splendid! Oh, Esther, it is the very best thing that ever +happened,” Faith declared; “isn’t it, mother dear?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew was quite ready to agree with her little daughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> “Good +neighbors was the only thing we really lacked,” she agreed, “and +perhaps others will come when there is better protection for their +safety.”</p> + +<p>The two little friends had much to tell each other, and when Esther +started for home Faith walked with her as far as the mill. From the +mill the new cabin could be clearly seen.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember asking me if I listened to the brook?” Esther asked +laughingly, as they stood looking at the dancing waters of the stream. +“Well, I know now just what you meant. It’s company, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>Then Faith told her of the “Chiming Waters” of Ticonderoga, and of +some of the old tales of the lake that her aunt and Nathan had +related.</p> + +<p>“Did you see the English soldiers?” questioned Esther.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes.” And Faith described the skating party on the lake that the +redcoats had interfered with. “I wish I could see Ethan Allen, as I +did that day in September, and tell him all about the fort and the +soldiers, and ask him to drive the English away. My father says that +Colonel Allen could drive them away,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“Of course he could! My father says so, too,” agreed Esther.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> “Would it +not be a fine thing for us to send him a letter, Faith, and ask him?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Esther! That’s just what I thought of. But we ought to do it +right away, for more soldiers are coming to the fort, Nathan Beaman +says, and then it won’t be so easy,” responded Faith.</p> + +<p>The two little girls talked earnestly. They both knew of the cave on +the rocky slope near Lake Dunmore, and that messages were sometimes +left there for the settlers. But Lake Dunmore was a long distance +away.</p> + +<p>“It would take all day to go and get back,” said Esther, “and our +mothers would never let us go; you know they wouldn’t.”</p> + +<p>“One of us ought to go to-morrow,” answered Faith, “but how can we +plan it?”</p> + +<p>“I know! I know!” declared Esther. “I’ll ask your mother if you may +come for a visit, and then you’ll go home at night. Some time you can +tell her all about it,” concluded Esther as she noticed Faith’s +serious and doubtful expression.</p> + +<p>“And what will you do? Don’t you mean to go with me?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>“Oh, yes! I’ll tell my mother I am going to spend the day with you. +Then we’ll start off in good season, and we’ll get home before our +mothers miss us,” said Esther.</p> + +<p>“Faith! Faith!” and Mrs. Carew’s voice sounded through the clear air.</p> + +<p>“I must run back now. I’ll write the letter to-night and be over near +your house as early as I can in the morning,” said Faith.</p> + +<p>“Hide behind the big pine,” said Esther, and the two friends, greatly +excited over their project, separated and ran toward their respective +homes.</p> + +<p>It was not easy for Faith to write the letter, for she would have to +ask her mother for the quill pen, and the bottle of ink, made from the +juice of the pokeberry. But in the early evening, while her mother was +busy, Faith secured the quill and ink and a sheet of the treasured +paper and wrote her letter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Dear Mr. Colonel Ethan Allen,” she wrote. “Will you please send +the English soldiers away from Fort Ticonderoga? Nathan Beaman, +who lives at Shoreham, will show you how to get in. Please send +them soon, or more will come.</p> + +<p class="right"> +“Respectfully your friend,</p> + +<p class="right2">“<span class="smcap">Faith Carew</span>.”</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>She had time to fold and seal the letter with the big stick of red +wax, softening the wax before the sitting-room fire. A moment later +and her mother came in, saying she had best go to bed and get a good +night’s rest.</p> + +<p>“May I spend to-morrow, all day, with Esther?” asked Faith, as her +mother went up-stairs with her, and feeling her face flush with the +consciousness of not telling her mother all the truth.</p> + +<p>“Your very first day at home, dear child! Why, I should be running +over to Mrs. Eldridge’s every hour to make sure that you were really +within reach,” responded her mother.</p> + +<p>“Oh, mother, you wouldn’t!” said Faith, so earnestly that Mrs. Carew +smiled reassuringly and said:</p> + +<p>“Well, perhaps not every hour. But if you want to spend the day with +Esther you may. ’Tis not as if you were going back to Aunt Prissy in a +week.”</p> + +<p>“And you won’t come to Mrs. Eldridge’s at all, will you, mother dear?” +pleaded Faith. “I’ll be safe, and I’ll come home early.”</p> + +<p>“You shall do as you like, dear child. I know you will do nothing but +what will please <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>me,” and Mrs. Carew leaned over to kiss Faith +good-night.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear,” Faith whispered to herself guiltily, as her mother went +down the stairs. “Here is another secret, the biggest of all. But I +can’t tell mother.”</p> + +<p>The song of the brook seemed louder than ever before to the little +girl that night, as she lay watching the April stars shine through her +window. She remembered that her mother had said that perhaps a little +girl could help. “Mother dear is sure to be glad when she knows that +Colonel Allen had to be told about Nathan,” thought Faith; and then +the brook’s song grew softer and softer and she was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Faith was down-stairs the next morning almost as soon as her father +and mother. She had on her brown dress and her moccasins, and the +letter was safely hidden in her pocket. She could hardly keep still +long enough to eat her breakfast.</p> + +<p>“Esther wanted me to come early, mother dear, and I promised,” she +urged; so her mother bade her be off, and stood in the door and +watched the little girl run down the slope, feeling <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>a little +disappointed that Faith should be so eager to be with Esther instead +of remaining at home.</p> + +<p>But early as it was Faith found Esther waiting for her.</p> + +<p>“Did you bring anything to eat?” asked Esther.</p> + +<p>“I never thought of it!” replied Faith, “and I don’t believe I could, +anyway.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I thought of it. I have a fine square of corn cake, a piece of +cold venison, and a square of molasses cake,” said Esther, holding up +a small basket. “Now, creep along on the edge of the trail until we +are well up the ridge. Then we can walk as we please.”</p> + +<p>Faith obeyed. She thought to herself how fortunate it was that Esther +had come to live in the Wilderness, and that she was ready to help +carry the message.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it lovely in the woods!” said Esther, as they reached the +summit of the ridge, and turned to look back down the winding trail. +“Father said this morning that the spring was early, and ’tis surely +warm as summer.”</p> + +<p>As they rested for a little while on a bank of firm green moss Faith +told Esther of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> “Nooski’s” sudden appearance when she and Kashaqua +were on their journey to the lake.</p> + +<p>“Goodness!” exclaimed Esther, peering anxiously into the underbrush. +“I hope we shan’t see any bears to-day, not even a tame one.”</p> + +<p>The sun was high in the April skies when the two little girls came in +sight of Lake Dunmore. The trail led near the lake; and Esther was +very sure that she knew just where to look for the cave.</p> + +<p>“It’s near a big pine tree, and you can only see rocks. Father showed +me when we came from Brandon,” she said.</p> + +<p>The little girls were very tired and hungry, and Faith suggested that +they should eat their luncheon and rest before searching for the cave.</p> + +<p>“I wish I had brought more corn bread,” said Esther, when they had +finished the last morsel of the food.</p> + +<p>“It’s lucky you brought as much as you did,” responded Faith. “We’d +better begin looking for the cave now.”</p> + +<p>It was hard work climbing up the rocky hillside, and it did not seem +such an easy matter to locate the cave as Esther had expected. They <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>peered under rocks, and climbed over ledges, and were nearly +discouraged when a sudden noise made Faith grasp Esther’s arm with a +whispered “Hush”; for almost in front of them, apparently coming +directly out of the hillside, appeared the head and shoulders of a +man. But they were too near to conceal themselves or to try and run +away.</p> + +<p>“Great Cæsar’s Ghost!” exclaimed the man, crawling out from the cave. +“Two little maids! Where did you come from?”</p> + +<p>Faith’s hold on Esther’s arm tightened. “Don’t tell. Don’t answer his +questions,” she whispered, remembering her mother’s caution about +strangers, and thinking perhaps this might be an English spy who had +discovered the cave.</p> + +<p>“Where are the others?” asked the man.</p> + +<p>Esther looked questioningly at Faith, but neither of them spoke.</p> + +<p>The man’s stern face softened as he looked at the two little figures. +He realized they must be the children of some settler in the +Wilderness—perhaps children who had wandered too far from home and +lost their way.</p> + +<p>“You need not be afraid to speak,” he said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>smilingly. “Perhaps I know +your fathers. Tell me your names.”</p> + +<p>Faith was quite sure that this was a question which could be safely +answered, so both the little girls spoke their names, and instantly +the man responded by saying:</p> + +<p>“Then you,” and he nodded to Faith, “are Miller Carew’s daughter. I +know your father well. Tell him Seth Warner has been in Salisbury and +is now starting back to Bennington. But how come you this distance +from home?”</p> + +<p>Both Faith and Esther knew that Seth Warner was a friend of the +settlers, and before he had finished speaking Faith was quite ready to +tell him their errand and to give the note for Colonel Allen into his +hands.</p> + +<p>He listened in evident amazement to the story of their morning’s +journey, for he well knew the dangers of the wilderness trail.</p> + +<p>“I will go with you to within sight of your homes,” insisted their new +friend, “and I shall not forget to tell Colonel Allen of your +courage.”</p> + +<p>“Will he come soon and take the fort?” asked Faith.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>“More quickly for your help than without it, little maid. But go not +so far from home again,” Mr. Warner answered, with a kindly smile.</p> + +<p>It was sunset, and Mr. Carew was starting to bring Faith home from her +visit to Esther, when he saw his little daughter coming down the path. +She walked so slowly that her father hastened to meet her.</p> + +<p>“I’m so tired, father,” she said. “Couldn’t you carry me home?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I can,” and he lifted her in his arms and, anxious and +worried by her pale face and evident fatigue, hurried toward the +house.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE CAPTURE OF THE FORT</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was noon the next day when Faith awoke; and although she was quite +ready to dress and go down-stairs, her mother thought it best for her +to stay in bed.</p> + +<p>Faith wondered to herself if Esther’s feet ached as hers did; and, +more than this, she was anxious to know if their parents had any idea +of where she and Esther had spent the previous day.</p> + +<p>“There will be so much for me to tell mother,” she thought, a little +uneasily, hoping that soon she would again have no secrets to conceal.</p> + +<p>When Faith came down-stairs she found Esther waiting to see her; and, +in response to Faith’s questioning look, she nodded and smiled +reassuringly. Esther had brought over her English grammar, for it had +been decided that the two little girls were to study together two +hours each day; one day at Faith’s house, and the next at Esther’s.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>“It’s all right; our mothers don’t know. But what made you so tired?” +said Esther, as soon as the girls were alone.</p> + +<p>Faith shook her head. “I don’t know. I do hope we can tell all about +it soon. I’ve a great mind to tell mother now.”</p> + +<p>“You mustn’t. Don’t you remember? Mr. Warner said that soon he would +tell our fathers, and they would be proud of us. But if we tell them +now they won’t be proud; they will be vexed, and maybe punish us. Wait +until Colonel Allen tells them that you helped him. Then ’twill be all +right,” advised Esther, and Faith agreed, a little doubtfully.</p> + +<p>It was difficult for the two little girls to fix their minds on their +lessons that day, and for many days to come. They both watched the +trail, each day expecting to see some messenger who would bring news +that Colonel Allen was in possession of Fort Ticonderoga; but April +passed, and Esther declared that she did not believe the Americans +wanted the fort.</p> + +<p>“I am going to tell my mother everything. All about our going to Lake +Dunmore, and my letter, and something else,” declared Faith.</p> + +<p>It was one day early in May, and she and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>Esther were coming up from +Beaver meadow, where they had been watching the little creatures, who +were very active and did not seem to fear the two little figures at +the edge of the woods. The beavers were building a dam; they had +dragged trees to the side of the stream, and it seemed a very +wonderful thing to Esther when she saw the beavers sink one end of +these stakes, while others raised and fastened the other end, twisting +in the small branches of the trees, and plastering mud over all with +their feet and tails. She was thinking to herself that there were more +strange things to see in the Wilderness in one day than in a whole +year in a village, when she felt Faith seize her arm and say +laughingly:</p> + +<p>“You haven’t heard a word. Now, listen! I am going to tell my mother.”</p> + +<p>The little girls were now in sight of the clearing, and, before Esther +could answer, Faith stopped suddenly and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Look, Esther! There’s a man just leaving the mill, and running up the +trail as fast as he can go. A stranger.”</p> + +<p>Quite forgetting beavers and secrets the two little girls ran toward +the house. “There’s my father,” said Esther as they reached the door.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge were both in the kitchen of the Carew house, and +none of the elder people appeared to notice the two girls.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carew was loading his musket, and Faith’s mother was packing a +knapsack with provisions.</p> + +<p>“Here are the children,” said Mrs. Eldridge, as she turned toward the +door; and then Esther saw that her father was waiting for Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>“Faithie dear, your father is going to Castleton,” said Mrs. Carew, +fastening the knapsack, and in a moment Faith was held close in her +father’s arms, and then the two men were off, striding down the trail.</p> + +<p>“Are they going to take Ticonderoga?” Faith questioned eagerly.</p> + +<p>The two women looked at her in surprise, but Mrs. Carew answered +quickly:</p> + +<p>“Of course they are. Americans are guarding the trail, so we are safe +enough at present. But neither of you girls must go beyond the +clearing.”</p> + +<p>“When shall we know about the fort, mother? When will we know?” asked +Faith.</p> + +<p>“Soon, I hope, child. But talk not of it now,” responded her mother.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>But after a little Mrs. Eldridge told them that a messenger had come +from Bennington, summoning the settlers to Castleton to meet Colonel +Allen. Faith and Esther listened to the story of the far-off battle of +Lexington, in Massachusetts, the news of which had determined the +Green Mountain Boys to make an immediate attack on the fort. These men +were the settlers of the New Hampshire Grants, living long distances +apart, and obliged to travel over rough trails, through deep forests, +across rivers and mountains.</p> + +<p>There were no smooth roads or fleet horses to help them on their way; +there was little time for preparation when Allen’s summons came; they +had no uniforms, no strains of music; but no truer soldiers ever faced +danger than the Green Mountain Boys.</p> + +<p>That night Faith told her mother the story of her adventure in the +fort, when Nathan had rescued her and taken her down the cliff. She +told of the evening in March when she had guided Mr. Phelps along the +moonlit shore of the lake and told him of the entrance to the fort; +and last of all she described her journey with Esther over the trail +to Lake Dunmore, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>and the letter to Ethan Allen which she had given to +Seth Warner.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Carew listened in amazement; but she had no word of blame for +Faith. She realized the dangers the child had so unknowingly faced +with a sense that her little girl had been guarded by a protection +greater than any by which she could have surrounded her; and she +wondered, too, if it were not possible that Faith might not really +have helped in the great undertaking for which her father was ready to +give all that he had to give.</p> + +<p>“Mother dear, I despise secrets,” Faith whispered, as she finished the +story, “and I mean never to have another one.”</p> + +<p>Three days later Mr. Carew came swinging across the clearing. He waved +his cap in the air as Faith came running to meet him.</p> + +<p>“Ticonderoga is ours,” he called, “and the English prisoners are on +their way to Hartford. And so it was you, little maid, who helped +Phelps to a plan of the fort, and told Ethan Allen of young Beaman!”</p> + +<p>“Did it help, father? Did it help?” Faith asked eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>“Help? Indeed it did. Young Beaman led the way to the fort, and we +were in without firing a shot. And Colonel Allen and his men hold the +fort,” replied Mr. Carew.</p> + +<p>He could stay for but a few hours, as he was carrying the news to the +settlements. It was several days before he was at home again, and told +them more fully of Allen’s triumph, and of the capture of Crown Point +by Seth Warner and his followers.</p> + +<p>Toward the last of May Aunt Prissy, accompanied by Nathan Beaman, +arrived at the log cabin, and Faith heard the story of Louise’s +arrival at Ticonderoga.</p> + +<p>“Her father has been taken a prisoner to Hartford, and Louise will +stay with me,” Aunt Prissy said. “I will adopt her for my own daughter +if her father consents.”</p> + +<p>“I do hope he will,” said Faith, glad indeed to know that her friend +was safe.</p> + +<p>“And so my little Faith did help take the fort after all, thanks to +Nathan,” said Aunt Prissy, smiling down at her little niece.</p> + +<p>“’Twas Faith who really helped, for she told Colonel Allen about me,” +Nathan added handsomely.</p> + +<p>All this made Faith a very happy little <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>girl; but when, a few weeks +later, a messenger brought her a letter from Ethan Allen himself, she +felt that no other little girl in all the American Colonies could be +as proud as Faith Carew. She confessed to her mother that, after all, +some secrets were worth keeping. Colonel Allen invited her to make a +visit to the fort, and it was arranged that her father should take her +to Ticonderoga and that she should stay for a few days with Aunt +Prissy.</p> + +<p>So once again she went over the trail and crossed the lake, and on a +pleasant June morning with her father and Aunt Prissy, she stood again +at the entrance to Fort Ticonderoga. This time she was not left alone, +as on her first visit, a frightened deserted child. For it was Colonel +Allen himself, tall and handsome, who met the little party at the +entrance and escorted them about the fortifications.</p> + +<p>“‘Faith,’” he said kindly, as he bade them good-bye, “’tis indeed the +best of names for a little American girl; a name that I shall ever +remember.”</p> + +<p>Faith was very quiet as they walked toward home. She was thinking to +herself of all the happy experiences of the past weeks; and not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>until +she saw Louise waiting for her at Aunt Prissy’s gate did her face lose +its serious expression. She ran ahead of the others and called out: +“Louise! Louise! You will be Aunt Prissy’s little girl, won’t you? +Because then you’ll really be an American.”</p> + +<p>Louise nodded happily.</p> + +<p>“Yes; and father is going to be an American, too. Didn’t Aunt Prissy +tell you?” she responded; “and it’s all because you were my friend, +Faith,” she added more soberly, as the two girls entered the house, +and stood hand in hand at the door where, but a few months ago, Louise +had entered a ragged, unhappy child.</p> + +<p>“We’ll always be friends, shan’t we!” said Faith, and Louise earnestly +responded:</p> + +<p>“Always.”</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><a name="The_stories_in_this_series_are" id="The_stories_in_this_series_are"></a>The stories in this series are:</h2> + +<div class="centerbox bbox"> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF BUNKER HILL</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF OLD CONNECTICUT</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF OLD NEW YORK</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF OLD PHILADELPHIA</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF VIRGINIA</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF MARYLAND</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF MOHAWK VALLEY</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF MONMOUTH</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF NANTUCKET</p> +<p>A LITTLE MAID OF VERMONT</p> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Transcriber’s Note:</span></h3> + +<p>Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's words and intent.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Little Maid of Ticonderoga, by +Alice Turner Curtis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA *** + +***** This file should be named 26723-h.htm or 26723-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/7/2/26723/ + +Produced by D Alexander, Juliet Sutherland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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