Part 22 (1/2)
He listened in evident amazement to the story of their morning's journey, for he well knew the dangers of the wilderness trail.
”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.”
”Will he come soon and take the fort?” asked Faith.
”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.
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.
”I'm so tired, father,” she said. ”Couldn't you carry me home?”
”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.
CHAPTER XX
THE CAPTURE OF THE FORT
It 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.
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.
”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.
When Faith came down-stairs she found Esther waiting to see her; and, in response to Faith's questioning look, she nodded and smiled rea.s.suringly. 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.
”It's all right; our mothers don't know. But what made you so tired?”
said Esther, as soon as the girls were alone.
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.”
”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.
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 pa.s.sed, and Esther declared that she did not believe the Americans wanted the fort.
”I am going to tell my mother everything. All about our going to Lake Dunmore, and my letter, and something else,” declared Faith.
It was one day early in May, and she and 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:
”You haven't heard a word. Now, listen! I am going to tell my mother.”
The little girls were now in sight of the clearing, and, before Esther could answer, Faith stopped suddenly and exclaimed:
”Look, Esther! There's a man just leaving the mill, and running up the trail as fast as he can go. A stranger.”
Quite forgetting beavers and secrets the two little girls ran toward the house. ”There's my father,” said Esther as they reached the door.