A week passed. During that time General Burgoyne garrisoned the abandoned fort at Ticonderoga, and moved his main force down the Hubbardtown road. His progress was necessarily slow, since he was compelled to clear the way, and rebuild bridges before he could make any headway. At length he arrived at a passage between two hills, so narrow and so completely blocked with logs and bowlders, that it was evident his engineering corps had at least a two-days task to remove the obstruction. Here his patience became exhausted, and he sent for Ira.
"Master Le Geyt," he said when the young scout was in his presence, "I am tired of this snail's pace at which I am obliged to crawl. Is there not some other route I could follow, and so get rid of these obstacles the rebels have thrown in my way?"
The guide shook his head. "Not without a long detour which would consume more time than clearing the way," he declared. "There is a big swamp on ahead, and the only hope of getting through it is to keep along this road."
"Is there not at least some way we can get around these hills?" continued the exasperated commander. "Even if we are twenty-four hours doing it we shall save time. Captain Howell of my engineering corps declares it will take two days, if not longer, to remove these latest obstructions we have encountered."
It suddenly occurred to Ira that here might be his opportunity to get a few hours to himself, as he had been hoping to do, therefore he replied quickly:
"I might take a tramp around the hills and see. It's worth looking into, sir."
"I wish you would, and take Captain Howell with you. He can readily reckon the length of time required to clear the way."
This was something on which the lad had not counted; but if disturbed by it, he gave no sign.
"Very well, sir," he replied. "I will see the captain at once, and get away as soon as I can."
"It is odd," he said to himself while searching for the officer, "that I should for the second time be forced to fool that man. But I must do it, if I'm to accomplish the job on hand, and it's time it was attended to."
He had formed no definite plan of action when he found the captain, and they began their tramp together through the forest. It was just after noon, and they went to the eastward, as the hill on that side of the road seemed more likely, from its shape, to have a pass through it.