man found himself in the presence of the stout, red-faced Putnam who sat puzzling over some intricate maps at a great table. Beside him sat another[47] officer whom George at once recognized as General Sullivan, and standing near by was General Heath, who had done so much to train the raw levies for the fight at Breed’s Hill. [47] GENERAL PUTNAM GLANCED UP General Putnam glanced up as George entered; his good-humored face took on a smile, and he at once threw aside the map, which, to speak the plain truth, did not greatly interest him. “Ah, Prentiss,” said he. “So it’s you, is it?” George saluted; drawing the packet of sealed dispatches from his saddle-bag, he laid them before the bluff commander. The latter tore it open eagerly; one by one he mastered the contents of the papers, and as he did so, passed them on to Sullivan, who in turn read and handed them to General Heath. “And so General Washington will be with us within a few weeks,” said the latter, upon finishing the last of the dispatches. “Excellent!” “It is all we require to make the place safe,” said Putnam. “The batteries are planted,[48] the redoubts completed and the passes all made good. With the main body of the army here we can welcome the enemy at any time he chooses to show himself.” [48] “The general is bringing the forces on by way of Providence, Norwich and New London,” spoke Sullivan, referring to one of the papers, “and says that he will remain with them until they are safely embarked at the latter place.” Here Heath and Sullivan fell into a debate as to the probabilities of the main body’s securing sufficient suitable craft to carry it expeditiously from the Connecticut port to New York; and while they were so engaged, Putnam arose and crossed the room to where George Prentiss was standing. In his hand he held a slip of paper which he had not passed on to his brother officers; and he folded and refolded it carefully with his strong, thick fingers, as he said: “And so the general has made you a bearer of his dispatches.” A flush of color came into the young man’s face, and he replied earnestly: “I was proud indeed to be called upon for[49] such service. I had had no thought that I
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