“I don’t know why I am bothering about the interests of strangers,” said he, impatiently. He had about dismissed the matter[74] from his mind and was looking curiously at some of the quaint old Dutch houses still standing when there came a beat of hoofs upon the stones of the road; and the horseman drew up beside him.

[74]

“Ah, well caught, Mr. Prentiss,” laughed the horseman, jovially. “I asked for you at the ‘King’s Arms,’ and they told me that you had just gone. So I took the liberty of guessing which direction you had taken.”

It was the ensign with whom George had previously spoken; he rode a strong-looking gray horse which chafed at the bit and pawed nervously at the ground. The ensign had struck young Prentiss from the first as being a likable sort of fellow, and so he greeted him in friendly fashion.

“You had not been gone from headquarters above an hour when General Putnam asked for you,” said the rider. “Major Hyde had left some time before, and none would have known where you were to be found had I not happened to be still lounging about. And so,” with a laugh, “here I am to take you back with me in all haste.”

[75]

CHAPTER V IN WHICH GENERAL PUTNAM HAS HIS SAY

“It is a matter of importance, then?” said George, as he walked along at the horse’s side, his face now pointed in the direction of the fort.

It

“I should hazard that it is of unusual importance,” returned the ensign; “though I have not the faintest knowledge of its nature.”

A few minutes’ brisk traveling and they reached the headquarters; George was at once admitted to the room where he had previously spoken to General Putnam.

The latter was still there, as was General Sullivan, and with them was an artillery captain who was talking volubly and with much excitement. But as George entered he ceased, at a sign from General Putnam.

“Prentiss,” said Putnam, after a moment’s pause, during which he studied the young New Englander carefully, “I have several times had occasion to benefit by your service in[76] somewhat venturesome matters. And now,” here he bent forward a trifle, his hands upon the table in front of him, “that an occasion has arisen, I can offer you another service, which while it may not prove dangerous, seems sufficiently interesting to occupy a youth of 

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