mind as to the kind of a report he should make.

Next

He had undertaken readily enough the enterprise upon which he had ridden the day before. The conspiring Tories were enemies to the cause of liberty, and he felt no qualms in matching them in their own style of work. But he had not reckoned on what had taken place. He had not expected to find his cousin concerned in it. True, a soldier of the colonies, who was so base as to betray the cause in order that he might profit thereby, was infinitely worse than any Tory.

“He should receive no mercy,” George told himself with indignation. “And any one[130] having the cause at heart should be only too glad to hunt him out and see him punished.”

[130]

But for all his realization of this, he felt no desire to pursue and expose Herbert Camp.

However, he knew which way his duty lay; and so he determinedly tramped into headquarters and asked to see General Putnam.

“Why,” cried the hearty old officer, “what now! I had no idea that I’d see you for days.” Then noting an expression in the young man’s face that was not easily read, he added: “Something has happened.”

“Quite a deal has happened,” returned George, “and I thought it best that I make a report to you at once.”

“Out with it,” invited Putnam. “I can see that it is a matter of interest; so lose no time.”

Thereupon George related his adventures of the night before; not a detail escaped the telling, and the general listened with the greatest interest.

“Why,” cried Putnam, when George had finally finished, “here’s a surprising circumstance, indeed. And it would seem that the[131] situation is made to fit you as the coat upon your back. There is nothing for you to do but to take up the scent that is plain before you; and within a week, I warrant you, the solution of it all will be in your hands.”

[131]

But George shook his head.

“I’m afraid,” said he, slowly, “that I have no keenness for the work. I felt bound in duty to report what I had seen and heard; but now I ask to be relieved of the matter.”

The general stared at him for a moment in wide amazement. 

 Prev. P 60/155 next