Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/145

Rh Fort Montgomery, and then be once more brought over the river. This plan had repeatedly been followed because of its supposed greater safety, for the prowling bands of redcoats and cowboys were more plentiful in the region between the forts and the city. A brief reflection, however, caused Robert to decide to abandon that project and to keep on in the way he was then going, not even stopping to see Dirck. On his return a brief stop might be made, and then he could both report his own success and learn from Dirck how it had fared with him.

Accordingly Robert kept steadily on his way, though he glanced keenly about him as he passed Dirck's humble home; but he was not able to discover any one about the place. As he proceeded, his fears of interception became less, for the prowling bands of cowboys or straggling outposts of the Tories or redcoats were not to be found so near the forts of the Americans.

It was near nightfall when at last Robert arrived at the place where he was to leave his horse and proceed on foot. He then hastily followed the path that led up to Fort Montgomery, and as soon as he had been admitted, sought out the quarters of General Clinton.