Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/156

140 "Yes, I know," replied General Clinton quietly. "I know how you feel, and how most of the people feel, but I don't quite share in the feeling myself."

"You don't? I don't see how you can help it!"

"You must not forget that the German soldiers are not here because they want to be. They belong, body and soul one might almost say, to the man or prince to whom they have sold themselves. And this time the gambling debts of a petty prince must be paid. Besides, King George and Lord North have found it extremely difficult to get the Englishmen to come over here to fight us. Many of them believe we are right, and they are almost willing to fight for the very same things in the old country for which we are fighting in the new."

"But the Hessians are paid for coming," protested Robert warmly, to whom any apology for the presence of the "Dutch butchers" in America was not likely to appeal.

"And are not our own men, you yourself, for example, paid for what you do?"

"That's different," replied Robert, somewhat abashed.

"Yes, it is different, I admit that. We