Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/160

144 "No, sir. That is,—I—" Robert stammered and then stopped in increased confusion, for suddenly he recalled the presence of Russell and the flight of the Tory with Nero. Could it be possible that Dirck had betrayed him? Was the visit of Russell pre-arranged, and had he himself fallen a victim to the combined cunning of the two men? The suggestion was startling, and for a moment Robert was almost staggered.

"You see," said the general quietly, "it is n't safe to be too confident of any one in these trying times."

"But General Washington either trusts a man entirely or he does n't trust him at all, or so I have been told."

"That may be. It is safe to leave the general to follow his own conclusions, but is is n't safe for you."

"Did Mr. Nott go back home?" inquired Robert suddenly.

"Yes. He and two of his boys went last night. Do you know them?"

"No, sir. I brought him word last night of what had happened there."

"Then you were the man, were you? Well, Nott is a good man, one of our best; but he ought not to leave his family there. He 'll