Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/161

Rh look after them now and be back in the fort before night. I am hoping you will not have to stop on your way back and be the knightly defender of any unprotected ladies."

Robert's face flushed as he replied, "I did n't stop because I wanted to, General. I don't know how I would ever have got away if it had n't been for Han—for Mrs. Nott and her daughter. Instead of my being the one to defend them, it seems to me they were the ones to help me."

"Doubtless," said General Clinton dryly. "Don't stop there to-day, though, if you can possibly avoid it."

"To-day? I'm not likely to stop there for a good many days yet. It will take me a week to go on and come back again."

"You are not going on. You are to return this morning."

"I am? Why, General Washington told me"—

"Yes, yes. I know. The letter you brought must be taken back to him, and at once. It is more important than you think. I have sent a copy of it on to General Schuyler, and our expresses here can do the work north of us for a time. I have explained many things to you, so that if you lose your letters you