Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/227

Rh "When?" demanded Joseph, bringing his horse sharply to a standstill.

"Yesterday." And Robert related the story of his own discovery of the man and of the letter which he had found upon him and also how it had been forwarded by Jacob Gunning, who had sent his own daughter with it as the messenger. His own experiences in the tavern were recounted too, and so deeply interested was his companion that not once did he interrupt him till all had been related, even to the way in which he had escaped with the two additional horses which now were with them.

"I wonder if you could n't take my letter to General Washington?' said Joseph abruptly, when all had been told.

"Yes, but what would you do?"

"Go back. There's going to be something going on there, and I'd like to be on hand when it begins. It isn't necessary for both of us to go on. I don't believe that General Clinton would care."

"What was it he told you?"

"He told me to put the letter into the general's hands and not to let any one else even touch it."

"And yet you 're going to give it to me."

"No, I'm not," retorted Joseph, with a laugh