Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/242

226 success of Washington, were heeding the somewhat lurid "proclamations" which Howe caused to be scattered among the country districts. The groans of the American prisoners who were suffering in the improvised prisons in New York or on board the foul prison ships found a response in the hearts of the timid, who were eager to abandon the apparently hopeless task. Money was wanting, provisions were scarce, jealousy was rife among the leaders, and even the most devoted friends of the cause were clamoring for some decisive blow to be struck.

In the midst of all these perplexing and distressing problems, Washington found one that was even more trying than any of them, and that was to find out just what Howe intended to do, that is, if the British general did really know himself. In all probability Howe did not know just what he would do, until the summer was well-nigh gone. He was striving to mislead his foxy adversary, and not leave New York too poorly defended if the rebel leader should decide to attack there instead of going up the Hudson to the aid of the Northern army, and at the same time he was holding himself in readiness to go, or send aid, to John Burgoyne, in case his