Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/346

330 were in the region below the fort, where the aid of the redcoats themselves was more easily secured. Robert soon discovered that his progress was not impeded, and on the third day he found himself in the midst of the army that was striving to block the advance of John Burgoyne.

Here he was to remain for several days, he soon learned, for important events were in the air, and though daily messengers were sent to the south, the commander requested the young express to remain until the word which he hoped to give might be secured, and then he might go back with a message that would cause the army in the vicinity of Philadelphia to share in the increasing confidence that was daily becoming more manifest among their fellows in the north.

And this air of growing confidence was certainly in evidence, as Robert Dorlon speedily perceived. Already the detachment of Hessians which Burgoyne had sent to Bennington to secure or destroy the stores there had met with an overwhelming defeat, and not the least of the causes of rejoicing was the discovery, which the British general had made, that apparently there were no Tories in the region to rally at his call and provide him with his