Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/356



days passed slowly, and still no word was given the young express concerning his return to the army near Philadelphia. Aware as he was of the troubles and jealousies in the northern army, and knowing also, as he did, what must be the anxiety in the heart of the great commander, his own uneasiness increased with the passing days, and was not allayed by the suggestions he received from some of the men, who were specially warm in their feelings toward General Philip Schuyler, that General Gates himself was not too strongly inclined to keep in close touch with Washington. Still Robert knew that messengers had been sent from the northern army to the southward, and several times he endeavored to secure at least the permission he desired to return, even if he was not to be the bearer of a message from General Gates.

At last came the day when as the bearer of a letter from the north he was prepared to set forth on his return. The increasing excite-