Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/357

Rh ment among the men, the knowledge that sharp and doubtless decisive engagements were soon to occur, and his own eagerness to learn how it fared with the patriots who were doing their utmost to hold General Howe in or near Philadelphia, combined to make Robert Dorlon earnest and alert when at last he rode from the camp.

When, two days later, he arrived at Fort Montgomery, he discovered that the same feeling of excitement that he had been aware of in the army was now prevalent in the fort, but as he watched the defenders, his hopes somehow were not strong that they would be able to make a very decided defense of the place if Clinton's men should attack it, as it was daily rumored they were about to do. Already the British had moved up the Hudson, but their actions appeared to be somewhat uncertain, and it was not difficult to conjecture the cause.

On the day following that in which he had entered Fort Montgomery, Robert departed, intrusted with an additional letter for General Washington, and warned repeatedly that in view of the increased and increasing activities in the region below there was need of additional precautions on his own part as well as