“Dismount and walk aside with me,” she whispered. “I have something to tell you.”
He complied with her request, wonderingly. The Lieutenant Colonel and his companions constituted a squad that had been sent out by Washington to watch the roads and to gather information concerning the enemy. Little did he suspect that such important news was at hand. They walked some yards from the soldiers.
“Now,” he commanded, “tell me what in the world you are doing so far from home.”
“Lieutenant,” she cried in a voice that trembled in spite of herself, “I came to warn General Washington that General Howe intends to attack the Continental army. He hopes to find General Washington unprepared.”
“How do you know this?”
“I overheard it last night. The Adjutant-General and other officers met at my house to make their plans. I felt that General Washington must be warned and I walked here for that purpose.”
The eyes of the young officer almost stared out of their sockets. He gazed down at the frail woman in amazement and admiration.
“Shall I take you to the General?”
“No, it is sufficient for you to know. It shall be your duty to tell him. And you must agree not to reveal your source of information. If it was known that I came here it would go hard with me—it might mean my death.”
“I promise!” he said, solemnly.