"Haven't I met you before?"
"Yes, sir; I am the boy who went into town with Greene before the British left."
"And because of a stroke of rare good fortune at a time when beset by enemies were enabled to bring important information?"
"Yes, sir."
"As a member of General Washington's staff," and there was a curious smile on Dickinson's face as he spoke, "it is proper I invite you to mess with my aids. My orderly will care for your horse."
"If you please, sir, I had rather look out for him myself, and as for rations, I can get them anywhere. I don't fancy the commander-in-chief really meant that I was an aid. It seemed to be only a question of my getting rations at the time."
"And that is all it is just now, lad. Help yourself, if you are hungry. Take care of your own horse if you choose; in fact do whatever pleases you during the night. I shall send you on to the main army in the morning."
Enoch bowed, wheeled his horse around and started off irresolutely, not knowing exactly in which direction to proceed, until the general's orderly overtook him and said in a kindly tone:
"If you will follow me, my boy, I will show you where to get provender for your horse and rations for yourself."
"I have two friends somewhere among this force, and would like to find them."