"Seth and I were over it a good bit last fall," Jacob said.
"Are you boys willing to perform a little extra service?"
Jacob replied very promptly in the affirmative. If he could always be detailed for "extra service" he would be quite content with his lot.
"General Dickinson wants to send some one toward Mount Holly, and he would prefer that whoever goes should volunteer."
"We are ready," Seth said as the officer paused. "What is to be done?"
"The proposition simply is to lounge along the road in an apparently aimless fashion, and, if the enemy are not too near to render it dangerous, enter Mount Holly. The purpose is to learn in which direction Clinton proposes to march from that town, and whether the scout be successful or not, it is necessary you should return to the command within forty-eight hours."
"When are we to start?" Jacob asked.
"At once. You are to go on foot, and wear nothing which might indicate that you belong to the army."
"Then we are to act as spies," Enoch said in a tone of disappointment.
"No, lad, nothing of the kind, for it is not your purpose to enter the enemy's lines. You will simply be an independent scouting party. If you are willing to perform this work I will wait until your preparations have been made in order to pass you out."