General Washington, who was riding away from the encampment, received the document without remark, and after reading it turned to one of his staff as if such a person as Enoch had never existed.
There was no opportunity for the boy to explain why he had been delayed, and he fell back to the rear of the officers, regretting more than ever that he was not a regularly enlisted private, serving in the same company with Seth and Jacob.
"I ain't fit to do such work as this, and never should have tried," he muttered to himself. "Here I am of about as much service as a second tail would be to a dog, and shall only bungle the next thing I am called upon to do, if indeed General Washington is willing to trust me with anything else."
"Hello, lad! You're looking uncommonly glum this morning, even though you are riding when the rest of us are obliged to foot it, and carry our own trunks in the bargain."
A cry of glad surprise burst from Enoch's lips as he saw, on turning, Greene the spy.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, reining in his horse and leaping to the ground.
"Trying to do my duty, though it ain't no ways pleasant while the weather is so scorching hot."
"I didn't know you were in the ranks with the others."
"Why not? I'm only a private, even though I did work 'round Philadelphia during the winter, and haven't succeeded in being given a place on the staff of the commander-in-chief."
"That's exactly what was troubling me when you spoke," Enoch cried. "I am not fit for such a place, and it's lucky I'm not really an aid. I can't even ride from one town to another without making a mistake."