"Major," General Washington said, "this boy will be passed into my tent to-night at whatever hour he may appear."
The officer saluted and withdrew.
"Now go, my boy, and do not spare your horse."
In half an hour from the time he left headquarters, Enoch was halted by the sentinel in front of General Lee's tent.
"A messenger from the commander-in-chief," he announced, "with orders to speak with General Lee at once."
Five minutes later he was repeating General Washington's words to the officer who was suspected by many of not only being lukewarm toward the cause, but absolutely an enemy to it, and he fancied the command he brought was received with anything rather than satisfaction.
Twice during that brief time did Lee interrupt him to inquire if he was repeating the commander-in-chief's exact words, and when he said that his orders were to deliver the same message to Generals Maxwell and Dickinson, the general asked sharply:
"Does his excellency think I have no aids in camp?"
"I don't know as to that, sir. I am only explaining to you my orders, as I was told to do."
"You may say to General Washington that his commands will be obeyed at once," Lee replied after a short pause, and intimated that the interview was at an end by turning his back upon Enoch.