During the retreat to Valley Forge Jacob and Enoch did not see Seth, who, as a matter of course, remained with his regiment.
The two boys who had brought the earliest information regarding General Howe's movements rode the horses taken from the Tory, and, therefore, were not inconvenienced by the forced march; but they had good opportunity of learning something concerning a private soldier's duties and labors which they had never realized before.
"Now you can see that I wasn't such a very big fool because I wanted to be an officer," Jacob said as they neared the encampment at Valley Forge. "Look at the privates staggering under a load big enough for a horse, while those who have commissions ride or walk at their leisure, with nothing to carry but a sword."
"I didn't laugh at you for wanting to be an officer, but because you seemed to think it would be easy to perform the duties of one."
"I'm not certain that I shall enlist unless General Lafayette gives us a better show than the rest have got."
Enoch looked at him in astonishment.
"Do you mean that you hesitate to become a soldier now we are where it is possible to enlist?"
"That's it exactly. If nothing turns up in our favor, I shall think twice before signing the rolls," Jacob replied with an air of complacency, much as if he believed his enlisting would be of the most vital importance to the cause.
"What will your father say when he learns that you do not care to be a soldier? He must be here at Valley Forge, and most likely we shall soon see him."
"When father knows that we are given the cold shoulder after doing the work we did last night he will think as I do."