“If it had not been for him, Your Excellency,” said young Cooper, “all that I attempted would have gone for nothing. He’s one of the bravest fellows I ever saw, and,” eagerly, “he would like to join with us against the British.”
Paddy’s hand went to his forelock by way of salute.
“It’s not like as if I were playing the traitor to them, your honor,” he said. “For sorra the one of them had any right to me; they got me by deception, and if I made away from them by the same means, small blame to me.”
The commander smiled.
“Do you desire to join with us?” he asked.
“I do, if you please, your honor—that is, if I can join the troop that Misther Cooper is with, sir.”
“I dare say it can be arranged,” smiled the general. “You seem to be of the character needed for a scout and courier.” He turned to an officer near by. “Attend to this, Harrison, if you please.”
The general’s secretary accordingly led the Irish lad out of the inn; and before long he was duly added to the scouts in the service of headquarters. Nat Brewster, Ezra and George Prentiss and the Porcupine took to their new comrade at once; and his shrewd sayings, comical manners and quaint songs added to the good feeling the more they saw of him.
After this there were no large movements for a long time; Washington established posts completely across the Jerseys, connecting with the forts on the Hudson highlands. The temporary halting place proved to be just the spot for a winter quarters, and being almost equally near to Amboy, Brunswick and Newark, was a most excellent place from which to carry on a system of forays, raids and other harassing movements; the hills and dense forests afforded an almost complete protection from counter attacks of a serious nature.
Slowly the winter wore on; brilliant exploits marked it from time to time; the American troops became a terror to the British, who were not only driven out of the Jerseys, but were compelled to keep to one or two very narrowly defined districts.