“We have no password,” said he slowly; “and even if we had I doubt if it would be of much service with the Hessians. They seen to disregard everything but their own desires. Like as not we’d each have a musket ball or bayonet planted in our bodies if we encountered them in any other way than one which pleased them.”
George looked up from the pistol.
“Do you know of anything that would be pleasant to them?”
“I think so,” said Nat. “You see, the countryside all about Trenton is being drawn upon for provisions for the troops.”
A set look came into young Prentiss’ mouth; his eyes grew hard in the firelight.
“Go on,” he said.
“If we can cross the river to-night and make our way some distance into the interior, perhaps we can meet with the teams that bring in the forage. Every American to be found is impressed to help in this work. All we need do is to show ourselves; and as the bringers of food, we’ll pass muster.”
“That is a good plan enough,” said George. “I accept it as it stands.”
“You would accept any plan that promised to land you across the Delaware,” was Ben Cooper’s thought as he listened and watched. “And you’d not question any of them.”
And so it happened that as the early December evening fell, two loutish looking fellows made their way toward the Delaware at a point some distance beyond the American lines. The wind that swept up from the deep dark river was icy and damp; for all their greatcoats and muffling neckerchiefs they shivered and swung their arms for warmth.