“But the bully proved a man of cunning as well as ferocity. When he heard that Herbert would likely be disinherited because of his political leanings, he saw that the fight would be unnecessary.”
Here, however, the chain of reasoning showed a missing link.
“If Herbert is to be disinherited for holding to the cause of the colonies,” George asked himself “how can Major Hyde, who also advocates that cause, hope to replace him?”
This seemed to unsettle the foundation of all that had gone before, and he shook his head more puzzled than ever. But in a moment or two he put the entire matter aside.
“I don’t know why I am bothering about the interests of strangers,” said he, impatiently. He had about dismissed the matter from his mind and was looking curiously at some of the quaint old Dutch houses still standing when there came a beat of hoofs upon the stones of the road; and the horseman drew up beside him.
“Ah, well caught, Mr. Prentiss,” laughed the horseman, jovially. “I asked for you at the ‘King’s Arms,’ and they told me that you had just gone. So I took the liberty of guessing which direction you had taken.”
It was the ensign with whom George had previously spoken; he rode a strong-looking gray horse which chafed at the bit and pawed nervously at the ground. The ensign had struck young Prentiss from the first as being a likable sort of fellow, and so he greeted him in friendly fashion.
“You had not been gone from headquarters above an hour when General Putnam asked for you,” said the rider. “Major Hyde had left some time before, and none would have known where you were to be found had I not happened to be still lounging about. And so,” with a laugh, “here I am to take you back with me in all haste.”
CHAPTER V
IN WHICH GENERAL PUTNAM HAS HIS SAY
“It is a matter of importance, then?” said George, as he walked along at the horse’s side, his face now pointed in the direction of the fort.