CHAPTER IX
IN WHICH GEORGE PRENTISS RECEIVES AN INVITATION
Next morning George Prentiss made his way to General Putnam’s headquarters at the foot of Broadway; and, as he went, there was at first some doubt in his mind as to the kind of a report he should make.
He had undertaken readily enough the enterprise upon which he had ridden the day before. The conspiring Tories were enemies to the cause of liberty, and he felt no qualms in matching them in their own style of work. But he had not reckoned on what had taken place. He had not expected to find his cousin concerned in it. True, a soldier of the colonies, who was so base as to betray the cause in order that he might profit thereby, was infinitely worse than any Tory.
“He should receive no mercy,” George told himself with indignation. “And any one having the cause at heart should be only too glad to hunt him out and see him punished.”
But for all his realization of this, he felt no desire to pursue and expose Herbert Camp.
However, he knew which way his duty lay; and so he determinedly tramped into headquarters and asked to see General Putnam.
“Why,” cried the hearty old officer, “what now! I had no idea that I’d see you for days.” Then noting an expression in the young man’s face that was not easily read, he added: “Something has happened.”
“Quite a deal has happened,” returned George, “and I thought it best that I make a report to you at once.”
“Out with it,” invited Putnam. “I can see that it is a matter of interest; so lose no time.”
Thereupon George related his adventures of the night before; not a detail escaped the telling, and the general listened with the greatest interest.