The unseen man laughed heartily at Jack’s reply. “Set me an example, then.”
“That I will,” said Jack, “though I don’t guarantee the truth of it. I am an aide of General Washington, riding on public service.
“Time enough it took you to know it. And if so, what were you doing near Brunswick?”
“I took the route I knew best.”
“Thy name is?”
“Jack Brereton.”
“Art thou a green-eyed, carrot-faced put, who frights all the women with his ill looks?” cried the man, entering.
Brereton laughed as he stepped out from the sheltering projection. “Switch you, whoever you are, for keeping me from the fire when I am chilled to the marrow. Why, Eustace, this is luck beyond belief! But hast swallowed a frog? You croak so that I knew you not.”
“Not I,” responded the new-comer, shaking his fellow-officer’s hand, “but I swallowed enough of yesterday’s storm to spoil my voice, let alone this creeping out of bed in shirt only, to catch some malignant Tory or spy of King George.”
“Where art thy comrades?” inquired Brereton, peering past the major.