“That is right.” The commander-in-chief wrote a brief note, addressed it to General Putnam and handed it to Tom.
“There. Now go, my boy, and may you succeed in joining your brother and benefit to him in his work. Good-bye,” and he gave the boy's hand a friendly grasp.
“Good-bye, your excellency,” and saluting, Tom took his departure.
He hastened down to the East River dock and got a boatman to take him across to the east shore, after which he made his way as quickly as possible to the patriot quarters on Brooklyn Heights.
When he presented himself before General Putnam, and handed over the note, the officer, after a perusal of the few words written there, looked at the boy in some surprise and with no little interest.
“Another one,” he said, with something like a grim smile. “The Dares certainly seem to be in evidence to-night.”
“Dick was here, then, sir?” eagerly.
“Yes, he was here.”
“How long has he been gone?”
“Oh, about an hour, I should judge. He had to remain here until this evening on account of the storm.”