s from the packet,
glancing over each one again to make sure of its contents; all were
addressed alike, simply "Mortimer," but upon two I found the word
"Elmhurst." It was easy to see how the discovery of such communications
would tempt an unscrupulous scoundrel like Grant to use them to injure
another, and win his own end, but why had that young Eric failed to
destroy them as soon as received?

When the last paper had been reduced to ashes, I stamped out the embers
of fire under my boot heel, and, with lighter heart, rode down the hill
toward the ford.

CHAPTER XXV

BETWEEN LOVE AND DUTY

It was already growing dusk when I rode into our lines at Valley Forge. A
brief interview with Colonel Hamilton revealed his appreciation of my
work, and that my hastily made notes of the Philadelphia defences had
been received twenty-four hours earlier. They had been delivered at
headquarters by an officer of Lee's staff; no, not a boyish-looking
fellow, but a black-bearded captain whose name had been forgotten. All
Hamilton could remember was that the notes had been originally brought in
by an Indian scout. Eager to discover Eric Mortimer I asked a week's
release from duty, but there was so much sickness in the camp, that this
request was refused, and I was ordered to my regiment.

Busy days and nights of fatigue followed. Washington, watching like a
hawk every movement of Sir Henry Clinton in Philadelphia, convinced by
every report received that he was about to evacuate the city, bent all
his energies toward placing his little army in fit condition for battle.
Some recruits were received, the neighboring militia were drawn upon, and
men were taken from the hospitals, and put back into the ranks as soon as
strong enough to bear arms. Inspired by the indomitable spirit of our
commander the line officers worked incessantly in the welding together of
their commands. I scarcely knew what sleep was, yet the importance of the
coming movement of troops held me steadfast to duty. Word came to us
early in June that Count d'Estaing, with a powerful French fleet, was
approaching the coast. This surely meant that Clinton would be compelled
to retreat across the Jerseys, and a portion of our troops were advanced
so as to be within easy striking distance of the city the moment the
evacuation took place. The remaining commands pressed farther north, near
convenient crossings of the Delaware, prepared for a forced march across
the Bri