Hadley never entered the presence of the great man without, in a measure, feeling that sense of Washington’s superiority which he had experienced when first he saw him, and he stood at one side now, ill at ease, waiting for a chance to deliver his packet. The Commander had a way of seeing and recognizing those who entered the room without appearing to do so--if he were busily engaged at the time--and suddenly wheeling in his chair and pointing to the boy, said in a tone that made Hadley start: “Is this the young man you want, Master Holdness?” “I reckon he’ll do, Gin’ral--if he can be spared,” Lafe replied, with the usual queer twist to his thin lips. “He’s gettin’ more important around here than a major-gin’ral, I hear; but ef things wont go quite ter rack an’ ruin without him for a few days, I guess I’ll take him with me on this little ja’nt.” Hadley blushed redly, but knew better than to grow angry over Lafe’s mild sarcasm. His Excellency seemed to understand both the scout and his youthful friend pretty well. “I have a high opinion of Master Morris,” he said, kindly. “Take care of him, Holdness. It is upon such young men as he that we most earnestly depend. Some of us older ones may not live to see the end of this war, and the younger generation must live to carry it on.” Hadley did not think him austere now; his eyes were sad and his face worn and deeply lined. Not alone did the rank and file of the American army suffer physically during that awful winter; many of the officers went hungry, too, and it was whispered that often Washington’s own dinner was divided among the hollow-eyed men who guarded his person and sentineled the road leading to the little stone cottage. Lafe nodded to the boy and they withdrew. On the road outside the scout placed his hand upon Hadley’s shoulder. “Had, that’s a great man in yonder,” said he, in his homely way. “You ’n’ I don’t know how great he is; but there’ll come folks arter us that will. He’s movin’ heaven an’ airth ter git rations for this army an’ they aint one of us suffers that he don’t feel it.” [Illustration: “HADLEY UNTIED HIS HORSE.”] Hadley untied his horse and they went on in silence until they came to the sheds behind an old country inn not far from headquarters. Here Holdness had left his great covered wagon and team of sturdy draught horses. Despite the condition of affairs in the territory about Philadelphia, the scout retained his character of teamster and continued to go in and come out of the city as he pleased. How he allayed the suspicions of the British was known only to himself; but, evidently, General Washington trusted him implicitly.