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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/22902-h.zip b/22902-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0bc08ce --- /dev/null +++ b/22902-h.zip diff --git a/22902-h/22902-h.htm b/22902-h/22902-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cbbaeee --- /dev/null +++ b/22902-h/22902-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3968 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> +<title>The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade; or Getting Out of New York by Harry Moore</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +.chapter {text-align: center; color: red; font-weight: bolder} +p {text-indent: 20px} +h2 {text-align: center; color: navy} +h3 {text-align: center; color: navy} +hr {width: 50%} +td.issue {color: red; font-weight: bolder; padding-right: 5px} +td.quote {font-weight: bolder; text-align: center} +body {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%} +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade, by Harry Moore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade + or, Getting Out of New York + +Author: Harry Moore + +Release Date: October 6, 2007 [EBook #22902] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIBERTY BOYS *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Halsey + + + + + +</pre> + +<p style="text-align: center"> + <img src="images/lb-1110-cover.jpg" width="600" height="857" alt="cover" + style="border: none" /> +</p> + +<h2>THE LIBERTY BOYS RUNNING THE BLOCKADE;<br /> + OR, GETTING OUT OF NEW YORK</h2> + +<h3>By HARRY MOORE</h3> + +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER 1.–A Clever Capture.</p> + +<p> +"I think that fellow is following us, Bob."</p> + +<p> +"What fellow, Dick?"</p> + +<p> +"The one on the other side of the way, the man with a beard and a +steeple-crowned hat."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I see him, but why should he follow us, Dick?"</p> + +<p> +"To obtain information, I suppose. He is certainly watching and +following us and if we were to stop anywhere you would see that he would +do the same."</p> + +<p> +"Suppose we try it, Dick?"</p> + +<p> +"Very well. I may get some information myself. There is Fraunces' +tavern. That is as good as any place."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, for that is a general resort for army officers, and if this man is +a spy, as you seem to think, he will be very likely to go to just such +places."</p> + +<p> +The boys, well built and handsome, bronzed from exposure to the weather +and wearing the uniform of the Continental army, were making their way +along Wall street in the City of New York one pleasant September +afternoon. Dick Slater was the captain and Bob Estabrook the first +lieutenant of the Liberty Boys, a band of one hundred sterling young +patriots engaged in the war for American independence, and at that time +quartered in New York, on the Commons at the upper end of town.</p> + +<p> +As they were walking along Wall street, Dick, who was very observant, +noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, who seemed to be +watching them closely as if with an idea of learning what they knew, and +following them wherever they went. At this time the city was threatened +by the British, who held Long Island and had ships at Staten Island just +across from Manhattan ready to proceed up the rivers at any time. The +presence of British spies in the city was suspected, and Dick, who was +an expert spy himself, had his suspicions concerning the man opposite as +soon as he saw the fellow.</p> + +<p> +Turning into Broad Street, the boys walked down and at once the spy, if +he were one, took the same direction. Fraunces tavern, on the corner of +Broad and Pearl streets, was at that time a great resort for army +officers and men-about-town, and was, therefore, just the place which +the boys would frequent. Crossing the street when they reached Pearl +street, the boys went into the tavern, and were shortly followed by the +man in the steeple-crowned hat, who took a seat at a table near enough +to understand all that they said.</p> + +<p> +Giving Bob a wink, Dick began talking about some supposed exploit with +some one in the army, and went on from that to telling of meeting +certain beautiful young ladies, and how the latter were so charmed with +him and other boastful talk. The man was evidently greatly disgusted at +having to listen to such talk, as he had evidently expected to hear +something different, and he shortly moved his seat to another part of +the room.</p> + +<p> +"He had no interest in hearing how Polly Perkins winked at you, Dick," +laughed Bob.</p> + +<p> +"No, but he wants to find out more about us, nevertheless. Don't look +over there. He has a very pretty scheme, I can see."</p> + +<p> +The man was drinking strong ale from a pewter and, having finished it, +set the pewter down. Dick saw him scratch something on it and beckon +almost imperceptably to a man near by who had just entered. Then, as if +by accident, knocked his pewter off the table to the floor. The other +man came forward, picked it up and set it on the table, but Dick could +see that he glanced at it at the same time, and then, as if upon a place +to sit, came toward them and sat three or four tables away. The +suspected spy presently arose and went out and Dick said:</p> + +<p> +"Well, good-by, Bob. I will meet you at Trinity church in half an hour."</p> + +<p> +Then muttering the words, "Bowling Green, ten minutes," he walked away, +going past the table where the man with the steeple-crowned hat had been +sitting and carelessly knocking off the pewter. Picking it up, he looked +at it and saw scratched on one side: "Follow Slater."</p> + +<p> +"So, this is another, as I supposed," he thought. "There are several +spies in town, and they know me and are trying either to learn something +or to get possession of me. We shall have to turn the tables on them."</p> + +<p> +He made his way to the Bowling Green, meeting on the way four or five of +the Liberty Boys.</p> + +<p> +"Go up to Trinity church, boys," he said, "stroll about the place +carelessly. There is British spy watching my movements and I wish to +watch him and, if possible, to catch him. The man is short and rather +stout and had a red face. There is another, who may not join him at +once, who wears a black suit and a steeple-crowned hat and has a beard. +He will send the other one first, I think."</p> + +<p> +"All right, Captain," replied the boy, whose name was Ben Spurlock. "We +will watch him. Come along, Sam."</p> + +<p> +Dick had gone on, meanwhile, the boys proceeding in couples or singly to +the church, where they scattered about waiting further instructions from +the young captain. Bob appeared at the Bowling Green at the appointed +time, and said:</p> + +<p> +"The fellow was cautious and did not follow me, but I suppose he will be +at the church."</p> + +<p> +"Probably, as his instructions were to follow me. Did he stay as long as +you did?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and remained after I left. You will see him at the church, no +doubt. The other man may be there. Come into the nearest tavern and +exchange coats with me. We will see if these men are observant or not."</p> + +<p> +"Very good," laughed Bob.</p> + +<p> +In the private bar of the tavern the boys were alone long enough to make +the exchange, and then Dick sent Bob ahead and told him to wait in the +churchyard for him or some one wearing his own uniform.</p> + +<p> +"You are the captain now, Bob," with a laugh, "but I don't know who will +be the lieutenant yet. That will depend."</p> + +<p> +Dick then went over to Stone street, where he entered a little shop kept +by a draper, to whom he said:</p> + +<p> +"I want an ordinary suit of clothes, Mr. Towns. I am watching a spy and +I think it just as well not to be in uniform."</p> + +<p> +"I see, Captain. You are wearing the lieutenant's coat now."</p> + +<p> +"You are very observant," smiling. "I will leave it here and send one of +the boys for it."</p> + +<p> +"Very good, Captain. Step into the wareroom and take what you wish."</p> + +<p> +The wareroom was no bigger than the shop, but the different suits were +hanging about the sides, and Dick quickly selected one not likely to +attract much attention, and put it on, leaving the uniform behind. On +Whitehall street Dick met one of the boys, Phil Waters by name, and +directed him to go to the draper's and put on Bob's coat over his own, +the young lieutenant being of a heavier build. As Phil did not have his +musket with him, the change was easily effected, and no one not knowing +him would suspect that he was not the lieutenant.</p> + +<p> +"Go and meet Bob," Dick said, "and talk about anything but matters of +importance. Do not recognize me and watch the man whom you see observing +you and Bob."</p> + +<p> +"All right, Captain," and Phil went away to make the change.</p> + +<p> +Then Dick took his way up to the church and waited for the spy to +appear. Coming out of the church after a stay of a few minutes, Dick +saw Bob in the yard, standing contemplating a monument, while not far +away stood the second spy watching him. At the time mentioned, Phil, who +was supposed to be Bob, came up, and the two began to chat in the most +animated fashion. Dick saw the spy approach them so as to overhear their +conversation, and at once signaled to Ben, Sam, Harry, Will and others +whom he saw in the grounds to approach rapidly.</p> + +<p> +Bob and Phil were talking away in the liveliest fashion about all sorts +of things except matters of importance, the spy standing behind a +monument listening to them and trying to discover what connection the +talk had with the situation in the city. Dick meanwhile had gathered the +various groups together, and they were now closing in upon the spy, +ready to act as soon as they got the word from the captain. The man with +the steeple-crowned hat was not to be seen, and Dick was uncertain +whether to wait for him or not. Then the spy stepped up to Bob and Phil +and said glibly:</p> + +<p> +"Good day, Captain. You don't remember me, I suppose? I met you on Long +Island. So you are over here now? Where is your camp? I should like to +send up an ox or two for your use. Where did you say you were encamped?"</p> + +<p> +Dick passed at that moment but was not observed, nor was a certain sign +he made to Bob. Then the call of a bird was heard and Ben, Sam and the +rest began to close in.</p> + +<p> +"On the Commons," replied Bob. "Come up and see us some time. You are +Mr. Bulwinkle, are you not?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. I see you remember me very well."</p> + +<p> +Then all at once he found himself surrounded by Liberty Boys, and a +young man in plain garments stepped up and said:</p> + +<p> +"You are a British spy. You and a man in a steeple-crowned hat in +Fraunces tavern tried to listen to my conversation. I have not yet +caught your employer, but if you make any alarm or try to get away you +will be denounced. Go with these boys. They will show you our camp, +where you will remain a prisoner until I can deliver you up to General +Putnam."</p> + +<p> +The man's face blanched, and then he recognized Dick, and muttered:</p> + +<p> +"Jove! you are Slater, the rebel, himself! How did you manage—"</p> + +<p> +"Slater, the patriot, you mean. Your superior is not very clever. I +detected him following us. Then he sat too close. Next he scratched a +message on the pewter after beckoning to you. You were told to follow +me. You thought I was coming here in uniform, didn't you? After +practically telling you that I was going to be here. I am afraid you are +new at spying, too. Go with the boys, but talk and laugh and don't let +any one think that you are a prisoner."</p> + +<p> +"Jove! but I never would have suspected you of all this clever work." +muttered the other.</p> + +<p> +"I did not want you to!" laughed Dick and he and Bob went one way, while +the boys went another with their prisoner.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER II.–The Spy in Danger.</p> + +<p> +Dick Slater and Bob Estabrook set off down Broadway and had nearly +reached Bowling Green when Dick saw the man in the steeple-crowned hat +approaching. He evidently took Dick for his friend at first, for he came +forward quickly, and then suddenly stopped, looked at both boys, +flushed, and, turning upon his heel, darted across Broadway and into +Pearl street, where he disappeared. Dick was after him at once, but by +the time he reached Pearl street, nothing was to be seen of the spy.</p> + +<p> +The boys walked down to Whitehall wharf, where they could see over to +Staten Island, where the British ships seemed to be getting ready to +change their positions. The day was wearing on rapidly, and as they +could not get any additional information at the wharf, they turned their +faces toward the city and made their way at a good jog toward the +Commons, where the camp was located. As they neared Thames street, above +the church, Dick said in a low tone:</p> + +<p> +"There is that spy going down the street. He has changed his disguise +and I would not be surprised if he had taken off his beard.</p> + +<p> +"Where is he, Dick?" eagerly.</p> + +<p> +"Going down Thames street on the right, the man in brown with a cocked +hat. I recognize his walk. Keep behind him, Bob. The sight of a +Continental uniform may have a bad effect upon him."</p> + +<p> +"But he has seen you in that disguise, Dick."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and there is nothing striking about it. He would have to see my +face to recognize me and I shall take care that he does not."</p> + +<p> +Indeed, Dick had so many ways of changing his expression, that it was +quite likely he could deceive the spy even were they to meet face to +face. Bob kept behind Dick as they went down the street on the same side +as the spy, the young patriot watching the man closely, and at length +seeing him go into a wine shop of a rather unsavory reputation. When he +disappeared, Dick turned to Bob and said quickly:</p> + +<p> +"There is another door to this place down the alley. Go there at once +and watch for this fellow to come out. He will do so as soon as he +recognizes me."</p> + +<p> +Then Dick waited a moment for Bob to go down the alley, and entered the +shop. He saw the spy sitting at a table, and now, having his own +expression, was recognized in a moment.</p> + +<p> +"Good afternoon," he said, as he walked over to the spy, who was unable +to repress a start of surprise. "You did not expect to see me here, did +you?"</p> + +<p> +"Who are you?" the other snarled. "I don't know you from a side of sole +leather. Why do you speak to me?"</p> + +<p> +"I am Captain Dick Slater," said Dick, taking a seat opposite the spy. +"You escaped me just now and changed your dress and also took off your +beard. You had a friend–a short, somewhat stout man. We have taken care +of him. You will find my lieutenant at the other door. I see you are +looking toward it. I think you had better go out that way. Time presses, +and we had better go now."</p> + +<p> +The spy suddenly arose, started for the door, threw the chair in front +of Dick and shouted:</p> + +<p> +"This boy is a British spy! Hold him while I go for the guard!"</p> + +<p> +Then he flew toward the door and was out of it. At once the men in the +shop began surging toward Dick with evil looks on their faces, and some +drawing ugly-looking knives.</p> + +<p> +"That is the cry of 'Stop, thief!' to draw attention from himself," said +Dick. "My gentleman is a spy himself. I am Dick Slater, captain of the +Liberty Boys. I think you may have heard of me. Don't be afraid. My +lieutenant is at the other door."</p> + +<p> +Then, quickly pushing the chair aside Dick left by the door he had +entered and then around to the alley. The spy had evidently thought that +Dick was deceiving him, but as he went into the alley he saw Bob, who +quickly caught him by the arm and said:</p> + +<p> +"Wait a moment. The captain will be out in a second and will want to see +you. There is no such haste."</p> + +<p> +Then Dick came down the alley, and Bob said with a careless laugh and a +quizzical expression:</p> + +<p> +"Here is the captain. I have his uniform, but he is the captain, just +the same."</p> + +<p> +The spy got up, glared at Dick and said angrily:</p> + +<p> +"You are making a great fuss over nothing. I am not a spy, as you think. +I am an attorney and have—"</p> + +<p> +"Why did you try to escape, why did you call me a spy, why did you +change your clothes, why did you follow me into Frances tavern, why did +you instruct your companion to follow me, if you are not a spy? +Attorneys don't do these things."</p> + +<p> +The man turned sallow, smiled in a sickly fashion, and said:</p> + +<p> +"This was all to test you. General Putnam had his doubts as to your +efficiency and wished me to put you to the—"</p> + +<p> +The boys laughed at this flimsy excuse, and Dick said shortly:</p> + +<p> +"You will go with us. I am well acquainted with General Putnam, who is +in command in the city. You know that, of course. We will go to his +quarters now."</p> + +<p> +The man suddenly thrust his hand into his pocket and withdrew a packet, +which he tried to throw over a fence, but was prevented by Bob.</p> + +<p> +"You had better give that to me," he said, taking the packet and putting +it in his own pocket.</p> + +<p> +"Come!" said Dick. "It is nearly sunset. If you attempt any more +nonsense I shall call the guard. You know me, and you know why you are +arrested, and you are simply trying to throw obstacles in my way and so +make your escape."</p> + +<p> +The spy made no reply, and remained quiet for the rest of their way to +the general's quarters. Leaving the prisoner under guard, Dick shortly +saw the general himself and related what had occurred.</p> + +<p> +"H'm! spies in the city, eh?" muttered the veteran. "This is an +important capture, Captain. I must compliment you on a very pretty piece +of work. I shall have to see this man."</p> + +<p> +Dick had the packet which Bob had taken from the spy, and he gave it to +the general, while the man was being sent for. Putnam looked it over and +said:</p> + +<p> +"This proves conclusively that the man is a spy. You have the other one, +you say, Captain?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, in our camp. I can deliver him to-night or in the morning, as you +please."</p> + +<p> +"I think it had better be to-night," shortly.</p> + +<p> +"Very well," and at that moment the spy was ushered into the general's +presence, turning pale as he saw the veteran and realized what his fate +would be. Dick then took his leave and he and Bob returned with all +speed to the camp.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER III.–In the Stone House.</p> + +<p> +Reaching the camp, the boys were heartily welcomed by the Liberty Boys, +who knew that something had happened when Ben and the rest came in with +a prisoner and were eager to hear the rest.</p> + +<p> +"Did you get the other fellow, Captain?" asked Sam.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and we left him holding an interview with General Putnam."</p> + +<p> +"In which he was likely to get the worst of the argument," put in Ben +dryly.</p> + +<p> +At that moment a jolly-looking Irish boy up and said, giving a comical +salute:</p> + +<p> +"Captain dear, supper do be ready an' the young leddies have come to +camp, an' will ye ate thim foirst–Oi mane mate thim foirst an' ate +supper afther, or phwativer?"</p> + +<p> +There was a laugh, and then two young very pretty young ladies rode up +to the fire and were helped to dismount by Dick and Bob. The girls were +their sisters and their sweethearts also, the sister of each being the +sweetheart of the other, and were as constant companions as the boys +themselves. They lived in Westchester county and had come to visit +friends in New York, stopping on the way to see the boys.</p> + +<p> +"Well, Alice," said Dick to his sweetheart, "so you have come to the +city, have you? Things are in a rather turbulent state, but I fancy we +can get you out of it in case there is any immediate trouble. You will +stay to supper, of course. Patsy has just announced that it is ready, so +we will lose no time in sitting down."</p> + +<p> +The girls were well known to all the Liberty Boys and when they sat down +they received a general salute, every boy there being glad to see them. +After supper the boys who had brought in the spy took him to the +general's quarters, and shortly after this Dick and Bob set out with the +girls to see them to the house of their friends in the city. Dick and +Bob took their horses, the captain riding a magnificent black Arabian +and Bob a fine bay, and all set out together, laughing and talking in +lively fashion. They struck across the Common to the road running to the +west of it, and would then make their way into the city past the new +church and Broadway to Maiden Lane.</p> + +<p> +As they were going on at an easy jog, expecting to leave the Common, +four or five dark forms suddenly sprang up in front of them and seize +their bridles, while as many ran up behind and prevented their wheeling. +Then some one flashed the light of a lantern in their faces, and a voice +was heard saying:</p> + +<p> +"H'm! women! We don't want them. All want is the rebels!"</p> + +<p> +The girls' horses were at once set free, and the girls themselves lost +no time in wheeling and dashing back toward the camp, Alice taking the +lead.</p> + +<p> +"Hi! what are you doing?" growled one of men, who were all evil-looking +fellows, as Dick could see. "The gals will bring the rest of the +rebels."</p> + +<p> +Dick was dragged from the back of Major, his black Arabian, and one of +the men attempted to mount the animal to go in chase of the two girls +but was immediately thrown.</p> + +<p> +"Back to camp, Major!" said Dick.</p> + +<p> +In an instant the intelligent animal was flying after the girls, who +quickly recognized his hoof-beats. Meanwhile the men who had captured +Dick and Bob knew the danger they would run remaining on the ground, and +they hurried away with the two boys, letting Bob's bay go free. They +went on so rapidly that Dick was unable to see much of the way, but he +knew the direction they took almost by instinct, and could have returned +without trouble if he had been liberated. The men kept the two boys in +the middle of the party and held on to them tightly.</p> + +<p> +"We got the rebels an' we'll get the reward," said one.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, the gals an' the other rebels won't be able to find the house, and +they can hunt all they like."</p> + +<p> +It was a sharp decline to the river, down the lane, and one of the men +stumbled and rolled several yards, picking himself up with a grunt and a +groan and a lot of bad language, and then hurrying after the rest. Dick +heard the swash of the water on the gravel bank, and then saw the river +itself dimly, but in another moment some dark object loomed up before +him, and then he and Bob were taken into a house, the front of which was +much lower than the back on account of the steepness of the hank. The +boys were taken to the front and then down a flight of steps to a room +in the rear, where they were left in the dark, the door being locked and +barred on the outside.</p> + +<p> +"Who are these fellows, do you suppose, Dick?" asked Bob, when they were +left alone.</p> + +<p> +"I don't know. Tories, no doubt, or just men who want the reward offered +for my capture."</p> + +<p> +"But there is none offered for me," with a laugh. "Why should they take +me with them?"</p> + +<p> +"To keep you from giving the alarm. They would have taken the girls if +they had thought twice."</p> + +<p> +"But will the girls be able to show them the way?"</p> + +<p> +"They can take them to where we were attacked, and after that the boys +will follow the trail. Mark is a good hand at that sort of thing, and he +will have good boys to help him."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, they would all turn out and join in the hunt if he asked them," +declared Bob.</p> + +<p> +"But there is no use in our staying in the dark, Bob," said Dick. "You +have matches with you?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes. They did not search us and I have matches, and my pistols and +everything."</p> + +<p> +Bob then lighted a sulphur match, the only kind in use at the time, and +looked about him. They were in a room with one door but no windows, and +were evidently under guard at the back of the stone house. Dick listened +attentively for some minutes, and at last heard the sound of some one +coming downstairs.</p> + +<p> +"Put out the light, Bob," he said, in a low tone. "If they see it under +the door they may get suspicious."</p> + +<p> +Bob blew out the candle, and in a moment all was dark and still in the +room.</p> + +<p> +"When the door opens make a rush at it, Bob, and overturn the fellows. +There are two of them."</p> + +<p> +Bob stood ready to act upon the instant, and the steps of the two men +coming on could be heard plainer than ever, rays of light beginning to +show under the door. The men said nothing, and came on softly, but +Dick's ears were very sharp, and he could hear them with no trouble.</p> + +<p> +The key was turned in the lock and the bolts shot back, and then, as the +door opened slowly, the boys both threw their weight upon it suddenly +and sent it flying wide open in an instant. There was a startled cry and +a heavy fall, and in a moment the place was thrown into profound +darkness.</p> + +<p> +"Pick them up and lock them in, Bob," said Dick, and the boys hurried +into the passage, presently stumbling upon two men who were just getting +upon their feet.</p> + +<p> +They seized the men, threw them into the room, closed the door and +locked them in, taking out the key, and then looked for the lantern as +they heard a call from above.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IV.–The Boys' Escape.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo, down there, what's the matter?" called some one at the head of +the stairs.</p> + +<p> +"The blame rebels tried to get out and upset the lantern," answered +Dick, in a gruff voice.</p> + +<p> +"Huh! where are they now?"</p> + +<p> +"They're all right. We locked the door again."</p> + +<p> +"H'm! we better come down and help you. We gotter take them away."</p> + +<p> +"All right, come on, an' fetch another light."</p> + +<p> +Then the boys began to move steadily toward the stairs, finally finding +them.</p> + +<p> +"Come on, Bob," whispered Dick. "Don't waste any ceremony on them, but +tumble them downstairs as soon as they come. They won't get the others +out in a hurry, for I have the key."</p> + +<p> +The boys went rapidly upstairs, but, just as a light appeared at the +top, the men in the room below began to shout:</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! Bill, Toby, look out for them rebels; they've shut us up in the +storeroom!"</p> + +<p> +"Hurry, Bob!" hissed Dick.</p> + +<p> +The two boys dashed up to the top of the steps and came upon two men +carrying lanterns. In an instant each seized one of the Tories and sent +him rolling down the stairs uttering startled yells. Then they hurried +forward in the dark to the front of the stone house, opened the door and +ran out. At the same moment they heard shouts from the house, and then +shots were fired, the bullets passing over their heads. They returned +the shots, and heard a yell, and a sudden slamming of a door, and then a +cry from up the bank:</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! Dick, Bob, are you there?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Mark, coming right along!" shouted Dick, and then he and Bob +hurried up the steep bank, presently seeing lanterns and a number of the +Liberty Boys.</p> + +<p> +"We had some little trouble in finding the place," declared Mark, when +Dick and Bob joined him and the rest, there being fully a score of them. +"The young ladies had no idea where the wretches had gone, but we picked +up the trail at length and then had less difficulty in following it. +Where were you?"</p> + +<p> +"In the stone house–a regular nest of thieves," Dick answered. "I must +have a look at the place later."</p> + +<p> +There was no further sound from below, and the boys went on to the top, +where they found several of the Liberty Boys and the two girls.</p> + +<p> +Dick and Bob now jumped into the saddle and resumed their interrupted +ride, going with the girls to the house in Maiden Lane. The friends of +Alice and Edith were very charming girls, and the boys spent an hour or +two very pleasantly, telling the story of their adventures in the +afternoon and evening, and talking of the situation in in the city. The +boys at length left the house to return to the camp, Alice and Edith +expressing considerable anxiety, however, lest they be way-laid by the +men who had already made an unsuccessful attempt to keep them prisoners.</p> + +<p> +In a short time they were back in camp, the occasional tramp of a sentry +or the sudden flaring up of a fire from a puff of night air being the +only things to show that there was any one there. The Liberty Boys were +always vigilant, for one never knew when an enemy might be about, and +Dick had taught them to be on the lookout at all times, whether they +expected a foe or not. After breakfast Dick took a party of about a +dozen of the boys in addition to Bob, and set out for the stone house on +the river. Reaching the lane, the boys dismounted, the descent being +rather too steep for the horses, and Dick, Bob and seven or eight others +went down. The door toward the road was closed and there was no sign of +life about the place. Dick and Bob went down to the shore where there +was a little wharf, and here they found a door on the lower story, this +being closed, however, as were the windows, and no one stirring either +in or about the house.</p> + +<p> +"The place looks like an ordinary storehouse," remarked Dick, "and I +suppose that the people about here think it is such. I shall have to get +permission from the general to examine it, for it is a nest of thieves +whatever else it may be."</p> + +<p> +"That is plain enough!" muttered Bob.</p> + +<p> +Taking Bob, and leaving the boys to watch the place, Dick set out for +Putnam's headquarters to report concerning the place and ask what should +be done. Some of the boys remained on the bank above, and some on the +wharf and near the lower door. They found a passage under the wharf, and +then another dug through the earth, and leading to a door evidently in +the stone house under the bank and back of the wharf.</p> + +<p> +"These fellows are regular smugglers as well as thieves!" exclaimed +Harry. "This is an important discovery. They use this place to take in +stolen goods when they are afraid to take them in any other, I guess."</p> + +<p> +"See if the door is locked," suggested Sam.</p> + +<p> +Then he and Harry tried it, and found that it was not fastened, but +opened readily when they lifted the latch.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! Who is there?" cried a gruff voice, as they advanced.</p> + +<p> +"Here's one of the rascals! Catch him!" cried Harry.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER V.–An Important Capture.</p> + +<p> +Dick and Bob set out upon their horses for the general's quarters, and +upon reaching Broadway met the girls coming along on horseback.</p> + +<p> +"I am afraid we cannot give you much attention now, girls," said Dick. +"We are going to the general's quarters, and then to rout out the +thieves, who make a rendezvous of the stone house and I think we shall +be very busy for sometime."</p> + +<p> +"You might go up to the camp and cheer Patsy's heart by a visit," +laughed Bob. "He is fond of the girls."</p> + +<p> +"You want us to get the poor boy in trouble, I see," said Alice. "You +would get so jealous that Patsy would have no peace."</p> + +<p> +"You know what Carl says when he disagrees with any one, don't you, +Sis?" asked Bob, with a sly wink.</p> + +<p> +"Come, my dear," replied Alice. "I think we shall be able to do without +their company for a time. We ought to be resourceful enough for that."</p> + +<p> +"But, Alice, brother and Bob have business to attend to, and—"</p> + +<p> +"And you are a dear little matter of face goose and can't see a joke," +laughed Alice. "You would spoil both those boys, but it needs me to put +them in the right place."</p> + +<p> +Then the girls rode away toward the camp, while the boys went on to the +general's. The veteran listened to Dick, and said:</p> + +<p> +"By all means break into the place and make a thorough investigation, +Captain. If there is any complaint, say that I gave you full authority +to act. There is something very about the whole affair, and I do not +believe that the place is used for honest purposes."</p> + +<p> +"Nor we, General, but we wanted your authority before we proceeded to +vigorous measures."</p> + +<p> +"Well, you have it now, Captain," said the general, who was well +acquainted with Dick, Bob and many of the Liberty Boys.</p> + +<p> +They left the place, jumped into the saddle, were going up toward the +Commons when, as they neared the head of Maiden Lane, they suddenly +heard a sharp cry, and saw a young girl in a chaise come dashing toward +them at a terrific pace, the horse having taken fright at something and +being now beyond the girl's control.</p> + +<p> +"Quick, Bob!" cried Dick. "We must save her!"</p> + +<p> +"Why, it's Sarah Watrous," said Bob, that being the name of the girls' +friend whom the boys had seen the night before.</p> + +<p> +The boys dashed forward, one on each side the chaise, Dick dismounting +and catching of the bridle, throwing himself backward and checking the +animal's speed. Bob reached out at the same time and did what he could +to stop horse, the two boys between them succeeding in checking him in a +short time.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I am so glad you came!" gasped the girl who seemed nearly ready to +swoon. "I don't know what I should have done without you. He never ran +away before and I didn't know what do."</p> + +<p> +"What started him up, Miss Watrous?" asked Dick, stroking the horse and +getting him into calmer mood.</p> + +<p> +"I am sure I don't know. I have been before and he never acted in this +fashion."</p> + +<p> +"Who harnessed him?" asked Bob, looking the horse.</p> + +<p> +"Why, I did. The boy was busy and I couldn't wait, so I did it myself. +Why shouldn't I do things for myself instead of being always dependent +upon others?"</p> + +<p> +"That is all right in theory," laughed Bob, "but you have not done it +right, and the horse has been chafed and annoyed, and has finally tried +to get out of it and has run away. You had better let me fix things."</p> + +<p> +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the girl. "And I thought I could do most +anything!"</p> + +<p> +Just then Dick caught sight of one of the men he had seen the night +before going down Broadway, and he said to Bob in a low tone:</p> + +<p> +"Look after the young lady, Bob. There is one of those ruffians. Take +Major up with you when you get through."</p> + +<p> +Then he went away at not too rapid a walk and followed the man he had +seen, observing him go into a tavern on the other side of the street and +just below the corner.</p> + +<p> +"Not a very reputable place," he said to himself, "but I think I am safe +enough."</p> + +<p> +Entering the place, he saw the man he had followed sitting in a corner +talking to a man who, if he was not greatly mistaken, was the chief of +the two spies he had captured the day before and had turned over to +General Putnam. The man recognized him, and hastily arose, and Dick knew +that he was not mistaken, although how he should have escaped was a +puzzle to him.</p> + +<p> +"Stop that man! He is a spy of the British!" he cried. "And the man with +him is a thief!"</p> + +<p> +"Better not talk too loud in this place, you saucy young rebel!" growled +the landlord, coming forward. "All my customers are respectable persons, +and if you don't like 'em, your room is preferable to your company."</p> + +<p> +From the black looks cast at him, Dick saw that he was likely to get +into trouble, the patrons of the place being evidently persons of shady +character and Tories. He pushed forward, nevertheless, and, suddenly +drawing a pistol, said in a very determined manner:</p> + +<p> +"If you attempt to stop me you do it at your own risk. One of those men +is an enemy to the country and the other an enemy to society, and I +purpose to arrest them both."</p> + +<p> +"Run, Hughson!" muttered the thief. "I'll fix the young rebel. He threw +me downstairs last night, and—"</p> + +<p> +Dick sprang upon the table, leaped to the floor, seized the thief by the +collar and dragged him to the door, and then, turning upon the men in +the place, said:</p> + +<p> +"If any one attempts to follow he will get hurt, so I advise you to +remain where you are!"</p> + +<p> +Then, dragging the man out of the door, he said:</p> + +<p> +"The spy can wait. I have got you and you will have to give an account +of yourself. Keep quiet, or I will hand you over to the bailiffs at +once. You must know by this time that I am a boy of considerable +determination."</p> + +<p> +They were in the alley by this time, and Dick, with his hand on the +man's collar, continued:</p> + +<p> +"Will you go along quietly or shall I call a constable?"</p> + +<p> +"H'm! you've got more pluck than a dozen constables!" the fellow +growled. "Oh, I'll go along with you, 'cause you've got the best o' me. +You didn't get Hughson, anyhow. How did you know I was with him?"</p> + +<p> +"I did not, but I knew you and was determined to have you. You can give +me some information concerning the stone house, and later I will look +after the spy."</p> + +<p> +The man gave a grunt, and by that time they were out upon a side street +leading into Broadway or to the river.</p> + +<p> +"We will go there now," said Dick. "Some of the Liberty Boys are waiting +for me at the house and we can continue our investigations with your +assistance."</p> + +<p> +"Huh! you seem to think I am going to tell you all I know about the +place," muttered the man. "S'pose I don't?"</p> + +<p> +"Then you will get into worse trouble," shortly.</p> + +<p> +It was dark in the room, so the boys could not see the man who had +challenged them, their matches having burned out: Harry stumbled over +something on the floor and fell headlong, Sam falling on top of him. At +the same instant came a flash and a report, and the boys saw the man +about to make a dash for the door. Will lighted another match, and Harry +and Sam managed to scramble to their feet, but were not quick enough to +intercept the man, who made a sudden spring, dashed Will aside, and was +out into the passage.</p> + +<p> +"After him!" cried the boys in unison.</p> + +<p> +But that was a difficult matter, for the passage, like the room, was +cluttered with packages and bundles of various sizes. They could hear +the sound of his footsteps, but could catch no glimpse of him, nor could +they tell which way he had gone, for passages seemed to open on both +sides.</p> + +<p> +"H'm! I'm afraid we've lost him!" exclaimed Will, as they came to a +standstill in the dark. "I wish we had a better light than these matches +give. It's impossible to chase around here in the dark among all these +boxes and packages, and with passages leading every which way."</p> + +<p> +"Listen!" exclaimed Harry. "There's some one coming this way."</p> + +<p> +There was the sound of more than one man coming toward them from the +river side of the house.</p> + +<p> +"We might better conceal ourselves," whispered Will.</p> + +<p> +The three boys quickly drew to one side, and feeling a barrel standing +near the wall, one dropped behind it, while another hid behind a box, +and the other concealed himself in an angle of the wall. The sounds did +not proceed from the passage through which the three boys had just +passed, but from one on the right side, and seemed to come from more +than one person and who were trying to proceed quietly, evidently with +the intention of keeping their presence unknown as long as possible.</p> + +<p> +"They must be somewhere about here," they heard some one whisper. "We +must never let them get away."</p> + +<p> +Then suddenly a lantern flashed its light over their heads, and they +heard the words:</p> + +<p> +"Well, they're not here, at any rate."</p> + +<p> +The steps passed their hiding places, and the boys decided that there +were three men.</p> + +<p> +"If we could meet them on our own ground, we'd be more than a match for +them," muttered Harry. "But this strange place and in the dark, we'd be +completely at their mercy."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and with the other rascal lurking about," answered Sam.</p> + +<p> +Just then they heard a long, shrill, peculiar whistle. The boys started, +for they did not recognize it. Following almost immediately came the +report of fire arms.</p> + +<p> +"Come along, boys!" cried Harry. "There's something doing somewhere, and +we must be on the spot!"</p> + +<p> +They all rushed on blindly in the dark, following the direction whence +the shot proceeded, the way still as dark as Erebus, but seemingly +straight ahead. When Dick and his partner reached the stone house on the +river, the man would have passed the door, but Dick held him back, +saying sharply:</p> + +<p> +"I know the house. I want to save time by having you show me its secret +passages and explain what nefarious practices are being carried on in +the place."</p> + +<p> +The man made no reply, but walked up the steps to the front door, opened +it with a key, and then passed into the unlighted hall, into which the +daylight could not penetrate, on account of the solid wooden door +shutting it off from the street, and the doors into the rooms all being +closed. A sudden misgiving seized Dick. Had he been prudent in coming +into this strange house alone with an avowed enemy? It was true the +Liberty Boys were somewhere about, but could they reach him in time, +should danger present itself? He drew out both pistols, and backed +against the wall, while he made the man procure a light. Instead he gave +a long shrill whistle, which was immediately answered, and there could +be heard the onrushing of feet. The Tory gave a mocking laugh, +exclaiming:</p> + +<p> +"Captain Slater of the Liberty Boys has walked into his own trap!"</p> + +<p> +The only reply Dick made was to give the melancholy hoot of an owl. The +prisoner jumped and looked about, and then laughed a little sheepishly, +but at the same instant, there came bursting into the hallway the three +ruffians who had passed the other boys such a short time before.</p> + +<p> +"Surrender!" hissed the Tory.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VI.–In Dangerous Quarters.</p> + +<p> +"Not at all!" cried Dick, pistols in hand and barring the passage of the +three men. "Stop where you are! Hallo, boys!"</p> + +<p> +"All right, Captain, here we are!" shouted Sam and Harry.</p> + +<p> +"Sure we'll be with ye in a minyute, Captain dear!" answered the Irish +Liberty Boy.</p> + +<p> +"Off dere was some fighding been we was dere already pooty quick, I bet +me!" laughed Carl.</p> + +<p> +"Who is in a trap now?" asked Dick, with a laugh.</p> + +<p> +Then the five Liberty Boys suddenly dashed up and leaped upon the +smugglers or Tories, whichever they were. In a moment they were +disarmed, Dick putting his pistol to his prisoners head and saying +sternly:</p> + +<p> +"Now perhaps you will tell me what I want to know. You men are thieves, +smugglers, Tories, aren't you?"</p> + +<p> +"We make our money with as little trouble as possible," the man replied.</p> + +<p> +"And you have helped spies of the enemy to get information?"</p> + +<p> +"For pay, yes. Hughson would have paid us well if we could have +delivered you to him."</p> + +<p> +"Take these fellows to Putnam's quarters, boys," said Dick. "He will +know how to deal with them. Patsy, get me a torch or a lantern."</p> + +<p> +"Sure there do be wan just beyant, Captain. Wan o' thim rapscallions +dhropped it. Oi'll have it for ye in a minyute."</p> + +<p> +Sam and the others marched the prisoners away, and then Patsy came with +the lantern as Bob arrived, having taken Sarah Watrous part of the way +to the camp, where she would join Alice and Edith.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! You have a prisoner, eh?" said Bob.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and he is going to show us all over this place."</p> + +<p> +The fellow had no means of escape now, and Dick's pistol at his head +made him do what he would not have done under other circumstances. The +place had been a warehouse, but was supposed to be closed, the gang of +thieves and smugglers having used it for some months free from +discovery, bringing and taking things from it at night and evading +discovery all that time.</p> + +<p> +There were other warehouses and storehouses along the river, and a few +houses, but the men had worked so quietly, most of the time entering by +way of the river that no one knew of their being around. There was +considerable plunder in the house at this time, and Dick meant to find +owners for it if possible, and if not, to offer it at public sale and +use the money thus obtained to further the cause of independence. Pike +was greatly chagrined at being forced to show Dick about, and said +gruffly:</p> + +<p> +"Well, you rebels have got the best of us, but you won't enjoy it long. +When Howe gets hold of your city, as he will before many days, you will +have to leave."</p> + +<p> +"But by that time you will have been hanged as a spy and a thief and +will know nothing about it," replied Dick.</p> + +<p> +"H'm! Hughson got away and so will I," boastfully.</p> + +<p> +"I shall see to it that you do not," shortly.</p> + +<p> +Having finished the examination of the stone house, Dick took Pike to +the general's headquarters and turned him over, the man being put under +guard at once and some men sent to watch the place. Hughson had escaped +through the negligence of a fresh recruit, who had not understood the +importance of his prisoner, and had supposed him to be simply a man who +had been locked up for insubordination and was sorry for it, Hughson +carrying the thing through cleverly.</p> + +<p> +"The man will be more careful the next time, having been so close to +punishment," thought Dick, "and knowing that we are in earnest and will +show him no mercy."</p> + +<p> +Dick went one way and Bob another, both in disguise, for the very sight +of a Continental uniform would frighten the man now and put him on his +guard. Dick made his way along the wharves on both rivers, keeping a +lookout for the man, but without success, seeing many suspicious +characters, but none whom he knew to be spies. Having settled the +business, he went to the camp, where he found the girls and Sarah +Watrous being entertained by the Liberty Boys.</p> + +<p> +After dinner the girls returned alone, Dick being busy looking for signs +of the enemy along shore, and going around the city in disguise +searching for the spy, who he believed would try to learn more about the +disposition of the troops on the island, the forts, the amount of +supplies, the roads and other matters of importance. It was getting on +toward evening, and Dick was over on the East River side of the city, +when he saw a boy of about fourteen being abused by an evil-looking man.</p> + +<p> +"What are you striking that boy for?" he asked, stepping up and putting +the boy behind him.</p> + +<p> +"I got a right to abuse him, he's mine!" snarled the other. "The +ungrateful hound won't do things for his own dad."</p> + +<p> +"Is this man your father?" Dick asked.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, he is, but I don't want to give him the money I earn to buy drink +with, for then he abuses mother and the little children and—"</p> + +<p> +"Haven't I got a right to the money he makes?" growled the man.</p> + +<p> +"Not to misuse," retorted Dick quickly. "The boy is right in protecting +his mother, and if he can do it by withholding money to be used in +buying strong drink which takes away your reason, he has a right to do +so. Why don't you go to work?"</p> + +<p> +"You better mind your own business!" with a snarl. "I am a gentleman and +wasn't brought up to work."</p> + +<p> +"The greater misfortune!" shortly. "If you had known the dignity of +labor, you would not be the wretched man you are now. Go to work and +stop making a beast of yourself, or you may end your days on the gallows +or in a prison."</p> + +<p> +"If he don't give it to me now, I'll get it out of him another time," +the man growled. "I've a right to the money, and I'll flay him alive if +I don't get it!"</p> + +<p> +"If I hear of your harming the boy I'll have you sent to jail," said +Dick decidedly. "Run home, boy, and give the money to your mother. If +this man troubles you or your mother, go and tell General Putnam, and we +will see that the offence is not repeated."</p> + +<p> +"We'll see whether you will or not!" hissed the man, suddenly flying at +Dick as if to annihilate him.</p> + +<p> +In a moment Dick was on the defensive, and, then, taking the offensive, +sent the man rolling into the gutter.</p> + +<p> +"There! Perhaps you think I can do as I say now!" he said. "Keep on with +your abuse of your wife and family and you will catch it still worse. A +word to the wise is sufficient."</p> + +<p> +The boy ran away, quickly disappearing down a narrow street, while the +man, getting on his feet, glared at Dick and said:</p> + +<p> +"You're a rebel, that's what you are, and all the rebels will be driven +out'n this town, and then we gentlemen can do as we like."</p> + +<p> +"You gentlemen may be in jail or hanged by that time, and so know +nothing about it," dryly. "You are a pretty sort of gentlemen! I'd +rather not be one if you are a good specimen."</p> + +<p> +"I'll keep you in mind, my fine fellow," with a snarl. "You don't strike +me for nothing, let me tell you that!"</p> + +<p> +"I did not I struck you for a good reason, and whenever the occasion +rises again I will do the same, and you may remember that!" and then +Dick turned on his heel and walked away, having caught sight of a man +whom he had seen on the other side of the city, and whom he suspected to +be one of Hughson's cronies, having seen him in the tavern near the +Bowling Green. He followed the man carelessly so as to avoid suspicion, +and presently saw him go into a low groggery down the street. The boy's +father stood watching Dick for a time and then went off, Dick following +the man he had seen and paying no attention to the other. He found the +fellow sitting on a bench with others, but kept out of sight as much as +possible, not knowing if he would be recognized.</p> + +<p> +"Been drove out of our place over on t'other side of the city, hain't +you, Jeb?" asked one.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, by a lot of confounded rebels, too, and just as we was getting +ready to sell off a lot of the stuff," snarled the other. "I'd like to +get hold of the fellows!"</p> + +<p> +"Maybe when the redcoats come in you will, unless they get scared and +get out before that."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, maybe. Seen Hughson over this way? He had a narrow shave of it. +Come 'most to stretching a rope for old Put. Them same young rebels +caught him."</p> + +<p> +"No, I ain't seen him, but I heard he was looking around to find all he +could about the rebels so as to give the general a better show for +getting in. Light up here, Jim, it's getting dark."</p> + +<p> +A hulking-looking man in a corner now arose to get lights, as it was +growing dark in the place, and at the same moment some one entered and +said:</p> + +<p> +"They've got Pike hard and fast, and Wendell was hanged this morning. +I'd like to get hold of Slater and some of his—hello!"</p> + +<p> +The big man came along with a lantern, and Hughson, for it was the spy +himself, suddenly caught sight of Dick and recognized him.</p> + +<p> +"What's the matter?" tried several of the men in the place, leaping to +their feet.</p> + +<p> +"There's the rebel now–Slater himself!" cried Hughson. "Don't let him +get away! The boy in the brown homespun suit!"</p> + +<p> +In an instant a rush was made for Dick.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VII.–An Act of Gratitude.</p> + +<p> +Seeing his danger, Dick whipped out a pistol and shot the lantern out of +the big man's hand, making a sudden dash for the door. As he reached it, +however, some one came in, there was a collision and Dick and the +newcomer fell to the floor with a crash.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! can't you see where you're going?" the fellow yelled, and Dick +recognized his voice as that of the man who had been, abusing the boy +farther up the street.</p> + +<p> +The spy, Jeb and others now rushed forward, lights were procured and +Dick was surrounded and made a prisoner.</p> + +<p> +"H'm! that's the rebel that said I shouldn't spend my own boy's money," +the newcomer muttered. "I owe him a grudge and I'll pay it, too. No +rebel strikes me for nothing!"</p> + +<p> +"You know him, do you, Fletch?" asked Hughson.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I know him. I didn't know he was Dick Slater, but I know him, and +I've got a grudge against him and I'm going to settle it. You was +counting on taking him to the general, I suppose?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but get him out of the way. Some one might come in."</p> + +<p> +Dick was taken into a rear room where there was not much light and bound +hand and foot. At length he heard footsteps in the passage outside, and +then the door was opened and two men came in, followed by a boy carrying +a lantern in his hand. The men picked Dick up and carried him out, but +not before he had seen the boy's face, and the boy had seen him and had +given him a swift look of intelligence. The boy was the one he had +befriended, and however he happened to be here, whether he was leagued +with these evil men or not, Dick knew that he would help him. The boy +went ahead, down a flight of stairs to a damp cellar, and along a +passage to some place where there was a damp smell and foul odors from +the swamps along the river.</p> + +<p> +"Set him down, Bill," said one of the men, and Dick was placed on the +ground on his back.</p> + +<p> +"Go after the bag, Tom," one man said, "or send your pop and the rest +here."</p> + +<p> +"Won't do it!" said the boy. "Dad will beat me. Go yourself. I will +watch him."</p> + +<p> +"Go on, Jeb."</p> + +<p> +"Go yourself, or come along. Tom ain't used to these things, and the old +man will lick him, too. Knows you're here, does he, boy?"</p> + +<p> +"No, he don't. Safest place for me is the grog shop when he has no +money, 'cause he won't come there."</p> + +<p> +"He'll be here all right, then," with a laugh. "He wouldn't miss seein' +the rebel chucked into the water. Come on, Bill. Here, give us your +lantern, Tom."</p> + +<p> +"All right," and Dick knew by the gathering shadows that the men were +going away.</p> + +<p> +Then the boy suddenly kneeled at his side and said in a hoarse whisper +and with great excitement:</p> + +<p> +"I found out where you was, Captain, and made up my mind to save you. +I've got a knife and will cut the ropes. Wish I had the lantern. Never +mind, I can feel. Can you roll over?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I guess so," but at that moment there were other footsteps and +more lights and hoarse voices.</p> + +<p> +"Never mind, Captain, I'll do it yet!" hissed the boy. "I'll do it if I +have to kill dad and the lot of 'em."</p> + +<p> +Then the spy, the boy's father, the landlord, and the men who had +brought Dick to the place, came up and the boy slunk back into the +darkness and awaited his time.</p> + +<p> +"Got the bag there, Bill?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes; here it is."</p> + +<p> +Two of the men picked Dick up, while another held the sack open and drew +it over his feet. The boy came up, and Dick felt a keen bladed knife put +between his hands and for an instant saw the face of the boy.</p> + +<p> +"Here, get out of the way!"</p> + +<p> +"Hold him steady, Jeb!"</p> + +<p> +"Don't be so long there with that sack!"</p> + +<p> +"Hurry up, there, he's as heavy as lead!"</p> + +<p> +The sack was drawn up over Dick's head and tied tight with a stout rope, +the men then carrying him between them to the end of the passage and up +some steps. One or two tested the rope to see that it was all right and +then the men holding Dick gave the sack a swing or two and cast it well +out upon the water, where it struck with a splash and then sank. Dick +could hold his breath for nearly two minutes and he knew that he would +not need all that. While the men were swinging him he clutched the +handle of the knife, turned the blade down and began to cut through the +sack. When he began to sink he moved his hands toward his head and cut a +straight gash in the sack. Then he moved his hands the other way and +began to kick vigorously, so as to loosen the sack. Then, as he began to +think he could hold his breath no longer, he felt himself rising, the +sack fell away from him, and in a few moments he shot up to the surface +alongside some huge object which he recognized as the hull of a vessel. +Then he lay on his back and floated, and, holding the knife in his +teeth, cut the cords that bound his wrists and his hands were free.</p> + +<p> +Swimming noiselessly alongside the vessel, which was anchored in the +river, he reached the fore chains. He was now free to use both hands and +feet, and the next thing to do was to get to shore. He had his knife +which Tom had given him and this he resolved to keep till he was safely +out of all his dangers. Making his way around the anchored vessel, he +set out for shore, guided by the few lights along the water and in the +taverns. Suddenly he heard the sound of oars and then of voices.</p> + +<p> +"How did he get hold of a knife?" asked Hughson.</p> + +<p> +"I dunno, but he'll have to float and we ought to find him," replied +Jeb.</p> + +<p> +The sack had been drawn ashore, and the slash in it discovered and now +the men were trying to find Dick. The boat was coming directly toward +him, and in a few moments he could distinguish its outlines dimly and +see the forms of three men in it rowing directly toward him. Then he +sank well down and swam right under the boat, coming up a yard or so +beyond it as it went on toward the middle of the river.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VIII.–Tom's Defiance.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! there's some one swimming in the river!" cried the spy.</p> + +<p> +"So it is," growled Jeb. "Hello there!"</p> + +<p> +"Put about," muttered Fletch. "It's the rebel. He can float. We must get +after him."</p> + +<p> +Dick swam on, the boat putting about, and now the light of a lantern was +shining over the waters.</p> + +<p> +"Ha! there he is!"</p> + +<p> +"Shoot the rebel, no one will hear!"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, we've got to get him!"</p> + +<p> +Crack! There was a report, but Dick had just sunk under water and was +unhurt. On came the boat, Dick rising just astern of it. In a moment he +seized the gunwale and swung the boat around with all his might, at the +same time tipping it at one side. There was a cry of alarm, and then +some one cried from the ship Dick had seen:</p> + +<p> +"Get away from here, you water rats, or you'll get a shot or two in your +gullets that you won't like."</p> + +<p> +There was a sudden splash, and Dick knew that some one had fallen into +the river from the boat. He had released it, and was now making his way +toward the wharf at good speed. There were more outcries from the river, +but Dick could not see the lantern now, and judged that it had fallen +overboard. The inability of the men to see Dick worked for his safety +now, and he swam on to the wharf at a good rate. Nearing it, he heard +the boy Tom say in a cautious voice:</p> + +<p> +"Who is that?"</p> + +<p> +"It is I, Tom, thanks to you," said Dick. "Without that knife I should +have been drowned."</p> + +<p> +"Come this way, Captain," added the boy. "Do you see me?"</p> + +<p> +"No, but I know where you are."</p> + +<p> +Dick swam toward the boy and was helped by him to land.</p> + +<p> +"You saved me from a thrashing, and you saved the money I had for my +mother," the boy said. "But for that he would have got it, and mother +and the little children would have had nothing to eat."</p> + +<p> +"You earn money for your mother and the children, do you?" asked Dick, +interested.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, sometimes quite a good deal, but I have to be careful about it, +for if he finds out that I have it, he takes it away and then we have to +go without. I have to lie to save it often. Is that very wicked, +Captain?"</p> + +<p> +"No, it would be better for you not to lie, but to face him down and +tell him plainly that the money was for the support of the family and +not for him to squander in drink."</p> + +<p> +They were hurrying along now, the boy in the lead, the sounds from the +river showing that the men were coming back.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, that is right and I shall do it, but come, they will raise an +alarm and you will have trouble in getting away. This way, Captain."</p> + +<p> +They went down an alley, the boy taking Dick's hand, and presently +turned into a narrower one where Tom shortly pushed open a door and +entered a house.</p> + +<p> +"It is Tom, mother," the boy said. "I have got the captain with me. The +scheme worked well, fortunately, and he cut his way through the sack."</p> + +<p> +"You were obliged to take desperate chances, sir," said a woman's voice, +"and I told Tom that I feared they would be too desperate. He would have +released you if he could."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I know, ma'am, but he gave me great assistance and I am accustomed +to taking desperate chances."</p> + +<p> +The woman lighted a tallow dip and then exclaimed in surprise:</p> + +<p> +"Why, Tom, you said he was a captain! This is but a boy, not very many +years older than yourself."</p> + +<p> +"He is the captain of the Liberty Boys, mother. They are all boys, some +of them no older than myself. This way, Captain, and I will get you some +clothes to take the place of the wet ones."</p> + +<p> +The boy then led the way into a smaller room, where he brought out a +suit of clothes somewhat small for Dick, but neat and clean.</p> + +<p> +"You had best keep them," said Dick, as he removed his soaking garments, +"and if you will come to the camp to-morrow, you can have your own +again."</p> + +<p> +He rapidly exchanged the wet for the dry clothes, Tom giving him a +ruffled shirt, saying:</p> + +<p> +"That is a gentleman's shirt, but I suppose you do not mind, on a +pinch?"</p> + +<p> +"No," with a laugh, "I do not, but I hear some one coming."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but he does not know of this place, and if you are quiet he will +not hear you. There is another way out which I will show you."</p> + +<p> +Dick finished his dressing as he heard Fletch say:</p> + +<p> +"Some one helped the rebel, and I'd like to catch him! Where is that boy +Tom?"</p> + +<p> +"He is not here."</p> + +<p> +"Well, I can see that!" savagely. "Where is he?"</p> + +<p> +"He has gone out," simply.</p> + +<p> +"Whereabouts? To earn money? He gave you some to-night. Where is it?"</p> + +<p> +"You cannot have it," resolutely. "Some of it has been spent for the +children and the rest is put away."</p> + +<p> +"I want it. I am drenched and chill with cold. The plagued rebel upset +me into the river. I must have liquor to take out the chill. Give me the +money."</p> + +<p> +"No, I will not. I will make you some hot tea, which will be better for +you. I have never refused to help you when you were yourself, but I will +not let you turn yourself into a beast and make the children go hungry +and naked."</p> + +<p> +"Give me the money, I say!" savagely, and then Dick heard a frightened +scream from the other room.</p> + +<p> +"Quick, let me out, Tom!" he cried.</p> + +<p> +The boy was ahead of him, but Dick followed only an instant behind, +sprang into the room he had left and seized the angry, half-drunken man +as he was about to throw the woman to the floor.</p> + +<p> +"Stop that, you brute, or you will get into a worse place than the +river!" he cried. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"</p> + +<p> +He had thrown the man on the floor but he now got up and rushed at him, +knife in hand. Dick had the knife which Tom had given him, and he met +the other's attack resolutely. The two blades clashed together, and the +man's knife fell to the floor, the boy picking it up.</p> + +<p> +"I told the captain I would kill you, if need be, to save him," he said, +"and I'll do it all the quicker to save my mother. You are a miserable, +drunken brute, not fit to live with decent folk. Go away, I will not +have you here."</p> + +<p> +"You?" repeated the man shamefully. "What have you to do with it? Isn't +this my house, aren't you my son, isn't your mother my wife? Where else +should I go? How can you turn me out–you, a mere boy?"</p> + +<p> +"Because I am the breadwinner, because you are a drone, an idle, +worthless fellow. You are not fit to associate with us. You are no +father of mine; I disown you!"</p> + +<p> +"You cannot put me out," snarled the man, advancing.</p> + +<p> +"If he cannot, I can!" said Dick, with determination. "If you do not +leave here at once, I will drag you out and denounce you as an associate +of spies, an habitual drunkard and a thief. Are you going?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes," muttered the man, cowed by Dick's resolute bearing.</p> + +<p> +Then he went out, and Dick said in a low tone:</p> + +<p> +"He will not venture to return at once, but he will seek out his evil +companions and try to overcome me yet. I must go. You are a brave boy, +Tom. Stick to your mother above all others, and you will come out all +right. Good-by, come and see us at the camp to-morrow."</p> + +<p> +Then Dick hurried out, and made his way toward Broadway where he would +be safe. Reaching a main thoroughfare at length, he went on and at last +entered the camp, where he was challenged by Ben Spurlock.</p> + +<p> +"Who goes there?" cried the boy.</p> + +<p> +"Captain Slater," was Dick's reply.</p> + +<p> +Then Ben gave a signal which brought a score of the boys running to the +spot in an instant.</p> + +<p> +"Lieutenant Estabrook has gone out to look for you, Captain, and taken a +strong party of the Liberty Boys," said Mark Morrison, coming forward. +"Were you on the East River side of the city?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Lieutenant, and have had some very exciting adventures. Send some +of the boys over toward the river, and I think they will find the +others. Tell them I am all right."</p> + +<p> +The boys gave a cheer, and then Mark despatched a dozen boys to look for +Bob, Dick going to his tent to change his clothes. In time Bob and his +boys came back, and there was great rejoicing in camp, everybody being +anxious to hear Dick's adventures. Dick told them, the boys being more +incensed than ever at the spy and determined to capture him and put him +out of the way of doing any more mischief.</p> + +<p> +"That boy Tom was a plucky fellow and a grateful one as well," declared +Bob. "That is the sort we want in the Liberty Boys."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but he is needed at home," Dick returned, "and would probably have +to do the cause good in other ways than joining us. He would be an +acquisition, of course, but I would not ask him."</p> + +<p> +All was quiet in camp at length, and no alarms of the approach of the +enemy were heard, although it was not long before they would be.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IX.–The Spy in the Toils.</p> + +<p> +The next morning Tom came into camp, the boys giving him a hearty cheer +as soon as they knew who he was, and asked to see Dick.</p> + +<p> +"He has not come back all night," he said, and Dick knew that he +referred to his father. "I do not think he will return. He is afraid to +come back. I shall be very glad to leave the city because I think I +shall get more work outside and mother and the children will do much +better."</p> + +<p> +"I think it will be better for you all," Dick returned. "If the enemy +gets hold of the city there will be much suffering, I am afraid. If you +leave you will avoid this. I can find you a place where there will be +work enough for all, and where you will not be troubled by your father +when he is in his cups."</p> + +<p> +"He is always in them of late years and has greatly changed toward +mother and all of us. The little children are afraid of him and will not +go near him, but I must protect my mother."</p> + +<p> +"That is right, Tom. Always do it. Perhaps if your father stopped his +bad habits he would be better again, but it is best for you to go away +from him entirely and live apart until you see what changes time may +bring about."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I think so, and I shall go as far away as I can and start for +myself. You know some good place?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and I can put your mother and the little ones, with good people +where they will be taken care of until you are established, and they can +look out for themselves. We live in Westchester, about twenty miles +away, which will be far enough to keep your father from finding you and +not too far away to get plenty of work."</p> + +<p> +"I shall be very glad to go there," simply.</p> + +<p> +"My mother and sister and the lieutenant's parents and sister live +there, besides many of the boys' families, and it will be no difficult +matter to get you all the work you can do, and work for your mother as +well. It will be a better place to live than the city, and you will be +in no danger from your father."</p> + +<p> +"I would like a place like that," said Tom. "It would be better for all +of us!"</p> + +<p> +"Then I will make arrangements for your mother and the children to go up +there at once and you can follow shortly. The enemy will eventually get +possession of the city, and you will be better off out of it than in it.</p> + +<p> +"I will get ready as soon as you say, Captain," shortly.</p> + +<p> +"Then I think you had better not delay, for I believe that it is a +matter of a few days only, perhaps not more than one, when the enemy +will be in possession."</p> + +<p> +The boy then went away, and in half an hour Alice and Edith came to the +camp, and Dick told them about Tom and his mother.</p> + +<p> +"I think you had better return shortly, Alice," he added, "and take the +boy's mother and the little children with you. Tom will very soon +establish himself when he gets there and will be much better off than in +New York."</p> + +<p> +The girls were ready to go very shortly, for the evidences of the +enemy's preparations to seize the city were more and more visible. One +or two ships had gone up the East River the previous night, and the +ships were all much nearer to the city than they had been the day +before. After Alice and Edith had gone, Dick and Bob went down to the +lower end of the city to investigate, and found one or two ships at +Governor's Island, just opposite, the people in the lower sections being +in a state of considerable anxiety.</p> + +<p> +"That looks as if there might be something going on in a short time," +muttered Bob.</p> + +<p> +"I think so myself, and I am glad that I suggested to the girls that +they had better leave. The British are getting ready to invade the city, +and we don't know how soon they may attack us on all sides."</p> + +<p> +"Then we will all have to get out or else be obliged to run the +blockade."</p> + +<p> +"Exactly, and we must learn all we can of Howe's moves."</p> + +<p> +During the afternoon Tom came to the camp with his mother and the little +children, reporting that his father had not been seen since the night +before, and that he thought the man feared arrest and had fled or was in +hiding in some of the lower quarters of the city. Dick obtained a horse +and chaise to take the mother and children, Tom driving, being more or +less used to horses. The two girls came in just as these preparations +had been completed, and it was shortly after dinner that they all +started on their way to White Plains.</p> + +<p> +They were all glad to get away, and Tom was particularly pleased at the +prospect of getting his mother out of the city, where her health and +that of the children would be greatly improved, and where they would all +be free from the fear of the father. When they all set out, the boys +gave them a hearty cheer, and Dick and Bob went away with them, +intending to ride a few miles and take a look at the river on the way. +The boys left him at the Greenwich village and then came back by the +river road, in order to see whatever might be going on. They were +something below the old village, when, nearing a tavern by the roadside, +Dick reined in and said excitedly:</p> + +<p> +"There is that rascal now! I hope he has not seen us."</p> + +<p> +"Which rascal do you mean, Dick?" asked Bob, halting just behind Dick +and looking around.</p> + +<p> +"Hughson, the spy. I did not see his face, but I know his figure. He is +dressed as a drover and will probably go into the city, thinking that we +do not know him."</p> + +<p> +"Was he at the inn, Dick?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, drinking home-brew and smoking a long pipe, taking his comfort, +evidently. As I saw his back only, it is not likely that he saw me."</p> + +<p> +"We ought to catch him, Dick."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and this is a good place, as there are no Tories in the village, +and the people of the inn will help us. Take the rear, Bob, and I will +go to the front of the house."</p> + +<p> +The boys separated, Dick riding at once to the front door of the inn and +dismounting. He saw the man at one of the windows and was sure of him. +In a moment the fellow turned, saw Dick and started for the rear. As he +was going out, he suddenly saw Bob, who said quickly:</p> + +<p> +"Good morning, Mr. Hughson. I trust you had a comfortable night after +your adventures on the river."</p> + +<p> +"I don't know you, my lad," returned the man, with a broad accent, "and +my name is not Hughson. I'm in a bit of a hurry, and—"</p> + +<p> +"Your name may not be Hughson, fast enough, but you are a British spy +and we want you. You do know me, but I will refresh your memory a bit. I +am Lieutenant Bob Estabrook of the Liberty Boys, and you were captured +by us a night or two ago in the city."</p> + +<p> +"Never saw you in my life, and I am not a spy, but as good a rebel as +yourself," and the man hurried to the barn at the rear of the house.</p> + +<p> +"You are not a patriot," said Bob, following. "We do not call ourselves +rebels."</p> + +<p> +Then Bob imitated the crowing of a cock, and in a moment Dick came out +and hurried forward. Hughson turned at the sound, saw Dick almost upon +him, and whipped out a pistol. In an instant, however, Bob was upon him +with a pistol at his head and his other hand on the spy's wrist.</p> + +<p> +Then Hughson suddenly found himself covered by a pistol in Dick's hand, +the young captain saying:</p> + +<p> +"Take his weapon, Bob, and see if he has any others. Mr. Hughson, you +are wanted in the city. Do you prefer going there dead or would you +rather go alive?"</p> + +<p> +The man blanched, for he knew that he was in desperate straits and that +his chances of escape were slight. He made a sudden dash, wrenching his +hand free and attempted to fire at Dick, but Bob, by a quick thrusting +out of his left foot, sent him upon his face on the grass. A man and a +boy came running from the barn, and two housemaids appeared at the rear +door shortly, followed by the landlord. Dick and Bob sprang forward and +seized the man as he arose, holding him firmly.</p> + +<p> +"What is the trouble, Captain?" asked, the landlord, recognizing Dick, +whom he had met before.</p> + +<p> +"We have caught a British spy, Boniface. He is a troublesome fellow and +has already made his escape once."</p> + +<p> +"Bless my heart! A British spy, say you? Why, he told me he was a drover +going into the city to get orders for cattle."</p> + +<p> +"And he told me he was a rebel," laughed Bob, "thus arousing my +suspicions at once. We are not rebels and we do not recognize any."</p> + +<p> +"We call you rebels!" snarled the spy.</p> + +<p> +"But we do not," echoed Dick, "and if you were a better observer and +consequently a better spy, you would have known it."</p> + +<p> +The others now came up and regarded the man with decided curiosity.</p> + +<p> +"The fellow had a horse, didn't he, Boniface?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, he had, and a very good one."</p> + +<p> +"Will you have it brought out? We will lose no time in going back to the +city."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I will have it brought at once. Jenkins, get the drover's horse +immediately."</p> + +<p> +"You will let me finish my pipe and pot, won't you?" asked the spy. "You +took me rather by surprise."</p> + +<p> +"If you are not long over them," answered Dick.</p> + +<p> +Bob meanwhile, had deftly searched the man for concealed weapons and had +taken them all away, so that Hughson might not cheat them by killing +himself. He drank a pot of homebrew and puffed at his pipe under the +trees, and then the groom announced that his horse was ready and he was +quickly in the saddle. He said nothing as he rode away between the two +boys, but seemed to be thinking deeply.</p> + +<p> +"You rebels don't have very much money," he said at last. "What would +you consider a fair amount to allow me to escape?"</p> + +<p> +"You have made two serious errors," replied Dick coolly. "First, we are +not rebels, as I have frequently told you, and second we are not for +sale. Do you think we are as mean as yourself, who associate with +thieves and murderers to gain your ends? There is not money enough in +the world to induce us to violate our oaths."</p> + +<p> +"But why should you deliver me up to death, when I have never done you +harm?"</p> + +<p> +"You forget last night," tersely. "Who tied me in a sack and threw me +into the river?"</p> + +<p> +"Well, but I gave you a knife to—"</p> + +<p> +"You did not. That was Tom Fletcher. You had nothing to do with it. You +came out upon the river in a boat afterward to look for me, fearing that +I would escape. Don't add lying to your other faults."</p> + +<p> +The man rode on in silence for ten or fifteen minutes, and then suddenly +said:</p> + +<p> +"You will be no better off if you do deliver me up to your rebel +general, for Howe will be in possession of your wretched little city by +tomorrow and the lot of you may be shot."</p> + +<p> +"If it is such a wretched little city, why does General Howe bother +himself about it?" laughed Bob, Dick saying nothing.</p> + +<p> +"If you will let me go I will find a way for you to escape, and—"</p> + +<p> +"If you say another word on that subject I will gag you!" interrupted +Dick sternly. "We are not to be bought, I tell you!"</p> + +<p> +Hughson flushed and remained silent after that, and at length the boys +met some American soldiers and turned the spy over to them.</p> + +<p> +"That disposes of him," said Dick shortly.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but he has been a very troublesome fellow, and would have been if +we had not caught him. That was a very fortunate meeting."</p> + +<p> +"Except for him!" grimly.</p> + +<p> +"Very true, but, as Patsy says, we don't consider the enemy's feelings +in such matters."</p> + +<p> +Returning to the camp, the boys heard from Mark that there had been +considerable activity among the ships of the enemy during the afternoon, +and that there were more at Governor's Island and one or two much nearer +the mouth of the Hudson than during the morning.</p> + +<p> +"It is all very threatening," declared Dick, "and I think that the spy +was right when he said that Howe will try to be in possession of the +city by to-morrow. At the latest, it cannot be more than a day or two +and then we must look out for ourselves."</p> + +<p> +"As we generally have to do!" laughed Bob.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER X.–Caught in a Trap.</p> + +<p> +There was time enough before supper for Dick to visit the general, and +shortly after his arrival in camp he went out afoot and made his way +across the Commons and down Broadway. Seeing the general, Dick informed +him of the capture of the spy, and what the man had said about Howe.</p> + +<p> +"It looks as if we might have trouble in a short time, Captain," the +veteran answered, "and you will hold your Liberty Boys in readiness to +act at a moment's notice at all times."</p> + +<p> +"I will do so, General," replied Dick. "If there is to be any fighting, +the Liberty Boys will be glad to take part in it and do their share in +opposing the advance of the enemy."</p> + +<p> +"I have always found them ready to do that, Captain," Putnam replied, +"and to do it well, too. I have every confidence in you and the Liberty +Boys, Captain, and I know that you will all do your best wherever you +may be posted."</p> + +<p> +Dick then saluted and left the general, taking his way down to the lower +end of the island in order to see for himself what was going on among +the ships. On Whithall wharf he suddenly came face to face with +Fletcher, Tom's father, the man being in a semi-intoxicated state at the +time, and glaring fiercely at him as he said:</p> + +<p> +"You got away last night, you confounded rebel, but you don't do it +again so easy. What have you done with my wife and the young ones? Nice +business, ain't it, turning a wife against a husband?"</p> + +<p> +"You have turned her against you by your own outrageous conduct," Dick +retorted. "If you had treated them right, your family would have +remained with you, but you cannot expect anything better when you act as +you have."</p> + +<p> +"Where have they gone? I have a right to everything that any of them +earns, and I'm going to have it. Tom is under age, I have brought him +up, and I can claim everything he has, and whatever my wife has also. I +know my rights, I tell you!" savagely.</p> + +<p> +"Do you know your duties, as well?" sharply. "I don't care what the law +is in your case. I know what justice is. You made an attempt upon my +life last night, and if I choose to make a charge against you, I could +put you on trial for your life."</p> + +<p> +The man was not so much intoxicated that he could not understand Dick's +position and his own danger, and he turned pale and moved hurriedly +away, losing himself in the crowd that thronged the wharf at the time.</p> + +<p> +"I don't think I shall have any more trouble from Mr. Fletcher," thought +Dick, "or not on account of this affair, at any rate."</p> + +<p> +He remained on the wharf till nearly sunset, and then set out for the +camp, where he arrived shortly before supper. There was an alarm during +the night, and early the next morning Dick learned that some ships had +passed up both rivers, and not long after this there was the sound of +heavy firing at some distance above the city, and the boys knew that the +enemy had succeeded in landing troops. There was great excitement in the +city, and many of the inhabitants began leaving in great haste.</p> + +<p> +Dick hurried off to Putnam's quarters, and soon afterward word was +received that the city was to be evacuated. The general despatched Dick +to the lower part of the city to see that there were no ships coming up +the river and to warn the men at the lower batteries to leave. Dick took +Bob and a dozen or more of the boys with him and hurried away on foot, +sending Mark and the rest of the boys toward the upper part of the +island. The boys had performed a part of their mission and were +returning, when they suddenly heard a great bombarding from the river +and at the same time saw a considerable body of redcoats coming toward +them.</p> + +<p> +"To the stone house, boys!" hissed Dick. "These fellows know nothing of +it and we are safe there."</p> + +<p> +The stone house was the nearest place of refuge, and the boys hurried to +it, the redcoats losing sight of them. They reached the place in safety, +and were all inside and out of sight before the redcoats came to the +wharf and began to look for them. The door above was closed and looked +as if it had not been open in months, the boys not having been seen to +enter it. Dick and Bob hurried below, leaving Ben, Harry, Sam and others +at the upper door, while the rest scattered through the building. There +were a few persons on the wharf below when the redcoats came along, but +these had not seen the boys and knew nothing about them.</p> + +<p> +"What place is that?" asked a sergeant of redcoats of one of the +loungers, pointing to the stone house.</p> + +<p> +"Just an old warehouse," the man answered.</p> + +<p> +"Is there any one in it?"</p> + +<p> +"No, not now," was the reply.</p> + +<p> +Dick was listening at the door, and he knew the man to be one of the +rascals who had been in the house but had escaped. There was a reason, +therefore, for the man not saying very much about the place.</p> + +<p> +"Why not?" the sergeant asked.</p> + +<p> +"Because the rebels arrested 'em and took all the stuff out," the man +replied.</p> + +<p> +"We shall have to get a look at the place," the redcoat said, and he +promptly went to the door with a dozen of his men.</p> + +<p> +The door was locked and was very strong, and the sergeant speedily came +to the conclusion that there was little use in trying to force it and so +gave up the attempt.</p> + +<p> +"Have you seen any rebels about here?" he asked, but the other man was +gone, and those he spoke to said:</p> + +<p> +"No, there hain't been nobody here sence we come around."</p> + +<p> +The sergeant and the redcoats, as well as a second lieutenant and +another party, examined the region all about the place, but saw nothing +of the boys and so concluded that they had gone elsewhere. There was a +guard of about a dozen left on the wharf, but none on the bank above, +the rest going into the city. The loungers about the place, evidently +fearing that they might be pressed into the service, went away, and thus +there was no one to give any information to the redcoats, which might +have resulted in giving the house another visit.</p> + +<p> +Dick sent Harry and Will to the cellar and thence under the wharf to the +river, the boys reporting that the tide was high and that there was no +getting out that way at that time. Then one of the boys was sent to the +upper door to keep a lookout, Dick going to see him in a few minutes.</p> + +<p> +"There are redcoats on the Commons, Captain," the boy reported. "A +couple of men went by here just now and I heard them talking about it."</p> + +<p> +"We can leave the house," remarked Dick, "but we would not get a great +way before being discovered, and I think it better we remain here for a +time, till dark, perhaps."</p> + +<p> +"We are caught in a trap," muttered Bob, "but the redcoats don't know +it, and that's the only hopeful thing about it."</p> + +<p> +"We are not caught in a trap exactly, Bob," declared Dick. "Say, rather, +that we are hiding from them, and that as soon as we see a good chance +we are coming out and will make a run for it."</p> + +<p> +"And in the meantime what are we going to do for something to eat and +drink?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p> +"We may find something in the house, but we shall have to take it cold, +for as soon as we start a fire we will excite suspicion."</p> + +<p> +"I found some old clothes in one of the rooms, Captain," said Ben, "and +when the coast is a bit clear some of us can go out and get food. I will +go, for one."</p> + +<p> +"Very good, Ben, but not now," replied Dick.</p> + +<p> +Later, when there was no one about the upper floor, Dick, Ben and Harry +went out, looking like three vagabonds, and looked about them. Dick went +toward the Commons, and Ben and Harry took their way toward the church +to get some food. There were redcoats on the Commons, as Dick had +feared, and he could see more of them in the distance. Then he walked +carelessly on, seeing no one who knew him, and made his way as far as a +quiet inn down a side street where he was well known, the people being +good patriots. On the way he saw many redcoats, Hessians, and other +enemies, and he knew that getting out of New York was going to be a +difficult task, and one that would require all their energy as well as a +deal of craft and caution.</p> + +<p> +"What, you are still in the city, Captain?" asked the landlord, when he +recognized Dick.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, there are nearly a score of us who were caught here, but I hope to +get away to-night."</p> + +<p> +"There are lines drawn right across the city and island, and the +redcoats will let no one through whom they do not know."</p> + +<p> +"There is the river," added Dick. "We are in the old warehouse down +there, and if we can get a boat or two we will try to get out of the +city that way."</p> + +<p> +"There are ships in the river, Captain, that are keeping a sharp +lookout. I don't want to discourage you, but I am afraid that it will be +as hard to get out that way as any."</p> + +<p> +"I am glad to know all the difficulties there are in our way, for then I +shall know how to meet them. It is better to know just what to expect."</p> + +<p> +"Of course, and I will give you all the help I can."</p> + +<p> +"Thank you. If I need it, I will call on you."</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XI.–Getting Away Under Difficulties.</p> + +<p> +Dick secured a basketful of food to take to the boys, knowing that Ben +and Harry would procure more, and therefore not taking any more than he +could conveniently carry without arousing suspicion. The city was full +of redcoats, and at every step he realized the danger he ran, and also +that it would increase with every hour that he and the boys remained in +New York.</p> + +<p> +"We must get out to-night as soon as we can procure boats," he said to +himself, "There must be some way of getting them, and we must have them, +as they are absolutely necessary."</p> + +<p> +He returned to the stone house, getting in by the lower door without +being observed, the other boys returning shortly afterward by the upper +entrance.</p> + +<p> +"It will be difficult to get away by any of the regular roads," declared +Ben, "and even if we all had disguises, it is going to be a difficult +matter to pass the guard."</p> + +<p> +"I was thinking of getting out of New York by way of the river, Ben," +said Dick.</p> + +<p> +"That will be something less difficult, though hard enough, but where +are we going to get our boats?"</p> + +<p> +"There are ships in the river not very far away, and it may be that they +will anchor still nearer. The men will want to come ashore and we must +get hold of at least two boats. I don't think one will be sufficient, +even if it is a long boat. Watch the river, boys, and see what are our +chances."</p> + +<p> +The boys ate some of the food which Dick and the rest had procured, and +while some rested, others kept a lookout on the river, on the wharf and +on the bank above. At times the paths were well frequented, and men and +women could be seen on the walk above, the wharf being now quite busy +and then almost deserted, although at no time would it have been wise +for the boys in uniform to have ventured out. Well on in the afternoon a +ship came up the river and anchored right off the stone house, well out +in the stream, another being something above it.</p> + +<p> +"The bluejackets will be coming ashore some time in the evening to enjoy +themselves," remarked Dick. "It will be high tide, and if we can get +hold of the boat, we can perhaps hide it under the wharf."</p> + +<p> +"Unless it is too high," said Bob. "The tides are pretty heavy just +now."</p> + +<p> +"Then we can leave from the wharf itself, but we shall have to do +everything with despatch, for it is likely that a watch will be kept on +the river and along shore, and the least suspicious act will bring down +the night patrol and the watch, as well as the redcoats and sailors."</p> + +<p> +"No good thing can be had without effort," said Bob dryly, "and if we +want our freedom we must work for it."</p> + +<p> +It was after dark when two boats came ashore from the nearest vessel and +tied up at the wharf a short distance from the stone house. The sailors +went ashore, leaving the boats without any one to look after them, but +there were men on the wharf and constant passing to and fro of men and +boys.</p> + +<p> +"We shall have to wait a while," said Dick. "When it is quieter there +will be more chance to secure the boats."</p> + +<p> +"Then it may be too late," muttered Bob, "for the sailors will be going +back to the ship."</p> + +<p> +"They will not return till late, for no sailor wants to cut short his +shore leave."</p> + +<p> +"There may be a few minutes when all is quiet, and in the interim we can +make a run for the boats and get away."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and we must be on the lookout for just such a time."</p> + +<p> +The boys waited patiently, but it seemed as if no one wanted to go to +bed, and as if there would be something going on all night. Finally, +realizing the danger of waiting too long, Dick said to Bob and some of +the boys:</p> + +<p> +"I am going to make my way to the other end of the wharf and get up some +sort of disturbance to draw the people away from the boats. You must +take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I will join you +and we will all leave."</p> + +<p> +"You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, I +would insist on going with you."</p> + +<p> +"There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself."</p> + +<p> +"I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from the +boats."</p> + +<p> +"No, perhaps not."</p> + +<p> +Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat +over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf +and get up some sort of disturbance to draw the people away from the +boats. "You must take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I +will join you and we will all leave."</p> + +<p> +"You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, I +would insist on going with you."</p> + +<p> +"There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself."</p> + +<p> +"I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from the +boats."</p> + +<p> +"No, perhaps not."</p> + +<p> +Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat +over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf. +The boys were to act as soon as they heard any unusual noise from his +direction, Bob taking the lead. Making his way along the wharf, Dick +presently saw a nightwatch with a lantern at the end of a long pole +coming toward them.</p> + +<p> +"Here is the watch," said one, "come to send us to bed."</p> + +<p> +"Let us put out his lantern and souse him in the river," said Dick, with +a laugh.</p> + +<p> +"That's so, that will be great fun."</p> + +<p> +A man with a lantern came up at this moment and the light fell upon +Dick.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! if there isn't the rebel!" the man shouted.</p> + +<p> +The fellow was Tom's father, Dick recognizing him at that moment. Here +was the chance to create the disturbance, and Dick at once sprang at the +man, knocked him down, and said:</p> + +<p> +"Take that, you sot! We will see if you can insult honest folks for +nothing!"</p> + +<p> +At once there was a shout, and some of the man's friends sprang at Dick +with shouts and a great uproar. In the scuffle Dick lost his long coat, +letting it go rather than be seized by one of the thieves. The night +watch and a number of redcoats were now seen coming on at a run.</p> + +<p> +"By George! the fellow is a rebel, after all! See his uniform."</p> + +<p> +"My word, that's Dick Slater himself! Seize him, there is a big reward +offered for him."</p> + +<p> +Dick knocked down two of the crowd and pushed another into the water +from the wharf. There was a great outcry, and now men and boys began +coming from all quarters to see the fight. The watch and the redcoats +saw Dick and hurried forward to arrest him as a rebel and for creating a +disturbance. The people, fearing to be apprehended by the watch, hurried +away by this and that way of escape, and Dick had a clear coast. Then he +gave a signal which told the boys to get away as quickly as possible. +They had already seized the two boats and filled them rapidly.</p> + +<p> +"Take in Dick, boys," said Bob, heading one of the boats, "while I go +ahead to clear the way."</p> + +<p> +Harry, Ben, Sam, Phil and others were in the other boat, which lay +alongside the wharf, ready to take Dick on board. Meanwhile the alarm +was spreading that Dick Slater, the captain of the Liberty Boys, was in +the city and that whoever would seize him would receive a large reward. +Dick, close pressed, sounded a signal to the boys to get away at once +for fear of being caught. It were better that he were taken, he +reasoned, than that all the boys should be made prisoners. Bob, in his +boat, thinking that Dick was all right, went on out upon the river. +Redcoats, nightwatch, sailors and populace joined in the pursuit, +pressing the young patriot sorely. He had to dodge and take a longer +course to the boat in order to reach it at all and then signalled to the +boys to go on. Harry and his boys, supposing that Dick had in some way +reached the other boat, took up their oars and began to pull. Then Dick +found a way suddenly to dart between two of the redcoats and run rapidly +toward the water. There was a great outcry and the chase waxed hotter +than ever. The redcoats and the nightwatch pursued Dick to the very edge +of the wharf.</p> + +<p> +The boat containing the Liberty Boys was just putting out. Dick jumped +and was caught by Harry. The redcoats were too late. A furious captain, +in his haste to seize Dick rushed forward with drawn sword, and in a +moment went pitching headlong, and was speedily seen floundering in the +water, his wig floating in one direction and his hat in another, his +sword sinking to the bottom, as he was suddenly forced to swim for it or +go down. The nightwatch lost his lantern in the scuffle, and there was +great confusion and hubbub. In the dark, men behind pushing forward to +see what was going on crowded redcoats and others into the river, and +the confusion and hubbub grew worse and worse every moment.</p> + +<p> +"Hallo, keep back there, you are throwing us all into the river!"</p> + +<p> +"Good thing, too, to get rid of all the redcoats!"</p> + +<p> +"Push a few more in and give them a good soaking."</p> + +<p> +"Shove in a few rebels to even things up."</p> + +<p> +"What's all the trouble about, anyhow?"</p> + +<p> +"Ten o'clock of a sultry night and all's well!" drawled the nightwatch, +recovering his lantern and lighting it.</p> + +<p> +Then other nightwatchmen came up, and there was more light and less +confusion and turmoil. The redcoats were very wroth at the people for +letting the "saucy young rebels" escape, and the bluejackets were angry +at the rebels for taking their boats, while some of the people were +wrathful at both redcoats and bluejackets, and others,–Tories, by the +way–were incensed against the others and angry at the escape of the +boys.</p> + +<p> +The latter were now out upon the river in the dark, but going cautiously +and steadily on. Dick took the lead and worked his way between the shore +and the nearest ship without being discovered, the hubbub on shore not +having yet resolved itself into an alarm which the ships could +understand. The officers, supposing it to be merely a fight between +rival crews or between sailors and people, paid no attention to it, and +the boys continued steadily on their way. Then other boats put out, and +some one shouted:</p> + +<p> +"Hallo! there's a boatload of young rebels on the river, trying to +escape. Fire upon them and sink the young rascals the moment you see +them!"</p> + +<p> +Now the cause of the fracas on shore was explained, and at once a search +for the daring boys was instituted. Lights flashed, hoarse voices were +heard calling across the water, and there was as much confusion on the +river as there had been on land. One could not see as far as on shore, +however, and the means of getting from place to place were not as +numerous, and much time was lost in getting into communication one with +another.</p> + +<p> +Dick knew his way and went on as rapidly as possible, and with all +caution, passing one ship and making his way toward the next. In the +dark, the blue uniforms of the boys could easily be mistaken for the +blue jackets or sailors or midshipmen, and Dick relied upon this to help +him in his escape. A boat had been lowered, and presently the sound of +the boys' oars was heard by the enemy.</p> + +<p> +"Ahoy! What boat is that?"</p> + +<p> +"Seen anything of the rebels, sir?" asked Dick, the boys pulling +steadily.</p> + +<p> +"No, not yet. Have you?"</p> + +<p> +"I've an idea there's a boatload of them ahead of us somewhere, but it's +dark as Erebus on the river."</p> + +<p> +"Go ahead and keep a watch. My idea is that they have not gone as far as +this yet."</p> + +<p> +"An idea that you are quite welcome to, my man!" was Dick's thought. +"Everybody thinks that his idea is the only correct one."</p> + +<p> +Bob was hailed by the other boat as he followed Dick closely, and +answered gruffly:</p> + +<p> +"Port, captain! Keep a watch below there, and keep a sharper eye on your +duty. The rebels may have gone down the river, for all you know. There +is no good in looking one way only."</p> + +<p> +"Aye, aye, sir!" and the boat went down the river.</p> + +<p> +The ship was passed in safety, the boats being supposed to be filled +with middies and bluejackets, and no questions were asked. There were +dangers ahead of the boys, however, and they all realized that running +the blockade was not going to be as easy a matter as one might think.</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XII.–On the River.</p> + +<p> +There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise +which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which +would now be a hindrance to the boys. They must get beyond the ships and +the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all +realized the dangers to be met. It was better for the two boats to keep +together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to +separate and the boys understood this. They had passed the ships nearest +to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up +the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.</p> + +<p> +The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats +out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey +shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing +forward. The boys rowed steadily, all of them being accustomed to being +on the water, and their progress was steady if not very rapid, it being +dark on the river, and the current and the tide being both against them.</p> + +<p> +Rowing on steadily, they at length heard sounds behind them, which told +them that the search below had been thorough, and that the enemy were +convinced that they had gone up the river instead of down, and the +pursuit was now being carried on in that direction. A bright light was +seen from the masthead of a ship below them, this being meant as a +signal to those above. As they went on, they saw a light flash from the +masthead of a vessel some way ahead of them.</p> + +<p> +"Pull steady, boys," he said. "We may be able to pass the ship without +being seen, and, if not, I think I can find a way to fool them and run +the blockade."</p> + +<p> +As they went on, a boat was seen crossing their bow at some little +distance, and Dick told the boys to get the lanterns ready. On they +went, and at last a hail came from the boat ahead:</p> + +<p> +"Ahoy! Who are you?"</p> + +<p> +The lanterns suddenly flashed, and Dick cried:</p> + +<p> +"There are the rebels, men. Don't let them fool you. Get ready, all of +you!"</p> + +<p> +"Hello! Boat ahoy! Are you looking for rebels?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and we've got you! Surrender, or we'll run you down!"</p> + +<p> +"Why, you dunderhead, we are looking for rebels ourselves!"</p> + +<p> +"By George! then they must be below. Go down there and look for them!"</p> + +<p> +"What authority have you over us, I'd like to know?" in an angry tone.</p> + +<p> +"See that masthead light? That means to look out for the enemy. We are +here to see that the enemy are looked out for. That's my authority! Pull +ahead, my men!"</p> + +<p> +The middy in the other boat saw just enough blue and gold lace to +mistake Dick for a naval officer, and the young patriot's tone of +authority did the rest.</p> + +<p> +"Very good, sir!" promptly, and the boats containing the boys went on, +the names painted on the sterns being seen, and no one supposing that +any one but British bluejackets would be in them.</p> + +<p> +"Keep a sharp lookout below there, Midshipman!" said Dick, in a +commanding tone. "There is no use of that light. You are only giving the +rebels warning."</p> + +<p> +The other boat went on, and the masthead light was presently +extinguished, much to Bob's delight.</p> + +<p> +"The thing has burned out, I suppose," he muttered, "and they will not +renew it. Good thing, too!"</p> + +<p> +"Keep on steady, boys, and make as little noise as possible," said Dick. +"We are not out of danger yet, and no one knows what may happen before +we get up to the obstructions."</p> + +<p> +"We may be able to go ashore there, Captain," observed Harry, "in place +of having to get through them."</p> + +<p> +"Yes, if there are no lines drawn across the island at that point. We +can tell better when we get there."</p> + +<p> +It was all dark on the river again in a few minutes, and the two boats +keeping close together proceeded steadily on, making very fair progress.</p> + +<p> +"Would it be of any advantage to make our way over to the Jersey shore +and cross again higher up the river, Dick?" asked Bob.</p> + +<p> +"I am not sure that it would, Bob," was the reply. "We will not do it +unless we have to, as we can probably make better time by keeping on as +we are."</p> + +<p> +The day had been sultry, but it was now cold and damp on the river, +being dark as well, a cold mist arising as they went on, which not only +made it more difficult to see their way but chilled them as well. +However, if they could not see the enemy, the latter could not see them, +so that there was an advantage on their side after all. They went as far +as Bloomingdale without seeing anything of the enemy or hearing any +alarm, and were in hope of going the rest of the way safely, when the +mist lifted for a few moments, and Dick saw the outlines of a ship +looming up before him out of the darkness. He quickly steered out of the +day and signalled to Bob to go closer inshore so as to avoid the ship. +Presently a light appeared on board, and then a voice called out in +sharp tones:</p> + +<p> +"Boat ahoy! What are you doing out there?"</p> + +<p> +"Looking out for the enemy!" answered Dick, that being just what he was +doing.</p> + +<p> +"Seen anything of them?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, some little time ago. Seen any yourselves?"</p> + +<p> +"No, what are they up to? Sending out their confounded fireboats to +annoy us?"</p> + +<p> +"Oh, they'll do anything, I fancy," and the boats went on, the men on +the ships never imagining that they contained a number of the Liberty +Boys.</p> + +<p> +"Keep a good watch for them, and if you see any give us a signal."</p> + +<p> +"Aye, aye! we'll keep a strict watch for them."</p> + +<p> +"That's what we've been doing ever since we left New York," muttered +Ben, under his breath.</p> + +<p> +The ship was presently lost in the mist and darkness, and the boys went +on, not knowing when they might come upon another. They kept close +together, so as not to be separated, and drew as near to the shore as +was safe, the ships being mostly in midstream. Now and then the darkness +was so dense as to shut out everything, and once they ran upon a bar and +had to push themselves off with considerable exertion, being unable to +see anything. Getting off at last, they went on, but were at length +hailed by a boat out on the river and not far from them.</p> + +<p> +"Boat ahoy!" cried Dick, in answer to the hail. "Are you from the Royal +George?"</p> + +<p> +"No, the Inflexible. Are you from the George?"</p> + +<p> +"No; we are looking for her. We are carrying despatches."</p> + +<p> +"She must be up the river. We have seen nothing of her. Who are you?"</p> + +<p> +"Despatch boat. Keep a sharp lookout for the enemy. They are getting +troublesome."</p> + +<p> +"Aye, aye!" and Dick and his boys went on rapidly, getting farther and +farther away from the other boat every minute.</p> + +<p> +"The river is full of the pesky British!" muttered Bob. "I am not sure +that it would not be safer to go ashore."</p> + +<p> +"We are sure of our road here, Bob," laughed Dick, "but we would not be, +on shore. I think we had better stick to the river for a time, until +dawn, at any rate."</p> + +<p> +"H'm! it can't be far from it, then, for I never knew it to be +thundering dark," growled Bob.</p> + +<p> +The boys laughed and went on less rapidly, that being the safest course. +They took turns rowing, and so no one became over-fatigued and all had a +chance to warm up, the mists of the river being very chilly and damp. At +length it grew light enough to see the obstructions in the river just +ahead of them, and they set about getting through and going on. Dick +would have gone ashore, but he saw tents and the gleam of scarlet +uniforms on shore, and concluded that it would be better to remain +longer on the river. The boats had much less trouble in getting past the +obstructions than a ship would have had, and they got through at length, +with some trouble, being seen by the redcoats on shore, however, it +being very much lighter by this time.</p> + +<p> +The enemy raised a great shout, but they had no boats, and all they +could do was to run along shore and shout, firing a volley now and then, +which did no damage and only set the echoes to answering.</p> + +<p> +"They had better keep quiet," sputtered Bob. "The first thing we know +they will wake up everybody along shore, and we will have some trouble +in making a landing."</p> + +<p> +"I think we might do it before long, Bob," Dick returned. "A run will do +us good after being on the river so many hours."</p> + +<p> +"All right, Dick, and if we can give the redcoats a run the right way, +so much the better."</p> + +<p> +Farther on, around a bend of the river, the redcoats being now out of +sight, the boys rowed in to shore and made a landing. They had left +their muskets behind, but they all had their pistols and were ready to +give the redcoats as lively a reception as they could. The boats were +left to go adrift, and then, led by Dick, who knew the way thoroughly, +they set out for their own lines, which Dick judged would be somewhere +below Fort Washington. On they went, and all at once came upon a party +of the enemy hurrying to intercept them.</p> + +<p> +"Fire, Liberty Boys!" shouted Dick. "Scatter the redcoats, drive them +off the island, hurl them into the river!"</p> + +<p> +"Liberty forever, forward, down with the redcoats!" echoed the plucky +fellows.</p> + +<p> +Then they began to discharge their pistols in the liveliest fashion, and +to shout as if there were four or five times as many of them. The +redcoats evidently thought that there were many more of the daring boys, +and fell back in haste. Dick and Bob led the way, and the whole party +charged resolutely, desiring to get to a place of safety as soon as +possible, although it seemed to the enemy as if they were being pursued +by an army, and they made all haste to get away.</p> + +<p> +The boys turned up the road toward the fort with all haste, and were +well on their way before the enemy realized that they were not being +pursued. Then they turned and went after the boys, greatly chagrined at +having been so cleverly fooled. They got reinforcements, and set out +after the boys in full chase, but were suddenly brought to a stop by the +main body of the Liberty Boys under Mark Morrison. Mark had heard the +firing, and was out looking for Dick and the Liberty Boys at the same +time, and now, seeing their danger, fell upon the enemy tooth and nail +and sent them flying.</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah! back with the redcoats!" he shouted. "Give it to them, my boys. +Fire!"</p> + +<p> +Crash–roar! The redcoats now had to face a musket volley instead of a +pistol discharge, and they felt the difference. Down upon them bore the +gallant boys with a cheer and a ringing volley, and then two or three +brigades of regulars were seen following up the boys, and they fell back +in great disorder.</p> + +<p> +"Hurrah!" yelled Bob. "That's the kind of reception to get. Here we are, +boys!"</p> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="chapter"> +CHAPTER XIII.–Tom Joins the Liberty Boys.</p> + +<p> +Mark and his boys gave Dick and Bob and the rest a hearty cheer, and +then the whole body took a stand to be ready to meet the enemy in case +they should make another advance. The patriots were out in full force +now, however, and the redcoats fell back to the edge of Harlem Plains, +where they had their camp, the plan being a sort of neutral ground +between the two armies.</p> + +<p> +The boys shortly retired to their own camp, and here Dick and Bob and +Ben, and the rest who had been left in the city, were given a right +royal welcome, and then they all had breakfast together, Dick and his +boys being very glad to get it. Mark and the others were eager to hear +what had befallen them in the city, and were greatly interested in +hearing the story of their many and varied adventures. "We had some +trouble ourselves in getting away," declared Mark, "but nothing like +what you fellows had. You must have given the redcoats a good scare at +times, however."</p> + +<p> +"It was the only chance we had of getting away," laughed Bob. "If we had +not made them think we were ten times as strong as we were, we would +have been gobbled up."</p> + +<p> +The enemy made one or two sorties during the day, but were in every case +driven back, and at last retired to their lines and did not again seek +to molest the Americans. The patriots had lost New York, but they were +still in possession of the upper part of the island and meant to hold it +as long as they could, Fort Washington being a strong fort and well +defended. At night the Liberty Boys' camp was well guarded, and the +slightest move of the enemy toward it would have been detected in a +moment. During the forenoon, Tom came to the camp and said:</p> + +<p> +"It's a fine place where we are, Captain, and I am obliged to you for +sending us up there. Mother will get plenty to do and already has the +promise of enough to keep her busy for a month."</p> + +<p> +"I am very glad of it, Tom," said Dick, "and I am sure that you will all +be much happier there than in the city. The enemy are there now, and it +will be much worse than before."</p> + +<p> +"So the redcoats have gone into New York, have they? I am sorry for +that."</p> + +<p> +"So are we all, Tom, but it will not be forever. Some day we will be +back there again, and the British will be driven out and have to go back +to their own country beyond the sea."</p> + +<p> +"The sooner the better!" muttered Tom.</p> + +<p> +"Tell them when you go back that we are all right, Tom," Dick resumed. +"Some of us had a hard time getting out of New York and had to run the +blockade, but we got out fast enough and gave the redcoats some pretty +good slaps."</p> + +<p> +"The young ladies will be glad to hear of it. Did you see him again, +Captain?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and he made some trouble for us, but we got away all right for all +of him, and I doubt if we shall ever see him again."</p> + +<p> +"Well, I hope not, but you can't tell. What you don't expect is just +what happens."</p> + +<p> +"At all events, he has no idea that you and your mother are up here, +Tom, and it is not likely that he will trouble you any more."</p> + +<p> +"Well, I hope he won't, Captain, but you can't tell, as I said."</p> + +<p> +"No, but we will do all we can to keep him away. His reputation is not +good, and if he appears in camp we will warn him that if he does not +keep away he will be arrested."</p> + +<p> +"That may have some effect, though if he thought that arresting just +meant being put in jail he wouldn't care, because he's been there before +lots of times."</p> + +<p> +"We will make him understand just what it means, Tom," said Dick, "and I +think he will keep away, but then, he has not appeared at all yet."</p> + +<p> +"No, that's so, and I was making out as if he had or was going to," with +a smile. "Well, perhaps he won't."</p> + +<p> +The boy's look and tone seemed to indicate that he was afraid the man +would come, however, and Dick said no more about it. Tom went back to +Dick's house, and the Liberty Boys did not see him again for two or +three days. Meantime the commander-in-chief, whose confidence Dick +enjoyed, sent for the boy and said:</p> + +<p> +"There is an important mission which I wish to entrust to some one, +Captain, and I know of no better, person than yourself to do it. Get +ready at once to go down to the city and obtain certain information. +Procure a disguise and a horse, and then come to me, and I will furnish +you with money for your expenses and a pass, which will enable you to +get through the lines."</p> + +<p> +"Very good, your excellency," Dick replied, and in half an hour he was +ready to start.</p> + +<p> +Bob, Mark, or any of the Liberty Boys, in fact, would have been glad to +go with him, but the general thought it was best to go alone, and so he +took no one with him. The pass had been taken from a spy whom the +patriots had captured and enabled Dick to get through the lines in +safety. Reaching the city, he set about getting the information +required, and secured it the first day he was there. That night there +was an alarm of fire in the lower part of the city, and Dick dressed +himself and went out with many others to ascertain its extent and see +what he could do to help put it down.</p> + +<p> +It had started in a low groggery on Whitehall wharf and was of +considerable extent, spreading as far as Beaver street, and then +shifting to the west, and going as far as the river and nearly to +Partition street, Trinity church being destroyed on the way. It had +started by accident, but many of the British declared that it had been +set by the Americans, and there was a bitter feeling against them, many +innocent persons being put to death by the enraged people.</p> + +<p> +During the fire, while Dick was working with others to stop its +spreading, a man was caught looting a burning house and was at once +dragged away and hanged to a post holding a street lamp. Dick saw his +face for an instant and recognized Tom's father. There was no +interceding for the man, who had been caught red-handed, and he suffered +the penalty of his crimes.</p> + +<p> +"His wife and the rest are the better off for his taking away," said +Dick to himself, "but I cannot tell how he died. He was never of any use +to them and they are better off without him."</p> + +<p> +The fire burned out at length, but there were smoking ruins the next day +and for several days, although Dick did not remain as long as that. He +got away the next day and made his way out of the city and to the camp +with very little difficulty, his pass being of great assistance to him. +Changing his clothes and putting on his uniform, Dick reported at once +to the commander-in-chief and was complimented upon securing the +information so promptly. Reporting other matters that he had learned, +Dick returned to the camp and told Bob and a few others how the Tory had +met his death, adding:</p> + +<p> +"Do not say anything to Tom about it. I will tell him that his father is +dead, but not how it happened. It is a hard thing to say, perhaps, but +they are better off without him than they ever were with him."</p> + +<p> +"It is the truth, at any rate," muttered Bob, "though it may not be +necessary to tell them."</p> + +<p> +A few days later the Liberty Boys were ordered into lower Westchester to +check the advance of Howe and Cornwallis, who were trying to get behind +the Americans at King's Bridge and thus have a better opportunity to +attack Fort Washington, which the British leader had set his heart upon +subduing.</p> + +<p> +"That will give us plenty to do," declared Bob, "and give us a chance to +bother the redcoats."</p> + +<p> +"And give Patsy a chance to get rid of some of his extra fat," laughed +Mark, who was a bit of a tease.</p> + +<p> +"Sure Oi've none to spare at all, Liftinant," roared Patsy, "but if ye +had said Cookyspiller now, ye'd have hit it to a tay. Sure he do be +nadin' it had."</p> + +<p> +As the boys were getting ready to leave, Tom came into camp and said:</p> + +<p> +"So you are leaving, are you, Captain? You have not seen him, have you?"</p> + +<p> +"You will not see him again, Tom," Dick replied. "He was killed a few +days ago while in the commission of a crime in the city."</p> + +<p> +"Did you see it, Captain?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Tom. You and your mother are now free."</p> + +<p> +Tom asked no questions, but presently said:</p> + +<p> +"I would like to join the Liberty Boys. Mother is doing very well, the +little children are being cared for, and there is a good man up at +Tarrytown who has lost his wife and needs some one to take care of his +children. Mother can do it, and I think—"</p> + +<p> +"She will marry him in time, Tom? Yes, it will be good for both of them. +She likes him?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, and so do all of us. Is it wrong for me to think that we are +better off now that he has been taken away?"</p> + +<p> +"You need not think anything about it, Tom, but you are better off, for +all that. The man was simply a clog about the necks of all of you."</p> + +<p> +"Then I may join the Liberty Boys, if I am big enough? Mother does not +need me now and I want to do something for my country."</p> + +<p> +"Your mother is willing, Tom?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, if you will take me."</p> + +<p> +"Very good. You are young, but not too young, and you are strong and +willing, and that is a good deal. I will see your mother, Tom, and I do +not think there will be any trouble about your joining."</p> + +<p> +Tom returned to his mother and in a day or so Dick saw her and found +that she was willing that Tom should join the company. Tom went back +with Dick, therefore, and was sworn in as one of the Liberty Boys, to +his great delight. The boys cheered him for they had all heard of him +and knew of his sterling character and manly qualities. He fought with +the Liberty Boys at White Plains and Fort Washington and went into the +Jerseys with the troop when they joined the commander after the fall of +the fort. He was at Trenton and Princeton, where he did brave work with +the boys and fought through the succeeding campaign, doing good service +at Brandywine and Germantown and going into camp at Valley Forge, where +he bore with fortitude all the hardships of that rigorous winter, one of +the severest ever known. During the next spring he was with the Liberty +Boys in Connecticut and lost his life during a fight with Tryon's +raiders. His mother had married in the meantime and was in comfortable +circumstances, and this was a great comfort to the boy, who said to +Dick:</p> + +<p> +"I have done my duty, Captain?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Tom, and well."</p> + +<p> +"And mother and the children are well and happy?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, they are, Tom."</p> + +<p> +"We are sure to win this fight for freedom, Captain?"</p> + +<p> +"Yes, Tom, we cannot do otherwise."</p> + +<p> +"Then I have not died in vain in giving my life for my country?"</p> + +<p> +"No, Tom, you have not."</p> + +<p> +"Then I have nothing to regret. Good-by, Captain. You have been very +good to me."</p> + +<p> +Dick took the boy's hand and held it till the grip relaxed, when he +placed it at his side and spread the flag over the young hero.</p> + +<p></p> + +<p> +Next week's issue will contain "THE LIBERTY BOYS AND CAPTAIN HUCK; or, +ROUTING A WICKED LEADER."</p> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + +<p style="border: none; padding: 10px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%"> +A reporter was interviewing Thomas A. Edison. "And you, sir," he said to +the inventor, "made the first talking machine?" "No," Mr. Edison +replied, "the first one was made long before my time–out of a rib."</p> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + +<h2>THE LIBERTY BOYS OF '76</h2> + +<h3>—— LATEST ISSUES ——</h3> + +<table> +<tr> <td class="issue">1064</td> + <td>The Liberty Boys</td> + <td>in Kentucky; or, After the Redskins and Renegades.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1065</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and Old Moll; or, The Witch of Red Hook Point.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1066</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Secret Cave; or, Hiding From Tryon.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1067</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and the Jailer; or, Digging Out of Captivity.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1068</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Trumpet Blast; or, The Battle Cry of Freedom.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1069</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Call to Arms; or, Washington's Clever Ruse.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1070</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Whirlwind Attack; or, A Terrible Surprise to Tarleton.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1071</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Out With Brave Barry; or, The Battle With the "Unicorn."</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1072</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Lost Trail: or, The Escape of the Traitor.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1073</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Beating the Skinners; or, Clearing Out a Bad Lot.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1074</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Flank Move; or, Coming Up Behind the British.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1075</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>as Scouts; or, Skirmishing Around Valley Forge.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1076</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Forced March: or, Caught in a Terrible Trap.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1077</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Defending Bennington; or, Helping General Stark.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1078</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Young Messenger; or, Storming the Jersey Batteries.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1079</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and the Indian Fighter; or, Saving the Southern Settlers.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1080</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Running Fight; or, After the Redcoat Rangers.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1081</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Fighting Doxstader; or, The Destruction of Currytown.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1082</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and the Miller; or, Routing the Tory Bandits.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1083</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Chasing "Wild Bill"; or, Fighting a Mysterious Troop.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1084</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Hidden Swamp: or, Hot Times Along the Shore.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1085</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and the Black Horseman; or, Defeating a Dangerous Foe.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1086</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>After the Cherokees; or, Battling With Cruel Enemies.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1087</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>River Journey; or, Down the Ohio.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1088</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>at East Rock; or, The Burning of New Haven.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1089</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>in the Drowned Lands; or, Perilous Times Out West.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1090</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>on the Commons; or, Defending Old New York.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1091</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Sword Charge; or, The Fight at Stony Point.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1092</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>After Sir John; or, Dick Slater's Clever Ruse.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1093</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Doing Guard Duty; or, The Loss of Fort Washington.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1094</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Chasing a Renegade; or, The Worst Man on the Ohio.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1095</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and the Fortune Teller; or, The Gypsy Spy of Harlem.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1096</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Guarding Washington, or, Defeating a British Plot.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1097</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and Major Davie; or, Warm Work in the Mecklenburg District.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1098</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Fierce Hunt; or, Capturing a Clever Enemy.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1099</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Betrayed; or, Dick Sister's False Friend.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1100</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>on the March: or, After a Slippery Foe.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1101</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Winter Camp; or, Lively Times in the North.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1102</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Avenged; or, The Traitor's Doom.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1103</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Pitched Battle; or, The Escape of the Indian Spy.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1104</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Light Artillery; or, Good Work At the Guns.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1105</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>and "Whistling Will"; or, The Mad Spy of Paulus Hook.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1106</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Underground Camp; or, In Strange Quarters.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1107</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Dandy Spy; or, Deceiving the Governor.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1108</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Gunpowder Plot; or, Failing by an Inch.</td> </tr> +<tr> <td class="issue">1109</td> + <td class="quote">"</td> + <td>Drummer Boy; or, Sounding the Call to Arms.</td> </tr> +</table> + +<p style="font-weight: bolder"> +For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt +of price, 7c per copy, in money or postage stamps, by</p> + +<p style="font-weight: bolder"> +HARRY E. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade + or, Getting Out of New York + +Author: Harry Moore + +Release Date: October 6, 2007 [EBook #22902] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIBERTY BOYS *** + + + + +Produced by Richard Halsey + + + + +THE LIBERTY BOYS RUNNING THE BLOCKADE; OR, GETTING OUT OF NEW YORK + +By HARRY MOORE + + +CHAPTER 1.--A Clever Capture. + +"I think that fellow is following us, Bob." + +"What fellow, Dick?" + +"The one on the other side of the way, the man with a beard and a +steeple-crowned hat." + +"Yes, I see him, but why should he follow us, Dick?" + +"To obtain information, I suppose. He is certainly watching and +following us and if we were to stop anywhere you would see that he would +do the same." + +"Suppose we try it, Dick?" + +"Very well. I may get some information myself. There is Fraunces' +tavern. That is as good as any place." + +"Yes, for that is a general resort for army officers, and if this man is +a spy, as you seem to think, he will be very likely to go to just such +places." + +The boys, well built and handsome, bronzed from exposure to the weather +and wearing the uniform of the Continental army, were making their way +along Wall street in the City of New York one pleasant September +afternoon. Dick Slater was the captain and Bob Estabrook the first +lieutenant of the Liberty Boys, a band of one hundred sterling young +patriots engaged in the war for American independence, and at that time +quartered in New York, on the Commons at the upper end of town. + +As they were walking along Wall street, Dick, who was very observant, +noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, who seemed to be +watching them closely as if with an idea of learning what they knew, and +following them wherever they went. At this time the city was threatened +by the British, who held Long Island and had ships at Staten Island just +across from Manhattan ready to proceed up the rivers at any time. The +presence of British spies in the city was suspected, and Dick, who was +an expert spy himself, had his suspicions concerning the man opposite as +soon as he saw the fellow. + +Turning into Broad Street, the boys walked down and at once the spy, if +he were one, took the same direction. Fraunces tavern, on the corner of +Broad and Pearl streets, was at that time a great resort for army +officers and men-about-town, and was, therefore, just the place which +the boys would frequent. Crossing the street when they reached Pearl +street, the boys went into the tavern, and were shortly followed by the +man in the steeple-crowned hat, who took a seat at a table near enough +to understand all that they said. + +Giving Bob a wink, Dick began talking about some supposed exploit with +some one in the army, and went on from that to telling of meeting +certain beautiful young ladies, and how the latter were so charmed with +him and other boastful talk. The man was evidently greatly disgusted at +having to listen to such talk, as he had evidently expected to hear +something different, and he shortly moved his seat to another part of +the room. + +"He had no interest in hearing how Polly Perkins winked at you, Dick," +laughed Bob. + +"No, but he wants to find out more about us, nevertheless. Don't look +over there. He has a very pretty scheme, I can see." + +The man was drinking strong ale from a pewter and, having finished it, +set the pewter down. Dick saw him scratch something on it and beckon +almost imperceptably to a man near by who had just entered. Then, as if +by accident, knocked his pewter off the table to the floor. The other +man came forward, picked it up and set it on the table, but Dick could +see that he glanced at it at the same time, and then, as if upon a place +to sit, came toward them and sat three or four tables away. The +suspected spy presently arose and went out and Dick said: + +"Well, good-by, Bob. I will meet you at Trinity church in half an hour." + +Then muttering the words, "Bowling Green, ten minutes," he walked away, +going past the table where the man with the steeple-crowned hat had been +sitting and carelessly knocking off the pewter. Picking it up, he looked +at it and saw scratched on one side: "Follow Slater." + +"So, this is another, as I supposed," he thought. "There are several +spies in town, and they know me and are trying either to learn something +or to get possession of me. We shall have to turn the tables on them." + +He made his way to the Bowling Green, meeting on the way four or five of +the Liberty Boys. + +"Go up to Trinity church, boys," he said, "stroll about the place +carelessly. There is British spy watching my movements and I wish to +watch him and, if possible, to catch him. The man is short and rather +stout and had a red face. There is another, who may not join him at +once, who wears a black suit and a steeple-crowned hat and has a beard. +He will send the other one first, I think." + +"All right, Captain," replied the boy, whose name was Ben Spurlock. "We +will watch him. Come along, Sam." + +Dick had gone on, meanwhile, the boys proceeding in couples or singly to +the church, where they scattered about waiting further instructions from +the young captain. Bob appeared at the Bowling Green at the appointed +time, and said: + +"The fellow was cautious and did not follow me, but I suppose he will be +at the church." + +"Probably, as his instructions were to follow me. Did he stay as long as +you did?" + +"Yes, and remained after I left. You will see him at the church, no +doubt. The other man may be there. Come into the nearest tavern and +exchange coats with me. We will see if these men are observant or not." + +"Very good," laughed Bob. + +In the private bar of the tavern the boys were alone long enough to make +the exchange, and then Dick sent Bob ahead and told him to wait in the +churchyard for him or some one wearing his own uniform. + +"You are the captain now, Bob," with a laugh, "but I don't know who will +be the lieutenant yet. That will depend." + +Dick then went over to Stone street, where he entered a little shop kept +by a draper, to whom he said: + +"I want an ordinary suit of clothes, Mr. Towns. I am watching a spy and +I think it just as well not to be in uniform." + +"I see, Captain. You are wearing the lieutenant's coat now." + +"You are very observant," smiling. "I will leave it here and send one of +the boys for it." + +"Very good, Captain. Step into the wareroom and take what you wish." + +The wareroom was no bigger than the shop, but the different suits were +hanging about the sides, and Dick quickly selected one not likely to +attract much attention, and put it on, leaving the uniform behind. On +Whitehall street Dick met one of the boys, Phil Waters by name, and +directed him to go to the draper's and put on Bob's coat over his own, +the young lieutenant being of a heavier build. As Phil did not have his +musket with him, the change was easily effected, and no one not knowing +him would suspect that he was not the lieutenant. + +"Go and meet Bob," Dick said, "and talk about anything but matters of +importance. Do not recognize me and watch the man whom you see observing +you and Bob." + +"All right, Captain," and Phil went away to make the change. + +Then Dick took his way up to the church and waited for the spy to +appear. Coming out of the church after a stay of a few minutes, Dick +saw Bob in the yard, standing contemplating a monument, while not far +away stood the second spy watching him. At the time mentioned, Phil, who +was supposed to be Bob, came up, and the two began to chat in the most +animated fashion. Dick saw the spy approach them so as to overhear their +conversation, and at once signaled to Ben, Sam, Harry, Will and others +whom he saw in the grounds to approach rapidly. + +Bob and Phil were talking away in the liveliest fashion about all sorts +of things except matters of importance, the spy standing behind a +monument listening to them and trying to discover what connection the +talk had with the situation in the city. Dick meanwhile had gathered the +various groups together, and they were now closing in upon the spy, +ready to act as soon as they got the word from the captain. The man with +the steeple-crowned hat was not to be seen, and Dick was uncertain +whether to wait for him or not. Then the spy stepped up to Bob and Phil +and said glibly: + +"Good day, Captain. You don't remember me, I suppose? I met you on Long +Island. So you are over here now? Where is your camp? I should like to +send up an ox or two for your use. Where did you say you were encamped?" + +Dick passed at that moment but was not observed, nor was a certain sign +he made to Bob. Then the call of a bird was heard and Ben, Sam and the +rest began to close in. + +"On the Commons," replied Bob. "Come up and see us some time. You are +Mr. Bulwinkle, are you not?" + +"Yes. I see you remember me very well." + +Then all at once he found himself surrounded by Liberty Boys, and a +young man in plain garments stepped up and said: + +"You are a British spy. You and a man in a steeple-crowned hat in +Fraunces tavern tried to listen to my conversation. I have not yet +caught your employer, but if you make any alarm or try to get away you +will be denounced. Go with these boys. They will show you our camp, +where you will remain a prisoner until I can deliver you up to General +Putnam." + +The man's face blanched, and then he recognized Dick, and muttered: + +"Jove! you are Slater, the rebel, himself! How did you manage---" + +"Slater, the patriot, you mean. Your superior is not very clever. I +detected him following us. Then he sat too close. Next he scratched a +message on the pewter after beckoning to you. You were told to follow +me. You thought I was coming here in uniform, didn't you? After +practically telling you that I was going to be here. I am afraid you are +new at spying, too. Go with the boys, but talk and laugh and don't let +any one think that you are a prisoner." + +"Jove! but I never would have suspected you of all this clever work." +muttered the other. + +"I did not want you to!" laughed Dick and he and Bob went one way, while +the boys went another with their prisoner. + + +CHAPTER II.--The Spy in Danger. + +Dick Slater and Bob Estabrook set off down Broadway and had nearly +reached Bowling Green when Dick saw the man in the steeple-crowned hat +approaching. He evidently took Dick for his friend at first, for he came +forward quickly, and then suddenly stopped, looked at both boys, +flushed, and, turning upon his heel, darted across Broadway and into +Pearl street, where he disappeared. Dick was after him at once, but by +the time he reached Pearl street, nothing was to be seen of the spy. + +The boys walked down to Whitehall wharf, where they could see over to +Staten Island, where the British ships seemed to be getting ready to +change their positions. The day was wearing on rapidly, and as they +could not get any additional information at the wharf, they turned their +faces toward the city and made their way at a good jog toward the +Commons, where the camp was located. As they neared Thames street, above +the church, Dick said in a low tone: + +"There is that spy going down the street. He has changed his disguise +and I would not be surprised if he had taken off his beard. + +"Where is he, Dick?" eagerly. + +"Going down Thames street on the right, the man in brown with a cocked +hat. I recognize his walk. Keep behind him, Bob. The sight of a +Continental uniform may have a bad effect upon him." + +"But he has seen you in that disguise, Dick." + +"Yes, and there is nothing striking about it. He would have to see my +face to recognize me and I shall take care that he does not." + +Indeed, Dick had so many ways of changing his expression, that it was +quite likely he could deceive the spy even were they to meet face to +face. Bob kept behind Dick as they went down the street on the same side +as the spy, the young patriot watching the man closely, and at length +seeing him go into a wine shop of a rather unsavory reputation. When he +disappeared, Dick turned to Bob and said quickly: + +"There is another door to this place down the alley. Go there at once +and watch for this fellow to come out. He will do so as soon as he +recognizes me." + +Then Dick waited a moment for Bob to go down the alley, and entered the +shop. He saw the spy sitting at a table, and now, having his own +expression, was recognized in a moment. + +"Good afternoon," he said, as he walked over to the spy, who was unable +to repress a start of surprise. "You did not expect to see me here, did +you?" + +"Who are you?" the other snarled. "I don't know you from a side of sole +leather. Why do you speak to me?" + +"I am Captain Dick Slater," said Dick, taking a seat opposite the spy. +"You escaped me just now and changed your dress and also took off your +beard. You had a friend--a short, somewhat stout man. We have taken care +of him. You will find my lieutenant at the other door. I see you are +looking toward it. I think you had better go out that way. Time presses, +and we had better go now." + +The spy suddenly arose, started for the door, threw the chair in front +of Dick and shouted: + +"This boy is a British spy! Hold him while I go for the guard!" + +Then he flew toward the door and was out of it. At once the men in the +shop began surging toward Dick with evil looks on their faces, and some +drawing ugly-looking knives. + +"That is the cry of 'Stop, thief!' to draw attention from himself," said +Dick. "My gentleman is a spy himself. I am Dick Slater, captain of the +Liberty Boys. I think you may have heard of me. Don't be afraid. My +lieutenant is at the other door." + +Then, quickly pushing the chair aside Dick left by the door he had +entered and then around to the alley. The spy had evidently thought that +Dick was deceiving him, but as he went into the alley he saw Bob, who +quickly caught him by the arm and said: + +"Wait a moment. The captain will be out in a second and will want to see +you. There is no such haste." + +Then Dick came down the alley, and Bob said with a careless laugh and a +quizzical expression: + +"Here is the captain. I have his uniform, but he is the captain, just +the same." + +The spy got up, glared at Dick and said angrily: + +"You are making a great fuss over nothing. I am not a spy, as you think. +I am an attorney and have---" + +"Why did you try to escape, why did you call me a spy, why did you +change your clothes, why did you follow me into Frances tavern, why did +you instruct your companion to follow me, if you are not a spy? +Attorneys don't do these things." + +The man turned sallow, smiled in a sickly fashion, and said: + +"This was all to test you. General Putnam had his doubts as to your +efficiency and wished me to put you to the---" + +The boys laughed at this flimsy excuse, and Dick said shortly: + +"You will go with us. I am well acquainted with General Putnam, who is +in command in the city. You know that, of course. We will go to his +quarters now." + +The man suddenly thrust his hand into his pocket and withdrew a packet, +which he tried to throw over a fence, but was prevented by Bob. + +"You had better give that to me," he said, taking the packet and putting +it in his own pocket. + +"Come!" said Dick. "It is nearly sunset. If you attempt any more +nonsense I shall call the guard. You know me, and you know why you are +arrested, and you are simply trying to throw obstacles in my way and so +make your escape." + +The spy made no reply, and remained quiet for the rest of their way to +the general's quarters. Leaving the prisoner under guard, Dick shortly +saw the general himself and related what had occurred. + +"H'm! spies in the city, eh?" muttered the veteran. "This is an +important capture, Captain. I must compliment you on a very pretty piece +of work. I shall have to see this man." + +Dick had the packet which Bob had taken from the spy, and he gave it to +the general, while the man was being sent for. Putnam looked it over and +said: + +"This proves conclusively that the man is a spy. You have the other one, +you say, Captain?" + +"Yes, in our camp. I can deliver him to-night or in the morning, as you +please." + +"I think it had better be to-night," shortly. + +"Very well," and at that moment the spy was ushered into the general's +presence, turning pale as he saw the veteran and realized what his fate +would be. Dick then took his leave and he and Bob returned with all +speed to the camp. + + +CHAPTER III.-In the Stone House. + +Reaching the camp, the boys were heartily welcomed by the Liberty Boys, +who knew that something had happened when Ben and the rest came in with +a prisoner and were eager to hear the rest. + +"Did you get the other fellow, Captain?" asked Sam. + +"Yes, and we left him holding an interview with General Putnam." + +"In which he was likely to get the worst of the argument," put in Ben +dryly. + +At that moment a jolly-looking Irish boy up and said, giving a comical +salute: + +"Captain dear, supper do be ready an' the young leddies have come to +camp, an' will ye ate thim foirst--Oi mane mate thim foirst an' ate +supper afther, or phwativer?" + +There was a laugh, and then two young very pretty young ladies rode up +to the fire and were helped to dismount by Dick and Bob. The girls were +their sisters and their sweethearts also, the sister of each being the +sweetheart of the other, and were as constant companions as the boys +themselves. They lived in Westchester county and had come to visit +friends in New York, stopping on the way to see the boys. + +"Well, Alice," said Dick to his sweetheart, "so you have come to the +city, have you? Things are in a rather turbulent state, but I fancy we +can get you out of it in case there is any immediate trouble. You will +stay to supper, of course. Patsy has just announced that it is ready, so +we will lose no time in sitting down." + +The girls were well known to all the Liberty Boys and when they sat down +they received a general salute, every boy there being glad to see them. +After supper the boys who had brought in the spy took him to the +general's quarters, and shortly after this Dick and Bob set out with the +girls to see them to the house of their friends in the city. Dick and +Bob took their horses, the captain riding a magnificent black Arabian +and Bob a fine bay, and all set out together, laughing and talking in +lively fashion. They struck across the Common to the road running to the +west of it, and would then make their way into the city past the new +church and Broadway to Maiden Lane. + +As they were going on at an easy jog, expecting to leave the Common, +four or five dark forms suddenly sprang up in front of them and seize +their bridles, while as many ran up behind and prevented their wheeling. +Then some one flashed the light of a lantern in their faces, and a voice +was heard saying: + +"H'm! women! We don't want them. All want is the rebels!" + +The girls' horses were at once set free, and the girls themselves lost +no time in wheeling and dashing back toward the camp, Alice taking the +lead. + +"Hi! what are you doing?" growled one of men, who were all evil-looking +fellows, as Dick could see. "The gals will bring the rest of the +rebels." + +Dick was dragged from the back of Major, his black Arabian, and one of +the men attempted to mount the animal to go in chase of the two girls +but was immediately thrown. + +"Back to camp, Major!" said Dick. + +In an instant the intelligent animal was flying after the girls, who +quickly recognized his hoof-beats. Meanwhile the men who had captured +Dick and Bob knew the danger they would run remaining on the ground, and +they hurried away with the two boys, letting Bob's bay go free. They +went on so rapidly that Dick was unable to see much of the way, but he +knew the direction they took almost by instinct, and could have returned +without trouble if he had been liberated. The men kept the two boys in +the middle of the party and held on to them tightly. + +"We got the rebels an' we'll get the reward," said one. + +"Yes, the gals an' the other rebels won't be able to find the house, and +they can hunt all they like." + +It was a sharp decline to the river, down the lane, and one of the men +stumbled and rolled several yards, picking himself up with a grunt and a +groan and a lot of bad language, and then hurrying after the rest. Dick +heard the swash of the water on the gravel bank, and then saw the river +itself dimly, but in another moment some dark object loomed up before +him, and then he and Bob were taken into a house, the front of which was +much lower than the back on account of the steepness of the hank. The +boys were taken to the front and then down a flight of steps to a room +in the rear, where they were left in the dark, the door being locked and +barred on the outside. + +"Who are these fellows, do you suppose, Dick?" asked Bob, when they were +left alone. + +"I don't know. Tories, no doubt, or just men who want the reward offered +for my capture." + +"But there is none offered for me," with a laugh. "Why should they take +me with them?" + +"To keep you from giving the alarm. They would have taken the girls if +they had thought twice." + +"But will the girls be able to show them the way?" + +"They can take them to where we were attacked, and after that the boys +will follow the trail. Mark is a good hand at that sort of thing, and he +will have good boys to help him." + +"Yes, they would all turn out and join in the hunt if he asked them," +declared Bob. + +"But there is no use in our staying in the dark, Bob," said Dick. "You +have matches with you?" + +"Yes. They did not search us and I have matches, and my pistols and +everything." + +Bob then lighted a sulphur match, the only kind in use at the time, and +looked about him. They were in a room with one door but no windows, and +were evidently under guard at the back of the stone house. Dick listened +attentively for some minutes, and at last heard the sound of some one +coming downstairs. + +"Put out the light, Bob," he said, in a low tone. "If they see it under +the door they may get suspicious." + +Bob blew out the candle, and in a moment all was dark and still in the +room. + +"When the door opens make a rush at it, Bob, and overturn the fellows. +There are two of them." + +Bob stood ready to act upon the instant, and the steps of the two men +coming on could be heard plainer than ever, rays of light beginning to +show under the door. The men said nothing, and came on softly, but +Dick's ears were very sharp, and he could hear them with no trouble. + +The key was turned in the lock and the bolts shot back, and then, as the +door opened slowly, the boys both threw their weight upon it suddenly +and sent it flying wide open in an instant. There was a startled cry and +a heavy fall, and in a moment the place was thrown into profound +darkness. + +"Pick them up and lock them in, Bob," said Dick, and the boys hurried +into the passage, presently stumbling upon two men who were just getting +upon their feet. + +They seized the men, threw them into the room, closed the door and +locked them in, taking out the key, and then looked for the lantern as +they heard a call from above. + + +CHAPTER IV.--The Boys' Escape. + +"Hallo, down there, what's the matter?" called some one at the head of +the stairs. + +"The blame rebels tried to get out and upset the lantern," answered +Dick, in a gruff voice. + +"Huh! where are they now?" + +"They're all right. We locked the door again." + +"H'm! we better come down and help you. We gotter take them away." + +"All right, come on, an' fetch another light." + +Then the boys began to move steadily toward the stairs, finally finding +them. + +"Come on, Bob," whispered Dick. "Don't waste any ceremony on them, but +tumble them downstairs as soon as they come. They won't get the others +out in a hurry, for I have the key." + +The boys went rapidly upstairs, but, just as a light appeared at the +top, the men in the room below began to shout: + +"Hallo! Bill, Toby, look out for them rebels; they've shut us up in the +storeroom!" + +"Hurry, Bob!" hissed Dick. + +The two boys dashed up to the top of the steps and came upon two men +carrying lanterns. In an instant each seized one of the Tories and sent +him rolling down the stairs uttering startled yells. Then they hurried +forward in the dark to the front of the stone house, opened the door and +ran out. At the same moment they heard shouts from the house, and then +shots were fired, the bullets passing over their heads. They returned +the shots, and heard a yell, and a sudden slamming of a door, and then a +cry from up the bank: + +"Hallo! Dick, Bob, are you there?" + +"Yes, Mark, coming right along!" shouted Dick, and then he and Bob +hurried up the steep bank, presently seeing lanterns and a number of the +Liberty Boys. + +"We had some little trouble in finding the place," declared Mark, when +Dick and Bob joined him and the rest, there being fully a score of them. +"The young ladies had no idea where the wretches had gone, but we picked +up the trail at length and then had less difficulty in following it. +Where were you?" + +"In the stone house--a regular nest of thieves," Dick answered. "I must +have a look at the place later." + +There was no further sound from below, and the boys went on to the top, +where they found several of the Liberty Boys and the two girls. + +Dick and Bob now jumped into the saddle and resumed their interrupted +ride, going with the girls to the house in Maiden Lane. The friends of +Alice and Edith were very charming girls, and the boys spent an hour or +two very pleasantly, telling the story of their adventures in the +afternoon and evening, and talking of the situation in in the city. The +boys at length left the house to return to the camp, Alice and Edith +expressing considerable anxiety, however, lest they be way-laid by the +men who had already made an unsuccessful attempt to keep them prisoners. + +In a short time they were back in camp, the occasional tramp of a sentry +or the sudden flaring up of a fire from a puff of night air being the +only things to show that there was any one there. The Liberty Boys were +always vigilant, for one never knew when an enemy might be about, and +Dick had taught them to be on the lookout at all times, whether they +expected a foe or not. After breakfast Dick took a party of about a +dozen of the boys in addition to Bob, and set out for the stone house on +the river. Reaching the lane, the boys dismounted, the descent being +rather too steep for the horses, and Dick, Bob and seven or eight others +went down. The door toward the road was closed and there was no sign of +life about the place. Dick and Bob went down to the shore where there +was a little wharf, and here they found a door on the lower story, this +being closed, however, as were the windows, and no one stirring either +in or about the house. + +"The place looks like an ordinary storehouse," remarked Dick, "and I +suppose that the people about here think it is such. I shall have to get +permission from the general to examine it, for it is a nest of thieves +whatever else it may be." + +"That is plain enough!" muttered Bob. + +Taking Bob, and leaving the boys to watch the place, Dick set out for +Putnam's headquarters to report concerning the place and ask what should +be done. Some of the boys remained on the bank above, and some on the +wharf and near the lower door. They found a passage under the wharf, and +then another dug through the earth, and leading to a door evidently in +the stone house under the bank and back of the wharf. + +"These fellows are regular smugglers as well as thieves!" exclaimed +Harry. "This is an important discovery. They use this place to take in +stolen goods when they are afraid to take them in any other, I guess." + +"See if the door is locked," suggested Sam. + +Then he and Harry tried it, and found that it was not fastened, but +opened readily when they lifted the latch. + +"Hallo! Who is there?" cried a gruff voice, as they advanced. + +"Here's one of the rascals! Catch him!" cried Harry. + + +CHAPTER V.--An Important Capture. + +Dick and Bob set out upon their horses for the general's quarters, and +upon reaching Broadway met the girls coming along on horseback. + +"I am afraid we cannot give you much attention now, girls," said Dick. +"We are going to the general's quarters, and then to rout out the +thieves, who make a rendezvous of the stone house and I think we shall +be very busy for sometime." + +"You might go up to the camp and cheer Patsy's heart by a visit," +laughed Bob. "He is fond of the girls." + +"You want us to get the poor boy in trouble, I see," said Alice. "You +would get so jealous that Patsy would have no peace." + +"You know what Carl says when he disagrees with any one, don't you, +Sis?" asked Bob, with a sly wink. + +"Come, my dear," replied Alice. "I think we shall be able to do without +their company for a time. We ought to be resourceful enough for that." + +"But, Alice, brother and Bob have business to attend to, and---" + +"And you are a dear little matter of face goose and can't see a joke," +laughed Alice. "You would spoil both those boys, but it needs me to put +them in the right place." + +Then the girls rode away toward the camp, while the boys went on to the +general's. The veteran listened to Dick, and said: + +"By all means break into the place and make a thorough investigation, +Captain. If there is any complaint, say that I gave you full authority +to act. There is something very about the whole affair, and I do not +believe that the place is used for honest purposes." + +"Nor we, General, but we wanted your authority before we proceeded to +vigorous measures." + +"Well, you have it now, Captain," said the general, who was well +acquainted with Dick, Bob and many of the Liberty Boys. + +They left the place, jumped into the saddle, were going up toward the +Commons when, as they neared the head of Maiden Lane, they suddenly +heard a sharp cry, and saw a young girl in a chaise come dashing toward +them at a terrific pace, the horse having taken fright at something and +being now beyond the girl's control. + +"Quick, Bob!" cried Dick. "We must save her!" + +"Why, it's Sarah Watrous," said Bob, that being the name of the girls' +friend whom the boys had seen the night before. + +The boys dashed forward, one on each side the chaise, Dick dismounting +and catching of the bridle, throwing himself backward and checking the +animal's speed. Bob reached out at the same time and did what he could +to stop horse, the two boys between them succeeding in checking him in a +short time. + +"Oh, I am so glad you came!" gasped the girl who seemed nearly ready to +swoon. "I don't know what I should have done without you. He never ran +away before and I didn't know what do." + +"What started him up, Miss Watrous?" asked Dick, stroking the horse and +getting him into calmer mood. + +"I am sure I don't know. I have been before and he never acted in this +fashion." + +"Who harnessed him?" asked Bob, looking the horse. + +"Why, I did. The boy was busy and I couldn't wait, so I did it myself. +Why shouldn't I do things for myself instead of being always dependent +upon others?" + +"That is all right in theory," laughed Bob, "but you have not done it +right, and the horse has been chafed and annoyed, and has finally tried +to get out of it and has run away. You had better let me fix things." + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the girl. "And I thought I could do most +anything!" + +Just then Dick caught sight of one of the men he had seen the night +before going down Broadway, and he said to Bob in a low tone: + +"Look after the young lady, Bob. There is one of those ruffians. Take +Major up with you when you get through." + +Then he went away at not too rapid a walk and followed the man he had +seen, observing him go into a tavern on the other side of the street and +just below the corner. + +"Not a very reputable place," he said to himself, "but I think I am safe +enough." + +Entering the place, he saw the man he had followed sitting in a corner +talking to a man who, if he was not greatly mistaken, was the chief of +the two spies he had captured the day before and had turned over to +General Putnam. The man recognized him, and hastily arose, and Dick knew +that he was not mistaken, although how he should have escaped was a +puzzle to him. + +"Stop that man! He is a spy of the British!" he cried. "And the man with +him is a thief!" + +"Better not talk too loud in this place, you saucy young rebel!" growled +the landlord, coming forward. "All my customers are respectable persons, +and if you don't like 'em, your room is preferable to your company." + +From the black looks cast at him, Dick saw that he was likely to get +into trouble, the patrons of the place being evidently persons of shady +character and Tories. He pushed forward, nevertheless, and, suddenly +drawing a pistol, said in a very determined manner: + +"If you attempt to stop me you do it at your own risk. One of those men +is an enemy to the country and the other an enemy to society, and I +purpose to arrest them both." + +"Run, Hughson!" muttered the thief. "I'll fix the young rebel. He threw +me downstairs last night, and---" + +Dick sprang upon the table, leaped to the floor, seized the thief by the +collar and dragged him to the door, and then, turning upon the men in +the place, said: + +"If any one attempts to follow he will get hurt, so I advise you to +remain where you are!" + +Then, dragging the man out of the door, he said: + +"The spy can wait. I have got you and you will have to give an account +of yourself. Keep quiet, or I will hand you over to the bailiffs at +once. You must know by this time that I am a boy of considerable +determination." + +They were in the alley by this time, and Dick, with his hand on the +man's collar, continued: + +"Will you go along quietly or shall I call a constable?" + +"H'm! you've got more pluck than a dozen constables!" the fellow +growled. "Oh, I'll go along with you, 'cause you've got the best o' me. +You didn't get Hughson, anyhow. How did you know I was with him?" + +"I did not, but I knew you and was determined to have you. You can give +me some information concerning the stone house, and later I will look +after the spy." + +The man gave a grunt, and by that time they were out upon a side street +leading into Broadway or to the river. + +"We will go there now," said Dick. "Some of the Liberty Boys are waiting +for me at the house and we can continue our investigations with your +assistance." + +"Huh! you seem to think I am going to tell you all I know about the +place," muttered the man. "S'pose I don't?" + +"Then you will get into worse trouble," shortly. + +It was dark in the room, so the boys could not see the man who had +challenged them, their matches having burned out: Harry stumbled over +something on the floor and fell headlong, Sam falling on top of him. At +the same instant came a flash and a report, and the boys saw the man +about to make a dash for the door. Will lighted another match, and Harry +and Sam managed to scramble to their feet, but were not quick enough to +intercept the man, who made a sudden spring, dashed Will aside, and was +out into the passage. + +"After him!" cried the boys in unison. + +But that was a difficult matter, for the passage, like the room, was +cluttered with packages and bundles of various sizes. They could hear +the sound of his footsteps, but could catch no glimpse of him, nor could +they tell which way he had gone, for passages seemed to open on both +sides. + +"H'm! I'm afraid we've lost him!" exclaimed Will, as they came to a +standstill in the dark. "I wish we had a better light than these matches +give. It's impossible to chase around here in the dark among all these +boxes and packages, and with passages leading every which way." + +"Listen!" exclaimed Harry. "There's some one coming this way." + +There was the sound of more than one man coming toward them from the +river side of the house. + +"We might better conceal ourselves," whispered Will. + +The three boys quickly drew to one side, and feeling a barrel standing +near the wall, one dropped behind it, while another hid behind a box, +and the other concealed himself in an angle of the wall. The sounds did +not proceed from the passage through which the three boys had just +passed, but from one on the right side, and seemed to come from more +than one person and who were trying to proceed quietly, evidently with +the intention of keeping their presence unknown as long as possible. + +"They must be somewhere about here," they heard some one whisper. "We +must never let them get away." + +Then suddenly a lantern flashed its light over their heads, and they +heard the words: + +"Well, they're not here, at any rate." + +The steps passed their hiding places, and the boys decided that there +were three men. + +"If we could meet them on our own ground, we'd be more than a match for +them," muttered Harry. "But this strange place and in the dark, we'd be +completely at their mercy." + +"Yes, and with the other rascal lurking about," answered Sam. + +Just then they heard a long, shrill, peculiar whistle. The boys started, +for they did not recognize it. Following almost immediately came the +report of fire arms. + +"Come along, boys!" cried Harry. "There's something doing somewhere, and +we must be on the spot!" + +They all rushed on blindly in the dark, following the direction whence +the shot proceeded, the way still as dark as Erebus, but seemingly +straight ahead. When Dick and his partner reached the stone house on the +river, the man would have passed the door, but Dick held him back, +saying sharply: + +"I know the house. I want to save time by having you show me its secret +passages and explain what nefarious practices are being carried on in +the place." + +The man made no reply, but walked up the steps to the front door, opened +it with a key, and then passed into the unlighted hall, into which the +daylight could not penetrate, on account of the solid wooden door +shutting it off from the street, and the doors into the rooms all being +closed. A sudden misgiving seized Dick. Had he been prudent in coming +into this strange house alone with an avowed enemy? It was true the +Liberty Boys were somewhere about, but could they reach him in time, +should danger present itself? He drew out both pistols, and backed +against the wall, while he made the man procure a light. Instead he gave +a long shrill whistle, which was immediately answered, and there could +be heard the onrushing of feet. The Tory gave a mocking laugh, +exclaiming: + +"Captain Slater of the Liberty Boys has walked into his own trap!" + +The only reply Dick made was to give the melancholy hoot of an owl. The +prisoner jumped and looked about, and then laughed a little sheepishly, +but at the same instant, there came bursting into the hallway the three +ruffians who had passed the other boys such a short time before. + +"Surrender!" hissed the Tory. + + +CHAPTER VI.--In Dangerous Quarters. + +"Not at all!" cried Dick, pistols in hand and barring the passage of the +three men. "Stop where you are! Hallo, boys!" + +"All right, Captain, here we are!" shouted Sam and Harry. + +"Sure we'll be with ye in a minyute, Captain dear!" answered the Irish +Liberty Boy. + +"Off dere was some fighding been we was dere already pooty quick, I bet +me!" laughed Carl. + +"Who is in a trap now?" asked Dick, with a laugh. + +Then the five Liberty Boys suddenly dashed up and leaped upon the +smugglers or Tories, whichever they were. In a moment they were +disarmed, Dick putting his pistol to his prisoners head and saying +sternly: + +"Now perhaps you will tell me what I want to know. You men are thieves, +smugglers, Tories, aren't you?" + +"We make our money with as little trouble as possible," the man replied. + +"And you have helped spies of the enemy to get information?" + +"For pay, yes. Hughson would have paid us well if we could have +delivered you to him." + +"Take these fellows to Putnam's quarters, boys," said Dick. "He will +know how to deal with them. Patsy, get me a torch or a lantern." + +"Sure there do be wan just beyant, Captain. Wan o' thim rapscallions +dhropped it. Oi'll have it for ye in a minyute." + +Sam and the others marched the prisoners away, and then Patsy came with +the lantern as Bob arrived, having taken Sarah Watrous part of the way +to the camp, where she would join Alice and Edith. + +"Hallo! You have a prisoner, eh?" said Bob. + +"Yes, and he is going to show us all over this place." + +The fellow had no means of escape now, and Dick's pistol at his head +made him do what he would not have done under other circumstances. The +place had been a warehouse, but was supposed to be closed, the gang of +thieves and smugglers having used it for some months free from +discovery, bringing and taking things from it at night and evading +discovery all that time. + +There were other warehouses and storehouses along the river, and a few +houses, but the men had worked so quietly, most of the time entering by +way of the river that no one knew of their being around. There was +considerable plunder in the house at this time, and Dick meant to find +owners for it if possible, and if not, to offer it at public sale and +use the money thus obtained to further the cause of independence. Pike +was greatly chagrined at being forced to show Dick about, and said +gruffly: + +"Well, you rebels have got the best of us, but you won't enjoy it long. +When Howe gets hold of your city, as he will before many days, you will +have to leave." + +"But by that time you will have been hanged as a spy and a thief and +will know nothing about it," replied Dick. + +"H'm! Hughson got away and so will I," boastfully. + +"I shall see to it that you do not," shortly. + +Having finished the examination of the stone house, Dick took Pike to +the general's headquarters and turned him over, the man being put under +guard at once and some men sent to watch the place. Hughson had escaped +through the negligence of a fresh recruit, who had not understood the +importance of his prisoner, and had supposed him to be simply a man who +had been locked up for insubordination and was sorry for it, Hughson +carrying the thing through cleverly. + +"The man will be more careful the next time, having been so close to +punishment," thought Dick, "and knowing that we are in earnest and will +show him no mercy." + +Dick went one way and Bob another, both in disguise, for the very sight +of a Continental uniform would frighten the man now and put him on his +guard. Dick made his way along the wharves on both rivers, keeping a +lookout for the man, but without success, seeing many suspicious +characters, but none whom he knew to be spies. Having settled the +business, he went to the camp, where he found the girls and Sarah +Watrous being entertained by the Liberty Boys. + +After dinner the girls returned alone, Dick being busy looking for signs +of the enemy along shore, and going around the city in disguise +searching for the spy, who he believed would try to learn more about the +disposition of the troops on the island, the forts, the amount of +supplies, the roads and other matters of importance. It was getting on +toward evening, and Dick was over on the East River side of the city, +when he saw a boy of about fourteen being abused by an evil-looking man. + +"What are you striking that boy for?" he asked, stepping up and putting +the boy behind him. + +"I got a right to abuse him, he's mine!" snarled the other. "The +ungrateful hound won't do things for his own dad." + +"Is this man your father?" Dick asked. + +"Yes, he is, but I don't want to give him the money I earn to buy drink +with, for then he abuses mother and the little children and---" + +"Haven't I got a right to the money he makes?" growled the man. + +"Not to misuse," retorted Dick quickly. "The boy is right in protecting +his mother, and if he can do it by withholding money to be used in +buying strong drink which takes away your reason, he has a right to do +so. Why don't you go to work?" + +"You better mind your own business!" with a snarl. "I am a gentleman and +wasn't brought up to work." + +"The greater misfortune!" shortly. "If you had known the dignity of +labor, you would not be the wretched man you are now. Go to work and +stop making a beast of yourself, or you may end your days on the gallows +or in a prison." + +"If he don't give it to me now, I'll get it out of him another time," +the man growled. "I've a right to the money, and I'll flay him alive if +I don't get it!" + +"If I hear of your harming the boy I'll have you sent to jail," said +Dick decidedly. "Run home, boy, and give the money to your mother. If +this man troubles you or your mother, go and tell General Putnam, and we +will see that the offence is not repeated." + +"We'll see whether you will or not!" hissed the man, suddenly flying at +Dick as if to annihilate him. + +In a moment Dick was on the defensive, and, then, taking the offensive, +sent the man rolling into the gutter. + +"There! Perhaps you think I can do as I say now!" he said. "Keep on with +your abuse of your wife and family and you will catch it still worse. A +word to the wise is sufficient." + +The boy ran away, quickly disappearing down a narrow street, while the +man, getting on his feet, glared at Dick and said: + +"You're a rebel, that's what you are, and all the rebels will be driven +out'n this town, and then we gentlemen can do as we like." + +"You gentlemen may be in jail or hanged by that time, and so know +nothing about it," dryly. "You are a pretty sort of gentlemen! I'd +rather not be one if you are a good specimen." + +"I'll keep you in mind, my fine fellow," with a snarl. "You don't strike +me for nothing, let me tell you that!" + +"I did not I struck you for a good reason, and whenever the occasion +rises again I will do the same, and you may remember that!" and then +Dick turned on his heel and walked away, having caught sight of a man +whom he had seen on the other side of the city, and whom he suspected to +be one of Hughson's cronies, having seen him in the tavern near the +Bowling Green. He followed the man carelessly so as to avoid suspicion, +and presently saw him go into a low groggery down the street. The boy's +father stood watching Dick for a time and then went off, Dick following +the man he had seen and paying no attention to the other. He found the +fellow sitting on a bench with others, but kept out of sight as much as +possible, not knowing if he would be recognized. + +"Been drove out of our place over on t'other side of the city, hain't +you, Jeb?" asked one. + +"Yes, by a lot of confounded rebels, too, and just as we was getting +ready to sell off a lot of the stuff," snarled the other. "I'd like to +get hold of the fellows!" + +"Maybe when the redcoats come in you will, unless they get scared and +get out before that." + +"Yes, maybe. Seen Hughson over this way? He had a narrow shave of it. +Come 'most to stretching a rope for old Put. Them same young rebels +caught him." + +"No, I ain't seen him, but I heard he was looking around to find all he +could about the rebels so as to give the general a better show for +getting in. Light up here, Jim, it's getting dark." + +A hulking-looking man in a corner now arose to get lights, as it was +growing dark in the place, and at the same moment some one entered and +said: + +"They've got Pike hard and fast, and Wendell was hanged this morning. +I'd like to get hold of Slater and some of his---hello!" + +The big man came along with a lantern, and Hughson, for it was the spy +himself, suddenly caught sight of Dick and recognized him. + +"What's the matter?" tried several of the men in the place, leaping to +their feet. + +"There's the rebel now--Slater himself!" cried Hughson. "Don't let him +get away! The boy in the brown homespun suit!" + +In an instant a rush was made for Dick. + + +CHAPTER VII.--An Act of Gratitude. + +Seeing his danger, Dick whipped out a pistol and shot the lantern out of +the big man's hand, making a sudden dash for the door. As he reached it, +however, some one came in, there was a collision and Dick and the +newcomer fell to the floor with a crash. + +"Hallo! can't you see where you're going?" the fellow yelled, and Dick +recognized his voice as that of the man who had been, abusing the boy +farther up the street. + +The spy, Jeb and others now rushed forward, lights were procured and +Dick was surrounded and made a prisoner. + +"H'm! that's the rebel that said I shouldn't spend my own boy's money," +the newcomer muttered. "I owe him a grudge and I'll pay it, too. No +rebel strikes me for nothing!" + +"You know him, do you, Fletch?" asked Hughson. + +"Yes, I know him. I didn't know he was Dick Slater, but I know him, and +I've got a grudge against him and I'm going to settle it. You was +counting on taking him to the general, I suppose?" + +"Yes, but get him out of the way. Some one might come in." + +Dick was taken into a rear room where there was not much light and bound +hand and foot. At length he heard footsteps in the passage outside, and +then the door was opened and two men came in, followed by a boy carrying +a lantern in his hand. The men picked Dick up and carried him out, but +not before he had seen the boy's face, and the boy had seen him and had +given him a swift look of intelligence. The boy was the one he had +befriended, and however he happened to be here, whether he was leagued +with these evil men or not, Dick knew that he would help him. The boy +went ahead, down a flight of stairs to a damp cellar, and along a +passage to some place where there was a damp smell and foul odors from +the swamps along the river. + +"Set him down, Bill," said one of the men, and Dick was placed on the +ground on his back. + +"Go after the bag, Tom," one man said, "or send your pop and the rest +here." + +"Won't do it!" said the boy. "Dad will beat me. Go yourself. I will +watch him." + +"Go on, Jeb." + +"Go yourself, or come along. Tom ain't used to these things, and the old +man will lick him, too. Knows you're here, does he, boy?" + +"No, he don't. Safest place for me is the grog shop when he has no +money, 'cause he won't come there." + +"He'll be here all right, then," with a laugh. "He wouldn't miss seein' +the rebel chucked into the water. Come on, Bill. Here, give us your +lantern, Tom." + +"All right," and Dick knew by the gathering shadows that the men were +going away. + +Then the boy suddenly kneeled at his side and said in a hoarse whisper +and with great excitement: + +"I found out where you was, Captain, and made up my mind to save you. +I've got a knife and will cut the ropes. Wish I had the lantern. Never +mind, I can feel. Can you roll over?" + +"Yes, I guess so," but at that moment there were other footsteps and +more lights and hoarse voices. + +"Never mind, Captain, I'll do it yet!" hissed the boy. "I'll do it if I +have to kill dad and the lot of 'em." + +Then the spy, the boy's father, the landlord, and the men who had +brought Dick to the place, came up and the boy slunk back into the +darkness and awaited his time. + +"Got the bag there, Bill?" + +"Yes; here it is." + +Two of the men picked Dick up, while another held the sack open and drew +it over his feet. The boy came up, and Dick felt a keen bladed knife put +between his hands and for an instant saw the face of the boy. + +"Here, get out of the way!" + +"Hold him steady, Jeb!" + +"Don't be so long there with that sack!" + +"Hurry up, there, he's as heavy as lead!" + +The sack was drawn up over Dick's head and tied tight with a stout rope, +the men then carrying him between them to the end of the passage and up +some steps. One or two tested the rope to see that it was all right and +then the men holding Dick gave the sack a swing or two and cast it well +out upon the water, where it struck with a splash and then sank. Dick +could hold his breath for nearly two minutes and he knew that he would +not need all that. While the men were swinging him he clutched the +handle of the knife, turned the blade down and began to cut through the +sack. When he began to sink he moved his hands toward his head and cut a +straight gash in the sack. Then he moved his hands the other way and +began to kick vigorously, so as to loosen the sack. Then, as he began to +think he could hold his breath no longer, he felt himself rising, the +sack fell away from him, and in a few moments he shot up to the surface +alongside some huge object which he recognized as the hull of a vessel. +Then he lay on his back and floated, and, holding the knife in his +teeth, cut the cords that bound his wrists and his hands were free. + +Swimming noiselessly alongside the vessel, which was anchored in the +river, he reached the fore chains. He was now free to use both hands and +feet, and the next thing to do was to get to shore. He had his knife +which Tom had given him and this he resolved to keep till he was safely +out of all his dangers. Making his way around the anchored vessel, he +set out for shore, guided by the few lights along the water and in the +taverns. Suddenly he heard the sound of oars and then of voices. + +"How did he get hold of a knife?" asked Hughson. + +"I dunno, but he'll have to float and we ought to find him," replied +Jeb. + +The sack had been drawn ashore, and the slash in it discovered and now +the men were trying to find Dick. The boat was coming directly toward +him, and in a few moments he could distinguish its outlines dimly and +see the forms of three men in it rowing directly toward him. Then he +sank well down and swam right under the boat, coming up a yard or so +beyond it as it went on toward the middle of the river. + + +CHAPTER VIII.--Tom's Defiance. + +"Hallo! there's some one swimming in the river!" cried the spy. + +"So it is," growled Jeb. "Hello there!" + +"Put about," muttered Fletch. "It's the rebel. He can float. We must get +after him." + +Dick swam on, the boat putting about, and now the light of a lantern was +shining over the waters. + +"Ha! there he is!" + +"Shoot the rebel, no one will hear!" + +"Yes, we've got to get him!" + +Crack! There was a report, but Dick had just sunk under water and was +unhurt. On came the boat, Dick rising just astern of it. In a moment he +seized the gunwale and swung the boat around with all his might, at the +same time tipping it at one side. There was a cry of alarm, and then +some one cried from the ship Dick had seen: + +"Get away from here, you water rats, or you'll get a shot or two in your +gullets that you won't like." + +There was a sudden splash, and Dick knew that some one had fallen into +the river from the boat. He had released it, and was now making his way +toward the wharf at good speed. There were more outcries from the river, +but Dick could not see the lantern now, and judged that it had fallen +overboard. The inability of the men to see Dick worked for his safety +now, and he swam on to the wharf at a good rate. Nearing it, he heard +the boy Tom say in a cautious voice: + +"Who is that?" + +"It is I, Tom, thanks to you," said Dick. "Without that knife I should +have been drowned." + +"Come this way, Captain," added the boy. "Do you see me?" + +"No, but I know where you are." + +Dick swam toward the boy and was helped by him to land. + +"You saved me from a thrashing, and you saved the money I had for my +mother," the boy said. "But for that he would have got it, and mother +and the little children would have had nothing to eat." + +"You earn money for your mother and the children, do you?" asked Dick, +interested. + +"Yes, sometimes quite a good deal, but I have to be careful about it, +for if he finds out that I have it, he takes it away and then we have to +go without. I have to lie to save it often. Is that very wicked, +Captain?" + +"No, it would be better for you not to lie, but to face him down and +tell him plainly that the money was for the support of the family and +not for him to squander in drink." + +They were hurrying along now, the boy in the lead, the sounds from the +river showing that the men were coming back. + +"Yes, that is right and I shall do it, but come, they will raise an +alarm and you will have trouble in getting away. This way, Captain." + +They went down an alley, the boy taking Dick's hand, and presently +turned into a narrower one where Tom shortly pushed open a door and +entered a house. + +"It is Tom, mother," the boy said. "I have got the captain with me. The +scheme worked well, fortunately, and he cut his way through the sack." + +"You were obliged to take desperate chances, sir," said a woman's voice, +"and I told Tom that I feared they would be too desperate. He would have +released you if he could." + +"Yes, I know, ma'am, but he gave me great assistance and I am accustomed +to taking desperate chances." + +The woman lighted a tallow dip and then exclaimed in surprise: + +"Why, Tom, you said he was a captain! This is but a boy, not very many +years older than yourself." + +"He is the captain of the Liberty Boys, mother. They are all boys, some +of them no older than myself. This way, Captain, and I will get you some +clothes to take the place of the wet ones." + +The boy then led the way into a smaller room, where he brought out a +suit of clothes somewhat small for Dick, but neat and clean. + +"You had best keep them," said Dick, as he removed his soaking garments, +"and if you will come to the camp to-morrow, you can have your own +again." + +He rapidly exchanged the wet for the dry clothes, Tom giving him a +ruffled shirt, saying: + +"That is a gentleman's shirt, but I suppose you do not mind, on a +pinch?" + +"No," with a laugh, "I do not, but I hear some one coming." + +"Yes, but he does not know of this place, and if you are quiet he will +not hear you. There is another way out which I will show you." + +Dick finished his dressing as he heard Fletch say: + +"Some one helped the rebel, and I'd like to catch him! Where is that boy +Tom?" + +"He is not here." + +"Well, I can see that!" savagely. "Where is he?" + +"He has gone out," simply. + +"Whereabouts? To earn money? He gave you some to-night. Where is it?" + +"You cannot have it," resolutely. "Some of it has been spent for the +children and the rest is put away." + +"I want it. I am drenched and chill with cold. The plagued rebel upset +me into the river. I must have liquor to take out the chill. Give me the +money." + +"No, I will not. I will make you some hot tea, which will be better for +you. I have never refused to help you when you were yourself, but I will +not let you turn yourself into a beast and make the children go hungry +and naked." + +"Give me the money, I say!" savagely, and then Dick heard a frightened +scream from the other room. + +"Quick, let me out, Tom!" he cried. + +The boy was ahead of him, but Dick followed only an instant behind, +sprang into the room he had left and seized the angry, half-drunken man +as he was about to throw the woman to the floor. + +"Stop that, you brute, or you will get into a worse place than the +river!" he cried. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" + +He had thrown the man on the floor but he now got up and rushed at him, +knife in hand. Dick had the knife which Tom had given him, and he met +the other's attack resolutely. The two blades clashed together, and the +man's knife fell to the floor, the boy picking it up. + +"I told the captain I would kill you, if need be, to save him," he said, +"and I'll do it all the quicker to save my mother. You are a miserable, +drunken brute, not fit to live with decent folk. Go away, I will not +have you here." + +"You?" repeated the man shamefully. "What have you to do with it? Isn't +this my house, aren't you my son, isn't your mother my wife? Where else +should I go? How can you turn me out--you, a mere boy?" + +"Because I am the breadwinner, because you are a drone, an idle, +worthless fellow. You are not fit to associate with us. You are no +father of mine; I disown you!" + +"You cannot put me out," snarled the man, advancing. + +"If he cannot, I can!" said Dick, with determination. "If you do not +leave here at once, I will drag you out and denounce you as an associate +of spies, an habitual drunkard and a thief. Are you going?" + +"Yes," muttered the man, cowed by Dick's resolute bearing. + +Then he went out, and Dick said in a low tone: + +"He will not venture to return at once, but he will seek out his evil +companions and try to overcome me yet. I must go. You are a brave boy, +Tom. Stick to your mother above all others, and you will come out all +right. Good-by, come and see us at the camp to-morrow." + +Then Dick hurried out, and made his way toward Broadway where he would +be safe. Reaching a main thoroughfare at length, he went on and at last +entered the camp, where he was challenged by Ben Spurlock. + +"Who goes there?" cried the boy. + +"Captain Slater," was Dick's reply. + +Then Ben gave a signal which brought a score of the boys running to the +spot in an instant. + +"Lieutenant Estabrook has gone out to look for you, Captain, and taken a +strong party of the Liberty Boys," said Mark Morrison, coming forward. +"Were you on the East River side of the city?" + +"Yes, Lieutenant, and have had some very exciting adventures. Send some +of the boys over toward the river, and I think they will find the +others. Tell them I am all right." + +The boys gave a cheer, and then Mark despatched a dozen boys to look for +Bob, Dick going to his tent to change his clothes. In time Bob and his +boys came back, and there was great rejoicing in camp, everybody being +anxious to hear Dick's adventures. Dick told them, the boys being more +incensed than ever at the spy and determined to capture him and put him +out of the way of doing any more mischief. + +"That boy Tom was a plucky fellow and a grateful one as well," declared +Bob. "That is the sort we want in the Liberty Boys." + +"Yes, but he is needed at home," Dick returned, "and would probably have +to do the cause good in other ways than joining us. He would be an +acquisition, of course, but I would not ask him." + +All was quiet in camp at length, and no alarms of the approach of the +enemy were heard, although it was not long before they would be. + + +CHAPTER IX.--The Spy in the Toils. + +The next morning Tom came into camp, the boys giving him a hearty cheer +as soon as they knew who he was, and asked to see Dick. + +"He has not come back all night," he said, and Dick knew that he +referred to his father. "I do not think he will return. He is afraid to +come back. I shall be very glad to leave the city because I think I +shall get more work outside and mother and the children will do much +better." + +"I think it will be better for you all," Dick returned. "If the enemy +gets hold of the city there will be much suffering, I am afraid. If you +leave you will avoid this. I can find you a place where there will be +work enough for all, and where you will not be troubled by your father +when he is in his cups." + +"He is always in them of late years and has greatly changed toward +mother and all of us. The little children are afraid of him and will not +go near him, but I must protect my mother." + +"That is right, Tom. Always do it. Perhaps if your father stopped his +bad habits he would be better again, but it is best for you to go away +from him entirely and live apart until you see what changes time may +bring about." + +"Yes, I think so, and I shall go as far away as I can and start for +myself. You know some good place?" + +"Yes, and I can put your mother and the little ones, with good people +where they will be taken care of until you are established, and they can +look out for themselves. We live in Westchester, about twenty miles +away, which will be far enough to keep your father from finding you and +not too far away to get plenty of work." + +"I shall be very glad to go there," simply. + +"My mother and sister and the lieutenant's parents and sister live +there, besides many of the boys' families, and it will be no difficult +matter to get you all the work you can do, and work for your mother as +well. It will be a better place to live than the city, and you will be +in no danger from your father." + +"I would like a place like that," said Tom. "It would be better for all +of us!" + +"Then I will make arrangements for your mother and the children to go up +there at once and you can follow shortly. The enemy will eventually get +possession of the city, and you will be better off out of it than in it. + +"I will get ready as soon as you say, Captain," shortly. + +"Then I think you had better not delay, for I believe that it is a +matter of a few days only, perhaps not more than one, when the enemy +will be in possession." + +The boy then went away, and in half an hour Alice and Edith came to the +camp, and Dick told them about Tom and his mother. + +"I think you had better return shortly, Alice," he added, "and take the +boy's mother and the little children with you. Tom will very soon +establish himself when he gets there and will be much better off than in +New York." + +The girls were ready to go very shortly, for the evidences of the +enemy's preparations to seize the city were more and more visible. One +or two ships had gone up the East River the previous night, and the +ships were all much nearer to the city than they had been the day +before. After Alice and Edith had gone, Dick and Bob went down to the +lower end of the city to investigate, and found one or two ships at +Governor's Island, just opposite, the people in the lower sections being +in a state of considerable anxiety. + +"That looks as if there might be something going on in a short time," +muttered Bob. + +"I think so myself, and I am glad that I suggested to the girls that +they had better leave. The British are getting ready to invade the city, +and we don't know how soon they may attack us on all sides." + +"Then we will all have to get out or else be obliged to run the +blockade." + +"Exactly, and we must learn all we can of Howe's moves." + +During the afternoon Tom came to the camp with his mother and the little +children, reporting that his father had not been seen since the night +before, and that he thought the man feared arrest and had fled or was in +hiding in some of the lower quarters of the city. Dick obtained a horse +and chaise to take the mother and children, Tom driving, being more or +less used to horses. The two girls came in just as these preparations +had been completed, and it was shortly after dinner that they all +started on their way to White Plains. + +They were all glad to get away, and Tom was particularly pleased at the +prospect of getting his mother out of the city, where her health and +that of the children would be greatly improved, and where they would all +be free from the fear of the father. When they all set out, the boys +gave them a hearty cheer, and Dick and Bob went away with them, +intending to ride a few miles and take a look at the river on the way. +The boys left him at the Greenwich village and then came back by the +river road, in order to see whatever might be going on. They were +something below the old village, when, nearing a tavern by the roadside, +Dick reined in and said excitedly: + +"There is that rascal now! I hope he has not seen us." + +"Which rascal do you mean, Dick?" asked Bob, halting just behind Dick +and looking around. + +"Hughson, the spy. I did not see his face, but I know his figure. He is +dressed as a drover and will probably go into the city, thinking that we +do not know him." + +"Was he at the inn, Dick?" + +"Yes, drinking home-brew and smoking a long pipe, taking his comfort, +evidently. As I saw his back only, it is not likely that he saw me." + +"We ought to catch him, Dick." + +"Yes, and this is a good place, as there are no Tories in the village, +and the people of the inn will help us. Take the rear, Bob, and I will +go to the front of the house." + +The boys separated, Dick riding at once to the front door of the inn and +dismounting. He saw the man at one of the windows and was sure of him. +In a moment the fellow turned, saw Dick and started for the rear. As he +was going out, he suddenly saw Bob, who said quickly: + +"Good morning, Mr. Hughson. I trust you had a comfortable night after +your adventures on the river." + +"I don't know you, my lad," returned the man, with a broad accent, "and +my name is not Hughson. I'm in a bit of a hurry, and---" + +"Your name may not be Hughson, fast enough, but you are a British spy +and we want you. You do know me, but I will refresh your memory a bit. I +am Lieutenant Bob Estabrook of the Liberty Boys, and you were captured +by us a night or two ago in the city." + +"Never saw you in my life, and I am not a spy, but as good a rebel as +yourself," and the man hurried to the barn at the rear of the house. + +"You are not a patriot," said Bob, following. "We do not call ourselves +rebels." + +Then Bob imitated the crowing of a cock, and in a moment Dick came out +and hurried forward. Hughson turned at the sound, saw Dick almost upon +him, and whipped out a pistol. In an instant, however, Bob was upon him +with a pistol at his head and his other hand on the spy's wrist. + +Then Hughson suddenly found himself covered by a pistol in Dick's hand, +the young captain saying: + +"Take his weapon, Bob, and see if he has any others. Mr. Hughson, you +are wanted in the city. Do you prefer going there dead or would you +rather go alive?" + +The man blanched, for he knew that he was in desperate straits and that +his chances of escape were slight. He made a sudden dash, wrenching his +hand free and attempted to fire at Dick, but Bob, by a quick thrusting +out of his left foot, sent him upon his face on the grass. A man and a +boy came running from the barn, and two housemaids appeared at the rear +door shortly, followed by the landlord. Dick and Bob sprang forward and +seized the man as he arose, holding him firmly. + +"What is the trouble, Captain?" asked, the landlord, recognizing Dick, +whom he had met before. + +"We have caught a British spy, Boniface. He is a troublesome fellow and +has already made his escape once." + +"Bless my heart! A British spy, say you? Why, he told me he was a drover +going into the city to get orders for cattle." + +"And he told me he was a rebel," laughed Bob, "thus arousing my +suspicions at once. We are not rebels and we do not recognize any." + +"We call you rebels!" snarled the spy. + +"But we do not," echoed Dick, "and if you were a better observer and +consequently a better spy, you would have known it." + +The others now came up and regarded the man with decided curiosity. + +"The fellow had a horse, didn't he, Boniface?" asked Dick. + +"Yes, he had, and a very good one." + +"Will you have it brought out? We will lose no time in going back to the +city." + +"Yes, I will have it brought at once. Jenkins, get the drover's horse +immediately." + +"You will let me finish my pipe and pot, won't you?" asked the spy. "You +took me rather by surprise." + +"If you are not long over them," answered Dick. + +Bob meanwhile, had deftly searched the man for concealed weapons and had +taken them all away, so that Hughson might not cheat them by killing +himself. He drank a pot of homebrew and puffed at his pipe under the +trees, and then the groom announced that his horse was ready and he was +quickly in the saddle. He said nothing as he rode away between the two +boys, but seemed to be thinking deeply. + +"You rebels don't have very much money," he said at last. "What would +you consider a fair amount to allow me to escape?" + +"You have made two serious errors," replied Dick coolly. "First, we are +not rebels, as I have frequently told you, and second we are not for +sale. Do you think we are as mean as yourself, who associate with +thieves and murderers to gain your ends? There is not money enough in +the world to induce us to violate our oaths." + +"But why should you deliver me up to death, when I have never done you +harm?" + +"You forget last night," tersely. "Who tied me in a sack and threw me +into the river?" + +"Well, but I gave you a knife to---" + +"You did not. That was Tom Fletcher. You had nothing to do with it. You +came out upon the river in a boat afterward to look for me, fearing that +I would escape. Don't add lying to your other faults." + +The man rode on in silence for ten or fifteen minutes, and then suddenly +said: + +"You will be no better off if you do deliver me up to your rebel +general, for Howe will be in possession of your wretched little city by +tomorrow and the lot of you may be shot." + +"If it is such a wretched little city, why does General Howe bother +himself about it?" laughed Bob, Dick saying nothing. + +"If you will let me go I will find a way for you to escape, and---" + +"If you say another word on that subject I will gag you!" interrupted +Dick sternly. "We are not to be bought, I tell you!" + +Hughson flushed and remained silent after that, and at length the boys +met some American soldiers and turned the spy over to them. + +"That disposes of him," said Dick shortly. + +"Yes, but he has been a very troublesome fellow, and would have been if +we had not caught him. That was a very fortunate meeting." + +"Except for him!" grimly. + +"Very true, but, as Patsy says, we don't consider the enemy's feelings +in such matters." + +Returning to the camp, the boys heard from Mark that there had been +considerable activity among the ships of the enemy during the afternoon, +and that there were more at Governor's Island and one or two much nearer +the mouth of the Hudson than during the morning. + +"It is all very threatening," declared Dick, "and I think that the spy +was right when he said that Howe will try to be in possession of the +city by to-morrow. At the latest, it cannot be more than a day or two +and then we must look out for ourselves." + +"As we generally have to do!" laughed Bob. + + +CHAPTER X.--Caught in a Trap. + +There was time enough before supper for Dick to visit the general, and +shortly after his arrival in camp he went out afoot and made his way +across the Commons and down Broadway. Seeing the general, Dick informed +him of the capture of the spy, and what the man had said about Howe. + +"It looks as if we might have trouble in a short time, Captain," the +veteran answered, "and you will hold your Liberty Boys in readiness to +act at a moment's notice at all times." + +"I will do so, General," replied Dick. "If there is to be any fighting, +the Liberty Boys will be glad to take part in it and do their share in +opposing the advance of the enemy." + +"I have always found them ready to do that, Captain," Putnam replied, +"and to do it well, too. I have every confidence in you and the Liberty +Boys, Captain, and I know that you will all do your best wherever you +may be posted." + +Dick then saluted and left the general, taking his way down to the lower +end of the island in order to see for himself what was going on among +the ships. On Whithall wharf he suddenly came face to face with +Fletcher, Tom's father, the man being in a semi-intoxicated state at the +time, and glaring fiercely at him as he said: + +"You got away last night, you confounded rebel, but you don't do it +again so easy. What have you done with my wife and the young ones? Nice +business, ain't it, turning a wife against a husband?" + +"You have turned her against you by your own outrageous conduct," Dick +retorted. "If you had treated them right, your family would have +remained with you, but you cannot expect anything better when you act as +you have." + +"Where have they gone? I have a right to everything that any of them +earns, and I'm going to have it. Tom is under age, I have brought him +up, and I can claim everything he has, and whatever my wife has also. I +know my rights, I tell you!" savagely. + +"Do you know your duties, as well?" sharply. "I don't care what the law +is in your case. I know what justice is. You made an attempt upon my +life last night, and if I choose to make a charge against you, I could +put you on trial for your life." + +The man was not so much intoxicated that he could not understand Dick's +position and his own danger, and he turned pale and moved hurriedly +away, losing himself in the crowd that thronged the wharf at the time. + +"I don't think I shall have any more trouble from Mr. Fletcher," thought +Dick, "or not on account of this affair, at any rate." + +He remained on the wharf till nearly sunset, and then set out for the +camp, where he arrived shortly before supper. There was an alarm during +the night, and early the next morning Dick learned that some ships had +passed up both rivers, and not long after this there was the sound of +heavy firing at some distance above the city, and the boys knew that the +enemy had succeeded in landing troops. There was great excitement in the +city, and many of the inhabitants began leaving in great haste. + +Dick hurried off to Putnam's quarters, and soon afterward word was +received that the city was to be evacuated. The general despatched Dick +to the lower part of the city to see that there were no ships coming up +the river and to warn the men at the lower batteries to leave. Dick took +Bob and a dozen or more of the boys with him and hurried away on foot, +sending Mark and the rest of the boys toward the upper part of the +island. The boys had performed a part of their mission and were +returning, when they suddenly heard a great bombarding from the river +and at the same time saw a considerable body of redcoats coming toward +them. + +"To the stone house, boys!" hissed Dick. "These fellows know nothing of +it and we are safe there." + +The stone house was the nearest place of refuge, and the boys hurried to +it, the redcoats losing sight of them. They reached the place in safety, +and were all inside and out of sight before the redcoats came to the +wharf and began to look for them. The door above was closed and looked +as if it had not been open in months, the boys not having been seen to +enter it. Dick and Bob hurried below, leaving Ben, Harry, Sam and others +at the upper door, while the rest scattered through the building. There +were a few persons on the wharf below when the redcoats came along, but +these had not seen the boys and knew nothing about them. + +"What place is that?" asked a sergeant of redcoats of one of the +loungers, pointing to the stone house. + +"Just an old warehouse," the man answered. + +"Is there any one in it?" + +"No, not now," was the reply. + +Dick was listening at the door, and he knew the man to be one of the +rascals who had been in the house but had escaped. There was a reason, +therefore, for the man not saying very much about the place. + +"Why not?" the sergeant asked. + +"Because the rebels arrested 'em and took all the stuff out," the man +replied. + +"We shall have to get a look at the place," the redcoat said, and he +promptly went to the door with a dozen of his men. + +The door was locked and was very strong, and the sergeant speedily came +to the conclusion that there was little use in trying to force it and so +gave up the attempt. + +"Have you seen any rebels about here?" he asked, but the other man was +gone, and those he spoke to said: + +"No, there hain't been nobody here sence we come around." + +The sergeant and the redcoats, as well as a second lieutenant and +another party, examined the region all about the place, but saw nothing +of the boys and so concluded that they had gone elsewhere. There was a +guard of about a dozen left on the wharf, but none on the bank above, +the rest going into the city. The loungers about the place, evidently +fearing that they might be pressed into the service, went away, and thus +there was no one to give any information to the redcoats, which might +have resulted in giving the house another visit. + +Dick sent Harry and Will to the cellar and thence under the wharf to the +river, the boys reporting that the tide was high and that there was no +getting out that way at that time. Then one of the boys was sent to the +upper door to keep a lookout, Dick going to see him in a few minutes. + +"There are redcoats on the Commons, Captain," the boy reported. "A +couple of men went by here just now and I heard them talking about it." + +"We can leave the house," remarked Dick, "but we would not get a great +way before being discovered, and I think it better we remain here for a +time, till dark, perhaps." + +"We are caught in a trap," muttered Bob, "but the redcoats don't know +it, and that's the only hopeful thing about it." + +"We are not caught in a trap exactly, Bob," declared Dick. "Say, rather, +that we are hiding from them, and that as soon as we see a good chance +we are coming out and will make a run for it." + +"And in the meantime what are we going to do for something to eat and +drink?" asked Bob. + +"We may find something in the house, but we shall have to take it cold, +for as soon as we start a fire we will excite suspicion." + +"I found some old clothes in one of the rooms, Captain," said Ben, "and +when the coast is a bit clear some of us can go out and get food. I will +go, for one." + +"Very good, Ben, but not now," replied Dick. + +Later, when there was no one about the upper floor, Dick, Ben and Harry +went out, looking like three vagabonds, and looked about them. Dick went +toward the Commons, and Ben and Harry took their way toward the church +to get some food. There were redcoats on the Commons, as Dick had +feared, and he could see more of them in the distance. Then he walked +carelessly on, seeing no one who knew him, and made his way as far as a +quiet inn down a side street where he was well known, the people being +good patriots. On the way he saw many redcoats, Hessians, and other +enemies, and he knew that getting out of New York was going to be a +difficult task, and one that would require all their energy as well as a +deal of craft and caution. + +"What, you are still in the city, Captain?" asked the landlord, when he +recognized Dick. + +"Yes, there are nearly a score of us who were caught here, but I hope to +get away to-night." + +"There are lines drawn right across the city and island, and the +redcoats will let no one through whom they do not know." + +"There is the river," added Dick. "We are in the old warehouse down +there, and if we can get a boat or two we will try to get out of the +city that way." + +"There are ships in the river, Captain, that are keeping a sharp +lookout. I don't want to discourage you, but I am afraid that it will be +as hard to get out that way as any." + +"I am glad to know all the difficulties there are in our way, for then I +shall know how to meet them. It is better to know just what to expect." + +"Of course, and I will give you all the help I can." + +"Thank you. If I need it, I will call on you." + + +CHAPTER XI.--Getting Away Under Difficulties. + +Dick secured a basketful of food to take to the boys, knowing that Ben +and Harry would procure more, and therefore not taking any more than he +could conveniently carry without arousing suspicion. The city was full +of redcoats, and at every step he realized the danger he ran, and also +that it would increase with every hour that he and the boys remained in +New York. + +"We must get out to-night as soon as we can procure boats," he said to +himself, "There must be some way of getting them, and we must have them, +as they are absolutely necessary." + +He returned to the stone house, getting in by the lower door without +being observed, the other boys returning shortly afterward by the upper +entrance. + +"It will be difficult to get away by any of the regular roads," declared +Ben, "and even if we all had disguises, it is going to be a difficult +matter to pass the guard." + +"I was thinking of getting out of New York by way of the river, Ben," +said Dick. + +"That will be something less difficult, though hard enough, but where +are we going to get our boats?" + +"There are ships in the river not very far away, and it may be that they +will anchor still nearer. The men will want to come ashore and we must +get hold of at least two boats. I don't think one will be sufficient, +even if it is a long boat. Watch the river, boys, and see what are our +chances." + +The boys ate some of the food which Dick and the rest had procured, and +while some rested, others kept a lookout on the river, on the wharf and +on the bank above. At times the paths were well frequented, and men and +women could be seen on the walk above, the wharf being now quite busy +and then almost deserted, although at no time would it have been wise +for the boys in uniform to have ventured out. Well on in the afternoon a +ship came up the river and anchored right off the stone house, well out +in the stream, another being something above it. + +"The bluejackets will be coming ashore some time in the evening to enjoy +themselves," remarked Dick. "It will be high tide, and if we can get +hold of the boat, we can perhaps hide it under the wharf." + +"Unless it is too high," said Bob. "The tides are pretty heavy just +now." + +"Then we can leave from the wharf itself, but we shall have to do +everything with despatch, for it is likely that a watch will be kept on +the river and along shore, and the least suspicious act will bring down +the night patrol and the watch, as well as the redcoats and sailors." + +"No good thing can be had without effort," said Bob dryly, "and if we +want our freedom we must work for it." + +It was after dark when two boats came ashore from the nearest vessel and +tied up at the wharf a short distance from the stone house. The sailors +went ashore, leaving the boats without any one to look after them, but +there were men on the wharf and constant passing to and fro of men and +boys. + +"We shall have to wait a while," said Dick. "When it is quieter there +will be more chance to secure the boats." + +"Then it may be too late," muttered Bob, "for the sailors will be going +back to the ship." + +"They will not return till late, for no sailor wants to cut short his +shore leave." + +"There may be a few minutes when all is quiet, and in the interim we can +make a run for the boats and get away." + +"Yes, and we must be on the lookout for just such a time." + +The boys waited patiently, but it seemed as if no one wanted to go to +bed, and as if there would be something going on all night. Finally, +realizing the danger of waiting too long, Dick said to Bob and some of +the boys: + +"I am going to make my way to the other end of the wharf and get up some +sort of disturbance to draw the people away from the boats. You must +take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I will join you +and we will all leave." + +"You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, I +would insist on going with you." + +"There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself." + +"I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from the +boats." + +"No, perhaps not." + +Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat +over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf +and get up some sort of disturbance to draw the people away from the +boats. "You must take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I +will join you and we will all leave." + +"You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, I +would insist on going with you." + +"There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself." + +"I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from the +boats." + +"No, perhaps not." + +Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat +over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf. +The boys were to act as soon as they heard any unusual noise from his +direction, Bob taking the lead. Making his way along the wharf, Dick +presently saw a nightwatch with a lantern at the end of a long pole +coming toward them. + +"Here is the watch," said one, "come to send us to bed." + +"Let us put out his lantern and souse him in the river," said Dick, with +a laugh. + +"That's so, that will be great fun." + +A man with a lantern came up at this moment and the light fell upon +Dick. + +"Hallo! if there isn't the rebel!" the man shouted. + +The fellow was Tom's father, Dick recognizing him at that moment. Here +was the chance to create the disturbance, and Dick at once sprang at the +man, knocked him down, and said: + +"Take that, you sot! We will see if you can insult honest folks for +nothing!" + +At once there was a shout, and some of the man's friends sprang at Dick +with shouts and a great uproar. In the scuffle Dick lost his long coat, +letting it go rather than be seized by one of the thieves. The night +watch and a number of redcoats were now seen coming on at a run. + +"By George! the fellow is a rebel, after all! See his uniform." + +"My word, that's Dick Slater himself! Seize him, there is a big reward +offered for him." + +Dick knocked down two of the crowd and pushed another into the water +from the wharf. There was a great outcry, and now men and boys began +coming from all quarters to see the fight. The watch and the redcoats +saw Dick and hurried forward to arrest him as a rebel and for creating a +disturbance. The people, fearing to be apprehended by the watch, hurried +away by this and that way of escape, and Dick had a clear coast. Then he +gave a signal which told the boys to get away as quickly as possible. +They had already seized the two boats and filled them rapidly. + +"Take in Dick, boys," said Bob, heading one of the boats, "while I go +ahead to clear the way." + +Harry, Ben, Sam, Phil and others were in the other boat, which lay +alongside the wharf, ready to take Dick on board. Meanwhile the alarm +was spreading that Dick Slater, the captain of the Liberty Boys, was in +the city and that whoever would seize him would receive a large reward. +Dick, close pressed, sounded a signal to the boys to get away at once +for fear of being caught. It were better that he were taken, he +reasoned, than that all the boys should be made prisoners. Bob, in his +boat, thinking that Dick was all right, went on out upon the river. +Redcoats, nightwatch, sailors and populace joined in the pursuit, +pressing the young patriot sorely. He had to dodge and take a longer +course to the boat in order to reach it at all and then signalled to the +boys to go on. Harry and his boys, supposing that Dick had in some way +reached the other boat, took up their oars and began to pull. Then Dick +found a way suddenly to dart between two of the redcoats and run rapidly +toward the water. There was a great outcry and the chase waxed hotter +than ever. The redcoats and the nightwatch pursued Dick to the very edge +of the wharf. + +The boat containing the Liberty Boys was just putting out. Dick jumped +and was caught by Harry. The redcoats were too late. A furious captain, +in his haste to seize Dick rushed forward with drawn sword, and in a +moment went pitching headlong, and was speedily seen floundering in the +water, his wig floating in one direction and his hat in another, his +sword sinking to the bottom, as he was suddenly forced to swim for it or +go down. The nightwatch lost his lantern in the scuffle, and there was +great confusion and hubbub. In the dark, men behind pushing forward to +see what was going on crowded redcoats and others into the river, and +the confusion and hubbub grew worse and worse every moment. + +"Hallo, keep back there, you are throwing us all into the river!" + +"Good thing, too, to get rid of all the redcoats!" + +"Push a few more in and give them a good soaking." + +"Shove in a few rebels to even things up." + +"What's all the trouble about, anyhow?" + +"Ten o'clock of a sultry night and all's well!" drawled the nightwatch, +recovering his lantern and lighting it. + +Then other nightwatchmen came up, and there was more light and less +confusion and turmoil. The redcoats were very wroth at the people for +letting the "saucy young rebels" escape, and the bluejackets were angry +at the rebels for taking their boats, while some of the people were +wrathful at both redcoats and bluejackets, and others,--Tories, by the +way--were incensed against the others and angry at the escape of the +boys. + +The latter were now out upon the river in the dark, but going cautiously +and steadily on. Dick took the lead and worked his way between the shore +and the nearest ship without being discovered, the hubbub on shore not +having yet resolved itself into an alarm which the ships could +understand. The officers, supposing it to be merely a fight between +rival crews or between sailors and people, paid no attention to it, and +the boys continued steadily on their way. Then other boats put out, and +some one shouted: + +"Hallo! there's a boatload of young rebels on the river, trying to +escape. Fire upon them and sink the young rascals the moment you see +them!" + +Now the cause of the fracas on shore was explained, and at once a search +for the daring boys was instituted. Lights flashed, hoarse voices were +heard calling across the water, and there was as much confusion on the +river as there had been on land. One could not see as far as on shore, +however, and the means of getting from place to place were not as +numerous, and much time was lost in getting into communication one with +another. + +Dick knew his way and went on as rapidly as possible, and with all +caution, passing one ship and making his way toward the next. In the +dark, the blue uniforms of the boys could easily be mistaken for the +blue jackets or sailors or midshipmen, and Dick relied upon this to help +him in his escape. A boat had been lowered, and presently the sound of +the boys' oars was heard by the enemy. + +"Ahoy! What boat is that?" + +"Seen anything of the rebels, sir?" asked Dick, the boys pulling +steadily. + +"No, not yet. Have you?" + +"I've an idea there's a boatload of them ahead of us somewhere, but it's +dark as Erebus on the river." + +"Go ahead and keep a watch. My idea is that they have not gone as far as +this yet." + +"An idea that you are quite welcome to, my man!" was Dick's thought. +"Everybody thinks that his idea is the only correct one." + +Bob was hailed by the other boat as he followed Dick closely, and +answered gruffly: + +"Port, captain! Keep a watch below there, and keep a sharper eye on your +duty. The rebels may have gone down the river, for all you know. There +is no good in looking one way only." + +"Aye, aye, sir!" and the boat went down the river. + +The ship was passed in safety, the boats being supposed to be filled +with middies and bluejackets, and no questions were asked. There were +dangers ahead of the boys, however, and they all realized that running +the blockade was not going to be as easy a matter as one might think. + + +CHAPTER XII.--On the River. + +There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise +which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which +would now be a hindrance to the boys. They must get beyond the ships and +the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all +realized the dangers to be met. It was better for the two boats to keep +together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to +separate and the boys understood this. They had passed the ships nearest +to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up +the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also. + +The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats +out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey +shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing +forward. The boys rowed steadily, all of them being accustomed to being +on the water, and their progress was steady if not very rapid, it being +dark on the river, and the current and the tide being both against them. + +Rowing on steadily, they at length heard sounds behind them, which told +them that the search below had been thorough, and that the enemy were +convinced that they had gone up the river instead of down, and the +pursuit was now being carried on in that direction. A bright light was +seen from the masthead of a ship below them, this being meant as a +signal to those above. As they went on, they saw a light flash from the +masthead of a vessel some way ahead of them. + +"Pull steady, boys," he said. "We may be able to pass the ship without +being seen, and, if not, I think I can find a way to fool them and run +the blockade." + +As they went on, a boat was seen crossing their bow at some little +distance, and Dick told the boys to get the lanterns ready. On they +went, and at last a hail came from the boat ahead: + +"Ahoy! Who are you?" + +The lanterns suddenly flashed, and Dick cried: + +"There are the rebels, men. Don't let them fool you. Get ready, all of +you!" + +"Hello! Boat ahoy! Are you looking for rebels?" + +"Yes, and we've got you! Surrender, or we'll run you down!" + +"Why, you dunderhead, we are looking for rebels ourselves!" + +"By George! then they must be below. Go down there and look for them!" + +"What authority have you over us, I'd like to know?" in an angry tone. + +"See that masthead light? That means to look out for the enemy. We are +here to see that the enemy are looked out for. That's my authority! Pull +ahead, my men!" + +The middy in the other boat saw just enough blue and gold lace to +mistake Dick for a naval officer, and the young patriot's tone of +authority did the rest. + +"Very good, sir!" promptly, and the boats containing the boys went on, +the names painted on the sterns being seen, and no one supposing that +any one but British bluejackets would be in them. + +"Keep a sharp lookout below there, Midshipman!" said Dick, in a +commanding tone. "There is no use of that light. You are only giving the +rebels warning." + +The other boat went on, and the masthead light was presently +extinguished, much to Bob's delight. + +"The thing has burned out, I suppose," he muttered, "and they will not +renew it. Good thing, too!" + +"Keep on steady, boys, and make as little noise as possible," said Dick. +"We are not out of danger yet, and no one knows what may happen before +we get up to the obstructions." + +"We may be able to go ashore there, Captain," observed Harry, "in place +of having to get through them." + +"Yes, if there are no lines drawn across the island at that point. We +can tell better when we get there." + +It was all dark on the river again in a few minutes, and the two boats +keeping close together proceeded steadily on, making very fair progress. + +"Would it be of any advantage to make our way over to the Jersey shore +and cross again higher up the river, Dick?" asked Bob. + +"I am not sure that it would, Bob," was the reply. "We will not do it +unless we have to, as we can probably make better time by keeping on as +we are." + +The day had been sultry, but it was now cold and damp on the river, +being dark as well, a cold mist arising as they went on, which not only +made it more difficult to see their way but chilled them as well. +However, if they could not see the enemy, the latter could not see them, +so that there was an advantage on their side after all. They went as far +as Bloomingdale without seeing anything of the enemy or hearing any +alarm, and were in hope of going the rest of the way safely, when the +mist lifted for a few moments, and Dick saw the outlines of a ship +looming up before him out of the darkness. He quickly steered out of the +day and signalled to Bob to go closer inshore so as to avoid the ship. +Presently a light appeared on board, and then a voice called out in +sharp tones: + +"Boat ahoy! What are you doing out there?" + +"Looking out for the enemy!" answered Dick, that being just what he was +doing. + +"Seen anything of them?" + +"Yes, some little time ago. Seen any yourselves?" + +"No, what are they up to? Sending out their confounded fireboats to +annoy us?" + +"Oh, they'll do anything, I fancy," and the boats went on, the men on +the ships never imagining that they contained a number of the Liberty +Boys. + +"Keep a good watch for them, and if you see any give us a signal." + +"Aye, aye! we'll keep a strict watch for them." + +"That's what we've been doing ever since we left New York," muttered +Ben, under his breath. + +The ship was presently lost in the mist and darkness, and the boys went +on, not knowing when they might come upon another. They kept close +together, so as not to be separated, and drew as near to the shore as +was safe, the ships being mostly in midstream. Now and then the darkness +was so dense as to shut out everything, and once they ran upon a bar and +had to push themselves off with considerable exertion, being unable to +see anything. Getting off at last, they went on, but were at length +hailed by a boat out on the river and not far from them. + +"Boat ahoy!" cried Dick, in answer to the hail. "Are you from the Royal +George?" + +"No, the Inflexible. Are you from the George?" + +"No; we are looking for her. We are carrying despatches." + +"She must be up the river. We have seen nothing of her. Who are you?" + +"Despatch boat. Keep a sharp lookout for the enemy. They are getting +troublesome." + +"Aye, aye!" and Dick and his boys went on rapidly, getting farther and +farther away from the other boat every minute. + +"The river is full of the pesky British!" muttered Bob. "I am not sure +that it would not be safer to go ashore." + +"We are sure of our road here, Bob," laughed Dick, "but we would not be, +on shore. I think we had better stick to the river for a time, until +dawn, at any rate." + +"H'm! it can't be far from it, then, for I never knew it to be +thundering dark," growled Bob. + +The boys laughed and went on less rapidly, that being the safest course. +They took turns rowing, and so no one became over-fatigued and all had a +chance to warm up, the mists of the river being very chilly and damp. At +length it grew light enough to see the obstructions in the river just +ahead of them, and they set about getting through and going on. Dick +would have gone ashore, but he saw tents and the gleam of scarlet +uniforms on shore, and concluded that it would be better to remain +longer on the river. The boats had much less trouble in getting past the +obstructions than a ship would have had, and they got through at length, +with some trouble, being seen by the redcoats on shore, however, it +being very much lighter by this time. + +The enemy raised a great shout, but they had no boats, and all they +could do was to run along shore and shout, firing a volley now and then, +which did no damage and only set the echoes to answering. + +"They had better keep quiet," sputtered Bob. "The first thing we know +they will wake up everybody along shore, and we will have some trouble +in making a landing." + +"I think we might do it before long, Bob," Dick returned. "A run will do +us good after being on the river so many hours." + +"All right, Dick, and if we can give the redcoats a run the right way, +so much the better." + +Farther on, around a bend of the river, the redcoats being now out of +sight, the boys rowed in to shore and made a landing. They had left +their muskets behind, but they all had their pistols and were ready to +give the redcoats as lively a reception as they could. The boats were +left to go adrift, and then, led by Dick, who knew the way thoroughly, +they set out for their own lines, which Dick judged would be somewhere +below Fort Washington. On they went, and all at once came upon a party +of the enemy hurrying to intercept them. + +"Fire, Liberty Boys!" shouted Dick. "Scatter the redcoats, drive them +off the island, hurl them into the river!" + +"Liberty forever, forward, down with the redcoats!" echoed the plucky +fellows. + +Then they began to discharge their pistols in the liveliest fashion, and +to shout as if there were four or five times as many of them. The +redcoats evidently thought that there were many more of the daring boys, +and fell back in haste. Dick and Bob led the way, and the whole party +charged resolutely, desiring to get to a place of safety as soon as +possible, although it seemed to the enemy as if they were being pursued +by an army, and they made all haste to get away. + +The boys turned up the road toward the fort with all haste, and were +well on their way before the enemy realized that they were not being +pursued. Then they turned and went after the boys, greatly chagrined at +having been so cleverly fooled. They got reinforcements, and set out +after the boys in full chase, but were suddenly brought to a stop by the +main body of the Liberty Boys under Mark Morrison. Mark had heard the +firing, and was out looking for Dick and the Liberty Boys at the same +time, and now, seeing their danger, fell upon the enemy tooth and nail +and sent them flying. + +"Hurrah! back with the redcoats!" he shouted. "Give it to them, my boys. +Fire!" + +Crash--roar! The redcoats now had to face a musket volley instead of a +pistol discharge, and they felt the difference. Down upon them bore the +gallant boys with a cheer and a ringing volley, and then two or three +brigades of regulars were seen following up the boys, and they fell back +in great disorder. + +"Hurrah!" yelled Bob. "That's the kind of reception to get. Here we are, +boys!" + + +CHAPTER XIII.--Tom Joins the Liberty Boys. + +Mark and his boys gave Dick and Bob and the rest a hearty cheer, and +then the whole body took a stand to be ready to meet the enemy in case +they should make another advance. The patriots were out in full force +now, however, and the redcoats fell back to the edge of Harlem Plains, +where they had their camp, the plan being a sort of neutral ground +between the two armies. + +The boys shortly retired to their own camp, and here Dick and Bob and +Ben, and the rest who had been left in the city, were given a right +royal welcome, and then they all had breakfast together, Dick and his +boys being very glad to get it. Mark and the others were eager to hear +what had befallen them in the city, and were greatly interested in +hearing the story of their many and varied adventures. "We had some +trouble ourselves in getting away," declared Mark, "but nothing like +what you fellows had. You must have given the redcoats a good scare at +times, however." + +"It was the only chance we had of getting away," laughed Bob. "If we had +not made them think we were ten times as strong as we were, we would +have been gobbled up." + +The enemy made one or two sorties during the day, but were in every case +driven back, and at last retired to their lines and did not again seek +to molest the Americans. The patriots had lost New York, but they were +still in possession of the upper part of the island and meant to hold it +as long as they could, Fort Washington being a strong fort and well +defended. At night the Liberty Boys' camp was well guarded, and the +slightest move of the enemy toward it would have been detected in a +moment. During the forenoon, Tom came to the camp and said: + +"It's a fine place where we are, Captain, and I am obliged to you for +sending us up there. Mother will get plenty to do and already has the +promise of enough to keep her busy for a month." + +"I am very glad of it, Tom," said Dick, "and I am sure that you will all +be much happier there than in the city. The enemy are there now, and it +will be much worse than before." + +"So the redcoats have gone into New York, have they? I am sorry for +that." + +"So are we all, Tom, but it will not be forever. Some day we will be +back there again, and the British will be driven out and have to go back +to their own country beyond the sea." + +"The sooner the better!" muttered Tom. + +"Tell them when you go back that we are all right, Tom," Dick resumed. +"Some of us had a hard time getting out of New York and had to run the +blockade, but we got out fast enough and gave the redcoats some pretty +good slaps." + +"The young ladies will be glad to hear of it. Did you see him again, +Captain?" + +"Yes, and he made some trouble for us, but we got away all right for all +of him, and I doubt if we shall ever see him again." + +"Well, I hope not, but you can't tell. What you don't expect is just +what happens." + +"At all events, he has no idea that you and your mother are up here, +Tom, and it is not likely that he will trouble you any more." + +"Well, I hope he won't, Captain, but you can't tell, as I said." + +"No, but we will do all we can to keep him away. His reputation is not +good, and if he appears in camp we will warn him that if he does not +keep away he will be arrested." + +"That may have some effect, though if he thought that arresting just +meant being put in jail he wouldn't care, because he's been there before +lots of times." + +"We will make him understand just what it means, Tom," said Dick, "and I +think he will keep away, but then, he has not appeared at all yet." + +"No, that's so, and I was making out as if he had or was going to," with +a smile. "Well, perhaps he won't." + +The boy's look and tone seemed to indicate that he was afraid the man +would come, however, and Dick said no more about it. Tom went back to +Dick's house, and the Liberty Boys did not see him again for two or +three days. Meantime the commander-in-chief, whose confidence Dick +enjoyed, sent for the boy and said: + +"There is an important mission which I wish to entrust to some one, +Captain, and I know of no better, person than yourself to do it. Get +ready at once to go down to the city and obtain certain information. +Procure a disguise and a horse, and then come to me, and I will furnish +you with money for your expenses and a pass, which will enable you to +get through the lines." + +"Very good, your excellency," Dick replied, and in half an hour he was +ready to start. + +Bob, Mark, or any of the Liberty Boys, in fact, would have been glad to +go with him, but the general thought it was best to go alone, and so he +took no one with him. The pass had been taken from a spy whom the +patriots had captured and enabled Dick to get through the lines in +safety. Reaching the city, he set about getting the information +required, and secured it the first day he was there. That night there +was an alarm of fire in the lower part of the city, and Dick dressed +himself and went out with many others to ascertain its extent and see +what he could do to help put it down. + +It had started in a low groggery on Whitehall wharf and was of +considerable extent, spreading as far as Beaver street, and then +shifting to the west, and going as far as the river and nearly to +Partition street, Trinity church being destroyed on the way. It had +started by accident, but many of the British declared that it had been +set by the Americans, and there was a bitter feeling against them, many +innocent persons being put to death by the enraged people. + +During the fire, while Dick was working with others to stop its +spreading, a man was caught looting a burning house and was at once +dragged away and hanged to a post holding a street lamp. Dick saw his +face for an instant and recognized Tom's father. There was no +interceding for the man, who had been caught red-handed, and he suffered +the penalty of his crimes. + +"His wife and the rest are the better off for his taking away," said +Dick to himself, "but I cannot tell how he died. He was never of any use +to them and they are better off without him." + +The fire burned out at length, but there were smoking ruins the next day +and for several days, although Dick did not remain as long as that. He +got away the next day and made his way out of the city and to the camp +with very little difficulty, his pass being of great assistance to him. +Changing his clothes and putting on his uniform, Dick reported at once +to the commander-in-chief and was complimented upon securing the +information so promptly. Reporting other matters that he had learned, +Dick returned to the camp and told Bob and a few others how the Tory had +met his death, adding: + +"Do not say anything to Tom about it. I will tell him that his father is +dead, but not how it happened. It is a hard thing to say, perhaps, but +they are better off without him than they ever were with him." + +"It is the truth, at any rate," muttered Bob, "though it may not be +necessary to tell them." + +A few days later the Liberty Boys were ordered into lower Westchester to +check the advance of Howe and Cornwallis, who were trying to get behind +the Americans at King's Bridge and thus have a better opportunity to +attack Fort Washington, which the British leader had set his heart upon +subduing. + +"That will give us plenty to do," declared Bob, "and give us a chance to +bother the redcoats." + +"And give Patsy a chance to get rid of some of his extra fat," laughed +Mark, who was a bit of a tease. + +"Sure Oi've none to spare at all, Liftinant," roared Patsy, "but if ye +had said Cookyspiller now, ye'd have hit it to a tay. Sure he do be +nadin' it had." + +As the boys were getting ready to leave, Tom came into camp and said: + +"So you are leaving, are you, Captain? You have not seen him, have you?" + +"You will not see him again, Tom," Dick replied. "He was killed a few +days ago while in the commission of a crime in the city." + +"Did you see it, Captain?" + +"Yes, Tom. You and your mother are now free." + +Tom asked no questions, but presently said: + +"I would like to join the Liberty Boys. Mother is doing very well, the +little children are being cared for, and there is a good man up at +Tarrytown who has lost his wife and needs some one to take care of his +children. Mother can do it, and I think---" + +"She will marry him in time, Tom? Yes, it will be good for both of them. +She likes him?" + +"Yes, and so do all of us. Is it wrong for me to think that we are +better off now that he has been taken away?" + +"You need not think anything about it, Tom, but you are better off, for +all that. The man was simply a clog about the necks of all of you." + +"Then I may join the Liberty Boys, if I am big enough? Mother does not +need me now and I want to do something for my country." + +"Your mother is willing, Tom?" + +"Yes, if you will take me." + +"Very good. You are young, but not too young, and you are strong and +willing, and that is a good deal. I will see your mother, Tom, and I do +not think there will be any trouble about your joining." + +Tom returned to his mother and in a day or so Dick saw her and found +that she was willing that Tom should join the company. Tom went back +with Dick, therefore, and was sworn in as one of the Liberty Boys, to +his great delight. The boys cheered him for they had all heard of him +and knew of his sterling character and manly qualities. He fought with +the Liberty Boys at White Plains and Fort Washington and went into the +Jerseys with the troop when they joined the commander after the fall of +the fort. He was at Trenton and Princeton, where he did brave work with +the boys and fought through the succeeding campaign, doing good service +at Brandywine and Germantown and going into camp at Valley Forge, where +he bore with fortitude all the hardships of that rigorous winter, one of +the severest ever known. During the next spring he was with the Liberty +Boys in Connecticut and lost his life during a fight with Tryon's +raiders. His mother had married in the meantime and was in comfortable +circumstances, and this was a great comfort to the boy, who said to +Dick: + +"I have done my duty, Captain?" + +"Yes, Tom, and well." + +"And mother and the children are well and happy?" + +"Yes, they are, Tom." + +"We are sure to win this fight for freedom, Captain?" + +"Yes, Tom, we cannot do otherwise." + +"Then I have not died in vain in giving my life for my country?" + +"No, Tom, you have not." + +"Then I have nothing to regret. Good-by, Captain. You have been very +good to me." + +Dick took the boy's hand and held it till the grip relaxed, when he +placed it at his side and spread the flag over the young hero. + + +Next week's issue will contain "THE LIBERTY BOYS AND CAPTAIN HUCK; or, +ROUTING A WICKED LEADER." + + + . . . . . . . . . . . + + +A reporter was interviewing Thomas A. Edison. "And you, sir," he said to +the inventor, "made the first talking machine?" "No," Mr. Edison +replied, "the first one was made long before my time--out of a rib." + + + . . . . . . . . . . . + + +THE LIBERTY BOYS OF '76 + + - - LATEST ISSUES - - + +1064 The Liberty Boys in Kentucky; or, After the Redskins and Renegades. +1065 " and Old Moll; or, The Witch of Red Hook Point. +1066 " Secret Cave; or, Hiding From Tryon. +1067 " and the Jailer; or, Digging Out of Captivity. +1068 " Trumpet Blast; or, The Battle Cry of Freedom. +1069 " Call to Arms; or, Washington's Clever Ruse. +1070 " Whirlwind Attack; or, A Terrible Surprise to Tarleton. +1071 " Out With Brave Barry; or, The Battle With the "Unicorn." +1072 " Lost Trail: or, The Escape of the Traitor. +1073 " Beating the Skinners; or, Clearing Out a Bad Lot. +1074 " Flank Move; or, Coming Up Behind the British. +1075 " as Scouts; or, Skirmishing Around Valley Forge. +1076 " Forced March: or, Caught in a Terrible Trap. +1077 " Defending Bennington; or, Helping General Stark. +1078 " Young Messenger; or, Storming the Jersey Batteries. +1079 " and the Indian Fighter; or, Saving the Southern Settlers. +1080 " Running Fight; or, After the Redcoat Rangers. +1081 " Fighting Doxstader; or, The Destruction of Currytown. +1082 " and the Miller; or, Routing the Tory Bandits. +1083 " Chasing "Wild Bill"; or, Fighting a Mysterious Troop. +1084 " Hidden Swamp: or, Hot Times Along the Shore. +1085 " and the Black Horseman; or, Defeating a Dangerous Foe. +1086 " After the Cherokees; or, Battling With Cruel Enemies. +1087 " River Journey; or, Down the Ohio. +1088 " at East Rock; or, The Burning of New Haven. +1089 " in the Drowned Lands; or, Perilous Times Out West. +1090 " on the Commons; or, Defending Old New York. +1091 " Sword Charge; or, The Fight at Stony Point. +1092 " After Sir John; or, Dick Slater's Clever Ruse. +1093 " Doing Guard Duty; or, The Loss of Fort Washington. +1094 " Chasing a Renegade; or, The Worst Man on the Ohio. +1095 " and the Fortune Teller; or, The Gypsy Spy of Harlem. +1096 " Guarding Washington, or, Defeating a British Plot. +1097 " and Major Davie; or, Warm Work in the Mecklenburg District. +1098 " Fierce Hunt; or, Capturing a Clever Enemy. +1099 " Betrayed; or, Dick Sister's False Friend. +1100 " on the March: or, After a Slippery Foe. +1101 " Winter Camp; or, Lively Times in the North. +1102 " Avenged; or, The Traitor's Doom. +1103 " Pitched Battle; or, The Escape of the Indian Spy. +1104 " Light Artillery; or, Good Work At the Guns. +1105 " and "Whistling Will"; or, The Mad Spy of Paulus Hook. +1106 " Underground Camp; or, In Strange Quarters. +1107 " Dandy Spy; or, Deceiving the Governor. +1108 " Gunpowder Plot; or, Failing by an Inch. +1109 " Drummer Boy; or, Sounding the Call to Arms. + +For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt +of price, 7c per copy, in money or postage stamps, by + +HARRY E. WOLFF, Pub., Inc., 166 W. 23d St., N. Y. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade, by +Harry Moore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIBERTY BOYS *** + +***** This file should be named 22902.txt or 22902.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/9/0/22902/ + +Produced by Richard Halsey + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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