diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:32:45 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:32:45 -0700 |
| commit | 9170ec946adf65b024ca58858b51c994945ed00d (patch) | |
| tree | 83a27161bcd9a4ef0cd06995ba822ce8b486e47f /old/drbys10h.htm | |
Diffstat (limited to 'old/drbys10h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/drbys10h.htm | 5833 |
1 files changed, 5833 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/drbys10h.htm b/old/drbys10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..36823cc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/drbys10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5833 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> + <head> + <title>The Dare Boys of 1776 - by Stephen Angus Cox</title> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dare Boys of 1776, by Stephen Angus Cox + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Dare Boys of 1776 + +Author: Stephen Angus Cox + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9112] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 17, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DARE BOYS OF 1776 *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant + + + + + +</pre> + + + <div class="titlepage" style="text-align: center"> + <h1 style="text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 2.25em;">The Dare Boys<br style="display: block" />of 1776</h1> + <p class="byline" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: .75em">by</p> + <p class="author" style="text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.75em">Stephen Angus Cox</p> + <p class="byline" style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0%">Illustrations by<br style="display: block;" /> + </p> + <p class="author" style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0%">R. Mencl</p> + <div class="docimprint"> + <p class="pubPlace" style="margin-bottom: 0%">New York</p> + <p class="publisher" style="text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: 0%">The Platt & Peck Co.</p> + </div> + </div> + + <div class="verso" style="text-align: center"> + <p>Copyright 1910<br style="display: block" /> + <span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: .8em;">by</span><br style="display: block" /> + <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">The A. L. Chatterton Co.</span> + </p> + </div> + + <div class="toc"> + <h2 style="text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.2em">Contents</h2> + + <ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman"> + <li>T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">he</span> C<span style="font-variant: small-caps">lang of the</span> L<span style="font-variant: small-caps">iberty</span> B<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ell</span></li> + <li>W<span style="font-variant: small-caps">aylaid on the</span> R<span style="font-variant: small-caps">oad</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">B<span style="font-variant: small-caps">en</span> F<span style="font-variant: small-caps">oster</span></span> B<span style="font-variant: small-caps">rings</span> I<span style="font-variant: small-caps">mportant</span> N<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ews</span></li> + <li>A N<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ight</span> A<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ttack</span></li> + <li>T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">he</span> D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">are</span> B<span style="font-variant: small-caps">oys in</span> N<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ew</span> Y<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ork</span></li> + <li>C<span style="font-variant: small-caps">hosen for</span> D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">angerous</span> W<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ork</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ick</span>'s</span> F<span style="font-variant: small-caps">irst</span> A<span style="font-variant: small-caps">dventure</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">om</span> D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">are</span></span> A<span style="font-variant: small-caps">cts</span></li> + <li>T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">he</span> B<span style="font-variant: small-caps">rothers</span> T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ogether</span></li> + <li>I<span style="font-variant: small-caps">n the</span> E<span style="font-variant: small-caps">nemy's</span> C<span style="font-variant: small-caps">amp</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">om</span></span> <span style="font-variant: small-caps">in</span> T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">rouble</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ick</span></span> D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">oes</span> W<span style="font-variant: small-caps">onderful</span> W<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ork</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">G<span style="font-variant: small-caps">eneral</span> W<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ashington</span></span> <span style="font-variant: small-caps">is</span> P<span style="font-variant: small-caps">leased</span></li> + <li>T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">he</span> H<span style="font-variant: small-caps">aunted</span> H<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ouse</span></li> + <li><span class="name.char">D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ick</span></span> A<span style="font-variant: small-caps">gain</span> D<span style="font-variant: small-caps">oes</span> S<span style="font-variant: small-caps">py</span>-W<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ork</span></li> + <li>T<span style="font-variant: small-caps">he</span> B<span style="font-variant: small-caps">attle of</span> <span class="name.place">L<span style="font-variant: small-caps">ong</span> I<span style="font-variant: small-caps">sland</span></span></li> + </ol> + + </div> + + + + + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.1"> + <h2 class="1" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em">Chapter I</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em">The Clang of the Liberty Bell</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">I</span>t</span> was the fourth day of July of the year +1776. There was great excitement in all +of the colonies of <span class="name.state">America</span> at that time, for on +this day the representatives of the people, gathered together in the city of <span class="name.city"><span class="name.city">Philadelphia</span></span>, were +to decide whether the Declaration of Independence, already drawn up, should be adopted +and signed. In <span class="name.city"><span class="name.city">Philadelphia</span></span>, as may well be +supposed, the excitement was so intense that +the people suspended business. They thronged +the streets, walking up and down, talking excitedly, and waiting, waiting for the decision +to be made, the determination that would mean +so much to them.</p> + +<p>The people talked and gesticulated, and there +was considerable arguing, some contending that +the Declaration of Independence would be +adopted and signed, others that it would not.</p> + + + +<p>“Look, here it is almost evening,” contended +one of these latter, “and nothing has been done +yet. If they were going to adopt the Declaration it would have been done before this. The +delay means that it will not be done.”</p> + +<p>“They are taking their time to it, that is all,” +replied the others. “It is a most serious matter +and not to be taken up hastily and without due +thought. They will adopt and sign the Declaration of Independence before the day is gone, +see if they don't!”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, two patriot youths, +brothers, from about three miles over in New +Jersey, who had come to the city to hear the +news, listening eagerly, were thrilled by the +excitement and interest shown on every side.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I hope they will adopt the Declaration of +Independence, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>!” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “I'm sure they +will, aren't you?”</p> + +<p>“I think they will, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. I hope so.”</p> + +<p>“Bah, they won't do nothin' uv the kind, <span class="name.char">Dick +Dare</span>!” cried a sneering voice at their side, and +turning, the Dare youths saw <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span> and +<span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span>, the sons of two Tory neighbors, +standing there.</p> + +<p>“Uv course they won't,” added <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span>. +“They don't darst. They know that ef they do, +they'll git into trouble with King George. They +won't ring no old Liberty Bell to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Well, they just will!” cried <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, who +was an excitable, impulsive youth. “They'll +ring it pretty soon, <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span>, and they aren't +afraid of your old king, not a bit of it!”</p> + +<p>“What's thet! Don't ye dare speak disrespectfully uv the king!” snarled <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span>, +making a threatening motion with his fist. “Ef +ye do, why et'll be the worse fur ye, that's all.”</p> + +<p>Instantly <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, who was the elder of the +brothers, a handsome, manly youth of eighteen +years, seized <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> by the wrist, and pushed him +back, at the same time saying quietly, yet +firmly:</p> + +<p>“That will do, <span class="name.char">Zeke</span>. Don't go making any +threats. You and <span class="name.char">Lem</span> go about your business, +and don't interfere with <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and I.”</p> + +<p>“We'll go where we please,” snarled <span class="name.char">Zeke</span>, +who was a vicious youth of about <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> age, as +was <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span> also. “An' we'll stay heer ef +we want to, too, <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, an' ye can't he'p +yerself.”</p> + +<p>“That's all right,” calmly; “you can stay here, +I suppose, if you want to, but you will have to +behave yourselves and attend to your own business. If you try to interfere with <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +and I, or to bully us, you will wish you hadn't +stayed.”</p> + +<p>“Is thet so?” sneeringly. “Whut'll ye do, +<span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, hey?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, whut'll ye do?” cried <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span>, pushing forward and facing <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> confronted him quickly, and met his +angry glare unflinchingly. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was only sixteen years of age, but he was well-built and +athletic for his age, and was moreover as brave +as a lion, though somewhat quick-tempered and +impulsive. He put out his left hand and, +placing it against <span class="name.char">Lem's</span> chest, pushed him back.</p> + +<p>“Hold on, <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span>,” he said. “Just you +stand back. One at a time talking with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> is +enough. You talk to me, if you want to talk to +anybody.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span> was a hot-tempered youth also, +and suddenly his rage flared to the surface. He +didn't relish being pushed back by <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and +quick as a flash, he gave the patriot youth a +smart slap on the cheek.</p> + +<p>“That thet, an' l'arn to keep yer han's offen +people!” he snarled.</p> + + + +<p>The blow was with the flat of the hand, and +while it smarted, it did not hurt much to speak +of, but it was sufficient to start impulsive <span class="name.char">Tom +Dare</span> into action, and quick as a flash out shot +his fist. It caught <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span> between the eyes +and knocked him down flat on his back.</p> + +<p>“There, see how you like that!” exclaimed +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>, his eyes flashing. “I guess that next +time you'll think once or twice before you slap +me in the face!”</p> + +<p>With an angry exclamation, <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span> +struck at <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, but that youth was on his +guard, and he warded the blow off, and striking +out himself, landed a blow on <span class="name.char">Zeke's</span> jaw, downing +him as neatly as had been the case with +Hicks.</p> + +<p>Instantly a crowd gathered, many eagerly +asking what the trouble was about. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> explained that the two youths who had +been floored were Tories, and the sympathies +of the crowd were at once with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, +more especially when they learned that the Tory +boys had picked the quarrel with the patriots.</p> + +<p>“You did just right in knocking them down!” +was the cry, and so hostile were the looks, +actions and words of the crowd, that <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and +<span class="name.char">Lem</span> on scrambling to their feet, did not renew +the fight. They shook their fists at <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, however, and muttered threats, as they +moved away through the crowd declaring that +they would get even with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>The patriot youths received the congratulations and commendations of the people in their +vicinity with becoming modesty, and a little +later moved on up the street.</p> + +<p>They walked about for an hour or more, after +that, and then took up their station as near the +old State House as they could. There was such +an immense crowd there that it was impossible +to get within half a block of the building. In +the steeple of the State House was a bell, and +the old bell-ringer sat beside it, waiting for the +moment when his son, stationed below, should +give him word that the Declaration had +been adopted, when he would ring the bell. He +had been stationed there since morning, waiting, waiting, and as the day wore away and +still the word to ring came not, he shook his +head and muttered that they would never reach +a favorable conclusion.</p> + +<p>But he was mistaken, for when evening was +almost at hand, his son came rushing out of the +State House and called up eagerly and excitedly:</p> + +<p>“They've done it, father! They've adopted +and signed the Declaration of Independence! +Ring the bell! Ring it, father! Ring the bell! +Ring it—quick!”</p> + +<p>With a glad cry, the old man leaped up, forgetting his rheumatism in his excitement and +delight, and seizing the great iron clapper, +swung it back and forth against the sides of the +great brass bell, thus causing it to do what by +a strange coincidence the inscription on its side +said it was to do, viz.: “Proclaim liberty +throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants +thereof.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.2"> + + + <h2 class="2" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter II</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">Waylaid on the Road</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">A</span>s</span> the deep tones of the old bell died away +on the evening air a great shout of delight went up from the people on the streets. +They leaped and danced for joy. They tossed +their hats in the air. They shouted and sang. +Many wept for joy. It was an exciting, a thrilling manifestation.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span> were not a whit behind +any in their expressions of delight. They +shouted for joy, and then in the excess of their +happiness they threw their arms around each +other in a bearlike hug.</p> + +<p>“Oh, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, I'm so glad!” cried <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “I never +was so happy in my life.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. This is the most joyous hour +of my life! How delighted father will be when +we go home and tell him that it is settled, that +the Declaration of Independence is a real and +determined fact!”</p> + + + +<p>“It will please him more than anything else in +the world, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes indeed.”</p> + +<p>Then lifting up his voice the patriot youth +cried out loudly, his voice ringing clear as the +notes of a bugle:</p> + +<p>“Down with the king! Long live Liberty! +Long live <span class="name.char">Washington</span>!”</p> + +<p>The excitement was even greater after that, +and instantly the cry was taken up on every +hand. Thousands shouted aloud, in a thrilling, +triumphant roar: “Down with the king! Long +live Liberty! Long live <span class="name.char">Washington</span>!”</p> + +<p>People leaped and danced, and shouted till +they were hoarse. They were like crazy people, +but with them it was pure joy because of the +thought that they were to be free, to be their +own masters, independent of a tyrannical king. +They had reason to be joyous and happy.</p> + +<p>It was certainly a great day for the American +people–without doubt the greatest in the history +of the greatest country on the face of the Globe.</p> + +<p>After awhile, when the people had calmed +down to a considerable extent and were beginning to disperse to their homes, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom +Dare</span> set their faces homeward. They were +soon at the river, and crossing on the ferry, +walked swiftly along the road. They were +eager to get back and tell their father the glad, +the glorious news.</p> + +<p>Part of the way the road led through a heavy +growth of timber, and as <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> were +making their way past this point, talking enthusiastically of what they had seen in the city, +and never thinking that danger might lurk +near, they were suddenly set upon by four +youths of about their own age–no others, in +fact, than <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span>, <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span> and two other +Tory <span title="sympathizers">sympathisers</span> of the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>“We told ye we'd git even with ye!” hissed +<span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span>, as they hurled themselves upon +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “Ye thought ye was mighty +smart, there in <span class="name.city">Phillydelphy</span>, with ever'buddy +on yer side an' ag'in us, but heer its different +an' we'll beat ye till ye'll wish ye had never been +born! Go fur 'em, fellers!” this last to his +companions.</p> + +<p>The two patriot youths, although taken by +surprise, and outnumbered two to one, were yet +not dismayed, for they were brave lads, and +they fought the Tory youths with all their +might, so fiercely, in fact, that they held their +own remarkably well. They knocked down +each of the four young Tories, and gave them a +thumping that they would likely remember for +some time. Of course, they got hit a number of +times by the youths, but they did not mind it, +the smart of the blows only serving to make +them settle down to their work with increased +vim and determination, and the result was that +the Tory ruffians presently got enough of it, and +suddenly ceasing the attack and dashing in +among the trees at the roadside, disappeared +from view, leaving <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span> masters +of the situation.</p> + +<p>“Phew, that was warm work, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>!” said +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>, wiping his perspiring face with his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>“Yes, so it was, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>,” replied his brother. +“But I believe that we made it warmer for <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> +and his gang than they did for us.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think we did,” with a chuckle. “Say, +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, they are better runners than fighters, +aren't they!”</p> + +<p>“I think they are, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. They did some lively +sprinting, just now, at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“I guess they won't be likely to attack us +again, soon.”</p> + + + +<p>“Hardly.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> now resumed their journey +homeward, and reached there about half an +hour later. It was still light enough to see their father +at work in the backyard, as they entered +the front gate. They ran around the house at +the top of their speed, to halt a few moments +later in front of their father.</p> + +<p>“They did it, father!” exclaimed <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, pantingly. “They adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence.”</p> + +<p>“Say you so, my son?” exclaimed <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> +joyously. “Well, heaven be praised! I am glad, +my sons; yes, very, very glad! It means much +to everybody, and to young people like yourselves more than to older ones, for you have +practically the whole of your lives before you, +while we older people have already lived the +greater portion of the time allotted to us.”</p> + +<p>“It was wonderful, the interest and excitement shown by the people in <span class="name.city">Philadelphia</span>, +father!” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “They were wild with delight.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt of it, my son. And they had +reason to be delighted. It is a great thing to +feel free and independent. I feel wonderfully +relieved already. I feel as if shackles had suddenly been stricken from my limbs, and I have +no doubt that is the way the majority of the +people look at the matter, so why should they +not feel joyous?”</p> + +<p>The three then entered the house, <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> +having finished his work for the evening, and +<span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> greeted her sons affectionately.</p> + +<p>“The Declaration of Independence has been +adopted, wife,” said <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span>, joyously. “The +die is cast. There will be war now, undoubtedly, +and it will result in the independence of the +people of <span class="name.state">America</span>. It cannot result otherwise, +for the people will fight to the death. In the +words of <span class="name.char">Patrick Henry</span>, it will be with them, +‘Give me liberty, or give me death!’”</p> + +<p>“I am glad, <span class="name.char">Henry</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>. “I am +glad, and almost sorry, as well, for–I am +afraid it will take you from me. You will want +to enter the army, I am afraid.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I must do so, wife,” earnestly. “Every +man should step to the front and shoulder a +musket and fight for liberty. Yes, I must go to +the war, mother. I must join the Continental +Army at once.”</p> + +<p>“I feared it,” sighed the woman. “But, I +shall try to be brave and bear up well, for I +know that it is the right thing for you to do. +I would not want you to stay at home, when you +were needed at the front to help fight the minions of King George.”</p> + +<p>“Spoken like my own true-hearted wife!” said +<span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span>. “I knew you would look at the +matter that way, dear.”</p> + +<p>At this moment there came a knock on the +back-door, and when <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> opened it, she +saw a neighbor, <span class="name.char">Abe Boggs</span>, the father of <span class="name.char">Zeke</span>, +standing there. This man was an avowed Tory, +who was vehement in his declarations of allegiance to the king, and who had been heard +often to viciously proclaim that all who were +not in favor of the king, were traitors and that +they ought to be hung. Knowing this, and instinctively disliking the man because she knew +he was vicious and bad, <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare's</span> heart sank +when she saw who was standing there.</p> + +<p>The fact was, that the Dares lived right in +the midst of a Tory neighborhood; that is the +six or seven nearest neighbors were adherents +of the king, and they neighbored among themselves, and would not have anything to do with +the Dares. This did not bother the patriot +family, however, for they did not like the Tory +families anyway. <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> often met one or +more of the men, when going about his work, +however, and frequently he had arguments with +them. As he was a brave man, and frank-spoken as he was brave, he always told the +Tories just what he thought of their king, and +thus he had angered them many times, and +they had learned to hate him. Only his fearlessness, and the fact that he was known to be a +dangerous man to interfere with, had saved him +from rough treatment at the hands of the +Tories.</p> + +<p>“Good evenin', <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>,” said Boggs, ducking his head. “Tell yer husban' to come out +here; we'd like to see 'im.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> glanced out into the yard, and her +heart gave a leap, and then sank as she saw +several of their Tory neighbors sanding in a +group a few yards from the house. She noted, +with a feeling of fear gripping her heart, that +two or three of them had rifles in their hands.</p> + +<p>“W-what do you want, <span class="name.char">Mr. Boggs</span>?” she +asked, her voice trembling. “My husband is +here, but–but–we were just going to eat +supper, and—”</p> + + + +<p>“Supper can wait a few minutes, wife,” said +<span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span>. “I'll see what neighbor Boggs wants. +Won't you come in, <span class="name.char">Abe</span>?”</p> + +<p>“No, we wanter see ye out here, Dare” replied the Tory. “Come out uv doors. We won't +keep ye but a minnet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, husband, be careful!” whispered <span class="name.char">Mrs. +Dare</span> in her husband's ear as he passed her. +“Don't anger them. They have weapons in +their hands, and—” With a smile and a reassuring glance <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> passed on out, closing +the door behind him. He had no fear whatever +of his Tory neighbors, and would have scoffed +at the idea of their trying to do him injury.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> were washing their faces and +hands and combing their hair, and did not know +anything about the coming of the Tories until +they entered the room where their mother was, +and then <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> had been out in the yard +perhaps five minutes. During this time <span class="name.char">Mrs. +Dare</span> had been on the anxious seat, so to speak. +She had been listening eagerly and anxiously, +fearing she might hear rifle-shots, or the sound +of a struggle, but no such sounds had come to +her hearing. Still, she was not feeling very +much reassured when the boys entered the +room, and she told them about the coming of +<span class="name.char">Abe Boggs</span> and some more of the neighbors, +and how they had called <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> out, on the +plea of wishing to speak to him.</p> + +<p>“He's been out there quite a while,” <span class="name.char">Mrs. +Dare</span> finished; “and I'm beginning to feel uneasy. I wish you would go out and tell father +to come in, that supper is getting cold, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, mother,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and he +hastened to the door. The truth was, that a +feeling of uneasiness had taken hold upon him +when he heard what his mother had to say about +the Tories, and, remembering the trouble he and +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> had had with <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span> and his cronies +that afternoon in <span class="name.city">Philadelphia</span> and on the road +home, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was led to fear that the Tories +had called his father out of doors with evil +intent.</p> + +<p>He opened the door and stepped quickly out, +and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, who had also been assailed with fears +for his father's safety, was close at his heels. +They looked all around, but to their surprise, +and to their alarm as well, there was no one in +sight. Neither their father nor the Tories +could be seen anywhere. It was so dark that the +youths could not see any very great distance +with distinctness, but they were confident that +there was nobody in the back yard.</p> + +<p>“They're around in the front yard, likely, +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, but his tone lacked positiveness. It was evident that he had fears that such +was not really the case.</p> + +<p>The two hastened around the house, accompanied by their mother, who had followed them +to the door and had, like her sons, noted that +there was nobody to be seen. And when they +reached the front yard, they saw it was the +same there: Not a soul was in the front yard. +The Tories, and <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> as well, had disappeared.</p> + +<p>“Oh, where can they be?” cried <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>, +almost at the weeping point. “What have they +done with your father? Oh, I am afraid they +have wrought him injury of some kind, sons!”</p> + +<p>The youths were alarmed, but they pretended +that such was not the case, in order to reassure their mother. They said that their father +was all right.</p> + +<p>“He has gone with them, to see about something,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “You go back in the house, +mother, and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and I will go over to <span class="name.char">Mr. +Boggs</span> and see what has become of father. +Likely he is there. You go in and stay with +Mary. We won't be gone long.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>; “but +hurry, for I shall be anxious till you get back +with your father.”</p> + +<p>She entered the house, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +hastened over to the Boggs home, which was +less than a quarter mile distant. <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span> +was not there, and <span class="name.char">Mrs. Boggs</span> said she did not +know where her husband was, that he had left +the house an hour or more before, saying he did +not know when he would be back. Thanking +her for the information, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> hastened +to the homes of several of the neighboring +Tories in succession, and made inquiries regarding <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span>, but with the same result as at the +Boggs home. In none of the homes visited +were any of the men of the house, and the +women did not know where the men were.</p> + +<p>Greatly worried now, but hoping they would +find their father at home when they got there, +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> hastened back, and as they approached the house, they caught sight of something white on the door. When they reached +the door, they found it was a piece of paper, and +on taking this into the house discovered it was +a rudely scrawled note, signed by <span class="name.char">Abe Boggs</span> +and six of his Tory neighbors. The note read +as follows:</p> + +<p class="letter" style="margin-left: 2em;margin-top: .5em;margin-bottom: .25em">“To <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> and rebel sons, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>:</p> + +<p class="letter" style="margin-left: 2em;margin-top: .25em;margin-bottom: .5em">“We hev took <span class="name.char">Henry Dare</span> prisner. He<br style="display: block" /> +is a rebel, an we are goin ter turn him over<br style="display: block" /> +to Captain Wilson an his compny uv<br style="display: block" /> +<span class="name.nationality"><span class="name.nationality">British</span></span> sojers, who hev ben heer fur a<br style="display: block" /> +week past, an are goin to jine the main<br style="display: block" /> +army on <span class="name.place">Long Island</span> to-night. Ye kaint<br style="display: block" /> +do nothin to git him back, so ye needn try.<br style="display: block" /> +An ye two boys, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> an <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, had better be<br style="display: block" /> +keerful er we'll serve ye worsen whut we<br style="display: block" /> +hev <span title="your">yer</span> father. We don't aim ter hev<br style="display: block" /> +any rebels in our neighborhood. So, <span class="name.char">Dick</span><br style="display: block" /> +and <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, hev a care!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, husband is a prisoner in the hands of the +<span class="name.nationality"><span class="name.nationality">British</span></span>!” wailed <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>. “Oh, this is terrible, boys! What shall we do? Oh, what shall +we do!”</p> + +<p>“Don't be frightened, mother,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +soothingly. “I don't think father is in any +danger. He is a prisoner, true, but the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +don't kill prisoners, and sooner or later father +will escape–or be rescued. That will be work +for <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and I, mother!” his eyes lighting up. +“We will make it our object in life to rescue +father and get him back home here, with you, +mother.”</p> + +<p>The poor woman was not greatly comforted, +however, and she shook her head, at the same +time saying, in a hopeless tone of voice:</p> + +<p>“What could you do, you are only a couple of +boys? You could not possibly rescue father. +It is useless to think of such a thing. Oh, I +greatly fear I shall never see my husband again +in this world! Oh, those terrible, cowardly +Tories!” The good woman gave way to an +outburst of uncontrollable grief.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you shall see father again, mother,” declared <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, decidedly. “Don't worry. He is +safe from personal harm, and sooner or later +we will succeed in getting him located and will +rescue him. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and I will make that our object in life.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, mother,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span> eagerly. “We'll +join the patriot army, if need be, to further our +ends, and while fighting for Liberty and Independence, and aiding our country in that +manner, we will at the same time be on the lookout to find father and rescue him.”</p> + + + +<p>“Yes, that is what we will do,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“Father would have joined the patriot army if +he had not been captured and taken away by the +Tories, and now that he is not able to do that, +we will do it in his stead. I know it is what +father would wish us to do, and as <span class="name.char">Tom</span> says, it +will give us a better chance to find and rescue +father.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my sons, my sons! How can I spare +you, too?” murmured <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>. “How can I +let you leave me, now that I have lost your dear +father!”</p> + +<p>“It will be only temporary, mother. You can +see, when you give the matter more thought, +that it is the best thing to do.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps so, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, darling,” acquiesced <span class="name.char">Mrs. +Dare</span>, “but it is hard!”</p> + +<p>Throwing their arms about their mother's +neck, the youths kissed her, and presently she +grew more calm.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.3"> + + + <h2 class="3" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter III</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span> Brings Important News</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">“O</span>h</span>, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, is it true that you and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> are +going to enter the army and fight for +liberty?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is true, Elsie. Aren't you glad?”</p> + +<p>“Y-yes, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” replied <span class="name.char">Elsie Foster</span>, hesitatingly. “I'm glad you are to be a soldier, but I–well, you might get killed you know, and–and–”</p> + +<p>“Would you care, Elsie?”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Elsie Foster</span> was the daughter of <span class="name.char">Robert +Foster</span>, the nearest neighbor of the Dares. <span class="name.char">Mr. +Foster</span> was a king's man, but he was different +from the other Tories of the neighborhood, in +that he was an honest, honorable man, and was +a friend of the Dares. He had had nothing to +do with the capture of <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span>, and was outspoken in his denunciation of his Tory neighbors for the deed they had committed.</p> + + + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had gone over to the Foster home to +borrow something for his mother, and had met +Elsie out in the yard, and the girl had greeted +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> as above. The truth was that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and +Elsie were great friends. They were school-mates, and whenever there was anything going +on in the neighborhood, such as spelling schools, +skating parties, etc., <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was Elsie's companion. Elsie was seventeen, and she had a +brother, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, he being her twin, and a sister, +Lucy, aged fifteen. The three young folks of +the Dare family and the three of the Foster +family often got together of evenings and had a +pleasant time, but now that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> were +going away to the war, it would break into this +arrangement.</p> + +<p>When <span class="name.char">Dick</span> asked Elsie if she would care if he +should get killed in battle, she blushed and +looked confused at first, and then she looked +him frankly in the eyes and said, softly. “You +know I would, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I'm glad to know that, Elsie,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +earnestly.</p> + +<p>At this moment <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span> came running up. +He was a manly-looking youth, and was lively +and jolly as a rule. But now he was very sober-looking, for he realized that <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, whose father +had been captured by the Tories only the day +before, was in no mood for jollity. There was +an eager expression on <span class="name.char">Ben's</span> face, however, +and after greeting <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, he asked:</p> + +<p>“Are you really going to join the Continental +army, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, you and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“Well, say, I'm going to go with you,” declared <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“Oh, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>!” exclaimed Elsie. “What will +father say?”</p> + +<p>“Father's all right, sis. He is a king's man, +everybody knows that, but he is reasonable, and +lets other people think as they like. He knows +that I'm a patriot, and he won't object.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> face lighted up, for he liked <span class="name.char">Ben</span> very +much, and the idea of having him along was a +pleasing one.</p> + +<p>“That would be fine, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>,” he said. “But I +wouldn't want you to do anything contrary to +the wishes of your father.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that will be all right,” <span class="name.char">Ben</span> assured him. +“He won't care, I am sure.”</p> + +<p>“Goodness, what will Mary do if you go +away?” said Elsie. <span class="name.char">Ben</span> seemed to think as +much of Mary Dare as <span class="name.char">Dick</span> did of Elsie, and he +flushed slightly at his sister's words, and then +retorted:</p> + +<p>“I guess she'll do about the same thing that +you will when <span class="name.char">Dick</span> goes–go up into the attic +and have a good cry.”</p> + +<p>“You're a mean brother,” said Elsie in pretended anger, lifting her hand as if to slap him, +“and if it wasn't that I will likely soon lose you, +I would box your ears soundly.”</p> + +<p>They talked awhile, and then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> attended to +the errand that had brought him there and went +home.</p> + +<p>“I guess we will have company when we go +to war, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>” he said to his brother.</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” with an interested ear. “Who?”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>.”</p> + +<p>“You don't mean it, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. He just told me he intends to accompany us.”</p> + +<p>“But–his father's a Tory!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but he is a reasonable man, and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> +says that he will not object.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that will be fine. I'd like to have <span class="name.char">Ben</span> +along.”</p> + +<p>“So would I. And I guess he'll go.”</p> + + + +<p>“I hope he will. He's such a lively, jolly fellow that he is good company, and will help keep +us from getting homesick.”</p> + +<p>“I guess, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, that we will be kept too busy +to get homesick.”</p> + +<p>“You think there will be lots of fighting, +then? You feel certain that there will be war?”</p> + +<p>“War has really existed for more than a year, +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>. You know the battle of Lexington was +fought April the nineteenth of last year, and +that was the first battle of the Revolution. And +since that there has been more or less skirmishing between the ‘Minute Men’ of New England +and the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, the most important of all these +being the battle of Bunker Hill, which took place +on the seventeenth day of June of last year.”</p> + +<p>“Our soldiers defeated the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> there, +didn't they, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, they got all the better of the battle, but +their ammunition gave out and they had to retreat. Still, it was equivalent to a victory.”</p> + +<p>“That's what I thought.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and then <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>–who +was appointed commander-in-chief of the army +by the Second Continental Congress, at Philadelphia in May of last year, and who went to +<span class="name.city">Boston</span> and took charge of the army on July +third–kept the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> penned up in <span class="name.city">Boston</span> till +about the middle of last March, when he fortified <span class="name.city">Dorchester Heights</span>, overlooking <span class="name.city">Boston</span>, +the work being performed in one night, and +next morning the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, seeing what had been +done and realizing that they would be at the +mercy of the patriot army if they remained in +<span class="name.city">Boston</span>, hurriedly boarded the ships of the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> fleet, then in the harbor, and sailed to +Halifax, Nova Scotia.”</p> + +<p>“And <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> and his patriot +troops went down and took possession of +<span class="name.city">Boston</span>!” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, his eyes shining.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. But <span class="name.char">General Howe</span>, the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +commander-in-chief, did not keep his troops +long in Halifax, but sailed to New York, where +he was soon joined by the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> fleet under +his brother, <span class="name.char">Admiral Howe</span>, and by <span class="name.char">General +Clinton</span>.”</p> + +<p>“And <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> and his patriot +army came to New York and took possession of +that city,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and he's there now, and that is where +we are going, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>! Say, I'm glad of it. I want +to join the army, and fight the redcoats. I want +to fight for liberty and independence.”</p> + +<p>“So do I. And we will, too.”</p> + +<p>“When will we go, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?”</p> + +<p>“In a few days, likely. We have to get things +in shape so that mother and sister Mary can get +along without us, you know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but that won't take long. Most of the +work for the summer is done, and all there will +be to do on the farm is to wait for the crops to +ripen.”</p> + +<p>“True. Well, we'll go in a few days, now, +likely.”</p> + +<p>“Don't be in too big a hurry to go, sons,” +said <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> sadly, when they were discussing the matter, that evening at supper. “Think +how lonesome Mary and I will be when you are +gone.”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Mrs. Foster</span> and the girls will come over +often,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “They will keep you cheered +up.”</p> + +<p>“It will help,” was the reply. “But we will +be lonely, just the same.”</p> + +<p>“You might try to be cheerful, mother,” said +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “<span class="name.char">Dick</span> and I won't want to think of you +as being lonely.”</p> + + + +<p>“Oh, I will get along all right, sons,” said the +brave woman, forcing a smile. She wanted to +have the boys go away feeling that she was in +good spirits.</p> + +<p>They had just finished eating supper, when +<span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span> came in. There was an eager, +excited look on his face, and he said earnestly:</p> + +<p>“There's a plot on foot against <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, +and I came right over to let you know about it.”</p> + +<p>“A plot!” exclaimed <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>, her face +paling and her voice trembling. “By whom!”</p> + +<p>“The Tories.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” breathed the woman, a look of anxiety +on her face. “This is terrible!”</p> + +<p>“Don't worry, mother,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “We +know of it, now, and can prepare for them. It +will not be as if we were to be taken by surprise.”</p> + +<p>“No, don't be afraid, <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. +“We'll make the Tories wish they had attended +to their own business.”</p> + +<p>“How did you learn about it, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>?” asked +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“Father found it out this afternoon. You +know, he's a king's man, and they weren't as +careful as they might have been, and he heard +them talking about it.”</p> + +<p>“What are their plans?” asked <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“They are going to come here to-night at +about midnight and break in, take you and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +out and tie you to trees and whip you–at least, +that is their intention. They won't succeed, +though, you may be sure.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed they will not!” smiled <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “There +will be some sadder and wiser Tories before the +night is ended.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I am sore afraid, son!” said <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>. +“There will be a dozen or more of the Tories, +and what can you and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> do against so +many?”</p> + +<p>“I'll come over and help <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, <span class="name.char">Mrs. +Dare</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. “As soon as father told me +about the plan, I made up my mind that I would +come here to-night and help fight the +Tories.”</p> + +<p>“Say, you are all right, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>!” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, slapping his friend on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>“That is good of you, old fellow,” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, seizing <span class="name.char">Ben's</span> hand and shaking it +heartily. “We thank you.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed!” said Mary, who saw that <span class="name.char">Ben's</span> +eyes were on her, as if he wished to hear what +she thought about it. “It is indeed good of you, +<span class="name.char">Ben</span>, to volunteer to do that.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that's all right,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, a pleased +look in his eyes. “I tell you we will make it +lively for those Tories when they come sneaking +around here.”</p> + +<p>“We'll do our best to give them a warm reception, at any rate,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“I'll be over in an hour or so,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, “and +I'll bring a musket and a pistol along. But how +about <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> and Mary? Hadn't they better +come over to our house until after the attack +has been made? The folks told me to ask you to +come, <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> and Mary.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it would be best,” agreed <span class="name.char">Mrs. +Dare</span>. “But still, I hate to go away and leave +you boys here. You might be reckless, when +if I were to stay you would be more careful.”</p> + +<p>“Don't think that, mother,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “We +are going to go to war soon, and you can't be +with us then, and if you and Mary stayed +here, you might get hit with a stray bullet. +There is no use of your taking the risk. We'll +be as careful with you away as if you were +here; and we will be in a position to fight +with more freedom and effect if you are not +here.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, then, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. If that is the case, +we will go over to <span class="name.char">Mr. Foster's</span>. But we will return after the attack has been made, for we +wouldn't want any of the neighbors to see us +coming away from there in the morning, as that +would cause them to suspect that <span class="name.char">Mr. Foster</span> +had warned us, and might cause him trouble.”</p> + +<p>“True, mother. That will be all right. You +and Mary can come home after we have driven +the Tories away.”</p> + +<p>“We'll go over to <span class="name.char">Mr. Foster's</span> as soon as it is +dark,” said <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>.</p> + +<p>Shortly after dark, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, accompanied by his +mother and Mary, went over to the Foster +home, and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> returned with him.</p> + +<p>“So you're here, eh?” greeted <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “That's +fine. I guess when those cowardly Tories put in +an appearance, they will get something that +they are not looking for.”</p> + +<p>“That's what they will,” nodded <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. “At +any rate, I hope so.”</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“I wish <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem</span> would be in the party,” +said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, grinning. “I'd like to give them another thrashing.”</p> + +<p>“When did you thrash them, before?” queried +<span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“In <span class="name.city">Philadelphia</span>, yesterday. Didn't <span class="name.char">Dick</span> tell +you about it?”</p> + +<p>“No, you tell me now,” eagerly.</p> + +<p>Then <span class="name.char">Tom</span> did so, detailing the encounter on +the streets of <span class="name.city">Philadelphia</span>, and when he had +heard all, <span class="name.char">Ben</span> said:</p> + +<p>“Good! I'm glad you thrashed them.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.4"> + + + <h2 class="4" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter IV</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">A Night Attack</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">T</span>hey're</span> coming, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>!” whispered <span class="name.char">Ben +Foster</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I hear footsteps,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “But,” +after listening a few moments, “there is only +one person coming. Perhaps it isn't the Tories +after all.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that's their game–to make you think +there is only one. He walks boldly, so you can +hear him, while the others creep up. It is the +Tory gang, all right.”</p> + +<p>“Likely you are right.”</p> + +<p>It was now nearly midnight, and so it was +time for the Tories to put in their appearance, +if they were to make the attack that night, as +<span class="name.char">Mr. Foster</span> had heard them say they would do.</p> + +<p>Closer sounded the footsteps, and then they +ceased and there came a knock on the door.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not answer, as he did not want the +fellow to suspect that the inmates of the house +were awake and on the alert. The youths, gripping tightly their rifles and muskets, waited. +Their hearts were beating more rapidly than +was their wont, but it is safe to say that no +feeling of fear had place in their hearts. Only +expectation, and eagerness to get at the Tories +dominated them.</p> + +<p>After a brief period, the knock on the door +was repeated. Then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> spoke up.</p> + +<p>“Who is there?” he called out.</p> + +<p>“A friend,” was the reply, in a hoarse, +evidently disguised voice.</p> + +<p>“What is your name, friend?”</p> + +<p>“That doesn't matter. I have news, important news for you, <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>”</p> + +<p>“You have no news for me that I don't know +already,” retorted the youth.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” There was a quick suspicion in the voice.</p> + +<p>“I mean that I know you are a Tory, and that +you have a number of companions, and intend +to try to get hold of my brother and myself and +tie us up and whip us. I don't feel like permitting that, so you had better go away, if you +value your skins, for if you try to bother us, we +will surely defend ourselves and do harm to +you–if we can.”</p> + +<p>Evidently the man realized it was useless to +carry the deception further, for he cried out, +sneeringly:</p> + +<p>“Oh, will you indeed, <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>? Well, let +me tell you something, my bold young rebel: +When we get through with you, you will not be +in a position to harm anybody. We are going +to take you out and whip you soundly, as should +be done with all such traitors to the king as +you two are!”</p> + +<p>“I give you fair warning,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +sternly; “if you attempt to injure myself and +brother, you will get badly hurt. Go about +you business and leave us alone.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, we'll go about our business and leave +you alone, of course we will–but it will be after +we have tied you up to one of the trees here in +your own yard! Open the door, or we'll break +it down.”</p> + +<p>“You are wasting breath,” in a voice of contempt. “We would be very foolish if we opened +the door, would we not?”</p> + +<p>“It doesn't matter; we'll break the door down +in a jiffy, anyway.”</p> + + + +<p>“If you do, you'll be very sorry. Remember, +I gave you fair warning.”</p> + +<p>“Bah! Boys' threats don't scare us worth a +cent. We'll have the door down and you two +rebel brats out of there very quickly.”</p> + +<p>“And we'll have some of you Tory hounds +lying dead on the grass of our own yard very +soon, too. Mind what I tell you!”</p> + +<p>A sneering laugh was the only reply. They +had no idea the boys would really shoot at them.</p> + +<p>There was the sound of receding footsteps, +followed by the murmur of voices, and then a +few minutes later there sounded the trampling +of many feet, and crash! something struck the +door, causing it to creak and groan under the +impact.</p> + +<p>“They've found a log, and will better the door +down,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “Be ready, boys and as +soon as the door falls, fire through the opening. +They have brought this upon themselves, and if +we injure a few of them, it will be their own +fault.”</p> + +<p>“We're ready, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we'll fire when you give the word,” +from <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“All right, boys. Level your weapons, and be +ready, and when I say ‘Fire’, pull trigger.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, we will!” came the reply.</p> + +<p>The next moment there sounded the trampling of feet once more, and crash! the end of the +log struck the door. This time the impact was +so great the door could not withstand it, and +down it came with a thud. At least a dozen +forms could be seen through the opening, outlined against the horizon.</p> + +<p>“Fire!” cried <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, his voice ringing out +loudly and clearly.</p> + +<p>The youths obeyed the command, pulling trigger instantly, and the crash that followed was +deafening, and seemed almost sufficient in volume to raise the roof.</p> + +<p>It was an effective volley, too, for two or +three of the Tories were hit by bullets, as was +evidenced by the yells and screams of pain and +rage that they gave utterance to. They fell +back, in dismay, the log dropping to the ground +with a thud.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span>, instinctively realizing that the Tories +were stricken with a feeling of dismay, not to +say terror, because of their reception, cried, +“Charge them, boys! At them! Give it to the +scoundrels!”</p> + + + +<p>With a yell that must have added to the +dismay of the enemy, the youths dashed out +through the doorway and attacked the Tories, +laying about them with the butts of their rifles +and muskets, and discharging their pistols.</p> + +<p>Thud, thud, thud! Thus sounded the impact +of the butts of the weapons with the heads, +arms and bodies of the ruffians, and with each +thud sounded a yell of pain and rage from the +recipient of the blow. Then, suddenly the +Tories took refuge in flight, running from the +scene as swiftly as possible, and fairly falling +over the fence in their haste to get away. They +were quickly out of sight, and the affair was at +an end. The three youths had put their enemies to rout, and without having sustained any +injury whatever.</p> + +<p>They were well pleased, and although they +had not killed any of the Tories outright, yet the +youths were sure they had wounded several, for +they had heard the ruffians give utterance to +cries of pain, and too, they saw blood on the +ground in several places.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> now hastened to the Foster home +and reported the victory over the Tories, and +was congratulated by all there, even <span class="name.char">Mr. Foster</span>, +the avowed king's man, seeming very well +pleased for he was an honest, honorable man, +and not at all in sympathy with the night-marauding tactics of his Tory neighbors.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span> and Mary accompanied <span class="name.char">Dick</span> home, +and the good woman thanked <span class="name.char">Ben</span> for coming +and helping her sons.</p> + +<p>“Oh, that's all right,” smiled <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. “I was +glad to come. I wanted a chance at those +cowardly Tories.”</p> + +<p>“And we thrashed them soundly, too, +mother,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“Do you think there is any danger that they +will return?” queried <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>, somewhat +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“I don't think so, mother,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“They've had all the fighting they want, for one +night, I am sure.”</p> + +<p>“I think so,” said <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>. “But I'll +stay here, <span class="name.char">Mrs. Dare</span>, and if they come, we will +be able to drive them away again.”</p> + +<p>But the Tories did not return. They had, as +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> said, evidently seen all the fighting they +wanted, for one night.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span>, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span> began getting +ready to go to New York, that day, to join the +patriot army under <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>. They +would be ready in a day or two, as there was +not a great deal to do.</p> + +<p>Next day, however, <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span> had news for +his friends. He came over, an eager look in his +eyes, and told the brothers that <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span> had +just told him that he and <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span> were going +over to <span class="name.place">Long Island</span> and join the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +army.</p> + +<p>“He says that they don't intend to let us get +ahead of them, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” finished <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. “They +hope to fight against us in some of the battles.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess they will get the chance,” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, grimly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, they'll get the worst of the fighting, +too,” declared <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“That they will!” coincided <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“There are two things that I hope to do, +when in the patriot army,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “One +is, to find where my father is imprisoned +and free him, and the other to meet <span class="name.char">Zeke +Boggs</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span> in battle and defeat +them.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, his eyes shining. +“We must find father as soon as possible, and +rescue him from the hands of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>. I +think we can do so, don't you?”</p> + +<p>“I surely think so, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you'll be certain to find out where he is, +and before very long, then you can rescue him,” +proposed <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, confidently.</p> + +<p>“And after that we can thrash <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem</span> +with a good heart,” suggested <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“I don't think <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem</span> will make very +good soldiers,” remarked <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“I think they'll run, the very first time they +get into a battle,” concluded <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.5"> + + + <h2 class="5" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter V</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">The Dare Boys in New York</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">A</span>n</span> orderly knocked at the door of the room +occupied by <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, in the +old Fraunces' Tavern, the building used as +patriot headquarters, and on being commanded +to enter, opened the door and said:</p> + +<p>“A young man wishes audience with you, +your excellency.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, the great man on whose +shoulders rested such a serious responsibility, +now that the people of the Colonies had declared +for Independence, sat at his desk, looking over +some papers. He now glanced up at the orderly.</p> + +<p>“Who is the young man, orderly?” he queried.</p> + +<p>“He says his name is Richard Dare.”</p> + +<p>“I have never heard of him,” with a shake +of the head. “Did he state his business?”</p> + +<p>“No, your excellency. I asked him, but he +said he preferred seeing you and stating his +business direct.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Washington</span> was thoughtful for a few moments, and then said:</p> + +<p>“He is a young man, you say?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your excellency; or rather, I should +perhaps have said youth. I doubt if he is more +than eighteen or nineteen years of age.”</p> + +<p>“H'm,” murmured the commander-in-chief; +“I am pretty busy, but will see him briefly. +Show him in.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your excellency,” and the orderly withdrew.</p> + +<p>He was back again in a few moments, however, and ushered in a handsome, manly-looking +youth, at the same time announcing:</p> + +<p>“Richard Dare, your excellency.” Then he +withdrew, leaving the two alone.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> glanced up as his visitor +was announced, and when his eyes took in the +handsome face, the fine physique and perfect +poise of the youth, he gave a slight start and +eyed him keenly and somewhat searchingly, +with considerable interest.</p> + +<p>“You are Richard Dare?” the commander-in-chief remarked.</p> + + + +<p>“Yes, your excellency,” saluting.</p> + +<p>“Very good, <span class="name.char">Mr. Dare</span>. Now if you will be so +kind as to state your business as briefly as possible, I will hear you. I am quite busy, as you +may well suppose.”</p> + +<p>“Pardon me for taking up your time, sir,” +said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, “but I wished to see you in person, +as I have come to make you an offer.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, indeed? What kind of an offer, my +young friend?”</p> + +<p>“I will tell you, sir: I and two friends of +about my own age have come to New York +from our homes in the western part of New +Jersey. We arrived here only this morning, +and I, as their spokesman, have come to offer +our services to you, sir. We are ardent patriots +and desirous of fighting in our country, for +the freedom and independence of our people.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well,” said <span class="name.char">Washington</span>, looking at +the youth with renewed interest. “Bravely +spoken! Your desire is a commendable one, +and certainly I shall be glad to accept of your +offer, if your parents are willing that you shall +enter the army. You are mere youths, as it +were, and I would not want to take advantage +of your offer unless it were satisfactory to +your parents. They have knowledge of you +project?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, your excellency. We have done +this with the knowledge and approval of our +parents. My father, however, was captured in +his own dooryard, less than two weeks ago, by a +gang of Tories, and I and my brother <span class="name.char">Tom</span> decided to join your army, to take father's place, +as he had intended to join, and also with the +hope of finding and rescuing him. One of our +friends, when he heard that we were going to +do this, came and told us that he wanted to +come, too, and here we are. I hope you will +accept us, sir, and give us a place in your +army.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be pleased to do so, <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>,” was +the hearty reply. “From this moment you are +a member of the Continental Army, as are your +companions also. I thank you, Dare, for your +interest in the welfare of our country, and pray +extend to your companions my thanks, and tell +them that I shall expect to hear a good report +from them when it comes to actual conflict with +the enemy.”</p> + +<p>“I think they will give a good account of +themselves, your excellency,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, quietly +but modestly. “I am sure they will fight hard +for freedom.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt about it, my boy. Well, the +matter is settled, then. Here, take this order +and present it to <span class="name.char">Colonel Morgan</span>, who will +find room for you in his regiment, now in process of formation.”</p> + +<p>The commander-in-chief hastily wrote the +order and handed it to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, who took it and +saluted.</p> + +<p>“Thanks, your excellency,” he said. “I will +do as you have commanded. My companions will +be delighted when I make my report to them.”</p> + +<p>Then, saluting again, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> left the presence +of the great man, and was quickly back with +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, who were quartered in a building +only about a block distant.</p> + +<p>They greeted him eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Did you see <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” +cried <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, I saw him,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“And what did he say?” queried <span class="name.char">Ben +Foster</span>. “Did he accept our offer of our +services?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “He seemed to be +pleased, and said that he hopes to hear a good +report concerning us when we come in actual +conflict with the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I think he will be satisfied on that score,” +said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, a grim look on his face. “I think we +will be as good fighters as any of them, when +we get started, eh, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think so, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>,” nodded <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, his eager +eyes sparkling.</p> + +<p>“Get ready and come with me, boys,” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, beginning to gather up his belongings, +which were not many, as the youths had not +brought very much luggage with them.</p> + +<p>“Where to, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” queried <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“We are to report to <span class="name.char">Colonel Morgan</span>, and +will be assigned to his regiment.”</p> + +<p>“Good!” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. “Then we will be genuine +soldiers, eh, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed.”</p> + +<p>“Say, that will be fine!” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “I'm +ready. Lead the way to <span class="name.char">Colonel Morgan's</span> +quarters, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the youths set out. They +found <span class="name.char">Colonel Morgan</span> and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> gave him the +note from the commander-in-chief, whereupon +they were assigned to their new quarters, their +names having been enrolled on the membership +list of the regiment.</p> + +<p>“Now we are soldiers, sure enough!” murmured <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, his eyes shining. “Hurrah!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, patriot soldiers, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, quietly. There was an air of satisfaction on his face +also.</p> + +<p>“We will be ready to take part in the first +battle that takes place,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. “Say, that'll +be fine. I am eager to be in a battle!”</p> + +<p>“And I,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I want to fight for +Independence and the freedom of the <span class="name.nationality">American</span> +people. And, too, I want to fight and rescue our +father, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. We won't forget that part +of our work!” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.6"> + + + <h2 class="6" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter VI</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">Chosen for Dangerous Work</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">D</span>ick</span>, <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> made friends rapidly, +and were soon well acquainted with the +majority of the members of the company to +which they had been assigned, and with many +of the members of other companies that were +quartered in the same building and near at +hand.</p> + +<p>They had been in New York about a week, +and were feeling quite at home. One afternoon, +as they were sitting in the big front room, talking to some of the soldiers, the door opened and +an orderly from headquarters was seen standing on the threshold.</p> + +<p>“Is there anyone here by the name of Dare?” +he asked. “<span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, I believe it is.”</p> + +<p>“I am he,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, advancing. “What is +wanted?”</p> + +<p>“You are wanted at headquarters.”</p> + + + +<p>“Now?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, at once. The commander-in-chief +orders you to report.”</p> + +<p>“I will go right along with you.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. Such were his instructions.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> put on his hat and took his departure in +the orderly's company, after telling <span class="name.char">Ben</span> and +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> that he would probably be back soon.</p> + +<p>They arrived quickly at headquarters, and +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> was ushered into the private room occupied by the commander-in-chief.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> saluted and said:</p> + +<p>“You sent for me, your excellency?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Dare. Be seated,” and he pointed to a +chair near his desk.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> took the seat and then looked at the +commander-in-chief inquiringly.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> did not say anything for +a few moments, but eyed <span class="name.char">Dick</span> keenly and +searchingly. It was evident that he was appraising the boy's value carefully, and it seemed +that the result was satisfactory, for he gave a +sigh as of relief, and said:</p> + +<p>“How old are you, Dare?”</p> + +<p>“Eighteen, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Eighteen. That is young. You are a mere +youth, but somehow I believe you are the one +to do what I wish done. I have a mind to try +you, anyway. <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” pausing and looking impressively at the youth, “if I were to ask you to +undertake something that was exceedingly +dangerous, something that might easily result +in your death if you made a false step, what +would you say?”</p> + +<p>“I would say, your excellency, that if you +had confidence enough in me to think I +might succeed, I would be only too glad to try. +You have only to command and I will obey, +sir.”</p> + +<p>“Spoken like a true Son of Liberty!” exclaimed the commander-in-chief. “That is +what I expected to hear you say, however. I +believe you are a brave, sensible youth, and that +it is possible you may succeed in the undertaking which I have in mind, even though +several grown men have already failed. You +had better think well before you consent to attempt this task, however, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. It is one +fraught with such danger that I would not +think of ordering you to attempt it, considering +your age. But if, on the other hand, after +knowing what the work is, you still wish to go +ahead, I shall be delighted to avail myself of +your services.”</p> + +<p>“I will be glad to attempt the work, sir. +Pray state the case. What is the nature of the +work you wish me to do?”</p> + +<p>“It is spy-work!”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> heart leapt with joy. Spy-work! +This, of all things was what he felt that he +would most like to do. As a spy he would have +to venture into the enemy's territory, would +have to even penetrate to their midst and secure +information as to their plans and, too, he might +thus find and rescue his father. It was fine to +think of, and the sparkle in his eyes must have +told the commander-in-chief that the youth was +pleased, for he said:</p> + +<p>“You seem to be favorably impressed, rather +than otherwise, my boy. You think you will +like spy-work?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your excellency,” was the reply. “I +think I shall like it, better than anything else. +I shall be glad to attempt any work in that line +that you wish. Just tell me where you wish me +to go and what you want me to do, and I will do +my best to make a success of the work, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. I will do so. You know, +perhaps, that the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army is located on the +southwest shore of <span class="name.place">Long Island</span>, near York Bay, +and the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> fleet lies just outside the Narrows and off York Bay. The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> outnumber us considerably, I think, but just how +much I do not know. And this is one thing that +I wish to learn. I want to learn the numerical +strength of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, and also I wish to find +out, if such a thing is possible, the intentions +of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> commander-in-chief. This is a +big undertaking, my boy, and as I have told +you, several of my best men have already tried +to accomplish this and failed, so you can see the +magnitude of the task that confronts you. It +will be no disgrace if you should fail.”</p> + +<p>“I may fail, sir,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, modestly; “I may +not succeed in securing the information you +desire, but I will make the attempt, and I will +say this, that if such a thing as securing the +information is possible, I will do it. I will do +my very best, sir, you may rest assured of that.”</p> + +<p>“I do, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. I feel confident that if you fail +it will be only after you have made every effort +to succeed. Well, it is settled, then? You will +attempt his spy-work?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your excellency. When shall I start?”</p> + + + +<p>“This evening. I will give you a letter of introduction to <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>, who is in command of teh patriot force on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, +and he will give you all the information and +assistance in his power.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, sir. At what hour shall I report +here?”</p> + +<p>“Be here at six, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. I will have the letter +for you, and then you will go down to the East +River in company with one of my orderlies, +and a boatman will take you across to the Long +Island side. It is not far from there to the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span>, where you will locate <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I will report here at six, your excellency,” +said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and then saluting, he took his departure.</p> + +<p>When he returned to his quarters and told +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> that <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> had +selected him to go over onto <span class="name.place">Long Island</span> and +do some spying, the youths were surprised, but +were delighted as well, for they +felt that it was an honor to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + + + +<p>“That will be fine,” said <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>. “I believe you will make a good spy, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I could go with you,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, looking wistfully at his brother.</p> + +<p>“It will be best that I go alone, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>,” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “One can do spy-work better than two.”</p> + +<p>“I vould lige dot sby vork,” said <span class="name.char">Fritz +Schmockenburg</span>, a fat, <span class="name.nationality">Dutch</span> soldier, gravely.</p> + +<p>“It's a foine spoy yez would be afther makin', +<span class="name.char">Fritz</span>,” chuckled <span class="name.char">Tim Murphy</span>, a merry Irish +patriot. “Yez would be caught the first thing, +and the only thing thot would kape thim from +hangin' yez would be because they wouldn't +have inny rope sthout enough to hould your +weight.”</p> + +<p>“When are you going, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” queried <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“This evening at six.”</p> + +<p>The youths discussed the matter at considerable length, and were glad that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> had been +selected for such important work, though they +were somewhat fearful for his safety. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and +<span class="name.char">Ben</span> cautioned him to be careful, and he was the +recipient of advice from others, all well-meant, +but of course not likely to be of much use to +him, as he would have to govern his actions +mainly by existing circumstances, after he was +on the ground and at work.</p> + +<p>Shortly before six he bade <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, and +his comrades good-bye and made his way to +headquarters, where he was given the letter of +introduction by the commander-in-chief, and +also a few kindly words of encouragement.</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> will give you all the information and help in his power,” <span class="name.char">General +Washington</span> said. “Go, now, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, my boy, and +may you be successful is my prayer. Good-bye, +and heaven bless you.”</p> + +<p>He shook <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> hand, and then with a good-bye and a salute, the youth took his departure.</p> + +<p>An orderly accompanied him to the dock and +summoned a boatman, and then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> got in and +was ferried across the East River. Alighting +on the <span class="name.place">Long Island</span> shore, he set out in the +direction of <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, reaching there +shortly after dark.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.7"> + + + <h2 class="7" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter VII</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> First Adventure</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">D</span>ick</span> was challenged, and on answering +that he was a friend, was told to advance +and give the countersign.</p> + +<p>He approached the sentinel, and when near +him, said:</p> + +<p>“I am a patriot, but do not know the countersign. I wish to see <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Who are you and why do you wish to see the +general?” the sentinel asked.</p> + +<p>“My name is Dare, and I am a messenger +from <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>. I have a letter of +introduction to <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p>“All right. I'll summon the officer of the +guard and he'll conduct you to the general.”</p> + +<p>He did so, and the officer asked <span class="name.char">Dick</span> a few +questions, seemed satisfied, and conducted him +to the quarters occupied by <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> saluted on entering the presence of the +general, and drawing the letter from his pocket, +handed it to <span class="name.char">Putnam</span>, who took it an read the +contents, after which he gave <span class="name.char">Dick</span> a keen, +searching and somewhat wondering glance.</p> + +<p>“You are Richard Dare?” he queried.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“H'm. The commander-in-chief says here +that you are going down to the enemy's territory to try to do some spying. You are rather +young, it seems to me, to be going such work.”</p> + +<p>“Time will cure that,” smiled <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes–if you live,” grimly. “This is very +dangerous business you are entering upon, my boy.”</p> + +<p>“So <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> said, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Yes? Well, it is a fact, and I have my +doubts regarding your ability to do anything, +but since the commander-in-chief has seen fit to +try you and has sent you to me for the purpose +of having me give you what information I possess regarding the location of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, I +will do what I can to assist you.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p>The general then gave <span class="name.char">Dick</span> all the information that he thought would be of value to +him, and the youth listened attentively.</p> + + + +<p>“Now,” said <span class="name.char">Putnam</span> when he had finished, +“do you think you can find the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> without +any trouble?”</p> + +<p>“I am sure I can find the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, sir,” was the +reply; “but I don't know about the trouble part.”</p> + +<p>The grim general chuckled. He seemed to +like the dry humor of the lad.</p> + +<p>“I guess you'll do, Dare,” he said. “I'm beginning to think the commander-in-chief +showed good judgment in sending you, after all. +But, I might have known that such was the case, +for he is a man who seldom makes mistakes.”</p> + +<p>“I hope he hasn't made a mistake in this +instance, sir,” modestly.</p> + +<p>“I guess he hasn't. It is possible that a boy +like you may be better able to penetrate to the +enemy's lines and secure information than a +man, for the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> will not be so likely to +suspect you of being a spy.”</p> + +<p>“That is what <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> said, sir.”</p> + +<p>“The position is well taken, I feel confident. +Well, Dare, be careful, take care of yourself +and secure all the information possible regarding the enemy.”</p> + +<p>“I will do my best, General. Well, I must be +going.”</p> + + + +<p>The general shook hands with <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and +wished him good luck.</p> + +<p>“Don't let the redcoats get you,” he said.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> laughed.</p> + +<p>“They won't get me, if I can help it,” he said. +“Good-bye, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not start just then, however, for the +very good reason that while he had been engaged in conversation with <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>, a +storm that had been threatening that afternoon +and evening, broke upon them, the wind blew a +gale and the rain poured down in torrents, the +lightning was incessant and the roar of the +thunder terrific. It was indeed a severe storm.</p> + +<p>“You must not think of starting out to-night,” said <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>. “You could not +find your way anywhere, and would simply get +soaked to the skin, or perhaps struck by lightning. I will give you a bed, and you will remain here till morning.”</p> + +<p>“Doubtless that will be best,” agreed <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +though he disliked the delay. Still, he felt that +it would do no good to go in such a storm, for as +the general had said, he could not find his way +to the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, or accomplish anything if he did find it.</p> + + + +<p>So he remained on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span> that night, +only to find it still raining the next morning.</p> + +<p>“You would not want to start out in the daytime, anyhow,” said <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>; “so it +does not matter. You will stay till evening, +and then if it has ceased raining, you can start +on your expedition.”</p> + +<p>It was still raining hard, when evening came, +however, and <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> said it would be +foolish to make the start in the storm. So <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +remained all that night, and all next day. The +rain had ceased soon after sunrise and the sun +shone brightly that day, drying the ground +pretty thoroughly, by evening.</p> + +<p>“You can make the start, this evening, Dare,” +said the general. “I don't suppose the delay in +getting away from here will make any difference.”</p> + +<p>“I hope not, sir,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>After dark that evening, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> took his departure, and as soon as he was past the sentinels, he struck out southward. The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +army was at that time encamped near the +Flatlands, about two miles from the bay and +about two miles south of Flatbush.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> walked onward at a moderate pace. +There was no hurry, and besides, by hurrying +he might run right into a party of redcoats, and +this would be bad, as it would likely result in +his capture.</p> + +<p>It were better to make haste slowly. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +realized this, and he decided to take his time +and exercise his every care. Caution was a necessary adjunct of a spy.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> was eager to succeed. Several men had +failed, and had doubtless been captured, and if +he could accomplish his object it would be a big +feather in his cap. He was intensely patriotic, +anyway, and this made him extremely desirous +of succeeding in securing the information regarding the plans of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.</p> + +<p>He reached the wooded heights about halfway +between the village of Bedford and Flatbush +after a walk of an hour or so, and having +climbed the hill, he paused on the summit and +listened intently for some time. It was his +thought that perhaps a party of <span class="name.nationality">British</span> might +be located here, and he did not want to run into +their midst, if such were the case.</p> + +<p>He heard sounds, but only such as are usually to be heard in the woods at night–the chirping of crickets, the buzzing of the wings of +insects, and the call of nightbirds. He heard +nothing that would indicate the presence of +human beings.</p> + +<p>“I guess there are no redcoats in these +woods,” he murmured after listening a while. +“The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> haven't advanced this far yet, +likely. I'll go ahead, but will be exceedingly +careful.”</p> + +<p>He moved forward slowly, and cautiously +made his way down the south slope of the +wooded hill. He paused every few moments and +listened. He was not going to take any chances +of discovery and capture, if he could avoid it by +exercising care.</p> + +<p>Somehow <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> heart thrilled with pleasure, +even though he were on a perilous undertaking. +He was working for <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, trying to do something that would be of benefit to +the great Cause of Liberty, and this made him +experience a feeling of happiness. The danger +did not have any effect on him, save to, if +anything, add to the zest. He was a brave +youth, though not a foolhardy one, and the +danger made the work all the more interesting +and exhilarating.</p> + +<p>On he went down the slope, slowly and +cautiously. He had to practically feel his way, +for in under the trees it was very dark and he +could not see to pick a path. This made it slow +work, but he had all night for his task, if he +wished so much time, and so he did not +worry because he could not proceed at a swift +pace.</p> + +<p>“‘Slow but sure,’ is a good motto,” he told +himself. “There will be times, doubtless, when +it will pay me to move swiftly, but this is not +one of the times.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly <span class="name.char">Dick</span> paused and stood stock still, his +every nerve tense, his every sense on the alert. +He thought that he had heard the sound of voices!</p> + +<p>He listened intently, and presently his heart +gave a leap. Yes, he had not been mistaken. +Over to the right, and not very far distant, he +had heard someone talking. At least two men were +there, engaged in conversation, their voices being pitched low.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> strained his eyes, but could not catch +sight of the speakers. He could only judge of +their location and distance from him by the +sound of their voices, and he judged that they +were perhaps a dozen yards from him. This +was rather close, if they were <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers, +as he had no doubt they were, and he decided +that the best thing for him to do was to get +away from their vicinity as quickly as possible. +It would be well to be silent about it, too, for if +they should discover his presence, they would +doubtless make a great outcry and try to capture him.</p> + +<p>He began edging away, toward the left. +Every once in awhile he paused to listen. The +voices could still be heard, but not so plainly +as at first. He was gradually getting farther +and farther away from the speakers, and would +have been successful in escaping from the vicinity without his presence having been discovered, +but for an accident. He struck his foot against +a good-sized stone, which was lying right on the +edge of a rather steep slope, and the rock, becoming dislodged, went tumbling and plunging +downward through the underbrush, making +what seemed to be a great noise, coming as it +did in the midst of the night stillness. It +sounded as loud as thunder in <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> ears.</p> + +<p>“Now I've done it!” he murmured, in some +dismay. “That will rouse them sure.”</p> + +<p>He was right, for instantly there came the +challenge, loud and clear:</p> + + + +<p>“Halt! Who comes there?”</p> + +<p>There could be no doubt regarding the matter, +now; the men <span class="name.char">Dick</span> had heard talking were +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers doing picket duty.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> first impulse was to take to his heels +and run at the top of his speed, but his second +thought was that perhaps if he were to stand +perfectly still, the redcoats would come to the +conclusion that there was no one in the vicinity +save themselves, and would go ahead with their +conversation after a few minutes of listening. +But it did not work out that way. After a few +moments of silence there came the command, in +a stern voice:</p> + +<p>“Who is there? Answer, or I will fire!”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not like the idea of being fired at, +even in the darkness. He knew the soldier could +not see to take aim, but a chance shot might be +as successful as one that was aimed. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> did +not care to take the chance, anyway, and he +quickly, but very cautiously shifted his position and got a tree between himself and the +redcoats.</p> + +<p>“Now, he won't be able to hit me, even if he +does fire,” thought the youth with a feeling of +relief. “Now if he will just make up his mind +that there is no one here and resume the conversation with his comrade, I shall be able to slip +away and escape, doubtless.”</p> + +<p>But the redcoats were evidently not satisfied +to let the matter go thus. “Let's investigate, +comrade,” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> heard a voice say. And then +he heard another in reply: “All right. If there +is anybody round here, we will either run him +down or frighten him out of his boots.”</p> + +<p>“That's what we will, comrade.”</p> + +<p>“And I feel confident there is somebody near +here. What else would make the noise that we +heard?”</p> + +<p>“I don't know, comrade. I think it likely that +somebody is about.”</p> + +<p>“I am positive, sure of it as can be.”</p> + +<p>“Well, come on, then. Let's search all around. +We ought to be able to lay him by the heels, for +we can hear him if he tries to run away.”</p> + +<p>“True. Come, comrade. We'll quickly have +the fellow, if he's here.”</p> + +<p>Then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> heard the trampling of feet, which +sounded closer and closer, and he realized that +he must get away from there at once, or the +redcoats would be upon him.</p> + +<p>Having so decided, he lost not time, but +moved away as cautiously as possible. He +went a bit faster than he should have done, to +maintain a noiseless movement, however, for he +stepped on a fallen branch, which broke with a +cracking sound, and the very next step he +stumbled over a log, and fell into a brushpile, +making considerable noise.</p> + +<p>“A spy!” he heard one of the redcoats cry. +“There's somebody there, sure!”</p> + +<p>“Halt!” cried the other soldier, loudly. +“Stop, or I'll fire!”</p> + +<p>But <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, fearing to remain, as he would almost certainly be found and captured, leaped to +his feet and took to his heels, running as fast as +he dared; to run too fast, would have been to +break his head against a tree, more than likely.</p> + +<p>The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers heard him, evidently, for +one cried, excitedly:</p> + +<p>“There he goes! I hear him running!”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” cried the other, “but I'll put a stop to +his running, or know the reason why. Here +goes to wing the rebel.”</p> + +<p>The next instant the loud crack of a musket +rang upon the still night air. At the same instant <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> fell sprawling upon his face on +the ground, and lay still.</p> + + + +<p></p> + + + +</div> + + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.8"> + + + <h2 class="8" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter VIII</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span> Acts</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">O</span>n</span> the afternoon of the second day after +the departure of <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> from patriot +headquarters in New York, <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span> appeared there, and to the orderly at the door +said:</p> + +<p>“I wish to see <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you do, eh?” was the query. The orderly +could not imagine what business this sixteen-year-old boy could have with the commander-in-chief.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. Show me to his presence, please.”</p> + +<p>The orderly looked at the eager, bright face +of the boy with more of interest.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” he queried.</p> + +<p>“My name is <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>.”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>!” in surprise. “Why, there was +a young fellow here a couple of days ago whose +name was Dare–<span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, I believe it was.”</p> + + + +<p>“Yes,” quietly; “he is my brother.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, your brother! Are you a member of the +patriot army, also?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. I'm in <span class="name.char">Colonel Morgan's</span> regiment.”</p> + +<p>The orderly stared.</p> + +<p>“Well!” he murmured; “the Dares seem to be +pretty well represented in the Continental +Army.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir. Our father was captured by Tories, +and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and I made up our minds that we +would join the patriot army and do all we could +to bring about the defeat of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> and +Tories, and if possible rescue our father.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that is the right spirit, certainly.”</p> + +<p>“Will you show me to the presence of the +commander-in-chief, sir?” questioned <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, +eagerly. “I am very desirous of seeing him,” he +added, earnestly.</p> + +<p>“Come with me,” was the reply; “I will speak +to the commander-in-chief, and if he is willing, +I will conduct you to his presence.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> accompanied the orderly along the hall, +pausing presently when told to do so. The +orderly said he would be back in a few moments, +and disappeared in a room at one side. He +quickly returned and said that <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> would see the youth.</p> + +<p>The next moment he ushered <span class="name.char">Tom</span> into the +presence of the commander-in-chief, announcing:</p> + +<p>“Master <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>.”</p> + +<p>The general looked up from some papers he +was examining, and gave <span class="name.char">Tom</span> a keen, searching +glance.</p> + +<p>“You are Master <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Yes, your excellency,” saluting.</p> + +<p>“Brother to <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Very good. What can I do for you, my +boy?” The great man's air and tone were +kindly, and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, encouraged, said:</p> + +<p>“I have come to ask a favor, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What is the favor? Be brief, as my time is +of value, my boy.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, sir. I have come to ask that you +let me go over onto <span class="name.place">Long Island</span>, the same as +you have done with <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> looked at the boy in +surprise.</p> + +<p>“Why do you want to do that?” he queried.</p> + +<p>“I want to be with <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, sir, or near him, all +the time, if possible. I promised my mother +that I would stay at <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> side and fight side +by side with him, and if I stay here, when he +is over on <span class="name.place">Long Island</span>, I won't be keeping my +word, sir. Something might happen to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +He might get into trouble with the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, and +if I was near at hand, I could render him assistance, +and if he were captured, I might be +able to rescue him. I hope you will let me go, +sir.”</p> + +<p>The commander-in-chief looked thoughtfully +at the boy. There was a look of admiration in +his eyes, and to himself he said: “A brave +pair of lads are those two Dares, I feel certain.” +Aloud he said, after a few moments:</p> + +<p>“I don't know whether to grant your request +or not, my boy. I have sent <span class="name.char">Dick</span> over to Long +Island on a spying expedition, and if you were +to go also and join him, it might hamper him in +his work. At the same time, I dislike to refuse your request, since you made your mother +the promise that you would stay by your +brother's side. Still, you can hardly hope to be +always together. War is cruel, and one can not +always do as one would like, or be where one +would wish to be. We must all go where we +think we can be of the most benefit to the +Cause, and do that which will be most beneficial. Do you think you could do <span class="name.char">Dick</span> any good, +if I were to let you go, my boy?”</p> + +<p>“I think it possible, sir. He is going into +great danger, as I understand it, and I might +render him very valuable assistance. At any +rate, if you will let me go, I will promise that +at least I will not in any way interfere with +his work or do anything to cause him to fail in +the task he has before him.”</p> + +<p>“Very good. Then I will grant your request. +Go, my boy; but be careful. I will give you a +note to <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>, on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, +and he will tell you which way to go to find +your brother.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir. You are very kind, and I +will try to do nothing to cause you to regret +that you let me go.”</p> + +<p>“That is right.” The commander-in-chief +wrote a brief note, addressed it to <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> and handed it to <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“There. Now go, my boy, and may you succeed in joining your brother and benefit to him in his work. Good-bye,” and he gave +the boy's hand a friendly grasp.</p> + + + +<p>“Good-bye, your excellency,” and saluting, +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> took his departure.</p> + +<p>He hastened down to the East River dock and +got a boatman to take him across to the east +shore, after which he made his way as quickly +as possible to the patriot quarters on <span class="name.city">Brooklyn +Heights</span>.</p> + +<p>When he presented himself before <span class="name.char">General +Putnam</span>, and handed over the note, the officer, +after a perusal of the few words written there, +looked at the boy in some surprise and with no +little interest.</p> + +<p>“Another one,” he said, with something like a +grim smile. “The Dares certainly seem to be in +evidence to-night.”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Dick</span> was here, then, sir?” eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was here.”</p> + +<p>“How long has he been gone?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, about an hour, I should judge. He had to remain +here until this evening on account of +the storm.”</p> + +<p>“Please direct me how to go in order to overtake him, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I will do so as nearly as possible, my boy.” +Then the general gave <span class="name.char">Tom</span> all the directions +possible, and the boy said:</p> + + + +<p>“Thank you, sir. I will try to join my brother +to-night.”</p> + +<p>“You had better keep your eyes open, Master +Dare,” cautioned <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>. “You are +going where redcoats are thicker than mosquitoes, and that is saying a good deal.”</p> + +<p>“I'll look out for them, sir,” with a smile. +“Good-bye, and thank you, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p>“That's all right. You are welcome. Good-bye and good luck.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> took his departure, and as soon as he +was out of the patriot encampment, he hastened +away in the direction that he had been told +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> had undoubtedly gone.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps by hurrying I may be able to overtake <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” was his thought.</p> + +<p>He walked swiftly, at times running, and +came to the wooded hills much quicker than +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> had done. He climbed the hill quickly, +and was soon making his way down the other +side. He had gone only a few steps when he +heard the report of the musket-shot, sounding +close at hand and almost in front of him.</p> + +<p>Instantly <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was greatly excited. The +thought came to him at once that a redcoat had +fired that shot and that it had been fired at +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and with wildly-beating heart he ran forward, at the same time drawing a pistol from +his belt. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was excited, but not at all +frightened. His only fear was that perhaps +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> had been wounded or killed by the bullet +from the musket, and he was eager to get a shot +at the person who had just done the shooting.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard voices, and paused, listening intently.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if I got the rebel?” he heard one +say.</p> + +<p>“Likely you did,” replied another voice. “I +don't hear the sound of running feet any more.”</p> + +<p>“Served the rascal right if I put a bullet +through him,” said the first voice.</p> + +<p>“Yes. That is what ought to happen to all +rebels.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> heard these words, and his heart sank, +and then a feeling of anger blazed up in his +heart. What if <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was killed, as these soldiers surmised. It was terrible to contemplate, +and acting on the spur of the moment, <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +leveled his pistol, pointing in the direction +from which the voices sounded, and pulled the +trigger.</p> + +<p>Crack! went the pistol, and a howl of pain, +rage and surprise commingled went up on the +night air.</p> + +<p>“Oh—ow!—ouch! I'm shot!” cried one +of the voices. “There are other rebels at hand, +comrade! Perhaps we're surrounded!”</p> + +<p>This gave <span class="name.char">Tom</span> an idea, and he at once acted +upon it. If he could make the redcoats think +there were a number of patriot soldiers around, +they might be put to flight, and then he could +look for <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and learn whether he were injured.</p> + +<p>“Come on, boys!” he yelled loudly. “Charge +the scoundrelly redcoats! Kill them! At them, +I say!” And then, drawing his other pistol, he +fired another shot.</p> + +<p>He had no way of knowing whether this bullet hit either of the redcoats, but he had +evidence that it was effective in one way, for +he heard the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers going tearing +down the slope, through the underbrush at a +great rate. They had undoubtedly been seized +with a panic and taken to their heels.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> waited till he could no longer hear any +sounds of the fleeing redcoats, and then he called +out:</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Dick</span>! Oh, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>!”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.9"> + + + <h2 class="9" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter IX</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">The Brothers Together</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">A</span>lmost</span> at once came the reply:</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Tom</span>! Oh, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, is that you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. I'll be right with you.”</p> + +<p>He hastened in the direction from which +<span class="name.char">Dick's</span> voice sounded, and a few minutes later +was at his side.</p> + +<p>“What in the world brought you here, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>?” +queried <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I was never so surprised in +my life as when I heard your voice.”</p> + +<p>“I'll tell you why I come, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. After +you left your quarters in New York, I got to +thinking, and I remembered what I had told +mother–that I would go to war with you and +fight side by side with you, you know, and I +thought of how I had let you go away on a +dangerous spying expedition alone, and I decided to follow you. I went and asked permission of <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> to come over here, +and he gave it.”</p> + + + +<p>“He was willing for you to come, then, was +he?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. He held back a little at first, but when +I told him about having promised mother I +would stick by you, he then said I might come.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it has been all right, so far. You got +here just in time to frighten those redcoats +away, but I don't believe that two can do spy-work successfully.”</p> + +<p>“We don't need to both actually do the spy-work, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. You can do that, and I'll stay +back and wait and watch, and then if anything +should happen to you, I would perhaps be able +to render you some assistance.”</p> + +<p>“True. Well, now that you are here, you may +as well stay with me. We'll go on down in the +neighborhood of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment together, and then you can hunt at hiding-place +and I will go ahead and see what I can do in the +way of spying.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. That will suit me.”</p> + +<p>“Come, then.”</p> + +<p>“You were not hit by the bullet from the redcoat's musket, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” somewhat anxiously.</p> + +<p>“No, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. At the very moment he fired I +tripped over a vine and fell headlong to the +ground. I was still lying there when I heard +you fire your pistol, and then I heard you yell, +‘Come on, boys’, and recognized your voice; but +I was sorely puzzled. I didn't know what to +think. I almost thought I must have dreamed +it.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> laughed.</p> + +<p>“I hit one of the rascals, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” he chuckled. +“I'll warrant you he did not think it was a +dream.”</p> + +<p>“Likely no,” with an answering chuckle. +“Well, let's move.”</p> + +<p>They set out down the slope, moving at a +fair pace, pausing occasionally to listen. All +was quiet, however. The redcoat pickets had +evidently retreated to the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment.</p> + +<p>When <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> emerged from the timber, at the foot of the slope, they were able to +go at a faster pace, and they set out in the direction in which they believed the enemy's camp to +be. They walked onward about half an hour, +and then came upon a little clump of trees. +Feeling certain that they must be in the vicinity +of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, they went in among +the trees and stopped.</p> + +<p>“Wait here a few minutes, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“I'm going to climb a tree and see if I can see +the campfires of the enemy.”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> climbed a tree on the south side of the +clump, and looked toward the south. He was +rewarded by seeing the twinkling lights of +the <span title="camp-fires">campfires</span>, seemingly at no very great +distance.</p> + +<p>“There is the encampment, sure enough,” he +murmured. “Well, now, the question is, How +am I to get into the camp and secure information regarding the plans of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>?”</p> + +<p>This was a poser. It certainly seemed like a +hopeless task, but <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> was not a youth to +be easily discouraged. He had come here to spy +on the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> and learn their plans, and he +would do so, if such a thing were possible.</p> + +<p>He climbed down and told his brother that he +had seen the campfires of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.</p> + +<p>“Good,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “But, what are you going +to do next, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>? How are you going to get +into their encampment?”</p> + +<p>“I decided on my course, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>,” he said, “before I started out.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do?” eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I'm going to enter the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment +boldly and tell them that I want to join the +army.”</p> + +<p>“Goodness! That will be dangerous, brother!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but one can't do spy-work without encountering danger.”</p> + +<p>“I know that. Do you think that you can +succeed, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?”</p> + +<p>“I'm going to try.”</p> + +<p>“Will they take you into the army–a boy like +you?”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">General Washington</span> did.”</p> + +<p>“But the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army may be different. They may +think that they don't need help badly enough +for them to accept boys as recruits.”</p> + +<p>“Well, even if that is the case, I will succeed +in entering the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.”</p> + +<p>“That's so. That part will be all right.”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“When are you going to approach the encampment? Now?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I don't see any use of waiting.”</p> + +<p>“What shall I do?”</p> + +<p>“You had better stay right here or in this +vicinity.”</p> + +<p>“All right. When do you think you will be +back?”</p> + + + +<p>“I don't know. Possibly to-morrow night.”</p> + +<p>“I'm to wait till you come?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“But, I'll get hungry before to-morrow +night.”</p> + +<p>“Go to a farmhouse in the morning and get +some food. There must be farmhouses near.”</p> + +<p>“That's so. I can do that.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I may as well be going. Good-bye, +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Good-bye, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>; and–be careful, brother! +If anything should happen to you, it would +break mother's heart.”</p> + +<p>“I'll be careful, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. You had better keep +your eyes open, too, for the redcoats may come +prowling around here to-morrow, and you must +not let them capture you.”</p> + +<p>“I'll not let them get me, brother.”</p> + +<p>Then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> took his departure. He had some +time since decided upon his course, and as soon +as he was a short distance away from the clump +of trees, he set out at a brisk walk, and made no +effort at concealment. He did not care, now, +if he were halted by a <span class="name.nationality">British</span> picket or sentinel.</p> + +<p>He walked swiftly onward, and about twenty +minutes later was hailed:</p> + + + +<p>“Halt! Who comes there?”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> heart leaped, and he felt that he was +soon to be submitted to an ordeal, but he did +not hesitate, and answered firmly and promptly:</p> + +<p>“A friend.”</p> + +<p>“Advance, friend, and give the countersign,” +was the command.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> advanced till within a few yards of the +sentinel, whose form he could make out, it being +outlined against the light background made by +the campfires.</p> + +<p>“Halt!” ordered the sentinel. “Give the +countersign before you come any further.”</p> + +<p>“I don't know the countersign,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +quietly. “But I am a friend, and I wish to see +the commander in charge of this army.”</p> + +<p>“Humph. What do you want to see him +for?”</p> + +<p>“I want to offer my services to fight for the +king.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you do, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“You are a loyal king's man, then, are you?”</p> + +<p>“Would I be anxious to join the king's army +if I were not?” questioned <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. He had decided that there could be no harm in deceiving +the enemy. In spy-work it would be absolutely +necessary to use this means. His conscience +did not reproach him in the least, for he felt +that he was making the pretense of being a +king's adherent in a good cause–that of +Liberty.</p> + +<p>“What is your name?” the soldier asked.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had decided that it would be best to give +a fictitious name, so he gave the first one that +came into his mind:</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>,” he said.</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>, eh? Well, <span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>, since +you are a loyal king's man and wish to join his +army, I will see that you have the opportunity. +I'll summon the officer of the guard and he +will conduct you to the commander of the +force.”</p> + +<p>“This isn't the full army, then?” queried +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“One division of it,” was the curt reply. +“There's enough of it here for you to join, I +guess, if you really mean business.”</p> + +<p>The sentinel summoned the officer of the +guard, explained matters to him, and then the +officer conducted <span class="name.char">Dick</span> into the encampment, +and to a tent near its center. This was occupied +by <span class="name.char">General Percy</span>, and the officer of the guard +entered and exchanged a few words with the +general, who was writing at a little, portable +desk, by the light of a candle, and then he +emerged and said to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>:</p> + +<p>“The general will see you.”</p> + +<p>Then he ushered the youth into the tent, at +the same time announcing:</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>, <span class="name.char">General Percy</span>.”</p> + +<p>The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> general looked up, eyed <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +sharply for a few moments, and then said:</p> + +<p>“Well, <span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>, so you wish to join the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> army and fight for the king, eh?”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had met the searching gaze of the +officer unflinchingly, and now he answered +promptly and firmly:</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; such is my wish.”</p> + +<p>“Humph. How old are you?”</p> + +<p>“Eighteen, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Rather young, but no matter. You can hold +a musket and shoot as good as a man, without +doubt, so should make a good soldier. I accept +your offer, and will assign you to Colonel Harker's regiment.”</p> + +<p>Then he scribbled a brief note, handed it to +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> and said: “Give that to the colonel. He +will take care of you.” Lifting his voice, he +called out: “Orderly!”</p> + +<p>An orderly entered at once, and saluted.</p> + +<p>“Conduct this young man to Colonel Harker. +That is all. Good-night, young man.”</p> + +<p>“Good-night, sir,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and followed +the orderly from the tent and to the point +where Harker's regiment was stationed, and +to that officer he handed the note from the general.</p> + +<p>“Ah, a new recruit,” said the colonel, when +he had read the note. “Very well, <span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>, +you are a member of Company H. That is it, +yonder. Take your place there.” He pointed to +the company in question, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> saluted and +joined the company, taking a seat with the +soldiers of Company H, some of whom greeted +him with nods, and many looking at him +with a slight show of curiosity, but saying +nothing. One or two said: “How are you, comrade?”</p> + +<p>“I'm all right, I guess,” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> replied to these, +smiling.</p> + +<p>The soldiers smoked and talked, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +sat quietly there and listened. He had an eager +interest in all that was said, for he wished to +learn all he possibly could. That indeed was +what he had come there for.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> felt that he had been fortunate in getting within the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> lines so easily. And, too, +he was lucky to have been accepted as a soldier. +He naturally had feared that his youth would be +against him, and that he would be refused on +that account. But such had not been the case, +his youth had not counted against him, and he +was now in the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> camp, playing the part +of a <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldier.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.10"> + + + <h2 class="10" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter X</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">In the Enemy's Camp</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">D</span>ick</span> Dare had accomplished what had +seemed to be the most difficult part of the +task that he had come here to accomplish, viz.: +Gotten within the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> lines, had become, in +fact, a member of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army.</p> + +<p>So far so good. Now to secure information +that would be of value to <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> +and a benefit to the great Cause of Liberty.</p> + +<p>“What's your name?” asked one of the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers.</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Harry Fuller</span>,” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> replied</p> + +<p>“Where do you live?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, about ten miles from here,” replied the youth</p> + +<p>“Parents living.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“And so you have joined the king's army and +are going to help make it hot for the rebels, hey” +with a chuckle. “Good for you.”</p> + + + +<p>“Yes,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, “I am eager to get a chance +to strike blows against the rebels. How soon do +you think that will happen? When are we likely +to get into a battle with them?”</p> + +<p>“Hard telling, young man. That's for the +generals to say. What their plans may be is +more than I can say.”</p> + +<p>“I have heard it rumored in our part of the +country that he <span class="name.nationality">British</span> will make an attack on +the rebels soon. That's the reason I came here +to-night. I thought maybe the attack might be +made to-morrow, and if I didn't get here to-night, I would not arrive in time for the fight.”</p> + +<p>“We might be ordered to move against the +rebels to-morrow, for all I know,” was the reply. +“And then again we might be left sitting here a +week or a month. I haven't any idea when the +move will be made.”</p> + +<p>“I hope it will be soon,” declared <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, with a +view to keeping up the pretense of being imbued +with an intense desire to get at the rebels.</p> + +<p>“You'll get a chance to do all the fighting you +care for, one of these days, young fellow,” said +another soldier. “Don't worry on that score.”</p> + +<p>“I'm not worrying about it, sir,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“Do you think you will fight when the time +comes?” half-sneered another, rather evil-featured fellow, leering at <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I'd be willing to wager that you'll do more running than +fighting.”</p> + +<p>“You might lose your money if you wagered +it that way,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, quietly, gazing steadily +at the speaker.</p> + +<p>“I might, but I don't think I would,” with a +harsh laugh. “I don't think much of the +bravery of the <span class="name.nationality">Americans</span>, whether rebels or +king's men. They are not the kind that make +good soldiers.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose you think that you are,” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, calmly.</p> + +<p>“I know it, sonny!” fiercely. “I've been tried +in the fire, do you hear? I'm a veteran, and +have seen service in the fields of Europe, India +and Africa.”</p> + +<p>“You seem to be great at blowing your own +horn, at any rate,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, quietly. And +several of the other soldiers sitting near snickered, +which seemed to anger the other very much.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to insult me?” he cried, glancing +fiercely at <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,” coolly. “I was simply stating a +fact, that is all.”</p> + + + +<p>“Well, you had better be careful, that's all I +have got to say!” snarled the redcoat, viciously. +“If you weren't a boy, I would give you a +thumping for what you have already said.”</p> + +<p>“Don't let my youth hinder you,” retorted +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I will say this, that I think you will find +the people of <span class="name.state">America</span> as brave as those of your +country or any other, and I think, too, that they +will make as brave and effective soldiers.”</p> + +<p>“That's right, youngster, hold up for your +own people,” said one of the soldiers approvingly. “The boy's all right, Coggins,” to the ill-natured soldier. “You had no business talking +as you did.”</p> + +<p>“Bah!” sneered Coggins. “I meant what I +said, but as the young fellow is not yet out of +his teens, I'll pay no attention to his words. It +wouldn't look well for me to thrash a boy.”</p> + +<p>“You might find that you had your hands +full if you tried it,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, coldly. He had +taken a dislike to the boastful redcoat, and as +he was a brave youth, and also had always +found himself a match for any man he had ever +engaged in a physical struggle with, he had no +fear of this fellow.</p> + +<p>“There's good nerve, for you!” remarked a +soldier, admiringly. “How do you like it, Coggins?” It was evident that this particular soldier, Coggins, was not very well liked by his +comrades.</p> + +<p>“Do you think I'm a fool, to get myself +laughed at for engaging in a fight with a green +country boy?” growled Coggins. “I'll do no +such thing.” Rising, he walked away with a +swagger, but he gave <span class="name.char">Dick</span> a look of hatred as +he did so.</p> + +<p>A number of the soldiers grinned, and two or +three chuckled aloud, and unless Coggins was +deaf, he must have heard them.</p> + +<p>“Would you really have fought him?” queried +a soldier, looking at <span class="name.char">Dick</span> keenly, when Coggins +was gone.</p> + +<p>“If he attacked me, I should have protected myself,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“But you couldn't have done much against +him. You're only a boy.”</p> + +<p>“I don't know about that. I am pretty strong +and am also rather active, and I have wrestled +with a number of grown men, and never found +one yet that I couldn't down.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you might have held your own with +Coggins, but I doubt it a little.”</p> + + + +<p>“Better be a bit careful how you ruffle him, +young man,” said another soldier. “He's a +vicious chap when his anger is aroused, and he +would not hesitate to do you serious injury. He +gave you a look I noticed that was not exactly +friendly, as he left.”</p> + +<p>“I noticed that, too,” smiled <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “But I do +not fear him. I shall not try to anger him, but +if he annoys me, I will take my own part, +that is certain. I won't let him run over +me.”</p> + +<p>“That's right, of course,” approvingly. “But +don't get into trouble with him if you can avoid +it without discredit to yourself.”</p> + +<p>“I won't, sir, and thank you for your friendly +words.”</p> + +<p>“You're welcome. I don't like Coggins myself, and I don't care who knows it. He knows +it, all right, I guess,” with a short laugh. The +fact was, though of course <span class="name.char">Dick</span> knew nothing +of it, that this soldier, whose name was Ferguson, and the other, Coggins, were enemies, having had an encounter once, in which Ferguson +had gotten rather the best of it, though the +fight did not go to a finish, it having been +stopped by order of the colonel.</p> + + + +<p>Soon the soldiers stretching themselves on blankets and going to sleep. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +was given a blanket, and he also lay down, +being quite tired by this time, and was soon +asleep.</p> + +<p>The fact that he was in the encampment of +the enemy did not have any effect on <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> +nerves at all. He was a brave and matter-of-fact youth, and felt the boldest plan was the +safest, and so he was enabled to act with as +much <span class="foreign" style="font-style: italic">sang froid</span> as if he were really an adherent +of the king and sincere in his desire to fight for +him.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> ate breakfast with the rest of the soldiers of his company, then he looked about them, +and over the encampment, with interest. It was +very interesting indeed to the boy patriot spy +and he was eager to see all that there was to be +seen.</p> + +<p>He noted that this was in itself quite an encampment, but realized that it was only one +portion of the whole. He wished to get the +other divisions located, and desired also to learn +how many soldiers there were in the entire +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> army. He asked questions, carefully, in +such a manner as not to create suspicion, and +gradually became possessed of considerable information that he felt must be reliable, since +there could be no occasion for those who gave +him the information to deceive him, they believing him to be loyal to the king and a soldier +the same as they were.</p> + +<p>About nine o'clock Company H. was ordered +to proceed to the beach for the purpose of +allowing the soldiers to bathe, and they set +out at once, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> accompanying them, of +course. On the way they passed another division of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was informed by a companion that it was the main +body.</p> + +<p>When they neared the beach, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> caught +sight of several old hulks of vessels at anchor +near the shore, and he inquired what they +were.</p> + +<p>“Old hulks of dismantled ships,” was the reply. “We use them for prisons for those of the +rebel army that we capture.”</p> + +<p>“Are there any rebels in there now?” queried +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, making his tone as careless as possible, +though having his father in mind, his heart was +throbbing with eagerness.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there are a number in there–fifteen or +twenty, I should judge. They are in the hulk +farthest to the north. Among them are three +or four rebel spies who will likely be shot or +hanged sooner or later.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> heart thrilled as he heard this news. +Perhaps he might be able to rescue all those +poor, suffering patriot prisoners! He made up +his mind that he would try, at any rate. And +again the thought struck him that his father +might be imprisoned there. He at once decided +that he would visit the prison ship and rescue +the prisoners, if possible.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.11"> + + + <h2 class="11" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter XI</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">Tom</span> in Trouble</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="name.char"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">D</span>ick</span> Dare</span> eyed the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> fleet with interest. It lay in the roadstead, just off +York Bay, and the sight of the warships was +indeed alluring. He asked questions about the +fleet, being careful to inquire as if actuated +merely by curiosity, and he also managed to +secure information as to the number of soldiers +in the army on shore. He was told that the +army, as a whole, had about twenty-four thousand men in its ranks.</p> + +<p>“Phew, that outnumbers our army considerably!” thought <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “Well, no matter, when it +comes to battle, I'll wager that we will give +the redcoats all they can do.”</p> + +<p>When Company H. had finished bathing, the +soldiers marched back to the encampment, and +other companies were met on their way to the +beach to take their turn in the water.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> was on the alert for information all the +rest of that day. He did not learn much more, +for he found that there was no intention of attacking the patriot force on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span> +very soon, exactly the point on which <span class="name.char">General +Washington</span> wished to be informed. He became +convinced that it would be useless to remain +longer in the hope of securing further information, as no date for an attack had been decided +upon.</p> + +<p>He turned his attention therefore to the +problem of how if possible to rescue the +patriot spies and soldiers that were in the old +hulk used for a prison.</p> + +<p>“I must rescue them!” was his thought. “I will +rescue them!” he decided, and he began figuring +on the matter in earnest and laying his plans.</p> + +<p>About half-past one o'clock in the afternoon, +however, he was given a shock: He saw half +a dozen <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers approaching the encampment from the north, and in their midst +was–his brother <span class="name.char">Tom</span>!</p> + +<p>“They've captured <span class="name.char">Tom</span>!” he exclaimed +mentally, in dismay. “Goodness, that is bad! +I wonder how it happened?”</p> + +<p>This was a simple matter. The half dozen +redcoats had been up in the hills nearby the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span>, where <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> had had the adventure the night before, when in passing the +clump of trees, some one of them happened to +catch a glimpse of <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, who was seated under +a tree, eating some food that he had procured t +a farmhouse early that morning. The soldiers +had advanced, and their sudden appearance had +startled <span class="name.char">Tom</span> to such an extent that when they +asked who he was and what he was doing there, +he stammered and was unable to make a satisfactory reply offhand, with the result that the +redcoats seized him and made him a prisoner, +their idea being that even though he were a boy +he might be a “rebel” spy.</p> + +<p>As may well be supposed, when <span class="name.char">Dick</span> saw the +redcoats approaching with his brother a prisoner in their midst, his heart sank. He had +been figuring on getting his brother to help him +in rescuing the patriot spies and soldiers, and +here was <span class="name.char">Tom</span> in the enemy's hands, a prisoner.</p> + +<p>“I'll have to begin by rescuing <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, I guess,” +was <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> thought.</p> + +<p>The soldiers entered the encampment, with +the youth in their midst, and conducted him to +where in front of his tent the general was sitting on a camp-stool. The officer looked up as +the party approached, and he eyed the prisoner +in some surprise.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had drawn near as the soldiers entered +the camp, and had managed to catch <span class="name.char">Tom's</span> eye +and give him a warning look. He hoped that +his brother would be very careful, and not let it +be seen that they were known to each other.</p> + +<p>“Whom have you there?” queried <span class="name.char">General +Percy</span>, as the party came to a halt in front of him.</p> + +<p>“We found this youngster over yonder in that +bit of woods, <span class="name.char">General Percy</span>,” said one of the +soldiers. “He was sitting there, eating a lunch, +and when we appeared and asked him who he +was and where he came from, he seemed frightened and could make no satisfactory answer.”</p> + +<p>“I wasn't frightened, any such thing!” said +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>, his eyes flashing. “I am not frightened +even now, sir. I was surprised, for they came +upon me so suddenly, and the leaped at me as +if I were a desperado, and naturally I may have +seemed a bit confused in my answers to their +questions. But I wasn't frightened, sir.”</p> + +<p>Something like a grim smile appeared for an +instant on the general's face, as he looked at the +bright face of the boy.</p> + + + +<p>“So you were not afraid, eh?” he remarked. +“Well, if you are not a rebel spy or an enemy +to the king, there is no reason that you should be +afraid. What is your name?”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, sir.” <span class="name.char">Tom</span> had given his real +name to the soldiers, but had wished afterward +that he had given a fictitious one. Now he +could do nothing other than give his own name.</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, eh? Well, Master <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, +where do you live?”</p> + +<p>The boy hesitated an instant, and then said: +“I live over in New Jersey.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, in New Jersey? Well, what are you +doing over here on <span class="name.place">Long Island</span>?”</p> + +<p>“I wanted to see the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army, sir, and so +I came over here.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, indeed? Why did you wish to see the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> army?”</p> + +<p>“Just out of curiosity, sir. I have never before seen an army, and I wanted to see one.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Percy</span> eyed the boy searchingly for a +few moments, and then said:</p> + +<p>“It seems to me you have come good ways +to satisfy a feeling of curiosity. Your action +is a little bit unusual. You appear to have an +inquiring mind.” There was something in his +tone that <span class="name.char">Tom</span> did not just like. It had a +threatening sound. However, he kept a bold +face, and said as calmly as possible:</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose,” said the general after a few moments, “that you have so much curiosity, +you would like to see all that you possibly can.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> still did not fancy the general's tone and +air, but he answered:</p> + +<p>“True, sir. So I would.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. Such being the case, I have no +doubt that you would like to see the interior of +one of the old hulks down at the bay, that we +use as prisons for rebel spies and other prisoners. I am going to send you down there, my +boy, and I hope you will like the looks of things +there, for you will probably be there some time.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> started and turned slightly pale.</p> + +<p>“Surely you are not going to make me a +prisoner there, sir!” he exclaimed in dismay.</p> + +<p>“That is just what I am going to do, Master +<span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>!” was the reply in a stern tone. +“The fact is, I believe you are a rebel spy. Your +explanation of your presence here, when your +home is over in New Jersey is not satisfactory +at all. I am certain that you have an ulterior +motive in coming, and the only motive that I +can think of is that you came to engage in spy-work. Take him to the prison at once, men,” +this last to the soldiers.</p> + +<p>Poor <span class="name.char">Tom</span>! He knew it would be hopeless to +expostulate. He felt that he was doomed to become an inmate of one of the prison-ships, and +as he thought it would be useless he said not a +word, but accompanied the soldiers without +making any show of resistance.</p> + +<p>“Take him past the other encampments and +let him see the whole army,” called <span class="name.char">General +Percy</span> after them. “When one has as much +curiosity as he seems to be possessed of, it +should be satisfied.” This was sarcasm and +intended to hurt <span class="name.char">Tom's</span> feelings and humiliate +him, but instead it only aroused a feeling of +resentment in his breast, and almost before he +realized what he was saying, he exclaimed aloud:</p> + +<p>“I'd like to kick him!”</p> + +<p>“Who, the general?” queried one of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, boldly.</p> + +<p>“You'd better not let him hear you say anything like that, sonny!”</p> + + + +<p>“Say, comrades,” remarked another, maliciously, “let's go back and tell the general what +he said.”</p> + +<p>“No, let's not,” said another. “The general +would whip out his sword and cut the boy's head +off. Come on; it will be punishment sufficient +to be incarcerated in the old prison-ship, even +if he is a spy.”</p> + +<p>“I guess you're right about that, comrade.”</p> + +<p>“If it was me,” spoke up another, “I believe +I'd rather have my head cut off and be done +with it, than to be imprisoned in that old hulk.”</p> + +<p>“I guess you're about right,” agreed the first +speaker. “I certainly would hate to have to +change places with you, my boy.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> decided that the prison-ship must be a +terrible place, and he was destined to soon find +that such was really the case.</p> + +<p>They passed the main encampment of the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span>, as they went to the beach, and the +patriot youth thought that the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> would be +hard to defeat, with such a strong army.</p> + +<p>“There must be fifteen or twenty thousand +soldiers there” was his estimate.</p> + +<p>Soon the little party was at the beach, and +getting into the old row-boat, the soldiers rowed +out to the hulk furthest north, and assisted <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +to the deck. Here they found a <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldier +on guard.</p> + +<p>“What have you got there, comrades?” this +soldier asked, looking at <span class="name.char">Tom</span> in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Another prisoner, Hawkins. He is only a +boy, but the general is of the opinion that he is +a rebel spy, so down he goes into the hold with +the rest of the rebels.”</p> + +<p>“All right; down with him. But I wouldn't +think the rebels would send out such a young +one to do spy-work.”</p> + +<p>“Well, the general thinks he's a spy, and that +settles it.”</p> + +<p>“It certainly does so far as I am concerned. +Down with him.”</p> + +<p>The hatch was opened, and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was assisted +down the ladder to the bottom of the hold, and +then leaving him there, with his hands still tied +together behind his back, the soldiers mounted +the ladder and put the hatch in place, leaving +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> in complete darkness.</p> + +<p>As he realized his situation, a shudder went +over the youth's form.</p> + +<p>“I don't like this!” he murmured.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.12"> + + + <h2 class="12" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter XII</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">Dick</span> Does Wonderful Work</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">D</span>ick</span> Dare had been afraid that <span class="name.char">General +Percy</span> might connect him with <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and +suspect that they were in the neighborhood together, but such a thought evidently did not +come to the commander, for happily he seemed +to dismiss the matter from his mind when the +soldiers departed with the boy. He again +busied himself with some writing.</p> + +<p>When <span class="name.char">Dick</span> noted this, he breathed a sigh of +relief. It would have been bad indeed had he +been then suspected and made a prisoner, the +same as had been the case with <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. With +them both in the old prison-hulk, escape would +have been difficult, in fact well-nigh impossible, +but with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> free to work from the outside, it +was different. The youth believed that he +might be able to rescue his brother and the +other prisoners in the prison-ship, and he was +fully decided to make the attempt that very +night.</p> + +<p>The afternoon dragged slowly along. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +could hardly wait for nightfall, for he was eager +to get to work. He thought the afternoon never +would end.</p> + +<p>But it did, at last, and after he had eaten +supper, he began mentally reviewing the task +that lay before him. The first thing to do +would be to get away from the encampment, +and he decided to do this at once. He had laid +his plans, and going to the colonel, he asked +permission to take a walk.</p> + +<p>“I am not used to camplife, sir,” he said; +“and I feel the need of a little exercise. If not +contrary to the rules, I would like to take a +walk of a mile or so in the country.”</p> + +<p>“I guess it will be all right,” was the reply. +“Go ahead, but don't stay too long.”</p> + +<p>“I won't, sir. Thank you.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> walked boldly out of the encampment, +and in order to disarm suspicion, in case his +action should occasion comment, he went toward the east. To have started north might +have aroused suspicion that he was heading +for New York.</p> + + + +<p>“Where away, comrade?” queried the sentinel +at the east side of the encampment.</p> + +<p>“Oh, out for a little walk for exercise,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, carelessly.</p> + +<p>“All right<span title=",">.</span> The Countersign is ‘The King Rules’.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I'll not forget.”</p> + +<p>He walked slowly on, as if merely taking a +leisurely stroll, but as soon as he was out of +sight of the sentinel and others, he changed to a +swift pace, and turning, headed toward the +prison-ships in the bay.</p> + +<p>“Now for business!” he murmured, grimly. +“I'll have the patriot prisoners out of that old +hulk before many hours, or I'll know the reason +why!”</p> + +<p>He hastened onward, but paused frequently +and listened intently. He did not want to meet any +force of <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers then for it would have +been awkward work explaining his presence.</p> + +<p>He was fortunate, however, in that he did not +encounter any redcoats, and in considerably +less than an hour he was at the shore, near +where the prison-ships were anchored.</p> + +<p>“Now the next thing is to get aboard the +hulk,” was <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> thought.</p> + + + +<p>This would be difficult, for the reason that +there was a sentinel on the deck. To reach the +hulk and climb aboard without being seen by +this sentinel was a task that would be hard to +accomplish. But <span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not hesitate. He was +brave, and eager to rescue his brother and the +other patriot spies and soldiers, and so he located an old boat, got in, and then pulled slowly and +carefully toward the prison-ship, which could +be faintly seen looming up a couple of hundred +yards distant on the water.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> felt that the chances were that the +sentinel would have his attention directed toward the shore, and so he made a half-circuit +and approached from the other side. He rowed +slowly and cautiously, making scarcely any +noise at all, and was successful in reaching the +hulk without having been discovered. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> had +rightly guessed that the sentinel was at the +other side, doubtless keeping a lookout shoreward.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> felt around in the boat, and found a +rope-ladder, with hooks on one end, and with +the aid of a boathook, he managed to get the +hooks caught over the ship's rail. This accomplished, he stood there and listened intently. +He feared he might have been heard by the +sentinel.</p> + +<p>Such did not seem to be the case, however, +for all was quiet aboard, and presently the +youth began making his way slowly and +cautiously up the ladder. He kept on till his +head was even with the top of the rail, and then +he gazed about, trying to locate the sentinel. +It was so dark, however, that he could not see +the redcoat, and feeling that the coast was +reasonably clear, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> climbed on up, and over +the rail, and a moment later stood on the deck.</p> + +<p>So far all was well. He had escaped from the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, had reached the prison-hulk, and was on board. Now to overpower +the sentinel and rescue the prisoners.</p> + +<p>The youth paused only long enough to tie the +boat's painter to the rail, and then he slowly +and cautiously made his way along the deck, +going toward the bow. He reached the end of +the cabin, moved quietly around it, and then +started in the other direction. He went with +still greater caution now, for he realized that at +any moment he might come upon the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> sentinel.</p> + + + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> knew that there were two soldiers on +board all the time, and that they took turns at +standing guard, so one would be on deck and +the other would likely be in the cabin asleep. +To capture the one guard, without making a +noise that would be heard by the other would be +a difficult matter, but <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was not the kind +of youth to be dismayed by difficulties. +Their presence only made him the more determined.</p> + +<p>He advanced carefully, and suddenly he +caught sight of a shadowy form a few feet +ahead of him. It was the sentinel, undoubtedly, and luckily for <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, the redcoat's back was +partially toward him, and the soldier was gazing in almost the opposite direction from that +in which <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was approaching.</p> + +<p>The youth, after a keen survey of the form, +decided that the redcoat's back was toward him, +and so advanced a couple of steps, as silently as +a shadow. He was now close upon the man, and +reaching out suddenly, he grasped the fellow by +the throat with both hands, and raising his +knee quickly, struck the soldier in the small of +the back, and threw him with a twisting motion +to the deck; then dropping upon the fallen man, +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> compressed his windpipe, gripping it with +all his might.</p> + +<p>Although but eighteen years of age, <span class="name.char">Dick +Dare</span> was stronger than the majority of men. He +was naturally powerful, and his life on the farm +had been such as to develop his strength and +endurance, and so it happened that he was +easily more than a match for the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldier. +The fact that this fellow had been taken completely by surprise worked to his disadvantage, +too, and although he struggled hard, he was unable to do anything, and the gripping fingers, +compressing his windpipe like bands of steel, +gradually weakened him, for he was unable to +get his breath. Neither could he cry out, and +the result was that in about three minutes from +the time <span class="name.char">Dick</span> had seized the redcoat, the fellow +was lying unconsciously on the deck–choked into +insensibility.</p> + +<p>Feeling confident the sentinel would remain +unconscious some time, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> left the form lying +there, and entered the cabin in search of the +other soldier. A snore sounding from a stateroom at one side guided the youth, so he entered +the compartment, and seizing this redcoat by +the throat, as he had the other, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> quickly +choked him into limp insensibility. This accomplished, he went out on deck, dragged the +other redcoat into the cabin, and into the stateroom. Closing the door, he locked them in.</p> + +<p>“I don't think they will be able to get out of +there, even if they regain consciousness before +I get to the prisoners,” thought <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>Then he went out on deck again and hunted +around till he found the hatchway. Removing +the covering, he looked down into the hold, but +could see nothing, the darkness there being +even greater than on the deck.</p> + +<p>“Hello, down there!” he called. “Are you +there, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>!”</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Dick</span>! Oh, is it really you?” came the reply, +in the excited voice of <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is I,” was the reply. “How many are +there with you, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>? Is father there?”</p> + +<p>“No, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, father isn't here. Come down and +free us, quick!” eagerly. “There are twelve of +us here, it is a terrible place,–slimy and foul-smelling, and there are rats, insects and worms, +ugh!”</p> + +<p>“Climb up the ladder,” instructed <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“Surely you are not bound.”</p> + +<p>“Our hands are tied. That's what I meant +by telling you to come down and free us, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.”</p> + +<p>“I'll be with you in moment, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> hastened down the ladder, and was soon +standing beside <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, who had scrambled to his +feet. He quickly cut the rope binding his +brother's wrists, and then asked where the +other prisoners were.</p> + +<p>“Here,” replied a hoarse voice. “We are +right at hand, <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, and glad to welcome +you. Your brother has told us about you, and +we have been hoping you would succeed in freeing us, though we feared you might not be able +to do so. But you seem to have succeeded, +thank God! I am <span class="name.char">Joseph Boswick</span>,” he +continued, “one of the spies sent down here by +<span class="name.char">General Washington</span> to secure information regarding the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>. There are three more +spies, and seven patriot soldiers and all of us +are eager to get out of this terrible hole, as you +may well believe.”</p> + +<p>“I can easily believe it, <span class="name.char">Mr. Boswick</span>, and I'll +have your hands free in a jiffy, and then you can +climb the ladder to the deck, and we will go +ashore in the boat. The two <span class="name.nationality">British</span> guards are +insensible, and locked in a stateroom.”</p> + +<p>“You are a wonder, Dare!” said <span class="name.char">Boswick</span>, +admiration in his tone. “Well, cut our bonds +quickly and we'll try to get out of here.”</p> + +<p>This was speedily done, and a few minutes +later the entire party was on the deck. To +climb down into the boat was a simple matter, +but it had only just been accomplished when +there came the noise of oars in rowlocks, from +the other side of the hulk, followed by the sound +of voices.</p> + +<p>“Some redcoats have come off to the ship, +from the shore!” whispered <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, to <span class="name.char">Boswick</span>. +“We must get away from here in a hurry, for +your escape will be discovered very quickly!”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.13"> + + + <h2 class="13" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter XIII</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> is Pleased</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">W</span>e</span> had better get to the shore at once,” +was the reply. “This boat is so heavily loaded that it would be dangerous to try to +go to New York in it.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it is old and leaky, anyway. We'll +go ashore and then head for <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> turned the oars and rowed cautiously toward the island. The boat moved very slowly, +for it was deep in the water, and rapid progress +was impossible.</p> + +<p>The shore was reached presently, however, +and at the same instant there came out of the +darkness excited yells from the direction of the +prison-ship.</p> + +<p>“They've discovered your escape,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“Get ashore, men, as quickly as possible.”</p> + +<p>The rescued patriots leaped ashore as fast +as they could, and then with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> in the lead, +they set out northward.</p> + + + +<p>“By keeping over pretty close to the water, I +think we shall be able to keep clear of the redcoats,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“Likely,” agreed <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “We mustn't let them +capture us now.”</p> + +<p>“I'll never go back to that terrible prison-pen alive!” declared <span class="name.char">Boswick</span>. “I would much +rather die fighting.”</p> + +<p>“We'll get to the <span class="name.city">Heights</span> and then over to +New York in safety,” assured <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>The excited voices of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> who had +discovered the escape of the prisoners could be +heard for some time, but gradually grew +fainter, until at last no sound could be heard. +The little party kept steadily onward, and +managed to get past the left end of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +army and an hour or so later arrived at the +patriot encampment on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>.</p> + +<p>They paused there only long enough to rest a +bit and apprise the officer in command of their +escape from the prison-ship, then they went +down to the shore and were taken across to the +New York side in boats.</p> + +<p>They went direct to patriot headquarters, and +were quickly ushered into the presence of the +commander-in-chief. When he saw <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and also <span class="name.char">Boswick</span> and the other spies and +the patriot soldiers that had been prisoners, his +face lighted up with pleasure.</p> + +<p>“You surely have succeeded well, Dare!” +he exclaimed. “You have rescued the +patriot prisoners from the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> prison-ship, +and I hope you have as well secured some important information.”</p> + +<p>“I have secured some information, your excellency,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “And I am pleased because I was able to free the patriots from the +prison-ship.”</p> + +<p>“You have done well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>–wonderfully +well. I congratulate you, my boy.” Then he +shook hands with <span class="name.char">Boswick</span> and the other spies +and the soldiers and asked them about their +experience in the prison-ship. According to +their words, the prison-ship was a terrible +place, the bottom of the hold being water-soaked and slimy, and infested by myriads of +insects and worms, which crawled over the +prisoners' bodies, stinging and biting them +and almost driving them wild. There were +large and vicious rats also. The prisoners +were thin and gaunt, and it was evident that +they had suffered indeed.</p> + + + +<p>“You have had a very unpleasant experience, +men,” said the commander-in-chief; “but now +you are free and will soon be your old selves +again. Go to your quarters, get some food and +then rest up and regain your lost strength.”</p> + +<p>The soldiers obeyed, all going save <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, who +remained at the command of <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>. When the others had gone, he turned inquiringly at <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“What did you learn, my boy?” he queried. +“Have you secured any information of value?”</p> + +<p>“I haven't secured a great deal of information, your excellency,” was the reply. “I +learned the numerical strength of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +army, for one thing.”</p> + +<p>“That is important. What is the number?”</p> + +<p>“Twenty-five thousand.”</p> + +<p>A sober, thoughtful look settled over the face +of the commander-in-chief.</p> + +<p>“That is about five thousand more than I +figured on,” he murmured. “Well, I am glad +to have knowledge of their strength, even +though it is greater than I had expected it to be.”</p> + +<p>“I learned also, that an attack on <span class="name.city">Brooklyn +Heights</span>, while a probability at some future +time, is not contemplated at an early date.”</p> + + + +<p>“That is important also, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. Well, did you +learn anything else?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing else, sir. But, if you desire it, I +will go back over onto <span class="name.place">Long Island</span> and will +keep watch on the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> and do my best to +learn of any intended move early enough to get +the news to you, so that you will have time to +make a move that will check the enemy.”</p> + +<p>“We will wait a few days, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and then I +may send you again. I congratulate you on the +success of your first attempt at spying. You +did well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, exceedingly well, and I shall +doubtless make use of you frequently in the +future, if you care to undertake the work.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be glad to do so, your excellency. +My only wish is to do all in my power to aid the +people of <span class="name.state">America</span> to secure their independence, +and if I can be of value by doing spy-work, then +I shall take pleasure in doing it.”</p> + +<p>“That is the right spirit, my boy, and I shall +call upon you whenever I have work that I +think you can do better than an older man +could do it.”</p> + +<p>Then he dismissed <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, who saluted and +withdrew, going to his quarters.</p> + +<p>He found <span class="name.char">Tom</span> there, engaged in telling the +story of his and <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> adventures over on +<span class="name.place">Long Island</span>, and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> and the other soldiers +were listening eagerly, their eyes shining. They +greeted <span class="name.char">Dick</span> joyously.</p> + +<p>“Say, I wish I had been with you two fellows, +old man,” said <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>. “You have got the +bulge on the rest of us, and that isn't fair. +You have already encountered the redcoats and +had adventures with them, while the rest of us +have had to stay cooped up here in the city.” +<span class="name.char">Ben</span> pretended to be vexed with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, +but it was only pretense.</p> + +<p>“You boys will get all the adventure you +want, one of these days, I think,” smiled <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“There is going to be a battle over on Long +Island sooner or later, and then you will get +all the fighting you want.”</p> + +<p>“Hurroo!” cried <span class="name.char">Tim Murphy</span>, “shure an' +thot is phwat we are afther wantin', Oi dunno. +It's all av us wull foight to the last gasp, sure +an' we wull.”</p> + +<p>“Yah, ve vill fighd lige eferyting,” declared +<span class="name.char">Fritz Schmockenburg</span>. “Ve are nod avraid uf +der retgoads, und dot is so.”</p> + +<p>“How soon will the battle take place, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” +queried <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>.</p> + + + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> shook his head.</p> + +<p>“As to that I cannot say, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>,” he replied. +“But it will come soon enough, without doubt, +for the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> have twenty-five thousand soldiers, while we have not more than eighteen +thousand.”</p> + +<p>“That is pretty big odds,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, with a +shake of the head.</p> + +<p>“So it is,” agreed <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “But the patriots +will give a good account of themselves when +the time comes, I feel certain.”</p> + +<p>“Yah, ve vill gif ein goot accound mit mysellufs,” said <span class="name.char">Fritz</span>, the <span class="name.nationality">Dutch</span> soldier.</p> + +<p>“Just listen to thot, wull yez?” remarked +<span class="name.char">Tim</span>, scathingly. “Shure an' there is agotism +fur yez!”</p> + +<p>“Well, I hope all of us will always give a +good account of ourselves,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, quietly. +“And I believe we will.”</p> + +<p>“We'll try to, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, earnestly.</p> + +<p>A few days later <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> again +summoned <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and told him to go over on +<span class="name.place">Long Island</span> and see if he could learn anything +regarding the intentions of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.</p> + +<p>“You will have to be very careful, this time, +however, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” he cautioned; “for you are +known to many of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, and if they +should see you, they would capture you, and +that would be bad.”</p> + +<p>“True, sir,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I will be very careful. I will not let them capture me, if I can +help myself.” Then, after receiving his instructions, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> saluted and withdrew.</p> + +<p>After supper he set out, and crossing the +East River, made his way in the direction of +the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, which was about five +miles distant, to the southward. He did not +need to go to <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span> to see <span class="name.char">General +Putnam</span>, for the reason that he now knew more +about the location of the enemy than <span class="name.char">Putnam</span> +did.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not walk rapidly, for he felt that it +were better to proceed with caution, for if he +went too swiftly he could not exercise much +care, and the result might be unpleasant, as +there was danger that he might run into a party +of <span class="name.nationality">British</span>. By going slowly he could avoid this +danger.</p> + +<p>Two hours from the time he crossed the East +River, he was in the vicinity of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, and he moved slowly around it, +trying to figure out some way to get where he +could secure information, but to no avail. He +could not devise any means of doing this. To +enter the lines was out of the question, for +there would likely be some of the soldiers who +would recognize him as the youth who had +joined the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army a few days before and +then deserted. Doubtless the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> were +aware of the fact, also, that the same youth +had set the prisoners free from the prison-ship.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> remained near the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment +till after midnight, but could do nothing to +further the purpose for which he had come, and +so he retired to a clump of trees situated about +a quarter of a mile from the edge of the encampment, and hunting up a place under some +bushes, lay down and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>He slept soundly till morning, and then got +up and took a survey of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment. The sun was just rising, and everything +was quiet in the camp. The soldiers were still +asleep, with the exception of the sentinels, who +could be seen slowly pacing their beats.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had nothing to eat, but did not let that +bother him. He was prepared to go without +food all day, if by so doing he would have a +better chance of securing information regarding +the enemy. He watched till the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers +got up and ate their breakfast, and then as he +saw small groups moving about, some coming +almost to the clump of trees, he decided that it +would be best to climb up into a tree and conceal himself amid the leaves, and selecting a +tree with very heavy foliage, he climbed well +up into it. Here he took up as comfortable a +position as possible, watching the enemy and +awaiting developments.</p> + +<p>All was quiet till noon, and then as he saw the +soldiers eating their dinners, he was assailed +by a feeling of hunger. He resolutely dismissed +the thought of food, however, and stuck to his +position. He was determined to stay till evening, at any rate, and then if he had not secured +any information, he would go to a farmhouse +which he saw about a mile distant, to the eastward, and get something to eat, after which he +would return to his post. He was determined +to remain in the vicinity of the army till he +learned something of value in the way of news +regarding the intentions of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, if it took +him a week.</p> + +<p>He climbed down out of the tree presently +and walked about, in the thicket, stretching in +legs and feeling much better afterward, for +his position had been a cramped one at the +best.</p> + +<p>When the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers began moving +around again, after dinner, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> climbed up +into the tree once more, for some of the redcoats might visit the clump of trees at any time. +A party of four of the soldiers did enter the +thicket an hour or so later, and throwing themselves down in the shade, talked and laughed +for some time, but although <span class="name.char">Dick</span> listened with +intense eagerness, no words were spoken that +gave him any information. If the soldiers knew +of any intended move on the part of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +army, they did not mention the fact in their +conversation, which was made up of idle talk, +of the kind as such men would naturally indulge in.</p> + +<p>When they left and returned to the encampment <span class="name.char">Dick</span> drew a breath of relief, for he felt +that every minute they remained in the clump +of trees he was in danger of discovery. He +might make a noise, in shifting his position, and +be heard, or he might have to sneeze, or cough. +And if he were to be discovered, it would go +hard with him, for he would undoubtedly be +deemed a spy.</p> + +<p>After the redcoats returned to the encampment, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> descended to the ground and walked +about a while, being careful to keep the most +of the thicket between himself and the enemy. +After half an hour on the ground, he again +climbed up into the tree.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> began to think the day was to be barren +of results, as evening drew near; but a little +while before sundown he caught sight of a +couple of soldiers approaching the clump of +trees. As the two drew near, he got a fair view +of their faces, and he had all he could do to +keep from uttering an exclamation, for–the two approaching <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers were no +others than <span class="name.char">Zeke Boggs</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem Hicks</span>, <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> +enemies, the Tory youths from over in New +Jersey!</p> + +<p>“Well, this is a surprise!” thought <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. +“But I remember now, that <span class="name.char">Ben</span> said <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> told +him he and <span class="name.char">Lem</span> were going to join the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +army and be <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers, that they were +not going to let <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, and myself get ahead +of them. I wonder what they would say if they +knew I was so near them?”</p> + + + +<p><span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem</span>, dressed in the uniform of +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers, entered the clump of timber +and seated themselves on the moss under the +tree next to that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was in. They had no +suspicion that there was anyone other than +themselves present, and talked freely of their +plans.</p> + +<p>“How do ye like army life, anyhow, <span class="name.char">Zeke</span>?” +asked <span class="name.char">Lem</span>, as they lolled on the grass.</p> + +<p>“Oh, pretty well, <span class="name.char">Lem</span>,” was the reply. “How +do ye like et?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, only so-so, <span class="name.char">Zeke</span>. They're too strict ter +suit me. I don't like ter hev ter come an' go +just ez sumbuddy tells me, do you?”</p> + +<p>“No, I don't. But when er feller enters the +army, that's jest whut he hez ter do.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, thet's so. Well, I guess I'll git used +ter et.”</p> + +<p>“I'll be glad when we git inter a bettle with +the rebels, <span class="name.char">Lem</span>, won't you?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I guess so.” The tone was not very +decided or enthusiastic. “I hope thet ef we do +git inter a battle, we'll meet up with <span class="name.char">Dick</span> an' +<span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span> an' <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>.”</p> + +<p>“So do I. I'd like ter giv' 'em a thrashin' in +a battle.”</p> + + + +<p>“So would I. An' I guess thet we'll hev a +chance to fight the rebels afore so very long, fur +I heerd our colonel tell another officer thet et +hez be'n decided ter make an attack on <span class="name.city">Brooklyn +Heights</span> the <span title="1776-08-24">twenty-fourth</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I heard 'im say thet.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> made mental note of this date. He had +learned something of value, and from the lips +of his enemies, <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem</span>. How angry they +would be if they knew they had done <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> +a kindness! “Thank you, <span class="name.char">Zeke</span> and <span class="name.char">Lem</span>,” he murmured. “You are very kind, and have done me +quite a favor.”</p> + +<p>The two Tory youths remained there half an +hour or so, and then returned to the encampment. Their conversation had held nothing +further of interest to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, but what he had +learned was sufficient. He had learned when +the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> intended to make the attack, and +that was just what he had come over there to +try to learn. Now he was eager to get back +to New York and tell the commander-in-chief +the news.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark, he set out for New +York, and reached there a couple of hours later. +He went at once to headquarters, where he told +<span class="name.char">General Washington</span> what he had learned.</p> + +<p>The commander-in-chief complimented <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +on his success in securing the information, and +next morning he sent three thousand troops +over to reinforce <span class="name.char">General Putnam's</span> force on +<span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>. To the delight of <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +and <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, <span class="name.char">Colonel Morgan's</span> regiment was among +those sent, and the youths would thus be able +to take part in the battle.</p> + +<p>When the <span title="1776-08-24">24th</span> arrived, however, the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +did not make the expected attack, and about +mid-day <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> came over to the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span> and conferred with <span class="name.char">Putnam</span>, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +was asked his opinion regarding the non-appearance of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.</p> + +<p>“I don't understand it, sir,” he replied. “I +heard the two Tory youths say that an attack +would be made on the <span title="1776-08-24">twenty-fourth</span>. Perhaps +the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> have learned that you were expecting them, and have postponed the attack on that +account.”</p> + +<p>“That is possible,” agreed <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>. “Well, the only thing to do, now, is to +keep constantly on the lookout and be ready all +the time to repulse an attack.”</p> + + + +<p>“That is the proper course, your excellency,” +said <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.</p> + +<p>So it was decided to remain in readiness, and +to keep out double the usual number of +sentinels, so as to avoid being taken by surprise.</p> + +<p>This course was adopted, and the patriots +kept in readiness for instant battle, and waited +with what patience they could muster, pestered +as they were by the hot weather and myriads +of mosquitoes, for the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> to make an +attack.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.14"> + + + <h2 class="14" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter XIV</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">The Haunted House</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">L</span>ife</span> in the patriot camp often grew irksome +to the volunteers of <span class="name.char">Washington's</span> army. +All were eager to meet their red-coat foes, and +prove their mettle in a real battle. Thus far +the troops gathered in New York, had been +forced to content themselves with occasional +skirmishes with the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> outposts, which +little affairs only served to increase their eagerness to “have it out” with the invaders.</p> + +<p>To make the long days of waiting pass more +pleasantly, frequent excursions were made into +the surrounding country in search of adventures and to pick up whatever delicacies in +the way of fruit and fowl that the outlying +farms afforded. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> appointed himself a committee of one to supply the company to which +he and his friends belonged. He had exhausted +most of the well-known haunts about camp, +and was in the habit of going off on long +tramps to find the coveted fruit.</p> + +<p>One evening toward dusk <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was sauntering along a quiet country road hunting for +apples. In the course of his wanderings he +came upon a well laden tree standing on the +grounds of a neglected estate. Far back +amongst the trees was the deserted mansion-house, looking desolate and forbidding in the +rays of the sinking sun.</p> + +<p>About this old place many stories clung of +mystery and violent death. From the time of +its erection by a runaway nobleman the families who had unfortunately occupied it had +either left in extreme haste and terror for some +far removed section of the country, or had met +with foul play at the hands of a band of Gypsies, who appeared in the neighborhood only +when a new occupant moved into the fated +homestead. The last family that had lived +there had suddenly left the house one night. +Two grown up sons, however, returned and +told the inquisitive farmers that although their +folks had been frightened away, they proposed +to remain until they had solved the mystery of +the place. This perhaps they did the next +night, but they both paid for their curiosity +with their lives, for the neighbors found their +bodies suspended from the upper floor over the +Main Stairway. Since this last fatality, the +house had been deserted, its bad name growing +with each recounting of its dark history.</p> + +<p>A little youngster scarce four years old, was +playing under the tree. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> helped himself +to some apples as was his wont, and speaking +cheerily to the boy, learned that his name was +“Jackie.” A stick of candy from <span class="name.char">Tom's</span> pocket +was greedily accepted by Jackie. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was +feeling blue that day thinking of his father +from whom had come no word, of his mother +and sister, and his old home. He wandered on +unobservant of the fact that it was growing +dark, and that a storm was fast approaching. +He was suddenly called to a sense of his surroundings by hearing a cry behind him, and +turning back saw that little Jackie was dogging his footsteps.</p> + +<p>The youngster was tired out now, and +wanted “home and mother,” so <span class="name.char">Tom</span> spoke a +soothing word or two and they commenced to +retrace their footsteps. He noted now that the +storm was soon to break, and Jackie was too +tired to hurry, so he gathered the little fellow +into his strong arms, and made fast time for +home.</p> + + + +<p>By the time they had reached the apple tree +it was quite dark. Large drops of rain, the +roar of thunder, and the glare of lightning told +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> that he was none too soon. He ran +through the unkempt garden, and was quickly +at the door. A sinister looking place it was +even in daylight, and now revealed by an occasional lightning flash, the house seemed but a +wreck of former stateliness. Not a light was +visible within, and to <span class="name.char">Tom's</span> loud and hurried +rappings on the door, there was no response.</p> + +<p>A flash of lightning however, showed <span class="name.char">Tom</span> +that the door was unlatched, and with the rain +now descending in torrents, he hesitated no +longer, but stepped within. There was a rush +of wind, a rattle of shutters, a deafening peal +of thunder as if close at hand, and with a crash +the great door suddenly closed.</p> + +<p>It did not take <span class="name.char">Tom</span> long to determine that +he and his little charge were alone in a deserted +mansion.</p> + +<p>“Is this your home, Jackie?” inquired <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>The little fellow whom <span class="name.char">Tom</span> had placed upon +the floor was thoroughly terrified, and could +only grasp his answer.</p> + +<p>“It is the haunted house, let me go home.”</p> + + + +<p>“Nonsense, Jackie, don't be afraid, but +where is your home?”</p> + +<p>Meantime <span class="name.char">Tom</span> had turned about and was +searching for the handle of the great door. +There was none. It had been broken off, and +this means of egress was unavailable.</p> + +<p>“Let's see if we can find a window,” suggested <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, but Jackie clung closer to his rescuer and began to cry wildly.</p> + +<p>“There is a ghost, it's coming,” shrieked the +little fellow.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Tom</span> looked along the depth of the long hall, +and at first saw nothing, then at the next flash +of lightning he was startled to see two green +and glaring eyes fixed upon him. No thought +of such a thing as a ghost entered his mind, +he was far too sensible for that, and had no +fear of spirits. If they were good spirits, he +argued, of course they would not hurt, if they +were bad, he might hurt them. He was for +advancing at once to investigate, but his little +charge clung to him in desperate terror.</p> + +<p>Then there came another crash of thunder, +and at the same instant a noise as of an overturned table, and the rattle of pans and pots +upon the floor. But the eyes, they were gone–no, they were close upon the floor, and +coming toward them. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> could not deny +that he felt a creeping feeling, and poor Jackie, +always observant of the goings on, was simply +overcome with fright, and buried his head in +<span class="name.char">Tom's</span> side to shut out the dreaded sight.</p> + +<p>“Come, Jackie, let's get out of here,” encouraged <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and having observed a window +in the room to the left, he once more took up +his charge and made for it.</p> + +<p>Halfway to his objective point, however, he +was startled for a moment to see revealed by a +lantern the whiskered face of a man on the +other side of the window. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> stopped short +an instant, but not so Jackie, who struggled +from his protector's embrace calling out, +“There's papa!”</p> + +<p>In a brief interval Jackie was in his parent's +arms, and as they lived next door to the deserted mansion, <span class="name.char">Tom</span> was soon being thanked +time and again for the rescue of the little runaway.</p> + +<p>“And is the house really haunted?” asked +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and then without waiting for a reply +he answered his own question “but of course +I know it is not.”</p> + + + +<p>“No,” was the laughing response, “but it +has been unoccupied except by cats, and in +some way has gotten that name.”</p> + +<p>“And then the eyes we saw–?”</p> + +<p>“Quite likely a stray cat, but still it would +not be wondered at if your nerves got on edge. +You are a brave boy, <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, and I know I +shall hear of brave deeds of yours in the +future.”</p> + +<p>The storm had moderated, and <span class="name.char">Tom</span> now +had to hasten back to camp where he was +welcomed for he had for distribution a large +bag of apples, given him by Jackie's father.</p> + +<p>That evening about the camp-fire <span class="name.char">Tom</span> recounted his adventures to his friends, and a trip +was planned for the next day to explore the +secrets of the old house.</p> + +<p>The following morning, after drill and the +camp duties had been performed, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> set out for the scene of the previous +day's excitement.</p> + +<p>“I don't believe half of these ‘haunted house’ +stories,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, “ever since–,” and here he +stopped.</p> + +<p>“Yes, ever since you thought we had a real +ghost, and suggested leaving the poor spirit to +its own reflection while you and the rest of us +made for home,” broke in <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“When was that?” questioned <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“Why, about a year ago,” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> responded, +“four of us spent a night in a house with a +‘haunted’ reputation, and after numerous fake +alarms, caused by the wind shaking the windows or banging the shutters, we at last got +track of the real disturber, who happened along +the very night we were on watch.”</p> + +<p>“Who was it?” questioned <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, eagerly, +while <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, remembering his temporary terror +on that night, grew suspiciously red in the face.</p> + +<p>“None other than a marauding cat,” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +replied, “whose head had stuck in a can it was +drinking from, and who knocked the unwelcome helmet on the floor in an effort to disengage it.”</p> + +<p>The boys had now reached the old mansion, +and a trip through its ruined rooms failed to +reveal anything unusual, so after gathering +another supply of apples, the three returned to +camp.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.15"> + + + <h2 class="15" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter XV</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;"><span class="name.char">Dick</span> Again Does Spy-Work</h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">A</span>s</span> the days and weeks dragged slowly past +and the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> did not make an attack +on the patriot force on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> became somewhat impatient. +He was puzzled by the action, or rather lack +of action of the enemy, and was desirous of +learning what it meant.</p> + +<p>There was only one way that this could be +done–by sending a spy to venture among the +enemy and spy upon them, and as <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> +had done good work for him on two former +occasions, the commander-in-chief decided to +try him again. He had been on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, +conferring with <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>, on the afternoon of August 20th, and presently he summoned an orderly and told him to tell <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> +to come to headquarters.</p> + + + +<p>The orderly saluted and went in search of the +youth, whom he found in company with his +brother <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, and <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span> and two or three +other soldiers, talking listlessly and wondering +when the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> would make an attack.</p> + +<p>“<span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>, you are wanted at headquarters,” said the orderly. “The commander-in-chief sent me to inform you.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> leaped up with alacrity.</p> + +<p>“I'll go at once,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Maybe he is wanting you to do some more +spy-work, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” suggested <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“I hope so. I would like to get away from +camp and circulate around awhile.”</p> + +<p>“So would I,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and get captured again,” grinned <span class="name.char">Ben</span>. +“You are not cut out for spy-work, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. You +are too impulsive.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don't know about that,” demurred +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “I'd like to try spying, on my own hook, +once, like <span class="name.char">Dick</span> does.”</p> + +<p>“I don't think either of us would be as successful as <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” remarked <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“That is phwat Oi think,” said <span class="name.char">Tim Murphy</span>, +the Irish soldier. “Av inywan, now, could come +innywhere near bein' as good at spyin' as <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +phwy <span class="name.char">Fritz</span> here,” he continued with a grin, +“would be the mon, Oi'm thinkin'.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Fritz Schmockenburg</span>, the <span class="name.nationality">Dutch</span> soldier, +grunted.</p> + +<p>“I bet me dot I vould mage ein better sby as +vot your vould, <span class="name.char">Tim Murphies</span>,” he said placidly.</p> + +<p>And then ensued a good-natured dispute between the two, who, although they <span title="quarreled">quarrelled</span> +frequently, and to one who did not understand +them would seem to be very angry at each other +and enemies in fact, were the best of friends. +And <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> egged the two on, for they +liked to hear them talk, it affording something +in the way of amusement to pass away the time, +which was beginning to hang heavy on their +hands, camp-life being rather dull and trying, +especially to youths like them, who had always been used to an active life in the open +fields.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had gone to headquarters, and on reaching there, he was given a cordial greeting by +<span class="name.char">Generals Washington</span> and <span class="name.char">Putnam</span>.</p> + +<p>“You sent for me, your excellency?” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, after saluting.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” was the reply. “I think that I +shall again call you into requisition. How +wold you like to again venture out toward the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> lines in search of information?”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> face lighted up eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I would like it first rate, sir,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I thought so, and that is the reason I sent +for you. Well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, the fact is, that we are +beginning to grow weary of this state of affairs, +and would like to learn what is detaining the +enemy and causing them to hold back from making an attack. And we wish to learn, if possible, if an attack is intended soon, and if so, on +what date. You wish to try your hand at the +work of learning this, my boy?”</p> + +<p>“I shall be glad to make the attempt to secure +the information you wish, <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>,” was the prompt and earnest reply.</p> + +<p>“Very well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. Then the matter is settled. You will leave this evening, as soon as +darkness has come, and will visit the special +spot in the vicinity of the enemy's camp, and +learn all that you possibly can. There is no +need of my giving you other than these general +instructions, for you have had sufficient experience as a spy to know how to go about it yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your excellency. I will leave as soon +as it is dark, and will do my best +to secure some information of value.”</p> + +<p>“I hope that you may succeed, my boy.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so, sir.”</p> + +<p>After a little further conversation <span class="name.char">Dick</span> took +his departure, and rejoined his comrades, who +looked at him inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“Spy-work again, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” queried <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Ben</span>,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“That's what we guessed. When do you +start?”</p> + +<p>“This evening.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I could go with you!” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“I think it will be better for me to go alone,” +said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I can do better work alone than if +somebody is with me. The general selected me +because I have a likely place to hide.”</p> + +<p>“How would it do to take <span class="name.char">Dootchy</span> wid yez, +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>?” grinned <span class="name.char">Tim</span>. “He thinks he would be a +foine spy.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> laughed. “I don't know how <span class="name.char">Fritz</span> +would make out in that field of endeavor,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“He is so big he couldn't get within a mile of +the redcoats without their seeing him,” commented <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + + + +<p>“Yes, that's the only trouble with <span class="name.char">Fritz</span>,” said +<span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “He is too big to be a success as a spy.”</p> + +<p>“I didn't said dot I vould be a goot sby, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” +responded <span class="name.char">Fritz</span>. “I said dot I vould be as goot +a sby as vot <span class="name.char">Tim Murphies</span> vould be, see? und +I vill stand me by dot statements, alretty.”</p> + +<p>“Wull, Oi have not said thot Oi would make a +good spy, <span class="name.char">Dootchy</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Tim</span>, “so you wouldn't +have to be much in thot line to aquil me. But +whin it comes to foightin', now, it's mesilf belaves Oi have yez bate, <span class="name.char">Fritz</span>, me bye.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don'd vos know abouid dot, <span class="name.char">Tim</span>,” was +the reply. “I think dot I vill do some fighdin' +myselufs alretty, ven ve get der retgoads at, +yahs.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe so,” grinned <span class="name.char">Tim</span>. “We wull wait +an see how yez act whin we come face to face +wid the ridcoats.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you'll both be brave soldiers, no doubt,” +said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “But, you won't be any ahead of +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, <span class="name.char">Ben</span> and myself. We intend to do some +fighting, too, when the time comes.”</p> + +<p>“Oi'm bettin' thot yez presint a bold face to +the inimy,” nodded <span class="name.char">Tom</span>, who liked the youths +immensely. “An' sure, it's meself is wishin' +thot we get a chance at the ridcoats before very +long.”</p> + +<p>“I hope so, <span class="name.char">Tim</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>Soon after supper, that evening, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> made +his preparations for going on the expedition. +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> cautioned him again and again to be careful, and not take too great risks. “I won't be +there to help you, and you will have to depend +on yourself,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I shall be careful,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “But I'm +going to find out when the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> intend to +make an attack, that is, if such a thing is possible.”</p> + +<p>“I hope that you may succeed, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” encouraged <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + +<p>“I'll do my best,” and then saying good-bye +to his friends, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> left the works and set out +down the slope, heading in the direction of the +encampment of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.</p> + +<p>He walked at a moderate pace, for there was +no occasion for haste. He had the whole night +before him.</p> + +<p>He walked onward an hour or more, and then +stopped in the same little clump of timber which +had before sheltered him. Climbing a tree, he +looked toward the south, and saw, not very far +distant, the campfires of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>. The +enemy were still occupying their old quarters.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not of course dare venture into the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> encampment, for the reason that he +would be recognized and placed under arrest as +a spy at once, for having pretended to join the +force in question only a few weeks before, and +the redcoats would be only too glad to get their +hands on him now.</p> + +<p>“I guess the best thing I can do is to remain +here till morning,” was <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> thought. “Then +I can get a good view of the encampment, and +possibly some soldiers may come here to the +timber during the day, as they did before, to +loll in the shade, and I may again be able to +hear something of interest.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> climbed down out of the tree and lay +down under some bushes and was soon sound +asleep. That was one thing that made <span class="name.char">Dick</span> a +good person for work of this kind. He did not +get excited, and could lie down and sleep +soundly almost anywhere, and even with the +redcoats in close proximity to him.</p> + +<p>He was up with the sun, next morning, and +after eating a portion of the food he had +brought along with him, he felt refreshed, and +turned his attention again toward the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +encampment. By climbing the tree, he was enabled to get a good view of the camp, and could +see the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers at work cooking their +breakfast over the campfires.</p> + +<p>Away in the distance, toward the bay, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +could make out another encampment, and knew +that this was the main force, under <span class="name.char">General +Howe</span> in person. There was no clump of trees +near that encampment, however, which made it +difficult of approach for spying purposes, which +was the reason he had come to this division of +the army instead.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> remained up in the tree an hour or so, +and then descended and lay down under some +bushes at the edge of the clump of the trees, on the +side next to the encampment, and kept a sharp +lookout in that direction, watching eagerly for +the coming of some of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>One, two hours passed, and then <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> patience was rewarded. He saw a couple of British soldiers have the encampment and come +strolling in the direction of the clump of trees.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> would have liked to remain on the +ground, but feared that he might be discovered +in case he did so, and thinking it better to be +careful, he once more careful a position as possible, feeling +up as comfortable a position as possible, owing +to the fact that the foliage was very thick.</p> + +<p>The two <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers came strolling along, +talking and laughing, and presently they entered the clump of trees and sat down under the +very tree that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was in. Here they made +themselves as comfortable as possible, and lighting their pipes, smoked and talked lazily.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> listened eagerly, hoping to hear something that would be in the nature of news, and +of value to <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, but the soldiers kept their conversation in personal channels, which was not of much interest to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>.</p> + +<p>“I wish they would talk about the army, and +what it intends to do,” was <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> thought.</p> + +<p>But the redcoats did not do this. They talked +of matters of no importance or interest to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +and after staying an hour or so, they get up and +returned to the encampment.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> was disappointed. “I was in hopes that I +would learn something from their conversation,” +he muttered. “Well, perhaps some more soldiers +will visit the clump of trees to-day, and in that +case I may succeed in securing some information. I hope that such will be the case, anyway.”</p> + +<p>Noon came, and no other soldiers had visited +the clump of trees. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was not discouraged, +however. He felt that he would likely get a +chance to hear other soldiers talk that afternoon.</p> + +<p>He ate the rest of his food, and then sat down +beside a tree and took it easy for a while. He +knew that the soldiers were busy cooking their +dinners, and that none would likely come to the +timber for quite a while.</p> + +<p>As he sat there, gazing idly over toward the +encampment, however, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him, and turned his head quickly, +and saw a <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldier standing within a few +paces of him, musket in hand, eyeing him suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” greeted the redcoat.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> was surprised and somewhat dismayed +as well, but he was a cool youth, and did not let +the fact that he was flustered show on his face. +Instead, he affected a cool and careless air, and +replied:</p> + +<p>“Hello. Good afternoon, sir.”</p> + + + +<p>The soldier stood there, keeping a keen eye on +the youth.</p> + +<p>“Who are you?” he queried.</p> + +<p>“My name is <span class="name.char">Dick Morris</span>.” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> gave the +first name that came to his mind.</p> + +<p>“Humph. What are you doing here?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing. Just sitting here.”</p> + +<p>“Why are you sitting here?” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> believed +the soldier was suspicious of him.</p> + +<p>“I'm resting,” replied the youth.</p> + +<p>“Resting, eh?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“What made you tired?”</p> + +<p>“I have come quite a distance. I walked here +from nearly twenty miles east, and I'm resting +in the shade, before continuing my journey. No +objection is there?”</p> + +<p>“Humph. Where are you bound for?”</p> + +<p>“Over on the shore of the bay.”</p> + +<p>“What are you going there for?”</p> + +<p>“To work for a man, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“An old fisherman.”</p> + +<p>“Humph. You seem to be interested in the +army, yonder, judging by the way you were +looking that way when I came up.”</p> + + + +<p>“Yes, sir,” replied <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, quietly. “When one +has never seen an army before, it does interest +one.”</p> + +<p>The redcoat eyed <span class="name.char">Dick</span> searchingly.</p> + +<p>“I'm almost inclined to believe that you are +not what you make out yourself to be,” he said, +after a few moments.</p> + +<p>“Why so, sir?” <span class="name.char">Dick</span> opened his eyes as if +surprised and puzzled and looked at the soldier +inquiringly.</p> + +<p>“Because–in these times of war, it is often +the case that anyone like yourself may turn out +to be a spy.”</p> + +<p>“A spy?” exclaimed <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, assuming a most +astonished expression.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and you may be a spy for all I know.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> shook his head. “Oh, no, you've got +another guess,” he said. He felt that he was +doing no wrong in denying being a spy, to a +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldier.</p> + +<p>“I'm not so sure of it,” was the stubborn +reply. “I think that I shall have to take you +into camp and see what <span class="name.char">General Percy</span> has to +say about the matter.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick's</span> heart sank. <span class="name.char">General Percy</span> was the +officer he had seen, a few weeks before, when he +had pretended to join the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> force, and the +officer would recognize him at once, without +doubt. It would not do to permit himself to be +taken into the camp, a prisoner. It would result +disastrously, as he would likely be shot as a spy, +for it was known that he had rescued the patriot +prisoners out of the old prison-ship in the bay, +and he would be handled severely. Even though +only a boy in years, he had proven himself capable of doing a man's work.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wouldn't do that, if I were you,” said +<span class="name.char">Dick</span>, calmly.</p> + +<p>The soldier smiled grimly. “I suppose you do +not view the matter favorably,” he replied. +“But, I think it my duty to take you into camp, +for you may be a dangerous spy.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> had been doing some swift thinking, and +he had made up his mind that he must not +permit himself to be taken into the encampment a prisoner. He must manage in some way +to prevent the soldier from accomplishing this. +The only way, so far as he could see, was to engage the soldier in a struggle, and overpower +him, and as the redcoat looked a pretty +husky fellow, this would likely not be an easy +thing to accomplish. But <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was more than +ordinarily strong, and he was quick and athletic, and a good wrestler, and he believed he +could overpower the soldier. He felt confident +he could do so, if he could succeed in taking the +redcoat by surprise.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span>, busy thinking, made no reply to the redcoat's last remark, and the soldier, after waiting +a few moments, said sharply: “Get up, young +fellow.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> rose to his feet, slowly and quietly. His +actions were such as would cause the redcoat to +think he did not contemplate offering any resistance, and this was done purposely, so as to +throw the redcoat off his guard. And it worked +that way, for the soldier, with a careless wave +of the hand, said:</p> + +<p>“March along in front of me to the encampment, young fellow. We'll see what <span class="name.char">General +Percy</span> thinks about you.”</p> + +<p>But <span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not march, as ordered to do. +Instead, he suddenly leaped upon the amazed +soldier, and seizing him by the throat, so as to +prevent his crying out, tripped him, throwing +him to the ground heavily, and then, seated +astride the redcoat's body, and holding him +pinned to the earth in spite of his struggles.</p> + + + +<p>The soldier was a pretty strong man, but he +had been taken at a disadvantage and by surprise, and so was not in a position to exercise +his full powers, and the result was, that although only a youth of eighteen years, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +managed to choke the soldier into a state of +insensibility in a very few minutes.</p> + +<p>And then, when confident that the redcoat +was unconscious, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> let go his hold, and proceeded to bind the redcoat's hands and feet, and +gag him. This accomplished, the youth dragged +the soldier into the deepest and thickest clump +of bushes and concealed him there, so that in +case any soldiers came to the timber, later on, +they would not discover his presence.</p> + +<p>Having accomplished this task, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> sat down +beside the tree and drew a long breath of relief +and satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“There, that turned out all right, after all,” he +murmured. “But, I thought at first that I +might be taken into camp a prisoner, and that +would have been bad indeed.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> looked toward the encampment keenly, +as he spoke, and noted that all was quiet there, +and that none of the soldiers were as yet evincing any disposition to visit the clump of timber.</p> + + + +<p>At least an hour passed, and then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> saw +a couple of soldiers leave the encampment and +come toward the timber. As soon as he was +certain they were coming to loll in the shade of +the trees, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> climbed the tree. From there +he could hear the conversation of the redcoats, +and there was not much chance that they would +discover his presence, the foliage in the tree as +has been noted, being quite thick.</p> + +<p>The two soldiers entered the edge of the timber and seated themselves under a tree close to +the one <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was in, and sat there, smoking and +talking, their conversation being mainly personal, as had been the case with the two that +had been there in the forenoon. But, after a +while they got to talking about the army, and +finally touched upon the very matter that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> +wish to hear discussed. In a general way +they commented upon the bustle, stir and +preparation that indicated some important +move.</p> + +<p>“I'm glad of it,” remarked one. “I am getting tired of being cooped up in camp. I'd +rather do some marching and fighting.”</p> + +<p>“So would I. Well, I think it likely that we +will have fighting to do in a few days, if the +colonel knew what he was talking about, and I +suppose he did.”</p> + +<p>“He had the news from <span class="name.char">General Percy</span>?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so. The general was over to the +main encampment yesterday, you know, and +likely they held a council of war and decided to +make an attack.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> was straining every nerve to hear distinctly.</p> + +<p>Just then a groan sounded, from amid the +clump of bushes in which <span class="name.char">Dick</span> had placed the +soldier he had overpowered. The soldiers heard +it, and looked at each other wonderingly and inquiringly and then gazed keenly toward the +clump of bushes. <span class="name.char">Dick</span> had heard the groan +also, and his heart sank, for he thought that if +the soldiers found and released the other redcoat, a search might be instituted for him, and +result in his discovery and capture.</p> + +<p>“What does that mean, comrade?” remarked +one of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>“Somebody groaned,” was the reply. “Let's +take a look in that clump of bushes and see who +is there, and what ails him.”</p> + +<p>They leaped to their feet, and drawing pistols, +strode to the edge of the clump of bushes, and +stooping, pushed their way through between the +bushes. A few moments later <span class="name.char">Dick</span> heard an +exclamation from the lips of one of the soldiers, +and knew they had discovered the bound redcoat. The youth had thought of slipping down +out of the tree and trying to make his escape, +but did not do so, for he realized that the +chances were that he would be seen and +either shot or captured. So he decided to +remain where he was, and risk being discovered.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the three redcoats +emerged from amid the bushes, the two having +freed the redcoat from his bonds. They paused +underneath the tree <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was in, and the redcoat +explained about his encounter with and capture +by the person he had suspected of being a spy +and had intended to march into the camp, a +prisoner. To <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> amusement, the redcoat +described him as being a big, ferocious-looking +fellow, a six-footer, and very strong. Evidently +the soldier did not want his comrades to know +that he had been overpowered and mad a prisoner by a youth of eighteen years, and smaller +than himself.</p> + +<p>“I suppose the rascally spy isn't still in this +clump of timer, eh?” remarked one of the soldiers, with a glance around.</p> + +<p>“No, not likely,” was the reply of the one who +had been made a prisoner. “Probably he got +away from here as quickly as possible, after +making a prisoner of me.”</p> + +<p>“Luckily he was not here to listen to what we +were saying,” remarked one, and he looked significantly at the other who agreed.</p> + +<p>Then one suggested that they go into the encampment and make a report of the affair to the +general. The other two assented to this proposition, and they at once left the clump of trees +and made their way to the encampment.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> was eager, now, to get away from there.</p> + +<p>He felt that he had important if not really +definite information and wished to get it to +<span class="name.char">General Washington</span> as quickly as possible. He +knew that he might succeed in getting away +from the clump of timber without being discovered, but again there was a chance that he would +be seen and captured, and so he decided to wait +till nightfall, when he could slip away in safety, +and without being in any danger of being seen. +True, the redcoats might come and search the +clump of timber, for the spy the soldier had had +the encounter with, but the youth did not believe they would do so, as they would not think +him likely to linger thereabouts after having +had the struggle with the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldier there.</p> + +<p>So <span class="name.char">Dick</span> remained in the timber, and the result justified his judgment, for the soldiers did +not come out again to make a search. Evidently +it was thought that the spy had taken his +departure.</p> + +<p>When night came, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> slipped away and +started in the direction of the patriot encampment on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>. He reached there +in safety, a couple of hours later, and at once +went to headquarters and made his report, <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> being there, conferring with +<span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.</p> + +<p>When <span class="name.char">Dick</span> told them of the unwonted activities in the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> lines they were well pleased, +and said that if an attack were made they would +be able to hold their position on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, in +spite of the superior numbers of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Next day preparations were begun for the +reception of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, and all was done that +could be to make it possible to offer strong and +successful battle to the enemy. Then the patriots +waited, as patiently as possible for the coming +of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, who might now come at any time. +The days dragged slowly by, however, and it +was not until the morning of the <span title="1776-08-27">27th of +August</span> that the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> advanced to attack. +Seated in their quarters on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +<span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, and the other soldiers were discussing the matter and wishing that the redcoats would do something, when suddenly the +rattle of musketry was heard, coming from +down on the <span class="name.street">Narrows road</span>, near the bay, where +<span class="name.char">General Stirling's</span> division was stationed.</p> + +<p>“To arms!” at once shouted <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>. +“The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> are beginning the attack!”</p> + +<p>Instantly all was excitement. The soldiers +grabbed their muskets and took their places, +ready for battle, and down where <span class="name.char">Stirling's</span> +force was there sounded the rattle of musketry, +as volleys were exchanged. It was indeed exciting, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, their eyes shining, could scarcely contain themselves. They +wanted to be at the front, helping fight the +redcoats.</p> + +<p>“Say, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, ask <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> to let us go +down there,” pleaded <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>. “I want to +help fight the redcoats!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, do ask him, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” urged <span class="name.char">Tom</span>. “I +can't stand staying here, doing nothing, when +there is fighting going on. Get him to let us +go down there.”</p> + +<p>“All right, I'll try,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. “I would like +it myself. But, I'm afraid he won't be willing +to let us go.”</p> + +<p>“Ask him, anyway,” said <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p>“I will,” and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> hastened to <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> and made his wish known.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> listened, but shook his head. +“No, I can't permit you to go down there,” he +said. “You must stay here with your company. +If it should go, of course you would go too. +But I don't think it will leave the works.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> nodded, a disappointed look on his face.</p> + +<p>“Very well, sir,” he said, and turning, started +to rejoin his comrades.</p> + +<p>“It is possible that I may make use of you +boys as messengers during the battle, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” the +general said. He had noted the disappointed +look on the youth's face, and doubtless thought +the idea of being used as messengers would +please the boys.</p> + +<p>It evidently pleased <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, for he turned a +beaming face toward the general and said: +“Thank you, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>. If you have any +messages to send to the commanders of the +other forces, at the front, we will be glad to +take them.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. It is likely that I shall +want to send some messages. You boys hold +yourselves in readiness to take them.”</p> + +<p>“We will do so, sir.”</p> + +<p>Then <span class="name.char">Dick</span> hastened back to his comrades and +told them the result of the interview. They +were slightly disappointed because of not being permitted to go and join the troops already engaged in fighting the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, but were +pleased with the idea of being sent to the commanders with orders.</p> + +<p>“I hope <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> will have a lot of +messages to send,” said <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, his eyes +shining with excitement.</p> + +<p>“So do I,” said <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="chapter" id="dare.chapter.16"> + + + <h2 class="16" style="text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 1.25em;">Chapter XVI</h2> + <h2 style="text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 1.2em;">The Battle of <span class="name.place">Long Island</span></h2> + + + +<p class="firstpara" style="text-indent: 0em"><span class="firstword" style="text-transform: uppercase"><span class="firstletter" style="float: left; font-size: 1.75em;">D</span>own</span> on the <span class="name.street">Narrows Road</span>, <span class="name.char">General +Stirling's</span> force was holding its own +against the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>. The patriot soldiers were +steady and calm, and loaded and fired regularly +and with considerable effect, and had fortune +gone well with <span class="name.char">Sullivan's</span> division, the Continental soldiers would probably have won the battle. +But <span class="name.char">General Sullivan</span>, stationed on the hills +south of Bedford, was attacked fiercely in front +by a strong force of <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, and another force +under <span class="name.char">Generals Howe</span> and <span class="name.char">Cornwallis</span>, having +marched around to the north of this position, +by way of the <span class="name.street">Jamaica Road</span>, attacked <span class="name.char">Sullivan</span> +from the rear, and his force, thus caught between two fires, was driven back and forth +among the trees, with disastrous results.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>, watching the battle from +the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, through his glass, saw that Sullivan was in difficulties and in danger of capture, +and he decided to send a message to <span class="name.char">Stirling</span>, +warning him of this fact, and ordering him to +retreat toward the <span class="name.city">Heights</span> as quickly as possible–for as soon as <span class="name.char">Sullivan's</span> force was overpowered, the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> would sweep on across the +fields and fall upon the rear of <span class="name.char">Stirling's</span> force +and capture it. So, having written a brief note, +<span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> summoned <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span>.</p> + +<p>“Do you think you can find <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>?” +the general asked.</p> + +<p>“I think so, sir,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“He is over on <span class="name.street">Narrows Road</span>. You will +know him, because he will be mounted on a +large bay horse. Get to him as quickly as possible, and hand him this message,” and he gave +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> the slip of paper.</p> + +<p>“I will do so, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, +firmly.</p> + +<p>“Very good. Now hurry. Get there as +quickly as possible.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> hastened away, running swiftly, and as +he passed where <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> were stationed, +he called out: “I'm taking a message to <span class="name.char">General +Stirling</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you,” cried <span class="name.char">Ben</span>.</p> + + + +<p>“Go it,” from <span class="name.char">Tom</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> vaulted over the breastworks and then +ran down the slope at the top of his speed.</p> + +<p>“I'm a messenger from <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>,” +he called to the sentinel, as he approached the +soldier on duty partway down the slope, and +then on he dashed, without slackening speed in +the least.</p> + +<p>Soon he was in among the trees and out of +sight of the patriot soldiers on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>. He +knew the direction to go in order to reach <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, and he headed in that direction +and kept up his speed.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> heard the firing over to his left, and +knew this was where <span class="name.char">General Sullivan</span> was +having such a hot fight with the enemy. The +youth would pass within two or three hundred +yards of the left wing of the attacking <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, +and he kept a sharp lookout in that direction, +for he did not want to get shot by any of the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers.</p> + +<p>Presently he caught sight of the right wing +of <span class="name.char">Sullivan's</span> force, and saw the patriot soldiers +firing at the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> as rapidly as possible, and +then he saw the redcoats, who were attacking +the patriots from both the front and the rear.</p> + + + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> wished that he might be able to help the +patriot soldiers fight the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, but he had +business of his own to attend to, and so he kept +onward, running at the top of his speed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, however, when he was perhaps +halfway to the point where <span class="name.char">General Stirling's</span> +army was fighting so bravely, he was given a +surprise, and a most unpleasant one–for he +found himself confronted by a force of <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +soldiers, which was making a flank movement, +with the intention, doubtless, of falling upon +<span class="name.char">Sullivan's</span> right wing. Doubtless another force +was executing a similar movement on the opposite side, to attack <span class="name.char">Sullivan's</span> left wing, and +when this movement was finished, the soldiers +under <span class="name.char">Sullivan</span> would be surrounded.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> halted instantly, on catching sight of +the approaching soldiers. He had seen them +while still they were a couple of hundred yards +distant, they being easy to see owing to the +brilliant red of their coats, which stood out +plainly between the trees. He wondered if he +had been seen. If not, it might be possible to +escape capture by hiding–if a hiding-place +could be found. If he were to turn to the right +and run in that direction, with the purpose of +getting around the end of this advancing force, +he would be almost certain to be seen and either +shot down or captured. Evidently, therefore, +the proper thing for him to do was to hide if +he could find a place of concealment.</p> + +<p>But could he do this? He glanced around +him, eagerly and anxiously. He was determined to get through the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> ranks and +deliver the message to <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, if such +a thing were possible. It would never do to +fail in the very first work that he was given to +do in a battle with the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>. No, he must +reach <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>. <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> had +shown confidence in <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and the youth was +not going to give the general reason to think +his confidence had been misplaced.</p> + +<p>But, where could he hide? While pondering +this matter, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was standing behind a larger +tree, and on glancing around this tree, to see +how close the redcoats were, the youth noted an +interesting fact: The tree was hollow. There +was an opening at least two feet high by a +foot and a half wide, at the bottom, but halfway +around to the other side. In order to enter +this opening, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> would have to take the +chance of being seen by the approaching <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +soldiers.</p> + +<p>It seemed to be his only chance, however, for +he could not hope to run around the end of the +force and escape without being shot down, and +to remain where he was would be to be discovered the instant the soldiers came up to him.</p> + +<p>This being settled, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> did not hesitate, but +acted at once. He dropped to the ground, and +lying on his stomach, wriggled his way around +the tree-trunk, much after the fashion of a +huge snake. He glanced toward the approaching redcoats, and while he could see them +plainly, they being within seventy-five yards of +him, they had not as yet, he felt certain, discovered him. This gave him courage, and +quickly he reached the opening and crawled +through it and into the hollow within.</p> + +<p>Crouching back as far from the opening as +possible, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> waited anxiously for the coming +of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers. Had they seen him as +he crawled through the opening? Would he be +hauled out of the hollow tree and made a prisoner? <span class="name.char">Dick</span> could not say. All he could do was +to wait and see what would happen. If the redcoats had seen him, he would certainly be captured, but if they had not, then he stood a +chance of escaping discovery, and when they +passed, he could continue on his way and deliver the message to <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>. How +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> wished that this might be the case!</p> + +<p>THe moments that intervened before the redcoats reached the vicinity of the tree were anxious ones for <span class="name.char">Dick</span>. He sat there, crouching +back as far as possible from the opening, and +waited, and as he heard the footsteps and +voices of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> soldiers, his heart came up +into his throat.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a critical moment. It was a +situation to try the nerve of the bravest person.</p> + +<p>Louder sounded the footsteps, plainer the +voices of the redcoats. Closer and closer the +soldiers came, and then some of them appeared +opposite the opening. <span class="name.char">Dick's</span> heart was in his +mouth. He held his breath and wondered if +some of the redcoats would stop and haul him +out from his hiding-place. But no, nothing of +the kind occurred. It was now evident that he +had not been seen as he was entering the hollow +tree, and the redcoats merely walked past, without looking through the opening, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was +not discovered.</p> + + + +<p>Eagerly and thankfully he saw the soldiers +pass, and when they had all gone by, and had +gotten perhaps fifty yards beyond, he stuck his +head out through the opening and took a look +after his enemies. They were walking swiftly +onward, their faces to the front. Not one was +looking back, and deeming it was safe, <span class="name.char">Dick</span> crawled +out of his hiding-place, and heaving a sigh of +relief, he again set out in the direction of the +point where <span class="name.char">Stirling's</span> force was giving such +valiant battle to the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>.</p> + +<p>On <span class="name.char">Dick</span> ran, at top speed, and presently he +emerged upon the <span class="name.street">Narrows Road</span>, and caught +sight of the patriot force, and also of the British. The battle between these two divisions of +the armies was still going on, and <span class="name.char">Dick</span> quickly +caught sight of <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, who was seated +on his big bay charger, watching the progress +of the battle.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span> hastened up to the general, and saluting, said: “I have message for you, <span class="name.char">General +Stirling</span>, from <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.”</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Stirling</span> took the message and quickly read the few words written there.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” he exclaimed. “<span class="name.char">Sullivan</span> is in sore +straits, being attacked from both front and +rear, and I must retreat, or my force will be +treated to the same fate.”</p> + + + + + + + +<p>Then he turned to <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and said: “Tel <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> I will begin retreating toward the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span> at once.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, and then +he moved away, in the direction from which +he had come, while <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span> gave the +order for his force to beat a retreat. They +obeyed, though reluctantly, for they did not +know that <span class="name.char">Sullivan's</span> force was practically in +the hands of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span>, and so could not understand why the order to retreat was given. +They knew there was a strong force of redcoats over to their left hand, however, and +so they kept a sharp lookout in that direction as they fell back. They were attacked from that side, by a part of the force, and +<span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, while fighting valiantly, was +surrounded and made a prisoner.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">Dick</span>, from quite a distance, saw the capture +of <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, and he remained where he +was for a little while, until he saw that the +main force under <span class="name.char">Stirling</span> succeeded in getting +past the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> and were coming toward the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span>, which they would undoubtedly succeed +in reaching, and then he turned and hastened +on up to the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, and made his way to <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>.</p> + +<p>“I delivered the message to <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, +sir,” the youth said, “and he told me to say to +you that he would begin a retreat at once.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said <span class="name.char">Putnam</span>. “You did +well to deliver the message.”</p> + +<p>“I saw his force retreating, sir, from down +the slope a ways,” went on <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, “and I saw +some of the redcoats make a prisoner of <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>.”</p> + +<p>“So you say, my boy?” exclaimed <span class="name.char">Putnam</span>. +“That is bad. Well, it cannot be helped. But, +I think the major portion of his force will succeed in reaching the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think so, <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span>. The soldiers are coming steadily, and have got past +the main part of the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> force.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks for the information, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>,” said the +general, and then the youth rejoined his comrades at the breastworks. <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> had +many questions to ask, and he told them briefly +the story of his trip with the despatch.</p> + +<p>The soldiers of <span class="name.char">Stirling's</span> force reached and +entered the works on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span> by the time +<span class="name.char">Dick</span> had finished his story, and the battle of +<span class="name.place">Long Island</span> was practically ended, the firing +ceasing very soon afterwards.</p> + +<p>The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> army now advanced till in front +of <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, but it did not attempt to +storm the defenses. Doubtless <span class="name.char">General Howe</span> +remembered Bunker Hill, and felt that a repetition of that experience would be disastrous to +the king's cause.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> sent over two thousand +more soldiers, from New York, which made +the force ten thousand strong within the patriot works of <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, and he was +positive, as was <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> also, that the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span> could be held, that if the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> made +an attack it would be disastrous for them.</p> + +<p>The action of <span class="name.char">General Howe</span> showed that he +thought so too, for instead of getting ready to +attack, he stretched his force around the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span>, from the East River on the north to +the East River again, on the south, in a semicircle, and it was plain that his intention was +to establish a siege.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> realized at once that it +would not do to stay on <span class="name.place">Brooklyn Heights</span>, under such circumstances, for if the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> fleet +were to come up the East River and cut off the +patriot army's retreat in that direction, the only +result possible would be the surrender of the +Continental army on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>. As he had no +intention of surrendering, he decided to evacuate the position, and that night all the boats that +could be gathered together were secured and the +patriot army was removed across the river to +New York. Also all the arms, ammunitions, provisions of every kind, and the heavy artillery, +were ferried over. Nothing was left, and when +next morning the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> looked up at the works +on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, they were amazed to see no +signs of life there–for so silently and cautiously had the patriots worked during the night that +the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> had not gotten an inkling of the +movement. The redcoats pushed up the hill, +and climbed over the works, only to stare +around in dismay. Nothing was left of the +big army that had been there only the evening +before.</p> + +<p>This achievement of <span class="name.char">General Washington</span>, +this wonderful feat of withdrawing an entire +army of ten thousand men, with all the arms, +including heavy artillery, and the ammunitions +and provisions from right under the very nose +of the enemy, and without the enemy even suspecting what was going on, will always be considered one of the greatest triumphs of generalship the world has ever known. This feat, +when it became known in England, caused some +of the greatest soldiers, and generals, and over +in Europe as well, to shake their heads and declare that <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> was a commander who would cause the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> a great deal of +trouble. And after events proved that they +were right in their prophecies.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> must have told <span class="name.char">General +Washington</span> about <span class="name.char">Dick Dare</span> having carried a +message practically through the lines of the +<span class="name.nationality">British</span>, to <span class="name.char">General Stirling</span>, during the battle +of <span class="name.place">Long Island</span>, for the commander-in-chief, +happening to see <span class="name.char">Dick</span> the day after the army +took up quarters in New York, spoke to him +about the matter, and complimented him on +having successfully delivered the message, thus +probably saving <span class="name.char">Stirling's</span> force from capture.</p> + +<p>To say that <span class="name.char">Dick</span> was well pleased at receiving words of praise from the lips of the commander-in-chief is stating it mildly. And when +he told <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> what <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> +had said, they were well pleased also, and declared that the commander-in-chief should have +cause to be satisfied with all three of them many +times before the end of the war, and, as friends +will find, if they read the succeeding volume of +the Dare Boys Series, which will be entitled, +“The Dare Boys on The Hudson,” the brothers +kept their word, and performed many, many +wonderful deeds of daring while fighting for +Liberty.</p> + +<p>The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> commander-in-chief now put +in a week trying to get the patriot commander-in-chief to agree to peace, he stating that the +king would make certain concessions, but as in +accordance with the Declaration of Independence this was not to be thought of for a moment, the interviews came to naught, and so +the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> commander-in-chief began making +preparations to continue the war. His next +move, undoubtedly would be to capture New +York City, and <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> knew this +would be an easy matter, so he made preparations to retreat to <span class="name.city">Harlem Heights</span>, on the banks +of the Hudson at the north end of Manhattan +Island, where he would occupy a strategic position.</p> + + + +<p>On the fifteenth of September the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +made the move that was expected. Warships +from <span class="name.char">Admiral Howe's</span> fleet ascended the Hudson river as far as Bloomingdale, and the East +River as far as Blackwell's Island, and while +they bombarded the north end of the island, +<span class="name.char">General Howe</span> brought his army across from +Brooklyn in boats, and landed at Kipp's Bay, +near what is now the foot of 34th Street.</p> + +<p><span class="name.char">General Washington</span> came down from the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span> with two brigades of patriot soldiers, +with the purpose of holding the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> in +check long enough for <span class="name.char">General Putnam</span> to evacuate the lower part of the city with the four +thousand soldiers under him at that point. This +was accomplished, and when <span class="name.char">Putnam</span> and his +men were safe on the <span class="name.city">Heights</span>, the two brigades retired to the <span class="name.city">Heights</span> also. The <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +then took possession of New York City, and so the two armies lay, the Continental on the +<span class="name.city">Heights</span> and the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> in the city, confronting +each other, on Manhattan Island.</p> + +<p>It was an interesting situation, and especially +so to <span class="name.char">Dick</span> and <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben Foster</span>, who +were now just beginning to feel that they were +soldiers in the patriot army.</p> + + + +<p>One evening, a few days after the <span class="name.nationality">British</span> +took possession of New York and the patriots +took up their station on <span class="name.city">Harlem Heights</span>, the +commander-in-chief of the patriot army made +the soldiers a stirring speech, as they were assembled at the center of the encampment, saying that he expected each and every soldier +to do his full duty, and support the cause of +Liberty with his life if need be. The speech +made a great impression on <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span>, +and when they went to their quarters, they +were enthusiastic about it.</p> + +<p>“I'll tell you what, boys,” said <span class="name.char">Tom Dare</span>, +“it was wonderful, the way <span class="name.char">General Washington</span> talked, wasn't it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, <span class="name.char">Tom</span>,” agreed <span class="name.char">Dick</span>, “and we'll come up +to his expectations, too, or know the reason +why.”</p> + +<p>And in enthusiastic unison <span class="name.char">Tom</span> and <span class="name.char">Ben</span> exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes! That we will, <span class="name.char">Dick</span>!”</p> + +<p>And when the time came, they kept their +word.</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Dare Boys of 1776, by Stephen Angus Cox + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DARE BOYS OF 1776 *** + +This file should be named drbys10h.htm or drbys10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, drbys11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, drbys10ah.htm + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart hart@pobox.com + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> |