Then the three youths dashed away, into the edge of the timber at the rear of the house.

The redcoat was not injured, excepting that he had been jarred by falling, and he scrambled to his feet, caught sight of the youths running, and jerking out a pistol, he fired a shot after the fugitives, and yelled loudly:

“Quick, comrades! The prisoners have escaped!”

CHAPTER XVII—Arnold’s Encampment

The British soldiers came dashing through the kitchen and out by way of the rear door, and, directed by the excited redcoat that had permitted the prisoners to escape, through leaving his post, they dashed through the underbrush in pursuit of the three patriot soldiers.

On they ran, for quite a distance, but they did not catch sight of the fugitives, or hear any sound of them, so they presently, there being naught else to do, gave up the chase and made their way back to the house, where the young people, greatly excited, were eagerly awaiting their return.

When it was seen that the redcoats were returning empty-handed, there was great delight expressed by the young people, though in subdued tones, so that the redcoats could not hear what was said.

And Ralph Hicks, who had been responsible for the capture of the three patriot youths, was glad they had escaped, for he felt that if they had been recaptured, Sally would have kept her word, and never spoken to him again.

When all had entered the house, the sergeant began questioning the soldier that he had left to guard the prisoners, and the fellow said that the prisoners had somehow gotten their hands free, and had suddenly jumped up, knocked him down and had dashed out of the house. He had quickly gotten to his feet and followed them, had then fired the shot and yelled that the prisoners were escaping.

The sergeant looked puzzled, but did not say much. “I thought that you men could tie a prisoner’s hands so that he could not get free,” he growled. “That was a poor job you did, Simons.”

“I thought I tied their hands tight, sir,” was the reply.

“Oh, well, the rebels have made their escape, so there is no use worrying about it,” said the sergeant. “Let’s have another dance, and then we’ll return to camp and say nothing about it.”

They went back into the front room, the musician started a tune, and they were soon dancing with great enthusiasm. And after the dance was over, they and the young people went into the kitchen and ate heartily of the food that had been prepared.

All that the young folks regretted was that Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, whom they had taken a liking to, were not there to help enjoy the supper, as they had expected would be the case.

As for the three in question, they had ran onward till they found that the redcoats had given up the chase, when they had turned around and made their way back to the house. And when the young people were eating, and at the same time wishing the patriot youths were there, the three were near enough so that while they could not look in through the window, they knew what was going on. Dick, Tom and Ben would liked to have been in there, engaged in the same pleasing work, but fortunately they had eaten heartily that evening, after reaching the Hart home, and were not really hungry. So they simply watched and waited.

When the soldiers and the young folks had finished the repast, the redcoats took their departure, and soon after they had left the house, by way of the front door, Dick Dare opened the rear door, and called to Sally Hart, who came quickly, a delighted look on her face.

“I wanted to thank you for freeing us,” said Dick. “It was very kind of you, and we appreciate it, I assure you.”

“Oh, I was glad to set you free,” said Sally. “I am a patriot girl, you know, and I didn’t want the redcoats to take you to their camp, prisoners.” And then she motioned toward the table, and said: “Come on in, and have something to eat. There is plenty of food left.”

“Thanks, we will do so, Miss Sally,” said Dick. “But, I will go and make sure that the redcoats have taken their departure. Tom, you and Ben can go on in. I’ll be back in a few moments.”

Tom and Ben entered the house, and Dick made his way around to the front, and after listening a few moments, heard the voices of the British soldiers, as they made their way through the woods, toward their encampment.

He followed a couple of hundred yards, and then, feeling sure that the redcoats would not return, he went back to the house and entered the kitchen, where Tom and Ben were already seated at the table, eating.

Dick took a place beside them, and Sally waited on the three, while the young folks stood around, asking questions about the manner in which the young patriot soldiers had escaped from their pursuers.

When the three had finished their supper, the young folks said they would be going home, and they shook hands with Dick, Tom and Ben and said good-night and went to their homes.

Mr. Hart invited the three patriot youths to spend the night there, and they accepted the invitation, though Dick said they would want to leave early in the morning, so as to get to the encampment of the party of British soldiers before they broke camp and started away, as it was his intention to follow them to the main encampment of the British.

“I’ll get you up as early as you like,” said Mr. Hart.

The youths were given blankets, and lay on the floor in the big front room, and slept soundly. They were up early, and found that Mrs. Hart and Sally had been up some time, and that they had breakfast on the table.

Dick told them that they need not have gone to this trouble, but they said it was a pleasure to them. The three youths ate heartily, and then said good-by. They took their departure, promising that they would call at the Hart home, if ever they were in the vicinity again.

They made their way to the vicinity of the British encampment, and found the redcoats just astir and that they were getting their breakfast.

“We are in plenty of time,” said Dick. “We will stay here, where we can keep a good watch on them, and when they break camp and leave, we will follow them.”

This they did, and about an hour later the redcoats broke camp and set out through the open country, going toward the east. The patriot youths followed, skirting the woods, and kept the redcoats in view, being careful, however, to keep out of sight themselves.

On marched the redcoats, and always on the trail the youths. They were feeling pretty well satisfied, for they believed they would soon discover the whereabouts of Arnold’s encampment.

About the middle of the forenoon, the three reached the top of a high ridge, and on looking ahead, down the slope, they saw, about half a mile distant, in an open piece of ground of perhaps fifty or seventy-five acres, a good-sized encampment, which they did not doubt was the objective point of their search. The redcoats they had been following had just reached the camp, and had settled down as if intending to stay.

“That’s Arnold’s encampment, without doubt,” said Dick. “Well, now we must get the information to Colonel Morris as soon as possible.”

CHAPTER XVIII—A Daring Attempt

The youths settled down and took it easy, while watching the encampment. They decided to wait till afternoon, before starting back to the patriot encampment, with the hope that Arnold might make a move, on learning from the soldiers that had just arrived that a patriot force had come down into that region from the North.

The result justified their judgment, for soon after noon the British soldiers began breaking camp, as if getting ready to march a considerable distance.

“Are they going to go toward our encampment, with the purpose of making an attack, or will they go in the other direction, I wonder?” questioned Tom.

“We will wait here and see,” determined Dick.

“Somehow, I think they intend going in the other direction,” asserted Ben.

Dick, however, shook his head. “I hardly think so,” he said.

When the British force, which consisted of perhaps fifteen hundred men, got ready, it marched out of the encampment and came slowly up the slope toward where the three youths were concealed.

“They are going to march into the vicinity of our encampment,” said Dick. “Well, that is all right. Colonel Morris won’t have so far to go to get at them.”

“True,” said Ben.

“Come, boys,” said Dick, a few moments later. “We must not let them see us.”

The three set out down the slope toward the west, and during the afternoon they kept about a mile ahead of the redcoats, who advanced directly toward the point where the patriot army was encamped.

It was slow work for the British force to march along poorly conditioned roads, and they only got to the vicinity of the little settlement, where the dance had taken place the night before, at the hour it was time to go into camp.

Here they stopped and went into camp for the night, and Dick, Tom and Ben, being certain that the redcoats would be there till morning, made their way to the home of the Harts, where they were given a cordial welcome.

“You are back quickly,” said Mr. Hart.

“Yes,” replied Dick. “We are on our way back to the patriot encampment, and are keeping a little distance in front of the British force, which is marching toward the point where the patriots are encamped.”

“Ah, so they are moving in that direction, are they?” exclaimed Mr. Hart.

“Yes, sir. They are encamped about a mile from here. They will be there till morning, and we thought we would come over here and see you folks.”

“We are glad you did. Supper will be ready in a few minutes, and you will take supper and stay all night with us, the same as you did last night.”

“If it won’t inconvenience you too much,” said Dick.

“We shall be glad to have you here,” was the hearty reply, and Mrs. Hart and Sally said the same.

When supper was ready, the six sat up to the table and ate heartily, laughing and talking, and had just finished when there came the sound of knocking at the front door.

“Some of the redcoats have come here!” exclaimed Dick, in a low voice. “We will slip out at the back door, while you go to the front door to see them, Mr. Hart.”

“Very well, but stay and come in as soon as they are gone.”

“We will do so.”

The three youths passed out through the rear exit, and Mr. Hart made his way to the front door, which, when he opened it, revealed to his view a couple of British officers.

“Good evening, sirs,” said Mr. Hart, politely. “Will you come in?”

“Thank you, yes,” replied one. And they entered, after which the officer who had spoken said: “I am General Arnold, of the king’s troops, sir, and this gentleman is Colonel Riggs, of my staff.”

“My name is Hart,” was the reply. “I am glad to make your acquaintance.”

Then the two seated themselves, and Mr. Hart did the same, after which General Arnold asked:

“I wish to inquire if there are many loyalists in this vicinity, Mr. Hart?”

“I think there are quite a good many, sir,” was the reply.

“Do you think I could recruit my army here, to do much good?”

“You might secure a few members,” was the reply.

“About how many, would you say?”

“Oh, perhaps fifteen or twenty, within a radius of five or six miles.”

“That would not be very much of a reinforcement,” said Arnold. “The country around here is not very thickly settled, then.”

“Not very.”

“There is quite a good-sized settlement about twelve or fifteen miles to the westward, is there not?” Arnold asked, after a few moments.

“Yes, sir.”

“How big a settlement is it?”

“There are forty or fifty houses, sir.”

“And there is another settlement near that one, made up mostly of rebels, is there not?”

“Yes, sir, so I have understood. It is not so large, however, having only twelve or fifteen families.”

“Humph. Well, thank you, Mr. Hart. My army is encamped near here, and I thought we would walk over and have a talk with you, some of my soldiers having stated that they were here last night, at a dance.”

“Yes, the young folks of the settlement had a little party here last night.”

“My men informed me that Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, three rebel spies, were here, and that they had them prisoners, but that they managed to escape,” said Arnold.

“Yes, General Arnold. We did not know anything about them, of course, but as they appeared to be very nice young men, we gave them their supper, and they took part in the festivities.”

“Oh, I am not blaming you, Mr. Hart. I was just wishing that the rebels had not escaped. I would have liked to have made them prisoners.”

They talked a while longer, and then Arnold and his companion rose, said good-night and took their departure.

“That man is a rebel, Colonel Riggs,” said Arnold, when they were a little distance from the house.

“I rather think so, myself,” was the reply.

“Yes. He pretended that he was in sympathy with the king, but I am pretty sure that he is at heart a rebel.”

“He did not seem to be very enthusiastic when you were asking about securing recruits in this region,” said the colonel.

“No. I think he wished to discourage the idea.”

“It looked that way to me.”

Suddenly, when the two were about a quarter of a mile from the settlement, three forms leaped out behind them, from behind trees, and threw themselves upon the British officers. They were Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, and they were attempting a most daring enterprise--the capture of General Arnold and Colonel Riggs.

Tom and Ben had seized the colonel, while Dick had leaped upon Arnold, and instantly a fierce struggle was taking place there in the underbrush.

CHAPTER XIX—The Armies Close Together

The three patriot youths would have succeeded in effecting the capture of Arnold and the colonel, had it not been that four or five British soldiers happened to be coming along the path. They were not far distant, and were on their way to the Hart home to get some cider. Hearing the cries for assistance made by the British officers they ran in the direction from which the sound came.

The patriot youths heard the redcoats coming, and recognized that it would be impossible to make prisoners of the two officers, now that reinforcements were at hand, so Dick and his comrades let go of the two and ran away through the woods at the top of their speed.

The officers called loudly, but did not themselves go in pursuit. As soon however as the soldiers reached them, they indicated the direction taken by their assailants and the soldiers took up the chase.

“I would wager anything that those scoundrels that attacked us were the Dare Boys and Ben Foster,” said Arnold, breathing hard. “They are just about daring enough to attempt such work as that.”

“Likely you are right,” agreed the colonel, who also was panting for breath.

“I hope that the men will capture them.”

“Yes, but I have my doubts.”

“So do I. The young rascals are fleet of foot and likely know the ground better than our men.”

“Yes, and in the darkness and amid the trees it will be an easy matter for them to escape.”

“I suppose so. Well, let us go on to the encampment.”

They set out and were soon at the camp, where they sat down for a refreshing smoke, to await the return of the soldiers who had gone in pursuit of the three patriots.

An hour and a half passed, and then two of the soldiers arrived at camp, and reported that they had been unable to catch the rebels.

“I hardly expected you would,” said Arnold, and then he dismissed them.

The other soldiers failing in their efforts to locate the boys had made their way to the Hart home, and were given several bottles of cider, which they drank, and then returned to camp.

They had scarcely gotten a hundred yards away from the house before Dick arid Tom Dare and Ben Foster entered at the rear door.

The three were given a cordial greeting, and when they told how they had tried to capture Arnold and his companion, Mr. Hart laughed heartily.

“That was a daring attempt to make,” he said.

“But we would have succeeded, if the soldiers had not come to the assistance of Arnold and the colonel,” said Dick.

They talked there an hour or so, and then the members of the Hart family went to their rooms, while Dick, Tom and Ben slept on blankets spread on the floor, as they had done the night before.

Next morning they ate an early breakfast, after which they said good-by, and took their departure, going over to a point from which they could see the British encampment.

The soldiers were just beginning to cook breakast, and the youths waited patiently till the redcoats had eaten. Then when they broke camp and started the day’s march, the youths advanced also, keeping well ahead of the British.

An hour or so before noon the British had reached a point about three miles from the patriot settlement where the patriot army had its quarters, but instead of going in that direction, the redcoats bore away to the left and headed toward the Tory settlement three miles farther to the southward.

“They are going to the Tory settlement,” said Dick. “Likely they will encamp there, and then will figure on engaging our army in battle.”

“I guess that’s about what they are going to do,” said Tom.

“Well, as we are within about three miles of the patriot encampment, one of us had better go there with the news of the presence in this vicinity of the British army. Which of you will go?”

“I’ll go,” said Ben.

“Very well. Tell Colonel Morris that the British are evidently going to go into camp at the Tory settlement, and that as soon as we see that they have done so, we will bring him word.”

“All right.” And then Ben hastened away in the direction of the patriot encampment.

Dick and Tom made their way onward, following now instead of preceding the British, and remaining on their trail till they arrived at the settlement, where, as the youths had expected, the British stopped and went into camp.

“That means that they are going to stay there a while,” said Dick. “So you go to the patriot encampment and tell Colonel Morris the news, Tom.”

“All right. You will stay here?”

“Yes, till nightfall, and perhaps I may be able to secure some definite information regarding their intentions.”

Tom then took his departure, and made his way toward the patriot settlement. He walked rapidly, and in less than an hour had arrived at his destination.

On entering the encampment, he asked where Colonel Morris had his quarters, and was directed to the Williams home, where he found the colonel, and also Captain Morgan, who greeted him pleasantly.

“You bring news of the British, my boy?” said the colonel.

“Yes, sir. They have reached the Tory settlement about three miles from here and have gone into camp.”

“Then they are here for a campaign against us,” said Captain Morgan.

“It would seem so,” agreed the colonel. “Where is Dick Dare?” he asked, after a few moments.

“He stayed there, with the intention of waiting till after dark and trying to learn their plans.”

“That is a good idea. How strong is their force, do you think?”

“About fifteen hundred, sir, I should judge.”

“That is what Ben Foster said. Well, we have a thousand men, and will be able to give Arnold a good fight.”

“Yes, I think we can hold our own against his force,” said Captain Morgan.

After answering a few more questions, Tom made his way to the point where his company was quartered, and found Ben there. Herbert Miller, the school-teacher, was there also, and he informed Tom that he had joined the patriot army.

“Good for you. I’m glad of that,” said Tom.

CHAPTER XX—Dick And Hank Sprowl

Dick remained near the Tory settlement till nightfall, and then began to figure on entering and trying to learn something about the intentions of the enemy. The British force was encamped just at the edge of the settlement, and the youth believed he could visit one of the houses and perhaps learn something from the settler, without being seen by any of the redcoats.

So he made his way into the settlement, at the opposite side from the British encampment, and approaching one of the houses, knocked on the door.

The door opened, and a tall, rough-looking settler appeared. He was no other, in fact, than Hank Sprowl, Herbert Miller’s worst enemy, but Dick, of course, did not know him.

“How are ye, stranger?” Sprowl said, gruffly. “What kin I do fur ye?”

“I am a stranger in these parts,” replied Dick, “and I thought that perhaps I could get something to eat here. I will pay for the food.”

“Thet’s all right. Yas, I guess we kin let ye have somethin’ to eat. Come in.”

Dick entered, and Sprowl motioned to a chair after closing the door, and as the youth sat down, he asked: “What is your name, stranger?”

“Dick Ford,” was the reply, Dick deciding that he had better give a fictitious name, he being so close to the British.

“Where do ye live, an’ where ye goin’?”

“I live about a hundred miles north from here,” was the reply. “And I’m going about fifty miles beyond the James River.”

“Got folks down there, hey?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Here’s a stranger to supper, Molly,” called Sprowl. “Cook enuff extra fur him.”

“All right, Hank,” was the response from the kitchen.

“I saw what looked like a big encampment at the edge of the settlement,” said Dick. “What is going on? Are those men soldiers?”

“Yes, they’re British soldiers. That is General Arnold’s army,” was the reply.

“Ah. I suppose they intend to fight the rebel army that I saw yesterday, fifteen or twenty miles from here, do they?”

“So ye seen ther rebels, did ye? Yes, thet’s what Arnold intends to do. The rebel army is now at a rebel settlement about three miles from here, an’ Arnold will git arter ’em pretty quick.”

“When, to-morrow, do you think?” queried Dick.

Sprowl looked at the youth somewhat suspiciously. “W’y do ye wanter know?” he asked.

“Why, I thought that if there was likely to be a fight in this vicinity to-morrow, I would wait here and see it,” was the prompt reply. “I would like to see a battle.”

“Oh,” said Hank. “So thet’s your idee, hey? Wai, I don’ know as he’ll make an attack to-morrer, but he will git arter ther rebels before very long, thet’s sartin.”

“I’ve a good mind to stop here till the battle does take place,” said Dick.

“Wai, I guess ye kin stay here ef ye want to,” said Sprowl. “Ther battle may take place to-morrer.”

An idea struck Dick, and he said: “As I said, I’m a stranger here, and wouldn’t like to bother the British officers by asking questions, but you could find out whether they intend to make an attack to-morrow, or not, couldn’t you, and if they do intend to do so, I will stay.”

“Ye’ll stay all night, anyhow, won’t ye?”

“Yes, but I want to get up very early, and so if you will go and find out about that to-night, I will be much obliged. If they don’t intend to make the attack to-morrow, or by the next day, I will go on my way.”

“All right, I’ll go over to ther encampment arter supper an’ have a leetle talk with General Arnold, an’ see if I can find out about ther battle.”

“Very well, and thank you,” said Dick. “I have always wanted to see a battle.”

“Me, too,” said Sprowl. “I never seen one, an’ this will likely be a big one, fur Arnold has fifteen hundred men an’ I hear thet ther rebels hev more than a thousand.”

“That ought to make a lively fight,” said Dick.

“Yas, thet’s what I think.”

Presently the evening repast was ready, and the three sat up to the table in the kitchen and ate supper. Dick was hungry, as a result of the walking he had done that day, and he ate heartily.

After the meal, Sprowl smoked a pipeful of tobacco, and then rose and stretched as he said: “I’ll go over to ther British encampment, now, an’ have a talk with General Arnold an’ fin’ out about ther battle, Dick Ford. I won’t be gone very long.”

“All right, Mr. Sprowl, and thank you for your kindness. I appreciate it, I assure you.”

“Thet’s all right. I kinder wanter know about ther battle, myself.”

Then he left the house, and Dick, sitting there in the front room, congratulated himself on his good luck. He would now be able to secure information right from headquarters, and without having to venture near the British.

Sprowl was soon at the house where Arnold and his officers had taken up their quarters, and when he had been ushered into the room where the officers sat, talking, he explained his errand. He had already been spoken of by the settlers in the settlement as being one of the leading Tories, so Arnold was willing to discuss with him subjects of interest.

Sprowl, in the conversation, mentioned the fact that there was a young stranger at his house who had asked him to find out when the battle would likely take place, as if it would take place on the morrow, or next day, he would remain and see the affair, and Arnold started, looked thoughtfully at Sprowl for a few moments, and then said:

“You say there is a young stranger at your house now, and that he expressed a wish to know when the battle would likely take place?”

“Yas, General Arnold,” was the reply.

“What is his name?” There was an eager light in Arnold’s eyes.

Sprowl looked somewhat surprised, but answered “He said his name was Dick Ford.”

Arnold started again, and smiled somewhat grimly. “Dick Ford, eh? What kind of looking young fellow is he? Describe him.”

Sprowl did so as best he could, and Arnold nodded, and said: “I’ll wager anything that the young fellow in question is the rebel spy, Dick Dare.”

“Do you think so?” said one of the officers.

“I’m almost sure of it. And I’m going to know for sure. Colonel Riggs, get about a dozen men and we will go to Mr. Sprawl’s home with him, surround the house, so that the young fellow cannot escape, and then we will enter and confront him. And if he is Dick Dare, as I feel confident is the case, I shall be very glad. I owe him a debt for trying to capture me up in New York City two or three months ago, and we both owe him something for trying to make prisoners of us last evening. Come, let us hasten, for he may take the alarm and take refuge in flight.”

They went out, and Colonel Riggs ordered a squad of the soldiers to go with them to Sprowl’s house, which they surrounded, and then Arnold and Riggs followed Sprowl into the house, where, sure enough, they saw Dick Dare sitting in the room, quietly awaiting the return of Sprowl.

Arnold and the colonel confronted the youth, and the general said, sarcastically: “So you wanted Mr. Sprowl to secure some information regarding my intentions, did you, Dick Dare? Very good. I have come to give you the information in person.”

CHAPTER XXI—Tom Reconnoiters

Herbert Miller left the patriot encampment about the middle of the afternoon, and went to the Santon home, where he was given a cordial greeting by Mr. and Mrs. Santon and Lizzie.

“You are not teaching school, now, Mr. Miller?” said Mr. Santon, with a smile.

“No,” was the reply, “I guess that I won’t teach any more for a while. I have joined the patriot army.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

“You will be safe from the hands of the Tories of the settlement, anyway,” said Lizzie.

“Yes,” said Miller, “but I don’t believe you folks had better stay here. There will be a battle between the British and our army, possibly to-morrow, and it may take place right in this vicinity. So I have come to have you folks return with me to the patriot settlement, where you will be safe.”

“Do you really think we would be in danger here?” asked Mrs. Santon.

“Yes I do,” replied the young man. “When the battle begins, bullets will fly pretty thick, and as our army has two or three field-pieces, there may be a few cannon-balls flying through the air, and if the battle was to take place near here, the house might be riddled. You folks would doubtless be injured and would stand a chance, I fear, even to lose your lives.”

“Then let us go to the settlement with Mr. Miller,” said Mrs. Santon, who was of a somewhat nervous disposition.

“Very well,” said Mr. Santon. And then they gathered together such of the household effects as they might require, and set out for the settlement.

The Santons had friends in the settlement, and were taken into the home of one of the residents. Herbert Miller was much better satisfied than he would have been had they remained in their home.

That evening and night passed quietly, but Dick Dare did not put in an appearance.

“I fear he has been captured,” said Colonel Morris addressing the captain of Dick’s company. The latter nodded, and said that it seemed probable that this was the case.

They were still talking about this matter, when the orderly announced Tom Dare, and a few moments later Tom was in the room.

“Well, my boy, what is it?” asked the colonel.

“I have come to ask what you think about Dick not having returned,” said Tom.

“We were just discussing the matter,” was the reply. “What do you think about it?”

“It looks as if Dick has been made a prisoner, sir,” was the reply.

“That is what we thought.”

“Yes, and I have come to ask if I may go and reconnoiter the British encampment. Perhaps I may be able to learn something.”

“Yes, you may go. But be discreet, and don’t yourself fall into their clutches.”

“I will be careful, sir.”

Then Tom saluted and withdrew, and was soon making his way through the forest in the direction of the Tory settlement and British encampment.

He passed the Santon home, and later on the schoolhouse where Herbert Miller had taught, and presently he came in sight of the settlement.

He paused and took a careful survey of the surroundings, and then, after a few moments he made his way around and approached the British encampment.

He moved forward till as close as he thought he dared venture, then he paused behind a big tree and began a careful study of the camp.

He could see the redcoats lolling about in the tents, but he did not see any signs of Dick, nor did he see any soldiers acting as if guarding any one of the tents, in which a prisoner might be placed. Tom was puzzled.

“I fear Dick is surely in there, a prisoner,” he murmured. “Well, if he is, I can’t rescue him. Now, what shall I do?”

He decided to stay around in the vicinity and keep watch on the encampment. The redcoats might make some kind of a move, and he could then carry the information to Colonel Morris.

It was slow work for Tom, who was of a lively, active disposition, but by leaving his post occasionally and taking a walk through the timber a distance of a mile or so, and then returning, he managed to stick to the work.

When noon came, he grew hungry, but had not thought to bring food with him, so he had to go without any. He stood it till about the middle of the afternoon, and then as everything was quiet in the camp, he decided to return to the patriot encampment and get something to eat, make his report to Colonel Morris, and then once more to resume his self-imposed task. He must determine what had become of his brother.

This he did, and when he had reported and had feasted to his heart’s content, he fixed up a package of provisions and again set out. He told Miller and Ben Foster that he might remain away till morning. Ben wanted to accompany him, but Tom said he could reconnoiter better alone, and so Ben remained at the camp.

Tom was back in the vicinity of the British encampment in about an hour’s time, and approaching cautiously, took up his position behind a tree and watched the redcoats.

Everything seemed quiet, and he decided that they did not intend making any move that day. After supper that evening, however, he noted that the soldiers began to move about energetically, that they were examining their muskets, and seemed to be getting ready for an enterprise of some kind.

“I believe that under cover of the night they are going to make an attack on the patriot army,” was his thought. “If so, I must get there ahead of them and warn Colonel Morris.”

Presently there could be no doubt that the British were going to make a move, and Tom waited eagerly till they left the camp and marched cautiously in the direction of the patriot encampment. Then he set out on the run in the same direction. He made a detour, however, to get around the British and he ran so swiftly that in about half an hour he was at camp headquarters, and promptly made his report.

“So the British are coming to attack us!” exclaimed the colonel. “Well, all right. We’ll be ready for them.” Then he gave instructions to the various officers, and soon the patriot soldiers were arranged in the best possible positions to repel the attack of the enemy.

Ten or fifteen minutes later the redcoats appeared, and came charging through the settlement, firing their muskets as they came.

Thanks to the warning they had received of the coming of the British, however, the patriots were not taken by surprise, and the former’s fire was returned.

And then the crash of the musketry and the occasional roar of the cannon made a terrible din on the night air.

The battle between the British and the patriots was on.

CHAPTER XXII—The Battle

It was a lively battle, indeed, for the British, being considerably stronger than the patriots, evidently thought they could defeat them, but the defenders were in a strategically good position. They sent back volley for volley, and had the advantage of the field-pieces, and so after a battle of about an hour and a half the redcoats retreated, carrying their dead and wounded with them.

The patriot loss was twelve killed and sixteen wounded, and they were pretty sure that the British had suffered a greater loss than this.

When the battle was over, it was found by the soldiers in Captain Morgan’s company that Tom Dare was missing. At first it was feared that he had been killed, but his body was not found, and when the captain made inquiries of the youth’s comrades, they said that they did not remember having seen him during the battle.

Ben Foster had not thought anything about this at the time, but now he remembered that Tom had not been by his side, and he could not think what had become of him.

Nor had Tim Murphy or Fritz Schmockenburg seen Tom, and they, like Ben, were uneasy regarding him.

There was only one possible solution, that Ben could think of, and that was, that Tom had slipped away and gone to the British encampment, in the hope that he might be able to rescue Dick, while the British were away.

The more Ben thought of this, the more certain he became that this was where Tom had gone, and he asked Captain Morgan to permit him to go to the British encampment and reconnoiter. He thought that if Tom had gone there, he might need assistance.

The captain consented that Ben should go, but urged due caution.

“I will exercise care, sir,” was the reply.

Then Ben took his departure, and made his way in the direction of the enemy’s camp. When he reached the vicinity of the old schoolhouse, where Herbert Miller had taught, he was surprised and attacked suddenly by about a dozen redcoats, who rushed out of the schoolhouse, and was made a prisoner.

He was ordered to enter the schoolhouse, where he found a number of British soldiers lying on blankets, many so severely wounded that it had been thought best to leave them there, fearing they could not be safely taken a further distance. The other soldiers, who had seized Ben, had been left there to take care of the wounded.

Ben was placed on a bench, his hands tied together behind his back, and one of the redcoats asked him who he was and where he was going.

“I live in this vicinity,” said Ben. “I was on my way to the settlement.”

The redcoat laughed sneeringly. “That will do to tell,” he said. “But I don’t believe you. You are a rebel and were on your way to spy on the British army.”

“You are wrong,” said Ben.

“I don’t think so. I guess I shall have to take you to General Arnold.”

Ben made no reply, and the redcoat, who wore a lieutenant’s uniform, summoned a couple of soldiers, ordering them to take the prisoner to the British encampment, and to General Arnold.

“And don’t let him escape on the way there,” was the caution. “I am inclined to think he is a rebel spy.”

“He won’t get away,” was the reply, and the two redcoats set out, with Ben walking between them.

At first they held to his arms, but when they had gone a little distance, they changed their positions, one walking in front and one behind Ben, and without holding to him.

Doubtless they thought that the prisoner would not think of trying to escape, with his hands bound. But Ben at once made up his mind to try to get away. He was an exceedingly swift runner, and he believed that even with his hands bound, he could outrun any redcoat, the majority of whom, in the lower ranks, were clumsy fellows. So watching till they came to a point where the ground sloped away, making it easy for speeding, Ben suddenly leaped backward against the soldier behind him, upsetting the fellow, who had not been expecting anything of this kind. Then Ben dashed away, down the slope at the top of his speed.

“After him!” yelled the redcoat who had been upset, as he scrambled hastily to his feet and drew a pistol. “Don’t let him escape.”

The other had heard his comrade give utterance to an exclamation as he went down, and had whirled just after Ben dashed away. Now he set out in pursuit, with the other redcoat eight or ten yards behind.

Down the slope Ben ran with great swiftness, when the fact is taken into consideration that his wrists were tied together behind his back, and he held his own against his pursuers. They were not able to gain on him.

On he ran, and when he had gone perhaps half a mile, he suddenly came to the edge of the high bank of a creek that probably emptied into the James River. It was at least thirty feet down to the water, and being unable to stop, Ben went over the edge of the bank. Down he shot, a distance of perhaps ten or twelve feet, where he struck on an outjutting ledge about four feet wide, and fell. Fortunately he rolled toward the face of the creek-bank, the ledge sloping downward, and kept on rolling till he was several feet inside a cave. And just then down came a great mass of earth and bushes, covering the ledge and choking up the entrance to the cave, shutting out the light and making it almost as dark as night within. Some heavy stones, with a great splash, fell into the water of the creek.

The redcoats had stopped before reaching the edge of the bank, and approaching cautiously to the point where the bank had caved off, looked down. They saw the great mass of earth extending from the ledge on down to the creek, and seeing nothing of Ben, one suggested that he had been buried under the miniature landslide, and was now smothered to death. But this idea was scouted as unlikely, rather it was thought that the runaway had fallen into the water and was drowned. They discussed the matter a few moments, the sound of their voices coming to Ben’s hearing in faint murmurs, and then they turned and made their way back toward the schoolhouse, with the intention, doubtless, of reporting to the lieutenant.

Ben had kept quiet while the redcoats were talking about the affair, his thought being that he did not want to be recaptured, but when they had gone, he realized that he was imprisoned in a cave, with his hands bound, was practically helpless, and would likely have to remain there a prisoner and die of starvation and thirst. He shuddered, and a cold perspiration broke out over his body.

He wished, now, that he had called out to the redcoats. He would have been again made a prisoner, true, but he would have had the hope of getting away later on, while as the matter stood now, he did not see that he had any chance whatever to escape with his life.

Imprisoned in a cave, the entrance to which was covered several inches thick with earth, and with his arms bound, how could he hope to make his escape? A feeling of despair took hold of him.