CHAPTER XVI
The Search for Dick
Ben Foster kept struggling on through the woods and darkness for quite a while, and then, not hearing any sounds of pursuit, he paused and listened intently for a few moments, after which he gave a low, but penetrating whistle, the same signal that the three youths often used. If Dick were within two or three hundred yards, he would hear and reply to the signal.
There came no reply, however, and after waiting a few minutes, Ben whistled again, with the same result.
Then he set out through the forest, but did not go far, before stopping again.
“I’m not going any farther till I know where Dick is,” he murmured, “He may have gotten into trouble, may have fallen and knocked his head against a tree and fallen into the hands of the redskins again. I’ll stay here till morning, and then see if I can find him.”
Ben found a place at the foot of a big tree, and lying down, was soon asleep. He slept till morning, and then sat up and looked around him.
All was quiet, and there were neither redskins nor redcoats in sight.
Ben drew a sigh of relief. He had feared that he might see enemies in the vicinity.
But, what should he do? In which direction should he go? He did not know where to look for Dick, and so he decided to start back in the direction from which he had come in escaping from the Indian village. It would be somewhat dangerous to venture back to the vicinity of the village, but Ben was determined to find Dick, if possible. He feared his comrade had been recaptured by the redskins, and if this were the case, it should be his business to rescue him.
Ben had taken only a few steps, however, when he caught sight of a party of patriots coming toward him, as he could tell by their blue uniforms.
“There comes one of the parties sent out by General Greene!” thought Ben, with a feeling of delight. “Now I can guide them to the Indian village, and they can put the redskins to rout and rescue Dick, if he is there.”
He hastened to meet the soldiers, and when he met them, he found that one was his own company, under the command of Captain Morgan. The captain was naturally somewhat surprised to see Ben, but was glad, and asked if he could give him any news regarding the whereabouts of Indians.
“Indeed I can,” was the reply. “Dick and myself were captured by a party of redskins, and they were about to burn us at the stake, but somebody slipped up and cut the ropes binding us to the trees, and we managed to get away. But we got separated in the darkness, and I don’t know where Dick is.”
“When was that?”
“Last night.”
“How far is the Indian village from here?” the captain asked.
“About ten or twelve miles, I should judge, sir.”
“You can guide us thither?”
“I am sure that I can, sir.”
“Very good, lead the way, and we will get to the village as quickly as circumstances will permit. If Dick Dare was recaptured and taken back to the village, he may be in danger, and we will endeavor to rescue him.”
“True, sir.”
They set out at once, with Ben in the lead, as guide. Captain Morgan was right behind Ben, and then after them came the soldiers, Tim Murphy and Fritz Schmockenburg being close to the captain and Ben. These two liked Dick immensely, and were worried for fear something serious had happened to him.
After a walk of about three and a half or four hours, Ben called a halt and said that the Indian village was within half a mile of the spot where they were standing.
“We had better advance slowly and cautiously,” he advised, and the captain so ordered.
Presently they came in sight of the village, and at the same moment they were discovered and a wild yell went up from the lips of an Indian brave that had been standing guard. This was the alarm signal to his fellow braves in the village, and instantly there was a great skurrying around among the redskins, as they hastened this way and that, trying to get together for the purpose of offering battle to the soldiers.
When they saw how large a number they had to contend with, however, they quickly decided that prudence was the better part of valor, and took to their heels, and after them went the patriot soldiers, firing as they ran, and dropping quite a number of the savages, dead or wounded.
The soldiers pursued the Indians as long as they could see any of them, and then they returned to the village, and began looking in the various wigwams, to see if Dick Dare was there, a prisoner.
They did not find him in any of the wigwams, and when Captain Morgan made inquiries of an old Indian, who had remained behind with the squaws and papooses, and who could speak a few words of English, he was informed that neither of the white young men who had been at the torture stake the night before, and had escaped, had been recaptured. Captain Morgan was somewhat relieved to hear this. But he was still anxious regarding the fate of Dick. He felt that the youth had gotten into danger of some kind.
The soldiers buried the Indians that had been killed, carried the wounded ones into the wigwams, and left them there for the squaws to doctor up. Then the soldiers again set out, with the intention of trying to locate Dick Dare, and rescue him, if he had fallen into the hands of another party of Indians.
They made their way slowly through the woods, and spread out, fan-shape, so as to cover as large a territory as practical. If Dick were anywhere in that part of the country, they would find him, they were certain.
But although they put in the rest of the day, practically searching for Dick, they did not find him, nor did they encounter any Indians. It is likely that the redskins had heard about the attack on the village, and kept out of the way.
Ben was greatly worried about their failure to find Dick or learn anything regarding his whereabouts. He was worried, too, about the whereabouts of Tom. He and Dick had started out to look for Tom, and had themselves been made prisoners, had very nearly been burned at the stake, had become separated in their flight from the redskins, and now Dick’s whereabouts was not known. Thus both the Dare boys were missing, and their friends feared that both were in serious trouble, somewhere, though where, was the difficulty.
“Perhaps we may find Dick to-morrow,” said Ben.
“Sure an’ Oi hope thot we may foind ’im, Ben,” replied Tim Murphy. “It’s a foine bye Dick is.”
“Yah, Dick and Tom are both fine poys, alretty,” said Fritz Schmockenburg. “Und I hope dot ve find dem to-morrow.”
“Oi wish we could foind thim as aisy as ye can foind woildcats whin standin’ guard, Fritz,” chuckled Tim, and then he told Ben the story of how Fritz had heard a noise, thought the Indians were coming to attack the camp, and had fired a shot and rushed into the encampment, yelling that the Indians were coming, and that when they had gone and looked at the point where Fritz had fired the shot, they had found a dead wildcat.
Ben laughed, and then said: “Well, if it had been an Indian, you would have settled his account, Fritz.”
“Yah, dot is so,” nodded Fritz, grinning.
Next morning the patriot soldiers again began searching for Dick, at the same time keeping their eyes open for Indians, but did not find either, and after eating their luncheon at noon, they set out toward the patriot encampment in Peaceful Valley, as they were expected to report there that evening.
It was almost dark when they arrived at the encampment, and the other two companies were already there. They had found two or three Indian villages, had killed and wounded a number of Indians and put the rest to flight, as Captain Morgan’s force had done. They had not seen anything of Dick or Tom Dare.
General Greene was somewhat worried over the fact that Dick and Tom were missing, for he liked the youths, and feared that they had met with death at the hands of the redskins.
“We will break camp here in the morning, however,” he told his officers, “and will march upon Fort Ninety-Six. Possibly we may find the Dare Boys somewhere in that neighborhood. Dick may have continued onward in that direction to look for his brother Tom.”
“True,” agreed Captain Morgan. “I hope we may find them alive and well.”
CHAPTER XVII
Ben Reconnoiters
The encampment was astir early next morning, and the soldiers cooked and ate breakfast, and then began making preparations to get ready for the march.
They were ready in about an hour and a half, or two hours, and then having said good-by to the settlers of Peaceful Valley, they marched away toward the west.
They continued onward steadily during that day, stopping an hour at noon for luncheon and to rest, and when evening came they went into camp at a point perhaps thirty miles east of Ninety-Six.
They stationed sentinels, so as to prevent a surprise by Indians or redcoats and the night passed quietly, no enemy appearing.
They were up and away again early in the morning, and by marching hard, managed to reach the vicinity of Ninety-Six by evening, They went into camp only about two miles from the fort.
Ben Foster was eager to take a look at the fort, for he feared that possibly Dick and Tom were prisoners there. He went to General Greene and asked permission to go on a reconnoitering expedition, and the permission was granted.
“I shall be glad to have you go and secure all the information possible regarding Fort Ninety-Six, my boy,” said the general. “But, be careful and don’t let them capture you.”
“I will be careful, sir,” and then saluting, Ben took his departure.
He made his way cautiously through the timber, for he did not know but there might be redcoats or redskins in the vicinity, and he did not want to fall into their hands.
On he went, pausing frequently to listen, but hearing no suspicious sounds, he drew nearer and nearer to the fort, and at the end of an hour he arrived at the open space in the center of which the fort stood.
It was a moonlight night, and Ben could see the fort with tolerable distinctness, and he stood there for some time, looking at the building and wondering if Dick and Tom were there.
Ben stood there for perhaps half an hour, looking at the fort and the lay of the land with critical eyes. He was sizing the fort and surroundings up, and trying to figure out what chance for success the patriot army would have, if an attack was made.
“It is impossible to judge of the strength of the fort at a distance,” thought Ben. “I believe that I will try to reach the wall around the fort and see how strongly-constructed it is. General Greene will be glad to secure all the information I can get.”
Ben felt that he would be running considerable risk in advancing across the open ground on an evening when the moon was shining, but he was brave, and decided to take a closer view, anyhow.
Having decided, he at once set to work. He advanced from among the trees, and just before getting out where the light would encompass him, Ben dropped on his hands and knees, and began slowly crawling along, after the fashion of an Indian.
He was not quite as expert at this kind of work as an Indian, but he did very well, advancing slowly, and keeping his body close to the ground, thus not being so likely to attract the attention of a sentinel at the fort.
It was about a third of a mile to the stockade-wall around the fort, and Ben was at least half an hour in going that distance, and as he drew near the fort, he was in momentary expectation of hearing the crack of a musket and feeling the sting of a bullet.
Ben was not discovered, however. At any rate, there was no musket-shot or outcry. All was quiet, and on reaching the wall, Ben sat down, with his back against the logs, and rested a while. It had been rather trying on his nerves to crawl across the open space under the light of the moon, faint though it was.
When he had got rested, Ben turned and began making an examination of the wall. He found that it was made of large logs, flattened at the sides and placed on top of one another. The wall was, he judged, about twelve feet high.
Ben worked his way slowly along the wall, feeling between the logs, for openings, as he wished to learn how thick the wall was, and whether it would be possible to batter it down with the field-pieces that General Greene had brought with the army.
Presently Ben found an opening, through which he pushed his hand, and his fingers came in contact with another log on the inside. The wall was at least two logs in thickness, and this would make it difficult to batter it down with the field-pieces.
The patriot youth continued to work his way along the wall, and on reaching the corner, he turned it and made his way along the wall on that side. He kept on till he had made the circuit of the stockade-wall, and he guessed the wall as being about two hundred feet in each direction.
Near one corner of the wall Ben had found a place where there were several openings between the logs, and he believed that he could climb to the top of the wall, there. He decided to make the attempt, anyway, as all was quiet. He wished to get a look into the enclosure, if he possibly could.
He made his way to the point in question, and then he began the work of climbing to the top of the wall. This proved to be more difficult than he had expected, and he began to think he would not be able to reach the top, after several unsuccessful attempts, but presently he managed to get high enough up the side of the wall so that he could get hold of the top log, and then he slowly and cautiously pulled himself up till his head was a little above the top of the wall.
Now he exercised great caution, lifting his head slowly, a little at a time, till he was enabled to look into the enclosure. He could see the building constituting the fort, and at the farther side he saw a sentinel pacing slowly back and forth on the platform built against the wall, and about five feet from the top.
The sentinel’s side was toward Ben when he was pacing back and forth, however, and when he paused to look away from the fort, his back was toward the youth, so Ben did much fear being seen by him. But there should have been a sentinel on the side where Ben was, and he wondered where the sentinel could be.
He presently found out, for suddenly the head of a British soldier appeared above the top of the wall, and almost in front of Ben’s face. The sentinel had evidently been down below when Ben first climbed up there, and had just returned to his post. He caught sight of Ben at the same moment the youth caught sight of him, and his exclamation of amazement was not unnatural.
“Who are you?” he cried.
At the same moment he made a grab for the youth’s throat, but Ben was too quick for him, and evaded the grasp by dropping to the ground with all possible dispatch.
“Spies! Rebels!” yelled the sentinel, loudly, and then grabbing up his musket, he leaned over the top of the wall and looked eagerly for the youth who had given him such a surprise.
Ben was running across the open ground at the top of his speed, and the sentinel caught sight of him, leveled his musket, took a quick aim, and fired.
Crack, the shot rang out, and Ben heard the bullet go buzzing past his ear. Had the bullet gone a few inches to the right it would have put an end to his career as a patriot soldier and spy.
Ben ran onward as swiftly as he could, and was soon out of musket-shot range, but he heard sounds of loud and excited voices back at the fort. He realized that he had caused a commotion within its walls, and thought it likely that some of the British soldiers would emerge from the fort and come in pursuit of him.
And such proved to be the case. The gate was thrown open, and out came about a score of redcoats and started on the track of Ben. They yelled to him to stop and surrender, but of course he paid no attention to them, but ran onward as fast as possible. He was not much alarmed, as he was sure he could reach the edge of the forest before the redcoats could get within musket-shot distance, and then he could evade his pursuers in the underbrush and darkness, he felt certain.
He was not long in reaching the desired haven, and he dashed in among the trees, drawing a breath of relief as he did so, and slackened his speed, somewhat, as he did not think it necessary to run so fast. He could give the redcoats the slip, now that he was in among the trees.
He was soon out of hearing of his pursuers, who doubtless did not follow him very far into the forest. In less than an hour’s time he was at the patriot encampment, and had made his report to General Greene.
The information he gave the general, about the size of the fort, and the extent and thickness of the walls, was of considerable interest and value, and the general thanked the youth for having secured the information.
“I hope to capture the fort in a few days,” the general said.
CHAPTER XVIII
Dick and the Panther
Dick Dare had no doubt that the animal in the pit with him was a panther. He judged by the growl, which was stronger than would have been the case had the animal been a wildcat.
He felt that he was indeed in a serious predicament. Had he had his pistols, or even a knife, he would have stood some chance to hold his own against the animal, but he had no weapons of any kind.
So he simply stood still, at one corner of the pit, and kept his eyes on the two balls of fire.
There was silence for a few moments, and then Dick saw the two red spots move, and he was confident they were advancing toward him, slowly but surely.
Dick guessed that the animal had likely been but a short time in the pit, and was not hungry, still he realized that he had before him a dangerous antagonist.
What should he do? What could he do? He did not feel that he could do anything, but he was tired of standing still, and so he began moving slowly along the wall, his back against it.
When he had taken a few steps, his foot struck against something, and feeling down, he found that it was a limb of a tree perhaps as large as his arm. Instantly his heart gave a leap of delight. Likely this was a limb that had been used by the person who dug the pit, to climb up out of the pit on, after shooting an animal that he had trapped, and if Dick could get the limb leaned up against the wall, he might be able to climb out, though he would likely be attacked while trying to do so.
He would try, however, and he lifted the limb, and leaned it against the wall, at the corner, and at the same moment he heard the low, menacing growl of the animal. He whirled about, quickly, and yelled “Scat,” waving his arms frantically. The animal slunk away, with a snarl of fright.
Then Dick turned, and seizing hold of the stick, began climbing with desperate energy and swiftness. He expected every moment to feel the claws of the animal, but did not, and to his delight he succeeded in reaching the top of the pit and getting out on solid ground.
He did not know how long he had been in the pit before regaining consciousness, but guessed it was not long.
He heard the growls of the animal and its footfalls as it went running around the pit, but this did not worry Dick now. He was at a point the animal could not reach, and safe from attack.
Dick stood there a few moments, listening intently. He did not hear any sounds to indicate the presence in the vicinity of any Indians, or of his friend, Ben.
Dick presently gave the signal whistle, the same as Ben had done when searching for him, and listened intently, but heard no response. Again he repeated the signal, with the same result, and he knew that Ben was not within hearing.
Dick pondered a few moments. What should he do? Which way should he go? Should he return to Peaceful Valley, or should he go on toward Ninety-Six. What would be Ben’s course?
After giving the matter considerable thought, Dick decided to continue onward toward Ninety-Six. He believed that Ben would do the same, and he was eager to find Tom, and was somewhat anxious regarding his fate.
“Yes, I’ll go on in the direction of Ninety-Six,” murmured Dick. “Likely Ben will do so, and I will meet him again, and if not, I may find Tom.”
So Dick set out through the forest, heading toward the west. He walked steadily for two or three hours, and then, feeling tired, he lay down at the foot of a tree and was soon asleep.
When he awoke it was morning, he rose and looked about him. On all sides was the wilderness, the timber being all around him. Nowhere were there any signs of Indians.
“I wish I could find a settler’s home,” murmured Dick. “I am feeling the need of some food. Well, perhaps I may happen upon one, soon.”
Then he set out, still heading westward, and walked steadily onward an hour or so, when he came to a little cabin in an open space in the forest.
“Good,” thought Dick. “Now, I shall be able to get something to eat, likely.”
Dick advanced and knocked on the door, which was opened a few moments later by a tall, roughly-dressed man, who looked like a hunter and trapper.
“Good morning, sir,” greeted Dick. “I would like to get something to eat.”
“All right, stranger; come right in,” was the reply. “Ye are welcome to all the grub ye can eat, such as it is.”
“Thank you,” said Dick, and he entered and took a seat, while his host placed some meat and corn cakes on the rude table at one side.
“Now set up here, and eat all ye want,” said the man.
Dick did so, and when he had talked with the man a few moments, he learned that he was a hunter, but that he was a patriot, and the youth learned that it was about forty miles to Ninety-Six.
“If ye’re going over in that part of the country, ye’ll have to keep your eyes open,” said the hunter. “The redcoats and redskins both are thick over thar. Only yesterday the savages caught a couple of young fellows and were going to burn them at the stake. I was about an’ with a friendly Indian’s aid crawled up just in time to cut loose their bonds or they would be on the road to kingdom come before now.”
“My kind preserver,” gasped Dick, “I thank you for myself and for Ben, my comrade.”
Naturally there was a long talk, and Dick repeated time and again his words of appreciation. Finally with a last grasp of the kindly hunter’s hand he took his departure.
The man insisted on Dick taking a package of food with him, which the youth did, and he was glad afterward that he did so, for he did not come upon another cabin during that day, and would have had to go hungry, but for the supply he had brought with him.
He camped that night at a point which he judged was perhaps ten miles from Fort Ninety-Six, and slept quietly till morning.
He ate the last of the food the hunter had given him, and then set out in the direction of Ninety-Six.
About three hours later, he came to a wide open space, and looked with interest at what he knew was Fort Ninety-Six, standing near the center of an open space of goodly size.
“There’s Ninety-Six,” murmured Dick, gazing at the fort eagerly. “I wonder if Tom is a prisoner there?”
CHAPTER XIX
The Settlers’ Retreat
Tom Dare realized that he was indeed in great danger, for the rocks would be as likely to strike him as not, if he accompanied the redcoats, and it looked as if he would have to accompany them.
Slowly the time rolled away, and when the British reinforcements, to the number of about seventy-five, reached there, it was decided to start at once for the valley.
They could reach there easily before evening, they felt certain. So they set out, with Tom among them.
As they entered upon the path that led along the foot of the mountain, Tom looked upward quickly, as if expecting to see some of the stones come rolling down upon them.
If the settlers did not know he was with the redcoats, they would soon begin rolling the stones down, and Tom did not like the idea of being there among the British.
They continued onward perhaps two hundred yards, and then Tom looked upward again, an apprehensive expression on his face, and one of the soldiers, noticing this, glanced upward a moment later, a look of curiosity on his face. The look quickly changed to one of terror, however, and he yelled, loudly: “Look out for the rock, comrades! Be ready to dodge!” and he pointed up the mountainside.
His comrades, and Tom also, glanced upward and saw a big rock coming bounding down the steep descent. It was now not more than one hundred yards distant, and coming with the speed of the wind. Down it came, leaping, bounding, rolling, and the next moment it struck in the midst of the soldiers, knocking a couple of them down, and causing the others to tumble over one another in their attempts to get out of the stone’s course.
“So that is what you were looking upward for, eh?” cried the redcoat who had noted Tom’s action and who had glanced upward and seen the rock coming. “The rebels have piled stones along the top of the precipice, comrades, and they’ll annihilate our party if we try to make our way along this path to the valley.”
“There comes another rock!” yelled another soldier at that moment, and there was a lively scrambling to get out of the rock’s course.
They managed to keep from getting hit, this time, but realized that if they continued onward along the path, they would be crushed and knocked to pieces by the stones, and so the lieutenant gave the order to retreat, and the soldiers hastened back along the path, to the point they had left only a short time before.
Here they paused, and held a council. It was decided to ascend to the top of the precipice and attack the settlers there, if they stood their ground and showed fight.
“We can reach the valley by going that way,” said the lieutenant.
So they set out, and made their way slowly up the steep ascent leading to the top of the mountain. Tom was taken with them, but he did not mind it so much, now, for he did not fear the bullets from the settlers’ rifles as much as he did the rocks.
Presently the party of redcoats were almost to the top of the mountain, and suddenly there came the sound of rifle-shots, and then the bullets came whizzing among them. One or two of the redcoats were wounded, but they pressed onward as rapidly as the rough conditions would admit, and soon caught sight of the settlers, who had taken up positions behind the rocks.
The British soldiers opened fire, and then advanced, slowly and steadily, and the settlers, knowing that they could not offer successful resistance to such a strong force, turned and retreated hastily.
They kept on retiring till they came to where there were a lot of large boulders, and here they stopped to reload their rifles, and waited for the British to come within range again.
The lieutenant, observing this action, placed Tom Dare right in front, so that a volley could not be fired without hitting the patriot youth.
The settlers must have recognized Tom by this time, for they turned and hastened onward again, having evidently decided not to fire the volley as planned.
“That scheme worked all right,” the lieutenant said, with a smile. “We will simply keep you in front, Tom Dare, and will thus be able to walk into the valley in safety. I am glad that we got hold of you.”
But Tom wasn’t glad. By permitting himself to fall into the hands of the enemy, he had spoiled the plan to roll rocks down on the redcoats, and had made it impossible for the settlers to fire upon the British without being in danger of killing him. He wished that he could do something to change this state of affairs.
But what could he do? He was a prisoner, with redcoats all about him, and he did not see how he was to do anything to help the settlers.
He thought of trying the plan of falling down the precipice, as he had done once before, but the precipice in this instance was too steep. He would surely be killed, as it would be a fall of at least one hundred and fifty feet.
He decided that there was nothing that he could do, and so he walked onward at the head of the party, though he did not feel very happy.
The settlers did not stop again. Evidently they did not wish to take the chances of killing or wounding Tom by firing at the British, and had made up their minds to retreat to their village in the valley.
They moved considerably faster than did the redcoats, and Tom, who shrewdly guessed that the settlers would like to have as much time as possible, for the purpose of removing their household goods to a safe place in the mountains, walked slowly pretending lameness, which did not seem unreasonable and thus kept the redcoats from advancing, for a time at least, at a fast pace.
They kept telling him to increase his speed, but he did not hasten his steps and presently a couple of soldiers seized him by the arms, at an order from the lieutenant, and he was made to walk faster.
They went on, and finally reached the entrance to the valley. Then they moved faster, as the ground was level and the walking easier. They did not see the settlers, so judged they had already reached their homes in the village.
“Likely the rebels intend carrying some of their household goods and valuables up into the mountains,” said the lieutenant. “We must try to get there in time to prevent them from doing that.”
So they hastened, and closer and closer to the village they drew. Finally they were at the edge of the village, and all was quiet. They did not see any signs of the settlers.
“They’re gone,” said the lieutenant.
Then the redcoats scattered and entered the houses, and searched for valuables, but found nothing of much use, the settlers having indeed taken pretty much everything out of the houses.
“They’ve gone up into the mountains,” said the lieutenant. “Let’s fire these houses, and then follow.”
With cries of satisfaction, for they were angered by being cheated out of their plunder, as they looked at it, the soldiers set fire to the houses, and soon the village was going up in flames.
“Now head up into the mountains, men,” said the lieutenant. “We’ll run the rebels to earth and help ourselves to their valuables, anyhow.”
The soldiers hastened into the forest, and began ascending the mountain. The ground was rough, but they made pretty good headway. They spread out, fan-shape, so as to cover as much ground as through this alignment they could obtain, and looked eagerly in all directions for the patriot settlers.
“They must have a hiding-place somewhere up the mountain,” said the lieutenant. “Make a thorough search.”
But, although they searched till nightfall, they did not find the hiding-place of the settlers, and they finally went back down to the village, or rather, where it had stood, for the houses were now burned to the ground, and there camped for the night.
And next morning they set out on the return to Ninety-Six, reaching the fort about the middle of the afternoon.
Tom was placed in the guard-house, and the lieutenant went to Major Cruger and reported the result of the expedition. The Major expressed satisfaction at the burning of the settlers’ houses, but was sorry they had managed to make their escape and carry their household goods with them.
CHAPTER XX
Dick Appears
The morning after the patriot force reached the vicinity of Fort Ninety-Six and went into camp, who should appear but Dick Dare! He went at once to the headquarters tent, and was given a cordial greeting by General Greene.
“We were in hopes that you would turn up here,” said the general. “Where have you been, my boy?”
“Is Ben Foster here?” asked Dick.
“Yes,” was the reply.
“Then he told you, doubtless, that we got separated while running from some Indians.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I supposed that he would go on toward Ninety-Six, and so I did that.”
“Ah. And have you learned anything of importance?”
“Nothing regarding the fort, as yet. But I have learned where my brother Tom is.”
“That is good. Where is he?”
“A prisoner in the fort.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, sir. He was captured by some British soldiers and brought to the fort, and pretended to join the force. He was sent with a foraging force, to attack a patriot village up in the mountains, and he managed to get away and reach the settlement ahead of the redcoats and warn the settlers, and they managed to get to a hiding-place up in the mountains, with their household goods, but the British burned the houses. I was there, and saw the settlers, and they told me about the affair. They said that Tom was recaptured, while reconnoitering, and that the British took him to Ninety-Six. When we capture the fort, we can free him.”
“I think we shall be able to capture the fort. Ben Foster made a reconnoitering trip last night, and learned considerable about the strength of the walls. I believe we can batter them down with the field-pieces.”
“I hope so. Is there anything you wish me to do?”
“You may reconnoiter and gain all the information possible. There is no hurry, and by taking our time, we may be able to make the capture of the fort more certain.”
“I will do my best to secure information that will be of value to you, sir.”
Then Dick saluted and withdrew, and was soon with Ben Foster, at the quarters occupied by Captain Morgan’s company.
They shook hands, and then Ben asked: “What became of you after we got separated, Dick? I hunted around quite a good deal for you, and signalled, but you did not answer.”
“Likely if you were near me when you uttered any of the signals, it was while I was insensible, and I did not hear you, of course.” Then Dick explained that he had fallen into a pit that had been dug as a trap to capture wild animals, and that he had fallen so hard as to knock him senseless. And then he told of there being a panther in the pit, and Ben uttered an exclamation.
“Phew!” he murmured, “that wasn’t very pleasant, was it?”
“No, indeed,” said Dick. “But I managed to climb up a limb that I found there, and make my escape, and then I headed toward Ninety-Six.”
Then he told Ben the same story that he had told General Greene, and Ben was glad to know that Tom was alive and probably well, though a prisoner in Fort Ninety-Six. Full particulars he gave too, of the kindly hunter to whom they owed their life and opportunity to escape from the savages.
“We’ll have Tom out of there before very long,” said Ben, reverting to the problem at hand.
“General Greene said for me to reconnoiter,” said Dick, “and I guess that I will take a look at the fort to-day, and then visit it to-night.”
“There isn’t much that you can learn,” said Ben. “I found out the strength of the stockade-walls, and that is about all there is to learn, from the outside. If you could get within the walls, you could secure definite information regarding its strength, but you can’t do that.”
“I suppose not,” said Dick.
A little while after luncheon, Dick left the encampment and made his way in the direction of Fort Ninety-Six. He reached the edge of the timber, presently, and stopped and gazed across at the fort. He could not venture out into the open ground without being seen by the sentinels, of course, and so he did not advance farther.
He made his way along the edge of the forest quite a distance, however, and sized up the fort from different directions. Then he turned and walked slowly along through the woods.
He was heading for the encampment, and when about halfway there, he crossed a rude wagon-road, which wound this way and that among the trees, and Dick suddenly caught sight of a man approaching, driving a team and wagon.
Dick had crossed the road at the edge of the timber, and knew it led to the fort, and now he stopped and waited till the wagon approached, when he stepped out and stopped the man, who looked like a typical settler of the vicinity.
“Where are you going?” queried Dick.
“To the fort,” was the reply.
“What for?”
“I’m takin’ some meat an’ vegertables thar to sell to ther sojers,” was the reply.
“Ah!” exclaimed Dick. He had been struck by an idea. “Say,” he remarked, eyeing the man searchingly, “are you a king’s man, or are you a patriot? Or are you neutral?”
“Wal,” was the reply, “I kain’t say thet I’m a king’s man, but ther redcoats pay me well fur my garden truck. Why d’ye ask?”
“I’ll tell you why,” said Dick, eagerly. “I wish to enter the fort, and why can’t I go with you? They’ll not be suspicious if I’m with you, and that will give me a chance to get a look at the inside of the fort.”
“Ye’re a patriot, then, hey?”
“Yes.”
“All right Ye can go inter ther fort with me, an’ can help me sell ther truck to ther sojers, an’ ye can look aroun’ while ye’re doin’ thet.”
“Thank you. That will be very kind of you.”
Then Dick climbed up on the seat beside the man, who drove onward and half an hour later they were at the entrance to the stockade, the big gate swung open, and the man drove into the enclosure.
Dick, seated on the seat beside the man, looked around him with eager interest, but with all evidence of eagerness carefully kept from showing. He seemed careless and indifferent.
Then the farmer began selling the meat and vegetables, and Dick helped him, and all the time he was sizing up the interior of the fort as best he could.
CHAPTER XXI
In the Fort
Dick had not noticed the fact, but while he was helping the farmer hand out the meat and vegetables to the others, a soldier had been standing near, gazing keenly and searchingly at him.
Suddenly a low exclamation escaped the lips of the soldier, and he turned to one of his comrades and said something, and they conversed a few moments, after which the soldier spoken to hastened into the fort. Presently he returned, accompanied by a soldier wearing a captain’s uniform.
The captain advanced to the side of the wagon, and looking up at Dick, said: “Who are you, young man?”
“I am working for Mr. Boggs,” replied Dick.
“What’s your name?”
“Dick.”
“Dick what?”
“Dick Rogers.”
The captain pointed a finger at the young patriot, and exclaimed in a stern, threatening voice: “You are Dick Dare, the rebel spy!”
Dick had expected something of the kind, after seeing the threatening look on the captain’s face, but at the same time it rather took him aback. He gazed steadily at the officer, however, and said:
“Why do you think I am Dick Dare, sir? And who is he?”
“Why do I think you are Dick Dare? Because one of the soldiers here, was stationed up in Virginia a few months ago, and saw you there, and he recognized you and told me who you were. And now, you are my prisoner. Climb down out of that wagon.”
On driving into the enclosure, the farmer had made a circle, and the horses were now standing with their heads toward the gate, which was still open. Dick had noted this fact, and when he heard the captain’s command, a daring plan came into his mind. He would attempt to drive out of the enclosure and make his escape.
So he quickly grabbed up the lines and whip, and yelling to the horses, and giving them a couple of cuts with the whip, Dick sent the team out of the enclosure on the gallop, knocking down and running over two of the soldiers, who at the command from the captain had tried to stop the horses.
The farmer had been thrown down in the bottom of the wagon by the suddenness of the start, and he lay still, for he thought it likely that there would be bullets flying soon.
And in thinking thus he was correct, for the captain, wild with rage, gave the command for his soldiers to fire, and they did so, the bullets whizzing around Dick, who was still plying the whip and yelling to the horses.
On across the open ground dashed the team, and the soldiers came running forth from the enclosure like bees from a hive, and many of them came running after the wagon, but could not gain on it.
Dick drove on, and presently the wagon was in among the trees. Here the road wound and twisted, and the progress was slower than when in the open ground, but still they went at a pretty rapid rate.
The soldiers gave up the pursuit, and then Dick slowed the horses to a walk, and turned to the farmer, and smiling rather grimly, said: “I am sorry to have had to take matters in my hands, Mr. Boggs, but the redcoats would have captured me, otherwise.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” was the reply. “I had sold most all my truck, ennyhow.”
“But the redcoats will have it in for you, after this, won’t they?”
“I guess not. I’ll tell ’em I didn’t know ye was a rebel.”
“That will be a good idea.”
“Yes.”
The farmer now took his seat beside Dick, and took the lines, and drove, and presently Dick said: “I guess I’ll leave you, now, Mr. Boggs. This is about the nearest point to the patriot encampment.”
“All right, Dick Dare.”
Dick leaped to the ground, shook hands with the farmer, thanked him for his kindness in doing what he had, and then said good-by. His mission ended he set out through the woods in the direction of the encampment.
When he reached there, he went to the headquarters tent, and was given a cordial greeting by General Greene.
“Have you been reconnoitering the fort, Dick?” the general asked.
“Yes, General Greene,” was the reply. “And I have been within the stockade-walls.”
The general started and looked surprised. “How did you manage that, my boy?” he asked.
Dick explained, then, the general listening with interest, and when Dick had described the interior of the enclosure, and the fort, the officer nodded, and said: “You have done pretty well, Dick. A knowledge of the interior arrangements at the fort is worth considerable.”
“So I thought, sir, and that is the reason I was so eager to see the interior of the fort.”
After he had asked a few questions, General Greene told Dick he might go, but that any further information he could secure would be appreciated.
“I’ll reconnoiter the fort to-night,” said Dick. “I may be able to learn something further.”
Dick then rejoined his comrades, and told them the story of his adventure at the fort. They listened with interest, and uttered exclamations of wonder.
“Sure an’ they came moighty near to grabbin’ ye, thot toime, Dick,” said Tim Murphy.
“Yah, dot is so,” nodded Fritz Schmockenburg.
“But I was able to get a look at the interior of the fort,” said Dick, “and that was worth while.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Ben Foster. “Of course, you saw nothing of Tom?”
“No. If he is there, he was in a building somewhere, and so I would not have seen him.”
They talked about the adventure quite a while, and were agreed that Dick had acted in a daring manner in venturing into the fort.
“That was the only way I could secure any information regarding the arrangements of the buildings within the enclosure,” said Dick.
After supper, Dick again set out. He made his way at a moderate pace, and finally reached the edge of the open ground shortly after dark. He stopped just within the edge of the forest and looked across at the fort for a few minutes. Then he began making his way toward the fort, slowly.
It was a rather dark night, and he could just make out the fort, looking like a faint shadow, and he felt certain that the sentinels could not see him.
He was at the wall of the fort in about fifteen or twenty minutes, and began making his way along it, feeling for a place where he could climb to the top, as Ben said he had done.
He had nearly reached the corner of the enclosure when he heard a commotion within the enclosure. The sound of excited voices came to him, and the clatter of weapons, and then he heard a noise above his head. He looked upward quickly, and as he did so, a human form came over the top of the wall and dropped down, striking Dick and knocking him to the ground.
CHAPTER XXII
Tom Makes a Discovery
Tom Dare did not like the idea of being a prisoner in the hands of the British, but he was in what seemed to be a pretty strongly-built building, and his chances of getting out seemed pretty slim. And even if he were to get out of the building, he would have difficulty in getting out of the enclosure.
But Tom as we know was a determined youth, and he made up his mind to do all he could to make his escape. It was not until about dark of the evening on which Dick had come to the fort, however, that Tom discovered that there was a loose board in the floor, and when he had lifted the board, he discovered that there was a considerable opening underneath the floor.
He had already had his supper and did not think that anyone would enter the room, so he crawled down through the opening, replaced the board, and worked his way along till he came to the edge of the building. Here he found that an embankment of earth had been piled up against the side of the building, and he proceeded to dig through this. It was slow work, but he persevered, and finally he managed to get a large enough hole made so that he could crawl through.
This he did, and presently stood erect beside the building. He looked around him, sizing up the situation carefully. It was already pretty dark, and Tom could not see very well, but this would be more to his advantage than to the advantage of the sentinels, for they could not see him unless they were close to him.
Tom slipped away from the building, and presently reached the wall, and located a set of steps that the soldiers used in climbing to the platform on the inside of the wall. He climbed these steps, and reached the platform, and at that moment he heard footsteps advancing, and the form of the sentinel loomed up indistinctly.
Tom realized that he was about to be discovered. What should he do? He did not like the idea of being recaptured, and discovery and capture seemed unavoidable and indeed imminent.
He stood there, hesitating, only a few moments, and then suddenly he heard an exclamation from the sentinel, who asked: “Who is there?”
There was no time to lose, if he were to escape. Tom realized this, and did the first thing that occurred to him, which was to climb to the top of the wall and leap to the ground.
He dropped down outside the enclosure, but instead of striking the ground, he struck something which he realized was a human form. And with the realization came the belief that the person in question was a British soldier.
With this belief in his mind, he leaped to his feet and started to run away as fast as possible, while from above came the command: “Halt! Stop, or I’ll fire!”
Then to his hearing came the words, “Is that you, Tom?” It was the voice of his brother Dick, and Tom replied joyously:
“Yes, Dick.”
Crack! It was a musket-shot. The sentinel, hearing the voices, and thinking, perhaps, that an attack was about to be made, fired, as much to give the alarm as with the expectation of hitting the person that had escaped from the enclosure.
The bullet did not hit Tom, who had stopped, and as soon as he was joined by Dick, they hastened onward, and were quickly at a point of safety and out of range. There they paused and stood listening.
There was considerable noise and excitement at the fort. Lights showed in the upper room of the fort, and presently the gate opened and it was evident that some soldiers had come forth, with the intention of pursuing the fugitive.
“I guess we had better go in the direction of the patriot encampment, Tom,” decided Dick. “Those redcoats will be here in a few minutes, and it will be best for us to be somewhere else.”
They made their way through the forest, and told their stories as they went. By the time they had finished relating their remarkable experiences they were at the encampment, and Tom accompanied Dick to the headquarters tent, for he had a better knowledge regarding the interior of the fort than Dick. He had been in all the rooms when he was supposed to be a member of the British force, and the information he gave about the building was received with pleasure by General Greene.
Then, having given all the information in their possession, Dick and Tom, went to their quarters, where Tom was given a cordial greeting by his comrades.
Next morning General Greene called a council of war. When the officers were all in the tent, the general told them that he had made up his mind to begin the attack that morning, if the idea met with the approval of the officers.
There was not much discussion, for the members of the staff were all eager to advance on Fort Ninety-Six and attack the fort. As soon as it had been decided as to the details, the soldiers broke camp and advanced slowly, dragging the field-pieces with them.
When they reached the edge of the wood, they halted and planted the field-pieces for effective use and began firing on the fort.
The little six-pound balls did not make much impression on the heavy logs, however, and it seemed doubtful if they would damage the stockade-walls very much.
This firing was kept up pretty steadily, but did not have much effect, and it was decided to wait till nightfall, and try to set fire to the fort.
Slowly the hours rolled away, and when evening came, the soldiers began gathering dry wood, with the intention of carrying it and placing it against the wall, and then when it was set on fire, there would be a big blaze, by the light of which redcoats could be shot if they attempted to put out the fire.
Luckily it was a dark night, and the soldiers were enabled to carry the wood and pile it against the walls without being seen, though they had to exercise great care to avoid discovery.
Among those who were most active in this work were Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, and they were eager to see the fire started, for they hoped it would result in the capture of the fort.
Slowly the work went on, and at last a sufficient amount of wood had been piled against the wall, and now the next move was to set fire to the wood.
This would be a very dangerous undertaking, as the moment the fire was started, the person or persons starting it would be revealed by the light of the flames, and would be in danger of being shot before they could get out of range.
General Greene did not like to name anyone for this dangerous work, and so he called for volunteers. A dozen of the soldiers, Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster among them, stepped forward at once, and offered their services.
“I expected that there would be plenty who would be willing to risk getting shot in order to render a service to the patriot Cause,” said the general. “But, how shall I choose from among you?”
“By lot,” suggested a soldier. And this was done, and the result was that Dick Dare and Tim Murphy were the ones who were to venture up to the wall of the fort and set the fire.
“Sure an’ we are the byes phwat can do thot work, all roight, Dick,” said Tim.
“We will do the best we can to make a success of setting the wood on fire,” replied Dick.
They provided themselves with flint and steel and tinder, and then set out in the direction of the fort.
Slowly they made their way to the point where the wood was piled against the wall, and, reaching there, they crouched down, got out their flint and steel and tinder, and got ready to start the fire.