The Dare Boys Of 1776 Part 8

The grim general chuckled. He seemed to like the dry humor of the lad.

"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."

"I hope he hasn't made a mistake in this instance, sir," modestly.

"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 British will not be so likely to suspect you of being a spy."

"That is what General Washington said, sir."

"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."

"I will do my best, General. Well, I must be going."

The general shook hands with d.i.c.k, and wished him good luck.

"Don't let the redcoats get you," he said.

d.i.c.k laughed.

"They won't get me, if I can help it," he said. "Good-bye, General Putnam."

d.i.c.k did not start just then, however, for the very good reason that while he had been engaged in conversation with General Putnam, 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.

"You must not think of starting out to-night," said General Putnam.

"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."

"Doubtless that will be best," agreed d.i.c.k, 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 British encampment, or accomplish anything if he did find it.

So he remained on the Heights that night, only to find it still raining the next morning.

"You would not want to start out in the daytime, anyhow," said General Putnam; "so it does not matter. You will stay till evening, and then if it has ceased raining, you can start on your expedition."

It was still raining hard, when evening came, however, and General Putnam said it would be foolish to make the start in the storm. So d.i.c.k 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.

"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."

"I hope not, sir," said d.i.c.k.

After dark that evening, d.i.c.k took his departure, and as soon as he was past the sentinels, he struck out southward. The British army was at that time encamped near the Flatlands, about two miles from the bay and about two miles south of Flatbush.

d.i.c.k 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.

It were better to make haste slowly. d.i.c.k realized this, and he decided to take his time and exercise his every care. Caution was a necessary adjunct of a spy.

d.i.c.k 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 British.

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 British might be located here, and he did not want to run into their midst, if such were the case.

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.

"I guess there are no redcoats in these woods," he murmured after listening a while. "The British haven't advanced this far yet, likely.

I'll go ahead, but will be exceedingly careful."

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.

Somehow d.i.c.k's heart thrilled with pleasure, even though he were on a perilous undertaking. He was working for General Washington, 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.

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.

"'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."

Suddenly d.i.c.k 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!

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.

d.i.c.k 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 British 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.

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 d.i.c.k's ears.

"Now I've done it!" he murmured, in some dismay. "That will rouse them sure."

He was right, for instantly there came the challenge, loud and clear:

"Halt! Who comes there?"

There could be no doubt regarding the matter, now; the men d.i.c.k had heard talking were British soldiers doing picket duty.

d.i.c.k's 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:

"Who is there? Answer, or I will fire!"

d.i.c.k 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. d.i.c.k 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.

"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."

But the redcoats were evidently not satisfied to let the matter go thus. "Let's investigate, comrade," d.i.c.k 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."

"That's what we will, comrade."

"And I feel confident there is somebody near here. What else would make the noise that we heard?"

"I don't know, comrade. I think it likely that somebody is about."

"I am positive, sure of it as can be."

"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."