The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade Part 12

"Yes, and we've got you! Surrender, or we'll run you down!"

"Why, you dunderhead, we are looking for rebels ourselves!"

"By George! then they must be below. Go down there and look for them!"

"What authority have you over us, I'd like to know?" in an angry tone.

"See that masthead light? That means to look out for the enemy. We are here to see that the enemy are looked out for. That's my authority! Pull ahead, my men!"

The middy in the other boat saw just enough blue and gold lace to mistake d.i.c.k for a naval officer, and the young patriot's tone of authority did the rest.

"Very good, sir!" promptly, and the boats containing the boys went on, the names painted on the sterns being seen, and no one supposing that any one but British bluejackets would be in them.

"Keep a sharp lookout below there, Midshipman!" said d.i.c.k, in a commanding tone. "There is no use of that light. You are only giving the rebels warning."

The other boat went on, and the masthead light was presently extinguished, much to Bob's delight.

"The thing has burned out, I suppose," he muttered, "and they will not renew it. Good thing, too!"

"Keep on steady, boys, and make as little noise as possible," said d.i.c.k.

"We are not out of danger yet, and no one knows what may happen before we get up to the obstructions."

"We may be able to go ash.o.r.e there, Captain," observed Harry, "in place of having to get through them."

"Yes, if there are no lines drawn across the island at that point. We can tell better when we get there."

It was all dark on the river again in a few minutes, and the two boats keeping close together proceeded steadily on, making very fair progress.

"Would it be of any advantage to make our way over to the Jersey sh.o.r.e and cross again higher up the river, d.i.c.k?" asked Bob.

"I am not sure that it would, Bob," was the reply. "We will not do it unless we have to, as we can probably make better time by keeping on as we are."

The day had been sultry, but it was now cold and damp on the river, being dark as well, a cold mist arising as they went on, which not only made it more difficult to see their way but chilled them as well.

However, if they could not see the enemy, the latter could not see them, so that there was an advantage on their side after all. They went as far as Bloomingdale without seeing anything of the enemy or hearing any alarm, and were in hope of going the rest of the way safely, when the mist lifted for a few moments, and d.i.c.k saw the outlines of a ship looming up before him out of the darkness. He quickly steered out of the day and signalled to Bob to go closer insh.o.r.e so as to avoid the ship.

Presently a light appeared on board, and then a voice called out in sharp tones:

"Boat ahoy! What are you doing out there?"

"Looking out for the enemy!" answered d.i.c.k, that being just what he was doing.

"Seen anything of them?"

"Yes, some little time ago. Seen any yourselves?"

"No, what are they up to? Sending out their confounded fireboats to annoy us?"

"Oh, they'll do anything, I fancy," and the boats went on, the men on the ships never imagining that they contained a number of the Liberty Boys.

"Keep a good watch for them, and if you see any give us a signal."

"Aye, aye! we'll keep a strict watch for them."

"That's what we've been doing ever since we left New York," muttered Ben, under his breath.

The ship was presently lost in the mist and darkness, and the boys went on, not knowing when they might come upon another. They kept close together, so as not to be separated, and drew as near to the sh.o.r.e as was safe, the ships being mostly in midstream. Now and then the darkness was so dense as to shut out everything, and once they ran upon a bar and had to push themselves off with considerable exertion, being unable to see anything. Getting off at last, they went on, but were at length hailed by a boat out on the river and not far from them.

"Boat ahoy!" cried d.i.c.k, in answer to the hail. "Are you from the Royal George?"

"No, the Inflexible. Are you from the George?"

"No; we are looking for her. We are carrying despatches."

"She must be up the river. We have seen nothing of her. Who are you?"

"Despatch boat. Keep a sharp lookout for the enemy. They are getting troublesome."

"Aye, aye!" and d.i.c.k and his boys went on rapidly, getting farther and farther away from the other boat every minute.

"The river is full of the pesky British!" muttered Bob. "I am not sure that it would not be safer to go ash.o.r.e."

"We are sure of our road here, Bob," laughed d.i.c.k, "but we would not be, on sh.o.r.e. I think we had better stick to the river for a time, until dawn, at any rate."

"H'm! it can't be far from it, then, for I never knew it to be thundering dark," growled Bob.

The boys laughed and went on less rapidly, that being the safest course.

They took turns rowing, and so no one became over-fatigued and all had a chance to warm up, the mists of the river being very chilly and damp. At length it grew light enough to see the obstructions in the river just ahead of them, and they set about getting through and going on. d.i.c.k would have gone ash.o.r.e, but he saw tents and the gleam of scarlet uniforms on sh.o.r.e, and concluded that it would be better to remain longer on the river. The boats had much less trouble in getting past the obstructions than a ship would have had, and they got through at length, with some trouble, being seen by the redcoats on sh.o.r.e, however, it being very much lighter by this time.

The enemy raised a great shout, but they had no boats, and all they could do was to run along sh.o.r.e and shout, firing a volley now and then, which did no damage and only set the echoes to answering.

"They had better keep quiet," sputtered Bob. "The first thing we know they will wake up everybody along sh.o.r.e, and we will have some trouble in making a landing."

"I think we might do it before long, Bob," d.i.c.k returned. "A run will do us good after being on the river so many hours."

"All right, d.i.c.k, and if we can give the redcoats a run the right way, so much the better."

Farther on, around a bend of the river, the redcoats being now out of sight, the boys rowed in to sh.o.r.e and made a landing. They had left their muskets behind, but they all had their pistols and were ready to give the redcoats as lively a reception as they could. The boats were left to go adrift, and then, led by d.i.c.k, who knew the way thoroughly, they set out for their own lines, which d.i.c.k judged would be somewhere below Fort Washington. On they went, and all at once came upon a party of the enemy hurrying to intercept them.

"Fire, Liberty Boys!" shouted d.i.c.k. "Scatter the redcoats, drive them off the island, hurl them into the river!"

"Liberty forever, forward, down with the redcoats!" echoed the plucky fellows.

Then they began to discharge their pistols in the liveliest fashion, and to shout as if there were four or five times as many of them. The redcoats evidently thought that there were many more of the daring boys, and fell back in haste. d.i.c.k and Bob led the way, and the whole party charged resolutely, desiring to get to a place of safety as soon as possible, although it seemed to the enemy as if they were being pursued by an army, and they made all haste to get away.

The boys turned up the road toward the fort with all haste, and were well on their way before the enemy realized that they were not being pursued. Then they turned and went after the boys, greatly chagrined at having been so cleverly fooled. They got reinforcements, and set out after the boys in full chase, but were suddenly brought to a stop by the main body of the Liberty Boys under Mark Morrison. Mark had heard the firing, and was out looking for d.i.c.k and the Liberty Boys at the same time, and now, seeing their danger, fell upon the enemy tooth and nail and sent them flying.

"Hurrah! back with the redcoats!" he shouted. "Give it to them, my boys.

Fire!"

Crash--roar! The redcoats now had to face a musket volley instead of a pistol discharge, and they felt the difference. Down upon them bore the gallant boys with a cheer and a ringing volley, and then two or three brigades of regulars were seen following up the boys, and they fell back in great disorder.