NOW IS THE TIME
"NOW IS THE TIME", CALLED DICK.
The band jumped up with a cheer and followed Dick's lead, rushed madly over the open ground and took the startled enemy off their guard. The combined onslaught of the two bands was more than the British could withstand. After a few minutes of hand-to-hand conflict the English broke and fled headlong for the road. The exulting Patriots followed them for some distance, making several prisoners, and at last, wearied with the long encounter and the pursuit, they dropped back and collected at the scene of the opening of the fight. They had lost half a dozen men and several of the others were wounded, butthe victory was complete and amongst their prisoners were two of the Redcoat officers.
The boys came back among the last and the sight of the two brought cheers from the victors. The boys received these quietly and when the shouting was over, Dick stepped forward and spoke to them.
"Let this be a lesson to you, friends," he said soberly. "My friend Fritz and I were nearly murdered by you without proper trial and on entirely insufficient evidence. I think that the little parts that we have played in this combat have proved our loyalty to the cause of liberty, and both Fritz and I hope that any future prisoners will receive better treatment until they are proven guilty."
The men took Dick's little talk to heart and when, after a long rest and a meal the boys left the band, they both felt that any other Patriots who were encountered by this particular band would receive the best of treatment.
The captain of the sloop had managed to get the door into his gun-room open just in time, for the mate, Tim and Tom had barely scrambled through when the sailors broke toward them in a rush. The captain slammed down the hatch and they all jumped on top, holding it in place while he clamped it fast.
"I doubt if they will find the other entrance," the captain said. "The crew never knew of this place and they won't be likely to disturb us from the other side."
"I guess they will be satisfied to have us boxed up here," said Dick.
"And as far as I kin see it's satisfied they might be," returned Tim. "How should you figger we are goin' to git out av the place?"
"We'll wait around till it grows dark outside," replied the captain, in an undertone, "and then we'll try to gain the after deck and clear thosevillains off. Then we will have the ship in our control, so that, with proper luck we'll run in near shore and drive the crew off the decks altogether. The four of us can handle this craft till we make a port and then we'll be able to ship a loyal crew and not a parcel of thieves."
"Fine!" ejaculated Tim. "But why be waiting in this stuffy old box whin we might be lords of the ship by runnin' the monkeys into the ocean?"
"No use taking chances, Tim," replied Tom. "If they get us again we won't make such an easy get away, you can bet."
"That's right," the captain commented. "They'd finish us this time if they could get their hands on us. We have got to win or pay the penalty tonight."
These adverse opinions served to quiet Tim's ardor, and he sat about with the rest waiting for night to throw its blanket of darkness over the scene, and for the rebellious crew to quiet down for the night.
As the time wore on, the Patriots could hear the dull tramping of the mutineers in the cabin next to them, and the muffled sound of voices sifted through the heavy oak partitions. Thecaptain and Tom busied themselves with the muskets and ammunition, and after selecting four guns, a dirk and a cutlass for each of the party, did what they could to put the remaining arms out of commission.
The sounds from the cabin had ceased now, and the four sat impatiently awaiting the moment when they could make their great dash for liberty. Gradually it grew quiet and when they decided that it was safe to venture through the cabin to the after-deck, they quietly loosened the trap and peered into the dimly lit cabin.
The recumbent figures of half a dozen mutineers were seen by the aid of the smoky swinging lamp. Judging from the sounds of heavy breathing, this particular party of sailors were fast asleep. The captain, Tim, the mate and Tom crawled carefully through the opened trap, pushed it closed after them and tip-toed for the short ladder leading to the deck.
The swinging doors at the top of the ladder banged at this moment and the four crouched down, fearing that they would have to start their battle then and there, and under most unfavorable circumstances. One of the men muttered, rolledover and resumed his heavy breathing and the danger was over for a moment.
Following the captain, the three Patriots ascended the steps, pushed the door open and with a rush made for the man at the wheel. Not expecting an attack from this quarter, he was overcome with slight effort, and while Tim and the captain carried him to the ladder leading to the main deck, the mate took charge of the wheel and Tom made fast the cabin doors through which they had just emerged.
"What's going on up there?" came a voice from the lower deck. "Everything all right, eh?"
"Sure, foine as silk," shouted Tim.
"Whot's that?" the sailor queried, noticing the commotion about the wheel.
"Your captain, you scoundrel!" that individual replied. "And now I guess we have got you fellows where you belong. The first man that starts for this deck gets what you all deserve."
"Tim!" called Tom. "You and the mate take the starboard ladder, and I'll try the port. Don't let 'em get within twenty feet of you. And don't be afraid to use those muskets. That's what we've toted 'em up here for."
"That's it," replied Tim. "There'll be none of the crowd gets past us this night."
"Aye, aye," chimed in the mate. "We'll do our part and you just holler if you want any help."
"Oh, I'll be all right," answered Tom confidently. "I don't think those fellows are armed and I guess these guns won't appeal to them very favorably."
"Hard-a-lea!" yelled the captain. "I'm going to try to hold her on the other tack and see if we don't fetch up somewhere near the shore."
"Let her go," responded Tom. "Guess the nearer that we get to land the better it will be for us."
"We can't do much toward working the ship," the captain said, "but I don't see why we can't hold her in the right direction as long as we have control of the wheel and the mainsail."
"Which we have," put in Tim.
"Yes, just at present," responded the mate, at his side. "But there's no telling for how long."
"Ahoy, on deck!" came a cry from the cabin. "What's all this? Let us out, you lubbers!"
"Can't be done, me boys," called out Tim. "We have quite enough av us here now."
This was followed by muffled blows on the cabin doors, but the heavy oak and the iron bar withstood all attempts to force it, and after further ineffectual efforts the group within abandoned their efforts and sought escape in other directions.
Tom could now distinguish the men on the lower deck quite plainly, and in a minute or two, one of them came aft toward him.
"You fellows might as well give in now as ever," said the sailor. "We will get you anyhow, and it will go hard with you if we have any trouble with you."
"Well, if you leave it to us," answered Tom, "we prefer to be gotten later, and in the meantime, let me warn you that the next man that comes within twenty feet of these ladders gets what you all deserve."
"That's fine talk, young fellow, but—" and just then the sailor drew back his arm, hurled something violently at Tom and sprang back before Tom could recover from his surprise.
A shining streak went past him and buried itself for an inch in the rail.
"It's a knife," called out the captain. "Youwant to be a little more careful and not let them get near enough again."
"You bet I will," replied Tom, startled by his narrow escape.
There was a moment's lull in the excitement, and then a crash resounded from directly below Tim's feet.
"Ouch!" yelled the Irish boy, and discharged his musket wildly into the darkness.
"That was only a bucket of paint," said Tom. "Don't be so free with your bullets."
"Faith, an' I thought it was all killed we were," responded Tim, rather ashamed of his sudden alarm.
"Not yet," replied the mate, with a grim attempt at humor.
"Cheer up," said Tom, in the same strain. "The worst is yet to come."
It was evident to the four on the after deck that the mutineers were as yet without guns, for they would have picked off the boys where they stood against the sky line, had they been able.
But the battle was not won yet, in fact it had hardly begun. While the boys and the mate were gazing through the darkness at the knot of men near the forecastle, three sailors suddenly dashedfrom behind the main mast, and rushed for Tim's position near the ladder. He and the mate fired in unison at them, and evidently wounded one of their number, for with a howl of pain from the foremost, the three scuttled back toward the bow.
"That's good, Tim," called Tom. "We'll hold 'em all right, eh?"
"Don't want 'em near enough to hold," replied Tim.
"That's painful," commented the mate, at Tim's attempted jest.
"Get back there!" shouted Tom, catching sight of a dark form stealing along the bulwarks.
But instead of getting back, the man jumped from the foot of Tom's ladder, and grasped the upper steps. Tom discharged the musket almost in the fellow's face, and with a groan he fell back on the deck. His comrades, however, now swarmed about the base of the ladder, and Tom, grasping his gun by the barrel, swung it with all his force on the head of the foremost sailor.
The man following, however, succeeded in getting a foothold on the upper deck, and with an upraised dirk, drove Tom back from the ladder. Tom swung at him with the clubbed musket, knocked the dirk out of his upraised hand, andin another second was locked with him in hand to hand conflict.
"Tim!" yelled Tom.
"Coming!" answered Tim, and leaving the mate to guard their side, where the mutineers had been driven back, he rushed around the cabin to the aid of his friend.
He was just in time. Tom and his opponent were rolling on the deck, each endeavoring to put the other out of the fight, and two more sailors were about to step upon the deck from the ladder.
Leaving Tom to take care of himself, Tim attacked the ascending sailors. With a rush and wild shouts, he banged the foremost over the head and sent him crashing down upon the others of the group. Then firing his musket at the crowd, he completed their route, and the whole party fled to the shelter of the forecastle.
"And now, where are ye, Tom?" he called.
"Here," Tom replied, coming from behind the cabin. "If I hadn't hit that fellow on the arm before he closed with me, and knocked his dirk out of his grasp, he might have put me out of the way."
"Where did ye put him, though?" asked Tim.
"Around here," Tom said, pointing to arecumbent figure on the deck, with a handkerchief in his mouth and his hands and feet tied. The sailor rolled with the rise and fall of the ship and seemed most uncomfortable.
"The captain gave me a hand," Tom explained, "or else I would never have finished tying him up.
"Better keep an eye out," cautioned the mate. "Looks to me like they were going to make another try for the ladders."
"All right," the boys replied, and exchanging an encouraging slap on the back, they took up their positions.
"Holler, if you want to be saved agin," instructed Tim.
But Tom did not reply, for when he crouched down and peered at the shadow of the deckhouse, where the group was, there was something about their attitude, as nearly as he could make out, that indicated preparations for a concerted attack.
The repulse of the last assault had angered the mutineers, and they were now determined at all costs to overcome the little group on the after deck, and deal with them as they had planned.
Meanwhile, the captain had been steadilyholding the ship on the shore tack, and he figured that by daylight they would be in sight of land.
The boys had not long to wait before the rush began. With a shout, the crew dashed along the deck, faltered for a moment as the three defenders fired at them, and then came on.
The boys and the mate seized another musket each, and fired once more, this time in their opponents' very faces. But those behind pushed their frightened and wounded comrades aside and started up the ladders. The larger party made for Tom, while just enough to make things interesting surged up and down the ladder that Tim and the mate were guarding. Had one of them left to aid Tom, the other would probably have been overpowered. So Tom had his hands full, and although he kept the leaders from gaining the deck, he was slowly tiring from his exertions, and he knew that before long the mutineers would have him overpowered.
Tom was growing dizzy, and the ceaseless swinging and thrusting with his musket was weakening, when from the forward hatch burst a fresh group of men shouting wildly and rushing for the rear of the mutineers. The attacking party turned to meet what they thought wasa new foe, and Tom sank back against the cabin thoroughly exhausted.
"She's afire! Save yourselves!" the new arrivals were shouting. "She's afire! The hold is burning!"
The words came dimly to Tom's ears, and he dropped to the deck with a feeling that at last rest had come, and all was over.
But not for long. Tim and the mate came upon him lying there, and picking him up bodily, carried him to the rail. There the captain was working desperately over the boat on the davits, and the mate turned to help him. In a few moments they had the ropes loosed, and placing Tom in the bottom of the boat they all climbed in and lowered away. The dory struck the water, rose on the next wave, and was away from the ship. They pulled out the oars from under the seats, put them in place and rowed away. The sailors were rushing wildly about the decks seeking some means of escape.
"Great heavens!" ejaculated the captain. "That hold's full of powder. They'll all be blown to kingdom come!"
The little party were staggered by this sudden destruction that was overtaking their enemies,but there was nothing they could do, and they must save themselves. The rowers redoubled their efforts, and before they had gotten any great distance from the doomed vessel the waters were shaken with a great blast, and a pillar of flame shot up into the night, and the light showed the two halves of the ship split apart, with the balance of the sailors clinging to the wreckage and trying to climb aboard the floating skeleton of the wreck.
The long fight and their narrow escape had so tired Dick and Fritz that after going a few miles further, the two Patriots decided to make camp and get a much needed rest. They had gotten fairly well along on their trip, and in spite of their forced halts had covered a good deal of ground.
The boys turned aside from the road; dismounted and leading their horses, struck into the woods for a space. When they had reached a slight hollow far enough from the path of travel, to conceal their fire, they threw off their kits, and undertook the preparation of a meal.
Dick cut a few strips of bacon, kneaded a cup full of flour, and set Fritz to gathering dry leaves, twigs and heavy wood to keep the fire blazing. They were both dog-tired, but neither uttered the slightest complaint, and by the time the coffee was bubbling and the bacon sizzling over thecamp fire both boys felt a great deal better, and fell to with keen appetites on their rough meal.
"This is better than taking any chances at a farm house," said Dick. "Those soldiers we chased to-day may come back along this road, and we might get into their clutches again. I don't think we would get out as easily next time."
"Vat mit climbin' chimneys, und hidin' unter straw heabs, und running und fightin'—"
"Anything else you can think of, Fritz?" asked Dick, laughingly, as Fritz stopped for breath.
"Vat happened is happened, anyhow," said Fritz, "und it's a good thing dot Irisher Tim vasn't along to get us into more troubles."
Dick roared at this comment on their friend, and refused to spoil the joke by telling the German what he was laughing at. It was plain that Fritz accounted himself a skilful messenger, and didn't see that part of their troubles had been occasioned by his own good intentioned, but ill-considered acts.
The boys talked for a while, and then when the night grew chilly they rolled up singly in their blankets and soon dropped off to sleep.
For a wonder they passed the night in peace and quiet. Either the English had passed themin the dark, or they hadn't gotten up enough enterprise to prompt them to renew the pursuit after their defeat that afternoon.
The rising sun saw the boys up and ready for their march. A dip into the nearby creek, a hasty breakfast, and they were off on their trip to Vincennes.
At noon that day they rode boldly up to the door of a farm house, and asked a surly looking grey-haired farmer for a meal, for which they would gladly pay what was fair. The man's face brightened visibly at the mention of payment, and after looking them over again, he drawled, "Wall, I reckon you two young uns kin get a bit here, providin' you're able to pay fer it."
"Sure," answered Fritz, holding out a handful of coin with which he was equipped for traveling.
The man's eyes narrowed a little at the sight of the money, but he didn't express any surprise, and nodding toward the stable, said, "Just stow your nags in there and come in. We'll have somethin' ready in a minit."
As they turned toward the stable Dick thought he saw another form through the half-open door of the kitchen, but the vision was so uncertainthat he dismissed the thought and busied himself with his horse.
"Dot money opened the old crab's eyes, yes?" chuckled Fritz.
"Seemed to me he closed them," said Dick. "I'm afraid it isn't wise to show more than one coin at a time, Fritz."
"Dot old feller couldn't do notings," boasted the German boy. "And besides I don't always got so much to show."
"Oh, I guess everything is all right," replied Dick, "but I thought the old man looked rather interested at your display of good money."
"Veil, id don't do him any no good," returned Fritz. "He gets enough for vat fer meals he gives us, und dot's all."
The boys now walked up to the house, and entered the kitchen. Again Dick thought he saw someone in the front room, but he couldn't investigate, and besides, what of it? There were undoubtedly others in the house.
The farmer appeared to have prepared the meal himself, and as he set it before them he plied them with questions.
"Bin fightin'?" he queried.
"Some," replied Dick, his mouth full of hot potato.
"Which side?" asked the farmer.
"Patriot, of course."
"Of course," agreed the old man.
"Sure," said Fritz, and Dick kicked him in the shins.
"Hear them British is about knocked out," continued their host.
"They will be before long," Dick answered. "They are getting enough of this chasing up and down the country, and finding food scarce and enemies plentiful."
"They ain't all enemies, though."
"No, there are a few good for nothing Tories left," said Dick.
"That's kind o' hard talk," the old man drawled.
"They ought to be called worse than that," Dick returned sharply.
"S'pose I was one, myself?"
Fritz choked at the very thought of such a possibility, and Dick began to look about for the cause of the farmer's long conversation. At that instant there came a long whistle from outside the house, and with a bound the farmer reachedthe door and stood in front of it. Dick sprang from his stool, grabbed the old man roughly about the shoulders, and hurled him from his position at the door. He ran outside, followed by Fritz, who had started to his comrade's assistance, and discovered their two horses going at a gallop down the road, led by a young man on a third horse.
"So that's their little game," cried Dick.
"Come on, ve'll catch him," yelled Fritz, and started headlong in pursuit.
Dick ran with him, but it was soon evident to both of them that the longer they ran the farther behind they got. So they slowed down to a walk, and as they reached the top of a long wooded hill, they stopped to get their breath.
"I'll climb up that old tree, I guess," said Dick. "Maybe we can see something of the rascals from the top."
"Yah, und I'll go too up," commented Fritz.
So the two started climbing, and Dick gradually worked his way toward the upper branches of an aged oak. When he had almost reached the top he heard a loud crash, and looking below saw his good friend land with a dull thud on the mossy ground beneath.
"What's the trouble?" called Dick.
"Troubles enough," responded the startled boy. "Dot old tree is so shaky dot I don't see how you up climbed him."
This statement occasioned so much laughter on Dick's part, that the old monarch of the forest in retribution pretty nearly landed him on the ground beside Fritz, and it was only by hurriedly grasping the nearest branches and steadying himself that Dick retained his position.
"Veil, vhere is he at?" questioned Fritz, referring to the person whom they had seen making away with their horses.
"Can't see him at all," Dick replied, scanning the road for a view of the vanished horseman. "That's funny, too, Fritz, for I can see way ahead of where he should be."
"Maype he is hiding," conjectured the German.
"By George!" ejaculated Dick.
"How do you know his name?" asked Fritz.
"Don't," responded Dick. "Look here, Fritz. There is another road running parallel with this one, a little further down in the valley."
"Vell, dot don't help us any yet," replied Fritz. "One road is enough to valk on. No, yes?"
"But I'll bet it does help us, you lazy goose.That fellow may have gone across to it through the woods, and if we hurry, we'll head him off."
Dick came down rapidly and the two rushed off through the brush and timber toward the road which Dick had discovered.
"Be a little careful about making any noise," cautioned Dick. "If that fellow hears us floundering about in this way, he will take alarm and ride off again, and then where would all your tree climbing and running help you?"
"Py golly, running is bad, but no more shaky trees for me," replied Fritz.
They could now see the opening ahead of them where the road ran through. It was a rough log track, and unless in a desperate hurry, no one would think of galloping over it. The two boys crouched behind the wall of foliage that reached to the road's edge, and were almost ready to abandon all hope of meeting their man, when from down the road came the sound of whistling, and presently the young Tory and the trio of horses came in sight.
The youth evidently assumed that he was now perfectly safe from pursuit, and was proceeding leisurely back to the farm house with his prize. Probably he would have soon left the horses inthe woods, and then have gone to the farm house alone to get the lay of the land, but if such had been his intention, it was rudely interrupted by the two Patriots whose mounts he was so calmly leading.
With a shout which could be heard a mile, Dick and Fritz leaped from their ambush and grasped the startled Tory's horse. Fritz held tight to the bit and Dick grabbed the young farmer by the leg and pulled him out of the saddle.
Dick then proceeded to administer a sound and much deserved thrashing to the cause of their trouble, and when the young fellow recovered partially from his surprise, he broke away and started on a dead run for the farm house. Dick had neither time or desire to pursue him, and was well satisfied with recovering their steeds, and Fritz was particularly delighted with the addition of one horse to their party. The Tory was well out of reach by now, and before he turned to dive into the safety of the woods, he shouted, placing his hands to his mouth to form a megaphone, "Next time I'll get you, you rebels!"
"That fellow seems familiar to me somehow," said Dick. "I wonder where we've seen him before?"
"Oh—ah—I've got it," stuttered Fritz.
"Got what?" asked Dick.
"Dot's the same feller you pushed in the ditch already, the day we started out."
"You're right," answered Dick. "That's who it is."
"Sure, I'm right," returned Fritz, as if such was always the case.
"I wonder what he's doing here. He must have followed us after that little meeting we first had. Do you know, Fritz, I believe that fellow has been responsible for the close attention we have been getting all along the line. But what can his object be?"
This was too much for Fritz's detective powers, and he gave up the matter as beyond explanation. But Dick didn't, and it bothered him for some time as they rode rapidly along with their captive horse tugging at the line behind them.
The log road seemed to take the right direction, and rather than search through the woods for the main highway, the boys held to it. It was comfortable riding here too, and the overhanging branches served to keep the hot afternoon sun from bothering the travelers.
The boys rode in silence, broken only byoccasional comments upon their stormy trip thus far, and sometimes they spoke of the small wild furry folk scampering away through the underbrush aroused by the intrusion of these strangers upon their domains.
The calm of a warm summer afternoon in the forest settled upon the boys, and they were both glad of the relief, after their continued excitement and vigilance. Dick's thoughts traveled back to their home up north, and lingered longer than necessary on a very close relative of Ben Foster's, namely, Ben's sister. And when he recovered with a guilty start from those pleasant memories, his mind roamed again to Ben, himself, lying in the Charleston hospital, with Tom and Tim, bless them, watching over him.
They, too, were perhaps under way by this time and before long they would either meet where the trail struck in across the mountains, or they would be traveling very closely after one another. And yet, in the unforeseen future, one of them might fail to complete that journey. But no, Dick refused to entertain such discouraging thoughts.
Dick came to with a start. He had been dozing there in the shade of the great forest trees;in fact, Fritz was still half asleep in his saddle. The horses had walked steadily on, all this time, however, and now they were back in the main roadway again.
"Wake up, old man!" called Dick.
"Yah. Um," yawned Fritz, coming back to earth.
"We have got to keep our eyes open, now," said Dick.
And they did, until some time after night fall, when both of them, tired with the day's march, climbed from their saddles, walked back into the sparsely covered timber land with their horses, and prepared for another night in the open.
The day was just beginning to break in the East when the little wave-tossed boat bearing the Patriot survivors of the ill-fated ship, drew in sight of land. The first bright rays of the rising sun showed the low fringe of shore to the four in the boat, and it was a very welcome sight indeed. Tom had now recovered his strength, and was anxious to take his place at the oars, but although his comrades were tired out with several hours' rowing, they refused to allow him to exert himself till he had fully recovered from the strain of the night's battle. Tom's part in that fight had been the hardest, and he had certainly shown himself to be a true Dare, fearless and strong in all circumstances.
As the light grew stronger, Tim, who was in the bow, exclaimed, "Faith, and it seems to me they are cooking our breakfast for us."
Although the rest had no idea who "they"referred to, all looked towards the distant shore, and it seemed, as Tim had said, that several thin streams of smoke were rising and joining into a heavier column above the treetops.
"Looks like signs of an encampment," said Tom. "I wonder whether they are friends or enemies?"
"Frinds or inimies makes no difference at all," answered Tim. "We'll not be able to keep on cruising in this little tub much longer, and if they are inimies sure we'll be after tellin' them we have but just left a good boat belongin' to the sailors of King George, which will be but the plain truth, and that of all the grand company that sailed to fight the inimies of the King, we are the only ones left."
"It might be a wise thing to evade arrest or imprisonment if they are English troops," said Tom, "but we'll hope they are Patriots till we know to the contrary. What do you think about it, captain?"
"Well, it's certain that I don't want to be penned up till the end of this war, and it seems to me that if we all stick to Tim's story, we may remove any suspicion and be allowed our liberty."
"Sure, and in this game it's only right andproper to keep your liberty," replied Tim. "And remember, Tom, you have got work ahead of you before we get to——"
"Where we are going," interposed Tom, quickly, anxious to have everything regarding his journey kept as secret as possible. He knew that the mate and the captain were perfectly loyal to the cause, but his instructions were to keep his destination to himself, and he intended to do so.
Tim, thus admonished, said no more.
The boat had drawn nearer the shore now, and all four were keenly and somewhat anxiously watching the beach for signs of the men they knew must be there.
They had not long to wait, for in a few minutes a whole company tumbled out of the woods and ran down to the beach for their morning swim. As they were in the act of undressing, one of them caught sight of a boat containing the Patriots.
"Hi, there, comrades," he shouted, "we are having early visitors."
Several of the men ran back for their rifles, and so Tom stuck up an oar with his handkerchief knotted at the end of it, as a signal of friendship.The mate and Tim pulled straight for the group on the beach.
"Better make it seem as though we are glad to see them," the mate suggested. "If they take us for Tories, we will be free to go our own way, but if they suspect our real feelings we will certainly be in trouble."
So they rowed steadily shoreward, pointing the nose of their little craft for the group of British troops.
"Ahoy on shore!" shouted Tim. "We are after comin' from his majesty's royal fleet, and want to spake with your officers."
Tim grinned as he shouted this, and all the party wondered how his story would be taken.
"You'll see them quick enough," replied one of the Redcoats. "Plenty quick enough if you are friends of his majesty's—God bless him—and too quick if you are not."
Some of the soldiers ran out into the surf and pulled the boat in when they had about reached the beach, and with many expressions of thankfulness and apparent joy the Patriots tumbled out and joined the English.
"We are the last of a strong little crew and agood ship," volunteered the captain. "The other poor boys went down with the ship."
"And what may you be doing here, when, as far as I can see, a captain is supposed to stick till the last?"
"We were rowing about, trying to pick up this man who had fallen overboard," invented the captain, who had been caught in a peculiar position. In fact, as this instance shows, and as the boys well knew, it is both unwise and difficult to attempt deception, even in a good cause.
"A likely thing to my way of thinking," said the soldier. "Captains do not generally go overboard after sailors when they fall over, do they?"
"Not generally," said Tom. "But the captain and I had been good friends, and he was anxious to save me quickly."
"Guess this must be a matter for the officers," said one of the men. "They will pretty soon find out whether these fellows are what they claim to be or not."
Now, Tom had a great dislike for being seen by the officers, for his activities with Dick had often thrown him into the enemy's hands, and he was afraid that some of his former captors might be with this party. Therefore to gain alittle time, he said, "Now, see here, boys, everything you will find to be all right and satisfactory, and before we go to see the general or whoever it is that has command, we would like to take a dip in the surf and get freshened up a bit. Rowing around all night in an open boat doesn't help your appearance any, and we'll just join you boys in a swim, if you don't mind. Then we'll all be ready to go up and straighten things out."
"That's all right, young feller," said the spokesman of the troops, a corporal, "you can have your swim all right, but don't you be too sure it will be as easy to straighten things out as you think."
"Good," said Tom. "That's fine. And we'll be able to explain everything later on."
Meanwhile, Tom's mind had been working rapidly, and he saw that they would easily ferret out the truth of the story as long as there were four of them to question. He didn't see how Tim and he could be any worse off by facing the matter out. It was about time for Dick and Fritz to be along in that part of the country, too, for their trip overland would take them longer than Tom had taken, being driven rapidly up the coast by the storm. Therefore, it seemed tohim that if he could manage to get the captain and the mate out of the way, it would be better all around. So, when the party prepared to remove their clothes, Tom whispered to the captain:
"Captain, we can't stop to argue matters out to form any detailed plan, but Tim and I will start some kind of a fuss in the water now, and while we keep their attention, you and the mate float quietly down the shore on your backs till you reach those plum bushes—see them?—those beach plums down there." Tom motioned with his eyes. "It's a great joke being taken for rebels isn't it?" he said in a louder voice as a soldier approached. "One would think we looked like desperadoes."
The captain smiled and nodded his head, and Tom saw that he was answering his instructions.
"Come along, you fellows," shouted the corporal, "we haven't got all morning for this swim."
"All right. We're ready," answered Tom, and they all trotted down to the water's edge.
"Gee, it's cold," chattered Tom.
"Faith, and if your lordship will wait a moment, I'll warm it for you," replied Tim, giving Tom a vigorous push that sent him floundering out to his waist.
"I'll fix you for that," shouted Tom, seeing that Tim had unconsciously started the excitement that he wanted.
Tom ran back and headed Tim up the shore away from the plum bushes. They raced about fifty yards, and at the shout of the soldiers, who were all watching their antics with interest, Tim ducked and rushed out into the water. Tom was on his heels and they began a spirited water-fight, of which Tim soon had enough, and he turned and dove through an oncoming wave and struck out lustily to evade Tom.
Things were working out better than Tom had expected, and the soldiers, amused by the spirited fight the two boys were waging, followed them up the beach and gave the mate and the captain an excellent chance to scurry down the water line with their clothes in their hands.
Tom, keeping far enough from Tim to encourage him, and yet near enough to keep the interest of the troopers, saw the naked figures go out of sight around a sand dune near the beach plums. If he could only give them a few more minutes they would be safe, and after some more running, and a moment's stop to don their clothes, would be out of the soldier's reach. And Tom didn'timagine that they would ever let the troops get close enough to catch them, either.
"I've got you now, you Irish villain," he yelled at the sputtering Tim. Tom reached out and caught the flying foot in front of him, and in a minute had Tim ducked head-foremost under the water.
The soldiers set up a shout of laughter at this, and letting Tim come to the surface, Tom renewed the splash-fight, treading meanwhile with his feet. Tim, however had had quite enough by this time, and was heading for land as fast as his tired arms and legs would propel him.
He arrived sputtering and breathless, and shouted as best he could with a mouth full of salt water, "Enough. I've got enough, you old duck. Just 'cause I give you a friendly pat, up you go and chase me over the face of the whole earth."
"If that was a friendly pat, I'm glad you didn't push me hard," replied Tom, laughing.
A bugle rang out in the woods just then, and the men made a hasty dive for their clothes, some of them not even stopping to dry perfectly. While they were rushing around, a group of officers appeared at the edge of the timber on their way to the beach.
"Where are those other two?" suddenly queried the corporal, recalled to his sense of duty by the appearance of the officers.
"Gone on up to the camp, I suppose," said Tim. "Sure, an' if they were as hungry as me they would be eating ye out of house and home by now."
Tom felt that by this time the two sailors had gotten a fair start, and his spirits were rising proportionately, when of a sudden a shot, followed by several scattering reports, rang out.
"Come along, you two!" shouted the corporal, and the two boys were hustled unceremoniously up the beach, donning their clothes as best they could while trotting along. The officers had turned and dashed back toward the encampment, and when the soldiers with their captives reached there the whole place was in confusion, with troops rushing in all directions, shouting and firing their muskets at random into the woods.
"This cooks our goose," said Tom. "They are evidently disturbed at something, and I can see where we come in for our share of the trouble."
"It must be the captain and the mate they are blazing at," suggested Tim. "Sure, and theywill never hit a thing at all at the rate they are firin' and rushin' around."
"I hope they don't," said Tom.
"Come this way, ye rebels!" bellowed the excited corporal.
"Don't pay any attention when he calls us rebels," said Tom. "Don't let him see that we recognize the name at all."
At their apparent indifference to his commands, the corporal ran up and grasping them each by an arm, hurried up to the central tent. An officer in a major's uniform was talking to a young man as they were brought up, and gave no heed to their presence till he was finished.
The boys listened eagerly, and were greatly astonished to hear what was going on between the two.
"A piece of rank carelessness on the part of the men," the major was saying. "They were both securely guarded, and should never have escaped, but the minute our backs are turned these hired troops forget their duty, and everything else but themselves, and give those rascals a chance that they didn't overlook."
"There'll be the dickens to pay when this gets to headquarters," said the young fellow incivilian's clothes. "We have got to get them again, or we will have to pay for it. I've followed those two for a full week or more, and had them almost secure three times, and every time they slip away when they seem safest. When we get them again we'll have to let nothing stand in the way of their safe return to Charleston."
"Don't worry, we'll get them again," returned the major. "With this force at our disposal, two young fellows like that can never successfully escape us for long."
"They better not or we might as well stay away too," replied the young man. "And, besides, I have a little personal matter to settle with one of them."
"So that's what makes you so anxious to get them, is it?" queried the officer.
"That makes me doubly anxious," answered the younger man.
"Do you know who they are talking about?" asked Tom, in a whisper.
"Sure, and it must be Dick Dare and Fritz," answered Tim.
Dick Dare and Fritz journeyed for several days without anything happening to impede their progress, and they had made up most of the time that had been lost in their earlier escapades. They took no chances at night and slept out in the open rather than risk capture or trouble in a farm house.
Their midday meals they had bought from farmers, and had eaten them standing by their horses, not caring to experience another loss of those faithful animals.
The boys' spirits rose with their long freedom from trouble, and although they still kept a sharp outlook for signs of the enemy, they didn't find anything to disturb them.
If it had not been for Dick's persistent efforts to hurry, Fritz would have considered the whole affair as an outing for pleasure only, but as it was, their hard traveling and short rests kepthim always on the go, and he never felt that he had had quite enough sleep. Dick was tireless and seemed only to think of the haste they were in, and pushed ahead for Vincennes relentlessly. Their long immunity from trouble had lulled Dick into too great a sense of safety, and it was while eating their supper one evening by the roadside that the boys were startled by a bugle call in the woods which lay back of them.
They jumped to their feet, seized the bridles, and climbing hastily into their saddles, started full tilt up the road. Almost instantly a party Redcoats stepped out and halted their progress in that direction. Wheeling hastily, the boys covered about a hundred yards back, fearing that at any moment a volley would follow them, but not a gun was fired, and just as they began to feel new hope, another group of soldiers appeared before them, blocking their way completely.
Dick turned desperately toward the fences at the roadside, but the road was lined with Redcoated, grinning troopers.
"An ambush!" cried Dick.
"Trapped good and proper this time, young feller," observed a corporal, smiling with satisfaction. "Guess you two have kept away fromus long enough. Come along and see the major."
The boys were surrounded, and both Fritz and Dick saw that escape was out of the question at present, so both decided to take things coolly and make the best of a bad situation.
The major, accompanied by his brother officers, stood in the road as the captives were led up, and showed his satisfaction at their capture. Dick and Fritz were both startled to see the young southerner with the group, and he in particular seemed immensely pleased to get the boys again.
"You two have led us a pretty chase, and should be working in a better cause," said the major.
"But they are on the wrong side of the fence this time," said the young fellow Dick had rolled into the ditch the first day out. "And that Dare boy has been almost hanged so many times that the general will take great pleasure in finishing the job this time, I'm sure."
"It seems that we are your prisoners," said Dick, turning to the officer. "I trust you will save us the indignity of being insulted by that young boor at your side."
"Seems to be some little feeling, eh?" chuckledthe officer. "All right, my young bantam, you and your friend can join the men, I guess, and we will see that your company is selected most carefully."
"Dot's imbossible, in this troop," said Fritz to Dick, but no one else heard him.
The two Patriots were placed on horseback, and with their wrists tied together, and a rope passed to two troopers the company passed on up the road.
They turned out from the main road soon and pitched camp on a wooded slope leading down to the sea, where the sound of the breakers soon lulled the tired Redcoats to sleep.
The boys were placed near a large fire, and were securely guarded. Dick and Fritz were both tired out, and after seeing that there was no immediate hope of escape or help, both rolled over and joined their captors in slumberland.
Early the next morning the camp was astir, and the boys saw the men prepare for a dip into the surf.
"It would be dandy to have a little plunge in those breakers," said Dick. "How about you, Fritz?"
"Yah, I suppose it would, but I bet it's cold," replied the German, rubbing his eyes.
"Can we go along with you men?" asked Dick.
"I'll see about it," answered one, walking toward the officers' tents.
He returned in a moment with a favorable reply, and in a jiffy the boys were racing down the sands with the first group of men.
After an invigorating plunge in the cold waves, the boys dressed and returned to the camp. All there were astir by now, and the two prisoners were conducted to the centre of the encampment and left in charge of two soldiers. Various groups were assembled about their respective fires, and all were eagerly hastening the preparation of their morning meal. From each group certain ones were despatched into the surrounding forest to gather a liberal supply of firewood, while others measured out portions of coffee, flour and bacon.
The cooks fussed importantly over the fires, ordering the men about in tones they would not dare to use when away from their important positions. At meal times the cooks of a camp are always the autocrats.
Dick and Fritz sniffed the air hungrily andthanked fortune that at least they would not be starved to death.
"There doesn't seem to be any hope of escape just now, does there?" said Dick.
Fritz wrinkled up his nose and gazed thoughtfully about him.
"For myself, I don't care about escapes till after we eat somedings," he returned.
"Then you had better eat it soon," Dick commented, "for if we get a chance we won't stay around for breakfast. The rest of the troop are all going down to the water now, and if we have any opportunity at all this morning it is apt to come now."
As Dick had said, the balance of the troop, by far the largest part, were leaving for a dip in the ocean, while the breakfast preparations and prisoners were left in charge of the first little company who had gone in when the boys did.
"Let's wander over by the beach and watch the crowd," suggested Dick.
"All right. Dot's as good as anyding, only I would like to hurry those cooks again yet," replied Fritz. "Dot cooking of bacons is bad for my appetite, already. If they don't make it done soon already I would eat it unraw."
"You're mighty particular about your food, seeing you're a prisoner," laughed Dick.
"In this war it is no fair to torture prisoners," answered Fritz with spirit. "Und dat's what those Redgoats is doing me to."
"Look at that out there!" exclaimed Dick Dare, pointing as he spoke to a little dark spot bobbing on the waves in the distance. The boys had reached the edge of the trees by now, and were forbidden by the soldiers to go any further.
Fritz shaded his eyes with both hands and squinted in the direction indicated by Dick.
"Looks like a log," said Fritz.
"Not to me," replied Dick. "Seems to me that there are people in a small boat. Wonder what they can possibly be doing out there at this time of the morning?"
"Dot's right. It's peobles!" exclaimed Fritz. "Und they are goming this way."
The boys watched the approach of the boat with great interest, and when the party on board stood up to disembark, Dick Dare gave a sudden start.
"That's funny, but it can't be them," he muttered.
"Fritz, do you see anything familiar about thefigures in the boat?" he questioned in an eager whisper.
Before Fritz could study the landing party more closely, the two boys were ordered back to the camp fires, and try as they might to get another view of the beach, and the new arrivals, they were unable to move far enough away from their guards to do so.
"That's bad luck," grumbled Dick. "I had an idea that Tim and Tom were in that boat. But just when we might have been able to make them out, off we are hustled, and I don't know now whether it was them or not."
"If it was, they will be here plenty soon enough," said Fritz. "And then when we are all together once, who will get to Vincennes in dime already?"
"That would be bad," said Dick, seriously. "If this one group of soldiers should round up both parties of us, I'm afraid the general's message will never get through, and we'll all swing for our past adventures in this awful war. But come, don't let's worry about things that we are only guessing at. That may not be Tom and Tim, and really, I don't see how it could be."
For about fifteen minutes nothing newhappened, and Fritz and Dick began to hope that Dick had been mistaken in his surmise that Tom and Tim were coming ashore.
Then of a sudden they heard a great crashing in the woods where the horses were tethered, and shouts of, "I'm aboard, mate," and "Shake 'em out, captain," came plainly to their ears through the trees.
The soldiers about the fires grabbed up their guns and dashed into the woods toward the horses, and the boys could see for one brief instant two galloping forms go thundering off through the woods toward the road. The muskets cracked and the troopers shouted dire threats at the two men, but although the chase soon drew out of sight, Dick didn't think that either of the men had been hit, and at the rate they were going he was quite sure that they would not be overtaken.
The excitement of the moment had left Dick without thought for his own situation, and it was Fritz who realized that for a moment they were alone. He heard the officers returning to camp from the beach, and grabbing Dick by the arm, he scurried off in a direction half waybetween that taken by the pursuing soldiers and returning officers.
"Nefer mind the breakfast," Fritz cried, abandoning his greatest need in the excitement. "Let us out get."
"Good boy," exclaimed Dick. "You have your wits with you to-day, for sure."
They had no time to talk further, however. The returning soldiers would soon be hard on their trail, and without horses, they had but a slim chance of making good their escape. The confusion, and the two parties, however, helped them more than they had hoped. They reached the road, crossed it and entered the woods on the other side without being seen.
Dick and Fritz ran on until they felt that if they did not rest soon their heads would burst. Stumbling along, keeping the sun over their right shoulders they finally came out upon a great body of water. It was the Chesapeake, and both of them dropped flat on their stomachs and bathed their tired heads in the cold salt water.
"This is all right, if we can only get a canoe now," said Dick, standing up and feeling greatly refreshed.
"It don't look so very fine to me," repliedFritz. "We are here together, yet with nothing to eat, nothing to shoot with und nothing to go somewheres with——"
"Nothing to be hung with either. You better remember that and be happy," said Dick. "We were comfortable in the British camp, maybe, but we had a noose waiting for us sooner or later, you know."
"Und ve'll keep it vaiting already," responded Fritz, very much cheered by this viewpoint.
"Bring those two in here," said the major to the corporal, who was holding Tom Dare and Tim.
He retired to the tent, and sat down on a small stool beside a camp table. The boys were pushed forward into the tent and stood before the British officer. There was no fear in their glances, and in fact they seemed the coolest members of the party.
"What have got to say for yourselves?" questioned the major severely.
"What have we got to say for ourselves?" repeated Tom, speaking to gain time.
"That's what I said!" snapped the officer. "Come now! Who are you? What are you doing here, and what explanation can you make for the escape of your two companions?"
"Praises be!" shouted Tim. "So they did escape?"
"Only temporarily," replied the major. "And kindly remember, young man, that you are in the presence of an officer of his British Majesty, and we don't permit interruptions from prisoners."
"That last expression explains our standing in this company, I presume," said Tom. "May I ask why we are considered as prisoners, when there seems to be no apparent ground for holding us?"
"There is plenty of reason for holding you two prisoners," replied the officer. "You came ashore without any good reason for being out in an open boat all night. Your two companions escaped for the time being after stealing two of our horses, and in the excitement two very important prisoners managed to slip away from their guards, thus causing us any amount of unnecessary trouble and annoyance. You have a good deal to answer for and no good answers to give as far as I can see."
"Well, to begin with, we were the survivors of a wreck. Our ship blew up, and the captain, mate, my friend and I escaped in the dory that we landed in," replied Tom. "I guess our reception was not cordial enough to inspire the other two with any desire to stay, and they justdeparted by the easiest route they could find. I don't see why we should be held responsible for their actions, nor for the escape of your other prisoners."
"Where were you bound when you were wrecked?" questioned their captor.
"New York," replied Tom, doing some hasty thinking. "We were going to land and go down to Philadelphia, where we live, after transacting some business in New York."
"What took you so far from home?" queried the major.
"We worked our way down on a coasting schooner," replied Tom, referring to a previous experience, and trying desperately to lighten the aspect of the bad situation they had fallen into.
"Your story isn't convincing enough," replied the officer, and Tom's heart sank at his words. "I think we'll keep you with us for awhile, and see what else we can find out about you. You look a whole lot like that very slippery rebel spy we are chasing, and maybe you know him."
"Who is that?" asked Tom, with apparent indifference.
"Dick Dare," replied the major, watching Tom closely.
But Tom was already sure of whom was meant and never blinked an eyelash.
"You boys can join the troops," continued the major, "and understand that any attempt to escape will be at your own risk. I think you will bear a little watching."
"I want to protest against such treatment," Tom said hotly, "and if we get the opportunity, I will report this to those who will make you regret this affair."
With that he and Tim walked out of the tent and sauntered over to a fire. The soldiers were finishing their interrupted breakfast, and at a nod from their old acquaintance, the corporal, the boys sat down and joined them. Both of them were famished and the food was very welcome.
Shortly after the meal was over, camp was struck, and the boys were given horses to ride and instructed to keep in the centre of the troop.
"These look like Dick's and Fritz's horses," said Tom. "They haven't any of the usual army trappings, and the equipment seems different from the rest."
Two of the troopers rode in the camp wagon, as their horses had been appropriated by the mateand the captain in their dash for freedom. Tom and Tim were considered more secure on horseback and in the centre of the troop.
The party rode to the edge of the bay along the road, and then several of them dismounted and closely inspected the shore for traces of any of their fugitive's footsteps. They had only gone about half a mile in this fashion when they came upon footprints leading to the water's edge. It was here that Dick and Fritz had rested after their long run through the woods. The spot where they had come out and marks down to the water's edge were all that the troopers could find, and as there was no sign of a boat having landed or pushed off, the officers decided that the boys had kept in the shallow water near shore to hide their further trail.
The troop, was therefore, ordered forward, and all the forenoon they cantered briskly along the shore road, following the turns and twistings of the irregular shore line, and making frequent detours to avoid the deeper creeks that ran into the bay. They did not stop but for a few moments at noon, when a hasty bite was snatched by the men and horses, and the latter were given a breathing spell.
Still there was no sign of the fugitives, and the two boys, Tom and Tim, were as elated as their companions were discouraged.
"Dick and Fritz must have gone the other way," said Tim, late in the afternoon.
"Or else they got hold of a boat of some kind," said Tom. "I am inclined to think it was the latter, for the other direction would have led them back toward the camp, and would have delayed them further on their journey. If these good fellows only keep going at this rate they will get us within striking distance of our destination."
"And thim never guessing how kind they are," chuckled Tim. "If they only knew how glad we are to go along they would probably face about and cart us back agin."
"We must try to gain their confidence," Tom went on, quietly. "If they do get hot on Dick's trail, and we are free to give them warning, we can be of more use staying with them than by escaping."
"Thot's a foine idea," said Tim, greatly pleased with the new turn things had taken.
"And, of course, at the end of the chase, if it only lasts that long, we'll try to make our escape,and get to Vincennes with Dick and Fritz. But I suppose that's almost too much to expect."
"Oi don't know, now. This pack of hounds seems moighty anxious to catch up with your brother and the Dootchman, and Oi'm after thinkin' they'll stay roight along to the ind of the chase."
"Let's hope the chase only ends in Vincennes then," replied Tom, hopefully.
That night the British party were able to make out the lights of several camp fires across the bay. The day's trip had brought them near the head waters of the Chesapeake, and across the narrower portion of the water the glitter of the fires could be easily distinguished. A council was held by the officers and they determined to make an early start in the morning and endeavor to reach the end of the bay before the party on the opposite shore, so that if their prey were with the other group and traveling in the same direction, they might be within striking distance.
The night passed without adventure and the two boys made considerable progress toward getting friendly with the troopers by relating stories while seated about the fires in the evening. From the talk of the soldiers, carefully guided by veiledhints from Tom, they learned the history of Dick Dare's and Fritz's adventures since they had left Charleston.
The soldiers recounted their many encounters with the two energetic Patriots and were especially bitter about their defeat by the boys and their friends some days back on the road. Tom and his companion could scarcely refrain from laughing at the thought that these men were so innocently telling Dick's own brother and one of his closest friends how these two trouble makers had outwitted the forces of his royal majesty, King George the Third.
The troopers soon tired of telling of their poor success with Dick and Fritz, however, and rather than seem too curious about the other boys, Tim encouraged one of them to tell a story of one of the European wars that the troop had engaged in.
The man was noted for his odd tales and needed but sufficient coaxing and an appreciative audience to launch into one of his yarns.
"All right," the soldier replied to Tim's urging. "Some of us boys were in the regiment when this happened, and remember the incident,but if they can stand for an old story, I'll let you have it."
"Go ahead," said two of the older men. "You can make an old tale sound new, anyhow."
Thus encouraged the soldier launched forth on his yarn.
"It was a strange regiment, that old one, of 'Dragoons,'" he began. "There were men of all lands in that band and under the 'Red Colonel' it was a rare fighting force. We were always in the front of everything and when finally a ten days' truce with the French was decided, we were all glad of the rest.