Chapter IIWaylaid on the RoadAsthe deep tones of the old bell died away on the evening air a great shout of delight went up from the people on the streets. They leaped and danced for joy. They tossed their hats in the air. They shouted and sang. Many wept for joy. It was an exciting, a thrilling manifestation.DickandTom Darewere not a whit behind any in their expressions of delight. They shouted for joy, and then in the excess of their happiness they threw their arms around each other in a bearlike hug.“Oh,Dick, I'm so glad!” criedTom. “I never was so happy in my life.”“Nor I,Tom. This is the most joyous hour of my life! How delighted father will be when we go home and tell him that it is settled, that the Declaration of Independence is a real and determined fact!”“It will please him more than anything else in the world,Dick.”“Yes, yes indeed.”Then lifting up his voice the patriot youth cried out loudly, his voice ringing clear as the notes of a bugle:“Down with the king! Long live Liberty! Long liveWashington!”The excitement was even greater after that, and instantly the cry was taken up on every hand. Thousands shouted aloud, in a thrilling, triumphant roar: “Down with the king! Long live Liberty! Long liveWashington!”People leaped and danced, and shouted till they were hoarse. They were like crazy people, but with them it was pure joy because of the thought that they were to be free, to be their own masters, independent of a tyrannical king. They had reason to be joyous and happy.It was certainly a great day for the American people–without doubt the greatest in the history of the greatest country on the face of the Globe.After awhile, when the people had calmed down to a considerable extent and were beginning to disperse to their homes,DickandTom Dareset their faces homeward. They were soon at the river, and crossing on the ferry, walked swiftly along the road. They were eager to get back and tell their father the glad, the glorious news.Part of the way the road led through a heavy growth of timber, and asDickandTomwere making their way past this point, talking enthusiastically of what they had seen in the city, and never thinking that danger might lurk near, they were suddenly set upon by four youths of about their own age–no others, in fact, thanZeke Boggs,Lem Hicksand two other Torysympathisersof the neighborhood.“We told ye we'd git even with ye!” hissedZeke Boggs, as they hurled themselves uponDickandTom. “Ye thought ye was mighty smart, there inPhillydelphy, with ever'buddy on yer side an' ag'in us, but heer its different an' we'll beat ye till ye'll wish ye had never been born! Go fur 'em, fellers!” this last to his companions.The two patriot youths, although taken by surprise, and outnumbered two to one, were yet not dismayed, for they were brave lads, and they fought the Tory youths with all their might, so fiercely, in fact, that they held their own remarkably well. They knocked down each of the four young Tories, and gave them a thumping that they would likely remember for some time. Of course, they got hit a number of times by the youths, but they did not mind it, the smart of the blows only serving to make them settle down to their work with increased vim and determination, and the result was that the Tory ruffians presently got enough of it, and suddenly ceasing the attack and dashing in among the trees at the roadside, disappeared from view, leavingDickandTom Daremasters of the situation.“Phew, that was warm work,Dick!” saidTom, wiping his perspiring face with his handkerchief.“Yes, so it was,Tom,” replied his brother. “But I believe that we made it warmer forZekeand his gang than they did for us.”“Yes, I think we did,” with a chuckle. “Say,Dick, they are better runners than fighters, aren't they!”“I think they are,Tom. They did some lively sprinting, just now, at any rate.”“I guess they won't be likely to attack us again, soon.”“Hardly.”DickandTomnow resumed their journey homeward, and reached there about half an hour later. It was still light enough to see their father at work in the backyard, as they entered the front gate. They ran around the house at the top of their speed, to halt a few moments later in front of their father.“They did it, father!” exclaimedTom, pantingly. “They adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence.”“Say you so, my son?” exclaimedMr. Darejoyously. “Well, heaven be praised! I am glad, my sons; yes, very, very glad! It means much to everybody, and to young people like yourselves more than to older ones, for you have practically the whole of your lives before you, while we older people have already lived the greater portion of the time allotted to us.”“It was wonderful, the interest and excitement shown by the people inPhiladelphia, father!” saidDick. “They were wild with delight.”“I have no doubt of it, my son. And they had reason to be delighted. It is a great thing to feel free and independent. I feel wonderfully relieved already. I feel as if shackles had suddenly been stricken from my limbs, and I have no doubt that is the way the majority of the people look at the matter, so why should they not feel joyous?”The three then entered the house,Mr. Darehaving finished his work for the evening, andMrs. Daregreeted her sons affectionately.“The Declaration of Independence has been adopted, wife,” saidMr. Dare, joyously. “The die is cast. There will be war now, undoubtedly, and it will result in the independence of the people ofAmerica. It cannot result otherwise, for the people will fight to the death. In the words ofPatrick Henry, it will be with them, ‘Give me liberty, or give me death!’”“I am glad,Henry,” saidMrs. Dare. “I am glad, and almost sorry, as well, for–I am afraid it will take you from me. You will want to enter the army, I am afraid.”“Oh, I must do so, wife,” earnestly. “Every man should step to the front and shoulder a musket and fight for liberty. Yes, I must go to the war, mother. I must join the Continental Army at once.”“I feared it,” sighed the woman. “But, I shall try to be brave and bear up well, for I know that it is the right thing for you to do. I would not want you to stay at home, when you were needed at the front to help fight the minions of King George.”“Spoken like my own true-hearted wife!” saidMr. Dare. “I knew you would look at the matter that way, dear.”At this moment there came a knock on the back-door, and whenMrs. Dareopened it, she saw a neighbor,Abe Boggs, the father ofZeke, standing there. This man was an avowed Tory, who was vehement in his declarations of allegiance to the king, and who had been heard often to viciously proclaim that all who were not in favor of the king, were traitors and that they ought to be hung. Knowing this, and instinctively disliking the man because she knew he was vicious and bad,Mrs. Dare'sheart sank when she saw who was standing there.The fact was, that the Dares lived right in the midst of a Tory neighborhood; that is the six or seven nearest neighbors were adherents of the king, and they neighbored among themselves, and would not have anything to do with the Dares. This did not bother the patriot family, however, for they did not like the Tory families anyway.Mr. Dareoften met one or more of the men, when going about his work, however, and frequently he had arguments with them. As he was a brave man, and frank-spoken as he was brave, he always told the Tories just what he thought of their king, and thus he had angered them many times, and they had learned to hate him. Only his fearlessness, and the fact that he was known to be a dangerous man to interfere with, had saved him from rough treatment at the hands of the Tories.“Good evenin',Mrs. Dare,” said Boggs, ducking his head. “Tell yer husban' to come out here; we'd like to see 'im.”Mrs. Dareglanced out into the yard, and her heart gave a leap, and then sank as she saw several of their Tory neighbors sanding in a group a few yards from the house. She noted, with a feeling of fear gripping her heart, that two or three of them had rifles in their hands.“W-what do you want,Mr. Boggs?” she asked, her voice trembling. “My husband is here, but–but–we were just going to eat supper, and—”“Supper can wait a few minutes, wife,” saidMr. Dare. “I'll see what neighbor Boggs wants. Won't you come in,Abe?”“No, we wanter see ye out here, Dare” replied the Tory. “Come out uv doors. We won't keep ye but a minnet.”“Oh, husband, be careful!” whisperedMrs. Darein her husband's ear as he passed her. “Don't anger them. They have weapons in their hands, and—” With a smile and a reassuring glanceMr. Darepassed on out, closing the door behind him. He had no fear whatever of his Tory neighbors, and would have scoffed at the idea of their trying to do him injury.DickandTomwere washing their faces and hands and combing their hair, and did not know anything about the coming of the Tories until they entered the room where their mother was, and thenMr. Darehad been out in the yard perhaps five minutes. During this timeMrs. Darehad been on the anxious seat, so to speak. She had been listening eagerly and anxiously, fearing she might hear rifle-shots, or the sound of a struggle, but no such sounds had come to her hearing. Still, she was not feeling very much reassured when the boys entered the room, and she told them about the coming ofAbe Boggsand some more of the neighbors, and how they had calledMr. Dareout, on the plea of wishing to speak to him.“He's been out there quite a while,”Mrs. Darefinished; “and I'm beginning to feel uneasy. I wish you would go out and tell father to come in, that supper is getting cold,Dick.”“Certainly, mother,” saidDick, and he hastened to the door. The truth was, that a feeling of uneasiness had taken hold upon him when he heard what his mother had to say about the Tories, and, remembering the trouble he andTomhad had withZeke Boggsand his cronies that afternoon inPhiladelphiaand on the road home,Dickwas led to fear that the Tories had called his father out of doors with evil intent.He opened the door and stepped quickly out, andTom, who had also been assailed with fears for his father's safety, was close at his heels. They looked all around, but to their surprise, and to their alarm as well, there was no one in sight. Neither their father nor the Tories could be seen anywhere. It was so dark that the youths could not see any very great distance with distinctness, but they were confident that there was nobody in the back yard.“They're around in the front yard, likely,Dick,” saidTom, but his tone lacked positiveness. It was evident that he had fears that such was not really the case.The two hastened around the house, accompanied by their mother, who had followed them to the door and had, like her sons, noted that there was nobody to be seen. And when they reached the front yard, they saw it was the same there: Not a soul was in the front yard. The Tories, andMr. Dareas well, had disappeared.“Oh, where can they be?” criedMrs. Dare, almost at the weeping point. “What have they done with your father? Oh, I am afraid they have wrought him injury of some kind, sons!”The youths were alarmed, but they pretended that such was not the case, in order to reassure their mother. They said that their father was all right.“He has gone with them, to see about something,” saidDick. “You go back in the house, mother, andTomand I will go over toMr. Boggsand see what has become of father. Likely he is there. You go in and stay with Mary. We won't be gone long.”“Very well,Dick,” saidMrs. Dare; “but hurry, for I shall be anxious till you get back with your father.”She entered the house, andDickandTomhastened over to the Boggs home, which was less than a quarter mile distant.Mr. Darewas not there, andMrs. Boggssaid she did not know where her husband was, that he had left the house an hour or more before, saying he did not know when he would be back. Thanking her for the information,DickandTomhastened to the homes of several of the neighboring Tories in succession, and made inquiries regardingMr. Dare, but with the same result as at the Boggs home. In none of the homes visited were any of the men of the house, and the women did not know where the men were.Greatly worried now, but hoping they would find their father at home when they got there,DickandTomhastened back, and as they approached the house, they caught sight of something white on the door. When they reached the door, they found it was a piece of paper, and on taking this into the house discovered it was a rudely scrawled note, signed byAbe Boggsand six of his Tory neighbors. The note read as follows:“ToMrs. Dareand rebel sons,DickandTom:“We hev tookHenry Dareprisner. Heis a rebel, an we are goin ter turn him overto Captain Wilson an his compny uvBritishsojers, who hev ben heer fur aweek past, an are goin to jine the mainarmy onLong Islandto-night. Ye kaintdo nothin to git him back, so ye needn try.An ye two boys,DickanTom, had better bekeerful er we'll serve ye worsen whut wehevyerfather. We don't aim ter hevany rebels in our neighborhood. So,DickandTom Dare, hev a care!”“Oh, husband is a prisoner in the hands of theBritish!” wailedMrs. Dare. “Oh, this is terrible, boys! What shall we do? Oh, what shall we do!”“Don't be frightened, mother,” saidDick, soothingly. “I don't think father is in any danger. He is a prisoner, true, but theBritishdon't kill prisoners, and sooner or later father will escape–or be rescued. That will be work forTomand I, mother!” his eyes lighting up. “We will make it our object in life to rescue father and get him back home here, with you, mother.”The poor woman was not greatly comforted, however, and she shook her head, at the same time saying, in a hopeless tone of voice:“What could you do, you are only a couple of boys? You could not possibly rescue father. It is useless to think of such a thing. Oh, I greatly fear I shall never see my husband again in this world! Oh, those terrible, cowardly Tories!” The good woman gave way to an outburst of uncontrollable grief.“Yes, you shall see father again, mother,” declaredDick, decidedly. “Don't worry. He is safe from personal harm, and sooner or later we will succeed in getting him located and will rescue him.Tomand I will make that our object in life.”“Yes, yes, mother,” saidTomeagerly. “We'll join the patriot army, if need be, to further our ends, and while fighting for Liberty and Independence, and aiding our country in that manner, we will at the same time be on the lookout to find father and rescue him.”“Yes, that is what we will do,” saidDick. “Father would have joined the patriot army if he had not been captured and taken away by the Tories, and now that he is not able to do that, we will do it in his stead. I know it is what father would wish us to do, and asTomsays, it will give us a better chance to find and rescue father.”“Oh, my sons, my sons! How can I spare you, too?” murmuredMrs. Dare. “How can I let you leave me, now that I have lost your dear father!”“It will be only temporary, mother. You can see, when you give the matter more thought, that it is the best thing to do.”“Perhaps so,Dick, darling,” acquiescedMrs. Dare, “but it is hard!”Throwing their arms about their mother's neck, the youths kissed her, and presently she grew more calm.
Asthe deep tones of the old bell died away on the evening air a great shout of delight went up from the people on the streets. They leaped and danced for joy. They tossed their hats in the air. They shouted and sang. Many wept for joy. It was an exciting, a thrilling manifestation.
DickandTom Darewere not a whit behind any in their expressions of delight. They shouted for joy, and then in the excess of their happiness they threw their arms around each other in a bearlike hug.
“Oh,Dick, I'm so glad!” criedTom. “I never was so happy in my life.”
“Nor I,Tom. This is the most joyous hour of my life! How delighted father will be when we go home and tell him that it is settled, that the Declaration of Independence is a real and determined fact!”
“It will please him more than anything else in the world,Dick.”
“Yes, yes indeed.”
Then lifting up his voice the patriot youth cried out loudly, his voice ringing clear as the notes of a bugle:
“Down with the king! Long live Liberty! Long liveWashington!”
The excitement was even greater after that, and instantly the cry was taken up on every hand. Thousands shouted aloud, in a thrilling, triumphant roar: “Down with the king! Long live Liberty! Long liveWashington!”
People leaped and danced, and shouted till they were hoarse. They were like crazy people, but with them it was pure joy because of the thought that they were to be free, to be their own masters, independent of a tyrannical king. They had reason to be joyous and happy.
It was certainly a great day for the American people–without doubt the greatest in the history of the greatest country on the face of the Globe.
After awhile, when the people had calmed down to a considerable extent and were beginning to disperse to their homes,DickandTom Dareset their faces homeward. They were soon at the river, and crossing on the ferry, walked swiftly along the road. They were eager to get back and tell their father the glad, the glorious news.
Part of the way the road led through a heavy growth of timber, and asDickandTomwere making their way past this point, talking enthusiastically of what they had seen in the city, and never thinking that danger might lurk near, they were suddenly set upon by four youths of about their own age–no others, in fact, thanZeke Boggs,Lem Hicksand two other Torysympathisersof the neighborhood.
“We told ye we'd git even with ye!” hissedZeke Boggs, as they hurled themselves uponDickandTom. “Ye thought ye was mighty smart, there inPhillydelphy, with ever'buddy on yer side an' ag'in us, but heer its different an' we'll beat ye till ye'll wish ye had never been born! Go fur 'em, fellers!” this last to his companions.
The two patriot youths, although taken by surprise, and outnumbered two to one, were yet not dismayed, for they were brave lads, and they fought the Tory youths with all their might, so fiercely, in fact, that they held their own remarkably well. They knocked down each of the four young Tories, and gave them a thumping that they would likely remember for some time. Of course, they got hit a number of times by the youths, but they did not mind it, the smart of the blows only serving to make them settle down to their work with increased vim and determination, and the result was that the Tory ruffians presently got enough of it, and suddenly ceasing the attack and dashing in among the trees at the roadside, disappeared from view, leavingDickandTom Daremasters of the situation.
“Phew, that was warm work,Dick!” saidTom, wiping his perspiring face with his handkerchief.
“Yes, so it was,Tom,” replied his brother. “But I believe that we made it warmer forZekeand his gang than they did for us.”
“Yes, I think we did,” with a chuckle. “Say,Dick, they are better runners than fighters, aren't they!”
“I think they are,Tom. They did some lively sprinting, just now, at any rate.”
“I guess they won't be likely to attack us again, soon.”
“Hardly.”
DickandTomnow resumed their journey homeward, and reached there about half an hour later. It was still light enough to see their father at work in the backyard, as they entered the front gate. They ran around the house at the top of their speed, to halt a few moments later in front of their father.
“They did it, father!” exclaimedTom, pantingly. “They adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence.”
“Say you so, my son?” exclaimedMr. Darejoyously. “Well, heaven be praised! I am glad, my sons; yes, very, very glad! It means much to everybody, and to young people like yourselves more than to older ones, for you have practically the whole of your lives before you, while we older people have already lived the greater portion of the time allotted to us.”
“It was wonderful, the interest and excitement shown by the people inPhiladelphia, father!” saidDick. “They were wild with delight.”
“I have no doubt of it, my son. And they had reason to be delighted. It is a great thing to feel free and independent. I feel wonderfully relieved already. I feel as if shackles had suddenly been stricken from my limbs, and I have no doubt that is the way the majority of the people look at the matter, so why should they not feel joyous?”
The three then entered the house,Mr. Darehaving finished his work for the evening, andMrs. Daregreeted her sons affectionately.
“The Declaration of Independence has been adopted, wife,” saidMr. Dare, joyously. “The die is cast. There will be war now, undoubtedly, and it will result in the independence of the people ofAmerica. It cannot result otherwise, for the people will fight to the death. In the words ofPatrick Henry, it will be with them, ‘Give me liberty, or give me death!’”
“I am glad,Henry,” saidMrs. Dare. “I am glad, and almost sorry, as well, for–I am afraid it will take you from me. You will want to enter the army, I am afraid.”
“Oh, I must do so, wife,” earnestly. “Every man should step to the front and shoulder a musket and fight for liberty. Yes, I must go to the war, mother. I must join the Continental Army at once.”
“I feared it,” sighed the woman. “But, I shall try to be brave and bear up well, for I know that it is the right thing for you to do. I would not want you to stay at home, when you were needed at the front to help fight the minions of King George.”
“Spoken like my own true-hearted wife!” saidMr. Dare. “I knew you would look at the matter that way, dear.”
At this moment there came a knock on the back-door, and whenMrs. Dareopened it, she saw a neighbor,Abe Boggs, the father ofZeke, standing there. This man was an avowed Tory, who was vehement in his declarations of allegiance to the king, and who had been heard often to viciously proclaim that all who were not in favor of the king, were traitors and that they ought to be hung. Knowing this, and instinctively disliking the man because she knew he was vicious and bad,Mrs. Dare'sheart sank when she saw who was standing there.
The fact was, that the Dares lived right in the midst of a Tory neighborhood; that is the six or seven nearest neighbors were adherents of the king, and they neighbored among themselves, and would not have anything to do with the Dares. This did not bother the patriot family, however, for they did not like the Tory families anyway.Mr. Dareoften met one or more of the men, when going about his work, however, and frequently he had arguments with them. As he was a brave man, and frank-spoken as he was brave, he always told the Tories just what he thought of their king, and thus he had angered them many times, and they had learned to hate him. Only his fearlessness, and the fact that he was known to be a dangerous man to interfere with, had saved him from rough treatment at the hands of the Tories.
“Good evenin',Mrs. Dare,” said Boggs, ducking his head. “Tell yer husban' to come out here; we'd like to see 'im.”
Mrs. Dareglanced out into the yard, and her heart gave a leap, and then sank as she saw several of their Tory neighbors sanding in a group a few yards from the house. She noted, with a feeling of fear gripping her heart, that two or three of them had rifles in their hands.
“W-what do you want,Mr. Boggs?” she asked, her voice trembling. “My husband is here, but–but–we were just going to eat supper, and—”
“Supper can wait a few minutes, wife,” saidMr. Dare. “I'll see what neighbor Boggs wants. Won't you come in,Abe?”
“No, we wanter see ye out here, Dare” replied the Tory. “Come out uv doors. We won't keep ye but a minnet.”
“Oh, husband, be careful!” whisperedMrs. Darein her husband's ear as he passed her. “Don't anger them. They have weapons in their hands, and—” With a smile and a reassuring glanceMr. Darepassed on out, closing the door behind him. He had no fear whatever of his Tory neighbors, and would have scoffed at the idea of their trying to do him injury.
DickandTomwere washing their faces and hands and combing their hair, and did not know anything about the coming of the Tories until they entered the room where their mother was, and thenMr. Darehad been out in the yard perhaps five minutes. During this timeMrs. Darehad been on the anxious seat, so to speak. She had been listening eagerly and anxiously, fearing she might hear rifle-shots, or the sound of a struggle, but no such sounds had come to her hearing. Still, she was not feeling very much reassured when the boys entered the room, and she told them about the coming ofAbe Boggsand some more of the neighbors, and how they had calledMr. Dareout, on the plea of wishing to speak to him.
“He's been out there quite a while,”Mrs. Darefinished; “and I'm beginning to feel uneasy. I wish you would go out and tell father to come in, that supper is getting cold,Dick.”
“Certainly, mother,” saidDick, and he hastened to the door. The truth was, that a feeling of uneasiness had taken hold upon him when he heard what his mother had to say about the Tories, and, remembering the trouble he andTomhad had withZeke Boggsand his cronies that afternoon inPhiladelphiaand on the road home,Dickwas led to fear that the Tories had called his father out of doors with evil intent.
He opened the door and stepped quickly out, andTom, who had also been assailed with fears for his father's safety, was close at his heels. They looked all around, but to their surprise, and to their alarm as well, there was no one in sight. Neither their father nor the Tories could be seen anywhere. It was so dark that the youths could not see any very great distance with distinctness, but they were confident that there was nobody in the back yard.
“They're around in the front yard, likely,Dick,” saidTom, but his tone lacked positiveness. It was evident that he had fears that such was not really the case.
The two hastened around the house, accompanied by their mother, who had followed them to the door and had, like her sons, noted that there was nobody to be seen. And when they reached the front yard, they saw it was the same there: Not a soul was in the front yard. The Tories, andMr. Dareas well, had disappeared.
“Oh, where can they be?” criedMrs. Dare, almost at the weeping point. “What have they done with your father? Oh, I am afraid they have wrought him injury of some kind, sons!”
The youths were alarmed, but they pretended that such was not the case, in order to reassure their mother. They said that their father was all right.
“He has gone with them, to see about something,” saidDick. “You go back in the house, mother, andTomand I will go over toMr. Boggsand see what has become of father. Likely he is there. You go in and stay with Mary. We won't be gone long.”
“Very well,Dick,” saidMrs. Dare; “but hurry, for I shall be anxious till you get back with your father.”
She entered the house, andDickandTomhastened over to the Boggs home, which was less than a quarter mile distant.Mr. Darewas not there, andMrs. Boggssaid she did not know where her husband was, that he had left the house an hour or more before, saying he did not know when he would be back. Thanking her for the information,DickandTomhastened to the homes of several of the neighboring Tories in succession, and made inquiries regardingMr. Dare, but with the same result as at the Boggs home. In none of the homes visited were any of the men of the house, and the women did not know where the men were.
Greatly worried now, but hoping they would find their father at home when they got there,DickandTomhastened back, and as they approached the house, they caught sight of something white on the door. When they reached the door, they found it was a piece of paper, and on taking this into the house discovered it was a rudely scrawled note, signed byAbe Boggsand six of his Tory neighbors. The note read as follows:
“ToMrs. Dareand rebel sons,DickandTom:
“We hev tookHenry Dareprisner. Heis a rebel, an we are goin ter turn him overto Captain Wilson an his compny uvBritishsojers, who hev ben heer fur aweek past, an are goin to jine the mainarmy onLong Islandto-night. Ye kaintdo nothin to git him back, so ye needn try.An ye two boys,DickanTom, had better bekeerful er we'll serve ye worsen whut wehevyerfather. We don't aim ter hevany rebels in our neighborhood. So,DickandTom Dare, hev a care!”
“Oh, husband is a prisoner in the hands of theBritish!” wailedMrs. Dare. “Oh, this is terrible, boys! What shall we do? Oh, what shall we do!”
“Don't be frightened, mother,” saidDick, soothingly. “I don't think father is in any danger. He is a prisoner, true, but theBritishdon't kill prisoners, and sooner or later father will escape–or be rescued. That will be work forTomand I, mother!” his eyes lighting up. “We will make it our object in life to rescue father and get him back home here, with you, mother.”
The poor woman was not greatly comforted, however, and she shook her head, at the same time saying, in a hopeless tone of voice:
“What could you do, you are only a couple of boys? You could not possibly rescue father. It is useless to think of such a thing. Oh, I greatly fear I shall never see my husband again in this world! Oh, those terrible, cowardly Tories!” The good woman gave way to an outburst of uncontrollable grief.
“Yes, you shall see father again, mother,” declaredDick, decidedly. “Don't worry. He is safe from personal harm, and sooner or later we will succeed in getting him located and will rescue him.Tomand I will make that our object in life.”
“Yes, yes, mother,” saidTomeagerly. “We'll join the patriot army, if need be, to further our ends, and while fighting for Liberty and Independence, and aiding our country in that manner, we will at the same time be on the lookout to find father and rescue him.”
“Yes, that is what we will do,” saidDick. “Father would have joined the patriot army if he had not been captured and taken away by the Tories, and now that he is not able to do that, we will do it in his stead. I know it is what father would wish us to do, and asTomsays, it will give us a better chance to find and rescue father.”
“Oh, my sons, my sons! How can I spare you, too?” murmuredMrs. Dare. “How can I let you leave me, now that I have lost your dear father!”
“It will be only temporary, mother. You can see, when you give the matter more thought, that it is the best thing to do.”
“Perhaps so,Dick, darling,” acquiescedMrs. Dare, “but it is hard!”
Throwing their arms about their mother's neck, the youths kissed her, and presently she grew more calm.