The patriot soldiers dashed forward, running rapidly through the heavy
underbrush that intervened, and when they were in range, they were
halted suddenly, at a command from the captain, who promptly ordered
them to fire a volley.
The redcoats, seeing that a very considerably stronger force than their
own was coming, had leaped behind trees, shielding themselves as best
they could, so that the volley fired by the patriot soldiers did not do
a great deal of damage, wounding a few, but not killing any.
The British soldiers then returned the fire, but the patriot soldiers,
upon order of the Captain were crouching low, so that only one or two
received slight flesh wounds, but no serious harm was done.
Again the captain yelled for the patriot soldiers to charge, and they
did so, dashing forward at the top of their speed. At this the redcoats
turned and fled at the top of their speed, evidently deciding that it
would not be practicable for them to try to stand their ground.
After them went the patriots, firing their pistols and yelling loudly,
and the redcoats ran as they probably had never run before. The patriot
soldiers followed them perhaps a quarter of a mile, and then, not
wishing to waste effort or ammunition, at a command from the captain,
they stopped.
Returning now to the point where the raiders had been encamped, Dick
Dare said that he would go to the island in the swamp and tell the
patriot settlers that they could now come back to their homes, as the
enemy had been driven away.
“I’ll tell you what I would prefer you would do, Dick,” said the
captain. “I wish you would follow that party of redcoats. They will
likely return to their main encampment, and by following them you will
be enabled to learn where Arnold’s force is. Somebody else can go to the
island and carry the news to the settlers.”
“True. Very well, Captain Morgan. I will go on the trail of the British
soldiers, and as soon as I have located their encampment, I will return
and bring you the information.”
“Good, Dick. That will please me, for I want to get after that traitor,
Arnold.”
So Dick hastened away, through the forest, following the course taken by
the redcoats. He went swiftly, for he wanted to get his eyes on the
escaping soldiers, when he would have no great difficulty in keeping
them under surveillance.
On he hastened, and about half an hour later he caught sight of the red
uniforms of the soldiers bobbing about between the trees in front of
him.
“There they are,” murmured Dick, slackening his pace. “Good. Now I can
follow them without much trouble.”
The party continued on southward till they were nearly to the James
River, and then they turned toward the east, and went in that direction
several miles. Coming to an open spot on the top of a knoll, when they
were at a distance of perhaps ten miles from the encampment by the
swamp, that they had recently quitted so hurriedly, they again went into
camp.
Dick stopped and from a position behind a tree, watched them with a
feeling of disappointment. “They don’t seem to have any intention of
going to the main encampment, yet awhile, anyhow,” he murmured. “Well, I
will stay here and keep watch on them, and perhaps later on they will go
to the British camp.”
The redcoats remained where they were, and when finally noon came, they
ate some food that they carried in knap-sacks, and this made Dick feel
hungry. He had come away in such a hurry that he had not thought of
food.
He was determined not to lose sight of the British soldiers, however, so
he stuck to his post, and waited for them to continue their journey.
About the middle of the afternoon Dick heard the sound of voices from
behind him, and turned around quickly--to see Tom and Ben coming through
the timber!
“Well, if there don’t come the boys!” he murmured. “Now, I will have
company, anyhow.”
Fearing that the redcoats up on the top of the knoll might hear the
voices of the youths, or catch sight of them, Dick hastened to meet the
two, and when they discovered him, he made a cautioning gesture to which
they gave heed for they stopped and waited for him to join them.
“Have you found the encampment of Arnold, Dick?” asked Tom, eagerly.
“No,” was the reply. “The party of redcoats that we chased away have
stopped here and gone into camp. I’m waiting for them to continue their
journey.”
“Well, I’m glad we caught up with you and we have brought you rations.”
“Which is most welcome news.”
They settled down behind a clump of bushes, and took it easy while Dick
filled, in some degree, the empty void within him. They could peep
through between the bushes and see the redcoats on the knoll; and Tom
and Ben now told Dick that Tim and Fritz had come to the island and
brought the news that the patriot soldiers were there and had driven the
redcoats away.
“The patriot settlers came back to the mainland and went to their homes
again,” said Tom. “And the soldiers are encamped at the settlement,
where they will stay till we get back with the news of the whereabouts
of Arnold’s main encampment.”
“That is good,” said Dick.
“Yes,” said Ben. “What luck did you have, Dick, climbing through the
tops of the trees?”
Dick then told them of his experience in the bog, and how Fritz and
Herbert Miller had come to his rescue, just when he had begun to think
he would perish in the bog.
“It was lucky that they happened to find that path and were trying to
reach the island,” said Tom.
“Yes, it was my only salvation. There was near to being an end to Dick
Dare.”
Slowly the time rolled away, and evening came, with the redcoats still
encamped on the top of the knoll. As soon as it was dark, Dick crept up
close to the encampment, and after listening a while, succeeded in
hearing enough of the conversation of the soldiers to learn that it was
their intention to remain there all night.
Dick made his way back to where Tom and Ben were and told them the news.
“Such being the case,” he said, “we don’t need to stay right here and
keep watch on the camp all the time. We will go and find a settler’s
home and get something to eat.”
“That’s the idea,” said Tom. “I am beginning to feel pretty hungry.”
“I could enjoy a bite, myself,” said Ben.
“Come, then,” said Dick. “We’ll see if we can find a place where we can
get something to eat.”
He set out through the woodland with Tom and Ben close beside him. They
traveled thus for perhaps half an hour, during which time darkness
overtook them, then they suddenly caught sight of lights, through
between the trees.
“There’s a little settlement!” exclaimed Tom.
“Yes, and there’s something going on at one of the houses,” said Ben.
“See, that house near the center is lighted up more than the others, and
I hear music.”
“Sounds like a violin,” said Tom. “Likely they are having a party
there.”
The youths were soon close to the house in question, and saw that there
were a number of young people, young men and girls, in the front room,
dancing to the music from a violin.
“A dance!” exclaimed Tom. “Let’s go in, boys, and enjoy ourselves a
while.”
The other two willingly agreed. It was not often that they had found
opportunity for amusement, so advancing to the door, Dick knocked.