The British soldiers came dashing through the kitchen and out by way of
the rear door, and, directed by the excited redcoat that had permitted
the prisoners to escape, through leaving his post, they dashed through
the underbrush in pursuit of the three patriot soldiers.
On they ran, for quite a distance, but they did not catch sight of the
fugitives, or hear any sound of them, so they presently, there being
naught else to do, gave up the chase and made their way back to the
house, where the young people, greatly excited, were eagerly awaiting
their return.
When it was seen that the redcoats were returning empty-handed, there
was great delight expressed by the young people, though in subdued
tones, so that the redcoats could not hear what was said.
And Ralph Hicks, who had been responsible for the capture of the three
patriot youths, was glad they had escaped, for he felt that if they had
been recaptured, Sally would have kept her word, and never spoken to him
again.
When all had entered the house, the sergeant began questioning the
soldier that he had left to guard the prisoners, and the fellow said
that the prisoners had somehow gotten their hands free, and had suddenly
jumped up, knocked him down and had dashed out of the house. He had
quickly gotten to his feet and followed them, had then fired the shot
and yelled that the prisoners were escaping.
The sergeant looked puzzled, but did not say much. “I thought that you
men could tie a prisoner’s hands so that he could not get free,” he
growled. “That was a poor job you did, Simons.”
“I thought I tied their hands tight, sir,” was the reply.
“Oh, well, the rebels have made their escape, so there is no use
worrying about it,” said the sergeant. “Let’s have another dance, and
then we’ll return to camp and say nothing about it.”
They went back into the front room, the musician started a tune, and
they were soon dancing with great enthusiasm. And after the dance was
over, they and the young people went into the kitchen and ate heartily
of the food that had been prepared.
All that the young folks regretted was that Dick and Tom Dare and Ben
Foster, whom they had taken a liking to, were not there to help enjoy
the supper, as they had expected would be the case.
As for the three in question, they had ran onward till they found that
the redcoats had given up the chase, when they had turned around and
made their way back to the house. And when the young people were eating,
and at the same time wishing the patriot youths were there, the three
were near enough so that while they could not look in through the
window, they knew what was going on. Dick, Tom and Ben would liked to
have been in there, engaged in the same pleasing work, but fortunately
they had eaten heartily that evening, after reaching the Hart home, and
were not really hungry. So they simply watched and waited.
When the soldiers and the young folks had finished the repast, the
redcoats took their departure, and soon after they had left the house,
by way of the front door, Dick Dare opened the rear door, and called to
Sally Hart, who came quickly, a delighted look on her face.
“I wanted to thank you for freeing us,” said Dick. “It was very kind of
you, and we appreciate it, I assure you.”
“Oh, I was glad to set you free,” said Sally. “I am a patriot girl, you
know, and I didn’t want the redcoats to take you to their camp,
prisoners.” And then she motioned toward the table, and said: “Come on
in, and have something to eat. There is plenty of food left.”
“Thanks, we will do so, Miss Sally,” said Dick. “But, I will go and make
sure that the redcoats have taken their departure. Tom, you and Ben can
go on in. I’ll be back in a few moments.”
Tom and Ben entered the house, and Dick made his way around to the
front, and after listening a few moments, heard the voices of the
British soldiers, as they made their way through the woods, toward their
encampment.
He followed a couple of hundred yards, and then, feeling sure that the
redcoats would not return, he went back to the house and entered the
kitchen, where Tom and Ben were already seated at the table, eating.
Dick took a place beside them, and Sally waited on the three, while the
young folks stood around, asking questions about the manner in which the
young patriot soldiers had escaped from their pursuers.
When the three had finished their supper, the young folks said they
would be going home, and they shook hands with Dick, Tom and Ben and
said good-night and went to their homes.
Mr. Hart invited the three patriot youths to spend the night there, and
they accepted the invitation, though Dick said they would want to leave
early in the morning, so as to get to the encampment of the party of
British soldiers before they broke camp and started away, as it was his
intention to follow them to the main encampment of the British.
“I’ll get you up as early as you like,” said Mr. Hart.
The youths were given blankets, and lay on the floor in the big front
room, and slept soundly. They were up early, and found that Mrs. Hart
and Sally had been up some time, and that they had breakfast on the
table.
Dick told them that they need not have gone to this trouble, but they
said it was a pleasure to them. The three youths ate heartily, and then
said good-by. They took their departure, promising that they would call
at the Hart home, if ever they were in the vicinity again.
They made their way to the vicinity of the British encampment, and found
the redcoats just astir and that they were getting their breakfast.
“We are in plenty of time,” said Dick. “We will stay here, where we can
keep a good watch on them, and when they break camp and leave, we will
follow them.”
This they did, and about an hour later the redcoats broke camp and set
out through the open country, going toward the east. The patriot youths
followed, skirting the woods, and kept the redcoats in view, being
careful, however, to keep out of sight themselves.
On marched the redcoats, and always on the trail the youths. They were
feeling pretty well satisfied, for they believed they would soon
discover the whereabouts of Arnold’s encampment.
About the middle of the forenoon, the three reached the top of a high
ridge, and on looking ahead, down the slope, they saw, about half a mile
distant, in an open piece of ground of perhaps fifty or seventy-five
acres, a good-sized encampment, which they did not doubt was the
objective point of their search. The redcoats they had been following
had just reached the camp, and had settled down as if intending to stay.
“That’s Arnold’s encampment, without doubt,” said Dick. “Well, now we
must get the information to Colonel Morris as soon as possible.”