In the Enemy's Camp
Dick Dare had accomplished what had seemed to be the most difficult
part of the task that he had come here to accomplish, viz.: Gotten
within the British lines, had become, in fact, a member of the British
army.
So far so good. Now to secure information that would be of value to
General Washington and a benefit to the great Cause of Liberty.
"What's your name?" asked one of the British soldiers.
"Harry Fuller," Dick replied
"Where do you live?"
"Oh, about ten miles from here," replied the youth
"Parents living."
"Yes," replied Dick.
"And so you have joined the king's army and are going to help make it
hot for the rebels, hey" with a chuckle. "Good for you."
"Yes," said Dick, "I am eager to get a chance to strike blows against
the rebels. How soon do you think that will happen? When are we likely
to get into a battle with them?"
"Hard telling, young man. That's for the generals to say. What their
plans may be is more than I can say."
"I have heard it rumored in our part of the country that he British
will make an attack on the rebels soon. That's the reason I came here
to-night. I thought maybe the attack might be made to-morrow, and if I
didn't get here to-night, I would not arrive in time for the fight."
"We might be ordered to move against the rebels to-morrow, for all I
know," was the reply. "And then again we might be left sitting here a
week or a month. I haven't any idea when the move will be made."
"I hope it will be soon," declared Dick, with a view to keeping up the
pretense of being imbued with an intense desire to get at the rebels.
"You'll get a chance to do all the fighting you care for, one of these
days, young fellow," said another soldier. "Don't worry on that
score."
"I'm not worrying about it, sir," said Dick.
"Do you think you will fight when the time comes?" half-sneered
another, rather evil-featured fellow, leering at Dick. "I'd be willing
to wager that you'll do more running than fighting."
"You might lose your money if you wagered it that way," said Dick,
quietly, gazing steadily at the speaker.
"I might, but I don't think I would," with a harsh laugh. "I don't
think much of the bravery of the Americans, whether rebels or king's
men. They are not the kind that make good soldiers."
"I suppose you think that you are," said Dick, calmly.
"I know it, sonny!" fiercely. "I've been tried in the fire, do you
hear? I'm a veteran, and have seen service in the fields of Europe,
India and Africa."
"You seem to be great at blowing your own horn, at any rate," said
Dick, quietly. And several of the other soldiers sitting near
snickered, which seemed to anger the other very much.
"Do you mean to insult me?" he cried, glancing fiercely at Dick.
"Oh, no," coolly. "I was simply stating a fact, that is all."
"Well, you had better be careful, that's all I have got to say!"
snarled the redcoat, viciously. "If you weren't a boy, I would give
you a thumping for what you have already said."
"Don't let my youth hinder you," retorted Dick. "I will say this, that
I think you will find the people of America as brave as those of your
country or any other, and I think, too, that they will make as brave
and effective soldiers."
"That's right, youngster, hold up for your own people," said one of
the soldiers approvingly. "The boy's all right, Coggins," to the
ill-natured soldier. "You had no business talking as you did."
"Bah!" sneered Coggins. "I meant what I said, but as the young fellow
is not yet out of his teens, I'll pay no attention to his words. It
wouldn't look well for me to thrash a boy."
"You might find that you had your hands full if you tried it," said
Dick, coldly. He had taken a dislike to the boastful redcoat, and as
he was a brave youth, and also had always found himself a match for
any man he had ever engaged in a physical struggle with, he had no fear
of this fellow.
"There's good nerve, for you!" remarked a soldier, admiringly. "How do
you like it, Coggins?" It was evident that this particular soldier,
Coggins, was not very well liked by his comrades.
"Do you think I'm a fool, to get myself laughed at for engaging in a
fight with a green country boy?" growled Coggins. "I'll do no such
thing." Rising, he walked away with a swagger, but he gave Dick a look
of hatred as he did so.
A number of the soldiers grinned, and two or three chuckled aloud, and
unless Coggins was deaf, he must have heard them.
"Would you really have fought him?" queried a soldier, looking at Dick
keenly, when Coggins was gone.
"If he attacked me, I should have protected myself," was the reply.
"But you couldn't have done much against him. You're only a boy."
"I don't know about that. I am pretty strong and am also rather
active, and I have wrestled with a number of grown men, and never
found one yet that I couldn't down."
"Well, you might have held your own with Coggins, but I doubt it a
little."
"Better be a bit careful how you ruffle him, young man," said another
soldier. "He's a vicious chap when his anger is aroused, and he would
not hesitate to do you serious injury. He gave you a look I noticed
that was not exactly friendly, as he left."
"I noticed that, too," smiled Dick. "But I do not fear him. I shall
not try to anger him, but if he annoys me, I will take my own part,
that is certain. I won't let him run over me."
"That's right, of course," approvingly. "But don't get into trouble
with him if you can avoid it without discredit to yourself."
"I won't, sir, and thank you for your friendly words."
"You're welcome. I don't like Coggins myself, and I don't care who
knows it. He knows it, all right, I guess," with a short laugh. The
fact was, though of course Dick knew nothing of it, that this soldier,
whose name was Ferguson, and the other, Coggins, were enemies, having
had an encounter once, in which Ferguson had gotten rather the best of
it, though the fight did not go to a finish, it having been stopped by
order of the colonel.
Soon the soldiers stretching themselves on blankets and going to
sleep. Dick was given a blanket, and he also lay down, being quite
tired by this time, and was soon asleep.
The fact that he was in the encampment of the enemy did not have any
effect on Dick's nerves at all. He was a brave and matter-of-fact
youth, and felt the boldest plan was the safest, and so he was enabled
to act with as much _sang froid_ as if he were really an adherent of
the king and sincere in his desire to fight for him.
Dick ate breakfast with the rest of the soldiers of his company, then
he looked about them, and over the encampment, with interest. It was
very interesting indeed to the boy patriot spy and he was eager to see
all that there was to be seen.
He noted that this was in itself quite an encampment, but realized
that it was only one portion of the whole. He wished to get the other
divisions located, and desired also to learn how many soldiers there
were in the entire British army. He asked questions, carefully, in
such a manner as not to create suspicion, and gradually became
possessed of considerable information that he felt must be reliable,
since there could be no occasion for those who gave him the
information to deceive him, they believing him to be loyal to the king
and a soldier the same as they were.
About nine o'clock Company H. was ordered to proceed to the beach for
the purpose of allowing the soldiers to bathe, and they set out at
once, Dick accompanying them, of course. On the way they passed
another division of the British army, and Dick was informed by a
companion that it was the main body.
When they neared the beach, Dick caught sight of several old hulks of
vessels at anchor near the shore, and he inquired what they were.
"Old hulks of dismantled ships," was the reply. "We use them for
prisons for those of the rebel army that we capture."
"Are there any rebels in there now?" queried Dick, making his tone as
careless as possible, though having his father in mind, his heart was
throbbing with eagerness.
"Yes, there are a number in there-fifteen or twenty, I should judge.
They are in the hulk farthest to the north. Among them are three or
four rebel spies who will likely be shot or hanged sooner or later."
Dick's heart thrilled as he heard this news. Perhaps he might be able
to rescue all those poor, suffering patriot prisoners! He made up his
mind that he would try, at any rate. And again the thought struck him
that his father might be imprisoned there. He at once decided that he
would visit the prison ship and rescue the prisoners, if possible.