There was time enough before supper for Dick to visit the general, and
shortly after his arrival in camp he went out afoot and made his way
across the Commons and down Broadway. Seeing the general, Dick informed
him of the capture of the spy, and what the man had said about Howe.
"It looks as if we might have trouble in a short time, Captain," the
veteran answered, "and you will hold your Liberty Boys in readiness to
act at a moment's notice at all times."
"I will do so, General," replied Dick. "If there is to be any fighting,
the Liberty Boys will be glad to take part in it and do their share in
opposing the advance of the enemy."
"I have always found them ready to do that, Captain," Putnam replied,
"and to do it well, too. I have every confidence in you and the Liberty
Boys, Captain, and I know that you will all do your best wherever you
may be posted."
Dick then saluted and left the general, taking his way down to the lower
end of the island in order to see for himself what was going on among
the ships. On Whithall wharf he suddenly came face to face with
Fletcher, Tom's father, the man being in a semi-intoxicated state at the
time, and glaring fiercely at him as he said:
"You got away last night, you confounded rebel, but you don't do it
again so easy. What have you done with my wife and the young ones? Nice
business, ain't it, turning a wife against a husband?"
"You have turned her against you by your own outrageous conduct," Dick
retorted. "If you had treated them right, your family would have
remained with you, but you cannot expect anything better when you act as
you have."
"Where have they gone? I have a right to everything that any of them
earns, and I'm going to have it. Tom is under age, I have brought him
up, and I can claim everything he has, and whatever my wife has also. I
know my rights, I tell you!" savagely.
"Do you know your duties, as well?" sharply. "I don't care what the law
is in your case. I know what justice is. You made an attempt upon my
life last night, and if I choose to make a charge against you, I could
put you on trial for your life."
The man was not so much intoxicated that he could not understand Dick's
position and his own danger, and he turned pale and moved hurriedly
away, losing himself in the crowd that thronged the wharf at the time.
"I don't think I shall have any more trouble from Mr. Fletcher," thought
Dick, "or not on account of this affair, at any rate."
He remained on the wharf till nearly sunset, and then set out for the
camp, where he arrived shortly before supper. There was an alarm during
the night, and early the next morning Dick learned that some ships had
passed up both rivers, and not long after this there was the sound of
heavy firing at some distance above the city, and the boys knew that the
enemy had succeeded in landing troops. There was great excitement in the
city, and many of the inhabitants began leaving in great haste.
Dick hurried off to Putnam's quarters, and soon afterward word was
received that the city was to be evacuated. The general despatched Dick
to the lower part of the city to see that there were no ships coming up
the river and to warn the men at the lower batteries to leave. Dick took
Bob and a dozen or more of the boys with him and hurried away on foot,
sending Mark and the rest of the boys toward the upper part of the
island. The boys had performed a part of their mission and were
returning, when they suddenly heard a great bombarding from the river
and at the same time saw a considerable body of redcoats coming toward
them.
"To the stone house, boys!" hissed Dick. "These fellows know nothing of
it and we are safe there."
The stone house was the nearest place of refuge, and the boys hurried to
it, the redcoats losing sight of them. They reached the place in safety,
and were all inside and out of sight before the redcoats came to the
wharf and began to look for them. The door above was closed and looked
as if it had not been open in months, the boys not having been seen to
enter it. Dick and Bob hurried below, leaving Ben, Harry, Sam and others
at the upper door, while the rest scattered through the building. There
were a few persons on the wharf below when the redcoats came along, but
these had not seen the boys and knew nothing about them.
"What place is that?" asked a sergeant of redcoats of one of the
loungers, pointing to the stone house.
"Just an old warehouse," the man answered.
"Is there any one in it?"
"No, not now," was the reply.
Dick was listening at the door, and he knew the man to be one of the
rascals who had been in the house but had escaped. There was a reason,
therefore, for the man not saying very much about the place.
"Why not?" the sergeant asked.
"Because the rebels arrested 'em and took all the stuff out," the man
replied.
"We shall have to get a look at the place," the redcoat said, and he
promptly went to the door with a dozen of his men.
The door was locked and was very strong, and the sergeant speedily came
to the conclusion that there was little use in trying to force it and so
gave up the attempt.
"Have you seen any rebels about here?" he asked, but the other man was
gone, and those he spoke to said:
"No, there hain't been nobody here sence we come around."
The sergeant and the redcoats, as well as a second lieutenant and
another party, examined the region all about the place, but saw nothing
of the boys and so concluded that they had gone elsewhere. There was a
guard of about a dozen left on the wharf, but none on the bank above,
the rest going into the city. The loungers about the place, evidently
fearing that they might be pressed into the service, went away, and thus
there was no one to give any information to the redcoats, which might
have resulted in giving the house another visit.
Dick sent Harry and Will to the cellar and thence under the wharf to the
river, the boys reporting that the tide was high and that there was no
getting out that way at that time. Then one of the boys was sent to the
upper door to keep a lookout, Dick going to see him in a few minutes.
"There are redcoats on the Commons, Captain," the boy reported. "A
couple of men went by here just now and I heard them talking about it."
"We can leave the house," remarked Dick, "but we would not get a great
way before being discovered, and I think it better we remain here for a
time, till dark, perhaps."
"We are caught in a trap," muttered Bob, "but the redcoats don't know
it, and that's the only hopeful thing about it."
"We are not caught in a trap exactly, Bob," declared Dick. "Say, rather,
that we are hiding from them, and that as soon as we see a good chance
we are coming out and will make a run for it."
"And in the meantime what are we going to do for something to eat and
drink?" asked Bob.
"We may find something in the house, but we shall have to take it cold,
for as soon as we start a fire we will excite suspicion."
"I found some old clothes in one of the rooms, Captain," said Ben, "and
when the coast is a bit clear some of us can go out and get food. I will
go, for one."
"Very good, Ben, but not now," replied Dick.
Later, when there was no one about the upper floor, Dick, Ben and Harry
went out, looking like three vagabonds, and looked about them. Dick went
toward the Commons, and Ben and Harry took their way toward the church
to get some food. There were redcoats on the Commons, as Dick had
feared, and he could see more of them in the distance. Then he walked
carelessly on, seeing no one who knew him, and made his way as far as a
quiet inn down a side street where he was well known, the people being
good patriots. On the way he saw many redcoats, Hessians, and other
enemies, and he knew that getting out of New York was going to be a
difficult task, and one that would require all their energy as well as a
deal of craft and caution.
"What, you are still in the city, Captain?" asked the landlord, when he
recognized Dick.
"Yes, there are nearly a score of us who were caught here, but I hope to
get away to-night."
"There are lines drawn right across the city and island, and the
redcoats will let no one through whom they do not know."
"There is the river," added Dick. "We are in the old warehouse down
there, and if we can get a boat or two we will try to get out of the
city that way."
"There are ships in the river, Captain, that are keeping a sharp
lookout. I don't want to discourage you, but I am afraid that it will be
as hard to get out that way as any."
"I am glad to know all the difficulties there are in our way, for then I
shall know how to meet them. It is better to know just what to expect."
"Of course, and I will give you all the help I can."
"Thank you. If I need it, I will call on you."