There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise
which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which
would now be a hindrance to the boys. They must get beyond the ships and
the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all
realized the dangers to be met. It was better for the two boats to keep
together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to
separate and the boys understood this. They had passed the ships nearest
to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up
the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.
The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats
out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey
shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing
forward. The boys rowed steadily, all of them being accustomed to being
on the water, and their progress was steady if not very rapid, it being
dark on the river, and the current and the tide being both against them.
Rowing on steadily, they at length heard sounds behind them, which told
them that the search below had been thorough, and that the enemy were
convinced that they had gone up the river instead of down, and the
pursuit was now being carried on in that direction. A bright light was
seen from the masthead of a ship below them, this being meant as a
signal to those above. As they went on, they saw a light flash from the
masthead of a vessel some way ahead of them.
"Pull steady, boys," he said. "We may be able to pass the ship without
being seen, and, if not, I think I can find a way to fool them and run
the blockade."
As they went on, a boat was seen crossing their bow at some little
distance, and Dick told the boys to get the lanterns ready. On they
went, and at last a hail came from the boat ahead:
"Ahoy! Who are you?"
The lanterns suddenly flashed, and Dick cried:
"There are the rebels, men. Don't let them fool you. Get ready, all of
you!"
"Hello! Boat ahoy! Are you looking for rebels?"
"Yes, and we've got you! Surrender, or we'll run you down!"
"Why, you dunderhead, we are looking for rebels ourselves!"
"By George! then they must be below. Go down there and look for them!"
"What authority have you over us, I'd like to know?" in an angry tone.
"See that masthead light? That means to look out for the enemy. We are
here to see that the enemy are looked out for. That's my authority! Pull
ahead, my men!"
The middy in the other boat saw just enough blue and gold lace to
mistake Dick for a naval officer, and the young patriot's tone of
authority did the rest.
"Very good, sir!" promptly, and the boats containing the boys went on,
the names painted on the sterns being seen, and no one supposing that
any one but British bluejackets would be in them.
"Keep a sharp lookout below there, Midshipman!" said Dick, in a
commanding tone. "There is no use of that light. You are only giving the
rebels warning."
The other boat went on, and the masthead light was presently
extinguished, much to Bob's delight.
"The thing has burned out, I suppose," he muttered, "and they will not
renew it. Good thing, too!"
"Keep on steady, boys, and make as little noise as possible," said Dick.
"We are not out of danger yet, and no one knows what may happen before
we get up to the obstructions."
"We may be able to go ashore there, Captain," observed Harry, "in place
of having to get through them."
"Yes, if there are no lines drawn across the island at that point. We
can tell better when we get there."
It was all dark on the river again in a few minutes, and the two boats
keeping close together proceeded steadily on, making very fair progress.
"Would it be of any advantage to make our way over to the Jersey shore
and cross again higher up the river, Dick?" asked Bob.
"I am not sure that it would, Bob," was the reply. "We will not do it
unless we have to, as we can probably make better time by keeping on as
we are."
The day had been sultry, but it was now cold and damp on the river,
being dark as well, a cold mist arising as they went on, which not only
made it more difficult to see their way but chilled them as well.
However, if they could not see the enemy, the latter could not see them,
so that there was an advantage on their side after all. They went as far
as Bloomingdale without seeing anything of the enemy or hearing any
alarm, and were in hope of going the rest of the way safely, when the
mist lifted for a few moments, and Dick saw the outlines of a ship
looming up before him out of the darkness. He quickly steered out of the
day and signalled to Bob to go closer inshore so as to avoid the ship.
Presently a light appeared on board, and then a voice called out in
sharp tones:
"Boat ahoy! What are you doing out there?"
"Looking out for the enemy!" answered Dick, that being just what he was
doing.
"Seen anything of them?"
"Yes, some little time ago. Seen any yourselves?"
"No, what are they up to? Sending out their confounded fireboats to
annoy us?"
"Oh, they'll do anything, I fancy," and the boats went on, the men on
the ships never imagining that they contained a number of the Liberty
Boys.
"Keep a good watch for them, and if you see any give us a signal."
"Aye, aye! we'll keep a strict watch for them."
"That's what we've been doing ever since we left New York," muttered
Ben, under his breath.
The ship was presently lost in the mist and darkness, and the boys went
on, not knowing when they might come upon another. They kept close
together, so as not to be separated, and drew as near to the shore as
was safe, the ships being mostly in midstream. Now and then the darkness
was so dense as to shut out everything, and once they ran upon a bar and
had to push themselves off with considerable exertion, being unable to
see anything. Getting off at last, they went on, but were at length
hailed by a boat out on the river and not far from them.
"Boat ahoy!" cried Dick, in answer to the hail. "Are you from the Royal
George?"
"No, the Inflexible. Are you from the George?"
"No; we are looking for her. We are carrying despatches."
"She must be up the river. We have seen nothing of her. Who are you?"
"Despatch boat. Keep a sharp lookout for the enemy. They are getting
troublesome."
"Aye, aye!" and Dick and his boys went on rapidly, getting farther and
farther away from the other boat every minute.
"The river is full of the pesky British!" muttered Bob. "I am not sure
that it would not be safer to go ashore."
"We are sure of our road here, Bob," laughed Dick, "but we would not be,
on shore. I think we had better stick to the river for a time, until
dawn, at any rate."
"H'm! it can't be far from it, then, for I never knew it to be
thundering dark," growled Bob.
The boys laughed and went on less rapidly, that being the safest course.
They took turns rowing, and so no one became over-fatigued and all had a
chance to warm up, the mists of the river being very chilly and damp. At
length it grew light enough to see the obstructions in the river just
ahead of them, and they set about getting through and going on. Dick
would have gone ashore, but he saw tents and the gleam of scarlet
uniforms on shore, and concluded that it would be better to remain
longer on the river. The boats had much less trouble in getting past the
obstructions than a ship would have had, and they got through at length,
with some trouble, being seen by the redcoats on shore, however, it
being very much lighter by this time.
The enemy raised a great shout, but they had no boats, and all they
could do was to run along shore and shout, firing a volley now and then,
which did no damage and only set the echoes to answering.
"They had better keep quiet," sputtered Bob. "The first thing we know
they will wake up everybody along shore, and we will have some trouble
in making a landing."
"I think we might do it before long, Bob," Dick returned. "A run will do
us good after being on the river so many hours."
"All right, Dick, and if we can give the redcoats a run the right way,
so much the better."
Farther on, around a bend of the river, the redcoats being now out of
sight, the boys rowed in to shore and made a landing. They had left
their muskets behind, but they all had their pistols and were ready to
give the redcoats as lively a reception as they could. The boats were
left to go adrift, and then, led by Dick, who knew the way thoroughly,
they set out for their own lines, which Dick judged would be somewhere
below Fort Washington. On they went, and all at once came upon a party
of the enemy hurrying to intercept them.
"Fire, Liberty Boys!" shouted Dick. "Scatter the redcoats, drive them
off the island, hurl them into the river!"
"Liberty forever, forward, down with the redcoats!" echoed the plucky
fellows.
Then they began to discharge their pistols in the liveliest fashion, and
to shout as if there were four or five times as many of them. The
redcoats evidently thought that there were many more of the daring boys,
and fell back in haste. Dick and Bob led the way, and the whole party
charged resolutely, desiring to get to a place of safety as soon as
possible, although it seemed to the enemy as if they were being pursued
by an army, and they made all haste to get away.
The boys turned up the road toward the fort with all haste, and were
well on their way before the enemy realized that they were not being
pursued. Then they turned and went after the boys, greatly chagrined at
having been so cleverly fooled. They got reinforcements, and set out
after the boys in full chase, but were suddenly brought to a stop by the
main body of the Liberty Boys under Mark Morrison. Mark had heard the
firing, and was out looking for Dick and the Liberty Boys at the same
time, and now, seeing their danger, fell upon the enemy tooth and nail
and sent them flying.
"Hurrah! back with the redcoats!" he shouted. "Give it to them, my boys.
Fire!"
Crash--roar! The redcoats now had to face a musket volley instead of a
pistol discharge, and they felt the difference. Down upon them bore the
gallant boys with a cheer and a ringing volley, and then two or three
brigades of regulars were seen following up the boys, and they fell back
in great disorder.
"Hurrah!" yelled Bob. "That's the kind of reception to get. Here we are,
boys!"