better conceal ourselves," whispered Will.
The three boys quickly drew to one side, and feeling a barrel standingnear the wall, one dropped behind it, while another hid behind a box,and the other concealed himself in an angle of the wall. The sounds didnot proceed from the passage through which the three boys had justpassed, but from one on the right side, and seemed to come from morethan one person and who were trying to proceed quietly, evidently withthe intention of keeping their presence unknown as long as possible.
"They must be somewhere about here," they heard some one whisper. "Wemust never let them get away."
Then suddenly a lantern flashed its light over their heads, and theyheard the words:
"Well, they're not here, at any rate."
The steps passed their hiding places, and the boys decided that therewere three men.
"If we could meet them on our own ground, we'd be more than a match forthem," muttered Harry. "But this strange place and in the dark, we'd becompletely at their mercy."
"Yes, and with the other rascal lurking about," answered Sam.
Just then they heard a long, shrill, peculiar whistle. The boys started,for they did not recognize it. Following almost immediately came thereport of fire arms.
"Come along, boys!" cried Harry. "There's something doing somewhere, andwe must be on the spot!"
They all rushed on blindly in the dark, following the direction whencethe shot proceeded, the way still as dark as Erebus, but seeminglystraight ahead. When Dick and his partner reached the stone house on theriver, the man would have passed the door, but Dick held him back,saying sharply:
"I know the house. I want to save time by having you show me its secretpassages and explain what nefarious practices are being carried on inthe place."
The man made no reply, but walked up the steps to the front door, openedit with a key, and then passed into the unlighted hall, into which thedaylight could not penetrate, on account of the solid wooden doorshutting it off from the street, and the doors into the rooms all beingclosed. A sudden misgiving seized Dick. Had he been prudent in cominginto this strange house alone with an avowed enemy? It was true theLiberty Boys were somewhere about, but could they reach him in time,should danger present itself? He drew out both pistols, and backedagainst the wall, while he made the man procure a light. Instead he gavea long shrill whistle, which was immediately answered, and there couldbe heard the onrushing of feet. The Tory gave a mocking laugh,exclaiming:
"Captain Slater of the Liberty Boys has walked into his own trap!"
The only reply Dick made was to give the melancholy hoot of an owl. Theprisoner jumped and looked about, and then laughed a little sheepishly,but at the same instant, there came bursting into the hallway the threeruffians who had passed the other boys such a short time before.
"Surrender!" hissed the Tory.
CHAPTER VI.--In Dangerous Quarters.
"Not at all!" cried Dick, pistols in hand and barring the passage of thethree men. "Stop where you are! Hallo, boys!"
"All right, Captain, here we are!" shouted Sam and Harry.
"Sure we'll be with ye in a minyute, Captain dear!" answered the IrishLiberty Boy.
"Off dere was some fighding been we was dere already pooty quick, I betme!" laughed Carl.
"Who is in a trap now?" asked Dick, with a laugh.
Then the five Liberty Boys suddenly dashed up and leaped upon thesmugglers or Tories, whichever they were. In a moment they weredisarmed, Dick putting his pistol to his prisoners head and sayingsternly:
"Now perhaps you will tell me what I want to know. You men are thieves,smugglers, Tories, aren't you?"
"We make our money with as little trouble as possible," the man replied.
"And you have helped spies of the enemy to get information?"
"For pay, yes. Hughson would have paid us well if we could havedelivered you to him."
"Take these fellows to Putnam's quarters, boys," said Dick. "He willknow how to deal with them. Patsy, get me a torch or a lantern."
"Sure there do be wan just beyant, Captain. Wan o' thim rapscallionsdhropped it. Oi'll have it for ye in a minyute."
Sam and the others marched the prisoners away, and then Patsy came withthe lantern as Bob arrived, having taken Sarah Watrous part of the wayto the camp, where she would join Alice and Edith.
"Hallo! You have a prisoner, eh?" said Bob.
"Yes, and he is going to show us all over this place."
The fellow had no means of escape now, and Dick's pistol at his headmade him do what he would not have done under other circumstances. Theplace had been a warehouse, but was supposed to be closed, the gang ofthieves and smugglers having used it for some months free fromdiscovery, bringing and taking things from it at night and evadingdiscovery all that time.
There were other warehouses and storehouses along the river, and a fewhouses, but the men had worked so quietly, most of the time entering byway of the river that no one knew of their being around. There wasconsiderable plunder in the house at this time, and Dick meant to findowners for it if possible, and if not, to offer it at public sale anduse the money thus obtained to further the cause of independence. Pikewas greatly chagrined at being forced to show Dick about, and saidgruffly:
"Well, you rebels have got the best of us, but you won't enjoy it long.When Howe gets hold of your city, as he will before many days, you willhave to leave."
"But by that time you will have been hanged as a spy and a thief andwill know nothing about it," replied Dick.
"H'm! Hughson got away and so will I," boastfully.
"I shall see to it that you do not," shortly.
Having finished the examination of the stone house, Dick took Pike tothe general's headquarters and turned him over, the man being put underguard at once and some men sent to watch the place. Hughson had escapedthrough the negligence of a fresh recruit, who had not understood theimportance of his prisoner, and had supposed him to be simply a man whohad been locked up for insubordination and was sorry for it, Hughsoncarrying the thing through cleverly.
"The man will be more careful the next time, having been so close topunishment," thought Dick, "and knowing that we are in earnest and willshow him no mercy."
Dick went one way and Bob another, both in disguise, for the very sightof a Continental uniform would frighten the man now and put him on hisguard. Dick made his way along the wharves on both rivers, keeping alookout for the man, but without success, seeing many suspiciouscharacters, but none whom he knew to be spies. Having settled thebusiness, he went to the camp, where he found the girls and SarahWatrous being entertained by the Liberty Boys.
After dinner the girls returned alone, Dick being busy looking for signsof the enemy along shore, and going around the city in disguisesearching for the spy, who he believed would try to learn more about thedisposition of the troops on the island, the forts, the amount ofsupplies, the roads and other matters of importance. It was getting ontoward evening, and Dick was over on the East River side of the city,when he saw a boy of about fourteen being abused by an evil-looking man.
"What are you striking that boy for?" he asked, stepping up and puttingthe boy behind him.
"I got a right to abuse him, he's mine!" snarled the other. "Theungrateful hound won't do things for his own dad."
"Is this man your father?" Dick asked.
"Yes, he is, but I don't want to give him the money I earn to buy drinkwith, for then he abuses mother and the little children and---"
"Haven't I got a right to the money he makes?" growled the man.
"Not to misuse," retorted Dick quickly. "The boy is right in protectinghis mother, and if he can do it by withholding money to be used inbuying strong drink which takes away your reason, he has a right to doso. Why don't you go to work?"
"You better mind your own business!" with a snarl. "I am a gentleman andwasn't brought up to work."
"The greater misfortune!" shortly. "If you had known the dignity oflabor, you would not be the wretched man you
are now. Go to work andstop making a beast of yourself, or you may end your days on the gallowsor in a prison."
"If he don't give it to me now, I'll get it out of him another time,"the man growled. "I've a right to the money, and I'll flay him alive ifI don't get it!"
"If I hear of your harming the boy I'll have you sent to jail," saidDick decidedly. "Run home, boy, and give the money to your mother. Ifthis man troubles you or your mother, go and tell General Putnam, and wewill see that the offence is not repeated."
"We'll see whether you will or not!" hissed the man, suddenly flying atDick as if to annihilate him.
In a moment Dick was on the defensive, and, then, taking the offensive,sent the man rolling into the gutter.
"There! Perhaps you think I can do as I say now!" he said. "Keep on withyour abuse of your wife and family and you will catch it still worse. Aword to the wise is sufficient."
The boy ran away, quickly disappearing down a narrow street, while theman, getting on his feet, glared at Dick and said:
"You're a rebel, that's what you are, and all the rebels will be drivenout'n this town, and then we gentlemen can do as we like."
"You gentlemen may be in jail or hanged by that time, and so knownothing about it," dryly. "You are a pretty sort of gentlemen! I'drather not be one if you are a good specimen."
"I'll keep you in mind, my fine fellow," with a snarl. "You don't strikeme for nothing, let me tell you that!"
"I did not I struck you for a good reason, and whenever the occasionrises again I will do the same, and you may remember that!" and thenDick turned on his heel and walked away, having caught sight of a manwhom he had seen on the other side of the city, and whom he suspected tobe one of Hughson's cronies, having seen him in the tavern near theBowling Green. He followed the man carelessly so as to avoid suspicion,and presently saw him go into a low groggery down the street. The boy'sfather stood watching Dick for a time and then went off, Dick followingthe man he had seen and paying no attention to the other. He found thefellow sitting on a bench with others, but kept out of sight as much aspossible, not knowing if he would be recognized.
"Been drove out of our place over on t'other side of the city, hain'tyou, Jeb?" asked one.
"Yes, by a lot of confounded rebels, too, and just as we was gettingready to sell off a lot of the stuff," snarled the other. "I'd like toget hold of the fellows!"
"Maybe when the redcoats come in you will, unless they get scared andget out before that."
"Yes, maybe. Seen Hughson over this way? He had a narrow shave of it.Come 'most to stretching a rope for old Put. Them same young rebelscaught him."
"No, I ain't seen him, but I heard he was looking around to find all hecould about the rebels so as to give the general a better show forgetting in. Light up here, Jim, it's getting dark."
A hulking-looking man in a corner now arose to get lights, as it wasgrowing dark in the place, and at the same moment some one entered andsaid:
"They've got Pike hard and fast, and Wendell was hanged this morning.I'd like to get hold of Slater and some of his---hello!"
The big man came along with a lantern, and Hughson, for it was the spyhimself, suddenly caught sight of Dick and recognized him.
"What's the matter?" tried several of the men in the place, leaping totheir feet.
"There's the rebel now--Slater himself!" cried Hughson. "Don't let himget away! The boy in the brown homespun suit!"
In an instant a rush was made for Dick.
CHAPTER VII.--An Act of Gratitude.
Seeing his danger, Dick whipped out a pistol and shot the lantern out ofthe big man's hand, making a sudden dash for the door. As he reached it,however, some one came in, there was a collision and Dick and thenewcomer fell to the floor with a crash.
"Hallo! can't you see where you're going?" the fellow yelled, and Dickrecognized his voice as that of the man who had been, abusing the boyfarther up the street.
The spy, Jeb and others now rushed forward, lights were procured andDick was surrounded and made a prisoner.
"H'm! that's the rebel that said I shouldn't spend my own boy's money,"the newcomer muttered. "I owe him a grudge and I'll pay it, too. Norebel strikes me for nothing!"
"You know him, do you, Fletch?" asked Hughson.
"Yes, I know him. I didn't know he was Dick Slater, but I know him, andI've got a grudge against him and I'm going to settle it. You wascounting on taking him to the general, I suppose?"
"Yes, but get him out of the way. Some one might come in."
Dick was taken into a rear room where there was not much light and boundhand and foot. At length he heard footsteps in the passage outside, andthen the door was opened and two men came in, followed by a boy carryinga lantern in his hand. The men picked Dick up and carried him out, butnot before he had seen the boy's face, and the boy had seen him and hadgiven him a swift look of intelligence. The boy was the one he hadbefriended, and however he happened to be here, whether he was leaguedwith these evil men or not, Dick knew that he would help him. The boywent ahead, down a flight of stairs to a damp cellar, and along apassage to some place where there was a damp smell and foul odors fromthe swamps along the river.
"Set him down, Bill," said one of the men, and Dick was placed on theground on his back.
"Go after the bag, Tom," one man said, "or send your pop and the resthere."
"Won't do it!" said the boy. "Dad will beat me. Go yourself. I willwatch him."
"Go on, Jeb."
"Go yourself, or come along. Tom ain't used to these things, and the oldman will lick him, too. Knows you're here, does he, boy?"
"No, he don't. Safest place for me is the grog shop when he has nomoney, 'cause he won't come there."
"He'll be here all right, then," with a laugh. "He wouldn't miss seein'the rebel chucked into the water. Come on, Bill. Here, give us yourlantern, Tom."
"All right," and Dick knew by the gathering shadows that the men weregoing away.
Then the boy suddenly kneeled at his side and said in a hoarse whisperand with great excitement:
"I found out where you was, Captain, and made up my mind to save you.I've got a knife and will cut the ropes. Wish I had the lantern. Nevermind, I can feel. Can you roll over?"
"Yes, I guess so," but at that moment there were other footsteps andmore lights and hoarse voices.
"Never mind, Captain, I'll do it yet!" hissed the boy. "I'll do it if Ihave to kill dad and the lot of 'em."
Then the spy, the boy's father, the landlord, and the men who hadbrought Dick to the place, came up and the boy slunk back into thedarkness and awaited his time.
"Got the bag there, Bill?"
"Yes; here it is."
Two of the men picked Dick up, while another held the sack open and drewit over his feet. The boy came up, and Dick felt a keen bladed knife putbetween his hands and for an instant saw the face of the boy.
"Here, get out of the way!"
"Hold him steady, Jeb!"
"Don't be so long there with that sack!"
"Hurry up, there, he's as heavy as lead!"
The sack was drawn up over Dick's head and tied tight with a stout rope,the men then carrying him between them to the end of the passage and upsome steps. One or two tested the rope to see that it was all right andthen the men holding Dick gave the sack a swing or two and cast it wellout upon the water, where it struck with a splash and then sank. Dickcould hold his breath for nearly two minutes and he knew that he wouldnot need all that. While the men were swinging him he clutched thehandle of the knife, turned the blade down and began to cut through thesack. When he began to sink he moved his hands toward his head and cut astraight gash in the sack. Then he moved his hands the other way andbegan to kick vigorously, so as to loosen the sack. Then, as he began tothink he could hold his breath no longer, he felt himself rising, thesack fell away from him, and in a few moments he shot up to the surfacealongside some huge object which he recognized as the hull of a vessel.Then he lay on his back and float
ed, and, holding the knife in histeeth, cut the cords that bound his wrists and his hands were free.
Swimming noiselessly alongside the vessel, which was anchored in theriver, he reached the fore chains. He was now free to use both hands andfeet, and the next thing to do was to get to shore. He had his knifewhich Tom had given him and this he resolved to keep till he was safelyout of all his dangers. Making his way around the anchored vessel, heset out for shore, guided by the few lights along the water and in thetaverns. Suddenly he heard the sound of oars and then of voices.
"How did he get hold of a knife?" asked Hughson.
"I dunno, but he'll have to float and we ought to find him," repliedJeb.
The sack had been drawn ashore, and the slash in it discovered and nowthe men were trying to find Dick. The boat was coming directly towardhim, and in a few moments he could distinguish its outlines dimly andsee the forms of three men in it rowing directly toward him. Then hesank well down and swam right under the boat, coming up a yard or sobeyond it as it went on toward the middle of the river.
CHAPTER VIII.--Tom's Defiance.
"Hallo! there's some one