The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade Read online

  Produced by Richard Halsey

  THE LIBERTY BOYS RUNNING THE BLOCKADE; OR, GETTING OUT OF NEW YORK

  By HARRY MOORE

  CHAPTER 1.--A Clever Capture.

  "I think that fellow is following us, Bob."

  "What fellow, Dick?"

  "The one on the other side of the way, the man with a beard and asteeple-crowned hat."

  "Yes, I see him, but why should he follow us, Dick?"

  "To obtain information, I suppose. He is certainly watching andfollowing us and if we were to stop anywhere you would see that he woulddo the same."

  "Suppose we try it, Dick?"

  "Very well. I may get some information myself. There is Fraunces'tavern. That is as good as any place."

  "Yes, for that is a general resort for army officers, and if this man isa spy, as you seem to think, he will be very likely to go to just suchplaces."

  The boys, well built and handsome, bronzed from exposure to the weatherand wearing the uniform of the Continental army, were making their wayalong Wall street in the City of New York one pleasant Septemberafternoon. Dick Slater was the captain and Bob Estabrook the firstlieutenant of the Liberty Boys, a band of one hundred sterling youngpatriots engaged in the war for American independence, and at that timequartered in New York, on the Commons at the upper end of town.

  As they were walking along Wall street, Dick, who was very observant,noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, who seemed to bewatching them closely as if with an idea of learning what they knew, andfollowing them wherever they went. At this time the city was threatenedby the British, who held Long Island and had ships at Staten Island justacross from Manhattan ready to proceed up the rivers at any time. Thepresence of British spies in the city was suspected, and Dick, who wasan expert spy himself, had his suspicions concerning the man opposite assoon as he saw the fellow.

  Turning into Broad Street, the boys walked down and at once the spy, ifhe were one, took the same direction. Fraunces tavern, on the corner ofBroad and Pearl streets, was at that time a great resort for armyofficers and men-about-town, and was, therefore, just the place whichthe boys would frequent. Crossing the street when they reached Pearlstreet, the boys went into the tavern, and were shortly followed by theman in the steeple-crowned hat, who took a seat at a table near enoughto understand all that they said.

  Giving Bob a wink, Dick began talking about some supposed exploit withsome one in the army, and went on from that to telling of meetingcertain beautiful young ladies, and how the latter were so charmed withhim and other boastful talk. The man was evidently greatly disgusted athaving to listen to such talk, as he had evidently expected to hearsomething different, and he shortly moved his seat to another part ofthe room.

  "He had no interest in hearing how Polly Perkins winked at you, Dick,"laughed Bob.

  "No, but he wants to find out more about us, nevertheless. Don't lookover there. He has a very pretty scheme, I can see."

  The man was drinking strong ale from a pewter and, having finished it,set the pewter down. Dick saw him scratch something on it and beckonalmost imperceptably to a man near by who had just entered. Then, as ifby accident, knocked his pewter off the table to the floor. The otherman came forward, picked it up and set it on the table, but Dick couldsee that he glanced at it at the same time, and then, as if upon a placeto sit, came toward them and sat three or four tables away. Thesuspected spy presently arose and went out and Dick said:

  "Well, good-by, Bob. I will meet you at Trinity church in half an hour."

  Then muttering the words, "Bowling Green, ten minutes," he walked away,going past the table where the man with the steeple-crowned hat had beensitting and carelessly knocking off the pewter. Picking it up, he lookedat it and saw scratched on one side: "Follow Slater."

  "So, this is another, as I supposed," he thought. "There are severalspies in town, and they know me and are trying either to learn somethingor to get possession of me. We shall have to turn the tables on them."

  He made his way to the Bowling Green, meeting on the way four or five ofthe Liberty Boys.

  "Go up to Trinity church, boys," he said, "stroll about the placecarelessly. There is British spy watching my movements and I wish towatch him and, if possible, to catch him. The man is short and ratherstout and had a red face. There is another, who may not join him atonce, who wears a black suit and a steeple-crowned hat and has a beard.He will send the other one first, I think."

  "All right, Captain," replied the boy, whose name was Ben Spurlock. "Wewill watch him. Come along, Sam."

  Dick had gone on, meanwhile, the boys proceeding in couples or singly tothe church, where they scattered about waiting further instructions fromthe young captain. Bob appeared at the Bowling Green at the appointedtime, and said:

  "The fellow was cautious and did not follow me, but I suppose he will beat the church."

  "Probably, as his instructions were to follow me. Did he stay as long asyou did?"

  "Yes, and remained after I left. You will see him at the church, nodoubt. The other man may be there. Come into the nearest tavern andexchange coats with me. We will see if these men are observant or not."

  "Very good," laughed Bob.

  In the private bar of the tavern the boys were alone long enough to makethe exchange, and then Dick sent Bob ahead and told him to wait in thechurchyard for him or some one wearing his own uniform.

  "You are the captain now, Bob," with a laugh, "but I don't know who willbe the lieutenant yet. That will depend."

  Dick then went over to Stone street, where he entered a little shop keptby a draper, to whom he said:

  "I want an ordinary suit of clothes, Mr. Towns. I am watching a spy andI think it just as well not to be in uniform."

  "I see, Captain. You are wearing the lieutenant's coat now."

  "You are very observant," smiling. "I will leave it here and send one ofthe boys for it."

  "Very good, Captain. Step into the wareroom and take what you wish."

  The wareroom was no bigger than the shop, but the different suits werehanging about the sides, and Dick quickly selected one not likely toattract much attention, and put it on, leaving the uniform behind. OnWhitehall street Dick met one of the boys, Phil Waters by name, anddirected him to go to the draper's and put on Bob's coat over his own,the young lieutenant being of a heavier build. As Phil did not have hismusket with him, the change was easily effected, and no one not knowinghim would suspect that he was not the lieutenant.

  "Go and meet Bob," Dick said, "and talk about anything but matters ofimportance. Do not recognize me and watch the man whom you see observingyou and Bob."

  "All right, Captain," and Phil went away to make the change.

  Then Dick took his way up to the church and waited for the spy toappear. Coming out of the church after a stay of a few minutes, Dicksaw Bob in the yard, standing contemplating a monument, while not faraway stood the second spy watching him. At the time mentioned, Phil, whowas supposed to be Bob, came up, and the two began to chat in the mostanimated fashion. Dick saw the spy approach them so as to overhear theirconversation, and at once signaled to Ben, Sam, Harry, Will and otherswhom he saw in the grounds to approach rapidly.

  Bob and Phil were talking away in the liveliest fashion about all sortsof things except matters of importance, the spy standing behind amonument listening to them and trying to discover what connection thetalk had with the situation in the city. Dick meanwhile had gathered thevarious groups together, and they were now closing in upon the spy,ready to act as soon as they got the word from the captain. The man withthe steeple-crowned hat was not to be seen, and Dick was uncertainwhether to wait for him or not. Then the spy
stepped up to Bob and Philand said glibly:

  "Good day, Captain. You don't remember me, I suppose? I met you on LongIsland. So you are over here now? Where is your camp? I should like tosend up an ox or two for your use. Where did you say you were encamped?"

  Dick passed at that moment but was not observed, nor was a certain signhe made to Bob. Then the call of a bird was heard and Ben, Sam and therest began to close in.

  "On the Commons," replied Bob. "Come up and see us some time. You areMr. Bulwinkle, are you not?"

  "Yes. I see you remember me very well."

  Then all at once he found himself surrounded by Liberty Boys, and ayoung man in plain garments stepped up and said:

  "You are a British spy. You and a man in a steeple-crowned hat inFraunces tavern tried to listen to my conversation. I