The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade Read online

have not yetcaught your employer, but if you make any alarm or try to get away youwill be denounced. Go with these boys. They will show you our camp,where you will remain a prisoner until I can deliver you up to GeneralPutnam."

  The man's face blanched, and then he recognized Dick, and muttered:

  "Jove! you are Slater, the rebel, himself! How did you manage---"

  "Slater, the patriot, you mean. Your superior is not very clever. Idetected him following us. Then he sat too close. Next he scratched amessage on the pewter after beckoning to you. You were told to followme. You thought I was coming here in uniform, didn't you? Afterpractically telling you that I was going to be here. I am afraid you arenew at spying, too. Go with the boys, but talk and laugh and don't letany one think that you are a prisoner."

  "Jove! but I never would have suspected you of all this clever work."muttered the other.

  "I did not want you to!" laughed Dick and he and Bob went one way, whilethe boys went another with their prisoner.

  CHAPTER II.--The Spy in Danger.

  Dick Slater and Bob Estabrook set off down Broadway and had nearlyreached Bowling Green when Dick saw the man in the steeple-crowned hatapproaching. He evidently took Dick for his friend at first, for he cameforward quickly, and then suddenly stopped, looked at both boys,flushed, and, turning upon his heel, darted across Broadway and intoPearl street, where he disappeared. Dick was after him at once, but bythe time he reached Pearl street, nothing was to be seen of the spy.

  The boys walked down to Whitehall wharf, where they could see over toStaten Island, where the British ships seemed to be getting ready tochange their positions. The day was wearing on rapidly, and as theycould not get any additional information at the wharf, they turned theirfaces toward the city and made their way at a good jog toward theCommons, where the camp was located. As they neared Thames street, abovethe church, Dick said in a low tone:

  "There is that spy going down the street. He has changed his disguiseand I would not be surprised if he had taken off his beard.

  "Where is he, Dick?" eagerly.

  "Going down Thames street on the right, the man in brown with a cockedhat. I recognize his walk. Keep behind him, Bob. The sight of aContinental uniform may have a bad effect upon him."

  "But he has seen you in that disguise, Dick."

  "Yes, and there is nothing striking about it. He would have to see myface to recognize me and I shall take care that he does not."

  Indeed, Dick had so many ways of changing his expression, that it wasquite likely he could deceive the spy even were they to meet face toface. Bob kept behind Dick as they went down the street on the same sideas the spy, the young patriot watching the man closely, and at lengthseeing him go into a wine shop of a rather unsavory reputation. When hedisappeared, Dick turned to Bob and said quickly:

  "There is another door to this place down the alley. Go there at onceand watch for this fellow to come out. He will do so as soon as herecognizes me."

  Then Dick waited a moment for Bob to go down the alley, and entered theshop. He saw the spy sitting at a table, and now, having his ownexpression, was recognized in a moment.

  "Good afternoon," he said, as he walked over to the spy, who was unableto repress a start of surprise. "You did not expect to see me here, didyou?"

  "Who are you?" the other snarled. "I don't know you from a side of soleleather. Why do you speak to me?"

  "I am Captain Dick Slater," said Dick, taking a seat opposite the spy."You escaped me just now and changed your dress and also took off yourbeard. You had a friend--a short, somewhat stout man. We have taken careof him. You will find my lieutenant at the other door. I see you arelooking toward it. I think you had better go out that way. Time presses,and we had better go now."

  The spy suddenly arose, started for the door, threw the chair in frontof Dick and shouted:

  "This boy is a British spy! Hold him while I go for the guard!"

  Then he flew toward the door and was out of it. At once the men in theshop began surging toward Dick with evil looks on their faces, and somedrawing ugly-looking knives.

  "That is the cry of 'Stop, thief!' to draw attention from himself," saidDick. "My gentleman is a spy himself. I am Dick Slater, captain of theLiberty Boys. I think you may have heard of me. Don't be afraid. Mylieutenant is at the other door."

  Then, quickly pushing the chair aside Dick left by the door he hadentered and then around to the alley. The spy had evidently thought thatDick was deceiving him, but as he went into the alley he saw Bob, whoquickly caught him by the arm and said:

  "Wait a moment. The captain will be out in a second and will want to seeyou. There is no such haste."

  Then Dick came down the alley, and Bob said with a careless laugh and aquizzical expression:

  "Here is the captain. I have his uniform, but he is the captain, justthe same."

  The spy got up, glared at Dick and said angrily:

  "You are making a great fuss over nothing. I am not a spy, as you think.I am an attorney and have---"

  "Why did you try to escape, why did you call me a spy, why did youchange your clothes, why did you follow me into Frances tavern, why didyou instruct your companion to follow me, if you are not a spy?Attorneys don't do these things."

  The man turned sallow, smiled in a sickly fashion, and said:

  "This was all to test you. General Putnam had his doubts as to yourefficiency and wished me to put you to the---"

  The boys laughed at this flimsy excuse, and Dick said shortly:

  "You will go with us. I am well acquainted with General Putnam, who isin command in the city. You know that, of course. We will go to hisquarters now."

  The man suddenly thrust his hand into his pocket and withdrew a packet,which he tried to throw over a fence, but was prevented by Bob.

  "You had better give that to me," he said, taking the packet and puttingit in his own pocket.

  "Come!" said Dick. "It is nearly sunset. If you attempt any morenonsense I shall call the guard. You know me, and you know why you arearrested, and you are simply trying to throw obstacles in my way and somake your escape."

  The spy made no reply, and remained quiet for the rest of their way tothe general's quarters. Leaving the prisoner under guard, Dick shortlysaw the general himself and related what had occurred.

  "H'm! spies in the city, eh?" muttered the veteran. "This is animportant capture, Captain. I must compliment you on a very pretty pieceof work. I shall have to see this man."

  Dick had the packet which Bob had taken from the spy, and he gave it tothe general, while the man was being sent for. Putnam looked it over andsaid:

  "This proves conclusively that the man is a spy. You have the other one,you say, Captain?"

  "Yes, in our camp. I can deliver him to-night or in the morning, as youplease."

  "I think it had better be to-night," shortly.

  "Very well," and at that moment the spy was ushered into the general'spresence, turning pale as he saw the veteran and realized what his fatewould be. Dick then took his leave and he and Bob returned with allspeed to the camp.

  CHAPTER III.-In the Stone House.

  Reaching the camp, the boys were heartily welcomed by the Liberty Boys,who knew that something had happened when Ben and the rest came in witha prisoner and were eager to hear the rest.

  "Did you get the other fellow, Captain?" asked Sam.

  "Yes, and we left him holding an interview with General Putnam."

  "In which he was likely to get the worst of the argument," put in Bendryly.

  At that moment a jolly-looking Irish boy up and said, giving a comicalsalute:

  "Captain dear, supper do be ready an' the young leddies have come tocamp, an' will ye ate thim foirst--Oi mane mate thim foirst an' atesupper afther, or phwativer?"

  There was a laugh, and then two young very pretty young ladies rode upto the fire and were helped to dismount by Dick and Bob. The girls weretheir sisters and their sweethearts also, the sister of each being thesweethear
t of the other, and were as constant companions as the boysthemselves. They lived in Westchester county and had come to visitfriends in New York, stopping on the way to see the boys.

  "Well, Alice," said Dick to his sweetheart, "so you have come to thecity, have you? Things are in a rather turbulent state, but I fancy wecan get you out of it in case there is any immediate trouble. You willstay to supper, of course. Patsy has just announced that it is ready, sowe will lose no time in sitting down."

  The girls were well known to all the Liberty Boys and when they sat downthey received a general salute, every boy there being glad to see them.After supper the boys who had brought in the spy took him to thegeneral's quarters, and shortly after this Dick and Bob set out with thegirls to see them to the house