The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade Page 9

perhaps."

  "We are caught in a trap," muttered Bob, "but the redcoats don't knowit, 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 chancewe are coming out and will make a run for it."

  "And in the meantime what are we going to do for something to eat anddrink?" 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, "andwhen the coast is a bit clear some of us can go out and get food. I willgo, for one."

  "Very good, Ben, but not now," replied Dick.

  Later, when there was no one about the upper floor, Dick, Ben and Harrywent out, looking like three vagabonds, and looked about them. Dick wenttoward the Commons, and Ben and Harry took their way toward the churchto get some food. There were redcoats on the Commons, as Dick hadfeared, and he could see more of them in the distance. Then he walkedcarelessly on, seeing no one who knew him, and made his way as far as aquiet inn down a side street where he was well known, the people beinggood patriots. On the way he saw many redcoats, Hessians, and otherenemies, and he knew that getting out of New York was going to be adifficult task, and one that would require all their energy as well as adeal of craft and caution.

  "What, you are still in the city, Captain?" asked the landlord, when herecognized Dick.

  "Yes, there are nearly a score of us who were caught here, but I hope toget away to-night."

  "There are lines drawn right across the city and island, and theredcoats will let no one through whom they do not know."

  "There is the river," added Dick. "We are in the old warehouse downthere, and if we can get a boat or two we will try to get out of thecity that way."

  "There are ships in the river, Captain, that are keeping a sharplookout. I don't want to discourage you, but I am afraid that it will beas hard to get out that way as any."

  "I am glad to know all the difficulties there are in our way, for then Ishall 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."

  CHAPTER XI.--Getting Away Under Difficulties.

  Dick secured a basketful of food to take to the boys, knowing that Benand Harry would procure more, and therefore not taking any more than hecould conveniently carry without arousing suspicion. The city was fullof redcoats, and at every step he realized the danger he ran, and alsothat it would increase with every hour that he and the boys remained inNew York.

  "We must get out to-night as soon as we can procure boats," he said tohimself, "There must be some way of getting them, and we must have them,as they are absolutely necessary."

  He returned to the stone house, getting in by the lower door withoutbeing observed, the other boys returning shortly afterward by the upperentrance.

  "It will be difficult to get away by any of the regular roads," declaredBen, "and even if we all had disguises, it is going to be a difficultmatter to pass the guard."

  "I was thinking of getting out of New York by way of the river, Ben,"said Dick.

  "That will be something less difficult, though hard enough, but whereare we going to get our boats?"

  "There are ships in the river not very far away, and it may be that theywill anchor still nearer. The men will want to come ashore and we mustget hold of at least two boats. I don't think one will be sufficient,even if it is a long boat. Watch the river, boys, and see what are ourchances."

  The boys ate some of the food which Dick and the rest had procured, andwhile some rested, others kept a lookout on the river, on the wharf andon the bank above. At times the paths were well frequented, and men andwomen could be seen on the walk above, the wharf being now quite busyand then almost deserted, although at no time would it have been wisefor the boys in uniform to have ventured out. Well on in the afternoon aship came up the river and anchored right off the stone house, well outin the stream, another being something above it.

  "The bluejackets will be coming ashore some time in the evening to enjoythemselves," remarked Dick. "It will be high tide, and if we can gethold of the boat, we can perhaps hide it under the wharf."

  "Unless it is too high," said Bob. "The tides are pretty heavy justnow."

  "Then we can leave from the wharf itself, but we shall have to doeverything with despatch, for it is likely that a watch will be kept onthe river and along shore, and the least suspicious act will bring downthe night patrol and the watch, as well as the redcoats and sailors."

  "No good thing can be had without effort," said Bob dryly, "and if wewant our freedom we must work for it."

  It was after dark when two boats came ashore from the nearest vessel andtied up at the wharf a short distance from the stone house. The sailorswent ashore, leaving the boats without any one to look after them, butthere were men on the wharf and constant passing to and fro of men andboys.

  "We shall have to wait a while," said Dick. "When it is quieter therewill be more chance to secure the boats."

  "Then it may be too late," muttered Bob, "for the sailors will be goingback to the ship."

  "They will not return till late, for no sailor wants to cut short hisshore leave."

  "There may be a few minutes when all is quiet, and in the interim we canmake a run for the boats and get away."

  "Yes, and we must be on the lookout for just such a time."

  The boys waited patiently, but it seemed as if no one wanted to go tobed, and as if there would be something going on all night. Finally,realizing the danger of waiting too long, Dick said to Bob and some ofthe boys:

  "I am going to make my way to the other end of the wharf and get up somesort of disturbance to draw the people away from the boats. You musttake that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I will join youand we will all leave."

  "You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, Iwould insist on going with you."

  "There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself."

  "I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from theboats."

  "No, perhaps not."

  Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coatover his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharfand get up some sort of disturbance to draw the people away from theboats. "You must take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then Iwill join you and we will all leave."

  "You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, Iwould insist on going with you."

  "There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself."

  "I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from theboats."

  "No, perhaps not."

  Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coatover his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf.The boys were to act as soon as they heard any unusual noise from hisdirection, Bob taking the lead. Making his way along the wharf, Dickpresently saw a nightwatch with a lantern at the end of a long polecoming toward them.

  "Here is the watch," said one, "come to send us to bed."

  "Let us put out his lantern and souse him in the river," said Dick, witha laugh.

  "That's so, that will be great fun."

  A man with a lantern came up at this moment and the light fell uponDick.

  "Hallo! if there isn't the rebel!" the man shouted.

  The fellow was Tom's father, Dick recognizing him at that moment. Herewas the chance to create the disturbance, and Dick at once sprang at theman, knocked him down, and said:

  "Take that, you sot! We will see if you can insult honest folks fornothing!"

  At once there was a shout, and some of the man's friends sprang at Dickwith shouts and a great upro
ar. In the scuffle Dick lost his long coat,letting it go rather than be seized by one of the thieves. The nightwatch and a number of redcoats were now seen coming on at a run.

  "By George! the fellow is a rebel, after all! See his uniform."

  "My word, that's Dick Slater himself! Seize him, there is a big rewardoffered for him."

  Dick knocked down two of the crowd and pushed another into the waterfrom the wharf. There was a great outcry, and now men and boys begancoming from all quarters to see the fight. The watch and the redcoatssaw Dick and hurried forward to arrest him as a rebel and for creating adisturbance. The