The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade Part 5

Sam and the others marched the prisoners away, and then Patsy came with the lantern as Bob arrived, having taken Sarah Watrous part of the way to 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 d.i.c.k's pistol at his head made him do what he would not have done under other circ.u.mstances. The place had been a warehouse, but was supposed to be closed, the gang of thieves and smugglers having used it for some months free from discovery, bringing and taking things from it at night and evading discovery all that time.

There were other warehouses and storehouses along the river, and a few houses, but the men had worked so quietly, most of the time entering by way of the river that no one knew of their being around. There was considerable plunder in the house at this time, and d.i.c.k meant to find owners for it if possible, and if not, to offer it at public sale and use the money thus obtained to further the cause of independence. Pike was greatly chagrined at being forced to show d.i.c.k about, and said gruffly:

"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 will have to leave."

"But by that time you will have been hanged as a spy and a thief and will know nothing about it," replied d.i.c.k.

"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, d.i.c.k took Pike to the general's headquarters and turned him over, the man being put under guard at once and some men sent to watch the place. Hughson had escaped through the negligence of a fresh recruit, who had not understood the importance of his prisoner, and had supposed him to be simply a man who had been locked up for insubordination and was sorry for it, Hughson carrying the thing through cleverly.

"The man will be more careful the next time, having been so close to punishment," thought d.i.c.k, "and knowing that we are in earnest and will show him no mercy."

d.i.c.k went one way and Bob another, both in disguise, for the very sight of a Continental uniform would frighten the man now and put him on his guard. d.i.c.k made his way along the wharves on both rivers, keeping a lookout for the man, but without success, seeing many suspicious characters, but none whom he knew to be spies. Having settled the business, he went to the camp, where he found the girls and Sarah Watrous being entertained by the Liberty Boys.

After dinner the girls returned alone, d.i.c.k being busy looking for signs of the enemy along sh.o.r.e, and going around the city in disguise searching for the spy, who he believed would try to learn more about the disposition of the troops on the island, the forts, the amount of supplies, the roads and other matters of importance. It was getting on toward evening, and d.i.c.k 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 putting the boy behind him.

"I got a right to abuse him, he's mine!" snarled the other. "The ungrateful hound won't do things for his own dad."

"Is this man your father?" d.i.c.k asked.

"Yes, he is, but I don't want to give him the money I earn to buy drink with, 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 d.i.c.k quickly. "The boy is right in protecting his mother, and if he can do it by withholding money to be used in buying strong drink which takes away your reason, he has a right to do so. Why don't you go to work?"

"You better mind your own business!" with a snarl. "I am a gentleman and wasn't brought up to work."

"The greater misfortune!" shortly. "If you had known the dignity of labor, you would not be the wretched man you are now. Go to work and stop making a beast of yourself, or you may end your days on the gallows or 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 if I don't get it!"

"If I hear of your harming the boy I'll have you sent to jail," said d.i.c.k decidedly. "Run home, boy, and give the money to your mother. If this man troubles you or your mother, go and tell General Putnam, and we will see that the offence is not repeated."

"We'll see whether you will or not!" hissed the man, suddenly flying at d.i.c.k as if to annihilate him.

In a moment d.i.c.k 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 with your abuse of your wife and family and you will catch it still worse. A word to the wise is sufficient."

The boy ran away, quickly disappearing down a narrow street, while the man, getting on his feet, glared at d.i.c.k and said:

"You're a rebel, that's what you are, and all the rebels will be driven out'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 know nothing about it," dryly. "You are a pretty sort of gentlemen! I'd rather not be one if you are a good specimen."

"I'll keep you in mind, my fine fellow," with a snarl. "You don't strike me for nothing, let me tell you that!"

"I did not I struck you for a good reason, and whenever the occasion rises again I will do the same, and you may remember that!" and then d.i.c.k turned on his heel and walked away, having caught sight of a man whom he had seen on the other side of the city, and whom he suspected to be one of Hughson's cronies, having seen him in the tavern near the Bowling 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's father stood watching d.i.c.k for a time and then went off, d.i.c.k following the man he had seen and paying no attention to the other. He found the fellow sitting on a bench with others, but kept out of sight as much as possible, not knowing if he would be recognized.

"Been drove out of our place over on t'other side of the city, hain't you, Jeb?" asked one.

"Yes, by a lot of confounded rebels, too, and just as we was getting ready to sell off a lot of the stuff," snarled the other. "I'd like to get hold of the fellows!"

"Maybe when the redcoats come in you will, unless they get scared and get 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 rebels caught him."

"No, I ain't seen him, but I heard he was looking around to find all he could about the rebels so as to give the general a better show for getting in. Light up here, Jim, it's getting dark."

A hulking-looking man in a corner now arose to get lights, as it was growing dark in the place, and at the same moment some one entered and said:

"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---h.e.l.lo!"

The big man came along with a lantern, and Hughson, for it was the spy himself, suddenly caught sight of d.i.c.k and recognized him.

"What's the matter?" tried several of the men in the place, leaping to their feet.

"There's the rebel now--Slater himself!" cried Hughson. "Don't let him get away! The boy in the brown homespun suit!"

In an instant a rush was made for d.i.c.k.

CHAPTER VII.--An Act of Grat.i.tude.

Seeing his danger, d.i.c.k whipped out a pistol and shot the lantern out of the 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 d.i.c.k and the newcomer fell to the floor with a crash.

"Hallo! can't you see where you're going?" the fellow yelled, and d.i.c.k recognized his voice as that of the man who had been, abusing the boy farther up the street.

The spy, Jeb and others now rushed forward, lights were procured and d.i.c.k 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. No rebel strikes me for nothing!"