The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade Part 7

"No, it would be better for you not to lie, but to face him down and tell him plainly that the money was for the support of the family and not for him to squander in drink."

They were hurrying along now, the boy in the lead, the sounds from the river showing that the men were coming back.

"Yes, that is right and I shall do it, but come, they will raise an alarm and you will have trouble in getting away. This way, Captain."

They went down an alley, the boy taking d.i.c.k's hand, and presently turned into a narrower one where Tom shortly pushed open a door and entered a house.

"It is Tom, mother," the boy said. "I have got the captain with me. The scheme worked well, fortunately, and he cut his way through the sack."

"You were obliged to take desperate chances, sir," said a woman's voice, "and I told Tom that I feared they would be too desperate. He would have released you if he could."

"Yes, I know, ma'am, but he gave me great a.s.sistance and I am accustomed to taking desperate chances."

The woman lighted a tallow dip and then exclaimed in surprise:

"Why, Tom, you said he was a captain! This is but a boy, not very many years older than yourself."

"He is the captain of the Liberty Boys, mother. They are all boys, some of them no older than myself. This way, Captain, and I will get you some clothes to take the place of the wet ones."

The boy then led the way into a smaller room, where he brought out a suit of clothes somewhat small for d.i.c.k, but neat and clean.

"You had best keep them," said d.i.c.k, as he removed his soaking garments, "and if you will come to the camp to-morrow, you can have your own again."

He rapidly exchanged the wet for the dry clothes, Tom giving him a ruffled s.h.i.+rt, saying:

"That is a gentleman's s.h.i.+rt, but I suppose you do not mind, on a pinch?"

"No," with a laugh, "I do not, but I hear some one coming."

"Yes, but he does not know of this place, and if you are quiet he will not hear you. There is another way out which I will show you."

d.i.c.k finished his dressing as he heard Fletch say:

"Some one helped the rebel, and I'd like to catch him! Where is that boy Tom?"

"He is not here."

"Well, I can see that!" savagely. "Where is he?"

"He has gone out," simply.

"Whereabouts? To earn money? He gave you some to-night. Where is it?"

"You cannot have it," resolutely. "Some of it has been spent for the children and the rest is put away."

"I want it. I am drenched and chill with cold. The plagued rebel upset me into the river. I must have liquor to take out the chill. Give me the money."

"No, I will not. I will make you some hot tea, which will be better for you. I have never refused to help you when you were yourself, but I will not let you turn yourself into a beast and make the children go hungry and naked."

"Give me the money, I say!" savagely, and then d.i.c.k heard a frightened scream from the other room.

"Quick, let me out, Tom!" he cried.

The boy was ahead of him, but d.i.c.k followed only an instant behind, sprang into the room he had left and seized the angry, half-drunken man as he was about to throw the woman to the floor.

"Stop that, you brute, or you will get into a worse place than the river!" he cried. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

He had thrown the man on the floor but he now got up and rushed at him, knife in hand. d.i.c.k had the knife which Tom had given him, and he met the other's attack resolutely. The two blades clashed together, and the man's knife fell to the floor, the boy picking it up.

"I told the captain I would kill you, if need be, to save him," he said, "and I'll do it all the quicker to save my mother. You are a miserable, drunken brute, not fit to live with decent folk. Go away, I will not have you here."

"You?" repeated the man shamefully. "What have you to do with it? Isn't this my house, aren't you my son, isn't your mother my wife? Where else should I go? How can you turn me out--you, a mere boy?"

"Because I am the breadwinner, because you are a drone, an idle, worthless fellow. You are not fit to a.s.sociate with us. You are no father of mine; I disown you!"

"You cannot put me out," snarled the man, advancing.

"If he cannot, I can!" said d.i.c.k, with determination. "If you do not leave here at once, I will drag you out and denounce you as an a.s.sociate of spies, an habitual drunkard and a thief. Are you going?"

"Yes," muttered the man, cowed by d.i.c.k's resolute bearing.

Then he went out, and d.i.c.k said in a low tone:

"He will not venture to return at once, but he will seek out his evil companions and try to overcome me yet. I must go. You are a brave boy, Tom. Stick to your mother above all others, and you will come out all right. Good-by, come and see us at the camp to-morrow."

Then d.i.c.k hurried out, and made his way toward Broadway where he would be safe. Reaching a main thoroughfare at length, he went on and at last entered the camp, where he was challenged by Ben Spurlock.

"Who goes there?" cried the boy.

"Captain Slater," was d.i.c.k's reply.

Then Ben gave a signal which brought a score of the boys running to the spot in an instant.

"Lieutenant Estabrook has gone out to look for you, Captain, and taken a strong party of the Liberty Boys," said Mark Morrison, coming forward.

"Were you on the East River side of the city?"

"Yes, Lieutenant, and have had some very exciting adventures. Send some of the boys over toward the river, and I think they will find the others. Tell them I am all right."

The boys gave a cheer, and then Mark despatched a dozen boys to look for Bob, d.i.c.k going to his tent to change his clothes. In time Bob and his boys came back, and there was great rejoicing in camp, everybody being anxious to hear d.i.c.k's adventures. d.i.c.k told them, the boys being more incensed than ever at the spy and determined to capture him and put him out of the way of doing any more mischief.

"That boy Tom was a plucky fellow and a grateful one as well," declared Bob. "That is the sort we want in the Liberty Boys."

"Yes, but he is needed at home," d.i.c.k returned, "and would probably have to do the cause good in other ways than joining us. He would be an acquisition, of course, but I would not ask him."

All was quiet in camp at length, and no alarms of the approach of the enemy were heard, although it was not long before they would be.

CHAPTER IX.--The Spy in the Toils.