CHAPTER XVI--The Bottle of Cider
The girls uttered cries of fear and ran into the other room. The youngmen stood their ground, but made no move to interfere. Doubtless theysympathized with the three youths--with the exception of RalphHicks--but did not feel like trying to fight ten British soldiers, forthe sake of the three almost strangers.
Dick Dare realized that it would be foolish to try to resist or attemptan escape. The redcoats were within arm's-length of them, armed withpistols, and to try to get away would be to get bullets in their bodiesbefore they were out of the room.
So he said: "We surrender. Don't shoot," and the sergeant nodded andsaid:
"That's sensible. Turn your backs to us and place your hands behindyou."
The patriot youths obeyed, and the redcoats quickly bound their wristswith cord that was brought to them by Mr. Hart, the man of the house, attheir command. It was easy to see that he did not like this, but theredcoats were strong enough so that they could do as they wished, andprotest would avail nothing.
The three prisoners were placed in the kitchen, in one corner, and thesergeant confronted them, saying: "So you rebels are down here from theNorth with an army, are you?"
"Yes," replied Dick, quietly.
"What do you think you are going to do?"
"We are going to make it warm for Arnold and his troops," said Dick.
The sergeant smiled sarcastically. "I don't think _you_ will have muchto do with it," he said. "You are going with us to our camp, when weleave here, and to-morrow we will rejoin the main army, and Arnold willlikely string you up to a tree, as I have heard him speak of you asbeing a rebel spy."
"You haven't got us to this encampment yet," said Dick, calmly.
"Bah. How came you to be here to-night?"
"That is our business."
"You won't answer, eh?"
"No."
"All right. It don't make any difference, anyway. We've got you, now, soyou can't do whatever you had the intention of doing. I judge thatlikely you were searching for Arnold's encampment."
"Oh, possibly."
"Well, you won't have to search any longer. We'll see that you getthere, to-morrow--and that you stay a while, my fine young rebel."
"Thanks," said Dick, sarcastically.
Then the sergeant placed a redcoat on guard, to see that the prisonersmade no attempt to escape, after which he returned to the front room,and the dancing was started up again, and went on with seemingmerriment. But the fact was, that the young people were not enjoyingthemselves as much as had been the case before the advent of theredcoats.
Sally Hart was a bright, shrewd girl. She had noted the fact that RalphHicks and the sergeant had left the room together a while before thethree patriot youths were made prisoners, and she guessed that Hicks hadtold the sergeant that the three youths were patriot soldiers. Shesummoned Hicks to her side, and whispered to him that she wanted him tocome out of doors with her, that she had something to say to himprivately, and he followed her out.
When they were a short distance from the house, Sally turned and said,somewhat sternly: "Ralph, why did you tell that sergeant that the DareBoys and Ben Foster were patriot soldiers, and cause them to be madeprisoners?"
"I--why, Sally, I didn't--"
"Ralph Hicks, you know you did tell him!" interrupted Sally. "And, now,why did you do it?"
"Well, Sally," was the reply, in a desperate tone, "if you must know, Idid it because you--because, well, you seemed to like Dick Dare, that'swhy. You danced with him four or five times, and I didn't get to dancewith you once."
"So that is the reason!" There was anger and scorn in the girl's voice."I danced with Dick Dare several times because he is a good dancer, andbecause he is a stranger, and our guest. And you had to go and getjealous and hand him over to the redcoats. Ralph Hicks, I have a goodmind to never speak to you again!"
"I'm sorry, Sally," said Hicks. "I--well, I was kind of mad at DickDare, and--and, yes, jealous of him. I wish you were not angry with me,Sally."
"I am angry, Ralph," was the grim reply. "And there is just one way thatyou can get me over my angry feeling toward you."
"How is that, Sally?" eagerly.
"By securing the freedom of Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster."
Hicks was silent a few moments, and then said: "I can't do that, Sally.The redcoats have the three prisoners, and how could I get them out oftheir hands?"
"I don't know, that's your problem, but if you want me to ever speak toyou, after to-night, you must get those three young men free. You werethe cause of their being made prisoners, and it is your place to rescuethem."
"But, how will I do it, Sally?"
"I don't know, I'm sure."
"If you will help me," said Hicks, presently, after a period ofpondering, "perhaps I might manage it."
"What could I do?"
"I'll tell you. You have some mighty fine cider in the cellar, haven'tyou?"
"Yes."
"Well, I'll get a bottle of the cider, and will be out here with it, andyou tell the soldier that is guarding the prisoners that if he will stepout of doors, I will give him some cider. And when he comes out, you cutthe ropes and free the prisoners, and they can rush out, knock theredcoat over and make their escape."
"But, won't the redcoat wonder why the cider isn't brought into the roomand given to him there?"
"Tell him there is only one bottle, and that the other soldiers wouldwant some of it, too, if they saw him drinking."
"Very well," said Sally, after a few moments of silence, "we will trythat plan. Go down into the cellar and get a bottle of the cider."
"And--Sally."
"Well?"
"If we succeed in setting the prisoners free, you'll--you won't be angrywith me, will you?"
"I'll see about it, Ralph. Now, go and get the cider."
Hicks said, "All right," and then lifted the cellar-door and made hisway down into the cellar. He got a bottle of the cider, and when he gotback up, and had closed the cellar-door, the redcoat was just emergingfrom the kitchen.
"Here," said Hicks, his voice trembling slightly. "Here is the cider."
"All right, young man, and thank you," said the redcoat. He stepped toHicks' side, and took the bottle, and placed it to his mouth.
A few moments later the door of the kitchen opened again, and Dick andTom Dare and Ben Foster leaped forth. The redcoat heard them and startedto turn around, but Dick Dare, who was in the lead, sprang upon theBritish soldier with all his force, and the redcoat was hurled sprawlingto the earth, the bottle flying from his hand.
The red coat was hurled sprawling.]
Then the three youths dashed away, into the edge of the timber at therear of the house.
The redcoat was not injured, excepting that he had been jarred byfalling, and he scrambled to his feet, caught sight of the youthsrunning, and jerking out a pistol, he fired a shot after the fugitives,and yelled loudly:
"Quick, comrades! The prisoners have escaped!"