CHAPTER VII
Tom Tries Woodcraft
The settlers in the fort watched the actions of the Indians and therenegade with some anxiety. They realized that unless General Greene andhis army came to their assistance, they would sooner or later either becaptured, or else would have to surrender, owing to running out ofprovisions.
And, if Gurley told the truth, Dick Dare had been captured and would notbe able to carry the news to General Greene.
They discussed the situation, and Tom Dare reiterated his statement thatas soon as it was dark he would leave the fort, attempt to slip throughthe lines of the Indians and go in search of Dick. Failing of findinghis brother, after a reasonable length of time given to searching, hewould then go on to the encampment of the patriot army and tell GeneralGreene of the predicament of the patriot settlers, and get him to cometo their relief.
"Very well," said Mr. Holden. "We shall be glad to have you do as yousuggest, my boy. But, it will be a difficult and dangerous mattergetting past those redskins. They have the fort surrounded, and will beon the alert to prevent anyone getting away from here."
"I think I can succeed, sir," said Tom, confidently.
"I hope so, I am sure. In the meantime I will tell you as nearly as Ican where you will find Gurley's hut, for there probably is where yourbrother is held prisoner."
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly, the Indians making no move toattack, but there could be little doubt but what they would make theirplans to execute some maneuver during the night.
Soon after dark, Tom got ready to start on his dangerous undertaking.Ben asked to be permitted to accompany him, but Tom said no, that hecould do better by himself.
"I think I can get through the lines of the redskins, Ben," he said."Don't worry about me."
"All right. But you must be careful, Tom."
"I'll be careful. Good-by."
"Good-by," said Ben, as they shook hands, "and good luck."
Tom said good-by to the others, and then slipped out through the gate,and stole softly away through the darkness.
"Now, I will have to exercise care," said Tom to himself. "It is notgoing to be very easy to get through the lines of the Indians, for theyare better woodsmen than the redcoats."
He moved slowly and cautiously, till he was nearly to the edge of theforest, and then he dropped onto his hands and knees and crawledforward, slowly, pausing every few moments to listen.
Finally he reached the margin of the woods without having heard anysound of the redskins. Here he paused for a few minutes, leaning againsta tree, and listening intently for some sound from the Indians.
He knew there must certainly be some of the redskins near at hand, andso when he started onward again, he went slowly and exercised greatcaution. He knew that the least sound would be heard, and he was carefulnot to make any noise.
On he went, moving as silently as a shadow, and without hearing anysound to indicate the presence of the Indians. It was indeed trying tohis nerves, but Tom was a brave youth, and did not falter.
How long it took Tom to make his way through the lines of the Indians hedid not know, but it seemed to him that several hours had passed by thetime he was at a point beyond the encircling line of redskins. Had henot moved exceedingly slow, however, he would surely have beendiscovered, and likely would have been captured.
Rising to his feet, he moved onward, still slowly and cautiously, but hedid not hear any sounds to indicate the presence of Indians, and keptsteadily onward.
When he had gone about half a mile, he paused and uttered a peculiar,quavering whistle, low but penetrating in the stillness of the night. Itwas a signal that he and Dick and Ben often used, when separated atnight. If Dick were within a radius of two hundred yards, he would hearthe whistle, and of course would answer it, unless gagged.
Tom sounded the whistle three or four times, without receiving anyresponse, and then moved onward perhaps a quarter of a mile. Pausingagain, he sounded the signal as before. And as before, there was noreply. He was not able to locate, in the dark, the cabin Gurleyoccupied.
So Tom moved onward, with occasional trips first to one side and thenthe other, repeating the signal whistle, but he did not receive anyresponse, and finally decided that it would be useless to continue theattempt to find Dick.
"I would like to find him," murmured Tom, "but it is like looking for aneedle in a haystack, and so I guess I will head for the patriotencampment, and carry the news regarding the danger of the settlers inthe fort, to General Greene. Then, if Dick isn't there, I will hastenback and continue the search for him."
Having so determined, Tom set out in as direct a course as he couldfollow, and walked swiftly. On he went, keeping it up till morning, whenhe came to a cabin in the woods, and stopped and asked the man, wholooked to be a hunter, if he could get breakfast there.
"I reckon so," was the reply. And then the hunter asked, curiously:"Whar ye goin', young feller?"
"To see some friends about seventy-five miles north of here," was thereply.
"What's yer name?" the fellow asked.
"Tom Dare," was the reply.
"My name is Jeff Harkins. Come in an' set down. I'll hev the grub readypurty soon."
Tom entered and took a seat, and when the food had been cooked and wason the table, they sat up to the rude board and ate heartily.
Just as they had finished, into the cabin walked six British soldiers,and they leveled pistols at the heads of the two, and their leader, alieutenant, cried sternly:
"Surrender, in the name of the king!"