people, fearing to be apprehended by the watch, hurriedaway by this and that way of escape, and Dick had a clear coast. Then hegave a signal which told the boys to get away as quickly as possible.They had already seized the two boats and filled them rapidly.
"Take in Dick, boys," said Bob, heading one of the boats, "while I goahead to clear the way."
Harry, Ben, Sam, Phil and others were in the other boat, which layalongside the wharf, ready to take Dick on board. Meanwhile the alarmwas spreading that Dick Slater, the captain of the Liberty Boys, was inthe city and that whoever would seize him would receive a large reward.Dick, close pressed, sounded a signal to the boys to get away at oncefor fear of being caught. It were better that he were taken, hereasoned, than that all the boys should be made prisoners. Bob, in hisboat, thinking that Dick was all right, went on out upon the river.Redcoats, nightwatch, sailors and populace joined in the pursuit,pressing the young patriot sorely. He had to dodge and take a longercourse to the boat in order to reach it at all and then signalled to theboys to go on. Harry and his boys, supposing that Dick had in some wayreached the other boat, took up their oars and began to pull. Then Dickfound a way suddenly to dart between two of the redcoats and run rapidlytoward the water. There was a great outcry and the chase waxed hotterthan ever. The redcoats and the nightwatch pursued Dick to the very edgeof the wharf.
The boat containing the Liberty Boys was just putting out. Dick jumpedand was caught by Harry. The redcoats were too late. A furious captain,in his haste to seize Dick rushed forward with drawn sword, and in amoment went pitching headlong, and was speedily seen floundering in thewater, his wig floating in one direction and his hat in another, hissword sinking to the bottom, as he was suddenly forced to swim for it orgo down. The nightwatch lost his lantern in the scuffle, and there wasgreat confusion and hubbub. In the dark, men behind pushing forward tosee what was going on crowded redcoats and others into the river, andthe confusion and hubbub grew worse and worse every moment.
"Hallo, keep back there, you are throwing us all into the river!"
"Good thing, too, to get rid of all the redcoats!"
"Push a few more in and give them a good soaking."
"Shove in a few rebels to even things up."
"What's all the trouble about, anyhow?"
"Ten o'clock of a sultry night and all's well!" drawled the nightwatch,recovering his lantern and lighting it.
Then other nightwatchmen came up, and there was more light and lessconfusion and turmoil. The redcoats were very wroth at the people forletting the "saucy young rebels" escape, and the bluejackets were angryat the rebels for taking their boats, while some of the people werewrathful at both redcoats and bluejackets, and others,--Tories, by theway--were incensed against the others and angry at the escape of theboys.
The latter were now out upon the river in the dark, but going cautiouslyand steadily on. Dick took the lead and worked his way between the shoreand the nearest ship without being discovered, the hubbub on shore nothaving yet resolved itself into an alarm which the ships couldunderstand. The officers, supposing it to be merely a fight betweenrival crews or between sailors and people, paid no attention to it, andthe boys continued steadily on their way. Then other boats put out, andsome one shouted:
"Hallo! there's a boatload of young rebels on the river, trying toescape. Fire upon them and sink the young rascals the moment you seethem!"
Now the cause of the fracas on shore was explained, and at once a searchfor the daring boys was instituted. Lights flashed, hoarse voices wereheard calling across the water, and there was as much confusion on theriver as there had been on land. One could not see as far as on shore,however, and the means of getting from place to place were not asnumerous, and much time was lost in getting into communication one withanother.
Dick knew his way and went on as rapidly as possible, and with allcaution, passing one ship and making his way toward the next. In thedark, the blue uniforms of the boys could easily be mistaken for theblue jackets or sailors or midshipmen, and Dick relied upon this to helphim in his escape. A boat had been lowered, and presently the sound ofthe boys' oars was heard by the enemy.
"Ahoy! What boat is that?"
"Seen anything of the rebels, sir?" asked Dick, the boys pullingsteadily.
"No, not yet. Have you?"
"I've an idea there's a boatload of them ahead of us somewhere, but it'sdark as Erebus on the river."
"Go ahead and keep a watch. My idea is that they have not gone as far asthis yet."
"An idea that you are quite welcome to, my man!" was Dick's thought."Everybody thinks that his idea is the only correct one."
Bob was hailed by the other boat as he followed Dick closely, andanswered gruffly:
"Port, captain! Keep a watch below there, and keep a sharper eye on yourduty. The rebels may have gone down the river, for all you know. Thereis no good in looking one way only."
"Aye, aye, sir!" and the boat went down the river.
The ship was passed in safety, the boats being supposed to be filledwith middies and bluejackets, and no questions were asked. There weredangers ahead of the boys, however, and they all realized that runningthe blockade was not going to be as easy a matter as one might think.
CHAPTER XII.--On the River.
There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frisewhich the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and whichwould now be a hindrance to the boys. They must get beyond the ships andthe obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they allrealized the dangers to be met. It was better for the two boats to keeptogether, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them toseparate and the boys understood this. They had passed the ships nearestto their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther upthe river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.
The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boatsout watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jerseyshore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushingforward. The boys rowed steadily, all of them being accustomed to beingon the water, and their progress was steady if not very rapid, it beingdark on the river, and the current and the tide being both against them.
Rowing on steadily, they at length heard sounds behind them, which toldthem that the search below had been thorough, and that the enemy wereconvinced that they had gone up the river instead of down, and thepursuit was now being carried on in that direction. A bright light wasseen from the masthead of a ship below them, this being meant as asignal to those above. As they went on, they saw a light flash from themasthead of a vessel some way ahead of them.
"Pull steady, boys," he said. "We may be able to pass the ship withoutbeing seen, and, if not, I think I can find a way to fool them and runthe blockade."
As they went on, a boat was seen crossing their bow at some littledistance, and Dick told the boys to get the lanterns ready. On theywent, and at last a hail came from the boat ahead:
"Ahoy! Who are you?"
The lanterns suddenly flashed, and Dick cried:
"There are the rebels, men. Don't let them fool you. Get ready, all ofyou!"
"Hello! Boat ahoy! Are you looking for rebels?"
"Yes, and we've got you! Surrender, or we'll run you down!"
"Why, you dunderhead, we are looking for rebels ourselves!"
"By George! then they must be below. Go down there and look for them!"
"What authority have you over us, I'd like to know?" in an angry tone.
"See that masthead light? That means to look out for the enemy. We arehere to see that the enemy are looked out for. That's my authority! Pullahead, my men!"
The middy in the other boat saw just enough blue and gold lace tomistake Dick for a naval officer, and the young patriot's tone ofauthority did the rest.
"Very good, sir!" promptly, and the boats containing the boys went on,the names painted on the sterns being seen, and no one supposing thatany one but British blueja
ckets would be in them.
"Keep a sharp lookout below there, Midshipman!" said Dick, in acommanding tone. "There is no use of that light. You are only giving therebels warning."
The other boat went on, and the masthead light was presentlyextinguished, much to Bob's delight.
"The thing has burned out, I suppose," he muttered, "and they will notrenew it. Good thing, too!"
"Keep on steady, boys, and make as little noise as possible," said Dick."We are not out of danger yet, and no one knows what may happen beforewe get up to the obstructions."
"We may be able to go ashore there, Captain," observed Harry, "in placeof having to get through them."
"Yes, if there are no lines drawn across the island at