that point. Wecan tell better when we get there."
It was all dark on the river again in a few minutes, and the two boatskeeping close together proceeded steadily on, making very fair progress.
"Would it be of any advantage to make our way over to the Jersey shoreand cross again higher up the river, Dick?" asked Bob.
"I am not sure that it would, Bob," was the reply. "We will not do itunless we have to, as we can probably make better time by keeping on aswe are."
The day had been sultry, but it was now cold and damp on the river,being dark as well, a cold mist arising as they went on, which not onlymade it more difficult to see their way but chilled them as well.However, if they could not see the enemy, the latter could not see them,so that there was an advantage on their side after all. They went as faras Bloomingdale without seeing anything of the enemy or hearing anyalarm, and were in hope of going the rest of the way safely, when themist lifted for a few moments, and Dick saw the outlines of a shiplooming up before him out of the darkness. He quickly steered out of theday and signalled to Bob to go closer inshore so as to avoid the ship.Presently a light appeared on board, and then a voice called out insharp tones:
"Boat ahoy! What are you doing out there?"
"Looking out for the enemy!" answered Dick, that being just what he wasdoing.
"Seen anything of them?"
"Yes, some little time ago. Seen any yourselves?"
"No, what are they up to? Sending out their confounded fireboats toannoy us?"
"Oh, they'll do anything, I fancy," and the boats went on, the men onthe ships never imagining that they contained a number of the LibertyBoys.
"Keep a good watch for them, and if you see any give us a signal."
"Aye, aye! we'll keep a strict watch for them."
"That's what we've been doing ever since we left New York," mutteredBen, under his breath.
The ship was presently lost in the mist and darkness, and the boys wenton, not knowing when they might come upon another. They kept closetogether, so as not to be separated, and drew as near to the shore aswas safe, the ships being mostly in midstream. Now and then the darknesswas so dense as to shut out everything, and once they ran upon a bar andhad to push themselves off with considerable exertion, being unable tosee anything. Getting off at last, they went on, but were at lengthhailed by a boat out on the river and not far from them.
"Boat ahoy!" cried Dick, in answer to the hail. "Are you from the RoyalGeorge?"
"No, the Inflexible. Are you from the George?"
"No; we are looking for her. We are carrying despatches."
"She must be up the river. We have seen nothing of her. Who are you?"
"Despatch boat. Keep a sharp lookout for the enemy. They are gettingtroublesome."
"Aye, aye!" and Dick and his boys went on rapidly, getting farther andfarther away from the other boat every minute.
"The river is full of the pesky British!" muttered Bob. "I am not surethat it would not be safer to go ashore."
"We are sure of our road here, Bob," laughed Dick, "but we would not be,on shore. I think we had better stick to the river for a time, untildawn, at any rate."
"H'm! it can't be far from it, then, for I never knew it to bethundering dark," growled Bob.
The boys laughed and went on less rapidly, that being the safest course.They took turns rowing, and so no one became over-fatigued and all had achance to warm up, the mists of the river being very chilly and damp. Atlength it grew light enough to see the obstructions in the river justahead of them, and they set about getting through and going on. Dickwould have gone ashore, but he saw tents and the gleam of scarletuniforms on shore, and concluded that it would be better to remainlonger on the river. The boats had much less trouble in getting past theobstructions than a ship would have had, and they got through at length,with some trouble, being seen by the redcoats on shore, however, itbeing very much lighter by this time.
The enemy raised a great shout, but they had no boats, and all theycould do was to run along shore and shout, firing a volley now and then,which did no damage and only set the echoes to answering.
"They had better keep quiet," sputtered Bob. "The first thing we knowthey will wake up everybody along shore, and we will have some troublein making a landing."
"I think we might do it before long, Bob," Dick returned. "A run will dous good after being on the river so many hours."
"All right, Dick, and if we can give the redcoats a run the right way,so much the better."
Farther on, around a bend of the river, the redcoats being now out ofsight, the boys rowed in to shore and made a landing. They had lefttheir muskets behind, but they all had their pistols and were ready togive the redcoats as lively a reception as they could. The boats wereleft to go adrift, and then, led by Dick, who knew the way thoroughly,they set out for their own lines, which Dick judged would be somewherebelow Fort Washington. On they went, and all at once came upon a partyof the enemy hurrying to intercept them.
"Fire, Liberty Boys!" shouted Dick. "Scatter the redcoats, drive themoff the island, hurl them into the river!"
"Liberty forever, forward, down with the redcoats!" echoed the pluckyfellows.
Then they began to discharge their pistols in the liveliest fashion, andto shout as if there were four or five times as many of them. Theredcoats evidently thought that there were many more of the daring boys,and fell back in haste. Dick and Bob led the way, and the whole partycharged resolutely, desiring to get to a place of safety as soon aspossible, although it seemed to the enemy as if they were being pursuedby an army, and they made all haste to get away.
The boys turned up the road toward the fort with all haste, and werewell on their way before the enemy realized that they were not beingpursued. Then they turned and went after the boys, greatly chagrined athaving been so cleverly fooled. They got reinforcements, and set outafter the boys in full chase, but were suddenly brought to a stop by themain body of the Liberty Boys under Mark Morrison. Mark had heard thefiring, and was out looking for Dick and the Liberty Boys at the sametime, and now, seeing their danger, fell upon the enemy tooth and nailand sent them flying.
"Hurrah! back with the redcoats!" he shouted. "Give it to them, my boys.Fire!"
Crash--roar! The redcoats now had to face a musket volley instead of apistol discharge, and they felt the difference. Down upon them bore thegallant boys with a cheer and a ringing volley, and then two or threebrigades of regulars were seen following up the boys, and they fell backin great disorder.
"Hurrah!" yelled Bob. "That's the kind of reception to get. Here we are,boys!"
CHAPTER XIII.--Tom Joins the Liberty Boys.
Mark and his boys gave Dick and Bob and the rest a hearty cheer, andthen the whole body took a stand to be ready to meet the enemy in casethey should make another advance. The patriots were out in full forcenow, however, and the redcoats fell back to the edge of Harlem Plains,where they had their camp, the plan being a sort of neutral groundbetween the two armies.
The boys shortly retired to their own camp, and here Dick and Bob andBen, and the rest who had been left in the city, were given a rightroyal welcome, and then they all had breakfast together, Dick and hisboys being very glad to get it. Mark and the others were eager to hearwhat had befallen them in the city, and were greatly interested inhearing the story of their many and varied adventures. "We had sometrouble ourselves in getting away," declared Mark, "but nothing likewhat you fellows had. You must have given the redcoats a good scare attimes, however."
"It was the only chance we had of getting away," laughed Bob. "If we hadnot made them think we were ten times as strong as we were, we wouldhave been gobbled up."
The enemy made one or two sorties during the day, but were in every casedriven back, and at last retired to their lines and did not again seekto molest the Americans. The patriots had lost New York, but they werestill in possession of the upper part of the island and meant to hold itas long as they could, Fort Washington being a strong fo
rt and welldefended. At night the Liberty Boys' camp was well guarded, and theslightest move of the enemy toward it would have been detected in amoment. During the forenoon, Tom came to the camp and said:
"It's a fine place where we are, Captain, and I am obliged to you forsending us up there. Mother will get plenty to do and already has thepromise of enough to keep her busy for a month."
"I am very glad of it, Tom," said Dick, "and I am sure that you will allbe much happier there than in the city. The enemy are there now, and itwill be much worse than before."
"So the redcoats have gone into New York, have they? I am sorry forthat."
"So are we all, Tom, but it will not be forever. Some day