"That is phwat Oi think," said Tim Murphy, the Irish soldier. "Av inywan, now, could come innywhere near bein" as good at spyin" as d.i.c.k, phwy Fritz here," he continued with a grin, "would be the mon, Oi"m thinkin"."
Fritz Schmockenburg, the Dutch soldier, grunted.
"I bet me dot I vould mage ein better sby as vot your vould, Tim Murphies," he said placidly.
And then ensued a good-natured dispute between the two, who, although they quarrelled frequently, and to one who did not understand them would seem to be very angry at each other and enemies in fact, were the best of friends. And Tom and Ben egged the two on, for they liked to hear them talk, it affording something in the way of amus.e.m.e.nt to pa.s.s away the time, which was beginning to hang heavy on their hands, camp-life being rather dull and trying, especially to youths like them, who had always been used to an active life in the open fields.
d.i.c.k had gone to headquarters, and on reaching there, he was given a cordial greeting by Generals Washington and Putnam.
"You sent for me, your excellency?" said d.i.c.k, after saluting.
"Yes, d.i.c.k," was the reply. "I think that I shall again call you into requisition. How wold you like to again venture out toward the British lines in search of information?"
d.i.c.k"s face lighted up eagerly.
"I would like it first rate, sir," he said.
"I thought so, and that is the reason I sent for you. Well, d.i.c.k, the fact is, that we are beginning to grow weary of this state of affairs, and would like to learn what is detaining the enemy and causing them to hold back from making an attack. And we wish to learn, if possible, if an attack is intended soon, and if so, on what date. You wish to try your hand at the work of learning this, my boy?"
"I shall be glad to make the attempt to secure the information you wish, General Washington," was the prompt and earnest reply.
"Very well, d.i.c.k. Then the matter is settled. You will leave this evening, as soon as darkness has come, and will visit the special spot in the vicinity of the enemy"s camp, and learn all that you possibly can. There is no need of my giving you other than these general instructions, for you have had sufficient experience as a spy to know how to go about it yourself."
"Yes, your excellency. I will leave as soon as it is dark, and will do my best to secure some information of value."
"I hope that you may succeed, my boy."
"I hope so, sir."
After a little further conversation d.i.c.k took his departure, and rejoined his comrades, who looked at him inquiringly.
"Spy-work again, d.i.c.k?" queried Ben.
"Yes, Ben," was the reply.
"That"s what we guessed. When do you start?"
"This evening."
"I wish I could go with you!" said Tom.
"I think it will be better for me to go alone," said d.i.c.k. "I can do better work alone than if somebody is with me. The general selected me because I have a likely place to hide."
"How would it do to take Dootchy wid yez, d.i.c.k?" grinned Tim. "He thinks he would be a foine spy."
d.i.c.k laughed. "I don"t know how Fritz would make out in that field of endeavor," he said.
"He is so big he couldn"t get within a mile of the redcoats without their seeing him," commented Ben.
"Yes, that"s the only trouble with Fritz," said Tom. "He is too big to be a success as a spy."
"I didn"t said dot I vould be a goot sby, d.i.c.k," responded Fritz. "I said dot I vould be as goot a sby as vot Tim Murphies vould be, see?
und I vill stand me by dot statements, alretty."
"Wull, Oi have not said thot Oi would make a good spy, Dootchy," said Tim, "so you wouldn"t have to be much in thot line to aquil me. But whin it comes to foightin", now, it"s mesilf belaves Oi have yez bate, Fritz, me bye."
"Oh, I don"d vos know abouid dot, Tim," was the reply. "I think dot I vill do some fighdin" myselufs alretty, ven ve get der retgoads at, yahs."
"Maybe so," grinned Tim. "We wull wait an see how yez act whin we come face to face wid the ridcoats."
"Oh, you"ll both be brave soldiers, no doubt," said Tom. "But, you won"t be any ahead of d.i.c.k, Ben and myself. We intend to do some fighting, too, when the time comes."
"Oi"m bettin" thot yez presint a bold face to the inimy," nodded Tom, who liked the youths immensely. "An" sure, it"s meself is wishin" thot we get a chance at the ridcoats before very long."
"I hope so, Tim," said d.i.c.k.
Soon after supper, that evening, d.i.c.k made his preparations for going on the expedition. Tom cautioned him again and again to be careful, and not take too great risks. "I won"t be there to help you, and you will have to depend on yourself," he said.
"I shall be careful," said d.i.c.k. "But I"m going to find out when the British intend to make an attack, that is, if such a thing is possible."
"I hope that you may succeed, d.i.c.k," encouraged Ben.
"I"ll do my best," and then saying good-bye to his friends, d.i.c.k left the works and set out down the slope, heading in the direction of the encampment of the British.
He walked at a moderate pace, for there was no occasion for haste. He had the whole night before him.
He walked onward an hour or more, and then stopped in the same little clump of timber which had before sheltered him. Climbing a tree, he looked toward the south, and saw, not very far distant, the campfires of the British. The enemy were still occupying their old quarters.
d.i.c.k did not of course dare venture into the British encampment, for the reason that he would be recognized and placed under arrest as a spy at once, for having pretended to join the force in question only a few weeks before, and the redcoats would be only too glad to get their hands on him now.
"I guess the best thing I can do is to remain here till morning," was d.i.c.k"s thought. "Then I can get a good view of the encampment, and possibly some soldiers may come here to the timber during the day, as they did before, to loll in the shade, and I may again be able to hear something of interest."
d.i.c.k climbed down out of the tree and lay down under some bushes and was soon sound asleep. That was one thing that made d.i.c.k a good person for work of this kind. He did not get excited, and could lie down and sleep soundly almost anywhere, and even with the redcoats in close proximity to him.
He was up with the sun, next morning, and after eating a portion of the food he had brought along with him, he felt refreshed, and turned his attention again toward the British encampment. By climbing the tree, he was enabled to get a good view of the camp, and could see the British soldiers at work cooking their breakfast over the campfires.
Away in the distance, toward the bay, d.i.c.k could make out another encampment, and knew that this was the main force, under General Howe in person. There was no clump of trees near that encampment, however, which made it difficult of approach for spying purposes, which was the reason he had come to this division of the army instead.
d.i.c.k remained up in the tree an hour or so, and then descended and lay down under some bushes at the edge of the clump of the trees, on the side next to the encampment, and kept a sharp lookout in that direction, watching eagerly for the coming of some of the soldiers.
One, two hours pa.s.sed, and then d.i.c.k"s patience was rewarded. He saw a couple of British soldiers have the encampment and come strolling in the direction of the clump of trees.
d.i.c.k would have liked to remain on the ground, but feared that he might be discovered in case he did so, and thinking it better to be careful, he once more careful a position as possible, feeling up as comfortable a position as possible, owing to the fact that the foliage was very thick.
The two British soldiers came strolling along, talking and laughing, and presently they entered the clump of trees and sat down under the very tree that d.i.c.k was in. Here they made themselves as comfortable as possible, and lighting their pipes, smoked and talked lazily.
d.i.c.k listened eagerly, hoping to hear something that would be in the nature of news, and of value to General Washington, but the soldiers kept their conversation in personal channels, which was not of much interest to d.i.c.k.
"I wish they would talk about the army, and what it intends to do,"