CHAPTER XXIII--Dick And Arnold
When Dick Dare was confronted by General Arnold and Colonel Riggs, inthe Sprowl home, he realized that it would be useless to offerresistance. So he simply sat there quietly, and made no move towardtrying to get away. He was chiding himself, however, for not having beenmore careful, and see to it that Sprowl did not bring some redcoats backwith him.
"Good evening, General Arnold," said Dick, quietly. "I wasn't expectingyou."
"I suppose not," sarcastically. "But I'm here. That was a very shrewdplan of yours, to get Sprowl to secure information for you, and it mighthave succeeded, had it not been that I became suspicious when he told meabout you, and I jumped to the conclusion that likely you were DickDare, so came to investigate." Then he turned to Sprowl, who had enteredwith them, and said:
"Get a rope and bind his arms."
Sprowl went to the kitchen and came back with a piece of rope, and hequickly tied Dick's wrists together behind his back.
"Now, Dick Dare, you will answer a few questions, if you please," saidArnold.
"What are the questions?" the youth asked.
"First, how many men are there in the rebel force?"
Dick shook his head. "I won't answer that question," he said.
"You had better," threateningly.
"No."
"Remember, you are in my power, Dick Dare. You are a rebel spy, and alsoI owe you something for trying to capture me, in New York a few monthsago and again last evening. Answer my question."
"I will not give you any information that might be of use to you in yourcampaign against the patriot force," said Dick, decidedly.
"You had better think well. I have the power to order you strung up to atree as a rebel spy."
"That doesn't make any difference," was the reply. "I will give you noinformation, so there is no use of your asking."
Arnold glared at Dick angrily for a few moments, and then said: "Verywell. Since you wish to be stubborn, you may take the consequences. Ithink I shall have you strung up, perhaps tomorrow, Richard Dare!"
Dick made no reply, and Arnold summoned a couple of soldiers. Theyentered, took charge of Dick, and conducted him to a cabin that wasbeing used as a guard-house. They thrust Dick into the building andclosed and fastened the door. The youth was left alone in the darknessto ponder his dubious situation.
He felt that his position was a desperate one, for he knew that Arnoldbore him ill will for the part he had played in trying to effect thetraitor's capture in New York; and, too, he was a spy, and death wasusually the fate of spies.
Dick decided that he must manage to make his escape, but he felt thatthis would be extremely difficult, for there were soldiers on guard infront of the building, and his hands were still bound.
He worked at his bonds quite a while, however, in an effort to get hiswrists free, but could not do so, Sprowl having tied the rope verysecurely. Finally Dick gave up the attempt, and felt around till hefound a rude couch, upon which he threw himself, and presently went tosleep.
He did not sleep very soundly, but morning came at last, and a soldierbrought him his breakfast. His wrists were freed while he ate, and heput in as much time at the meal as possible, so as to get the blood tocirculating in his wrists and arms again. He wanted the soldier to lethis arms remain free, but the fellow would not do it, and bound hiswrists again.
Then he went out, closed and again fastened the door, and Dick sat downon the couch and tried to figure out some plan of escape, but withoutsuccess.
That day passed slowly indeed for Dick Dare, but evening came at last,and while he was eating supper the redcoat informed him that an attackwas to be made on the patriot force that evening.
"I wish I could be there to take part in it," said Dick.
"No doubt," was the reply. Then the soldier bound Dick's wrists again,and withdrew.
So the redcoats were going to make an attack that evening! Well, Dickhoped that the patriots would not be taken by surprise. He wished thathe might be able to escape and carry them the news, but he could not.
He heard the sounds of stirring about by the redcoats, and knew whenthey marched out of the settlement, and then he got up and walked thefloor. He could not sit still, for the thought that perhaps the Britishmight take the patriots by surprise was a disquieting one.
An hour passed, and then Dick guessed that the engagement was probablyabout to begin. And just then the faint sound of musketry and theoccasional louder report of cannon came to his hearing, and then he knewthe battle was on.
How he wished that he might be there! But the wish was vain. He couldnot escape from his quarters.
The firing continued for an hour, at least, and then suddenly, as Dickwalked the floor, he saw one of the wide boards that constituted thefloor of the building he was in, lift slowly, and at the opening thusmade he saw his brother Tom!
"Sh!" whispered Tom. "I have come to rescue you, Dick."
The Dare Boys in Virginia Page 23
