The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade
Page 12
we will beback there again, and the British will be driven out and have to go backto their own country beyond the sea."
"The sooner the better!" muttered Tom.
"Tell them when you go back that we are all right, Tom," Dick resumed."Some of us had a hard time getting out of New York and had to run theblockade, but we got out fast enough and gave the redcoats some prettygood slaps."
"The young ladies will be glad to hear of it. Did you see him again,Captain?"
"Yes, and he made some trouble for us, but we got away all right for allof him, and I doubt if we shall ever see him again."
"Well, I hope not, but you can't tell. What you don't expect is justwhat happens."
"At all events, he has no idea that you and your mother are up here,Tom, and it is not likely that he will trouble you any more."
"Well, I hope he won't, Captain, but you can't tell, as I said."
"No, but we will do all we can to keep him away. His reputation is notgood, and if he appears in camp we will warn him that if he does notkeep away he will be arrested."
"That may have some effect, though if he thought that arresting justmeant being put in jail he wouldn't care, because he's been there beforelots of times."
"We will make him understand just what it means, Tom," said Dick, "and Ithink he will keep away, but then, he has not appeared at all yet."
"No, that's so, and I was making out as if he had or was going to," witha smile. "Well, perhaps he won't."
The boy's look and tone seemed to indicate that he was afraid the manwould come, however, and Dick said no more about it. Tom went back toDick's house, and the Liberty Boys did not see him again for two orthree days. Meantime the commander-in-chief, whose confidence Dickenjoyed, sent for the boy and said:
"There is an important mission which I wish to entrust to some one,Captain, and I know of no better, person than yourself to do it. Getready at once to go down to the city and obtain certain information.Procure a disguise and a horse, and then come to me, and I will furnishyou with money for your expenses and a pass, which will enable you toget through the lines."
"Very good, your excellency," Dick replied, and in half an hour he wasready to start.
Bob, Mark, or any of the Liberty Boys, in fact, would have been glad togo with him, but the general thought it was best to go alone, and so hetook no one with him. The pass had been taken from a spy whom thepatriots had captured and enabled Dick to get through the lines insafety. Reaching the city, he set about getting the informationrequired, and secured it the first day he was there. That night therewas an alarm of fire in the lower part of the city, and Dick dressedhimself and went out with many others to ascertain its extent and seewhat he could do to help put it down.
It had started in a low groggery on Whitehall wharf and was ofconsiderable extent, spreading as far as Beaver street, and thenshifting to the west, and going as far as the river and nearly toPartition street, Trinity church being destroyed on the way. It hadstarted by accident, but many of the British declared that it had beenset by the Americans, and there was a bitter feeling against them, manyinnocent persons being put to death by the enraged people.
During the fire, while Dick was working with others to stop itsspreading, a man was caught looting a burning house and was at oncedragged away and hanged to a post holding a street lamp. Dick saw hisface for an instant and recognized Tom's father. There was nointerceding for the man, who had been caught red-handed, and he sufferedthe penalty of his crimes.
"His wife and the rest are the better off for his taking away," saidDick to himself, "but I cannot tell how he died. He was never of any useto them and they are better off without him."
The fire burned out at length, but there were smoking ruins the next dayand for several days, although Dick did not remain as long as that. Hegot away the next day and made his way out of the city and to the campwith very little difficulty, his pass being of great assistance to him.Changing his clothes and putting on his uniform, Dick reported at onceto the commander-in-chief and was complimented upon securing theinformation so promptly. Reporting other matters that he had learned,Dick returned to the camp and told Bob and a few others how the Tory hadmet his death, adding:
"Do not say anything to Tom about it. I will tell him that his father isdead, but not how it happened. It is a hard thing to say, perhaps, butthey are better off without him than they ever were with him."
"It is the truth, at any rate," muttered Bob, "though it may not benecessary to tell them."
A few days later the Liberty Boys were ordered into lower Westchester tocheck the advance of Howe and Cornwallis, who were trying to get behindthe Americans at King's Bridge and thus have a better opportunity toattack Fort Washington, which the British leader had set his heart uponsubduing.
"That will give us plenty to do," declared Bob, "and give us a chance tobother the redcoats."
"And give Patsy a chance to get rid of some of his extra fat," laughedMark, who was a bit of a tease.
"Sure Oi've none to spare at all, Liftinant," roared Patsy, "but if yehad said Cookyspiller now, ye'd have hit it to a tay. Sure he do benadin' it had."
As the boys were getting ready to leave, Tom came into camp and said:
"So you are leaving, are you, Captain? You have not seen him, have you?"
"You will not see him again, Tom," Dick replied. "He was killed a fewdays ago while in the commission of a crime in the city."
"Did you see it, Captain?"
"Yes, Tom. You and your mother are now free."
Tom asked no questions, but presently said:
"I would like to join the Liberty Boys. Mother is doing very well, thelittle children are being cared for, and there is a good man up atTarrytown who has lost his wife and needs some one to take care of hischildren. Mother can do it, and I think---"
"She will marry him in time, Tom? Yes, it will be good for both of them.She likes him?"
"Yes, and so do all of us. Is it wrong for me to think that we arebetter off now that he has been taken away?"
"You need not think anything about it, Tom, but you are better off, forall that. The man was simply a clog about the necks of all of you."
"Then I may join the Liberty Boys, if I am big enough? Mother does notneed me now and I want to do something for my country."
"Your mother is willing, Tom?"
"Yes, if you will take me."
"Very good. You are young, but not too young, and you are strong andwilling, and that is a good deal. I will see your mother, Tom, and I donot think there will be any trouble about your joining."
Tom returned to his mother and in a day or so Dick saw her and foundthat she was willing that Tom should join the company. Tom went backwith Dick, therefore, and was sworn in as one of the Liberty Boys, tohis great delight. The boys cheered him for they had all heard of himand knew of his sterling character and manly qualities. He fought withthe Liberty Boys at White Plains and Fort Washington and went into theJerseys with the troop when they joined the commander after the fall ofthe fort. He was at Trenton and Princeton, where he did brave work withthe boys and fought through the succeeding campaign, doing good serviceat Brandywine and Germantown and going into camp at Valley Forge, wherehe bore with fortitude all the hardships of that rigorous winter, one ofthe severest ever known. During the next spring he was with the LibertyBoys in Connecticut and lost his life during a fight with Tryon'sraiders. His mother had married in the meantime and was in comfortablecircumstances, and this was a great comfort to the boy, who said toDick:
"I have done my duty, Captain?"
"Yes, Tom, and well."
"And mother and the children are well and happy?"
"Yes, they are, Tom."
"We are sure to win this fight for freedom, Captain?"
"Yes, Tom, we cannot do otherwise."
"Then I have not died in vain in giving my life for my country?"
"No, Tom, you have not."
"Then I have nothing to regret. Good-by, Captain. You have b
een verygood to me."
Dick took the boy's hand and held it till the grip relaxed, when heplaced it at his side and spread the flag over the young hero.
Next week's issue will contain "THE LIBERTY BOYS AND CAPTAIN HUCK; or,ROUTING A WICKED LEADER."
. . . . . . . . . . .
A reporter was interviewing Thomas A. Edison. "And you, sir," he said tothe inventor, "made the first talking machine?" "No," Mr. Edisonreplied, "the first one was made long before my time--out of a rib."
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THE LIBERTY BOYS OF '76
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