There was time enough before supper for Dick to visit the general, and shortly after his arrival in camp he went out afoot and made his way across the Commons and down Broadway. Seeing the general, Dick informed him of the capture of the spy, and what the man had said about Howe.

“It looks as if we might have trouble in a short time, Captain,” the veteran answered, “and you will hold your Liberty Boys in readiness to act at a moment’s notice at all times.”

“I will do so, General,” replied Dick “If there is to be any fighting, the Liberty Boys will be glad to take part in it and do their share in opposing the advance of the enemy.”

“I have always found them ready to do that, Captain,” Putnam replied, “and to do it well, too I have every confidence in you and the Liberty Boys, Captain, and I know that you will all do your best wherever you may be posted.”

Dick then saluted and left the general, taking his way down to the lower end of the island in order to see for himself what was going on among the ships. On Whithall wharf he suddenly came face to face with Fletcher, Tom’s father, the man being in a semi-intoxicated state at the time, and glaring fiercely at him as he said:

“You got away last night, you confounded rebel, but you don’t do it again so easy. What have you done with my wife and the young ones? Nice business, ain’t it, turning a wife against a husband?”

“You have turned her against you by your own outrageous conduct,” Dick retorted. “If you had treated them right, your family would have remained with you, but you cannot expect anything better when you act as you have.”

“Where have they gone? I have a right to everything that any of them earns, and I’m going to have it Tom is under age, I have brought him up, and I can claim everything he has, and whatever my wife has also I know my rights, I tell you!” savagely.

“Do you know your duties, as well?” sharply “I don’t care what the law is in your case I know what justice is. You made an attempt upon my life last night, and if I choose to make a charge against you, I could put you on trial for your life.”

The man was not so much intoxicated that he could not understand Dick’s position and his own danger, and he turned pale and moved hurriedly away, losing himself in the crowd that thronged the wharf at the time.

“I don’t think I shall have any more trouble from Mr. Fletcher,” thought Dick, “or not on account of this affair, at any rate.”

He remained on the wharf till nearly sunset, and then set out for the camp, where he arrived shortly before supper. There was an alarm during the night, and early the next morning Dick learned that some ships had passed up both rivers, and not long after this there was the sound of heavy firing at some distance above the city, and the boys knew that the enemy had succeeded in landing troops. There was great excitement in the city, and many of the inhabitants began leaving in great haste.

Dick hurried off to Putnam’s quarters, and soon afterward word was received that the city was to be evacuated. The general despatched Dick to the lower part of the city to see that there were no ships coming up the river and to warn the men at the lower batteries to leave. Dick took Bob and a dozen or more of the boys with him and hurried away on foot, sending Mark and the rest of the boys toward the upper part of the island. The boys had performed a part of their mission and were returning, when they suddenly heard a great bombarding from the river and at the same time saw a considerable body of redcoats coming toward them.

“To the stone house, boys!” hissed Dick “These fellows know nothing of it and we are safe there.”

The stone house was the nearest place of refuge, and the boys hurried to it, the redcoats losing sight of them. They reached the place in safety, and were all inside and out of sight before the redcoats came to the wharf and began to look for them. The door above was closed and looked as if it had not been open in months, the boys not having been seen to enter it Dick and Bob hurried below, leaving Ben, Harry, Sam and others at the upper door, while the rest scattered through the building. There were a few persons on the wharf below when the redcoats came along, but these had not seen the boys and knew nothing about them.

“What place is that?” asked a sergeant of redcoats of one of the loungers, pointing to the stone house.

“Just an old warehouse,” the man answered.

“Is there any one in it?”

“No, not now,” was the reply.

Dick was listening at the door, and he knew the man to be one of the rascals who had been in the house but had escaped. There was a reason, therefore, for the man not saying very much about the place.

“Why not?” the sergeant asked.

“Because the rebels arrested ’em and took all the stuff out,” the man replied.

“We shall have to get a look at the place,” the redcoat said, and he promptly went to the door with a dozen of his men.

The door was locked and was very strong, and the sergeant speedily came to the conclusion that there was little use in trying to force it and so gave up the attempt.

“Have you seen any rebels about here?” he asked, but the other man was gone, and those he spoke to said:

“No, there hain’t been nobody here sence we come around.”

The sergeant and the redcoats, as well as a second lieutenant and another party, examined the region all about the place, but saw nothing of the boys and so concluded that they had gone elsewhere. There was a guard of about a dozen left on the wharf, but none on the bank above, the rest going into the city. The loungers about the place, evidently fearing that they might be pressed into the service, went away, and thus there was no one to give any information to the redcoats, which might have resulted in giving the house another visit.

Dick sent Harry and Will to the cellar and thence under the wharf to the river, the boys reporting that the tide was high and that there was no getting out that way at that time. Then one of the boys was sent to the upper door to keep a lookout, Dick going to see him in a few minutes.

“There are redcoats on the Commons, Captain,” the boy reported “A couple of men went by here just now and I heard them talking about it.”

“We can leave the house,” remarked Dick, “but we would not get a great way before being discovered, and I think it better we remain here for a time, till dark, perhaps.”

“We are caught in a trap,” muttered Bob, “but the redcoats don’t know it, and that’s the only hopeful thing about it.”

“We are not caught in a trap exactly, Bob,” declared Dick “Say, rather, that we are hiding from them, and that as soon as we see a good chance we are coming out and will make a run for it.”

“And in the meantime what are we going to do for something to eat and drink?” asked Bob.

“We may find something in the house, but we shall have to take it cold, for as soon as we start a fire we will excite suspicion.”

“I found some old clothes in one of the rooms, Captain,” said Ben, “and when the coast is a bit clear some of us can go out and get food I will go, for one.”

“Very good, Ben, but not now,” replied Dick.

Later, when there was no one about the upper floor, Dick, Ben and Harry went out, looking like three vagabonds, and looked about them. Dick went toward the Commons, and Ben and Harry took their way toward the church to get some food. There were redcoats on the Commons, as Dick had feared, and he could see more of them in the distance. Then he walked carelessly on, seeing no one who knew him, and made his way as far as a quiet inn down a side street where he was well known, the people being good patriots. On the way he saw many redcoats, Hessians, and other enemies, and he knew that getting out of New York was going to be a difficult task, and one that would require all their energy as well as a deal of craft and caution.

“What, you are still in the city, Captain?” asked the landlord, when he recognized Dick.

“Yes, there are nearly a score of us who were caught here, but I hope to get away to-night.”

“There are lines drawn right across the city and island, and the redcoats will let no one through whom they do not know.”

“There is the river,” added Dick “We are in the old warehouse down there, and if we can get a boat or two we will try to get out of the city that way.”

“There are ships in the river, Captain, that are keeping a sharp lookout I don’t want to discourage you, but I am afraid that it will be as hard to get out that way as any.”

“I am glad to know all the difficulties there are in our way, for then I shall know how to meet them. It is better to know just what to expect.”

“Of course, and I will give you all the help I can.”

“Thank youIf I need it, I will call on you.”