CHAPTER XIV—Routed
The patriot soldiers dashed forward, running rapidly through the heavy underbrush that intervened, and when they were in range, they were halted suddenly, at a command from the captain, who promptly ordered them to fire a volley.
The redcoats, seeing that a very considerably stronger force than their own was coming, had leaped behind trees, shielding themselves as best they could, so that the volley fired by the patriot soldiers did not do a great deal of damage, wounding a few, but not killing any.
The British soldiers then returned the fire, but the patriot soldiers, upon order of the Captain were crouching low, so that only one or two received slight flesh wounds, but no serious harm was done.
Again the captain yelled for the patriot soldiers to charge, and they did so, dashing forward at the top of their speed. At this the redcoats turned and fled at the top of their speed, evidently deciding that it would not be practicable for them to try to stand their ground.
After them went the patriots, firing their pistols and yelling loudly, and the redcoats ran as they probably had never run before. The patriot soldiers followed them perhaps a quarter of a mile, and then, not wishing to waste effort or ammunition, at a command from the captain, they stopped.
Returning now to the point where the raiders had been encamped, Dick Dare said that he would go to the island in the swamp and tell the patriot settlers that they could now come back to their homes, as the enemy had been driven away.
“I’ll tell you what I would prefer you would do, Dick,” said the captain. “I wish you would follow that party of redcoats. They will likely return to their main encampment, and by following them you will be enabled to learn where Arnold’s force is. Somebody else can go to the island and carry the news to the settlers.”
“True. Very well, Captain Morgan. I will go on the trail of the British soldiers, and as soon as I have located their encampment, I will return and bring you the information.”
“Good, Dick. That will please me, for I want to get after that traitor, Arnold.”
So Dick hastened away, through the forest, following the course taken by the redcoats. He went swiftly, for he wanted to get his eyes on the escaping soldiers, when he would have no great difficulty in keeping them under surveillance.
On he hastened, and about half an hour later he caught sight of the red uniforms of the soldiers bobbing about between the trees in front of him.
“There they are,” murmured Dick, slackening his pace. “Good. Now I can follow them without much trouble.”
The party continued on southward till they were nearly to the James River, and then they turned toward the east, and went in that direction several miles. Coming to an open spot on the top of a knoll, when they were at a distance of perhaps ten miles from the encampment by the swamp, that they had recently quitted so hurriedly, they again went into camp.
Dick stopped and from a position behind a tree, watched them with a feeling of disappointment. “They don’t seem to have any intention of going to the main encampment, yet awhile, anyhow,” he murmured. “Well, I will stay here and keep watch on them, and perhaps later on they will go to the British camp.”
The redcoats remained where they were, and when finally noon came, they ate some food that they carried in knap-sacks, and this made Dick feel hungry. He had come away in such a hurry that he had not thought of food.
He was determined not to lose sight of the British soldiers, however, so he stuck to his post, and waited for them to continue their journey.
About the middle of the afternoon Dick heard the sound of voices from behind him, and turned around quickly--to see Tom and Ben coming through the timber!
“Well, if there don’t come the boys!” he murmured. “Now, I will have company, anyhow.”
Fearing that the redcoats up on the top of the knoll might hear the voices of the youths, or catch sight of them, Dick hastened to meet the two, and when they discovered him, he made a cautioning gesture to which they gave heed for they stopped and waited for him to join them.
“Have you found the encampment of Arnold, Dick?” asked Tom, eagerly.
“No,” was the reply. “The party of redcoats that we chased away have stopped here and gone into camp. I’m waiting for them to continue their journey.”
“Well, I’m glad we caught up with you and we have brought you rations.”
“Which is most welcome news.”
They settled down behind a clump of bushes, and took it easy while Dick filled, in some degree, the empty void within him. They could peep through between the bushes and see the redcoats on the knoll; and Tom and Ben now told Dick that Tim and Fritz had come to the island and brought the news that the patriot soldiers were there and had driven the redcoats away.
“The patriot settlers came back to the mainland and went to their homes again,” said Tom. “And the soldiers are encamped at the settlement, where they will stay till we get back with the news of the whereabouts of Arnold’s main encampment.”
“That is good,” said Dick.
“Yes,” said Ben. “What luck did you have, Dick, climbing through the tops of the trees?”
Dick then told them of his experience in the bog, and how Fritz and Herbert Miller had come to his rescue, just when he had begun to think he would perish in the bog.
“It was lucky that they happened to find that path and were trying to reach the island,” said Tom.
“Yes, it was my only salvation. There was near to being an end to Dick Dare.”
Slowly the time rolled away, and evening came, with the redcoats still encamped on the top of the knoll. As soon as it was dark, Dick crept up close to the encampment, and after listening a while, succeeded in hearing enough of the conversation of the soldiers to learn that it was their intention to remain there all night.
Dick made his way back to where Tom and Ben were and told them the news. “Such being the case,” he said, “we don’t need to stay right here and keep watch on the camp all the time. We will go and find a settler’s home and get something to eat.”
“That’s the idea,” said Tom. “I am beginning to feel pretty hungry.”
“I could enjoy a bite, myself,” said Ben.
“Come, then,” said Dick. “We’ll see if we can find a place where we can get something to eat.”
He set out through the woodland with Tom and Ben close beside him. They traveled thus for perhaps half an hour, during which time darkness overtook them, then they suddenly caught sight of lights, through between the trees.
“There’s a little settlement!” exclaimed Tom.
“Yes, and there’s something going on at one of the houses,” said Ben. “See, that house near the center is lighted up more than the others, and I hear music.”
“Sounds like a violin,” said Tom. “Likely they are having a party there.”
The youths were soon close to the house in question, and saw that there were a number of young people, young men and girls, in the front room, dancing to the music from a violin.
“A dance!” exclaimed Tom. “Let’s go in, boys, and enjoy ourselves a while.”
The other two willingly agreed. It was not often that they had found opportunity for amusement, so advancing to the door, Dick knocked.