The next morning Tom came into camp, the boys giving him a hearty cheer as soon as they knew who he was, and asked to see Dick.
"He has not come back all night," he said, and Dick knew that he referred to his father. "I do not think he will return. He is afraid to come back. I shall be very glad to leave the city because I think I shall get more work outside and mother and the children will do much better."
"I think it will be better for you all," Dick returned. "If the enemy gets hold of the city there will be much suffering, I am afraid. If you leave you will avoid this. I can find you a place where there will be work enough for all, and where you will not be troubled by your father when he is in his cups."
"He is always in them of late years and has greatly changed toward mother and all of us. The little children are afraid of him and will not go near him, but I must protect my mother."
"That is right, Tom. Always do it. Perhaps if your father stopped his bad habits he would be better again, but it is best for you to go away from him entirely and live apart until you see what changes time may bring about."
"Yes, I think so, and I shall go as far away as I can and start for myself. You know some good place?"
"Yes, and I can put your mother and the little ones, with good people where they will be taken care of until you are established, and they can look out for themselves. We live in Westchester, about twenty miles away, which will be far enough to keep your father from finding you and not too far away to get plenty of work."
"I shall be very glad to go there," simply.
"My mother and sister and the lieutenant's parents and sister live there, besides many of the boys' families, and it will be no difficult matter to get you all the work you can do, and work for your mother as well. It will be a better place to live than the city, and you will be in no danger from your father."
"I would like a place like that," said Tom. "It would be better for all of us!"