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.