Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf. The boys were to act as soon as they heard any unusual noise from his direction, Bob taking the lead. Making his way along the wharf, Dick presently saw a nightwatch with a lantern at the end of a long pole coming toward them.
"Here is the watch," said one, "come to send us to bed."
"Let us put out his lantern and souse him in the river," said Dick, with a laugh.
"That's so, that will be great fun."
A man with a lantern came up at this moment and the light fell upon Dick.
"Hallo! if there isn't the rebel!" the man shouted.
The fellow was Tom's father, Dick recognizing him at that moment. Here was the chance to create the disturbance, and Dick at once sprang at the man, knocked him down, and said:
"Take that, you sot! We will see if you can insult honest folks for nothing!"
At once there was a shout, and some of the man's friends sprang at Dick with shouts and a great uproar. In the scuffle Dick lost his long coat, letting it go rather than be seized by one of the thieves. The night watch and a number of redcoats were now seen coming on at a run.
"By George! the fellow is a rebel, after all! See his uniform."