“He is at Portsmouth, is he not?”
“No; he remained there but a short time. He has concentrated his force upon the south side of the York River—a place called Yorktown. There are some British war-ships in the river; but Admiral de Grasse has both it and the James blockaded.”
“But what good will all this do?” protested Tom. “The Marquis de Lafayette is not strong enough to cope with him.”
“But,” cried Laura, who had been listening, “General Washington is!”
“General Washington!”
“You have missed all the news, my boy. Why, Washington has turned his attention from Sir Henry Clinton at New York and is marching on Cornwallis at Yorktown.”
“Then to deliver my dispatches I must turn back!” exclaimed Tom, with sinking heart. “My father is a prisoner upon the Benbow frigate at New York; and I had hoped to have him exchanged when I got there.”
“The Benbow!” Uncle Ben stared at him. “Why, the Benbow is not at New York. She is one of the vessels in York River.”
“You are sure!” Tom grasped his arm excitedly.
“I am positive.” The old man took a letter from the cupboard. “It’s from your Uncle Dick,” he continued, “and was sent up by means of a trading craft which he boarded down the bay.”