“I will be careful, sir.”
Then Tom saluted and withdrew, and was soon making his way through the forest in the direction of the Tory settlement and British encampment.
He passed the Santon home, and later on the schoolhouse where Herbert Miller had taught, and presently he came in sight of the settlement.
He paused and took a careful survey of the surroundings, and then, after a few moments he made his way around and approached the British encampment.
He moved forward till as close as he thought he dared venture, then he paused behind a big tree and began a careful study of the camp.
He could see the redcoats lolling about in the tents, but he did not see any signs of Dick, nor did he see any soldiers acting as if guarding any one of the tents, in which a prisoner might be placed. Tom was puzzled.
“I fear Dick is surely in there, a prisoner,” he murmured. “Well, if he is, I can’t rescue him. Now, what shall I do?”
He decided to stay around in the vicinity and keep watch on the encampment. The redcoats might make some kind of a move, and he could then carry the information to Colonel Morris.
It was slow work for Tom, who was of a lively, active disposition, but by leaving his post occasionally and taking a walk through the timber a distance of a mile or so, and then returning, he managed to stick to the work.
When noon came, he grew hungry, but had not thought to bring food with him, so he had to go without any. He stood it till about the middle of the afternoon, and then as everything was quiet in the camp, he decided to return to the patriot encampment and get something to eat, make his report to Colonel Morris, and then once more to resume his self-imposed task. He must determine what had become of his brother.