“Roight ye are, me bye. An’ it’s Tim Murphy can do thot worruk, sure an’ it is.”
“Ah righd. You go und do dot vork, Tim. I vill sday here und be ready to gome to your assistance if you ged into drubble, already.”
“Thot’s all roight. Here Oi go, Fritz.”
Then Tim moved slowly and cautiously forward, heading for the encampment of the redcoats.
He was not so skillful at this kind of work as was Dick Dare, but he did pretty well in this instance, and by going very slowly, he managed to get over the ground without making much noise.
Closer and closer crept Tim, and finally he came to a stop behind a tree about fifty yards from the encampment. He could hear what the redcoats said, but they were talking about matters of no particular interest, and Tim did not learn of their intention of plundering and burning the patriot settlement.
Tim saw that there was only a small party of the redcoats, and realizing that this was only a detachment from Arnold’s army, he decided to return to where he had left Fritz, and they would go on their way and try to find the main encampment.
So he turned and slipped back in the direction from which he had come, and when he neared the top of the ridge and looked for his comrade, he greatly to his surprise did not see him. Tim supposed Fritz was seated behind a tree, however, and thought nothing of it, but when he reached the point where he had left the Dutch youth, sure as fate Fritz was not there.
Tim looked all around, in surprise. Nowhere could he see Fritz. Glancing toward the redcoat camp, and deciding that they would not hear him, he sounded a signal that they often used to notify one of the other’s whereabouts.
Then he listened, but did not hear any reply. Again he gave the signal, with the same result.