Dick Dare realized that it would be foolish to try to resist or attempt an escape. The redcoats were within arm’s-length of them, armed with pistols, and to try to get away would be to get bullets in their bodies before they were out of the room.
So he said: “We surrender. Don’t shoot,” and the sergeant nodded and said:
“That’s sensible. Turn your backs to us and place your hands behind you.”
The patriot youths obeyed, and the redcoats quickly bound their wrists with cord that was brought to them by Mr. Hart, the man of the house, at their command. It was easy to see that he did not like this, but the redcoats were strong enough so that they could do as they wished, and protest would avail nothing.
The three prisoners were placed in the kitchen, in one corner, and the sergeant confronted them, saying: “So you rebels are down here from the North with an army, are you?”
“Yes,” replied Dick, quietly.
“What do you think you are going to do?”
“We are going to make it warm for Arnold and his troops,” said Dick.
The sergeant smiled sarcastically. “I don’t think you will have much to do with it,” he said. “You are going with us to our camp, when we leave here, and to-morrow we will rejoin the main army, and Arnold will likely string you up to a tree, as I have heard him speak of you as being a rebel spy.”
“You haven’t got us to this encampment yet,” said Dick, calmly.