“So do I. The young rascals are fleet of foot and likely know the ground better than our men.”
“Yes, and in the darkness and amid the trees it will be an easy matter for them to escape.”
“I suppose so. Well, let us go on to the encampment.”
They set out and were soon at the camp, where they sat down for a refreshing smoke, to await the return of the soldiers who had gone in pursuit of the three patriots.
An hour and a half passed, and then two of the soldiers arrived at camp, and reported that they had been unable to catch the rebels.
“I hardly expected you would,” said Arnold, and then he dismissed them.
The other soldiers failing in their efforts to locate the boys had made their way to the Hart home, and were given several bottles of cider, which they drank, and then returned to camp.
They had scarcely gotten a hundred yards away from the house before Dick arid Tom Dare and Ben Foster entered at the rear door.
The three were given a cordial greeting, and when they told how they had tried to capture Arnold and his companion, Mr. Hart laughed heartily.
“That was a daring attempt to make,” he said.