“What is his name?” There was an eager light in Arnold’s eyes.
Sprowl looked somewhat surprised, but answered “He said his name was Dick Ford.”
Arnold started again, and smiled somewhat grimly. “Dick Ford, eh? What kind of looking young fellow is he? Describe him.”
Sprowl did so as best he could, and Arnold nodded, and said: “I’ll wager anything that the young fellow in question is the rebel spy, Dick Dare.”
“Do you think so?” said one of the officers.
“I’m almost sure of it. And I’m going to know for sure. Colonel Riggs, get about a dozen men and we will go to Mr. Sprawl’s home with him, surround the house, so that the young fellow cannot escape, and then we will enter and confront him. And if he is Dick Dare, as I feel confident is the case, I shall be very glad. I owe him a debt for trying to capture me up in New York City two or three months ago, and we both owe him something for trying to make prisoners of us last evening. Come, let us hasten, for he may take the alarm and take refuge in flight.”
They went out, and Colonel Riggs ordered a squad of the soldiers to go with them to Sprowl’s house, which they surrounded, and then Arnold and Riggs followed Sprowl into the house, where, sure enough, they saw Dick Dare sitting in the room, quietly awaiting the return of Sprowl.
Arnold and the colonel confronted the youth, and the general said, sarcastically: “So you wanted Mr. Sprowl to secure some information regarding my intentions, did you, Dick Dare? Very good. I have come to give you the information in person.”
CHAPTER XXI—Tom Reconnoiters
Herbert Miller left the patriot encampment about the middle of the afternoon, and went to the Santon home, where he was given a cordial greeting by Mr. and Mrs. Santon and Lizzie.