“Don't be frightened, mother,” said Dick, soothingly. “I don't think father is in any danger. He is a prisoner, true, but the British don't kill prisoners, and sooner or later father will escape–or be rescued. That will be work for Tom and I, mother!” his eyes lighting up. “We will make it our object in life to rescue father and get him back home here, with you, mother.”
The poor woman was not greatly comforted, however, and she shook her head, at the same time saying, in a hopeless tone of voice:
“What could you do, you are only a couple of boys? You could not possibly rescue father. It is useless to think of such a thing. Oh, I greatly fear I shall never see my husband again in this world! Oh, those terrible, cowardly Tories!” The good woman gave way to an outburst of uncontrollable grief.
“Yes, you shall see father again, mother,” declared Dick, decidedly. “Don't worry. He is safe from personal harm, and sooner or later we will succeed in getting him located and will rescue him. Tom and I will make that our object in life.”
“Yes, yes, mother,” said Tom eagerly. “We'll join the patriot army, if need be, to further our ends, and while fighting for Liberty and Independence, and aiding our country in that manner, we will at the same time be on the lookout to find father and rescue him.”
“Yes, that is what we will do,” said Dick. “Father would have joined the patriot army if he had not been captured and taken away by the Tories, and now that he is not able to do that, we will do it in his stead. I know it is what father would wish us to do, and as Tom says, it will give us a better chance to find and rescue father.”
“Oh, my sons, my sons! How can I spare you, too?” murmured Mrs. Dare. “How can I let you leave me, now that I have lost your dear father!”
“It will be only temporary, mother. You can see, when you give the matter more thought, that it is the best thing to do.”
“Perhaps so, Dick, darling,” acquiesced Mrs. Dare, “but it is hard!”
Throwing their arms about their mother's neck, the youths kissed her, and presently she grew more calm.