The general shook hands with Dick, and wished him good luck.
“Don't let the redcoats get you,” he said.
Dick laughed.
“They won't get me, if I can help it,” he said. “Good-bye, General Putnam.”
Dick did not start just then, however, for the very good reason that while he had been engaged in conversation with General Putnam, a storm that had been threatening that afternoon and evening, broke upon them, the wind blew a gale and the rain poured down in torrents, the lightning was incessant and the roar of the thunder terrific. It was indeed a severe storm.
“You must not think of starting out to-night,” said General Putnam. “You could not find your way anywhere, and would simply get soaked to the skin, or perhaps struck by lightning. I will give you a bed, and you will remain here till morning.”
“Doubtless that will be best,” agreed Dick, though he disliked the delay. Still, he felt that it would do no good to go in such a storm, for as the general had said, he could not find his way to the British encampment, or accomplish anything if he did find it.
So he remained on the Heights that night, only to find it still raining the next morning.
“You would not want to start out in the daytime, anyhow,” said General Putnam; “so it does not matter. You will stay till evening, and then if it has ceased raining, you can start on your expedition.”
It was still raining hard, when evening came, however, and General Putnam said it would be foolish to make the start in the storm. So Dick remained all that night, and all next day. The rain had ceased soon after sunrise and the sun shone brightly that day, drying the ground pretty thoroughly, by evening.