“That is just what I am going to do, Master Tom Dare!” was the reply in a stern tone. “The fact is, I believe you are a rebel spy. Your explanation of your presence here, when your home is over in New Jersey is not satisfactory at all. I am certain that you have an ulterior motive in coming, and the only motive that I can think of is that you came to engage in spy-work. Take him to the prison at once, men,” this last to the soldiers.
Poor Tom! He knew it would be hopeless to expostulate. He felt that he was doomed to become an inmate of one of the prison-ships, and as he thought it would be useless he said not a word, but accompanied the soldiers without making any show of resistance.
“Take him past the other encampments and let him see the whole army,” called General Percy after them. “When one has as much curiosity as he seems to be possessed of, it should be satisfied.” This was sarcasm and intended to hurt Tom's feelings and humiliate him, but instead it only aroused a feeling of resentment in his breast, and almost before he realized what he was saying, he exclaimed aloud:
“I'd like to kick him!”
“Who, the general?” queried one of the soldiers.
“Yes,” said Tom, boldly.
“You'd better not let him hear you say anything like that, sonny!”
“Say, comrades,” remarked another, maliciously, “let's go back and tell the general what he said.”
“No, let's not,” said another. “The general would whip out his sword and cut the boy's head off. Come on; it will be punishment sufficient to be incarcerated in the old prison-ship, even if he is a spy.”
“I guess you're right about that, comrade.”