“Climb up the ladder,” instructed Dick. “Surely you are not bound.”
“Our hands are tied. That's what I meant by telling you to come down and free us, Dick.”
“I'll be with you in moment, Tom.”
Dick hastened down the ladder, and was soon standing beside Tom, who had scrambled to his feet. He quickly cut the rope binding his brother's wrists, and then asked where the other prisoners were.
“Here,” replied a hoarse voice. “We are right at hand, Dick Dare, and glad to welcome you. Your brother has told us about you, and we have been hoping you would succeed in freeing us, though we feared you might not be able to do so. But you seem to have succeeded, thank God! I am Joseph Boswick,” he continued, “one of the spies sent down here by General Washington to secure information regarding the British. There are three more spies, and seven patriot soldiers and all of us are eager to get out of this terrible hole, as you may well believe.”
“I can easily believe it, Mr. Boswick, and I'll have your hands free in a jiffy, and then you can climb the ladder to the deck, and we will go ashore in the boat. The two British guards are insensible, and locked in a stateroom.”
“You are a wonder, Dare!” said Boswick, admiration in his tone. “Well, cut our bonds quickly and we'll try to get out of here.”
This was speedily done, and a few minutes later the entire party was on the deck. To climb down into the boat was a simple matter, but it had only just been accomplished when there came the noise of oars in rowlocks, from the other side of the hulk, followed by the sound of voices.
“Some redcoats have come off to the ship, from the shore!” whispered Dick, to Boswick. “We must get away from here in a hurry, for your escape will be discovered very quickly!”