Dick would have liked to remain on the ground, but feared that he might be discovered in case he did so, and thinking it better to be careful, he once more careful a position as possible, feeling up as comfortable a position as possible, owing to the fact that the foliage was very thick.
The two British soldiers came strolling along, talking and laughing, and presently they entered the clump of trees and sat down under the very tree that Dick was in. Here they made themselves as comfortable as possible, and lighting their pipes, smoked and talked lazily.
Dick listened eagerly, hoping to hear something that would be in the nature of news, and of value to General Washington, but the soldiers kept their conversation in personal channels, which was not of much interest to Dick.
“I wish they would talk about the army, and what it intends to do,” was Dick's thought.
But the redcoats did not do this. They talked of matters of no importance or interest to Dick, and after staying an hour or so, they get up and returned to the encampment.
Dick was disappointed. “I was in hopes that I would learn something from their conversation,” he muttered. “Well, perhaps some more soldiers will visit the clump of trees to-day, and in that case I may succeed in securing some information. I hope that such will be the case, anyway.”
Noon came, and no other soldiers had visited the clump of trees. Dick was not discouraged, however. He felt that he would likely get a chance to hear other soldiers talk that afternoon.
He ate the rest of his food, and then sat down beside a tree and took it easy for a while. He knew that the soldiers were busy cooking their dinners, and that none would likely come to the timber for quite a while.
As he sat there, gazing idly over toward the encampment, however, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him, and turned his head quickly, and saw a British soldier standing within a few paces of him, musket in hand, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Hello,” greeted the redcoat.