“All right. I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll explain matters to General Greene, and get permission to go in search of him, Ben. I’ll be back in a few moments.”
While Dick was talking to General Greene, Ben told the settlers about Tom being missing, and that he and Dick were going in search of the youth.
The settlers, who had taken a great liking to the three patriot youths, expressed sympathy, and several offered to accompany the two, but Dick, when he joined them and they offered their services, said that he and Ben would be able to find Tom, likely, without assistance, and then they said good-by and set out, going toward the north.
“I suppose we will return to Peaceful Valley, after we find Tom,” said Ben.
“Yes, Ben. General Greene said he would remain there a while, and make a campaign against the Indians, so his army will be camped there for a while.”
“We may find Tom pretty quickly,” said Ben, hopefully.
“I hope so,” said Dick. “But this is a big country, and if he has been made a prisoner by Indians or Tories, we have no knowledge of the direction the force might take.”
“True,” said Ben. “Well, we’ll do our best to find and rescue him.”
They proceeded northward, moving at a fair pace, and keeping a sharp lookout all around them, for some signs of either redskins or Tories.