The Dare Boys with General Greene

by Stephen Angus Douglas Cox

The settlers now made their way back again and rejoined the six men on guard at the entrance to the valley, and after informing them that they would send six men to relieve them, so that they could come to the settlement and get supper, the main party made its way to the settlement. The women had supper ready, and the settlers ate, after which six of their number went and relieved the six at the entrance of the valley, and the three wounded redcoats were brought and placed in one of the houses. Their wounds had already been dressed by one of the settlers, an old man and a sort of doctor, who had not accompanied the party in its attack on the British, so the wounded men had been taken care of.

The settlers felt very well satisfied with the situation. Two or three had been wounded, but not seriously, and they felt that they had so far had much the better of the fight.

They got a good night’s sleep, and were up bright and early, ate breakfast, and then got ready for the work that was to be performed that day. Leaving the settlement, they made their way to the entrance of the valley, climbed to the top of the precipice, and then proceeded to the farther end of the string of stones, where they paused and settled down to await the coming of the British.

Tom Dare, however, who was never satisfied to remain quiet, said that he would go and reconnoiter and see if he could locate the party of redcoats that had been driven out of the valley.

“Very well,” said Mr. Hicks, “but be careful, my boy. Don’t let them capture you.”

“I won’t, sir. I will keep my eyes open.”

Then Tom made his way down the steep slope of the mountain, and into the heavy timber, and he made his way along, slowly and cautiously, for he believed that the party of redcoats was somewhere in the vicinity.

Tom advanced a few yards at a time, pausing then to look all around him, and when he had gone about half a mile he caught sight of the encampment.

“I thought I would find them somewhere around here,” thought Tom, “Well, now by keeping watch on this party of redcoats, I will know when the others join them, and when they start toward the valley, and can hasten and warn the settlers and they can be ready to begin the bombardment with the stones.”

Tom selected a good place from which to keep his eyes on the redcoats, and then settled down to take it easy. It was a warm morning, and Tom presently became somewhat drowsy. He would watch the encampment a little while, then he would nod slightly, but would presently rouse up again. It was during one of his nodding periods that Tom suddenly felt strong hands seize hold of him. Startled, he made an attempt to get free from the grasp, but could not do so, there being two of his assailants, and to Tom’s surprise they were Indians.