They stationed sentinels, so as to prevent a surprise by Indians or redcoats and the night passed quietly, no enemy appearing.
They were up and away again early in the morning, and by marching hard, managed to reach the vicinity of Ninety-Six by evening, They went into camp only about two miles from the fort.
Ben Foster was eager to take a look at the fort, for he feared that possibly Dick and Tom were prisoners there. He went to General Greene and asked permission to go on a reconnoitering expedition, and the permission was granted.
“I shall be glad to have you go and secure all the information possible regarding Fort Ninety-Six, my boy,” said the general. “But, be careful and don’t let them capture you.”
“I will be careful, sir,” and then saluting, Ben took his departure.
He made his way cautiously through the timber, for he did not know but there might be redcoats or redskins in the vicinity, and he did not want to fall into their hands.
On he went, pausing frequently to listen, but hearing no suspicious sounds, he drew nearer and nearer to the fort, and at the end of an hour he arrived at the open space in the center of which the fort stood.
It was a moonlight night, and Ben could see the fort with tolerable distinctness, and he stood there for some time, looking at the building and wondering if Dick and Tom were there.
Ben stood there for perhaps half an hour, looking at the fort and the lay of the land with critical eyes. He was sizing the fort and surroundings up, and trying to figure out what chance for success the patriot army would have, if an attack was made.
“It is impossible to judge of the strength of the fort at a distance,” thought Ben. “I believe that I will try to reach the wall around the fort and see how strongly-constructed it is. General Greene will be glad to secure all the information I can get.”