“That scheme worked all right,” the lieutenant said, with a smile. “We will simply keep you in front, Tom Dare, and will thus be able to walk into the valley in safety. I am glad that we got hold of you.”
But Tom wasn’t glad. By permitting himself to fall into the hands of the enemy, he had spoiled the plan to roll rocks down on the redcoats, and had made it impossible for the settlers to fire upon the British without being in danger of killing him. He wished that he could do something to change this state of affairs.
But what could he do? He was a prisoner, with redcoats all about him, and he did not see how he was to do anything to help the settlers.
He thought of trying the plan of falling down the precipice, as he had done once before, but the precipice in this instance was too steep. He would surely be killed, as it would be a fall of at least one hundred and fifty feet.
He decided that there was nothing that he could do, and so he walked onward at the head of the party, though he did not feel very happy.
The settlers did not stop again. Evidently they did not wish to take the chances of killing or wounding Tom by firing at the British, and had made up their minds to retreat to their village in the valley.
They moved considerably faster than did the redcoats, and Tom, who shrewdly guessed that the settlers would like to have as much time as possible, for the purpose of removing their household goods to a safe place in the mountains, walked slowly pretending lameness, which did not seem unreasonable and thus kept the redcoats from advancing, for a time at least, at a fast pace.
They kept telling him to increase his speed, but he did not hasten his steps and presently a couple of soldiers seized him by the arms, at an order from the lieutenant, and he was made to walk faster.
They went on, and finally reached the entrance to the valley. Then they moved faster, as the ground was level and the walking easier. They did not see the settlers, so judged they had already reached their homes in the village.
“Likely the rebels intend carrying some of their household goods and valuables up into the mountains,” said the lieutenant. “We must try to get there in time to prevent them from doing that.”