The Dare Boys of 1776 | Page 9

Mary can come home
after we have driven the Tories away."
"We'll go over to Mr. Foster's as soon as it is dark," said Mrs. Dare.
Shortly after dark, Dick, accompanied by his mother and Mary, went
over to the Foster home, and Ben returned with him.
"So you're here, eh?" greeted Tom. "That's fine. I guess when those
cowardly Tories put in an appearance, they will get something that they
are not looking for."
"That's what they will," nodded Ben. "At any rate, I hope so."
"So do I," said Dick.

"I wish Zeke and Lem would be in the party," said Tom, grinning. "I'd
like to give them another thrashing."
"When did you thrash them, before?" queried Ben.
"In Philadelphia, yesterday. Didn't Dick tell you about it?"
"No, you tell me now," eagerly.
Then Tom did so, detailing the encounter on the streets of Philadelphia,
and when he had heard all, Ben said:
"Good! I'm glad you thrashed them."

Chapter IV
A Night Attack
"They're coming, Dick!" whispered Ben Foster.
"Yes, I hear footsteps," replied Dick. "But," after listening a few
moments, "there is only one person coming. Perhaps it isn't the Tories
after all."
"Yes, that's their game-to make you think there is only one. He walks
boldly, so you can hear him, while the others creep up. It is the Tory
gang, all right."
"Likely you are right."
It was now nearly midnight, and so it was time for the Tories to put in
their appearance, if they were to make the attack that night, as Mr.
Foster had heard them say they would do.
Closer sounded the footsteps, and then they ceased and there came a
knock on the door.

Dick did not answer, as he did not want the fellow to suspect that the
inmates of the house were awake and on the alert. The youths, gripping
tightly their rifles and muskets, waited. Their hearts were beating more
rapidly than was their wont, but it is safe to say that no feeling of fear
had place in their hearts. Only expectation, and eagerness to get at the
Tories dominated them.
After a brief period, the knock on the door was repeated. Then Dick
spoke up.
"Who is there?" he called out.
"A friend," was the reply, in a hoarse, evidently disguised voice.
"What is your name, friend?"
"That doesn't matter. I have news, important news for you, Dick Dare"
"You have no news for me that I don't know already," retorted the
youth.
"What do you mean?" There was a quick suspicion in the voice.
"I mean that I know you are a Tory, and that you have a number of
companions, and intend to try to get hold of my brother and myself and
tie us up and whip us. I don't feel like permitting that, so you had better
go away, if you value your skins, for if you try to bother us, we will
surely defend ourselves and do harm to you-if we can."
Evidently the man realized it was useless to carry the deception further,
for he cried out, sneeringly:
"Oh, will you indeed, Dick Dare? Well, let me tell you something, my
bold young rebel: When we get through with you, you will not be in a
position to harm anybody. We are going to take you out and whip you
soundly, as should be done with all such traitors to the king as you two
are!"
"I give you fair warning," replied Dick, sternly; "if you attempt to

injure myself and brother, you will get badly hurt. Go about you
business and leave us alone."
"Oh, we'll go about our business and leave you alone, of course we
will-but it will be after we have tied you up to one of the trees here in
your own yard! Open the door, or we'll break it down."
"You are wasting breath," in a voice of contempt. "We would be very
foolish if we opened the door, would we not?"
"It doesn't matter; we'll break the door down in a jiffy, anyway."
"If you do, you'll be very sorry. Remember, I gave you fair warning."
"Bah! Boys' threats don't scare us worth a cent. We'll have the door
down and you two rebel brats out of there very quickly."
"And we'll have some of you Tory hounds lying dead on the grass of
our own yard very soon, too. Mind what I tell you!"
A sneering laugh was the only reply. They had no idea the boys would
really shoot at them.
There was the sound of receding footsteps, followed by the murmur of
voices, and then a few minutes later there sounded the trampling of
many feet, and crash! something struck the door, causing it to creak and
groan under the