The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade | Page 7

enemy might be about, and Dick had taught them to be on the lookout at all times, whether they expected a foe or not. After breakfast Dick took a party of about a dozen of the boys in addition to Bob, and set out for the stone house on the river. Reaching the lane, the boys dismounted, the descent being rather too steep for the horses, and Dick, Bob and seven or eight others went down. The door toward the road was closed and there was no sign of life about the place. Dick and Bob went down to the shore where there was a little wharf, and here they found a door on the lower story, this being closed, however, as were the windows, and no one stirring either in or about the house.
"The place looks like an ordinary storehouse," remarked Dick, "and I suppose that the people about here think it is such. I shall have to get permission from the general to examine it, for it is a nest of thieves whatever else it may be."
"That is plain enough!" muttered Bob.
Taking Bob, and leaving the boys to watch the place, Dick set out for Putnam's headquarters to report concerning the place and ask what should be done. Some of the boys remained on the bank above, and some on the wharf and near the lower door. They found a passage under the wharf, and then another dug through the earth, and leading to a door evidently in the stone house under the bank and back of the wharf.
"These fellows are regular smugglers as well as thieves!" exclaimed Harry. "This is an important discovery. They use this place to take in stolen goods when they are afraid to take them in any other, I guess."
"See if the door is locked," suggested Sam.
Then he and Harry tried it, and found that it was not fastened, but opened readily when they lifted the latch.
"Hallo! Who is there?" cried a gruff voice, as they advanced.
"Here's one of the rascals! Catch him!" cried Harry.
CHAPTER V.
--An Important Capture.
Dick and Bob set out upon their horses for the general's quarters, and upon reaching Broadway met the girls coming along on horseback.
"I am afraid we cannot give you much attention now, girls," said Dick. "We are going to the general's quarters, and then to rout out the thieves, who make a rendezvous of the stone house and I think we shall be very busy for sometime."
"You might go up to the camp and cheer Patsy's heart by a visit," laughed Bob. "He is fond of the girls."
"You want us to get the poor boy in trouble, I see," said Alice. "You would get so jealous that Patsy would have no peace."
"You know what Carl says when he disagrees with any one, don't you, Sis?" asked Bob, with a sly wink.
"Come, my dear," replied Alice. "I think we shall be able to do without their company for a time. We ought to be resourceful enough for that."
"But, Alice, brother and Bob have business to attend to, and---"
"And you are a dear little matter of face goose and can't see a joke," laughed Alice. "You would spoil both those boys, but it needs me to put them in the right place."
Then the girls rode away toward the camp, while the boys went on to the general's. The veteran listened to Dick, and said:
"By all means break into the place and make a thorough investigation, Captain. If there is any complaint, say that I gave you full authority to act. There is something very about the whole affair, and I do not believe that the place is used for honest purposes."
"Nor we, General, but we wanted your authority before we proceeded to vigorous measures."
"Well, you have it now, Captain," said the general, who was well acquainted with Dick, Bob and many of the Liberty Boys.
They left the place, jumped into the saddle, were going up toward the Commons when, as they neared the head of Maiden Lane, they suddenly heard a sharp cry, and saw a young girl in a chaise come dashing toward them at a terrific pace, the horse having taken fright at something and being now beyond the girl's control.
"Quick, Bob!" cried Dick. "We must save her!"
"Why, it's Sarah Watrous," said Bob, that being the name of the girls' friend whom the boys had seen the night before.
The boys dashed forward, one on each side the chaise, Dick dismounting and catching of the bridle, throwing himself backward and checking the animal's speed. Bob reached out at the same time and did what he could to stop horse, the two boys between them succeeding in checking him in a short time.
"Oh, I am so glad you came!" gasped the girl who seemed nearly ready to swoon.