The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade

Liberty Boys Running the
Blockade, by Harry Moore

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Title: The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade or, Getting Out of New
York
Author: Harry Moore
Release Date: October 6, 2007 [EBook #22902]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
LIBERTY BOYS ***

Produced by Richard Halsey

THE LIBERTY BOYS RUNNING THE BLOCKADE; OR,
GETTING OUT OF NEW YORK
By HARRY MOORE

CHAPTER 1.
--A Clever Capture.
"I think that fellow is following us, Bob."
"What fellow, Dick?"
"The one on the other side of the way, the man with a beard and a
steeple-crowned hat."
"Yes, I see him, but why should he follow us, Dick?"
"To obtain information, I suppose. He is certainly watching and
following us and if we were to stop anywhere you would see that he
would do the same."
"Suppose we try it, Dick?"
"Very well. I may get some information myself. There is Fraunces'
tavern. That is as good as any place."
"Yes, for that is a general resort for army officers, and if this man is a
spy, as you seem to think, he will be very likely to go to just such
places."
The boys, well built and handsome, bronzed from exposure to the
weather and wearing the uniform of the Continental army, were making
their way along Wall street in the City of New York one pleasant
September afternoon. Dick Slater was the captain and Bob Estabrook
the first lieutenant of the Liberty Boys, a band of one hundred sterling
young patriots engaged in the war for American independence, and at
that time quartered in New York, on the Commons at the upper end of
town.
As they were walking along Wall street, Dick, who was very observant,
noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, who seemed to be
watching them closely as if with an idea of learning what they knew,

and following them wherever they went. At this time the city was
threatened by the British, who held Long Island and had ships at Staten
Island just across from Manhattan ready to proceed up the rivers at any
time. The presence of British spies in the city was suspected, and Dick,
who was an expert spy himself, had his suspicions concerning the man
opposite as soon as he saw the fellow.
Turning into Broad Street, the boys walked down and at once the spy,
if he were one, took the same direction. Fraunces tavern, on the corner
of Broad and Pearl streets, was at that time a great resort for army
officers and men-about-town, and was, therefore, just the place which
the boys would frequent. Crossing the street when they reached Pearl
street, the boys went into the tavern, and were shortly followed by the
man in the steeple-crowned hat, who took a seat at a table near enough
to understand all that they said.
Giving Bob a wink, Dick began talking about some supposed exploit
with some one in the army, and went on from that to telling of meeting
certain beautiful young ladies, and how the latter were so charmed with
him and other boastful talk. The man was evidently greatly disgusted at
having to listen to such talk, as he had evidently expected to hear
something different, and he shortly moved his seat to another part of
the room.
"He had no interest in hearing how Polly Perkins winked at you, Dick,"
laughed Bob.
"No, but he wants to find out more about us, nevertheless. Don't look
over there. He has a very pretty scheme, I can see."
The man was drinking strong ale from a pewter and, having finished it,
set the pewter down. Dick saw him scratch something on it and beckon
almost imperceptably to a man near by who had just entered. Then, as
if by accident, knocked his pewter off the table to the floor. The other
man came forward, picked it up and set it on the table, but Dick could
see that he glanced at it at the same time, and then, as if upon a place to
sit, came toward them and sat three or four tables away. The suspected
spy presently arose and went out and Dick said:

"Well, good-by, Bob. I will meet you at Trinity church in half an hour."
Then muttering the words, "Bowling Green, ten minutes," he walked
away, going past the table where the man with the steeple-crowned hat