Project Gutenberg's The 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 o