left to go adrift, and then, led by Dick, who knew the way thoroughly,
they set out for their own lines, which Dick judged would be somewhere
below Fort Washington. On they went, and all at once came upon a party
of the enemy hurrying to intercept them.

"Fire, Liberty Boys!" shouted Dick. "Scatter the redcoats, drive them
off the island, hurl them into the river!"

"Liberty forever, forward, down with the redcoats!" echoed the plucky
fellows.

Then they began to discharge their pistols in the liveliest fashion, and
to shout as if there were four or five times as many of them. The
redcoats evidently thought that there were many more of the daring boys,
and fell back in haste. Dick and Bob led the way, and the whole party
charged resolutely, desiring to get to a place of safety as soon as
possible, although it seemed to the enemy as if they were being pursued
by an army, and they made all haste to get away.

The boys turned up the road toward the fort with all haste, and were
well on their way before the enemy realized that they were not being
pursued. Then they turned and went after the boys, greatly chagrined at
having been so cleverly fooled. They got reinforcements, and set out
after the boys in full chase, but were suddenly brought to a stop by the
main body of the Liberty Boys under Mark Morrison. Mark had heard the
firing, and was out looking for Dick and the Liberty Boys at the same
time, and now, seeing their danger, fell upon the enemy tooth and nail
and sent them flying.

"Hurrah! back with the redcoats!" he shouted. "Give it to them, my boys.
Fire!"

Crash--roar! The redcoats now had to face a musket volley instead of a
pistol discharge, and they felt the difference. Down upon them bore the
gallant boys with a cheer and a ringing volley, and then two or three
brigades of regulars were seen following up the boys, and they fell back
in great disorder.

"Hurrah!" yelled Bob. "That's the kind of reception to get. Here we are,
boys!"

CHAPTER XIII.--Tom Joins the Liberty Boys.

Mark and his boys gave Dick and Bob and the rest a hearty cheer, and
then the whole body took a stand to be ready to meet the enemy in case
they should make another advance. The patriots were out in full force
now, however, and the redcoats fell back to the edge of Harlem Plains,
where they had their camp, the plan being a sort of neutral ground
between the two armies.

The boys shortly retired to their own camp, and here Di