ck and Bob and
Ben, and the rest who had been left in the city, were given a right
royal welcome, and then they all had breakfast together, Dick and his
boys being very glad to get it. Mark and the others were eager to hear
what had befallen them in the city, and were greatly interested in
hearing the story of their many and varied adventures. "We had some
trouble ourselves in getting away," declared Mark, "but nothing like
what you fellows had. You must have given the redcoats a good scare at
times, however."

"It was the only chance we had of getting away," laughed Bob. "If we had
not made them think we were ten times as strong as we were, we would
have been gobbled up."

The enemy made one or two sorties during the day, but were in every case
driven back, and at last retired to their lines and did not again seek
to molest the Americans. The patriots had lost New York, but they were
still in possession of the upper part of the island and meant to hold it
as long as they could, Fort Washington being a strong fort and well
defended. At night the Liberty Boys' camp was well guarded, and the
slightest move of the enemy toward it would have been detected in a
moment. During the forenoon, Tom came to the camp and said:

"It's a fine place where we are, Captain, and I am obliged to you for
sending us up there. Mother will get plenty to do and already has the
promise of enough to keep her busy for a month."

"I am very glad of it, Tom," said Dick, "and I am sure that you will all
be much happier there than in the city. The enemy are there now, and it
will be much worse than before."

"So the redcoats have gone into New York, have they? I am sorry for
that."

"So are we all, Tom, but it will not be forever. Some day we will be
back there again, and the British will be driven out and have to go back
to their own country beyond the sea."

"The sooner the better!" muttered Tom.

"Tell them when you go back that we are all right, Tom," Dick resumed.
"Some of us had a hard time getting out of New York and had to run the
blockade, but we got out fast enough and gave the redcoats some pretty
good slaps."

"The young ladies will be glad to hear of it. Did you see him again,
Captain?"

"Yes, and he made some trouble for us, but we got away all right for all
of him, and I doubt if we shall ever see him again."

"Well, I hope not, but you can't tell. What you don't expect is just
what happens."

"At all events, he has no