his
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,