all is quiet, and in the interim we can
make a run for the boats and get away."

"Yes, and we must be on the lookout for just such a time."

The boys waited patiently, but it seemed as if no one wanted to go to
bed, and as if there would be something going on all night. Finally,
realizing the danger of waiting too long, Dick said to Bob and some of
the boys:

"I am going to make my way to the other end of the wharf and get up some
sort of disturbance to draw the people away from the boats. You must
take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I will join you
and we will all leave."

"You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, I
would insist on going with you."

"There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself."

"I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from the
boats."

"No, perhaps not."

Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat
over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf
and get up some sort of disturbance to draw the people away from the
boats. "You must take that opportunity to seize them and get away. Then I
will join you and we will all leave."

"You won't get caught?" asked Bob. "If I thought there was any danger, I
would insist on going with you."

"There will be danger, of course, but I will take care of myself."

"I don't think that it will be wise to have too many of us away from the
boats."

"No, perhaps not."

Dick shortly crept out cautiously by the lower door, having a long coat
over his uniform, and made his way toward the farther end of the wharf.
The boys were to act as soon as they heard any unusual noise from his
direction, Bob taking the lead. Making his way along the wharf, Dick
presently saw a nightwatch with a lantern at the end of a long pole
coming toward them.

"Here is the watch," said one, "come to send us to bed."

"Let us put out his lantern and souse him in the river," said Dick, with
a laugh.

"That's so, that will be great fun."

A man with a lantern came up at this moment and the light fell upon
Dick.

"Hallo! if there isn't the rebel!" the man shouted.

The fellow was Tom's father, Dick recognizing him at that moment. Here
was the chance to create the disturbance, and Dick at once sprang at the
man, knocked him down, and said:

"Take that, you sot! We will see if you can insult honest folks for
nothing!"

At once there was