ard the next. In the
dark, the blue uniforms of the boys could easily be mistaken for the
blue jackets or sailors or midshipmen, and Dick relied upon this to help
him in his escape. A boat had been lowered, and presently the sound of
the boys' oars was heard by the enemy.

"Ahoy! What boat is that?"

"Seen anything of the rebels, sir?" asked Dick, the boys pulling
steadily.

"No, not yet. Have you?"

"I've an idea there's a boatload of them ahead of us somewhere, but it's
dark as Erebus on the river."

"Go ahead and keep a watch. My idea is that they have not gone as far as
this yet."

"An idea that you are quite welcome to, my man!" was Dick's thought.
"Everybody thinks that his idea is the only correct one."

Bob was hailed by the other boat as he followed Dick closely, and
answered gruffly:

"Port, captain! Keep a watch below there, and keep a sharper eye on your
duty. The rebels may have gone down the river, for all you know. There
is no good in looking one way only."

"Aye, aye, sir!" and the boat went down the river.

The ship was passed in safety, the boats being supposed to be filled
with middies and bluejackets, and no questions were asked. There were
dangers ahead of the boys, however, and they all realized that running
the blockade was not going to be as easy a matter as one might think.

CHAPTER XII.--On the River.

There were other ships up the river, and there were the chevaux-de-frise
which the patriots had constructed to keep the enemy out, and which
would now be a hindrance to the boys. They must get beyond the ships and
the obstructions before dawn, or they would be captured, and they all
realized the dangers to be met. It was better for the two boats to keep
together, but in case they were beset, it might be wiser for them to
separate and the boys understood this. They had passed the ships nearest
to their hiding place, and unless the alarm spread to those farther up
the river, it might not be so hard to pass these also.

The alarm might be carried alongshore, however, and there might be boats
out watching for parties of patriots trying to get over to the Jersey
shore, and all these things must be taken into consideration in pushing
forward. The boys rowed steadily, all of them being accustomed to being
on the water, and their progress was steady if not very rapid, it being
dark on the river, and the current and the tide being both against them.

Rowing on steadily, they at length