The Dare Boys in VirginiaCox, Stephen Angus Douglas
History
The Dare Boys in Virginia
Cox, Stephen Angus Douglas
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Juvenile fiction
Dick, Tom and Ben, and some of the other soldiers, among whom were Tim
Murphy and Fritz Schmockenburg, sat in a little group and talked
earnestly of their expected encounters with Arnold and his little army,
and all were pleased with the outlook. They liked what they had seen of
Virginia, and were glad they had come to the South, where suffering from
the cold was not a necessary concomitant of camp life.
“I like id down here,” said Fritz, nodding decidedly. “I hobe dot ve
sday down here till der war is ended alretty.”
“Sure an’ thot would suit me, too,” said Tim. “Oi’m t’inkin’ thot
Virginia is good enough for me.”
“I wonder where Arnold’s army is,” said Tom.
“That is what everybody is wondering, I guess,” said Ben.
“Yes,” said Dick. “We know that Arnold is somewhere in this part of
Virginia, but he may be a hundred miles from this spot.”
“Well, when we find out where he is, we’ll make it hot for him,” said
Tom.
“Yah, dot is vot ve vill do,” said Fritz.
They continued to talk quite a while, and finally got out their
blankets, lay down and were soon sound asleep. They slept splendidly
till morning, and then cooked and ate their breakfast, after which for
exercise they walked about for a while; of course within the bounds of
the camp, after which they again sat down to talk.
While thus engaged, an orderly from Colonel Morris’ tent appeared, and
said to Dick Dare:
“You are wanted at the headquarters tent, Dick Dare.”
“All right,” the youth replied. “I’ll go along with you.” He got up and
accompanied the orderly, and was soon standing in the tent, in the
presence of Colonel Morris.
“Dick Dare,” said the colonel, looking at the youth earnestly, “we are
desirous of learning the whereabouts of Arnold’s army, and so I have
summoned you to tell you that I want you to go in search of Arnold’s
encampment.”
Dick’s face lighted up. This was just the kind of work he liked. He had
done much of scouting and spying for General Washington, and he was
always glad to be sent on work of this kind.
“I shall be glad to go and search for Arnold’s encampment, sir,” he
said. “When shall I start?”
“As soon as you can get ready. I am eager to get Arnold located. Then I
can begin my campaign against him.”
“I will start at once, sir. Have you any instructions to give?”
“None, except to say, find Arnold.”
“Very well, sir. If there is nothing else you wish to say, I will go.”
“That is all, Dick. Find Arnold, and then report to me as quickly as
possible.”
“I will do my best, sir.” Then Dick saluted and withdrew, and hastened
back to the point where his comrades were. The moment they caught sight
of his glowing face, they uttered exclamations.
“You are going in search of Arnold’s army, I’ll wager!” exclaimed Tom.
“Yah, dot is vot he is goin’ to do,” nodded Fritz.
“Av coorse,” said Tim. “He’s the bye thot can foind Arnold, av innywan
can.”
“Yes, I’m going in search of Arnold’s army,” said Dick.
“Say, I’m going with you,” said Tom, decidedly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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