“Thank you, yes,” replied one. And they entered, after which the officer who had spoken said: “I am General Arnold, of the king’s troops, sir, and this gentleman is Colonel Riggs, of my staff.” “My name is Hart,” was the reply. “I am glad to make your acquaintance.” Then the two seated themselves, and Mr. Hart did the same, after which General Arnold asked: “I wish to inquire if there are many loyalists in this vicinity, Mr. Hart?” “I think there are quite a good many, sir,” was the reply. “Do you think I could recruit my army here, to do much good?” “You might secure a few members,” was the reply. “About how many, would you say?” “Oh, perhaps fifteen or twenty, within a radius of five or six miles.” “That would not be very much of a reinforcement,” said Arnold. “The country around here is not very thickly settled, then.” “Not very.” “There is quite a good-sized settlement about twelve or fifteen miles to the westward, is there not?” Arnold asked, after a few moments. “Yes, sir.” “How big a settlement is it?” “There are forty or fifty houses, sir.” “And there is another settlement near that one, made up mostly of rebels, is there not?” “Yes, sir, so I have understood. It is not so large, however, having only twelve or fifteen families.” “Humph. Well, thank you, Mr. Hart. My army is encamped near here, and I thought we would walk over and have a talk with you, some of my soldiers having stated that they were here last night, at a dance.” “Yes, the young folks of the settlement had a little party here last night.” “My men informed me that Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, three rebel spies, were here, and that they had them prisoners, but that they managed to escape,” said Arnold. “Yes, General Arnold. We did not know anything about them, of course, but as they appeared to be very nice young men, we gave them their supper, and they took part in the festivities.” “Oh, I am not blaming you, Mr. Hart. I was just wishing that the rebels had not escaped. I would have liked to have made them prisoners.” They talked a while longer, and then Arnold and his companion rose, said good-night and took their departure. “That man is a rebel, Colonel Riggs,” said Arnold, when they were a little distance from the house. “I rather think so, myself,” was the reply. “Yes. He pretended that he was in sympathy with the king, but I am pretty sure that he is at heart a rebel.” “He did not seem to be very enthusiastic when you were asking about securing recruits in this region,” said the colonel. “No. I think he wished to discourage the idea.” “It looked that way to me.” Suddenly, when the two were about a quarter of a mile from the settlement, three forms leaped out behind them, from behind trees, and threw themselves upon the British officers. They were Dick and Tom Dare and Ben Foster, and they were attempting a most daring enterprise--the capture of General Arnold and Colonel Riggs.