Tom and Ben had seized the colonel, while Dick had leaped upon Arnold, and instantly a fierce struggle was taking place there in the underbrush. CHAPTER XIX—The Armies Close Together The three patriot youths would have succeeded in effecting the capture of Arnold and the colonel, had it not been that four or five British soldiers happened to be coming along the path. They were not far distant, and were on their way to the Hart home to get some cider. Hearing the cries for assistance made by the British officers they ran in the direction from which the sound came. The patriot youths heard the redcoats coming, and recognized that it would be impossible to make prisoners of the two officers, now that reinforcements were at hand, so Dick and his comrades let go of the two and ran away through the woods at the top of their speed. The officers called loudly, but did not themselves go in pursuit. As soon however as the soldiers reached them, they indicated the direction taken by their assailants and the soldiers took up the chase. “I would wager anything that those scoundrels that attacked us were the Dare Boys and Ben Foster,” said Arnold, breathing hard. “They are just about daring enough to attempt such work as that.” “Likely you are right,” agreed the colonel, who also was panting for breath. “I hope that the men will capture them.” “Yes, but I have my doubts.” “So do I. The young rascals are fleet of foot and likely know the ground better than our men.” “Yes, and in the darkness and amid the trees it will be an easy matter for them to escape.” “I suppose so. Well, let us go on to the encampment.” They set out and were soon at the camp, where they sat down for a refreshing smoke, to await the return of the soldiers who had gone in pursuit of the three patriots. An hour and a half passed, and then two of the soldiers arrived at camp, and reported that they had been unable to catch the rebels. “I hardly expected you would,” said Arnold, and then he dismissed them. The other soldiers failing in their efforts to locate the boys had made their way to the Hart home, and were given several bottles of cider, which they drank, and then returned to camp. They had scarcely gotten a hundred yards away from the house before Dick arid Tom Dare and Ben Foster entered at the rear door. The three were given a cordial greeting, and when they told how they had tried to capture Arnold and his companion, Mr. Hart laughed heartily. “That was a daring attempt to make,” he said. “But we would have succeeded, if the soldiers had not come to the assistance of Arnold and the colonel,” said Dick. They talked there an hour or so, and then the members of the Hart family went to their rooms, while Dick, Tom and Ben slept on blankets spread on the floor, as they had done the night before.