After answering a few more questions, Tom made his way to the point where his company was quartered, and found Ben there. Herbert Miller, the school-teacher, was there also, and he informed Tom that he had joined the patriot army. “Good for you. I’m glad of that,” said Tom. CHAPTER XX—Dick And Hank Sprowl Dick remained near the Tory settlement till nightfall, and then began to figure on entering and trying to learn something about the intentions of the enemy. The British force was encamped just at the edge of the settlement, and the youth believed he could visit one of the houses and perhaps learn something from the settler, without being seen by any of the redcoats. So he made his way into the settlement, at the opposite side from the British encampment, and approaching one of the houses, knocked on the door. The door opened, and a tall, rough-looking settler appeared. He was no other, in fact, than Hank Sprowl, Herbert Miller’s worst enemy, but Dick, of course, did not know him. “How are ye, stranger?” Sprowl said, gruffly. “What kin I do fur ye?” “I am a stranger in these parts,” replied Dick, “and I thought that perhaps I could get something to eat here. I will pay for the food.” “Thet’s all right. Yas, I guess we kin let ye have somethin’ to eat. Come in.” Dick entered, and Sprowl motioned to a chair after closing the door, and as the youth sat down, he asked: “What is your name, stranger?” “Dick Ford,” was the reply, Dick deciding that he had better give a fictitious name, he being so close to the British. “Where do ye live, an’ where ye goin’?” “I live about a hundred miles north from here,” was the reply. “And I’m going about fifty miles beyond the James River.” “Got folks down there, hey?” “Yes, sir.” “Here’s a stranger to supper, Molly,” called Sprowl. “Cook enuff extra fur him.” “All right, Hank,” was the response from the kitchen. “I saw what looked like a big encampment at the edge of the settlement,” said Dick. “What is going on? Are those men soldiers?” “Yes, they’re British soldiers. That is General Arnold’s army,” was the reply. “Ah. I suppose they intend to fight the rebel army that I saw yesterday, fifteen or twenty miles from here, do they?” “So ye seen ther rebels, did ye? Yes, thet’s what Arnold intends to do. The rebel army is now at a rebel settlement about three miles from here, an’ Arnold will git arter ’em pretty quick.” “When, to-morrow, do you think?” queried Dick. Sprowl looked at the youth somewhat suspiciously. “W’y do ye wanter know?” he asked. “Why, I thought that if there was likely to be a fight in this vicinity to-morrow, I would wait here and see it,” was the prompt reply. “I would like to see a battle.” “Oh,” said Hank. “So thet’s your idee, hey? Wai, I don’ know as he’ll make an attack to-morrer, but he will git arter ther rebels before very long, thet’s sartin.” “I’ve a good mind to stop here till the battle does take place,” said Dick.