“Wai, I guess ye kin stay here ef ye want to,” said Sprowl. “Ther battle may take place to-morrer.” An idea struck Dick, and he said: “As I said, I’m a stranger here, and wouldn’t like to bother the British officers by asking questions, but you could find out whether they intend to make an attack to-morrow, or not, couldn’t you, and if they do intend to do so, I will stay.” “Ye’ll stay all night, anyhow, won’t ye?” “Yes, but I want to get up very early, and so if you will go and find out about that to-night, I will be much obliged. If they don’t intend to make the attack to-morrow, or by the next day, I will go on my way.” “All right, I’ll go over to ther encampment arter supper an’ have a leetle talk with General Arnold, an’ see if I can find out about ther battle.” “Very well, and thank you,” said Dick. “I have always wanted to see a battle.” “Me, too,” said Sprowl. “I never seen one, an’ this will likely be a big one, fur Arnold has fifteen hundred men an’ I hear thet ther rebels hev more than a thousand.” “That ought to make a lively fight,” said Dick. “Yas, thet’s what I think.” Presently the evening repast was ready, and the three sat up to the table in the kitchen and ate supper. Dick was hungry, as a result of the walking he had done that day, and he ate heartily. After the meal, Sprowl smoked a pipeful of tobacco, and then rose and stretched as he said: “I’ll go over to ther British encampment, now, an’ have a talk with General Arnold an’ fin’ out about ther battle, Dick Ford. I won’t be gone very long.” “All right, Mr. Sprowl, and thank you for your kindness. I appreciate it, I assure you.” “Thet’s all right. I kinder wanter know about ther battle, myself.” Then he left the house, and Dick, sitting there in the front room, congratulated himself on his good luck. He would now be able to secure information right from headquarters, and without having to venture near the British. Sprowl was soon at the house where Arnold and his officers had taken up their quarters, and when he had been ushered into the room where the officers sat, talking, he explained his errand. He had already been spoken of by the settlers in the settlement as being one of the leading Tories, so Arnold was willing to discuss with him subjects of interest. Sprowl, in the conversation, mentioned the fact that there was a young stranger at his house who had asked him to find out when the battle would likely take place, as if it would take place on the morrow, or next day, he would remain and see the affair, and Arnold started, looked thoughtfully at Sprowl for a few moments, and then said: “You say there is a young stranger at your house now, and that he expressed a wish to know when the battle would likely take place?” “Yas, General Arnold,” was the reply. “What is his name?” There was an eager light in Arnold’s eyes. Sprowl looked somewhat surprised, but answered “He said his name was Dick Ford.”