"Yes, and then General Washington-who was appointed commander-in-chief of the army by the Second Continental Congress, at Philadelphia in May of last year, and who went to Boston and took charge of the army on July third-kept the British penned up in Boston till about the middle of last March, when he fortified Dorchester Heights, overlooking Boston, the work being performed in one night, and next morning the British, seeing what had been done and realizing that they would be at the mercy of the patriot army if they remained in Boston, hurriedly boarded the ships of the British fleet, then in the harbor, and sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia." "And General Washington and his patriot troops went down and took possession of Boston!" said Tom, his eyes shining. "Yes, Tom. But General Howe, the British commander-in-chief, did not keep his troops long in Halifax, but sailed to New York, where he was soon joined by the British fleet under his brother, Admiral Howe, and by General Clinton." "And General Washington and his patriot army came to New York and took possession of that city," said Tom. "Yes, and he's there now, and that is where we are going, Tom." "Hurrah, Dick! Say, I'm glad of it. I want to join the army, and fight the redcoats. I want to fight for liberty and independence." "So do I. And we will, too." "When will we go, Dick?" "In a few days, likely. We have to get things in shape so that mother and sister Mary can get along without us, you know." "Yes, but that won't take long. Most of the work for the summer is done, and all there will be to do on the farm is to wait for the crops to ripen." "True. Well, we'll go in a few days, now, likely." "Don't be in too big a hurry to go, sons," said Mrs. Dare sadly, when they were discussing the matter, that evening at supper. "Think how lonesome Mary and I will be when you are gone." "Mrs. Foster and the girls will come over often," said Dick. "They will keep you cheered up." "It will help," was the reply. "But we will be lonely, just the same." "You might try to be cheerful, mother," said Tom. "Dick and I won't want to think of you as being lonely." "Oh, I will get along all right, sons," said the brave woman, forcing a smile. She wanted to have the boys go away feeling that she was in good spirits. They had just finished eating supper, when Ben Foster came in. There was an eager, excited look on his face, and he said earnestly: "There's a plot on foot against Dick and Tom, and I came right over to let you know about it." "A plot!" exclaimed Mrs. Dare, her face paling and her voice trembling. "By whom!" "The Tories." "Ah!" breathed the woman, a look of anxiety on her face. "This is terrible!" "Don't worry, mother," said Dick. "We know of it, now, and can prepare for them. It will not be as if we were to be taken by surprise." "No, don't be afraid, Mrs. Dare," said Ben. "We'll make the Tories wish they had attended to their own business."