The youth, after a keen survey of the form, decided that the redcoat's back was toward him, and so advanced a couple of steps, as silently as a shadow. He was now close upon the man, and reaching out suddenly, he grasped the fellow by the throat with both hands, and raising his knee quickly, struck the soldier in the small of the back, and threw him with a twisting motion to the deck; then dropping upon the fallen man, Dick compressed his windpipe, gripping it with all his might. Although but eighteen years of age, Dick Dare was stronger than the majority of men. He was naturally powerful, and his life on the farm had been such as to develop his strength and endurance, and so it happened that he was easily more than a match for the British soldier. The fact that this fellow had been taken completely by surprise worked to his disadvantage, too, and although he struggled hard, he was unable to do anything, and the gripping fingers, compressing his windpipe like bands of steel, gradually weakened him, for he was unable to get his breath. Neither could he cry out, and the result was that in about three minutes from the time Dick had seized the redcoat, the fellow was lying unconsciously on the deck-choked into insensibility. Feeling confident the sentinel would remain unconscious some time, Dick left the form lying there, and entered the cabin in search of the other soldier. A snore sounding from a stateroom at one side guided the youth, so he entered the compartment, and seizing this redcoat by the throat, as he had the other, Dick quickly choked him into limp insensibility. This accomplished, he went out on deck, dragged the other redcoat into the cabin, and into the stateroom. Closing the door, he locked them in. "I don't think they will be able to get out of there, even if they regain consciousness before I get to the prisoners," thought Dick. Then he went out on deck again and hunted around till he found the hatchway. Removing the covering, he looked down into the hold, but could see nothing, the darkness there being even greater than on the deck. "Hello, down there!" he called. "Are you there, Tom!" "Dick! Oh, is it really you?" came the reply, in the excited voice of Tom Dare. "Yes, it is I," was the reply. "How many are there with you, Tom? Is father there?" "No, Dick, father isn't here. Come down and free us, quick!" eagerly. "There are twelve of us here, it is a terrible place,-slimy and foul-smelling, and there are rats, insects and worms, ugh!" "Climb up the ladder," instructed Dick. "Surely you are not bound." "Our hands are tied. That's what I meant by telling you to come down and free us, Dick." "I'll be with you in moment, Tom." Dick hastened down the ladder, and was soon standing beside Tom, who had scrambled to his feet. He quickly cut the rope binding his brother's wrists, and then asked where the other prisoners were.