"Here," replied a hoarse voice. "We are right at hand, Dick Dare, and glad to welcome you. Your brother has told us about you, and we have been hoping you would succeed in freeing us, though we feared you might not be able to do so. But you seem to have succeeded, thank God! I am Joseph Boswick," he continued, "one of the spies sent down here by General Washington to secure information regarding the British. There are three more spies, and seven patriot soldiers and all of us are eager to get out of this terrible hole, as you may well believe." "I can easily believe it, Mr. Boswick, and I'll have your hands free in a jiffy, and then you can climb the ladder to the deck, and we will go ashore in the boat. The two British guards are insensible, and locked in a stateroom." "You are a wonder, Dare!" said Boswick, admiration in his tone. "Well, cut our bonds quickly and we'll try to get out of here." This was speedily done, and a few minutes later the entire party was on the deck. To climb down into the boat was a simple matter, but it had only just been accomplished when there came the noise of oars in rowlocks, from the other side of the hulk, followed by the sound of voices. "Some redcoats have come off to the ship, from the shore!" whispered Dick, to Boswick. "We must get away from here in a hurry, for your escape will be discovered very quickly!" Chapter XIII General Washington is Pleased "We had better get to the shore at once," was the reply. "This boat is so heavily loaded that it would be dangerous to try to go to New York in it." "Yes, and it is old and leaky, anyway. We'll go ashore and then head for Brooklyn Heights." Dick turned the oars and rowed cautiously toward the island. The boat moved very slowly, for it was deep in the water, and rapid progress was impossible. The shore was reached presently, however, and at the same instant there came out of the darkness excited yells from the direction of the prison-ship. "They've discovered your escape," said Dick. "Get ashore, men, as quickly as possible." The rescued patriots leaped ashore as fast as they could, and then with Dick in the lead, they set out northward. "By keeping over pretty close to the water, I think we shall be able to keep clear of the redcoats," said Dick. "Likely," agreed Tom. "We mustn't let them capture us now." "I'll never go back to that terrible prison-pen alive!" declared Boswick. "I would much rather die fighting." "We'll get to the Heights and then over to New York in safety," assured Dick. The excited voices of the British who had discovered the escape of the prisoners could be heard for some time, but gradually grew fainter, until at last no sound could be heard. The little party kept steadily onward, and managed to get past the left end of the British army and an hour or so later arrived at the patriot encampment on Brooklyn Heights.