They paused there only long enough to rest a bit and apprise the officer in command of their escape from the prison-ship, then they went down to the shore and were taken across to the New York side in boats. They went direct to patriot headquarters, and were quickly ushered into the presence of the commander-in-chief. When he saw Dick and Tom, and also Boswick and the other spies and the patriot soldiers that had been prisoners, his face lighted up with pleasure. "You surely have succeeded well, Dare!" he exclaimed. "You have rescued the patriot prisoners from the British prison-ship, and I hope you have as well secured some important information." "I have secured some information, your excellency," replied Dick. "And I am pleased because I was able to free the patriots from the prison-ship." "You have done well, Dick-wonderfully well. I congratulate you, my boy." Then he shook hands with Boswick and the other spies and the soldiers and asked them about their experience in the prison-ship. According to their words, the prison-ship was a terrible place, the bottom of the hold being water-soaked and slimy, and infested by myriads of insects and worms, which crawled over the prisoners' bodies, stinging and biting them and almost driving them wild. There were large and vicious rats also. The prisoners were thin and gaunt, and it was evident that they had suffered indeed. "You have had a very unpleasant experience, men," said the commander-in-chief; "but now you are free and will soon be your old selves again. Go to your quarters, get some food and then rest up and regain your lost strength." The soldiers obeyed, all going save Dick, who remained at the command of General Washington. When the others had gone, he turned inquiringly at Dick. "What did you learn, my boy?" he queried. "Have you secured any information of value?" "I haven't secured a great deal of information, your excellency," was the reply. "I learned the numerical strength of the British army, for one thing." "That is important. What is the number?" "Twenty-five thousand." A sober, thoughtful look settled over the face of the commander-in-chief. "That is about five thousand more than I figured on," he murmured. "Well, I am glad to have knowledge of their strength, even though it is greater than I had expected it to be." "I learned also, that an attack on Brooklyn Heights, while a probability at some future time, is not contemplated at an early date." "That is important also, Dick. Well, did you learn anything else?" "Nothing else, sir. But, if you desire it, I will go back over onto Long Island and will keep watch on the British and do my best to learn of any intended move early enough to get the news to you, so that you will have time to make a move that will check the enemy."