"Yes, Dick," was the reply. "I think that I shall again call you into requisition. How wold you like to again venture out toward the British lines in search of information?" Dick's face lighted up eagerly. "I would like it first rate, sir," he said. "I thought so, and that is the reason I sent for you. Well, Dick, the fact is, that we are beginning to grow weary of this state of affairs, and would like to learn what is detaining the enemy and causing them to hold back from making an attack. And we wish to learn, if possible, if an attack is intended soon, and if so, on what date. You wish to try your hand at the work of learning this, my boy?" "I shall be glad to make the attempt to secure the information you wish, General Washington," was the prompt and earnest reply. "Very well, Dick. Then the matter is settled. You will leave this evening, as soon as darkness has come, and will visit the special spot in the vicinity of the enemy's camp, and learn all that you possibly can. There is no need of my giving you other than these general instructions, for you have had sufficient experience as a spy to know how to go about it yourself." "Yes, your excellency. I will leave as soon as it is dark, and will do my best to secure some information of value." "I hope that you may succeed, my boy." "I hope so, sir." After a little further conversation Dick took his departure, and rejoined his comrades, who looked at him inquiringly. "Spy-work again, Dick?" queried Ben. "Yes, Ben," was the reply. "That's what we guessed. When do you start?" "This evening." "I wish I could go with you!" said Tom. "I think it will be better for me to go alone," said Dick. "I can do better work alone than if somebody is with me. The general selected me because I have a likely place to hide." "How would it do to take Dootchy wid yez, Dick?" grinned Tim. "He thinks he would be a foine spy." Dick laughed. "I don't know how Fritz would make out in that field of endeavor," he said. "He is so big he couldn't get within a mile of the redcoats without their seeing him," commented Ben. "Yes, that's the only trouble with Fritz," said Tom. "He is too big to be a success as a spy." "I didn't said dot I vould be a goot sby, Dick," responded Fritz. "I said dot I vould be as goot a sby as vot Tim Murphies vould be, see? und I vill stand me by dot statements, alretty." "Wull, Oi have not said thot Oi would make a good spy, Dootchy," said Tim, "so you wouldn't have to be much in thot line to aquil me. But whin it comes to foightin', now, it's mesilf belaves Oi have yez bate, Fritz, me bye." "Oh, I don'd vos know abouid dot, Tim," was the reply. "I think dot I vill do some fighdin' myselufs alretty, ven ve get der retgoads at, yahs." "Maybe so," grinned Tim. "We wull wait an see how yez act whin we come face to face wid the ridcoats."