"I'm resting," replied the youth. "Resting, eh?" "Yes, sir." "What made you tired?" "I have come quite a distance. I walked here from nearly twenty miles east, and I'm resting in the shade, before continuing my journey. No objection is there?" "Humph. Where are you bound for?" "Over on the shore of the bay." "What are you going there for?" "To work for a man, sir." "Who?" "An old fisherman." "Humph. You seem to be interested in the army, yonder, judging by the way you were looking that way when I came up." "Yes, sir," replied Dick, quietly. "When one has never seen an army before, it does interest one." The redcoat eyed Dick searchingly. "I'm almost inclined to believe that you are not what you make out yourself to be," he said, after a few moments. "Why so, sir?" Dick opened his eyes as if surprised and puzzled and looked at the soldier inquiringly. "Because-in these times of war, it is often the case that anyone like yourself may turn out to be a spy." "A spy?" exclaimed Dick, assuming a most astonished expression. "Yes, and you may be a spy for all I know." Dick shook his head. "Oh, no, you've got another guess," he said. He felt that he was doing no wrong in denying being a spy, to a British soldier. "I'm not so sure of it," was the stubborn reply. "I think that I shall have to take you into camp and see what General Percy has to say about the matter." Dick's heart sank. General Percy was the officer he had seen, a few weeks before, when he had pretended to join the British force, and the officer would recognize him at once, without doubt. It would not do to permit himself to be taken into the camp, a prisoner. It would result disastrously, as he would likely be shot as a spy, for it was known that he had rescued the patriot prisoners out of the old prison-ship in the bay, and he would be handled severely. Even though only a boy in years, he had proven himself capable of doing a man's work. "Oh, I wouldn't do that, if I were you," said Dick, calmly. The soldier smiled grimly. "I suppose you do not view the matter favorably," he replied. "But, I think it my duty to take you into camp, for you may be a dangerous spy." Dick had been doing some swift thinking, and he had made up his mind that he must not permit himself to be taken into the encampment a prisoner. He must manage in some way to prevent the soldier from accomplishing this. The only way, so far as he could see, was to engage the soldier in a struggle, and overpower him, and as the redcoat looked a pretty husky fellow, this would likely not be an easy thing to accomplish. But Dick was more than ordinarily strong, and he was quick and athletic, and a good wrestler, and he believed he could overpower the soldier. He felt confident he could do so, if he could succeed in taking the redcoat by surprise. Dick, busy thinking, made no reply to the redcoat's last remark, and the soldier, after waiting a few moments, said sharply: "Get up, young fellow."