So Tom moved onward, with occasional trips first to one side and then the other, repeating the signal whistle, but he did not receive any response, and finally decided that it would be useless to continue the attempt to find Dick. “I would like to find him,” murmured Tom, “but it is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and so I guess I will head for the patriot encampment, and carry the news regarding the danger of the settlers in the fort, to General Greene. Then, if Dick isn’t there, I will hasten back and continue the search for him.” Having so determined, Tom set out in as direct a course as he could follow, and walked swiftly. On he went, keeping it up till morning, when he came to a cabin in the woods, and stopped and asked the man, who looked to be a hunter, if he could get breakfast there. “I reckon so,” was the reply. And then the hunter asked, curiously: “Whar ye goin’, young feller?” “To see some friends about seventy-five miles north of here,” was the reply. “What’s yer name?” the fellow asked. “Tom Dare,” was the reply. “My name is Jeff Harkins. Come in an’ set down. I’ll hev the grub ready purty soon.” Tom entered and took a seat, and when the food had been cooked and was on the table, they sat up to the rude board and ate heartily. Just as they had finished, into the cabin walked six British soldiers, and they leveled pistols at the heads of the two, and their leader, a lieutenant, cried sternly: “Surrender, in the name of the king!” CHAPTER VIII A Battle with a Wolf The battle between Dick Dare and the wolf went on fiercely, in the old cabin in the forest. The wolf was lithe and nimble, and evaded the majority of the blows aimed at it by the youth, but at the same time it dared not get close enough to bite, for fear of getting hit. Had Dick’s ankles been free, he would have been able to defend himself much easier, and could soon have landed some telling blows, but his ankles were tied, and he could not get around very well, having to stay in one position, and merely keep turning his face toward the animal as it made its rushes toward him. Finally, however, the youth managed to land a hard blow on the head of the wolf, with the heavy stool, which knocked the animal off its feet. Seeing his advantage, Dick threw himself forward, and struck the wolf several blows, till finally the animal stretched out, apparently lifeless. “Thank goodness!” murmured Dick, dropping to a sitting posture, and panting at a great rate. “That was about the fiercest battle I ever had. Now, to get my ankles free.” He drew a clasp-knife from his pocket and cut the rope binding his legs. Then he sat down and chafed his ankles, till he got the blood to circulating again. This done, he went to the door and looking out, saw that the coast seemed to be clear.