The Boy Spies of Philadelphia

prisoners, and although they lived in momentary expectati

h occasion he gave them to understand that unless satisfactory ans

could not explain how the fetters came in their possession without rendering a third party liable to suspici

f the time the boys were held as prisoners, and now and then spoke words of cheer, giving the

rding the possible recapture of Seth; but he had no information to give them, and this fact was decidedly more sati

American lines, and being thus assured they had saved his life, the boys could have borne eve

cation with his mother, for orders had been given

ll concerning him that could hav

ns which they could overhear between the soldiers, and it seemed as if the one whom they looked upon as a

st the Continentals; that on the 30th Abercrombie led his men against Lacey near the Crooked Billet, forcing that officer to f

Clinton arrived in Philadelphia that Ja

d this, to them, very des

e was sufficient proof to connect them with Seth's escape, and that t

n, on this particular morning, the cell-doors were opened and the office

t at the first suspicious action on the part of either, both will be br

nd when the outer door of the jail was opened he and Enoch darted swiftly through, as if

cularly surprised to see them nor was it necessary they shoul

tter containing full particulars as to their condition, and had

wrong side!" Jacob exclaimed when Mrs. Ball explained why she had not been particularly anxious regarding her son during hi

o do a favor to three boys who had no c

od work by trying to prevent his brother officers fr

, for that matter, were any of us, because he did carry in

were no

d to admit they had good cause for punishing us. I think the time h

ill enlist?" his mot

you should say that yo

n't for me to set up my own desires against it. You must remember, however, that you are now looked upon with suspicion by t

a tone of assurance, and thus it was settled that at the earlie

uits learned that it was not as easy to leave

ned and better equipped than formerly, and the British officers, understanding that Sir Henry Clinton w

on. They understood it might place him in an awkward position if they did s

Gordon, being an inmate of her house, had kept her as well informed as he had Mrs. Ball. Therefore th

obliged to give Enoch's mother notice of the fact, and from the hour when they had been allowed to leave t

hope that they might, before traveling many miles, come upon a detachment of Americans; but each time the subject

journey, they had wandered heedlessly near the outskirts of the city, and warned each time

ed it, which was to be given as a testimonial in honor of General Howe on the eve of his retiring fr

on the Delaware River. They heard that a supper-room was being built for the occasion; that mirrors, pictures, and ornaments designed to hold candles, were being borrowed from the wealthy citizens; but yet so great was the de

orgot their desires in the wond

blic; but Major Andre himself wrote an entertaining account to his friends in England which is give

dies. The Cornwallis galley brought up the rear, having on board General Knyphausen and his suite, three British generals and a party of ladies. On each quarter of these galleys, and forming their division, were five flatboats, lined with green cloth, and filled with ladies and gentlemen. In front of t

a line the whole length of the town, appeared with colors flying and crowded with spectators, as were also the openings of several wharves on shore, exhibiting the most picturesque and enlivening scene the eye could desire. The rendezvous was at Knight's wharf, at

rs given from the vessels were returned from the multitude on shore. By this time the flood tide became too rapid for the galleys to advance; they were therefore quitted, and the company di

teen guns was fired from the Roebuck, and, after some interval, by the same number from the Vigilant. The company, as they disembarked, arranged themselves into a line of procession, and advanced through an avenue formed by two files of grenadiers, and a line of light-horse supportin

rs, with favors of white and blue ribbon in their breasts, followed next in ord

emen arranged themselves in convenient order on each side. On the front seat of each pavilion were placed seven of the principal young ladies of the country, dressed in Turkish habits and wearing in their turbans the favors with which they meant to reward the several knights who were to contend in their honor. Th

long and detailed account of the tourn

uddenly thrown open, discovered a magnificent saloon with three alcoves on each side which served as sideboards. Fifty-six large pier glasses, ornamented with green silk artificial flowers and ribbons; one hundred branches with three lights in each, trimmed in the same manner as the mirrors; eighteen lusters, each with twenty-four lights, suspended from the ceiling, and ornamented as the branches; t

d of following the example of those around them and crowding as near to the water's edge as possible, were standing on a slight elevation some

ladelphia, eh?" he began, as if more for the purpos

e us for Britishers?"

ed. "You can be as loyal to the king in the

loyal to him; but inasmuch as we are Philadelphia boys the case i

secret if you count on being dis

e been in prison five weeks would be distrusted

seems as if he was afraid of the boys quite a considerable, for

nd I happen t

th a pretense of surprise.

tand that you have got any right to ask questions, and

thought that this stranger was displaying altogether t

rtain there were no eavesdroppers near. "If you are Chris Ludwick's son, you was jaile

doubt but that his questions meant something more than idle

ut Seth Graydon?" the

tone. "I can't say that I know anything particular about Seth, except that he wanted me, in c

e?" Jacob a

eed of my going into particulars, especially round here, w

id you c

the soonest mended. If it should happen, though, that you knew anything which might be important for

you

ker by the name of Parker, and am down here to

can join any portion

hat pu

but the Britishers have kept a close watch on us since we were

that perhaps you won't be so closely watched. If you should happen to hear anything that would benefit your friends, and want to

ood that in his assumed character of a farm laborer he was acting the spy, and by

nxious to make; but he was disappointed and perplexed because the

ou," Master Ludwick said after a brief pause, "for since our ar

from roaming around

going very far into the country, and have

ar notice if any activity prevails among the soldiers to-morrow night. You can

every day, and can se

soldiers. There are several in town who, during such time as we are haggling over the price of vegetables, manage to let me know what they have seen, and when

re than willing; but hardl

ing preparations to leave, and even though you have been under arrest for aiding a boy whom the Britishers called a spy, I don't think you would be interfered with if you exercised proper caution. It is especially necessary that

ve the British will make

the Tories between here and Valley Forge b

n to make an attack?"

nformation of what the enemy may do when they learn of it. We have talked here as long as is safe, for, although people seem intent

his eyes the spectacle upon the water, and wh

f some service to the caus

rn when he said we were ready t

o other name for it-and if we should now be put under arrest by the Britishers, t