The Boy Spies of Philadelphia

pent in his company. The fact was clearly apparent in his manner of showing them around the encampment, explaining the

," he said when, the exhibition drill being ended, he led the two boys to his quarters. "It seemed to me o

ll by this time," Jacob

n a year, it will be because peace is declared too soon, or I have been wounded or ki

private to know in a week, I'd give up try

ay as well

ertain tha

hly astonished. "I thought your

mind about that s

done it seems as if the only thing left was to e

h Greene, the spy, and if I can give fathe

Master Ludwick meant, and in the fewest possible words E

ounted so much on having you and Jacob for comrades that it will be a big disappointment. It is too bad

elphia is still in the possession of the British; General Washington has not moved from these his win

difference. Now that we are to have

nd both Enoch and Jac

cknowledged the independence of the United St

be the case, but don't understand that anyth

in camp here from the third to the seventh of this month, and then you would have understood what hopes every one is buildi

adelphia could know of it,"

mored here that war is to be declared between France and England, and th

onciliatory bills?" En

e, the British government will

s. The bills you speak of are merely deceptionary measures, so General Washington says. The king will give us a little more liberty than we have had; but doesn't propose to allow us to become a nation by ourselves. You don't seem to be aware of how well we are progre

he speaker in surprise whic

l march out of the city when there

ssued an order for the heavy baggage of the army to be prepared for embarkation at the shortest notice, and for the soldiers to lighten their personal luggage. If that doesn't mean that the Britishers are getting

asked, and Seth nodded his h

ted in the army that Washington wrote to Congress regarding the conciliatory bills and the fact that the commissioners are coming to this country, saying in the letter: 'Nothing short of independence, it appears to me, will d

Greene I may be fortunate enough

tal of our country is no longer in possession of the enemy?" the spy added in a triumpha

go whenever you

son wants to have a word with you before we go, and I

o do as much as Enoch-perhaps more, for he is willing to confess that but

itted to your father's care the horse Enoch rode, for it would have cost me too much time to have turned h

ad an idea I wo

learned I was

d sharply. "It will be necessary for him to watch me very closely, bec

g the attempt. Do you fancy the men he

ve much trouble in getti

by my promise not to allow you to accompany Enoch and I. Seth, if you want to send any

for I am happy at being a soldier at last, and hope before this campai

isposed to make

ng, and since at least half of the journey must be made on foot, there

s quarters, and waited outside until his interview wit

er Ludwick asked when Enoch fi

rty to repeat," Enoch replied guardedly. "He

about time somebody tha

Lafayette spok

hat is all

ery much more, and surely our night's

chased and

but no

they would have thought we had done

matter which, in his opinion, had already been fully discussed, and put a

and the Britishers do leave Philadelphia, you

the news," Seth said in a cheery tone as he

g all the luck, even though I am

e had to walk all the way to Valley Forge, and you rode. Now you have a good opportunity to enl

at he was ready for the journey, set off

ort distance away. "The trouble with him is that he made up his mind he had done a wonderful thing in bringing information of the ene

ans well

id up to last night, but that little aff

e back, if we ever do, he will be in a fair way t

going into battle. To anticipate danger is, to my mind, a good bit like inviting it, and the man who expects to be shot has given himself a deal of unnecessary worriment, if it so chances he comes out of the engagement unscratc

d. Well, I am: but that won't inter

guishing yourself between now and the time the Britishers leave Philadelphia. Here are our horses, an

would be for

ause, and through him I am enabled to do very much more than would otherwise be possible, for he supplies me with all the vegetables I can sell. It

intend I shal

thout giving any heed to me. In such case I shall be deprived of your services, for we cannot keep you here if you are under suspicion. Should it chance, however, as I anticipate, that you are not known to have done more than aid Seth Graydon's escape,

f the chance that I

uppose. In fact, Enoch, you will do exactly as you have been doing, and wit

t of the ordinary, that long before they arrived at the place where the horses were to be left all sense of peril which

wo partook of an appetizing meal, rested an hour, and then set their fac

before morning," Enoch suggest

iving shortly a

to the market-pl

se for loitering around town, and you may rest assured I

would be suspicious of your g

y times that now they all know me. It no longer excites surprise because I am so particularly attentive to

n on his back increased tenfold in weight; but he toiled manfully forward, repressing, so fa

clination for conversation, and when half an hour

arching, shouldering and carrying arms, isn't forced t

m not gr

red, though, for I am, and I have been over this road in the same fashion nigh on to a hundred times. It is the hardest kind of

who had seen me when I was in jail with

y: You found it necessary to go to work in order to help support your mother, because in these days I don't fancy she has as many scholars, ei

range that you shouldn'

ither case I should be the loser, if I was really what I represent myself, for horses can't be purchased readily even though one is willing to pay a big price, and that fact is well know

arrived opposite the Carpenter mansion, and ther

Greene said when the co

st at the market-place, Daniel," the sergea

ed of sellin' all I've brought a singl

dn't be the case if some

ightn

n't arrive until daylight, a

early bird like me what can afford to haggle for an extra sixpence, o

n; you appear to be a rare one for driv

son of the Widow Ball on Letitia Street-she's an old customer of mine. I sold her eno

Daniel," the sergeant said in an admonitory tone

evidence of the liveliest alarm. "His mother told me h

having an affection for the rebels, and it isn't many days since he came ou

him? I allowed from the way you

l acting the rebel

sign of smartness to side with the under dog in the fight; but after a few hard

, Daniel, for if he should indulge in more disagreeable prac

n here a dozen times he'll be glad to stay at home instead of cavorting 'ro

by that?" the serg

hem all you Britishers wouldn't be here, and I should have to take less

hillings and pence that touch you more deeply than anything else. Good-night to you, Daniel. Don't

sper as the patrol passed on in advance, "otherwise the sergeant would have known it. There's nothing now to prevent our ca