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“ “Fore the Lord, who is you!" he asked, with
ohatteriii teeth. .
“Frien s, in pursuit of a horseman-s one go
down the road just now r" demanded the Toiy leader.
“ Yes, mama," re lied the trembling darkey; “ but
he wa‘n't in the fit-sli-he war is spirit!
1 b ' like nothin‘. Mas-za Bodsuii, he’s gone over
tel do Simpkinses, and do whole family's on dar
heads wid fear. or‘! L01"! but-“
The Tories heard no more, but pinllo ed on.
deiily a liizht before them lit upt ie 5 'y.
e vicinit ’ of liii.gby’s house-he who was speak-
whon t e unknown looked in at the church win-
ow.
Asthey approached the light, Rugby saw that his
barn was in tlames.
" Forward, men!" he shouted.
are nhroud-my barn is wrapt iu tlames--my home
will follow," and us if upbraided by a guilty con- .
science, his mind went back to the speech he was
makiugin the church when he saw the face at the
window.
Ten minutes’ ride brought them to l'lugby‘s prem-
ises. lltigliy drew rein in the light of his burning
barn, vlismouuted and ran to the house where all ivas
terror. As he up woaclied the door xi ltuistuizui
Eloutetl i'.lotr,, -'itleo' him from tlu-zuljueeiit .sliu.i--ws,
and di'uwiii;' rt-iu, thrust it[i1]It'l'lltlUlill):l))‘..4lllllul.
Rujrb ' drew his h<-avy llirlllil, but lu-i'ort- he could
use it, I E silent liorseuian. whose fave was the >.aiue
seen at the church win-'1 x daslietl away, lea ting
his horse over the low ' ..kt>t fence in front 0 the
house and disalzpearingr -lawn the road.
ughy stood hke 8, smite statue, and “'1l.l(.‘llP(l the
silent and niystcri nus horseman disappear from
view. Not a word had escaped his lips, not a sound
had his horse's hoofs produced.
HE opened the pi1&)ei', and in the red glare of his
burnin: hnrn he rea :
“ I he'ird [your speech in the Woodvale church, and
I l'l:l,'I),1'lll'!.L’< every face there. Remembei that eye
for eye, and tooth for loulll shall be the motto of
“ “'i::o-or-rm:-Wish."
An mzclamation burst from Rughys lips, and his
five grww pale.
" Boy-‘," ht-said to his cpmpnnions, who, at this
jtincture, came up, “it Will be wurto the knife be-
ttreen i'eln'l< and royalists now, in the Stony river
valley. That horseman was hat terrible young
rebel si:<>ui'gt=, Delaware Dick, the Spy, and lVing-ot'-
the-Wind the Ranger as he is called. Men, mount
your hot -' and ride him down!"
The To uiore took to the saddle and dash-
< lill
ed a'.v.'ii' is: pt - ut oi’ the young patriot.
()n down the road toward Trenton 5 ed the Wing-
of-tlie-Wind.
Mile after mile w.:‘.s traversed under the crisp No-
vember night.
In and out of the moonlight and darkness flitted
and flctslit-ti the young patriot, then his Tory pursu-
em.
The mini was in good <-oudition, and Delaware Dick
being ftuntlizir with cverycrook and turn, amused
himself by slackiiig the speed of his horse until the
Tories were nearly in reach, then darting away and
appearing, first in their rear, then in front, to the
confusion and race of the party. .
At length the broad expanse of the Delaware river
burst from the woods before him. Ice had formed
in a thin border along the shores, and the middle
-current ran swift and cold. But, without a moment‘s
hesitation, the fearless young Whig rode into the
river and swam his horse over to the Pennsylvania
Iihore where the Tories dare not follow.
In 's wet clothes the hardy youth galloped on
through the chilly ui ht. He had one about five
miles when the twink ing of a huu red camp-fires
burst upon his view. A smile of joy lit up his coun-
tenance, and he moved on until sutldeul alted by a
sentinel-one of the pickets of the American army.
“ Who comes there?" was demanded.
" Delaware Dick,“ answered the young patriot.
The ranger was known to nearly every man in the
American army, and without further words the sen-
tinel allowed him to advance.
Entering the picket lines, he moved slowly on
tthrough the eucttnipment, and in a few minutes he
stood, with hat in hand, in the presence of the com-
mander-in-ciiief of e American army, General
George Washington.
CHAPTER 11.
nulnwmn n1cx‘a INTERVIEW W'[‘I'E WASEI'.NG'I‘ON.
DELAWARE DICK was well known to Washington,
having gt-eviously rendered him some service asa
y; an at sight of him the general uttered an ex-
'tlZlO!l of delight.
l) -, cabin in which the general had established his
quat'tci's for the night, was lit up the rudd glow
of .1 Lure that burned in a yawning re-place. n this
Iiglilz the face and form of our hero was plainly re-
821.
He could not have been over twenty years of age;
and yet his face bore the intelligence and strength
of a more mature manhood. liidoinitalile courage,
reckless daring and resolute energies were predomi-
nant upon e v feature-in the steel-gray eyes, the
rather pro: nose and the large-, expressive
month. In form he was rather below the medium
site yet nature h.-.tl bestowed upon his lithe fi c
all the physical developments of 5. perfect Inamgur
He was dressed and equipped in a manner becom-
' position, and which gave additional strength
to s fine martial bearing, and lent an air of dash-
sallautry to his movements.
a. seat near the tire where he could dry his
wet clot ing, Delaware Dick entered into conversa-
tivm with the general and his men. He narrated his
on-entnre on the Jersey side, particinnrly that at
Ho Jist ilip- .
Sud- ,
It was in i
“ The lire-fiends
the Woodvale church, and his flight and escape
across the Delaware river.
Diek noticed that a heavy cloud rested upon the
brow of Washington and his generals. He saw that
the commander was troubled; his ve tone indi-
cated a despoudent and gloomy spirit. features
were almost severe in their expression of agitation.
" Dic . my boy," the enern said after listening to
our hcro‘s story, “the ories will now grow‘ bol er.
They will no onger hesitate to speak their Renti-
inr-nts, and encourage the llritisli army lily all as-
sistance possible. The Jerseys are complete y within
the euemy‘s control, and he only awaits the freezing .
over of the river to follow us into Pennsylvania.
'l‘ut-ul defeat seems inevitable, unless we can make It .
sudden movement and retrieve some of our lost .
ground and mvive the spirit of the army-and the 1
country. Dcspoiideitey and gloom has 5911.60 the
publie mind, and nothing but some brilliant feat can
ever l‘l“5[UI'e it to its wonted degree of strength and
o )e.'
"I admit, general " said Delaware Dick, “ that our
pi't).<Ipet‘t of suece s not fluttering: but what mercy
wuu tl we receive should we give up‘."‘
" We must not ive up, l)ick,"answered the gen-
eral, I'i’.u(rllll&‘l we must not think about giving
up, for our cause Iicim: jusl, (ind will help us in the
end. The J1‘ of a sex ere “lIlll‘l‘l.l‘UlllJlL‘S me now,
furour soldit-rs are ttlmost iiuktwl. The want of the -
tries and coiiifoias of lite may prove the iiiosl, ,
So, souu-tltiiig must ‘
ncct-s
destructive em-iuy to my army.
he (lone. l lit-lit-ve you zir4- well acqliaintetl with the
l.)elaw.Lrt- Yillli‘) ; are you nut, lvix-k'."‘
“I've been l‘[1l>(-‘t.ll1lUll‘,‘.’ the Dela“ illt’. gt-in-ral, and
know eyery crook and turn for Iifty mile.) above and
’l‘he-gt-neral‘s face bi'i,zliteiied.
,, . . V. I‘
thinluu .
were in poss ssiun of turd Cox-nwallis's plans of the
winter's eniupai;:u, as well as l.l.‘L“l.llllllJi’i' anti dis 0-
sitiou of his ariuy, ll. would be oi llll‘>llZllHhl(‘ va ue
‘ to me; but none but a daring spy could obtain this
iiiforuuititin.
“ id my coming suggest this to you, gciicral?“
asked Delaware Dick.
“ It did," an cred the general, a faint smile play-
ing about his lips.
“(it-nt-rul, I am at your scrvicc," declared the
young i-an-.:cr. "lf you request it of Hit‘, 1 will sac-
riflee my all to obtain this information for you.“
"Y u know your ability and resources, Dick, and
the daiizers that would attend the adventures of a
patriot slpy in the British camp; but for this infor-
mation, , as well as our couu ' ' '
(.‘nruwallis is some thirty mil u
Jo-rst-y side, and since he has suit but 21 dt-tachtiieiit
of his army to 'l'rent<-n, I am lllt“lill;‘(.l to think that
i he is arranging a trap for me.
“General, I will start this night for Cornwnllis‘s
head-quarters," said our hero. “I left in ' hand of
rangers some ten miles up the river, and will join
them, and approach the enem close as possible;
then disgluise myself, and enter the British hues.“
With t e ble ‘sings of Washington and his generals,
' 0011 took his de arture upmi the
dangerous mi sion of a spy, and) in less than an
hour, he was on the Jeisey side of the Dcluwui-e,
moving up the river.
Just as it was growing day, he came upon the
bivouac of :1 score of men in the deep, dense forest
bordering the strcain. His presence in the camp
was hailed with joy, for these men were Dick's own
followers. They were all young men and boys, who
had Won a name in the local history of the Delaware ,
valley. They were the sons of patriot fathers,
whose homes had been desolated by the ruthless
hand of the enemy; and, fired with the s Jirit of patri-
otism and the assion of revenge, they liad taken to
the field, in do ense of their country and their honor.
The were a band of those fearless, dashing fellows,
roc uced by the exigency of the times, of which
arion and Sumter ' ever stand forward the
most conspicuous in American history. But history
is often partial. and fails to do justice to all deserv-
' Suchlias been the case with our hero and
Delaware Dick’s men were all very plainly dressed. ;
here was but one peculiarity about them. That
was 9. pair of scarlet wings, taken from red birds,
and worn upon the side of every hat. '
these badges went they were never forgotten, and to
the Tory element, the names of Delaware Dick and
his Scarlet VVings were s onymous with terror.
Dick dismounted, fed '5 horse, and partook of a
hearty breakfast of hard biscuit and baked beans.
In the meantime, he narrated his nights adventure
at the old stone church and at Washington‘s head-
quarters.
“ And now," he continued, “ I am on my way to
Cornwa.llis‘s head-quarters."
An exclamation burst from the lips of his friends.
“I am going as a spy,” he continued, “at Wash-
ingtonls r nest.”
‘ ' never return alive, Dick,“ said Roland
. “The British camp will be full of Tories
that will know you."
“It is a risk to run, friend Roll; but there is no
sacrifice but what I am willing to make in behalf of
our count A spy must expect to meet dangers.
But, boys, want you to accompany me as far as
you dare go." '
To this all readil
acquiesced, and in a few min-
utes the Scarlet
ings were moving up the Dela.-
The sun was up, but the air was keen and frosty.
The fingers of the little band tin led with cold.
Two hours’ riding brought them a road running
511110515 parallel with their course. They conclude
o t '
Dick dismounted, and creeping
3 ing dispatches, either 0
ride? The king
think it very safe for rebe
answered our hero
Cornwiillis‘s
C<v()lll'(r(l Kjinbnll, ,1
don‘t fancy mt-nndering a one along here, for there 9
no telling what moment a dog of a Whig will bounce
upon you."
since you entered, that if I
erevcr ‘
1 Cornwallis.
to the road, but before entering It, Delaware
' to a point where he
Bead1e’s Half-Dime Library.
(Q
um mand a view of the road in both dino-
1(.:i‘<)>ns, (rigs-dived to know whether the read was clear
or not, To his surprise he saw a. orseman coming
from the direction of Trenton. He was dremed in
the uniform of the king‘s cavalry. He was 3. Bridal:
0011.
.. . u back, boys fall back ”coi-nnianded Dick
“f01‘ll1)eI‘e comes 9. British tiociper. I will drop iutd
ith him and you can follow behind,
fl?(’)’I]lp"‘.iln.f)lllav0f sight.‘ Should I need your presence,
. I will>call you. I dare sa , he is a messenger carry-
or written, from Trenton
to Cornwallis; and if so, I‘m goingto have them at
ll h ds." ,
E Delzfilvlire Dick ngimnted his horse, and rode away
th r ad at a ow pace. ,
up lleetlgopef soon came up With 111111.311’-‘L111 I
T
doubtful tone, demanded.
“Good-morning, sir stranger; for whom do you
or the rebels!” D
“Do I look hke a rebellsfi'llnengetrts‘.t:;p<!3l!$?wad<EJ1yys<;g
" Verily, the rebels and Tories, as the kin ‘a friends
are called, dress alike, and are known 0 y by the
com may they keep.
..
“ ' hen, friend trooper, I shall be pleased to ride 30
head-quaiters with you
"How know you that I go there?
"I lIIt'l‘<‘ly supposed so."
“Well, you are ri lit; and as sure as my name is
am lad of your company.
,3
Delaware Dick smiled.
The two rode on side and side through the c"lspy
llll -l'll
Delaware Dick convc-rsed freely, but guardedly;
nnd he F00!) discovered that his companion was no
-a
He (1I)Fl‘<i8.<.'llL‘Ll the trooper carefully, but, de
spite his ski] ful que:-tiouiug, he failed to circumvent
I .
of one thingvlhnt the man was a. bearer of dis-
patclies to (‘I-rnwallis.
ic wily red-coat. Dick, however, became satisfi
A rfillluli‘ of hours, ride brought them in si ht of
the fine rt-.xith-nee of one Henry Bland, an 01 T0
of the (le(‘[>t‘Sl dye. This Delaware Dick knew. a
had often seen the old man, yet was unknown to
" o dcr,“ said Dick, pointing ahead, “lives as
warm old I'flf.'flil.<L as ever lived."
“little-1-tl‘.r” i‘L'jOlll(‘(l the dragoon: “suppose, then,
warm, and get sonu-thing to eat; for,
, I am as hungry as a bear and cold
as an l('t’l)L‘l‘g.
Dick consented, and the soon drew up before the
house. The place denote wealth and culture.
In answer to their summons, old Henry Bland ap-
geared at the door. The uniform of the British sol-
ier was sutlicient to admit. him, and the company
he kept. to the old man‘s friends] ‘ .
‘ ‘fBc you friend or foe, old man, we want some-
muug to out, ‘said Dick, “for we are cold and hun-
“And thirsty," added the troo er, iacetlously.
Bland invited them in. Break ast was over with,
but the table was soon spread with a sumptuous
meal, alnid the men invited to the board. A bottle 0
rare 0
drank freely, or, at least Dick appeared to. The
troo er drank often, and he became me under
the appy influence of the liquor. He drain to ev-
ery pooentate of England, from the time of the Con-
quest down to George the Third. He finall became
so confused in his ideas, that he drank to t e health
of friend and foe alike. Dick, too, became over-
powered by his frequent draugh ts, and dually rolled
to the floor in a sort of a drunken stupor.
“Too bad, thief‘ exclaimed the trooper, “ t‘see a
' ov‘ncr, I a wa s
has t‘ excess, I do
‘young man in prime manhood (hie) let likker get ‘e
est 0
f ’m (hie) that way. sa
knowqwheu to quit due) ‘dulgi
(hic).'
Hen Bland made no reply forthetrooper roll rd
from his chair dead drunk. ommg in, as they did,
out of the cold to the warm room, and imbibing so
freely of the brandy, they were overcome by ie po-
tentintiuence of the drink ere they were aware of
the fact. ,
Bland swore like a pirate ‘at the men for mnknnii
beasts of theniselvcs: but his words would have
as much effect upon stone statues. With the assist-
ance of a male servant he removed the men into I
wood-house. and left them to sober off. But scarcely
had they left the building, ere Delaware Dick. opened
his eyes and gazed about him‘. and, finding the
trooper snoring away in a drunken sleep, he rose to
a sittin posture. ,
A s e of grim triumph was upon his face. .
When assured that the trooper was not playing
’possum," Dick arose, and began searching his pock-
ets and clothes for pa ers. To his 10)’, he found a
dispatch from Colone Bahl, at Trenton, to Lord
It read:
“ Mr Loan: Washington is near Trenton with a su-
perior force. Would it not be advisable to send re-
inforcements here at once for fear of an attack?
“ Your obedient servant,
“Cone:-12:1. Ram.
“ LORD Con.NwALLrs.“
Dick’s face became flushed with delight. as ho
lanced over this dispatch. He rose to his feet, so-
er as a. judge. In act, he had not been drunk at
all. He had only embraced that op ortunity to cir-
cumvent the trooper, after he ha found that the
love of liquor was a. weakness of the royal soldier.
“This very paper will be my pass 3011. to Carnwul.
lis‘s head-quartets. I will pass myse as a Tory owl,
brandy was placed before them. Bot "
