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."

Dick rose to his feet, slowly and quietly. His actions were such as
would cause the redcoat to think he did not contemplate offering any
resistance, and this was done purposely, so as to throw the redcoat
off his guard. And it worked that way, for the soldier, with a
careless wave of the hand, said: