all was quiet there, and that none of the soldiers were as yet
evincing any disposition to visit the clump of timber.

At least an hour passed, and then Dick saw a couple of soldiers leave
the encampment and come toward the timber. As soon as he was certain
they were coming to loll in the shade of the trees, Dick climbed the
tree. From there he could hear the conversation of the redcoats, and
there was not much chance that they would discover his presence, the
foliage in the tree as has been noted, being quite thick.

The two soldiers entered the edge of the timber and seated themselves
under a tree close to the one Dick was in, and sat there, smoking and
talking, their conversation being mainly personal, as had been the
case with the two that had been there in the forenoon. But, after a
while they got to talking about the army, and finally touched upon the
very matter that Dick wish to hear discussed. In a general way they
commented upon the bustle, stir and preparation that indicated some
important move.

"I'm glad of it," remarked one. "I am getting tired of being cooped up
in camp. I'd rather do some marching and fighting."

"So would I. Well, I think it likely that we will have fighting to do
in a few days, if the colonel knew what he was talking about, and I
suppose he did."

"He had the news from General Percy?"

"I suppose so. The general was over to the main encampment yesterday,
you know, and likely they held a council of war and decided to make an