"Are you really going to join the Continental army, Dick, you and
Tom!"

"Yes, Ben," was the reply.

"Well, say, I'm going to go with you," declared Ben.

"Oh, Ben!" exclaimed Elsie. "What will father say?"

"Father's all right, sis. He is a king's man, everybody knows that, but
he is reasonable, and lets other people think as they like. He knows
that I'm a patriot, and he won't object."

Dick's face lighted up, for he liked Ben very much, and the idea of
having him along was a pleasing one.

"That would be fine, Ben," he said. "But I wouldn't want you to do
anything contrary to the wishes of your father."

"Oh, that will be all right," Ben assured him. "He won't care, I am
sure."

"Goodness, what will Mary do if you go away?" said Elsie. Ben seemed
to think as much of Mary Dare as Dick did of Elsie, and he flushed
slightly at his sister's words, and then retorted:

"I guess she'll do about the same thing that you will when Dick
goes-go up into the attic and have a good cry."