besides, by hurrying he might run right into a party of redcoats, and
this would be bad, as it would likely result in his capture.

It were better to make haste slowly. Dick realized this, and he
decided to take his time and exercise his every care. Caution was a
necessary adjunct of a spy.

Dick was eager to succeed. Several men had failed, and had doubtless
been captured, and if he could accomplish his object it would be a big
feather in his cap. He was intensely patriotic, anyway, and this made
him extremely desirous of succeeding in securing the information
regarding the plans of the British.

He reached the wooded heights about halfway between the village of
Bedford and Flatbush after a walk of an hour or so, and having climbed
the hill, he paused on the summit and listened intently for some time.
It was his thought that perhaps a party of British might be located
here, and he did not want to run into their midst, if such were the
case.

He heard sounds, but only such as are usually to be heard in the woods
at night-the chirping of crickets, the buzzing of the wings of
insects, and the call of nightbirds. He heard nothing that would
indicate the presence of human beings.

"I guess there are no redcoats in these woods," he murmured after
listening a while. "The British haven't advanced this far yet, likely.
I'll go ahead, but will be exceedingly careful."

He moved forward slowly, and cautiously made his way down the south