The Dare Boys with General Greene (Illustrated)

Three youths of perhaps twenty years of age were making their way through the forest. The locality was about fifty miles from Ninety-Six, in South Carolina, and Ninety-Six was so called because it was approximately that number of miles from Fort Price George. This was the nearest fort of any size.

The three youths were no others than Dick and Tom Dare, and their comrade, Ben Foster, who had been members of the patriot army of America for a considerable period--for it was now May of the year 1781.

These youths, who had done brave fighting, were also famous for having done much good work as scouts, messengers and spies, and they were now on a scouting and spying expedition, ordered by General Greene, their company having been sent down from Virginia into South Carolina to help General Greene. The objective point was Ninety-Six, but there had been lots of fighting to do with parties of British and Tories, and the advance southward had been slow. Hearing that the Cherokee Indians were on the warpath, having been incited thereto by the British, and that they were committing a good many depredations and killing patriot settlers, were burning and pillaging, General Greene had sent the youths to learn the actual facts, for, if the Indians were committing as great a havoc as had been stated, he would push on down into that region as quickly as he could move his forces, and try to put a stop to their depredations.

So here the youths were, and they were moving slowly and cautiously; indeed a settler that they had met a few miles back had told them that the Cherokees were in this vicinity, and had advised the youths to be very careful or they would be interfered with.

They came to the top of a knoll, and pausing, looked ahead with keen and searching gaze. At first they saw nothing noteworthy, but presently, Dick uttered a low exclamation indicating interest and indicating with his extended arm, said: “I believe I saw an Indian over there!”

“Where?” asked Tom, eagerly.

Dick pointed in the direction in which he thought he had seen the Indian, and the three youths all gazed eagerly. For a few moments they did not make out any sign of a living being, but suddenly out from behind a tree about a hundred yards distant appeared a bronzed face. The head was covered with thick, straight hair, and topped, it was seen, with eagle feathers.

“There he is!” exclaimed Tom, excitedly, but in a low voice.

“Sh,” cautioned Dick. They stood perfectly still, and hoped that because of the fact that they were pretty well hidden behind the underbrush upon the top of the knoll, they would not be observed. They did not know how keen-eyed a Cherokee Indian was, however, for suddenly a loud, thrilling war-whoop escaped the lips of the redskin, and then from several different directions the whoop was answered.

“He’s calling his companions!” exclaimed Ben. “We are in danger of capture, Dick!”

“Yes, I guess we had better get away from here.” In a moment he added, “Follow me, boys.”

Then Dick turned and started swiftly down the slope, Tom and Ben keeping close at his heels, and from behind them came the wild, thrilling war-whoops of the redskins.

“They’re surely after us!” exclaimed Tom.

“Yes. We’ll have to make good time if we get away from them,” said Dick. “They may be spread out, I should judge so from their calls, and it may take them some time to get together.”

The patriot youths ran rapidly and glancing back over his shoulder, Dick saw that at least one of the redskins was coming after them as fast as he could travel. The brave patriot youth realized that they were going to have a much harder time shaking these Indians off their trail than they usually had with the redcoats. The British soldiers were rather clumsy and slow, but these redskins were lithe as panthers, and as speedy, almost, and could continue running for hours.

“Do your best, boys,” he told his companions. “For I believe that they are gaining on us.”

“Run as fast as you can, Dick,” panted Tom; “we’ll keep up with you.”

“We’ll try, at any rate,” said Ben.

On they dashed, and after them, whooping in a manner that would have filled the hearts of less brave youths with terror, came the Indians. Doubtless the red fiends thought they would easily surround the fugitives, and make escape impossible. Presently Dick and his party came to a deep gulch or ravine. The wall on their side was nearly perpendicular, and they could not descend it. Here was a predicament indeed. They paused, irresolute, and looked to the right and to the left,