PS 
 
 - r ; v 
 
 
 S7 
 
 1819
 
 LIBRARY 

 
 THE SPY. 
 
 A TALE 
 
 OF THE NEUTRAL GROUND. 
 
 J. F. COOPER, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE 
 
 PILOT, RED ROVER, LAST OF THE MOHICANS, &c. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND CO., SOIIO SQUARE. 
 1849.
 
 THE SPY; 
 
 A TALE OF 
 
 THE NEUTRAL GROUND. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 And though amidst the calm of thought entire, 
 Some high and haughty features might betray 
 A soul impetuous once 'twas earthly fire, 
 That fled composure's intellectual ray ; 
 As Etna's fires grow dim before the rising day. 
 
 Gertrude of Wyoming. 
 
 IT was near the close of the year 1780, that a solitary traveller 
 was seen pursuing his way through one of the numerous little 
 valleys of West Chester. The easterly wind, with its chilling 
 dampness, and increasing violence, gave unerring notice of the 
 approach of a storm, which, as usual, might be expected to con 
 tinue for several days : and the experienced eye of the traveller 
 was turned, in vain, through the darkness of the evening, in 
 quest of some convenient shelter, in which, for the term of his 
 confinement by the rain, that already began to mix with the 
 atmosphere in a thick mist, he might obtain such accommodations 
 as his age and purposes required. Nothing, however, offered, 
 but the small and inconvenient tenements of the lower order of 
 the inhabitants, with whom, in that immediate neighbourhood, 
 he did not think it either safe or politic to trust himself. 
 
 The county of West Chester, after the British had obtained 
 possession of the island of New York, became common ground, 
 in which both parties continued to act for the remainder of the 
 war of the Revolution. A large proportion of its inhabitants, 
 either restrained by their attachments, or influenced by their 
 fears, affected a neutrality they did not feel. The lower towns 
 were, of course, more particularly under the dominion of the 
 crown, while the upper, finding a security from the vicinity of the 
 continental troops, were bold in asserting their revolutionary 
 opinions, and their right to govern themselves. Great numbers, 
 however, wore masks, which even to this day have not been 
 thrown aside ; and many an individual has gone down to the 
 tomb, stigmatized as a foe to the rights of his countrymen, while, 
 
 B 2
 
 <> THE SPY. 
 
 in secret, he has been the useful agent of the leaders of the re 
 volution ; and, on the other hand, could the hidden repositories 
 of divers flaming patriots have been opened to the light of day, 
 royal protections would have been discovered concealed under 
 piles of British gold. 
 
 At the sound of the tread of the noble horse ridden by the 
 traveller, the mistress of the farm-house he was passing at the 
 time might be seen cautiously opening the door of the building 
 to examine the stranger ; and perhaps, with an averted face, 
 communicating the result of her observations to her husband, 
 who, in the rear of the building, was prepared to seek, if neces 
 sary, his ordinary place of concealment in the adjacent woods. 
 The valley was situated about mid-way in the length of the 
 county, and was sufficiently near to either army to make the 
 restitution of stolen goods no uncommon occurrence in that 
 vicinity. It is -true, the same articles were not always regained ; 
 but a summary ' substitute was generally resorted to, in the 
 absence of legal justice, which restored to the loser the amount 
 of his loss, with no inconsiderable addition for the temporary 
 use of his property. 
 
 The passage of a stranger, with an appearance of somewhat 
 doubtful character, and mounted on an animal which, although 
 unfurnished with any of the ordinary trappings of war, partook 
 largely of the bold and upright carriage that distinguished his 
 rider, gave rise to many surmises among the gazing inmates of 
 the different habitations ; and in some instances, where conscience 
 was more than ordinarily awake, to no little alarm. 
 
 Tired with the exercise of a day of unusual fatigue, and anxious 
 to obtain a speedy shelter from the increasing violence of the 
 storm, that now began to change its character to large drops of 
 driving rain, the traveller determined, as a matter of necessity, 
 to make an application for admission to the next dwelling that 
 offered. An opportunity was not long wanting; and, riding 
 through a pair of neglected bars, he knocked loudly at the outer 
 door of a building, of a very humble exterior, without quitting 
 his saddle. A female of middle age, with an outward bearing 
 but little more prepossessing than that of her dwelling, appeared 
 to answer to his summons. The startled woman half closed her 
 door again in affright, as she saw, by the glare of a large wood 
 fire, a mounted man so unexpectedly near its threshold ; and an 
 expression of terror mingled with her natural curiosity, as she 
 required his pleasure. 
 
 Although the door was too nearly closed to admit of a minute 
 scrutiny of the accommodations within, enough had been seen 
 to cause the horseman to endeavour, once more, to penetrate the 
 gloom, with longing eyes, in search of a more promising roof,
 
 before, witb an ill- concealed reluctance, he stated his necessities 
 and wishes. His request was listened to with evident unwilling 
 ness, and while yet unfinished, was interrupted, as she replied, 
 in a sharp key, with a tone of reviving confidence, and an air of 
 pert volubility 
 
 " I can't say I like to give lodgings to a stranger in these 
 ticklish times ; I'm nothing but a forlorn lone body ; or, what's 
 the same thing, there's nobody but the old gentleman at home ; 
 but a half mile further up the road is a house where you can 
 get entertainment, and that all for nothing. I am sure 'twill 
 be much couvenienter to them, and more agreeable to me ; 
 because, as I said before, Harvey is away I wish he'd take 
 advice, and leave oif wandering; he's well to do in the world by 
 this time ; and he ought to leave off his unsteady courses, and 
 settle in life. But Harvey Birch will have his own way, and die 
 a vagabond after all." 
 
 The horseman did not wait to hear more than the advice to 
 pursue his course up the road ; but had slowly turned his horse 
 towards the bar, and was gathering the folds of an ample cloak 
 around him, preparatory to again facing the storm, when some 
 thing in the speech of the female suddenly arrested the move 
 ment. 
 
 " Is this, then, the dwelling of Harvey Birch ?" he inquired, 
 in an apparently involuntary manner, then checking himself, as 
 he was about to utter more. 
 
 " Why, one can hardly say it is his dwelling," replied the 
 other, drawing a breath somewhat between a sigh and a groan j 
 " he is never in it, or so seldom, that I hardly remember his face, 
 when he does think it worth his while to show it to his poor old 
 
 father and me. But it matters little to me, I'm sure, if he 
 
 ever comes back again, or not ; turn in the first gate on your 
 left ; no, I care but little, for rny part, whether Harvey ever 
 shows his face again or not no, not I j" and she closed the 
 door abruptly on the horseman, who gladly extended his ride a 
 half mile further, to obtain lodgings which promised both more 
 comfort and greater security. 
 
 Sufficient light yet remained to enable the traveller to distin 
 guish the improvements which had been made in the cultivation, 
 and general appearance, of the grounds around the building to 
 which he was now approaching. The house was of stone, long, 
 low, and with a small wing at either extremity. A piazza, ex 
 tending along the front, with neatly turned pillars, together 
 with the good order and preservation of its fences and out 
 buildings, gave it an air altogether superior to the common farm 
 houses of the country. After leading his horse behind an angle 
 of the wall, where he was in some degree protected from the 
 
 B 3
 
 THE SPY. 
 
 wind and rain, the traveller threw his vallise over his arm, and 
 knocked loudly at the entrance of the building for admission. 
 An aged black soon appeared ; and without seeming to think it 
 necessary, under the circumstances, to consult his superiors 
 first taking one prying look at the applicant, by the light of the 
 candle in nis hand he acceded to the request for accommoda 
 tions. The traveller was shown into an extremely neat parlour, 
 where a fire had been lighted to cheer the dulness of an easterly 
 storm, and an October evening. After giving the vallise into 
 the keeping of his civil attendant, and politely repeating his 
 request to the old gentleman, who arose to receive him, and 
 paying his compliments to three ladies who were seated at their 
 iieedles, the stranger commenced laying aside some of the outer 
 garments which he had worn in his ride. 
 
 On taking an extra handkerchief from his neck, and removing 
 a clonk of blue cloth, with a surtout of the same material, he 
 exhibited to the scrutiny of the party within, a tall and extremely 
 graceful person, of apparently fifty years of age ; his counte 
 nance evinced a settled composure and dignity ; his nose was 
 straight, and approaching to Grecian ; his eye, of a gray colour, 
 was quiet, thoughtful, and rather melancholy ; the mouth and 
 lower part of his face expressive oftlecision and much character. 
 His dress, being suited to the road, was simple and plain, but 
 such as was worn by the higher class of his countrymen ; he 
 wore his own hair, dressed in a manner that gave a military 
 air to his appearance, and which was rather heightened by his 
 t reet and conspicuously graceful carriage. His whole appearance 
 was so impressive and decidedly that of a gentleman, that as he 
 finished laying aside the garments, the ladies arose from their 
 seats, and, together with the master of the house, received anew, 
 and returned the complimentary greetings which were again offered. 
 
 The host was by several years the senior of the traveller, and 
 by his manner, dress, and every thing around him, shewed he had 
 seen much of life and the best society. The ladies were, a 
 maiden of forty, and two younger ones, who did not seem to have 
 reached half those years. The bloom of the elder of these ladies 
 had vanished, but her eyes, and fine hair, gave an extremely 
 agreeable expression to her countenance ; and there was a soft 
 ness and affability in her deportment, that added a charm many 
 more juvenile faces do not possess. The sisters, for such the 
 resemblance between the youriger maidens denoted them to be, 
 were in all the pride of youth, and the roses, so eminently the 
 property of the West Chester fair, glowed with their richest colour 
 on their cheeks, and lighted their deep blue eyes with that lustre 
 which gives so much pleasure to the beholder, and indicates so 
 much iunoceiice and happiness in themselves. There was much
 
 THE SPY. 9 
 
 of that feminine delicacy in the appearance of the three, which, 
 in a great degree, distinguishes the sex in this country ; and, 
 like the gentleman, their demeanour proved them to be women 
 of the higher order of life. 
 
 After handing a glass of excellent Madeira to his guest, Mr. 
 Wharton resumed his seat by the fire, with another in his own 
 hand. For a moment he paused, as if debating with his polite 
 ness, but at length threw an inquiring glance on the stranger, 
 as he inquired, with a formal bow 
 
 " To whose health am I to have the honour of drinking 1" 
 
 The traveller had also seated himself, and sat unconsciously 
 gazing on the fire, while Mr. Wharton spoke ; turning his eves 
 slowlv on his host with a look of close observation, he replied, 
 bowing in his turn, while a faint tinge gathered on his pale fea 
 tures 
 
 " Mr. Harper." 
 
 " Mr. Harper," resumed the other, with the formal precision 
 of the day, " I have the honour to drink your health, and hope 
 you will sustain no injury from the rain to which you have been 
 exposed." 
 
 Mr. Harper bowed in silence to the compliment, and soon re 
 sumed the meditations from which he appeared to have been 
 interrupted. 
 
 The young ladies had again taken their seats beside the work- 
 stand, while their aunt, Miss Jeanette Peyton, withdrew, to super 
 intend the preparations necessary to appease the hunger of their 
 unexpected visiter. A short silence prevailed, during which Mr. 
 Harper was apparently enjoying the change in his situation, when 
 Mr. Wharton again broke it, by inquiring, in the same polite, 
 but formal manner, whether smoke was disagreeable to his com 
 panion ; to which he received as polite a negative, and imme 
 diately resumed the pipe he had laid aside at the entrance of the 
 traveller. 
 
 There was an evident desire on the part of the host to enter 
 into conversation, but either from an apprehension of treading 
 on dangerous ground, or an unwillingness to intrude upon the 
 rather studied taciturnity of his guest, he several times hesitated 
 before he could venture to make any further remark. At length, 
 a movement from Mr. Harper, as he raised his eyes to the party 
 in the room, encouraged him to proceed. 
 
 " I find it very difficult," said Mr. Wharton, cautiously avoid 
 ing, at first, such subjects as he wished to introduce, " to procure 
 that quality of tobacco for my evenings' amusement, to which I 
 have been accustomed." 
 
 " I should think the shops in New York might furnish the best 
 i'.i the country," rejoined the other, with his usual gravity.
 
 10 THE SPY. 
 
 " Why yes," returned the host, in rather a hesitating manner, 
 lifting his eyes to the face of Harper, aud lowering them quickly 
 under his steady look, " there must be plenty in town, but the 
 war lias made many communications with the city, however inno 
 cent in themselves, too dangerous to be risked for so trifling an 
 article as tobacco." 
 
 The box from which Mr. Wharton had just taken a supply for 
 his pipe, was lying open, within a few inches of the elbow of 
 Harper, who took a small quantity of the article, and applied it 
 to his tongue, in a manner perfectly natural, but one that filled 
 his companion with instant alarm. Without, however, observing 
 that the quality was of the most approved kind, the traveller re 
 lieved his host by relapsing again into his meditations. Mr. 
 Wharton now felt unwilling to lose the advantage be had gained, 
 and, making an effort of more than usual vigour, he continued 
 
 " I wish from the bottom of my heart, this unnatural struggle 
 was over, that we might again meet our friends and relatives in 
 peace and love." 
 
 " It is much to be desired," said Harper, emphatically, again 
 raising his eyes to the countenance of his host. 
 
 " I hear of no movements of consequence since the arrival of 
 our new allies," said Mr. Wharton, shaking the ashes from his 
 pipe, and turning his back to the other, under the pretence of 
 receiving a coal from his youngest daughter. 
 
 " None have reached the public yet, I believe," replied the 
 traveller, crossing his leg with steady composure. 
 
 " Is it thought any important steps are about to be taken ?" 
 continued Mr. Wharton, still occupied with his daughter, yet un 
 consciously suspending his employment, in expectation of a reply. 
 
 " Is it intimated any are in agitation ?" inquired the other, ia 
 a slight degree adopting the affected indifference of Mr. \V liar- 
 ton's manner. 
 
 " Oh ! nothing in particular," said the host, hastily " but it 
 is natural to expect something, you know, sir, from so powerful 
 a force as the one under Rochambeau." 
 
 Harper made an assenting inclination with his head but no 
 other reply, to this remark ; while Mr. Wharton resumed the 
 subject, by saying 
 
 " They appear more active in the south ; Gates and Cornwallis 
 seem willing to bring the war to an issue there." 
 
 The brow of Harper contracted, and a deeper shade of melan 
 choly crossed his features ; his eye kindled with a transient beam 
 of fire, that spoke a latent source of deep feeling. The admiring 
 gaze of the younger of the sisters had barely time to read its ex 
 pression, before it passed away, leaving in its room the acquired 
 composure which marked the countenance of the stranger, and
 
 THE S!>Y. 11 
 
 that impressive dignity which so conspicuously denotes the empire 
 of reason. 
 
 The elder sister made one or two movements in her chair, be 
 fore she ventured to say, in a tone which partook in no small 
 measure of triumph 
 
 " General Gates has heen less fortunate with the Earl, than 
 with General Burgoyne." 
 
 " But General Gates is an Englishman, Sarah," cried the 
 younger lady, with quickness ; and then colouring to the eyes at 
 her own boldness, she employed herself in tumbling over the 
 contents of her work-basket, silently hoping her remark would 
 be unnoticed. 
 
 The traveller had turned his face from one sister to the other, 
 as they had spoken in succession, and an almost imperceptible 
 movement of the muscles of his mouth betrayed a new emotion, 
 as he enquired of the younger, with much courtesey of manner 
 
 " May I venture to ask, what inference you draw from that fact?" 
 
 Frances blushed yet deeper at this direct appeal to her opi 
 nions, upon a subject on which she had incautiously spoken in 
 the presence of a stranger ; but finding an answer necessary, after 
 some little hesitation, and with a good deal of stammering in 
 her manner, she replied 
 
 " Only only sir my sister and myself sometimes differ in 
 our opinions of the prowess of the British." A smile of much 
 meaning playing on a face of infantile innocency of expression, 
 as she concluded, in a voice that shared in the covert humour of 
 the speaker. 
 
 " On what particular points of prowess do you differ ?" con 
 tinued Harper, meeting her look of animation with an open 
 smile of almost paternal softness. 
 
 " Why, Sarah thinks the British are never beaten ; but I do 
 not put so much faith in their invincibility." 
 
 The traveller listened to her with that pleased indulgence, with 
 which virtuous age loves to contemplate the ardour of youthful 
 innocence ; but making no reply, he turned to the fire, and con 
 tinued for some time gazing on its embers in silence. 
 
 Mr. Wharton had in vain endeavoured to pierce the disguise of 
 his guest's political feelings ; but, while there was nothing for 
 bidding in his countenance, there was nothing communicative it 
 was strikingly reserved ; and the master of the house arose, in 
 profound ignorance of what, in those days, was the most material 
 point in the character of his guest, to lead the way into another 
 room to the supper table. Mr. Harper offered his hand to Sarah 
 Wharton, and they entered the room together ; while Frances 
 followed, greatly at a loss to know, whether she had not wounded 
 the feelings of her father's inmate.
 
 ]2 THE SPY. 
 
 The storm began to rage with great violence without ; and the 
 dashing rain on the sides of the building, awakened that silent 
 sense of enjoyment, which is excited by such sounds in a room 
 of quiet comfort and warmth, when a loud summons at the outer 
 door again called the faithful black to the portal. In a minute 
 the servant returned, and informed his master that another tra 
 veller, overtaken by the storm, desired to be admitted to the house 
 for a shelter through the night. 
 
 At the first sounds of the impatient summons of this new ap 
 plicant, Mr. Wharton had risen from his seat in evident uneasi 
 ness ; and with eyes glancing with alternate quickness from his 
 guest to the door of the room, seemed to be expecting something 
 to proceed from this second interruption, which was connected 
 with the stranger who had occasioned the first. He scarcely had 
 time to bid the black, with a faint voice, to show this second 
 comer in, before the door was thrown hastily open, and the 
 stranger himself entered the apartment. He paused a moment 
 as the person of Harper met his view, and then, in a more formal 
 manner, repeated the request he had before made through the 
 servant. Mr. Wharton and his family disliked the appearance of 
 this new visitor excessively ; but the inclemency of the weather, 
 and the uncertainty of the consequences, if he were refused the 
 desired lodgings, compelled the old gentleman to give a reluctant 
 acquiescence. 
 
 Some of the removed dishes were replaced by the orders of 
 Miss Peyton, and the weather-beaten intruder was invited to par 
 take of the remains of the repast from which the party had just 
 risen. Throwing aside a rough great coat, he very composedly 
 took the offered chair, and gravely proceeded to allav the cravings 
 of an appetite, which appeared by no means delicate. But at 
 every mouthful he would turn an unquiet eye on Harper, who 
 studied his appearance with a closeness of investigation, that was 
 very embarrassing to its subject. At length, pouring out a glass 
 of wine, the new comer nodded significantly to his examiner, 
 previously to swallowing the liquor, and said, with something of 
 bitterness in his manner 
 
 " I drink to our better acquaintance, sir ; I believe this is the 
 first time we have met." The quality of the wine seemed greatly 
 to his fancy, for, on replacing the glass upon the table, he gave 
 his lips a smack, that resounded through the room ; and, taking 
 up the bottle, held it between himself and the light for a moment, 
 in silent contemplation of its clear and brilliant colour. 
 
 " I think we have never met before, sir," replied Harper, with 
 a slight smile on his features, as he observed the movements of 
 the other ; but appearing satisfied with his scutiny, he turned to 
 Surah Wharton, who sat next him, and remarked, with much 
 suavity
 
 THE SPY. 13 
 
 " You. doubtless, find your present abode solitary, after being 
 accustomed to the gaieties of the city." 
 
 " Oh ; excessively so/' said Sarah, hastily ; I do wish with my 
 father, that this cruel war was at an end, that we might return 
 to our friends once more." 
 
 " And you, Miss Frances, do you long as ardently for peace as 
 your sister ?" 
 
 " On many accounts I certainly do," returned the maid, ven 
 turing to steal a timid glance at her interrogator ; and, meeting 
 the same benevolent expression of feeling as before, she continued, 
 as her own face lighted into one of its animated and lovely smiles 
 of intelligence, " but not at the expense of the rights of my 
 countrymen." 
 
 " Rights," repeated her sister, impatiently ; " whose rights can 
 be stronger than those of a sovereign ; and what duty is clearer, 
 than to obey those who have a natural right to command?" 
 
 " None, certainly," said Frances, laughing with great pleasant 
 ry ; and, taking the hand of her sister affectionately within both 
 of her own, she added, with a smile directed towards Harper 
 
 " I gave you to understand, that my sister and myself differed 
 in our political opinions ; but we have an impartial umpire in my 
 father, who loves his own countrymen, and loves the British, so 
 sides with neither." 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Wharton, in a little alarm, eyeing first one 
 guest and then the other ; " I have near friends in both armies, and 
 I dread a victory by either, as a source of misfortune to myself." 
 
 " I take it, you have little reason to apprehend much from the 
 Yankees in that way," interrupted the guest at table, as he coolly 
 helped himself to another glass, from the bottle. 
 
 "His majesty may have more experienced troops than the con 
 tinentals," answered the host, fearfully, "but the Americans have 
 met with distinguished success." 
 
 Harper disregarded the observations of both ; and, rising, de 
 sired to be shown to his place of rest. A small boy was directed 
 to guide him to his room ; and wishing a courteous good-night to 
 the whole party, the traveller withdrew. The knife and fork fell 
 from the hands of the unwelcome intruder, as the door closed on 
 the retiring figure of Harper ; he .arose slowly from his seat ; 
 listening attentively, he approached the door of the room opened 
 it seemed to attend to the retreating footsteps of the other and. 
 amidst the panic and astonishment of his companions, closed it 
 again. In an instant, the red wig, which concealed his black locks, 
 the large patch, which hid half his face from observation, the stoop, 
 that had made him appear fifty years of age, disappeared. 
 
 "My father! my dear father!" cried the now handsome 
 young man ; " and you, my dearest sisters and aunt have I at 
 last met you again ?"
 
 14 THE SPY. 
 
 " Heaven bless you, my Henry, my son," exclaimed the asto 
 nished, but delighted parent ; while both his sisters sunk on his 
 shoulders, dissolved in tears. 
 
 The faithful old black, who had been reared from infancy in the 
 house of his present master, and who, as if in mockery of his de 
 graded state, had been complimented with the name of Caesar, 
 was the only other witness of this unexpected discovery of the son 
 of Mr. Wharton. After receiving the extended hand of his young 
 master, and imprinting on it a kiss, and leaving on it a tear, Caesar 
 withdrew. The boy did not re-enter the room ; and the black 
 himself, after some time, returned, as the young British captain 
 exclaimed 
 
 " But who is this Mr. Harper ? is he likely to betray me ?" 
 
 " No no no Massa Harry," cried the African, shaking his 
 head confidently ; " I been to see Massa Harper on he knees 
 pray to God no gemman who pray to God tell of good son, come 
 to see old fader Skinner do that no Christian." 
 
 This poor opinion of the Skinners was not confined to Mr. 
 Caesar Thompson, as he called himself but Caesar Wharton, as 
 he was styled by the little world to which he was known. The 
 convenience, and perhaps the necessities, of the leaders of the 
 American arms, in the neighbourhood of New York, had induced 
 them to employ certain subordinate agents, of extremely irregular 
 habits, in executing their lesser plans of annoying the enemy. It 
 was not a moment for fastidious inquiries into abuses of any de 
 scription ; and oppression and injustice were the natural conse 
 quences of the possession of a military power that was uncurbed 
 by the restraints of civil authority. In time, a distinct order of 
 the community was formed, whose sole occupation appears to 
 have been relieving their fellow-citizens from any little excess of 
 temporal prosperity they might be thought to enjoy, under the 
 pretence of patriotism, and the love of liberty. 
 
 Occasionally, the aid of military authority was not wanting, in 
 enforcing these arbitrary distributions of worldly goods ; and a 
 petty holder of a commission in the state militia, was to be seen 
 giving the sanction of something like legality to acts of the most 
 unlicensed robber}', and, not unfrequently, of bloodshed. 
 
 On the part of the British, the stimulus of loyalty was by no 
 means suffered to sleep, where so fruitful a field offered, on which 
 it might be expended. But their freebooters were enrolled, and 
 their efforts more systematized. Long experience had taught 
 their leaders the efficacy of concentrated force ; and, unless tra 
 dition does great injustice to their exploits, the result did little 
 credit to their foresight. The corps ive presume from their 
 known affection to that useful animal had received the significant 
 appellation of " Cow-boys."
 
 THE SPY. 15 
 
 Caesar was, however, far too loyal to associate men who held 
 the commission of George III., with the irregular warriors, whose 
 excesses he had so often witnessed, and from whose rapacity, 
 neither his poverty nor his bondage had suffered even him to es 
 cape uninjured. The Cow-Boys, therefore, did not receive their 
 proper portion of the severity of the black's remark, when he said, 
 no Christian, nothing but a " Skinner," could betray a pious child, 
 while honouring his father with a visit, full of peril, and the dan 
 ger of captivity. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The rose of England bloomed on Gertrude's cheek 
 
 What though these shades had seen her birth, her sire 
 
 A Briton's independence taught to seek 
 
 Far Western worlds ; and there his household fire 
 
 The light of social love did long inspire, 
 
 And many a halcyon day he liv'd to see 
 
 Unbroken, but by one misfortune dire, 
 
 When fate had reft his mutual heart but she 
 
 Was gone and Gertrude climb'd a widow'd father's knee. 
 
 Gertrude of Wyoming. 
 
 THE father of Mr. Wharton was a native of England, and of a 
 family whose parliamentary interest had enabled them to provide 
 for a younger son in the colony of New York. The young man, 
 like hundreds of others in his situation, had settled permanently 
 in the country. He married, and the sole issue of his connexion 
 had been sent, early in life, to receive the benefits of the English 
 schools. After taking his degrees at one of the universities of the 
 mother country, the youth had been suffered to acquire a know 
 ledge of life, with the advantages of European society. But the 
 death of his father recalled him, after passing two years in this 
 manner, to the possession of an honourable name, and a very 
 ample estate. 
 
 It was much the fashion of that day, to place the youth of cer 
 tain families in the army or navy of England, as the regular step 
 ping-stones to preferment. Most of the higher offices in the 
 colonies were filled by men who had made arms their profession ; 
 and it was no uncommon sight, to see a veteran warrior laying 
 aside the sword, to assume the ermine on the benches of the 
 highest judicial authority. 
 
 In conformity with this system, the senior Mr. Wharton had 
 intended his son for a soldier, but a natural imbecility of character 
 in his child interfered with his wishes. 
 
 A twelvemonth had been spent by the young man, in weighing 
 the advantages possessed by the different classes of troops, among 
 which he was to serve, when the death of his father occurred. 
 The ease of his situation, and the attentions lavished upon a youth 
 in the actual enjoyment of one of the largest estates in the colo-
 
 16 THE SPY. 
 
 nies, interfered greatly with his ambitious projects. Love decided 
 the matter; and Mr. Wharton, in becoming a husband, cease 1 
 to think of becoming a soldier. For many years he continued 
 happy in his family, and respected by his countrymen, as a man 
 of integrity and consequence, when all his enjoyments vanished, 
 as it wore, at a blow. His only son, the youth introduced in the 
 preceding chapter, had entered the army, and had arrived in his 
 native country, but a short time before the commencement of 
 hostilities, with the reinforcements the ministry had thought it 
 prudent to throw into the disaffected parts of North America. 
 His daughters were just growing into life, and their education re 
 quired all the advantages the city could afford. His wife had been 
 for some years in declining health, and had barely time to fold 
 her son to her bosom, and rejoice in the reunion of her family, 
 before the revolution burst forth, in a continued blaze, from 
 Georgia to Massachusetts. The shock was too much for the feeble 
 condition of the mother, who saw her child called to the field, to 
 combat against the members of her own family in the South, and 
 she sank under the blow. 
 
 There was no part of the continent where the manners of Eng 
 land, and its aristocratic notions of blood and alliances, prevailed 
 with more force than in a certain circle immediately around the 
 metropolis of New York. The customs of the early Dutch in 
 habitants had, indeed, blended in some measure with the English* 
 manners ; but still the latter prevailed. This attachment to Great 
 Britain was increased by the frequent intermarriages of the officers 
 of the mother-country with the wealthier and more powerful 
 families of the vicinity, until, at the commencement of hostilities, 
 their united influence had very nearly thrown the colony into the 
 scales on the side of the crown. A few, however, of the leading 
 families espoused the cause of the people ; and a sufficient stand 
 was made against the efforts of the ministerial party, to organize, 
 and, aided by the army of the confederation, to maintain, an in 
 dependent and republican form of government. 
 
 The city of New York, and the adjacent territory, "'ere alone 
 exempted from the rule of the new commonwealth ; and the roy;;! 
 authority extended no further than its dignity could be supported 
 by the presence of an army. In this condition of things, the 
 loyalists of influence adopted such measures as best accorded with 
 their different characters and situations. Many bore arms in 
 support of the ancient laws ; and, by their bravery and exertions, 
 endeavoured to secure what they deemed to he the rights of their 
 prince, and their own estates from confiscation. Others left the 
 country ; seeking in that place, they emphatically called home, 
 an asylum, as they fondly hoped, for a season only, against the 
 confusion and dangers of war. A third, and more wary portion,
 
 THE SPY. 17 
 
 remained in the place of their nativity, with a prudent regard to 
 their ample possessions, and, perhaps, influenced by their attach 
 ments to the scenes of their youth- Mr. Wharton was of this 
 description. After making a provision against future contingencies, 
 by secretly transmitting the whole of his money to the British 
 funds, this gentleman determined to continue in the theatre of 
 strife, and to maintain so strict a neutrality, as to ensure the safety 
 of his large estate, whichever party succeeded. He was apparently 
 engrossed in the education of his daughters, when a relation, high 
 in office in the new state, intimated, that a residence in what was 
 now a British camp, differed but little, in the eyes of his country 
 men, from a residence in the British capital. Mr. Wharton soon 
 saw this was an unpardonable offence in the existing state of 
 things, and instantly determined to remove the difficulty, by re 
 tiring to the country. He possessed a convenient residence in 
 the county of West Chester, and having been for many years in 
 the habit of withdrawing thither, during the heats of the summer 
 months, it was kept furnished, and ready for his accommodation. 
 His eldest daughter was already admitted into the society of wo 
 men ; but Frances, the younger, required a year or two more of 
 the usual cultivation, to appear with proper eclat ; at least so 
 thought Miss Jeanette Peyton ; and as this lady, a younger sister 
 of their deceased mother, had left their paternal home, in the co 
 lony of Virginia, with the devotedness and affection peculiar to 
 her sex, to superintend the welfare of her orphan nieces, Mr. 
 Wharton felt that her opinions were entitled to profound respect. 
 In conformity to her advice, therefore, the feelings of the parent 
 were made to yield to the welfare of his children. 
 
 Mr. Wharton withdrew to the " Locusts," with a heart rent 
 with the pain of separating from all that was left him of a wife 
 he had adored, but in obedience to a constitutional prudence that 
 pleaded loudly in behalf of his worldly goods. His handsome 
 town residence was inhabited, in the mean while, by his daughters 
 and their aunt. The regiment to which Captain Wharton be 
 longed formed part of the permanent garrison of the city, and 
 the knowledge of the presence of his son was no little relief to 
 the father, in his unceasing meditations on his absent daughters. 
 But Captain Wharton was a young man, and a soldier ; his esti 
 mate of character was not always the wisest, and his propensities 
 led him to imagine, that a red coat never concealed a dishonour 
 able heart. 
 
 The house of Mr. Wharton became a fashionable lounge to the 
 officers of the royal army, as did that of every other family 
 thought worthy of their notice. The consequences of this asso 
 ciation were, to some few of the visited, fortunate; to more, 
 injurious, by exciting expectations which were never to be rea- 
 
 c 2
 
 18 THE SPY. 
 
 lized ; and, unhappily, to no small number ruinous. The known 
 wealth of the father, and, possibly, the presence of a high- 
 spirited brother, forbade any apprehension of the latter danger 
 to the young ladies ; but it was impossible that all the admiration 
 bestowed on the fine figure and lovely face of Sarah Wharton 
 should be thrown away. Her person was formed with the early 
 maturity of the climate, and a strict cultivation of the graces had 
 made her, decidedly, the belle of the city. No one promised to 
 dispute with her this female sovereignty, unless it might be 
 her younger sister. Frances, however, wanted some months to 
 the charmed age of sixteen ; and the idea of competition was far 
 from the minds of either of the affectionate girls. Indeed, next 
 to the conversation of Colonel Wellmere, the greatest pleasure 
 of Sarah was in contemplating the budding beauties of the little 
 Hebe, who played around her with all the iunocency of youth, 
 with all the enthusiasm of her ardent temper, and with no little 
 of the archness of her native humour. Whether or not it was 
 owing to the fact, that Frances received none of the compliments 
 which fell to the lot of her elder sister, in the often repeated 
 discussions on the merits of the war, between the military beaus 
 who frequented the house, it is certain their effects on the 
 sisters were exactly opposite. It was much the fashion, then, for 
 the British officers to speak slightingly of their enemies ; mid 
 Sarah took all the idle vapourings of her danglers to be truths. 
 The first political opinions which reached the ears of Frances 
 were coupled with sneers on the conduct of her countrymen. At 
 first she believed them ; but there was occasionally a general 
 who was obliged to do justice to his enemy in order to obtain 
 justice for himself, and Frances became somewhat sceptical on 
 the subject of the inefficiency of her countrymen. Colonel Well- 
 mere was among those who delighted most in expending his wit 
 on the unfortunate Americans, and, in time, Frances began to 
 listen to his eloquence with great suspicion, and some little re 
 sentment. 
 
 It was a hot sultry day, that the three were sitting in the par 
 lour of Mr. Wharton's house, the Colonel and Sarah, seated on 
 a sofa, engaged in one of their combats of the eyes, aided by no 
 little flow of small talk, and Frances, occupied at her tambouring 
 frame, in an opposite corner of the room, when the gentleman 
 suddenly exclaimed 
 
 " How gay the arrival of the army under General Burgoyne 
 will make the city, Miss Wharton !" 
 
 " Oh ! how pleasant it must be," said the thoughtless Sarah, 
 in reply; " I am told there are many charming women with that 
 army ; as you say, it will make us life and gaiety." 
 
 Frances shook back the abundance of her golden hair, and raised
 
 THE SPY. 19 
 
 from the work her eyes, dancing with the ardour of her national 
 feeling, and laughing, with akind of concealed humour, she asked 
 
 " Is it then so certain, that General Burgoyne will be permitted 
 to reach the city ?" 
 
 " Permitted !" echoed the Colonel, in affected surprise, " who 
 is there to prevent it, if he wishes it himself, my pretty Miss 
 Fanny ?" 
 
 Frances was at precisely that age, when young people are most 
 jealous of their station in society : neither quite a woman, nor 
 yet a child. The " pretty Miss Fanny" was rather too familiar 
 to be relished ; and she dropped her eyes on her work again, with 
 cheeks that glowed like crimson, as she continued very gravely 
 
 " General Starke took the Germans into custody may not 
 General Gates think the British too dangerous to go at large ?" 
 
 " Oh ! they were Germans, as you say," cried the Colonel, ex 
 cessively vexed at the necessity of explaining at all, " mere mer 
 cenary troops ; but when the really British regiments come in 
 question, you will see a very different result." 
 
 " Of that there is no doubt," cried Sarah, without in the least 
 partaking of the resentment of the Colonel to her sister, but 
 hailing already in her heart the triumph of the British. 
 
 " Pray, Colonel Wellmere," said Frances, recovering her good 
 humour, and raising her joyous eyes once more to the face of the 
 gentleman, "was the Lord Percy of Lexington a kinsman of 
 him who fought at Chevy Chase?" 
 
 ' " Why, Miss Fanny, you are becoming a rebel," said the 
 Colonel, endeavouring to laugh away the anger he felt ; " what 
 you are pleased to insinuate was a chase at Lexington, was 
 nothing more than a judicious retreat a kind of " 
 
 " Running fight," interrupted the good-humoured girl, laying 
 great emphasis on the first word. 
 
 " Positively, young lady " Colonel Wellmere was interrupted 
 by a laugh from a person who had hitherto been unnoticed. 
 
 There was a small family apartment adjoining the room occu 
 pied by the trio, and the air had blown open the door communi 
 cating between the two. A fine young man was now seen sitting 
 near the entrance, who, by his smiling countenance, was evidently 
 a pleased listener to the foregoing conversation. He rose in 
 stantly, and coining through the door, with his hat in his hand, 
 appeared a tall graceful youth, of dark complexion, and sparkling 
 eyes of black, from which the mirth had not yet entirely vanished, 
 as he made his bow to the ladies. 
 
 " Mr. Dunwoodie !" cried Sarah, in surprise, " I was ignorant 
 of your being in the house ; you will find a cooler seat in this 
 room." 
 
 " I thank you," replied the young man, " but I must go and 
 
 c 3
 
 20 THE SPY. 
 
 seek your brother, who placed me there in ambuscade, ns he 
 called it, with a promise of returning nn hour ago." Without 
 making any further explanation, he bowed politely to the young 
 women, distantlj and with hauteur to the gentleman, and with 
 drew. Frances followed him into the hall, and blushing richly, 
 inquired, in a hurried voice 
 
 " But why why do you leave us, Mr. Dunwoodie ? Henry 
 must soon return." 
 
 The gentleman caught one of her hands in his own, and the 
 stern expression of his countenance gave place to a look of ad 
 miration, as he replied 
 
 " You managed him famously, my dear little kinswoman ; 
 never no never, forget the land of your birth : remember Miss 
 Wharton, if you are the grand-daughter of an Englishman, you 
 are also the grand-daughter of a Peyton." 
 
 "Oh!" returned the laughing girl, "it would be difficult to 
 forget that, with the constant lectures on genealogy before me 
 with which aunt Jeanette favours me but why do you go ?" 
 
 " I am on the wing for Virginia, and have much to do." He 
 pressed her hand as he spoke, and, looking back, while in the 
 act of closing the door, exclaimed, " be true to your country 
 be American." The ardent girl kissed her hand to him as he 
 retired, and then instantly applying it with its beautiful fellow to 
 her burning cheeks, ran into her own apartment to hide her con 
 fusion. 
 
 Between the open sarcasm of Frances, and the ill-concealed 
 disdain of the young man, Colonel Wellmere had felt himself 
 placed in an awkward predicament ; but, ashamed to resent such 
 trifles in the presence of his mistress, he satisfied himself with 
 observing, superciliously, as Dunwoodie left the room 
 
 " Quite a liberty for a youth in his situation ; a shop-boy with 
 a bundle, I fancy." 
 
 The idea of picturing the elegant and graceful Peyton Dun 
 woodie as a shop-boy, could never enter the mind of Sarah, and 
 as she looked around her in surprise, when the Colonel con 
 tinued ; 
 
 " This Mr. Dun Dun " 
 
 " Dunwoodie ! Oh no he is a relation of my aunt," cried 
 the young lady, " and an intimate friend of my brother ; they 
 were at school together, and only separated in England, when one 
 went into the army, and the other to a French military academy." 
 
 " His money appears to have been thrown away," observed 
 the Colonel, show ing the spleen he was unsuccessfully striving to 
 conceal. 
 
 " We ought to hope so," added Sarah, with a smile ; " for it 
 is said he intends joining tbe rebel army. He was brought in
 
 THE SPY. 21 
 
 here in a French ship, and has just been exchanged ; you may 
 soon meet in arms." 
 
 " Well, let him I wish Washington plenty of such heroes ;" 
 and he turned to a more pleasant subject, by changing the dis 
 course to themselves. 
 
 A few weeks had elapsed after this scene occurred, when the 
 army of Burgoyne laid down their arms. Mr. Wharton, be 
 ginning to think the result of the contest to be doubtful, re 
 solved to conciliate his countrymen, and gratify himself, by 
 taking his daughters into his own abode, Miss Peyton consented 
 to be their companion ; and from that time, until the period at 
 which we commenced our narrative, they had formed one family. 
 
 Whenever the main army made any movements, Captain 
 Wharton had, of course accompanied it; and once, or twice, 
 under the protection of strong parties, acting in the neighbour 
 hood of the Locusts, he had enjoyed rapid and stolen interviews 
 with his friends. A twelvemonth had, however, passed without 
 his seeing them ; and the impatient Henry had adopted the dis 
 guise we have mentioned, and unfortunately arrived on the very 
 evening that an unknown and rather suspicious guest was an 
 inmate of the house, which seldom contained any others than its 
 regular inhabitants. 
 
 " But, do you think he suspects me ?" asked the captain, with 
 anxiety, after pausing to listen to Caesar's opinion of the Skinners. 
 
 " How should he ?" cried Sarah, " when your sisters and father 
 could not penetrate your disguise." 
 
 " There is something mysterious in his manner ; his looks are 
 too prying for an indifferent observer," continued young Wharton, 
 thoughtfully, " and his face seems familiar to me. The recent 
 fate of Andre has created much irritation on both sides. Sir 
 Henry threatens retaliation for his death ; and Washington is as 
 firm as if half the world were at his command. The rebels would 
 think me a fit subject for their plans just now, should I be so un- 
 Mcky as to fall into their hands." 
 
 " But my son," cried his father, in great alarm, " you are not 
 a spy ; you are not within the rebel that is, the American lines ; 
 there is nothing here to spy." 
 
 " That might be disputed," rejoined the young man, musing : 
 " their pickets were as low as the White Plains when I passed 
 through in disguise. It is true, my purposes are innocent ; but 
 how is it to appear. My visit to you would seem a cloak to other 
 designs. Remember, sir, the treatment received by yourself, not 
 a year ago, for sending me a supply of fruit for the winter." 
 
 " That proceeded from the misrepresentations of my kind 
 neighbours," said Mr. Wharton, " who hoped, by getting my 
 estate confiscated, to purchase good farms, at lo\v prices. Peyton
 
 22 THE SPY. 
 
 Dunwoodie, however, soon obtained our discharge ; we were de 
 tained but a month." 
 
 " We !" repeated the son, in amazement ; " did they take my 
 sisters also ? Fanny, you wrote me nothing of this." 
 
 " I believe," said Frances, colouring highly, " I mentioned the 
 kind treatment we received from your old friend, Major Dun 
 woodie ; and that he procured my father's release." 
 
 " True ; but were you with him in the rebel camp ?" 
 
 " Yes," said the father, kindly, " Fanny would not suffer me to 
 go alone. Jeannette and Sarah took charge of the Locusts, and 
 this little girl was my companion in captivity." 
 
 " And Fanny returned from such a scene a greater rebel than 
 eTer," cried Sarah, indignantly ; " one would think the hardships 
 her father suffered would have cured her of such whims." 
 
 "What say you to the charge, my bonny sister?" cried the 
 Captain, gaily ; " did Peyton strive to make you hate your king 
 more than he does himself?" 
 
 " Peyton Dunwoodie hates no one," said Frances, quickly ; and 
 blushing at her own ardour, she added immediately, " he loves 
 you, Henry, I know, for he has told me so again and again." 
 
 Young Wharton tapped his sister on the cheek, with a shrewd 
 smile, as he asked her, in an affected whisper " did he tell you 
 also that he loved my little sister Fanny ?" 
 
 " Nonsense," said Frances ; and the remnants of the supper 
 table soon disappeared under her superintendence. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "Twos when the fields were swept of Autumn's store, 
 And growling winds the fading foliage tore, 
 Behind the I.owmon hill, the short liv'd light, 
 Descending slowly, usher'd in the night ; 
 When from the noisy town, with mournful look, 
 His lonely way the meagre ped;er took. Wilson. 
 
 A STORM below the highlands of the Hudson, if it be introduced 
 with an easterly wind, seldom lasts less than two days. Accord 
 ingly, as the inmates of the Locusts assembled, on the following 
 morning, around their early breakfast, the driving rain was seen 
 to strike in nearly horizontal lines against the windows of the 
 building, and forbade the idea of exposing either man or beast to 
 the tempest. Harper was the last to appear : after taking a view 
 of the state of the weather, he apologized to Mr. Wharton for the 
 necessity there existed for his trespassing upon his goodness for a 
 longer time. To appearance, the reply was as courteous as the 
 excuse ; yet Harper wore a resignation in his deportment that was 
 widely different from the uneasy manner of the father. Henry 
 Wharton hud resumed his disguise with a reluctance amounting
 
 THE SPY. 23 
 
 to disgust, but in obedience to the commands of his parent. No 
 communication passed between him and the stranger, after the 
 first salutations of the morning had been paid by Harper to him, 
 in common with the rest of the family. Frances had, indeed, 
 thought there was something like a smile passing over the features 
 of the traveller, when, on entering the room, he first confronted 
 her brother ; but it was confined to the eyes, seeming to want 
 power to affect the muscles of the face, and was soon lost in the 
 settled and benevolent expression which reigned in his counte 
 nance, with a sway but seldom interrupted. The eyes of the af 
 fectionate sister were turned in anxiety, for a moment, on her 
 brother, and glancing again on their unknown guest, met his look, 
 as he offered her, with peculiar grace, one of the little civilities of 
 the table ; and the heart of the maiden, which had begun to throb 
 with violence, regained a pulsation as tempered as youth, health, 
 and buoyant spirits could allow. While yet seated at the table, 
 Ca;sar entered, and laying a small parcel in silence by the side of 
 his master, modestly retired behind his chair, where, placing one 
 hand on its back, he continued in an attitude half familiar, but 
 profoundly respectful. 
 
 " What is this, Caesar ?" inquired Mr. Wharton, turning the 
 bundle over in examination of its envelope, and eyeing it rather 
 suspiciously. 
 
 " The 'baccy, sir ; Harvey Birch, he got home, and bring you 
 a little good 'baccy from York." 
 
 " Harvey Birch," rejoined the master with great deliberation, 
 stealing a look at his guest. " I do not remember desiring him 
 to purchase any tobacco for me ; but as he has brought it, he 
 must be paid for his trouble." 
 
 For an instant only, as the negro spoke, did Elarper suspend 
 his silent meal ; his eye moved slowly from the servant to the 
 master, and again all remained in its impenetrable reserve. 
 
 To Sarah Wharton, this intelligence gave unexpected pleasure ; 
 rising from her seat, with impatience, she bade the black show 
 Birch into the apartment ; when, suddenly recollecting herself, 
 she turned to the traveller with an apologising look, and added, 
 " if Mr. Harper will excuse the presence of a pedler." 
 
 The indulgent benevolence expressed in the countenance of the 
 stranger, as he bowed in silent acquiescence, spoke more eloquently 
 than the nicest framed period, and the young lady repeated her 
 order, with a confidence in its truth that removed all embarrass 
 ment. 
 
 In the deep recesses of the windows of the cottage were seats 
 of pannelled work ; and the rich damask curtains, that had orna 
 mented the parlour in Queen-street, had been transferred to the 
 Locusts, and gave to the room that indescribable air of comfort,
 
 24 THE SPY. 
 
 which so gratefully announces the approach of a domestic winter. 
 Into one of these recesses Captain \Vharton now threw himself, 
 drawing the curtain before him in such a manner as to conceal 
 most of his person from observation ; while his younger sister, 
 losing her natural frankness of manner, in an air of artificial con 
 straint, silently took possession of the other. 
 
 Harvey Birch had been apedler from his youth ; at least so he 
 frequently asserted, and his skill in the occupation went far to 
 prove the truth of the declaration. He was supposed to be a na 
 tive of one of the eastern colonies ; and from something of supe 
 rior intelligence which belonged to his father, it was thought they 
 had known better fortunes in the land of their nativity. Harvey 
 possessed, however, the common manners of the country, and was 
 in no way distinguished from men of his class, but by his acute- 
 ness, and the mystery which enveloped his movements. Ten 
 years before, they had arrived together in the vale, and, purchasing 
 the humble dwelling at which Harper bar! made his unsuccessful 
 application, continued ever since peaceful inhabitants, but little 
 noticed and but little known. Until age and infirmities had pre 
 vented, the father devoted himself to the cultivation of the small 
 spot of ground belonging to his purchase, while the son pursued 
 with avidity his humble barter. Their orderly quietude had soon 
 given them so much consideration in the neighbourhood, as to 
 induce a maiden of five and thirty to forget the punctilio of her 
 sex, and to accept the office of presiding over their domestic com 
 forts. The roses had long before vanished from the cheeks of 
 Katy Haynes, and she had seen in succession, both her male and 
 female acquaintance forming the union so desirable to her sex, 
 with but little or no hope left for herself, when, with views of her 
 own, she entered the family of the Birches. Necessity is a hard 
 master, and for the want of a better companion, the father and 
 son were induced to accept her services ; but still Katy was not 
 wanting in some qualities, which made her a very tolerable house 
 keeper. On the one hand, she was neat, industrious, honest, and 
 a good manager. On the other, she was talkative, selfish, super 
 stitious, and inquisitive. By dint of using the latter quality with 
 consummate skill, she had not lived in the family but five years 
 when she triumphantly declared, that she had heard, or rather 
 overheard, sufficient to say what had been the former fate of her 
 associates. Could Katy have possessed enough of divination to 
 pronounce iipon their future lot, her task would have seemed 
 comparatively easy. From the private conversations of the parent 
 and child, she learnt that a fire had reduced them from compe 
 tence to poverty, and at the same time diminished the number of 
 their family to two. There was a tremulousness in the voice of 
 the father, as he touched lightly on the event, which affected even
 
 THK SPY. 25 
 
 the heart of Katy ; but no barrier is sufficient to repel vulgar cu 
 riosity. She persevered, until a very direct intimation from Harvey, 
 by threatening to supply her place with a female a few years 
 younger than herself, gave her awful warning, that there were 
 bounds beyond which she was not to pass. From that period 
 the curiosity of his housekeeper had been held in such restraint, 
 that, although no opportunity of listening was ever neglected, she 
 had been able to add but little to her stock of knowledge. There 
 was, however, one piece of intelligence, and that of no little in 
 terest to herself, which she had succeeded in obtaining ; and from 
 the moment of its acquisition, she directed her energies to the 
 accomplishment of one object, aided by the double stimulus of 
 love and avarice. 
 
 Harvey was in the frequent habit of paying mysterious visits, in 
 the depth of the night, to the fire-place of the apartment, that 
 served for both kitchen and parlour. Here he was observed by 
 Katy ; and, availing herself of his absence, and the occupations 
 of the father, by removing one of the hearth -stones, she disco 
 vered an iron-pot, glittering with metal that seldom fails to 
 soften the hardest heart. Katy succeeded in replacing the stone 
 without discovery, and never dared to trust herself with another 
 visit. From that moment, however, the heart of the virgin lost 
 its obduracy ; and nothing interposed between H arvey and his 
 happiness, but his own want of observation. 
 
 The war did not interfere with the traffic of the pedler, who 
 seized on the golden opportunity which the interruption of the 
 regular trade afforded, and appeared absorbed in the one grand 
 object of amassing money. For a year or two, his employment 
 was uninterrupted, and his success proportionate ; but at length, 
 dark and threatening hints began to throw suspicion around his 
 movements, and the civil authority thought it incumbent on them 
 to examine narrowly into his mode of life. His imprisonments, 
 though frequent, were not long ; and his escapes from the guar 
 dians of the law comparatively easy, to what he endured from 
 the persecution of the military. Still Birch survived, and still 
 he continued his trade, though compelled to be very guarded in 
 his movements, especially whenever he approached the northern 
 boundaries of the county ; or, in other words, the neighbourhood 
 of the American lines. His visits to the Locusts had become 
 less frequent, and his appearance at his own abode so seldom, as 
 to draw forth from the disappointed Katy, in the fulness of her 
 heart, the complaint we have related, in her reply to Harper. 
 Nothing, however, seemed to intefere with the pursuits of this 
 indefatigable trader ; who, with a view to dispose of certain arti 
 cles for which he could only find purchasers in the very wealthiest 
 families in the county, had now braved the fury of the tempest,
 
 26 THE SPY. 
 
 for the half mile between his own residence and the house of Mr. 
 Wharton. 
 
 In a few minutes after receiving the commands of his young 
 mistress, Caesar reappeared, ushering into the apartment the sub 
 ject of the foregoing digression. In person, the pedler was a 
 man above the middle height, spare, but full of bone and muscle : 
 at first sight, his strength seemed unequal to manage the un 
 wieldy burden of his pack ; yet he threw it on and off with great 
 dexterity, and with as much apparent ease as if it had been 
 feathers. His eyes were gray, sunken, restless, and, for the 
 flitting moments that they dwelt on the countenances of those 
 with whom he conversed, seemed to read the very soul. They 
 possessed, however, two distinct expressions, which, in a great 
 measure, characterized the whole man. When engaged in traffic, 
 intelligence of his face appeared lively, active, and flexible, though 
 uncommonly acute ; if the conversation turned on the ordinary 
 transactions of life his air became abstracted and restless ; but if, 
 by chance, the revolution and the country were the topic, his 
 whole system seemed altered all his faculties were concentrated ; 
 he would listen for a great length of time without speaking, and 
 then would break silence by some light and jocular remarks, that 
 were too much at variance with his former manner not to be affec 
 tation. But of the war, and of his father, he seldom spoke, and 
 always from some apparent necessity. 
 
 To a superficial observer, avarice would seem his ruling pas 
 sion and, all things considered, he was as unfit a subject for the 
 plans of Katy Ilayues as can be readily imagined. On entering 
 the room, the pedler relieved himself from his burden, which, as 
 it stood on the floor, reached nearly to his shoulders, and saluted 
 the family with modest civility. To Harper he made a silent 
 bow, without lifting his eyes from the carpet ; but the curtain 
 prevented any notice of the presence of Captain Wharton. 
 Sarah gave but little time for the usual salutations, before she 
 commenced her survey of the contents of the pack ; and, for 
 several minutes, the two were engaged in bringing to light the 
 various articles it contained. The tables, chairs, and floor, were 
 soon covered with silks, crapes, gloves, muslins, and all the stock 
 of an itinerant trader. Caesar was employed to hold open the 
 mouth of the pack, as its hoards were discharged, and occasionally 
 aided his young lady, by directing her admiration to some articles 
 of finery, which, from their deeper contrast in colours, he thought 
 more worthy of her notice. At length, Sarah, having selected 
 several articles, and satisfactorily arranged the prices, observed 
 in a cheerful voice 
 
 " But, Harvey, you have told us no news ? Has Lord Corn- 
 wallis beaten the rebels again ?"
 
 THE SPY. 27 
 
 The question could not have been heard ; for the pedler, bury 
 ing his body in the pack, brought forth a quantity of lace of ex 
 quisite fineness, and holding it up to view, required the admira 
 tion of the young lady. Miss Peyton dropped the cup she was 
 engaged in washing, from her hand ; and Frances exhibited the 
 whole of that lovely face, which had hitherto only suffered one of 
 its joyous eyes to be seen, beaming with a colour that shamed 
 the damask, which enviously concealed her figure. 
 
 The aunt quitted her employment ; and Birch soon disposed 
 of a large portion of this valuable article. The praises of the 
 ladies had drawn the whole person of the younger sister into 
 view ; and Frances was slowly rising from the window, as Sarah 
 repeated her question, with an exultation in her voice, that pro 
 ceeded more from pleasure in her purchase, than her political 
 feelings. The younger sister resumed her seat, apparently ex 
 amining into the state of the clouds, while the pedler, finding a 
 reply was expected, answered slowly 
 
 "There is some talk below about Tarleton having defeated 
 General Sumpter, on the Tiger river." 
 
 Captain Wharton now involuntarily thrust his head between 
 the opening of the curtains into the room ; and Frances, in 
 turning her ear, in breathless silence, noticed the quiet eyes of 
 Harper looking at the pedler, over the book he was affecting to 
 read, with an expression that denoted him to be a listener of no 
 ordinary interest. 
 
 " Indeed !" cried the exulting Sarah; " Sumpter Sumpter 
 who is he? I'll not buy even a pin, until you tell me all the 
 news," she continued, laughing, and throwing down a muslin she 
 had been examining. 
 
 For a moment the pedler hesitated ; his eye glanced towards 
 Harper, who was yet gazing at him with settled meaning, and 
 the whole manner of Birch was altered. Approaching the fire, 
 he took from his mouth a large allowance of the Virginian weed, 
 and depositing it, with the superabundance of its juices, without 
 mercy to Miss Peyton's shining andirons, returned to his goods, 
 and replied in a more lively tone 
 
 " He lives somewhere among the niggars to the south." 
 
 " No more niggar than be yourself, Mister Birch," inter 
 rupted Caesar tartly, and dropping the covering of the goods in 
 high displeasure. 
 
 " Hugh Cresar hush never mind it now," said Sarah Whar 
 ton soothingly, waiting with impatience to hear further. 
 
 " A black man so good as white, Miss Sally," continued the 
 offended African, " so long he behave heself." 
 
 " And frequently much better," rejoined his mistress : " but 
 Harvey, who is this Mr. Sumpter T'
 
 28 THE SPY. 
 
 A slight indication of humour showed itself on the face of the 
 pedler, as he continued " As I was saying, he lives among the 
 coloured people in the south" Csesar resumed his occupation 
 "and has lately had a skrimmage with this Colonel Tarleton" 
 
 " Who defeated him of course," cried Sarah, with confidence. 
 
 " So say the troops at Morrisania," returned the other laconi 
 cally. 
 
 " But what do you say ?" Mr. Wharton ventured to inquire, 
 yet speaking involuntarily in a low tone. 
 
 " I repeat but what I hear," said Birch, offering a piece of cloth 
 to the inspection of Sarah, who rejected it in silence, evidently 
 determined to hear more before she made any further purchases. 
 
 " They say, however, at the Plains," the pedler continued, after 
 first throwing his eyes again round the room, and letting them 
 rest for an instant on Harper, " that Sumpter and one or two 
 more were all that was hurt, and that the riglars were all cut to 
 pieces, for the militia were fixed snugly in a log barn." 
 
 " Not very probable," said Sarah, contemptuously, " though I 
 make no doubt the rebels got behind the logs." 
 
 " I think," said the pedler coolly, again offering the silk, " it's 
 quite ingenious to get a log between one and a gun, instead of 
 getting between a gun and a log." The eyes of Harper dropped 
 quietly on the pages of the volume in his hand, while Frances, 
 rising, came forward with a smile in her face, as she inquired, in 
 a tone of affability that the pedler never before had witnessed 
 from her 
 
 " Have you more of the lace, Mr. Birch !" 
 
 The desired article was immediately produced, and Frances be 
 came a purchaser also ; by her order a glass of liquor was offered 
 to the trader, who took it with thanks, and, having paid his com 
 pliments to the master of the house and the ladies, drank the 
 beverage. 
 
 " So, it is thought that Colonel Tarleton has worsted General 
 Sumpter?" said Mr. Wharton, affecting to be employed in mend 
 ing the cup that was broken by the eargerness of his sister-in-law. 
 
 " I believe they think so at Morrisania," said Birch drily. 
 
 " Have you any other news, friend ?" asked Captain Wharton, 
 venturing to thrust his face without the curtains again. 
 
 " Have you heard that Major Andre has been hung?" inquired 
 the pedler with emphasis, in reply. 
 
 Captain Wharton stated, and for a moment glances of great 
 significance were exchanged between him and the trader, when he 
 observed with affected indifference, " that must have been some 
 five weeks ago." 
 
 " Does liis execution make much noise ?" asked the father, 
 striving to make his broken china unite.
 
 THE Sl'Y. 29 
 
 " People will talk you know, 'Squire," returned the pedler, ex 
 hibiting his goods respectfully to the young ladies. 
 
 " Is there any probability of movements below, my friend, that 
 will make travelling dangerous ?" asked Harper, looking steadily 
 at the other, in expectation of his reply. 
 
 Some bunches of ribbons fell from the hands of Birch ; his 
 countenance changed instantly, losing its keen expression in in 
 tent meaning, as he answered slowly " It is some time since the 
 rig'lar cavalry were out, and I saw some of De Lancey's men 
 were cleaning their arms, as I passed their quarters ; it would be 
 no wonder if they took the scent soon, for the Virginia horse are 
 low in the county." 
 
 " Are they in much force ?" asked Mr. Wharton, suspending 
 all employment in anxiety. 
 
 " I did not count them," said the pedler, giving his attention to 
 his trade again. 
 
 Frances was the only observer of the change in the manner of 
 Birch, and, on turning to Harper, he had resumed his book in 
 silence. The maid took some of the ribbons in her hand laid 
 them down again and, bending over the goods, so that her hair, 
 falling in rich curls, shaded her face, she observed, blushing with 
 a colour that suffused her neck 
 
 " I thought the southern horse had marched towards the Dela 
 ware." 
 
 " It ma}' be so," said Birch ; " I passed the troops at a distance." 
 
 Caesar had now selected a piece of calico, in which the colours 
 of yellow and red were contrasted on a white ground, and, after 
 admiring it for several minutes, laid it down with a sigh, as he ex 
 claimed, " berry pretty calico." 
 
 " That," said Sarah ; " yes, that would make a proper gown 
 for your wife, Csesar." 
 
 " Yes, Miss Sally," cried the delighted black, " make old Dinah 
 heart leap for joy so berry genteel." 
 
 " Yes," added the pedler, quaintly, " that would make Dinah 
 look like a rainbow." 
 
 Csesar eyed his young mistress eagerly, until, laying it down 
 with a smile, she enquired the price of Harvey. 
 
 " Why, much as I light of chaps," said the pedler, 
 
 " How much ?" demanded Sarah, in surprise. 
 
 " According to my luck in finding purchasers ; for my friend 
 Dinah, you may have it at four shillings." 
 
 " It is too much," said Sarah, turning to some goods for herself. 
 
 " Monstrous price for coarse calico, Mister Birch,'' grumbled 
 Crcsar, dropping the opening of the pack again. 
 
 "We will say three, then," added the pedler, "if you like that 
 better." 
 
 D 2
 
 30 THE SPY. 
 
 " Be sure like 'em better," said Caesar, smiling good-humour- 
 edly, re-opening the pack Miss Sally like a three shilling when 
 she give, and a four shilling when she take." 
 
 The bargain was immediately concluded ; but in measuring, the 
 cloth wanted a little of the well known ten yards required by the 
 dimensions of Dinah. By dint of a strong arm, however, it grew 
 to the desired length, under the experienced eye of the pedler, 
 who conscientiously added a ribbon of corresponding brilliancy 
 with the calico, and Ciesar hastily withdrew, to communicate the 
 joyful intelligence to his aged partner. 
 
 During the movements created by the conclusion of the pur 
 chase, Captain Wharton had ventured to draw aside the curtain, 
 so as to admit a view of his person, and he now inquired of the 
 pedler, who had begun to collect his scattered goods, at what 
 time he had left the city. 
 
 " At early twilight," was the answer. 
 
 " So lately !" cried the other in surprise ; and then correcting 
 his manner, by assuming a more guarded air, he continued 
 " Could you pass the tickets at so late an hour?" 
 
 " 1 did," was the laconic reply. 
 
 " You must be well known by this time, Harvey, to the officers 
 of the British army," cried Sarah, smiling archly on the pedler. 
 
 " I know some of them by sight," said Birch, glancing his eyes 
 iound the apartment, taking in their course Captain Wharton. and 
 resting for an instant on the countenance of Harper. 
 
 Mr. Wharton had listened intently to each speaker in succes 
 sion, and had so far lost the affectation of indifference, as to be 
 crushing in his hand the pieces of china on which he had expended 
 so much labour in endeavouring to mend it; when, observing the 
 I>edler tying the last knot in his pack, he asked abruptly 
 
 " Are we about to be disturbed again with the enemy ?" 
 
 " Who do you call the enemy?" said the pedler, raising him 
 self erect, and giving the other a look, before which the eyes of 
 Mr. Wharton sank in instant confusion. 
 
 " All are enemies who disturb our peace," said Miss Peyton, 
 observing that her brother was unable to speak. " But are the 
 royal troops out from below?" 
 
 " "Tis quite likely they soon may be,"4feurned Birch, raising 
 his pack from the floor, and preparing to TRve the room. 
 
 " And the continentals," continued Miss Peyton mildly, " are 
 the continentals in the country ?" 
 
 Harvey was about to utter something in reply, when the door 
 opened, and Caesar made his appearance, attended by his delighted 
 spouse. 
 
 The race of blacks of which Caesar was a favourable specimen 
 is becoming very rare. The old family servant, who, born and
 
 THE SPY. 31 
 
 reared in the dwelling of his master, identified himself with the 
 welfare of those whom it was his lot to serve, is giving place in 
 every direction to that vagrant class which has sprung up within 
 the last thirty years, and whose members roam through the country, 
 unfettered by principles, or uninfluenced by attachments. For it is 
 one of the curses of slavery, that its victims become incompetent 
 to the attributes of a freeman. The short curly hair of Caesar had 
 acquired from age a colouring of grey, that added greatly to the 
 venerable cast of his appearance. Long and indefatigable ap 
 plications of the comb, had straightened the close curls of his 
 forehead, until they stood erect in a stiff and formal precision, 
 that gave at least two inches to his stature. The shining black 
 of his youth had lost its glistening hue, and had been succeeded 
 by a dingy brown. His eyes, which stood at a most formidable 
 distance from each other, were small, and characterized by an ex 
 pression of good feeling, occasionally interrupted by the petulance 
 of an indulged servant ; they, however, now danced with inward 
 delight. His nose possessed in an eminent manner, all the re 
 quisites for smelling, but with the most modest unobtrusiveness ; 
 his nostrils being abundantly capacious, without thrusting them 
 selves in the way of their neighbours ; his mouth capacious to a 
 fault, that was only tolerated on account of the double row of 
 pearls it contained. In person Csesar was short, and we would 
 say square, had not all the angles and curves of his figure bid de 
 fiance to anything like mathematical symmetry. His arms were 
 long and muscular, and terminated by two bony hands, that ex 
 hibited on one side a colouring of blackish grey, and on the other 
 a faded pink. But it was in his legs that nature had indulged in 
 her most capricious humours. There was an abundance of the 
 material, but it had been injudiciously used. The calves were 
 neither before nor behind, but rather on the outerside of the 
 limb, inclining forward, and so close to the knee as to render the 
 free use of that joint a subject of doubt. In the foot, consider 
 ing it as a base on which the body was to rest, Caesar had no 
 cause of complaint, unless, indeed, it might be that the leg was 
 placed so near the centre, as to make it sometimes a matter of 
 dispute, whether he vv^s not walking backwards. But whatever 
 might be the faults a^Buary could discover in his person, the 
 heart of Caesar Thoin^ron was in the right place, and, we doubt 
 not, of very just dimensions. 
 
 Accompanied by his ancient companion, Caesar now advanced, 
 and paid his tribute of gratitude in words. Sarah received them 
 with great complacency, and made a few compliments to the taste 
 of the husband, and the probable appearance of the wife. Frances, 
 with a face beaming with a look of pleasure that corresponded to 
 the smiling countenances of the blacks, offered the service of her 
 
 D 3
 
 32 THE SPY. 
 
 needle in fitting the admired calico to its future uses. The offer 
 \\ as humbly and gratefully accepted. 
 
 As Caesar followed his wife and the pedler from the apartment, 
 mid was in the act of closing the door, he indulged himself in a 
 grateful soliloquy, by saying aloud 
 
 " Good little lady Miss Fanny take care of old fader love 
 to make a gown for old Dinah, too." What else his feelings 
 might, have induced him to utter is unknown, but the sound of 
 his voice was heard some time after the distance rendered his 
 words indistinct. 
 
 Harper had dropped his book, and sat an admiring witness of 
 the scene ; and Frances enjoyed a double satisfaction, as she re 
 ceived an approving smile from a face which concealed, under 
 the traces of deep thought and engrossing care, the benevolent 
 expression which characterizes all the best feelings of the human 
 heart. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " It is the form, the eye, the word. 
 
 The bearing of that stranger Lord ; 
 
 His stature manly, bold, and tall, 
 
 Built like a castle's battled wall. 
 
 Yet moulded in such just degree'. 
 
 Hi* giant strength seems lightsome ease. 
 
 Weather and war their rougher trace 
 
 Have left on that majestic face ; 
 
 But 'tis his dignity of eye ! 
 
 There, if a suppliant, would I fly, 
 
 Secure, 'mid danger, wrongs, and grief, 
 
 Of sympathy, redress, relief 
 
 That glance, if guilty, would I dread 
 
 More than the doom that spoke me dead. 
 
 " Enough, enough !" the princess cried, 
 
 '"Tis Scotland's hope, her joy, her pride !" Walter Scott. 
 
 THE party sat in silence for many minutes after the pedler with 
 drew. Mr. Wharton had heard enough to increase his uneasiness, 
 without in the least removing his apprehensions on behalf of his 
 son. The Captain was impatiently wishing Harper in any other 
 place than the one he occupied with such apparent composure ; 
 while Miss Peyton completed the disposal of her breakfast equi 
 page, with the mild complacency of her nature, aided a little by 
 an inward satisfaction at her possessing^^Wrge a portion of the 
 trader's lace Sarali was busily occupieo^n arranging her pur 
 chases, and Frances was kindly assisting her in the occupation, 
 disregarding her own neglected bargains for the moment, when 
 the stranger suddenly broke the silence by saying 
 
 " If any apprehensions of me induce Captain Wharton to main 
 tain his disguise, I wish him to be undeceived ; had I motives 
 for betraying him, they could not operate under present circum 
 stances."
 
 THE SPY. 33 
 
 The younger sister sank into her seat colourless and astonished. 
 Miss Peyton dropped the tea tray she was lifting from the table; 
 and Sarah sat with her purchases unheeded in her lap, in speech 
 less surprise. Mr. Wharton was stupified ; but the captain, hesi 
 tating a moment from astonishment, sprang into the middle of 
 the room, and exclaimed, as he tore off the instruments of his 
 disguise 
 
 " I believe you, from my soul, and this tiresome imposition shall 
 continue no longer under the roof of my father. Yet I am at a 
 loss to conceive in what manner you know me." 
 
 " You really look so much better in your proper person, Cap 
 tain Wharton," said Harper, with a slight smile, " I would advise 
 you never to conceal it in future. There is enough to betray you, 
 if other sources of detection were wanting;" as he spoke, he 
 pointed to a picture suspended over the mantel- piece, which ex 
 hibited the British officer in his regimentals. 
 
 " I had flattered myself," cried young Wharton, with a laugh, 
 " that I looked better on the canvass than in a masquerade. You 
 must be a close observer, sir." 
 
 " Necessity has made me one," said Harper, mildly, rising from 
 his seat. 
 
 Frances met him as he was about to withdraw, and, taking his 
 hand between both her own, said with earnestness, her cheeks 
 mantling with their richest vermillion " You cannot you will 
 not betray my brother." 
 
 For an instant Harper paused in silent admiration of the lovely 
 pleader, and then, folding her hands on his breast, replied so 
 lemnly " I cannot, and I will not ;" he released her hands, and 
 laying his own on her head gently, continued " if the blessing 
 of a stranger can profit you, receive it." He turned, and bowing 
 low, retired to his apartment. 
 
 The whole party were deeply impressed with the ingenuous and 
 solemn manner of the traveller, and all but the father found im 
 mediate relief in his declaration. Some of the cast-off clothes of 
 the captain, which had been removed with the goods from the 
 city, were produced ; and young Wharton, released from the un 
 easiness of his disgui^^began at last to enjoy a visit which had 
 been undertaken at s^^vh personal risk to himself. Mr. Whar 
 ton retiring to his apa^mient in pursuance of his regular engage 
 ments, the ladies, with the young man, were left to an uninter 
 rupted communication on such subjects as were most agreeable. 
 Even Miss Peyton was affected with the spirits of her younger 
 relatives ; and they sat for an hour enjoying, in heedless confi 
 dence, the pleasures of an unrestrained conversation, without re 
 flecting on any danger which might be impending over them. 
 The city and their acquaintances were not long neglected ; for
 
 34 THE Sl'Y. 
 
 Miss Peyton, who had never forgotten the many agreeable hours 
 of her residence within its boundaries, soon inquired, among others, 
 after their old acquaintance, Colonel Wellmere. 
 
 " Oh !" cried the Captain, gaily, " he yet continues there, as 
 handsome and as gallant as ever." 
 
 Although a woman be not actually in love, she seldom hears 
 without a blush the name of a man whom she might love, and 
 who has been connected with herself, by idle gossips, in the amp- 
 tory rumour of the day. Such had been the case with Sarah, and 
 she dropped her eyes on the carpet with a smile, that, aided by 
 the blush which suffused her cheek, in no degree detracted from 
 her native charms. 
 
 Captain Wharton, without heeding this display of interest in 
 his sister, immediately continued " At times he is melancholy 
 we tell him it must be love." Sarah raised her eyes to the face 
 of her brother, and was consciously turning them on the rest of 
 the party, when she met those of her sister, laughing with good 
 humour and high spirits, as she cried. " Poor man, does he de 
 spair ?" 
 
 " Why, no one would think he could not ; the eldest son of 
 a man of wealth, so handsome, and a Colonel." 
 
 " Strong reasons, indeed, why he should prevail," said Sarah, 
 endeavouring to laugh ; " more particularly the latter." 
 
 " Let me tell you," replied the Captain, gravely, "a Lieutenant- 
 Colonelcy in the Guards is a very pretty thing." 
 
 " And Colonel Wellmere a very pretty man," cried Frances, 
 with a laugh. 
 
 " Nay, Frances," returned her sister, ' Colonel Wellmere was 
 never a favourite with you ; he is too loyal to his king, to be agree 
 able to your taste." 
 
 Frances took the hand of her sister, as she said, " and is not 
 Henry loyal to his king ?" 
 
 " Come, come," said Miss Peyton, " no difference of opinion 
 about the Colonel he is a favourite of mine." 
 
 " Fanny likes majors better," cried the brother, pulling her 
 upon his knee. 
 
 " Nonsense," said the blushing girl, asjjhB endeavoured to ex 
 tricate herself from the grasp of her lau^feg brother. 
 
 " It surprises me," continued the CarraBn^ "that Peyton, when 
 he procured the release of my father, did not endeavour to detain 
 my sister in the rebel camp." 
 
 " That might have endangered his own liberty," said the maid, 
 smiling archly, and resuming her seat : " you know it is liberty 
 for which Major Dunvvoodie is fighting." 
 
 " Liberty !" exclaimed Sarah ; " very pretty liberty, which ex 
 changes one master for tifty."
 
 THE SPY. 35 
 
 " The privilege of changing masters at all is a liberty," returned 
 the other, good humouredly. 
 
 " And one you ladies would sometimes be glad to exercise," 
 cried the Captain. 
 
 " We like, I believe, to have the liberty of choosing who they 
 shall be in the first place," said the laughing girl ; "don't we, aunt 
 Jeanette ?" 
 
 "Me!" cried Miss Peyton, starting; "what do I know of such 
 things, child? you must ask some one else, if you wish to learn 
 such matters." 
 
 " Ah !" returned the maid, looking playfully at her aunt, " you 
 would have us think you were never young ; but what am I to 
 believe of all the tales I have heard about the handsome Miss 
 Jeanette Peyton?" 
 
 " Nonsense, my dear, nonsense," said the aunt, endeavouring 
 to suppress a smile; " it is very silly to believe all you hear." 
 
 " Nonsense, do you call it ?" cried the Captain, gaily ; " to 
 this hour General Montrose toasts Miss Peyton ; I heard him 
 within the week, at Sir Henry's table." 
 
 " Why, Henry, you are as saucy as your sister," returned the 
 lady ; " and to break in upon your folly, I must take you to see 
 my new home made manufactures, in contrast with the finery of 
 Birch." 
 
 The young people rose to follow their aunt, in perfect good 
 humour with each other and the world. On ascending the stairs 
 to the place of deposit for Miss Peyton's articles of economy, she 
 availed herself, however, of an opportunity to inquire of her ne 
 phew whether General Montrose suffered as much from the gout, 
 as he had done when she knew him. 
 
 It is a painful discovery that we make, as we advance in life, 
 that none of us are exempt from its frailties. When the heart is 
 fresh, and the view of the future unsullied by the blemishes which 
 have been gathered from the experience of the past, our feelings 
 are most holy ; we love to identify with the persons of our natural 
 friends, all those qualities to which we ourselves aspire, and all 
 those virtues we have been taught to revere. The confidence 
 with which we esteem seems a part of our nature ; and there is a 
 purity thrown around tiyt affections which tie us to our kindred, 
 that after-life can seldom hope to see uninjured. The family of 
 Mr. Wharton continued to enjoy, for the remainder of the day, a 
 happiness to which they had long been strangers ; and one that 
 sprang, in its younger members, from the delights of the most 
 confident affection, and the exchange of the most disinterested 
 endearments. 
 
 Harper appeared only at the dinner table, and retired with the 
 cloth ; under the pretence of some engagements in his own room .
 
 36 THE SPY. 
 
 Notwithstanding the confidence created by his manner, the family 
 felt his absence a relief; for the visit of Captain Wharton was 
 necessarily to be confined to a very few days, both from the limi 
 tation to his leave of absence, and the danger of a discovery. 
 
 All dread of consequences, however, was lost in the pleasure of 
 the meeting. Once or twice during the day, Mr. Wharton had 
 suggested a doubt as to the character of his unknown guest, and 
 the possibility of the detection of his son proceeding in some 
 manner from his information ; but the idea was earnestly opposed 
 by all his children ; even Sarah united with her brother and sister 
 in pleading warmly in favour of the sincerity expressed in the 
 outward appearance of the traveller. 
 
 " Such appearances, my children," replied the desponding pa 
 rent. " are but too often deceitful ; when men like Major Antliv 
 lend themselves to the purposes of fraud, it is idle to reason from 
 qualities, much less externals." 
 
 " Fraud !" cried his son quickly ; " surely, sir, you forget that 
 Major Andre was serving his king, and that the usages of war 
 justified the measure." 
 
 " And did not the usages of war justify his death, Henry ?" 
 inquired Frances, speaking in a low voice, unwilling to abandon 
 what she thought the cause of her country, and yet unable to 
 suppress her feelings for the man. 
 
 " Never !" exclaimed the young man, springing from his seat, 
 and pacing the floor rapidly " Frances, you shock me ; suppose 
 it should be my fate, even now, to fall into the power of the 
 rebels; you would vindicate my execution perhaps exult in the 
 cruelty of Washington." 
 
 " Henry !" said Frances, solemnly, quivering with emotion, and 
 with a face pale as death, "you little know my heart." 
 
 " Pardon me, my sister my little Fanny," cried the repentant 
 youth, pressing her to his bosom, and kissing off the tears which 
 had burst in torrents from her eyes. 
 
 " It is very foolish to regard your hasty words, I know," said 
 Frances, extricating herself from his arms, and raising her yet 
 humid eyes to his face with a smile ; " but reproach from those 
 we love is most severe, Henry ; particularly where we we 
 think we know" the paleness of tl^ maid gradually gave 
 place to the colour of the rose, as she concluded in a low voice, 
 with her eyes directed to the carpet, "we are undeserving of it/' 
 
 Miss Peyton moved from her own seat to one next her niece, 
 and, kindly taking her hand, observed, " you should not suffer the 
 impetuosity of your brother to affect you so much ; boys, you 
 know," she continued with a smile, "are proverbially um/overn- 
 able." 
 
 " And you might add cruel, from my conduct," said the cap-
 
 tain, seating himself on the other side of his sister; "but on 
 the subject of the death of Andre we are all of us uncommonly 
 sensitive, You did not know him ; he was all that was brave 
 that was accomplished that was estimable." Frances smiled 
 faintly, and shook her head, but made no reply. Her brother, 
 observing the marks of incredulity in her countenance, continued 
 "you doubt it, and justify his death?" 
 
 " I do not doubt his worth," replied the maitl, mildly, " nor 
 his being deserving of a more happy fate; but I doubt the im 
 propriety of Washington's conduct. I know but little of the 
 customs of war, and wish to know less, but with what hopes of 
 success could the Americans contend, if they yielded all the prin 
 ciples which long usage had established, to the exclusive purposes 
 of the British?" 
 
 "Why contend at all?" cried Sarah, impatiently; "besides, 
 being rebels, all their acts are illegal." 
 
 " Women are but mirrors, which reflect the images before 
 them," cried the captain, good naturedly. " In Frances I see 
 the picture of Major Dunwoodie, and in Sarah" 
 
 " Colonel Wellmere," interrupted the younger sister, laughing, 
 and blushing crimson. " I must confess I am indebted to the 
 major for my reasoning am I not, aunt Jeanette ?" 
 
 " I believe there is something like it, indeed, child," replied 
 Miss Peyton with a smile, " in his last letter to me." 
 
 " Yes, I plead guilty ; and you, Sarah, have not forgotten the 
 learned discussion of Colonel Wellmere." 
 
 " I trust I never forget the right," said Sarah, emulating her 
 sister in colour, and rising, under the pretence of avoiding the 
 heat of the fire. 
 
 Nothing occurred of any moment during the rest of the day ; 
 but in the evening Csesar reported that he had overheard voices 
 in the room of Harper conversing in a low tone. The apartment 
 occupied by the traveller was the wing at the extremity of the 
 building, opposite to the parlour in which the family ordinarily 
 assembled ; and it seems, that Csesar had established a regular 
 system of espionage, with a view to the safety of his young 
 master. This intelligence gave some uneasiness to all the mem 
 bers of the family ; but the entrance of Harper himself, with 
 the air of benevolence and sincerity which shone through his 
 reserve, soon removed the doubts from the breast of all but Mr. 
 Wharton. His children and sister believed Caesar to have been 
 mistaken, and the evening passed off without any additional alarm. 
 
 On the afternoon of the succeeding day, the party were as 
 sembled in the parlour around the tea-table of Miss Peyton, 
 when a change in the weather occurred. The thin scud, that 
 apparently floated but a short distance above the tops of the hills
 
 3R THE si'Y. 
 
 began to drive from the west towards the east with astonishing 
 rapidity. The rain yet continued to beat against the eastern 
 windows of the house with incredible fury ; in that direction the 
 heavens were dark and gloomy. Frances was gazing at the scene 
 with the desire of youth to escape from the ^tedium of confine 
 ment, when, as if by magic, all was still. The rushing winds 
 had ceased, the pelting of the storm was over, and, springing to 
 the window, the maid, with delight pictured in her face, saw a 
 glorious ray of sunshine lighten on the opposite wood. The 
 foliage glittered with the chequered beauties of the October leaf, 
 reflecting back from the moistened boughs the richest lustre of 
 an American autumn. In an instant, the piazza which opened to 
 the south was thronged with the inmates of the cottage. The 
 air was mild, balmy, and refreshing ; in the east, clouds, which 
 might be likened to the retreating masses of a discomfited army, 
 hung around the horizon in awful and increasing darkness. At 
 a little, elevation above the cottage, the thin vapour was still 
 rushing towards the east with amazing velocity ; while in the west 
 the sun had broken forth in all his majesty, and shed his parting 
 radiance on the scene below, aided by the fullest richness of a 
 clear atmosphere and freshened herbage. Such moments belong 
 only to the climate of America, and are enjoyed in a degree pro 
 portioned to the suddenness of the contrast, and the pleasure we 
 experience in escaping from the turbulence of the elements to the 
 quiet of a peaceful evening, and an air still as the softest morn 
 ings in June. 
 
 " What a magnificent scene !" said Harper, in a low tone ; 
 " how grand ! how awfully sublime! May such a quiet speedily 
 await the struggle in which my country is engaged, and such a 
 glorious evening follow the day of her adversity." 
 
 Frauces, who stood next to him, alone heard the voice. Turn 
 ing in amazement from the view to the speaker, she saw him 
 standing bare headed, erect, and with his eyes to heaven. There 
 was no longer the quiet which had seemed their characteristic, 
 but they were lighted into something like enthusiasm, and a 
 slight flush passed over his pale features. 
 
 There can be no danger apprehended from such a man, thought 
 Frauces ; such feelings belong only to the virtuous. 
 
 The musings of the party were now interrupted by the sudden 
 appearance of the pedler. He had taken advantage of the first 
 gleam of sunshine to hasten to the cottage. Heedless of wet or 
 dry as it lay in his path, with arm, swinging to and fro, and with 
 his head bent forward of his body several inches, Harvey Birch 
 approached the piazza, with a gait peculiarly his own ; it was the 
 quick, lengthened pace of a vender of goods. 
 
 " Fine evening," said the pedler, saluting the party without 
 raising his eyes ; " quite warm and agreeable for the season.
 
 THE SPY. 39 
 
 Mr. Wharton assented to the remark, and inquired kindly after 
 the health of his father. Harvey heard him, and continued 
 standing for some time in moody silence, but the question being 
 repeated, he answered with a slight tremor in his voice 
 
 " He fails fast ; old age and hardships will do their work." 
 The pedler turned his body from the view of most of the family ; 
 but Frances noticed his glistening eyes and quivering lip, and, 
 for the second time, Harvey rose in the estimation of the maid. 
 
 The valley in which was the residence of Mr. Wharton, ran in 
 a direction from the north-west to south-east, and the house stood 
 on the side of a hill which terminated its length in the former 
 direction. A small opening, occasioned by the receding of the 
 opposite hill, and the fall of the land to the level of the tide 
 water, afforded a view of the sound over the tops of the distant 
 woods on its margin. The surface of the water which had so 
 lately been lashing the shores with boisterous fury, was already 
 losing its ruffled darkness in the long and regular undulations 
 that succeed the tempest, while the light air from the south-west 
 was gently touching their summits, lending its feeble aid in 
 stilling the waters. Some dark spots were now to be distinguished, 
 occasionally rising into view, and again sinking behind the length 
 ened waves which interposed themselves to the sight. They 
 were unnoticed by all but the pedler. He had seated himself on 
 the piazza, at a distance from Harper, and appeared to have 
 forgotten the object of his visit. His roving eye, however, soon 
 caught a glimpse of these new objects in the view, and he sprang 
 up with alacrity, gazing intently towards the water. The juices 
 of the tobacco soon disfigured the floor of Miss Peyton ; he 
 changed his place, glanced his eye with marked uneasiness on 
 Harper, and then said with great emphasis 
 
 " The rig'lars must be out from below." 
 
 " Why do you think so ?" inquired Captain Wharton eagerly. 
 ' God send it may be true : I want their escort in again." 
 
 " Them ten whale boats would not move so fast," answered 
 Birch dryly, " unless they were better manned than common." 
 
 " Perhaps," cried Mr. Wharton in alarm, " they are -they are 
 continentals returning from the island." 
 
 " They look like rig'lars," said the pedler, with great meaning. 
 
 " Look !" repeated the Captain, " there is nothing but spots 
 to be seen." 
 
 Harvey disregarded his observation, but seemed to be solilo 
 quizing, as he said in an under tone, " they came out before the 
 gale have laid on the island these two days horse are or 
 the road there will soon be fighting near us." During this 
 speech, Birch several times glanced his eye towards Harper, with 
 evident uneasiness, but no corresponding emotion betrayed any 
 
 E
 
 40 THE SPY. 
 
 interest of that gentleman in the scene. He stood in silent con 
 templation of the view, and seemed enjoying the change in the 
 uir. As Birch concluded, however, Harper turned to his host, 
 and mentioned that his business would not admit of unnecessary 
 delay ; he would, therefore, avail himself of the fine evening to 
 ride a few miles on his journey. Mr. Wharton made many pro 
 fessions of regret at losing so agreeable an inmate ; but was too 
 mindful of his duty not to speed the parting guest, and orders 
 were instantly given to that effect. 
 
 The uneasiness of the pedler increased in a manner for which 
 nothing apparent could account ; his eye was constantly wander 
 ing towards the lower end of the vale, as if in expectation of 
 some interruption from that quarter. At length Caesar appeared, 
 leading the noble beast which was to bear the weight of the tra 
 veller. The pedler officiously assisted to tighten the girths, and 
 fasten the blue cloak and valise to the mail straps. 
 
 Every preparation being completed, Harper proceeded to take 
 his leave. To Sarah and her aunt he paid his compliments with 
 ease and kindness ; but when he came to Frances, he paused a 
 moment, while his face assumed an expression of more than ordi 
 nary benignity ; his eye repeated the blessing which had before 
 fallen from his lips, and the maid felt her cheeks glow, and heart 
 beat with a quicker pulsation, as he spoke his adieus. There was 
 a mutual exchange of polite courtesy between the host and his 
 parting guest ; but as Harper frankly offered his hand to Captain 
 Wharton, he remarked, in a manner of great solemnity 
 
 " The step you have undertaken is one of much danger, and 
 disagreeable consequences to yourself may result from it ; in such 
 a case, I may have it in my power to prove the gratitude I owe 
 your family for its kindness." 
 
 " Surely, sir," cried the father, losing sight of delicacy in ap 
 prehension for his child. " you will keep secret the discovery 
 which your being in my house has enabled you to make." 
 
 Harper turned quickly to the speaker, and then, losing the 
 sternness which had begun to gather on his countenance, he an 
 swered mildly, " I have learnt nothing in your family, sir, of 
 which I was ignorant before ; but your son is safer from my 
 knowledge of his visit than he would be without it." 
 
 He bowed to the whole party, and without taking any notice of 
 the pedler, other than by simply thanking him for his attentions, 
 mounted his horse, and riding steadily and gracefully through the 
 little gate, was soon lost behind the hill which sheltered the 
 valley to the northward. 
 
 The eyes of the pedler followed the retiring figure of the horse 
 man so long as it continued within view, and as it disappeared 
 from his sight, he drew a long and heavy sigh, as if relieved from 

 
 THE SPY. 41 
 
 a load of apprehension. The Whartons had meditated in silence 
 on the character and visit of their unknown guest for the same 
 period, when the father approached Birch, and observed 
 
 " I am yet your debtor, Harvey, for the tobacco you were so 
 kind as to bring me from the city." 
 
 " If it should not prove so good as the first," replied the ped- 
 ler, fixing a last and lingering look in the direction of Harper's 
 route, " it is owing to the scarcity of the article." 
 
 " I like it much," continued the other ; " but you have forgotten 
 to name the price." 
 
 The countenance of the trader changed, and losing its expres 
 sion of deep care in natural acuteness, he answered 
 
 " It is hard to say what ought to be the price ; I believe I must 
 leave it to your own generosity." 
 
 Mr. Wharton had taken a hand well filled with the images of 
 Carolus III. from his pocket, and now extended it towards Birch 
 with three of the pieces between his finger and thumb. Har 
 vey's eyes twinkled as he contemplated the reward ; and rolling 
 over in his mouth a large quantity of the article in question, 
 coolly stretched forth his hand, into which the dollars fell with a 
 most agreeable sound ; but not satisfied with the transient music 
 of their fall, the pedler gave each piece in succession a ring on 
 the stepping-stone to the piazza, before he consigned it to the 
 safe keeping of a huge deer-skin purse, which vanished from the 
 sight of the spectators so dexterously, that not one of them could 
 have told about what part of his person it was secreted. 
 
 The very material point in his business so satisfactorily com 
 pleted, the pedler rose from his seat on the floor of the piazza, 
 and approached to where Captain Wharton stood, supporting his 
 sisters on either arm, as they listened with the lively interest of 
 affection to his conversation. 
 
 This agitation of the preceding incidents had caused such an 
 expenditure of the juices which had become necessary to the 
 mouth of the pedler, that a new supply of the weed was required 
 before he could turn his attention to business of lesser moment 
 This done, he asked abruptly 
 
 " Captain Wharton, do you go in to-night ?" 
 
 "No !" said the Captain, laconically, and looking at his lovely 
 burdens with great affection. " Mr. Birch, would you have me 
 leave such company so soon, when I may never enjoy it again ?' 
 
 " Brother !" said Frances, in a low tone, " jesting on such a 
 subject is cruel." 
 
 " I rather guess," continued the pedler coolly, " now the storm 
 is over, " the Skinners may be moving ; you had better shorten 
 your visit, Captain Wharton.'' 
 
 " Oh !" cried the British officer, " a few guineas will buy off 
 
 E 2
 
 42 THE Sl'Y. 
 
 these rascals at any time, should I meet them. No, no, Mr. 
 Birch, here I stay until morning." 
 
 " Money could not liberate Major Andre," said the pedler dryly. 
 
 Both tke sisters now turned to the Captain in alarm, and the 
 elder observed 
 
 "You had better take the advice of Harvey; rest assured, 
 brother, his opinion in such matters ought not to be disregarded.'' 
 
 "Yes," added the younger, "if, as I suspect, Mr. Birch as 
 sisted you to come here, your safety, our happiness, dear Henry, 
 requires you to listen to him now." 
 
 " I brought myself out, and can take myself in," said the Cap 
 tain, positively ; " our bargain went no further than to procure 
 my disguise, and let me know when the coast was clear ; and in 
 the latter particular, you were mistaken, Mr. Birch." 
 
 " I was," said the pedler, with some interest, " and the greater 
 is the reason why you should get back to-night ; the pass I gave 
 you will serve but once." 
 
 " Cannot you forge another ?" 
 
 The pale cheek of the trader showed an unusual colour, but 
 he continued silent, with his eyes fixed to the ground, until the 
 young man added, with great positiveness " here I stay this 
 night, come what will." 
 
 " Captain Wharton," said the pedler, with great deliberation and 
 marked emphasis, "beware of a tall Virginian, with huge whis 
 kers ; he is below you to my knowledge ; the devil can't deceive 
 him ; I never could but once myself." 
 
 " Let him beware of me," said Wharton haughtily ; " but, Mr. 
 Birch, I exonerate you from further responsibility." 
 
 " Will you give me that in writing ?" asked the cautious Birch. 
 
 " Oh ! cheerfully," cried the Captain, with a laugh ; " Caesar ! 
 pen, ink, and paper, while I write a discharge for my trusty 
 attendant Harvey Birch, pedler, &c. &c." 
 
 The implements for writing were produced, and the Captain, 
 with great gayety, wrote the desired acknowledgment in language 
 of his own ; which the pedler took, and carefully depositing it 
 by the side of the images of his Catholic Majesty, made a sweep 
 ing bow to the whole family, and departed as he had approached. 
 He was soon seen at a distance, stealing into the door of his own 
 humble dwelling. 
 
 The father and sister of the Captain were too much rejoiced 
 at retaining the young man, to express, or even entertain, the 
 apprehensions his situation might reasonably excite ; but, on 
 retiring to their evening repast, a cooler reflection induced the 
 Captain to think of changing his mind. Unwilling to trust him 
 self out of the protection of his father's dominions, the young 
 man despatched Caesar to desire another interview with Harvey.
 
 THE SPY. 43 
 
 The black soon returned with the unwelcome intelligence that it 
 was now too late. Katy had told him that Harvey must be miles 
 on his road to the northward, " having left home at early candle 
 light with his pack." Nothing now remained to the Captain but 
 patience, until the morning afforded further opportunity for de 
 ciding on the best course for him to pursue, 
 
 " This Harvey Birch, with his knowing looks and portentous 
 warnings, gives me more uneasiness than 1 am willing to own," 
 said Captain Wharton, rousing himself from a fit of musing, in 
 which the danger of his situation made no small part of his me 
 ditations. 
 
 " How is it that he is able to travel to and fro in these difficult 
 times without molestation?" inquired Miss Peyton. 
 
 " Why the rebels suffer him to escape so easily, is more than I 
 can answer," returned the other; " but Sir Henry would not 
 permit a hair of his head to be injured." 
 
 " Indeed !" cried Francis with interest ; " is he then known to 
 Sir Henry Clinton?" 
 
 "At least he ought to be," said the Captain, smiling signifi 
 cantly. 
 
 " Do you think, my son," asked Mr. Wharton, " there is no 
 danger of his betraying you ?" 
 
 " Why no ; I reflected on that before I trusted myself to his 
 power," said the Captain, thoughtfully ; " he seems to be faithful 
 in matters of business- The danger to himself, should he return 
 to the city, would prevent such an act of villany." 
 
 " I think," said Frances, adopting the manner of her brother, 
 " Harvey Birch is not without good feelings ; at least he has the 
 appearance of them at times." 
 
 " Oh !" cried his sister, exulting, " he has loyalty, and that 
 with me is a cardinal virtue." 
 
 " I am afraid," said her brother, laughing, " love of money is 
 a stronger passion than love to his king." 
 
 "Then," said the father, "you cannot be safe while in his 
 power for no love will withstand the temptation of money, 
 when offered to avarice." 
 
 " Surely, sir," cried the youth, recovering his gayety, " there 
 must be one love that can resist anything is there not, Fanny ?" 
 
 " Here is your candle," said the distressed maiden, " you keep 
 your father up beyond his usual hour." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Through Solway sand?, through Tarass moss 
 Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross, 
 l?y wily turns, by desperate bounds, 
 Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds ;
 
 44 THE SPY. 
 
 In Eske, or Liddle, fords were none, 
 
 But he would ride them, one by one ; 
 
 Alike to him was time or tide, 
 
 December's snow, or July's pride ; 
 
 Alike to him was tide or time, 
 
 Moonless midnight, or matin prime. Walter Scott. 
 
 ALL the members of the Wharton family laid their heads on 
 their pillows that night with a fearful foreboding of some inter 
 ruption of their ordinary quiet. This uneasiness kept the sisters 
 from enjoying their usual repose, and they rose from their bed on 
 the following morning, unrefreshed, and almost without having 
 closed their eyes. 
 
 On taking an eager and hasty survey of the valley from the 
 windows of their room, nothing, however, but its usual serenity 
 was to be seen ; it was glittering with the opening brilliancy of 
 one of those lovely, mild days, which occur about the time of the 
 falling of the leaf ; and which, by their frequency, class the 
 American autumn with the most delightful seasons in other coun 
 tries. We have no spring ; vegetation here seems to leap into 
 existence, instead of creeping, as in the same latitude of the old 
 world : but how gracefully it retires ! September, October, even 
 November and December, compose the season for enjoyment in 
 the open air ; they have their storms, but they are distinct, and 
 not of long continuance, leaving a clear atmosphere and a cloud 
 less sky. 
 
 As nothing could be seen likely to interrupt the enjoyments 
 and harmony of such a day, the sisters descended to the parlour, 
 with a returning confidence in their brother's security, and their 
 own consequent happiness. 
 
 The family were early in assembling around the breakfast table ; 
 and Miss Peyton, with a little of that minute precision which 
 creeps into the habits of single life, had pleasantly insisted that 
 the absence of her nephew should in no manner interfere with 
 the regular hours she had established ; consequently, the party 
 were already seated when the Captain made his appearance ; 
 though the untasted coffee sufficiently proved, that by none of his 
 relatives was his absence disregarded. 
 
 " I think I did much better/' he cried, taking a chair between 
 his sisters, and receiving their offered salutes, " to secure a good 
 bed, and such a plentiful breakfast, instead of trusting to the 
 hospitality of that renowned corps, the Cow- Boys." 
 
 " If you could sleep," said Sarah, " you were more fortunate 
 than Frances and myself: every murmur of the night air sounded 
 to me like the approach of the rebel army." 
 
 " Why," said the Captain, laughing " I do acknowledge a little 
 inquietude myself but how was it with you," turning to his 
 younger and evidently favourite sister, ami tapping her check ;
 
 THE SPY. 45 
 
 " did you see banners in the clouds, and mistake Miss Peyton's 
 ./Eolian harp for rebellious music ? " 
 
 " Nay, Henry," rejoined the maid, looking at him affection 
 ately, " much as I love my own country, the approach of her 
 troops just now would give me great pain." 
 
 The brother made no reply, but returning the fondness ex 
 pressed in her eye by a look of fraternal tenderness, he gently 
 pressed her hand in silence ; when Caesar, who had participated 
 largely in the anxiety of the family, and who had risen with the 
 dawn, and kept a vigilant watch on the surrounding objects as he 
 stood gazing from one of the windows, exclaimed, with a face 
 that approached to something like the hues of a white man 
 
 "Run massa Harry run if love old Caesar, run here 
 come the rebel horse." 
 
 " Run !" repeated the British officer, gathering himself up in 
 an air of military pride ; " no, Mr. Caesar, running is not my 
 trade." While speaking, he walked deliberately to the window, 
 where the family were already collected in the greatest conster 
 nation. 
 
 At a distance of more than a mile, about fifty dragoons were 
 to be seen, winding down one of the lateral entrances to the 
 valley. In advance with an officer, was a man attired in the dress 
 of a countryman, who pointed in the direction of the cottage. 
 A small party now left the main body, and moved rapidly towards 
 the object of their destination. 
 
 On reaching the road which led through the bottom of the 
 valley, they turned their horses' heads to the north The Whar- 
 tons continued chained in breathless silence to the spot, watching 
 their movements, when the party having reached the dwelling of 
 Birch, made a rapid circle round his grounds, and in an instant 
 his house was surrounded by a dozen sentinels. 
 
 Two or three of the dragoons now dismounted and disappeared : 
 in a few minutes, however, they returned to the yard, followed by 
 Katy, from whose violent gesticulations, it was evident that mat 
 ters of no trifling concern were on the carpet. A short commu 
 nication with the loquacious housekeeper followed the arrival of 
 the main body of the troop, and the advanced party remounting, 
 the whole moved towards the Locusts with great speed. 
 
 As yet none of the family had sufficient presence of mind to 
 devise any means of security for Captain Wharton ; but the 
 danger now became too pressing to admit of any delay, and 
 various means of secreting him were hastily proposed ; but they 
 were all haughtily rejected by the young man, as unworthy of his 
 character. It was too late to retreat to the woods in the rear of 
 the cottage, for he would unavoidably be seen, and, followed by 
 a troop of horse, as inevitably taken.
 
 46 THE SPY. 
 
 At length, his sisters, with trembling hands, replaced his origi 
 nal disguise, the instruments of which had been carefully kept at 
 hand by Csesar, in expectation of some apprehended danger. 
 
 This arrangement was hastily and imperfectly completed, as 
 the dragoons entered the lawn and orchard of the Locusts, riding 
 with the rapidity of the wind ; and in their turn the Whartons 
 were surrounded. 
 
 Nothing remained now, but to meet the impending examination 
 with as much indifference as the family could assume. The leader 
 of the horse dismounted, and, followed by a couple of his men, 
 approached the outer door of the building, which was slowly and 
 reluctantly opened for his admission by Caesar. The heavy tread 
 of the trooper, as he followed the black to the door of the par 
 lour, rung in the ears of the females as it approached nearer and 
 nearer, and drove the blood from their faces to their hearts, with 
 a chill that nearly annihilated all feeling. 
 
 A man, whose colossal stature manifested the posession of vast 
 strength, entered the room, and removing his cap, saluted the 
 family with a mildness his appearance did not indicate as belong 
 ing to his nature. His dark hair hung around his brow in pro 
 fusion, though stained with the powder which was worn at that 
 day, and his face was nearly hid in his whiskers by which it was 
 disfigured. Still, the expression of his eye, though piercing, was 
 not bad, and his voice, though deep and powerful, was not un 
 pleasant. Frances ventured to throw a timid glance at his figure 
 as he entered, and saw at once the man, from whose scrutiny, 
 Harvey Birch had warned them, there was so much to be appre 
 hended. 
 
 " You have no cause for alarm, ladies," said the officer, pausing 
 a moment, and contemplating the pale faces around him " my 
 business will be confined to a few questions, which, if freely an 
 swered, will instantly remove us from your dwelling." 
 
 " And what may they be, sir ?" stammered Mr. Wharton, rising 
 from his chair, and waiting anxiously for the reply. 
 
 " Has there been a strange gentleman staying with you during 
 the storm ?" continued the dragoon, speaking with interest, and 
 in some degree sharing in the evident anxiety of the father. 
 
 " This gentleman -here favoured us with his company during 
 the rain, and has not yet departed ;" answered the agitated parent, 
 unable to look his interrogator in the face. 
 
 "This gentleman!" repeated the other, turning to Captain 
 Wharton, and contemplating his figure for a moment, until the 
 anxiety of his countenance gave place to a lurking smile. He 
 approached the youth with an air of comic gravity, and, with a 
 low bow, continued " I am sorry for the severe cold you have in 
 your head, sir."
 
 THE SPY. 47 
 
 " Me !" exclaimed the captain, in surprise ; " I have no cold 
 in my head." 
 
 " I fancied it then, from seeing you had covered such hand 
 some black locks with that ugly old wig," rejoined the stranger ; 
 " it was my mistake, you will please to pardon it." 
 
 Mr. Wharton groaned aloud ; but the ladies, ignorant of the 
 extent of their visitor's knowledge, remained in trembling yet 
 rigid silence. The captain himself moved his hand involuntarily 
 to his head, and discovered that the trepidation of his sisters had 
 left some of his natural hair exposed. The dragoon watched the 
 movement with a continued smile, when, seeming to recollect 
 himself, turning to the father, he proceeded 
 
 " Then, sir, I am to understand there has not been a Mr. Har 
 per here within the week." 
 
 " Mr. Harper," echoed the other, feeling a load removed from 
 his heart " yes, sir I had forgotten ; but he is gone ; and if 
 there be anything wrong in his character, we are in entire igno 
 rance of it to me he was a total stranger." 
 
 " You have but little to apprehend from his character," an 
 swered the dragoon, drily ; " but he is gone how when and 
 whither ?" 
 
 " He departed as he arrived," said Mr. Wharton, gathering re 
 newed confidence from the manner of the trooper, " on horse 
 back, last evening, and he took the northern road." 
 
 The officer listened to him with intense interest, his counten 
 ance gradually lighting into a smile of pleasure ; and the instant 
 Mr. Wharton concluded his laconic reply, he turned on his heel 
 and left the apartment. The Whartons, judging from his manner, 
 thought he was about to proceed in quest of the object of his 
 inquiries. They noticed the dragoon, on gaining the lawn, in 
 earnest, and apparently pleased, conversation with his two subal 
 terns. In a few moments orders were given to some of the troop, 
 and horsemen left the valley at full speed, by its various roads. 
 
 The suspense of the party within, who were all highly interested 
 witnesses of this scene, was shortly terminated ; for the heavy 
 tread of the dragoon soon announced his second approach. He 
 bowed again politely as he re-entered the room, and walking up 
 to Captain Wharton, said, with comic gravity 
 
 " Now, sir, my principal business being done, may I beg to 
 examine the quality of that wig?" 
 
 The British officer imitated the manner of the other, as he 
 deliberately uncovered his head, and handing him the wig, ob 
 served, " I hope, sir, it is to your liking." 
 
 " I cannot without violating the truth, say it is, sir," returned 
 the dragoon ; I prefer your ebony hair, from which you seem to 
 have combed the powder with great industry. But that must
 
 48 THE SPY. 
 
 have been a sad hurt you have received under this enormous black 
 patch." 
 
 " You appear so close an observer of things, I should like your 
 opinion of it, sir," said Henry, removing the silk, and exhibiting 
 his cheek free from blemish. 
 
 " Upon my word, sir, you improve most rapidly in externals," 
 added the trooper, preserving his muscles in inflexible gravity : 
 " if I could but persuade you to exchange this old surtout for 
 that handsome blue coat by your side, I think I never could wit 
 ness a more agreeable metamorphosis, since I was changed myself 
 from a lieutenant to a captain." 
 
 Young Wharton very composedly did as was required : and 
 stood an extremely handsome, well-dressed young man. The 
 dragoon looked at him for a minute with the drollery that cha 
 racterized his manner, and then continued 
 
 " This is a new comer in the scene ; it is usual, you know, for 
 strangers to be introduced ; I am Captain Lawton, of the Vir 
 ginia horse." 
 
 " And I, sir, am Captain Wharton, of his Majesty's 60th regi 
 ment of foot," returned Henry, bowing stiffly, and recovering his 
 natural manner. 
 
 The countenance of Lawton changed instantly, and his assumed 
 quaintness vanished. He viewed the figure of Captain Wharton, 
 as he stood proudly swelling with a conscious pride that disdained 
 further concealment, and cried, with great earnestness 
 
 " Captain Wharton, from my soul I pity you." 
 
 " Oh ! then cried the father in agony, " if you pity him, dear 
 sir, why molest him ? he is not a spy ; nothing but a desire to see 
 his friends prompted him to venture so far from the regular army 
 in disguise. Leave him with us ; there is no reward, no sum, 
 which I will not cheerfully pay." 
 
 " Sir, your anxiety for your friend excuses your language," 
 said Lawton, haughtily ; " but you forget I am a Virginian, and a 
 gentleman." Turning to the young man, he continued " Were 
 you ignorant, Captain Wharton, that our pickets have been below 
 you for several days?" 
 
 " I did not know it until I reached them, and it was then too 
 late to retreat,", said Wharton, sullenly. I came out, as my father 
 has mentioned, to see my friends, understanding your parties to 
 be at Peekskill, and near the Highlands, or surely I would not 
 have ventured." 
 
 " All this may be very true," said Lawton, musing ; '* but the 
 affair of Andre has made us on the alert. When treason reaches 
 the grade of general officers, Captain Wharton, it behoves the 
 friends of liberty to be vigilant." 
 
 Henry bowed to this remark in distant silence, but Sarah ven-
 
 THE SPY. 49 
 
 tured to urge something in behalf of her brother. The dragoon 
 heard her politely, and apparently with commiseration ; but willing 
 to avoid useless and embarrassing petitions, answered mildly 
 
 " I am not the commander of the party, madam ; Major Dun- 
 woodie will decide what must be done with your brother ; at all 
 events, he will receive nothing but kind and gentle treatment." 
 
 " Dunwoodie !" exclaimed Frances, with a face in which the 
 roses contended with the paleness of apprehension for the mas 
 tery; "thank God ! then Henry is safe." 
 
 Lawton regarded her with a mingled expression of pity and ad 
 miration ; then shaking his head doubtingly, he continued 
 
 " I hope so ; and with your permission, we will leave the matter 
 for his decision." 
 
 The colour of Frances changed from the paleness of fear to the 
 glow of hope. Her dread on behalf of her brother was certainly 
 greatly diminished ; yet her form shook, her breathing became 
 short and irregular, and her whole frame gave tokens of extraor 
 dinary agitation. Her eyes rose from the floor to the dragoon, 
 and were again fixed immovably on the carpet she evidently 
 wished to utter something, but was unequal to the effort. Miss 
 Peyton was a close observer of these movements of her niece, 
 and advancing with an air of feminine dignity, inquired 
 
 " Then, sir, we may expect the pleasure of Major Dunwoodie's 
 company shortly 1" 
 
 " Immediately, madam," answered the dragoon, withdrawing 
 his admiring gaze from the person of Frances, "expresses are 
 already on the road to announce to him our situation, and the in 
 telligence will speedily bring him to this valley, unless, indeed ;" 
 he continued, contracting his lips, and looking droll, as he turned 
 to Mr. Wharton, " some private reasons may exist to make a visit 
 particularly unpleasant." 
 
 " I shall always be happy to see Major Dunwoodie," said the 
 father hastily, overhearing the soliloquy of the trooper. 
 
 Oh ! doubtless, sir," said the other ; " he is a general favourite. 
 May I presume on it so far as to ask leave and dismount and re 
 fresh my men, who compose a part of his squadron ?" 
 
 There was a manner about the trooper, that would have made 
 the omission of such a request easily forgiven by Mr. Wharton, 
 but he was fairly entrapped by his own eagerness to conciliate, 
 and it was useless to withhold a consent which he thought would 
 probably be extorted ; he therefore made the most of the necessity 
 of the case, and gave such orders as would facilitate the wishes 
 of Captain Lawton. 
 
 The officers were politely invited to take their morning's repast 
 at the family breakfast table ; and having first made their arrange 
 ments without, the invitation was frankly accepted. None of the
 
 50 THE SPY. 
 
 watchfulness, which was so necessary to their situation, was neg 
 lected by the wary partisan. The patroles were seen on the dis 
 tant hills, taking their protecting circuit around their comrades, 
 who were enjoying, in the midst of dangers, a security that can 
 only spring from the watchfulness of discipline, and the indifference 
 of habit. 
 
 The addition to the party at Mr. Wharton's table was in num 
 ber only three, and they were all of them men who, under the 
 rough exterior induced by actual and arduous service, concealed 
 the manners of the highest class of society. Consequently, the 
 interruption to the domestic privacy of the family was marked by 
 the observance of strict decorum. The ladies left the table to 
 their guests, who proceeded, without much superfluous diffidence, 
 to do proper honours to the hospitality of Mr. Wharton. 
 
 At length, Captain Lawton suspended for a moment his violent 
 attacks on the buckwheat cakes, to inquire of the master of the 
 house, if there was not a pedler, of the name of Birch, who lived 
 in the valley at times. 
 
 "At times only, I believe, sir," replied Mr. Wharton, cautiously; 
 " he is seldom here ; I may say I never see him." 
 
 " That is strange, too," said the trooper, looking at the discon 
 certed host intently, " considering he is your next neighbour ; he 
 must be quite domestic, sir ; and to the ladies it must be some 
 what inconvenient. I doubt not but that muslin in the window- 
 seat cost twice as much as he would have asked them for it." 
 
 Mr. Wharton turned in consternation, and saw some of the re 
 cent purchases scattered about the room. 
 
 The two subalterns smiled on each other significantly, but the 
 Captain resumed his breakfast with an eagerness that created a 
 doubt whether he ever expected to enjoy another. The necessity 
 of a supply from the dominion of Dinah soon, however, afforded 
 iuiother respite, of which Lawton availed himself to say 
 
 " I had a wish to break this Mr. Birch of his unsocial habits, 
 and gave him a call this morning ; had I found him within, I 
 should have placed him where he would enjoy life in the midst of 
 society, for a short time at least." 
 
 " And where might that be, sir ?" asked Mr. Wharton, con 
 ceiving it necessary to say something. 
 
 " The guard-room," said the trooper, drily. 
 
 "What is the offence of poor Birch?" asked Miss Peyton, 
 handing the dragoon a fourth dish of coffee. 
 
 " Poor !" cried the Captain; " if he is poor, John Bull must 
 pay him ill." 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said one of the subalterns, " king George owes 
 him a dukedom." 
 
 " And congress a halter," continued the commanding officer, 
 commencing anew on a fresh supply of the cakes.
 
 THE SPY. 51 
 
 " I am sorry," said Mr. Wharton, that any neighbour of mine 
 should incur the displeasure of our rulers." 
 
 " If I catch him," cried the dragoon, while buttering another 
 cake, " he will dangle from the limbs of one of his namesakes." 
 
 " He would make a very pretty ornament, suspended from one 
 of those locusts before his own door," added the lieutenant, coolly. 
 
 " Never mind," continued the Captain, " I will have him yet 
 before I'm a Major." 
 
 As the language of these officers appeared to flow from the 
 strength of their feelings, the Whartons thought it prudent to 
 discontinue the subject. It was no new intelligence to any of the 
 family, that Harvey Birch was distrusted, and greatly harassed, 
 by the American officers. His escapes from their hands, not less 
 than his imprisonments, had been the conversation of the country 
 in too many instances, and under circumstances of too great mys 
 tery, to be easily forgotten. In fact, no small part of the bitter 
 ness expressed by Captain Lawton against the pedler, arose from 
 the unaccountable disappearance of the latter, when intrusted to 
 the custody of two of his most faithful dragoons. 
 
 A twelvemonth had not yet elapsed, since Birch had been seeii 
 lingering near the head-quarters of the commander-in'chief, and 
 at a time when important movements were expected hourly to 
 occur. So soon as the information of this fact was communicated 
 to the officer, whose duty it was to guard the avenues to the 
 American camp, he despatched Captain Lawton in pursuit of the 
 suspected pedler. 
 
 Acquainted with all the passes of the hills, and indefatigable in 
 the discharge of his duty, the trooper had, with much trouble and 
 toil, succeeded in effecting his object. The party had halted at a 
 farm house for the purposes of refreshment, and the prisoner was 
 placed in a room by himself, but under the keeping of the two 
 men before mentioned ; all that was known subsequently is, that 
 a woman was seen busily engaged in the employments of the 
 household near the sentinels, and was particularly attentive to the 
 wants of the Captain, until he was deeply engaged in the employ 
 ments of the supper table. 
 
 Afterwards, neither woman nor pedler were to be found. The 
 pack, indeed, was discovered open, and nearly empty, and a small 
 door, communicating with a room adjoining to the one in which 
 the pedler had been secured, was also open. 
 
 Captain Lawton never could forgive the deception ; his anti 
 pathies to his enemies were not very moderate, but this was adding 
 an insult to his penetration that rankled deeply. He sat in por 
 tentous silence, brooding over this exploit of his prisoner, yet 
 mechanically pursuing the business before him ; until, after suf 
 ficient time had passed to make a very comfortable ineal, a trum- 
 
 F
 
 52 THE SPY. 
 
 pet suddenly broke on the ears of the party, sending its martial 
 tones up the valley in startling melody. The trooper rose in 
 stantly from the table, exclaiming 
 
 " Quick, gentlemen, to your horses ; there comes Dunwoodie," 
 and, followed by his officers, he precipitately left the room. 
 
 With the exception of the sentinels left to guard Captain 
 Wharton, the dragoons mounted, and marched out to meet their 
 comrades. 
 
 None of the watchfulness necessary in war, where similarity of 
 language, appearance, and customs rendered prudence doubly 
 necessary, was omitted by this cautious leader. On getting suf 
 ficiently near, however, to a body of horse of more than double 
 his own number, to distinguish countenances, Lawton plunged 
 his rowels in his charger, and in a moment was by the side of his 
 commander. 
 
 The ground in front of the cottage was again occupied by the 
 horse ; and, observing the same precautions as before, the newly 
 arrived troops hastened to participate in the cheer prepared for 
 their comrades. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 -" let the conquerors boast 
 
 Their fields of fame he who in virtue arms 
 A young warm spirit against beauty's charms, 
 Who feels her brightness, yet defies her thrall, 
 Is the best, bravest conqueror of them all." Moore. 
 
 THE ladies of the Wharton family had collected about a window, 
 deeply interested in the scene we have related. 
 
 Sarah viewed the approach of her countrymen with a smile of 
 contemptuous indifference for the persons and appearance of men, 
 whom she thought arrayed in the unholy cause of rebellion. Miss 
 Peyton looked on the gallant show with an exulting pride, which 
 arose in the reflection, that the warriors before her were the cho 
 sen troops of her native colony, while Frances gazed with an in 
 tensity of interest that absorbed all other considerations. 
 
 The two parties had not yet joined, before her quickly glancing 
 eyes distinguished one horseman in particular from those around 
 him. Even the steed of this youthful soldier seemed to be con 
 scious that he sustained the weight of no common man ; his 
 hoofs but lightly touched the earth, and his airy tread was the 
 curbed motion of a blooded charger. 
 
 The dragoon sat gracefully in his saddle, with a firmness and 
 ease that showed him master of both himself and horse ; his 
 figure united the just proportions of strength and activity, being 
 tall, round, and muscular. It was to this officer Lawton made 
 his report, and side by side they rode into the field opposite to 
 the cottnge.
 
 THE SPY. 53 
 
 The heart of the maiden beat with a pulsation nearly stifling, 
 as he paused for a moment, and took a surve)' of the building, 
 with an eye whose dark and sparkling glance could be seen, not 
 withstanding the distance between them ; her colour changed, 
 and for an instant, as she saw the youth throw himself from his 
 saddle, she was compelled to seek relief to her trembling limbs in 
 a chair. 
 
 The officer gave a few hasty orders to his second in command, 
 walked rapidly into the lawn, and approached the cottage. Frances 
 rose from her seat, and vanished from the apartment. The dra 
 goon ascended the steps of the piazza, and had barely time to 
 touch the outer door, when it opened to his admission. 
 
 The youth of Frances, when she left the city, had prevented her 
 sacrificing, in conformity to the customs of that day, all her native 
 beauties on the altar of fashion. Her hair, which was of a golden 
 richness of colour, was left, untortured, to fall in the natural ring 
 lets of her infancy, and shaded a face which was glowing with the 
 united charms of health, youth, and artlessness ; her eyes spoke 
 volumes, but her tongue was silent ; her hands were interlocked 
 before her, and, aided by her taper form, bending forward in an 
 attitude of expectation, gave a loveliness and interest to her ap 
 pearance, that for a moment chained her lover in silence to the spot. 
 
 Frances silently led the way into the vacant parlour, opposite 
 to the one in which the family were assembled, and turning to the 
 soldier frankly, placing both her hands in his own, exclaimed 
 " Ah, Dunwoodie ! how happy, on many accounts, I am to see 
 you j I have brought you in here, to prepare you to meet an un 
 expected friend in the opposite room." 
 
 " To whatever cause it may be owing," cried the youth, pressing 
 her hands to his lips, " I, too, am happy in being able to see you 
 alone. Frances, the probation you have decreed to my love is 
 cruel ; war and distance may shortly separate us for ever." 
 
 " We must submit to the necessity which governs us," said the 
 maid, losing the glow of excitement in a more melancholy feeling. 
 " But it is not love speeches I would hear now : I have other and 
 more important matter for your attention." 
 
 " What can be of more importance than to make you mine by 
 a tie that may be indissoluble ! Frances, you are cold to me 
 me from whose mind, days of service and nights of alarm have 
 never been able to banish your image." 
 
 " Dear Dunwoodie," said Frances, softening nearly to tears, 
 and again extending her hand to him, as the richness of her colour 
 gradually returned, "you know my sentiments this war once 
 ended, and you may take that hand for ever but I can never con 
 sent to tie myself to you by any closer union than already exists, 
 so long as you are arrayed in arms against my only brother. Even 
 
 F 2
 
 54 THE SPY. 
 
 now that brother is awaiting your decision to restore him to liberty, 
 or conduct him to a probable death." 
 
 " Your brother !" cried Dunvvoodie, starting and turning pale ; 
 " your brother ! explain yourself what dreadful meaning is con 
 cealed in your words ?" 
 
 " Has not Captain Lawton told you of the arrest of Henry, as 
 a spy, by himself this very morning ?" continued Frances, in a 
 voice barely audible, and fixing on her lover a look of the deepest 
 and most anxious interest. 
 
 " He told me of arresting a Captain of the 60th in disguise, but 
 without mentioning where or whom," replied the Major in a simi 
 lar tone, and dropping his head between his hands, he endeavoured 
 to conceal his feelings from his companion. 
 
 " Dunwoodie ! Dunwoodie !" exclaimed Frances, losing all her 
 former confidence in the most fearful apprehensions, " what means 
 this agitation ?" As the Major slowly raised his face, in which 
 was pictured the most expressive concern, she continued, " surely, 
 surely, you will not betray your friend my brother your brother 
 to an ignominious death." 
 
 " Frances !" exclaimed the young man in agony, " what can I 
 do what can I do?" 
 
 " Do !" repeated the maid, gazing at him wildly; "would Major 
 Dunwoodie yield his friend to his enemies the brother of his be 
 trothed wife ?" 
 
 " Oh speak not so unkindly to me, dearest Miss Wharton my 
 own Frances. I would this moment die for you for Henry but 
 cannot forget my duty cannot forfeit my honour ; you yourself 
 would be the first to despise me if I did." 
 
 " Peyton Dunwoodie !" said Frances, solemnly, and with a face 
 of ashy paleness, " you have told me you have sworn that you 
 loved me." 
 
 " I do, I do," interrupted the soldier, with fervour ; but the 
 maid, motioning with her hand for silence, continued, in a voice 
 that trembled with her emotions 
 
 " Do you think I can throw myself into the arms of a man 
 whose hands are stained with the blood of my only brother?" 
 
 " Frances !" exclaimed the Major, in agony, " you wring my 
 very heart ;" then pausing for a moment to struggle with his 
 feelings, he endeavoured to force a smile, as he added, " but after 
 all, we may be torturing ourselves with unnecessary fears, and 
 Henry, when I know the circumstances, may be nothing more 
 than a prisoner of war ; in which case I can liberate him on a 
 parole." 
 
 There is no more delusive passion than hope ; and it seems to 
 be the unhappy privilege of youth to cull all the pleasures that 
 can be gathered from its indulgence. It is when we are most
 
 THE SPY. 55 
 
 worthy of confidence ourselves, that we are least apt to distrust ; 
 and what we think ought to be, we are fond to think will be. 
 
 The half-formed expectations of the young soldier were com 
 municated to the desponding sister more by the eye than the 
 voice, and the blood rushed again to her cheek, as she cried 
 
 " Oh ! there can be no just grounds to doubt it : I knew I 
 knew Dunwoodie, you would never desert us in the hour of our 
 greatest need." The violence of her feelings conquered, and the 
 agitated girl burst into a flood of tears. 
 
 The office of consoling those who love is one of the dearest 
 prerogatives of affection, and Major Dunwoodie, although but 
 little encouraged by his own momentary suggestion of relief, 
 could not undeceive the lovely woman who leaned on his shoulder, 
 as he wiped the traces of her agitated feelings from her face, with 
 a trembling, but reviving confidence, in the safety of her brother, 
 and the protection of her lover. 
 
 Frances having sufficiently recovered her recollection to com 
 mand herself, now eagerly led the way into the opposite room, to 
 communicate to her family the pleasing intelligence which she 
 already conceived as certain. 
 
 Dunwoodie followed her reluctantly, and with dreadful fore 
 bodings of the result ; but a few moments brought him into the 
 presence of his relatives, and he summoned all his resolution to 
 meet the approaching trial with firmness. 
 
 The salutations of the young men were cordial and sincere, 
 and, on the part of Henry Wharton, as collected as if nothing 
 had occurred to disturb his self-possession. 
 
 The abhorrence of being, in any manner, auxiliary to the arrest 
 of his friend ; the danger to the life of Captain Wharton ; and 
 the heart-breaking declarations of Frances, had, however, created 
 an uneasiness in the bosom of Major Dunwoodie, which all his 
 efforts could not conceal. His reception by the rest of the family 
 was kind and sincere, both from old regard, and a remembrance 
 of former obligations, heightened by the anticipations they could 
 not fail to read in the expressive eyes of the blushing maid by 
 his side. After exchanging greetings with every member of the 
 family, Major Dunwoodie beckoned to the sentinel, whom the 
 wary prudence of Captain Lawton bad left in charge of the pri 
 soner, to leave the room. Turning to Captain Wharton, with an 
 air of fixed resolution, he inquired mildly 
 
 " Tell me, Henry, the circumstances of this disguise, in which 
 Captain Lawton reports you to have been found, and remember 
 remember Captain Wharton your answers are entirely volun 
 tary." 
 
 " The disguise was used by me, Major Dunwoodie," replied 
 
 F 3
 
 56 THE SPY. 
 
 the English officer, gravely, " to enable me to visit my friends, 
 without incurring the danger of becoming a prisoner of war." 
 
 " But you did not wear ,it until you saw the troop of Lawton 
 approaching?" inquired the Major, quickly. 
 
 " Oh ! no," interrupted Frances, eagerly, forgetting all the cir 
 cumstances in her anxiety for her brother ; " Sarah and myself 
 placed them on him when the dragoons appeared ; it was our 
 awkwardness that led to the discovery." 
 
 The countenance of Dunwoodie brightened as turning his eyes 
 in fond admiration on the lovely speaker, he heard her explana 
 tion, and he added 
 
 " Probably some articles of your own, which were at hand, 
 and were used on the spur of the moment." 
 
 " No," said Wharton, with dignity, " the clothes were worn by 
 me from the city ; they were procured for the purpose to which 
 they were applied, and I intended to use them in disguising me 
 in my return this very day." 
 
 The appalled Frances shrunk back from between her brother 
 and lover, where her ardent feelings had carried her, as the whole 
 truth glanced over her mind, and she sank into a seat, gazing 
 wildly on the young men who stood before her. 
 
 " But the pickets the party at the plains" added Dunwoo 
 die, turning pale. 
 
 " I passed them too in disguise," continued Wharton, proudly ; 
 " I made use of this pass, for which I paid ; and, as it bears the 
 name of Washington, I presume it is forged." 
 
 Dunwoodie caught the paper from his hand eagerly, and stood 
 gazing on the signature for some time in silence, during which 
 the soldier gradually prevailed over the man, when he turned to 
 the prisoner, with a searching look, as he asked 
 
 " Captain Wharton, whence did you procure this paper ?" 
 
 " That is a question, I conceive. Major Dunwoodie has no 
 right to ask," said the other distantly. 
 
 " Your pardon, sir," resumed the American officer ; " my feel 
 ings may have led me into an impropriety." 
 
 Mr. Wharton who had been a deeply interested auditor to the 
 conversation, now so far conquered his feelings as to say, " surely, 
 Major Dunwoodie, the paper cannot be material ; such artifices 
 are used daily in war." 
 
 " This name is no counterfeit," said the dragoon, studying the 
 characters, and speaking in a low voice ; " is treason yet among 
 us undiscovered ? The confidence of Washington has been 
 abused, for the fictitious name is in a different hand from the pass. 
 Captain Whartou, my duty will not suffer me to grant you a 
 parole : you must accompany me to the Highlands. 
 
 " I did not expect otherwise, Major Dunwoodie," said the pri-
 
 THE SPY. 57 
 
 soner haughtily, moving towards his father, and speaking to him 
 in a low tone. 
 
 Dumvoodie turned slowly towards his sister, when the figure 
 of Frances once more arrested his gaze. She had risen from her 
 seat, and stood again with her hands clasped before him in an 
 attitude of intense interest : feeling himself unable to contend 
 longer with his feelings, he made a hurried excuse for a temporary 
 absence, and left the room. Frances followed him, and obedient 
 to the direction of her eye, the soldier re-entered the apartment 
 in which had been their first interview. 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie," said Frances, in a voice barely audible, 
 as she beckoned to him to be seated ; her cheek, which had been 
 of a chilling whiteness, was flushed with a suffusion that crim 
 soned her whole countenance, she struggled with herself for a 
 moment, and continued, " I have already acknowledged to you 
 my esteem ; even now, when you most painfully distress me, I 
 wish not to conceal it. Believe me, Henry is innocent of every 
 thing but imprudence. Our country can sustain no wrong." 
 Again she paused, and almost gasped for breath ; her colour 
 changed rapidly from red to white, until the blood rushed into her 
 face, covering her features with the brightest vermilion ; and she 
 added hastily, in an under tone, " I have promised Dunwoodie, 
 when peace is restored to our country, to become your wife ; give 
 to my brother his liberty on parole, and I will this day go with 
 you to the altar, follow you to the camp ; and, in becoming a 
 soldier's bride, learn to endure a soldier's privations." 
 
 Dunwoodie seized the hand which the blushing girl had, in her 
 ardour, extended towards him, and pressed it for a moment to 
 his bosom ; then rising from his seat, he paced the room in ex 
 cessive agitation, and exclaimed 
 
 " Frances, say no more, I conjure you, unless you wish to 
 break my heart." 
 
 "Youthen reject my offered hand?" said the maid, with an 
 air of offended delicacy, rising with dignity, though her pale 
 cheek and quivering lip plainly showed the conflicting passions 
 within. 
 
 " Reject it !" cried her lover, with enthusiasm ; " have I not 
 sought it with entreaties with tears ? Has it not been the goal 
 of all my earthly wishes ? But to take it under such conditions 
 would be to dishonour us both. Yet hope for better things. 
 Henry must be acquitted ; perhaps not tried. No intercession 
 of mine will be wanting, you must well know ; and believe me, 
 Frances, I am not without favour with Washington." 
 
 "That very paper, that abuse of his confidence, to which you 
 alhuled, will steel him to my brother's sufferings. If threats or 
 entreaties could move his stern sense of justice, would Andre"
 
 58 THE SPY. 
 
 have suffered ?" said Frances, despairingly, as she flew from the 
 room to conceal the violence of her emotions. 
 
 Dunwoodie remained for a minute nearly stupified, at the dis 
 tress of his mistress and the pain of his own feelings ; and then 
 followed with a view to vindicate himself, and relieve her appre 
 hensions. On entering the hall that divided the two parlours, 
 he was met by a small ragged boy who looked one moment at his 
 dress, and placing a piece of paper in his hands in silence, imine- 
 diotely vanished through the outer door of the building. The 
 bewildered state of his mind, and the suddenness of the occur 
 rence, gave the Major barely time to observe the messenger to be 
 a country lad, meanly attired, and that he held in his hand one 
 of those toys which are to be bought in cities, and which he now 
 apparently contemplated with the conscious pleasure of having 
 fairly purchased, by the performance of the service required. The 
 soldier turned his eyes to the subject of the note. It was written 
 on a piece of torn and soiled paper, and in a hand barely legible ; 
 but, after some little labour, he was able to make out as follows : 
 " The rig'lars are at hand, horse and foot." 
 
 Dunwoodie started ; and forgetting everything in the duties of 
 a soldier, precipitately left the house. While walking rapidly 
 towards the troops, he noticed on a distant hill a vidette riding 
 with speed ; several pistols were fired in quick succession, and the 
 next instant the trumpets of the corps rung in his ears with the 
 enlivening strain of " to arms." By the time he had reached 
 the ground occupied by his squadron, the Major saw that every 
 man was in active motion. Lawton was already in his saddle, 
 eyeing the opposite extremity of the valley with the eagerness 
 of expectation, and crying to the musicians, in tones but little 
 lower than their own 
 
 " Sound away, my lads, and let these Englishmen know, that 
 the Virginia horse are between them and the end of their journey." 
 
 The videttes and patrols now came pouring in, each making in 
 succession his hasty report to the commanding officer, who gave 
 his orders coolly, and with a promptitude that made obedience 
 certain. Once only, as he wheeled his horse to ride over the 
 ground in front, did Dunwoodie trust himself with a look at the 
 cottage, and his heart beat with an unusual rapidity as he saw a 
 female figure standing, with clasped hands, at a window of the 
 room in which he had met Frances. The distance was too great 
 to distinguish her features through the intervening object ; but 
 the soldier could not doubt that it was his mistress. The paleness 
 of his cheek and the languor of his eye endured but for a moment 
 longer. As he rode towards the intended battle-ground, a flush 
 of ardour began to show itself on his sunburnt features ; and his 
 dragoons, who studied the face of their leader, as the best index
 
 THE SPY. 59 
 
 to their own fate, saw again the wonted flashing of the eyes, and 
 cheerful animation, which they had so often witnessed on the eve 
 of battle. By the additions of the videttes and parties that had 
 heen out, and which now had all joined, the whole number of 
 the horse was increased to nearly two hundred. There was also 
 a small body of wounded men, whose ordinary duties were those 
 of guides, but who, in cases of emergency, were embodied and 
 did duty as foot soldiers ; these were dismounted, and proceeded, 
 by the order of Dunwoodie, to level the few fences which might 
 interfere with the intended movements of the cavalry. The 
 neglect of husbandry, which had been occasioned by the war, 
 left this a comparatively easy task. Those long lines of heavy 
 and durable walls, which now sweep through every part of the 
 country, forty years ago were unknown. The slight and totter 
 ing fences of stone were then used more to clear the land for 
 the purposes of cultivation, than as permanent barriers in the 
 divisions of estates, and required the constant attention of the 
 husbandman, to preserve them against the fury of the tempests 
 and the frosts of winter. Some few of them had been built with 
 more care immediately around the dwelling of Mr. Wharton ; 
 but those which had intersected the vale below were now generally 
 a pile of ruins, over which the horses of the Virginians would 
 bound with the fleetness of the wind. Occasionally a short line 
 yet preserved its erect appearance, but as none of these crossed 
 the ground on which Dunwoodie intended to act, there remained 
 only the slighter fences of rails to be thrown down. Their duty 
 was hastily, but effectually performed ; and the guides withdrew 
 to the post assigned to them for the approaching fight. 
 
 Major Dunwoodie had received from his scouts all the intel 
 ligence concerning his foe, which was necessary to enable him 
 to make his arrangements. The bottom of the valley was an 
 even plain, that fell with a slight inclination from the foot of the 
 hills on either side, to the level of a natural meadow, that wound 
 through the country on the banks of a small stream, by whose 
 waters it was often inundated and fertilized. This brook was 
 easily forded in any part of its course ; and the only impediment 
 it offered to the movements of the horse was in a place where it 
 changed its bed from the western to the eastern side of the valley, 
 and where its banks were more steep and difficult of access than 
 common ; here the highway crossed it by a rough wooden bridge, 
 as it did again at the distance of half a mile above the Locusts. 
 
 The hills on the western side of the valley were abrupt, and 
 frequently obtruded themselves in rocky prominences into its 
 bosom, lessening the width to half its usual dimensions. One of 
 these projections was but a short distance in the rear of the 
 squadron of dragoons, and Dunwoodie directed Captain Lawton
 
 60 THE SPY. 
 
 to withdraw, with two troops, behind its cover. The officer 
 obeyed with a kind of surly reluctance, that was, however, some 
 what lessened by the anticipations of the effect his sudden ap 
 pearance would make on his enemy. Dunwoodie knew his man, 
 and had selected the Captain for this service, both because he 
 feared his precipitation in the field, and knew, when needed, his 
 support would never fail to appear. It was only in front of the 
 enemy that Captain Lawton was hasty ; at all other times his 
 discernment and self-possession were consummately preserved ; 
 but he sometimes forgot them in his eagerness to engage. On 
 the left of the ground on which Dunwoodie intended to meet his 
 foe, was a close wood, which skirted that side of the valley for 
 the distance of a mile. Into this, then, the guides retired, and 
 took their station near its edge, in such a manner as would 
 enable them to maintain a scattering, but effectual fire, on the 
 advancing column of the enemy. 
 
 It cannot be supposed that all these preparations were made 
 unheeded by the inmates of the cottage ; on the contrary, every 
 feeling which can agitate the human breast, in witnessing such a 
 scene, was actively alive. Mr. Wharton alone saw no hopes to 
 himself in the termination of the conflict. If the British should 
 prevail, his son would be liberated ; but what would then be his 
 own fate ! He had hitherto preserved his neutral character in 
 the midst of trying circumstances. The fact of his having a 
 son in the royal, or, as it was called, the regular army, had very 
 nearly brought his estates to the hammer. Nothing had ob 
 viated this result, but the powerful interest of the relation, who 
 held a high political rank in the state, and his own vigilant pru 
 dence. In his heart, he was a devoted loyalist ; and when the 
 blushing Frances had communicated to him the wishes of her. 
 lover, on their return from the American camp the preceding 
 spring, the consent he had given to her future union with a rebel, 
 was as much extracted by the increasing necessity which existed 
 for his obtaining republican support, as by any consideration for 
 the happiness of his child- Should his son now be rescued, he 
 would, in the public mind, be united with him as a plotter against 
 the freedom of the states : and should he remain a captive, and 
 undergo the impending trial, the consequences might be still 
 more dreadful. Much as he loved his wealth, Mr. Wharton 
 loved his children better ; and he sat gazing on the movements 
 without, with a listless vacancy in his countenance, that denoted 
 his imbecility of character. 
 
 Far different were the feelings of his son. Captain Wharton 
 had been left in the keeping of two dragoons, one of whom 
 marched too and fro the piazza with a measured tread, and tne 
 other had been directed to continue in the same apartment with
 
 THE SPY. 61 
 
 his prisoner. The young man had witnessed all the movements 
 of Dunwoodie with admiration at the ability he had displayed, 
 and some fearful anticipations of the consequences to his friends. 
 He particularly disliked the ambush of the detachment under 
 Lawton, who could be distinctly seen from the windows of the 
 cottage, cooling his impatience, by pacing on foot the ground in 
 front of his men. Henry Wharton threw several hasty and in 
 quiring glances around, to see if no means of liberation would 
 offer, but invariably found the eyes of his sentinel fixed on him 
 with the watchfulness of an Argus. He longed, with the ardour 
 of youth, to join in the glorious fray, but was compelled to re 
 main a dissatisfied spectator of a scene in which he would so cheer 
 fully have been an actor. Miss Peyton and Sarah continued 
 gazing on the preparations with varied emotions, in which con 
 cern for the fate of the Captain formed the most prominent 
 feeling, until the moment the shedding of -blood seemed approach 
 ing, when, with the timidity of their sex, they sought the retire 
 ment of an inner room. Not so Frances ; she had returned to 
 the apartment where she had left Dunwoodie, and, from one of 
 its windows, been a deeply interested spectator of all his move 
 ments. The wheelings of the troops, the deadly preparations, 
 had all been unnoticed ; the maid saw her lover only, and with 
 mingled emotions of admiration and dread that nearly chilled 
 her. At one moment, the blood rushed to her heart, as she saw 
 the young warrior riding gracefully, and with admirable skill, 
 through his ranks, evidently giving life and courage to all whom 
 he addressed ; and the next, it curdled with the thought, that the 
 very gallantry she so much valued, might soon prove the means 
 of placing the grave between her and the object of her regard. 
 Frances gazed until she could gaze no longer. 
 
 In a field on the left of the cottage, and at a short distance in 
 the rear of the troops, were a small group, whose occupations 
 seemed to differ from all around them. They were in number 
 only three, being two men and a mulatto boy. The principal 
 personage of this party was a man, whose leanness made his 
 really tall stature appear excessive. He wore spectacles was 
 unarmed, had dismounted, and seemed to be dividing his atten 
 tion between a cigar, a book, and the incidents of the field before 
 him. To this party Frances determined to send a note, directed 
 to Dunwoodie. She wrote hastily, with a pencil, " Come to me, 
 Peyton, if it be but for a moment ;" and Ca;sar emerged from 
 the cellar kitchen, taking the precaution to go by the rear of the 
 building, to avoid the sentinel on the piazza, who had very cava 
 lierly ordered all the family to remain housed. The black deli 
 vered the note to the gentleman, with a request that it might be 
 forwarded to Major Dunwoodie. It was the surgeon of the horse
 
 62 THE SPY. 
 
 to whom Caesar addressed himself; and the teeth of the African 
 chattered, as he saw displayed upon the ground the several in 
 struments which were in preparation for the anticipated operations. 
 The doctor himself seemed to view the arrangement with great 
 satisfaction, as he deliberately raised his eyes from his book to 
 order the boy to convey the note to his commanding officer, and 
 then dropping them quietly on the page, he continued his occu 
 pation. Caesar was slowly retiring, as the third personage, who, 
 by his dress, might be an inferior assistant of the surgical depart 
 ment, coolly inquired, " if he would have a leg taken off." This 
 question seemed to remind the black of the existence of those 
 limbs, for he made such use of them as to reach the piazza at the 
 same instant that Major Dunvvoodie rode up at half speed. The 
 brawny sentinel squared himself, and poised his sword with mili 
 tary precision, as he stood on his post while his officer passed ; 
 but no sooner had the door closed, than, turning to the negro, he 
 said, with great deliberation 
 
 " Harkee, blacky, if you quit the house again without my know 
 ledge, I will shave off one of those ebony ears with this razor." 
 
 Thus assailed in another member, Caesar hastily retreated into 
 the kitchen, muttering something, in which the words " Skinner, 
 and rebel rascal," formed a principal part of his speech. 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie," said Frances to her lover, as he entered, 
 " I may have done you injustice ; if I have appeared harsh" 
 
 The emotions of the agitated girl prevailed, and she burst into 
 tears. 
 
 "Frances," cried the soldier with warmth, "you are never 
 harsh, never unjust, but when you doubt my love." 
 
 " Ah ! Dunwoodie," added the sobbing girl, " you are about 
 to risk your life in battle ; remember that there is one heart whose 
 happiness is built on your safety ; brave I know you are ; be 
 prudent" 
 
 " For your sake ?" inquired the delighted youth. 
 
 "For my sake," replied Frances, in a voice barely audible, and 
 dropping on his bosom. 
 
 Dunwoodie folded her to his heart, and was about to speak, as 
 a trumpet sounded in the southern end of the vale. Imprinting 
 one long kiss of affection on her unresisting lips, the soldier tore 
 himself from his mistress, and hastened to the scene of strife. 
 
 Frances threw herself on a sofa, buried her hand under its 
 cushion, and with her shawl drawn over her face, to exclude as 
 much of sound as possible, continued there until the shouts of 
 the combatants, the rattling of the fire-arms, and the thundering 
 tread of the horses had ceased.
 
 THE SPY. 63 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 I see you stand, like grey-hounds in the slips, 
 
 Straining upon the start. The game's afoot ; 
 
 Follow your spirit. And upon this charge 
 
 Cry Shakespeare. 
 
 THE rough and unimproved face of the country, the frequency 
 of covers, together with the great distance from their own coun 
 try, and the facilities afforded them for rapid movements to the 
 different points of the war, by the undisputed command of the 
 ocean, had all united to deter the English officers from employing 
 a heavy force in cavalry, in their early efforts to subdue the re 
 volted colonies. 
 
 Only one regiment of regular horse was sent from the mother 
 country during the struggle. But legions and independent corps 
 were formed in different places as it best accorded with the views 
 of the royal commanders, or suited the exigency of the times. 
 These were not unfrequently composed of men raised in the colo 
 nies, and at other times drafts were had from the regiments of 
 the line, and the soldier was made to lay aside the musket and 
 bayonet, and taught to wield the sabre and carabine. One par 
 ticular body of the subsidiary troops were included in this arrange 
 ment, and the Hessian yagers were transformed into a corps of 
 heavy and inactive horse. 
 
 Opposed to them were the hardiest spirits of America. Most 
 of the cavalry regiments of the continental army were led and 
 officered by gentlemen from the south. The high and haughty 
 courage of the commanders had communicated itself to the pri 
 vates, who were men selected with care and attention to the ser 
 vice they were intended to perform. 
 
 While the British were confined to their empty conquests in 
 the possession of a few of the larger towns, or marched through 
 countries that were swept of everything like military supplies, 
 the light troops of their enemies had the range of the whole of 
 the interior before them. 
 
 The sufferings of the line of the American army were great 
 beyond example ; but possessing the power and feeling themselves 
 engaged in a cause which justified severity, the cavalry officers 
 were vigilant in providing for their wants, and the horse were 
 well mounted, well fed, and consequently very effective. Per 
 haps the world could not furnish more brave, enterprising, and 
 resistless corps of light cavalry, than a few that were in the con 
 tinental service at the time of which we write. 
 
 Dunwoodie's men had often tried their prowess against the 
 enemy, and now sat panting to be led once more against foes 
 whom they seldom charged in vain. Their wishes were soon to 
 
 G
 
 64 THE SPY. 
 
 be gratified ; for their commander had scarcely time to regain his 
 seat in the saddle, before a body of the enemy came sweeping 
 round the base of the hill, which intersected the view to the 
 south. A few minutes enabled the Major to distinguish their 
 character. In one troop he saw the green coats of the Cow-boys, 
 and in the other the leathern helmets and wooden saddles of the 
 yagers. Their numbers were about equal to the body under his 
 immediate orders. 
 
 On reaching the open space near the cottage of Harvey Birch, 
 the enemy halted and drew up his men in line, and was evidently 
 making preparations for a charge. At this moment a column of 
 foot appeared in the vale, and pressed forward to the bank of the 
 brook which we have already mentioned. 
 
 Major Dunwoodie was not less distinguished for coolness and 
 judgment, than, where occasion offered, by his dauntless intrepi 
 dity. He at once saw his advantage, and determined to profit by 
 it. The column he led began slowly to retire from the field, 
 when the youthful German, who commanded the enemy's horse, 
 fearful of missing an easy conquest, gave the word to charge. 
 Few troops were more hardy than the Cow-boys ; they sprang 
 eagerly forward in the pursuit with a confidence created by the 
 retiring foe and the column in their rear ; the Hessians followed 
 more slowly, but in better order. The trumpets of the Virgi 
 nians now sounded long and lively ) they were answered by o 
 strain from the party in ambush that went to the hearts of their 
 enemies. The column of Dunwoodie wheeled in perfect order, 
 opened, and, as the word to charge was given, the troops of 
 Lawton emerged from their cover, with their leader in advance, 
 waving his sabre over his head, and shouting in a voice that was 
 heard above the clangour of the martial music. 
 
 The charge threatened too much for the refugee troop. They 
 scattered in every direction, flying from the field as fast as their 
 horses, the chosen beasts of West Chester, could carry them. 
 Only a few were hurt : but such as did meet the arms of their 
 avenging countrymen never survived the blow, to tell who struck 
 it. It was upon the poor vassals of the German tyrant that 
 the shock fell. Disciplined to the most exact obedience, these 
 ill-fated men met the charge bravely, but they were swept before 
 the mettled horses and nervous arms of their antagonists like 
 chaff before the wind. Many of them were literally ridden down, 
 and Dunwoodie soon saw the field without an opposing foe. The 
 proximity of the infantry prevented pursuit, and behind its 
 column, the few Hessians who escaped unhurt, sought protection. 
 The more cunning refugees dispersed in small bands, taking 
 various and devious routes back to their old station in front of 
 Hacrlem. Many was the sufferer, in his cattle, furniture, and
 
 THE SPY. 65 
 
 person, that was created by this route ; for the dispersion of a 
 troop of Cow-boys was only the extension of an evil. 
 
 Such a scene could not be expected to be acted so near them, 
 and the inmates of the cottage take no interest in the result. In 
 truth, the feelings it excited pervaded every bosom, from the 
 kitchen to the parlour. Terror and horror had prevented the 
 ladies from being spectators, but they did not feel the less. Frances 
 continued lying in the posture we have mentioned, offering up 
 fervent and incoherent petitions for the safety of her countrymen, 
 although in her inmost heart she had personified her nation by 
 the graceful image of Major Dunwoodie. Her aunt and sister 
 were less exclusive in their devotions, but Sarah began to feel, as 
 the horrors of war were thus brought home to her senses, less 
 pleasure in her anticipated triumphs. 
 
 The inmates of Mr. Wharton's kitchen were four namely, 
 Caesar and his spouse, their grand- daughter, a jetty damsel of 
 twenty, and the boy before alluded to. The blacks were the rem 
 nants of a race of negroes which had been entailed on his estate 
 from, Mr. Wharton's maternal ancestors, who were descended from 
 the early Dutch colonists. Time, depravity, and death had re 
 duced them to this small number, and the boy, who was white, 
 had been added by Miss Peyton to the establishment, as an as 
 sistant, to perform the ordinary services of a footman. Caesar, 
 after first using the precaution to place himself under the cover 
 of an angle in the wall, for a screen against any roving bullet 
 which might be traversing the air, became an amused spectator 
 of the skirmish. The sentinel on the piazza was at the distance 
 but a few feet from him, and entered into the spirit of the chase 
 with all the ardour of a tried blood-hound ; he noticed the ap 
 proach of the black, and his judicious position, with a smile of 
 contempt, as he squared himself towards the enemy, offering his 
 unprotected breast to any dangers which might come. . 
 
 After considering the arrangement of Caesar, for a moment, 
 with ineffable disdain, the dragoon said, with great coolness 
 
 " You seem very careful of that beautiful person of yours, Mr. 
 Blueskin." 
 
 " I guess a bullet hurt a coloured man as quick as a white," 
 muttered the black, surlily, casting a glance at his rampart with 
 much self-satisfaction. 
 
 " I'm thinking it's all guess with you, Snowball. Suppose I 
 make the experiment," returned the sentinel ; as he spoke, he 
 deliberately drew a pistol from his belt, and levelled it at the 
 black. Caesar's teeth chattered at the appearance of the dragoon, 
 although he believed nothing serious was intended. It was at 
 this moment that the column of Dunwoodie began to retire, and 
 the royal cavalry commenced their charge. 
 
 G 2
 
 6f THF. SPY. 
 
 "There, Mister Light- Horseman," said Caesar eagerly, who be 
 lieved the Americans were retiring in earnest, " why you rebels 
 don't fight see see how King George's men make Major Duh- 
 woodie run. Good gentleman too, but don't like to fight a rig'lar." 
 
 "Damn you regulars," cried the other, fiercely; " wait a minute, 
 blackey, and you'll see Captain Jack Luwton come out from be 
 hind yonder hill, and scatter these Cowboys like wild geese who've 
 lost their leader." 
 
 Caesar supposed the party under Lawton to have sought the 
 shelter of the hill from similar motives to what had induced him 
 to place the wall between himself and the battle-ground ; but the 
 fact soon verified the trooper's prophecy, and the black witnessed 
 with consternation the total rout of the royal horse. 
 
 The sentinel manifested his exultation at the success of his 
 comrades with loud shouts, which soon brought his companion, 
 who had been left in the more immediate charge of Henry Whar- 
 ton, to the open window of the parlour. 
 
 " See, Tom, see," cried the delighted trooper, " how Captain 
 Lawton makes that Hessian's leather cap fly ; and now the Major 
 has killed the officer's horse zounds, why did'nt he kill the Dutch 
 man, and save the horse ?" 
 
 A few pistols were discharged at the flying Cow-boys, and a 
 spent bullet broke a pane of glass within a few feet of Ciesar. 
 Imitating the posture of the great tempter of our race, the black 
 sought the protection of the inside of the building, and imme 
 diately ascended to the parlour. 
 
 The small lawn in front of the Locusts was hidden from the 
 view of the road by a close line of shrubbery, and the horses of 
 the two dragoons had been left linked together under its shelter, 
 to await the movements of their masters. 
 
 At this moment two Cow-boys, who had been cut off from a 
 retreat to their own party, rode furiously through the gate, with an 
 intention of escaping to the open wood in the rear of the cottage. 
 
 The victorious Americans pressed the retreating Germans until 
 they had driven them under the protection of the fire of the in 
 fantry ; and feelingHbemselves, in the privacy of the lawn, relieved 
 from any immediate danger, the predatory warriors yielded to a 
 temptation that few of the corps were ever known to resist op 
 portunity and horseflesh. With a hardihood and presence of mind 
 that could only exist from long practice in similar scenes, they 
 made towards their intended prizes by an almost spontaneous 
 movement. They were busily engaged in separating the fastenings 
 of the horses, when the trooper on the piazza discharged his pis 
 tols, and rushed, sword in hand, to the rescue. 
 
 The entrance of Caesar into the parlour had induced the wary 
 drn goon within to turn his attention more closely on his prisoner;
 
 THE SPY. 67 
 
 but this. new interruption drew him again to the window. He 
 threw his body out of the building, and with dreadful imprecations 
 endeavoured, by his threats and appearance, to frighten the ma 
 rauders from their prey. The moment was enticing. Three hun 
 dred of his comrades were within a mile of the cottage ; unridden 
 horses were running at large in every direction, and Henry Whar- 
 ton seized the unconscious sentinel by his legs, and threw him 
 headlong into the lawn. Caesar vanished from the room, and 
 drew a bolt of the outer door. 
 
 The fall of the soldier was not great, and recovering his feet, he 
 turned his fury for a moment on his prisoner. To scale the win 
 dow in the face of his enemy was, however, impossible, and on trial 
 he found the main entrance barred. 
 
 His comrade now called loudly upon him for aid, and forgetful 
 of everything else, the discomfited trooper rushed to his assistance. 
 One horse was instantly liberated, but the other was already fas 
 tened to the saddle of a Cow-boy, and the four retired behind the 
 building, cutting furiously at each other with their sabres, and 
 making the air resound with the violence of their imprecations. 
 Caesar threw the outer door open, and pointing to the remaining 
 horse, that was quietly biting the faded herbage of the lawn, ex 
 claimed 
 
 " Run now run Massa Harry, run." 
 
 " Yes," cried the youth, as he vaulted into the saddle, " now, 
 indeed, my honest fellow, is the time to run." He beckoned 
 hastily to his father, who stood at the window in speechless anxiety, 
 with his hands extended towards his child in the attitude of bene 
 diction, and adding, " God bless you, Csesar, salute the girl's," he 
 dashed through the gate with the rapidity of lightning. 
 
 The African watched him with anxiety as he gained the high 
 way, saw him incline to the right, and riding furiously under the 
 brow of some rocks, which on that side rose perpendicularly, dis 
 appear behind a projection, which soon hid him from view. 
 
 The delighted Caesar closed the door, pushing bolt after bolt, 
 and turning the key until it would turn no more, soliloquizing the 
 whole time on the happy escape of his young master. 
 
 " How well he ride teach him myself salute a young lady 
 I guess a Miss Fanny would'nt let old coloured man kiss her pretty 
 red cheek." 
 
 When the fortune of the day was decided, and the time arrived 
 for the burial of the dead, two Cow-boys and a Virginian were 
 found in the rear of the Locusts, to be included in the number. 
 
 Happily for Henry Wharton, the searching eyes of his captor 
 were examining, through a pocket glass, the column of infantry 
 that still held its position on the bank of the stream, while the 
 remnants of the Hessian yagers were seeking its friendly protection. 
 
 G 3
 
 68 THE SPY. 
 
 His horse was of the best blood of Virginia, and carried him with 
 the swiftness of the wind along the valley, and the heart of the 
 youth was already beating tumultuously with pleasure at his de 
 liverance, when a well-known voice reached his startled ear, crying 
 aloud 
 
 " Bravely done, Captain ! Don't spare the whip, and turn to 
 your left before you cross the brook." 
 
 Wharton turned his head in surprise, and saw, sitting on the 
 point of a jutting rock, that commanded a bird's-eye view of the 
 valley, his former guide, Harvey Birch. His pack, much diminished 
 in size, lay at the feet of the pedler, who waved his hat at the 
 youth, exultingly, as the latter flew by him. The English Captain 
 took the advice of this mysterious being, and finding a wood road, 
 which led to the highway that intersected the valley, turned down 
 its direction, was soon opposite to his friends, and the next minute 
 crossed the bridge, and stopped his charger before his old ac 
 quaintance, Colonel Wellmere. 
 
 " Captain Wharton !" exclaimed the astonished commander of 
 the English troops, " dressed in blue, and mounted on a rebel 
 dragoon horse ! are you from the clouds in this attire, and in such 
 a style ?" 
 
 "Thank God!" cried the youth, recovering his breath, "lam safe 
 and have escaped from the hands of my enemies ; but five minutes 
 since and I was a prisoner, and threatened with the gallows." 
 
 " The gallows, Captain Wharton ! surely those traitors to the 
 king would never dare to commit another murder in cold blood ; 
 is it not enough that they took the life of Andre ? wherefore did 
 they threaten you with a similar fate ?" 
 
 " Under the pretence of a similar offence," said the Captain, 
 briefly explaining to the group of listeners the manner of his cap 
 ture, the grounds for his personal apprehension, and the method 
 of his escape. By the time he had concluded his narration, the 
 fugitive Germans were collected in the rear of the column of in 
 fantry, and Colonel Wellmere cried aloud 
 
 " From my soul I congratulate you, my brave friend ; mercy is 
 a quality with which these traitors are unacquainted, and you are 
 doubly fortunate in escaping from their hands, and uninjured. 
 Prepare yourself to grant me your assistance, and I will soon afford 
 you a noble revenge." 
 
 " I do not think there was danger of perso nal outrage to any 
 man, Colonel Wellmere, from a party where Major Dunwoodie 
 commands," returned young Wharton, with a slight glow on his 
 face ; " his character is above the imputation of such an offence ; 
 neither do I think it altogether prudent to cross this brook into 
 the open plain, in the face of those Virginian horse, flushed as they 
 must be with the success they have just obtained."
 
 THE SPY. 6!) 
 
 "Do you call the rout of those irregulars and these sluggish 
 Hessians a deed to boast of?" said the other, with a contemptuous 
 smile ; " you speak of the affair, Captain Wharton, as if your 
 boasted Mr. Dunwoodie, for Major he is none, had discomfited 
 the body guards of )'our king." 
 
 " And I must be allowed to say, Colonel Wellmere, that if the 
 body guards of my king were in yon field, they would meet a foe 
 that it would be dangerous to despise. Sir, my boasted Mr. Dun 
 woodie is the pride of Washington's army as a cavalry officer," 
 cried Henry with warmth. 
 
 " Dunwoodie Dunwoodie," repeated the Colonel slowly ; 
 "surely I have met the gentleman before." 
 
 " I have been told you once saw him, sir, for a moment, at the 
 town residence of my sisters," replied Wharton, with a lurking 
 smile. 
 
 " Ah, I do remember me of such a youth," said the Colonel 
 with affected irony ; " and does the most potent congress of these 
 rebellious colonies intrust their soldiers to the leading of such a 
 warrior ?" 
 
 " Ask the commander of your Hessian horse, whether he thinks 
 Major Dunwoodie worthy of the confidence," said Henry Wharton 
 keenly, indignant at the trifling of the other, when applied to such 
 a man as his friend, and at a moment so unseasonable. 
 
 Colonel Wellmere was far from wanting that kind of pride 
 which makes a man bear himself bravely in the presence of his 
 enemies. He had served in America a long time without ever 
 meeting with any but new raised levies, or the militia of the coun 
 try ; these would sometimes fight, and that fearlessly, but they as 
 often chose to run away without pulling a trigger. He was too 
 apt to judge from externals, and thought it impossible for men 
 whose gaiters were so clean, whose tread was so regular, and who 
 wheeled with so much accuracy, to be beaten. In addition to 
 all these, they were Englishmen, and their success was certain. 
 Colonel Wellmere had never been kept much in the field, or these 
 notions, which he bad brought with him from home, and which 
 had been greatly increased by the vapourings of a garrisoned 
 town, would have long since vanished. He listened to the warm 
 reply of Captain Wharton with a supercilious smile, and then in 
 quired 
 
 " You would not have us retire, sir, before these boasted horse 
 men, without doing something that may deprive them of part of 
 the glory which you appear to think they have gained." 
 
 " I would have you advised, Colonel Wellmere, of the danger 
 you are about to encounter." 
 
 " Danger is but an unseemly word for a soldier," continued the 
 British commander with a sneer.
 
 70 THE SPY. 
 
 " And one as little dreaded by the 60th as any corps who wear 
 the royal livery," cried Henry Wharton, fiercely ; " give but the 
 word to charge, and then let our actions speak." 
 
 " Now again I know my young friend," said Wellmere, sooth 
 ingly ; " but if you have anything to say before we fight, that 
 can in any manner help us in our attack, we'll listen. You know 
 the force of the rebels ; are there more of them in ambush ?" 
 
 " Yes," replied the youth, chafing still with the other's sneers, 
 " in the skirt of this wood on our right are a small party of foot, 
 their horse are all before you." 
 
 " Where they will not continue long," cried Wellmere, turning 
 to the few officers around him ; " gentlemen, we will cross the 
 stream in column, and display on the plain beyond, or else we 
 shall not be able to entice these valiant Yankees within the reach 
 of our muskets. Captain Wharton, I claim your assistance as 
 an aid-de-camp." 
 
 The youth shook his head in disapprobation of a movement 
 which his good sense taught him was rash, but prepared with 
 alacrity to perform his duty in the impending trial. 
 
 During the conversation, which was held at a small distance in 
 advance of the British column, and in full view of the Americans, 
 Dunwoodie had been collecting his scattered troops, securing his 
 few prisoners, and retiring to the ground where he had been 
 posted at the first appearance of his enemy. Satisfied with the 
 success he had already obtained, and believing the English too 
 wary to give him an opportunity of harassing them farther, he 
 was about to withdraw the guides, and, leaving a strong party on 
 the ground to watch the movement of the regulars, to fall back a 
 few miles, to a favourable place for taking up his quarters for the 
 night. Captain Lawton was reluctantly listening to the reason 
 ing of his commander, and had brought out his favourite glass, to 
 see if no opening could be found for an advantageous attack, 
 when he suddenly exclaimed 
 
 " How 'a this ? a blue coat among those scarlet gentry," again 
 applying his glass to his eye; " as I hope to live to see old Vir 
 ginia, it is my masquerading friend of the 60th, the handsome 
 Captain Wbarton, escaped from two of my best men." 
 
 He had not done speaking when the survivor of these heroes 
 joined his troop, bringing with him his own horse and those of the 
 Cow boys ; he reported the death of his comrade, and the escape 
 of his prisoner. As the deceased was the immediate sentinel 
 over the person of young Wharton, and the other was not to be 
 blamed for defending the horses which were more particularly 
 under his care, his captain heard him with uneasiness, but without 
 anger. 
 
 This intelligence made an entire change in the views of Major
 
 THE SPY. 71 
 
 Dunwoodie. He saw at once that his own reputation was involved 
 in the escape of his prisoner. The order to recall the guides was 
 countermanded, and he now joined his second in command, 
 watching, as eagerly as the impetuous Lawton himself, for some 
 opening to assail his foe to advantage. 
 
 But two hours before, and Dunwoodie had felt the chance which 
 made Henry Wharton his captive, as the severest blow he had 
 ever sustained. Now lie panted for an opportunity in which, by 
 risking his own life, he might return his friend to bondage. All 
 other considerations were lost in the goadings of his wounded 
 spirit, and he might have soon emulated Lawton in hardihood, 
 had not Wellmere and his troops at this moment crossed the 
 brook into the open plain. 
 
 " There," cried the delighted Captain, as he pointed out the 
 movement with his finger, " there comes John Bull into the 
 mouse-trap, and with his eyes wide open." 
 
 " Surely," said Dunwoodie, eagerly, " he will not display his 
 column on that flat ; Wharton must tell him of the ambush. But 
 if he does" 
 
 "We will not leave a dozen sound skins in his battalion," in 
 terrupted the other, springing into his saddle. 
 
 The truth was soon apparent ; for the English column, after 
 advancing for a short distance on the level land, displayed with 
 an accuracy that would have done them honour on a field day in 
 their own Hyde Park, 
 
 "Prepare to mount mount;" cried Dunwoodie;, the last 
 word being repeated by Lawton in a tone that rang in the ears of 
 Caesar, who stood at the open window of the cottage. The black 
 recoiled in dismay, having lost all his confidence in Captain Law- 
 ton's timidity, for he thought he yet saw him emerging from his 
 cover and waving his sword on high. 
 
 As the Britith line advanced slowly and in exact order, the 
 guides opened a galling fire. It began to annoy that part of the 
 royal troops which was nearest to them. Welfmere listened to 
 the advice of the veteran who was next to him in rank, and ordered 
 two companies to dislodge the American foot from their hiding- 
 place. The movement created a slight confusion ; and Dun 
 woodie seized the opportunity to charge. No ground could be 
 more favourable for the manoeuvres of horse, and the attack of 
 the Virginians was irresistible. It was aimed chiefly at the bank 
 opposite to the wood, in order to clear the Americans from the 
 fire of their friends who were concealed ; and it was completely 
 successful. Wellmere, who was on the left of his line, was over 
 thrown by the impetuous fury of his assailants. Dunwoodie was 
 in time to save him from the impending blow of one of his men, 
 and raised him from the ground, had him placed on a horse, and
 
 72 THE SPY. 
 
 delivered to the custody of his orderly. The officer who had sug 
 gested the attack upon the guides had been intrusted with its 
 execution, but the menace was sufficient for these irregulars. In 
 fact, their duty was performed, and they retired along the skirt of 
 the wood with intent to regain their horses, which had been left 
 under a guard at the upper end of the valley. 
 
 The left of the British line was outflanked by the Americans, 
 who doubled in their rear, and thus made the rout in that quarter 
 total. But the second in command, perceiving how the battle 
 went, promptly wheeled his party, and threw in a heavy fire on 
 their dragoons, as they passed him to the charge ; with this party 
 was Henry Wharton, who had volunteered to assist in dispersing 
 the guides; a ball had struck his bridle arm, and compelled him 
 to change hands. As the dragoons dashed by them, rending the 
 air with their shouts, and with trumpet sounding a lively strain, 
 the charger ridden by the youth became ungovernable he 
 plunged, reared, and his rider being unable, with his wounded 
 arm, to manage the impatient animal, Henry Wharton found him 
 self, in less than a minute, unwillingly riding by the side of Cap 
 tain Lawton. The dragoon comprehended at a glance the lu 
 dicrous situation of his new comrade, but had only time to cry 
 aloud before they plunged into the English line 
 
 " The horse knows the righteous cause better than his rider. 
 Captain Wharton, you are welcome to the ranks of freedom." 
 
 No time was lost, however, by Lawton, after the charge was 
 completed, in securing his prisoner again ; and, perceiving him to 
 be hurt, he directed him to be conveyed to the rear. 
 
 The Virginian troopers dealt out their favours, with no gentle 
 hands, on that part of the royal foot who were thus left in a great 
 measure at their mercy. Dunwoodie, noticing that the remnaut 
 of the Hessians had again ventured on the plain, led on in pur 
 suit, and easily overtaking their light and half fed horses, soon 
 destroyed the remainder of their detachment. 
 
 In the mean while, great numbers of the English, taking ad 
 vantage of the smoke and confusion in the field, were enabled to 
 get in the rear of the body of their countrymen, who still pre 
 served their order in a line parallel to the wood, but who had been 
 obliged to hold their fire from the fear of injuring friends as well 
 as foes. The fugitives were directed to form a second line within 
 the wood itself, and under cover of its trees. This arrangement 
 was not yet completed, when Captain Lawton called to a youth, 
 who commanded the other troop left with that part of the force 
 which remained on the ground, and proposed charging the un 
 broken line of the British. The proposal was as promptly ac 
 cepted as it had been made, and the troops were arrayed for the 
 purpose. The eagerness of their leader prevented the prepara- 

 
 THE SPY. 73 
 
 tions necessary to insure success, and the horse, receiving a de 
 structive fire as they advanced, were thrown into additional con 
 fusion. Both Lawton and his more juvenile comrade fell at this 
 discharge. Fortunately for the credit of the Virginians, Major 
 Dunwoodie re-entered the field at this critical instant ; he saw his 
 troops in disorder ; at his feet lay weltering in blood George 
 Singleton, a youth endeared to him by numberless virtues, and 
 Lawton was unhorsed and stretched senseless on the plain. The 
 eye of the youthful warrior flashed with unwonted fires. Riding 
 between this squadron and the enemy, in a voice that reached to 
 the hearts of his dragoons, he recalled them to their duty. His 
 presence and words acted like magic. The clamour of voices 
 ceased ; the line was formed promptly and with exactitude ; the 
 charge sounded ; and led on by their commander, the Virginians 
 swept across the plain with an impetuosity that nothing could with 
 stand, and the field was instantly cleared of the enemy ; those who 
 were not destroyed, sought a shelter in the woods. Dunwoodie 
 slowly withdrew from the fire of the English who were covered 
 by the trees, and commenced the painful duty of collecting his 
 dead and wounded. 
 
 The sergeant, charged with conducting Henry Wharton to 
 where he might procure surgical aid, set about performing his 
 duty with alacrity, in order to return as soon as possible to the 
 scene of strife. They had not reached the middle of the plain, 
 before the captain noticed a man whose appearance and occupa 
 tion forcibly arrested his attention. His head was bald and bare, 
 but a well-powdered wig was to be seen, half concealed, in the 
 pocket of his breeches. His coat was off, and his arms naked to 
 the elbow ; blood had disfigured much of his dress, and his hands, 
 and even face, bore this mark of his profession ; in his mouth 
 was a segar ; in his right hand some instruments of strange form 
 ation, and in his left the remnants of an apple, with which he 
 occasionally relieved the duty of the before mentioned segar 
 He was standing, lost in the contemplation of a Hessian, who 
 lay breathless before him. At a little distance were three or four 
 of the guides, leaning on their muskets, and straining their eyes 
 in the direction of the combatants, and at his elbow stood a man 
 who, from the implements in his hand, and bloody vestments, 
 seemed an assistant in his duty. 
 
 " There, sir, is the doctor," said the attendant of Henry, very 
 coolly ; " he will patch up your arm in the twinkling of an eye ;" 
 and beckoning to the guides to approach, he whispered and 
 pointed to his prisoner, and then galloped furiously towards his 
 comrades. 
 
 Wharton advanced to the side of this strange figure, and ob 
 serving himself to be unnoticed, was about to request his assist-
 
 74 THE SPY. 
 
 ance, when the other broke silence in a soliloquy " now, I know 
 this man to have been killed by Captain Lawton, as well as if I had 
 seen him strike the blow. How often have I strove to teach him 
 the manner in which he can disable his adversary, without destroy 
 ing life. It is cruel thus unnecessarily to cut off the human race, 
 and furthermore, such blows as these render professional assist 
 ance unnecessary ; it is in a measure treating the lights of science 
 with disrespect." 
 
 " If, sir, your leisure will admit," said Henry Wharton, " I 
 must beg your attention to this slight hurt of mine." 
 
 " Ah !" cried the other starting, and examining him from head 
 to foot, " you are from the tield below ; is there much business 
 there sir?" 
 
 " Indeed," answered Henry, accepting the offer of the surgeon 
 to assist in removing his coat, " 'tis a stirring time I can assure 
 you." 
 
 " Stirring !" repeated the surgeon, busily employed with his 
 dressings ; " you give me great pleasure, sir, for so long as they 
 can stir there must be life, and while there is life, you know, there 
 is hope ; but here my art is of no use ; I did put in the brains 
 of one patient, but I rather think the man must have been dead 
 before I saw him. It is a curious case, sir; I will take you to 
 see it only across the fence there, where you may perceive so 
 many bodies together. Ah ! the ball has glanced around the 
 bone without shattering it ; you are fortunate in falling into the 
 hands of an old practitioner, or you might have lost this limb." 
 
 " Indeed !" said Henry, with a slight uneasiness ; " I did not 
 apprehend the injury to be so serious." 
 
 " Oh ! the hurt is not bad ; but you have such a pretty arm 
 for an operation," replied the surgeon, coolly, " the pleasure of 
 the thing might easily tempt a novice." 
 
 " The devil !" cried the horror-stricken Captain ; " can there 
 be any pleasure in mutilating a fellow creature?" 
 
 " Sir," said the surgeon, with great gravity, " a scientific ampu 
 tation is a very pretty operation, and doubtless might tempt a 
 younger man, in the hurry of business, to overlook all the parti 
 culars of the case." 
 
 Further conversation was interrupted by the appearance of the 
 dragoons, slowly marching towards their former halting place, 
 and new applications from the slightly wounded soldiers, who 
 now came riding in, making hasty demands on the skill of the 
 doctor. The guides took charge of Wharton, and, with a heavy 
 heart, the young man retraced his steps to his father's cottage. 
 
 The English had lost in the charges about one-third of their 
 foot, but the remainder were rallied in the wood, and Dunwoo- 
 die, perceiving them to be too strongly posted to assail, had left
 
 THE SPY. /O 
 
 a strong party with Captain Lawton, with orders to watch their 
 motions, and seize every opportunity to harass them before they 
 re- embarked. Intelligence had reached the Major of another 
 party being out by the way of the Hudson, and his duty required 
 that he should bold himself in readiness to defeat the intentions 
 of these also. Captain Lawton received his orders, with strong 
 injunctions to make no efforts on the foe, unless a favourable 
 chance should offer. The injury received by this officer was in 
 the head, being stunned by a glancing bullet, and parting with a 
 laughing declaration from the Major, that if he again forgot him 
 self^ they should all think him more materially hurt, each took 
 his own course. The British were a light party, without baggage, 
 that had been sent out to destroy certain stores understood to be 
 collected for the use of the American army. They now retired 
 through the woods to the heights, and keeping the route along 
 their summits, in places unassailable by cavalry, commenced their 
 retreat to their boats. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " With fire and sword, lite country round 
 
 Was wasted far and wide ; 
 And many a chiding mother then, 
 
 And new-born infant died ; 
 But things like these, you know, must be 
 
 At every famous victory." 
 
 THE last sounds of the combat died on the ears of the anxious 
 listeners in the cottage, and were succeeded by the stillness of 
 suspense. Frances had continued by herself, striving to exclude 
 the uproar, and vainly endeavouring to summon resolution to 
 meet the dreadful result. The ground where the charge on the 
 foot had taken place was but a short mile from the Locusts, and, 
 in the intervals of the musketry, the cries of the soldiers had 
 even reached the ears of its inhabitants. After witnessing the 
 escape of his son, Mr. Wharton had joined his sister and eldest 
 daughter in their retreat, and the three continued fearfully wait 
 ing for news from the field. Unable longer to remain under the 
 painful uncertainty of her situation, Frances soon added herself 
 to the uneasy group, and Caesar was directed to examine into the 
 state of things without, and report on whose banners victory had 
 alighted. The father now briefly related to his astonished 
 children the circumstance and manner of their brother's escape. 
 They were yet in the freshness of their surprise, when the door 
 opened, and Captain Wharton, attended by a couple of the 
 guides, and followed by the black, stood before them. 
 
 " Henry my son, my son," cried the agitated parent stretch 
 ing out his arms, yet unable to rise from his seat. " whnt is it I 
 see ; you are again a captive, and in danger of your life?" 
 
 a
 
 7^ THE SPY. 
 
 " The better fortune of these rebels has prevailed," said the 
 youth, endeavouring to force a cheerful smile, and taking a hand 
 of each of his distressed sisters. " I strove nobly for my liberty, 
 but the perverse spirit of rebellion has even lighted on their 
 horses. The steed I mounted carried me, greatly against my 
 will, I acknowledge, into the very centre of Dunwoodie's men." 
 
 " And you were again captured," continued the father, casting 
 a fearful glance on the armed attendants who had entered the 
 room. 
 
 " That, sir, you may safely say ; this Mr. Lawton, who sees 
 so far, had me in custody again immediately." 
 
 " Why, you didn't hold 'em in, Massa Harry ?" cried Cresar, 
 advancing eagerly, and disregarding the anxious looks aud pallid 
 cheeks of the female listeners. 
 
 "That," said Wharton, smiling, " was a thing easier said than 
 done, Mr. Caesar, especially as these gentlemen," glancing his 
 eyes at the guides, 4i had seen proper to deprive me of the use 
 of my better arm." 
 
 " Wounded !" exclaimed both sisters in a breath, catching a 
 view of the bandages. 
 
 " A mere scratch, but disabling me at a most critical moment," 
 continued the brother, kindly, and stretching out the injured limb 
 to manifest the truth of his declaration. Caesar threw a look of 
 bitter animosity on the irregular warriors who were thought to 
 have had an agency in the deed, and left the room. A few more 
 words sufficed to explain all that Captain Wharton knew relative 
 to the fortune of the day. The result he thought yet doubtful, 
 for when he left the ground, the Virginians were retiring from 
 the field of battle. 
 
 " They had tree'd the squirrel," said one of the sentinels 
 abruptly, "and didn't quit the ground without leaving a good 
 hound for the chase, when he comes down." 
 
 " Ay," added his comrade, drily, " I am thinking Captain 
 Lawton will count the noses of what are left before they see their 
 whale boats." 
 
 Frances had stood supporting herself by the back of a chair, 
 during this dialogue, catching, in breathless anxiety, every syllable 
 as it was uttered ; her colour changed rapidly ; her limbs shook 
 under her ; until, with desperate resolution, she inquired " Is 
 any officer hurt on the on either side ?" 
 
 " Yes," answered the man, cavalierly, "these southern youths 
 are so full of mettle, that it's seldom we fight but one or two 
 gets knocked over ; one of the wounded, who came up before 
 the troops, told me that Captain Singleton was killed, and Major 
 Dunwoodie" 
 
 Frances heard no more, but fell back lifeless in the chair behind
 
 THE SPY. "/ 
 
 her. The attention of her friends soon revived her, when the 
 Captain, turning to the man, said, fearfully, " Surely Major 
 Dunwoodie is unhurt ?" 
 
 " Never fear him," added the guide, disregarding the agitation 
 of the family ; " they say a man who is born to he hung will 
 never be drowned : if a bullet could kill the Major he would have 
 been dead long ago. I was going to say, that the Major is in a 
 sad taking because of the captain's being killed ; but had I known 
 how much store the lady set by him, I wouldn't have been so 
 plain spoken." 
 
 Frances now rose quickly from her seat, with cheeks glowing 
 with confusion, and leaning on her aunt, was about to retire, 
 when Dunwoodie himself appeared. The first emotion of the 
 agitated girl, when she saw him, was unalloyed happiness ; in the 
 next instant she shrunk back appalled from the unusual expres 
 sion that reigned in his countenance. The sternness of battle 
 yet sat on his brow ; his eye was fixed, penetrating, and severe. 
 The smile of 'affection, that used to lighten his dark features on 
 meeting his mistress, was supplanted by the lowering look of 
 care ; his whole soul seemed to be absorbed with one engrossing 
 emotion, and he proceeded at once to his object. 
 
 " Mr. Wharton," he earnestly began, " in times like these, we 
 need not stand on idle ceremony : one of my officers, I am afraid, 
 is hurt mortally ; and presuming on your hospitality, I have 
 brought him to your door." 
 
 " I am happy, sir, that you have done so," said Mr. Wharton, 
 at once perceiving the importance to his son, of conciliating the 
 American troops ; " the necessitous are always welcome, and 
 doubly so, in being the friend of Major Dunwoodie." 
 
 " Sir, I thank you for myself, and in behalf of him who is 
 unable to render you his thanks," returned the other hastily ; 
 " if then you please, we will have him conducted where the sur 
 geon may see and report upon his case without delay." To this 
 there could be no objection, and Frances felt a chill at her heart, 
 as her lover withdrew, without casting a solitary look on herself. 
 
 There is a devotedness in female love that admits of no rivalry. 
 All the tenderness of the heart, all the powers of the imagination, 
 are enlisted in behalf of the tyrant passion, and where all is 
 given, much is looked for in return. Frances had spent hours of 
 anguish, of torture, on account of Dunwoodie, and he now met 
 her without a smile, and without a greeting. The ardour of 
 feeling in the maid was unabated, but the elasticity of her hopes 
 was weakened. As-the supporters of the nearly lifeless body of 
 Dunwoodie's friend passed her, in their way to the apartment 
 prepared for his reception, she caught a view of this seeming 
 rival in her interest with her lover. His pale and ghastly coimte- 
 
 H 2
 
 7^ THE SI'/. 
 
 mure, sunken eye, and difficult breathing, gave licr a glimpse t;f 
 death in its most fearful form. Dunwoodie was by his side, and 
 held his hand, giving frequent and stern injunctions to the men 
 to proceed with care, and, in short, manifested all the solicitude 
 that the most tender friendship could, on such an occasion, 
 inspire. Frances moved lightly before them, and, with an averted 
 face, held open the door for their passage to the bed ; it was 
 only as the Major touched her garments, on entering the room, 
 that she ventured to raise her mild blue eyes to his face. But 
 the glance was unreturned, and Frances unconsciously sighed as 
 she sought the solitude of her own apartment. 
 
 Captain Wharton voluntarily gave a pledge to his keepers not 
 to attempt again escaping, and then proceeded to execute those 
 duties on behalf of his father, which were thought necessary in 
 a host. On entering the passage for that purpose, he met the 
 operator who had so dexterously dressed his arm, advancing to 
 the room of the wounded officer. 
 
 " Ah !" cried the disciple of Esculapius, " I see you are doing 
 well : but stop ; have you a pin ? No ! here, I have one ; you 
 must keep the cold air from your hurt, or some of the youngsters 
 will be at work yet." 
 
 " God forbid," muttered the Captain, in an under tone, and 
 attentively adjusting the bandages, when Dunwoodie appeared at 
 the door, impatiently crying aloud " Hasten, Sitgreaves, hasten ; 
 or George Singleton will die from loss of blood." 
 
 " What ! Singleton ! God forbid. Bless me is it George 
 poor little George," exclaimed the surgeon, as he quickened his 
 pace with evident emotion, and hastened to the side of the bed ; 
 " be is alive, though, and while there is life there is hope. This 
 is the first serious case I have had to-day, where the patient was 
 not already dead. Captain Lawton teaches his men to strike 
 with so little discretion poor George bless me, it is a musket 
 bullet." 
 
 The youthful sufferer turned his eyes on the man of science 
 and in a faint smile endeavoured to stretch forth his hand. There 
 was an appeal in the look and action that touched the heart of 
 an operator, with a force that was irresistible. The surgeon 
 removed his spectacles to wipe an unusual moisture from his eyes, 
 and proceeded, carefully to the discharge of his duty. While 
 the previous arrangements were, however, making, he gave veut 
 in some measure to his feelings, by saying " When it is only a 
 bullet, I have always some hopes ; there is a chance that it hits 
 nothing vital ; but, bless me, Captain Lawton's men cut so at 
 random generally sever the jugular, or let out the brains, and 
 both are so difficult to remedy the patient mostly dying before 
 one can get at him. I never had success but once in replacing a
 
 THE srv. 79 
 
 man's brain, although I tried three this very day. Is is easy to 
 tell where Lavvton's troop charge in a battle, they cut so at ran 
 dom." 
 
 The group around the bed of Captain Singleton were too much 
 accustomed to the manner of their surgeon to regard or reply to 
 his soliloquy ; but they quietly awaited the moment when he was 
 to commence his examination. This now took place, and Dun- 
 woodie stood looking the operator in the face, with an expression 
 that seemed to read his soul. The patient shrunk from the 
 application of the probe, and a smile stole over the features of 
 the surgeon, as he muttered " There has been nothing before it 
 in that quarter." He now applied himself in earnest to his 
 work, took off his spectacles, and threw aside his wig. All this 
 time Dumvoodie stood in feverish silence, holding one of the 
 hands of the sufferer in both his own, watching the countenance 
 of Doctor Sitgreaves. At length Singleton gave a slight groan, 
 and the surgeon rose with alacrity, and said aloud " Ah ! there 
 is some pleasure in following a bullet, it may be said to meander 
 through the human body, injuring nothing vital ; but as fur 
 Captain Lawton's men-" 
 
 " Speak," interrupted Dunwoodie, in a voice hardly articulate ; 
 " is there hope ? can you find the ball?" 
 
 " It's no difficult matter to find that which one has in his hand, 
 Major Dunwoodie," replied the surgeon, coolly, and preparing 
 his dressings ; " it took what that literal fellow, Captain Lawton, 
 calls a circumbendibus, a route never taken by the swords of his 
 men, notwithstanding the multiplied pains I have been at to 
 teach him how to cut scientifically. Now, I saw a horse this day 
 with his head half severed from his body." 
 
 " That," said Dunwoodie, as the blood rushed to his cheeks 
 again, and his dark eyes sparkled with the rays of hope revived, 
 " was some of my own handiwork ; I killed that horse myself." 
 
 " You !" exclaimed the surgeon, dropping his dressing in sur 
 prise, " you ! but then you knew it was a horse." 
 
 " I had such suspicions. I own," said the Major, smiling, and 
 holding a beverage to the lips of his friend. 
 
 " Such blows alighting on the human frame are fatal," con 
 tinued the doctor, pursuing his business, " and set at nought all 
 the benefits which flow from the lights of science ; they are use 
 less in battle, for disabling your foe is all that is required. I have 
 sat. Major Dunwoodie, mauy a cold hour, while Captain Lawton 
 has been engaged, and after all my expectation, not a single case 
 worth recording has occurred all scratches or death wounds ; 
 nh ! the sabre is a sad weapon in unskilful hands. Now, Major 
 Dunwoodie, many are the hours 1 have thrown away in endeavour 
 ing to impress this on Captain Lawton." 
 
 II 3
 
 80 THE SPY. 
 
 The impatient Major pointed silently to his friend, and the 
 surgeon quickened his movements as he continued " Ah ! poor 
 George, it is a narrow chance: but" he was interrupted by a 
 messenger requiring the presence of the commanding officer in 
 the field. Dunwoodie pressed the hand of his friend, and 
 beckoned the doctor to follow him, as he withdrew. 
 
 " What think you ?" he whispered, on reaching the passage, 
 "will he live?" 
 
 " He will," said the surgeon, laconically, turning on his heel. 
 
 " Thank God !" cried the youth, hastening below. 
 
 Dunwoodie for a moment joined the family, who were now 
 collecting in the ordinary parlour. His face was no longer want 
 ing in smiles, and his salutations, though hasty, were cordial. He 
 took no notice of the escape and recapture of Henry Wharton, 
 but seemed to think the young man had continued where he had 
 left him before the encounter. On the ground they had not met. 
 The English officer withdrew in haughty silence to a window, 
 leaving the Major uninterrupted to make his communications. 
 The excitement produced by the events of the day in the youthful 
 feelings of the sisters, had been succeeded by a languor that kept 
 them both silent, and it was with Miss Peyton that Dunwoodie 
 held his discourse. 
 
 " Is there any hope, my cousin, that your friend can survive 
 his wound?" said the lady, advancing towards her kinsman, with 
 a smile of benevolent regard. 
 
 " Everything, my dear madam, everything," answered the sol 
 dier cheerfully. ' Sitgreaves says he will live, and he has never 
 yet deceived me." 
 
 " Your pleasure is not much greater than my own at this intel 
 ligence. One so dear to Major Dunwoodie cannot fail to excite 
 nn interest in the bosom of his friends." 
 
 " Say one so deservedly dear, madam," returned the Major 
 with warmth ; " he is the beneficent spirit of the corps, equally 
 beloved by us all; so mild, so equal, so just, so generous, with 
 the meekness of a lamb and the fondness of a dove it is only 
 in the hour of battle that Singleton is a lion." 
 
 " You speak of him as if he were your mistress, Major Dun 
 woodie," observed the smiling spinster, glancing her eye at her 
 niece, who sat pale and listening in a corner of the room. 
 
 " I love him as one," cried the excited youth ; " but he re 
 quires care and nursing; all now depends on tlie attention he re 
 ceives." 
 
 " Trust me, sir," said Miss Peyton, with dignity, " he will want 
 for nothing under this roof." 
 
 " Pardon me, dear madatn," cried the youth hastily ; " you 
 are all that is benevolent, but Singleton requires a care which
 
 THE SPY. 81 
 
 many men would feel to be irksome. It is at moments like these, 
 that the soldier most finds the want of female tenderness." As 
 he spoke, he turned his eyes on Frances with an expression that 
 again thrilled to the heart of his mistress ; she rose from her seat 
 with burning cheeks, and said " All the attention that can with 
 propriety be given to a stranger, will be cheerfully bestowed on 
 your friend." 
 
 " Ah !" cried the Major, shaking his head, " that cold word 
 propriety will kill him ; he must be fostered, cherished, soothed." 
 
 " These are offices for a sister or a-wife," said the maid, with 
 still increasing colour, 
 
 "A sister!" repeated the soldier, the blood rushing into his 
 own face tumultuously ; ' A sister ! he has a sister ; and one that 
 might be here with to-inorrow's sun." He paused, mused in 
 silence, glanced his eye uneasily at Frances, and muttered, in an 
 under tone " Singleton requires it, and it must be done." 
 
 The ladies had watched his varying countenance in some sur 
 prise, and Miss Peyton now observed, that " If there were a 
 sister of Captain Singleton near them, her presence would be 
 gladly requested both by herself and nieces." 
 
 " It must be, madam ; it cannot well be otherwise," replied 
 Dunwoodie, with a hesitation that but ill agreed with his former 
 declarations; " she shall be sent for express this very night." 
 And then, as if willing to change the subject, he approached 
 Captain Wharton, and continued, mildly " Henry Wharton, to 
 me honour is dearer than life ; but in your hands I know it can 
 safely be confided ; remain here unwatched, until we leave the 
 county, which will not be for some days to come." 
 
 The distance in the manner of the English officer vanished, 
 and taking the offered hand of the other, he replied with warmth 
 " Your generous confidence, Peyton, will not be abused, even 
 though the gibbet on which your Washington hung Andre be 
 ready for my own execution." 
 
 "Henry, Henry Wharton," said Dunwoodie reproachfully, 
 " 3 ou little know the man who leads our armies, or you would 
 have spared him that reproach ; but duty calls me without. I 
 leave you where I could wish to stay myself, and where you can 
 not be wholly unhappy." 
 
 In passing Frances, she received another of those smiling looks 
 of affection she so much prised, and for a season the impression 
 made by his appearance after the battle was forgotten. 
 
 Among the veterans that had been impelled by the times to 
 abandon the quiet of age for the service of their country, was 
 Colonel Singleton. He was a native of Georgia, and had been 
 fur the earlier years of his life a soldier by profession. When 
 the struggle for liberty commenced he oSVmi his services to his
 
 82 THE SPY. 
 
 country, and from respect to his character, they had been ac 
 cepted. His years and health had, however, prevented his dis 
 charging the active duties of the field, and he had been kept in 
 command of different posts of trust, where his country might 
 receive the benefits of his vigilance and fidelity without incon 
 venience to himself. For the last year he had been intrusted with 
 the passes to the Highlands, and was now quartered, with his 
 daughter, but a short day's march above the valley where Dun- 
 wooxlie had met his enemy. His only other child was the 
 wounded officer we have mentioned. Thither, then, the Major 
 prepared to despatch a messenger with the unhappy news of the 
 Captain's situation, and charged with such an invitation from the 
 ladies as, he did not doubt, would speedily bring the ardent sister 
 to the couch of her brother. 
 
 This duty performed, though with an unwillingness that only 
 could make his former anxiety more perplexing, Dunwoodie pro 
 ceeded to the field where his troops had again halted. The 
 remnant of the English were already to be seen, over the tops of 
 the trees, marching on the heights towards their boats in compact 
 order, and with great watchfulness. The detachment of the 
 dragoons under Lawton were a short distance on their flank, 
 eagerly awaiting a favourable moment to strike a blow. In this 
 manner both parties were soon lost to the view. 
 
 A short distance above the Locusts was a small hamlet, where 
 several roads intersected each other, and from which, consequently, 
 access was easy to the surrounding country. It was a favourite 
 halting place of the horse, and frequently held by the light par 
 ties of the American army during their excursions below. Dun 
 woodie had been the first to discover its advantages, and as it was 
 necessary for him to remain in the county until further orders 
 from above, it cannot be supposed he overlooked them now. To 
 this place the troops were directed to retire, carrying with them 
 their wounded ; parties were already employed in the sad duty 
 of interring the dead. In making these arrangements, a new 
 object of embarrassment presented itself to our young soldier. 
 In moving to and fro the field, he was struck with the appearance 
 of Colonel Wellmere, seated by himself, brooding over his mis 
 fortunes, uninterrupted by any thing but the passing civilities of 
 the American officers. His anxiety on behalf of Singleton had 
 hitherto banished the recollection of his captive from the mind of 
 Dunwoodie, and he now approached him with apologies for his 
 neglect. The Englishman received his courtesies with coolness 
 and complained of being injured, by what he affected to think 
 was the accidental stumbling of his horse. Dunwoodie, who 
 had soen one of his own men ride him down, and doubtless with 
 very little ceremony, slightly smiled, as he offered him surgical
 
 THE SPY. 83 
 
 assistance. This could only be procured at the cottage, and 
 thither they both proceeded. 
 
 " Colonel Wellmere," cried young Wharton in astonishment, as 
 they entered, " has the fortune of war been thus cruel to you 
 also ? but you are welcome to the house of my father, although 
 I could wish the introduction to have taken place under more 
 happy circumstances." 
 
 Mr. Wharton received this new guest with the guarded caution 
 that distinguished his manner, and Dunwoodie left the room to 
 seek the bedside of his friend. Everything here looked propiti 
 ous, and he acquainted the surgeon that another patient waited 
 his skill in the room below. The sound of the word was enough 
 to set the doctor in motion, and seizing his implements of office, 
 he went in quest of this new applicant for his notice. At the door 
 of the parlour he was met by the ladies, who were retiring. Miss 
 Peyton detained him for a moment, to inquire into the welfare of 
 Captain Singleton, before she suffered him to proceed. Frances 
 smiled with something of her natural archness of manner, as she 
 contemplated the grotesque appearance of the bald-headed prac 
 titioner ; but Sarah was too much agitated, with the surprise of 
 the unexpected interview with the British Colonel, to notice his 
 attire. It has already been intimated that Colonel Welluiere was 
 an old acquaintance of the family. Sarah had been so long ab 
 sent from the city, that she had in some measure been banished 
 from the remembrance of the gentleman, but the recollections of 
 Sarah were more vivid. There is a period in the life of every 
 woman, when she may he said to be predisposed to love ; it is at 
 the happy age when infancy is lost in opening maturity when the 
 guileless heart beats with the joyous anticipations of life which 
 the truth can never realize, and when the imagination forms 
 images of perfection that are copied after its own unsullied visions ; 
 it was at this age that Sarah left the cit)', and she had brought 
 with her a picture of futurity, faintly impressed, it is true, but 
 which gained durability from her solitude, and in which Wellmere 
 had been placed in the foreground. The surprise of the meeting 
 had in some measure overpowered her, and after receiving the 
 salutations of the Colonel, she had risen, in compliance with a 
 signal from her observant aunt, to withdraw. 
 
 " Then, sir," observed Miss Peyton, after listening to the 
 surgeon's account of his young patient, " we may be flattered 
 with the expectation that he will recover." 
 
 " "Pis certain, madam," returned the doctor, endeavouring, out 
 of respect to the ladies, to replace his wig, " 'tis certain, with care 
 and good nursing." 
 
 "In those he shall not be wanting," said the spinster mildly. 
 " Every thing we have he can command, and Major Dunwoodie 
 has despatched an express for his sister."
 
 84 THE Sl'Y. 
 
 " His sister," echoed the practitioner, with a look of particular 
 meaning : " if the Major has sent for her, she will come." 
 
 ' Her brother's danger would induce her, one would imagine. 
 
 " No doubt, madam," continued the doctor, laconically, bowing 
 low and giving room to the ladies to pass. The words and the 
 manner were not lost on tli younger sister, in whose presence 
 the name of Dunwoodie was never mentioned unheeded. 
 
 " Sir," cried Dr. Sitgreaves, on entering the parlour addressing 
 himself to the only coat of scarlet in the room, " I am advised 
 you are in want of my aid. God send 'tis not Captain Lawton 
 with whom you came in contact, in which case I may be too late." 
 
 " There must be some mistake, sir," said Wellraere, haughtily ; 
 " it was a surgeon that Major Dunwoodie was to send me, and 
 not an old woman." 
 
 " 'Tis Dr. Sitgreaves," said Henry Wharton, quickly, though 
 with great difficulty suppressing a laugh ; " the multitude of his 
 engagements, to-day, has prevented his usual attention to his 
 attire." 
 
 " Your pardon, sir," added Wellmere, but very ungraciously, 
 proceeding to lay aside his coat, and exhibit what he called a 
 wounded arm. 
 
 " If, sir," said the surgeon, drily, " the degrees of Edinburgh 
 walking your London hospitals amputating some hundreds of 
 limbs operating on the human frame in every shape that is 
 warranted by the lights of science, a clear conscience, and the 
 commission of the Continental Congress, can make a surgeon, 
 then I am one." 
 
 " Your pardon, sir," repeated the Colonel stiffly. " Captain 
 "Wharton has accounted for my error." 
 
 " For which I thank Captain Wharton," said the surgeon, pro* 
 ceeding coolly to arrange his amputating instruments with a 
 formality that made the Colonel's blood run cold. " WFiere are 
 you hurt, sir? What, is it then this scratch in the shoulder? In 
 what manner might you have received this wound, sir ? 
 
 " From the sword of a rebel dragoon," said the Colonel, with 
 emphasis. 
 
 " Never," exclaimed the surgeon as positively. " Even the 
 gentle George Singleton would not have breathed on you so harm 
 lessly." He took a piece of sticking-plaster from his pocket, and 
 applied it to the part. " There, sir, that will answer your purpose, 
 and I am certain it is all that is required of me." 
 
 "What do you take to be my purpose then, sir?" said the 
 Colonel, fiercely. 
 
 " To report yourself wounded in your despatches," replied the 
 doctor, with great steadiness ; " and you may say that an old wo 
 man dressed your hurts, for if one did not, one easily might !"
 
 TUB SPY 85 
 
 "Very extraordinary language," muttered the Englishman. 
 
 Here Captain Wharton interfered, and by explaining the mis 
 take of Colonel Wellmere to proceed from his irritated mind and 
 pain of body, he in part succeeded in mollifying the insulted prac 
 titioner, who consented to look further into the hurts of the other. 
 They were chiefly bruises from his fall, to which Sitgreaves made 
 some hasty applications, and withdrew. 
 
 The horse, having taken their required refreshment, prepared 
 to fall back to their intended position, and it became incumbent 
 on Dunwoodie to arrange the disposal of his prisoners. Sit 
 greaves he determined to leave in the cottage of Mr. Wharton 
 in attendance on Captain Singleton. Henry came to him with a 
 request that Colonel Wellmere might also be left behind, under 
 his parole, until the troops marched higher into the country. To 
 this the Major cheerfully assented, and as all the rest of the pri 
 soners were of the vulgar herd, they were speedily collected, and 
 under the care of a strong guard ordered to the interior. The 
 dragoons soon after marched, and the guides, separating in small 
 parties, accompanied by patroles from the horse, spread themselves 
 across the country, in such a manner as to make a chain of sen 
 tinels from the waters of the Sound to the Hudson. 
 
 Dunwoodie himself had lingered in front of the cottage, after 
 he paid his parting compliments for the time, with an unwilling 
 ness to return, that he thought proceeded from solicitude for his 
 wounded friends. The heart which has not become callous, soon 
 sickens with the glory that has been purchased with a waste of 
 human life. Peyton Dunwoodie, left to himself, and no longer 
 excited by the visions which youthful ardour had kept before him 
 throughout the day, began to feel there were other ties than those 
 which bound the soldier within the rigid rules of honour. He 
 did not waver in his duty, yet he felt how strong was the tempta 
 tion. His blood had ceased to flow with the impulse created by 
 the battle. The stern expression of his eye gradually gave place 
 to a look of softness ; and his reflections on the victory brought 
 with them no satisfaction that compensated for the sacrifices by 
 which it had been purchased. While turning his last lingering 
 gaze on the Locusts, he remembered only that it contained all 
 that he most valued. The friend of his youth was a prisoner, un 
 der circumstances that endangered both life and honour. The 
 gentle companion of his toils, who could throw around the rude 
 enjoyments of a soldier the graceful mildness of peace, lay a bleed 
 ing victim to his success. The image of the maid, who had held, 
 during the day, a disputed sovereignty in his bosom, again rose 
 to his view with a lovelinese that banished her rival, glory, from 
 his mind. 
 
 The last lagging trooper of the corps had already disappeared
 
 86 THK Rl-Y. 
 
 behind the northern hill, and the Major unwillingly turned his 
 horse in the same direction. Frances, impelled by a restless in 
 quietude, now timidly ventured on tlie piazza of the cottage. The 
 day had been mild and clear, and the sun was shining brightly in 
 a cloudless sky. The tumult, which so lately disturbed the valley, 
 was succeeded by the stillness of death, and the fair scene before 
 her looked as if it had never been marred by the passions of men. 
 One solitary cloud, the collected smoke of the contest, hung over 
 the field ; and this was gradually dispersing, as if no vestige of 
 its origin was worthy to hover above the peaceful graves of its 
 victims. All the conflicting feelings, all the tumultuous circum 
 stances of the eventful day, for a moment, appeared to the maid 
 like the deceptions of a troubled vision. She turned, and caught 
 a glimpse of the retreating figure of him who had been so con 
 spicuous an actor m the scene, and the illusion vanished. Frances 
 recognised her lover, and with the truth, came other recollections 
 that drove her to the room, with a heart as sad as that which Dun- 
 woodie himself bore from the valley. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " A moment gazed adown the dale, 
 A moment ?nufPd the tainted gale, 
 A moment litten'd to the cry 
 That thicken'd a* the chase drew nigh ; 
 Then, as the headmost foe appear'd, 
 With one brave bound the copse he clear'd, 
 And. stretching forward free and far, 
 Sought the wild heaths of Uam-Var." Walter Scott. 
 
 THE party under Captain Lawton had watched the retiring foe to 
 his boats with the most unremitting vigilance, without finding any 
 fit opening for a charge. The experienced successor to Colonel 
 Wellmere in command, knew too well the power of his enemy to 
 leave the uneven surface of the heights, until compelled to descend 
 to the level of the water. Before he attempted this hazardous 
 movement, he threw his men into a compact square, with its outer 
 edges bristling with bayonets. In this position, the impatient 
 trooper well understood that brave men could never be assailed by 
 cavalry with success, and he was reluctantly obliged to hover near 
 them, without seeing any opportunity of stopping their slow, but 
 steady march to the beach. A small schooner had been their 
 convoy from the city, and lay with her guns bearing on the place 
 of embarkation. Against this combination of force and discipline, 
 Lawton had sufficient prudence to see it would be folly to contend, 
 and the English were suffered to embark without further molesta 
 tion. The dragoons lingered on the shore till the lust moment, 
 nml then reluctantly commenced their own retreat back to the 
 niitin body of the corps.
 
 THE SPY. 87 
 
 The gathering mists of the evening had begun to darken the 
 valley, as the detachment of Lavvton made its re-appearance at 
 the southern extremity. The march of the troops was slow, and 
 their line extended, for the benefit of ease in their progress. In 
 the front rode the Captain, side by side with his senior subaltern, 
 apparently engaged together in close conference, while the rear 
 was brought up by a young cornet, humming an air, and thinking 
 of the sweets of a straw bed after the fatigues of a hard day's duty. 
 
 "Then it struck you too?" said the Captain; "the instant I 
 placed my eyes on her, I remembered the face ; it is one not easily 
 forgotten ; by my faith, Tom, the girl does no discredit to the 
 Major's taste." 
 
 " She would do honour to the corps," replied the Lieutenant, 
 with some warmth ; " those blue eyes might easily win a man to 
 gentler employments than this trade of ours. In sober truth, I 
 can easily imagine that such a girl might tempt even me to quit 
 the broadsword and saddle, for a darning-needle and pillion." 
 
 " Mutiny, sir, mutiny," cried the other, laughing ; " what, you, 
 Tom Mason, dare to rival the gay, admired, and, withal, rich 
 Major Dunwoodie in his love ! You, a Lieutenant of Cavalry, 
 with but one horse, and he none of the best ! whose Captain is as 
 tough as a peperage log, and has as many lives as a cat !" 
 
 " Faith," said the subaltern, smiling in his turn, " the log may 
 yet be split, and Grimalkin lose his lives, if you often charge as 
 madly as you did this morning. What think you of many raps 
 from such a beetle as laid you on your back to-day." 
 
 " Ah ! don't mention it, my good Tom ; the thought makes my 
 head ache," replied the other, shrugging up his shoulders ; " it's 
 what I call forestalling night." 
 
 "The night of death?" 
 
 " No, sir, the night that folloxvs day. I saw myriads of stars, 
 things which should hide their faces in the presence of the lordly 
 sun. I do think nothing but this thick cap saved me to you a 
 little longer, maugre the cat's lives." 
 
 " I have much reason to be obliged to the cap," said Mason, 
 dryly ; " that or the skull must have had a comfortable portion 
 of thickness, I admit." 
 
 " Come, come, Tom, you are a licensed joker, so I'll not feign 
 anger with you," returned the Captain, good-humouredly ; "but 
 Singleton's Lieutenant, I am fearful, will fare better than yourself 
 for this day's service." 
 
 " I believe both of us will be spared the pain of receiving- pro 
 motion purchased by the death of a comrade and friend," observed 
 Mason, kindly; " it was reported that Sitgreaves said he would live." 
 
 " From my soul I hope so," exclaimed Lawton ; "for a beard 
 less face, that boy carries the stoutest heart I have ever met with. 
 
 I
 
 SS TIII: si Y. 
 
 It surprises me, however, that as \ve both fell at the same instant, 
 the men behaved so well." 
 
 " For the compliment, I might thank you," cried the Lieutenant, 
 with a laugh : " but my modesty forbids ; I did my best to stop 
 them, but without success." 
 
 " Stop them," roared the Captain ; " would you stop men in 
 the middle of a charge ?" 
 
 " I thought they were going the wrong way," answered the 
 subaltern. 
 
 " Ah !" said the other, more mildly, " our fall drove them to the 
 right about." 
 
 " It was either your fall, or apprehensions of their own," re 
 turned the waggish subaltern ; " until the Major rallied us, we 
 were in admirable disorder." 
 
 " Dunwoodie !" exclaimed the astonished Lavvton ; " why the 
 Major was on the crupper of the Dutchman." 
 
 "Ah ! but he managed to get off the crupper of the Dutch 
 man," continued Mason. " He came in at half speed with the 
 other two troops, and riding between us and the enemy, with that 
 imperative way he has when roused, brought us in line in the 
 twinkling of an eye. Then it was," added the Lieutenant, with 
 animation, " that we sent John Bull to the bushes. Oh ! it was 
 a sweet charge heads and tails, until we were upon them." 
 
 "The devil !" cried the Captain, "what a sight I missed." 
 
 " You slept through it all," said Mason, laconically. 
 
 " Yes," returned the other, with a sigh ; " it was all lost to me 
 and poor George Singleton. But, Tom, what will George's sister 
 say to this fair-haired maiden, in yonder white building 1" 
 
 " Hang herself in her garters," said the subaltern. " I owe a 
 proper respect to my superiors, but two such angels are more than 
 justly- falls to the share of one man, unless he be a Turk or a 
 Hindoo." 
 
 " Yes, yes," said the Captain, quickly, " the Major is ever 
 preaching morality to the youngsters, but he is a sly fellow in the 
 main. Do you observe how fond he is of the cross roads above 
 this valley ? Now, if I were to halt the troops twice in the same 
 place, you would all swear there was a petticoat in the wind." 
 
 " You are well known to the corps," returned the sententious 
 subaltern. 
 
 ' Well, Tom, your slanderous propensity is incurable but," 
 stretching forward his body in the direction he was gazing, as if 
 to aid him in distinguishing objects through the darkness, " what 
 animal is moving through the tield on our right ?" 
 
 " 'Tis a man," said Mason, looking intently at the suspicious 
 object. 
 
 " By his hump 'tis a dromedary," added the Captain, still eyeing
 
 THE SPY. Si) 
 
 it keenly. Wheeling his horse suddenly from the highway, he 
 exclaimed : " Harvey Birch take him, dead or alive." 
 
 Mason, and a few of the leading dragoons only, understood the 
 sudden cry, hut it was heard throughout the line. A dozen of the 
 men, with the Lieutenant at their head, followed the impetuous 
 Lawton, and their speed threatened the pursued with a sudden 
 termination to the race. 
 
 Birch prudently kept his position on the rock, where he had 
 been seen by the passing glance of Henry Wharton, until evening 
 had begun to shroud the surrounding objects in darkness. From 
 this height he had seen all the events of the day as they had oc 
 curred. He had watched, with a beating heart, the departure of 
 the troops under Dunwoodie, and with difficulty had curbed his 
 impatience until the obscurity of night should render his moving 
 free from danger. He had not, however, completed a fourth of 
 his way to his own residence, when his quick ear distinguished the 
 tread of the approaching horse. Trusting to the increasing dark 
 ness, he, notwithstanding, determined to persevere. By crouching 
 and moving quickly along the surface of the ground, he hoped 
 yet to escape unnoticed. Captain Lawton was too much engrossed 
 with the foregoing conversation to suffer his eyes to indulge in 
 their usual wandering ; and the pedler, perceiving by the voices 
 that the enemy he most feared had passed him, yielded to his im 
 patience, and stood erect, in order to make greater progress. The 
 moment his body arose above the shadow of the ground it was 
 seen, and the chase commenced. For a single instant Birch re 
 mained helpless, with his blood curdling in his veins at the im 
 minence of his danger, and his legs refusing their natural; and 
 what was now so necessary, office. But it was for a moment 
 only. Casting his pack where he stood, and instinctively tight 
 ening the belt he wore, the pedler betook himself to flight. He 
 knew that by bringing himself into a line with his pursuers and 
 the wood, his form would be lost to the sight. This he soon ef 
 fected, and he was straining every nerve to gain the wood itself, 
 when several horsemen rode by him but a short distance on his 
 left, and cut him off from this place of refuge. The pedler threw 
 himself on the ground as they came near him, and was in this 
 manner passed unseen. But delay, now, became too dangerous 
 for him to remain in that position. He accordingly arose, and 
 still keeping in the shadow of the wood, along the skirts of which 
 he heard voices crying to each other to be watchful, he ran with 
 incredible speed in a parallel line, but in an opposite direction, to 
 the march of the dragoons. 
 
 The confusion of the chase had been heard by the whole of the 
 men, though none distinctly understood the order of the hasty 
 Lawton but those who followed. The remainder were lost in 
 
 i 2
 
 SO THS spy. 
 
 doubt as to the duty that was required of them; and the afoie- 
 said cornet was making eager inquiries of the trooper near him, 
 on the subject, when a man, at a short distance in his reur, 
 crossed the road in a single bound. At the same instant, the 
 stentorian voice of Captain Lawton rang through the valley, 
 shouting in a manner that told the truth at once to his men. 
 
 " Harvey Birch take him dead or alive." 
 
 Fifty pistols lighted the scene instantly, and the bullets 
 whistled in every direction around the head of the devoted ped- 
 ler. A feeling of despair seized his heart, and he exclaimed 
 bitterly " Hunted like a beast of the forest." He felt life and 
 its accompaniments to be a burden, and was about to yield him 
 self to his enemies. Nature, however, prevailed ; he feared, 
 that if taken, his life would not be honoured with the forms of 
 a trial, but that most probably the morning sun would witness 
 his ignominious execution ; for he had already been condemned 
 to that fate, and only escaped it by stratagem. These considera 
 tions, with the approaching footsteps of his pursuers, roused him 
 to new exertions, and he again fled before them. A fragment of 
 a wall, that had withstood the ravages made by war, in the adjoin 
 ing fences of wood, fortunately crossed his path. He hardly had 
 time to throw his exhausted limbs over this barrier, before twenty 
 of his enemies reached its opposite side. Their horses refused 
 to take the leap in the dark, and amid the confusion of the 
 rearing chargers, and the execrations of their riders, Birch was 
 enabled to gain a sight of the base of the hill, on whose summit 
 was a place of perfect security against the approach of any foe. 
 The heart of the pedler now beat high with the confidence of his 
 revived hopes, when the voice of Captain Lawton again rang in 
 his ears, shouting to his men to give him room. The order was 
 promptly obeyed, and the fearless trooper came at the wall at the 
 top of his horse's speed, plunged the rowels in his charger, and 
 flew over the obstacle like lightning, and in safety. The trium 
 phant hurrahs of the men, and the thundering tread of the horse, 
 now too plainly assured the pedler of the emergency of his 
 danger. He was nearly exhausted, and his fate no longer seemed 
 doubtful. 
 
 " Stop, or die," said the trooper, in the suppressed tones of 
 inveterate determination. 
 
 Harvey stole a fearful glance over his shoulder, and saw, within 
 a bound of him, the man he most dreaded. By the light of the 
 stars he beheld the uplifted arm and threatening sabre. Fear, 
 exhaustion, and despair, seized on his heart, and the intended 
 victim suddenly fell at the feet of the dragoon. The horse of 
 Lawton suddenly struck the prostrate pedler, and both steed and 
 rider came together violently to the earth. As quick as thought
 
 THE SPY. 91 
 
 Birch was on his feet again, and with the sword of the discomfited 
 dragoon in his hand- Vengeance seems but too natural to human 
 passions. There are but few who have not felt the seductive 
 pleasure of making our injuries recoil on the supposed authors ; 
 and yet there are some who know how much sweeter it is to 
 return good for evil. All the wrongs of the pedler shone on his 
 hrain with a dazzling brightness. For a moment the demon 
 within him prevailed, and Birch brandished the powerful weapon 
 in the air ; in the next it fell harmless on the reviving but help 
 less trooper ; and the pedler vanished up the side of the friendly 
 rock. 
 
 " Help Captain Lawton there," cried Mason, as he rode up, 
 followed by a dozen of his men, " and some of you dismount 
 with me, and search these rocks; the villain lies here concealed." 
 
 " Hold," roared the discomfited Captain, raising himself with 
 difficulty on his feet ; " if one of you dismount, he dies ; Tom, 
 my good fellow, you will help me to straddle Roanoake again." 
 
 The astonished subaltern complied in silence, while the wonder 
 ing dragoons remained as fixed in their saddles, as if they com 
 posed part of the animals they rode. 
 
 " You are much hurt, I fear," said Mason, with something of 
 condolence in his manner, as they re-entered the high-way, and 
 biting off the end of a segar for a want of a better quality of 
 tobacco. 
 
 " Something so, I do believe," replied the Captain, catching 
 his breath, and speaking with difficulty ; " I wish our bone-setter 
 was at hand, to examine into the state of my ribs." 
 
 " Sitgreaves is left in attendance on Captain Singleton, at the 
 house of Mr. Wharton," said Mason in reply. 
 
 " Then there I halt for the night, Tom," replied the other 
 quickly ; " these rude times must abridge ceremony ; besides you 
 may remember the old gentleman professed a great regard for 
 the corps. Oh ! I can never think of passing so good a friend 
 without calling." 
 
 " And I will lead the troop to the four corners," said the Lieu 
 tenant ; " if we all halt there, we shall breed a famine in the land." 
 
 " A condition I never desired to be placed in," added Lawton* 
 " The idea of that graceful spinster's buckwheat cakes is highly 
 comfortable in the perspective." 
 
 " Oh ! you won't die if you can think of eating," cried Mason, 
 with a laugh. 
 
 " I should surely die if I could not," observed the Captain, 
 gravely. 
 
 " Captain Lawton," said the orderly of his troops, riding to 
 the side of his commanding officer, " we are now passing the 
 house of the pedler spv ; is it your pleasure that we burn it ?" 
 
 i 3
 
 THE SPY. 
 
 " No !'' roared the Captain, in R voice that startled the disap 
 pointed sergeant ; " are you an incendiary ? would you burn the 
 house in cold blood ? let but a spark approach it, and the hand 
 that carries it will never light another." 
 
 " Zounds !" exclaimed the sleepy cornet in the rear, as he was 
 nodding on his horse, " there is life in the Captain notwithstand 
 ing his tumble." 
 
 Lawton and Mason rode on in silence, the latter ruminating on 
 the wonderful change produced in his commander by his fall, 
 when they arrived opposite to the gate which was before the re 
 sidence of Mr. Wharton. The troop continued its march, but 
 the Captain and his Lieutenant dismounted, and, followed by tho 
 servant of the former, proceeded slowly to the door of the cottage. 
 
 Colonel Wellmere had already sought a retreat for his morti 
 fied feelings in his own room ; Mr. Wharton and his son were 
 closeted by themselves ; and the ladies were administering the 
 refreshments of the tea-table to the surgeon of the dragoons, 
 who had seen one of his patients in his bed, and the other hap 
 pily enjoying the comforts of a sweet sleep. A few natural in 
 quiries from Miss Peyton had opened the soul of the doctor, who 
 knew every individual of her extensive family connexion in Vir 
 ginia, and who even thought it impossible that he had not seen 
 the lady herself. The amiable spinster smiled, as she felt it to 
 be improbable that she should ever have met her new acquaint 
 ance before, and not remember his singularities. It, however, 
 greatly relieved the embarrassment of their situation, and some 
 thing like a discourse was maintained between them ; the nieces 
 were only listeners, nor could the aunt be said to be much more. 
 
 "As I was observing, Miss Peyton, it was nothing but the 
 noxious vapours of the low lands that made the plantation of 
 your brother an unfit residence for man ; but quadrupeds were " 
 
 "Bless me, what's that?" said Miss Peyton, turning pale at 
 the report of the pistols fired at Birch. 
 
 " It sounds prodigiously like the concussion on the atmosphere, 
 made by the explosion of fire arms," said the precise surgeon, 
 very coolly, and sipping his tea with great indifference. " I 
 should imagine it to be the troop of Captain Lawton returning, 
 did I not know that the Captain never uses the pistols, and that 
 he dreadfully abuses the sabre." 
 
 " Merciful providence !" exclaimed the agitated maiden, "he 
 would not injure one with it certainly." 
 
 " Injure !" repeated the other quickly ; " it is certain death, 
 madam ; the most random blows imaginable ; all that I can say 
 to him will have no effect." 
 
 " But Captain Lawton is the officer we saw this morning, and 
 is surely your friend," said Frances, hastily, observing her aunt 
 to be dreadfully alarmed.
 
 THE SPY. 93 
 
 " I find no fault with his want of friendship," returned the 
 doctor ; " the man is well enough if he would learn to cut scien 
 tifically and give me some chance with the wounded. All trades, 
 madam, ought to be allowed to live ; but what becomes of a sur 
 geon, if his patients are dead before he sees them?" 
 
 The doctor continued haranguing on the probability and im 
 probability of its being the returning troop, until a loud knock 
 at the front door gave new alarm to the ladies. Instinctively 
 laying his hand on a small saw, that had been his companion the 
 whole day, in the vain expectation of an amputation, the surgeon 
 coolly assured the ladies that he would avert any danger, and 
 proceeded in person to answer the summons. 
 
 " Captain Lawton !" exclaimed the surgeon, as he beheld the 
 trooper leaning on the arm of his subaltern, and with difficulty 
 crossing the threshold. 
 
 " Ah ! my dear bone-setter, is it you ?" returned the other 
 good-humouredly ; " you are here very fortunately to inspect my 
 carcass; but do lay aside that rascally saw." 
 
 A few words from Mason explained to the surgeon the nature 
 and manner of his Captain's hurts, and Miss Peyton cheerfully 
 accorded the required accommodations. While the room intended 
 for the trooper was getting in a state of preparation, and the 
 doctor was giving certain portentous orders, the Captain was in 
 vited to rest himself in the parlour. On the table was a dish of 
 more substantial food than ordinarily adorned the afternoon's re 
 past, and it soon caught the attention of the dragoons. Miss 
 Peyton, recollecting they had probably made their only meal that 
 day at her table, kindly invited them to close it with another. 
 The offer required no pressing, and in a few minutes the two 
 were comfortably seated, and engaged in an employment that 
 was only interrupted by an occasional wry face from the Captain, 
 as he -moved his body in evident pain. These interruptions, how 
 ever, interfered but little with the principal business in hand ; 
 and the Captain had got happily through this important duty, be 
 fore the surgeon returned to announce all things as ready for his 
 accommodation in the room above stairs. 
 
 " What, eating !" cried the astonished physician ; " Captain 
 Lawton, do you wish to die ?" 
 
 " I have no particular wish that way," said the trooper, rising, 
 and bowing a polite good night to the ladies, " and therefore, have 
 been providing the materials necessary to preserve life within'me.' 
 
 The surgeon muttered his dissatisfaction while he followed 
 Mason and his Captain from the apartment. 
 
 Every house in America had at that day what was emphatically 
 called its best room, and this had been allotted, by the unseen 
 influence of Surah, to Colonel Wcllmere. The down counter-
 
 94 THE SPY. 
 
 pane, which a clear frosty night would render extremely grateful 
 over bruised limbs, decked the English officer's bed. A massive 
 silver tankard, richly embossed with the Wharton arms, held the 
 beverage he was to drink during the night ; while beautiful vessels 
 of china performed the same office for the two American Captains. 
 Sarah was certainly unconscious of the silent preference she had 
 been giving to the English officer, and it is equally certain that 
 but for his hurts, bed, tankard, and everything but the beverage, 
 would have been matters of indifference to Captain Lawton, half 
 of whose nights were spent in his clothes, and not a few of them 
 in the saddle. After taking possession of what was a small but 
 comfortable room, Dr. Sitgreaves proceeded to inquire into the 
 state of his injuries. He had begun to pass his hand over the 
 body of his patient, when the latter cried impatiently " Sit 
 greaves, do lay that rascally saw aside ; the sight of it makes my 
 blood cold." 
 
 " Captain Lawton," rejoined the surgeon, " I think, for a man 
 who has so often exposed life and limb, you are unaccountably 
 afraid of what is a very useful instrument." 
 
 " Heaven keep me from its use," said the trooper with a shrug. 
 
 " Surely you would not despise the lights of science, nor refuse 
 surgical aid, because this saw might be necessary ?" asked the in 
 corrigible operator. 
 
 " I would." 
 
 "You would?" 
 
 "Yes, you never shall joint me like a quarter of beef, while I 
 have life to defend myself," cried the resolute dragoon ; "but I 
 grow sleepy ; are any of my ribs broken ?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Any of my bones?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Tom, I'll thank you for that pitcher." As he ended his 
 draught, he very deliberately turned his back on his companions, 
 and good-naturedly cried " Good night, Mason ; good night, 
 Galen." 
 
 Captain Lawton entertained a profound respect for the surgical 
 abilities of his comrade, but was very sceptical on the subject of 
 administering internally for the ailings of the human frame. 
 With a full stomach, stout heart, and a clear conscience, he often 
 maintained, that a man might bid defiance to the world and its 
 vicissitudes. Nature provided him with the second, and, to say 
 the truth, he strove manfully himself, to keep up the other two 
 requisites in his creed of worldly prosperity. It was a favourite 
 maxim with him, that the last thing death assailed was the eyes, 
 and next to the last, the jaws. This he interpreted in a clear 
 expression of the intention of nature, that every man might regu-
 
 THE SPY. 95 
 
 late, by his own volition, whatever was to be admitted into the 
 sanctuary of his mouth ; consequently, if the guest proved un 
 palatable, he had no one to blame but himself. The surgeon, 
 who was well acquainted with these views of his patient, beheld 
 him, as he cavalierly turned his back on Mason and himself, with 
 a commiserating attempt ; replaced in their leathern repository 
 the phials he had exhibited, with a species of care that was allied 
 to veneration ; gave the saw, as he concluded, a whirl of triumph, 
 and departed, without condescending to notice the compliment of 
 the trooper, to give some of his care to the guest in the best bed 
 room. Mason, finding, by the breathing of the Captain, that his 
 own good night would be unheard, hastened to pay his respects 
 to the ladies mounted, and followed the troop at the top of his 
 horse's speed. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 On some fond breast the parting soul relies, 
 Some pious drops the closing eye requires ; 
 E'en from the tomb the voice of nature cries, 
 E'en in our ashes, live their wonted fires. Gray. 
 
 THE possessions of Mr. Wharton extended some distance on each 
 side of the house in which he dwelt, and most of his land was 
 unoccupied. A few scattering dwellings were to be seen in dif 
 ferent parts of his domains, but they were fast falling to decay, 
 and were untenanted. The proximity of the country to the con 
 tending armies had nearly banished the pursuits of agriculture 
 from the land. It was useless for the husbandmen to devote his 
 time, and the labour of his hands, to obtain overflowing garners, 
 that the first foraging party would empty. None tilled the earth 
 with any other view than to provide the scanty means of subsis 
 tence, except those who were placed so near to one of the adverse 
 parties as to be safe from the inroads of the light troops of the 
 other. To these the war offered a golden harvest, more especially 
 to such as enjoyed the benefits of an access to the Royal army. 
 Mr. Wharton did not require the use of his lands for the purposes 
 of subsistence, and willingly adopted the guarded practice of the 
 day, and limited his attention to such articles as were soon to be 
 consumed within his own walls, or could be easily secreted from 
 the prying looks of the foragers. In consequence, the ground 
 on which the action was fought, had not a single inhabited build 
 ing, besides the one belonging to the father of Harvey Birch. 
 This stood between the places where the cavalry had met, and the 
 charge had been made on the party of Wellmere. 
 
 To Katy Haynes, it had been a day fruitful in incidents to fur 
 nish an inexhaustible theme to her after life. The prudent house 
 keeper had kept her political feelings in a state of rigid neutra-
 
 96 THK Sl'Y. 
 
 lity ; her own friends had espoused the cause of the country, but 
 the maiden never lost sight of the moment when she herself was 
 to be espoused to Harvey Birch. She did not wish to fetter the 
 bonds of Hymen with any clogs than those with which nature 
 had already so amply provided them. Katy could always see 
 enough to embitter the marriage bed, without calling in the aid 
 of political contention ; and yet, at times, the prying spinster had 
 her doubts of which side she should be, to escape this dreadful 
 evil. There was so much of practised deception in the conduct 
 of the pedler, that the housekeeper frequently arrested her own 
 words when most wishing to manifest her sympathy. His 
 lengthened absences from home had commenced immediately 
 after the hostile armies had made their appearance in the county ; 
 previously to that event, his returns had been regular and frequent. 
 
 The battle of the Plains had taught the cautious Washington 
 the advantages possessed by his enemy, in organization, arms, 
 and discipline. These were difficulties to be mastered by his 
 own vigilance and care. Drawing off his troops to the heights, 
 in the northern part of the county, he bid defiance to the attacks 
 of the royal army, and Sir William Howe fell back to the enjoy 
 ments of his barren conquests, a deserted city, and the adjacent 
 islands. Never afterwards did the opposing armies make the 
 trial for success within the limits of West Chester ; yet hardly 
 a day passed, that the partisans did not make their inroads ; or 
 a sun rise, that the inhabitants were spared the relation of the 
 excesses that the preceding darkness had served to conceal. Most 
 of the movements of the pedler through the county were made 
 at the hours which others allotted to repose. The evening sun 
 would frequently leave him at one extremity of the district, and 
 the morning find him at the other. His pack was his never- 
 failing companion, and there were those who closely studied him 
 in his moments of traffic, who thought his only purpose was the 
 accumulation of gold. He would be often seen near the Highlands 
 with a body bending under the weight it carried ; and again near 
 the Harlaem river, travelling, with lighter steps, with his face 
 towards the setting sun. But these glances at him were uncer 
 tain and fleeting. The intermediate time no eye could penetrate. 
 For months he disappeared, and no traces of his course were 
 known. 
 
 Strong parties held the heights of Harlaem, and the northern 
 end of Manhattan Island was bristled with the bayonets of the 
 English sentinels, yet the pedler glided among them unnoticed 
 and uninjured. His approaches to the American lines were also 
 frequent ; but generally so conducted as to baffle pursuit. Many 
 a sentinel, placed in the gorges of the mountains, spoke of a 
 strange figure that had been seen gliding by them in the mists
 
 THE SPY. 97 
 
 of the evening. The stories reached the ears of the officers, and, 
 as we have related, in two instances, the trader fell into the 
 hands of the Americans. The first time he escaped from Lawton, 
 shortly after his arrest ; but the second he was condemned to die. 
 On the morning of his intended execution, the cage was opened, 
 but the bird had flown. This extraordinary escape had been 
 made from the custody of a favourite officer of Washington, and 
 sentinels who had been thought worthy to guard the person of 
 the Commander-in-chief. Bribery and treason could not ap 
 proach the characters of men so well esteemed, and the opinion 
 gained ground among the common soldiery, that the pedler had 
 dealings with the dark one. Katy however, always repelled this 
 opinion with indignation; for within the recesses of her own 
 bosom, the housekeeper, in ruminating on the events, concluded 
 that the evil spirit did not pay in gold. Nor, continues the wary 
 spinster in her cogitations, does Washington ; paper and pro 
 mises were all that the leader of the American troops could dis 
 pense to his servants, until after the receipt of supplies from 
 France ; and even then, although the scrutinizing eyes of Katy 
 never let any opportunity of examining into the deer- skin purse 
 pass unimproved, she was never able to detect the image of 
 Louis, intruding into the presence of the well known countenance 
 of George III. 
 
 The house of Harvey had been watched at different times by 
 the Americans, with a view to his arrest, but never with success ; 
 the reputed spy possessed a secret means of intelligence, that in 
 variably defeated their schemes. Once, when a strong body of 
 the Continental army held the Four Corners for a whole summer, 
 orders had been received from Washington himself, never to leave 
 the door of Harvey Birch unwatched ; the command was rigidly 
 obeyed, and during this long period the pedler was unseei'i ; the 
 detachment was withdrawn, and the next night Birch re-entered 
 his dwelling. The father of Harvey had been greatly molested, 
 in consequence of the suspicious character of the son. But, 
 notwithstanding the most minute scrutiny into the conduct of the 
 old man, no fact could be substantiated against him to his injury, 
 and his property was too small to keep alive the zeal of professed 
 patriots ; its confiscation and purchase would not reward them 
 for their trouble. Age and sorrow were now about to spare him 
 from further molestation, for the lamp of life had begun to be 
 drained of its oil. The separation of the father and son had been 
 painful, but in obedience to what both thought a duty. The old 
 man had kept his situation a secret from the neighbourhood, in 
 order that he might have the company of his child in his last 
 moments. The confusion of the past day, and his increasing 
 dread that Harvey might be too late, helped to hasten the event
 
 ^ THE 81'Y. 
 
 he would fain arrest for yet a little while. As night set in, his 
 illness increased to such a degree, that the dismayed housekeeper 
 had sent a truant boy, who had been shut up with them for the 
 day rather than trust himself in the presence of the combatants, 
 to the Locusts, in quest of a companion to cheer her desolate 
 situation. Caesar was the only one who could be spared, and, 
 loaded with eatables and cordials by the kind-hearted Miss 
 Peyton, the black had been despatched on his duty. The dying 
 man was past the use of such articles, and his chief anxiety 
 seemed to centre in a meeting with his absent child. 
 
 The noise of the chase had been heard by the group in the 
 house, but its cause not understood ; and as both the black and 
 Katy were apprised of the detachment of American horse being 
 below them, with its discontinuance all apprehension from this 
 disturbance ceased. They heard the dragoons, as they moved 
 slowly by the building, but in compliance with the prudent in 
 junction of the black, the housekeeper forbore to indulge her 
 curiosity by taking a view of the pageant. The old man had 
 closed his eyes, and his attendants supposed him to be asleep. 
 The house contained two large rooms, and as many small ones. 
 One of the former served for kitchen and parlour ; in the other 
 lay the father of Birch ; of the latter, one was the sanctuary of 
 the vestal, and the other contained the provisions for subsistence. 
 A huge chimney of stone rose in the centre of the building, 
 serving, of itself, for a partition between the larger rooms ; and 
 fire-places of corresponding dimensions were in each apartment. 
 A bright fire was burning in that of the common room, and 
 within the very jambs of its monstrous jaws sat Caesar and Katy, 
 at the time of which we write. The African was impressing his 
 caution on the housekeeper to suppress an idle curiosity that 
 might prove dangerous. 
 
 " Best nebber tempt a Satan." said Csesar, rolling up his eyes 
 significantly, till the whites glistened by the glare of the fire ; 
 " I like to lose an ear, only for carrying a little bit of a letter ; 
 but I wish Harvey get back." 
 
 " It is very disregardful in him to be away at such times," said 
 Katy, imposingly. " Suppose now his father wanted to make 
 his last will in the testament, who is there to do such a thing for 
 him ? Harvey is a very wasteful and a very disregardful man." 
 
 " Perhaps he make him afore," said the black inquiringly. 
 
 " It would not be a wonderment if he had," rejoined the 
 housekeeper ; " he is whole days looking into the Bible." 
 
 " Then he read a good book," said the black, solemnly. " Miss 
 Fanny read him to Dinah berry often." 
 
 " Yes," continued the inquisitive spinster ; " but he would not 
 be for ever studying it, if it didn't hold something more as com 
 mon."
 
 THE SPY. 99 
 
 She rose from her seat, and stealing softly to a chest of drawers 
 in the room where lay the sick, took from it a large Bible, hea 
 vily bound and secured with strong clasps of brass, with which 
 she returned to the expecting African. The volume was opened, 
 and she proceeded instantly to the inquiry. Katy was far from 
 an expert scholar, and to Caesar the characters were absolutely 
 strangers. For some time the housekeeper was occupied with 
 finding out the word Matthew, which she at last saw in large 
 Roman letters crowning one of the pages, and instantly announced 
 her discovery to the attentive Caesar. 
 
 " Berry well, now look him all through," said the black, peep 
 ing over the damsel's shoulder, as he held a long, lank candle 
 of yellow tallow in his hand, in such a manner as to throw its 
 feeble light on the volume. 
 
 " Yes, but I must begin with the book," replied the other, 
 turning the leaves carefully back, until, moving two at once, she 
 lighted upon a page covered with the labours of a pen. " Here," 
 said the housekeeper with impatience, and shaking with the 
 eagerness of expectation ; " here is the very words themselves ; 
 now I would give the world to know who he has left them big 
 silver shoe buckles to." 
 
 " Read 'em," said Caesar, laconically- 
 
 " And the black walnut drawers ; for Harvey could never want 
 them." 
 
 " Why no want 'em as well as he fader ?" asked the black, dryly. 
 
 "And the six silver table spoons; for Harvey always uses the 
 iron." 
 
 " I guess he say," continued the African, pointing significantly 
 to the writing, and listening eagerly, as the other just opened tke 
 store of the elder Birch's wealth. 
 
 Thus repeatedly advised, and impelled by her own curiosity, 
 Katy commenced her task. Anxious to come to the part which 
 most interested herself, she dipped at once into the centre of the 
 subject. 
 
 " Chester Birch, born September 1st, 1755 ;" read the spinster, 
 with great deliberation. 
 
 " Well," cried the impatient Caesar, " what he give him ?" 
 
 "Abigail Birch, born July \2th, 1757 ;" continued the house 
 keeper, in the same tone. 
 
 " I guess he give her a spoons," interrupted the black. 
 
 "June 1st, 1/60. On this awful day, the judgment of an 
 offended God lighted on my house " a heavy groan from the 
 adjoining room made the spinster instinctively close the book, and 
 Caesar, for a moment, shook with fear. Neither possessed suf 
 ficient resolution to go and examine the condition of the sufferer, 
 but his heavy breathing continued aa usual. Katy dared not, 
 
 K
 
 100 THE SPY. 
 
 however, re-open the Bible, and carefully securing its clasps, it 
 was laid on the table in silence. Cresar took his chair again, and 
 after looking timidly round the room remarked " I tought he be 
 bout to go." 
 
 " No," said Katy solemnly, "he will live till the tide is out, or 
 the first cock crows in the morning." 
 
 "Poor man!" continued the black, nestling still farther into 
 the chimney corner; "I hope he lay quiet after he die." 
 
 " 'T would be no astonishment to me if he did'nt," returned 
 Katy, glancing her eyes round the room, and speaking in an under 
 voice ; " for they sa)' an unquiet life makes an uneasy grave." 
 
 "Johnny Birch aberry good man," said the black, quite positively. 
 
 "Ah! Csesar," said the housekeeper in the same voice, " he is 
 good, only, who does good can you tell me, Caesar, why honestly 
 gotten gold should be hidden in the bowels of the earth ?" 
 
 " If he know where he be, why don't he dig him up ?" asked 
 the black, promptly. 
 
 " There may be reasons not comprehendible to you," said Katy, 
 moving her chair so that her clothes covered the charmed stone, 
 underneath which lay the secret treasures of the pedler, unable to 
 refrain speaking of that which she would have been very unwilling 
 to reveal; "but a rough outside often holds a smooth inside." 
 Caesar stared around the building, unable to fathom the hidden 
 meaning of the damsel, when his roving eyes suddenly became 
 fixed, and his teeth chattered with aifright. The change in the 
 countenance of the black was instantly perceived by Katy, and 
 turning her face, she saw the pedler himself, standing within the 
 door of the room. 
 
 " Is he alive ?" asked Birch, tremulously, and seemingly afraid 
 to receive an answer to his own question. 
 
 " Surely," said the maiden, rising hastily, and officiously offering 
 her chair to the pedler, "he must live till day or the tide is down." 
 
 Disregarding all but her assurance, the pedler stole gently to 
 the room of his dying parent. The tie which bound this father 
 and son together was one of no ordinary kind. In the wide world 
 they were all to each other. Had Katy but read a few lines fur 
 ther in the record, she would have seen the sad tale of their mis 
 fortunes. At one blow competence and kindred had been swept 
 from before them, and from that day to the present hour, perse 
 cution and distress had followed their wandering steps. Approach 
 ing the bedside, Harvey leaned his body forward, and said, in a 
 voice nearly choked by his feelings " Father, do you know me ?" 
 
 The parent slowly opened his eyes, and a smile of satisfaction 
 passed over his pallid features, leaving behind it the impression 
 of death in still greater force, by the contrast. The pedler gave 
 a restorative he h:ul brought with him to the parched lips of the
 
 101 
 
 sick man, and for a few minutes new vigour seemed to be imparted 
 to his frame. He spoke, but slowly and with difficulty. Curiosity 
 kept Kate silent ; awe had the same effect on Csesar ; and Harvey 
 seemed hardly to breathe, as he listened to the language of tire 
 departing spirit. 
 
 " My son," said the father in a hollow voice, " God is as mer 
 ciful as he is just ; if I threw the cup of salvation from my lips 
 when a vouth, he graciously offers it to me in mine age. He chas- 
 tiseth to purify, and I go to join the spirits of our lost family. la 
 a little while, my child, you will be alone. I know you too well 
 not to foresee that you will be a lone pilgrim through life. The 
 bruised reed may endure, but it will never rise. You have that 
 within you, Harvey, that will guide you aright ; persevere as you 
 have begun, for the duties of life are never to be neglected and" 
 A noise in the adjoining room interrupted the dying man, and 
 the impatient pedler hastened to learn the cause, followed by Katy 
 and the black. The first glance of his eye on the figure in the 
 doorway told the trader but too well both his errand, and the fate 
 that probably awaited himself. The intruder was a man still young 
 in years, but his lineaments bespoke a mind long agitated by evil 
 passions. His dress was of the meanest materials, and so ragged 
 and unseemly as to give him the appearance of studied poverty. 
 His hair was prematurely whitened, and his sunken, lowering eye 
 avoided the bold, forward look of innocence. There was a rest 
 lessness in his movements, and an agitation in his manner, that 
 proceeded from the workings of the foul spirit within him, and 
 which was not less offensive to others than distressing to himself. 
 This man was a well-known leader of one of those gangs of ma 
 rauders who infested the county with a semblance of patriotism, 
 and were guilty of every grade of offence, from simple theft up to 
 murder. Behind him stood several other figures clad in a similar 
 manner, but whose countenances expressed nothing more than the 
 callous indifference of brutal insensibility. They were all well 
 armed with muskets and bayonets, and provided with the usual 
 implements of foot soldiers. Harvey knew resistance to be vain, 
 and quietly submitted to their directions. In the twinkling of ail 
 eye both he and Ca3sar.were stripped of their decent garments, 
 and made to exchange clothes with two of the filthiest of the band. 
 They were then placed in separate corners of the room, and, under 
 ther muzzles of the muskets, required faithfully to answer such in 
 terrogatories as were put to them. 
 
 "Where is your pack?" was the first question to the pedler. 
 
 " Hear me," said Birch, trembling with agitation ; " in the next 
 room is my father, now in the agonies of death ; let me go to him, 
 receive his blessing, and close his eyes, and you shall have all 
 ay, all." 
 
 K 2
 
 102 THE SPY. 
 
 "Answer me as I put the questions, or this musket shall send 
 you to keep the old driveller company ; where is your pack ?" 
 
 " I will tell you nothing, unless you let me go to my father," 
 said the pedler, resolutely. 
 
 His persecutor raised his arm with a malicious sneer, and was 
 about to execute his threat, when one of his companions checked 
 him and cried " What would you do? you surely forget the re 
 ward. Tell us where are your goods, and you shall go to your 
 father." 
 
 Birch complied instantly, and a man was despatched in quest 
 of the booty ; he soon returned, throwing the bundle on the floor, 
 swearing it was as light as feathers. 
 
 "Ay," cried the leader, "there must be gold somewhere for 
 what it did contain ; give us your gold, Mr. Birch ; we know you 
 have it ; you will not take continental, not you." 
 
 " You break your faith," said Harvey, sullenly. 
 
 " Give us your gold," exclaimed the other, furiously, pricking 
 the pedler with his bayonet until the blood followed his pushes in 
 streams. At this instant a slight movement was heard in the ad 
 joining room, and Harvey cried imploringly "Let me let me 
 go to my father, and you shall have all." 
 
 " I swear you shall go then," said the skinner. 
 
 " Here, take the trash," cried Birch, as he threw aside the purse, 
 which he had contrived to conceal, notwithstanding the change in 
 his garments. 
 
 The robber raised it from the floor with a hellish laugh, as he 
 said coolly " Ay, but it shall be to your father in heaven." 
 
 " Monster !" exclaimed Birch, " have you no feeling, no faith, 
 no honesty ?" 
 
 " Why, to hear him, one would think there was not a rope 
 around his neck already," said the other malignantly. " There is 
 no necessity for your being uneasy, Mr. Birch ; if the old man 
 gets a few hours' start of you in the journey, you will be sure to 
 follow him before noon to-morrow." 
 
 This unfeeling communication had no effect on the pedler, who 
 listened with gasping breath to every sound from the room of his 
 parent, until he heard his own name spoken in the hollow, se 
 pulchral tones of death. Birch could endure no more, but shrieking 
 out "Father, hush father, I come I come;" he darted by 
 his keeper, and was the next moment pinned to the wall by the 
 bayonet of another. Fortunately his quick motion lind caused 
 him to escape a thrust aimed at his life, and it was by his clothes 
 only that he was confined. 
 
 " No, Mr. Birch," said the skinner, " we know you too well for 
 a slippery rascal to trust you or.t of sight your gold, your gold." 
 
 " You have it," said the pedler, writhing with the agony of his 
 situation.
 
 "Ay, we have the purse; but you have more purses King 
 George is a prompt paymaster, and you have done him many a 
 piece of good service. Where is your hoard ? without it you 
 will never see your father." 
 
 " Remove the stone underneath the woman," cried the pedler, 
 eagerly " remove the stone." 
 
 "He raves, he raves," said Katy, instinctively moving her 
 position to another stone than the one on which she had been 
 standing. In a moment it was torn from its bed, and nothing but 
 earth was seen under it. 
 
 "He raves; you have driven him from his right mind," con 
 tinued the trembling spinster ; " would any man in his senses 
 think of keeping gold under a hearth-stone ?" 
 
 " Peace, babbling fool," cried Harvey. " Lift the corner stone, 
 and you will find what will make you rich, and me a beggar." 
 
 " And then you will be despisable," said the house-keeper, 
 bitterly. " A pedler without goods and without money is sure to 
 be despisable." 
 
 " There will be enough left to pay for his halter," cried the 
 skinner, as he opened upon a store of English guineas. These 
 were quickly transferred to a bag, notwithstanding the declara 
 tions of the spinster, that her dues were unsatisfied, and that, of 
 right, ten of the guineas should be her property. 
 
 Delighted with a prize that greatly exceeded their expectations, 
 the band prepared to depart, intending to take the pedler with 
 them, in order to give him up to some of the American troops 
 above, and to claim the reward offered for his apprehension. 
 Everything was ready, and they were about to lift Birch in their 
 arms, for he refused to move an inch, when the figure entered the 
 room that appalled the group : around his body was thrown the 
 sheet of the bed from which he had just risen, and his fixed eye 
 and haggard face gave him the appearance of a being from another 
 world. Even Katy and Caesar thought it was the spirit of the 
 elder Birch, and they both fled the house, followed by the alarmed 
 skinners. 
 
 The excitement, which had given the sick man strength, soon 
 vanished, and the pedler, lifting him in his arms, re-conveyed him 
 to his bed. The re-action of the system which followed hastened 
 to close the scene. 
 
 The glazed eye of the father was fixed upon the son ; his lips 
 moved, but his voice was unheard. Harvey bent down, and, with 
 his parting breath, received the dying benediction of his parent. 
 A life of privation, of care, and of wrongs, embittered most of 
 the future hours of the pedler. But under no sufferings, in no 
 misfortunes, the subject of poverty and biting obloquy, did the 
 remembrance of that blessing ever leave him; it constantly 
 
 K 3
 
 104 THE SPY. 
 
 gleamed over the images of the past, shedding a holy radiance 
 around his saddest hours of despondency ; it cheered the prospect 
 of the future with the prayers of a pious spirit for his well-being ; 
 and it brought assurance to his soul, of having discharged faith 
 fully and truly the sacred offices of filial love. 
 
 The retreat of Caesar and the spinster had been too precipitate 
 to admit of much calculation ; yet had the former instinctively 
 separated himself from the skinners. After fleeing a short dis 
 tance they paused from fatigue, and the maiden commenced in a 
 solemn voice " Oh ! Caesar, 'twas dreadful to walk before he 
 had been laid in his grave ; but it must have been the money 
 that disturbed him ; they say Captain Kidd walks where he 
 buried gold in the old war." 
 
 " I neber tink Johnny Birch had such big eye," said the African, 
 his teeth yet chattering with the fright. 
 
 " I'm sure 'twould be a botherment to a living soul, to lose so 
 much money, and all for nothing," continued Katy, disregarding 
 the other's remark. " Harvey will be nothing but a despisable, 
 poverty-stricken wretch. I wonder who he thinks would marry 
 him now." 
 
 " Maybe a spooke take away Harvey too," observed Caesar, 
 moving still nearer to the side of the maiden. But a new idea 
 had seized the imagination of the spinster ; she thought it not 
 improbable that the prize had been forsaken in the confusion of 
 the retreat ; and, after deliberating and reasoning for some time 
 with Caesar, they both determined to venture back, and ascertain 
 this important fact, and, if possible, learn what had been the fate 
 of the pedler. Much time was spent in cautiously approaching 
 the dreaded spot and as the spinster had sagaciously placed herself 
 in the line of the retreat of the skinners, every stone was ex 
 amined in the progress, to see if it was not the abandoned gold. 
 But, although the suddenness of the alarm, and the cry of Caesar, 
 had impelled the freebooters to so hasty a retreat, they grasped 
 the hoard with an instinctive hold that death itself would not 
 have loosened. Perceiving everything to be quiet within, Katy 
 at length mustered resolution enough to enter the dwelling, where 
 she found the pedler with a heavy heart performing the last sad 
 offices for the dead. A few words sufficed to explain to Katy the 
 nature of her mistake ; but Caesar continued till his dying day to 
 astonish the sable inmates of the kitchen with learned disserta 
 tions on spookes, and to relate how direful was the appearance of 
 Johnny Birch. 
 
 The danger to himself compelled the pedler to abridge even 
 the short period that American custom leaves the deceased with 
 us ; and, aided by the black and Katy, his painful task was soon 
 ended. Caesar volunteered to walk a conjile of miles with orders 
 to a carpenter, and the body, bfinp habited in it> ordinary nttiro.
 
 THE SPY. 105 
 
 was left, with a sheet laid over it with great decency, to await the 
 return of the messenger. 
 
 The skinners had fled precipitately to the wood, which was 
 but a short distance from the house of Birch ; and once safely 
 sheltered within its shades, they halted, and mustered their panic- 
 stricken forces. 
 
 " What in the name of fury seized on your coward hearts ?" 
 cried the dissatisfied leader, drawing his breath heavily. 
 
 " The same question might be asked yourself," returned one 
 of the band, sullenly. 
 
 " From your fright, I thought a party of De Lancey's men 
 were upon us. Oh ! you are brave gentleman at a race," con 
 tinued the leader, bitterly. 
 
 " We follow our Captain." 
 
 " Then follow me back and let us secure the scoundrel, and 
 receive the reward." 
 
 " Yes ; and by the time we reach the house, that black rascal 
 will have the mad Virginian upon us ; by my soul, I would rather 
 meet fifty Cow-boys, than that single man." 
 
 " Fool," cried the enraged leader, " don't you know Dun- 
 woodie's horse are at the Corners, full two miles from here ?" 
 
 " I care not where the dragoons are, but I will swear that I saw 
 Captain Lawton enter the house of old Wharton, while I lay 
 watching an opportunity of getting the British Colonel's horse 
 from the stable." 
 
 " And if he does come, won't a bullet silence a dragoon from 
 the south as well as one from old England ?" 
 
 " Ay, but I don't choose a hornet's nest about my ears, raise 
 the skin of one of that corps, and you will never see another 
 peaceable night's foraging again." 
 
 " Well," muttered the leader, as they retired deeper into the 
 wood, " this sottish pedler will stay to see the old devil buried, 
 and though we mustn't touch him at the funeral, he'll wait to 
 look after the movables, and to-morrow night shall wind up his 
 concerns." 
 
 With this threat they withdrew to one of their usual places of 
 resort, initil darkness should again give them an opportunity of 
 marauding on the community, without danger of detection. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 O woe 1 O woeful, woeful, woeful day, 
 
 Most lamentable day .' most woeful day 
 
 That ever, ever, I did yet behold I 
 
 O day ! O day I O day ! O hateful day I 
 
 Never was seen so black a day sa this : 
 
 O woeful day ! O woeful day \~Shakspeare. 
 
 THE family at the Locusts had slept or watched through all the
 
 106 THE SPY. 
 
 disturbances of the cottage of Birch, in perfect ignorance of their 
 occurrence. The attacks of the skinners were always made with 
 so much privacy as to exclude the sufferers, not only from suc 
 cour, but frequently, through a dread of future depredations, 
 from the commisseration of their neighbours also. The cares of 
 their additional duties had drawn the ladies from their pillows at 
 an hour somewhat earlier than usual, and Captain Lawton, not 
 withstanding the sufferings of his body, had risen in compliance 
 with a rule he never departed from, of sleeping but six hours at a 
 time. This was one of the few points in which the care of the 
 human frame was involved, where the trooper and the surgeon of 
 horse were ever known to agree. The doctor had watched, 
 during the night, by the side of the bed of Captain Singleton, 
 without once closing his eyes. Occasionally he would pay a 
 visit to the wounded Englishman, who, being more hurt in the 
 spirit than in the flesh, tolerated the interruptions to his repose 
 with a very ill grace ; and once, for an instant, he ventured to 
 steal softly to the bed of his obstinate comrade, and was nearly 
 succeeding in obtaining a feel of his pulse, when a terrible oath, 
 sworn by the trooper in a dream, startled the prudent surgeon, 
 and warned him of a trite saying in the corps, " that Captain 
 Lawton always slept with one eye open." This group had as 
 sembled in one of the parlours as the sun made its appearance 
 over the eastern hill, and dispersed the columns of fog which had 
 enveloped the low land. 
 
 Miss Peyton was looking from a window in the direction of 
 the tenement of the pedler, and was expressing a kind anxiety 
 after the welfare of the sick it was supposed to contain, when the 
 persoa of Katy suddenly emerged from the dense covering of an 
 earthly cloud, whose mists were scattering before the cheering 
 rays of the sun, and was seen making hasty steps towards the 
 Locusts. There was that in the air of the housekeeper, which 
 bespoke distress of an unusual nature, and the kind-hearted mis 
 tress of the Locusts opened the door of the room, with the bene 
 volent intention of soothing a grief that seemed so overwhelming. 
 A nearer view of the disturbed features of the visitor, confirmed 
 Miss Peyton in her belief, and with the shock that gentle feelings 
 ever experience at a sudden and endless separation from even the 
 meanest of their associates, she said hastily " What, Katy, is 
 he gone ?" 
 
 " No, ma'am," replied the disturbed damsel with great bitter 
 ness, " he is not yet gone, but he may go as soon as he pleases 
 now, for the mischief is all done. I do verily believe, Miss Pey 
 ton, they haven't so much as left him money enough to buy him 
 another suit of clothes to cover his nakedness, and what he ha 
 on are none of the best, I can tell you."
 
 THE SPY. 107 
 
 " How !" exclaimed the astonished spinster, " could any one 
 have the heart to plunder a man in such distress ?" 
 
 " Hearts !" repeated Katy, catchingher breath ; " men like them 
 have no bowels at all. Plunder and distress indeed ! Why 
 ma'am, there were in the iron pot, in plain sight, fifty-four 
 guineas of gold, besides what lay underneath, which I couldn't 
 count without handling ; and I didn't like to touch it, for they 
 say, that another's gold is apt to stick so judging from that in 
 sight, there wasn't less than two hundred guineas, besides what 
 was in the deer-skin purse. But Harvey is little better now than 
 a beggar, and don't you think a beggar very despisable, Miss 
 Peyton ?" 
 
 " Poverty is to be pitied, and not despised," said the lady in 
 reply, still unable to comprehend the extent of the misfortune 
 that had befallen her neighbour during the night. " But how is 
 the old man ; and does this loss you speak of affect him much ?" 
 
 The countenance of Katy changed instantly, from the natural 
 expression of concern to the set form of melancholy, as she an 
 swered " He is happily removed from the cares of the world ; 
 the chinking of the money made him get out of his bed, and the 
 poor soul found the shock too great for him. He died about 
 two hours and ten minutes before the cock crowed, as near as we 
 can say :" she was interrupted by the physician, who, approach 
 ing, inquired, with much interest, the nature of his disorder. 
 Glancing her eye over the figure of this new acquaintance, Katy, 
 after instinctively adjusting her dress, replied " 'Twas the trou 
 bles of the times, and the loss of property, that brought him 
 down ; he wasted from day to day, and all my care and anxiety 
 were lost ; for now, Harvey is no better than a beggar, and who 
 is there to pay me for what I have done ?" 
 
 " God will reward you for all the good you have done," said 
 Miss Peyton, mildly. 
 
 "Yes," interrupted the spinster, hastily, and with an air of re 
 verence that was instantly succeeded by an expression that de 
 noted more of worldly care ; " but then I left my wages for three 
 years past in the hands of Harvey, and how am I to get them ? 
 My brothers told me again and again to ask for my money, but I 
 always thought accounts between relations were easily settled." 
 
 " Were you related then to Birch ?" asked Miss Peyton, ob 
 serving her to pause. 
 
 " Why," returned the housekeeper, hesitating a little, " I 
 thought we were as good as so. I wonder if I have no claim on 
 the house and garden, though they say now it is Harvey's, it will 
 surely be confiscated ;" turning to Lawton, who had been sitting 
 in one posture, with his piercing eyes lowering at her through 
 his thick brows, in silence, " perhaps this gentleman knows he
 
 10? THE SPY. 
 
 seems to have an interest in my story'' "Madam" said the 
 trooper, bowing very low, " both you and the tale are extremely 
 interesting" Katy smiled involuntarily " but my humble know 
 ledge is limited to the setting of a squadron in the field, and 
 using it when there. I beg leave to refer you to Dr. Archibald 
 Sitgreaves, a gentleman of universal attainments, and unbounded 
 philanthropy." 
 
 The surgeon drew up in proud disdain, and employed himself 
 in whistling a low air, as he looked over some phials on a table ; 
 but the housekeeper, turning to him with an inclination of her 
 head, continued" 1 suppose, sir, a woman has no power in her 
 husband's property, unless they be actually married?" 
 
 It was a maxim with Dr. Sitgreaves, that no species of know 
 ledge was to be despised, and consequently he was an empiric in 
 everything but his profession. At first, indignation at the irony 
 of his comrade kept him silent ; but suddenly changing his pur 
 pose, he answered the maiden, with a smile " I judge not. If 
 death has anticipated your nuptials, I am fearful you have no 
 remedy against his stern decrees." 
 
 To Katy this sounded well, although she understood nothing 
 of its meaning, but " death," and " nuptials." To this part of 
 his speech, then she directed her reply. 
 
 " I did think he only waited the death of the old gentleman 
 before he married," said the housekeeper, looking on the carpet ; 
 " but now he is nothing more than despisable, or what's the same 
 thing, a pedler without house, pack, or money. It might be hard 
 for a man to get a wife at all in such a predicary don't you 
 think it would, Miss Peyton ?" 
 
 " I seldom trouble myself with such things," said the lady, 
 gravely, busying herself in preparation for the morning's repast. 
 
 During this dialogue, Captain Lawton had been studying the 
 countenance and manner of the housekeeper, with a most ludi 
 crous gravity ; and fearful the conversation would cease, he in 
 quired, with an appearance of great interest " Then you think 
 it was age and debility that removed the old gentleman at last?" 
 
 "And these troublesome times," returned the spinster 
 promptly ; " trouble is a heavy pull down to a sick bed ; but I 
 suppose his time had come, and when that happens, it matters 
 but little what doctor's stuff we take." 
 
 " Let me set you right in that particular," interrupted the sur 
 geon gravely ; " we must all die it is true, but it is permitted us 
 to use the lights of science, in arresting dangers as they occur, 
 until" 
 
 "We can die secundum artem," said the trooper dryly. 
 
 To this observation the physician did not deign to make any 
 reply ; but deeming it necessary, in order to support his dignity, 

 
 THE SPY. 109 
 
 that the conversation should continue, he added " Perhaps, in 
 this instance, judicious treatment might have prolonged the life 
 of the patient ; who administered to the case?" 
 
 " No one yet," said the housekeeper with quickness; " I ex 
 pect he has made his last will in the testament." 
 
 The surgeon disregarded the smile of the ladies, and pursued 
 his inquiries by saying " It is doubtless wise to be ever prepared 
 for death. But under whose care was the sick man during his 
 indisposition ?" 
 
 " Under mine," answered Katy, with an air of a little impoi't- 
 ance ; " and care thrown away I may well call it ; for Harvey is 
 quite too despisable to think any more nortliat." 
 
 There was a mutual ignorance of each other's meaning, between 
 the surgeon of horse and the loquacious maiden, but it made 
 very little interruption in their communications ; both took a 
 good deal for granted, and Sitgreaves pursued his question by 
 asking " And how did you treat him ?" 
 
 " Why kindly, you may be certain," said Katy with spirit, and 
 rather tartly. 
 
 " The doctor means medically, madam," observed Captain Law- 
 ton, with a face that would have honoured the funeral of the de 
 ceased. 
 
 " I doctor'd him mostly with yarbs," said the housekeeper, 
 smiling at her consciousness of error. 
 
 " With simples," returned the surgeon ; " they are safer in the 
 hands of the unlettered than more powerful remedies ; but why 
 had you no regular attendant ?" 
 
 " I'm sure Harvey has suffered enough already from having so 
 much concern with the rig'lars, without having one to wait on 
 his father," replied the housekeeper ; " he has lost his all, and 
 made himself a vagabond through the land, and I have reason 
 to rue the day I ever crossed the threshold of his house." 
 
 " Dr. Sitgreaves does not mean a rig'lars soldier, but a regular 
 physician, madam," said the trooper, without moving a muscle. 
 
 " Oh !'' cried the maiden, again correcting herself, with a smile, 
 " for the best of all reasons ; there was none to be had, so I took 
 care of him myself. If there had been a doctor at hand, I am 
 sure we would gladly have had him ; for my part, I am clear for 
 doctoring, though Harvey says I am killing myself with medicines, 
 but I am sure it will make but little difference to him, whether I 
 live or die." 
 
 "Therein you show your sense," said the surgeon, approaching 
 to where the spinster sat, holding the palms of her hands and 
 the soles of her feet to the genial heat of a fine fire-, making the 
 most of comfort amid all her troubles, " you appear to be a sen 
 sible, discreet woman, and some who have had opportunities of
 
 110 THE SPY. 
 
 acquiring more correct views might envy you your respect for 
 knowledge and the lights of science." 
 
 Although the housekeeper did not altogether comprehend its 
 meaning, she knew it was a compliment, and as such was highly 
 pleased with the surgeon's observation ; with increased ambition, 
 therefore, she cried, " it was always said of me, that I wanted 
 nothing but opportunity to make quite a physician myself ; so 
 long as before I came to live with Harvey's father, they called 
 me the bitch doctor." 
 
 " More true than civil, I dare say," returned the surgeon, losing 
 sight of the woman's character in his admiration of her respect 
 for the healing art. " In the absence of more enlightened coun 
 sellors, the experience of a discreet matron is frequently of great 
 efficacy in checking the progress of disease in the human system ; 
 under such circumstances, madam, it is dreadful to have to con 
 tend with ignorance and obstinacy." 
 
 " Bad enough, as I well know from experience," cried Katy in 
 triumph ; " Harvey is as obstinate about such things as a dumb 
 beast ; one would think the care I took with his bed-ridden 
 father, might learn him better than to despise good nursing. 
 But some day he may know what it is to want a careful woman 
 in his house, though now I am sure he is too despisable himself 
 to have a house." 
 
 " Indeed, I can easily comprehend the mortification you must 
 have felt in having one so self-willed to deal with," returned the 
 surgeon, glancing his eyes reproachfully at his comrade ; "but 
 you should rise superior to such opinions, and pity the ignorance 
 by which they are engendered." 
 
 The housekeeper hesitated a moment, at a loss to comprehend 
 all that the surgeon expressed, yet she felt it was both compli 
 mentary and kind ; therefore, suppressing her natural flow of 
 language a little, she replied " I tell Harvey his conduct is 
 often despisable, and last night he made my words good ; but the 
 opinion of such unbelievers is not very consequential ; yet it is 
 dreadful to think how he behaves at times ; now, when he threw 
 away the needle" 
 
 " What !" said the surgeon, interrupting her, " does he affect 
 to despise the needle ? But it is my lot to meet with men, daily, 
 who are equally perverse, and who show a still more culpable dis 
 respect for the information that flows from the lights of science." 
 
 The doctor turned his face towards Captain Lawton while 
 speaking, but the elevation of the head prevented his eyes from 
 resting on the grave countenance maintained by the trooper. 
 Katy listened with the most profound attention, and added 
 " Then Harvey is a disbeliever in the tides." 
 
 " Not believe in the tides !" repeated the healer of bodies in
 
 THE KPY. Ill 
 
 astonishment ; " does the man distrust his senses ; but perhaps 
 it is the influence of the moon that he doubts T' 
 
 " That he does," exclaimed Katy, shaking with eager delight 
 at meeting with a man of learning, who could support her in her 
 favourite opinions. " If you was to hear him talk, you would 
 think he didn't believe there were such a thing as a moon at all." 
 
 " It is the misfortune of ignorance and incredulity, madam, 
 that they increase themselves," said the doctor, gravely. " The 
 mind once rejecting useful information insensibly leans to super 
 stition, and to conclusions, on the order of nature, that are not 
 less prejudicial to the cause of truth, than they are at Variance 
 with the first principles of human knowledge." 
 
 The spinster was too much awe-struck to venture an undigested 
 reply to this speech, and the surgeon, after pausing a moment in 
 a kind of philosophical disdain, continued " That any man in 
 his senses can doubt of the flux of the tides is more than I could 
 have thought possible ; yet obstinacy is a dangerous inmate to 
 harbour, and may lead us into an error, however gross." 
 
 " You think then they have an effect on the flux," said the 
 housekeeper inquiringly. 
 
 Miss Peyton rose with a slight smile, and beckoned to her 
 nieces to give her their assistance in the adjoining pantry, while 
 for a moment the dark visage of the attentive Lawton was lighted 
 by an animation that vanished by an effort, as powerful, and as 
 sudden, as the one that drew it into being. 
 
 After reflecting whether he rightly understood the meaning of 
 the other, the surgeon, making due allowance for the love of 
 learning, acting upon a want of education, replied " The moon, 
 you mean ; many philosophers have doubted how far it affects the 
 tides ; but I think it is wilfully rejecting the lights of science, not 
 to believe it causes both the flux and reflux." 
 
 As reflux was a disorder the spinster was not acquainted with, 
 she thought it prudent to be silent for a time; yet burning with 
 curiosity to know the meaning of certain portentous lights that 
 the other so often alluded to, she ventured to ask " If them 
 lights he spoke of were what was called northern lights in these 
 parts ?" 
 
 In charity to her ignorance, the surgeon would have entered 
 into an elaborate explanation of his meaning, had he not been 
 interrupted by the mirth of Lawton. The trooper had listened 
 so far with great composure ; but now he laughed until his aching 
 bones reminded him of his fall, and the tears rolled over his 
 cheeks in larger drops than had ever been seen there before. At 
 length the offended physician seized an opportunity to say " To 
 you, Captain Lawton, it may be a source of triumph, that an un 
 educated woman should make a mistake in a subject, on which 
 
 L
 
 112 THE SPY. 
 
 men of science have long been at variance : but yet you find this 
 respectable matron does not reject the lights the lights does 
 not reject the use of proper instruments in repairing injuries sus 
 tained by the human frame. You may possibly remember, sir, 
 her allusion to the use of the needle ?" 
 
 " Ay," cried the delighted trooper, " to mend the pedler's 
 breeches." 
 
 Katy drew up in evident displeasure at this allusion to such 
 familiarity between herself and the nether garments of the trader, 
 but, prompt to vindicate her character for more lofty acquire 
 ments, said" 'Twas not a common use that I put that needle to 
 but one of much greater virtue." 
 
 "Explain yourself, madam," said the surgeon impatiently, 
 " that this gentleman may see how little reason he has for exul 
 tation." 
 
 Thus solicited, Katy paused to collect sufficient eloquence with 
 which to garnish her narrative. The substance of which was 
 that a child who had been placed by the guardians of the poor in 
 the keeping of Harvey, had, in the absence of its master, injured 
 itself badly in the foot by a large needle. The offending instru 
 ment had been carefully greased, wrapped in woollen, and placed 
 in a certain charmed nook of the chimney ; while the foot, from 
 a fear of weakening the incantation, was left in a state of nature. 
 The arrival of the pedler had altered the whole of this admirable 
 arrangement, and the consequences were expressed by Katy, as 
 she concluded her narrative, by saying " 'Twas no wonder the 
 boy died of a lock-jaw." 
 
 Dr. Sitgreave looked out of the window in admiration of the 
 brilliant morning ; striving all he could to avoid the basilisk eyes 
 of his comrade, but in vain. He was impelled, by a feeling that 
 he could not conquer, to look Captain Lawton in the face. The 
 trooper had arranged every muscle of his countenance in perfect 
 accordance with due sympathy for the fate of the poor child ; 
 but the exultation of his eyes cut the astounded man of science 
 to the quick ; he muttered something concerning the condition of 
 his patients, and retreated with precipitation. 
 
 Miss Peyton entered into the situation of things at the house 
 of the pedler, with all the interest of her excellent feelings ; she 
 listened patiently while Katy recounted, more particularly, the 
 circumstances of the past night as they occurred. The spinster 
 did not forget to dwell on the magnitude of the pecuniary loss 
 sustained by Harvey, and in no manner spared her invectives, at 
 his betraying a secret which might so easily have been kept. 
 
 " For, Miss Peyton," continued the housekeeper, after a pause 
 of a moment to take breath, " I would have given up life before 
 I would have given up that secret. At the most, they could only
 
 THE SPY. 113 
 
 have killed hrm, and now a body may say, that they have slam 
 for this world both soul and body ; or what's the same thing, they 
 have made him a despisable vagabond. I wonder who he thinks 
 would be his wife, or who would keep his house. For my part, 
 my good name is too precious to be living with a lone man ; 
 though, for the matter of that, he is never there. I am resolved 
 to tell him this day, that stay there, a single woman I will not an 
 hour, after the funeral ; and marry him I don't think I will ; un 
 less he becomes steadier, and more of a homebody." 
 
 The mild mistress of the Locusts suffered the exuberance of 
 the housekeeper's animation to expend itself, and then, by one 
 or two judicious questions, that denoted a more intimate know 
 ledge of the windings of the human heart in matters of Cupid, 
 than might fairly be supposed to belong to a spinster, she ex 
 tracted enoughfrom Katy to discover the improbability of Harvey's 
 ever presuming to offer himself, with his broken fortunes, to the 
 acceptance of Miss Katherine Haynes. She, therefore, men 
 tioned her own want of assistance in the present state of her 
 household, and expressed a wish that Katy would change her re 
 sidence to the Locusts, in case the pedler had not further use for 
 her services. After a few preliminary conditions on the part of 
 the wary housekeeper, she concluded the arrangement, and making 
 a few more piteous lamentations on the weight of her own losses, 
 the stupidity of Harvey, united with some curiosity to know the 
 future fate of the pedler, Katy withdrew to make certain prepa 
 rations for the approaching funeral, which was to take place that 
 day. 
 
 During the interview between the maidens, Lawton, through 
 delicacy, had withdrawn. Anxiety took him to the room of Cap 
 tain Singleton. The character of this youth, it has already been 
 shown, endeared him in a peculiar manner to every officer of the 
 corps. The singularly mild deportment of the young dragoon had, 
 on so many occasions, been proved not to proceed from want of 
 manly resolution, that his almost feminine softness of manner and 
 appearance had failed to bring him into disrepute, even among a 
 band of partisan warriors. 
 
 To the Major he was as dear as a brother, and his easy submis 
 sion to the directions of his surgeon had made him a marked fa 
 vourite with Dr. Sitgreaves. The rough usage this corps often 
 received in their daring attacks, had brought each of its officers 
 in succession, under the temporary keeping of its surgeon. To 
 Captain Singleton the man of science had decreed the palm, on 
 such occasions, and Captain Lawton he had fairly black-balled. 
 He frequently declared, with unconquerable simplicity and ear 
 nestness of manner, to his assembled comrades, that it gave him 
 more pleasure to see the former brought in wounded than any 
 
 L 2
 
 114 THE 81>Y. 
 
 officer in the squadron, and that the latter afforded him the least ; 
 a compliment and condemnation that was received by the first 
 of the parties with a quiet smile of good nature, and by the last 
 with a grave bow of thanks. On the present occasion, the mor 
 tified surgeon and exulting trooper met in the room of Captain 
 Singleton, as a place where they could act on common ground. 
 Some time was occupied in joint attentions to the comfort of the 
 wounded officer, and the doctor retired to an apartment prepared 
 for his own accommodation ; here, within a few minutes, he was 
 surprised by the entrance of Lawton. The triumph of the 
 trooper had been so complete, that he felt he could afford to be 
 generous, and commencing by voluntarily throwing aside his 
 coat, he cried carelessly " Come, Sitgreaves, administer a little 
 of the aid of the lights of science to my body, if you please." 
 
 The surgeon was beginning to feel this a subject that was in 
 tolerable, but venturing his first glance towards his comrade, he 
 saw with surprise the preparations he had made, and an air of 
 sincerity about him, that was unusual to his manner when making 
 such a request. Changing his intended burst of resentment to a 
 tone of civil inquiry, he said " Does Captain Lawton want any 
 thing at my hands 7" 
 
 " Look for yourself, my dear sir," said the trooper, mildly ; 
 " here seem to be most of the colours of the rainbow, on this 
 shoulder of mine." 
 
 " Indeed you have reason for saying so," said the other, hand 
 ling the part with great tenderness and consummate skill ; " but 
 happily nothing is broken. It is wonderful how well you escaped." 
 
 " Oh ! I have been a tumbler from my youth, and I am past 
 minding a few falls from a horse ; but, Sitgreaves," he added, with 
 affection, and pointing to a scar on his body, " do you remember 
 this bit of work ?" 
 
 " Perfectly well, Jack," replied the doctor with a smile ; " it 
 was bravely obtained, and neatly extracted ; but don't you think 
 I had better apply an oil to these bruises ?" 
 
 " Certainly," said Lawton, with unexpected condescension. 
 
 " Now, my dear boy," cried the doctor, exultingly, as he busied 
 himself in applying the remedy to the hurts, " do you not think 
 it would have been better to have done all this last night ?" 
 
 " Quite probable," returned the other, complacently. 
 
 " Yes, Jack, but if you had let me perform the operation of 
 phlebotomy when I first saw you, it would have been of infinite 
 service." 
 
 " No phlebotomy," said the other, positively. 
 
 " It is now too late," replied the dejected surgeon ; " but a dose 
 of oil would carry off the humours famously." 
 
 To- this the Captain made no reply, but grated his teeth, in a
 
 THE SPY. 115 
 
 way that showed the fortress of his mouth was not to be assailed 
 without a resolute resistance, and the experienced physician changed 
 the subject by saying " It is a pity, John, that you did not catch 
 the rascal, after the danger and trouble you incurred." 
 
 The Captain of dragoons made no reply ; and while placing 
 some bandages on the wounded shoulder, the surgeon continued 
 " If I have any wish at all to destroy human life, it is to have the 
 pleasure of seeing that traitor hung." 
 
 " I thought your business was to cure and not to slay," said the 
 trooper, dryly. 
 
 " Ay ! but he has caused us such heavy losses by his information, 
 that I sometimes feel a very unphilosophical temper towards that 
 spy." 
 
 " You should not encourage such feelings of animosity to any 
 of your fellow creatures," returned Lawton, in a tone that caused 
 the operator to drop a pin he was arranging in the bandages from 
 his hand. He looked the patient in the face to remove all doubts 
 of his identity, and finding, however, it was his old comrade, Cap 
 tain John Lawton, who had spoken, he rallied his astonished 
 faculties, and proceeded by saying : " Your doctrine is just, and 
 in general I subscribe to it. But, John, my dear fellow, is the 
 bandage easy ?" 
 
 " Quite." 
 
 " Yes, I agree with you as a whole ; but as matter is infinitely 
 divisible, so no case exists without an exception. Lawton, don't 
 you do you feel easy ?" 
 
 "Very." 
 
 " It is not only cruel to the sufferer, but sometimes unjust to 
 others, to take human life, where a less punishment would answer 
 the purpose. Now, Jack, if you were only move your arm a 
 little if you were only I hope you feel easier, my dear friend ?" 
 
 " Much." 
 
 " If, my dear John, you will teach your men to cut with more 
 discretion, it would answer you the same purpose and give me 
 great pleasure." 
 
 The doctor drew a heavy sigh, as he was enabled to get rid of 
 what was nearest to his heart ; and the dragoon coolly replaced 
 his coat, saying with great deliberation as he retired " I know no 
 troop that cut more judiciously j they generally shave from the 
 crown to the jaw." 
 
 The disappointed operator collected his instruments, and, with 
 a heavy heart, proceeded to pay a visit to the room of Colonel 
 Wellmere.
 
 116 THE SPY. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 " This fairy form contains a soul as mighty' 
 As that which lives within a giant's frame ; 
 These slender limbs, that tremble like the aspen 
 At summer evening's sigh, uphold a spirit, 
 Which, rous'd, can tower to the height of heaven, 
 And light those shining windows of the face 
 With much of heaven's own radiance." Duo. 
 
 THE number and character of her guests, had greatly added to 
 the cares of Miss Jeannette Peyton. The morning found them 
 all restored, in some measure, to their former ease of body, with 
 the exception of the youthful captain of dragoons, who had been 
 so deeply regretted by Dunwoodie. The wound of this officer 
 was severe, though the surgeon persevered in saying, that it was 
 without danger. His comrade, we have shown, had deserted his 
 couch ; and Henry Wharton awoke from a sleep that had been 
 undisturbed by anything but a dream of suffering amputation un 
 der the hands of a surgical novice. As it proved, however, to be 
 nothing but a'dream, the youth found himself much refreshed by 
 his slumbers, and Dr. Sitgreaves removed all further apprehensions, 
 by confidently pronouncing that he would be a well man within a 
 fortnight. 
 
 During all this time Colonel Wellmere did not make his ap 
 pearance; he breakfasted in his own room, and, notwithstanding 
 certain significant smiles of the man of science, declared hinuelt 
 too much injured to rise from his bed. Leaving him, therefore, 
 endeavouring to conceal his chagrin in the solitude of his cham 
 ber, the surgeon proceeded to the more grateful task of sitting an 
 hour by the bedside of George Singleton. A slight flush was on 
 the face of the patient as the doctor entered the room, and he 
 advanced promptly, and laid his fingers on the pulse of the youth, 
 beckoning him to be silent, while he filled the vacuum in the 
 discourse, by saying " Growing symptoms of a febrile pulse no, 
 no, my dear George, you must remain quiet and dumb ; though 
 your eyes look better, and your skin has even a moisture." 
 
 " Nay, my dear Sitgreaves," said the youth, taking his hand, 
 " you see there is no fever about me : look, is there any of Jack 
 Lawton's hoarfrost on my tongue ?" 
 
 " No, indeed," said the surgeon, clapping a spoon in the mouth 
 of the other, forcing it open, and looking down his throat as if he 
 was disposed to visit his interior in person ; " your tongue is well, 
 and your pulse begins to lower again. Ah ! the bleeding did you 
 good. Phlebotomy is a sovereign specific for southern constitu 
 tions. But that mad-cap Lawton obstinately refused to be blooded 
 for a fall he had from his horse last night. Why, George, your
 
 THE SPY. 117 
 
 case is becoming singular," continued the doctor, instinctively 
 throwing aside his wig ; " your pulse even and soft, your skin 
 moist, but your eye fiery, and cheek flushed. Oh ! I must examine 
 more closely into these symptoms." 
 
 " Softly, my good friend, softly," said the youth, falling back 
 on his pillow, and losing some of that colour which alarmed his 
 companion ; " I believe, in extracting the ball, you did for me 
 all that is required. I am free from pain, and only weak, I do as 
 sure you." 
 
 " Captain Singleton," said the surgeon, with heat, it is pre 
 sumptuous in you to pretend to tell your medical attendant when 
 you are free from pain ; if it be not to enable us to decide in such 
 matters, what avail the lights of science ? For shame, George, 
 for shame ; even that perverse fellow, John Lawton, could not 
 behave with more obstinacy." 
 
 His patient smiled, as he gently repulsed his physician in an 
 attempt to undo the bandages, and, with a returning glow to his 
 cheeks, inquired "Do, Archibald," a term of endearment that 
 seldom failed to soften the operator's heart, " tell me what spirit 
 from heaven has been gliding around my apartment, while I lay 
 pretending to sleep, but a few minutes before you entered." 
 
 " If any one interferes with my patients," cried the doctor, 
 hastily, " I will teach them, spirit or no spirit, what it is to meddle 
 with another man's concerns." 
 
 " Tut my dear fellow," replied the wounded man with a faint 
 smile, "there was no interference made, nor any intended ; see," 
 exhibiting the bandages, "everything is as you left it but it 
 glided about the room with the grace of a fairy, and the tenderness 
 of an angel," 
 
 The surgeon, having satisfied himself that everything was as he 
 had left it, very deliberately resumed his seat, and replaced his 
 wig, as he inquired, with a brevity that would have honoured 
 Lieutenant Mason " Had it petticoats, George ?" 
 
 " I saw nothing but its heavenly eyes its bloom its majestic 
 step its grace ;" replied the young man, with rather more 
 ardour than his surgeon thought consistent with his debilitated 
 condition, and he laid his hand on his mouth, to stop him, say 
 ing himself " It must have been Miss Jeanette Peyton a lady 
 of fine accomplishments, with with hem with something of 
 the kind of step you speak of a very complacent eye; and as to the 
 bloom, I dare say offices of charity can summon as fine a colour 
 to her cheeks, as glows in the faces of her more youthful nieces." 
 
 "Nieces;" said the invalid; has she nieces then ? Oh! the 
 angel I saw may be a daughter, a sister, or a niece, but never an 
 aunt." 
 
 " Hush, George, hush, your talking has brought your pulse up
 
 118 THE SPY. 
 
 again ; you must observe quiet, and prepare for a meeting with 
 your own sister, who will be here within an hour." 
 "What, Isabella! and who sent for her ?" 
 " The Major," said the surgeon, dryly. 
 
 " Kind, considerate Dunwoodie," murmured the exhausted 
 youth, sinking again on his pillow, where the commands of his 
 attendant compelled him to continue in silence. 
 
 Even Captain Lawton had been received with many and cour 
 teous inquiries after the state of his health, from all the members 
 of the family, when he made his morning entrance; but an invi 
 sible spirit presided over the comforts of the English Colonel. 
 Sarah had shrunk with retiring delicacy from entering the room ; 
 yet she knew the position of every glass, and had, with her own 
 hands, supplied the contents of every bowl, that stood on his 
 well-furnished table. 
 
 At the time of which we write we were a divided people, and 
 Sarah thought it was no more than her right to cherish the insti 
 tutions of that country to which she had yet clung as the land of 
 her forefathers ; "but there were other, and more cogent reasons, 
 for the silent preference she was giving to the Englishman. His 
 image had first filled the void in her youthful fancy, and it was 
 an image that was distinguished by many of those attractions that 
 can enchain a female heart. It is true, he wanted the graceful 
 and lofty stature of Peyton Dunwoodie, his commanding brow, 
 his speaking eye, and his clear and comprehensive diction ; but 
 his skin was fair, his cheeks coloured, and his teeth no less white 
 than those which shone in the fascinating smile of the young 
 Virginian. Sarah had moved about the house during the morn 
 ing, casting frequent and longing glances at the door of Well- 
 mere's apartment, anxious to learn the condition of his wounds, 
 and yet ashamed to inquire ; conscious interest kept her tongue 
 tied, until her sister, with the frankness of innocence, had put 
 the desired question to Dr. Sitgreaves. 
 
 " Colonel Wellmere," said the operator, gravely, " is in what 
 I call a state of free-will, madam. He is ill, or he is well, as he 
 pleases ; his case, young lady, exceeds my art to heal ; and I take 
 it Sir Henry Clinton is the best adviser he can apply to ; though 
 Major Dunwoodie has made the communication with his leech 
 rather difficult." 
 
 Francis smiled archly, but averted her face to do so, while Sarah 
 moved haughtily, and with the stately grace of an offended Juno, 
 from the apartment. Her own room, however, afforded her but 
 little to relieve her thoughts, and in passing through the long 
 gallery that communicated with each of the chambers of the 
 building, she noticed the door of Singleton's room to be open. 
 The wounded youth seemed sleeping, and was alone. Sarah had
 
 THE SPY. 119 
 
 ventured lightly into the apartment, and busied herself for a few 
 minutes in arranging the tables, and nourishment provided for 
 the patient, hardly conscious of what she was doing, and possibly 
 dreaming that it was done for another. The natural bloom of 
 her cheek was heightened by the insinuation of the surgeon ; nor 
 was the lustre of her eyes in any degree diminished from the 
 same cause. The sound of the approaching footsteps of Sit- 
 greaves had hastened her retreat through another door, and down 
 a private stairway, to the side of her sister. Together they 
 sought the fresh air on the piazza of the cottage, and they pur 
 sued their walk, arm in arm, holding the following dialogue 
 " There is something disagreeable about this surgeon Dunwoodie 
 has honoured us with," said Sarah, " that causes me to wish him 
 away, most heartily." 
 
 Frances fixed her laughing eyes on her sister, who, meeting 
 their playful glance as they turned in their walk, blushed yet 
 deeper than before, as she added hastily ; " but I forget, he is 
 one of this renowned corps of Virginians, and as such must be 
 spoken of reverently." 
 
 " As respectfully as you please, my dear sister," returned Fran 
 ces, mildly ; "there is but little danger of your exceeding the truth." 
 
 " Not in your opinion," said the elder, with a little warmth ; 
 " but I think Mr. Dunwoodie has taken a liberty that exceeds 
 the rights of consanguinity ; he has made our father's house an 
 hospital." 
 
 " We ought to be grateful," replied the younger sister in a low 
 voice, " that none of the patients it contains are dearer to us." 
 
 " Your brother is one," said Sarah, laconically. 
 
 " True, true," interrupted Frances, hastily, and blushing to the 
 eyes ; " but he leaves his room, and thinks his wound lightly 
 purchased by the pleasure of being with his friends. If," she 
 added with a tremulous lip, " this dreadful suspicion that is affixed 
 to his visit were removed, I could feel his wound as nothing." 
 
 " You now have the fruits of rebellion brought home to you," 
 said Sarah, moving across the piazza with something more than 
 her ordinary stateliness ; a brother wounded and a prisoner, and 
 perhaps a victim ; your father distressed, his privacy interrupted, 
 and not improbably his estates torn from him on account of his 
 loyalty to his king." 
 
 Frances continued her walk in silence. While facing the 
 northern entrance to the vale, her eyes were uniformly fastened on 
 the point where the road was suddenly lost by the intervention of 
 a hill ; and at each turn, as she lost sight of the spot, she lingered 
 until an impatient movement of her sister quickened her pace to 
 an even motion with that of the other. At length a single horse 
 chaise was seen making its way carefully among the stones which
 
 120 THE SPY. 
 
 lay scattered over the country road that wound through the 
 valley, and approached the cottage. Frances lost her brilliancy 
 of colour as the vehicle gradually drew nearer, and when she was 
 enabled to see a female form in it, by the side of a liveried black, 
 who held the reins, her limbs shook with an agitation that com 
 pelled her to lean on Sarah for support. In a few minutes the 
 travellers approached the gate, and it was thrown open by a dra 
 goon who had followed the carriage, and who had been the mes 
 senger despatched by Dunvvoodie to the father of Captain Sin 
 gleton. Miss Peyton advanced to receive their guest, and the 
 sisters united in giving her the kindest welcome ; still Frances 
 could with difficulty withdraw her truant eyes from reading the 
 countenance of the visitor. She was young, of a light and 
 fragile form, yet of exquisite proportions ; but it was in her eye 
 that her greatest charm existed ; it was a large, full, black, pierc 
 ing, and at times a little wild. Her hair was luxuriant, and 
 without the powder it was then the fashion to wear, but shone in 
 its own glossy, raven blackness. A few of its locks had fallen 
 on her cheek, giving its chilling whiteness by the contrast a yet 
 more deadly character. Dr. Sitgreaves supported her from the 
 chaise, and when she gained the floor of the piazza, she turned 
 her expressive eye on the face of the practitioner in silence ; but 
 it spoke all that she wished to say " Your brother is out of 
 danger, and wishes to see you, Miss Singleton," said the surgeon, 
 in reply to her look. 
 
 For an instant the lady clasped her hands with energy, rolled 
 her dark eyes to heaven, while a slight flush, like the last re 
 flecting tinge of the setting sun, beamed on her features, and she 
 gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. Frances had stood 
 contemplating the action and face of Isabella with a kind of 
 uneasy admiration, but she now sprang to her side with the 
 ardour of a sister, and kindly drawing her arm within her own, 
 led the way to a retired room. The movement was so ingenuous, 
 so considerate, and so delicate, that even Miss Peyton withheld 
 her interference, following the youthful pair with only her eyes 
 and a smile of complacency. The feeling was communicated to 
 all the spectators, and they dispersed in pursuit of their usual 
 avocations. Isabella yielded to the gentle influence of Frances 
 without resistance, and, having gained the room where the latter 
 conducted her, wept in silence on the shoulder of the observant 
 and soothing maid, until Frances thought her tears exceeded the 
 emotion natural to the occasion. The sobs of Miss Singleton 
 for a time were violent and uncontrollable, until, with an evident 
 exertion, she yielded to a kind observation of her companion, 
 and succeeded in suppressing her tears. Raising her face to the 
 eyes of Frances, she rose, while a smile of beautiful radiance
 
 THE SPY. 121 
 
 passed over the features, made a hasty apology for the excess of her 
 emotion, and desired to be conducted to the room of her brother. 
 
 The meeting between the brother and sister was warm, but, 
 by an effort on the part of the lady, more composed than her 
 previous agitation had given reason to expect. Isabella found 
 her brother looking better, and in less danger than her sensitive 
 imagination had led her to suppose, and her spirits rose in pro 
 portion ; from despondency, she passed to something like gayety ; 
 her beautiful eyes sparkled with renovated brilliancy, and her 
 face was lighted with smiles so fascinating, that Frances, who, in 
 compliance with her earnest entreaties, had accompanied her to 
 the sick chamber, sat gazing on a countenance that possessed 
 such wonderful variability, as if impelled by a charm that was 
 beyond her control. The youth had thrown an earnest look at 
 Frances as soon as his sister raised herself from his arms, and 
 perhaps it was the first glance at the lovely lineaments of our 
 heroine, when the gazer turned his eyes from the view in disap 
 pointment ; pausing a moment, during which the wandering eyes 
 of Singleton were bent on the open door of the room, he said, 
 as he took the hand of his sister affectionately " And where is 
 Dunwoodie, Isabella ? he is never weary of kind actions. After 
 a day of such service as that of yesterday, he has spent the night 
 in bringing me a nurse, whose presence alone is able to raise me 
 from the couch." 
 
 The expression of the lady's countenance changed instantly ; 
 her eye roved round the apartment with a character of wildness 
 that repelled the anxious Frances, who studied her movements 
 with intensity of interest, as forcibly as the moment before it 
 had attracted her; while the sister answered with trembling 
 emotion " Dunwoodie ! is he then not here ? with me he has 
 not been : I thought to have met him by the side of mv brother's 
 bed." 
 
 " He has duties that require his presence elsewhere ; yes, these 
 English are said to be out by the way of the Hudson, and give 
 the light troops but little rest," said the brother, musing ; " surely 
 nothing else could have kept him so long from a wounded friend. 
 But, Isabella, the meeting has been too much for you ; you 
 tremble like an aspen." 
 
 Isabella made no reply, but stretched forth her hand towards 
 the table which held the nourishment of the Captain, and the 
 attentive Frances comprehended her wishes in a moment ; a glass 
 of water in some measure revived the sister, who, smiling faintly, 
 was enabled to say " Doubtless it is his duty. 'Twas said above, 
 a royal party was moving on the river ; though I passed the troops 
 but a short two miles from the spot." The latter part of the sen 
 tence was hardly audible, and spoken more in the manner of a 
 soliloquy than as if intended for the cars of her companions.
 
 122 THE SPY. 
 
 " On the march, Isabella ?" eagerly inquired her brother. 
 
 " No, dismounted, and seemingly at rest," was the reply in the 
 same abstracted manner as before. 
 
 The wondering brother turned his gaze on the countenance of 
 his sister, who sat with her full, black eye bent on the carpet in 
 unconscious absence, but found no explanation. His look was 
 changed to the face of Frances, who, startling with the earnest 
 ness of his expression, arose, and hastily inquired if he would 
 have any assistance. 
 
 " If, madam, you can pardon the rudeness," said the wounded 
 officer, making a feeble effort to raise his body, " I would request 
 to have Captain Lavvton's company for a moment." 
 
 Frances hastened instantly to communicate his wish to that 
 gentleman, and, impelled by an anxious interest she could not 
 control, returned again to her seat by the side of Miss Singleton. 
 
 " Lawton," said the youth impatiently, as the trooper entered, 
 " hear you from the Major?" 
 
 The eye of the sister was now bent on the face of the trooper, 
 who made his salutations to the lady with the ease of a gentle 
 man, blended with the frankness of a soldier, and answered 
 " His man has been here twice to inquire how we fared in the 
 Lazaretto." 
 
 " And why not himself?" said the other quickly. 
 
 " Ah 5 that is a question the Major can answer best himself," 
 returned the dragoon, dryly ; " you know the red coats are abroad, 
 and Dunwoodie commands in the county ; these English must be 
 looked to." 
 
 " True,'' said Singleton slowly, as if struck with the other's 
 reason ; " but how is it that you are idle, when there is work 
 to do?" 
 
 " My sword arm is not in the best condition, and Roanoke has 
 a dreadful shambling gait this morning," said the trooper, with a 
 shrug : " besides, there is another reason I could mention, if it 
 were not that Miss Wharton would never forgive me." 
 
 " Speak, I beg, sir, without dread of my displeasure," said 
 Frances, withdrawing her eyes from the countenance of Miss 
 Singleton, and returning the good-humoured smile of the trooper, 
 with the natural archness of her own lovely face. 
 
 "The odours of your kitchen, then," cried Lawton bluntly, 
 " forbid me quitting the domains, until I qualify myself to speak 
 with more certainty concerning the fatness of the land." 
 
 " Oh ! aunt Jeanette is exerting herself to do credit to my 
 father's hospitality," said the laughing maid, "and I am a truant 
 from her labours, as I shall be a stranger to her favour, unless I 
 proffer my assistance." 
 
 After making a proper apology to the stranger, Frances with-
 
 THE SPY. 123 
 
 drew to seek her aunt, musing deeply on the character and ex 
 treme sensibility of the new acquaintance chance had brought to 
 the cottage. 
 
 The wounded officer followed her with his eyes, as her lovely 
 figure moved, with infantile grace, through the door of his apart 
 ment, and, as she vanished from his view, he observed " Such 
 an aunt and niece are seldom to be met with Jack ; this seems 
 a fairy, but the aunt is angelic." 
 
 " Ah ! George, you are doing well, I see," said the trooper ; 
 " your enthusiasm holds its own." 
 
 " I should be ungrateful as well as insensible, did I not bear 
 testimony to the loveliness of Miss Peyton." 
 
 " A good motherly lady," said the dragoon, dryly ; " but as to 
 love, you know that is a matter of taste. I think a few years 
 younger, with deference to the sex," bowing to Miss Singleton, 
 " would accord better with my fancy." 
 
 " She must be under twenty," said the other quickly. 
 
 " Oh, doubtless, about nineteen," said Lawton, with extreme 
 gravity ; " yet she looks a trifle older." 
 
 " You have mistaken an elder sister for the aunt," said Isabella, 
 laying her fair hand on the mouth of the invalid ; " but you 
 must be silent ! your feelings are beginning to affect your frame." 
 
 The entrance of Dr. Sitgreaves, who, in some alarm, noticed 
 the increase of feverish symptoms in his patient, enforced this 
 mandate ; and the trooper withdrew to pay a visit of condolence 
 to Roanoke, who had been an equal sufferer with himself in their 
 last night's summerset. To his great joy, his man pronounced 
 the steed to be equally convalescent with the master ; and Law- 
 ton found that by dint of rubbing the animal's limbs several 
 hours without ceasing, he was enabled to plnce his feet in what 
 he called systematic motion. Orders were accordingly given to 
 be in readiness to prepare to rejoin the troop at the Four Cor 
 ners, so soon as the Captain had shared in the bounty of the ap 
 proaching banquet. In the mean time, Henry Wharton had 
 entered the apartment of Wellmere, and, by his sympathetic 
 feelings on account of a defeat in which they had been alike un 
 fortunate, succeeded greatly in restoring the Colonel to his own 
 good graces ; who was consequently enabled to rise, and to pre 
 pare to meet a rival of whom he had spoken so lightly, and, as 
 the result had proved, with so little reason. Wharton knew their 
 misfortune, as it was termed by both, was owing to the other's 
 rashness ; but he forbore to speak of anything except the unfor 
 tunate accident which had deprived the English of their leader, 
 and their consequent defeat. 
 
 " In short, Mr. Wharton," said the Colonel, putting one leg 
 out of bed ; " it may be called a combination of untoward events ;
 
 124 THE SPY. 
 
 your own ungovernable horse prevented my orders from being 
 carried to the Major, in season to flank the rebels." 
 
 " Very true," replied the Captain, kicking a slipper towards the 
 bed ; " had we succeeded in getting a few good fires upon them 
 in flank, we should have sent these brave Virginians to the right 
 about." 
 
 "Ay ! and that in double quick time," cried the Colonel, with 
 considerable animation, making the other leg follow its companion ; 
 " then it was necessary to rout the guides, you know, and the 
 movement gave them the best possible opportunity to charge." 
 
 " Yes," said the other, sending the second slipper after the 
 first, "and this Major Dunwoodie never overlooks an advantage." 
 
 " I think if we had the thing to do over again," continued the 
 Colonel, raising himself on his feet, " we might alter the case very 
 materially, though the chief thing the rebels have now to boast 
 of is my capture ; they were repulsed, you saw, in their attempt 
 to drive us from the wood." 
 
 "At least they would have been, had they made an attack," said 
 the Captain, throwing his clothes within reach of the Colonel. 
 
 " Ah ! why that, you know, is the same thing," returned Well- 
 mere, dressing himself; " to assume such an attitude as to intimi 
 date your enemy is the chief art of war." 
 
 " Doubtless," said the Captain, entering himself a little into the 
 proud feelings of a soldier ; " then, you may remember, in one 
 charge they were completely routed." 
 
 " True true," cried the Colonel, with animation ; " had I been 
 there to have improved that advantage, we might have turned the 
 table completely on the Yankees ;" while saying which, he com 
 pleted his toilette, and was prepared to make his appearance, fully 
 restored to his own good opinion, and fairly persuaded that his 
 capture was owing to casualties, absolutely without the controul 
 of man. 
 
 The knowledge that Colonel Wellmere was to be a partaker in 
 the feast, in no degree diminished the preparations which were 
 already making for that important event ; and Sarah, after re 
 ceiving the compliments of the gentleman, and making, with 
 blushing cheeks, many kind inquiries after the state of his wounds, 
 proceeded in person to lend her aid in embellishing that which 
 would now be of additional interest. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 " I will stand to and feed, 
 Although my last : no matter, since I feel 
 The best is past : Brother, my Lord the Duke, 
 Stand to, and do a we " Tempat. 
 
 THE savour of preparation, which had been noticed by Captain
 
 THE SPY. 125 
 
 Lawton, began to increase vastly within the walls of the cottage 
 certain sweet-smelling odours, that rose from the subterranean 
 territories of Caesar, gave to the trooper the most pleasing as 
 surance, that his olfactory nerves, which on such occasions were 
 as acute as his eyes on others, had faithfully performed their duty ; 
 and for the benefit of enjoying the passing sweets as they arose, 
 the dragoon so placed himself at a window of the building, that 
 not a vapour, charged with the spices of the east, could exhale on 
 its passage to the clouds, without first giving its incense, by way 
 of tribute, to his nose. Lawton, however, by no means indulged 
 himself in this comfortable arrangement, without first making such 
 preparations to do meet honour to the feast, as his scanty ward 
 robe would allow. The uniform of his corps was always a pass 
 port to the proudest tables, and this, though somewhat tarnished 
 by faithful service and unceremonious usage, was properly brushed 
 and decked out for the occasion. His head, which nature had 
 marked with the blackness of a crow, now shone with the spotless 
 whiteness of the dove ; and his hand, that so well became, by its 
 bony and gigantic frame, the sabre it wielded so indiscreetly, 
 peered from beneath a ruffle, with something like maiden delicacy. 
 The improvements of the dragoon went no farther, excepting that 
 his boots shone with more than holiday splendour, and his spurs 
 glittered in the rays of the sun, like worthy offspring of the hills 
 of Potosi. 
 
 Caesar moved through the apartments with a face charged with 
 an importance vastly exceeding that which had accompanied him 
 in his melancholy task of the morning. The black had early re 
 turned from the message on which he had been despatched by the 
 pedler, and, obedient to the commands of his mistress, promptly 
 appeared to give his services where his allegiance was due .; so 
 serious, indeed, was his duty now becoming, that it was only by 
 odd moments he was enabled to impart to his sable brother, who 
 had been sent in attendance on Miss Singleton to the Locusts, 
 any portion of the wonderful incidents of the momentous night he 
 had so lately passed through. By ingeniously using, however, 
 such moments as might be fairly thought his own, Caesar com 
 municated so many of the heads of his tale as served to open the 
 eyes of his visitor to a width, that justly entitled them to the sig 
 nificant appellative of saucer. Indeed, to such a state of amaze 
 ment had the gusto for the marvellous conducted the sable wor 
 thies, that Miss Peyton found it necessary to interpose her au 
 thority, in order to postpone the residue of the history to a more 
 befitting opportunity. 
 
 " Ah ! Miss Jinnett," said Csesar, shaking his head, and looking 
 all that he expressed, " 'twas awful to see Johnny Birch walk on 
 a feet when he lie dead." 
 
 M 2
 
 126 THH SPY. 
 
 This concluded the conversation for the present, though the 
 black promised himself, and actually put in execution his intention 
 of having, many a good gossip on the solemn subject hereafter. 
 
 The ghost thus happily laid, the department of Miss Peyton 
 throve with additional success, and by the time the afternoon's 
 sun had travelled a two hours' journey from the meridian, the 
 formal procession from the kitchen to the parlour commenced un 
 der the auspices of Caesar, who led the van, supporting a turkey 
 on the palms of his withered hands, with the dexterity of a balance 
 master. 
 
 Next followed the servant of Captain Lawton, bearing, as he 
 marched stiffly, and walking wide, as if allowing room for his steed, 
 a ham of true Virginian flavour ; being a present from the spin 
 ster's wealthy brother in Accomac. The supporter of this savoury 
 dish kept his eye on his trust with military precision, and by the 
 time he reached his destination, it might be difficult to say which 
 contained the most juice, his mouth or the Accomac bacon. 
 
 Third in the line was to be seen the valet of Colonel Wellmere, 
 who carried in either hand chickens fricasseed, and oyster patties. 
 
 After him marched the attendant of Dr. Sitgreaves, who had 
 instinctively seized an enormous tureen, as most resembling mat 
 ters he understood, and followed on in place, until the steams of 
 the soup so completely bedimmed the spectacles he wore as a badge 
 of office, that on arriving at the scene of action, he was compelled 
 to deposit his freight on the floor, until, by removing the glasses, 
 he could see his way through the piles of reserved china and plate- 
 warmers in safety. 
 
 Next followed another trooper, whose duty it was to attend on 
 Captain Singleton ; and, as if apportioning his appetite to the 
 feeble state of his master, he had contented himself with conveying 
 a pair of ducks, roasted, until their tempting fragrance began to 
 make him repent his demolishing so lately a breakfast that had 
 been provided for his master's sister, with another prepared for 
 himself. 
 
 The white boy, who belonged to the house, brought up the rear, 
 groaning under the load of sundry dishes of vegetables, that the 
 cook, by way of climax, had unwittingly heaped on him. 
 
 But this was far from all of the preparations for that day's feast. 
 Caesar had no sooner deposited his bird, which but the week be 
 fore had been flying amongst the highlands of Dutchess, little 
 dreaming of so soon heading such a goodly assemblage, than he 
 turned mechanically on his heel, and took up his line of march 
 again for the kitchen. In this evolution the black was imitated 
 by his companions in succession, and another procession to the 
 parlour followed in the same order. By this admirable arrange 
 ment, whole flocks of pigeons, certain bevies of quails, shoals of
 
 THE SPY. 1J7 
 
 flat-fisb, bass, and sundry wood-cock, found their way into the 
 presence of the company above stairs. 
 
 A third attack brought suitable quantities of potatoes, onions, 
 beets, cold-slaw, rice, and all the other minutiae of a goodly din 
 ner; and for a time, this completed the preparations. The board 
 now fairly groaned with American profusion, and Caesar, glancing 
 his eye over the show with a most approving conscience, after 
 moving every dish that had not been placed on the table with his 
 own hands, proceeded to acquaint the mistress of the revels, that 
 his task was happily accomplished. 
 
 Some half hour before the martial array we have just recorded 
 took place, all the ladies had disappeared, much in the same un 
 accountable manner that swallows flee the approach of winter. 
 But the spring time of their return had arrived, and the whole 
 party were collected in an apartment, that, in consequence of its 
 containing no side-table, and being furnished with a chintz cover 
 let settee, was termed a withdrawing room. 
 
 The kind-hearted spinster had deemed the occasion worthy, not 
 only of extraordinary preparations in the culinary department, but 
 had seen proper to deck her own person in garments suited to the 
 guests whom it was now her happiness to entertain. 
 
 On her head Miss Peyton wore a cap of exquisite lawn, which 
 was ornamented in front with a broad border of lace, that spread 
 from the face in such a manner as to admit of a display of artificial 
 flowers, clustered in a tasteful group on the summit of her fine 
 forehead. The colour of her hair was lost in the profusion of 
 powder with which it was covered ; but a slight curling of the ex 
 tremities in some degree relieved the formality of its starched ar 
 rangement, and gave a look of feminine softness to the features. 
 Her dress was a rich, heavy silk, of violet colour, cut low around 
 the bust, with a stomacher of the same material, that fitted close 
 to the figure, and exhibited the form, from the shoulders to the 
 waist, in its true proportions : below, the dress was full, and sufr 
 ficiently showed that parsimony in attire was not a foible of the 
 day. A small hoop displayed the beauty of the fabric to advan 
 tage, and aided in giving majesty to the figure. The tall stature 
 of the spinster was heightened by shoes of the same material with 
 the dress, whose heels added more than an inch to the liberality 
 of nature. The sleeves were short, and close to the limb, until 
 they fell off at the elbows in large ruffles, that hung in rich pro 
 fusion from the arm when extended ; and duplicates and triplicates 
 of lawn, trimmed with Dresden lace, lent their aid in giving deli 
 cacy to a hand and arm that yet retained their whiteness and sym 
 metry. A treble row of large pearls closely encircled her throat, 
 and a handkerchief of lace partially concealed that part of the 
 person that the silk had left exposed, but which the experience of 
 
 M 3
 
 128 THE SPY. 
 
 forty years had warned Miss Peyton should now be veiled. Thus 
 attired, and standing erect with the lofty grace that distinguished 
 the manners of that day, the spinster would have looked into atoms 
 a bevy of modern belles. 
 
 The taste of Sarah had kept even pace with the decorations of 
 her aunt ; and a dress, differing in no respect from the one just 
 described, but in material and tints, exhibited her imposing form 
 to equal advantage. The satin of her robe was of a pale blush 
 colour. Twenty years did not, however, require the skreen that 
 was prudent in forty, and nothing but an envious border of exqui 
 site lace hid, in some measure, what the satin left exposed to the 
 view. The upper part of the bust, and fine fall of the shoulders, 
 were blazing in all their native beauty ; and, like the aunt, the 
 throat was ornamented by a treble row of pearls, to correspond 
 with which, were rings of the same jewel in the ears. The head 
 was without a cap, and the hair drawn up from the countenance 
 so as to give to the eye all the loveliness of a forehead as polished 
 as marble and as white as snow. A few straggling curls fell grace 
 fully in the neck, and a bouquet of artificial flowers was also placed, 
 like a coronet, over her commanding brow. 
 
 Miss Singleton had yielded her brother to the advice of Dr. Sit- 
 greaves, who had succeeded in getting his patient in a deep sleep, 
 after quieting certain feverish symptoms that followed the agitation 
 of the interview related. The sister was persuaded, by the ob 
 servant mistress of the mansion, to make one of the party, and sat 
 by the side of Sarah ; differing but little in appearance from that 
 lady, except in refusing the use of powder on her raven locks, and 
 that her unusually high forehead, and large and brilliant eyes, gave 
 an expression of thoughtfulness to the features, that was possibly 
 heightened by the paleness of her cheek. 
 
 Last and least, but not the most unlovely, in this display of fe 
 male charms, was the youngest daughter of Mr. Wharton. 
 Frances, we have already mentioned, left the city before she had 
 attained to the age of fashionable womanhood. A few adventurous 
 spirits were already beginning to make inroads in the barriers 
 which custom had so long drawn around the comforts of the fair 
 sex ; and the maid had so far ventured in imitation, as to trust 
 her beauty to the height which nature had given her. This was 
 but little, but that little was a master-piece. Frances several times 
 had determined, in the course of the morning, to bestow more than 
 usual pains in the decoration of her person. Each time in suc 
 cession, as she formed this resolution, she spent a few minutes in 
 looking earnestly towards the north, and then she as invariably 
 changed it. 
 
 At the appointed hour, the maid appeared in the drawing-room, 
 clothed in a vestment of pale blue silk, of a cut and fashion much
 
 THJB SPY. 129 
 
 like that worn by her sister. Her hair was left to the wild curls 
 of nature, its exuberance being confined to the crown of her head 
 by a long low comb, made of light tortoise-shell ; a colour barely 
 distinguishable in the golden hue of her tresses. Her dress was 
 without a plait or a wrinkle, and fitted the form with an exactitude 
 that might lead one to imagine, that the arch girl more than sus 
 pected the beauties it displayed. A tucker of rich Dresden lace 
 softened the contour of the figure. Her head was without orna 
 ment ; but around her throat was a necklace of gold, clasped in 
 front with a rich cornelian. 
 
 Dr. Sitgreaves was a mineralogist, among his other qualities, 
 and during the day he ventured a remark on the beauty of the 
 stone ; and for a long time the simple operator was at a loss to 
 conjecture what there was in the observation to call the blood so 
 tumultuously to the face of the maiden. His surprise might haply 
 have continued to the hour of his death, had not Lawton kindly 
 intimated that it was indignation at his overlooking the object on 
 which the bauble reposed. The gloves of kid which concealed 
 the hands and part of the arm, leaving enough of the latter, in 
 sight, however, to proclaim its fair proportions, indicated that 
 there was no one present to tempt the flattering, and perhaps un 
 conscious display of womanly power. Once, and once only, as 
 they moved towards the repast prepared with so much judgment 
 and skill by Caesar, did Lawton see a foot thrust itself from be 
 neath the folds of her robe, and exhibit its little beauties encased 
 in a slipper of blue silk, clasped close to the shape by a buckle of 
 brilliants. The trooper caught himself sighing as he thought, 
 though it was good for nothing in the stirrup, how enchantingly 
 it would grace a minuet. 
 
 As the black appeared on the threshold of the room, making a 
 low reverence, which has been interpreted for some centuries into 
 " dinner waits," Mr. Wharton, clad in a dress of drab, and loaded 
 with enormous buttons, advanced formally to Miss Singleton, and 
 bending his powdered head to near the level of the hand he ex 
 tended, received hers in return. 
 
 Dr. Sitgreaves offered the same homage to Miss Peyton, and 
 met with equal favour ; the lady first pausing, with stately grace, 
 to draw on her gloves. 
 
 Colonel Wellmere was honoured with a smile from Sarah, while 
 performing a similar duty ; and Frances gave the ends of her taper 
 fingers to Captain Lawton, with a manner that said so much to 
 the corps, and so little to the man. Much time, and some trouble, 
 was expended before the whole party were, to the great joy of 
 Caesar, comfortably arranged around the table with proper atten 
 tion to all points of etiquette and precedence. The black well 
 knew the viands were getting cold, and felt his honour concerned 
 iu the event.
 
 130 THE SPY. 
 
 For the first ten minutes, nil but the Captain of the dragoons 
 found themselves in a situation much to their liking ; but he felt 
 himself a little soured at the multiplicity of the questions and 
 offers of the host, which were meant to be conducive to his en 
 joyments, but which in truth had an exactly contrary effect. The 
 Captain could not eat and give answers in a breath, and the de 
 mands of the latter somewhat interfered with the execution of the 
 former. Next came the drinking with the ladies ; but as the wine 
 was excellent, and the glasses of very ample size, the trooper bore 
 this interruption with consummate good nature. Nay, so fearful 
 was he of giving offence, and omitting any of the nicer points of 
 punctilio, that having commenced this courtesy with the lady who 
 sat next him, he persevered until not one of his fan* companions 
 could, with justice, reproach him with partiality in this particular. 
 
 His long abstemiousness from anything like generous wine 
 might plead the excuse of Captain Lawton, especially when ex 
 posed to so strong a temptation as was now before him. Mr. 
 Wharton had been one of a set of politicians in New York, whose 
 principal exploits, before the war, had been to assemble, and pass 
 sage opinions on the signs of the times, under the inspiration of 
 certain liquor made from a grape that grew on the south side of 
 the Island of Madeira, and which found its way into the colonies 
 of North America through the medium of the West Indies, so 
 journing awhile in the Western Archipelago, by way of trying the 
 virtues of the climate. A large supply of this cordial had been 
 drawn from his storehouse in the city, and some of it now sparkled 
 in a bottle before the Captain, blushing luxuriantly in the rays of 
 the sun, which were passing obliquely through it. If the meat 
 and vegetables had made their entrance with perfect order and 
 propriety, their exeunt was effected with far less. The point was 
 to clear the board something after the fabled tale of the harpies, 
 and by dint of scrambling, tossing, breaking, and spilling, the 
 overflowing remnants of the repast vanished from the room. And 
 now another series of processions commenced, by virtue of which 
 a goodly display of pastry, with its usual accompaniments, gar 
 nished the table. 
 
 Mr. Wharton poured out a glass of wine for the lady who sat 
 on his right hand, and pushing the bottle to a guest, said, with a 
 low bow " We are to be honoured with a toast from Miss Sin 
 gleton." 
 
 Although there was nothing more in this movement than oc 
 curred every day on such occasions, yet the lady trembled, co 
 loured, and grew pale again, seemingly endeavouring to rally her 
 thoughts, until by her agitation she had excited the interest of 
 the whole party ; when, by an effort, and in a manner as if she 
 had strived in vain to think of another, Isabella said faintly 
 " Major Dunwoodic."
 
 THE SPY. 131 
 
 The health was drunk cheerfully by all but Colonel Wellmere, 
 who wet his lips, and drew figures on the table with some of the 
 liguor he had spilt ; and Frances thought deeply on the manner 
 of doing, what, in itself, would have excited no suspicions. 
 
 At length Colonel Wellmere broke silence, by saying aloud to 
 Captain Lawton " I suppose, sir, this Mr. Dunwoodie will re 
 ceive promotion in the rebel army, for the advantage my misfor 
 tune gave him over my command." 
 
 The trooper had supplied the wants of nature to his perfect 
 satisfaction ; and, perhaps, with the exception of Washington and 
 his immediate commander, there was no mortal whose displeasure 
 he regarded a tittle : he was free to converse or to fight ; to him 
 it mattered nought. First helping himself, therefore, to a little 
 of his favourite bottle, he replied with admirable coolness " Co 
 lonel Wellmere, your pardon ; Major Dunwoodie owes his allegi 
 ance to the confederated states of North America, and where he 
 owes it he pays it, and is no rebel. Promoted I hope he may be, 
 both because he deserves it, and I am next in rank in the corps ; 
 and I know not what you call a misfortune, unless you deem 
 meeting the Virginia horse as such." 
 
 "We will not differ about terms, sir," said the Colonel, haugh 
 tily ; "I spoke as duty to my sovereign prompted ; but do you 
 not call the loss of a commander a misfortune to a party ?" 
 
 " It certainly may be so," said the trooper, with great emphasis. 
 
 " Miss Peyton, will you favour us with a toast ?" cried the mas 
 ter of the house, anxious to stop a dialogue in which he might be 
 called on for an opinion. 
 
 The spinster bowed her head with infinite dignity, as she named 
 " General Montrose ;" and her nephew smiled as he noticed the 
 long absent bloom stealing lightly over her fine features. 
 
 " There is no term more doubtful than that word misfortune," 
 said the surgeon, regardless of the nice manoeuvres of the host ; 
 " some deem one thing a misfortune, others its opposite : misfor 
 tune begets misfortune : life is a misfortune, for it may be the 
 means of enduring misfortune ; and death is a misfortune, as it 
 abridges the enjoyments of life." 
 
 " It is a misfortune that our mess has no such wine as this," 
 interrupted the trooper, and laying in a stock to supply the de 
 ficiency. 
 
 " We will pledge you a sentiment in it, sir, as it seems to suit 
 your taste," said Mr. Wharton, still uncertain what would be the 
 termination of all these misfortunes. 
 
 Filling to the brim, Lawton said, looking hard at the English 
 Colonel " A clear field, and no favour." 
 
 "I drink your toast, Captain Lawton," said the surgeon, gravely ; 
 " inasmuch as courtesy requires no less at my hands ; but I wish 
 never to see your troop nearer to an enemy than long pistol shot."
 
 132 THE SPY. 
 
 " Let me tell you, Mr. Archibald Sitgreaves," said the dragoon, 
 hastily, " that's a damned unneighbourly wish." 
 
 The ladies bridled, and Miss Peyton made a motion to with 
 draw, which was instantly obeyed by her fair bevy of juniors. 
 
 The suddenness of the movement somewkat appalled the trooper, 
 and he stammered out an apology to Frances, who stood next him, 
 which the laughing maid received very good-naturedly, out of re 
 gard to the coat he wore, although she knew it would afford mat 
 ter of triumph to her sister for a month to come. 
 
 " 'Tis unneighbourly to wish a man at such a distance from his 
 friends," said the Captain, good-humouredly, in a manner that 
 spoke his willingness to atone ; it was, however, too late, and the 
 ladies retired with much dignity, amidst the bows and compli 
 ments of all but the chop-fallen dragoon. The discomfiture pro 
 duced an utter stagnation in the thoughts of the trooper ; and 
 Mr. Wharton, making a profusion of apologies to his guests, arose, 
 and left the room, followed by his son, and together both quitted 
 the house. The retreat of the ladies was the signal for the ap 
 pearance of the surgeon's cigar, which, being comfortably estab 
 lished in a corner of his mouth in a certain knowing way, caused 
 not the slightest interruption to the following discourse " If 
 anything can sweeten captivity and wounds, it must be the hap 
 piness of suffering in the society of the ladies who have left us,' ' 
 said the Colonel, gallantly, feeling something of the kind due to 
 the hospitality he experienced, and, perhaps, also moved by a softer 
 sentiment. 
 
 The doctor cast a glance of silent observation on the black 
 scarf around the neck of the Englishman, and knocking the ashes 
 from his cigar with his little finger, in the manner of an adept, 
 replied " Sympathy and kindness have, doubtless, their genial 
 influence on the human system. The connexion is intimate be 
 tween the moral and physical feelings ; but still, to accomplish a 
 cure, and restore nature to the healthy tone it has lost from dis 
 ease or accident, requires more than can flow from unguided 
 sympathies. In such cases the lights" the surgeon accidentally 
 caught the eye of the trooper, which was fast regaining its com 
 placency. Taking two or three hasty puffs in huge disdain, he 
 essayed to finish the sentence " Yes, sir, in such cases, the 
 knowledge that flows from the the lights" 
 
 " You were saying, sir," said Colonel Wellmere, sipping his 
 wine 
 
 " Yes, sir," said the operator, turning his back abruptly on 
 Lawton ; " I was saying that a bread poultice would not set a 
 broken arm." 
 
 " More is the pity," cried the trooper, venturing again to trust 
 the sound of his own voice.
 
 THE SPY. 133 
 
 "Now, Colonel Wellmere, to you, as a man of education," 
 said the surgeon, with great earnestness, " I can with safety ap 
 peal." The Colonel bowed complacently. "You must have 
 noticed the dreadful havoc made in your ranks by the men who 
 were led by this gentleman ;" the Colonel looked grave again ; 
 " how, when blows lighted on their frames, life was invariably 
 extinguished, beyond all hope of scientific reparation ; how certain 
 yawning wounds were inflicted, that must prove fatal to the art 
 of the most experienced practitioner ; now, sir, to you 1 trium 
 phantly appeal, to know whether your detachment would not 
 have been as effectually defeated, if the men had all lost a right 
 arm, for instance, as if they had all lost their heads." 
 
 " The triumph of your appeal is somewhat hasty, sir," said 
 Wellmere, nettled at the unfortunate conjunction of terms in the 
 doctor's question. 
 
 " Is the cause of liberty advanced a step by such injudicious 
 harshness in the field ?" continued the surgeon, disregarding the 
 other's equivocation, and bent on the favourite principle of his life. 
 
 " I am yet to learn that the cause of liberty is in any manner 
 advanced by the services of any gentleman in the rebel army," 
 said the Colonel, promptly. 
 
 ".Not liberty !" said the appalled operator, in astonishment ; 
 " Good God, for what then are we contending?" 
 
 " Slavery, sir ; yes, even slavery," cried the Englishman, with 
 confidence in his infallibility ; " you are putting the tyranny of 
 a mob on the throne of a kind and lenient prince ; where is the 
 consistency of your boasted liberty?" 
 
 "Consistency," repeated the surgeon, looking about him a 
 little wildly, at hearing such sweeping charges against a cause he 
 had so long thought to be holy. 
 
 " Ay, sir, your consistency. Your congress of sages have pub 
 lished a manifesto, wherein they set forth the equality of poli 
 tical rights." 
 
 " 'Tis true, and it is done most ably." 
 
 " I say nothing of its ability ; but if true, why not set your 
 slaves at liberty?" cried Wellmere, in atone that plainly showed 
 he had transferred the triumph to his own standard. 
 
 Every American feels humbled at the necessity of vindicating 
 his country from the inconsistency and injustice of this practice ; 
 his emotions are much like those of an honourable man, who is 
 compelled to exonerate himself from a disgraceful charge, although 
 he may know the accusation to be false. At the bottom, Sit- 
 greaves had much good sense, and thus called on, he took up the 
 cudgels of argument in downright earnest. 
 
 " We deem it a liberty to have a voice in the councils by which 
 we are governed. We think it a hardship to be ruled by a
 
 134 THE SPY. 
 
 people whe live at a diatance of three thousand miles from us, 
 and who cannot, and who do not, feel a single political interest 
 in common with ourselves. I say nothing of oppression ; the 
 child was of age, and was entitled to the privileges of majority. 
 In such cases, there is but one tribunal at which to appeal for a 
 nation's rights it is power; and we now make the appeal." 
 
 " Such doctrines may suit your present purposes," said Well- 
 rnere, with a sneer of contempt ; " but I apprehend it is opposed 
 to all the opinions and practices of civilized nations." 
 
 " It is in conformity with the practices of all nations," said 
 the surgeon, returning the nod, and drinking to Lawton, who 
 enjoyed the good sense of his comrade as much as he disliked 
 what he called ' medical talk.' " Who would be ruled, when he 
 can rule ? the only ground to take is, that every community has 
 a right to govern itself, so that in no manner it violates the laws 
 of God." 
 
 " And is holding your fellow creatures in bondage, in confor 
 mity to those laws?" asked the Colonel impressively. 
 
 The surgeon took another glass, and hemming once, returned 
 to the combat. 
 
 "Sir," said he, "slavery is of very ancient origin, and seems 
 to have been confined to no particular religion or form of govern 
 ment ; every nation of civilized Europe does, or has held their 
 fellow creatures in this kind of duresse." 
 
 " You will except Great Britain, sir," cried the Colonel proudly. 
 
 " No, sir," continued the surgeon, confidently, feeling that he 
 was now carrying the war out of his own country ; " I cannot 
 except Great Britain. It was her children, her ships, and her 
 laws, that first introduced the practice into these states ; and on. 
 her institutions the judgment must fall. It is true, we continue 
 the practice ; but we must come gradually to the remedy, or 
 create an evil greater than that which we endure at present : 
 doubtless, as we advance, the manumission of our slaves will 
 accompany us, until happily these fair regions will exist, without 
 a single image of the Creator that is held in a state which dis 
 qualifies him to judge of that Creator's goodness." 
 
 It will be remembered that Doctor Sitgreaves spoke forty years 
 ago, andWellmere was unable to contradict his prophetic assertion. 
 
 Finding the subject exceeding his comprehension, the Eng 
 lishman retired to the apartment where the ladies had assembled) 
 and, seated by the side of Sarah and her aunt, found a more 
 pleasing employment in relating the events of fashionable life in 
 the metropolis, and recalling the thousand little anecdotes o: 
 their former associates. Miss Peyton was a pleased listener, as 
 she dispensed the bounties of the tea table with precise grace \ 
 and Sarah frequently bowed her blushing countenance to the
 
 THE SPY. 135 
 
 needle-work in her lap, as her face glowed at the flattering re 
 marks of her companion. 
 
 The dialogue we have related established a perfect truce again 
 between the surgeon and his comrade ; and the former having 
 paid a visit to Singleton, they took their leave of the ladies, and 
 mounted ; the former to visit the wounded at the encampment, 
 and the latter to rejoin his troop. But their movement was 
 arrested at the gate by an appearance, which we will relate in the 
 succeeding chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 I see no more those white locks, thinly spread 
 Round the bald polish of that honoured head : 
 No more that meek, that suppliant look in prayer. 
 Nor that pure faith that gave it force, are there : 
 But he is blest, and I lament no more, 
 A wise, good man, contented to be poor. Crabbe. 
 
 WE have already said, that the customs of America leave the re 
 mains of the dead but a short time in the sight of the mourners ; 
 and the necessity of providing for his own safety, compelled the 
 pedler to abridge even this brief space. In the confusion and 
 agitation produced by the events we have recorded, the death of 
 the elder Birch had occurred unnoticed ; but a sufficient number 
 of the immediate neighbours were hastily collected, and the ordi 
 nary rites of sepulture were paid to the deceased ; it was the 
 approach of this humble procession that arrested the movements 
 of the trooper and his comrade. Four of the men supported the 
 body on a rude bier ; and four others walked in advance, ready 
 to relieve their friends occasionally from their burden. The ped 
 ler walked next the coffin, and by his side moved Katy Haynes, 
 with a most determined aspect of woe ; and next to the mour 
 ners came Mr. Wharton and the English Captain. Two or three 
 old men and women, with a few straggling boys, brought up the 
 rear. Captain Lawton sat in his saddle, in rigid silence, until the 
 bearers came opposite to his position, and then, for the first time, 
 Harvey raised his eyes from the ground, and saw the enemy that 
 he dreaded so near him. The first impulse of the pedler was 
 certainly flight ; but recovering his recollection, he fixed his eye 
 on the coffin of his parent, and passed the dragoon with a firm 
 step, but swelling heart. The trooper slowly lifted his cap from, 
 his head, and continued uncovered until Mr. Wharton and his 
 son had moved by him, when, accompanied by the surgeon, he 
 rode leisurely in the rear, maintaining inflexible silence. Caesar 
 emerged from the cellar kitchen of the cottage, and, with a face 
 of settled solemnity added himself to the number of the fol 
 lowers of the funeral, though with an humble mien, and at a 
 most respectable distance from the horseman ; the feeling was 
 
 N
 
 136 THE SPY. 
 
 owing to the colour of his skin ; and the circumstance, to certain 
 emotions of dread that prevailed in the bosom of the black, 
 whenever Captain Lawton prevented his organs of vision from 
 resting on more agreeable objects. Caesar had placed around his 
 arms, a little above the elbow, a napkin of unsullied whiteness, 
 it being the only time since his departure from the city, that the 
 black had an opportunity of exhibiting himself in the garniture 
 of servile mourning. He was a great lover of propriety, and 
 had been a little stimulated to this display, by a desire to show 
 to his sable friend from Georgia, all the decencies of a New York 
 funeral ; and the ebullition of his zeal went off very well, pro 
 ducing no other result, than a mild lecture from Miss Peyton at 
 his return, on the fitness of things. The attendance of the black 
 was thought well enough in itself; but the napkin was deemed 
 a superfluous exhibition of ceremony, at the funeral of a man 
 who had performed all the menial offices in his own person. The 
 grave-yard was an enclosure on the grounds of Mr. Wharton, 
 which had been fenced with stone, and set apart for the purpose, 
 by that gentleman, some years before. It was not, however, 
 intended as a burial-place for any of his own family. Until the 
 fire, which raged as the British troops took possession of New 
 York, had laid Trinity in ashes, a goodly gilded tablet graced its 
 walls, that spoke the virtues of his deceased parents; and be 
 neath a flag of marble, in one of the aisles of the church, their 
 bones were left to moulder with becoming dignity. Captain 
 Lawton made a movement as if he was disposed to follow the 
 procession when it left the highway, to enter the field which 
 contained the graves of the humble dead, but he was called to 
 his recollection by a hint from his companion that he was taking 
 the wrong road. 
 
 " Of all the various methods which have been adopted by man 
 for the disposal of his earthly remains, which do you prefer, 
 Captain Lawton ?" said the surgeon, with great deliberation, as 
 they separated from the little procession : " now, in some coun 
 tries the body is exposed to be devoured by wild beasts ; in 
 others, it is suspended in the air to exhale its substance in the 
 manner of decomposition ; in some countries it is consumed on 
 the funeral pile, and then, again, it is inhumed in the bowels of 
 the earth ; every people have their own particular fashion, and 
 to which do you give the preference ?" 
 
 " All are very agreeable," said the trooper, disregarding the 
 harangue of the other, and followed the group they had left with 
 his eyes ; " which do you most admire ?" 
 
 " The last, as practised by ourselves," said the operator 
 promptly ; " for the other three are destructive to the opportu 
 nities for dissection j but in the last, the coffin can lie in peaceful
 
 THE SPY. 137 
 
 decency, while the remains are made to subserve the useful pur 
 poses of science. Ah ! Captain Lawton, I enjoy comparatively 
 but few opportunities of such a nature to what I expected to 
 meet on entering the army." 
 
 "To what may these pleasures numerically amount in a year !" 
 said the Captain, dryly, and withdrawing his gaze from the grave 
 yard. 
 
 " Within a dozen upon my honour," said the surgeon, pite- 
 ously ; " my best picking is when the corps is detached ; for 
 when we are with the main army, there are so many boys to be 
 satisfied, that I seldom get a good subject. Those youngsters are 
 dreadfully wasteful, and as greedy as vultures." 
 
 " A dozen !" echoed the trooper, in surprise, " why I furnished 
 you more than that number with my own hands." 
 
 " Ah ! Jack," returned the doctor, approaching the subject 
 with great tenderness of manner, " it is seldom I can do anything 
 with your patients ; you disfigure them woefully ; believe me, 
 John, when I tell you, as a friend, merely as a friend, that your 
 system is all wrong ; for you unnecessarily destroy life, and then 
 you injure the body so that it is unfit for the only use that can 
 be made of a dead man." 
 
 The trooper maintained a silence, which, he thought would be 
 the most probable means of preserving peace between them ; 
 and the surgeon, turning his head from taking a last look at the 
 burial, as they rode round the foot of the hill that shut the val 
 ley from their sight, continued with a kind of suppressed sigh 
 " A body might get a natural death from that grave-yard to-night, 
 if there was but time and opportunity ; the patient must be the 
 father of the lady we saw this morning." 
 
 " The bitch-doctor ; she with the sky-blue complexion," said 
 the trooper, with a shrewd smile, that began to cause uneasiness 
 to his companion ; " but the lady was not the gentleman's 
 daughter, only his medico-petticoat attendant ; and the Harvey, 
 whose name was made to rhyme with every word in her song, is 
 the renowned pedler-spy." 
 
 "What!" cried the astonished surgeon; " he who unhorsed 
 you ?" 
 
 " No man ever unhorsed me, Doctor Sitgreaves," said the dra 
 goon, with abundant gravity ; " I fell by a mischance of Roanoke ; 
 we kissed the earth together." 
 
 " A warm embrace, from the love spots it left on your cuticle," 
 returned the surgeon, with some of the other's archness ; " but 
 'tis a thousand pities that you cannot find where the tattling 
 rascal lies hid." 
 
 " He followed his father's body," said the trooper, composedly. 
 
 " What ! and you let him pass !" cried the surgeon, with ex- 
 
 N 2
 
 138 THE SPY. 
 
 traordinary animation, checking his horse instantly ; " let us 
 return immediately and take him ; to-morrow you have him 
 hung, Jack, and, damn him, I'll dissect him." 
 
 " Softly, softly, my dear Archibald," said the trooper ; " would 
 you arrest a man while paying the last offices to a dead father ? 
 leave him to me, and I pledge myself he shall have justice." 
 
 The doctor muttered his dissatisfaction at any postponement 
 of his vengeance, but was compelled to acquiesce, from a regard 
 to his reputation for propriety, and they continued their ride to 
 the quarters of the corps, engaged in various discussions con 
 cerning the welfare of the human body. 
 
 Birch supported the grave and collected manner, that was 
 thought becoming in a male mourner on such occasions, and to 
 Katy was left the part of exhibiting the tenderness of the softer 
 sex. There are some people whose feelings are of such a nature, 
 that they cannot weep unless it be in proper company, and the 
 spinster was a good deal addicted to all congregational virtues ; 
 after casting her eyes round the small assemblage, the house 
 keeper found the countenances of the few females who were 
 present fixed on her, in solemn expectation, and the effect was 
 instantaneous ; the maiden really wept, and gained no inconsi 
 derable sympathy and reputation for a tender heart from the 
 spectators. The muscles of the pedler's face were seen to move, 
 and as the first clod of earth fell on the tenement of his father, 
 sending up that dull, hollow sound, that speaks so eloquently the 
 mortality of a man, his whole frame was for an instant convulsed ; 
 he bent his body down as if in pain, his fingers worked as his 
 hands hung lifeless by his side, and there was an expression in 
 his countenance that seemed to announce a writhing of his soul ; 
 but it was not unresisted, and it was transient : he stood erect, 
 drew a long breath, and looked around him with an elevated face, 
 that even seemed to smile with a consciousness of having obtained 
 the mastery, The grave was soon filled ; a rough stone, placed 
 at either extremity, marked its position, and the turf, with a 
 faded vegetation that was adapted to the fortunes of the de 
 ceased, covered the little hillock with the last office of seemli- 
 ness. The task ended, the neighbours, who had each officiously 
 tendered his services in performing his duty, paused, and lifting 
 their hats, stood looking towards the mourner, who now felt him 
 self to be really alone in the world. Removing his hat also, the 
 pedler hesitated a moment to gather energy, and spoke " My 
 friends and neighbours, I thank you for assiting me to bury my 
 dead out of my sight." 
 
 A. solemn pause succeeded the brief and customary conclusion, 
 and the group dispersed in silence, some few walking with the 
 mourners back to their own habitation, but respectfully leaving
 
 THE SPY. 139 
 
 them at its entrance. The pedler and Katy were followed into 
 the building by one man, however, who was well known to the 
 surrounding country by the significant term of "speculator." 
 Katy saw him enter with a heart that palpitated with dreadful 
 forebodings, but Harvey civilly handed him a chair, and evidently 
 was prepared for the visit. 
 
 The pedler went to the door, and taking a cautious glance 
 about the valley, quickly returned, and commenced the following 
 dialogue " The sun has just left the top of the eastern hill ; my 
 time presses me ; here is the deed for the house and lot, every 
 thing done according to law." 
 
 The stranger took the paper, and conned its contents with a 
 deliberation that proceeded partly from his caution, partly from 
 the unlucky circumstance of his education having been sadly neg 
 lected when a youth. The time occupied in this tedious examina 
 tion was employed by Harvey in gathering together certain 
 articles, which he intended to include in the stores that were to 
 leave the habitation with himself. Katy had already inquired of 
 the pedler, whether the deceased had left a will, and saw the bible 
 placed in the bottom of a new pack, which she had made for his 
 accommodation, with a most stoical indifference ; but as the six 
 silver spoons were laid carefully by its side, a sudden twinge of 
 her conscience objected to such a palpable waste of property, and 
 she broke silence by saying somewhat abruptly "When you 
 marry, Harvey, you may miss them spoons." 
 
 " I never shall marry," said the pedler, laconically. 
 
 " Well, if you don't, there's no occasion to be short. I'm sure 
 no one asked you. I should like to know, though, of what use 
 so many spoons can be to a single man : for my part, I think it's 
 a duty for every man who is so well provided, to have a wife and 
 family to maintain." 
 
 At the time when Katy expressed this sentiment, the fortune 
 of women in her class of life consisted of a cow, a bed, the la 
 bours of their own hands in the shape of divers pillow cases, 
 blankets, and sheets, and, where fortune was unusually kind, a half 
 dozen of silver spoons. The spinster herself had obtained all the 
 other necessaries to completing her store, by her own industry 
 and prudence, and, it can easily be imagined, saw the articles she 
 had long counted her own, vanish in the enormous pack with a 
 very natural dissatisfaction, that was in no degree diminished by 
 the declaration that had preceded the act. Harvey, however, 
 disregarded her opinions and feelings, and continued his employ 
 ment of filling the pack, which soon grew to a size something 
 like the ordinary burden of the pedler. 
 
 " I'm rather timersome about this conveyance," said the pur 
 chaser, having at length concluded his task. 
 
 N 3
 
 140 THE SPY. 
 
 "Why so?" said Harvey quickly. 
 
 " I'm afraid it won't stand good in law ; I know that two of 
 the neighbours leave home to-morrow morning, to have the place 
 entered for confistication, and if I should go now, and give forty 
 pounds, and lose it all, 'twould be a dead pull back to me." 
 
 " They can only take my right," said the pedler ; " pay me two 
 hundred dollars, and the house is yours ; you are a well known 
 whig, and you, at least, they won't trouble." As Harvey spoke, 
 there was a strange mixture of bitterness with the care he ex 
 pressed concerning the sale of his property. 
 
 " Say one hundred, and it is a bargain," returned the man, 
 with a grin that he meant for a good-natured smile. 
 
 " A bargain !" echoed the pedler, in surprise ; " I thought the 
 bargain already made." 
 
 " Nothing is a bargain," said the purchaser, with a gratulating 
 chuckle, " until papers are delivered, and the money paid in 
 hand." 
 
 " You have the paper," returned the pedler, quickly. 
 
 "Ay, and will keep it, if you will excuse the money," replied 
 the speculator, with a sneer ; " come, say one hundred and fifty, 
 and I won't be hard ; here here is just the money." 
 
 The pedler looked from the window, and saw with dismay that 
 the evening was fast advancing, and knew well that he endangered 
 his life by remaining in the dwelling after dark ; yet he could not 
 tolerate the idea of being defrauded in this manner, in a bargain 
 that had already been fairly made ; he hesitated " Well," said 
 the purchaser, rising ; " mayhap you can find another man to 
 trade with between this and morning ; but if you don't your title 
 won't be worth much afterwards." 
 
 " Take it, Harvey," said Katy, who felt it impossible to resist 
 a tender like the one before her, all in English guineas ; her voice 
 roused the pedler, and a new idea seemed to strike him. 
 
 " I agree to the price," he said ; and, turning to the spinster, 
 placed part of the money in her hand, as he continued " had I 
 other means to pay you, I would have lost aH, rather than have 
 suffered myself to have been defrauded of part." 
 
 " You may lose all yet," muttered the stranger, with a sneer, 
 as he rose and left the building. 
 
 " Yes," said Katy, following him with her eyes ; " he knows 
 your failing, Harvey ; he thinks with me, now the old gentleman 
 is gone, you will want a careful body to take care of your con- j 
 cerns." 
 
 The pedler was busied in arranging things for his departure, j 
 and took no notice of this insinuation, while the spinster re- 3 
 turned again to the attack. She had lived so many years in ex 
 pectation of a different result from that which now seemed likely ; 

 
 THE SPY. 141 
 
 to occur, that the idea of separation began to give her more un 
 easiness than she had thought herself capable of feeling, about a 
 man so destitute and friendless as the pedler. 
 
 " Have you another house to go to 1" inquired Katy, with un 
 usual pathos in her manner. 
 
 " Providence will provide me with a home," said Harvey, with 
 a perceptible tremor in his voice. 
 
 " Yes," said the housekeeper ; " but maybe 'twill not be to 
 your liking." 
 
 " The poor must not be difficult," returned the pedler. 
 
 " I'm sure I'm everything but a difficult body," cried the 
 spinster, very hastily ; " but I love to see things becoming, and 
 in their places ; yet I would' nt be hard to persuade to leave this 
 place myself. I can't say I altogether like the ways of the 
 people." 
 
 " The valley is lovely," said the pedler, with fervour, " and the 
 people like all the race of man : but to me it matters nothing ; 
 all places are now alike, and all faces equally strange ;" as he 
 spoke, he dropt the article he was packing from his hand, and 
 seated himself on a chest with a look of vacant misery. 
 
 " Not so, not so," said Katy, instinctively shoving her chair 
 nearer to the place where the pedler sat ; " not so, Harvey, you 
 must know me at least ; my face cannot be strange to you cer 
 tainly." 
 
 Birch turned his eyes slowly on her countenance, which ex 
 hibited more of feeling, and less of self, than he had ever seen 
 before : he took her hand kindly, and his own features lost some 
 of their painful expressions, as he said " Yes, good woman, you 
 at least are not a stranger to me ; you may do me partial justice ; 
 when others revile me, possibly your feelings may lead you to say 
 something in my defence." 
 
 " That I will ; that I would !" said Katy, eagerly ; " I will 
 defend you, Harvey, to the last drop ; let me hear them that dare 
 revile you ! you say true, Harvey, I am partial and just to you ; 
 what if you do like the king ; I have often heard say he was at 
 the bottom a good man ; but there's no religion in the old country, 
 for every body allows the ministers are desperate bad." 
 
 The pedler paced the floor in evident distress of mind ; his eye 
 had a look of wildness that Katy had never witnessed before, 
 and his step was measured with a dignity that appalled the house 
 keeper. 
 
 " While he lived," cried Harvey, unable to smother his feelings, 
 " there was one who read my heart ; and oh ! what a consolation 
 to return from my secret marches of danger, and the insults and 
 wrongs that I suffered, to receive his blessing and his praise ; b\it 
 he is gone," he continued, stopping and gazing wildly towards
 
 142 THE SPY. 
 
 the corner that used to hold the figure of his parent, " and who 
 is there to do me justice ?" 
 
 " Why, Harvey, Harvey," Katy ventured to say, imploringly ; 
 when the pedler added, as a smile stole over his haggard features 
 " Yes, there is one who will, who must know me before I die. 
 Oh ! it is dreadful to die, and leave such a name behind me." 
 
 " Don't talk of dying, Harvey," said the spinster, glancing her 
 eye around the room, and pushing the wood in the fire to obtain 
 a light from the blaze. 
 
 But the ebullition of feeling in the pedler was over ; it had 
 been excited by the events of the past day, and a vivid perception 
 of his sufferings ; it was not long that passion maintained an as 
 cendancy over the reason of the trader, and perceiving that the 
 night had already thrown an obscurity around the objects without 
 doors, he hastily threw his pack over his shoulders, and taking 
 Katy kindly by the hand, made his parting speech " It is pain 
 ful to part with even you, good woman ; but the hour has come, 
 and I must go. What is left in the house is freely yours ; to me 
 it could be of no use, and it may serve to make you more com 
 fortable. Farewell we meet hereafter." 
 
 " Yes, in the regions of darkness," cried a voice that caused 
 the pedler to sink on the chest he had risen from, in despair. 
 
 " What ! another pack, Mr. Birch, and so well stuffed so soon?" 
 
 " Have you not yet done evil enough ?" cried the pedler, re 
 gaining his firmness, and springing on his feet with energy : " is 
 it not enough to harass the last moments of a dying man ; to 
 impoverish me ; what more would you have ?" 
 
 " Your blood," said the skinner, with cool malignity. 
 
 " And for money," cried Harvey, bitterly ; " like the ancient 
 Judas, you would grow rich with the price of blood." 
 
 " Ay, and a fair price it is, my gentleman ! fifty guineas nearly 
 the weight of that scare-crow carcass of yours in gold." 
 
 " Here," said Katy, promptly, " here are fifteen guineas, and 
 these drawers, and this bed are all mine ; if you will give Harvey 
 but one bout's start from the door, they shall be yours." 
 
 " One hour?" said the skinner, showing his teeth, and looking 
 with a longing eye at the money. 
 
 " Yes, but one hour, here take the money." 
 
 " Hold," cried Harvey, "put no faith in the miscreants." 
 
 " She may do what she pleases with her faith," said the skinner, 
 with malignant pleasure ; " but I have the money in good keep 
 ing ; as for you, Mr. Birch, we will bear your insolence, for the 
 fifty guineas that are to pay for your gallows." 
 
 " Go on," said the pedler, proudly ; take me to Major Duu- 
 woodie; he, at least, may be kind, although he may be just." 
 
 " I can do better than by marching so far in such disgraceful
 
 THE SPY. 
 
 company," replied the other, very coolly ; " this Mr. Dunwoodie 
 has let oue or two tories go at large ; but the troop of Captain 
 Lawton is quartered some half mile nearer, and his receipt will 
 get me the reward as soon as his Major's : how relish you the idea 
 of supping with Captain Lawton, this evening, Mr. Birch ?" 
 
 " Give me my money, or set Harvey free," cried the spinster in 
 alarm. 
 
 " Your bribe was not enough, good woman, unless there is 
 money in this bed ;" thrusting his bayonet through the ticking, 
 and ripping it for some distance, he took a malicious satisfaction 
 in scattering its contents about the room. 
 
 " If," cried the housekeper, losing sight of her personal danger, 
 in care for her newly acquired property, " there is law in the land, 
 I will be righted." 
 
 "The law of the neutral ground is the law of the strongest," 
 said the skinner, with a malignant laugh ; " but your tongue is 
 not as long as my baggonet ; you had, therefore, best not set 
 them at loggerheads, or you might be the loser." 
 
 A figure stood in the shadow of the door, as if afraid to be 
 seen in the group of skinners, but a blaze of light, raised by 
 some articles thrown in the fire by his persecutors, showed the 
 pedler the face of the purchaser of his little domain ; occasionally 
 there was some whispering between this man and the skinner 
 nearest him, that induced Harvey to suspect he had been the dupe 
 of a contrivance in which that wretch had participated. It was, 
 however, too late to repine, and he followed the party from the 
 house with a firm and collected tread, as if marching to a triumph 
 and not to a gallows. In passing through the yard, the leader 
 of the band fell over a billet of wood, and received a momentary 
 hurt from the fall ; exasperated at the incident, the fellow sprang 
 on his feet, and exclaimed " The curse of heaven light on the 
 log ; the night is too dark for us to move in ; throw that brand 
 of fire in yon pile of tow, to light up the scene." 
 
 "Hold!" roared the horror-stricken speculator, " you'll fire 
 the house." 
 
 " And see the farther," said the other, hurling the fire in the 
 midst of the combustibles. In an instant the building was in 
 flames ; " come on, let us move towards the heights while we 
 have light to pick our road." 
 
 " Villain !" cried the exasperated purchaser, " is this your 
 friendship, this my reward for kidnapping the pedler 1" 
 
 " "f would be wise to move more from the light, if you mean to 
 entertain us with abuse, or we may see too well to let a bullet 
 miss you," cried the leader of the gang. The next instant he 
 was as good as hi3 threat, but happily missed the terrified specu 
 lator, and equally appalled spinster, who saw herself again re-
 
 144 THE SPY. 
 
 duced from comparative wealth to poverty, by the blow. Pru 
 dence dictated to the pair of speedy retreat, and the next morn 
 ing, the only remains of the dwelling of the pedler was the huge 
 chimney we have already mentioned. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 " Trifles, light as air, 
 Are to the jealous confirmations strong 
 As proofs from holy wnt." Moor of Venice. 
 
 THE weather, which had been mild and clear since the storm, 
 now changed with the suddenness of the American climate. 
 Towards evening the cold blasts poured down from the moun 
 tains, and flurries of snow plainly indicated that the month of 
 November had arrived ; a season whose temperature varies from 
 the heats of summer to the cold of winter. Frances had stood 
 at the window of her own apartment, watching the slow progress 
 of the funeral procession, with a melancholy that was too deep 
 to be excited by the spectacle. There was something in the sad 
 office which engaged the attention of her father and brother that 
 was in unison with the feelings of the maid. As she gazed 
 around, she saw the trees bending to the force of the whirlwinds, 
 that swept through the valley with an impetuosity that shook 
 even the buildings of lesser importance ; and the forest, that 
 had so lately glittered in the sun with its variegated hues, was 
 fast losing its loveliness, as the leaves were torn from the branches, 
 and were driving irregularly, before the eddies of the blast. A 
 few of the southern dragoons, who were patrolling the passes 
 which led to the encampment of the corps, could be distinguished 
 at a distance on the heights, bending to their pommels, as they 
 faced the keen air which had so lately traversed the great fresh 
 water lakes, and drawing their watch coats about them in tighter 
 folds. 
 
 Frances witnessed the disappearance of the wooden tenement 
 of the deceased, as it was slowly lowered from the light of day, 
 and the sight still added to the chilling dreariness of the view. 
 Captain Singleton was sleeping under the careful watchfulness of 
 his own man, while his sister had been persuaded to take posses 
 sion of her room, for the purpose of obtaining the repose of 
 which her last night's journeying had robbed her. The apart 
 ment of Miss Singleton communicated with the room occupied 
 by the sisters, through a private door, as well as through the 
 ordinary passage of the house ; this door was partly open, am 
 Frances moved towards it with the benevolent intention of ascer 
 taining the situation of her guest, when the surprised girl saw 
 her whom she thought to be sleeping, not only awake, but em 
 ployed in a manner that banished all probability of present re-
 
 THE SPY. 145 
 
 pose. The black tresses that, during the dinner, had been drawn 
 in close folds over the crown of the head, were now loosened, 
 and fell in profusion over her shoulders and bosom, imparting a 
 slight degree of wildness to her expressive countenance; the 
 chilling white of her complexion was strongly contrasted with 
 the brilliant glances of eyes of the deepest black, that were 
 fixed in rooted attention on a picture she held in her hand. 
 Frances hardly breathed, as she was enabled, by a movement of 
 Isabella, to see that it was the figure of a man in the well known 
 dress of the southern horse ; but she gasped for breath, and in 
 stinctively laid her hand on her heart to quell its throbbings, as 
 she thought she recognized the lineaments that were so deeply 
 seated in her own imagination. Frances felt she was improperly 
 prying into the sacred privacy of another, but her emotions were 
 too powerful to permit her to speak, and she drew back to a 
 chair, where she still retained a view of the stranger, from whose 
 countenance she felt it to be impossible to withdraw her eyes. 
 Isabella was too much engrossed by her own feelings to discover 
 the trembling figure of the witness to her actions, and she pressed 
 the inanimate image to her lips, with an enthusiasm that denoted 
 the most intense passion. The expression of the countenance of 
 the fair stranger was so changeable, and the transitions were so 
 rapid, that Frances had scarcely time to distinguish the chara-cter 
 of the emotion, before it was succeeded by another equally power 
 ful, and equally attractive. Admiration and sorrow were, however, 
 the preponderating passions ; the latter was indicated by large 
 drops t^gt fell from her eyes on the picture, and which followed 
 each other over her cheek at such intervals, as seemed to pro 
 nounce the grief too heavy to admit of the ordinary bursts of 
 sorrow. Every movement of Isabella wasmarkedby an enthusiasm 
 that was peculiar to her nature, and every passion in its turn 
 triumphed in her breast, with an undisputed sway. The fury of 
 the wind, as it whistled round the angles of the building, was in 
 consonance with those feelings, and she rose and moved to a 
 window of her apartment. Her figure was now hid from the 
 view of Frances, who was about to rise and approach her guest, 
 when tones of a thrilling melody chained her in breathless silence 
 to the spot. The notes were wild, and the voice not powerful, 
 but the execution exceeded anything that Frances had ever heard, 
 and she stood, endeavouring to stifle the sounds of her own 
 gentle breathing, until the following song was concluded : 
 
 Cold blow the blasts o'er the tops of the mountain, 
 
 And bare is the oak on the hill, 
 Slowly the vapours exhale from the fountain. 
 
 And bright gleams the ice bordered rill ; 
 All nature 13 seeking its annual rest, 
 But the slumbers of peace have deserted my breast.
 
 146 THE SPY. 
 
 Long has the storm pour'd its weight on my nation, 
 
 And long hare her brave stood the shock ; 
 Long has our chieftain ennobled his station, 
 
 A oulwark on liberty's rock 
 Unlicens'd ambition relaxes its toil, 
 Yet blighted affection represses my smile. 
 
 Abroad the wild fury of winter is low'ring, 
 
 And leafless and drear ia the tree, 
 But the vertical sun of the south appears pouring 
 
 Its fierce killing heats upon me 
 Without, all the season's chill symptoms begin 
 But the fire of passion is raging within. 
 
 Frances abandoned her whole soul to the suppressed melody of 
 the music, though the language of the song expressed a meaning, 
 which, united with certain events of that and the preceding day, 
 left a sensation of uneasiness in the bosom of the warm-hearted 
 girl, to which she had hitherto been a stranger. Isabella moved 
 From the window as her last tones melted on the ear of her 
 admiring listener, and, for the first time, her eye rested on the 
 face of the pallid listener. A glow of fire lighted the counte 
 nance of both at the same instant, and the blue eye of Frances 
 met the brilliant black one of her guest for a single moment, and 
 both fell in abashed confusion on the carpet ; they advanced, 
 however, until they met, and had taken each other's hand, before 
 either ventured again to look her companion in the face. 
 
 " This sudden change in the weather, and perhaps the situation 
 of my brother, have united to make me melancholy, Miss Whar- 
 ton," said Isabella, in a low tone, and in a voice that trembled 
 as she spoke. 
 
 " 'Tis thought that you have little to apprehend for your 
 brother," said Frances, in the same embarrassed manner ; " had 
 you seen him when he was brought in by Major Dunwoodie" 
 
 Frances paused with a feeling of conscious shame, for which 
 she could not account, and, in raising her eyes, she saw Isabella 
 studying her countenance, with an earnestness that again drove 
 the blood tumultuously to her temples. 
 
 " You were speaking of Major Dunwoodie," said Isabella, 
 faintly. 
 
 " He was with Captain Singleton." 
 
 " Do you know Dunwoodie ? have you seen him often ?" con 
 tinued Isabella, in a voice that startled her companion. Once 
 more Frances ventured to look her guest in the face, and again 
 she met the piercing eyes bent on her as if to search her inmost 
 heart. " Speak, Miss Wharton ; is Major Dunwoodie known to 
 you?" 
 
 " He is my relative," said Frances, appalled at the manner of 
 the other. 
 
 " A relative !" echoed Miss Singleton ; " in what degree ? 
 speak, Miss Wharton, I conjure you to speak."
 
 THE SPY. 14" 
 
 " Our parents were cousi-s," replied Frances, in still greater 
 confusion at the vehemence of Isabella. 
 
 " And he is to be your husband," cried the stranger impetuously. 
 
 Frances felt her pride awakened by this direct attack upon the 
 delicacy of her feelings, and she raised her eyes from the floor 
 to her interrogator a little proudly, when the pale cheek and 
 quivering lip of Isabella removed her resentment in a moment. 
 
 " It is true ; my conjecture is true ; speak to me, Miss Whar- 
 ton ; I conjure you, in mercy to my feelings, to tell me do you 
 love Dunwoodie?" There was a plaintive earnestness in the 
 voice of Miss Singleton, that disarmed Frances of all resentment, 
 and the only answer she could make, was hiding her burning face 
 between her hands, as she sank back in a chair to conceal her 
 confusion. 
 
 Isabella paced the floor in silence for several minutes, until she 
 had succeeded in conquering the violence of her feelings, when 
 she approached the place where Frances yet sat, endeavouring to 
 exclude the eyes of her companion from reading the shame ex 
 pressed in her countenance ; and taking the hand of the other, 
 she spoke with an evident effort at composure. 
 
 " Pardon me, Miss Wharton, if my ungovernable feelings have 
 led me into impropriety ; the powerful motive the cruel reason" 
 she hesitated ; Frances now raised her face, and the eyes of 
 the maids once more met ; they fell in each other's arms, and 
 laid their burning cheeks together. The embrace was long was 
 ardent, and sincere but neither spoke; and on separating, 
 Frances retired to her own room without farther explanation. 
 
 While this extraordinary scene was acting in the room of Miss 
 Singleton, matters of great importance were agitated in the 
 drawing-room. The disposition of the fragments of such a 
 dinner as the one we have recorded, was the task that required 
 no little exertion and calculation. Notwithstanding several of 
 the small game had nestled in the pocket of Captain Lawton's 
 inau, and even the assistant of Dr. Sitgreaves had calculated the 
 uncertainty of his remaining long in such good quarters, still there 
 was more left, unconsumed, than the prudent spinster knew how 
 to dispose of to advantage. Ceesar and his mistress had, there 
 fore, a long and confidential communication on this important 
 business, and the consequence was, that Colonel Wellmere was 
 left to the hospitality of Sarah Wharton. All the ordinary topics 
 of conversation were exhausted, when the Colonel, with a little of 
 the uneasiness that is in some degree inseparable from conscious 
 error, touched lightly on the transactions of the preceding day. 
 
 " We little thought, Miss Wharton, when I first saw this Mr. 
 Dunwoodie in your house in Queen-street, that he was to be the 
 renowned warrior he has proved himself," said Wellmere, endea 
 vouring to smile contemptuously. o
 
 148 THE SPY. 
 
 " Renowned, when we consider the enemy he overcame," said 
 Sarah, with consideration for her companion's feelings. " 'Twas 
 most unfortunate, indeed, in every respect, that yon met with the 
 accident, or doubtless the arms of our prince would have tri 
 umphed in their usual manner." 
 
 " And yet the pleasure of such society as this accident has in 
 troduced me to, would more than repay the pain of a mortified 
 spirit and wounded body," added the Colonel, in a manner of 
 peculiar softness. 
 
 " I hope the latter is but trifling," said Sarah, stooping to hide 
 her blushes under the pretext of biting a thread from the work on 
 her knee. 
 
 "Trifling, indeed, compared to the former," returned the Co 
 lonel, in the same manner. " Ah ! Miss Wharton, it is in such 
 moments that we feel the full value of friendship and sympathy.'' 
 
 Those who have never tried it, cannot easily imagine, what a 
 rapid progress a warm-hearted female can make in love in the 
 short space of half an hour, particularly where there is a predis 
 position to the distemper. Sarah found the conversation, when 
 it began to touch on friendship and sympathy, too interesting to 
 venture her voice with a reply. She, however, turned her eyes 
 on the Colonel, and saw him gazing at her fine face with an ad 
 miration that was quite as manifest, and much more soothing, 
 than any words could make it. 
 
 Their tete-a-tete was uninterrupted for an hour, and although 
 nothing that would be called decided, by an experienced matron, 
 was said by the gentleman, he uttered a thousand things that 
 delighted his companion, who retired to her rest with a lighter 
 heart than she had felt since the arrest of her brother by the 
 Americans. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 " And let me the canakin clink, clink ; 
 And let me the canakin clink. 
 
 A soldier'* a man ; 
 
 A life's but a span ; 
 Why, theu, let a soldier drink." lago. 
 
 THE position held by the corps of dragoons, we have already said, 
 was a favourite place of halting with their commander. A cluster 
 of some half dozen small and dilapidated buildings formed what, 
 from the circumstance of two roads intersecting each other at right 
 angles, was called the village of the Four Corners. As usual, one 
 of the most imposing of these edifices had been termed, in the 
 language of the day, "a house of entertainment for man and 
 beast." On a rough board, suspended from the gallows looking 
 post that had supported the ancient sign, was, however, written 

 
 THE SPY. Uy 
 
 in red chalk, "Elizabeth Flanagan, her hotel ," an ebullition of 
 wit from some of the idle wags of the corps. The matron, whose 
 name had thus been exalted to an office of such unexpected dig- 
 nit}', ordinarily discharged the duties of a female sutler, washer 
 woman, and, to use the language of Katy Haynes, bitch-doctor 
 to the troops ; she was the widow of a soldier who had been killed 
 in the service, and who, like herself, was a native of a distant 
 island, and had early tried his fortune in the colonies of North 
 America. She constantly migrated with the troops ; and it was 
 seldom they became stationary for two days at a time, but the little 
 cart of the bustling woman was seen driving into the encampment, 
 loaded with such articles as she conceived would make her presence 
 most welcome. With a celerity that seemed almost supernatural, 
 Betty took up her ground and commenced her occupation. Some 
 times the cart itself was her shop ; at others, the soldiers made 
 her a rude shelter of such materials as offered ; but, on the present 
 occasion, she had seized on a vacant building, and by dint of stuf 
 fing the dirty breeches and half-dried linen of the troopers in the 
 broken windows, to exclude the cold, which had now become se 
 vere, she formed what she herself had pronounced to be " most 
 illigant lodgings." The men were quartered in the adjacent 
 barns, and the officers collected in the " Hotel Flanagan," as they 
 facetiously called head-quarters. Betty was well known to every 
 trooper in the corps, could call each his Christian or nick-name, 
 as best suited her fancy ; and although absolutely intolerable to 
 all whom habit had not made familiar with her virtues, was a ge 
 neral favourite with these partisan warriors. Her faults were, a 
 trifling love of liquor, excessive filthiness, and a total disregard to 
 all the decencies of language ; her virtues, an unbounded love for 
 her adopted country, perfect honesty when dealing on certain 
 known principles with the soldiery, anil great good-nature : added 
 to these, Betty had the merit of being the inventor of that beve 
 rage which is so well known at the present hour, to all the patriots 
 who make a winter's march between the commercial and political 
 capitals of this great state, and which is distinguished by the name 
 of "cock-tail." Elizabeth Flanagan was peculiarly well qualified 
 by education and circumstances to perfect this improvement in 
 liquors ; having been literally brought up on its principal ingre 
 dient, and having acquired from her Virginian customers the use 
 of mint, from its flavour in julep to its height of renown in the 
 article in question. Such, then, was the mistress of the mansion, 
 who, reckless of the cold northern blasts, showed her blooming 
 face from the door of the building to welcome the arrival of her 
 favourite, Captain Lawton, and his companion, her master in 
 matters of surgery. 
 
 " Ah ! by my hopes of promotion, my gentle Elizabeth, but 
 
 o 2
 
 150 THE SPY. 
 
 you are welcome," cried the trooper, as he threw himself from 
 his saddle ; " this villainous fresh water gas from the Canadas has 
 been whistling among my bones till they ache with the cold, but 
 the sight of your fiery countenance is as cheering as a Christinas 
 tire." 
 
 ' Now sure, Captain Jack, yee's always full of your compli- 
 mentaries," replied the sutler, taking the bridle of her customer ; 
 " but hurry in for the life of you, darling ; the fences hereabouts 
 are not so strong as in the Highlands, and there's that within will 
 warm both sowl and body." 
 
 " So you have been laying the rails under contribution, I see ; 
 well, that may do for the body," said the Captain, coolly ; "but 
 I have had a pull at a bottle of cut glass with a silver stand, and 
 don't think I could relish your whisky for a month to come." 
 
 " If it's silver or goold that yee'r thinking of, it's but little I 
 have, though I've a trifling bit of the continental," said Betty, 
 with a look of much meaning ; " but there's that within that's fit 
 to be put in vissels of di'monds." 
 
 " What can she mean, Archibald ?" asked Lawton, quickly ; 
 " the animal looks as if she meant more than she says." 
 
 " 'Tis probably a wandering of the reasoning powers, created 
 by the frequency of intoxicating draughts," observed the surgeon, 
 as he deliberately threw his left leg over the pommel of his saddle, 
 and slid down on the right side of his horse. 
 
 " Faith, my dear jewel of a doctor, but it was this side I was 
 expicting you ; the whole corps come down on this side but yeer- 
 self," said Betty, winking at the trooper ; " but I've been feeding 
 the wounded in yeer absence, with the fat of the land." 
 
 " Barbarous stupidity !" cried the panic-stricken physician, " to 
 feed men labouring under the excitement of fever with powerful 
 nutriment ; woman, woman, you are enough to defeat the skill of 
 Hippocrates himself." 
 
 " Pooh !" said Betty, with infinite composure, " what a bother 
 ation yee make about a little whisky ; there was but a gallon be 
 twixt a good two dozen of them, and I gave it to the boys to make 
 them sleep asy ; sure jist as slumbering drops." 
 
 Lawton and his companion now entered the building, and the 
 first objects which met their eyes explained the hidden meaning 
 of Betty's comfortable declaration. A long table, made of boards 
 torn from the side of an out-building, was stretched through the 
 middle of the largest apartment or bar-room, and on it was a very 
 scanty display of crockery ware. The steams of cooking arose 
 from the adjoining kitchen, but the principal attraction was in a 
 demijohn of fair proportions, which had been ostentatiously placed 
 on high by Betty as the object most worthy of notice. Lawton 
 soon learnt that it was teeming with the real amber -coloured juice
 
 THE SPY. 151 
 
 of the grape, and had been sent from the Locusts as an offering 
 to Major Dunwoodie, from his friend Captain Wharton, of the 
 royal army. 
 
 " And a royal gift it is," said the grinning subaltern who made 
 the explanation. " The Major gives us an entertainment in ho 
 nour of our victory, and you see the principal expense is borne, 
 as it should be, by the enemy. Zounds, I am thinking that after 
 we have primed with such stuff, we could charge through Sir 
 Henry's head-quarters, and carry off the knight himself." 
 
 The Captain of dragoons was in no manner displeased at the 
 prospect of terminating so pleasantly a day that had been so 
 agreeably commenced ; he was soon surrounded by his comrades, 
 who made many eager inquiries concerning his adventures, while 
 the surgeon proceeded, with certain quakings of the heart, to ex 
 amine into the state of his wounded. Enormous fires were crack 
 ling in the chimneys of the house, superseding the necessity of 
 candles, by the bright light which was thrown from the blazing 
 piles. The group within were all young men, and tried soldiers ; 
 in number they were rather more than a dozen, and their manners 
 and conversation were a strange mixture of the bluntness of the 
 partisan with the polish of gentlemen. Their dresses were neat, 
 though plain ; and a never failing topic amongst them was the 
 performance and quality of their horses. Some were endeavouring 
 to sleep on the benches which lined the walls, some were walking 
 the apartments, and others were seated in earnest discussion on 
 subjects connected with the business of their lives. Occasionally, 
 as the door of the kitchen opened, the hissing sounds of the frying 
 pans, and the inviting savour of the food, created a stagnation in 
 all other employments ; even the sleepers, at such moments, would 
 open their eyes, and raise their heads to reconnoitre the state of 
 the preparations. All this time Dunwoodie sat by himself, gazing 
 at the fire, and lost in reflections which none of his officers pre 
 sumed to disturb. He had made earnest inquiries of Sitgreaves 
 on his entrance after the condition of Singleton, during which a 
 profound and respectful silence was maintained in the room ; but 
 as soon as he had ended and resumed his seat, the usual ease and 
 freedom prevailed. 
 
 The arrangement of the table was a matter of but little concern 
 to Mrs. Flanagan, and Caesar would have been sadly scandalized 
 at witnessing the informality with which various dishes, each 
 bearing a wonderful resemblance to the others, were placed before 
 so many gentlemen of consideration. In taking their places at 
 the board, the strictest attention was paid to precedency ; for, 
 notwithstanding the freedom of manners which prevailed in the 
 corps, the points of military etiquette were at all times observed, 
 with something approaching to religious veneration. Most of the 
 guests had been fasting too long to be in any degree fastidious in 
 
 o 3
 
 152 THE SPY. 
 
 their appetites ; but the case was different with Captain Lawton ; 
 he felt an unaccountable loathing at the exhibition of Betty's food, 
 sind could not refrain from making a few passing comments on 
 the condition of the knives, and the clouded colourings of the 
 plates. The good nature and personal affection of Betty for the 
 offender restrained her for some time from answering to his in 
 nuendoes, until Lawton, with a yawn, ventured to admit a piece 
 of the black meat before him into his mouth, where, either from 
 sated appetite, or qualities inherent in the food, much time was 
 spent in vain efforts at mastication, when he cried with some 
 spleen " What kind of animal might this have been when living, 
 Mrs. Flanagan ?" 
 
 " Sure, Captain, and wasn't it the old cow," replied the sutler, 
 with an emotion, that proceeded partly from dissatisfaction at the 
 complaints of her favourite, and partly from grief at the loss of 
 the deceased. 
 
 " What \" roared the trooper, stopping short as he was rapidly 
 about to swallow his morsel, " ancient Jenny ! ' 
 
 " The devil !" cried another, dropping his knife and fork, " she 
 who made the campaign of the Jerseys with us." 
 
 " The very same," replied the mistress of the hotel, with a most 
 piteous aspect of woe ; " sure, gentlemen, 'tis awful to have to eat 
 sitch an ould friend." 
 
 " And has she sunk to this ?" said Lawton, pointing with his 
 knife to the remnants on the table. 
 
 " Nay, Captain," said Betty, with spirit, " I sould two of her 
 quarters to some of your troop ; but divil a word did I tell the 
 boys what an ould frind it was they had bought, for fear it might 
 damage their appetites. 
 
 " Fury !" cried the trooper, with affected anger, " I shall have 
 my fellows as limber as supple-jacks, on such fare ; afraid of an 
 Englishman as a \ T irginian negro is of his driver." 
 
 " Well," said Lieutenant Mason, dropping his knife and fork in 
 a kind of despair, " my jaws have more sympathy than many men's 
 hearts. They absolutely decline making any impression on the 
 relics of their old acquaintance." 
 
 " Try a drop of the gift," said Betty, soothingly ; pouring a large 
 allowance of the wine into a bowl, and drinking it off as taster to 
 the corps. " Faith, 'tis but a wishy-washy sort of stuff after all." 
 
 The ice once broken, however, a clear glass of wine was handed 
 to Dunwoodie, who, bowing to his companions, drank the liquor 
 in the midst of a most profound silence. For a few glasses there 
 \\as much formality observed, and sundry patriotic toasts and 
 sentiments were duly noticed by the company. The liquor, how 
 ever, performed its wonted office ; and before the second sentinel 
 at their door had been relieved, all recollection of the dinner and 
 their cares were lost in the present festivity. Dr. Sitgrcaves did
 
 THE SPY. 153 
 
 not return in season to partake of Jenny, but was in time to re 
 ceive his fair proportion of Captain Wharton's present. 
 
 " A song, a song from Captain Lawton," cried two or three of 
 the party in a breath, on observing the failure of some of the 
 points of good fellowship in the trooper ; " silence for. the song 
 of Captain Lawton." 
 
 " Gentlemen," returned Lawton, his dark eyes swimming with 
 the bumpers he had finished, though his head was as impenetrable 
 as a post, " I am not much of a nightingale, but under the favour 
 of your good wishes, I consent to comply with the demand." 
 
 " Now, Jack," said Sitgreaves, nodding on his seat, "remem 
 ber the air I taught you, and stop, I have a copy of the words 
 in my pocket." 
 
 " Forbear, forbear, good doctor," said the trooper, filling his 
 glass with great deliberation, " I never could wheel round those 
 hard names. Gentlemen, I will give you a humble attempt of 
 my own." 
 
 " Silence for Captain Lawton's song," roared five or six at 
 once, when the trooper proceeded, in a line full tone, to sing the 
 following words to a well known bacchanalian air, several of his 
 comrades helping him through the chorus with a fervour that 
 shook the crazy edifice they were in : 
 
 Now push the mug, my jolly boys, 
 
 And live, while live we can ; 
 To-morrow's sun may end your joys, 
 
 For brief's the hour of man. 
 And he who bravely meets the foe, 
 His lease of life can never know. 
 
 Old mother Flanagan, 
 Come and fill the can again ; 
 For you can fill, and we can swill, 
 Good Betty Flanagan. 
 If love of life pervades your breast, 
 
 Or love of ease your frame. 
 Quit honour's path for peaceful rest 
 
 And bear a coward's name ; 
 For soon and late, we danger know, 
 And fearless on the saddle go. 
 
 Old mother, &c. 
 When foreign foes invade the land, 
 
 And wives and sweethearts call : 
 In freedom's cause we'll bravely stand, 
 
 Or will as bravely fail. 
 In this fair home the fates have given, 
 We'll live as lords, cr live in heaven. 
 Old mother, &c. 
 
 At each appeal made to herself, by the united voices of the 
 choir, Betty invariably advanced and complied literally with the 
 request contained in the chorus, to the infinite delight of the 
 singers, and perhaps with no small participation in the satisfac 
 tion on her own account. The hostess was provided with bever 
 age more suited to the high seasoning she had accustomed her 
 palate to, than the tasteless present of Captain Wharton ; by
 
 154 THE SPY. 
 
 which means Betty had managed, with tolerable facility, to keep 
 even pace with the exhilaration of her guests. The applause re 
 ceived by Captain Lawton was general, with the exception of the 
 surgeon, who rose from the bench during the first chorus, and 
 paced the floor, in a fine flow of classical indignation. The 
 bravos and bravissimos drowned all other noises lor a short time, 
 but as they gradually ceased, the doctor turned to the musician, 
 and exclaimed, with manifest heat " Captain Lawton, I marvel 
 that a gentleman, and a gallant officer, can find no other subject 
 fur his muse, in these times of trial, than in such beastly invoca 
 tions to that notorious follower of the camp, the filthy Elizabeth 
 Flanagan. Methinks the Goddess of Liberty could furnish a 
 more noble inspiration, and the sufferings of your country a more 
 befitting theme." 
 
 " Heyday 1" shouted the hostess, advancing upon him in a 
 most threatening attitude, " and who is it that calls me filthy ? 
 Master squirt, Master pop-gun " " Peace," said Dunwoodie, in 
 a voice that was exerted but a little more than common, but 
 which was succeeded by the stillness of death ; " woman, leave 
 the room. Dr. Sitgreaves, I call you to your seat, to wait the 
 order of the revels." 
 
 " Proceed, proceed," said the surgeon, drawing himself up in 
 an attitude of dignified composure ; " I trust, Major Dunwoodie, 
 I am not unacquainted with the rules of decorum, nor ignorant 
 of the oy-laws of good fellowship." Betty made a hasty but 
 somewhat devious retreat to her own dominions, being unaccus 
 tomed to dispute the orders of the commanding officer. 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie will honour us with a sentimental song," 
 said Lawton, bowing to his leader, with the politeness of a gen 
 tleman, and the collected manner he so well knew how to assume. 
 
 The Major hesitated a moment, and then sang, with fine execu 
 tion, the following words : 
 
 Some love the heats of southern suns, 
 Where life's warm current raadd'ning sunn, 
 
 In one quick circling stream ; 
 But dearer tar's the mellow light 
 V> Inch trembling shines, reflected bright 
 
 In Luna's milder beams. 
 
 Some love the tulip's gaudier dies, 
 Where deep'ning blue with yellow vies, 
 
 And gorgeous beauty glows ; 
 But happier he, whose bridal wreath, 
 By love entwined, is found to breathe 
 
 The sweetness of the rose. 
 
 The voice of Dunwoodie never lost its authority with his in 
 teriors, and the applause which followed his song, though by no 
 means so riotous as that which succeeded the effort of the Cap 
 tain, was much more flattering. 
 
 " If, sir," said the doctor, after joiuing in the plaudits of his com-
 
 THE SPY. 155 
 
 panions, "yoti would but learn to unite classical allusions with your 
 delicate imagination, you would become a pretty amateur poet." 
 
 " He who criticises ought to be able to perform," said Dun- 
 woodie, with a smile ; " I call on Dr. Sitgreaves for a specimen 
 of the style he admires." 
 
 " Dr. Sitgreaves' song ; Dr. Sitgreaves' song," echoed all at 
 the table with delight : " a classical ode from Dr. Sitgreaves." 
 
 The surgeon made a complacent bow of acquiescence, took the 
 remnant of his glass, and gave a few preliminary hems, that 
 served hugely to delight three or four young cornets at the foot 
 of the table. He then commenced singing, in a cracked voice, 
 aud to anything but a tune, the following ditty 
 
 Hast thou ever felt Love's dart, dearest, 
 
 Or breathed his trembling sigh 
 Thought him, afar, was ever nearest, 
 
 Before that sparkling eye ? 
 Thenhast thou known what 'tis to feel 
 The pain that Galen could not heal. 
 
 " Hurrah !" shouted Lawton, in a burst of applause, " Archi 
 bald eclipses the muses themselves ; his words flow like the sylvan 
 stream by moonlight, and his melody is a cross breed of the 
 nightingale and the owl." 
 
 "Captain Lawton," cried the exasperated operator, "it is one 
 thing to despise the lights of classical learning, and another to be 
 despised for your own ignorance." A loud summons at the door 
 of the building created a dead halt in the uproar, and the dragoons 
 instinctively caught up their arms, to be prepared for any intru 
 ders. The door was opened, and the skinners entered, dragging 
 in the pedler, bending under the load of his pack. 
 
 "Which is Captain Lawton?" said the leader of the gang, 
 gazing around him in some little astonishment. 
 
 " He waits your pleasure," said the trooper, dryly, and with 
 infinite composure. 
 
 " Then here I deliver to your hands a condemned traitor ; this 
 is Harvey Birch, the pedler spy." 
 
 Lawton started as he looked his old acquaintance in the face, 
 aud, turning to the skinner with a lowering look, continued 
 " And who are you, sir, that speak so freely of your neighbours ?'' 
 bowing to Dunwoodie, " but your pardon, sir ; here is the com 
 manding officer ; to him you will please address yourself." 
 
 " No," said the man sullenly, " it is to you I deliver the ped 
 ler, and from you I claim my reward." 
 
 " Are you Harvey Birch ?" said Dunwoodie, advancing with an 
 air of authority, that instantly drove the skinner to a corner of the 
 room. " I am," said Birch, proudly. 
 
 "And a traitor to your country," continued the Major, with 
 sternness ; " do you know that I should be justified in ordering 
 your execution this night ?"
 
 156 THE SPY. 
 
 " 'Tis not the will of God to send a soul so hastily to his pre 
 sence," said the pedler, with solemnity. 
 
 " You speak truth," said Duuwoodie ; " and a few brief hours 
 shall be added to your life ; but as your offence is most odious 
 to a soldier, so it will be sure to meet with the soldier's vengeance : 
 you die to-morrow." 
 
 " 'Tis as God wills," returned Harvey, without moving a muscle. 
 
 " I have spent many a good hour to entrap the villain," said 
 the skinner, advancing a little from the corner, " and I hope you 
 will give me a certificate that will entitle us to the reward ; 'twas 
 promised to be paid in gold." 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie," said the officer of the day, entering the 
 room, " the patroles report a house to be burnt, near yesterday's 
 battle ground." 
 
 " 'Twas the hut of the pedler," muttered the leader of the 
 gang ; " we have not left him a shingle for shelter ; I should have 
 burnt it months ago, but I wanted his shed for a trap to catch 
 the sly fox in." 
 
 " You seem a most ingenious patriot," said Lawton, with ex 
 treme gravity ; " Major Dunwoodie, I second the request of this 
 worthy gentleman, and crave the office of bestowing the reward 
 on him and his fellows." 
 
 "Take it," cried the Major; "and you, miserable man, pre 
 pare for that fate which will surely await you before the setting 
 of to-morrow's sun." 
 
 " Life offers but little to tempt me with," said Harvey slowly 
 raising his eyes, and gazing wildly at the strange faces in the 
 apartment. 
 
 " Come worthy children of America," said Lawton, " follow, 
 and receive your reward." The gang eagerly accepted this invi 
 tation, and followed the Captain towards the quarters assigned 
 to his troop. Dunwoodie paused a moment, from reluctance to 
 triumph over a fallen foe, and proceeded with great solemnity 
 " You have already been tried, Harvey Birch, and the truth has 
 proved you to be an enemy too dangerous to the liberties of 
 America to be suffered to live." 
 
 " The truth !" echoed the pedler, starting, and raising himself 
 proudly, in a manner that regarded the weight of his pack as 
 nothing. 
 
 "Ah, the truth ; you were charged with loitering near tlie con 
 tinental army, to gain intelligence of its movements, and by com 
 municating them to the enemy, to enable him to frustrate the 
 intentions of Washington." 
 
 " Will Washington say so, think you ?" said Birch, with a 
 ghastly smile. 
 
 " Doubtless he would ; even the justice of Washington con 
 demns you."
 
 THE SPY. 157 
 
 " No, no, no," cried the pedler, in a voice, and with a manner 
 that startled Dunwoodie : " Washington can see beyond the hol 
 low views of pretended patriots. Has he not risked his all on 
 the cast of the die ? if a gallows is ready for me, was there not 
 one for him also ? no, no, no, no Washington would never say, 
 ( lead him to a gallows.' " 
 
 " Have you anything, wretched man, to urge to the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief, why you should not die ?" said the Major, re 
 covering from the surprise created by the manner of the other. 
 
 Birch trembled with the violence of the emotions that were 
 contending in his bosom ; his face assumed the ghastly paleness 
 of death, and his hand drew a box of tin from the folds of his 
 shirt ; he opened it, and its contents was a small piece of paper ; 
 his eye was for an instant fixed on it he had already held it 
 towards Dunwoodie, when suddenly withdrawing his hand, he 
 exclaimed " No it dies with me ; I know the conditions of my 
 service, and will not purchase life with their forfeiture it dies 
 with me." 
 
 " Deliver that paper, and you may possibly, yet, find favour," 
 said Dunwoodie, eagerly expecting a discovery of importance to 
 the cause. 
 
 "It dies with me," repeated Birch, a flush passing over his 
 pallid features, and lighting them with extraordinary brilliancy. 
 
 " Seize the traitor," cried the Major, " and wrest the secret 
 from his hands." 
 
 The order was immediately obeyed ; but the movements of the 
 pedler were too quick ; in an instant he swallowed it. The officers 
 paused in astonishment, at the readiness and energy of the spy ; 
 but the surgeon cried eagerly " Hold him, while I administer an 
 emetic." 
 
 " Forbear." said Dunwoodie, beckoning him back with his 
 hand ; " if his crime is great, so will his punishment be heavy." 
 
 "Lead on," cried the pedler, dropping his pack from his 
 shoulders, and advancing towards the door with a manner of in 
 comprehensible dignity. 
 
 "Whither?" asked Dunwoodie, in amazement. 
 
 " To the gallows." 
 
 " No," said the Major, recoiling in horror at his own justice. 
 " My duty requires that I order you to be executed, but surely 
 not so hastily ; take until nine to-morrow to prepare for the awful 
 change you are to undergo." 
 
 Dunwoodie whispered his orders in the ear of a subaltern, and 
 motioned to the pedler to withdraw. The interruption caused by 
 this scene prevented further enjoyment around the table, and the 
 officers dispersed to their several places of rest. In a short time 
 the only noise to be heard was the heavy tread of the sentinel, as 
 he paced over the frozen ground, in front of the Hotel Flanagan.
 
 158 THE SPY. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 " There are, whose changing lineaments 
 
 Express each guileless passion of the breast; 
 Where Love, and Hope, and tender-hearted Pity 
 Are seen reflected, as from a mirror's face 
 But cold experience can veil these hues 
 With looks, invented, shrewdly to encompass 
 The cunning purposes of base deceit." Duo. 
 
 THE officer to whose keeping Dunvvoodie had committed the 
 pedler, transferred his charge to the custody of the regular ser 
 geant of the guard. The gift of Captain Wharton had not been 
 lost on the youthful lieutenant, and a certain dancing motion, 
 that had unaccountably taken possession of objects before bis 
 eyes, gave him warning of the necessity of recruiting nature by 
 sleep. After admonishing the non-commissioned guardian of 
 Harvey to omit no watchfulness in securing the prisoner, the 
 youth wrapped himself in his cloak, and, stretched on a bench 
 before a fire, sought and soon found the repose he needed. A 
 rude shed extended the whole length of the rear of the building, 
 and from off one of its ends had been partitioned a small apart 
 ment, that was intended as a repository for many of the lesser 
 implements of husbandry. The lawless times had, however, oc 
 casioned its being stript of everything of any value, and the search 
 ing eyes of Betty Flanagan selected this spot, on her arrival, as 
 the storehouse for her moveables, and a withdrawing-room for 
 her person. The spare arms and baggage of the corps had also 
 been deposited here ; and the united treasures were placed under 
 the eye of the sentinel who paraded the shed as a guardian to the 
 rear of the head-quarters. A second warrior, who was stationed 
 near the house to protect the horses of the officers, could com 
 mand a view of the outside of the apartment, and, as it was with 
 out window, or outlet of any kind, excepting its door, the con 
 siderate sergeant thought this the most befitting place in which 
 to deposit his prisoner, until the moment of his execution. There 
 were several inducements that urged Sergeant Hollister to this 
 determination, among which was the absence of the washerwoman, 
 who lay before the kitchen fire, dreaming that the corps were at 
 tacking a party of the enemy, and mistaking the noise that pro 
 ceeded from her own nose, for the bugles of the Virginians sound 
 ing the charge. Another was, the peculiar opinions that the vete 
 ran entertained of life and death, and by which he was distinguished 
 in the corps, as a man of most exemplary piety and holiness of 
 life. The sergeant was more than fifty years of nge, and for half 
 that period had borne arms as a profession. The constant re 
 currence of sudden deaths before his eyes had produced an effect 
 on him differing greatly from that which was the usual moral 
 consequence of such scenes, and he had become not only the most 
 steady, but the most trustworthy soldier in his troop. Captain 
 Lnwtoii rewarded his fidelity by making him its orderly.
 
 THE SPY. 15,0 
 
 Followed by Birch, the sergeant proceeded in silence to the 
 door of the intended prison, and throwing it open with one hand, 
 held a lantern with the other to light the pedler as he entered. 
 Seating himself on a cask that contained some of Betty's favourite 
 beverage, the sergeant motioned to Birch to occupy another in 
 the same manner. The lantern was placed on the floor when the 
 dragoon, after looking his prisoner steadily in the face, observed 
 " You look as if you would meet death like a man, and I have 
 brought you to a spot where you can fix things to suit yourself, 
 and be quiet and undisturbed." 
 
 " 'Tis a fearful place to prepare for thelast change in," said Har 
 vey, shuddering, and gazing round his little prison with a vacant eye. 
 
 " Why, for the matter of that," returned the veteran, "it can 
 reckon but little in the great account where a man parades his 
 thoughts for the last review, so that he finds them fit to pass the 
 muster of another world. I have a small book here, which I make 
 it a point to read a little in, whenever we are about to engage, 
 and I find it a great strength'ner in time of need." While speak 
 ing, he took a bible from his pocket, and offered it to the accept 
 ance of the pedler. Birch received the volume with habitual 
 reverence, but there was an abstracted air about him, and a wan 
 dering of the eye, that induced his companion to think that alarm 
 was getting the mastery over the pedler's feelings ; accordingly 
 he proceeded in what he conceived to be the offices of consolation. 
 
 " If there's anything that lies heavy on your mind, now is the 
 best time to get rid of it if you have done wrong to any one, I 
 promise you, on the word of an honest dragoon, to lend you a 
 helping hand to see them righted." 
 
 " There are few who have not done so," said the pedler, turning 
 his vacant gaze once more on his companion. 
 
 " True 'tis natural to sin but it sometimes happens, that a 
 man does what at other times he may be sorry for. One would 
 not wish to die with any very heavy sin on his conscience, after all." 
 
 Harvey had by this time thoroughly examined the place in 
 which he was to pass the night, and saw no means of escape. But 
 hope is ever the last feeling to desert the human breast, and the 
 pedler gave the dragoon more of his attention, fixing on his sun 
 burnt features such searching looks, that Sergeant Hollister low 
 ered his eyes before the wild expression which he met in the gaze 
 of his prisoner. 
 
 " I have been taught to lay the burden of my sins at the feet of 
 my Saviour," replied the pedler. 
 
 " Why, yes all that is well enough," returned the other; " but 
 justice should be done while there is opportunity. There have 
 been stirring times in this country, since the war began, and many 
 have been deprived of their rightful goods. I oftentimes find it 
 hard to reconcile my lawful plunder to a tender conscience." 
 
 v
 
 1GO . THE SPY. 
 
 " These hands," said the pedler, stretching forth his meagre, 
 bony fingers, and speaking with unusual pride, " have spent years 
 in toil, but not a moment in pilfering." 
 
 " It is well that it is so," said the honest-hearted soldier; " and 
 no doubt you now feel it a great consolation. There are three 
 great sins, that if a man can keep his conscience clear of, why, by 
 the mercy of God, he may hope to pass muster with the saints in 
 heaven : they are stealing, murdering, and desertion." 
 
 "Thank God !" said Birch with fervour, "I have never yet 
 taken the life of a fellow creature." 
 
 " As to killing a man in lawful battle, why that is no more than 
 doing one's duty," interrupted the sergeant, who was a close imita 
 tor of Captain Lawton in the field. " If the cause is wrong, the sin 
 of such a deed, you know,falls on the nation, and a man receives his 
 punishment here with the rest of the people but murdering in 
 cold blood stands next to desertion, as a crime, in the eye of God." 
 
 " I never was a soldier, therefore never could desert," said the 
 pedler, resting his face on his hand in a melancholy attitude. 
 
 " Why, desertion consists of more than quitting your colours, 
 though that is certainly the worst kind," continued the dragoon, 
 speaking slowly, and with some emphasis ; " a man may desert 
 his country in the hour of her utmost need." 
 
 Birch buried his face in both his hands, and his whole frame 
 shook with violent agitation ; the sergeant regarded him closely, 
 but good feelings soon got the better of his antipathies, and he 
 continued more mildly " But still that is a sin which I think may 
 be forgiven, if sincerely repented of ; and it matters but little 
 when or how a man dies, so that he dies like a Christian and a 
 man. I recommend you to say your prayers, and then get some 
 rest, in order that you may do both. There is no hope of your 
 being pardoned, for Colonel Singleton has sent down the most 
 positive orders to take your life whenever we met you. No no 
 nothing can save you." 
 
 "You say the truth," cried Birch. "It is now too late I 
 have destroyed my only safeguard. But Hs. will do my memory 
 justice at least." 
 
 " Whatsafeguard?" asked the sergeant, with awakened curiosity. 
 
 " 'Tisnothing," replied thepedler, recoveringhis natural manner, 
 and lowering his face to avoid the earnest looks of his companion. 
 
 " And who is he ?" 
 
 " No one," added Harvey, evidently anxious to say no more. 
 
 " Nothing and no one, can avail but little now," said the ser 
 geant, rising to go ; " lay yourself on the blanket of Mrs. Flana 
 gan, and get a little sleep ; I will call you betimes in the morning, 
 and, from the bottom of my soul I wish I could be of some service 
 to you, for I dislike greatly to see a man hung up like a dog." 
 
 " Then you might save me from this ignominious death/' said
 
 THK SPY. 161 
 
 Birch, springing on his feet, and catching the dragoon by the 
 arm "And oh! what will I not give you in reward !" 
 
 " In what manner?" asked the sergeant, lookingat him in surprise. 
 
 " See," said the pedler, producing several guineas from his per 
 son ; " these are but as nothing to what I will give you, if you 
 will assist me to escape." 
 
 " Was you the man whose picture is on the gold, I would not 
 listen to such a crime," said the trooper, throwing the money on 
 the floor with cool contempt. " Go go poor wretch, make your 
 peace with God ; for it is he only that can be of service to you now." 
 
 The sergeant took up the lantern, and, with some indignation 
 in his manner, left the pedler to his sorrowful meditations on his 
 approaching fate. Birch sunk in momentary despair on the pallet 
 of Betty, while his guardian proceeded to give the necessary in 
 structions to the sentinels for his safe keeping. 
 
 Ilollister concluded his injunctions to the man in the shed, by 
 saying, " your life will depend on his not escaping." 
 
 " But," said the trooper, " my orders are, to let the washer 
 woman pass irt and out, as she pleases." 
 
 " Well, let her then, but be careful that this wily pedler does 
 not get out in the folds of her petticoats." He then continued his 
 walk, giving similar orders to each of the sentinels near the spot. 
 
 For some time after the departure of the sergeant, silence pre 
 vailed within the solitary prison of the pedler, until the dragoon 
 at his door heard his loud breathings, which soon rose into the 
 regular cadence of one in a deep sleep. The man continued walk 
 ing his post, musing on the indifference to life which could allow 
 nature its customary rest even on the threshold of the grave. 
 Harvey Birch had, however, been a name too long held in detes 
 tation by every man in the corps, to suffer any feelings of com 
 miseration to mingle with these reflections of the sentinel ; for, 
 notwithstanding the consideration and kindness manifested by the 
 sergeant, there probably was not another man of his rank in the 
 whole party, who would have discovered equal benevolence to the 
 prisoner, who would not have imitated the veteran in rejecting the 
 bribe, although probably from a less worthy motive. There was 
 something of disappointed vengeance in the feelings of the man 
 who watched the door of the room, on finding his prisoner enjoy 
 ing a sleep of which he himself was deprived, and at his exhibiting 
 such obvious indifference to the utmost penalty that military 7 rigour 
 could inflict, on all his treason to the cause of liberty and America. 
 More than once he felt prompted to disturb this unwonted repose 
 of the pedler by taunts and revilings, but the discipline he was 
 under, and a secret sense of shame at the brutality of the act, held 
 him in subjection. 
 
 His meditations were, however, soon interrupted by the ap 
 pearance of the washerwoman, who came staggering through the 
 
 p 2
 
 162 THE SPY. 
 
 door that communicated with the kitchen, muttering execrations 
 against the servants of the officers, who, by their waggery, had 
 disturbed her slumbers before the fire. The sentinel understood 
 enough of her maledictions to comprehend the case, but all .his 
 efforts to enter into conversation with the enraged woman were 
 useless, and he suffered her to enter her room without explaining 
 that it contained another inmate. The noise of her huge frame 
 falling on the bed, was succeeded by a silence that was soon inter 
 rupted by the renewed respiration of the pedler, and within a few 
 minutes Harvey continued to breathe aloud, as if no interruption 
 had occurred. The relief arrived at this moment. The sentinel, 
 who felt excessively nettled at the contempt of the pedler, after 
 communicating his orders, while he was retiring, exclaimed to 
 his successor " You may keep yourself warm by dancing, John ; 
 the pedler spy has tuned his fiddle, you hear, and it will not be 
 long before Betty will strike up in her turn." 
 
 The joke was followed by a general law'h from the party, who 
 marched on in the performance of their duty. At this instant the 
 door of the prison was opened, and Betty re-appeared, staggering 
 back again towards her former quarters. 
 
 " Stop," said the sentinel, catching her by her clothes ; " are 
 you sure the spy is not in your pocket ?" 
 
 " Can't you hear the rascal snoring in my room, you dirty black 
 guard ?' ' sputtered Betty, her whole frame shaking with the violence 
 of her rage ; " and is it so yee would sarve a dacent female, that 
 a man must be put to sleep in the room wid her, yee rapscallion." 
 
 " Pooh ! what do you mind a man who's to be hung in the 
 morning for ! you see he sleeps already ; to-morrow he'll take a 
 longer nap." 
 
 " Hands off, you villain," cried the washerwoman, relinquishing 
 a small bottle that the fellow had succeeded in wresting from her. 
 " But I'll go to Captain Jack, and know if it's his orders to put 
 a hang-gallows spy in my room, ay, even in my widow'd bed, 
 you tief." " Silence, you old Jezebel," said the fellow with a laugh, 
 taking the bottle from his mouth to breathe, " or you will wake 
 the gentleman would you disturb a man in his last sleep ?" 
 
 " I'll awake Captain Jack, you riprobate villain, and bring him 
 here to see me righted ; he will punish yee all, for imposing on 
 a dacent widow body, you marauder." With these words, which 
 only extorted a laugh from the sentinel, Betty staggered round 
 the end of the building, and made the best of her way towards 
 the quarters of her favourite, Captain John Lawton, for redress. 
 N either the officer nor the woman, however, appeared during the 
 night, both being differently employed, and nothing further oc 
 curred to disturb the repose of the pedler, who, to the astonish 
 ment of the sentinel, continued apparently, by his breathing, to 
 manifest, how little the gallows could affect his slumbers.
 
 THE SPY. 163 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 " A Daniel come to judgment ! yea a Daniel ! 
 O wise young judge, how do I honour thce !" Merchant of Venire. 
 
 THE skinners followed Captain Lawton with alacrity towards the 
 quarters occupied by the troop of that gentleman. The captain 
 of dragoons had on all occasions manifested so much zeal for the 
 cause in which he was engaged, was so regardless df personal 
 danger when opposed to the enemy, and his stature and stern 
 countenance contributed so much to render him terrific at such 
 moments, that they had, in some measure, procured him a repu 
 tation distinct from the corps in which he served. His intrepidity 
 was mistaken for ferocity, and his hasty zeal for the natural love 
 of cruelty. On the other hand, a few acts of clemency, or more 
 properly speaking, of discriminating justice, had, with one por 
 tion of the community, acquired for Dunwoodie the character of 
 undue forbearance. It is seldom that either popular condemna 
 tion or applause falls where it is merited. 
 
 While in the presence of the Major, the leader of the gang 
 had felt himself under that restraint which vice must ever expe 
 rience in the company of acknowledged virtue ; but having left 
 the house, he at once conceived that he was under the protection 
 of a congenial spirit. There was a gravity in the manner of 
 Lawton, that deceived most of those who did not know him in 
 timately, and it was a common saying in his troop, that " when 
 the Captain laughed he was sure to punish." Drawing near his 
 conductor, therefore, the leader commenced with inward satisfac 
 tion, the following dialogue "'Tis always well for a man to 
 know his friends from his enemies." 
 
 To this prefatory observation, the captain made no other re 
 ply than an assenting sound, that could not be called a word. 
 
 " I suppose that Major Dunwoodie has the good opinion of 
 Washington ?" continued the skinner, in a low, confidential tone, 
 that rather expressed a doubt, than asked a question. 
 
 " There are some who think so," returned the Captain ambigu 
 ously. " Many of the friends of Congress in this county," the 
 man proceeded, " wish the horse was led by some other officer ; for 
 my part, if I could only be covered by a troop now and then, I could 
 do many an important piece of service to the cause, that this 
 capture of the pedler would be nothing to." 
 
 " Indeed !" said the captain, drawing familiarly nigh him, and 
 lowering his voice; " such as what?" 
 
 " For the matter of that, it could be made as profitable to the 
 officer, as it would be to us who did it/' said the skinner, with a 
 look of the most significant meaning. 
 
 " But how ?" asked Lawton, a little impatiently, and quicken 
 ing his step to get out of the hearing of the rest of the party. 
 
 p 3
 
 164 THE SPY. 
 
 " Why, near hand to the royal lines, even under the very guns 
 of the heights, might be good picking, if we had a force to guard 
 us from De Lancey's men, and to cover our retreat from being 
 cut off by the way of King's Bridge." 
 
 " I thought the refugees took all that game to themselves," 
 said the Captain. 
 
 " They do a little at it, but are obliged to be sparing among 
 their own people," returned the fellow, in perfect confidence. 
 " I have been down twice under an agreement with them ; the 
 first time they acted with honour, but the second they came upon 
 us and drove us off, and took the plunder to themselves " 
 
 " That was a very dishonourable act, indeed," said Lawton ; 
 " I wonder that you associate with such rascals." 
 
 " It is necessary to have an understanding with some of them, 
 or we might be taken," returned the skinner; " but a man with 
 out honour is worse than a brute. Do you think Major Uun- 
 woodie is a man to be trusted ?'' 
 
 "You mean on honourable principles?" said Lawton. 
 
 " Certainly ; you know Arnold was thought well of, until the 
 royal Major was taken." 
 
 " Why, I do not believe Dunwoodie would sell his command 
 as Arnold wished to," said the Captain; " neither do I think him 
 exactly trust- worthy in a delicate business like yours." 
 
 " That's just my notion," rejoined the skinner, with a self-ap 
 proving manner, that showed how much he was satisfied with his 
 own estimate of character. 
 
 By this time they had arrived at a better sort of farm-house, 
 the very extensive out-buildings of which were in tolerable re 
 pair for the times. The barns were occupied by the men of the 
 troop in their clothes, while their horses were arranged under the 
 long sheds which protected the yard from the cold north wind, 
 and were quietly eating, with their saddles on their backs, and 
 bridles thrown on their necks, ready to be bitted at the shortest 
 warning. Lawton excused himself for a moment to the skinner, 
 and entered his quarters. He soon returned, holding in his hand 
 one of the common lanterns used by the men when working on 
 their steeds, and led the way towards the large orchard that sur 
 rounded the buildings on three sides. The gang followed the 
 leader in silence, who suspected the object to be the facility of 
 communicating further on this interesting topic, without the 
 <!iinger of being overheard. Approaching the captain, he re 
 newed the discourse, with a view of establishing further confi 
 dence, and giving his companion a more favourable opinion of his 
 intellects. 
 
 " Do you think the colonies will finally get the better of the 
 king?" he inquired, with a little of the importance of a politician. 
 
 ' Get the better !" echoed the captain, \vith impetuosity then
 
 THE SPY. 165 
 
 checking himself, he continued, " no doubt they will. If the 
 French will give us arms and money, we can drive the royal troops 
 out in six months." 
 
 " Well, so I hope we will soon," said the skinner, hastily, con 
 scious of having meditated joining the refugees for some time ; 
 " and then we shall have a free government, and we, who fight 
 for it, will get our reward." 
 
 " Oh !" cried Lawton, " your claims will be indisputable, while 
 all these vile tories, who live at home peaceably to take care of 
 their farms, will be held in the contempt they merit. You have 
 no farm, I suppose ?" 
 
 " Not yet but it will go hard if I do not find one before the 
 peace is made." 
 
 " Right ; study your own interests and you study the interests 
 of your country ; press the point of your own services, and rail 
 at the tories, and I'll bet my spurs against a rusty nail, that you 
 get to be a county clerk at least." 
 
 " Don't you think Paulding's party were fools in not letting the 
 Royal Adjutant- General escape ?" said the man, thrown on his 
 guard, by the freedom of the Captain's manner. 
 
 " Fools !" cried Lawton, with a bitter laugh ; " ay, fools krdeed ; 
 King George would have paid them better, for he is richer. He 
 would have made them gentlemen for their lives. But, thank 
 God, there is a pervading spirit in the people that seems miracu 
 lous. Men who have nothing, act as if the wealth of the Indies 
 depended on their fidelity ; all are not villains like yourself, or 
 we should have been slaves to England years ago." 
 
 " How !" exclaimed the skinner, starting back, and dropping 
 his musket to the level of the other's breast ; " am I betrayed, 
 then and are you my enemy ?" 
 
 "Miscreant!" shouted Lawton, his sabre ringing in its steel 
 scabbard, as he struck the musket of the fellow from his hands, 
 " offer but again to point your gun at me, and I'll cleave you to 
 the middle." 
 
 " And you will not pay us, then, Captain Lawton?" said the 
 skinner, trembling, and noticing a party of mounted dragoons 
 silently encircling the whole party. 
 
 " Oh ! pay you yes, you shall have the full measure of your 
 reward. There is the money that Colonel Singleton sent down 
 for the captors of the spy," throwing a bag of guineas with 
 disdain at the other's feet. " But ground your arms, you ra'scals, 
 and see that the money is truly told." 
 
 The intimidated band did as they were ordered-, and while they 
 were eagerly employed in this pleasing avocation, a few of Law- 
 ton's racn privately knocked the flints from their muskets. 
 
 " Well," Pried the captain, " is it right have you the promised 
 reward?"
 
 166 THE Sl'Y. 
 
 " There is just the money," said the leader, " and we will now 
 go to our homes with your permission." 
 
 " Hold !" returned Lawton, with his usual gravity ; " so much 
 to redeem our promise now far justice ; we pay you for taking 
 a spy, but but we punish you for burning, robbing, and mur 
 dering. Seize them, my lads, and give them each the law of 
 Moses forty, save one." This command was given to no un 
 willing listeners, and in the twinkling of an eye the skinners 
 were stripped and fastened, by the halters of the party, to 
 as many of the apple-trees as were necessary to furnish one to 
 each of the gang ; swords were quickly drawn, and fifty branches 
 cut from the trees like magic : from these were selected a few 
 of the most supple of the twigs, and a willing dragoon was 
 soon found to wield each of these new weapons. Captain 
 Lawton gave the word, humanely cautioning his men not to ex 
 ceed the discipline prescribed by the Mosaic law, and directly the 
 uproar of Babel commenced in the orchard. The cries of the 
 leader were easily to be distinguished above those of his men, 
 and the circumstance might be accounted for, by Captain Law- 
 ton's reminding his corrector that he had to deal with an officer, 
 and he should remember and pay him unusual honour. The 
 flagellation was executed with great neatness and despatch,^ and 
 was distinguished by no irregularity, excepting that none of the 
 disciplinarians began to count, until they had tried their whips by 
 a dozen or more blows, by the way, as they said themselves, of 
 finding out the proper places to strike. As soon as this summary 
 operation was satisfactorily completed, Lawton directed his men 
 to leave the skinners to replace their own clothes, and to mount 
 their horses, for they were a party who had been detailed for the 
 purpose of patrolling lower down in the country. 
 
 " You see, my friend," said the captain to the leader of the 
 skinners, after he had prepared himself to depart, " I can cover 
 you to some purpose when necessary. If we meet often, you 
 will be covered with scars, which, if not very honourable, will, at 
 least, be merited." The fellow made no reply, but was busy 
 with his musket, and hastening his comrades to march ; when, 
 everything being ready, they proceeded sullenly towards some 
 rocks, at no great distance, which were overhung by a deep wood. 
 The moon was just rising, and the group of dragoons could easily 
 be distinguished where they had been left. Suddenly turning, 
 the whole gang levelled their pieces and drew the triggers. The 
 action was noticed, and the snapping of the locks was heard by 
 the soldiers, who returned their futile attempt with a laugh of 
 derision, the Captain crying aloud " Ah! rascals, I know you, 
 and have taken away your flints." 
 
 " You should have taken away the one in my pocket too," 
 shouted the leader, firing his gun at the next instant. The bul-
 
 THE SPY. 167 
 
 let grazed the ear of Lawton, who laughed as he shook his head, 
 and said, " a miss was as good as a mile." One of the dragoons 
 had noticed the preparations of the skinner who had been left 
 alone by the rest of his gang, as soon as they had made their 
 abortive attempt at revenge and was in the act of plunging his 
 spurs in his horse as the fellow fired. The distance to the rocks 
 was but small, yet the speed of the horse compelled the leader 
 to abandon both money and musket to effect his escape. The 
 soldier returned with his prizes, and offered them to the accept 
 ance of his captain, but Lawton coolly rejected them, telling the 
 man to retain them himself, until the skinner appeared in person 
 to claim his property. It would have been a business of no 
 small difficulty for any tribunal then existing in the new states, 
 to have enforced a decree of restitution of the money, for it was 
 shortly after most equitably distributed by the hands of Sergeant 
 Hollister, among a troop of horse. The patrol departed, and the 
 Captain slowly returned to his quarters, with an intention of re 
 tiring to rest. A figure moving rapidly among the trees in the 
 direction of the wood, whither the skinners had retired, caught 
 his eye, and, wheeling on his heel, the cautious partisan ap 
 proached it, and to his astonishment saw the washerwoman at 
 that hour of night, and in such a place. 
 
 "What, Betty ! walking in your sleep, or dreaming while awake," 
 cried the astonished trooper ; " are you not afraid of meeting 
 with the ghost of ancient Jenny in this her favourite pasture ?" 
 
 "Ah, sure, Captain Jack," returned the sutler in her native 
 accent, and reeling in a manner that made it difficult for her to 
 raise her head, " it's not Jenny, or her ghost, that I'm saaking, 
 but some yarbs for the wounded. And its the vartue of the rising 
 moon, as it jist touches them, that I want. They grow under 
 yon rocks, and I must hasten, or the charm will lose its power." 
 
 " Fool, you are fitter for your pallet than wandering among 
 those rocks ; a fall from one of them would break your bones ; 
 besides, the skinners have fled to those heights, and should they 
 see you, would revenge on you a flogging they have but just now 
 received from me. Better return, old woman, and finish your 
 nap ; we march in the morning, I hear." 
 
 Betty disregarded his advice, and continued her devious route 
 to the hill side. For an instant, as Lawton mentioned the skin 
 ners, she paused, but immediately resumed her course, and was 
 soon out of sight among the trees. As the Captain entered his 
 quarters, the sentinel at the door inquired if be had met Mrs. 
 Flanagan, and added that she had passed there, filling the air 
 with threats against her tormentors at the " Hotel," and inquiring 
 for the Captain in search of redress. Lawton heard the man in 
 astonishment appeared struck with a new idea walked several 
 yards towards the orchard, and returned again ; for several
 
 1G8 THE SPY. 
 
 minutes he paced rapidly to and fro before the door of the house, 
 and then hastily entering it, threw himself on a bed^in his clothes, 
 and was soon in a profound sleep. In the mean time, the gang of 
 marauders had successfully gained the summit of the rocks, and, 
 scattering in every direction, buried themselves in the depths of 
 the wood. Finding, however, there was no pursuit, which would 
 have been impracticable for horse, the leader ventured to call his 
 band together with a whistle, and in a short time succeeded in 
 collecting his discomfited party at a point where they had but 
 little to apprehend from this new enemy. 
 
 " Well," said one of the fellows, while a fire was lighting to 
 protect them against the air, which was becoming severely cold, 
 '' there is an end to our business in West Chester. The Virginia 
 horse will soon make the country too hot to hold us." 
 
 " Fll have his blood," muttered the leader, " if I die for it the 
 next instant." 
 
 " Oh, you are very valiant here in the wood," cried the other, 
 with a savage laugh ; " why did you, who ooast so much of your 
 aim, miss your man just now, at thirty yards 1" 
 
 " 'Twas the horseman that disturbed me, or I would have ended 
 this Captain Lawton on the spot ; besides, the cold had set me a 
 shivering, and I had no longer a steady hand." 
 
 " Say it was fear, and you will tell no lie," said his comrade 
 with a sneer. " For my part, I think I shall never be cold again ; 
 my back burns as if a thousand gridirons were laid on it, and 
 that not very gently." 
 
 " And you would tamely submit to such usage, and kiss the 
 rod that beat you ?" 
 
 " As for kissing the rod, it would be no easy matter, I'm think 
 ing," returned the other. " Yes, mine was broke into such small 
 pieces on my own shoulders, that it would be difficult to find one 
 big enough to kiss ; but I would rather submit to losing half my 
 skin, than to losing the whole of it, with my ears in the bargain. 
 And such will be our fates, if we tempt this mad Virginian again. 
 God willing, I would at any time give him enough of my hide to 
 make a pair of jack-boots, to get out of his hands with the re 
 mainder. If you had known when you were well off, you would 
 have stuck to Major Dunwoodie, who don't know half so much 
 of our evil doings." 
 
 " Silence, you talking fool, "shouted the enraged leader : " your 
 prating nonsense is sufficient to drive a man mad ;. is it not enough 
 to be robbed and beaten, but we must be tormented with your 
 folly ? help to get out the provisions, if any is left in the wallet, 
 and try and stop your mouth with food." 
 
 This injunction was obeyed, and the whole party, amidst sundry 
 groans and contortions, excited by the disordered state of their 
 backs, made their arrangements for a scanty meal. A large fire
 
 THE SPY. 169 
 
 of dry wood was burning in the cleft of a rock, and at length they 
 began to recover in some measure from the confusion of their 
 flight, and to collect their scattered senses. Their hunger being 
 appeased, and many of their garments thrown aside, for the 
 better opportunity of dressing their wounds, the gang began to 
 plot measures for revenge. An hour was spent in this manner, 
 and various expedients were proposed, but as they all depended 
 a good deal on personal prowess for their success, and were 
 attended by great danger, they were of course rejected. There 
 was no possibility of approaching the troops by surprise, their 
 vigilance being ever on the watch ; and the hope of meeting Cap 
 tain Lawton away from his men was equally forlorn, for the 
 trooper was constantly engaged in his duty, and his movements 
 were so rapid, that any opportunity of meeting with him at all 
 must depend greatly on accident. Besides, it was by no means 
 certain, that such an interview would result happily for them 
 selves. The cunning of the trooper was notorious, and rough 
 and broken as was West Chester, the fearless partisan was known 
 to take desperate leaps, and stone walls were but slight impedi 
 ments to the charges of the Southern horse. Gradually, the 
 conversation took another direction, until the gang determined 
 on a plan which should both revenge themselves, and at the same 
 time offer some additional stimulus to their exertions. The 
 whole business was accurately discussed, the time fixed, and the 
 manner adopted ; in short, nothing was wanting to the previous 
 arrangement for this deed of villany, when they were aroused by 
 a voice calling around " This way, Captain Jack here are the 
 rascals ating by a fire this way, and murder the tieves where 
 they sit quick, leave your horses, and shoot your pistols." 
 
 This terrific summons was enough to disturb the philosophy 
 of the gang entirely, and springing on their feet, they rushed 
 deeper into the wood, and having already agreed upon a place of 
 rendezvous previously to their intended expedition, they dispersed 
 towards the four quarters of the heavens. Certain sounds and 
 different voices were heard calling to each other, but as the 
 marauders were well trained to speed of foot, they were soon lost 
 in the distance. It was not long before Betty Flanagan emerged 
 from the darkness, and very coolly took possession of what the 
 skinners had left in their flight these were food and divers arti 
 cles of dress. The washerwoman deliberately seated herself, and 
 made a meal with great apparent satisfaction ; for an hour she 
 sat with her head upon her hand in deep musing ; then gathered 
 together such articles of the clothes as seemed to suit her fancy, 
 and retired into the wood, leaving the fire to throw its glimmer 
 ing light on the adjacent rocks, until its last brand died away, 
 and the place was abandoned to solitude and darkness.
 
 17'2 THE SPY. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 " No longer then perplex thy breast 
 When thoughts torment, the first are best j 
 'Tig mad to go, 'tis death to stay ! 
 Away to Orra, haste away." Lapland Love Sung. 
 
 WHILE his comrades were sleeping, in perfect forgetfulness of 
 tlieir hardships and dangers, the slumbers of Dumvoodie were 
 broken and unquiet. After spending a night of restlessness, he 
 arose unrefreshed from the rude bed where he had thrown him 
 self in his clothes, and without awaking any of the group around 
 him, wandered into the open air in search of relief. The soft 
 rays of the moon were just passing away in the more distinct 
 light of the morning; the wind had fallen, and the rising mists 
 gave the promise of another of those autumnal days, which, in 
 this unstable climate, succeed a tempest with the rapid transitions 
 of magic. The hour had not arrived when he intended moving 
 from his present position ; and willing to allow his warriors 
 all the refreshment that circumstances would permit, he strolled 
 towards the scene of the skinners' punishment, musing upon the 
 embarrassments of his situation, and uncertain how he should 
 reconcile his sense of manly delicacy to his love. Added to this 
 dilemma, was the dangerous situation of Henry Wharton. 
 Although Dunwoodie himself placed the most implicit reliance 
 on the Captain's purity of intention, he was by no means assured 
 that a board of officers would be equally credulous ; and inde 
 pendent of all feelings of private regard, he felt certain that with 
 the execution of Henry would be destroyed all hopes of a union 
 with his sister. He had despatched an officer the preceding 
 evening to Colonel Singleton, who was in command in the ad 
 vance posts, reporting the capture of the British Captain, and, 
 after giving his own opinion of his innocence, requesting orders 
 as to the manner in which he was to dispose of his prisoner. 
 These orders might now be expected every hour, and his uneasi 
 ness increased in proportion as the moment approached when his 
 friend might be removed from his protection. In this disturbed 
 state of mind, the Major wandered through the orchard, and 
 stopped in his walk by arriving at the base of those rocks which 
 had protected the skinners in tlieir flight, before he was conscious 
 whither his steps had carried him. He was about to turn, and 
 retrace his palh to his quarters, when he was startled by a voice, 
 bidding him to " Stand or die." 
 
 Dunwoodie turned in amazement, and beheld the figure of a 
 man placed at a little distance above him on a shelving rock, 
 with a musket in his hands that was levelled at himself. The 
 lierht was not yet sufficiently powerful to reach the recesses of 
 that gloomy spot, and a second look was necessary before he dis-
 
 THE SPY. 173 
 
 covered, to his astonishment, that it was the pedler who stood 
 before him. Comprehending in an instant the danger of his 
 situation, and disdaining to implore mercy or to retreat, had the 
 latter been possible, the youth cried firmly " If I am to be mur 
 dered, fire; for I will never become your prisoner." 
 
 "No, Major Dunwoodie," said Birch, lowering his musket, 
 "it is neither my intention to capture nor to slay." 
 
 "What then would you have, mysterious being?" said Dun- 
 woodie, hardly able to persuade himself that the form he saw 
 was not a creature of the imagination. 
 
 " Your good opinion," answered the pedler, with emotion ; 
 " I would wish all good men to judge me with lenity." 
 
 " To you it must, Je indifferent what may be the judgment of 
 men on your actions," said the Major, gazing around him in 
 continued surprise ; for you seem to be beyond the reach of their 
 sentence." 
 
 " God spares the lives of his servants to his own time," said 
 the pedler, solemnly : " 'tis but a few hours, and I was your 
 prisoner, and threatened with the gallows ; now you are mine ; 
 but, Major Dunwoodie, you are free. There are them abroad 
 who would treat you less kindly. Of what service would that 
 sword be to you against my weapon and a steady hand ? Take 
 the advice of one who has never harmed you, and who never will. 
 Do not trust yourself in the skirts of any wood, unless in com 
 pany and mounted." 
 
 " And have you comrades who have assisted you to escape,'' 
 said Dunwoodie. "and who are less generous than yourself?" 
 
 " No no," cried Harvey, clasping his hands wildly and" 
 speaking with bitter melancholy ; " I am alone truly noue 
 know me but my God and Him." 
 
 " And who ?" asked the Major, with an interest he could not 
 control. 
 
 "None," continued the pedler, recovering his composure. 
 " But such is not your case, Major Dunwoodie ; you are young 
 and happy ; there are them that are dear to you, and such are 
 not far away danger is near them you love most danger within 
 and without ; double your watchfulness strengthen your patrols 
 and be silent. With your opinion of me, should I tell you 
 more, you would suspect an ambush. But remember and guard 
 them you love best." 
 
 The pedler discharged the musket in the air, and threw it at 
 the feet of his astonished auditor ; and when the surprise and 
 smoke suffered Dunwoodie to look again on the rock where he 
 had stood, the spot was vacant. 
 
 The youih was aroused from the stupor which had been created 
 by this strange scene, by the trampling of horses, and the sound 
 
 Q
 
 174 THE SIT. 
 
 of the bugles. A patrol was drawn to the spot by the report of 
 the musket, and the alarm had been given to the corps. Without 
 entering into any explanation with his men, the major returned 
 quickly to his quarters, where he found the whole squadron 
 under arms, in battle array, impatiently awaiting the appearance 
 of their leader. The officer whose duty it was to superintend 
 such matters, had directed a party to lower the sign of the Hotel 
 Flanagan, and the post was already arranged for the execution 
 of the spy. On hearing from the Major that the musket was 
 discharged by himself, and was probably another dropped by 
 the skinners, (for by this time Dunwoodie had learnt the punish 
 ment inflicted by Lawton, but chose to conceal his interview 
 with Birch,) his officers suggested the propriety of executing 
 their prisoner before they marched. Unable to believe that all 
 they had seen was not a dream, Dunwoodie, followed by many 
 of his officers, and preceded by Sergeant Hollister, went to the 
 place which was supposed to contain this mysterious pedler. 
 
 " Well, sir," said the Major, sternly, to the sentinel who 
 guarded the door, " I suppose you have your prisoner in safety." 
 
 " He is yet asleep," replied the man, " and makes such a 
 noise, I could hardly hear the bugles sound the alarm." 
 
 '* Open the door and bring him forth," said Dunwoodie to 
 the sergeant. 
 
 The order was obeyed, so far as circumstances would allow ; 
 but to the amazement of the honest veteran, he found the room 
 in no little disorder the coat of the pedler was where his body 
 ought to have been, and part of the wardrobe of Betty was 
 scattered in disorder on the floor. The washerwoman herself 
 occupied the pallet in a profound mental oblivion, in all her 
 clothes excepting the little black bonnet, which she so constantly 
 wore, that it was commonly thought she made it perform the 
 double duty of both day and night cap. The noise of their 
 entrance, and the exclamations of the party, awoke the woman, 
 and rising, she exclaimed hastily 
 
 " Is it the breakfast that's wanting ? well, faith, yee look as 
 if ye would ate myself but patience a little darlings, and yee'l 
 see sich a fry as never was." 
 
 " Fry !" echoed the sergeant, forgetful of his religious philo 
 sophy, and the presence of his officers ; " we'll have you roasted, 
 you jade you have helped that damn'd pedler to escape." 
 
 " Jade back again in your teeth, and damn'd pedler too, 
 Mister Sergeant," cried Betty, who was easily roused ; " what 
 have I to do with pedlers or escapes? I might have been a 
 pedler's lady, and worn my silks, if I'd had Sawny M 'Twill, 
 instead of tagging at the heels of a parcel of dragooning rap 
 scallions, who don't know howtotrate a lone body with dacency."
 
 THK SPY. 175 
 
 " The fellow has left my bible," said the veteran, taking the 
 book from the floor ; " in place of spending his time in reading 
 it, to prepare for his end, like a good Christian, he has been busy 
 iu labouring to escape." 
 
 " And who would stay and be hung like a dog? " cried Betty, 
 beginning to comprehend the case ; " 'tisn't every one that's 
 born to meet with sich an end like yourself, Mister Hollister." 
 
 " Silence !" said Dunwoodie ; " this must be inquired into 
 closely, gentlemen ; there is no outlet but the door, and there 
 he could not pass, unless the sentinel connived at his escape, or 
 was asleep on his post call up all the guard." 
 
 As these men were not paraded, curiosity had already drawn 
 them to the place, and they all, excepting one, denied that any 
 person had passed out, and he acknowledged that Betty had 
 gone by him, but pleaded his orders in justification. 
 
 " You lie, you tief you lie !" shouted Betty, who had im 
 patiently listened to the exculpation ; " would yee slanderize a 
 lone woman, by saying she walks a camp at midnight? Here 
 have I been slaaping the long night as swaatly as the sucking 
 babe." 
 
 " Here, sir," said the sergeant, turning respectfully to Dun 
 woodie, " is something written in my bible that was not in it 
 before ; for having no family to record, I would never suffer any 
 scribbling in the sacred book." 
 
 One of the officers read aloud " These certify, that if 
 suffered to get free, it is by God's help alone, to whose divine 
 aid I humbly recommend myself. I'm forced to take the 
 woman's clothes, but in her pocket is a ricompinse. Witness 
 my hand Harvey Birch." 
 
 " What !" roared Betty in consternation, " has the tief robbed 
 a lone wotnan of her all ? hang him catch him and hang him, 
 Major, if there's law and justice in the land." 
 
 " Examine your pockets," said one of the youngsters, who 
 was enjoying the scene, careless of the cause or its consequences. 
 
 " Ah ! faith," cried the washerwoman, producing a guinea, 
 " but he is a jewel of a pedler ; long life and brisk trade to him, 
 say I ; he is welcome to the duds and if he is ever hung, many 
 a bigger rogue will go free." 
 
 Dunwoodie turned to leave the apartment, and saw Captain 
 Lawton standing with folded arms, contemplating the scene in 
 profound silence. His manner, so different from his usual im 
 petuosity and zeal, struck his commander as singular ; their eyes 
 met, and they walked together for a few minutes in close con 
 versation, when Dunwoodie returned, and dismissed the guard 
 to their place of rendezvous. Sergeant Hollister, however, con 
 tinued alone with Betty, who, having found none of her vest 
 ments disturbed but such as the guinea more than paid for, \vas
 
 176 THK SPY. 
 
 in liigh good-humour for the interview. The washerwoman had 
 for a long time looked on the veteran with the eyes of affection, 
 and had secretly determined within herself to remove the dan 
 gers from a lone woman, by making the sergeant the successor 
 of her late husband. For some time the trooper had seemed to 
 flutter her preference, and Betty, conceiving that her violence 
 had mortified the feelings of her lover, was determined to make 
 him all the amends in her power. Besides, rough and uncouth 
 as she was, the washerwoman had still enough of her sex to 
 know that the moments of reconciliation were the moments of 
 her power. She therefore poured out a glass of her morning 
 beverage, and handed it to her companion, as she observed 
 
 " A few waarm words between friends are a trifle, yee must 
 be knowing, sargeant. It was Michael Flanagan that I ever 
 calumnated the most when I was loving him the best." 
 
 " Michael was a good soldier and a brave man," said the war 
 rior, finishing the glass ; " our troops were covering the flank of 
 his regiment when he fell, and I rode over his body myself more 
 than once during the day ; poor fellow, he lay on his back, and 
 looked as composed as if he had died a natural death after a 
 year's consumption." 
 
 "Oh! Michael was a great consumer, and be sartain," said 
 the disconsolate widow ; " two like us make dreadful inroads in 
 the stock, sargeant. But yee'r a sober discrate man, Mister 
 Hollister, and would be a helpmate indeed." 
 
 " Why, Mrs. Flanagan," said the veteran, with great solem 
 nity, " I've tarried to speak on the subject that lies heavy at my 
 heart, and will now open my mind, if you've leisure to listen." 
 
 " Is it to listen ?" cried the impatient woman ; " and I'd listen 
 to you, sergeant, if the officers never ate another mouthful but 
 takeanother drop, dear, and it will encourage you to speak freely." 
 
 " I am already bold enough in so good a cause," returned the 
 veteran, rejecting her bounty ; " but Betty, do you think it was 
 really the Pedler-Spy that I placed in this room the last night ?" 
 
 " And who should it be else, darling ?" 
 
 " The evil one." 
 
 " What, the divil ?" 
 
 " Ay, even old Belzebub, disguised as the pedler, and them 
 fellows we thought to be skinners were his imps," said the ser 
 geant, with a most portentous gravity in his countenance. 
 
 " Well sure, sergeant dear," said Betty, " yee'r but little out 
 this time, any way ; for if the divil's imps go at large in the 
 county West Chester, sure it is the skinners themselves." 
 
 "No, but Mrs. Flanagan," interrupted her companion. "I 
 mean in their incarnate spirits; the evil-one knew that there 
 \\as no one we would arrest sooner than the pedler Birch, a 
 took on his appearance to gaiu admission to your room."
 
 THE SPY. 177 
 
 "And what should the devil be wanting of me?" cried Betty, 
 tartly ; " and is'nt there devils enough in the corps already, 
 without one's coming from the bottomless pit to frighten a lone 
 body 1" 
 
 " 'Twas, 'twas in mercy to you, Betty, that he was permitted 
 to come. You see he vanished through the door in your form, 
 which is a symbol of your fate, unless you mend your life. Oh ! 
 I noticed how he trembled when I gave him the good book. 
 Would any Christian, think you, my dear Betty, write in a 
 bible in this way ; unless it might be the matter of births and 
 deaths, and such like chronicles 1" 
 
 The washerwoman was pleased with the softness of her lover's 
 manner, but dreadfully scandalized at his insinuation ; she, how 
 ever, preserved her temper, and with the quickness of her own 
 country's people, rejoined 
 
 " And would the divil have paid for the clothes, think ye ? 
 ay, and overpaid." 
 
 " Doubtless the money is base," said the sergeant, a little 
 staggered at such an evidence of honesty in one he thought so 
 meanly of. " He tempted me with his glittering coin, -but the 
 Lord gave me strength to resist." 
 
 " The goold looks well," said the washerwoman ; " but I'll 
 change it. any way, with Captain Jack, the day ; he is niver a 
 a bit afeard of any divil of them all." 
 
 " Betty, Betty," said her companion, " do not speak so disre- 
 verently of the evil spirit; he is ever at hand, and will owe you 
 a grudge for your language." 
 
 " Pooh ! if he has any bowels at all, he won't mind a fillip or 
 two from a poor lone woman," replied the washerwoman. " I'm 
 sure no other Christian would." 
 
 " But the dark one has no bowels, except to devour the chil 
 dren of men," said the sergeant, looking around him in horror ; 
 " and it's best to make friends everywhere, for there is no telling 
 what may happen till it conies. But, Betty, no man could have 
 got out of this place, and passed all the sentinels without being 
 known take awful warning from the visit, therefore" 
 
 Here the dialogue was interrupted by a summons to the sutler 
 to prepare her morning's repast, and they were obliged to sepa 
 rate ; the woman secretly hoping that the interest the sergeant 
 manifested for her was more earthly than he imagined ; and the 
 man, bent on saving a soul from the fangs of the dark spirit that 
 was prowling through their camp in quest of victims. 
 
 During the breakfast several expresses arrived, one of which 
 brought intelligence of the actual force and destination of the 
 enemy's expedition that was out on the Hudson ; and another, 
 droers to send Captain Wharton to the first post above, under the 
 
 3
 
 178 THE SPY. 
 
 escort of a body of dragoons. These last instructions, or ratlier 
 commands, for they admitted of no departure from their letter, 
 completed the sum of Dunwoodie's uneasiness. The despair and 
 misery of Frances were constantly before his eyes, and fifty 
 times he was tempted to throw himself on his horse and gallop to 
 the Locusts, but an uncontrollable feeling of delicacy prevented 
 him. In obedience to the commands of his superior, an officer, 
 with a small party, was sent to the cottage to conduct Henry 
 Wbarton to the place directed, and the gentleman who was 
 entrusted with the execution of the order was charged with a 
 letter from Dunwoodie to his friend, containing the most cheering 
 assurances of his safety, as well as the strongest pledges of his 
 own unceasing exertions in his favour. Lawton was left with 
 part of his own troop, in charge of the few wounded ; and as 
 soon as the men were refreshed, the encampment broke up, and 
 the main body marched towards the Hudson. Dunwoodie 
 repeated, again and again, his injunctions to Captain Lawton 
 dwelt upon every word that had fallen from the pedler, and can 
 vassed, in every possible manner that his ingenuity could devise, 
 the probable meaning of his mysterious warnings, until no excuse 
 remained for delaying his own departure a moment longer. Sud 
 denly recollecting, however, that no directions had been given 
 for the disposal of Colonel Well mere, instead of following the 
 rear of his column, the major yielded to his passions, and turned 
 down the road which led to the Locusts. The horse of Dun 
 woodie was fleet as the wind, and scarcely a minute seemed to 
 have passed before he gained sight, from an eminence, of the 
 lonely vale, and as he was plunging into the bottom lands that 
 formed its surface, he caught a glimpse of Henry Wharton and 
 his escort, at a distance, defiling through a pass which led to the 
 posts above. This sight added to the speed of the anxious youth, 
 who now turned the angle of the hill that opened to the valley, 
 and came suddenly on the object of his search. Frances had 
 followed at a distance the party which guarded her brother ; and, 
 as they vanished from her sight, she felt as if deserted by all that 
 she most prized in this world. The unaccountable absence of 
 Dunwoodie, with the shock of parting from Henry under such 
 circumstances, had entirely subdued her fortitude, and she hnd 
 sunk on a stone by the road side, and wept as if her heart would 
 break. Dunwoodie sprang from his charger, throwing the reins 
 over the neck of the animal, and in a moment was by the side of 
 the weeping girl. 
 
 " Frances my own Frances," he exclaimed, " why this dis 
 tress? let not the situation of your brother create any alarm. 
 As ?oon as the duty I am now on is completed, I will hasten to 
 the feet of Washington, and beg his release. The Father of his
 
 THE SPY. 179 
 
 Country will never deny such a boon to one of his favourite 
 pupils." 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie, for your interest on behalf of my poor 
 brother, I thank you," said the maid, drying her eyes, and rising 
 with dignity; "but such language, addressed to me, surely is 
 improper." 
 
 "How! improper!" echoed her lover in amazement; "are 
 you not mine by the consent of your father your aunt your 
 brother nay, by your own consent, my sweet Frances?" 
 
 " I wish not, Major Dunwoodie, to interfere with the prior 
 claims that any other lady may have to your affections," said 
 Frances, motioning to return. 
 
 " None other, I swear by Heaven, none other but yourself 
 has any claim on me," cried Dunwoodie, with fervour: "you 
 alone are mistress of my inmost soul." 
 
 " You have practised so much, and so successfully, Major 
 Dunwoodie, that it is no wonder you excel in deceiving the cre 
 dulity of my sex," returned Frances, bitterly, attempting to smile 
 which the tremulousness of her muscles smothered in its birth. 
 
 " Am J a villain, Miss Wharton, that you receive me with 
 such language? when have I ever deceived you, Frances? who 
 has practised in this manner on your purity of heart ?" 
 
 " Why lias not Major Dunwoodie honoured the dwelling of 
 his intended father with his presence lately? Did he forget it 
 contained one friend on a bed of sickness, and another in deep 
 distress? Has it escaped his memory that it held his intended 
 wife ? Or is he fearful of meeting more than one that can lay 
 a claim to that title ? Oh, Peyton Peyton, how have I been 
 deceived in you ! with the foolish credulity of my youth, I 
 thought you all that was brave, noble, generous, and loyal." 
 
 " Frances, I see how it is that you have deceived yourself," 
 cried Dunwoodie, his face in a glow of fire ; " you do me injus 
 tice : I swear, by all that is most dear to me, that you do me in 
 justice." 
 
 " Swear not, Major Dunwoodie," interrupted the maiden, her 
 fine countenance lighting up with all the lustre of womanly pride ; 
 " the time is gone by for me to credit oaths." 
 
 " Miss Wharton, would you have me a coxcomb make me 
 contemptible in my own eyes, by boasting, with the hope of 
 raising myself in your estimation !" 
 
 " Flatter not yourself that the task is so easy, sir," returned 
 Frances, moving towards the cottage ; " we converse together, 
 in private, for the last time ; but my father would gladly wel 
 come my mother's kinsman." 
 
 " No, Miss Wharton, I cannot enter his dwelling now ; I
 
 180 THE SPY. 
 
 should act in a manner unworthy of myself. You drive me from 
 you, Frances, in despair. I am going on desperate service, and 
 may not live to return. Should fortune prove severe to me, at 
 least do my memory justice ; remember that the last breathings 
 of my soul will be for your happiness. So saying, he had already 
 placed his foot in the stirrup, but his mistress turning on him a 
 face that was pallid with emotion, and an eye that pierced his soul 
 with its thrilling expression, arrested the action, and he paused. 
 
 " Pej'ton Major Dunwoodie," she said, " can you ever for 
 get the sacred cause in which you are enlisted ? Your duty both to 
 your God and to your country, forbids your doing anything rashly. 
 The latter has need of your services ; besides " but her voice 
 became choked, and she was unable to proceed. 
 
 " Besides what?" echoed the youth, springing to her side, and 
 offering to take her hand in his own. Frances having, however, 
 recovered herself, coldly repulsed him, and continued her walk 
 homeward. 
 
 " Miss Wharton, is this our parting ?" cried Dunwoodie, in 
 agony; "am I a wretch, that you treat me so cruelly? You 
 have never loved me, and wish to conceal your own fickleness by 
 accusations against me that you will not explain." 
 
 Frances stopped short in her walk, and turned on her lover a 
 look of so much purity and feeling, that, heart-stricken, Dun 
 woodie would have knelt at her feet for pardon ; but, motioning 
 him for silence, she once more spoke 
 
 " Hear me, Major Dunwoodie, for the last time ; it is a bitter 
 knowledge when we first discover our own inferiority ; but it is 
 a truth that I have lately learnt. Against you I bring no charges 
 make no accusations ; no, not willingly in my thoughts. Were 
 my claims to your heart just, I am not worthy of you. It is not 
 a feeble, timid girl, like me, that could make you happy. No, 
 Peyton, you are formed for great and glorious actions, deeds of 
 daring and renown, and should be united to a soul like your own ; 
 one that can rise above the weakness of her sex. I should be a 
 weight to drag you to the dust; but with a different spirit in 
 your companion, you might soar to the very pinnacle of earthly 
 glory. To such an one, therefore, I resign you freely, if not 
 cheerfully ; and pray, oh ! how fervently, that with such an one 
 you may be happy." 
 
 "Lovely enthusiast,'' cried Dunwoodie, "you know not your 
 self nor me. It is a woman, mild, gentle, and dependent as your 
 self, that my very nature loves; deceive not yourself with visionary 
 ideas of generosity, which will only make me miserable." 
 
 " Farewell, Major Dunwoodie," said the agitated girl, pausing 
 for a moment to gasp for breath ; " forget that you ever knew me 
 remember the claims of your bleeding country, and be happy." 

 
 THE SPY. 181 
 
 " Happy !" repeated the youthful soldier bitterly, as he saw 
 her light form gliding through the gate of the lawn, and disap 
 pearing behind its shrubbery ; "oh ! yes, I am now happy, indeed." 
 
 Throwing himself into the saddle, he plunged his spurs into his 
 horse, and soon overtook his squadron, which was marching slowly 
 over the hilly roads of the county, to gain the banks of the Hudson. 
 
 But, painful as were the feelings of Dunwoodie at this unex 
 pected termination of the interview with his mistress, they were 
 but light compared to those which were experienced by the 
 maiden herself. Frances had, with the keen eye of jealous love, 
 easily detected the attachment of Isabella Singleton to Dun 
 woodie. Delicate and retiring herself as the fairest visions of 
 romance had ever pourtrayed her sex, it never could present itself 
 to the mind of Frances that this love had been unsought. Ardent 
 in her own affections, and artless in their exhibition, she had early 
 caught the eye of the youthful soldier ; but it required all the 
 manly frankness of Dunwoodie to court her favour, and the most 
 pointed devotion to obtain his conquest. This once done, his 
 power was durable, entire, and engrossing. But the unusual oc 
 currences of the few preceding days, the altered mien of her lover 
 during those events, his unwonted indifference to herself, and 
 chiefly the romantic idolatry of Isabella, had aroused new sensa 
 tions in her bosom. With a dread of her lover's integrity, had 
 been awakened the never-failing concomitant of the purest affec 
 tion, a distrust of her own merits. In the moment of enthusiasm, 
 the task of resigning her lover to another, who might be more 
 worthy of him, seemed easy ; but it is in vain that the imagina 
 tion attempts to deceive the heart. Dunwoodie had no sooner 
 disappeared, than our heroine felt all the misery of her situation ; 
 and if the youth found some relief in the cares of his command 
 from his anxiety of mind, Frances was less fortunate in the per 
 formance of a duty imposed upon her by filial piety. The re 
 moval of his son had nearly destroyed the little energy of Mr. 
 Wharton, who required all the tenderness of his remaining chil 
 dren to convince him that he was able to perform the ordinary 
 functions of life. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 " Flatter and praise, commend, extol their graces, 
 Though ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces ; 
 That man who hath a tongue, I say is no man, 
 If with that tongue he cannot win a woman." 
 
 Two Gentlemen of Verona. 
 
 IN making the arrangement by which Captain Lawton had been 
 left, with Sergeant Hollister and twelve men, as a guard over the 
 wounded and heavy baggage of the corps, Dunwoodie had con 
 sulted not only the information which had been conveyed in the
 
 182 THE SPY. 
 
 letter of Colonel Singleton, but the supposed bruises of his com 
 rade's body. It was in vain that Lawton hud declared himself 
 lit for any duty that man could perform, or that he had plainly 
 intimated that his men would never follow Tom Mason to a charge 
 with the alacrity and confidence with which they followed him 
 self; his commander was firm, and the reluctant Captain was 
 compelled to comply, with as good a grace as he could assume. 
 Before parting, Dunwoodie repeated his caution to Lawton, to 
 keep a watchful eye on the inmates of the cottage, and especially 
 enjoined him, if any movements of a particularly suspicious na 
 ture were noticed in the neighbourhood, to break up from his 
 present quarters, and to move down with his party, and take 
 possession of the domains of Mr. Wharton. A vague suspicion 
 of danger to the family had been awakened in the breast of the 
 Major, by the language of the pedler, although he was unable 
 to refer it to any particular source, or to understand why it was 
 to be apprehended. 
 
 For some time after the departure of the troops, the Captain 
 was walking to and fro, before the door of the " Hotel," inwardly 
 cursing his fate, that condemned him to an inglorious idleness, at 
 a moment when a meeting with the enemy might be expected, 
 and replying to the occasional queries of Betty, who, from the 
 interior of the building, ever and anon demanded, in a high tone 
 of voice, an explanation of various points in the pedler's escape, 
 which as yet she could not comprehend. At this instant he was 
 joined by the surgeon, who had hitherto been engaged among his 
 patients in a distant building, and was profoundly ignorant of 
 everything that had occurred, even to the departure of the troops. 
 " Where are all the sentinels, John ?" he inquired, as he gazed 
 around with a look of curiosity, " and why are you here alone?" 
 " Off all off, with Duuwoodie to the river. You and I are 
 left here to take care of a few sick men and some women." 
 
 " I am glad, however," said the surgeon, " that Major Dun 
 woodie had consideration enough, not to move the wounded. 
 Here, you Mrs. Elizabeth Flanagan, hasten with some food that 
 I may appease my appetite. I have a dead body to dissect, and 
 am in a hurry." 
 
 "And here, you Mister Doctor Archibald Sitgreaves," echoed 
 Betty, showing her blooming countenance from a broken window 
 of the kitchen, " you are ever a-coming too late ; here is nothing 
 to ate but the skin of Jenny, and the body yee'r mintioning." 
 
 " Woman," said the surgeon, in anger, " do you take me for 
 a cannibal, that you address your iilthy discourse to me in this 
 manner? I bid you hasten with such food as may be proper to 
 be received into the stomach fasting." 
 
 " And I'm sure it's for a pop-gun that I should be taking you
 
 THE SPY. 183 
 
 sooner than for a cannon-ball," said Betty, winking at the Cap 
 tain ; " and I tell yee that it's fasting you must be, unless yee'll 
 let me cook yee a stake from the skin of Jenny. The boys have 
 ate me up entirely." 
 
 Lawton now interfered to preserve the peace, and assured the 
 surgeon that he had already despatched the proper persons in 
 quest of food for the party. A little mollified with his explana 
 tion, the operator soon forgot his hunger, and declared his in 
 tention of proceeding to business at once. 
 
 " And where is your subject ?" asked Lawton, gravely. 
 
 " The pedler," said the other, gazing on the sign-post ; " you 
 see I made Hollister put a stage so high that the neck would "not 
 be dislocated by the fall, and I intend making as handsome a 
 skeleton of him, as there is to be found in the States of North 
 America ; the fellow has good points, and his bones are well knit. 
 Oil ! Jack, I will make a perfect beauty of him. I have long 
 been wanting something of the sort to send to my old aunt in 
 Virginia, who was so kind to me when a boy." 
 
 " The devil !" cried Lawton ; " would you send the old woman 
 a dead man's bones ?" 
 
 " Why not ?" said the surgeon : " what nobler object is there 
 in nature than the figure of a man and the skeleton may be 
 called his elementary parts. But what has been done with the 
 body ?" 
 
 " Off too." 
 
 " Off !" echoed the panic-stricken operator ; " and who has 
 dared to take it away without my leave ?" 
 
 " Sure jist the divil," said Betty ; " and who'll be after taking 
 yeerself away some of these times too, without asking yeer lave." 
 
 " Silence, you witch," said Lawton, with difficulty suppressing 
 a laugh ; "is this the manner in which to address an officer?" 
 
 " Who called me the filthy Elizabeth Flanagan ?" cried the 
 washerwoman, snapping her ringers contemptuously ; " I can re- 
 mimber a frind for a year, and don't forgit an inimy for a month." 
 
 But the friendship or enmity of Mrs. Flanagan were alike in 
 different to the surgeon, who could think of nothing but his loss ; 
 and Lawton was obliged to explain to his friend the apparent 
 manner in which it had happened. 
 
 "And a lucky escape it was for yee, my jewel of a doctor," 
 cried Betty, as the Captain concluded. " Sargeant Hollister, 
 who saw him face to face, as it might be, says it's Bedzeboob, 
 and no pedler, unless it maybe in a small matter of lies and thefts, 
 and sich wickedness. Now a pretty figure yee would have been 
 in cutting up Beelzcboob, if the major had hung him. I don't 
 think it's very asy he would have been under your knife." 
 
 Thus doubly disappointed in both his meal and his business,
 
 184 THE SPY. 
 
 Sitgreaves suddenly declared his intention of visiting the " Lo 
 custs," and inquiring into the state of Captain Singleton. Law- 
 ton was ready for the excursion, and mounting, they were soon 
 on the road, though the surgeon was obliged to submit to a few 
 more jokes from the washerwoman, before he could get out of 
 hearing. For some time the two rode in silence, when Lawton, 
 perceiving that his companion's temper was somewhat ruffled by 
 his disappointments and Betty's attack, made an effort to restore 
 the tranquillity of his feelings, by saying 
 
 " That was a charming song, Archibald, that you commenced 
 last evening, when we were interrupted by the party that brought 
 the pedler. The allusion to Galen was extremely neat." 
 
 " I knew you would like it, Jack, when your eyes were 
 opened to its beauties," returned the operator, suffering his 
 muscles to relax into a smile ; " but when the brain has become 
 confused by the fumes of wine ascending from the stomach, into 
 xication is liable to ensue, and the faculties by no means continue 
 qualified to discriminate, either in matters of taste or of science " 
 
 " And yet your ode partook largely of both," observed Law- 
 ton, suffering no part of him to smile but his eyes. 
 
 " Ode is by no means a proper term for the composition," 
 said Sitgreaves, " I should rather term it a classical ballad." 
 
 " Very probably," said the trooper, " hearing only one verse, 
 it was difficult to affix a name to it." 
 
 The surgeon involuntarily hemmed, and began to clear his 
 throat, although by no means conscious himself to what the pre 
 paration tended. But the captain, rolling his dark eyes towards 
 his companion, and observing him to be sitting with great 
 uneasiness on his horse, continued 
 
 " The air is still, and the road solitary why not give me the 
 remainder ? I m i-h t correct the bad taste you accuse me of pos 
 sessing, to hear it." 
 
 " Oh ! my dear John, if I thought it would correct the errors 
 you have imbibed, from habit and indulgence, nothing could give 
 me more pleasure." 
 
 "Try; we are fast approaching some rocks on our left; the 
 echo from them, I should think, must be delightful." 
 
 Thus encouraged, and somewhat impelled by the opinion that 
 he both sung and wrote with exquisite taste, the surgeon set 
 about complying with the request in sober earnest. After care 
 fully removing his spectacles from his eyes, and wiping the 
 glasses, they were replaced with the utmost accuracy and pre 
 cision ; his wig was adjusted to his head with mathematical sym 
 metry, and his voice being cleared by various efforts, until at 
 length its melody pleased the exquisite sensibility of his own ear; 
 then, to the no small delight of the trooper, he began anew the
 
 THE SPY. 185 
 
 ditty of the preceding evening. But whether it was that his 
 steed became enlivened by the notes of his master, or that he 
 caught a disposition to trot from Lawton's charger, the surgeon 
 had not concluded his second verse, before his tones vibrated in 
 regular cadence to the rise and fall of his own body on the 
 saddle. Notwithstanding this somewhat inharmonious interrup 
 tion, Sitgreaves resolutely persevered, until he had got through 
 the following words 
 
 Hast thou ever felt love's dart, dearest, 
 
 Or breathed hia trembling sigh 
 Thought him, afar, was ever nearest, 
 
 Before that sparkling eye? 
 Then hast thou known what 't'is to feel 
 The pain that Galen could not heal. 
 
 Hast thou ever known shame's blush, dearest, 
 
 Or felt its thrilling smart 
 Suffuse thy cheek, like marble clearest, 
 
 As Damon read thy heart ? 
 Then, silly girl, thou'st blush'd to own 
 A pain that Harvey e'en has known. 
 
 But for each pain of thine, dearest, 
 
 Or smart of keen love's wound, 
 For all that, foolish maid, thou fearest, 
 
 An antidote is found. 
 And mighty Hymen's art can heal 
 Each wound that youthful lovers feel. 
 
 Hast thou ever 
 
 " Hush !" interrupted the trooper; what rustling noise is that 
 among the rocks 1" 
 " The echo." 
 
 " Hast thou ever " 
 
 " Listen," said Lawton, stopping his horse. He had not done 
 speaking, when a stone fell at his feet, and rolled harmlessly 
 across the path. 
 
 " A friendly shot, that," cried the trooper ; st neither the 
 weapon nor its force implies much ill will towards us." 
 
 " Blows from stones seldom produce more than contusions," 
 said the operator, bending his gaze in every direction in vain, in 
 quest of the hand from which the missile had been hurled ; " it 
 must be meteoric ; there is no living being in sight, except 
 ourselves." 
 
 " It would be easy to hide a regiment behind those rocks," 
 returned the trooper, dismounting, and taking the stone in his 
 hand " Oh ! here is the explanation along with the mystery." 
 So saying, he tore a piece of paper that had been ingeniously 
 fastened to the small fragment of rock which had thus singularly 
 fallen before him, and opening it, the Captain read the following 
 words, written in no very legible hand : 
 
 " A musket bullet will go farther than a stone, and things
 
 180 THE SPY. 
 
 more dangerous than yarl/sfor wounded men lie hid in the rocks 
 of West Chester. T/ie horse may be good, but can he mount a 
 precipice ?" 
 
 " Thou sayest the truth, strange man," said Lawton ; " cou 
 rage and activity would avail but little against assassination and 
 these rugged passes." Remounting his horse, he cried aloud 
 " Thanks, unknown friend : your caution will be remembered, 
 and it shall never be forgotten that all my enemies are not 
 merciless." 
 
 A meagre hand was extended for an instant over a rock, 
 wavin" in the air. and afterwards nothing further was seen or 
 heard in that quarter by the soldiers. 
 
 " Quite an extraordinary interruption," said the astonished 
 operator, "and a letter of a very mysterious meaning." 
 
 " Oh ! 'tis nothing but the wit of some bumpkin, who thinks 
 to frighten two of the Virginians by an artifice of this kind," 
 said the trooper, placing the billet iu his pocket; "but let me 
 tell you, Mr. Archibald Sitgrea e you were wanting to dissect, 
 just now, a damn'd honest fellow.' 
 
 "It was the pedler one of the most notorious spies in the 
 enemy's service," returned the other ; " and I must say, that I 
 think it an honour to such a man to be devoted to the use of 
 science." 
 
 " He may be a spy he must be one," said Lawton musing ; 
 " but he has a heart above enmity, and a soul that would honour 
 a gallant soldier." 
 
 The surgeon turned an inquiring eye on his companion as he 
 uttered this soliloquy, while the penetrating looks of the trooper 
 had already discovered another pile of rocks, which, jutting for 
 ward, nearly obstructed the highway that wound directly around 
 its base. 
 
 " What the steed cannot mount, the foot of man can over 
 come," exclaimed the wary partizan. Throwing himself again 
 from his saddle, and leaping a wall of stone, he began to ascend 
 the hill at a pace which would soon give him a bird's eye view 
 of the rocks in question, together with all their crevices. This 
 movement was no sooner made, than Lawton caught a glimpse 
 of the figure of a man stealing rapidly from his approach, and 
 disappearing on the opposite side of the precipice. 
 
 " Spur, Sitgreaves, spur," shouted the trooper, dashing over 
 every impediment in pursuit, " and murder the villain as he flies." 
 The request was promptly complied with, and a few moments 
 brought the surgeon in full view of a man armed with a musket, 
 who was crossing the road, and evidently seeking the protection 
 of the thick wood on its opposite side. 
 
 *' Stop, my friend stop until Captain Lawton comes up, if
 
 THE SPY. 187 
 
 you please," cried the surgeon, observing him to flee with a rapi 
 dity that baffled his horsemanship. But as if the invitation con 
 tained new terrors, the footman redoubled his efforts, nor paused 
 even to breathe, until he had reached his goal, when, turning on 
 his heel, he discharged his musket towards the operator, and was 
 out of sight in an instant. To gain the highway, and throw him 
 self in his saddle, detained Lawton but a moment, and he rode 
 to the side of his comrade just as the figure had disappeared. 
 
 " Which way has he fled 1" cried the trooper. 
 
 " John," said the surgeon, " am I not a non-combatant ?" 
 
 " Whither has the rascal fled?" cried Lawton again, impatiently. 
 
 " Where you cannot follow into that wood," returned the 
 surgeon. "But I repeat, John, am I not a non-combatant?" 
 
 The disappointed trooper, perceiving that his enemy had 
 escaped him, now turned his eyes, which were flashing with 
 anger under his dark brows, upon his comrade, and gradually his 
 muscles lost their rigid compression, his brow relaxed, and his 
 eyes changed from their fierce expression, to the covert laughter, 
 which so often distinguished those organs in the trooper. The 
 surgeon sat in dignified composure on his horse ; his thin body 
 erect, and his head elevated with all the indignity of conscious 
 injustice towards himself; his spectacles had been shaken down 
 to the extreme end of the ample member on which they rested, and 
 his eyes were glaring above them with the fulness of indignation. 
 
 A slight convulsive effort composed the muscles of the trooper's 
 face, however, and he broke the silence again, by saying 
 
 " Why did you suffer the rascal to escape ? had you but 
 brought him within the reach of my sabre, I would have given 
 you a substitute for the pedler." 
 
 " Twas impossible to prevent it," said the surgeon, pointing 
 to the bars, before which he had stopped his horse ; he threw 
 himself on the other side of this fence, and left me where you 
 see ; nor would the man in the least attend to my remonstrances, 
 or intimation that you wished to hold discourse with him." 
 
 " No '." exclaimed Lawton, in an affected surprise ; " he was 
 truly a discourteous rascal ; but why did you not leap the fence, 
 and compel him to a halt? you see but three of the bars are 
 up, and Betty Flanagan could clear them on her cow." 
 
 The surgeon, for the first time, withdrew his eyes from the 
 place where the fugitive had disappeared, and turned his counte 
 nance towards his comrade. His head, however, was not per 
 mitted to lower itself in the least, as he replied 
 
 " I humbly conceive, Captain Lawton, that neither Mrs. Eli 
 zabeth Flanagan, nor her cow, are examples to be emulated by 
 Doctor Archibald Sitgreaves ; it would be but a sorry compli 
 ment to science, to say that a Doctor of Medicine had fractured
 
 188 THE SPY. 
 
 both his legs, by injudiciously striking them against a pair of 
 bar-posts." While speaking, the surgeon raised the limbs in 
 question to nearly a horizontal position, which really appeared 
 to bid defiance to anything like a passage for himself through 
 the defile : but the trooper, disregarding this occular proof of 
 the impossibility of the movement, cried hastily 
 
 " Here was nothing to stop you, man ; I could leap a platoon 
 through, boot and thigh, without pricking with a single spur. 
 Pshaw, I have often charged upon the bayonets of infantry 
 over greater difficulties than this." 
 
 " You will please to remember, Captain John Lawton," said 
 the surgeon, with a most imposing air of offended dignity, " that 
 I am not the riding master of the regiment nor a drill sergeant 
 nor a crazy cornet ; no, sir and I speak it with a due respect 
 for the commission of the continental congress nor an inconsi 
 derate captain, who regards his own life as little as that of his 
 enemies. I am only, sir, a poor humble man of letters, a mere 
 Doctor of Medicine, an unworthy graduate of Edinburgh, and a 
 surgeon of dragoons ; nothing more I do assure you, Captain 
 John Lawton." So saying, he turned his horse's head towards 
 the cottage, and recommenced his ride. 
 
 " Ay ! you speak the truth," muttered the dragoon ; " had I 
 but the meanest rider of my troop with me, I should have taken 
 the scoundrel, and given at least one victim to the offended laws 
 of my country. But, Archibald, no man can ride well who 
 straddles in this manner like the Colossus of Rhodes. You 
 should depend less on your stirrup, and keep your seat by the 
 power of the knee." 
 
 " With proper deference to your experience, Captain Lawton," 
 returned the surgeon, " I conceive myself to be no incompetent 
 judge of muscular action, whether in the knee or any other part 
 of the human frame. And although but humbly educated, I am 
 not now to learn that the wider the base, the more firm is the 
 superstructure." 
 
 " Yes, but Archibald," cried Lawton, impatiently, " would 
 
 cythes 
 
 The allusion to the practice of the ancients somewhat softened 
 the indignation of the surgeon, and he replied with rather less 
 hauteur 
 
 " You should speak with reverence of the usages of those who 
 have gone before us, and who, however ignorant they were in 
 matters of science, and particularly that of surgery, yet furnished 
 many brilliant exceptions to the superstitions of the present day. 
 Now, sir, I have no doubt that Galen has operated on wounds
 
 TUB SPY. 189 
 
 occasioned by these very scythes that you mention, although \ve 
 can find no evidence of the fact in cotemporary writers. Ah ! 
 they must have given dreadful injuries, and, I doubt not, caused 
 great uneasiness to the medical gentlemen of that day." 
 
 " There could not have been much science displayed, I think," 
 returned the trooper, collecting himself into his usual manner ; 
 " and occasionally a body must have been left in two pieces, to 
 puzzle the ingenuity of those gentry to unite. Yet, doubtless, 
 they did it." 
 
 " What!" cried the operator in amazement, "unite two parts 
 of the human body that have been severed by an edged instru 
 ment, to any of the purposes of animal life?" 
 
 " That have been rent asunder by a scythe, and are united to 
 do military duty," said Lawton. 
 
 " 'Tis impossible quite impossible," cried the surgeon ; "it is 
 in vain, Captain Lawton, that human ingenuity endeavours to 
 baffle the efforts of nature. Think, my dear sir, in this case you 
 separate all the arteries injure all of the intestines sever all of 
 the nerves and sinews, and, what is of more consequence, you" 
 
 " Enough," said Lawton, waving his hand ; " you have said 
 enough, Dr. Sitgreaves, and I am convinced. Nothing shall ever 
 tempt me willingly to submit to be divided in this irretrievable 
 manner a manner, I say, Dr. Sitgreaves, that puts at defiance 
 all the arts of surgery." 
 
 " True most true, my dear John," cried the surgeon with 
 warmth, and forgetting his displeasure; "it removes all the 
 pleasure of a wound, when you find it beyond the reach of science 
 to heal." 
 
 " I should think so," said Lawton, rather dryly. 
 
 " What do you think is the greatest pleasure in life ?" asked 
 the operator, suddenly, and with all his confidence in his cowi- 
 panion restored. 
 
 " That may be difficult to answer." 
 
 " Not at all," cried the surgeon ; " it is in witnessing, or rather 
 feeling, the ravages of disease repaired by the lights of science 
 co-operating with nature. I once broke my little finger inten 
 tionally, in order that I might reduce the fracture and watch the 
 cure ; it was only on a small scale, you know, dear John ; still 
 I think the thrilling sensation, excited by the knitting of the 
 bone, aided by the contemplation of the art of man thus acting in 
 unison with nature, exceeded any other enjoyment that I have 
 ever experienced. Oh! had it been one of the more important 
 members, such as the leg or arm, how much greater must the 
 pleasure have been." 
 
 " Or the neck," said the trooper : but their discourse was in 
 terrupted by the arrival at the cottage of Mr. Wharton. No 
 
 R 3
 
 190 THE SPY. 
 
 one appearing to usher them into an apartment, the Captain pro 
 ceeded to the door of the parlour, where he knew visitors were 
 commonly shown. On opening it, he paused for a moment, in 
 admiration of the scene within. The person of Colonel Wellmere 
 first met his eye, bending forward towards the figure of the 
 blushing Sarah, with an earnestness of manner, that prevented 
 the noise of Lawton's entrance from being heard by either of the 
 parties. Certain significant signs, which were embraced at a 
 glance by the prying gaze of the trooper, at once made him a 
 master of their secret, and he was about to retire as silently as he 
 had advanced, when his companion, pushing himself through the 
 passage, abruptly entered the apartment. Advancing instantly 
 to the chair of Wellmere, the surgeon instinctively laid hold of 
 his arm, and exclaimed " Bless me a quick and irregular pulse 
 flushed cheek and fiery eye strong febrile symptoms, and such 
 as must be attended to." While speaking, the doctor, who was 
 much addicted to practising in a summary way, had already pro 
 duced his lancet, and made certain other indications of his inten 
 tions to proceed at once to business. But Colonel Wellmere, re 
 covering from the confusion of the surprise, arose from his seat 
 rather haughtily, and said " Sir, it is the warmth of the room 
 that lends me the colour, and I am already too much indebted to 
 your skill to give you any further trouble ; Miss Wharton knows 
 that I am quite well, and I do assure you that I never felt better 
 or happier in my life." 
 
 There was a peculiar emphasis in the latter part of this speech, 
 that, however it might gratify the feelings of Sarah, brought the 
 colour to her cheeks with a redoubled brilliancy; and Sitgreaves, 
 as his eye followed the direction of those of his patient, did not 
 fail to observe it. 
 
 " Your arm, if you please, madam," said the surgeon promptly, 
 advancing with a bow ; " anxiety and watching have done their 
 work on your delicate frame, and there are symptoms about you 
 that must not be neglected." 
 
 " Excuse me, sir," said Sarah, recovering herself with womanly 
 pride : " the heat is oppressive, and I will retire and acquaint 
 Miss Peyton with your presence." 
 
 There was but little difficulty in practising on the abstracted 
 simplicity of the surgeon ; but it was necessary for Sarah to raise 
 her eyes to return the salutation of Lawton, as he bowed his head 
 to nearly a level with the hand that held open the door for her 
 passage. One look was sufficient ; she was able to control her 
 steps sufficiently to retire with dignity, but no sooner was she re 
 lieved from the presence of all observers, than she fell into a chair, 
 and abandoned herself to a feeling of mingled shame and pleasure. 
 
 A little nettled at the contumacious deportment of the British
 
 THE SPY. 191 
 
 Colonel, Sitgreaves, after once more tendering services that were 
 again rejected, withdrew to the chamber of young Singleton, 
 whither Lawton had already preceded him. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 " Oh ! Henry, when thou deign'st to sue, 
 
 Can I thy suit withstand ? 
 When thou, lov'd youth, hast won my heart, 
 
 Can I refuse my hand ?" Hermit of Warkworth. 
 
 THE graduate of Edinburgh found his patient rapidly improving 
 in health, and entirely free from fever. His sister, with a cheek 
 that was, if possible, paler than on her arrival, watched around 
 his couch with vigilant care, and the ladies of the cottage had 
 not, in the midst of their sorrows and varied emotions, forgotten 
 to discharge the duties of hospitality. Frances felt herself im 
 pelled towards their disconsolate guest, with an interest for which 
 she could not account, and with a force that she could not con 
 trol. She had unconsciously connected the fates of Dunwoodie 
 and Isabella in her imagination, and felt, with all the romantic 
 ardour of a generous mind, that she was serving her former loter 
 most, by exhibiting kindness to her he loved best. Isabella re 
 ceived her attentions with a kind of vacant gratitude, but neither 
 of them indulged in any allusions to the latent source of their 
 uneasiness. The observation of Miss Peyton seldom penetrated 
 beyond things that were visible, and to her the situation of Henry 
 Wharton seemed to furnish an awful excuse for the fading cheeks 
 and tearful eyes of her niece. If Sarah manifested less of care 
 than her sister, still the unpractised spinster was not at a loss to 
 comprehend the reason. Love is a species of holy feeling with 
 the virtuous of the female sex, and seems to hallow all that comes 
 within its influence. Although Miss Peyton mourned with sin 
 cerity over the danger which threatened her nephew, still she in 
 dulged her eldest niece, with motherly kindness, in the enjoyment 
 that chance had given to her early attachment. War, she well 
 knew, was a dreadful enemy to love, and the moments that were 
 thus granted to its votaries were not to be thrown away. 
 
 Several days now passed without any interruption to the usual 
 avocations of the inhabitants of the cottage, or the party of the 
 Four Corners. The former were supporting their fortitude with 
 the certainty of Henry's innocence, and a strong reliance on 
 Dunwoodie's exertions in his behalf, and the latter waiting with 
 impatience the intelligence, that was hourly expected, of a con 
 flict, and their orders to depart. Captain Lawton, however, 
 waited for both these events in vain. Letters from his Major 
 announced that the enemy, finding that the party which was to 
 co-operate with them had been defeated, and was withdrawn,
 
 192 TIIK SPY- 
 
 had retired also behind the works of Fort Washington, where 
 they continued inactive, but threatened momentarily to strike a 
 blow in revenge for their disgrace. The trooper was enjoined to 
 vigilance, and the latter concluded with a compliment to his ho 
 nour, zeal, and undoubted bravery. 
 
 " Extremely flattering, Major Dnnwoodie," muttered the dra 
 goon, as he threw down this epistle, and stalked across the floor 
 of the room to quiet his impatience. " A proper guard have you 
 selected for this service ; let me see I have to watch over the 
 interests of a crazy, irresolute old man, who does not know whe 
 ther he belongs to us or to the enemy ; four women, three of 
 whom are well enough in themselves, but who are not immensely 
 flattered by my society ; and a fourth, who, good as she is, is on 
 the wrong side of forty ; some two or three blacks ; a talkative 
 housekeeper, that does nothing but chatter about gold and des- 
 spisables, and signs and omens ; and poor George Singleton. 
 Ah ! well, a comrade in suffering has a claim on a man, next to 
 his honour in the field, and an engagement with his mistress so 
 I'll make the best of it." 
 
 As he concluded this soliloquy, the trooper took a seat and be 
 gan to whistle, to convince himself how little he cared about the 
 matter, when, by throwing his booted leg carelessly round, he 
 upset the canteen that held his whole stock of brandy. The ac 
 cident was soon repaired, but in replacing the wooden vessel, he 
 observed a billet lying on the bench, on which the liquor had 
 been placed. It was soon opened, and he read " The moon will 
 not rise till after midnight a fit time for deeds of darkness." 
 There was no mistaking the hand ; it was clearly the same that 
 had given him the timely warning against assassination, and the 
 trooper continued, for a long time, musing on the nature of these 
 two notices, and the motives that could induce the mysterious 
 pedler to favour an implacable enemy in the manner that he lat 
 terly had done. That he was a spy of the enemy, Lawton knew ; 
 for the fact of his conveying intelligence to the English corn- 
 mander-in-chief, of a party of Americans that were exposed to 
 the enemy, was proved most clearly against him on the trial for 
 his life. The consequences of his treason had been avoided, it is 
 true, by a lucky order from Washington, which withdrew the 
 regiment a short time before the British appeared to cut it off, 
 but still the crime was the same ; perhaps, thought the partisan, 
 he wishes to make a friend of me against the event of another 
 capture ; but, at all events, he spared my life on one occasion, 
 and saved it on another. I will endeavour to be as generous as 
 himself, and pray that my duty may never interfere with my 
 feelings. Whether the danger, intimated in the present note, 
 threatened the cottage or his own party, the Captain was uucer-
 
 THE SPY. 193 
 
 tain, but he inclined to the latter opinion, and determined to be 
 ware how he rode abroad in the dark. To a man in a peaceable 
 country, and in times of quiet and order, the indifference with 
 which the partisan regarded the impending danger would be in 
 conceivable. His reflections on the subject were more for devising 
 means to entrap his enemies than to escape their machinations. 
 But the arrival of the surgeon, who had been to pay his daily 
 visits to the Locusts, interrupted his meditations. Sitgreaves 
 brought an invitation from the mistress of the mansion to Captain 
 Lawton, desiring that the cottage might be honoured with his 
 presence at an early hour on that evening. 
 
 " What !" cried the trooper, " then they have received a 
 letter also." 
 
 " I think nothing more probable," said the operator ; " there 
 is a chaplain at the cottage from the royal army, who has come 
 out to exchange the British wounded, and who has an order 
 from Colonel Singleton for their delivery. But a more mad 
 project than to remove them now was never adopted." 
 
 " A priest, say you ! is be a hard drinker a real camp 
 idler a fellow to breed a famine in a regiment? or does he 
 seem a man who is in earnest in his trade?" 
 
 " A very respectable and orderly gentleman, not at all given 
 to intemperance, judging from the outward symptoms," returned 
 the surgeon ; " and a man who really says grace in a very 
 regular and appropriate manner." 
 
 " And does he stay the night?" 
 
 " Certainly, he waits for his cartel ; but hasten, John, we 
 have but little time to waste. I will just step up and bleed two 
 or three of the Englishmen who are to move in the morning in 
 order to prevent inflammation, and be with you immediately." 
 
 The gala suit of Captain Lawton was easily adjusted to his 
 huge frame, and his companion being ready, they once more took 
 their route towards the cottage. Roanoke had been as much 
 benefited by a few days' rest as his master, and Lawton ardently 
 wished, as he curbed his gallant steed, on passing the well- 
 remembered rocks, that his treacherous enemy stood before him, 
 mounted and armed as himself. But no enemy, nor any distur 
 bance whatever, interfered with their progress, and they reached 
 the Locusts just as the sun was throwing his setting rays on the 
 valley and tinging the tops of the leafless trees with the colour of 
 gold. It never required more thau a single look, to acquaint the 
 trooper with the particulars of every scene that was not uncom 
 monly veiled, and the first survey that he took on entering the 
 house, told him more than the observations of a day had put into 
 the possession of Dr. Sitgreaves. Miss Peyton accosted him with 
 a smiling welcome, that exceeded the bounds of ordinary cour-
 
 104 THR SPY. 
 
 tesy, and which evidently flowed more from feelings that were 
 connected with the heart, than from manner. Frances glided 
 about, tearful and agitated, while Mr. Wharton stood ready to 
 receive them, decked in a suit of velvet, that would have been 
 conspicuous in the gayest drawing-rooms on the continent. 
 Colonel Wellmere was in the uniform of an officer of the house 
 hold troops of his prince, and Isabella Singleton sat in the par 
 lour, clad in the habiliments of joy, but with a countenance that 
 belied her appearance : while her brother by her side looked, 
 with a cheek of flitting colour, and an eye of intense interest, 
 like anything but an invalid. As it was the third day that he 
 had left his room, Dr. Sitgreaves, who began to stare about him 
 in stupid wonder, forgot to reprove his patient for his impru 
 dence. Into this scene, Captain Lawton moved with all the 
 composure and gravity of a man whose nerves were not easily 
 discomposed by novelties. His compliments were received as 
 graciously as they were offered, and after exchanging a few 
 words with the different individuals in the room, he approached 
 to where the surgeon had withdrawn, in a kind of confused 
 astonishment, to rally his senses to the occasion. 
 
 " John," whispered the surgeon, with awakened curiosity, 
 " what do you think?" 
 
 " That your wig and my black head would look the better 
 for a little of Betty Flanagan's best flour ; but it is too late now, 
 and we must fight the battle armed as you see. Why, Archi 
 bald, you and I look like militiamen, flanked by those holiday 
 Frenchmen, who have come amongst us." 
 
 " Observe," said Sitgreaves, in increasing wonder, " here 
 comes the army chaplain, in his full robes as a Doctor Divini- 
 tatis ; what can it mean .'" 
 
 " An exchange," said the trooper ; " the wounded* of Cupid 
 are to meet and settle their accounts with the god, in the way of 
 plighting their faith to suffer from his archery no more." 
 
 "Oh !" ejaculated the operator, laying his finger on the side 
 of his nose, and for the first time comprehending the case. 
 
 " Yes oh !" muttered Lawton, in imitation; when turning sud 
 denly to his comrade, he said fiercely, but in an under tone, " Is it 
 not a crying shame, that a sunshine hero, and an enemy, should 
 thus be suffered to steal away one of the fairest plants that grows 
 in our soil a flower fit to be placed in the bosom of any man." 
 
 " You speak the truth, John ; and if he be not more accom 
 modating as a husband than as a patient, I fear me, that the lady 
 will lead a troubled life." 
 
 "Let her," said the trooper indignantly; "she has chosen 
 from her country's enemies, and may she meet with a foreigner's 
 virtues in her choice."
 
 THE SPY. 195 
 
 Their further conversation was interrupted by Miss Peyton, 
 who, advancing, acquainted them that they had been invited to 
 grace the nuptials of her eldest niece and Colonel Wellraere. The 
 gentlemen bowed in silence at this explanation of what they 
 already understood, and the good spinster, with an inherent love 
 of propriety, went on to add, that the acquaintance was of an 
 old date, and the attachment by no means a sudden thing. To 
 this Lawton merely bowed, but the surgeon, who loved to hold 
 converse with the virgin, replied " That the human mind was 
 differently constituted in different individuals. In some, im 
 pressions are vivid and transitory ; in others, more deep and 
 lasting; indeed, there are some philosophers who pretend to trace 
 a connexion between the physical and mental powers of the ani 
 mal ; but for my part, madam, I believe that the one is much 
 influenced by habit and association, and the other subject to the 
 laws of science." 
 
 Miss Peyton, in her turn, bowed her silent assent to this 
 remark, and retired with dignity, to usher the intended bride 
 into the presence of the company. The hour had arrived when 
 American custom has decreed that the vows of wedlock must be 
 exchanged ; and Sarah, blushing with a variety of emotions, 
 followed her aunt to the withdrawing room. Wellmere sprang 
 to receive the hand that she extended towards him with an 
 averted face, and. for the first time, the English Colonel appeared 
 conscious of the important part that he was to act in the ap 
 proaching ceremonies. Hitherto his air had been abstracted, and 
 his manner uneasy ; but everything, excepting the certainty of 
 his bliss, seemed to vanish at the blaze of loveliness, that burst on 
 his sight with the presence of his mistress. All arose from their 
 seats, and the reverend gentleman had already opened the volume 
 in his hand, when the absence of Frances was noticed : Miss 
 Peyton again withdrew in search of her youngest niece, whom 
 she found in her own apartment, and in tears. 
 
 " Come, my love, the ceremony waits but for us," said the 
 aunt, affectionately entwining her arm in that of her niece ; 
 " endeavour to compose yourself, that proper honour may be 
 done to the choice of your sister." 
 
 " Is he can he be worthy of her ?" cried Frances, in a burst 
 of emotion, and throwing herself into the arms of the spinster. 
 
 " Can he be otherwise ?" returned Miss Peyton ; " is he not 
 a gentleman ? a gallant soldier, though an unfortunate one ? 
 and certainly, my love, one who appears every way qualified to 
 make any woman happy." 
 
 Frances had given vent to her feeling?, and, with an effort, she 
 collected sufficient resolution to venture to join the expecting 
 party below. But to relieve the embarrassment of this delay, the
 
 196 THR SPY. 
 
 clergyman had put sundry questions to the bridegroom ; one of 
 which was by no means answered to his satisfaction. >Vellmere 
 was compelled to acknowledge that he was unprovided with a 
 rins ; and to perform the marriage ceremony without one, the 
 divine pronounced to be impossible. His appeal to Mr. Wharton 
 for the propriety of this decision, was answered affirmatively, as 
 it would have been negatively, had the question been put in a 
 manner to lead to such a result. The owner of the Locusts had 
 lost the little energy he possessed, by the blow recently received 
 through his son, and his assent to the objection of the clergyman, 
 was as easily obtained as his consent to the premature proposals 
 of Wellmere. In this stage of the dilemma, Miss Peyton and 
 Frances appeared. The surgeon of dragoons approached the 
 former, and, as he handed her to a chair, observed " It appears, 
 madam, that untoward circumstances have prevented Colonel 
 Wellmere from providing all the decorations that custom, anti 
 quity, and the canons of the church, have prescribed as indispen 
 sable to enter into the honourable state of wedlock." 
 
 Miss Peyton glanced her quiet eye at the uneasy bridegroom, 
 and perceived him to be adorned with what she thought sufficient 
 splendour, allowing for the time and the suddenness of the occa 
 sion, she turned her look on the speaker with a surprise that 
 demanded an explanation. 
 
 The surgeon understood her wishes, and proceeded at once to 
 gratify them. 
 
 " There is," he observed, " an opinion prevalent, that the 
 heart lies on the left side of the body, and that the connexion 
 between the members of that side, and what may be called the 
 seat of life, is more intimate than that which exists with their 
 opposites. But this is an error that grows out of an ignorance 
 of the scientific arrangement of the human frame. In obedience 
 to this opinion, the fourth finger of the left hand is thought to 
 contain a virtue that belongs to no other of its class, and is 
 encircled, during the solemnization of wedlock, with a cincture 
 or ring, as if to chain that affection to the marriage state, which 
 is best secured by the graces of the female character." While 
 speaking, the operator laid his hand expressively on his heart, 
 and bowed nearly to the Moor as he concluded. 
 
 I know not, sir, that I rightly understand your meaning," 
 said Miss Peyton, with dignity, but suffering a 'slight vermilion 
 to appear on a cheek that had long lost that peculiar charm of 
 youth. 
 
 " A ring, madam a ring is wanting for the ceremony." 
 1 he instant that the surgeon spoke explicitly, the awkward- 
 93 of their situation was comprehended. She glanced her eyes 
 at her nieces, and in the younger she read a secret exultation
 
 THE SPY. 197 
 
 that somewhat displeased her; but the countenance of Sarah was 
 suffused with a shame that the considerate aunt well understood. 
 Not for the world would she violate any of the observances of 
 female etiquette. It suggested itself to all the females of the 
 Wharton family, at the same moment, that the wedding ring of 
 their late mother and sister was reposing peacefully, atnid the 
 rest of her jewellery, in a secret receptacle that had been pro 
 vided at an early day to secure the valuables against the preda 
 tory inroads of the marauders who roamed through the country. 
 
 Into this hidden vault, the plate, and whatever was most 
 prized, made a nightly retreat, and there the ring in question had 
 long lain, forgotten until at this moment. But it was the busi 
 ness of the bridegroom, from time immemorial, to furnish this 
 indispensable to wedlock, and on no account would Miss Peyton 
 do anything that exceeded the usual courtesies of her sex on this 
 solemn occasion ; certainly not until sufficient expiation for the 
 offence had been made, by a due portion of trouble and disquiet. 
 The spinster, therefore, retained the secret with a regard to de 
 corum. Sarah through feeling, and Frances through both, united 
 to dissatisfaction at the connexion. It was reserved for Dr. 
 Sitgreaves to break the embarrassment of the party by again 
 speaking : " If, Madam, a plain ring, that once belonged to a 
 sister of my own' 1 The operator paused a moment, and hemmed 
 once or twice ; " if, Madam, a ring of that description might be 
 admitted to this honour, I have one that could be easily pro 
 duced from my quarters at the Corners, and I doubt not it would 
 fit the finger for which it is desired. There is a strong resem 
 blance between hem between my late sister and Miss Whar 
 ton, in stature and anatomical figure, and the proportions are apt 
 to be observed throughout the whole animal economy." 
 
 A glance of Miss Peyton's eye recalled Colonel Wellmere to a 
 sense of his duty, and springing from his chair, he assured the 
 surgeon, that in no way could he impose heavier obligations on 
 himself than by sending for that very ring. The operator bowed 
 a little haughtily, and withdrew to fulfil his promise, by de 
 spatching a messenger on the errand. The spinster suffered him 
 to retire ; but unwillingness to admit a stranger into the privacy 
 of their domestic arrangements, induced her to follow and tender 
 the services of Caesar, instead of Sitgreaves' man, who had been 
 offered by Isabella for this duty ; her brother, probably from 
 bodily weakness, continued silent throughout the whole evening. 
 Katy Haynes was accordingly directed to summon the black to 
 the vacant parlour, and thither the spinster and surgeon repaired, 
 to give their several instructions. 
 
 The consent to this sudden union of Sarah and Wellmere, and 
 especially at a time when the life of a member of the family was 
 
 s
 
 198 THE SPY. 
 
 in such imminent jeopardy, was given from a conviction, that the 
 unsettled state of the country would probably prevent another 
 opportunity to the lovers of meeting, and a secret dread on the 
 part of Mr. Wharton, that the death of his son might, by has 
 tening his own, leave his remaining children without a protector. 
 But, notwithstanding Miss Peyton had complied with her bro 
 ther's wish to profit by the accidental visit of a divine, she had 
 not thought it necessary to blazon the intended nuptials of her 
 niece to the neighbourhood, had even time been allowed : she 
 thought, therefore, that she was now communicating a profound 
 secret to Caesar and her housekeeper. 
 
 " Caesar," she commenced with a smile, " you are now to learn, 
 that your young mistress, Miss Sarah, is to be united to Colonel 
 Wellmere this evening." 
 
 " No, no I link I see nm afore," said Csesar, laughing and 
 chuckling with inward delight, as he shook his head with con 
 scious satisfaction at his own prescience ; ' old black man tell 
 when a young lady talk all alone wid a gentle'um in a parlour." 
 
 " Really, Casar, I find I have never given you credit for half 
 the observation that you deserve," said the spinster, gravely ; 
 " but as you already know on what emergency your services are 
 required, listen to the directions of this gentleman, and take care 
 to observe them strictly." 
 
 The black turned in quiet submission to the surgeon, who com 
 menced as follows: " Csesar, your mistress has already ac 
 quainted you with the important event about to be solemnized 
 within this habitation ; but a ring is wanting, and by riding to 
 the mess-house at the Four Corners, and delivering this billet to 
 either Sergeant Hollister, or to Mrs. Elizabeth Flanagan, it will 
 speedily be placed in your possession. On its receipt, return 
 hither ; and fail not to use diligence in both going and returning, 
 for my patients will shortly require my presence in the hospital, 
 and Captain Singleton already suffers from the want of rest." 
 
 By this time the surgeon had forgotten everything but what 
 appertained to his own duties, and rather unceremoniously left. 
 the apartment. Curiosity, or perhaps an opposite feeling, deli 
 cacy, induced Miss Peyton to glance her eye on the open billet 
 that Sitgreavea had delivered to the black. Here she read as 
 follows ; it was addressed to his assistant. 
 
 " If the fever has left Kinder, give him nourishment. Take 
 three ounces more of blood from Watson. Have a search made 
 that the woman Flanagan has left none of her jugs of alcohol 
 in the hospital. Renew the dressings of Johnson, and dismiss 
 Smith to duty. Send the ring, which is pendant from the chain 
 of the watch, that I left with you to time the doses, by the bearer. 
 " ARCHIBALD SITGREAVES, M.D., Surgeon of Dragoons"
 
 THE SPY. 199 
 
 Miss Peyton yielded this singular epistle to the charge of the 
 black, in silent wonder, and withdrew, leaving Katy and Caesar 
 to arrange the departure of the latter. 
 
 " Caesar," said Katy, with imposing solemnity, " put the ring, 
 when you get it, in your left pocket, that is nearest your heart ; 
 and by no means endeavour to try it on your finger, for it is un 
 lucky." 
 
 " Try urn on a finger," interrupted the negro, stretching forth 
 his bony knuckles ; " tink a Miss Sally's ring go on old Caesar 
 finger." 
 
 " 'Tis not consequential whether it goes on or not," said the 
 housekeeper ; " but it is an evil omen to place a marriage ring 
 on the finger of another after wedlock, and of course it may be 
 dangerous before." 
 
 " I tell you, Katy," cried Caesar a little indignantly, "I go 
 fetch a ring and neber tink to put urn on a finger." 
 
 " Go go then, Caesar," said Katy, suddenly recollecting 
 divers important items in the supper that required her attention ; 
 " and hurry back again, and stop not for living soul." 
 
 With this injunction Caesar departed, and was soon firmly 
 fixed in the saddle. From his youth, the black, like all of his 
 race, had been a hard rider ; charged with a message of such 
 importance, he moved at first with becoming dignity, bending 
 under the weight of sixty winters, his African blood had lost 
 some of its native heat. The night was dark, and the wind 
 whistled through the vale with the chilling dreariness of the 
 blasts of November. By the time Caesar reached the grave 
 yard, that had so lately received the body of the elder Birch, 
 all the horrors of his situation began to burst on the mind of the 
 old man, and he threw around him many a fearful glance, in 
 momentary expectation of seeing something superhuman. There 
 was barely light sufficient to discern a being of earthly mould 
 emerging into the highway, and apparently from the graves of 
 the dead. It is in vain that philosophy and reason contend with 
 our fears and early impressions ; but Caesar had neither to offer 
 him their frail support. He was, however, well mounted on a 
 coach-horse of Mr, W barton's, and clinging to the back of the 
 animal with instinctive skill, he abandoned the rein to the plea 
 sure of the beast. Hillocks, woods, rocks, fences, and houses, 
 flew by him with the rapidity of lightning, and the black had 
 just begun to think where and on what business it was, that he 
 was riding in this headlong manner, when he reached the place 
 where the two roads met, and the " Hotel Flanagan" stood in all 
 its dilapidated simplicity. The sight of a cheerful fire through 
 its windows first gave Caesar a pledge that he had reached the 
 habitation of man, and with it came all his dread of the bloody
 
 200 THE SPY. 
 
 Virginians ; his duty must, however, be done, and dismounting, 
 he fastened the foaming animal to a fence, and approached the 
 window with cautious steps, to listen and reconnoitre. 
 
 Before a blazing fire sat Sergeant Hollister and Betty Flana 
 gan, enjoying themselves over a liberal donation from the stores 
 of the washerwoman. 
 
 " I tell ye, Sargeant, dear," said Betty, removing the mug 
 from her mouth, " 'tis no rasonable to think it was anything 
 more than the pidler himself ; sure now, where was the smell of 
 sulphur, and the wings, and the tail, and the cloven foot ? be 
 sides, Sargeant, its no dacent to tell a lone female that she had 
 Beelzeboob for a bed-fellow." 
 
 " It matters but little, Mrs. Flanagan, provided you escape 
 his talons and fangs hereafter," returned the veteran following 
 his remark by a heavy potation. 
 
 Caesar heard enough to convince him, that danger to himself 
 from this pair was but little to be apprehended. His teeth al 
 ready began to chatter with cold and terror, and the sight of the 
 comfort within stimulated him greatly to adventure to enter. He 
 made his approaches with proper caution, and knocked with ex 
 treme humility at the door. The appearance of Hollister with a 
 drawn sword, roughly demanding who was without, contributed 
 in no degree to the restoration of his faculties ; but fear itself 
 lent him power to explain his errand. 
 
 " Advance," said the Sergeant with a military promptness, 
 and throwing a look of close scrutiny on the black, as he brought 
 him to the light ; " advance, and deliver your despatches : but 
 stop, have you the countersign ?" 
 
 ^ " I don't tink a know what he be," said the black, shaking in 
 his shoes. 
 
 " Who ordered you on this duty, did you say ?" 
 
 " A tall massa, with a speckacle," returned Caesar ; " he came 
 a doctering a Captain Singleton." 
 
 'Twas Doctor Sitgreaves ; he never knows the countersign 
 himself. Now, blackey, had it been Captain Lawton, he would 
 not have sent you here, close to a sentinel, without the counter 
 sign; for you might get a pistol bullet through your head, and 
 that would be cruel to you, for, although you be black, I am 
 none of them who thinks niggars haven't no souls." 
 
 " Sure a nagur has as much sowl as a white," said Betty ; 
 " come hither, ould man, and warm that shivering carcase of 
 veers by the blaze of this fire. I'm sure a Guinea nagur loves 
 heat as much as a soldier loves his drop." 
 
 Caesar obeyed in silence, and a mulatto boy, who was sleeping 
 on a bench in the room, was bidden to convey the note of the 
 surgeon to the building where the wounded were quartered.
 
 THE SPY. iiUl 
 
 " Here," said the washerwoman, tendering to Caesar a taste 
 of the article that most delighted herself, " try a drop, sniooty, 
 'twill warm the black sowl within your body, and be giving you 
 spirits as you are going homeward." 
 
 " I tell you, Elizabeth," said the Sergeant, " that the souls of 
 niggers are the same as our own ; how often have I heard the 
 good Mr. Whitfield say, that there was no distinction of colour 
 in heaven. Therefore it is reasonable to believe, that the soul 
 of this here black is as white as ray own, or even Major 
 Dunwoodie's." 
 
 " Be sure he be," cried Caesar, a little tartly, who had received 
 a wonderful stimulus by tasting the drop of Mrs. Flanagan. 
 
 " It's a good sowl that the Major is, any way," returned the 
 washerwoman ; "and a kind sowl ay, and a brave sowl too ; 
 and yee'd say all that yeerself, Sargeant, I'm thinking." 
 
 " For the matter of that," returned the veteran, " there is one 
 above even Washington, to judge of souls ; but this I will say, 
 that Major Duuwoodie is a gentleman who never says go, boys 
 but always says come, boys ; and if a poor fellow is in want of 
 a spur or a martingale, and the leather-whack is gone, there is 
 never wanting the real silver to make up the loss, and that from 
 his own pocket too." 
 
 " Why, then, are you here idle, when all that he holds most 
 dear are in danger ?" cried a voice with startling abruptness ; 
 " mount, mount, and follow your Captain ; arm and mount, and 
 that instantly, or you will be too late." 
 
 This unexpected interruption produced an instantaneous con 
 fusion amongst the tipplers. Caesar fled instinctively into the 
 fire-place, where he maintained his position in defiance 1 of a heat 
 that would have roasted a white man. Sergeant Hollister turned 
 promptly on his heel, and seizing his sabre, the steel was glittering 
 in the fire-light, in the twinkling of an eye ; but perceiving the 
 intruder to be the pedler, who stood near the open door that led 
 to the stoop in the rear, he began to fall back towards the position 
 of the black, with a kind of military intuition which taught him 
 to concentrate his forces. Betty alone stood her ground by the 
 side of the temporary table. Replenishing the mug with a large 
 addition of the article known to the soldiery by the name of 
 " choke dog," she held it towards the pedler. The eyes of the 
 washerwoman had for some time been swimming with love and 
 liquor, and turning them good-naturedly on Birch, she cried 
 " Faith, but yee're welcome, Mr. Pidler, or Mister Birch, or 
 Mister Beelzeboob, or what's yeer name. Yee're an honest divil 
 any way, and I'm hoping that you found the pitticoats conve 
 nient. Come forward, dear, and fale the fire; Sergeant Hol 
 lister won't be hurting you, for the fear of an ill turn you may 
 be doing him hereafter will yee, Sargeant, dear?" 
 
 s 3
 
 202 THE SPY. 
 
 ' Depart, ungodly man," cried the veteran, edging still nearer 
 to Caesar, but lifting his legs alternately as they scorched with 
 the heat, " depart in peace. There is none here for thy service, 
 and you seek the woman in vain. There is a tender mercy that 
 will save her from thy talons." The Sergeant ceased to utter 
 aloud, but the motion of his lips continued, and a few scattering 
 words of prayer were alone to be heard. 
 
 The brain of the washerwoman was in such a state of confusion 
 that she did not clearly comprehend the meaning of her lover, 
 but a new idea struck her imagination, and she broke forth " If 
 it's me the man saaks, where's the matter, pray ; am I not a 
 widowed body, and my own property ? And you talk of tinder- 
 ness, Sargeant, but it's little I see of it any way ; who knows 
 but Mr. Beelzeboob here is free to spake his mind ? I'm sure it 
 is willing to hear that I am." 
 
 " Woman," said the pedler, "be silent; and you, foolish man, 
 mount arm and mount, and flee to the rescue of your officer, if 
 you are worthy of the cause in which you serve, and would not 
 disgrace the coat that you wear." The feelings of the pedler 
 communicated to his manner the power of eloquence, and he 
 vanished from the sight of the bewildered trio with a rapidity 
 that left them uncertain whither he had fled. 
 
 On hearing the voice of an old friend, Caesar emerged from his 
 quarters, with a skin that was glistening with moisture, and fear 
 lessly advanced to where Betty stood in a maze of intellectual 
 confusion. 
 
 " I wish a Harvey stop," said the black ; " if he ride down a 
 road, I should like to go 'long; I don't tink Johnny Birch 
 hurt a own son." 
 
 " Poor ignorant wretch !" exclaimed the veteran, recovering 
 his voice with a long-drawn breath ; " think you that figure was 
 of flesh and blood ?" 
 
 " Harvey a'nt a berry fleshy," replied the black ; " but lie 
 berry clebber man." 
 
 " Pooh ! Sargeant dear," exclaimed the washerwoman, " talk 
 rason for once, and mind what the knowing one tells yee ; call 
 out the boys, and ride a bit after Captain Jack ; rimimber, 
 darling, that he told yee, the day, to be in readiness to mount at 
 a moment's warning." 
 
 " Ay, but not at a summons from the foul fiend. Let but 
 Captain Lawton, or Lieutenant Mason, or Cornet Skipwith say 
 the word," cried the veteran, " and who is quicker in the saddle 
 than I am ?" 
 
 " Well, Sargeant, how often is it that yee've boasted to my 
 self, that the corps wasn't a bit afeard to face the divil ?" 
 
 '' No more be we, in battle array, and by daylight ; but it's 
 fool-hardy and irreverent to tempt Satan, and on such a night as
 
 THE SPY. 203 
 
 this ; listen how the wind whistles through the trees ; and hark ! 
 there is the howling of evil spirits abroad." 
 
 " I see him," said Crcsar, opening his eyes to a width that 
 might have embraced more than an ideal form. 
 
 " Where ?" interrupted the Sergeant, again instinctively 
 laying his hand on the hilt of his sabre. 
 
 " No no," said the black, " I see a Johnny Birch come out 
 of he grave Johnny walk afore he buried." 
 
 " Ah ! then he must have led an evil life indeed," said Hoi- 
 lister ; " the blessed in spirit lie quiet until the general muster at 
 the last day, but wickedness disturbs the soul in this life as well 
 as in that which is to come." 
 
 " And what is to come of Captain Jack?" cried Betty, 
 angrily ; " is it yeer orders that yee won't mind, nor a warning 
 given ? I'll jist git my cart and ride down and tell him that 
 yeer afeard of a dead man and Beelzeboob ; and it isn't succour 
 he may be expicting from yee. I wonder who'll be the orderly 
 of the troop, the morrow, then ? his name won't be Hollister, 
 any way." 
 
 " Nay, Betty, nay," said the Sergeant, laying his hand fami 
 liarly on her shoulder; " if there must be riding to-night, let it be 
 by him whose duty it is to call out the men and set an example. 
 The Lord have mercy, and send us enemies of flesh and blood." 
 
 Another glass confirmed the veteran in a resolution that was 
 only excited by a dread of his Captain's displeasure, and he pro 
 ceeded to summon the dozen men who had been left under his com 
 mand. The boy arriving with the ring, Caesar placed it carefully 
 in the pocket of his waistcoat next his heart, and mounting, shut 
 his eyes, seized his charger by the mane, and continued in a state 
 of comparative insensibility, until the animal stopped at the door 
 of the warm stable whence he had started. 
 
 The movements of the dragoons, being timed to the order of a 
 march, were much slower, and were made with a watchfulness 
 that was intended to guard against surprise from the evil one 
 himself." 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 " Be not your tongue thy own shame's orator ; 
 Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty ; 
 Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger." Comedy of Errors. 
 
 THE situation of the party in Mr. Wharton's dwelling was suf 
 ficiently awkward, during the short hour of Csesar's absence ; 
 for such was the astonishing rapidity displayed by his courser, 
 that the four miles of road was gone over, and the events we 
 have recorded had occurred, somewhat within that period of 
 time. Of course, the gentlemen strove to make the irksome
 
 204 THE SPY. 
 
 moments fly as swiftly as possible ; but premeditated happiness 
 is certainly of the least joyous kind. The bride and bridegroom, 
 from a variety of reasons, are privileged to be dull, and but few 
 of their friends seemed disposed, on the present occasion, to dis 
 honour their example. The English Colonel exhibited a proper 
 portion of uneasiness at this unexpected interruption to his feli 
 city, and sat with a varying countenance by the side of Sarah, 
 who seemed to be profiting by the delay, to gather fortitude for 
 the solemn ceremony. In the midst of this embarrassing silence, 
 Dr. Sitgreaves addressed himself to Miss Peyton, by whose side 
 he had contrived to procure a chair. 
 
 " Marriage, madam, is pronounced to be honourable in the 
 sight of God and man : and it may be said to be reduced, in the 
 present age, to the laws of nature and reason. The ancients, in 
 sanctioning polygamy, lost sight of the provisions of nature, and 
 condemned thousands to misery ; but with the increase of science 
 have grown the wise ordinances of society, which ordain that 
 man should be the husband of but one woman." 
 
 Wellmere glanced a fierce expression of disgust at the surgeon, 
 that indicated his sense of the tediousness of the other's remarks ; 
 while the spinster, with a slight trembling at touching on for 
 bidden subjects, replied with an extremely dignified inclination 
 of her body " I had thought, sir, that we were indebted to the 
 Christian religion for our morals on this subject." 
 
 " True, madam," replied the operator ; " it is somewhere pro 
 vided in the prescriptions of the apostles, that the sexes should 
 henceforth be on an equality in this particular. But in what 
 degree could polygamy affect holiness of life ? Certainly it was 
 a scientific arrangement of Paul, who was much of a scholar, 
 and probably iiad frequent conferences on this important subject 
 with Luke, whom we all know to have been bred to the practice 
 of medicine." 
 
 To this profound discussion the spinster made no other reply 
 than another bend of her body, that would have struck an ordi 
 nary man dumb ; but Captain Lawton, placing the point of his 
 sheathed sabre on the floor, folded his hands across the hilt, and 
 leaning his chin thereon, threw singular glances, with his search 
 ing eyes, alternately from the surgeon to the bridegroom. 
 
 " Yet this practice still prevails," said the trooper ; " and in 
 those very countries where it was first abolished by the Chris 
 tian code. Pray, Colonel Wellraere, in what manner is bigamy 
 punished in England ?" 
 
 Thus addressed, the bridegroom raised his ejes to the counte 
 nance of the other, but they quickly sunk again under the piy- 
 
 g look they encountered ; an effort banished the tremour from 
 his bp, and restored some of the colour to his cheek, as he re 
 plied" Death ! as such an offence merits."
 
 THE SPY. 205 
 
 " Death and dissection," continued the operator ; " it is seldom 
 that the law loses sight of eventual utility in a malefactor. 
 Bigamy in a man is certainly a most heinous offence." 
 
 " More so, think you, than celibacy ?" asked Lawton, a little 
 archly. 
 
 " Even so," returned the surgeon, with undisturbed simpli 
 city ; " he who remains in a single state may devote his life to 
 science and the extension of knowledge, if not of his species ; 
 but the wretch who profits by the constitutional tendency of 
 the female sex to credulity and tenderness, incurs all the wicked 
 ness of a positive sin, heightened by the baseness of deception in 
 its execution." 
 
 " Really, sir, the ladies are infinitely obliged to you, for at 
 tributing folly to them as part of their nature." 
 
 "Captain Lawton, in man the animal is more nobly formed 
 than in woman. The nerves are endowed with less sensibility ; 
 the whole frame is less pliable and yielding ; is it, therefore, sur 
 prising, that a tendency to rely on the faith of her partner is 
 more natural to woman than to the other sex ?" 
 
 Wellmere, unable at this moment to listen with any degree of 
 patience to the dialogue, sprang from his seat and paced the 
 floor in disorder. Pitying his situation, the reverend gentleman, 
 who, in his robes, was patiently awaiting the return of Caesar, 
 changed the discourse, and a few minutes brought the black him 
 self. The billet was handed to Dr. Sitgreaves ; for Miss Peyton 
 had expressly enjoined Caesar, not to implicate her in any 
 manner in the errand on which he was despatched. The note 
 contained a summary statement of the several subjects of the 
 surgeon's directions, and referred him to the black for the ring ; 
 it was instantly demanded, and promptly delivered. A transient 
 look of melancholy crowded the brow of the operator, as he 
 stood a moment, and gaced silently on the bauble ; nor did he 
 remember the place, or the occasion, while he soliloquized as 
 follows: "Poor Anna ! gay as innocence and youth could make 
 you was thy heart, when this cincture was formed to grace thy 
 nuptials ; but ere the hour had come, God had taken youto himself. 
 Years have passed, my sister, but never have I forgotten the 
 companion of my infancy !" he advanced to Sarah, and, uncon 
 scious of observation, placing the ring on her finger, continued, 
 " she for whom it was intended has long been in her grave, and 
 the youth who bestowed the gift soon followed her sain ted spirit ; 
 take it, madam, and God grant that it may be an instrument in 
 making you as happy as you deserve to be." 
 
 Sarah felt an unaccountable chill at her heart, as this burst of 
 feeling escaped from the surgeon ; but Wellmere offering his 
 hand, she was led before the divine, and the ceremony began.
 
 206 THE SPY. 
 
 1 he first words of this imposing office produced a dead stillness 
 in the apartment ; and the minister of God proceeded to the 
 solemn exhortation, and witnessed the plighted troth of the par 
 ties, when the investiture with the ring was to follow. It had 
 been left, from inadvertency, and the agitation of the moment, 
 where Sitgreaves had placed it ; a slight interruption was occa 
 sioned by the circumstance, and the clergyman was about to 
 proceed, when a figure glided into the midst of the party, that 
 at once put a stop to the ceremony. It was the pedler. His 
 sunken and cowering eye no longer avoided the look of others, 
 but glared wildly around him ; and his whole frame was agitated 
 by an exertion that had shaken even his iron nerves. But all 
 these emotions passed away like shadows from a fleeting cloud, 
 and assuming a look of deep humility, and habitual respect, he 
 turned to the bridegroom, and bowing low, said " Can Colonel 
 Wellmere waste the precious moments here, when his wife has 
 crossed the ocean to meet him ? The nights are long, and the 
 moon bright; a few hours' riding would take him to the city." 
 
 Aghast at the suddenness of this extraordinary address, Well- 
 mere for a moment lost the command of his faculties. To Sarah, 
 the countenance of Birch, wild and agitated as it was, produced 
 no terror; but the instant she recovered from the surprise of his 
 interruption, she turned her anxious gaze on the features of the 
 man to whom she had just pledged herself for life. They af 
 forded the most terrible confirmation of all that the pedler 
 affirmed ; the room whirled round with her, and she fell lifeless 
 into the arms of her aunt. There is an instinctive delicacy in 
 women, that for a time seems to conquer all other emotions, 
 however powerful, and through its impulse, the insensible bride 
 was immediately conveyed from sight by her friends, and the 
 parlour was occupied only by the wondering group of men. 
 
 The confusion of the fall of Sarah enabled the pedler to re 
 treat with the rapidity that would have baffled pursuit, had any 
 been attempted, and Wellmere stood with all eyes fixed on him 
 in ominous silence. 
 
 " 'Tis false 'tis false as hell !" he cried, striking his hand to 
 ins forehead. " I have ever denied her claim ; nor will the laws 
 of my country compel me to acknowledge it." 
 
 " But will not conscienceand the laws of God ?" asked Lawton. 
 
 Before Wellmere could reply, Singleton, who had hitherto 
 beeen supported by his servant, moved into the centre of the 
 circle, and with cheeks glowing with animation, and eyes that 
 flashed fire, exclaimed " Thus is it ever with your nation, 
 
 oud Englishman; your boasted honour, where is it? obliga- 
 . r y u ly among yourselves. But have a care," striking the 
 lull of his sabre, " each daughter of America has a claim on the
 
 THE SPY. 207 
 
 protection of her sons, and there are none so helpless, but a coun 
 tryman can be found to avenge her injuries, or redress her wrongs." 
 
 " 'Tis well, sir," said Wellmere, naughtily, and retreating to 
 wards the door" your situation protects you now : but a time 
 may come " 
 
 He had reached the entry, when a slight tap on his shoulder 
 caused him to turn his head ; it was Captain Lawton, who, 
 with a smile of peculiar meaning, beckoned to him to follow. 
 The state of Wellmere's mind was such, that he would gladly 
 have gone anywhere to avoid the gaze of horror and detestation 
 that glared 'from every eye he met. They reached the stables 
 before the trooper spoke, when he cried aloud " Bring out 
 Roanoke." 
 
 His man appeared with the steed caparisoned as when ready 
 for its master; and Lawton, coolly throwing the bridle on the 
 neck of the animal, took his pistols from the holsters, and con 
 tinued, " You said truly, Colonel Wellmere, when you pro 
 nounced George Singleton unfit for combat ; but here are wea 
 pons that have seen good service before to-day ay, and in 
 honourable hands, sir. These were the pistols of my father, 
 Colonel Wellmere ; he used them with credit in the wars with 
 France, and gave them to me to fight the battles of my country 
 with. In what better way can I serve her than in exterminating 
 a wretch who would have blasted one of her fairest flowers?" 
 
 " This injurious treatment shall meet with its reward," cried 
 the Englishman, seizing the offered weapon eagerly ; " and the 
 blood lie on the head of him who sought it." 
 
 " Amen !" said Lawton ; " but hold a moment, sir. You are 
 now free, and the passports of Washington are in your pocket ; 
 I give you the fire ; if I fall there is a steed that will outstrip 
 pursuit ; and I would advise you to retreat without much delay, 
 for even Archibald Sitgreaves would fight in such a cause nor 
 will the guard above be very apt to give quarter." 
 
 " Are you ready ?" asked Wellmere, gnashing his teeth with 
 rage. 
 
 " Stand forward, Tom, with the lights ; fire !" 
 
 Wellmere fired, and the bullion flew from the epaulette of the 
 trooper, in fifty pieces. 
 
 " Now, then, the turn is mine," said Lawton, deliberately, 
 and levelling his pistol. 
 
 " And mine !" shouted a voice, as the weapon was struck 
 from his hand ; " can you find nothing to do but to shoot at a 
 man, as if he was a turkey at a Christmas match ? By all the 
 devils in hell, 'tis the mad Virginian fall on, my boys, and take 
 him ; this is a prize not hoped for." 
 
 Unarmed, and surprised as he was, Lawton's presence of
 
 208 THE SPY. 
 
 mind did not desert him ; lie felt that lie was in the hands of 
 those from whom he was to expect no mercy ; and as four of the 
 skinners fell upon him at once, he used his gigantic strength to 
 the utmost. Three of the band grasped him by the neck and 
 arms, with an intent to clog his efforts, and pinion him with ropes. 
 The first of these he threV from him with a violence that sent 
 him against the building, where he lay for a moment stunned 
 witli the blow. But the fourth seized his legs, and unable to 
 contend with such odds, the trooper came to the earth, bringing 
 with him both of his assailants. The struggle on the ground was 
 short, but terrific ; curses, and the most -dreadful imprecations 
 were uttered by the skinners, who in vain called on three more 
 of their band, who were gazing on the combat in nerveless hor 
 ror, to assist in securing their prize. A difficulty of breathing, 
 from one of the combatants, was heard, accompanied by the stifled 
 meanings of a strangled man ; and directly one of the group arose 
 on his feet, shaking himself free from the wild grasp of the others. 
 Both Wellmere and the servant of Lawton had fled ; the former 
 to the stables and the latter to give the alarm and all was dark 
 ness. The figure that stood erect sprang into the saddle of the 
 unheeded charger; sparks of fire, from the armed feet of the 
 horse, gave light enough to discover the trooper dashing like the 
 wind towards the highway. 
 
 " By hell he's off!" cried the leader, hoarse with rage and 
 exhaustion ; " fire ! bring him down fire, I say, or you'll be 
 too late." 
 
 The order was obeyed, and one moment of awful suspense fol 
 lowed, in the vain hope of hearing the huge frame of Lawton 
 tumbling from his sleed. 
 
 ' He'd never fall if you had killed him," muttered one ; " I've 
 known them Virginians sit their horses with two or three balls 
 through them ; ay, even after they were dead." 
 
 A freshening of the blast wafted the tread of a horse down the 
 valley, which, by its speed, gave assurance of a rider governing 
 its motion. 
 
 " Them trained horses always stop when the rider falls,'' 
 observed one of the gang. 
 
 " Then," cried the leader, striking his musket on the ground 
 in a rage, " the fellow is safe !" to your business at once. A 
 short half hour will bring down that canting sergeant and the 
 guard upon us. Tis lucky if the guns don't turn them out. 
 Quick, to your posts, and fire the house in the chambers j smoking 
 ruins are good to cover evil deeds." 
 
 " What is to be done with this lump of earth ?" cried another, 
 pushing the body that yet lay insensible, where the grasp of 
 Lawton had deprived it of animation ; " a little rubbing would 
 bring him to."
 
 THE SPY. 209 
 
 " Let him lie," said the leader fiercely ; " had he been half a 
 man, that dragooning rascal would have been in my power ; 
 enter the house, I say, and fire the chambers. We can't go amiss 
 here ; there is plate and money enough to make you all gentle 
 men yes, and revenge too." 
 
 The idea of silver in any way was not to be resisted ; and, 
 leaving their companion, who began to show faint signs of life, 
 they rushed tumultuously towards the dwelling. Wellmere 
 availed himself of the opportunity, and, stealing from the stable 
 with his own charger, was able to gain the highway unnoticed. 
 For an instant he hesitated, whether to ride towards the point 
 where he knew the guard was stationed, and endeavour to rescue 
 the family, or, profiting by his liberty, and the exchange that 
 had been effected by the divine, to seek the royal army. Shame, 
 and the consciousness of guilt, determined him to take the latter 
 course, and he rode towards New York, stung with the reflection 
 of his own baseness, and harassed with the apprehension of meet 
 ing with an enraged woman, that he had married during his late 
 visit to England, but whose claims, so soon as his passion was 
 sated, he had resolved never willingly to admit. In the tumult 
 and agitation of the moment, the retreat of Lawton and Wellmere 
 was but little noticed ; the condition of Mr. Wharton. and the 
 exhaustion that succeeded the excitement of George Singleton, 
 demanding the care and consolation of both the surgeon and the 
 divine. The report of fire-arms first aroused the family to the 
 sense of a new danger, and but a minute elapsed before the leader, 
 and one more of the gang, entered the room. 
 
 "Surrender! you servants of King George," shouted the 
 leader, presenting his musket to the breast of Sitgreaves, "or I 
 will let a little of your tory blood from your veins." 
 
 "Gently gently, my friend," said the surgeon; "you are 
 doubtless more expert in inflicting wounds, than in healing them ; 
 the weapon that you hold so indiscreetly is extremely dangerous 
 to animal life." 
 
 " Yield, then, or take its contents," exclaimed tlie other. 
 
 " Why and wherefore should I yield ? I am a practitioner of 
 medicine, and a non-combatant. The articles of capitulation 
 must be arranged with Captain John Lawton, though yielding, 
 I believe, is not a subject on which you will find him particu 
 larly complying." 
 
 The fellow had by this time taken such a survey of the group, 
 as convinced him that little danger was to be apprehended from 
 resistance, and, eager to seize his share of the plunder, he dropped 
 his musket, and was soon busy, with the assistance of one of his 
 men, in arranging divers articles of plate in bags, so that it would 
 be in the most convenient situation to accompany them in their 
 
 T
 
 210 THE SPY. 
 
 retreat. The cottage now presented a most singular spectacle; 
 the ladies were gathered around Sarah, who yet continued insen 
 sible, in one of the rooms that had escaped the notice of the 
 marauders. Mr. W barton sat in a state of perfect imbecility, 
 listening to, but not profiting by, the words of comfort that fell 
 from the lips of the clergyman, who soon became too much ter 
 rified with the scene to offer them. Singleton was lying on a 
 sofa, shaking with debility, and inattentive to surrounding objects; 
 while the surgeon was administering restoratives, and looking at 
 the dressings, with a coolness that mocked the tumult. Caesar, 
 and the attendant of Captain Singleton, had retreated to the 
 wood in the rear of the cottage, and Katy Haynes was flying 
 about the building, busily employed in forming a bundle of va 
 luables, from which, with the most scrupulous honesty, she re 
 jected every article that was not really and truly her own. 
 
 But to return to the party at the Four Corners. When the 
 veteran had got his men mounted and under arms, a restless de 
 sire to participate in the glory and dangers of the expedition, 
 came over the washerwoman. Whether she was impelled to the 
 undertaking by a dread of remaining alone, or a wish to hasten 
 in person to the relief of her favourite, we will not venture to 
 assert ; but, as Hollister was unwillingly giving the orders to 
 wheel and march, the voice of Betty was heard, exclaiming 
 " Stop a bit, Sargeant dear, till two of the boys git out the cart, 
 and I'll jist ride wid yee ; 'tis like there'll be wounded, and it 
 will be mighty convanient to bring them home in." 
 
 Although inwardly much pleased with any cause of delay to a 
 service that he so little relished, Hollister affected some displea 
 sure at the detention, and replied " Nothing but a cannon ball 
 can take one of my lads from his charger, and it's not very likely 
 that we shall have as fair fighting as cannon and musketry, in a 
 business of the evil one's inventing ; so, Elizabeth, you may go 
 if you will, but the cart will not be wanting." 
 
 " Now, Sargeant dear, you lie, any way," said Betty, who 
 was somewhat unduly governed by her potations ; " and wasn't 
 Captain Singleton shot off his horse but tin days gone by ? ay, 
 and Captaiu Jack himself too ; and didn't he lie on the ground, 
 face uppermost, and back downwards, looking grim ? and didn't 
 the boys tink him dead, and turn and lave the rig'Iars the day ?" 
 
 " You lie back again," cried the Sergeant, fiercely ; " and so 
 does any one who says that we didn't gain the day." 
 
 " For a bit or so only I mane for a bit or so," said the washer 
 woman ; " but Major Dunwoodie turned you, and so you lick'd 
 the risr'lars. But the Captain it was that fell, and I'm thinking 
 that there's no better rider going ; so, Sargeant, it's the cart that 
 will be convaniont. Here, two of you, jist hitch the mare to thn
 
 THE SPY. 211 
 
 tills, and it's no whiskey that yee'll be wanting the morrow ; and 
 put the piece of Jinny's hide under the pad ; the baste is never 
 (-he better for the rough ways of the county West Chester." The 
 consent of the Sergeant being obtained, the equipage of Mrs. 
 Flanagan was soon in readiness to receive its burden. 
 
 " As it is quite uncertain whether we shall be attacked in front 
 or rear," said Hollister, "five of you shall march in advance, 
 and the remainder shall cover our retreat towards the barrack, 
 should we be pressed. 'Tis an awful moment to a man of little 
 learning, Elizabeth, to command in such a service ; for my part, 
 I wish devoutly that one of the officers were here ; but my trust 
 is in the Lord." 
 
 " Pooh ! man, away wid yee," said the washerwoman, who 
 had got herself comfortably seated ; " the divil a bit of an inimy 
 is there near. March on hurry-scurry, and lit the mare trot, or 
 it's but little that Captain Jack will thank yee for the help." 
 
 " Although unlearned in matters of communicating with spi 
 rits, or laying the dead, Mrs. Flanagan," said the veteran, " I 
 have not served through the old war, and five years in this, not 
 to know how to guard the baggage. Doesn't Washington always 
 cover the baggage ? I am not to be told my duty by a camp 
 follower. Fall in as you are ordered, and dress." 
 
 " Well, march any way," cried the impatient washerwoman ; 
 "the black is there already, and it's tardy the Captain will 
 think yee." 
 
 " Are you sure that it was really a black man that brought 
 the order ?" said the Sergeant, dropping in between the platoons, 
 where he could converse with Betty, and was equally at hand to 
 lead either way. 
 
 " Nay," said the washerwoman, " and I'm sure of nothing, 
 dear. But why don't the boys prick their horses, and jog a trot ? 
 the mare is mighty unasy, and it's no warm in this cursed valley, 
 riding as much like a funeral party as old rags is to continental." 
 
 " Fairly and softly, ay, and prudently, Mrs. Flanagan," said 
 the veteran ; " it's not rashness that makes the good officer. If 
 it is a spirit that we have to encounter, it's more than likely that 
 he'll make his attack by surprise ; horses are not very powerful 
 in the dark, and I have a character to lose, good woman." 
 
 " Caractur," echoed Betty, " and isn't it caractur, and life too, 
 that Captain Jack has to lose ?" 
 
 " Halt !" cried the Sergeant : " what is that lurking near the 
 foot of the rock, on the left ?" 
 
 " Sure, it's nothing," said the uneasy washerwoman, " unless 
 it be the matter of Captain Jack's sowl that's come to haunt yee, 
 for not being brisker on the march." 
 
 " Betty, 'tis foolishness to talk in such a way. Advance, one
 
 212 THE SPY. 
 
 of you, and reconnoitre the spot draw swords ! rear rank, close 
 to the front !" 
 
 " Pshaw ! shouted Betty, " is it a big fool or a big coward 
 that ye are ? jist wheel from the road, boys, and I'll shove the 
 mare down upon it in the twinkling of an eye and it's no ghost 
 that I fear." 
 
 By this time one of the men had returned, and declared there 
 was nothing to prevent their advancing, and the party continued 
 their march, but with great deliberation and caution. 
 
 " Courage and prudence are the jewels of a soldier, Mrs. Fla 
 nagan," said the Sergeant ; " and without the one, the other 
 may be said to be good for nothing." 
 
 " Prudence without courage," cried the other, " is it that you 
 mane? and it's so that I'm thinking myself, Sargeant, This 
 baste pulls tight on the reins, any way." 
 
 " Be patient, good woman hark ! what is that ?" said Hoi- 
 lister, pricking up his ears at the report of Wellmere's pistol ; 
 " I'll swear 'tis a pistol, and one from our regiment. Hark ! 
 rear rank close to the front ! Mrs. Flanagan, I must leave you." 
 So saying, having recovered all his faculties, by hearing a mar 
 tial sound that he understood, he placed himself at the head of 
 his men with an air of military pride, that the darkness prevented 
 the washerwoman from beholding. A volley of musketry now 
 rattled in the night wind, and the Sergeant exclaimed " March ! 
 quick time !" 
 
 " The next instant the trampling of a horse was heard coming 
 up the road, at a rate that announced a matter of life or death ; 
 and Hollister again halted his party, and rode at a short distance 
 in front himself to meet the rider. 
 
 "Stand! who goes there?" shouted Hollister, in the full 
 tones of manly resolution." 
 
 " Ha ! Hollister, is it yon ?" cried Lawton, " ever ready and 
 at your post ; but where is the guard ?" 
 
 ' At hand, sir, and ready to follow you through thick and 
 thin," said the veteran, relieved at once from his responsibility, 
 and now eager to be led against his enemy. 
 
 ' 'Tis well," said the trooper, riding up to his men ; and, 
 speaking a few words of encouragement, he led them down the 
 valley at a rate but little less rapid than his approach. Tha 
 miserable horse of the sutler was soon distanced, and Betty, thus 
 thrown out in the chase, turned to the side of the road, and ob 
 served " There it's no difficult to tell that Captain Jack is 
 wid'em, any way ; and it's the funeral that's soon over now ; 
 and away they go like so many nagur boys to a husking frolic ; 
 well, I'll jist hitch the mare to this bit of a fence, and walk 
 down and see the sport, a-foot it's no reasonable to expose the 
 baste to be hurled."
 
 THE SPY". 213 
 
 Led on by Lawton, the men followed, destitute alike of fear 
 and reflection. Whether it was a party of the refugees, or a 
 detachment from the royal army, that they were to assail, they 
 were profoundly ignorant ; but they knew that the officer in 
 advance was distinguished for courage and personal prowess, and 
 these are virtues that are sure to captivate the thoughtless sol 
 diery. On arriving near the gate of the Locusts, the trooper 
 halted his party, and made his arrangements for the assault. 
 Dismounting, he ordered eight of his men to follow his example, 
 and turning to Hollister, said " Stand you here, and guard the 
 horses ; but if any thing attempts to pass, stop it or cut it down, 
 and " The flames at this moment burst through the dormant 
 windows and cedar roof of the cottage, and a bright light glared 
 on the darkness of the night. " On," shouted the trooper, " on 
 give quarter when you have done justice." 
 
 There was a startling fierceness in the voice of the trooper that 
 reached to the heart, even amid the horrors of the cottage. The 
 leader of the skinners dropped his plunder, and, for a moment, 
 stood in nerveless dread ; then rushing to a window, he threw up 
 the sash; at this instant Lawton entered, sabre in hand, into 
 the apartment. 
 
 " Die, miscreant !' ? cried the trooper, cleaving the other ma 
 rauder to the jaw, but the leader sprang into the lawn, and 
 escaped his vengeance. The shrieks of the appalled females re 
 stored Lawton to his presence of mind, and the earnest entreaty 
 of the divine induced him to attend to the safety of the family. 
 One more of the gang fell in with the dragoons, and met with a 
 similar fate, but the remainder had taken the alarm in season to 
 escape. Occupied with Sarah, neither Miss Singleton, nor the 
 ladies of the house discovered the entrance of the skinners, while 
 the flames were raging around them with a fury that threatened 
 the building with rapid destruction. The shrieks of Katy, and 
 of the terrified consort of Caesar, together with the noise and 
 uproar in the adjacent apartment, first roused Miss Peyton and 
 Isabella to a sense of their danger. 
 
 " Merciful Providence !" exclaimed the alarmed spinster, 
 " there is a dreadful confusion in the house, and there will be 
 bloodshed in consequence of this affair." 
 
 " There are none to fight," returned Isabella, with a face 
 paler than that of the other ; Dr. Sitgreaves is very peaceable in 
 his disposition, and surely Captain Lawton would not forget him 
 self so far." 
 
 " The southern temper is quick and fiery," continued Miss 
 Peyton ; " arid your brother, feeble and weak as he is, has 
 looked the whole afternoon flushed and angry." 
 
 " Good heaven !" cried Isabella, with difficulty supporting 
 
 T 3
 
 214 THE Sl'V. 
 
 herself on the couch of Sarah ; " he is gentle as the lamb by 
 nature, though the lion is not his equal when roused." 
 
 " We must interfere," said the spinster ; " our presence will 
 quell the tumult, and possibly save the life of a fellow creature." 
 
 Miss Peyton was excited to attempt what she conceived was a 
 duty worthy of her sex and nature, and she advanced with all the 
 dignity of injured female feeling to the door, followed by Isabella, 
 whose energy had returned, and whose eye, by its sparkling bril 
 liancy, announced a soul equal to its task. The apartment to 
 which Sarah had been conveyed was in one of the wings of the 
 building, and communicated with the principal hall of the cot 
 tage by a long, and, usually, dark passage. This was now light, 
 and across its termination several figures were noticed, rushing 
 with an impetuosity that prevented an examination of their 
 employment. 
 
 " Let us advance," said the spinster, with a firmness that her 
 face belied : " they surely must respect our sex." 
 
 " They shall," cried Isabella, taking the lead in the enterprise ; 
 and Frances was left alone with her sister. A few minutes were 
 passed in silence by the maid, as she stood earnestly gazing on 
 the pale countenance of Sarah, watching her reviving looks with 
 an anxiety that prevented her observing the absence of her 
 friends, when a loud crash in the upper apartments was succeeded 
 by a bright light that glared through the open door, and made 
 objects as distinct to the eye as if they were placed under a noon 
 day sun. Sarah raised herself on her bed, and staring wildly 
 around, pressed both her hands on her forehead, as if endea 
 vouring to recollect events, and then smiling vacantly on her 
 sister, said " This, then, is heaven and you are one of its 
 bright spirits. Oh ! how glorious is its radiance ! I had thought 
 the happiness I have lately experienced was too much for earth. 
 But we shall meet again yes yes we will meet again." 
 
 " Sarah ! Sarah !" cried Frances, in terror ; " my sister ! my 
 only sister ! Oh ! do not smile so horridly : know me, or you 
 will break my heart." 
 
 " Hush," said Sarah, raising her hand for silence ; "you may 
 disturb his rest surely he will follow me to the grave. Think 
 you there can be two wives in the grave? No no no one 
 one one only one." 
 
 Frances dropped her head into the lap of her sister, and wept 
 in agony. 
 
 " Do you shed tears, sweet angel ?" continued Sarah, sooth 
 ingly ; " then heaven is not exempt from grief. But where is 
 Henry ? He was executed, and he must be here too ; but perhaps 
 they will come together. Oh, how joyful will be the meeting !" 
 
 Frances sprang on her feet, and paced the apartment in a bit-
 
 THE SPY. 215 
 
 terness of sorrow that she could not control. The eye of Sarah 
 followed her in childish admiration of her beauty, and her attire, 
 which had been adapted to the occasion, and 'then pressing her 
 hand across her forehead, she said "You look like my sister; 
 but all good and lovely spirits are alike. Tell me, were you ever 
 married ? Did you ever let another, and a stranger, steal your 
 affections from your father, and brother, and sister, as I have done ? 
 If not, poor wretch, I pity you, although you may be in heaven." 
 
 " Sarah peace, peace I implore you to be silent," shrieked 
 Frances, again rushing to her bed, " or you will kill me at your 
 feet." 
 
 Another dreadful crash was heard, 'that shook the building to 
 its centre. It was the falling of the roof, and the flames threw 
 their light abroad, so as to make objects visible around the cot 
 tage through the windows of the room. Frances flew to one of 
 them, and saw the confused group that was collected on the 
 lawn. Among them were her aunt and Isabella, pointing with 
 distraction to the fiery edifice, and apparently urging the dra 
 goons, who were near them, to enter it. It was the first time the 
 inuid comprehended their danger, and uttering a wild shriek, she 
 fl<;\v through the passage instinctively, without consideration or 
 obj"Ct. 
 
 A dense and suffocating column of smoke opposed her pro 
 gress. She paused to breathe, when a man caught her in his 
 arms, and bore her, in a state of insensibility, through the falling 
 embers and darkness to the open air. The instant that Frances 
 recovered her recollection, she perceived that it was to Lawton 
 she owed her life, and throwing herself on her knees before him, 
 she cried " Sarah ! Sarah ! Sarah ! Save my sister, and may 
 the blessing of God await you." 
 
 Her strength failed her, and she sunk on the grass in insensi 
 bility. The trooper pointed to her figure, and motioned to Katy 
 for assistance, and then advanced once more near to the building. 
 The fire had already communicated to the wood-work of th 
 piazzas and windows, and the whole exterior of the cottage was 
 covered with smoke. The only entrance was through these 
 dangers, and even the hardy and impetuous Lawton paused to 
 consider. It was for a moment only, and he dashed into the 
 heat and darkness, where, missing the entrance, he wandered for 
 a minute, and precipitated himself back again upon the lawn. 
 Drawing a single breath of pure air, he renewed the effort, and 
 was again unsuccessful ; but on a third trial, he met a man stag 
 gering under the load of a human body. It was neither the 
 place, nor was there time, to question or to make distinctions, 
 and the trooper caught both together in his arms, and, with gi 
 gantic strength, bore them through the smoke. He soon per-
 
 216 ' THE SPY. 
 
 ceived, to his astonishment, that it was the surgeon and the body 
 of one of the skinners that he had saved. 
 
 " Archibald !" he exclaimed, " why, in the name of justice, 
 did you bring this dead miscreant to light again ? His deeds are 
 rank to heaven !" 
 
 The operator was too much bewildered to reply instantly, but 
 wiping the moisture from his forehead, and clearing his lungs 
 from the vapour that he had inhaled, he said, piteously " Ah ! 
 it is all over. Had I been in time to have stopped the effusion 
 from the jugular, he might have been saved ; but the heat was 
 conducive to hemorrage ; yes, life is extinct indeed. Well, are 
 there any more wounded ?" 
 
 His question was put to the air, for Frances was removed to 
 the opposite side of the building, where her friends were col 
 lected, and Lawton once more had disappeared in the smoke. 
 
 By this time the flames had dispersed much of the suffocating 
 vapour, so that the trooper was able to find the door, and in its 
 very entrance he was met by a man supporting the insensible 
 Sarah in his arms. There was but barely time to reach the lawn 
 again, before the fire broke through all the windows, and 
 wrapped the whole building in a single sheet of flame. 
 
 " God be praised !" ejaculated the preserver of Sarah ; " it 
 would have been a dreadful death to have died." 
 
 The trooper turned from gazing at the edifice, to the speaker, 
 and, to his astonishment, instead of one of his own men, beheld 
 the pedler. 
 
 " Ha ! the spy," he exclaimed ; " By heavens, you cross me 
 like a spectre." 
 
 " Captain Lawton." said Birch, leaning in momentary ex 
 haustion against the fence to which they had retired from the heat, 
 " I am again in your power, for I can neither flee nor resist." 
 
 " The cause of America is dear to me as life," said the troop 
 er ; " but she cannot require me to forget both gratitude and 
 honour. Fly, unhappy man, while yet you are unseen by my 
 men, or I cannot save you." 
 
 ' May God prosper you, and make you victorious over your 
 enemies," cried Birch, grasping the hand of the dragoon with 
 an iron strength that his meagre figure did not indicate. 
 
 "Hold!" said Lawton, "but a word are you what you 
 seem ? can you are you " 
 
 " A royal spy," interrupted Birch, averting his face, and en 
 deavouring to release his hand. 
 
 " Then go, miserable wretch," said the trooper, relinquishing his 
 grasp ; '' cither avarice or delusion has led a noble heart astray." 
 
 The bright light from the flames reached to a great distance 
 around what was left of the building, but the words were hardly
 
 THK SPY. 217 
 
 passed the lips of Law ton, before the gaunt form of the pedler 
 had glided over the visible space, and plunged into the darkness 
 beyond, which was rendered more gloomy by the contrast. The 
 eye of Lawton rested for a moment on the spot where he had 
 last seen this inexplicable man, and then turning to the yet in 
 sensible Sarah, he lifted her in his arms, and bore her, like a 
 sleeping infant, to the care of her friends. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 " And now her charms are fading fast 
 Her spirits now no more are gay : 
 Alas 1 that beauty cannot last 
 That flowers so sweet so soon decay ! 
 How sad appears 
 The vale of years, 
 How chang'd from youth's too flattering scene ? 
 
 Where are her fond admirers gone ? 
 
 Alas ! and shall there then be none 
 On whom her soul may lean?" Cynthia's Graoe. 
 
 THE torrent asd the blast can mar the loveliest scenes in nature ; 
 war, with his ruthless hand, may rival the elements in their 
 work of destruction ; but it is passion alone that can lay waste 
 the human heart. The whirlwind and the flood have duration 
 in their existence, and have bounds for their fury ; the earth re 
 covers from the devastation of the conflict with a fertility that 
 seems enriched by the blood of its victims ; but there are feel 
 ings that no human agency can limit, and mental wounds which 
 are beyond the art of man to heal. 
 
 For some years Sarah Wharton had indulged in reflections on 
 the person and character of Wellmere, that were natural to her 
 sex and situation; and now, when these transient recollections 
 were become permanent from security, and she looked forward 
 to the moment that she was to take the most momentous step of 
 her life, with that engrossing passion which marks a woman's 
 love, the discovery of his real character was a blow too heavy 
 for her faculties to bear. It has already been seen that her first 
 indications of returning life were unaccompanied by a conscious 
 ness of what had so recently occurred, nor did her friends, on 
 receiving her from the arms of the trooper, recover more than 
 the lovely image of her whom they had once known. 
 
 The walls of the cottage were all that was left of the building ; 
 and these, blackened by smoke, and stripped of their piazzas 
 and ornaments, served only as dreary memorials of the peaceful 
 contentment and security that had so lately reigned within. The 
 roof, together with the rest of the wood-work, had tumbled into 
 the cellars, and a pale and flitting light, ascending from their 
 embers, shone faintly through the windows on objects in the 
 lawn. The early flight of the skinners left the dragoons at li
 
 218 THE SPY. 
 
 berty to exert themselves in saving from the flames much of the 
 furniture, which lay scattered in heaps, giving the finishing touch 
 of desolation to the scene. Whenever a stronger ray of light 
 than common shot upwards, the composed figures of Sergeant 
 Hollister and his associates, sitting on their horses in rigid disci 
 pline, were to be seen in the back ground of the picture, toge 
 ther with the beast of Mrs. Flanagan, that, having slipt its 
 bridle, was quietly grazing by the highway. Betty herself had 
 advanced to where the Sergeant was posted, and, with an incre 
 dible degree of composure, witnessed the whole of the events as 
 they occurred. More than once she suggested to her companion, 
 that, as the fighting seemed to be over, the proper time for 
 plunder had arrived ; but the veteran promptly acquainted her 
 with his orders, and remained both inflexible and immovable ; 
 until the washerwoman, noticing Lawton to come round the 
 wing of the building with Sarah, ventured by herself amongst 
 the warriors. The Captain, after placing Sarah on a sofa that 
 had been hurled from the building by two of his men, retired with 
 delicacy, that th ladies might succeed him in his care, and in 
 order to reflect on what further was necessary to be done. Miss 
 Peyton and her niece flew, with a rapture that was blessed with 
 a momentary forgetfulness of all but her preservation, to receive 
 Sarah from the trooper; but the vacant eye, and flushed cheek, 
 restored them instantly to their recollection. 
 
 " Sarah, my child, my beloved niece," said the spinster, fold 
 ing her in her arms, " you are saved, and may the blessing of 
 God await him who has been the instrument." 
 
 " See," said Sarah," gently pushing her aunt aside, and point 
 ing to the glimmering ruins, " the windows are illuminated in 
 honour of my arrival. They always receive a bride thus he 
 told me so; listen, and you will hear the bells." 
 
 ' Here is no bride, no rejoicing, nothing but woe," cried Fran 
 ces, in a manner but little less frantic than that of her sister ; 
 " Oh ! may Heaven restore you, my sister, to us to yourself." 
 
 " Peace, foolish young woman," said Sarah, with a smile of 
 affected pity ; " all cannot be happy at the same moment ; per 
 haps you have no brother, or no husband, to console you ; you 
 look beautiful, and you will yet find one ; but," she continued, 
 dropping her voice to a whisper, " see that he has no other wife 
 'tis dreadful to think what might happen, should he be twice 
 married.''' 
 
 "The shock has destroyed her mind," said Miss Peyton, 
 shaking with apprehension, and clasping her hands in agony ; 
 "my child, my beauteous Sarah is a maniac." 
 
 " No, no, no," cried Frances, " it is fever ; she is light-headed 
 she must recover she shall recover."
 
 THR SPY. 219 
 
 The aunt caught joyfully at the hope conveyed in this sug 
 gestion, and despatched Katy to request the immediate aid and 
 advice of Dr. Sitgreaves. The operator was found inquiring 
 among the men for professional employment, and inquisitively 
 examining every bruise and scratch that he could induce the 
 sturdy warriors to acknowledge they had received. A summons 
 of the sort conveyed by Katy was instantly obeyed, and not a 
 minute elapsed before he was by the side of Miss Peyton. 
 
 " This is a melancholy termination to so joyful a commence 
 ment of the night, madam," he observed with a soothing man 
 ner ; " but war must bring its attendant miseries, though doubt 
 less it often supports the cause of liberty, and improves the know 
 ledge of surgical science." 
 
 Miss Peyton could make no reply, but pointed to her niece in 
 agony. 
 
 " 'Tis fever," answered Frances ; " see how glassy is her eye ; 
 and look at her cheek, how flushed." 
 
 The surgeon stood for a moment deeply studying the outward 
 symptoms of his patient, and then silently took her hand into 
 his own. It was seldom that the hard and abstracted features 
 of the operator discovered any violent emotion ; all his passions 
 seemed schooled to the most classical dignity, and his counte 
 nance did not often betray what his heart so frequently felt. In 
 the present instance, however, the eager gaze of the aunt and 
 sister soon detected the emotions of Sitgreaves. After laying 
 his fingers for a minute on the beautiful arm, which, bared to the 
 elbow, and glittering with jewels, Sarah suffered him to retain, 
 he dropped it with a heavy sigh, and dashing his hand over his 
 eyes, turned sorrowfully to Miss Peyton as he said " Here is 
 no fever to excite 'tis a case, my dear madam, for time and care 
 only : these, with the blessing of God, may effect a cure." 
 
 " And where is the wretch who has caused this ruin ?" ex 
 claimed Singleton, rejecting the support of his man, and making 
 an effort to rise from the chair, where the care of his sister had 
 placed him. " It is in vain that we overcome our enemies, if, 
 conquered, they can still inflict such wounds as this." 
 
 " Dost think, foolish boy," said Lawton, with a bitter smile ; 
 " that hearts can feel in a colony ? What is America but a 
 satellite of England to move as she moves, follow where she 
 wiste, and shine, that the mother country may become more 
 splendid by her radiance ? Surely you forget that it is honour 
 enough for a colonist to receive ruin from the hand of a child of 
 Britain." 
 
 " I forget not that I wear a sword," said Singleton, falling 
 back exhausted ; " but was there no willing arm ready to avenge 
 that lovely sufferer to appease the wrongs of this hoary father?"
 
 220 THR SPY. 
 
 " Neither amis nor hearts are wanting, sir, in such a cause," 
 said the trooper, fiercely ; " but chance oftentimes helps the 
 wicked. By heavens, I'd give Roanoke himself for a clear 
 field with the miscreant." 
 
 " Nay ! captain dear, no be parting with the horse, any way," 
 said Betsy, with a significant look ; " it is no trifle that can be 
 had by jist asking, and the baste is sure of foot, and jumps like 
 a squirrel." 
 
 "Woman!" cried Lawton, "fifty horses, ay, the best that 
 were ever reared on the banks of the Potomac, would be but a 
 paltry price for one blow at such a villain.' 1 
 
 " Come," said the surgeon, " the night air can do no service 
 to George or these ladies, and it is incumbent on us to remove 
 them where they can find surgical attendance and refreshment. 
 Hereisnothing butsmoking ruins and the miasmaof the swamps.'' 
 
 To this rational proposition no objection could be raised, and 
 the necessary orders were issued by Lawton to remove the whole 
 party to the Four Corner?. America furnished but few and very 
 indifferent carriage makers at the period of which we write, and 
 every vehicle, that in the least aspired to the dignity of patrician 
 notice, was the manufacture of a London mechanic. When Mr. 
 Wharton left the city, he was one of the very few who main 
 tained the state of a carriage in their establishments, and at the 
 time that Miss Peyton and his daughters joined him in his re 
 tirement, they had been conveyed to the cottage in the heavy 
 chariot that had once so imposingly rolled through the windings 
 of Queen-street, or emerged with sombre dignity into the more 
 spacious drive of Broadway. This vehicle, stood, undisturbed, 
 where it had been placed on its arrival, and the ages of the 
 horses had alone protected the favourites of Caesar from seques 
 tration, by the contending forces in their neighbourhood. With 
 a heavy heart, the black, assisted by a few of the dragoons, pro 
 ceeded to prepare it for the reception of the ladies. It was a 
 cumbrous vehicle, whose faded linings and tarnished hammer- 
 cloth, together with its pannels of changing colour, denoted the 
 want of that art which had once given it lustre and beauty. 
 The " lion couchant" of the Wharton arms was reposing on the 
 reviving splendour of a blazonry that told the armorial bearings 
 of a prince of the church ; and the mitre, that already began to 
 shine through its American mask, was a symbol of the rank of 
 its original owner. The chaise which conveyed Miss Singleton 
 was also safe, for the stable and out buildings had entirely es 
 caped the flames ; it certainly had been no part of the plan of 
 the marauders to leave so well appointed a stud behind them, 
 but the suddenness of the attack by Lawton, not only discon 
 certed their arrangements on this point, but on many others also.
 
 TliK SPY. 221 
 
 A guard was left on tlie ground, under tlie command of Hoi- 
 lister, who, having discovered that his enemy was of mortal 
 mould, took his position with admirable coolness, and no little 
 skill, to guard against surprise. He drew off his small party to 
 such a distance from the ruins, that it was effectually concealed 
 in the darkness, while at the same time the light continued suf 
 ficiently powerful to discover any one who might approach the 
 lawn with an intent to plunder. 
 
 Satisfied with this judicious arrangement, Captain Lawton 
 made his dispositions for the march ; Mis Peyton, her two 
 nieces, and Isabella were placed in the chariot, while the cart of 
 Mrs. Flanagan, being amply supplied with blankets and a bed, 
 was honoured with the persons of Captain Singleton and his 
 man. Dr. Sitgreaves took charge of tlie chaise and Mr. Whar- 
 ton. What became of the rest of the family during that event 
 ful night is unknown ; for Caesar alone, of the domestics, was to 
 be found, if we except the housekeeper. Having disposed of 
 the whole party in this manner, Lawton gave the word march. 
 He remained himself for a few minutes alone on the lawn, se 
 creting various pieces of plate and other valuables, that he was 
 fearful might tempt the cupidity of his own men ; when, per 
 ceiving nothing more that he conceived likely to overcome their 
 honesty, he threw himself into the saddle with the soldierly in 
 tention of bringing up the rear. 
 
 " Stop, stop," cried a female voice; "will you leave me alone 
 to be murdered? the spoon is melted, I believe, and I'll have 
 compirsation if there's law or justice in the land." 
 
 Lawton turned an inquiring eye in the direction of tlie sound, 
 and perceived a female emerging from the ruins, loaded with an 
 enormous bundle, that vied in size with the renowned pack of 
 the pedler. 
 
 ** Who have we here," said the trooper, " rising like a phre- 
 nix from the flames? Oh ! by tlie soul of Hippocrates, but it is 
 the identical she-doctor, of (unions needle reputation. Well, 
 good woman, what means this outcry?" 
 
 " Outcry !" echoed Katy, panting for breath ; " is it not dis 
 paragement enough to lose a silver spoon, but I must be left alone 
 in this lonesome place, to be robbed, and perhaps murdered ? 
 Harvey would not serve me so : when I lived with Harvey, I 
 was always treated with respect at least, if he was a little close 
 with his secrets, and wasteful with his money." 
 
 " Then, madam, you once formed part of the nousehold of 
 Mr. Harvey Birch ?" 
 
 " You may say I was the whole of his household," returned 
 the other ; " there was nobody but I, arid he, and the old gentle 
 man ; you didn't know the old gentleman, did you ?" 
 
 u
 
 222 TIIK SPY. 
 
 " That happiness was deuied me," said Lawton ; "but how 
 long did you live in the family of this Birch ?" 
 
 " I disremember the precise time," said Katy ; " but it must 
 have been hard on upou nine years: but what better am I for 
 it all?" 
 
 " Sure enough, I can see but little benefit that you have de 
 rived from the association truly. But is there not something odd 
 in Mr. Birch ?" 
 
 " Odd indeed," replied Katy, lowering her voice and looking 
 around her ; " he was a wonderful disregardful man, and minded 
 a guinea no more than I do a karnal of corn. But help me to 
 some way of joining Miss Jinitt, and I will tell you prodigies of 
 what Harvey lias done, first and last." 
 
 " You will !" exclaimed the trooper, musing ; "here, give me 
 leave to feel your arm above the elbow. There it is no small 
 matter of bone that you have, I see." So saying, he gave the 
 spinster a sudden whirl that at once destroyed her philosophy of 
 mind, and effectually confused all her faculties until she found 
 herself safely, if not comfortably, seated on the crupper of Law- 
 ton's steed. 
 
 " Now, madam, you have the consolation of knowing that you 
 are as well mounted as heart can wish. The nag is sure of foot, 
 and will leap like a panther." 
 
 " Let me get down," cried Katy, struggling to release herself 
 from his iron grasp, and yet afraid of falling ; " this is no way to 
 put a woman on a horse ; besides, I can't ride without a pillion." 
 
 " Softly, good inadam," said Lawton ; for although Roanoke 
 never falls before, he sometimes rises behind. He is far from 
 being accustomed to a pair of heels beating upon his flanks like 
 a drum-major on a field-day ; a single touch of the spur will 
 serve him for a fortnight, and it's by uo means wise to be kicking 
 in this manner, for he is a horse that but little likes to be outdone." 
 
 " Let me down, I say," screamed Katy ; " I shall fall and be 
 killed. Besides, I have nothing to hold on with ; my arms are 
 full, don't you see ?" 
 
 " True," returned the trooper, observing that he bad brought 
 bundle and all from the ground ; " I perceive that you belong to 
 tlie baggage guard ; but my sword-belt will encircle your little 
 waist as well as my own." 
 
 Katy was too much pleased with this compliment to make any 
 resistance while he buckled her close to his own Herculean frame, 
 and, driving a spur into his charger, they flew from the lawn 
 with a rapidity that defied further denial. After proceeding for 
 some time, at a rate that discomposed the spinster vastly, they 
 overtook the cart of the washerwoman driving slowly over the 
 stones, with a proper consideration for the wounds of Captain
 
 Singleton. The occurrences of that eventful night had produced 
 an excitement in the young soldier, that was followed by the 
 ordinary lassitude of reaction, and he lay carefully enveloped in 
 blankets, and supported by his man, but little able to converse, 
 though deeply brooding over the past. The dialogue between 
 Law ton and his companion ceased with the commencement of 
 their motions, but a foot pace being more favourable to speech, 
 the trooper began anew " Then you have been an inmate in 
 the same house with Harvey Birch .'" 
 
 " For more as nine years," said Katy, drawing her breath, 
 and rejoicing greatly that their speed was abated. 
 
 The deep tones of the trooper's voice were soon conveyed by 
 the night air to the ears of the washerwoman, and turning her 
 head, where she sat directing the movements of her mare, she 
 heard both question and answer. 
 
 " Belike, then, good woman, yee'r knowing whether or no 
 he's akin to Beelzeboob," said Betty; " it's Sargeant Hollister 
 who's saying the same, and no fool is the Sargeant,' any way." 
 
 " It's a scandalous disparagement," cried Katy, most vehe 
 mently ; " there's no kinder soul than Harvey that carries a 
 pack ; and for a gownd or a tidy apron, he will never take a 
 king's farthing from a friend. Beelzeboob indeed ! For what 
 would he read the Bible, if he had dealings with the evil spirit?" 
 
 '' He's an honest divil, any way, as I was saying before," 
 returned Betty ; " the guinea was pure. But then the Sargeant 
 thinks him amiss, and it's no want of learning that Mister Hol 
 lister has." 
 
 " He's a fool," jsaid Kat tar tly ; " Harvey mought be a 
 man of substance, but he's y,disregardful. How often have I 
 told him, that if he did no so but peddle, and would put his 
 
 fains to use, and get marri hingthat things at home could be 
 ept snug and tidy, and le ed, so his dealings with the rig'lars, 
 and all sich incumbermentsave off would soon become an excel 
 lent liver. Sargeant Holli, that bed be glad to hold a candle to 
 him, I guess, indeed." 
 
 " Pooh!" said Betty, in her philosophical way ; "yee'r no 
 thinking that Mister Hollister is an officer, and stands next the 
 cornet in the troop. But this pidlar gave warning of the brush, 
 the night, and it's no sure that Captain Jack would have got the 
 day, but for the reinforcement." 
 
 " How say you, Betty ?" cried the trooper, bending forward on 
 his saddle ; " had you notice of our danger from this said Birch ?" 
 
 " The very same, darling ; and it's hurry I was till the boys 
 was in motion ; not but I knew yee'r enough for the cow-boys 
 any time. But wid the divil on yee'r side, I was sure of the
 
 2-24 Tin: SPY. 
 
 day. I'm only wondering there's so little plunder in a business 
 of "Beelzt-boob's contriving." 
 
 " I'm obliged to you for the rescue," said Lawton, " aud 
 equally indebted to the motive." 
 
 " Is it the plunder? But little did I tink of it till I saw the 
 movables on the ground, some burnt, and some broke, and other 
 some as good as new. It would be convanieut to have one fea 
 ther-bed in the corps, any way." 
 
 " By heavens, 'twas timely succour. Had not Roanoke been 
 swifter than their bullets, I must have fallen. The animal is 
 worth his weight in gold." 
 
 " It's continental you mane, darling. Goold weighs heavy, 
 and is no plenty in the states. If the nagur hadn't been staying 
 tmd frighting the Sargeant with his copper-coloured looks, and a 
 matter of blarney 'bout ghosts, we should have been in time to 
 have killed all the dogs, and taken the rest prisoners." 
 
 " It is very well as it is, Betty," said Lawton ; "a day will 
 yet come. I trust, when these miscreants will be rewarded, if not 
 in judgments upon their persons, at least in the opinions of their 
 fellow citizens. The time must arrive, when America will learn 
 to distinguish between a patriot and a robber." 
 
 " Speak low," said Katy ; " there's some who think much of 
 themselves that have doings with the skinners." 
 
 " It's more they are thinking of themselves, then, than other 
 people thinks of them," cried Betty ; "a tief's a ticf, any wiiy, 
 whether he stales for king George or for Congress." 
 
 " I know'ci that evil would soon happen," said Katy ; " the 
 sun set to-night behind a black cloud, and the house-dog whined, 
 although I gave him his supper with my own hands; besides, it's 
 not a week sin' I dreamed that dream about the thousand lighted 
 candles, and the cakes being burned in the oven. Miss Peyton 
 said it was all because I had the tallow melted to dip the next 
 lay, and anew buking set; but I know'd better nor that from 
 the beginning." 
 
 " Well," said Betty, " it's but little I drame, any way. Jist 
 keep an asy conscience and a plenty of the stuff in y'ee, and yee'll 
 sleep like an infant. The last drame I had was when the boys 
 put the thistle-tops in the blankets, and then I was thinking that 
 Captain Jack's man was currying me down for the matter of 
 Roanoke; but it's no trifle I mind either in bkin or stomach." 
 
 " I'm sure," said Katy, with a stiff erection that drew Lawton 
 back in his saddle, " no man should ever dare to lay hands on 
 any bed of mine ; it's undecent and des'pisable conduct." 
 
 "Pooh! pooh!" cried Betty; " if you tag nftt-r a troop of 
 horse, a^ small bit of a joke must he borne ; what would become 
 "t the States and liberty, if the boys hud never a clane shirt, or
 
 THE SPY. -2'2o 
 
 a drop to comfort them ? Ask Captain Jack, there, if they'd fight 
 Mrs. Beelzeboob, and they no clane linen to keep the victory in." 
 
 " I'm a single woman, and my name is Haynes," said Katy, 
 " and I'd thank you to use no disparaging tarms when speaking 
 to me ; it's what I isn't use to, and Harvey is no more of Beel 
 zebub nor yourself." 
 
 "You must tolerate a little license in the tongue of Mrs. 
 Flanagan, madam," said the trooper ; " the drop she speaks of 
 is often of an extraordinary size, and then she has acquired the 
 freedom of a soldier's manner." 
 
 " Pooh ! Captain, darling," cried Betty, " why do you bother 
 the wooman 1 talk like yeerself, dear, and, it's no fool of a 
 tongue that yee've got in yeer own head. But it's here away 
 that the Sargeant made a halt, thinking there might be more 
 divils than one stirring, the night. The clouds are as black as 
 Arnold's heart, and deuce the star is there twinkling among 
 them. Well, the mare is used to a march after night-fall, and is 
 smelling out the road like a pointer slut." 
 
 " It wants but little to the rising moon," observed the trooper. 
 He called a dragoon, who was riding in advance, to him, gave 
 a few orders and cautions relative to the comfort and safety of 
 Singleton, and speaking a consoling word to his friend himself, 
 gave Roanoke the spur, and dashed by the cart at a rate that 
 again put to flight all the philosophy of Catherine Haynes. 
 
 " Good luck to yee for a free rider and a bold," shouted the 
 washerwoman as he passed ; "if yee'r meeting Mister Beelze 
 boob, jist back the baste up to him and show him his consort 
 that yee've got on the crupper. I'm thinking it's no long he'd 
 tarry to chat. Well, well, it's his life that we saved, lie \vas 
 saying to himself though the plunder is nothing to signify." 
 
 The cries of Betty Flanagan were too familiar to the ears of 
 Captain Lawton to cause any alteration in the gait of his steed, 
 or to elicit a reply. Notwithstanding the unusual burden that. 
 Roanoke sustained, he got over the ground with great rapidity, 
 and the distance between the cart of Mrs. Flanagan and the 
 chariot of Miss Peyton, was passed in a manner that, however 
 it answered the intentions of the trooper, in no degree contri 
 buted to the comfort of his companion. The meeting occurred 
 but a short distance from the quarters of Lawton, and at the 
 same instant the moon broke from behind a mass of clouds that 
 hovered over the horizon, and threw a light upon objects that 
 seemed paler than usual, after the glaring brightness of the con 
 flagration. There is, however, a sweetness in moonlight that no 
 competition of art can equal, and Lawton checked his horse, 
 and mused in silence for the remainder of the ride. 
 
 Compared with the simple elegance and substantial comfort of 
 
 u 3
 
 22ti THK SPY. 
 
 the Locust?, the "Hotel Flanagan" presented but a dreary spec 
 tacle. In the place of carpeted floors and curtained windows, 
 were the yawning cracks of a rudely constructed dwelling, and 
 boards and paper were ingeniously applied to supply the place of 
 the green glass in more than halt' the lights. The care of Law- 
 ton had anticipated every improvement that their situation would 
 allow, and blazing fires were made before the party arrived, to 
 cheer as much as possible the desolation within. The dragoons, 
 who had been charged with this duty, conveyed a few necessary 
 articles of furniture, and Miss Peyton and her companions, on 
 alighting, found something like habitable apartments prepared 
 for their reception. The mind of Sarah had continued to wan 
 der during the ride, and, with the pliability of insanity, she ac 
 commodated every circumstance to the feelings that were upper 
 most in her own bosom. It was necessary to support her to the 
 room intended for the ladies; but the instant she was placed on 
 the seat where her sister sat, she passed an arm affectionately 
 around the waist of Frances, and pointing slowly with the other, 
 s;iid, in an under tone " See, this is the palace of his father ; 
 here is the light of a thousand torches but no bridegroom. Oh ! 
 never never wed without a ring a prepared ring; and be 
 wary lest another has a right to it. Poor little girl, how you 
 tremble ! but you are safe there never can be two bridegrooms 
 fur more than one bride. Oh! no no no; do not tremble, 
 do not weep, you are safe." 
 
 " It is impossible to minister to a mind that has sustained such 
 a blow," said the trooper, who was compassionately regarding 
 the ruin, to Isabella Singlelon ; ' time and God's mercy can 
 alone avail her; but something more may be done towards the 
 bodily comfort of you all. You are a soldier's daughter, and 
 used to scenes like this ; help me to exclude some of the cold air 
 from these windows." 
 
 Miss Singleton promptly acceded to his request, and while 
 Lawton was endeavouring, from without, to remedy the defect 
 of broken panes, Isabella was arranging a substitute for a cur 
 tain within. 
 
 " I hear the cart," said the trooper in reply to one of her in 
 terrogatories. " Hetty is tender-hearted in the main ; believe 
 me, poor George will not only be safe but comfortable." 
 
 " God bless her for her care, and bless you all," said Isabella 
 fervently. " Dr. Sitgreaves has gone down the road to meet 
 him, I know but what is that glittering in the moon-beams 1" 
 
 Directly opposite to the window where they stood, were the 
 outbuildings of the farm, and the quick eye of La\v<on caught, 
 at a glance, the object to which she alluded. 
 
 ' 'Tis the glare of fire arms," said the trooper, springing from
 
 THE SPY. 227 
 
 the window towards his charger, which yet remained caparisoned 
 at the door. His movement was quick as thought, but a flash 
 of fire was followed by the whistling of a bullet, before he had 
 proceeded a step. A loud shriek burst from the dwelling, and 
 the Captain sprang into his saddle; the whole was the business 
 of but a moment. 
 
 " Mount mount, and follow," shouted the trooper, and be 
 fore his astonished men could understand the cause of alarm, 
 Roanoke had carried him in safety over the fence which inter 
 vened between him aod his foe. The case was for life and death, 
 but the distance to the rocks was again too short, and the disap 
 pointed trooper saw his intended victim vanish in their clefts, 
 where he could not follow. 
 
 " By the life of Washington," muttered Lawton, as he sheath 
 ed his sabre, " I would have made two halves of him had he not 
 been so nimble on the foot but a time will come." So saying, 
 he returned to his quarters, with the indifference of a man who 
 knew his life was at any moment to be offered a sacrifice to his 
 country. An extraordinary tumult in the house induced him to 
 quicken his speed, and on arriving at the door, the panic-stricken 
 Katy informed him that the bullet aimed at his own life had 
 taken effect in the bosom of Miss Singleton. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 " Hush'd were his Gertrude's lips! but still their bland 
 
 And beautiful expression seem'd to rnelt 
 
 With love that could not die ! and still his hand, 
 
 She presses to the heart no more that felt." Gertrude of Wyoming. 
 
 THE brief arrangements of the dragoons had prepared two 
 apartments for the reception of the ladies, the one being intended 
 as a sleeping room, and situated within the other. In the latter 
 Isabella was immediately conveyed at her own request, and 
 placed on a rude bed by the side of the unconscious Sarah. When 
 Miss Peyton and Frances flew to her assistance, they found her 
 with a smile on her pallid lips, and a composure in her counte 
 nance, that induced them to think her uninjured. 
 
 " God be praised !" exclaimed the trembling aunt ; " the re 
 port of fire-arms, and your fall, had led me into an error. Sure 
 ly, surely, there was enough of horror before ; but this has been 
 spared us." 
 
 Isabella pressed her hands upon her bosom, still smiling, but 
 with a ghastliness that curdled the blood of Frances, and sai'l 
 " Is George far distant? let him know hasten him, that I may 
 see my brother once again." 
 
 " It is as I apprehended !" shrieked Miss Peyton ; " but you 
 smile surely you are unhurt ?"
 
 2-28 THE SPY. 
 
 " Quite well quite happy," murmured Isabella : " here is a 
 remedy for every pain." 
 
 Sarah arose irom the reclining posture she had taken, and 
 gazed wildly at her companion. She stretched t'ortli her own 
 hand, and raised that of Isabella from her bosom, where she had 
 continued to hold it, ami exhibited it stained with blood. 
 
 " See," said Sarah, " there is blood, but will it wash away 
 love? Marry, young woman, and then no one can expel him 
 from your heart, unless," she added, whispering, and bending 
 over the other, " you find another there before you ; then die. 
 and go to heaven there are no wives in heaven." 
 
 The lovely maniac hid her face under the clothes, and continued 
 silent during the remainder of the night. It was at this moment 
 that Lawton entered. Inured as he was to danger in all its forms, 
 and accustomed to the horrors of a partisan war, the trooper 
 rould not behold the ruin before him unmoved. He bent over 
 the fragile form of Isabella, and the gloomy lowering of his eye 
 betrayed the extraordinary workings of his soul. 
 
 " Isabella," he at length uttered, " I know you to possess a 
 courage beyond the strength of women." 
 
 " Speak," she said, earnestly ; " if you have anything to sny, 
 speak fearlessly." 
 
 The trooper averted his face, as he replied " none ever receive 
 u ball there and survive." 
 
 " I have no dread of death, Lawton," returned Isabella; "I 
 thank you for not doubting me; I felt it from the first." 
 
 " These are not scenes for a form like yours," added the 
 trooper; "'tis enough that Britain calls our youth to the field ; 
 but when such loveliness becomes the victim of war, I sicken at 
 my trade." 
 
 " Hear me, Captain Lawton," said Isabella, raising hen-elf 
 with difficulty, but rejecting aid; "from early womanhood to 
 the present hour have I been an inmate of tamps and garrison?. 
 It was to cheer the leisure of a father and brother; and think 
 you I would change those days of danger and privation for all 
 the luxurious ease of England's palace T' The paleness of her 
 cheek gave place to a flush of ardour as she continued " No ! 
 I have the consolation of knowing, in my dying moments, t!:nt 
 what woman could do in such a cause, I have done." 
 
 " Who could prove a recreant, and witness such a spirit !" 
 exclaimed the trooper, unconsciously grasping the hilt of his 
 sabre. " Hundreds of warriors have I witnessed in their blood, 
 but never a firmer soul among them all." 
 
 " Ah ! 'tis the soul only," said Isabella; "my sex and strength 
 have denied me the dearest of privileges. But to you, Captain 
 Lawton, nature has been bountiful : yours arc an arm and a
 
 THE SPY. 229 
 
 heart, to make the proudest of Britain's soldiers quail ; and I 
 know tbat they are an arm and a heart that will prove true tu 
 the last." 
 
 " So long as liberty calls, and Washington points the way," 
 returned the trooper, in the low tone of determination, smiling 
 proudly. 
 
 " I know it I know it ; and George and " she paused, 
 her lip quivered, and her eye sank to the floor. 
 
 " And Dunwoodie !" added the trooper ; " w\ould to God he 
 was here to witness and admire." 
 
 " Name him not," said Isabella, sinking back upon the bed, 
 and concealing her face in her garments ; " leave me, Lavvton, 
 and prepare poor George for this unexpected blow." 
 
 The trooper continued for a little while gazing, in melancholy 
 interest, at the convulsive shudderings of her frame, which the 
 scanty covering could not conceal, and withdrew to meet his 
 comrade. The interview between Singleton and his sister was 
 painful, and, for a moment, Isabella yielded to a burst of tender 
 ness ; but, as if aware that her hours were numbered, she was the 
 first to rouse herself to exertion. At her earnest request, the room 
 was left to herself, the Captain, and Frances. The repeated ap 
 plications of the surgeon, to be permitted to use professional aid, 
 were steadily rejected, and, at length, he was obliged unwillingly 
 to retire. The rapid approach of death gave to the countenance of 
 Isabella a look of more than usual wildness ; her large and dark 
 eyes being strongly contrasted to the ashy paleness of her cheeks. 
 Still Frances, as she leaned over her in sorrow, thought that the 
 expression was changed. Much of the loftiness that formed so 
 marked a characteristic of her beauty, had been succeeded by an 
 appearance of humility ; and it was not difficult to fancy, that 
 with the world itself there was vanishing her worldly pride. 
 
 " Raise me/' she said, " and let me look on a face that I love, 
 once more." Frances silently complied, and Isabella turned her 
 eyes in sisterly affection upon George " It matters but little, my 
 brother ; a few hours must close the scene." 
 
 " Live, Isabella, my sister, my only sister," cried the youth, 
 with a burst of sorrow that he could not control ; " my father ! 
 my poor father " 
 
 " Ah ! there is the sting of death," said Isabella, shuddering ; 
 " but he is a soldier and a Christian. Miss Wharton, I would 
 speak of what interests you, while yet I have strength for" the task." 
 
 " Nay," said Frances, tenderly, " compose yourself ; let no de 
 sire to oblige me endanger a life that is precious to* to so many." 
 The words were nearly stifled by the emotions of the maid, who 
 had touched a chord that thrilled to her inmost heart. 
 
 " Poor sensitive girl !" said Isabella, regarding her with tender
 
 rj:) THF. srv. 
 
 interest ; " but the world is still before you, and why should I dis 
 turb the little happiness it may yet afford ! Dream on, lovely in 
 nocent ! and may God keep the evil day of knowledge far distant." 
 
 " Oh, there is even now little left for me to enjoy," said Fran 
 ces, burying her face in the clothes; " I am heart-stricken in all 
 that I most loved." 
 
 " No !" interrupted Isabella ; " you have one inducement to 
 wish for life, that pleads strongly in a woman's bret^t. It is a 
 delusion that nothing but death can destroy " Exhaustion com 
 pelled her to pause, and her auditors continued in breathless sus 
 pense until, recovering her strength, she laid her hand on that of 
 Francos, and continued more mildly " Miss Wliarton, if there 
 breathes a spirit congenial to Dunwoodie's, and worthy of his 
 love, it is your own." 
 
 A flu%h of fire passed over the face of the listener, and she raised 
 her eyes, flashing with an ungovernable look of delight, to the 
 countenance of Isabella ; but the ruin she beheld recalled her 
 better feelings, and again her head dropped upon the covering of 
 the bed. Isabella watched her emotions with a smile that par 
 took both of pity and admiration. 
 
 " Such have been the feelings that I have escaped," she con 
 tinued ; " Yes, Miss Wharton, Dunwoodie is wholly yours." 
 
 " Be just to yourself, my sister," exclaimed the youth; "let 
 no romantic generosity cause you to forget your own character." 
 
 She heard him, and fixed a gaze of tender interest on his face, 
 but slowly shook her head as ?he replied " It is not romance, but 
 truth that bids rue speak. Oh ! how much have I lived within 
 an hour! Miss Wharton, I was born under the burning sun of 
 Georgia, and my feelings seem to have imbibed its warmth ; I 
 have existed for passion only." 
 
 " Say not so say not so, I implore you," cried the agitated 
 brother ; " think how devoted has been your love to our aged 
 liitlicr ; how disinterested, how tender your affection to me." 
 
 " Yes," said Isabella, a smile of mild pleasure beaming on her 
 countenance; " that is a reflection that may be taken to the very 
 grava." 
 
 Neither Frances nor her brother interrupted her meditations, 
 which continued for several minutes ; when suddenly recollecting 
 herself, she continued " I remain selfish even to the last ; with 
 UK-, Miss Wharton, America and her liberties was my earliest 
 passion, and" again she paused, and Frances thought it was 
 the struggle of death that followed ; but reviving, she proceeded, 
 with a flush on her face that exceeded the bloom of health, " Wliy 
 should I hesitate on the brink of the grave ! Dunwoodie w:i.s 
 my next and my last. But," burying her face in her hands, 
 " it was a love that was unsought."
 
 THE SPY. 231 
 
 '' Isabella !" exclaimed her brother, springing from the bed, 
 and pacing the floor in disorder. 
 
 " See how dependent we become under the dominion of worldly 
 pride," said the dying maiden ; "it is painful to George to learn 
 that one he loves bad not feelings superior to her nature and 
 education." 
 
 ' Say no more," whispered Frances ; "you distress us both 
 soy no more, I entreat you." 
 
 " In justice to Dunwoodie I must speak ; and for the same 
 reason, my brother, you must listen. By no act or word has 
 Dunwoodie ever induced me to believe he wished rue more than 
 a friend ; nay, latterly, 1 have had the burning shame of thinking 
 that he avoided my presence." 
 
 " Would he dare !" said Singleton, fiercely. 
 
 " Peace, my brother, and listen," continued Isabella, rousing 
 herself with an effort that was final; " here is the innocent, the 
 justifiable cause. We are both motherless; but that aunt that 
 mild, plain-hearted, observing aunt, has given you the victory. 
 Oh ! how much she loses, who loses a female guardian to her 
 youth. I have exhibited those feelings which you have been 
 taught to repress. After this, can I wish to live ?" 
 
 " Isabella ! my poor Isabella! you wander in your mind." 
 
 " But one word more for I feel that blood, which ever flowed 
 too swiftly, rushing where nature never intended it to go. Wo 
 man must be sought to be prized : her life is one of concealed 
 emotions ; blessed are they whose early impressions make the 
 task free from hypocrisy, for such only can be happy with men 
 like like Dunwoodie;" her voice failed, and she sank back on 
 her pillow in silence. The cry of Singleton brought the rest of 
 the party to her bedside, but death was already upon her coun 
 tenance ; her remaining strength just sufficed to reach the hand 
 of George, and pressing it to her bosom for a moment, she relin 
 quished her grasp, and, with a slight convulsion, expired. 
 
 Frances Wharton had thought that fate had done its worst, in 
 endangering the life of her brother, and destroying the reason of 
 her sister : but the relief that was conveyed by the dying decla 
 ration of Isabella, taught her that another sorrow had aided in 
 loading her heart with grief. She saw the whole truth at a 
 glance ; nor was the manly delicacy of Dunwoodie's forbearance 
 lost upon her every thing tended to raise him in her estimation ; 
 and, for mourning that duty and pride had induced her to think 
 less of him, she was compelled to substitute regret, that her own 
 act had driven him from her in sorrow, if not in desperation. It 
 is not the nature of youth, however, to despair ; and Frances 
 knew a secret joy in the midst of their distress, that gave a new 
 spring to her existence.
 
 232 THE SPY. 
 
 The sun broke forth, on the morning that succeeded this night 
 of desolation, in unclouded lustre, and seemed to mock the petty 
 sorrows of those who received his rays. Lawton had early or 
 dered his steed, and was ready to mount as the first burst of 
 golden light broke over the hills. His orders were already given, 
 and the trooper threw his leg across the saddle in silence; and, 
 casting a glance of fierce chagrin at the narrow space that had 
 favoured the flight of the skinner, he gave lloanoke the rein, and 
 moved slowly towards the valley. 
 
 The stillness of death pervaded the road, nor was there a single 
 vestige of the scenes ot the night to tarnish the loveliness of a 
 glorious morn. Struck with the contrast between man and na 
 ture, the fearless trooper rode by each pass of danger, regardless 
 of what might happen, nor rousd himself from his musings, until 
 the noble charger, proudly snuffing the morning air, greeted his 
 companions, as they stood patiently by the sides of their masters, 
 who composed the guard under Sergeant Hollister. 
 
 Here, indeed, was to be seen sad evidence of the midnight fray ; 
 but the trooper glanced his eyes over it with the coolness of a 
 veteran, and checked his horse as he gained the spot selected by 
 the cautious orderly, and slightly returning his salute, inquired 
 " Have you seen anything?" 
 
 " Nothing, sir, that we dare charge upon," returned Hollister. 
 with a little solemnity ; " but we mounted once at the report of 
 distant fire-arms." 
 
 " 'Tis well," said Lawton, gloomily. "Ah ! Hollister, I would 
 give the animal I ride, to have had your single arm between the 
 wretch who drew that trigger and these useless rocks, which over 
 hang every bit of ground, as if they grudged pasture to a single 
 ^ hoof." 
 
 The dragoons exchanged looks of surprise, and wondered what 
 could have occurred to tempt their leader to offer such a bribe. 
 
 " Under the light of day, and charging man to man, 'tis but 
 little I fear," said the Sergeant, with proud resolution ; " but I 
 can't say that I'm over-fond of fighting with them that neither 
 steel nor lead can bring down." 
 
 " What mean you, silly fellow ?" cried Lawton, frowning in 
 disdain ; none live who can withstand either." 
 
 " If there was life, it would be easy to take it," returned the 
 other ; " but blows and powder cannot injure him that has already 
 been in the grave. I like not the dark object that has been 
 manoeuvring in the skirt of the wood, since the first dawn of day ; 
 and twice during the night the same was seen marching across 
 the fire-light, no doubt with evil intent." 
 
 " Ha 1" said the trooper, " is it yon ball of black, at the foot 
 of the rock maple, that you mean ? By heavens ! it moves."
 
 THE SPY. 233 
 
 " Yes, and without mortal motion," said the Sergeant, regard 
 ing it with awful reverence ; "it glides along, but no feet have 
 been seen by any who watch here." 
 
 " Had it wings," cried Lawton, " it is mine ; stand fast, until 
 I join." The words were hardly uttered, before Roanoke was 
 flying across the plain, and apparently verifying the boast of his 
 master. 
 
 " Those cursed rocks !" ejaculated the trooper, as he saw the 
 object of his pursuit approaching the hill-side ; but either from 
 want of practice, or from terror, it passed the obvious shelter 
 they offered, and fled into the open plain. 
 
 " I have you, man or devil," shouted Lawton, whirling his 
 sabre from its scabbard. " Halt, and take quarter." 
 
 His proposition was apparently acceded to ; for, at the sound 
 of his powerful voice, the figure sunk upon the ground, exhibiting 
 a shapeless ball of black, without life or motion. 
 
 " What have we here ?" cried Lawton, drawing it on its side ; 
 " a gala suit of the good maiden, Jeannette Peyton, wandering 
 around its birth-place, or searching in vain for its discomfited 
 mistress?" He leaned forwards in his stirrups, and placing the 
 point of his sword under the silken garment, by throwing aside 
 the covering, discovered part of the form of the reverend gentle 
 man, who had fled from the Locusts the evening before, in his 
 robes of office. 
 
 " Ah ! in truth, Hollister had some ground for his alarm ; an 
 army chaplain is, at any time, a terror to a troop of horse." 
 
 The clergyman had collected enough of his disturbed faculties, 
 to discover that it was a face he knew, and, somewhat discon 
 certed at the terror he had manifested, he endeavoured to rise 
 and offer some explanation. Lawton received his apologies good- 
 humouredly, if not with much faith in their truth ; and, after a 
 short communication upon the state of the valley, the trooper 
 courteously alighted, and they proceeded towards the guard. 
 
 " I am so little acquainted, sir, with the rebel uniform, that I 
 r ;ally was unable to distinguish, whether those men, whom you 
 say are your own, did or did not belong to the gang of marauders." 
 
 " Apology, sir, is unnecessary," replied the trooper, curling 
 his lip ; " it is not your task, as a minister of God, to take note 
 of the facings of a coat. The standard under which you serve 
 is acknowledged by us all." 
 
 " I serve under the standard of his gracious majesty George 
 III.," returned the priest, wiping the cold sweat from his brow ; 
 " but really the idea of being scalped has a strong tendency to 
 unman a new beginner like myself." 
 
 "Scalped!" echoed Lawton. a little fiercely, and stopping 
 short in his walk ; then recollecting himself, he added with in- 
 
 x
 
 ^.14 THB SPY. 
 
 finite composure. "if it is to Dun wood ie's squadron of Virginia 
 light dragoons that you allude, it may be well to inform you, 
 that they generally take a bit of the skull with the skin." 
 
 " Oh ! I can have no apprehensions of gentlemen of your ap 
 pearance," said the divine, with a smirk ; " it is the natives that 
 I apprehend." 
 
 " Natives ! I have that honour, I do assure you, sir." 
 
 " Nay, sir, I beg that I may be understood I mean the In 
 dians; they who do nothing but rob, and murder, and destroy." 
 
 " And scalp !" 
 
 " Yes, sir, and scalp too," continued the clergyman, eyeing 
 his companion a little suspiciously ; " the copper-coloured, savage 
 Indians." 
 
 " And did you expect to meet those nose jewelled gentry in 
 the neutral ground ?" 
 
 " Certainly," returned the chaplain, confidently ; " we under 
 stand in England that the interior swarms with them." 
 
 " And call you this the interior of America?" cried Lawton, 
 again halting, and staring the other in the face with a surprise 
 too naturally expressed to be counterfeited. 
 
 "Surely, sir, I conceive myself to be in the interior." 
 
 " Attend," said Lawton, pointing towards the east ; "see you 
 not that broad sheet of water which the eye cannot compass in 
 its range? thither lies the England you deem worthy to hold do 
 minion over half the world. See you the land of your nativity ?" 
 
 " 'Tis impossible to behold objects at a distance of three thou 
 sand miles !" exclaimed the wondering priest, a little suspicious 
 of his companion's sanity. 
 
 " No ! what a pity it is that the powers of man are not equal 
 to his ambition. Now turn your eyes westward ; observe that 
 vast expanse of water which rolls between the shores of Ame 
 rica and China." 
 
 " I see nothing but land," said the trembling priest; "there 
 is no water to be seen." 
 
 " 'Tis impossible to behold objects at a distance of three thou 
 sand miles!" repeated Lawton, gravely, and purMiing his walk ; 
 " if it be the savages that you apprehend, se< k them in the ranks 
 of your prince. Rum and gold have preserved their loyalty." 
 
 " Nothing is more probable than my being deceived," said the 
 man of peace, casting furtive glances at the colossal stature and 
 whiskered front of his companion ; " but the rumours we have 
 at home, and the uncertainty of meeting with such an enemy as 
 yourself, induced me to fly at your approach." 
 
 " Twas not judiciously determined," said the trooper, " as 
 Roanoke has the heels of you greatly ; and flying from Scylla, 
 you were liable to encounter Charybdis. Those woods and 
 rocks cover the very enemies you dreud."
 
 THE SPY. 23-5 
 
 "The savages !" exclaimed the divine, instinctively placing 
 the trooper in the rear. 
 
 " Ay ! more than savages," cried Lawton, his dark brow con 
 tracting to a look of fierceness that was far from quieting the 
 apprehensions of the other ; " men who, under the guise of 
 patriotism, prowl through the community, with a thirst for plun 
 der that is insatiable, and a love of cruelty that mocks the Indian 
 ferocity. Fellows, whose mouths are filled with liberty and 
 equality, and whose hearts are overflowing with cupidity and 
 gall gentlemen that are yclept the Skinners." 
 
 " I have heard them mentioned in our army," said the fright 
 ened divine, " and had thought them to be the aborigines." 
 
 " You did the savages injustice." returned the trooper, in his 
 natural dry manner. 
 
 They now approached the spot occupied by Hollister who 
 witnessed with surprise the character of the prisoner made by his 
 captain. Law ton gave his, orders promptly, and the men imme 
 diately commenced securing and removing such articles of furni 
 ture as were thought worthy of the trouble; and the Captain, 
 with his reverend associate, who was admirably mounted on a 
 mettled horse, returned to the quarters of the troop. 
 
 It was the wish of Singleton, that the remains of his sister 
 should be conveyed to the post commanded by his father, and 
 preparations were early made to this effect, as well as a messen 
 ger despatched with the melancholy tidings of her death. The 
 wounded British were placed under the control of the chaplain, 
 and towards the middle of the day Lawton saw that all the ar 
 rangements were so far completed, as to render it probable, that 
 in a few hours, he would be left, with his small party, in undis 
 turbed possession of the Corners. 
 
 While leaning in the door-way, gazing in moody silence at 
 the ground on which had been the last night's chase, his ear 
 caught the sound of a horse, at speed, and the next moment a 
 dragoon of his own troop appeared dashing up the road, as if 
 on business of the last importance. His steed was foaming, and 
 the rider had the appearance of having done a hard day's ser 
 vice. Without speaking, he placed a letter in the hand of Law- 
 ton, and led his charger to the stable. The trooper knew the 
 hand of his Major, and ran his eye over the following : 
 
 " I rejoice it is the order of Washington, that the family of the 
 Locusts are to be removed above the Highlands. They are to 
 *be admitted to the society of Captain W barton, who waits only 
 their testimony to be tried. You will communicate this order, 
 and with proper delicacy I do not doubt. The English are 
 moving up the river, and the moment you see the W bartons in 
 safety, break up and join your troop. There will be good ser-
 
 236 THE SPY. 
 
 vice to be done when we meet, as Sir Henry is reported to Lave 
 sent out a real soldier in command. Reports must be made to 
 the commandant at Peekskill, as Col. Singleton is withdrawn to 
 head quarters, to preside over the inquiry upon poor Wharton. 
 Fresh orders have been sent to hang the pedler if we can take 
 him, but they are not from the Commander-in-Chief. Detail a 
 small guard with the ladies, and get into the saddle as soon as 
 possible. " Yours, sincerely, PKYTON DUNWOODIE." 
 
 This communication entirely changed the whole arrangement. 
 There could be no motive to convey the body of Isabella to a 
 post where her father was not, and Singleton reluctantly acqui 
 esced in her immediate interment. A retired and lovely spot 
 was selected, near the foot of the adjacent rocks, and such rude 
 preparations were made as their time and the situation of the 
 country permitted. A few of the neighbouring inhabitants col 
 lected from curiosity and interest, and Miss Peyton and Frances 
 wept in sincerity over her grave. The solemn offices of the 
 church were performed by the minister of God, who had so 
 lately stood forth to officiate in another and very different duty ; 
 and Lawton bent down his head, as he leaned upon his sabre, 
 and passed his hand across his brow, while the words were pro 
 nouncing that for ever shut such fervent feeling and loveliness 
 from the sight of man. 
 
 A new stimulus was given to the Whartons by the intelligence 
 conveyed in the letter of Dunwoodie ; and Csesar, with his 
 horses, was once more put in requisition. The relics of the pro 
 perty were entrusted to a neighbour, in whom they had confi 
 dence, and accompanied by the unconscious Sarah, and attended 
 by four dragoons, and all of the American wounded, Mr. 
 Wliarton's party took their departure. They were speedily 
 followed by the English chaplain, with his country men, who were 
 conveyed to the water side, where a vessel was in waiting to re 
 ceive them. Lawtou joyfully witnessed these movements, and 
 as soon as the latter were out of sight, he ordered his own bugle 
 to be sounded. Everything was instantly in motion. The 
 mare of Mrs. Flanagan was again fastened to the cart; Dr. 
 Sitgreaves once more exhibited his shapeless form on horseback ; 
 and the trooper appeared in the saddle, rejoicing in his emancipa 
 tion. 
 
 The word to march was given ; and Lawton, throwing a look 
 of sullen ferocity at the place of the skinner's concealment, and 
 another of melancholy regret towards the grave of Isabella, led 
 the way, accompanied by the surgeon, in a brown study ; while 
 Sergeant Hollister and Betty brought up the rear, leaving a 
 fresh southerly wind to whistle through the open doors and
 
 THE SPY. 237 
 
 broken windows of the " Hotel Flanagan," where the laugh of 
 hilarity and the joke of the hardy partisans had so lately echotd 
 in triumph. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 " No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array, 
 But winter, lingering, chills the lap of May ; 
 No zephyr fondly sues the mountain's breast, 
 But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest." Goldsmith. 
 
 IT was only after the establishment of their independence that 
 the American people seemed to consider themselves as anything 
 more than sojourners in the land of their nativity. Before that 
 t era, their inventions, their wealth, and their glory, centered in 
 a he isle of Britain, as unerringly as the needle pointed to the 
 ^-tle. Forty years of self-government has done for them, what 
 a century and a half of dependence was unable to achieve. 
 
 '.'he uneven surface of West Chester was, at the period of 
 wL.ch we write, intersected with roads in every direction, it is 
 trt'i; but they were of a character with the people and the 
 times. None of those straight, tasteless paths, which, with pre 
 meditated convenience, running directly from one point of the 
 country to the other, abound in our newly settled territory, were 
 to be found under the ancient regime ; unless, in extraordinary 
 instances, where a river curbed their vagaries on one side, and a 
 mountain on the other. Instead of these direct and shortened 
 passages, with the few exceptions we have mentioned, the high 
 ways uniformly discovered that classical taste which is only che 
 rished under the institutions that partake of the poetry of lite 
 the two forming no unapt illustration of the different institutions 
 to which we have alluded. On one side, is the result of acci 
 dent and circumstances, embellished with the graces of art, so as 
 to render pleasing what is not always convenient ; and on the 
 other, a straight- for ward reason, that tends directly to the object, 
 leaving the moral of applicability to atone for what it may want 
 in beauty and interest. 
 
 Whatever evidence of a parallel between the roads and the 
 governments our ingenuity may devise, Csesar Thompson found, 
 ia the former, nothing but transitory pleasures and repeated dan 
 gers. So long as one of those lovely valleys which abound in 
 the interior of the country, lay before him, all was security and 
 ease. Following the meanderings of the stream that invariably 
 wound through the bottom, the path lingered to the last moment 
 among the rich meadows and pleasant pastures ; or, running oft' 
 at a right angle, shot up the gentle ascent to the foot of the hill 
 that bounded the vale, and, sweeping by the door of some re 
 tired dwelling, again sought the rivulet and the meadow, until 
 
 x 3
 
 238 THE SPY. 
 
 every beauty was exhausted, and no spot, however secluded, had 
 escaped the prying curiosity of the genius of the highway ; then, 
 as if eager to visit another place of sylvan beauty, the road ran 
 boldly to the base of a barrier that would frighten a spirit less 
 adventurous, and, regardless of danger and difficulties, kept its 
 undeviating way until the summit was gained, when, rioting for 
 a moment in victory, it has daringly plunged into the opposite 
 vale, and resumed its meandering and its sloth. In getting over 
 a highway of such varied characteristics, Caesar necessarily ex 
 perienced a diversity of emotion?. The cumbersome chariot 
 that he directed moved at an even space over the level ground, 
 and, perched on the elevated box, the black felt no little of the 
 dignity of his situation : but the moment of ascension was one 
 of intense anxiety, and the descent one of terror. As soon a; 
 the foot of a hill was discerned, Caesar, with a reasoning derm -a 
 from the Dutch settlers of the colony, commenced applying t : in 
 whip to his venerable steeds, and accompanying the blows w.h 
 a significant cry, their ambition was roused to the undertaking. 
 The space between them and the point of struggle was flown 
 over with a velocity that shook the crazy vehicle, and exces 
 sively annoyed its occupants ; but the manoeuvre sufficed to ob 
 tain an impetus that carried the steeds up the ascent one-third of 
 the way with glory. By this time their wind was gone, their 
 strength enfeebled, and the heaviest difficulties remained to be 
 overcome. Then, indeed, it was often a matter of doubt which 
 were to prevail in the dispute, the chariot or the horses. But 
 the lash and the cries of the black stimulated the steeds to un 
 wonted efforts, and happily they prevailed in each of these well 
 contested points. Short breathing time was allowed on gaining 
 what in truth might be termed the " debateable land," before a 
 descent more dangerous, if less difficult, than the ascent was to 
 be encountered. At these moments, Caesar would twine the 
 reins round his bridy, in a manner of remarkable ingenuity, and 
 lead them over his head in such a way, as to make that noble 
 member sustain the labour of curbing his horses, with either 
 hand grasping a side of his dangerous perch, and with a counte 
 nance showing a double row of ivory, and eyes glistening like 
 diamonds set in ebony, he abandoned everything to the govern 
 ment of the ancient proverb of " the devil take the hindmost." 
 The vehicle, with the zeal of a new made convert, would thrust 
 the horses to the conclusion of the argument, with a rapidity that 
 was utterly discomfiting to the philosophy of the African. But 
 practice makes perfect ; and by the time that evening had br<rmi 
 to warn the travellers of the necessity of a halt, Caesar was o 
 much accustonied to these critical flights, that he encountered 
 tin-in with incredible fortitude. We should not have ventured
 
 THE SPV. 239 
 
 thus to describe the unprecedented achievements of Mr. W bar 
 ton's coach-horses on this memorable occasion, did not number 
 less instances still exist of those dangerous pinnacles to which 
 we fearlessly refer as vouching for our veracity ; a circumstance 
 the more fortunate for us, when we consider, that in almost 
 every instance, inviting passes are open, where alterations might 
 long since have been made, that would have entirely deprived us 
 of this indisputable testimony. 
 
 While Caesar and his steeds were thus contending with the dif 
 ficulties we have recorded, the inmates of the carriage were too 
 much engrossed with their own cares to attend to those who served 
 thorn. The mind of Sarah had ceased to wander so wildly as at 
 t first ; but at every advance that she made towards reason, she 
 .Deemed to retire a step from animation ; from being excited and 
 highly, she was gradually becoming moody and melancholy. 
 Tbc:re were moments, indeed, when her anxious companions 
 thought, with ecstasy, that they could discern marks of recollec 
 tion ; but the expression of exquisite woe that accompanied these 
 transient gleams of reason, forced them to the dreadful alternative 
 of wishing, at times, that she might for ever be spared the agony 
 of thought. The day's march was performed chiefly in silence, 
 and the party found shelter for the night in different farm houses. 
 
 The following morning the cavalcade dispersed. The wounded 
 diverged towards the river, with the intention of taking water at 
 Peekskill, and thus to be transported to the hospitals of the Ame 
 rican army above ; the litter of Singleton was conveyed to a part 
 of the Highlands where his father held his quarters, and where it 
 was intended that the youth should complete his cure ; the car 
 riage of Mr. Whartoii, accompanied by a wagon, conveying the 
 housekeeper and what baggage had been saved, and could be 
 transported, resumed its route towards the place where Henry 
 Wharton was held in duresse, and where he only waited their 
 arrival to be put on trial for his life. 
 
 The country which lies between the waters of the Hudson and 
 Long Island Sound, is, for the first forty miles from their junction, 
 a succession of hills and dales. The land bordering on the latter 
 then becomes less abrupt, and gradually assumes a milder appear 
 ance, until it finally melts into the lovely plains and meadows of 
 the Connecticut. But as you approach the Hudson, the rugged 
 aspect increases, until you at length meet with the formidable bar 
 rier of the Highlands. It was here the neutral ground ceased. 
 The royal army held the two points of land that commanded the 
 southern entrance of the river into the mountains ; but all the 
 remaining passes were guarded by the Americans. 
 
 We have already stated that the pickets of the continental 
 army were sometimes pushed low into the country, and that the
 
 THE SPY. 
 
 of the White Plains was occasionally maintained by par 
 ties of troops. At other times, their advanced guards were with 
 drawn to the northern extremity of the county, and the interme 
 diate country was abandoned entirely to the ravages of the 
 miscreants who plundered between both armies, serving neither. 
 
 The road taken by our party was not the one that communi 
 cates between the two principal cities of the stale, but was a 
 retired and unfrequented pass, that to this hour is but little 
 known, and which, entering the hills near the eastern boundary, 
 emerges into the plain above, many miles from the Hudson. 
 
 It would have been impossible for the tired steeds of Mr. \Vliar- 
 ton to drag the heavy chariot up the lengthened and steep ascenrs 
 which now lay before them, and a pair of country horses were 
 procured, with but little regard to their owner's wishes, by the 
 two dragoons who still continued to accompany the party. Wj|*? ' 
 their assistance, Caesar was enabled to advance, by slow and toil 
 some steps, into the bosom of the hills. Willing to relieve her 
 own melancholy by breathing a fresher air, and also to lessen the 
 weight, Frances alighted, as they reached the foot of the moun 
 tain, and found that Katy had made similar preparations, with 
 the like intention of walking to the summit. It was near the 
 Retting of the sun, and from the top of the mountain their guard 
 had declared, that the desired end of their journey might be 
 discerned. The maid moved forward with the elastic step of 
 youth ; and, followed by the housekeeper at a little distance, 
 they SOOH lost sight of the sluggish carriage, that was slowly 
 toiling up the hill, occasionally halting to allow the animals that 
 drew it to breathe. 
 
 " Oh, Miss Fanny, what dreadful times these be," said Katy, 
 when they paused for breath themselves ; " but I know'd thut 
 calamity was about to befall, ever sin'" the streak of blood was 
 seen in the clouds." 
 
 " There has been blood upon earth, Katy," returned the shud 
 dering Frances, "though but little, I imagine, is ever seen in 
 the clouds." 
 
 " Not blood in the clouds !" echoed the housekeeper ; " yes, 
 tlmt there has, often, and comets with fiery, smoking tails. 
 Didn't people see armed men in the heavens the year the wnr 
 begun? and the night before the battle of the Plains, wasn't 
 there thunder just like the cannon themselves? Ah! Mips 
 Fanny, I'm fearful that no good can follow rebellion against the 
 Lord's anointed." 
 
 " These events are certainly dreadful," returned Frances, 
 "and enough to sicken the stoutest heart. But what can be 
 done, Katy ? Gallant and independent men are unwilling to 
 submit to oppression ; and I am fearful that such scenes are but 
 too common in war."
 
 THE SPY. 241 
 
 " If I could but see anything to fight about/' said Katy, re 
 newing her walk as the young lady proceeded, " I shouldn't mind 
 it so much. 'Twas said the king wanted all the tea for his own 
 family, at one time ; and then asjin, that he meant the colonies 
 should pay over to him all their arnins. Now this is matter 
 enough to fight about for I'm sure that no one, howsomever he 
 may be a lord or a king, has a right to the hard arnins of another. 
 Then it was all contradicted, and some said Washington wanted 
 to be king himself, so that between the two, one doesn't know 
 which to believe." 
 
 " Believe neither for neither are true. I do not pretend to 
 understand, myself, all the merits of this war, Katy," said Fran 
 ces, pausing, and blushing with the consciousness of whence it 
 was that she had derived her opinions ; " but to me it seems 
 unnatural, that a country like this should be ruled by another so 
 distant as England." 
 
 " So I have heard Harvey say to his father that is dead and 
 in his grave," returned Katy, approaching nearer to the young 
 lady, and lowering her voice. " Many is the good time that I've 
 listened to them talking, when all the neighbours was asleep ; 
 and sich conversations, Miss Fanny, that you can have no idee 
 on. Well, to say the truth, Harvey was a mystified body, and 
 he was like the winds in the good book ; no one could tell 
 whence he came or whither he went." 
 
 Frances glanced her eye at her companion with an interest 
 altogether new to her, and, with an apparent desire to hear more, 
 observed " There are rumours abroad relative to the character 
 of Harvey, that I should be sorry were true." 
 
 " 'Tis a disparagement, every word on't," cried Katy, vehe 
 mently ; " Harvey had no more dealings with Beelzebub than 
 you nor I had. I'm sure if Harvey had sold himself, he would 
 take care to be better paid ; though, to speak the truth, he was 
 always a wasteful and disregardful man." 
 
 " Nay, nay," returned the smiling Frances, " I Jiave no such 
 injurious suspicion of him ;. but has he not sold himself to an 
 earthly prince; one good and amiable, I allow, but too much 
 attached to the interests of his native island to be always just to 
 this country ?" 
 
 " To the king's majesty !" replied Katy. " Why, Miss Fanny, 
 your own brother that is in gaol serves King George." 
 
 " True," said Frances, " but not in secret openly, manfully, 
 and bravely." 
 
 " 'Tis said he is a spy, and why an't one spy as bad as another?" 
 
 " 'Tis false !" exclaimed Frances, her eyes lighting with 
 extraordinary animation, and the colour rushing to her face until 
 even her fine forehead glowed with fire ; " no act of deception
 
 242 THE SPY. 
 
 is worthy of y brother, nor of any would he be guilty, for so 
 base a purpose as gain or promotion." 
 
 " Well, I'm sure," said Katy, a little appalled at the manner 
 of the young lady, " if a body does the work, he should be paid 
 for it. Harvey is by no means partic'lar about getting his lawful 
 dues, and I dai^st to say, if the truth was forthcoming, King 
 George owes him money this very minute." 
 
 " Then you acknowledge his connexion with the British army," 
 said Frances ; " I confess there have been moments when I have 
 thought differently." 
 
 " Lord, Miss Fanny, Harvey is a man that no calculation can 
 be made on. Though I lived in his house for a long concourse of 
 years, I have never known whether he belonged above or below. 
 The time that Burg'yne was taken, he came home, and there was 
 great doings between him and the old gentleman, but for the life 
 I couldn't tell if 'twas joy or grief. Then, here, the other day, 
 when the great British general I'm sure I have been so Hurried 
 with losses and troubles, that I forget his name " 
 
 " Andre," said Frances, in a melancholy tone. 
 
 " Yes, Ondree ; when lie was hung acrost the Tapaan, the old 
 gentleman was near hand to going crazy about it, and didn't 
 sleep for night nor day till Harvey got back ; and then his money 
 was mostly golden guineas; but the skinners took it all, and now 
 he is a beggar, or, what's the same thing, despicable for poverty 
 and want." 
 
 To this speech Frances made no reply, but continued her walk 
 up the hill, deeply engaged in her own reflections. The allusions 
 to Andre had recalled her thoughts to the situation of her own 
 brother. Hope is a powerful stimulus to enjoyment, and though 
 arising from a single cause, seldom fails to mingle with every 
 emotion of the heart. The dying declaration of Isabella had left 
 an impression on the mind of"Frances that influenced her whole 
 deportment. She looked forward with confidence to the restora 
 tion of Sarah's intellect ; and even now, as she mused on the con 
 dition of Henry, there was a secret presentiment of his acquittal 
 that pervaded her thoughts, which sprang from the buoyancy of 
 ycuth, but for which she would have been at a loss to account. 
 JTjey now reached the highest point in their toilsome progress to 
 the summit, and Frances stated herself on a rock to rest and to 
 admire. Immediately at her feet lay a deep dell, but little al 
 tered by cultivation, and dark with the gloom of a November 
 sunset. Another hill arose opposite to where she sat, at no great 
 distance, along whose rugged sides nothing \vas to be seen but 
 shapeless rocks, and oaks whose stinted growth proved the 
 absence of soil. 
 
 To be seen in their perfection, the Highlands must be passet
 
 THE SPY. 243 
 
 immediately after the fall of the leaf. The picture is then in its 
 chastest keeping, for neither the scanty foliage which the summer 
 lends the trees, nor the snows of winter, are present to conceal 
 the minutest objects from the eye. Chilling solitude is the cha 
 racteristic of the scenery, nor is the mind at liberty, as in March, 
 to look forward to a renewed vegetation that is soon to check, 
 without improving the view. 
 
 The day had been cloudy and cool, and thin fleecy clouds 
 hung around the horizon, often promising to disperse, but as fre 
 quently disappointing the maid in her expectation of a parting 
 beam from the setting sun. At length a solitary gleam of light 
 struck on the base of the mountain on which she was gazing, 
 and moved gracefully up its side, until, reaching the summit, it 
 stood for a minute, forming a crown of glory to the sombre pile 
 beneath. So strong were the rays, that what was before indis 
 tinct, now clearly opened to the view. With a feeling of awe at 
 being thus unexpectedly admitted, as it were, into the secrets of 
 that desert place, Frances gazed intently, until, among the scat 
 tered trees and fantastic rocks, something like a rude structure 
 was seen. It was low, and so obscured by the colour of its ma 
 terials, that but for its roof, and the glittering of a window, it 
 must have escaped her notice. While yet lost in the astonish 
 ment created by discovering a habitation for man in such a spot, 
 on moving her eyes she perceived another object that increased 
 her wonder. It apparently was a human figure, but of a sin 
 gular mould and unusual deformity. It stood on the edge of a 
 rock, but a little above the hut, and it was no difficult task for 
 our heroine to fancy it was gazing at the vehicles that were as 
 cending the side of the mountain beneath her. The distance, 
 however, was too great for her to distinguish with precision. 
 After looking at it a moment in breathless wonder, Frances had 
 just come to the conclusion that it was ideal, and that what she 
 saw was a part of the rock itself, when the object moved swiftly 
 from its position, and glided into the hut, at once removing any 
 doubts as to the nature of either. Whether it was owing to the 
 recent conversation that she had been holding with Katy, or to 
 some fancied resemblance that she had discerned, Frances 
 thought, as the figure vanished from her view, that it bore a 
 marked likeness to Bireh, moving under the weight of his pack. 
 She continued to g:ize in breathless silence towards the myste 
 rious residence, when the gleam of light passed away, and at 
 the same instant the tones of a bugle rang through the glens and 
 hollows, and were re-echoed in every direction. Springing on 
 her feet in alarm, the rnaid heard the trampling of horses, and 
 directly a party in the well known uniform of the Virginians, 
 came sweeping round the point of a rock near her, and drew up
 
 244 THE SPY. 
 
 at a short distance from where she stood. Again the bugle 
 sounded a lively strain, and before the agitated girl had time to 
 rally her thoughts, Dunwoodie dashed by the "party of dragoons, 
 threw himself from his charger, and advanced to the side of his 
 mistress. 
 
 His manner was earnest and interested, but in a slight degree 
 constrained. In a few words he explained to Frances, that he 
 had been ordered up, with a party of Lawton's men, in the ab 
 sence of the Captain himself, to attend the trial of Henry, which 
 was fixed for the morrow, and that, anxious for their safety in 
 the rude passes of the mountain, he had ridden a mile or two in 
 quest of the travellers. Frances explained, with blushing cheeks 
 and trembling voice, the reason of her being in advance, and 
 taught him to expect the arrival of her father momentarily. 
 The constraint of his manner had, however, unwillingly on her 
 part, communicated itself to her own deportment, and the ap 
 proach of the chariot was a relief to both. The Major handed 
 her in, spoke a few words of encouragement to Mr. Wharton 
 and Miss Peyton, and again mounting, led the way towards the 
 plains of Fishkill, which broke on their sight, on turning the 
 rock, with the effect of enchantment. A short half hour brought 
 them to the door of the farm-house, which the care of Dun 
 woodie had already prepared for their reception, and where Cap~ 
 tain Wharton was anxiously expecting their arrival. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 " These limbs are strengthened with a soldier's toil, 
 
 Nor has this cheek been ever blanch'd with fear 
 
 But this sad tale of thine enervates all 
 
 Within me. that I once could boast as man : 
 
 Chill, trembling allies seize upon my frame, 
 
 And tears of childish sorrow pour, apace, 
 
 Through scarred channels, that were mark'd by wounds." Duo. 
 
 THE friends of Henry Wharton had placed so much reliance on 
 his innocence, that they were unable to see the full danger o! 
 his situation. As the moment of trial, however, approached, the 
 uneasiness of the youth himself increased ; and after spending 
 most of the night with his afflicted family, he awoke, on the fol 
 lowing morning, from a short and disturbed slumber, to a clearer 
 sense of his condition, and survey of the means that were to ex 
 tricate him from it with life. The rank' of Andre', and the im 
 portance of the measures he was plotting, together with the 
 powerful intercessions that had been made on his behalf, 
 occasioned his execution to be stamped with greater notoriety 
 than the ordinary events of the war. But spies were frequently 
 arrested, and the instances occurred of summary punishment for 
 this crime were numberless. These were facts that were well
 
 THE SPY. 245 
 
 known to both Dunwoodie and the prisoner; and to their expe 
 rienced judgments the preparations for the trial were indeed 
 alarming. Notwithstanding their apprehensions, they succeeded 
 so far in concealing them, that neither Miss Peyton nor Frances 
 \vas aware of their extent. A strong guard was stationed in the 
 outbuilding of the farm-house where the prisoner was quartered, 
 and several sentinels watched the avenues that approached the 
 dwelling ; one was constantly near the room of the British offi 
 cer. A court was already detailed to examine into the circum 
 stances ; and upon their decision the fate of Plenry rested. 
 
 The moment at length arrived, and the different actors in the 
 approaching investigation assembled. Frances experienced a 
 feeling like suffocation, as, after taking her seat in the midst of 
 her family, her eyes wandered over the group who were thus 
 collected. The judges, three in number, sat by themselves, clad 
 in the martial vestments of their profession, and maintained a 
 gravity worthy of the occasion, and becoming in their rank. 
 In the centre was a man of advanced years, but whose person 
 continued rigidly erect, and whose whole exterior bore the stamp 
 of early and long-tried military habits. This was the president 
 of the court ; and Frances, after taking a hasty and unsatisfac 
 tory view of his associates, turned to his benevolent countenance 
 as to the harbinger of mercy to her brother. There was a melt 
 ing and subdued expression in the features of the veteran, that, 
 contrasted with the rigid decency and composure of the others, 
 could not fail to attract her notice. His attire was strictly in 
 conformity to the prescribed rules of the service to which lie be 
 longed ; but while his hair was erect and military, his fingers 
 trifled, with a kind of convulsive and unconscious motion, with 
 the crape that entwined the hilt of the sword on which his body 
 partly reclined, and which, like himself, seemed a relic of older 
 times. There were the workings of an unquiet soul within ; but 
 his commanding and martial front blended awe with the pity that 
 its exhibition excited. His associates were officers selected from 
 the eastern troops who held the fortresses of West Point and 
 the adjacent passes ; they were men who had attained the meri 
 dian of life, and the eye sought in vain the expression of any 
 passion or emotion, on which it might seize as an indication of 
 human infirmity. In their demeanour, there was a mild, but a 
 grave intellectual reserve. If there was no ferocity or harshness 
 to chill, neither was there compassion or interest to attract. They 
 were men who had long acted under the dominion of a prudent 
 reason, and whose feelings seemed trained to a perfect submission 
 to their judgments. 
 
 Before these arbiters of his fate Henry Wharton was ushered, 
 under the custody of two armed men. A profound and awful 
 
 Y
 
 240 THK SPY. 
 
 silence succeeded liis entrance, and tlie blood of Frances chill, d 
 in her veins. There was but little of pomp in the preparations 
 to impress her imagination, but the reserved, business-like air of 
 the whole scene, made it seem, indeed, as if the destinies of lite 
 awaited on the judgment of these men. Two of the judges sat. 
 in grave reserve, fixing their inquiring eyes on the object of 
 their investigation, but the president continued gazing round 
 with uneasy, convulsive motions of the muscles of the face, that 
 indicated a restlessness foreign to his years and duty. It waa 
 Colonel Singleton, who, but the day before, had learned the fate 
 of Isabella, but who proudly stood forth in the discharge of a 
 duty that his country required at his hands. The silence and 
 the expectation in every eye, at length struck him, and making 
 an effort to collect himself, he spoke, in the deep tones of one 
 used to authority " Bring forth the prisoner." 
 
 The sentinels dropped the points of their bayonets towards 
 the judges, and Henry Wlmrton advanced, with a firm step, 
 into the centre of the apartment. All was now anxiety, and 
 eager curiosity. Frances turned for a moment in grateful emo 
 tion, as the deep and perturbed breathing of Dunwoodie readied 
 her ears ; but her brother again concentrated all her interest into 
 one feeling of intense care. In the back-ground were arranged 
 the inmates of the family who owned the dwelling, and behind 
 them, again, was a row of shining faces of ebony, glistening 
 with pleased wonder at the scene. Amongst these was the fadt d 
 lustre of Caesar Thomson's countenance. 
 
 "You are said," continued the president, "to be Henry Whar- 
 ton, a Captain in his Britannic Majesty's 60th regiment of foot." 
 
 "I am." 
 
 " I like your candour, sir ; it partakes of the honourable feel- 
 injis of a soldier, and cannot fail to impress your judges favour 
 ably." 
 
 " It would be prudent," said one of his companions, " to ad 
 vise the prisoner, that he is bound to answer no more than he 
 deems necessary ; although we are a court of martial law, yet, 
 in this respect, we own the principles of all free governments." 
 
 A nod of approbation from the silent member was bestowed 
 on this remark, and the president proceeded with caution, refer 
 ring to the minutes he held in his hand. 
 
 " It is in accusation against you, that, being an officer of the 
 enemy, you passed the pickets of the American army at the 
 White Plains, in disguise, on the 29th of October last, whereby 
 you are suspected of views hostile to the interests of America, 
 and have subjected yourself to the punishment of a spy." 
 
 The mild, but steady tones of the speaker's voice, as he slowly 
 repeated the substance of "this charge, sunk to the hearts of most 
 of the listeners. The accusation was so plain, the facts so limit- 

 
 THE SPY. 247 
 
 e<l, the proofs so obvious, and the penal ty so well established, 
 that escape at once seemed impossible. But Henry replied with 
 earnest grace " That I passed your pickets in disguise is true, 
 but" 
 
 " Peace," interrupted the president; " the usages of war are 
 stern enough, in themselves ; you need not aid them to your own 
 condemnation." 
 
 " The prisoner can retract that declaration if he pleases," re 
 marked another judge. " His confession, which must be taken, 
 goes fully to prove the charge." 
 
 " I retract nothing that is true," said Henry, proudly. 
 
 The two nameless judges heard him in silont composure, yet 
 there was no exultation mingled with their gravity. The pre 
 sident now appeared, however, to take new interest in the scene ; 
 and, with an animation unlooked-for in his years, he cried 
 " Your sentiment is noble, sir ; I only regret that a youthful sol 
 dier should so far be misled by loyalty, as to lend himself to the 
 purposes of deceit." 
 
 " Deceit !" echoed Wharton, " I thought it prudent to guard 
 against capture from ray enemies." 
 
 " A soldier, Captain Wharton, "exclaimed the veteran, " should 
 never meet his enemy but openly, and with arms in his hands. 
 For fifty years have I served two kings of England, and now 
 my native land ; but never did I approach a foe, unless under the 
 light of the sun, and with honest notice that an enemy was nigh." 
 
 " You are at liberty to explain what your motives were, in 
 entering the ground held by our army, in disguise," said the 
 other judge, with a slight movement of the muscles of his mouth. 
 
 " I am the son of this aged man before you," continued Henry. 
 " It was to visit him that I encountered the danger. Besides, 
 the country below is seldom held by your troops, and its very 
 name implies a right to either party to move at pleasure over its 
 territory." 
 
 " Its name, as a neutral ground, is unauthorised by law ; and 
 is an appellation that originates with the condition of the coun 
 try. But wherever an army goes, it carries its rights alon^ ; 
 and the first is, the ability to protect itself." 
 
 " I am no casuist sir," returned the youth, earnestly ; " but 1 
 feel that my father is entitled to my affection, and would en 
 counter greater risks to prove it to him, in his old age." 
 
 "A very commendable spirit," cried the veteran; "como, 
 gentlemen, this business brightens. I confess, at first, it was very 
 bad ; but no man can censure him for desiring to see his parent. 
 
 " And have you proof that such only was your intention ?" 
 
 " Yes here," said Henry, admitting a ray of hope ; " here is 
 proof my father, my sister, Major Dunwoodie, all know it." 
 
 " Then, indeed," returned his immovable judge, " we may be
 
 248 THE SPY. 
 
 able to save you. It would be well, sir, to examine further into 
 this business." 
 
 " Certainly," said the president, with alacrity ; " let the elder 
 Mr. Wharton approach and take the oath." 
 
 The father made an effort at composure, and advancing with a 
 feeble step, complied with the necessary forms of the court. 
 
 " You are the father of the prisoner?" said Colonel Singleton, 
 in a subdued voice, after pausing a moment in respect of the agi 
 tation of the witness. 
 
 " He is my only son." 
 
 " And what, sir, do you know of his visit to your house, on 
 the 29th day of October last?" 
 
 " He came, as he told you, sir, to see me and his sisters." 
 
 " Was he in disguise?" asked the other judge. 
 
 " He did not wear the uniform of the 60th." 
 
 " To see his sisters, too !" said the president with great emo 
 tion. " Have you daughters, sir 1" 
 
 " I have two both are in this house." 
 
 " Had he a wig?" interrupted the officer. 
 
 " There was some such thing, I do believe, upon liis bfad." 
 
 " And how long had you been separated?" asked the president. 
 
 " One year and two months." 
 
 " Did he wear a loose great coat of coorse materials?" inquired 
 the officer, referring to the paper that contained the charges. 
 
 " There was an over-coat." 
 
 " And you think it was to see you, only, that he came out." 
 
 " And my daughters." 
 
 " A boy of spirit," whispered the president to his silent com 
 rade. " I see but little harm in such a freak ; 'twas imprudent, 
 but then it was kind." 
 
 " Do you know that your son was entrusted with no commis 
 sion from Sir Henry Clinton, and that the visit to you was not 
 merely a cloak to other designs ?" 
 
 " How can I know it?" said Mr. Wharton, in alarm ; " would 
 Sir Henry entrust me with such a business?" 
 
 " Know you anything of this pass?" exhibiting the paper that 
 Dunwoodie had retained when Wharton was taken. 
 
 " Nothing upon my honour, nothing," cried the father, 
 shrinking from the paper as from contagion. 
 
 " But, on your oath ?" 
 
 " Nothing." 
 
 " Have you other testimony ? this does not avail you, Captain 
 Wharton. You have been taken in a situation where your life is 
 forfeited ; the labour of proving your innocence rests with your 
 self. Take time to reflect, and be cool." 
 
 There was a frightful calmness in the manner of this judge that
 
 THE SPY. . 249 
 
 appalled the prisoner. In the sympathy of Colonel Singleton, he 
 could easily lose sight of his danger; but the obdurate and col 
 lected air of the others was ominous of his fate. He continued 
 silent, casting expressive glances towards his friend. Dunwoodie 
 understood the appeal, and offered himself as a witness. He was 
 sworn, and desired to relate what he knew. His statement did 
 not materially alter the case, and Dunwoodie felt that it could 
 not. To him personally but little was known, and that little 
 rather militated against the safety of Henry than otherwise. 
 His account was listened to in silence, and the significant shake 
 of the head that was made by the silent member spoke too plainly 
 what effect it had produced. 
 
 " Still you think that the prisoner had no other object than 
 what he has avowed?" said the president, when he had ended. 
 
 " None other, I will pledge my life," cried the Major with 
 fervour. 
 
 " Will yon swear it?" asked the immovable judge. 
 
 " How can I? God alone can tell the heart; but I have 
 known this gentleman from a boy ; deceit never formed part of 
 his character. He is above it." 
 
 " You say that he escaped, and was retaken in open arms?" 
 said the president. 
 
 " He was ; nay, he received a wound in the combat. You see 
 he yet moves his arm with difficulty. Would lie, think you, sir, 
 have trusted himself where he could fall again into our hands, 
 unless conscious of his innocence?" 
 
 " Would Andre have deserted a field of battle, Major Dun- 
 woodie, had he encountered such an event near Tarrytown ?" 
 asked his deliberate examiner. " Is it not natural to youth to 
 seek glory ?" 
 
 " Do you call this glory ?" exclaimed the Major, " an igno 
 minious death and a tarnished name." 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie," returned the other, still with inveterate 
 gravity ; " you have acted nobly ; your duty has been arduous 
 and severe, but it has been faithfully and honourably discharged ; 
 ours must not be less so." 
 
 During the examination, the most intense interest prevailed 
 among the hearers. With that kind of feeling which could not 
 separate the principle from the cause, most of the auditors thought 
 that, if Dunwoodie failed to move the hearts of Henry's judges, 
 no other possessed the power. Caesar thrust his mis-shapen form 
 forward ; and his features, so expressive of the concern he felt, and 
 so different from the vacant curiosity pictured in the countenances 
 of the other blacks, caught the attention of the silent judge. For 
 the first time he spoke " Let that black be brought forward." 
 
 It was too late to retreat, and Ccesar found himself confronted 
 
 v 3
 
 260 THE SPY. 
 
 with a row of the rebel officers, before he knew what was upper 
 most in his thoughts. The others yielded the examination to the 
 one who suggested it, and using all due deliberation, he proceeded 
 accordingly " You know the prisoner?" 
 
 " I link I ought," returned the black, in a manner as senten 
 tious as that of his examiner. 
 
 " Did he give you the wig when he threw it aside ?" 
 
 " I don't want 'eui," grumbled Caesar ; " got a berry good 
 hair he'self." 
 
 " Were you employed in carrying any letters or messages while 
 Captain Wharton was in your master's house?" 
 
 " I do what a tell me," returned the black. 
 
 " But what did they tt-11 you to do?" 
 
 " Sometime a one ting sometime anoder." 
 
 " Enough," said Colonel Singleton, with dignity ; " you have 
 the noble acknowledgment of a gentleman, what more can you 
 obtain from this slave ? Captain Wharton, you perceive the 
 unfortunate impression against you. Have you other testimony 
 to adduce?" 
 
 To Henry there now remained but little hope ; his confidence 
 in his security was fast ebbing, but with an indefinite expectation 
 of assistance from the loveliness of his sister, he fixed an earnest 
 gaze on the pallid features of Frances. She arose, and with a 
 tottering step moved towards the judges ; the paleness of her 
 cheek continued but for a moment, and gave place to a flush of 
 fire, and with a light, but firm tread, she stood before them. 
 Raising her hand to her polished forehead, Frances threw aside 
 her exuberant locks, and displayed a beauty and innocence to 
 their view that was unrivalled. The president shrouded his eyes 
 for a moment, as if the wildly-expressive eye and speaking coun 
 tenance recalled the image of another. The movement was tran 
 sient, and recovering himself proudly, he said, with an earnestness 
 that betrayed his secret wishes " To you, then, your brother 
 communicated his intention of paying your family a secret visit." 
 
 " No ! no !" said Frances, pressing her hand on her brain, ;is 
 if to collect her thoughts ; " he told me nothing we knew not of 
 the visit until he arrived ; but can it be necessary to explain to 
 gallant men, that a child would incur hazard to meet his only pa 
 rent, and that in times like these, and in a situation like ours .'" 
 
 " But was this the first time ? Did he never even talk of 
 doing so before ?" inquired the Colonel, leaning towards her with 
 paternal interest. 
 
 " Certainly certainly," cried Frances, catching the expression 
 of his own benevolent countenance. " This is but the fourth of 
 his visits." 
 
 " I knew it!" exclaimed the veteran, rubbing his hands with
 
 THE SPY. 251 
 
 delight; "an adventurous, warm-hearted son I warrant me, gen 
 tlemen, a fiery soldier in the field. In what disguises did he come ?" 
 
 " In none, for none were then necessary ; the royal troops 
 covered the country, and gave him safe passage." 
 
 " And was this the first of his visits out of the uniform of his 
 regiment?" asked the Colonel, in a suppressed voice, avoiding 
 the penetrating looks of his companions. 
 
 " Oh ! the very first/' exclaimed the eager girl ; " his firsl 
 offence, I do assure you, if offence it be." 
 
 " But you wrote him you urged the visit ; surely, young lady, 
 you wished to see your brother?" added the impatient Colonel. 
 
 " That we wished it, and prayed for it, oh ! how fervently we 
 prayed for it, is true ; but to have held communion with the royal 
 army would have endangered our father, and we dared not." 
 
 " Did he leave the house until taken, or had he intercourse 
 with any out of your own dwelling ?" 
 
 " With none not one, excepting our neighbour, the pedler 
 Birch." 
 
 " With whom ?" exclaimed the Colonel, turning pale, and 
 shrinking as from the sting of an adder. 
 
 Dunwoodie groaned aloud, and striking his head with his 
 hand, cried in piercing tones, " he is lost !" and rushed from the 
 apartment. 
 
 " But Harvey Birch," repeated Frances, gazing wildly at the 
 door by which her lover had disappeared. 
 
 " Harvey Birch !" echoed all the judges. The two immovable 
 members of the court exchanged significant looks, and threw 
 many an inquisitive glance at their prisoner. 
 
 " To you, gentlemen, it can be no new intelligence to hear that 
 Harvey Birch is suspected of favouring the royal cause," said 
 Henry, again advancing before the judges ; " for he has already 
 been condemned by your tribunals to the fate that I now see 
 awaits myself. I will, therefore, explain, that it was by his 
 assistance that I procured the disguise, and passed your pickets ; 
 but to my dying moment, and with my dying breath, I will avow, 
 that my intentions were as pure as the innocent being before you." 
 
 " Captain Wharton," said the president, solemnly, "the enemies 
 of American liberty have made mighty and subtle efforts to over 
 throw our power. A more dangerous man, for his means and 
 education, is not ranked among our foes, than this pedler of West 
 Chester. Pie is a spy artful, delusive, and penetrating, beyond 
 the abilities of any of his class. Sir Henry could not do better 
 than to associate him with the officer in his next attempt. He 
 would have saved him Andre. Indeed, young man, this is a 
 connexion that may prove fatal to you." The honest indignation 
 that beamed on the countenance of the aged warrior as he spoke,
 
 202 TIIK SI'Y. 
 
 was met by a satisfied look of perfect conviction on the part of 
 his comrades. 
 
 " I have ruined him !" cried Frances, clasping her hands in 
 terror; "do you desert us? then he is lost indeed." 
 
 "Forbear! lovely innocent forbear !" cried the Colonel, 
 with strong emotion ; " you injure none, but distress us all." 
 
 " Is it then such a crime to possess natural affection ?" said 
 Frances, wildly ; " would Washington the noble, upright, im 
 partial Washington, judge so harshly ? delay but till Washington 
 can hear his tale." 
 
 " It is impossible," said the president, covering his eyes, as if 
 to hide her beauty from his view. 
 
 " Impossible! oh! but for a week suspend your judgment. 
 On my knees I entreat you, as you will expect mercy yourself, 
 where no human power can avail you, give him but a day." 
 
 " It is impossible," repeated the Colonel, in a voice that was 
 nearly choked ; " our orders are peremptory, and too long delay 
 has been given already." He turned from the kneeling sup 
 pliant, but could not, or would not, extricate the hand that she 
 grasped with frenzied fervour. 
 
 " Remand your prisoner," said one of the judges to the officer 
 who was in the charge of Henry. " Colonel Singleton, shall we 
 withdraw '!" 
 
 " Singleton ! Singleton !" echoed Frances ; " then you are a 
 father, and know how to pity a father's woes ; you cannot, will 
 not, wound a heart that is now nearly crushed. Hear me, Colonel 
 Singleton : as God will listen to your dying prayers, hear me, 
 and spare my brother." 
 
 " Remove her," said the Colonel, gently endeavouring to extri 
 cate his hand ; but there were none who appeared disposed to 
 obey. Frances eagerly strove to read the expression of his 
 averted face, and resisted all his efforts to retire. 
 
 " Colonel Singleton ! how lately was your own son in suffering 
 and in danger? under the roof of my father he was cherished 
 under my father's roof he found shelter and protection. Oh ! 
 suppose that son, the pride of your age, the solace and protector 
 <f your orphan children, and then pronounce my brother guilty 
 if you dare." 
 
 " What right has Heath to make an executioner of me!" 
 exclaimed the veteran fiercely, rising with a face flushed like fire, 
 and every vein and artery swoln with suppressed emotion. " But 
 I forget myself; come, gentlemen, let us mount; our painful 
 duty must be done." 
 
 " Mount not! go not!" shrieked Frances ; "can you tear a 
 son from his parent ? a brother from his sister, so coldly ? Is 
 this the cause I have so ardently loved ? Are these the men I
 
 THE SPY. 253 
 
 have been taught to reverence? But you relent, you do hear 
 me, you will pity and forgive." 
 
 " Lead on, gentlemen," said the Colonel, motioning towards 
 the door, and erecting himself into an air of military grandeur, 
 in the vain hope of quieting his feelings. 
 
 " Lead not on, but hear me," cried Frances, grasping his 
 hand convulsively; "Colonel Singleton, you are a father! 
 pity mercy mercy for the son ! mercy for the daughter ! Yes 
 you had a daughter. On this bosom she poured out her last 
 breath ; these hands closed her eyes ; these very hands, that are 
 now clasped in prayer, did those offices for her, that you con 
 demn my poor, poor brother, to require," 
 
 One mighty emotion the veteran struggled with, and quelled ; 
 but with a groan that shook his whole frame. He even looked 
 around in conscious pride at his victory ; but a second burst 
 of feeling conquered. His head, white with the frost of seventy 
 winters, sank upon the shoulder of the frantic suppliant. The 
 sword that had been his companion in so many fields of blood, 
 dropped from his nerveless hand, and as he cried "May God 
 bless you for the deed !" he wept aloud. 
 
 Long and violent was the indulgence that Colonel Singleton 
 yielded to his feelings. On recovering, he gave the senseless 
 Frances into the arms of her aunt, and, turning with an air of 
 fortitude to his comrades, he said " Still, gentlemen, we have 
 our duty as officers to discharge ; our feelings as men may be 
 indulged hereafter. What is your pleasure with the prisoner !" 
 
 One of the judges placed in his hand a written sentence, that 
 he had prepared while the Colonel was engaged with Frances, 
 and declared it to be the opinion of himself and his companion. 
 It briefly stated, that Henry Wharton had been detected in pass* 
 ing the lines of the American army as a spy, and in disguise. 
 That, thereby, according to the laws of war, he was liable to 
 suffer death, and that this court adjudged him to the penalty 
 recommending him to be executed, by hanging, before nine o'clock 
 on the following morning. 
 
 It was not usual to inflict capital punishments, even on the 
 enemy, without referring the case to the Commander-in-chief, 
 for his approbation ; or, in his absence, to the officer command 
 ing for the time being. But, as Washington held his head 
 quarters at New Windsor, on the western bank of the Hudson, 
 sufficient time was yet before them to receive his answer. 
 
 " This is short notice," said the veteran, holding the pen in his 
 hand, in a suspense that had no object ; " not a day to fit one so 
 young for heaven 1" 
 
 "The royal officers gave Hale but an hour," returned his 
 comrade ; " we have extended the usual time. But Washington 
 has the power to extend it, or to pardon."
 
 THK SPY- 
 
 "Then to Washington will I go," cried the Colonel, return 
 ing the paper with his signature, " and if the services of an old 
 man like me, or that brave boy of mine, entitle me to his ear, I 
 will yet save the youth." So saying, he departed, full of his 
 generous intentions in favour of Henry Wharton. 
 
 The sentence of the court was communicated with proper ten 
 derness to the prisoner ; and after giving a few necessary in 
 structions to the officer in command, and despatching a courier 
 to head-quarters with their report, the remaining judges mounted, 
 and rode to their own quarters, with the same unmoved exterior, 
 but with the consciousness of the same dispassionate integrity, 
 that they had maintained throughout the trial. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 " Have you no countermand for Claurlio yet, 
 
 But he must die to-morrow 7" Measure for Measure. 
 
 A FEW hours were passed by the condemned prisoner, after liis 
 sentence was received, in the bosom of his family. Mr. Whar 
 ton wept in hopeless despondency over the untimely fate of his 
 son ; and Frances, after recovering from her insensibility, ex 
 perienced an anguish of feeling to which the bitterness of death 
 itself would have been comparatively light. Miss Peyton alone 
 retained a vestige of hope, or presence of mind to suggest wliut 
 might be proper to be done, under their circumstances. The 
 comparative composure of the good spinster in no degree arose 
 from any want of interest in the welfare of her nephew, but was 
 founded in a kind of instinctive dependence on the character of 
 Washington. He was a native of the same colony with herself, 
 and although his early military services, and her frequent visits 
 to the family of her sister, and subsequent establishment at its 
 head, had prevented their ever meeting, still she was familiar 
 with his domestic virtues, and well knew that the rigid inflexi 
 bility for which his public acts were distinguished, formed no 
 part of his reputation in private life. He was known in Vir 
 ginia as a consistent but just and lenient master, and the maiden 
 felt a kind of pride in associating in her mind her countryman 
 with the man who led the armies, and, in a great measure, con 
 trolled the destinies of America. She knew that Henry was in 
 nocent of the crime for which he was condemned to suffer, and 
 with that kind of simple faith, that is ever to be found in the 
 most ingenuous and innocent characters, could not conceive of 
 those constructions and interpretations of law, that inflicted pun 
 ishment without the actual existence of crime. But. even her 
 confiding hopes were doomed to meet with a speedy termination. 
 Towards noon, a regiment of militia, that was quartered on the 
 banks of the river, moved up to the ground in front of the house
 
 THE SPY. 2-35 
 
 that held our heroine and her family, and deliberately pitched 
 their tents, with the avowed intention of remaining until the 
 following morning, to give solemnity and impression to the exe 
 cution of a British spy. 
 
 Dunwoodie had performed all that was required of him by 
 his orders, and was at liberty to retrace his steps to his expecting 
 troops, who were impatiently awaiting his return to be led against 
 a detachment of the enemy, that was known to be slowly mov 
 ing up the banks of the river, to cover a party of foragers in 
 their rear. He was accompanied by a small party of Lawton's 
 troop, under the expectation of their testihiony being required 
 to convict the prisoner, and Mason, the Lieutenant, was in com 
 mand. But the confession of Captain Wharton had removed 
 the necessity of examining any witnesses on behalf of the peo 
 ple. The Major, from an unwillingness to encounter the distress 
 of Henry's friends, and a dread of trusting himself within its 
 influence, had spent the time we have mentioned, in walking by 
 himself, in keen anxiety, at a short distance from the dwelling. 
 Like Miss Peyton, he had some reliance on the mercy of Wash 
 ington, although moments of terrific doubt and despondency 
 were continually crossing his mind. To him the rules of service 
 were familiar, and he was more accustomed to consider his Ge 
 neral in the capacity of a ruler, than as exhibiting the charac 
 teristics of the individual. A dreadful instance had too recently 
 occurred, which fully proved that Washington was above the 
 weakness of sparing another in mercy to himself. While pacing 
 with hurried steps through the orchard, labouring under these 
 constantly recurring doubts, enlivened by transient rays of 
 hope, Mason approached him, accoutred completely for the saddle. 
 
 "Thinking you might have forgotten the news brought this 
 morning from below, sir, I have taken the liberty to order she 
 detachment under arms," said the Lieutenant, very coolly, cut 
 ting down with his sheathed sabre the mullen tops that grew 
 within his roach. 
 
 " What news?'' cried the Major, starting. 
 
 " Only that John Bull is out in West Chester, with a train of 
 wagons, which, if he rills, will compel us to retire through these 
 cursed hills, in search of provender. These greedy Englishmen 
 are so shut up on York island, that when they do venture out, 
 they seldom leave straw enough to furnish the bed of a Yankee 
 heiress." 
 
 " Where did the express leave them, did you say? The intel 
 ligence has entirely escaped my memory." 
 
 " On the heights above Sing Sing," returned the Lieutenant, 
 with no little amazement. "The road below looks like a hay- 
 market, and all the swine are sighing forth their lamentations.
 
 250 THE SPY. 
 
 as the corn passes them towards Kingsbridge. George Single 
 ton's orderly, who brought up the tidings, says that our horses 
 were holding consultation if they should not go down without 
 their riders, and eat another meal, for it is questionable with 
 them whether they can get a full stomach again. If they are 
 suifered to get back with their plunder, we shall not be able to 
 rind a piece of pork, at Christmas, fat enough, to fry itself." 
 
 " Peace, with all this nonsense of Singleton's orderly, Mr. 
 Mason," cried Dunwoodie impatiently ; "let him learn to wait 
 the orders of his superiors." 
 
 " I beg pardon in his name, Major Dunwoodie," said the 
 subaltern ; " but, like myself, he was in error. We both thought 
 it was the order of General Heath, to attack and molest the 
 enemy whenever he ventured out of his nest." 
 
 " Recollect yourself, Lieutenant Mason," said the mnjorfiercely, 
 fi or I may have to teach you that your orders pass through me." 
 
 " I know it, Major Dunwoodie I know it," said Mason with 
 a look of reproach ; " and I am sorry that your memory is so 
 bad, as to forget that I. have never yet hesitated to obey them." 
 
 " Forgive rne, Mason," cried Dunwoodie, taking both his 
 hands ; " I do know you fora brave and obedient soldier ; forget 
 my humour. But this business. Had you ever a friend?'' 
 
 "Nay, nay," interrupted the Lieutenant; "forgive me and 
 my honest zeal. I knew of the orders, and was fearful that 
 censure might fall on my officer. But remain, and let a man 
 breathe a syllable against the corps, and every sword will start 
 from the scabbard of itself; besides, they are still moving up, 
 and it is a long road from Croton to Kingsbridge. Happen what 
 may, I see plainly that we shall be on their heels before they arc 
 housed again." 
 
 " Oh ! that the courier was returned from head-quarters," ex 
 claimed Dunwoodie. " This suspense is insupportable." 
 
 " You have your wish," cried Mason ; " here he is coming at 
 the moment, and riding like the bearer of good news. God send 
 it may be so ; for I can't say that I particularly like myself to 
 see a brave young fellow dancing upon nothing." Dunwoodie 
 heard but very little of this feeling declaration ; for, ere half of 
 it was uttered, he had leaped the fence, and stood before the 
 messenger. 
 
 " What news have you ?" cried the Major, the moment that 
 the soldier stopped his horse. 
 
 " Good !" exclaimed the man ; and feeling no hesitation to 
 intrust an officer so well known as Major Dunwoodie, he placed 
 the paper in his hands, as he added, " but you can read it, sir, 
 for yourself." Dunwoodie paused not to read ; but flew, with 
 the elastic spring of youth and joy, to the chamber of the pri- 

 
 THK SPY. 2.7 
 
 soner. The sentinel knew him, and he was suffered to pass with 
 out question. 
 
 " Oh ! Peyton," cried Frances as he entered the apartment, 
 " you look like a messenger from heaven : bring you tidings of 
 mercy ?" 
 
 " Here, Frances here, Henry here, dear cousin, Jeanette," 
 cried the youth, as with trembling hands he broke the seal ; 
 " here is the letter itself, directed to the Captain of the guard. 
 But listen " 
 
 All did listen with intense anxiety ; and the pang of blasted 
 hope was added to their misery, as they saw the glow of delight 
 which had beamed on the countenance of the Major on his en 
 trance, give place to a look of astonishment and terror. The 
 paper contained the sentence of the court, and underneath were 
 written these simple words " Approved George Washington." 
 
 " He's lost, he's lost I" cried Frances in the piercing tones of 
 despair, sinking into the arms of her aunt. 
 
 " My son ! my son !" sobbed the father, " there is mercy in 
 heaven, if there is none on earth. May Washington never want 
 that mercy he thus denies to my innocent child." 
 
 " Washington !" echoed Dunwoodie, gazing around him in 
 vacant horror. "Yes, 'tis the act of Washington himself, there 
 are his characters ; his very name is here to sanction the dread 
 ful deed." 
 
 " Cruel, cruel Washington !" cried Miss Peyton ; " how has 
 familiarity with blood changed his nature!" 
 
 " Blame him not," said Dunwoodie ; " it is the General, and 
 not the man ; my life on it, he feels the blow he is compelled to 
 inflict." 
 
 " I have been deceived in him," cried Frances. " He is not 
 the saviour of his country ; but a cold and merciless tyrant. Oh ! 
 Peyton, Peyton ! how have you misled me in his character !" 
 
 " Peace, dear Frances ; peace, for God's sake ; use not such 
 language," cried her lover. " He is but the guardian of the law." 
 
 " You speak the truth, Major Dunwoodie," said Henry, reco 
 vering from the shock of having his last ray of hope extinguished, 
 and advancing from his seat by the side of his father. " I, who 
 am to suffer, blame him not. Every indulgence has been granted 
 me that I can ask. On the verge of the grave, I cannot continue 
 unjust. At such a moment, with so recent an instance of danger 
 to your cause from treason, I wonder not at Washington's un 
 bending justice. Nothing now remains but for me to prepare for 
 that fate which so speedily awaits me. To you, Major Dun 
 woodie, I make my first request." 
 
 " Name it," said the Major, giving utterance with difficulty. 
 
 Henry turned, and pointed impressively to the group of weep- 
 
 z
 
 258 THE SPY. 
 
 ing mourners near liini, as be continued " Be a son to tin's aged 
 man ; help his weakness, and defend him from any usage to which 
 the stigma thrown upon me may subject him. He has not many 
 friends amongst the rulers of this country ; h:t your powerful 
 name be found among them." 
 
 " It shall," said Dunwoodie, fervently pressing the hand of 
 his friend. 
 
 " And this helpless innocent," continued Henry, pointing to 
 where Sarah sat, in unconscious melancholy. " I had hoped tor 
 an opportunity to revenge her wrongs :" a momentary flush of 
 excitement passed over his pallid features; "but such thoughts 
 are evil I feel them to be wrong. Under your care, Peyton, 
 she will find sympathy and refuge." 
 
 " She will," whispered Dunwoodie, unable to speak aloud. 
 
 " This good aunt has claims upon you already ; of her I will 
 not speak ; but here," taking the hand of Frances, and dwelling 
 upon her countenance with an expression of fraternal affection 
 " here is the choicest gift of all. Take her to your bosom, and 
 cherish her as you would cultivate innocence and virtue." 
 
 The Major could not repress the eagerness with which he 
 extended his hand to receive the precious boon ; but Frances, 
 shrinking from his touch, hid her face in the bosom of her aunt, 
 as she murmured " No, no, no none can ever be anything to 
 me, who aid in my brother's destruction." 
 
 Henry continued gazing at her in tender pity for several 
 moments, before he again resumed a discourse that all felt was 
 most peculiarly his own. 
 
 " I have been mistaken, then. I did think, Peyton, that your 
 worth, your noble devotion to a cause that you have been taught 
 to revere, that your kindness to our father when in imprisonment, 
 your friendship to me, in short, that your character was under 
 stood and valued by my sister." 
 
 " It is it is," whispered Frances, burying her face still 
 deeper in the bosom of her aunt. 
 
 " I believe, dear Henry," said Dunwoodie, " this is a subject 
 that had better not be dwelt upon now." 
 
 " You forget," returned the prisoner, with a faint smile, " how 
 much I have to do, and how little time is left to do it in." 
 
 " I apprehend," continued the Major, with a face of fire, " that 
 Miss Wharton has imbibed some opinions of me, that would make 
 a compliance with your request irksome to her opinions that 
 is now too late to alter." 
 
 " No, no, no," cried Frances, quickly ; " you are exonerated) 
 Peyton with her dying breath she removed niy doubts." 
 
 " Generous Isabella !" murmured Dunwoodie, with a glow o 
 momentary rapture ; " but still, Henry, spare your sister now 
 nay, spare even me."
 
 THE SPY. 259 
 
 " I speak in pity to myself," returned the brother, gently re 
 moving Frances from the arms of her aunt. " What a time is 
 this to leave two such lovely females without a protector ! Their 
 abode is destroyed, and misery will speedily deprive them of their 
 last male friend," looking at his father ; " can I die in peace with 
 the knowledge of the danger to which they will be exposed?" 
 
 " You forget me," said Miss Peyton, shrinking herself at the 
 idea of celebrating nuptials at such a moment. 
 
 " No, my dear aunt, I forget you not, nor shall I, until I cease 
 to remember ; but you forget the times and the danger. The 
 good woman who lives in this house has already despatched a 
 messenger for a man of God, to smooth my passage to another 
 world ? Frances, if you would wish me to die in peace, to feel 
 a security that will allow me to turn my whole thoughts to 
 heaven, you will let this clergyman unite you to Dunwoodie." 
 Frances shook her head, but remained silent. 
 
 " I ask for no joy no demonstration of a felicity that you will 
 not, cannot feel, for months to come but obtain a right to his 
 powerful name give him an undisputed title to protect you " 
 Again the maid made an impressive gesture of denial. 
 
 " For the sake of that unconscious sufferer " pointing to 
 Sarah, " for your sake for my sake my sister " 
 
 " Peace, Henry, or you will break my heart," cried the agi 
 tated girl ; " not for worlds would I at such a moment engage in 
 the solemn vows that you wish. It would render me miserable 
 lor life." 
 
 " You love him not," said Henry, reproach full y. "I cease to 
 importune you to do what is against your inclinations." 
 
 Frances raised one hand to conceal the countenance that was 
 overspread with crimson, as she extended the other towards Dun 
 woodie, and said earnestly " Now you are unjust to me before 
 you were unjust to yourself." 
 
 " Promise me, then," said \Vharton, musing awhile in silence, 
 " that so soon as the recollection of my fate is softened, you. will 
 give my friend that hand for life, and I am satisfied." 
 
 " I do promise," said Frances, withdrawing the hand that Dun 
 woodie delicately relinquished, without even pressing it to his lips. 
 " Well, then, my good aunt," continued Henry, " will you 
 leave me for a short time alone with my friend ? I have a few 
 melancholy commissions with which to entrust him, and would 
 spare you and my sister the pain of hearing them." 
 
 " There is yet time to see Washington again," said Miss Pey 
 ton, moving towards the door ; and then, speaking with extreme 
 dignity, she continued " I will go myself: surely he must listen 
 to a woman from his own colony ! and we are in some degree 
 connected with his family."
 
 i(JO THE SPY. 
 
 " Wliy not apply to Mr. Harper?" said Frances, recollecting 
 tlir parting words of their guest for the first time. 
 
 " Harper !" echoed Dunwoodie, turning towards her with the 
 swiftness of ligjitning : " what of him ? do you know him 1" 
 
 " It is in vain," said Henry, drawing him aside ; " Frances 
 clings to hope with the fondness of a sister. Retire, my love, 
 and leave me with my friend." 
 
 But Frances read an expression in the eye of Dunwoodie that 
 chained her to the spot. After struggling to command her feel 
 ings, she continued " He staid with us for two days he was 
 with us when Henry was arrested." 
 
 " And and did you know him?" " Nay," continued Fran 
 ces, catching her breath as she witnessed the intense interest of her 
 lover, we knew him not ; he came to us in the night, a stranger, 
 and remained with us during the severe storm ; but he seemed to 
 take an interest in Henry, and promised him his friendship." 
 
 " What!" exclaimed the youth, in astonishment; "did he 
 know your brother ?" " Certainly ; it was at his request that 
 Henry threw aside his disguise." 
 
 " But," said Dunwoodie, turning pale with suspense, " he knew 
 him not as an officer of the royal army." " Indeed he did," cried 
 Miss Peyton ; " and cautioned him against this very danger." 
 
 Dunwoodie caught up the fatal paper, that still lay where it 
 had fallen from his own hands, and studied its characters intently. 
 Something seemed to bewilder his brain. He passed his hand 
 over his forehead, while each eye was fixed on him in dreadful 
 suspense all feeling afraid to admit those hopes anew that had 
 once been so sadly destroyed. " What said he ? what promised 
 he?" at length Dunwoodie asked with feverish impatience. 
 
 " He bid Henry apply to him when in danger, and promised 
 to requite to the son the hospitality of the father." 
 
 " Said he this, knowing him to be a British officer?" 
 
 ' Most certainly ; and with a view to this very danger." 
 
 " Then," cried the youth aloud, and yielding fo his rapture, 
 " then you are safe then will I save him ; yes, Harper will 
 never forget his word." 
 
 " But has he the power?" said Frances; "can he move the 
 stubborn purpose of Washington ?" 
 
 " Can he ! If he cannot," shouted the youth in uncontrollable 
 emotion, " if he cannot, who can ? Greene, and Heath, and 
 young Hamilton, are as nothing, compared to this Harper. 
 But," rushing to his mistress, and pressing her hands convul 
 sively, "repeat to me you say you have his promise?" 
 
 "Surely, surely, Peyton; his solemn, deliberate promise, 
 knowing all of the circumstances." 
 
 " Rest easy," cried Dunwoodie, holding her to his bosom for
 
 THE SPY. 261 
 
 a moment, " rest easy, for Henry is safe." He waited not to 
 explain, but darting from the room, he left the family in amaze 
 ment. They continued in silent wonder, until they heard the 
 fet of his charger, as he dashed from the door with the speed of 
 an arrow. 
 
 A long time was spent, after this abrupt departure of the youth, 
 by the anxious friends he had left, in discussing the probability of 
 his success. The confidence of his manner had, however, com 
 municated to his auditors something of its own spirit. Each felt 
 that the prospects of Henry were again brightening, and with 
 their reviving hopes, they experienced a renewal of spirits, which, 
 iu all but Henry himself, amounted to pleasure ; with him, in 
 deed, his state was too awful to admit of trifling, and, for a few 
 hours, he was condemned to feel how much more intolerable was 
 suspense, than even the certainty of calamity. Not so with 
 Frances. She, with all the reliance of affection, reposed in secu 
 rity on the assurance of Dunwoodie, without harassing herself 
 with doubts, that she possessed not the means of satisfying; but 
 believing her lover able to accomplish everything that man could 
 do, and retaining a vivid recollection of the manner and benevo 
 lent appearance of Harper, she abandoned herself to all the feli 
 city of renovated hope. The joy of Miss Peyton was more 
 sobered, and she took frequent occasions to reprove her niece for 
 the exuberance of her spirits, before there was a certainty that 
 their expectations were to be realized. But the slight smile that 
 hovered around the lips of the spinster contradicted the very 
 sobriety of feeling that she inculcated. 
 
 " Why, dearest aunt," said Frances, playfully, in reply to one 
 of her frequent reprimands, " would you have me repress the 
 pleasure that I feel at Henry's deliverance, when you yourself 
 have so often declared it to be impossible, that such men as ruled 
 in our country could sacrifice an innocent man?" 
 
 " Nay, I did believe it impossible, my child, and yet think so ; 
 but still there is a discretion to be shown in joy as well as in 
 sorrow." 
 
 Frances recollected the declaration of Isabella, and turned an 
 eye filled with tears of gratitude on her excellent aunt, as she 
 replied " True ; but there are feelings that will not yield to rea 
 son. Ah ! here are those monsters, who have come to witness 
 the death of a fellow creature, moving around yon field, as if this 
 life was to them nothing but a military show." 
 
 " It is but little more to the hireling soldier," said Henry, 
 endeavouring to forget his uneasiness. 
 
 " You gaze, my love, as if you thought a military show of 
 some importance," said Miss Peyton, observing her niece to be 
 looking from the window with a fixed and abstracted attention. 
 But Frances answered not.
 
 262 THK SPY. 
 
 From the window where she stood, the pa?s that they had 
 travelled through the Highlands was easily to be seen ; and the 
 mountain which held on its summit the mysterious hut was di 
 rectly before her. Its side was rugged and barren ; huge, and 
 apparently impassable barriers of rock presenting themselves 
 through the stunted oaks, which, stripped of their foliage, were 
 scattered over its surface. The base of the hill was not halt' a 
 mile from the house, and the object which attracted the notice of 
 Frances, was the figure of a man emerging from behind a rock 
 of remarkable formation, and as suddenly disappearing. This 
 manoeuvre was several times repeated, as if it were the intention 
 of the fugitive (for such by his air he seemed to be) to reconnoitre 
 the proceedings of the soldiery, and assure himself of the position 
 of tilings on the plain. Notwithstanding the distance, Frances 
 instantly imbibed the opinion that it was Birch. Perhaps this 
 impression was partly owing to the air and figure of the man, but 
 in a great measure to the idea that presented itself, on formerly 
 I'l'hiildinsr the object at the summit of the mountain. That they 
 were the same figure she was confident, nlthough this wanted the 
 appearance which in the other she had taken for the pack of the 
 pedler. Harvey had so connected himself with the mysterious 
 deportment of Harper within her imagination, that under circum 
 stances of less agitation than those in which she had laboured 
 since her arrival, she would have kept her suspicions to herself. 
 Frances, therefore, sat ruminating on this second appearance in 
 silence, and endeavouring to trace, in her thoughts, what possible 
 connexion this extraordinary man could have with the fortunes 
 of her own family. He had certainly saved Sarah, in some de 
 gree, from the blow that had partially alighted on her, and in no 
 instance had lie proved himself to be hostile to their interests. 
 After gazing for a long time at the point where she had last seen 
 the figure, in the vain expectation of its re-appearance, she turned 
 to her friends in the apartment. Miss Peyton was sitting by 
 Sarah, who gave some slight additional signs of noticing what 
 passed, but who still continued insensible to either joy or grief." 
 
 " I suppose, by this time, my love, that you are well acquaint 
 ed with the manoeuvres of a regiment," said the spinster, smiling 
 at her nephew. " It is no bad quality in a soldier's wife, at all 
 events." 
 
 " I am not a wife yet," said Frances, colouring to the ryes ; 
 " and we have no reason to wish for another weddin^ in our 
 family." 
 
 "Frances!" exclaimed her brother, starting from his seat, 
 and pacing the floor in violent agitation, "touch not the cord 
 au'uin, I entreat you. While my fate is yet so uncertain, I would 
 wish to be at peace with all men." 
 
 ' c Th?n let the uncertainty cease," cried Frances, springing to
 
 THE SPY. 263 
 
 tlie door, " for here conies Peyton with the joyful intelligence of 
 your release." The words were hardly uttered., before the door 
 opened, and the Major entered. In his air there was neither the 
 appearance of success, nor defeat, but there was a marked dis 
 play of vexation. He took the hand that Frances, in the ful 
 ness of her heart, extended towards him, but instantly relinquish 
 ing it, threw himself into a chair, in evident fatigue. 
 
 " You have failed," said Wharton, with a bound of his heart, 
 but an appearance of composure. 
 
 " Have you seen Harper ?" cried Frances, turning pale. 
 
 " I have not ; I crossed the river in one boat as he must have 
 been coming to this side in another. I returned without delay, 
 and traced him for several miles into the Highlands, by the 
 western pass, but there I unaccountably lost him. I have re 
 turned here to relieve your uneasiness ; but see him I will this 
 niglit, and bring a respite for Henry." 
 
 " But saw you Washington ?" asked Miss Peyton. 
 
 Dunwoodie gazed at her a moment in abstracted musing, and 
 the question was repeated. He answered gravely, and with some 
 reserve " The Commander-in-chief had left his quarters." 
 
 " But, Peyton," cried Frances, in returning terror, " if they 
 should not see each other, it will be too late. Harper alone will 
 not be sufficient." 
 
 Her lover turned his eyes slowly on her anxious countenance, 
 and dwelling a moment on her features, said, still musing " You 
 say that he promised to assist Henry." 
 
 " Certainly, of his own accord, and in requital for the hos 
 pitality that he had received." 
 
 Dunwoodie shook hishead, and began to look extremely grave. 
 
 "I like not that word hospitality it has an empty sound; 
 there must be something more reasonable to tie Harper. I dread 
 some mistake ; repeat to me all that passed." 
 
 Frances, in a hurried and earnest voice, complied with his re 
 quest. She related particularly the manner of his arrival at the 
 Locusts, the reception that he received, and the events that pass 
 ed, as minutely as her memory could supply her with the means. 
 As she alluded to the conversation that occurred between her 
 father and his guest, the Major smiled, but remained silent. She 
 then gave a detail of Henry's arrival, and the events of the fol 
 lowing day. She dwelt upon the part where Harper had de 
 sired her brother to throw aside his disguise, and recounted with 
 wonderful accuracy his remarks upon the hazard of the step that 
 the youth had taken. She even remembered a remarkable ex 
 pression of his to her brother, " that he was safer from Harper's 
 knowledge of his person than he would be without it." Frances 
 mentioned, with the warmth of her youthful admiration, the 
 benevolent character of his deportment to herself, and gave a 
 minute relation of his adieus to the whole family.
 
 204 THE SI>Y - 
 
 Dunwoodie at first listened with grave attention; tlien evi 
 dent satisfaction followed as she proceeded. When she spoke of 
 herself in connexion with their guest, he smiled with pleasure, 
 and as she concluded, he exclaimed, with perfect delight '* We 
 are safe we are safe." 
 
 But he was interrupted, as we will show in the following chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 " The owlet loves the gloom of night, 
 
 The lark salutes the day, 
 The timid dove will coo at hand 
 
 But falcons soar away." Song in Duo. 
 
 IN a country, settled like these states, by a people who fled tbeir 
 native land and much-loved fire-sides, victims to their tender 
 consciences and religious zeal, none of the decencies and so 
 lemnities of a Christian death are dispensed with, when circum 
 stances will admit of their exercise. The good woman of the 
 house was a strict adherent to the forms of the church to which 
 she belonged ; and having herself been awakened to a sense of 
 her depravity, by the ministry of the divine who harangued the 
 people of the adjoining parish, she thought that it was from his 
 exhortation only, that salvation could be meted out to the short 
 lived hopes of Henry Wharton. Not that the kind-hearted 
 matron was so ignorant of the doctrines of the religion which 
 she professed, as to depend, theoretically, on mortal aid for pro 
 tection ; but she had, to use her own phrase, "set so long under 
 
 the preaching of good Mr. ," that she had unconsciously 
 
 imbibed a practical reliance on his assistance for that which her 
 faith should have taught her could come from the Deity alone. 
 With her, the consideration of death was at all times awful ; 
 and the instant that the sentence of the prisoner was promul 
 gated, she despatched Caesar, mounted on one of her husband's 
 best horses, in quest of her clerical monitor. This step had been 
 taken without consulting Henry or his friends, and it was only 
 when the services of Caesar were required upon some domestic 
 emergency, that she explained the nature of his absence. The 
 youth heard her, at first, with an unconquerable reluctance to 
 admit of such a spiritual guide ; but as our view of the things 
 of this life becomes less vivid, our prejudices and habits cease to 
 retain their influence ; and a civil bow of thanks was finally 
 given, in requital for the considerate care of the well-meaning 
 woman. 
 
 The black returned early from his expedition, and, as well as 
 could be gathered from his somewhat incoherent narrative, a 
 minister of God might be expected to arrive in the course of tiie 
 day. The interruption that we mentioned in our preceding 
 chapter, was occasioned by the entrance of the landlady. At
 
 THE STY. 265 
 
 the intercession of Dunwoodie, orders bad been given to the sen 
 tinel who guarded the door of Henry's room, that the members 
 of the prisoner's family should at all times have free access to 
 his apartment: Caesar was included in this arrangement, as a 
 matter of convenience, by the officer in command ; but strict 
 inquiry and examination was made into the errand of every 
 other applicant for admission. The Major had, however, in 
 cluded himself among the relatives of the British officer ; and 
 one pledge, that no rescue should be attempted, was given in his 
 name for them all. A short conversation was passing between 
 the woman of the house and the corporal of the guard, before 
 the door that the sentinel had already opened in anticipation of 
 the decision of his non-commissioned commandant. 
 
 " Would you refuse the consolations of religion to a fellow 
 creature about to suffer death ?" said the matron, with earnest 
 zeal. " Would you plunge a soul into the fiery furnace, and a 
 minister at hand to point out the straight and narrow path ?" 
 
 " I'll tell you what, good woman," returned the corporal, 
 gently pushing her away ; " I've no notion of my back being a 
 highway for any man to walk to heaven upon. A pretty figure 
 I should make at the pickets, for disobeying my orders. Just 
 step down and ask Lieutenant Mason, and you may bring in the 
 whole congregation. We have not taken the guard from the 
 foot-soldiers but an hour, and I shouldn't like to have it said 
 that we know less of our duty than the militia." 
 
 "Admit the woman," said Dunwoodie, sternly, observing, for 
 the first time, that one of his own corps was on post. 
 
 The Corporal raised his hand to his cap, and fell back in si 
 lence ; the soldier stood to his arms, and the matron entered. 
 
 " Here is a reverend gentleman below, come to soothe the 
 parting soul, in the place of our own divine, who is engaged 
 with an appointment that could not be put aside ; 'tis to bury 
 old Mr. " 
 
 " Show him in," said Henry, with feverish impatience. 
 
 " But will the sentinel let him pass ? I would not wish a friend 
 
 of Mr. to be rudely stopped on the threshold, and he a 
 
 stranger." 
 
 All eyes were now turned on Dunwoodie, who, looking at his 
 watch, spoke a few words with Henry, in an under tone, and 
 hastened from the apartment, followed by Frances. The sub 
 ject of their conversation was a wish expressed by the prisoner 
 for a clergyman of his own persuasion, and a promise from the 
 Major, that one should be sent from Fishkill town, through 
 which he was about to pass, on his way to the ferry to intercept 
 the expected return of Harper. Mason soon made his bow at 
 the door, and willingly complied with the wishes of the landlady, 
 and the divine was invited to make his appearance accordingly.
 
 SCO THE SPY. 
 
 The person who was ushered into the apartment, preceded by 
 Caesar with a face of awful gravity, and followed by the matron 
 with one of deep concern, was a man beyond the middle age, or 
 who might rather be said to approach the downhill of life. In 
 stature he was above the size of ordinary men, though his ex 
 cessive leanness might contribute in deceiving as to his height ; 
 his countenance was sharp and unbending, and every muscle 
 seemed set in the most rigid compression. No joy or relaxation 
 appeared ever to have dwelt on features that frowned habitually, 
 as if in detestation of the vices of mankind. The brows were 
 beetling, dark, and forbidding, giving the promise of eyes of no 
 less repelling expression ; but the organs were concealed beneath 
 a pair of enormous green spectacles, through which they glared 
 around with a fierceness that denounced the coming day of wrath, 
 nor spoke any of that benevolence which, forming the essence of 
 our holy religion, should be the characteristic of its ministers. 
 All was fanaticism, uncharitableness, and denunciation. Long, 
 lank, and party-coloured hair, being a mixture of gray and 
 black, fell down his neck, and in some degree obscured the sides 
 of his face, and, parting on his forehead, fell in either direction 
 in straight and formal screens. On the top of this ungraceful 
 exhibition was laid, impending forward, so as to overhang in 
 some measure the whole fabric, a large hat of three equal cocks. 
 His coat was of a rusty black, and his breeches and stocking were 
 of the same colour ; his shoes without lustre, and half concealed 
 beneath their huge plated buckles. He stalked into the room, 
 and giving a stiff nod with his head, took the chair offered him 
 by the black, in dignified silence. For several minutes no one 
 broke this ominous pause in the conversation ; Henry feeling a 
 repugnance to his guest that he was vainly endeavouring to 
 conquer, and the stranger himself drawing forth occasional sighs 
 and groans, that threatened a dissolution of the unequal con 
 nexion between his sublimited soul and its ungainly tenement. 
 During this deathlike preparation, Mr. Wharton, with a feeling 
 nearly allied to that of his son, led Sarah from the apartment. 
 His retreat was noticed by the divine, in a kind of scornful dis 
 dain, who began to hum the air of a popular psalm tune, giving 
 it the full richness of the twang that distinguishes the eastern 
 psalmody. 
 
 " Caesar," said Miss Peyton, " hand the gentleman some re 
 freshment; he must need it after his ride." 
 
 " My strength is not in the things of this life," said the di 
 vine, sternly, speaking the startling tones of a hollow, sepulchral 
 voice. " Thrice have I this day held forth in my master's ser 
 vice, and fainted not ; still it is prudent to help this frail tene 
 ment of clay, for, surely, ' the labourer is worthy of his hire.' " 
 Opening a pair of enormous jaws to the exit of a proportionable
 
 THK srv. 267 
 
 chew of tobacco, be took a good measure of tbe proffered brand y, 
 and suffered it to glide downwards, with that facility with wbich 
 man is prone to sin. 
 
 " I apprehend, then, sir, that fatigue will disable you from per 
 forming those duties which kindness has induced you to attempt." 
 
 " Woman !" exclaimed the stranger, with appalling energy, 
 " when was I ever known to shrink from a duty ? But 'judge 
 not, lest ye be judged/ and fancy not that it is given to mortal 
 eyes to fathom the intentions of the Deity." 
 
 " Nay," returned the spinster, meekly, and slightly disgusted 
 with his jargon, " I pretend not to judge of either events or the 
 intentions of my fellow creatures, much less of those of Omnipo 
 tence." 
 
 " 'Tis well, woman 'tis well," cried the minister, waving his 
 head with supercilious disdain ; "humility beconieth thy sex and 
 lost condition ; thy weakness driveth thee on headlong, like 
 ' unto the besom of destruction.' " 
 
 Surprised, at this extraordinary deportment, but yielding to 
 that habit which urges us to speak reverently on sacred subjects, 
 even when perhaps we had better continue silent, Miss Peyton 
 replied " There is a power above that can and will sustain us 
 all in well-doing, if we seek its support in humility and truth." 
 
 The stranger turned a lowering look of dissatisfaction at the 
 speaker, and then composing himself into an air of self-abasement, 
 continued, in the same repelling tones as before " It is not every 
 one that crieth out for mercy that will be heard. The ways of 
 Providence are not to be judged by men ' Many are called, but 
 few are chosen.' It is easier to talk of humility, than to feel it. 
 Are you so humble, vile worm, as to wish to glorify God by your 
 own damnation ? If not, away with you for a publican and 
 pharisee." 
 
 Such gross fanaticism was uncommon in America, and Miss 
 Peyton began to imbibe the impression that their guest was de 
 ranged ; but remembering that he was sent by a well-known 
 divine, and one of reputation, she discarded the idea, and with 
 much forbearance observed " I may deceive myself, in believing 
 that mercy is proffered to all ; but it is so soothing a doctrine, 
 that I would not willingly be undeceived." 
 
 " Mercy is only for the elect," cried the stranger, with an 
 unaccountable energy ; "and you are in the valley of the shadow 
 of death. Are you not a follower of them idle ceremonies, which 
 belong to the vain church, that our tyrants would gladly establish 
 here, along with their stamp-acts and tea-laws? Answer me 
 that, woman ; and remember, that heaven hears your answer : 
 are you not of that idolatrous communion ?" 
 
 " I worship at the altars of my fathers," said the spinster, mo 
 tioning to Henry for silence ; " but bow to no other idol than my
 
 208 THE SPY. 
 
 own infirmities." "Yes, yes, I know ye, self-righteous and 
 papal, as ye are followers of forms and listeners to bookish 
 preaching :" think you, woman, that holy Paul had notes in his 
 hand to propound the word to the believers ?" 
 
 " My presence disturbs you," said Miss Peyton, rising: "I 
 will leave you with my nephew, and offer those prayers in pri 
 vate that I did wish to mingle with his." So saying, she with 
 drew, followed by the landlady, who was not a little shocked, 
 and somewhat surprised, by the intemperate zeal of her new 
 acquaintance ; for, although the good woman believed that Miss 
 Peyton and her whole church were on the high road to destruc 
 tion, she was by no means accustomed to hear such offensive and 
 open avowals of their fate. 
 
 Henry had with difficulty repressed the indignation excited by 
 this unprovoked attack on his meek and unresisting aunt ; but as 
 the door closed on her retiring figure, he gave way to his feelings, 
 and exclaimed with heat " I must confess, sir, that in receiving 
 a minister of God, I thought I was admitting a Christian ; and 
 one who, by feeling his own weaknesses, knew how to pity the 
 frailties of others. You have wounded the meek spirit of that 
 excellent woman, and I acknowledge but little inclination to 
 mingle hi prayer with so intolerant a spirit." 
 
 The minister stood erect, with grave composure, following with 
 his eyes, in a kind of scornful pity, the retiring spinster, and suf 
 fered the expostulation of the youth to be given as if unworthy 
 of his notice. A third voice, however, spoke " Such a denun 
 ciation would have driven many women into fits; but it has 
 answered the purpose well enough as it is." 
 
 " Who's that?" cried the prisoner in amazement, gazing around 
 the room in quest of the speaker " It is me, Captain Wharton," 
 said Harvey Birch, removing his spectacles, and exhibiting his 
 piercing eyes shining under a pair of false eye-brows. 
 
 " Good Heavens! Harvey !" 
 
 " Silence !" said the pedler, solemnly ; " 'tis a name not to 
 be mentioned, and least of all here, within the heart of the Ame 
 rican army." Birch paused and gazed around him for a moment, 
 with an emotion exceeding the base passion of fear, and then con 
 tinued in a gloomy tone, " there are a thousand halters in that 
 very name, and little hope would there be left me of another 
 escape, should I be again taken. This is a fearful venture that 
 now I am making ; but I could not sleep in quiet, and know that 
 an innocent man was about to die the death of a dog, when I 
 might save him." 
 
 " No," said Henry, with a glow of generous feeling on his 
 cheek ; " if the risk to yourself be so heavy, retire as you came, 
 and leave me to my fate. Dunwoodie is making, even now, 
 powerful exertions in my behalf; and if he meets witli Mr. Har 
 per in the course of the night, my liberation is certain."
 
 THE SPY. 269 
 
 " Harper !" echoed tlie pedler, remaining with his hands raised, 
 in the act of replacing the spectacles ; " what do you know of 
 Harper? and why do you think he will do you service 1" " I have 
 his promise ; you remember our recent meeting in my father's 
 dwelling, and he then gave an unasked promise to assist me." 
 
 " Yes but do you know him ? that is why do you think he 
 has the power? or what reason have you for believing he will 
 remember his word ?" " If there ever was the stamp of truth, or 
 simple, honeat benevolence, in the countenance of man, it shone 
 in his," said Henry ; " besides, Dunwoodie has powerful friends 
 in the rebel army, and it would be better that I take the chance 
 where I am, than thus to expose you to certain death, if detected." 
 
 " Captain Wharton," said Birch, looking guardedly around, 
 with habitual caution, and speaking with impressive seriousness 
 of manner, " if I fail you, all fail you. No Harper or Dun 
 woodie can save your life ; unless you get out with me, and that 
 within the hour, you die to-morrow on the gallows of the mur 
 derer. Yes, such are their laws ; the man who fights, and kills, 
 and plunders, is honoured ; but he who serves his country as a 
 spy, no matter how faithfully, no matter how honestly, lives to 
 be reviled, or dies like the vilest criminal." 
 
 " You forget, Mr. Birch," said the youth, a little indignantly, 
 " that I am not a treacherous, lurking spy, who deceives to be 
 tray ; but am innocent of the charge imputed to me." 
 
 The blood rushed over the pale, meagre features of the pedler, 
 until his face was one glow of fire , but it passed away as quickly, 
 and he replied " 1 have told you. Caesar met me, as he was 
 going on his errand this morning, and with him I have laid the 
 plan, which, if executed as I wish, will save you otherwise, you 
 are lost; and I again tell you, that no other power on earth, not 
 even Washington, can save you." 
 
 " I submit," said the prisoner, yielding to his earnest manner, 
 and goaded by the fears that were thus awakened anew. 
 
 The pedler beckoned him to be silent, and walking to the door, 
 opened it, with the stiff, formal air, with which he had entered the 
 apartment. " Friend, let no one enter," he said to the sentinel, 
 " we are about to go to prayer, and would wish to be alone." 
 
 " I don't know that any will wish to interrupt you," returned 
 the soldier, with a waggish leer of his eye ; " but, should they be 
 so disposed, I have no power to stop them, if they be of the pri 
 soner's friends ; I have my orders, and must mind them, whether 
 the Englishman goes to heaven or not." 
 
 " Audacious sinner !" said the pretended priest, " have you not 
 the fear of God before your eyes ? I tell you, as you will dread 
 punishment at the last day, to let none of the idolatrous commu 
 nion enter to mingle in the prayers of the righteous." 
 
 " Whew ew ew what a noble commander you'd make 
 
 2 A
 
 270 TUE SPY. 
 
 Sergeant Hollister ; you'd preach Iiim dumb in a roll-call, 
 rk'ee, I'll just thank you not to make such a noise, when you 
 
 for 
 
 H ark- 
 hold forth, as to drown our bugles, or you may get a poor fellow 
 a short horn at his grog for not turning out to the evening pa 
 rade : if you want to be alone, have you no knife to stick over 
 the door-latch, that you must have a troop of horse to guard 
 your meeting-house ?" 
 
 The pedler took the hint, and closed the door immediately, 
 using the precaution suggested by the angry dragoon. 
 
 " You overact your part," said young Wharton, in constant 
 apprehension of a discovery ; "your zeal is too intemperate." 
 
 '* For a foot soldier and them eastern militia, it might be," 
 said Harvey, turning a bag upside down that Caesar now handed 
 him ; " but these dragoons are fellows that you must brag down. 
 A faint heart, Captain Wharton, would do but little here; but 
 come, here is a black shroud for your good-looking countenance," 
 taking, at the. same time, a parchment mask and fitting it to the 
 face of Henry. " The master and the man must change places 
 for a season." 
 
 " I don't tink he look a bit like me," said Caesar, with disgust, as 
 he surveyed his young master with his new complexion. " Stop 
 a minute, Cie-^ar," said the pedler, with the lurking drollery that 
 at times formed part of his manner, " 'till we get on the wool." 
 " He worse than ebber now," cried the discontented African. 
 " A tink coloured man like a sheep. I nebber see sich a lip, 
 Harvey ; he most as big as a sausage." 
 
 Great pains had been taken in forming the different articles 
 used in the disguise of Captain Wharton, and when arranged 
 under the skilful superintendence of the pedler, they formed to 
 gether a transformation that would easily escape detection from 
 any but an extraordinary observer. The mask was stuffed, and 
 shaped in such a manner as to preserve the peculiarities, as well 
 as the colour, of the African visage ; and the wig was so artfully 
 formed of black and white wool, as to imitate the pepper-and-salt 
 colour of Caesar's own head, and to exact plaudits from the black 
 himself, who thought it an excellent counterfeit in every thing 
 but quality. 
 
 " There is but one man in the American army who could detect 
 you, Captain Wharton," said the pedler, surveying his work with 
 satisfaction, "and he is just now out of our \v;iy." 
 
 " And who is he ?" " The man who made you prisoner. He 
 would see your white skin through a horse-hide. But strip both 
 of you: your clothes must be changed from head to foot." 
 
 Cajsar, who had received minute instructions from the pedler in 
 thp morning interview, immediately commenced throwing aside 
 his coarse garments, which the youth took up and prepared to 
 invest himself with ; unable, however, to repress a few signs of
 
 THE SPY. 271 
 
 loathing. In the manner of the pedler, there was an odd mixture 
 of care and humour; the former was the result of a perfect know 
 ledge of their danger, and the means necessary to be used in 
 avoiding it ; and the latter proceeded from the unavoidably ludi 
 crous circumstances before him, acting on an indifference which 
 sprang from habit, and long familiarity with such scenes as the 
 present. 
 
 " Here, Captain," he said, taking up some loose wool, and 
 beginning to stuff the stockings of Cajsar, which were already on 
 the leg of the prisoner ; "some judgment is necessary in shaping 
 this limb. You will have to display it on horseback ; and them 
 southern dragoons are so used to the brittle-shins, that, should 
 they notice your well-turned calf, they'd know at once that it 
 never belonged to the carcass of a black." 
 
 " Golly!" said Caesar, with a chuckle that exhibited a mouth 
 open from ear to ear, " massy Harry breeches fit like ebbery ting." 
 
 " Everything but your leg," said the pedler, coolly punning 
 the toilet of Henry. " Slip on the coat, Captain, over all. Upon 
 my word, you'd pass well at a pinkster frolic ; and here, Caesar, 
 place this powdered wig over your curls, and be careful and look 
 out of the window whenever the door is open, and on no account 
 speak, or you will betray all." 
 
 " I s'pose Harvey tink a colour' d man an't got a tongue like oder 
 folk," grumbled the black, as he took the station assigned to him. 
 
 Everything was now arranged for action, and the pedler very 
 deliberately went over the whole of his injunctions to the two 
 actors in the scene. The Captain he conjured to dispense with 
 his erect military carriage, and for a season to adopt the humble 
 paces of his father's negro ; and Caesar he enjoined to silence and 
 disguise, so long as he could possibly maintain them. Thus pre 
 pared, he opened the door, and called aloud to the sentinel, who 
 had retired to the farthest end of the passage, in order to avoid 
 receiving any of that spiritual comfort, which he felt was the sole 
 property of another. 
 
 " Let the woman of the house be called," said Harvey, in (he 
 solemn key of his assumed character ; " and let her come alone. 
 The prisoner is in a happy train of meditation, and must not be 
 led from his devotions." Caesar sank his face between his hands, 
 and when the soldier looked into the apartment, he thought he 
 saw his charge in deep abstraction. Casting a glance of huge 
 contempt at the divine, he called aloud for the good woman of 
 the house. She hastened at the summons with earnest zeal, 
 entertaining a secret hope that she was to be admitted to the 
 gossip of a death-bed repentance. 
 
 " Sister," said the minister, in the authoritative tones of a mas 
 ter, " have you in the house, ' The Christian criminal's last mo 
 ments, or thoughts on eternity for them who die a violent death?" 
 
 2 A 2
 
 272 THE SPY. 
 
 " I never heard of the book !" said the matron, in astonishment. 
 
 " 'Tis not unlikely ; there are many books you have never 
 heard of; it is impossible for this poor penitent to pass in peace, 
 without the consolations of that volume. One hour's reading in 
 it is worth an age of man's preaching." 
 
 " Bless me, what a treasure to possess ! when was it put out?" 
 
 " It was first put out at Geneva in the Greek language, and 
 then translated at Boston. It is a book, woman, that should be 
 in the hands of every Christian, especially such as die upon the 
 gallows. Have a horse prepared instantly for this black, who 
 
 shall accompany me to my Brother , and I will send down 
 
 the volume yet in season. Brother, compose thy roind ; you are 
 now in the narrow path to glory." Caesar wriggled a little in 
 his chair, but had sufficient recollection to conceal his face with 
 hands that were in their turn concealed by gloves. The land 
 lady departed to comply with this very reasonable request, and 
 the group of conspirators were again left to themselves. 
 
 " This is well," 'said the pedler ; " but the difficult task is to 
 deceive the officer who commands the guard he is Lieutenant 
 to Lawton, and has learned some of the Captain's own cunning 
 in these things. Remember, Captain Wharton," continued he, 
 with an air of pride, " that now is the moment when everything 
 depends on our coolness." 
 
 " My fate can be made but little worse than it is at present, 
 my worthy fellow," said Henry ; " but for your sake I will do 
 all that in me lies." 
 
 " And wherein can I be more forlorn and persecuted than I 
 now am ?" asked the pedler, with that wild incoherence which 
 often crossed his manner. " But I have promised one to save 
 you, and to him I never have yet broken my word." 
 
 " And who is he ?" said Henry, with awakened interest. 
 
 " No one," returned the pedler. The man now returned, and 
 announced that both their horses were at the door. Harvey 
 gave the Captain a glance of his eye, and led the way down the 
 stairs, first desiring the woman to leave the prisoner to himself, 
 in order to his digesting the wholesome food that he had so lately 
 received at his hands. 
 
 The rumour of the odd character of the priest had spread from 
 the sentinel at the door to his comrades ; so that when Harvey 
 and Wharton reached the open space before the building, they 
 found a dozen idle dragoons loitering about, with the waggish 
 intention of quizzing the fanatic, and employed in affected ad 
 miration of the steeds. 
 
 " A fine horse, you have," said the leader in this plan of mis 
 chief; ' but a little low in flesh ; I suppose from hurd labour in 
 your calling." 
 
 " My calling may be laboursome to both myself and this faith-
 
 THE SPY. 273 
 
 ful beast, but then a day of settling is at hand, that will reward 
 me for all my out-goings and in-comings," said Birch, putting his 
 foot in the stirrup, and preparing to mount. 
 
 " So then you work for pay, as we fight for't ?" cried ano 
 ther of the party. " Even so ' is not the labourer worthy of 
 his hire ?" 
 
 " Come, suppose you give us a little preaching; we have a 
 leisure moment just now, and there's no telling how much good 
 you might do a set of reprobates like us, in a few words ; here, 
 mount this horse-block, and take your text from where you 
 please." The men now gathered around the pedler in eager de 
 light, who, glancing his eye expressively towards the Captain, 
 who had been suffered to mount in peace, replied 
 
 " Doubtless, for such is my duty. But, Caesar, you can ride 
 up the road, and give the note the unhappy prisoner will be 
 wanting the book, for his hours are numbered." 
 
 " Ay ay, go along, Caesar, and get the book," shouted half 
 a dozen voices, all crowding eagerly around the ideal priest, in 
 anticipation of a frolic. 
 
 The pedler inwardly dreaded, that, in their unceremonious 
 handling of himself and garments, his hat and wig might be 
 displaced, when detection would be certain ; he was therefore 
 fain to comply with their request. Ascending the horse-block, 
 after hemming once or twice, and casting several glances at the 
 Captain, who continued immovable, he commenced as follows: 
 
 " I shall call your attention, my brethren, to that portion of 
 scripture which you will find in the 2d book of Samuel, and 
 which is written in the following words : ' And the king lamented 
 over Aimer, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? thy hands 
 were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters ; as a man falieth 
 before wicked men, so falieth thou, and all the people wept again 
 over him.' Caesar, ride forward, I say, and obtain the book as 
 directed ; thy master is groaning in spirit even now for the want 
 of it." 
 
 " An excellent text," cried the dragoons. "Go on r go on, let 
 the snow-ball stay ; he wants to be edified as well as another." 
 
 " What are you at there, you scoundrels ?" cried Lieutenant 
 Mason, as he came in sight from a walk he had taken to sneer 
 at the evening parade of the regiment of militia ; away with 
 every man of you to your quarters, and let me find that each 
 horse is cleaned and littered when I come round." The sound of 
 the officer's voice operated like a charm, and no priest could de 
 sire a more silent congregation, although he might possibly have 
 wished for one that was more numerous. Mason had not done 
 speaking, when it was reduced to the image of Caesar only. The 
 pedler took that opportunity to mount, but he had to preserve 
 the graviiv of his movements, for the remark of the troopers 
 
 2 A 3
 
 274 THE SPY. 
 
 upon the condition of their beasts was but too just, and a dozen 
 of dragoon horses stood saddled and bridled at hand, ready to 
 receive their riders at a moment's warning. 
 
 " Well, have you bitted the poor devil within," said Mason, 
 " that he cun take his last ride under the curb of divinity, old 
 gentleman ?" 
 
 " There is evil in thy conversation, profane man," cried the 
 priest, raising his hands, and casting his eyes upwards in holy 
 horror ; "so I will depart from thee unhurt, as Daniel was libe 
 rated from the lion's den." 
 
 " Off with you, for a hypocritical, psalm-singing, canting 
 rogue in disguise," said Mason, scornfully ; " by the life of 
 Washington ! it worries an honest follow, to see such voracious 
 beasts of prey ravaging a country for which he shed his blood. 
 If I had you on a Virginia plantation for a quarter of an hour, 
 I'd teach you to worm the tobacco with the turkeys." 
 
 " I leave you, and shake the dust off my shoes, that no rem 
 nant of this wicked hole may tarnish the vestments of the godly." 
 
 " Start, or I will shake the dust from your jacket, you de 
 signing knave. A fellow to be preaching to my men ! There's 
 Hollister put the devil in them by his exhorting; the rascals 
 were getting too conscientious to strike a blow that would raise 
 the skin. But hold, whither do you travel, master blackey, in 
 such godly company ?" 
 
 " He goes," said the minister, hastily speaking for his com 
 panion, " to return with a book of much condolence and virtue 
 to the sinful youth above, whose soul will speedily become white, 
 even as his outwards are black and unseemly. Would you de 
 prive a dying man of the consolation of religion ?" 
 
 " No, no, poor fellow, his fate is bad enough ; a famous good 
 breakfast his prim body of an aunt gave us. But harkee, Mr. 
 llevelations, if the youth must die secundum artem, let it be 
 under a gentleman's directions; and my advice is, that you 
 never trust that skeleton of yours among us again, or I will take 
 the skin off and leave you naked." 
 
 " Out upon thee for a reviler and scoffer of goodness!" said 
 Birch, moving slowly, and with a due observance of clerical 
 dignity, down the road, followed by the imaginary Csesar ; " but 
 I leave thee, and that behind me that will prove thy condemna 
 tion, and take from thee a hearty and joyful deliverance." 
 
 ' Damn him," muttered the trooper, pursing his lip with a 
 scornful smile ; " the fellow rides like a stake, and his legs stick 
 out like the cocks of his hat. I wish I had him below these 
 hills, where the law is not over particular, I'd " 
 
 "Corporal of the guard ! corporal of the guard !" shouted 
 the sentinel in the passage to the chambers" corporal of the 
 guard Icorporal of the" guard :" The subaltern flew up the
 
 THE SPY. 275 
 
 narrow stairway that led to the room of the prisoner, and de 
 manded of the man the meaning of his outcry. 
 
 The soldier was standing at the open door of the apartment, 
 looking in with a suspicious eye, on the supposed British officer. 
 On observing his lieutenant, he fell back with habitual respect, 
 and replied, with an air of puzzled thought " I don't know, 
 sir ; but just now the prisoner looked queer. Ever since the 
 preacher has left him he don't look as he used to do but" 
 gazing intently over the shoulder of his officer, "it must be him, 
 too. There is the same powdered head, and the darn in the coat, 
 where he was hit the day we had the last brush with the enemy." 
 " And then all this noise is occasioned by your doubting wlie- 
 ther that poor gentleman is your prisoner or not, is it, sirrah ? 
 Who the devil do you think it can be else?" 
 
 " I don't know who else it can be," returned the fellow, sul 
 lenly ; " but he is grown thicker and shorter, if it is him ; and 
 see for yourself, sir, he shakes all over like a man in an ague." 
 
 This was but too true. Caesar was an alarmed auditor of this 
 short conversation, and from congratulating himself upon the 
 dexterous escape of his young master, his thoughts were very 
 naturally beginning to dwell upon the probable consequences to 
 his own person. The pause that succeeded to the last remark of 
 the sentinel, in no degree contributed to the restoration of his 
 faculties. Lieutenant Mason was busied in examining with his 
 own eyes the suspected person of the black, and Caesar was 
 aware of the fact, by stealing a look through a passage under 
 one of his arms, that he had left for the purpose of reconnoit 
 ring. Captain Lawton would have discovered the fraud imme 
 diately, but Mason was by no means so quick-sighted as his 
 commander. He therefore turned rather contemptuously to the 
 soldier, and, speaking in an under tone, observed " That ana 
 baptist, methodistical, quaker, psalm-singing rascal has fright 
 ened the boy, with his farrago about flames and brimstone. I'll 
 step in and cheer him with a little rational conversation." 
 
 " I have heard of fear making a man white," said the soldier, 
 drawing back, and staring as if his eyes would start from their 
 sockets ; " but it has changed the royal captain to a black." 
 
 The truth was, that Caesar, unable to hear what Mason ut 
 tered in a low voice, and having every fear aroused in him by 
 what had already passed, incautiously removed the wig a little 
 from one of his ears, in order to hear the better, without in the 
 least remembering that its colour might prove fatal to his dis 
 guise. The sentinel had kept his eyes fastened on his prisoner, 
 and noticed the action. The attention of Mason was instantly 
 drawn to the same object, and forgetting all delicacy for a bro 
 ther officer in distress ; or, in short, forgetting everything but 
 the censure that might alight on his corps, the lieutenant sprang
 
 276 THE SPY. 
 
 forward and seized the terrified African by the throat ; for no 
 sooner had Csesar heard his colour named, than he knew his dis 
 covery was certain ; and at the first sound of Mason's heavy 
 boot on the floor, he arose from his seat, and retreated precipi 
 tately to a corner of the room. 
 
 " Who are you?" cried Mason, dashing the head of the old 
 man against the angle of the wall at each interrogatory, " who 
 the devil are you, and where is the Englishman ? Speak ! you 
 thundercloud. Answer me, you jack-daw, or I'll hang you on 
 the gallows of the spy." But Caesar continued firm. Neither 
 the threats nor the blows could extract any reply, until the lieu 
 tenant, by a very natural transition in the attack, sent his heavy 
 boot forward in a direction that brought it in exact contact with 
 the most sensitive part of the negro his shin. The most ob 
 durate heart could not have exacted further patience, and Caesar 
 instantly gave in. The first words he spoke were "Golly! 
 Massa ! you tink I got no feelin !" 
 
 " By heavens!" shouted the lieutenant, "it is the negro him 
 self. Scoundrel ! where is your master, and who was the priest !" 
 While speaking, he made a movement, as if about to renew the 
 attack ; but Caesar cried aloud for mercy, promising to tell all 
 he knew. 
 
 " Who was the priest?" repeated the dragoon, drawing back 
 his formidable leg, and holding it in threatening suspense 
 
 " Hurvey, Harvey !" cried Caesar, dancing from one leg to 
 the other, as he thought each member in its turn assailed. 
 
 " Harvey who, you black villain ?" cried the impatient lieute 
 nant, as he executed a full measure of vengeance by letting his 
 leg fly. 
 
 " Birch !" shrieked Caesar, falling on his knees, the tears roll 
 ing in large drops over his shining lace. 
 
 " Harvey Birch !" echoed the trooper, hurling the black from 
 him, and rushing from the room ; " to arms ! to arms ! Fifty 
 guineas for the life of the pedler spy give no quarter to either. 
 Mount, mount ! to arms ! to horse !" 
 
 During the uproar occasioned by the assembling of the dra 
 goons, who all rushed tmnultuously to their horses, Caesar rose 
 from the floor, where he had been thrown by Mason, and began 
 to examine into his injuries. Happily for himself, he had alight 
 ed on his head, and sustained no material damage. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 " Away went Gilpin, neck or nought, 
 
 Away went liat and wig ; 
 Re little dreamt, when he set out, 
 Of running such a rig." Couiper. 
 
 THE road which it was necessary for the pedler and the English
 
 THE SPT. 277 
 
 Captain to travel, 5n order to reach the shelter of the hills, lay, 
 for a half-mile, in full view from the door of the building that 
 had so recently been the prison of the latter ; running for the 
 whole distance over the rich plain, that spreads to the very foot 
 of the mountains, which here rise in a nearly perpendicular ascent 
 from their bases; it then turned short to the right, and was 
 obliged to follow the windings of nature, as it won its way into 
 the bosom of the Highlands. 
 
 To preserve the supposed difference in their stations, Harvey 
 rode a short distance ahead of his companion, and maintained the 
 sober, dignified pace, that was suited to his assumed character. 
 On their right, the regiment of foot, that we have already men 
 tioned, lay in tents; and the sentinels who guarded their encamp 
 ment, were to be seen moving with measured tread under the 
 skirts of the hills themselves. The first impulse of Henry was, 
 certainly, to urge the beast he rode to his greatest speed at once, 
 and by a coup-de-nmin, not only accomplish his escape, but 
 relieve himself from the torturing suspense of his situation. But 
 the forward movement that the youth made for this purpose was 
 instantly checked by the pedler. 
 
 " Hold up !" he cried, dexterously reining his own horse across 
 the path of the other ; " would you ruin us both ? Fall into the 
 place of a black, following his master. Did you not see their 
 blooded chargers, all saddled and bridled, standing in the sun 
 before the house ? How long do you think that miserable Dutch 
 horse that you are on would hold his speed, if pursued by the 
 Virginians? Every foot that we can gain, without giving the 
 alarm, counts us a day in our lives. Ride steadily after me, and 
 on no account look back. They are as subtle as foxes, ay, and 
 as ravenous for blood as wolves !" 
 
 Henry reluctantly restrained his impatience, and followed the 
 direction of the pedler. His imagination, however, continually 
 alarmed him with the fancied sounds of pursuit ; though Birch, 
 who occasionally looked back under the pretence of addressing 
 his companion, assured him that all continued quiet and peaceful. 
 
 " But," said Henry, " it will not be possible for Cscsar to 
 remain long undiscovered ; had Ave not better put our horses to 
 the gallop, and by the time that they can reflect on the cause of 
 our flight, we can reach the corner of the woods ?" 
 
 " Ah ! you little know them, Captain Wharton," returned the 
 pedler ; "there is a sergeant at this moment looking after us, as 
 if he thought all was not right ; the keen-eyed fellow watches 
 me like a tiger lying in wait for his leap. When I stood on the 
 horse-block, he half suspected that something was wrong. Nay, 
 check your beast we must let the animals walk a little, for he is 
 laying his hand on the pommel of his saddle. If he mounts now 
 we are gone. The foot-soldiers could reach us with their muskets."
 
 278 THE SPY. 
 
 " What does he do?" asked Henry, reining his horse to a 
 walk, but at the same time pressing his heels into the animal's 
 sides, to be in readiness for a spring. 
 
 " He turns from his charger, and looks the other way ; now 
 trot on gently not so fast not so fast. Observe the sentinel in 
 the field, a little ahead of us he eyes us keenly." 
 
 "Never mind the footman," said Henry, impatiently : "he 
 can do nothing but shoot us whereas these dragoons may make 
 me a captive again. Surely, Harvey, there are horse moving 
 down the road behind us. Do you see nothing particular?" 
 
 " Humph !" ejaculated the pedler; " there is something parti 
 cular indeed, to be seen behind the thicket on our left. Turn 
 your head a little, and you may see and profit by it too." Henry 
 eagerly seized this permission to look aside, and the blood curdled 
 to nis heart as he observed that they were passing a gallows that 
 unquestionably had been erected for his own execution. He 
 turned his face from the sight in undisguised horror. 
 
 " There is a warning to be prudent in that bit of wood," said 
 the pedler, in the sententious manner that he often adopted. 
 
 " It is a terrific sight, indeed !" cried Henry, fora moment veil 
 ing his eyes with his hand, as if to drive a vision from before him. 
 
 The pedler moved his body partly around and spoke with ener 
 getic but gloomy bitterness " And yet, Captain Wharton, you 
 Bee it where the setting sun shines full upon you ; the air you 
 breathe is clear, and fresh from the hills before you. Every step 
 that you take, leaves that hated gallows behind, and every dark 
 hollow, and every shapeless rock in the mountains, offers you a 
 hiding place from the vengeance of your enemies. But I have 
 seen the gibbet raised, when no place of refuge offered. Twice 
 have I been buried in dungeons, where, fettered and in chains, I 
 have passed nights in torture, looking forward to the morning's 
 dawn that was to light me to a death of infamy. The sweat has 
 started from limbs that seemed already drained of their moisture ; 
 and if I ventured to the hole that admitted air through grates of 
 iron, to look out upon the smiles of nature, which God has be 
 stowed for the meanest of his creatures, the gibbet has glared 
 before my eyes like an evil conscience, harrowing the soul of a 
 dying man. Four times have I been in their power, besides this 
 last ; but twice twice did I think that my hour had come. It 
 is hard to die at the best, Captain Wharton ; but to spend your 
 last moments alone and unpitied ; to know that none near you so 
 much as think of the fate that is to you the closing of all that is 
 earthly ; to think, that in a few hours you are to be led from the 
 gloom, which, as you dwell on what follows, becomes dear to 
 you, to the face of day, and there to meet all eyes upon you, as 
 if you were a wild beast ; and to lose sight of every thing amid.-t 
 the jeers and scoffs of your fellow-creatures that, Captain Whar 
 ton, that indeed is to die."
 
 THE SPY. 279 
 
 Henry listened in amazement, as his companion uttered this 
 speech with a vehemence altogether new to him ; both seemed 
 to have forgotten their danger and their disguises, as he cried 
 " What ! were you ever so near death as that?" 
 
 " Have I not been the hunted beast of these hills for three 
 years past 1" resumed Harvey ; " and once they even led me to 
 the foot of the gallows itself, and I escaped only by an alarm from 
 the royal troops. Had they been a quarter of an hour later, I 
 must have died. There was J placed in the midst of unfeeling 
 men, and gaping women and children, as a monster to be cursed. 
 When I would pray to God, my ears were insulted with the his 
 tory of my crimes ; and when, in all that multitude, I looked 
 around for a single face that showed me any pity, I could find 
 none no, not even one ; all cursed me as a wretch who would 
 sell his country for gold. The sun was brighter to my eyes than 
 common but then it was the last time I should see it. The fields 
 were gay and pleasant, and every thing seemed as if this world 
 was a kind of heaven. Oh ! how sweet life was to me at that 
 moment ! 'Twas a dreadful hour, Captain Wharton, and such as 
 you have never known. You have friends to feel for you, but I 
 had none but a father to mourn my loss, when he might hear of 
 it ; but there was no pity, no consolation near, to soothe my 
 anguish. Every thing seemed to have deserted me. I even 
 thought that HE had forgotten that I lived." 
 
 " What ! did you feel that God had forsaken you, Harvey ?" 
 cried the youth, with strong sympathy. 
 
 " God never forsakes his servants," returned Birch, with reve 
 rence, and exhibiting naturally a devotion that hitherto he had 
 only assumed. 
 
 " And who did you mean by HE ?" 
 
 The pedler raised himself in his saddle to the stiff and upright 
 posture that was suited to the outward appearance. The look of 
 fire, that for a short time glowed upon his countenance, disap 
 peared in the solemn lines of unbending self-abasement, and 
 speaking as if addressing a negro, he replied " In heaven there 
 is no distinction of colour, my brother ; therefore you have a 
 precious charge within you, that you must hereafter render an 
 account of;" dropping his voice "this is the last sentinel near 
 the road ; look not back, as you value your life." 
 
 Henry remembered his situation, and instantly assumed the 
 humble demeanour of his adopted character. The unaccountable 
 energy of the pedler's manner was soon forgotten in the sense of 
 his own immediate danger ; and with the recollection of his cri 
 tical situation, returned all the uneasiness that he had momen 
 tarily forgotten. 
 
 " What see you, Harvey ?" he cried, observing the pedler to 
 gaze towards the building they had left, with ominous interest ; 
 " what see you at the house?"
 
 280 THE SPY. 
 
 " That which bodes no good to us," returned the pretended 
 priest. " Throw aside the mask and wig ; you will need all your 
 senses without much delay ; throw them in the road there are 
 uone before us that I dread, but there are those behind who will 
 give us a fearful race." 
 
 " Nay, then," cried the Captain, casting the implements of 
 his disguise into the highway, " let us improve our time to the 
 utmost. We want a full quarter to the turn ; why not push for 
 it at once ?" 
 
 " Be cool ; they are in alarm, but they will not mount with 
 out an officer, unless they see us fly now he comes, he moves to 
 the stables ; trot briskly ; a dozen are in their saddles, but the 
 officer stops to tighten his girths ; they hope to steal a march 
 upon us ; he is mounted ; now ride, Captain Wharton, for your 
 life, and keep at my heels. If you quit me you will be lost." A 
 second request was unnecessary. The instant that Harvey put 
 his horse to his speed, Captain Wharton was at his heels, urging 
 the miserable animal that he rode to the utmost. Birch had se 
 lected the beast on which he rode, and although vastly inferior 
 to the high-fed and blooded chargers of the dragoons, still it was 
 much superior to the little pony that had been thought good 
 enough to carry Caesar Thompson -on an errand. A very few 
 jumps convinced the Captain that his companion was fast leaving 
 him, and a fearful glance that he threw behind, informed the 
 fugitive that his enemies were as speedily approaching. With 
 that abandonment that makes misery doubly grievous, when it is 
 to be supported alone, Henry cried aloud to the pedler not to 
 desert him. Harvey instantly drew up, and suffered his com 
 panion to run alongside of his own horse. The cocked hat and 
 wig of the pedler fell from his head, the moment that his steed 
 began to move briskly, and this development of their disguise, 
 as it might be termed, was witnessed by the dragoons, who an 
 nounced their observation by a boisterous shout, that seemed to 
 be uttered in the very ears of the fugitives ; so loud was the cry, 
 and so short the distance between them. 
 
 " Had we not better leave our horses?" snid Henry, "and 
 make for the hills across the fields on our left? the fence \\ill 
 stop our pursuers." 
 
 " That way lies the gallows," returned the pedler ; " these 
 fellows go three feet to our two, and would mind them fences no 
 more than we do these ruts; but it is a short quarter to the turn, 
 and there are tsvo roads behind the wood. They may stand to 
 choose until they can take the track, and we shall gain a little 
 upon them there." 
 
 "But this miserable horse is blown already," cried Henry, 
 urging his beast with the end of his bridle, at the game time that 
 Harvey aided his efforts by applying the lash of a heavy riding
 
 THE spy. 281 
 
 whip that he carried j " he will never stand it for half a mile 
 further." 
 
 " A quarter will do ; a quarter will do," said the pedler; "a 
 single quarter will save us, if you follow my directions." 
 
 Somewhat cheered by the cool and confident manner of his 
 companion, Henry continued silently urging his horse forward. 
 A few moments brought them to the desired turn, and as they 
 doubled round a point of low under-brush, the fugitives caught 
 a glimpse of their pursuers scattered along the highway. Mason 
 and the Sergeant, being better mounted than the rest of the party, 
 were much nearer to their heels than even the pedler thought 
 could be possible. At the foot of the hills, and for some dis 
 tance up the dark valley that wound among the mountains, a 
 thick underwood of saplings had been suffered to shoot up, 
 where the heavier growth was felled for the sake of the fuel. 
 At the sight of this cover, Henry again urged the pedler to dis 
 mount, and to plunge into the woods ; but his request was 
 promptly refused. The two roads, before mentioned, met at a 
 very sharp angle, at a short distance from the turn, and both 
 were circuitous, so that but little of either could be seen at a 
 time. The pedler took the one which led to the left, but held it 
 only a moment ; for, on reaching a partial opening in the thicket, 
 he darted across into the right-hand path, and led the way up a 
 steep ascent, which lay directly before them. This manoeuvre 
 saved them. On reaching the fork, the dragoons followed the 
 track, and passed the spot where the fugitives had crossed to the 
 other road, before they missed the marks of the footsteps. Their 
 loud cries were heard by Henry and the pedler, as their wearied 
 and breathless animals toiled up the hill, ordering their comrades 
 in the rear to ride in the right direction. The Captain again 
 proposed to leave their horses and dash into the thicket." 
 
 " Not yet, not yet," said Birch, in a low voice ; " the road 
 falls from the top of this hill as steep as it rises ; first let us gain 
 the top." While speaking, they reached the desired summit, 
 and both threw themselves from their horses, Henry plunging 
 into the thick underwood, which covered the side of the moun 
 tain for some distance above them. Harvey stopped to give each 
 of their beasts a few seven: blows of his whip, that drove them 
 headlong down the path on the other side of the eminence, and 
 then followed the example. 
 
 The pedler entered the thicket with a little caution, and 
 avoided, as much as possible, rustling or breaking the branches 
 in his way. There was but time only to shelter his person from 
 view, when a dragoon led up the ascent, and on reaching the 
 height he cried aloud " I saw one of their horses turning the 
 hill this minute." 
 
 " Drive on ; spur forward, my lads," shouted Mason ; " give 
 
 2 B
 
 282 THE SPY. 
 
 the Englishman quarter, but cut down the pedler, and make nn 
 end of him." Henry felt his companion gripe his arm hard, as 
 he listened in a great tremour to this cry, which was followed 
 by the passage of a dozen horsemen, with a vigour and speed, 
 that showed too plainly how little security their over-tired steeds 
 could have afforded them. 
 
 " Now," said the pedler, rising from their cover to reconnoitre, 
 and standing for a moment in suspense, " all that we gain is 
 clear gain ; for as we go up, they go down. Let us be stirring." 
 
 " But will they not follow us, and surround this mountain ?" 
 said Henry, rising, and imitating the laboured but rapid progress 
 of his companion ; " remember, they have foot as well as horse, 
 and at any rate we shall starve in the hills." 
 
 " Fear nothing, Captain Wharton," returned the pedler, with 
 confidence; " this is not the mountain that I would be on, but 
 necessity has made me a dexterous pilot among these hills. I 
 will lead you where no man will dare to follow. See, the sun is 
 already setting behind the tops of the western mountains, and it 
 will be two hours to the rising of the moon. Who, think you, 
 will follow us far, on a November night, among these rocks and 
 precipices ?" 
 
 " But listen !" exclaimed Henry ; " the dragoons are shouting 
 to each other ; they miss us already." 
 
 " Come to the point of this rock, and you may see them," 
 said Harvey, composedly setting himself down to rest. 
 
 " Nay, they can see us notice, they are pointing up with 
 their fingers. There ! one lias fired his pistol, but the distance 
 is too great for even a musket to carry upwards." 
 
 " They will pursue us," cried the impatient Henry; " let us 
 be moving." 
 
 "They will not think of such a thing," returned the pedler, 
 picking the chicker-berries that grew on the thin soil where he 
 Bat, and very deliberately chewing them, leaves and all, to re 
 fresh his mouth. " What progress could they make here in their 
 heavy boots and spurs, with their long swords, or even pistols ? 
 No, no they may go back and turn out the foot, but the horse 
 pass through these defiles, when they can keep the saddle, with 
 fear and trembling. Come, follow me, Captain Wharton ; we 
 have a troublesome march before us. but I will bring you where 
 none will think of venturing this night." So saying, they botli 
 arose, and were soon hid from view among the rocks and caverns 
 of the mountain. 
 
 The conjecture of the pedler was true. Mason and his men 
 dashed down the hill, in pursuit, as they supposed, of their vic 
 tims, but on reaching the bottom lands, they found only the de 
 serted horses of the fugitives. Some little time was spent in ex 
 amining the woods near them, and in endeavouring to take the
 
 THK SPY. 283 
 
 trial on such ground as might enable the horse to pursue, when 
 one of the party descried the pedler and Henry seated on the 
 rock already mentioned. 
 
 " He's off," muttered Mason, eyeing Harvoy with savage 
 fury ; " he's off, and we are disgraced. By heavens, Washing 
 ton will not trust us with the keeping of a suspected tory, if we 
 let this rascle trifle in this manner with the corps ; and there sits 
 the Englishman too, looking down upon us with a mighty smile 
 of benevolence. I fancy that I can see it. Well, well, my lad, 
 you are comfortably seated, I will confess, and something better 
 thaii dancing upon nothing ; but you are not to the west of the 
 Haerlem river yet, and I'll try your wind before you tell Sir 
 Henry what you have seen, or I'm no soldier." 
 
 " Shall I fire, and frighten the pedler?" asked one of the men, 
 drawing his pistol from the holster. " Ay, startle the birds from 
 their perch let us see how they can use the wing." The man 
 fired his pistol, and Mason continued "'Fore George, I believe 
 the scoundrels laugh at us. But homeward, or we shall have 
 them rolling stones upon our heads, and the Royal Gazettes 
 teeming with an account of a rebel regiment routed by two loy 
 alists. They have told bigger lies than that before now." The 
 dragoons moved sullenly after their officer, who rode towards 
 their quarters, musing on the course it behoved him to pursue in 
 the present dilemma. It was twilight when Mason's party 
 reached the dwelling, before the door of which were collected a 
 great number of the officers and men, busily employed in giving 
 and listening to the most exaggerated accounts of the escape of 
 the spy. The mortified dragoons gave their ungrateful tidings 
 with the sullen air of disappointed men ; and most of the offi 
 cers gathered round Mason, in consultation as to the steps that 
 ought to be taken. Miss Peyton and Frances were breathless 
 and unobserved listeners to all that passed between them, from 
 the window of the chamber immediately above their heads. 
 
 " Something must be done, and that speedily," observed the 
 commanding officer of the regiment, which lay encarnped^be- 
 fore the house ; " this English officer is doubtless an instrument 
 in the great blow' aimed at us by the enemy lately ; besides, our 
 honour is involved in his escape." 
 
 " Let us beat the woods !" cried several at once ; " by morn 
 ing we shall have them both again." " Softly, softly, gentle 
 men," returned the Colonel ; " no man can travel these hills after 
 dark, unless used to the passes. Nothing but horse can do ser 
 vice in this business, and I presume Lieutenant Mason hesitates 
 to move without the orders of his Major." 
 
 " I certainly dare not," replied the subaltern, gravely shaking 
 his head, " unless you will take the responsibility of an order ; 
 but Major Dunwoodie will be back again in two hours, and we 
 
 2 B 2
 
 284 THE SPY. 
 
 can carry the tidings through the hills before daylight ; so that 
 by spreading patrols across from one river to the other, and 
 offering a reward to the country people, their escape will yet be 
 impossible, unless they join the party that is said to be out on 
 the Hudson." 
 
 " A very plausible plan," cried the Colonel, " and one that 
 must succeed ; but let a messenger be despatched to Dunwoodie, 
 or he may continue at the ferry until it proves too late ; though 
 doubtless the runaways will lie in the mountains to night." To 
 this suggestion Mason acquiesced, and a courier was sent to the 
 Major, with the important intelligence of the escape of Henry, 
 and an intimation of the necessity of his presence to conduct 
 the pursuit. After this arrangement, the officers separated. 
 
 When Miss Peyton and her niece first learnt the escape of 
 Captain Wharton, it was with difficulty they could credit their 
 senses. They both relied so implicitly on the success of Dun- 
 woodie's exertions, that they thought the act, on the part of their 
 relative, extremely imprudent ; but it was now too late to mend 
 it. While listening to the conversation of the officers, both 
 were struck with the increased danger of Henry's situation, if 
 recaptured, and they trembled to think upon the great exertions 
 that would be made to accomplish this object. Miss Peyton 
 consoled herself, and endeavoured to cheer her niece, with the 
 probability, that the fugitives would pursue their course with 
 unremitting diligence, so that they might reach the neutral ground 
 before the horse would carry down the tidings of their flight. 
 The absence of Dunwoodie seemed to her all-important, and the 
 artless spinster was anxiously devising some project that might 
 detain her kinsman, and thus give her nephew the longest pos 
 sible time. But very different were the reflections of Frances. 
 She could no longer doubt that the figure she had seen on the 
 hill was Birch, and she felt certain, that, instead of flying to the 
 friendly forces below, her brother would be taken to the myste 
 rious hut to pass the night. Frances and her aunt held a tong 
 and imimated discussion by themselves, when the good spinster 
 reluctantly yielded to the representation of her niece, and folding 
 her in her arms, she kissed her cold cheek, and fervently blessing 
 her, allowed her to depart on an errand of fraternal love. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 " And here, forlorn and lost, I tread, 
 
 With fainting steps, and slow ; 
 Where wilds, immeasurably spread 
 
 Seem length'ing as I go." Goldsmith. 
 
 THE night had set in dark and chilling, as Frances Wharton, with 
 a beating heart, but light steps, moved through the little garden 
 that lay behind the farm house which had been her brother's
 
 . THE SPY. 285 
 
 prison, and took her way to the foot of the mountain, where she 
 had seen the figure of him that she supposed to be the pedler. 
 It was still early, but the darkness and dreary nature of a No 
 vember evening would, at any other moment, or with less induce 
 ment to exertion, have driven her back in terror to the circle that 
 she had left. Without pausing to reflect, however, she flew over 
 the ground with a rapidity that seemed to bid defiance to all im 
 pediments, nor stopped even to breathe, until she had gone half 
 the distance to the rock, that she had marked as the spot where 
 Birch made his appearance on that very morning. 
 
 The good treatment of their women is the surest evidence that 
 a people can give of their civilization ; and there is no nation 
 which has more to boast of, in this respect, than the Americans. 
 Frances felt but little apprehension from the orderly and quiet 
 troops, who were taking their evening's repast on the side of the 
 highway, opposite to the field through which she was flying. 
 They were her countrymen, and she knew that her sex would be 
 respected by the Eastern militia, who composed this body ; but 
 in the volatile and reckless character of the Southern horse, she 
 had less confidence. Outrages of any description were seldom 
 committed by the really American soldiery, but the maid recoiled 
 with exquisite delicacy from even the appearance of humiliation. 
 When therefore, she heard the footsteps of a horse moving slowly 
 up the road, she shrunk, timidly, into a little thicket of wood, 
 which grew, neglected, around the spring that bubbled from the 
 side of a hillock near her. The vidette, for such it proved to be, 
 passed her without noticing her form, which was so enveloped as 
 to be as little conspicuous as possible, humming a low air to him 
 self, and probably thinking of some other fair that he had left, 
 in the pride of her beauty, on the banks of the Potomac. Frances 
 listened anxiously to the retreating footsteps of his horse, and as 
 they died upon her ear, she ventured from her place of secrecy, 
 and advanced a short distance into the field ; where, startled at 
 the gloom, and appalled with the dreariness of the prospect, she 
 paused to reflect on what she had undertaken. Throwing back 
 the hood of her cardinal, she sought the support of a tree, and 
 gazed towards the summit of the mountain that was to be the 
 goal of her enterprise. It rose from the plain, like a huge pyra 
 mid, giving nothing to the eye but its outlines. The pinnacle 
 could be faintly discerned in front of a lighter back ground of 
 clouds, between which a few glimmering stars occasionally 
 twinkled in momentary brightness, and then gradually became 
 obscured by the passing vapour, that was moving before the wind, 
 at a vast distance below the clouds themselves. Should she re 
 turn, Henry and the pedler would most probably pass the night 
 iu fancied security, upon that very hill, towards which she was 
 straining her eyes, in the vain hope of observing some light that 
 
 M B O
 
 286 THE SPY. 
 
 might encourage her to proceed. The deliberate, and what to 
 her seemed cold-blooded, project of the officer, for the re-capture 
 of the fugitives, still rung in her ears, and stimulated her to go 
 on : but the solitude into which she must venture, the time, the 
 actual danger of the ascent, and the uncertainty of her finding 
 the hut, or, what was still more disheartening, the chance that it 
 might be occupied by unknown tenants, and those of the worst 
 description all urged her to retreat. 
 
 The increasing darkness was each moment rendering objects 
 less and less distinct, and the clouds were gathering more gloomily 
 in the rear of the hill, until its form could no longer be discerned. 
 Frances threw back the profusion of her rich curls with both hands 
 on her temples, in order to possess her senses in the utmost keen 
 ness ; but the towering hill was entirely lost to the eye. At length 
 she discovered a faint and twinkling blaze in the direction in 
 which she thought the building stood, that, by its reviving and 
 receding lustre, might be taken for the glimmering of a tire. But 
 the delusion vanished as the horizon again cleared, and the star of 
 the evening shone forth from a cloud, after struggling hard as if 
 for existence, in all its unrivalled brilliancy. The maid now saw 
 the mountain, to the left of where the planet was shining, through 
 an opening in the hills, and suddenly a streak of mellow light 
 burst upon the fantastic oaks that were thinly scattered over its 
 summit, and gradually moved down its side, until the whole pile 
 stood proudly erect under the rays of the rising moon. Although 
 it would have been physically impossible for our heroine to ad 
 vance without the aid of the friendly light, which now gleamed in 
 softened brightness on the long line of level land before her, yet 
 she was not encouraged to proceed. If she could see the goal of 
 her wishes, she could also perceive the difficulties that must at 
 tend her reaching it. While deliberating in distressing incerti 
 tude, now shrinking with the timidity of her sex and years from 
 the enterprise, and now resolving to rescue her brother at every 
 hazard, Frances turned her looks towards the east, in earnest 
 gaze at the clouds which constantly threatened to involve her 
 again in comparative darkness. Had an adder stung her, she 
 could not have sprung with greater celerity than she recoiled from 
 the object against which she was leaning, and which she, for the 
 first time, noticed. The two upright posts, with a cross beam on 
 their tops, and a rude platform beneath, told but too plainly the 
 nature of the structure ; even the cord was suspended from an iron 
 staple, and was swinging to and fro in the night air. Frances 
 hesitated no longer, but rather flew than ran across the meadow, 
 and was soon at the base of the rock, where she hoped to find 
 something like a path to the summit of the mountain. Here she 
 was compelled to pause for breath, and she improved the leisure 
 hy surveying the ground about her. The. ascent was quite abrupt,
 
 THE SPY. 287 
 
 but she soon found a sheep path that wound among the shelving 
 rocks, and through the trees, so as to render her labour much less 
 tiresome than it otherwise would have been. Throwing a fearful 
 glance behind, the determined girl commenced her journey up 
 wards. Young, active, and impelled by the generous wish of 
 saving her brother, she moved up the hill with elastic steps, and 
 very soon emerged from the ccver of the woods, into an open 
 space of more level ground, that had evidently been cleared of 
 its timber for the purpose of cultivation. But either the war, or 
 the sterility of the soil, had compelled the adventurer to abandon 
 the advantages that he had obtained over the wilderness, and 
 already the bushes and briers were springing up afresh, as if the 
 plough had never traced its furrows through the mould which 
 nourished them. 
 
 Frances felt her spirits invigorated by even these faint vestiges 
 of the labour of man, and walked up the gentle acclivity with re 
 newed hopes of success. The path now diverged in so many 
 different directions, that she soon saw it would be useless to follow 
 their windings, and abandoning it, at the first turn, she laboured 
 forward towards what she thought was the nearest point to the 
 summit. The cleared ground was soon past, and woods and rocks, 
 clinging to the precipitous sides of the mountain, again opposed 
 themselves to her progress. Occasionally, the path was to be seen 
 running along the verge of the clearing, and then striking off into 
 the scattering patches of grass and herbage, but in no instance 
 could she trace it upward. Tufts of wool, hanging to the briers, 
 sufficiently denoted the origin of these tracks, and Frances rightly 
 conjectured that whoever descended the mountain, world avail 
 himself of their existence to lighten the labour. Seating herself 
 on a stone, the maid again paused to rest and to reflect : the 
 clouds were rising before the moon, as if repelled by her bright 
 ness, and the whole scene at her feet lay pictured in the softest 
 colours. The white tents of the militia were stretched in regular 
 lines immediately beneath her. The light was shining in the win 
 dow of her aunt, who, Frances easily fancied, was standing watch 
 ing the mountain, racked with all the anxiety she might be sup 
 posed to feel for her niece. Lanterns were playing about in the 
 stable-yard, where she knew the horses of the dragoons were kept, 
 and believing them to be preparing for their night march, she 
 again sprang upon her feet, and renewed her toil. 
 
 It was more than a quarter of a mile farther that our heroine 
 had to ascend, although she had already conquered two- thirds of 
 the height of the mountain. But she was now without a path, or 
 any guide to direct her in her course : fortunately, the hill was 
 conical, like most of the mountains in that range, and, by advan 
 cing upwards, she was certain of at length reaching the desired 
 hut, which hung, as it were, on the very pinnacle. Nearly an
 
 288 THE SPY. 
 
 hour did she struggle with the numerous difficulties that she was 
 obliged to overcome, when, having been repeatedly exhausted 
 with her efforts, and, in several instances, in great danger from 
 falls, she succeeded in gaining the small piece of table-land on the 
 summit. Faint with her exertions, which had been unusually se 
 vere for her slender frame, she sunk ou a rock, to recover her 
 strength and fortitude for the approaching interview with her 
 brother. A few moments sufficed for this purpose, when she pro 
 ceeded in quest of the hut. All the neighbouring hills were dis 
 tinctly visible by the aid of the moon, and Frances was able, 
 where she stood, to trace the route of the highway, from the 
 plains into the mountains. By following this line with her eyes, 
 she soon discovered the point whence she had seen the mysterious 
 dwelling, and directly opposite to that point she well knew the 
 hut must stand. 
 
 The chilling air sighed through the leafless branches of the 
 gnarled and crooked oaks, as with a step so light as hardly to 
 rustle the dry leaves over which she trod, Frances moved forward 
 to that part of the hill where she expected to find this secluded 
 habitation ; but nothing could she discern that in the least re 
 sembled a dwelling of any sort. In vain she examined every re 
 cess of the rocks, or inquisitively explored every part of the sum 
 mit that she thought could hold the tenement of the pedler. No 
 hut, nor any vestige of a human being, could she trace. The 
 idea of her solitude struck on the terrified mind of the affrighted 
 girl, and approaching to the edge of a shelving rock, she bent 
 forward to gaze on the signs of life in the vale, when a ray of keen 
 light dazzled her eves, and a warm air diffused itself over her 
 whole frame. Recovering from her surprise, Frances looked on 
 the ledge beneath her, and at once perceived that she stood di 
 rectly over the object of her search. A hole through its roof af 
 forded a passage to the smoke, which as it blew aside, showed her 
 a clear and cheerful fire crackling and snapping on a rude hearth 
 of stone. The approach to the front of the hut was by a winding 
 path around the point of the rock on which she stood, and by this 
 she advanced to its door. Three sides of this singular edifice, if 
 such it could be called, were composed of logs laid alternately on 
 each other, to a little more than the height of a man ; and the 
 fourth was formed by the rock against which it leaned. The roof 
 was made of the bark of trees, laid in long strips from the rock 
 to its eaves ; the fissures between the logs had been stuffed witli 
 clay, which in many places had fallen out, and dried leaves were 
 made use of as a substitute to keep out the wind ; a single window 
 of four panes of glass was in front, but a board carefully closed 
 it, in such a manner as to emit no light from the fire within. 
 After pausing some time to view this singularly constructed hiding- 
 place, for such Frances knew it must be, she applied her eye to a
 
 TKK Sl'Y. 289 
 
 crevice to examine the scene within. There was no lamp nor 
 candle, but the blazing fire of dry wood made the interior of the 
 hut light enough to read by. In one corner lay a bed of straw, 
 with a pair of blankets thrown carelessly over it, as if left where 
 they had last been used by the occupant. Against the walls and 
 rock were suspended, from pegs forced into the crevices, various 
 garments, and such as were apparently fitted for all ages and con 
 ditions, and for either sex, British and American uniforms hung 
 peacably by the side of each other ; and on the peg that supported 
 a gown of striped calico, such as was the usual country wear, was 
 also depending a well powdered wig : in short, the attire was nu 
 merous, and as various as if a whole parish were to be equipped 
 from this one wardrobe. 
 
 In the angle against the rock, and opposite to the fire, which 
 was burning in the other corner, was an open cupboard, that held 
 a plate or two, a mug, and the remains of some broken meat. 
 Before the fire was a table, with one of its legs fractured, and 
 made of rough boards ; these, with a single stool, composed the 
 furniture, if we except a few articles for cooking. A book that, 
 by its shape and size, appeared to be a Bible, was lying on the 
 table, unopened. But it was the occupant of the hut in whom 
 Frances was chiefly interested. This was a man, sitting on the 
 stool, with his head leaning on his hand, in such a manner as to 
 conceal his features, and deeply occupied in examining some open 
 papers before him. On the table lay a pair of curiously and 
 richly mounted horseman's pistols, and the handle of a sheathed 
 rapier, of exquisite workmanship, protruded from between the legs 
 of the gentleman, one of whose hands rested carelessly on its guard. 
 The tall stature of this unexpected tenant of the hut, and his 
 form, much more athletic than that of either Harvey or her bro 
 ther, told Frances, without the aid of his dress, that it was neither 
 of those whom she sought. A close surtout was buttoned high 
 in the throat of the stranger, and parting at his knees, showed 
 breeches of buff, with military boots and spurs. His hair was 
 dressed so as to expose the whole face, and, after the. fashion of 
 that day, was profusely powdered. A round hat was laid on the 
 stones that formed a paved floor to the hut, as if to make room 
 for a large map, which, among other papers, occupied the table. 
 
 This was an unexpected event to the maid. She had been so 
 confident that the figure she had twice seen was the pedler, that 
 on learning his agency in her brother's escape, she did not in the 
 least doubt of finding them both in the place, which, she now dis 
 covered, was occupied by another and a stranger's form. She 
 stood earnestly looking through the crevice, hesitating whether to 
 retire, or to wait under the expectation of yet meeting with Henry, 
 as the stranger moved his hand from before his eyes, and raised 
 his face apparently in deep musing, when Frances instantly recog-
 
 2PO THE SPY. 
 
 nized the benevolent and strongly marked, but composed features 
 of Harper. 
 
 All that Dunwoodie had said of his power and disposition ; all 
 that he had himself promised her brother ; and all the confidence 
 that had been created by his dignified and paternal manner, rushed 
 across the mind of Frances, who threw open the door of the hut, 
 and falling at his feet, clasped his knees with her arms, as she 
 cried " Save him save him save my brother ; remember your 
 promise, and save him !" 
 
 Harper had risen as the door opened, and there was a slight 
 movement of one hand towards his pistols, but it was cool, and 
 instantly checked, as Frances entered. He raised the hood of the 
 cardinal which had fallen over her features, and exclaimed, with 
 some uneasiness " Miss Wharton ! But you cannot be alone ?" 
 
 " There is none here but my God and you ; and by his sacred 
 name, I conjure you to remember your promise, and save my 
 brother." 
 
 Harper gently raised her from her knees, and placed her on the 
 stool he resigned, begging her at the same time to be composed, 
 and to acquaint him with all that she knew. This Frances in 
 stantly did, with a hurried voice, ingenuously admitting him to 
 a knowledge of her own views in visiting that lone spot at such 
 an hour, and by herself. It was at all times difficult to probe the 
 thoughts of one who held his passions in such disciplined sub 
 jection as Harper, but still there was a lighting of his thoughtful 
 eye, and a slight unbending of his muscles, as the maid proceeded 
 in her narrative. His interest, as she dwelt upon the manner of 
 Henry's escape, and the flight to the woods, was deep and mani 
 fest, and he listened to the remainder of her tale with a marked 
 expression of benevolent indulgence. Her apprehensions that 
 her brother might still be too late through the mountains, seemed 
 to have much weight with him, for, as she concluded, he walked 
 a turn or two across the hut, in silent musing. 
 
 Frances hesitated, and unconsciously played with the handle of 
 one of the pistols, and the paleness that her fears had spread over 
 her fine features began to give place to a rich tint, as, after a short 
 pause, she added " We can depend much on the friendship of 
 Major Dunwoodie, but his sense of honour is so pure, that that 
 notwithstanding his his feelings he will conceive it to be 
 his duty to apprehend my brother again. Besides, he thinks 
 there will be no danger in so doing, as he relies greatly on your 
 interference." 
 
 " On mine !" said Harper, raising his eyes in surprise. 
 
 " Yes, on yours. When we told him of your kind language, 
 he at once assured us all, that you had the power, and if you had 
 promised, would have the inclination, to procure Henry's pardon."
 
 THE SPY. 291 
 
 " Said he more ?" asked Harper, glancing a quick and searching 
 eye towards the maiden. " Nothing but reiterated assurances of 
 Henry's safety ; even now he is in quest of you." 
 
 " Miss Wharton," said Harper, advancing with calm but im 
 pressive dignity, "that I bear no mean part in the unhappy strug 
 gle between England and America, it might be now useless to 
 deny. You owe your brother's escape, this night, to my know 
 ledge of his innocence, and the remembrance of my word. Major 
 Dunwoodie is mistaken, when he says that I might openly have 
 procured his pardon. I now, indeed, can control his fate, and I 
 pledge to you a word which has some influence with Washington, 
 that means shall be taken to prevent his re-capture. But from 
 you, also, I exact a promise, that this interview, and all that has 
 passed between us, remain confined to your own bosom, until you 
 have my permission to speak upon the subject." Frances gave 
 the desired assurance, and he continued " The pedler and your 
 brother will soon be here, but I must not be seen by the royal 
 officer, or the life of Birch might be the forfeiture." 
 
 " Never !" cried Frances, ardently ; " Henry could never be so 
 base as to betray the man who saved him." 
 
 " It is no childish game that we are now playing, Miss Whar- 
 ton. Men's lives and fortunes hang upon slender threads, and 
 nothing must be left to accident that can be guarded against. Did 
 Sir Henry Clinton know that the pedler held communion with 
 roe, and under such circumstances, the life of the miserable man 
 would be taken instantly ; therefore, as you value human blood, 
 or remember the rescue of your brother, be prudent, and be silent. 
 Communicate what you know to them both, and urge them to 
 instant departure. If they can reach the last pickets of our army 
 before morning's dawn, it shall be my care that there are none to 
 intercept them. There is better work for Major Dunwoodie than 
 to be exposing the life of his friend." While Harper was speak 
 ing, he carefully rolled up the map he had been studying, and 
 placed it, together with sundry papers that were also open, into 
 his pocket. He was still occupied in this manner, when the voice 
 of the pedler, talking in unusually loud tones, was heard directly 
 over their heads. 
 
 " Stand further this way, Captain Wliarton, and you can see 
 the tents in the moonshine. But let them mount and ride ; I 
 have a nest here that will hold us both, and we will go in at our 
 leisure." 
 
 " And where is this nest ?" cried Henry, with a voice of exulta 
 tion ; " I confess that I have eaten but little the two last days, 
 and I crave some of the cheer that you mentioned." 
 
 " Hem," said the pedler, exerting his voice still more ; " hem 
 this fog has given me a cold ; but move slow and be careful 
 not to slip, or you may land on the baggonet of the sentinel on
 
 292 THE SPY. 
 
 the flats ; 'tis a steep hill to rise, but one can go down it with all 
 ease. Harper pressed his finger on his lip, to remind Frances of 
 her promised silence, and taking his pistols and hat, so that no 
 vestige of his visit remained, retired deliberately to a far corner 
 of the hut, where, lifting several articles of dress, he entered a 
 recess in the rock, and letting them fall again, was hid from view. 
 Frances noticed, by the strong firelight, as he entered, that it was 
 a natural cavity, and contained nothing but a few more articles for 
 domestic use. 
 
 The surprise of Henry and the pedler, on entering and finding 
 Frances in possession of the hut, may be easily imagined. With 
 out .waiting for explanations or questions, the warm-hearted girl 
 flew into the arms of her brother, and gave a vent to her emotions 
 in tears. But the pedler seemed struck with very different feel 
 ings. His first look was at the fire, which had been recently sup 
 plied with fuel : he then drew open a small drawer of the table, 
 and looked a little alarmed at finding it empty " Are you alone, 
 Miss Fanny?" he asked, in a quick voice; "you did not come 
 here alone ?" " As you see me, Mr. Birch," said Frances, raising 
 herself from her brother's arms, and turning an expressive glance 
 towards the secret cavern, that the quick eye of the pedler instantly 
 understood. 
 
 " But why, and wherefore are you here ?" exclaimed her as 
 tonished brother; "and how knew you of this place at all?" 
 Frances entered at once into a brief detail of what had occurred 
 at the house since their departure, and the motives which induced 
 her to seek them. 
 
 " But," said Birch, " why follow us here, when we were left on 
 the opposite hill ?" The maid related the glimpse that she had 
 caught of the hut and the pedler, in her passage through the 
 Highlands, as well as her view of him on that day, and her im 
 mediate conjecture that the fugitives would seek the shelter of 
 this habitation for the night. Birch examined her features, as, 
 with open ingenuousness, she related the simple incidents that had 
 made her mistress of his secret, and as she ended, he sprang upon 
 his feet, and striking the window with the stick in his hand de 
 molished it at a blow. 
 
 " Tis but little of luxury or comfort that I know," he said, 
 " but even that little cannot be enjoyed in safety. Miss Whar- 
 ton," he added, advancing before Fanny, and speaking with the 
 bitter melancholy that was common to him, " I am hunted through 
 these hills like a beast of the forest ; but whenever, tired with my 
 toils, I can reach this spot ; poor and dreary as it is, I can spend 
 my solitary nights in safety. Will you aid to make the life of a 
 wretch still more miserable?" "Never!" cried Frances, with 
 Fervour ; " your secret is safe with me." " Major Dunwoodie " 
 said the pedler, slowly, turning an eye upon her that read her soul.
 
 THE SPY. 293 
 
 Frances lowered her head upon her bosom for a moment in 
 shame, then elevating her fine face glowing with fire, she added 
 with enthusiasm " Never, never, Harvey, as God may hear my 
 prayers." 
 
 The pedler seemed satisfied ; for he drew back, and, watching 
 his opportunity, unseen by Henry, slipped behind the screen, and 
 entered the cavern. Frances and her brother, who thought his 
 companion had passed through the door, continued conversing 
 on the latter' s situation for several minutes, when the maid urged 
 the necessity of expedition on his part in order to precede Dun- 
 woodie, from whose sense of duty they knew they had no escape. 
 The Captain took out his pocket-book, and wrote a few lines 
 with his pencil, then folding the paper, he handed it to his sister 
 " Frances," he said, " you have this night proved yourself to be 
 an incomparable woman. As you love me, give that unopened 
 to Dunwoodie, and remember that two hours of time may save 
 my life." " I will I will ; but why delay ? why not fly, and 
 improve these precious moments?" 
 
 " Your sister says well, Captain Wharton," exclaimed Harvey, 
 who had re-entered unseen; "we must 'go at once. Here is 
 food to eat as we travel." " But who is to see this fair creature 
 in -safety ?" cried the Captain. " I can never desert my sister in 
 such a place as this." 
 
 " Leave me ! leave me!" said Frances; "lean descend as I 
 came up. Do not doubt me ; you know not my courage nor 
 my strength." "I have not known you, dear girl, it is true; 
 but now as I learn your value, can I quit you here ? no ; never, 
 never." 
 
 " Captain Wharton," said Birch, throwing open the door, 
 " you can trifle with your own lives, if you have many to spare : 
 I have but one, and must nurse it. Do I go alone, or not ?" 
 
 " Go, go, dear Henry," said Frances, embracing him ; " go ; 
 remember our father; remember Saiah." She waited not for 
 his answer, but gently forced him through the door, and closed 
 it with her own hands. 
 
 For a short time there was a warm debate between Henry and 
 the pedler; but the latter finally prevailed, and the maid heard 
 the successive plunges, as they went down the sides of the moun 
 tain at a rapid rate, and they w r ere soon out of hearing. Imme 
 diately after the noise of the departure had ceased, Harper re 
 appeared. He took the arm of Frances in silence, and led her 
 from the hut. The way seemed familiar to him, as, ascending 
 to the ledge above them, he led his companion across the table 
 land, tenderly, pointing out the little difficulties in their route, 
 and cautioning her against injury. Frances felt, as she walked 
 by the side of his majestic person, that she was supported by a 
 man of no common stamp. The firmness of his step, and the 
 
 2 c
 
 294 THE SPY. 
 
 composure of his manner, seemed to indicate a mind that was 
 settled and resolved. By taking a route over the back of tha 
 hill, they descended with great expedition, and but little danger. 
 The distance it had taken Frances an hour to conquer, was passed 
 by Harper and his companion"in ten minutes, and they entered 
 the open space already mentioned. He struck into one of the 
 sheep paths, and, crossing the clearing with rapid steps, they 
 came suddenly upon a horse, caparisoned for a rider of no mean 
 rank. The noble beast snorted and pawed the earth as his master 
 approached, and replaced the pistols in the holsters. 
 
 Harper then turned, and taking the hand of Frances, spoke as 
 follows : " You have this night saved your brother, Miss Wharton. 
 It would not be proper for me to explain why there are limits t > 
 my ability to serve him, but if you can detain the horse for two 
 hours, he is safe. After what you have already done. I can believe 
 you equal to any duty. God has denied to me children, young 
 lady, but if it had been his blessed will that my marriage should 
 not have been childless, such a treasure as yourself would I have 
 asked from his mercy. But you are my child ; all who dwell in 
 this broad land are my children, and my care, and take the 
 blessing of one who hopes yet to meet you in happier days." 
 As he spoke, with a solemnity that touched Frances to the heart, 
 he laid her hand impressively upon her head. The maid turned 
 her face towards him, and the hood again falling back, exposed 
 her lovely features to the fulness of the moonbeams. A tear was 
 glistening on either cheek, and her mild blue eyes were gazing 
 upon him with reverence. Harper bent and pressed a paternal 
 kiss upon her forehead, and continued " Any of these sheep 
 paths will take you to the plain ; but here we must part I have 
 much to do, and far to ride ; forget me in all but your prayers." 
 He then mounted his horse, and lifting his hat with studied 
 politeness, rode towards the back of the mountain, descending at 
 the same time, and was soon hid by the trees. Frances sprang 
 forward with a lightened heart, and taking the first path that led 
 downwards, in a few minutes reached the plain in safety. While 
 busied in stealing privately through the meadows towards the 
 house, the noise of horse approaching startled her, and she felt 
 how much more was to be apprehended from man, in some situa 
 tions, than from solitude. Hiding her form in the angle of a 
 fence near the road, she remained quiet for a moment, and 
 watched their passage. A small party of dragoons, whose dress 
 was different from the Virginians, passed at a brisk trot, and 
 were followed by a gentleman, enveloped in a large cloak, whom 
 she at once knew to be Harper. Behind him rode a black in 
 liven,', and two youths in uniforms brought up the rear. Instead 
 of taking the road that led by the encampment, they turned 
 hort to the left, and entered the hills.
 
 THE SPY. 295 
 
 Wondering who this unknown but powerful friend of her 
 brother could be, Frances glided across the fields, and using due 
 precautions in approaching the dwelling, regained her residence 
 undiscovered and in safety. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 " Hence, bashful cunning ! 
 And prompt me, plain and holy innocence! 
 I am your wife, if you will marry me." Tempest. 
 
 ON joining Miss Peyton, Frances learnt that Dunwoodie was not 
 yet returned ; although with a view to relieve Henry from the 
 importunities of the supposed fanatic, he had desired a very re 
 spectable divine of their own church to ride up from the river 
 and offer his services. This gentleman was already arrived, and 
 spent the half hour he had been there in a sensible and well-bred 
 conversation with the spinster, that in no degree touched upon 
 their domestic affairs. To the eager inquiries of Miss Peyton, 
 relative to her success in her romantic excursion, Frances could 
 say no more than that she was bound to be silent, and to recom 
 mend the same precaution to the good maiden also. There was 
 a smile that played around the beautiful mouth of Frances, while 
 she uttered this injunction, chasing away the momentary gleam 
 of distrust that clouded her features, which satisfied her aunt that 
 all was as it should be. She was urging her niece to take some 
 refreshment after her fatiguing expedition, with a kind-hearted 
 consideration of her habits, when the noise of a horseman riding 
 to the door, announced the return of the Major. He had beeu 
 found by the courier, who was despatched by Mason, impatiently 
 waiting the return of Harper to the ferry, and immediately flew 
 to the place where his friend had been confined, harassed by 
 many different reflections. The heart of Frances bounded with 
 violence, as she listened to his approaching footsteps. It wanted 
 yet an hour to the termination of the shortest period that the 
 pedler had fixed as the time necessary, in which to effect his 
 escape. Even Harper, powerful and well disposed as he acknow 
 ledged himself to be, had laid great stress upon the importance 
 of detaining the Virginians from pursuit during that hour. She, 
 however, had no time to rally her thoughts, before Dunwoodie 
 entered one door, as Miss Peyton, with the readiness of female 
 instinct, retired through another. 
 
 The countenance of Peyton was flushed, and there was an air 
 of vexation and disappointment pervading his whole manner. 
 " 'Twas imprudent Frances ; nay,, it was unkind," he cried, 
 throwing himself into a chair, "to fly at the very moment that 
 I had assured him of his safety. I can almost persuade myself, 
 that you delight in creating points of difference in our feelings 
 and duties." 
 
 2 c 2
 
 296 THE SPY. 
 
 " In our duties there may very possibly be a difference," re 
 turned his mistress, approaching near to where she sat, and lean 
 ing her slender form slightly against the wall ; " but not in our 
 feelings, Peyton. You must certainly rejoice in the escape of 
 Henry from death !" 
 
 " There was no death impending. He had the promise of 
 Harper; and it is a word never to be doubted. Oh! Frances! 
 Frances ! had you known this man, you would never have dis 
 trusted his assurance ; nor would you have again reduced me to 
 this distressing alternative." 
 
 " What alternative ?" asked Frances, pitying his emotions 
 deeply, but eagerly seizing upon every circumstance to prolong 
 the interview. 
 
 " What alternative ! am I not compelled to spend this night in 
 the saddle, to re-capture your brother, when I had thought to 
 have laid my head on its pillow, with the happy consciousness of 
 contributing to his release ? You make me seem your enemy ; 
 I, who would cheerfully shed the last drop of blood in your ser 
 vice. I repeat, Frances, it was rash ; it was unkind ; it was a 
 sad, sad mistake." 
 
 The maid bent towards him, and timidly took one of his hands, 
 while with the other she gently removed the raven curls from his 
 burning brow, as she said " But why go at all, dear Peyton ? 
 You have done much for our country, and she cannot exact such 
 a sacrifice as this at your hand." 
 
 " Frances ! Miss Wharton !" exclaimed the youth, springing 
 on his feet, and pacing the floor with a cheek that burnt with fire 
 through its brown covering, and an eye that sparkled with con 
 scious integrity ; " it is not my country, but my honour, that 
 requires the sacrifice. Has he not fled from the guard of my 
 own corps? But for this I might have been spared the blow ! 
 But if the eyes of the Virginians are blinded to deception and 
 artifice, their horses are swift of foot, and their sabres keen. 
 We will see, before to-morrow's sun, who it is will presume to 
 hint, that the beauty of the sister furnished a mask to conceal 
 the brother. Yes, yes ; I should like, even now," he continued, 
 laughing bitterly, " to hear the villain, who would dare to sur 
 mise that such a treachery existed !" 
 
 " Peyton, dear Peyton," said Frances, recoiling in terror from 
 his angry eye, " youcurdlemy blood would you kill my brother ?" 
 
 " Would T not die for him !" exclaimed Dunwoodie, with a 
 softened voice, as he turned to her more mildly ; '' you knou 1 
 would ; but I am distracted with the cruel surmise to which this 
 step of Henry's subjects me. What will Wellington think of 
 me, should he learn that I ever became your husband ?" 
 
 " If that alone impels you to act so harshly towards my brother," 
 returned Frances, with a slight tremour in her voice, " let it never 
 happen for him to learn."
 
 THE SPY. 29/ 
 
 " And this is consoling me, Frances !" cried her lover ; " what 
 a commentary on my sufferings I" 
 
 " Nay, dear Dunwoodie, I meant nothing harsh or unkind ; 
 but are you not making us both of more consequence to Wash 
 ington than the truth will justify !" 
 
 " I trust that my name is not entirely unknown to the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief," said the Major, a little proudly ; " nor are 
 you as obscure as your modesty would make you. I believe you, 
 Frances, when you say that you pity me, and it must be my task 
 to continue worthy of such feelings. But I waste the precious 
 moments ; we must go through the hills to-night, that we may 
 be refreshed, in time, for the duty of to-morrow. Mason is 
 already waiting for my orders to mount. Frances, I leave you 
 with a heavy heart ; pity me, but feel no concern for your 
 brother ; he must again become a prisoner, but every bail' of his 
 head is sacred." 
 
 " Stop ! Dunwoodie, I conjure you," cried Frances, gasping 
 for breath, as she noticed that the hand of the clock still wanted 
 many minutes to the desired hour ; " before you go on your 
 errand of fastidious duty, read this note that Henry lias left for 
 you, and which, doubtless, he thought he was writing to the 
 friend of his youth." 
 
 " Frances, I excuse your feelings ; but the time will come 
 when you will do me justice." 
 
 " That time is now," she answered, extending her hand, unable 
 any longer to feign a displeasure that she did not feel." 
 
 " Where got you this note ?" exclaimed the youth, glancing his 
 eyes over its contents. " Poor Henry, you are indeed iny friend ! 
 If any one wishes me happiness, it is you." 
 
 " He does, he does," cried Frances, eagerly ; " he wishes you 
 every happiness; believe what he tells you ; every word is true." 
 
 " I do believe him, lovely girl, and he refers me to you for its 
 confirmation. Would that I could trust equally to your affec 
 tions." " You may, Peyton," said Frances, looking up with 
 innocent confidence towards her lover. 
 
 "Then read for yourself, ami verify your words," interrupted 
 Dunwoodie, holding the note towards her eyes, that sparkled 
 with every passion but anger. 
 
 Frances received it in astonishment, and read the following : 
 
 " Life is too precious to be trusted to uncertainties. I leave 
 you, Peyton, unknown to all but Ccesar, and I recommend him 
 to your mercy. But there is a care that weighs me to the earth. 
 Look at my aged and infirm parent. He will be stigmatized 
 for the supposed crime of Ids son. Look at those helpless sistcrtt, 
 that I. leave behind me, rvithout a protector. Prove to me that 
 you love us all. Let the clergyman whom you will bring ivith 
 you, unite you this night to Frances, and become, at once, 
 brother, son, and husband." 2 c 3
 
 THE SPY. 
 
 The paper fell from the hands of Frances, and she endeavoured 
 to raise her eyes to the face of Dunwoodie, but they sank abashed 
 before his eager gaze. 
 
 "What say you!" said Peyton, with an insinuating voice; 
 " am I worthy of this confidence ? will you send me out against 
 your brother this night, to meet ray own brother ; or will it be 
 the officer of Congress in quest of the officer of Britain ?" 
 
 " And would you do less of your duty because I am your wife, 
 Major Dunwoodie ? In what degree would it better the condition 
 of Henry?" 
 
 " Henry, I repeat, is safe. The word of Harper is his guaran 
 tee; but I will show the world a bridegroom," continued the 
 youth, perhaps deceiving himself a little, " who is equal to the 
 duty of arresting the brother of his bride." "And will the 
 world comprehend it all ? " said Frances, with a musing air, that 
 lighted a thousand hopes in the bosom of her lover. In fact the 
 temptation was mighty. Indeed, there seemed no other way to 
 detain Dunwoodie until the fatal hour had elapsed. The words 
 of Harper himself, who had so lately told her that openly he 
 could do but little for Henry, and that everything depended upon 
 the gaining of time, were deeply engraved upon her memory. 
 Perhaps there was also a fleeting thought of the possibility of an 
 eternal separation from her lover, should he proceed and bring 
 back her brother to punishment. It is difficult at all times to 
 analyze human emotions, and they pass through the sensitive 
 heart of a woman with the rapidity, and nearly with the vividness 
 of lightning. 
 
 " Why do I tarry, dear Frances," cried Dunwoodie, who was 
 studying her varying countenance with rapture ; " a few minutes 
 might give me a husband's claim to protect you." The brain of 
 Frances whirled. She turned an anxious eye to the clock, and 
 the hand seemed to linger over its face, as if with intent to tor 
 ture her. 
 
 " Speak, my Frances," murmured Dunwoodie ; " may I sum 
 mon my good kinswoman ? determine, for time presses." Fran 
 ces endeavoured to reply, but could only whisper something that 
 was inaudible, but which her lover, with the privilege of imme 
 morial custom, construed into assent. He turned and flew to 
 the door, when the maid recovered her voice " Stop, Peyton ; 
 I cannot enter into such a solemn engagement with a fraud upon 
 my conscience. I have seen Henry since his escape, and time 
 is all-important to him. Here is my hand ; if, with this know 
 ledge of the consequences of delay, you will not reject it, it is 
 freely yours." 
 
 Reject it !" cried the delighted youth ; " I take it as the 
 richest gift of heaven. There is time enough for us all. Two 
 hours will take me through the hills, and by noon, to-morrow,
 
 THE SPY. 299 
 
 I will return with Washington's pardon for your brother, and 
 Henry will help to enliven our nuptials." 
 
 " Then meet me here in ten minutes," said Frances, greatly 
 relieved by unburthening her mind, and filled with the hope of 
 securing Henry's safety, " and I will return and take those vows 
 which will bind me to you for ever." Dunwoodie paused only to 
 press her once to his bosom, and flew to communicate his wishes 
 to the priest. 
 
 Miss Peyton received the avowal of her niece with infinite as 
 tonishment, and a little displeasure. It was violating all the 
 order and decorum of a wedding to get it up so hastily, and with 
 so little ceremony. But Frances, with modest firmness, declared 
 that her resolution was taken ; she had long possessed the con 
 sent of her friends, and their nuptials, for months, had only 
 waited her pleasure. She had now promised Dunwoodie, and it 
 was her wish to comply ; more she dare not say without com 
 mitting herself, by entering into explanations that might endan 
 ger Birch, or Harper, or both. Unused to contention, and really 
 much attached to her kinsman, the feeble objections of Miss 
 Peyton gave way to the firmness of her niece. Mr. Wharton was 
 too completely a convert to the doctrine of passive obedience and 
 non-resistance, to withstand any solicitation from an officer of 
 Dunwoodie' s influence in the rebel armies, and the maid returned 
 to the apartment, accompanied by her father and aunt, at the ex 
 piration of the time that she had fixed. Dunwoodie and the 
 clergyman were already there. Frances, silently, and without 
 the affectation of reserve, placed in his hand the wedding ring of 
 her own mother, and after some little time spent in arranging 
 Mr. Wharton and herself, Miss Peyton suffered the ceremony to 
 proceed. The clock stood directly before the wandering eyes of 
 Frances, and she turned many an anxious glance at the dial ; but 
 soon the solemn language of the priest caught her attention, and 
 her mind became intent upon the vows she was uttering. It was 
 quickly over ; and as the clergyman closed the words of benedic 
 tion, the clock told the hour of nine. This was the time that 
 Harper had deemed so important, and Frances felt as if a mighty 
 load was at once removed from her heart. Dunwoodie folded 
 her in his arms, saluted the spinster again and again, and shook 
 Mr. Wharton and the divine repeatedly by the hands. In the 
 midst of this excess of rapture, a tap was heard at the door. It 
 was opened, and Mason appeared. 
 
 " We are in the saddle," said the lieutenant, " and with your 
 permission, will lead on ; as you are so well mounted you can 
 overtake us at your leisure." " Yes, yes, my good fellow; march," 
 cried Dunwoodie, gladly seizing an excuse to linger ; " I will 
 reach you at the first halt." The subaltern retired to execute 
 these orders, and was followed by Mr. Wharton and the divine.
 
 300 THE -SPY. 
 
 ' Now, Peyton," said Frances, "it is indeed a brother that you 
 seek ; I am sure I need not caution you in his behalf, should 
 you unfortunately find him." " Say fortunately," cried the 
 youth ; " for I am determined he shall yet dance at my wedding. 
 Would that I could win him to our cause ; it is the cause of his 
 country, and I could fight with more pleasure, Frances, with your 
 brother by my side." 
 
 " Oh ! mention it not! you awake terrible reflections." 
 
 " I will not mention it," returned her husband ; " but I must 
 now leave you. Tom Mason moved off at a famous rate, and 
 the fellow has no orders. But the sooner I go, Frances, the 
 sooner I shall return." 
 
 The noise of a horseman was heard approaching the house 
 with great speed, and Dunwoodie was yet taking leave of his 
 bride and her aunt, when an officer was shown into the room by 
 his own man. The gentleman wore the dress of an aid-de-camp, 
 and the Major at once knew him to be one of the family of 
 Washington. 
 
 " Major Dunwoodie," he said, after bowing courteously to the 
 ladies ; " the Commander-in-chief has directed me to give you 
 these orders." He executed his mission, and, pleading duty, 
 took his leave immediately. 
 
 " Here, indeed!" cried the Major, " is an unexpected turn in 
 the whole affair ; but I understand it ; Harper has got my letter, 
 and already we feel his influence." " Have you news affecting 
 Henry ?" cried Frances, springing to his side. 
 
 " Listen, and you shall judge." 
 
 " SIR Upon the receipt of this, you will concentrate your 
 squadron, so as to be in front of the enemy's cover in// party to 
 their foragers, by ten o'clock to-morrow, on the heights of 
 Croton, where you will find a body of foot to support you. The 
 escape of the English spy has been reported to me, but his arrest 
 in unimportant, compared with the duty I now assign you. 
 You will, therefore, recnll your men, if any are in pursuit, and 
 endeavour to defeat the enemy forthwith, 
 
 " Your Obedient Servant, "GEORGE WASHINGTON." 
 
 " There, thank God," cried Dunwoodie, " my hands are washed 
 of Henry's re-capture ; I can now move to my duty with honour.'' 
 
 " And with prudence too, dear Peyton," said Frances, with a 
 face as pale as death ; " remember, Dunwoodie, you leave behind 
 you new claims upon your caution and care." 
 
 The youth dwelt on her lovely but pallid features with rapture, 
 and as he pressed her hand to his heart, exclaimed " But why 
 this haste ? I can reach Peekskill before the troops h;tve break 
 fasted, if I start some hours hence. I am too old a soldier to Le 
 hastened or disconcerted." 
 
 " Nay ! go at once," said Frances, in a hurried voice, with a
 
 THE spy. 301 
 
 face whose bright tints would have shamed a ruddy morn ; 
 " neglect not the orders of Washington. And oh ! be prudent 
 be careful." " For your sake I will, lovely innocent," cried her 
 husband, folding her to his heart for the last time. Frances 
 sobbed a moment on his bosom, and he tore himself from her 
 presence. Miss Peyton retired to her niece, to whom she con 
 ceived it necessary, before they separated for the night, to give 
 an abundance of good advice on the subject of matrimonial duty. 
 Her lecture was modestly received, if not properly digested. 
 We regret that history has not handed down to us this precious 
 dissertation ; but the result of all our investigation has been to 
 learn, that it partook largely of those peculiarities, which are 
 said to tincture the rules prescribed to govern bachelors' children. 
 We will leave them, and return to Captain Wharton and Harvey 
 Birch. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 " Allow him not a parting word ; 
 
 Short be the shrift, and sure the cord \"Rokeby; 
 
 THE pedler and his companion soon reached the valley, and 
 after pausing to listen, and hearing no sounds which announced 
 that pursuers were abroad, they entered the highway. Acquainted 
 with every step that led through the mountains, and possessed of 
 sinews inured to toil, Birch led the way, in silent activity, with 
 the lengthened strides that were peculiar to the man and his pro 
 fession ; his pack was alone wanting to finish the appearance of 
 his ordinary business air. At times, when they approached one of 
 those little posts held by the American troops, with which the 
 Highlands abounded, he would take a circuit to avoid the senti 
 nels, and plunge at once fearlessly into a thicket, or ascend a 
 rugged hill, that to the eye seemed impassable. But the pedler 
 was familiar with every turn in their difficult route, knew where 
 the ravines might be penetrated, or where the streams were 
 fordable. In one or two instances, Henry thought that their fur 
 ther progress was absolutely at an end, but the ingenuity or know 
 ledge of his guide conquered every difficulty. After walking at 
 an incredible rate for three hours, they suddenly diverged from 
 the road which inclined to the east, and held their course directly 
 across the hills in a due south direction. This movement was 
 made, the pedler informed his companion, in order to avoid the 
 parties who constantly patroled in the southern entrance of the 
 Highlands, as well as to shorten the distance, by travelling in a 
 straight line. After reaching the summit of a very considerable 
 hill, Harvey seated himself by the side of a little run, and opened 
 the wallet, that he had slung where his pack was commonly 
 suspended, invited his comrade to partake of the coarse fare that
 
 , .' TJIE SPY. 
 
 it contained. Henry had kept pace with the pedler, more by the 
 excitement natural to his situation, than by the equality of his 
 physical powers. The idea of any halt was unpleasant, so long 
 as there existed a possibility of the horse getting below him, in 
 time to intercept their retreat through the neutral ground. He, 
 therefore, started his apprehensions to his companion, and urged 
 his wish to proceed. " Follow my example, Captain Wharton," 
 said the pedler, commencing his frugal meal ; " if the horse have 
 started, it will be more than man can do to head them ; and if 
 they have not, other work is cut out for them that will drive all 
 thoughts of you and I from their brains." 
 
 " You said yoursc'f, that two hours' detention was all impor 
 tant to us, and if we loiter here, of what use will be the advant 
 age that we may have already obtained." 
 
 " Them two hours are passed, and Major Dunwoodie thinks 
 little of following two men, when hundreds are waiting for him 
 on the banks of the river." 
 
 "Listen!" interrupted Henry; "there are horse at this 
 moment passing at the foot of the hill. I hear them even laugh 
 ing and talking to each other. By heavens ! there is the voice 
 of Dunwoodie himself, and he Calls to his comrade in a manner 
 that shows but little uneasiness. One would think that the 
 situation of his friend would lower his spirits ; surely Frances 
 could not have given him the letter." 
 
 On hearing the first exclamation of the Captain, Birch arose 
 from his seat, and approached cautiously to the brow of the hill, 
 taking care to keep his body in the shadow of the rocks, so as to 
 be unseen at any distance, and earnestly reconnoitred the passing 
 group of horsemen. He continued listening, until their quick 
 footsteps were no longer audible, and then quietly returned to 
 his seat, and with incomparable coolness resumed his meal. 
 " You have a long walk, and a tiresome one, before you, Captain 
 Whmrton ; you had better do as I do you were eager for food at 
 the hut above Fishkill, but travelling seems to have worn down 
 your appetite." 
 
 " I thought myself safe then, but the information of my sister 
 fills me with uneasiness, and I cannot eat." 
 
 " You have less reason to be troubled now than at any time 
 since the night before you were taken, when you refused my advice 
 and offer to see you in safety," returned the pedler. " Major 
 Dunwoodie is not a man to laugh and be gay, when his friend is 
 in difficulty. Come, then, and eat, for no horse will be in our 
 way, if \\e can hold our legs for four hours longer, and the sun 
 keeps behind the hills as long as common." 
 
 There was a composure in the pedler's manner that inspired 
 the youth, and having once determined to submit to Harvey's 
 government, he suffered himself to be persuaded into a tolerable
 
 THE SPY. 303 
 
 supper, if the quantity be considered without any reference to 
 the quality. After completing their repast, the pedler again re 
 sumed his journey. Henry followed in blind submission to his 
 will. For two hours more they struggled with the difficult and 
 dangerous passes of the Highlands, without road, or any other 
 guide than the moon, which was travelling the heavens, now 
 wading through the flying clouds, and now shining upon objects 
 with a brilliancy second only to her great source of light. At 
 length they arrived where the mountains sunk into rough and 
 unequal hillocks, and passed at once from the barren sterility of 
 the precipices, to the imperfect culture of the neutral ground. 
 The pedler now became more guarded in the manner in which 
 they proceeded, and took divers precautions to prevent meeting 
 any moving parties of the Americans. With their stationary 
 posts he was too familiar to endanger his falling upon them una 
 wares. He wound among the hills and vales, now keeping the 
 highways and now avoiding them, with a precision that seemed 
 instinctive. There was nothing elastic in his tread, but he glided 
 over the ground with enormous strides, and a body bent forward, 
 without appearing to use exertion, or know weariness. 
 
 The moon had set, and a faint streak of light was beginning 
 to show itself in the east. Captain Wharton ventured to express 
 a sense of fatigue, and to inquire if they were not yet arrived at 
 a part of the country where it might be safe to apply at some 
 of the farm-houses for admission. 
 
 " See here," said the pedler, pointing to a hill at a short dis 
 tance in their rear ; " do you not see a man walking on the point 
 of that rock ? Turn more, so as to bring the daylight in the 
 range notice, now he moves, and seems to be looking earnestly 
 at something to the eastward. That is a royal sentinel, and two 
 hundred of the rig'lar troops lay on that hill, no doubt sleeping 
 on their arms." 
 
 " Then" cried Henry, " let us join them, and our danger is at 
 once ended." 
 
 " Softly, softly, Captain Wharton," said the pedler, dryly ; 
 "you've once been in the midst of three hundred of them, but 
 there was a man who could take you out ; see you not yon dark 
 body on the side of the opposite hill, just above the corn stalks ? 
 There are the the rebels waiting only for day, to see who will 
 be master of the ground." " Nay, then," exclaimed the fiery 
 youth, " I will join the troops of rny prince, and share their for 
 tune, be it good or be it bad." 
 
 " You forget that you fight with a halter around your neck ; 
 no, no I have promised one whom I must not disappoint, to 
 carry you safe in ; and unless you forget what I have already done, 
 and what I have risked for you, Captain Whartou, you will turn 
 and follow me to Haerlem." 
 
 To this appeal the youth felt unwillingly obliged to submit,
 
 304 THE SPY. 
 
 and they continued their course towards the city. It was not 
 long before they gained the banks of the Hudson. After searching 
 for a short time under the shore, the pedier discovered a skiff, 
 that from its movements appeared to be an old acquaintance ; and 
 entering it with his companion, he landed him on the south side 
 of the Croton. Here Birch declared they were in safety ; for 
 the royal troops held the continentals at bay, and the former were 
 out in too great strength, for the light parties of the latter to trust 
 themselves below that river, on the immediate banks of the Hud 
 son, from a dread of having their retreat cut off. Throughout 
 the whole of this arduous flight, the pedier had manifested a cool 
 ness and presence of mind that nothing appeared to disturb. All 
 his faculties seemed to be of more than usual perfection, and the 
 infirmities of nature to have no dominion over him. Henry had 
 followed him like a child in leading strings, and he now reaped 
 his reward, as he felt a bound of pleasure at his heart, on hearing 
 that he was relieved from apprehension, and permitted to banish 
 every doubt of his security. A steep and laborious ascent brought 
 them from the level of the tide-waters to the high lands, that form, 
 in this part of the river, the eastern banks of the Hudson. Re 
 tiring a little from the highway, under the shelter of a thicket of 
 cedars, the pedier threw his form on a flat rock, and announced 
 to his companion, that the hour for rest and refreshment was at 
 length arrived. The day was now opened, and objects could be 
 seen in the distance with distinctness. Beneath them lay the 
 Hudson, stretching to the south in a straight line as far as the 
 eye could reach. To the north, the broken fragments of the 
 Highlands threw upwards their lofty heads, above the masses of 
 fog that hung over the water, and by which the course of the river 
 could be traced into the bosom of the hills, whose conical summits 
 were grouping together, one behind another, in that disorder 
 which might be supposed to succeed their mighty, but fruitless, 
 efforts to stop the progress of the flood. Emerging from these 
 confused piles, the river, as if rejoicing at its release from the 
 struggle, expanded into a wide bay, which was ornamented by a 
 few fertile and \o\v points that jutted humbly into its broad basin. 
 On the opposite or western shore, the rocks of Jersey were ga 
 thered into an array that has obtained for them the name of the 
 " paluiadoe*," elevating themselves for many hundred feet, as if 
 to protect the rich country in their rear from the inroads of the 
 conqueror; but, disdaining such an enemy, the river swept proudly 
 by their feet, and held its undeviating way to the ocean. A ray 
 of the rising sun darted upon the slight cloud that hung over the 
 placid river, and at once the whole scene was in motion, changing 
 and assuming new forms, and exhibiting fresh objects to the view 
 in each successive moment. At the daily rising of this great cur 
 tain of nature, at the present time, scores of white sails and slug-
 
 THE SPY. 305 
 
 gish vessels are seen thickening on the water, with that air of life 
 which denotes the neighbourhood to the metropolis of a great and 
 flourishing empire ; but to Henry and the pedler it displayed only 
 the square yards and lofty masts of a vessel of war, riding a few 
 miles below them. Before the fog had begun to move, the tall 
 spars were seen above 'it, and from one of them a long pendant 
 was feebly borne abroad in the current of night air that still 
 quivered along the river ; but as the smoke arose, the black hull, 
 the crowded and complicated mass of rigging, and the heavy yards 
 and booms, spreading their arms afar, were successfully brought 
 into view. 
 
 " There, Captain Wharton," said the pedler, " there is a safe 
 resting place for you ; America has no arm that can reach you, if 
 once j-ou gain the deck of that ship. She is sent up to cover the 
 foragers, and support the troops ; the rig'lar officers are over fond 
 of the sound of cannon from their shipping." Without conde 
 scending to reply to the sarcasm conveyed in this speech, or per 
 haps not noticing it, Henry joyfully acquiesced in the proposal, 
 and it was accordingly arranged between them, that, so soon as 
 they were refreshed, he should endeavour to get on board the 
 vessel. 
 
 While busily occupied in the very indispensable operation of 
 breaking their fast, our adventures were startled with the sound 
 of distant fire-arms. At first a few scattering shots were fired, 
 which were succeeded by a long and animated roll of musketry, 
 and then quick and heavy volleys followed each other. " Your 
 prophecy is made good," cried the English officer, springing upon 
 his feet. " Our troops and the rebels are at it ; I would give 
 six months' pay to see the charge." 
 
 " Umph !" returned his companion, without ceasing his meal; 
 " they do veiy well to look at from a distance ; but I can't say 
 but the company of this bacon, cold as it is, is more to my taste, 
 just now, than a hot fire from the continentals." 
 
 " The discharges are heavy for so small a force ; but the fire 
 seems irregular." " The scattering guns are from the Connecti 
 cut militia," said Harvey, raising his head to listen ; " they rattle 
 it off finely, and are no fools at a mark. The volleys are the 
 rig'lars, who, you know, fire by word as long as they can." 
 
 " I like not the warmth of what you call a scattering fire," ex 
 claimed the Captain, moving about with uneasiness ; " it is more 
 like the roll of a drum than the pop-gun shooting of skirmishers." 
 
 " No, no ; I said not skrimmagers," returned the other, raising 
 himself upon his knees, and ceasing to eat ; " so long as they'll 
 stand, they are too good for the best troops in the royal army. 
 Each man does his work as if fighting by the job ; and then they 
 think while they fight, and don't send bullets among the clouds, 
 that were meant to kill men upon earth." 
 
 2 D
 
 306 THE SPY. 
 
 " You talk and look, sir, as if you wished them success," cried 
 Henry, sternly. " I wish success to the good cause only, Captain 
 Wharton," returned the pedler, suddenly changing his air of ex 
 ultation to an abstracted manner- " I thought you knew me too 
 well, to be uncertain which party I favoured." " Oh ! you are 
 reputed loyal. Mr Birch." said the youth, with a little contempt; 
 " but, by Heavens ! the volleys have ceased !" 
 
 They both now listened intently, for a little while, during which 
 the irregular reports became less brisk, and suddenly heavy and re 
 peated volleys followed. " They've been at the baggonet," said 
 the pedler ; " the rig'lars have tried the baggonet, and have drove 
 the rebels." " Ay ! Mr. Birch, the bayonet is the thing for the 
 British soldier, after all !" shouted Henry with exultation. " They 
 delight in the bayonet!" 
 
 "Well, to ray notion," said the pedler, "there's but little delight 
 to be taken in any such pokerish thing. But I dare say the mi 
 litia are of my mind, for half of them don't carry the ugly things. 
 Lord ! Lord ! Captain, I wish you'd go with me once into the 
 rebel camp, and hear what lies the men will tell about Bunker hill 
 and Burg'yne : you'd think they loved the baggonet as much as 
 they do their dinner." 
 
 There was an inward chuckle, and singular air of affected inno- 
 cency about his companion, while speaking, that rather annoyed 
 Henry, and he deigned no reply to his remarks. 
 
 The firing now became desultory, occasionally intermingled with 
 heavy volleys. Both of the fugitives were standing, listening with 
 much anxiety, when a man, armed with a musket, was seen steal 
 ing towards them under the shelter of the cedar bushes that par 
 tially covered the hill. Henry rirst noticed this suspiciously 
 looking stranger, and instantly pointed him out to his companion. 
 Birch started, and certainly made an indication of sudden flight; 
 but recollecting himself, he stood, in sullen silence, until the 
 stranger was within a few yards of them. " 'Tis friends," said 
 the fellow, clubbing his gun, but yet apparently afraid to venture 
 nearer. " You had better be off," cried Birch, in a loud voice, 
 " here's rig'lars enough at hand to take care of you ; we are not 
 near Dunwoodie's horse now, and you will not easily get me 
 again." 
 
 " Damn Major Dunwoodie and his horse," cried the leader of 
 the skinners, (for it was he), " God bless king George ! and a 
 speedy end to the rebellion, say I. If you would just show me 
 the safe way in to the refugees, Mr. Birch, III pay you well, and 
 ever after stand your friend in the bargain." 
 
 " The road is as open to you as to me," said Birch, turning 
 from him in ill-concealed disgust; "if you want to find the re 
 fugees, you know well where they lay." 
 
 " Ay, but I'm a little afear'd of going in upon them by myself;
 
 THE SPY. 307 
 
 now you are well known to them all, and it will be no detriment 
 to you just to let me go in with you." 
 
 Henry interfered, and after holding a short dialogue with the 
 fellow, entered into a compact with him, that on condition of 
 surrendering his arms, he might join their party. The man com 
 plied instantly, and Birch received his gun with eagerness, nor 
 did he lay it upon his shoulder to renew their march, before he 
 had carefully examined the priming, and ascertained, to his satis 
 faction, that it contained a good dry ball-cartridge. As soon as 
 this engagement was completed, they commenced their journey 
 anew. By following the bank of the river, Birch led the way free 
 from observation, until they reached the point opposite to the 
 frigate, when, by making a signal, a boat was induced to approach. 
 Some time was spent, and much precaution used, before the sea 
 men would trust themselves ashore ; but Henry having finally suc 
 ceeded in making the officer, who commanded the party, credit his 
 assertions, he was able to rejoin his companions in arms in safety. 
 Before taking leave of Birch, the Captain handed him his purse, 
 which was tolerably well supplied for the times : the pedler received 
 it. and watching an opportunity, he conveyed it, unnoticed by the 
 skinner, to a part of his dress that was ingeniously contrived to 
 hold such treasures. The boat pulled from the shore, and Birch 
 turned on his heel, drawing a sigh of vast relief, and shot up the 
 hills with the enormous strides for which he was famous. The 
 skinner followed, and each party pursued their common course, 
 casting frequent and suspicious glances at the other, and both 
 maintaining a most impenetrable silence. Wagons were moving 
 along the river road, and occasional parties of horse were seen, 
 escorting the fruits of their excursion towards the city. As the 
 pedler had views of his own, he rather avoided falling in with any 
 of these patrols, than sought their protection. But, after travel 
 ling for a few miles, on the immediate banks of the river, during 
 which, notwithstanding the repeated efforts of the skinner to es 
 tablish something like sociability, he maintained a most deter 
 mined silence, keeping a firm hold of the gun, and a side glance 
 upon his associate, the pedler suddenly struck into the highway, 
 with an intention of crossing the hills towards Haerlem. At the 
 moment that he gained the path, a body of horse came over a 
 little eminence, and was upon him before he perceived them. It 
 was too late to retreat, and after taking a view of the materials 
 that composed this scouting party, Birch rejoiced in the rencontre, 
 as a probable means of relieving him from his unwelcome com 
 panion. They were some eighteen or twenty men, who were 
 mounted and equipped as dragoons, though neither their appear 
 ance nor manners denoted much of discipline. At their head 
 rode a heavy, middle-aged man, whose features expressed as much 
 
 2 D 2
 
 308 THE SPY. 
 
 of animal passion, and as little of reason, as could well be imagined. 
 He wore the dress of an officer, but there was none of that neat 
 ness in his attire, nor grace in his movements, that was usually 
 found about the gentlemen who bore the royal commission. His 
 limbs were firm, and not pliable, and he sat his horse with strength 
 and confidence, but his bridle hand would have been ridiculed by 
 the meanest rider in the Virginia regiment. As he expected, this 
 leader instantly hailed the pedler, in a voice by no means more 
 conciliating than his appearance. 
 
 " Hey ! my gentleman, which way so fast ?" he cried. " Has 
 Washington sent you down as spies ?" 
 
 " I am an innocent pedler," returned Harvey, meekly, " and am 
 going below to lay in a fresh stock." 
 
 " And how do you expect to get below, my innocent pedler ? 
 Do you think we hold the forts at Kingsbridge to cover such 
 peddling rascals as you in your goings in and comings out ?" 
 
 " I believe I hold a pass that will carry me through," said the 
 pedler, handing him a paper, with an air of consummate indifference. 
 
 The officer, for such he was, read it, and gave a look of extra 
 ordinary intelligence for the man, at Harvey, when he had done. 
 Then turning fiercely to one or two of his men, who had officiously 
 passed on and stopped the way, he cried " Why do you stop the 
 man? give way, and let him pass in peace : but who have we 
 here ? your name is not on the paper." 
 
 " No, sir," said the skinner, lifting his hat with humility ; " I 
 have been a poor deluded man, who has been serving in the rebel 
 army, but, thank God, I've lived to see the error of my ways, and 
 am now come to make reparation, by enlisting under the Lord's 
 anointed." 
 
 " Umph ! a deserter a skinner, I'll swear, wanting to turn 
 cow-boy. In the last brush I had with the scoundrels, I could 
 hardly tell my own men from the enemy. We are not over well 
 supplied with coats, and as for the faces, the rascals change sides 
 so often, that you may as well count their faces for nothing ; but 
 trudge on, we will contrive to expend you before long." 
 
 Ungracious as was this reception, if you could judge of the 
 skinner's feelings from his manner, it nevertheless delighted him 
 hugely. He moved with alacrity towards the city, and really was 
 so happy to escape the brutal looks and frightful manner of his 
 interrogator, as to lose sight of all other considerations. But the 
 man who performed the functions of orderly in the irregular troop 
 rode up to the side of his commander, and commenced a close 
 and apparently confidential discourse with his principal. They 
 spoke in whispers, and cast frequent and searching glances at the 
 skinner, until the fellow began to think himself an object of more 
 than common attention. His satisfaction at this distinction was 
 somewhat heightened, at observing a smile on the face of the
 
 THE SPY. 3^9 
 
 Captain, which, although it might be thought grim, certainly tie- 
 noted much inward delight. This pantomime occupied the time 
 they were passing a hollow, and concluded as they rose another 
 hill. Here the Captain and his sergeant both dismounted, and 
 ordered the party to halt. The warriors each took a pistol from 
 his holster, a movement that excited no suspicion or alarm, as it 
 was a precaution always observed, and beckoned to the pedler and 
 the skinner to follow. A short walk brought them to where the 
 hill overhung the river, the ground falling nearly perpendicularly 
 to the shore. On the brow of the eminence stood a deserted and 
 dilapidated building, that had been a barn. Many of the boards 
 that had formed its covering were torn from their places, and its 
 wide doors were lying, the one in front of the building, and the 
 other half way down the precipice, whither the wind had cast it. 
 Entering this desolate spot, the refugee officer very coolly took 
 from his pocket a short pipe, whose colour might once have been 
 white, but which now, from long use, had acquired not only the 
 hue but the gloss of ebony, a tobacco box, and a small roll of 
 leather, that contained steel, flint, and tinder. With this appa 
 ratus, he soon furnished his mouth with a companion, that habit 
 had long rendered necessary to extraordinary reflection in its 
 owner. So soon as a large column of smoke arose from this ar 
 rangement, the Captain significantly held forth his hand towards 
 his assistant. A small cord was produced from the pocket of the 
 sergeant, and handed to the other. Now, indeed, appeared a 
 moment of deep care in the refugee, who threw out vast puffs of 
 smoke until nearly all his head was obscured, and looked around 
 the building with an anxious and inquisitive eye. At length he 
 removed the pipe, and inhaling a draught of pure air, returned it 
 to its domicile, and proceeded to business at once. There was a 
 heavy piece of timber laid across the girths of the barn but a little 
 way from the southern door, which opened directly upon a full 
 view of the river, as it stretched far away towards the bay of New 
 York. Over this timber the refugee threw one end of the rope, 
 and regaining it, joined the two parts in his hand. A small and 
 weak barrel, that wanted a head, the staves of which were loose, 
 and at one end standing apart, was left on the floor, probably as 
 useless to the owner. This was brought by the sergeant, in obe 
 dience to a look from his officer, and placed beneath the beam. 
 All of these arrangements were made with immovable composure, 
 and now seemed completed to the officer's perfect satisfaction. 
 
 " Come," he said coolly to the skinner, who, amazed with the 
 preparations, had stood both a close and silent spectator of their 
 progress. He obeyed ; and it was not until he found his neck 
 cloth removed, and hat thrown aside, that he took the alarm. 
 But he had so often resorted to a similar expedient to extort in 
 formation or plunder, that he b'y no means felt the terror an un- 
 
 2 D 3
 
 310 THE SPY. 
 
 practised mau would have suffered, at these ominous movements. 
 The rope was adjusted to his neck with the same coolness that 
 formed the characteristic of the whole movement, and a fragment 
 of board being laid upon the barrel, he was ordered to mount it. 
 
 " But it may fall," said the skinner, for the first time beginning 
 to tremble. " I will tell you anything even how to surprise our 
 party at the Pond, without this trouble, and it is commanded by 
 my own brother." 
 
 " I want no information," returned his executioner, (for such 
 he now seemed really to be) as he threw the rope repeatedly over 
 the beam, first drawing it tight so as to annoy the skinner a little, 
 and then casting the end from him, far beyond the reach of any 
 one. 
 
 " This is joking too far," cried the skinner, in a tone of remon 
 strance, and raising himself on his toes, with the vain hope of re 
 leasing himself from the cord, by slipping bis head through the 
 noose. But the caution and experience of the refugee officer had 
 guarded against this escape. 
 
 " What did you with the horse you stole from me rascal?" he 
 cried, throwing out extraordinary columns of smoke while he waited 
 for a reply. 
 
 " He broke down in the chase," replied the skinner, quickly ; 
 " but I can tell you where one is to be found, that is worth him 
 and his sire." 
 
 " Liar ! I will help myself when I want one ; but you had bet 
 ter call upon God for aid, as your hour is short." On concluding 
 this consoling advice, he struck the barrel a violent blow with his 
 heavy foot, and the slender staves flew in every direction, leaving 
 the skinner whirling in the air. As his hands were unconfined, 
 he threw them upwards, and held himself supended by main 
 strength. 
 
 "Come, Captain," he said, coaxingly, a little huskiness creeping 
 into his voice, and his knees beginning to shake with a slight 
 tre % raor, "just end the joke; 'tis enough to make a laugh, and 
 my arms begin to tire indeed I can't hold on much longer." 
 
 " Harkee, Mr. Pedler," said the refugee, in a voice that would 
 not be denied, " 1 want not your com pan}'. Through that door 
 lies your road march ! offer to touch that dog, and you'll swing 
 in his place, if twenty Sir Henrys wanted your services." So 
 saying, he retired to the road with the Sergeant, as the pedler 
 precipitately retreated down the bank. 
 
 Birch went no farther than a bush that opportunely offered it 
 self, as a skreen to conceal his person, while he yielded to an un 
 conquerable desire to witness the termination of this extraordinary 
 scene. Left thus alone, the skinner began to throw fearful glances 
 around, to espy the hiding places of his tormentors. For the 
 first time, the horrid idea seemed to shoot through his brain,
 
 THE SPY. 311 
 
 that something serious was intended by the Cow-boy. He called 
 entreatingly Tto be released, and made rapid and incoherent pro 
 mises of important information, mingled with affected pleasantry 
 at their conceit, which he would hardly admit to himself could 
 mean anything so dreadful as it seemed. But as he heard the 
 tread of the horses moving on their course, and in vain looked 
 around for human aid, violent trembling seized his limbs, and 
 his eyes began to start from his head with terror. He made a 
 desperate effort to reach the beam ; but, too much exhausted 
 with his previous exertions, he caught the rope in his teeth, in a 
 vain effort to sever the cord, and fell to the whole length of his 
 arms. Here his cries were turned into shrieks 
 
 " Help ! cut the rope ! Captain ! Birch ! good pedler ! Down 
 with the Congress ! Sergeant ! for God's sake, help ! Hurrah 
 for the King ! Oh God ! oh God ! mercy mercy mercy." 
 As his voice became suppressed, one of his hands endeavoured to 
 make its way between the rope and his neck, and partially suc 
 ceeded, but the other fell quivering by his side. A convulsive 
 shuddering passed over his whole frame, and he hung a hideous 
 livid corse. Birch continued gazing on this scene with a kind of 
 infatuation, and at its close he placed his hands to his ears, rush 
 ing towards the highway ; but still the cries of mercy rung 
 through his brain, and it was many weeks before his memory 
 ceased to dwell on the horrid event. The Cow-boys rode stea 
 dily on their route, as if nothing had occurred, and the body was 
 left swinging in the wind, until chance directed the footsteps of 
 some stragglers to the place. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 " Green be the turf above thee, 
 Friend of my better days 
 None knew thee but to love thee, 
 Nor nam'd thee but to praise." Halleck. 
 
 WHILE the scenes and events that we have recorded were oc 
 curring, Captain Lawton led his small party, by slow and wary 
 marches, from the Four Corners to the front of a body of the 
 enemy ; where he so successfully manoeuvred, for a time, as com 
 pletely to elude all their efforts to entrap hinl, and yet so dis 
 guised his own force, as to excite the constant apprehension of 
 an attack from his Americans. This forbearing policy, on the 
 side of the partisan, was owing to orders that he had received 
 from the commander. When Dunwoodie left his detachment, 
 the enemy were known to be slowly advancing, and he directed 
 Lawton to hover around them until his own return, and the arri 
 val of a body of foot, which might aid in intercepting their re 
 treat. The trooper discharged his duty to the letter, but with no
 
 3,2 
 
 little of the impatience that made part of his character, when re 
 strained from the attack. 
 
 During these movements, Betty Flanagan guided her little cart 
 with indefatigable zeal among the rocks of West Chester, now 
 discussing with the Sergeant the nature of evil spirits, and the 
 quality of her own, and now combating with the surgeon sundry 
 points of practice, that were hourly arising under their opposite 
 opinions, upon the subject of stimulus. But the moment at 
 length arrived that was to terminate their controversies, and to 
 decide the mastery of the field. A detachment of the eastern 
 militia moved out from their fastnesses, and approached the enemy. 
 The junction between Lawton and his auxiliaries was made at 
 midnight, and an immediate consultation was held between him 
 and the leader of the foot soldiers. After listening to the state 
 ments of the partisan, who rather despised tils' prowess of his 
 enemy, the commandant of the party determined to attack the 
 British, the moment that daylight enabled him to reconnoitre 
 their position without waiting for the aid of Dunwoodie and his 
 horse. So soon as this decision was made, Lawton retired from 
 the building where the consultation was held, and rejoined his 
 own small command. The few troopers who were with the 
 Captain had fastened their horses in a spot adjacent to a hay 
 stack, and laid their own frames under its shelter to catch a few 
 hours' sleep. But Dr. Sitgreaves, Serjeant Hollister, and Betty 
 Flanagan, were congregated at a short distance, by themselves, 
 having spread a few blankets upon the dry surface of a rock. 
 Lawton threw his huge frame by the side of the surgeon, and 
 folding his cloak about him, leaned his head upon one hand, and 
 appeared deeply engaged in contemplating the moon as she 
 waded majestically through the heavens. The sergeant was 
 sitting upright in respectful deference to ths conversation that 
 the operator was kindly dispensing, and the washerwoman was 
 now raising her head in order to vindicate some of her favourite 
 maxims, and now composing it on one of her gin casks, in a vain 
 effort to sleep. 
 
 " So, Sergeant," continued the operator, after pausing n 
 moment while Lawton took the position which we have described, 
 " if you cut upwards, the blow, by losing the additional momen 
 tum of your weight, will be less destructive, and at the same 
 time effect the true purpose of war, that of disabling your enemy." 
 " Pooh ! pooh ! Sergeant dear," said the washerwoman, raising 
 her head from the blanket ; " where's the harm of taking a life 
 jist in the way of battle? Is it the rig'lars who'll show favour, 
 and they fighting ? Ask Captain Jack, there, if the country 
 could get the liberty, and the boy no strike their might. Pooh ! 
 I wouldn't have them disparage the whiskey so much." 
 
 " It is not to be expected, that an ignorant female like yourself,
 
 THE SPY. 313 
 
 Mrs. Flanagan," returned the operator, with ineffable disdain, 
 " can comprehend the distinctions of surgical science ; neither 
 are you accomplished in the sword exercise ; so that dissertations 
 upon the judicious use of that weapon could avail you nothing, 
 either in theory or practice." "It's but little I care, any way, 
 for such botherments," said Betty, sinking her head under her 
 blanket again ; " but fighting is no play, and a body shouldn't be 
 partic'lar how they strike, or who they hit, so it's the inimy." 
 
 " Are we likely to have a warm day, Captain Lawton ?" said 
 the surgeon, turning from the washerwoman with vast contempt. 
 " "Tis rfiore than probable," replied the trooper, in a voice that 
 startled his companion ; " these militia seldom fail of making a 
 bloody field, either by their cowardice or their ignorance. And 
 the real soldier is made to suffer for their bad conduct." 
 
 " Are you ill, John ?" said the surgeon, passing his hand along 
 the arm of the Captain, until it instinctively settled on his pulse ! 
 but the steady, even beat, announced neither bodily nor mental 
 malady. " Sick at heart, Archibald, at the folly of our rulers, 
 in believing that battles are to be fought, and victories won, by 
 fellows who handle a musket as they would a flail ; lads who 
 wink when they pull a trigger, and form a line like a hoop-pole. 
 It is the dependence we place on these, men that spills the best 
 blood of the country." 
 
 The surgeon listened to his philippic with amazement. It was 
 not the matter, but the manner, that surprised him. The trooper 
 had uniformly exhibited, on the eve of battle, an animation and 
 eagerness to engage, that was directly at variance with the admi 
 rable c6olness of his manner at other times. But now there was 
 a despondency in the tones of his voice, and a listlessness in his 
 air, that was entirely different. The operator hesitated a moment, 
 to reflect in what manner he could render this change of service 
 in furthering his favourite system, and then continued " It 
 would be wise, John, to advise the Colonel to keep at long shot; 
 a spent ball will disable " " No !" exclaimed the trooper im 
 patiently ; "let the rascals singe their whiskers at the muzzles of 
 the British muskets, if they can be driven there ; but enough of 
 them. Archibald, do you deem that moon to be a world like this, 
 and containing creatures like ourselves ?" " Nothing more pro 
 bable, dear John ; we know its size, and, reasoning from analogy, 
 may easily conjecture its use. Whether or not its inhabitants 
 have attained to that perfection in the sciences which we have 
 acquired, must depend greatly on the state of its society, and in 
 some measure upon its physical influences." 
 
 " I care nothing about their learning, Archibald ; but 'tis a 
 wonderful power that can create such worlds, and control them 
 in their wanderings. I know not why, but there is a feeling of 
 melancholy excited wLhin me, as I gaze on that body of light,
 
 314 THE SPY. 
 
 shaded as it is by your fancied sea and land. It seems to be the 
 resting-place of departed spirits !" 
 
 " Take a drop, darling," said Betty, raising her head once 
 more, and proffering her own bottle, " 'tis the night damps that 
 (hills the blood and then the talk with the cursed militia is no 
 good for a fiery temper; take a drop, darling, and yee'l sleep 'till 
 the morning. I fed Roanoke myself, for I thought yee might 
 need hard riding the morrow." 
 
 " "Pis a glorious heaven to look upon," continued the trooper, 
 in the same tone, and utterly disregarding the offer of Betty ; 
 " and 'tis a thousand pities, that such worms as men should let 
 their vile passions deface such goodly work." 
 
 " You speak the truth, dear John ; there is room for all to 
 live and enjoy themselves in peace, if each could be satisfied with 
 his own. Still war has its advantages ; it particularly promotes 
 the knowledge of surgery ; and" 
 
 "There is a star," continued Lawton, still bent on his own ideas, 
 " struggling to glitter through a few driving clouds ; perhaps that 
 too is a world, and contains creatures endowed with reason like 
 ourselves ; think you, that they know of war and bloodshed?" 
 
 " If I might be so bold," said Sergeant Hollister mechanically 
 raising his hand to his cap, " 'tis mentioned in the good book, 
 that the Lord made the sun stand still, while Joshua was charg 
 ing the enemy, in order, do you see, sir, as I suppose, that they 
 might have day-light to turn their flank, or perhaps make a feint 
 in the rear, or some such matter. Now, if the Lord would lend 
 them a hand, fighting cannot be sinful. I have often been non 
 plussed, though, to find that they used them chariots instead of 
 heavy dragoons, who are, in all comparison, better to break a 
 line of infantry, and who, for the matter of that, could turn such 
 wheel carriages, and getting in the rear, play the very devil with 
 them, horses and all." "It is because you do not understand 
 the construction of those vehicles of war. Sergeant Hollister, 
 that you judge of them so erroneously," said the surgeon. 
 " They were armed with sharp weapons that protruded from their 
 wheels, and which broke the columns of foot, like the dismem 
 bered particles of matter. I doubt not, if similar instruments were 
 affixed to the cart of Mrs. Flanagan, that great confusion might 
 be carried into the ranks of the enemy thereby, this very day." 
 
 " It's but little that the mare would go, and the rig'lars firing 
 at her," grumbled Betty from under her blanket ; " when we got 
 the plunder, the time we drove them through the Jarsoys it was, 
 I had to back the baste up to the dead, the divil the foot would 
 she move, forenent the firing, wiu her eyes open. Roanoke and 
 Captain Jack are good enough for the red coats, letting alone 
 myself and the mare." 
 
 A long roll of the drums from the hill occupied by the British, 
 announced that they were on the alert, and a corresponding sig-
 
 THE SPY. 315 
 
 nal was immediately heard from the Americans. The bugle of 
 the Virginians struck up its martial tones, and in a few moments, 
 both the hills, the one held by the royal troops, and the other by 
 their enemies, were alive with armed men. Day had begun to 
 dawn and preparations were making by either party, to give and 
 to receive the attack. In numbers the Americans had greatly the 
 advantage, but in discipline and equipments, the superiority was 
 entirely with their enemies. The arrangements for the battle were 
 brief, and by the time that the sun had risen, the militia moved 
 forward to the attack. The ground did not admit of the move 
 ments of the horse, and the only duty that could be assigned to 
 the dragoons was to watch the moment of victory, and endea 
 vour to improve the success to the utmost. Lawton soon got his 
 warriors into the saddle, and leaving them to the charge of Hoi- 
 lister, he rode himself along the line of foot, who, in varied 
 dresses, and imperfectly armed, were formed in a shape that in 
 some degree resembled a martial array. A scornful smile lowered 
 about the lip of the trooper, as he guided Roanoke with a skilful 
 hand through the windings of their ranks ; and when the word 
 was given to march, he turned the flank of the regiment, and 
 followed close in the rear. The Americans had to descend into 
 a little hollow, and rise a hill on its opposite side, to approach 
 the enemy. The descent was made with tolerable steadiness 
 until near the foot of the hill, when the royal troops advanced in 
 a beautiful line, with their flanks protected by the formation of 
 the ground. The appearance of the British drew a fire from the 
 militia, which was given with good effect, and for a moment 
 staggered the regulars. But they were rallied by their officers, 
 and threw in volley after volley, with great steadiness. For a 
 short time the fire was warm and destructive, until the English 
 advanced with the bavonet. This assault the militia had not suf 
 ficient discipline to withstand. Their line wavered, then paused, 
 and finally broke into companies, and fragments of companies, 
 keeping up at the same time a scattering and desultory fire. 
 
 Lawton witnessed these operations in silence, nor opened his 
 mouth to speak, until the field was covered with parties of the 
 flying Americans. Then, indeed, he seemed stung with the dis- 
 
 frace that was thus heaped upon the arms of his country, 
 purring Roanoke along the side of the hill, he called to the 
 fugitives in all the strength of his powerful voice. He pointed 
 to the enemy, and assured his countrymen that they had mistaken 
 the way. There was such a mixture of indifference and irony in 
 his exhortations, that a few paused in surprise more joined 
 them, until, roused by the example of the trooper, and stimu 
 lated by their own spirits, they demanded to be led against their 
 foe once more. 
 
 " Come on, then, my brave friends !" shouted the trooper, 
 turning his horse's head towards the British line, one llanK of
 
 316 THE SPY. 
 
 which was very near him ; " come on, and hold your fire until it 
 will scorch their eye-brows." The men sprang forward, and fol 
 lowed his example, neither giving nor receiving a fire, until they 
 had reached to within a very short distance of the enemy. An 
 English sergeant, who had been concealed by a rock, enraged with 
 the audacity of the officer who thus dared their arms, stept from 
 behind his cover, and advancing within a few yards of the trooper, 
 levelled his musket " Fire, and you die !" cried Lawton, spur 
 ring his charger, who sprang forward at the instant. The action 
 and the tone of his voice shook the nerves of the Englishman, 
 who drew his trigger with an uncertain aim. Roanoke sprang 
 with all his feet from the earth, and, plunging, fell headlong and 
 lifeless at the feet of his destroyer. Lawton kept his feet, and 
 stood face to face with his enemy, who presented his bayonet, and 
 made a desperate thrust at the trooper's heart. The steel of 
 their weapons emitted sparks of fire, and the bayonet flew fifty feet 
 in the air. At the next moment its owner lay a quivering corpse. 
 
 " Come on," shouted the trooper, as a body of English appeared 
 on the rock, and threw in a close fire ; " come on," he repeated, 
 and brandished his sabre fiercely. His gigantic form fell back 
 ward, like a majestic pine that was yielding to the axe ; but still, 
 as he slowly fell, he continued to wield his sabre, and once more 
 the deep tones of his voice were heard uttering, " come on." 
 The advancing Americans paused aghast, as they witnessed the 
 fate of their new leader, and then turning, they left to the royal 
 troops the victory. It was neither the intention nor the policy of 
 the English commander to pursue his success, for he well knew 
 that strong parties of the Americans would soon arrive ; accord 
 ingly, he only tarried to collect his wounded, and forming in a 
 square, he commenced his retreat towards their shipping. Within 
 twenty minutes of the fall of Lawton, the ground was deserted 
 by both English and Americans. 
 
 When the inhabitants of the country were called upon to enter 
 the field, they were necessarily attended by such surgical advisers, 
 as were furnished by the low state of the profession in the interior 
 at that day. Dr. Sitgreaves entertained quite as profound a 
 contempt for the medical attendants of the militia, as the captain 
 did of the troops themselves. lie wandered, therefore, around 
 the field, casting many an expressive glance of disapprobation at 
 the slight operations that came under his eye ; but when, among 
 the flying troop, he found that his comrade and friend was no 
 where to be seen, he hastened back to the spot at which Hollister 
 was posted, to inquire if the trooper was returned. Of course, 
 the answer he received was in the negative. Filled with a thou 
 sand uneasy conjectures, the surgeon, without regarding, or in 
 deed without at all reflecting upon any dangers that might lie in 
 his way, strode over the ground at an enormous rate, to the point 
 where he knew had been the final struggle. Once before the
 
 surgeon had rescued his friend from death, in a similar situation, 
 as he supposed, and felt a secret joy in his own conscious skill, as 
 he perceived Betty Flanagan seated on the ground, holding in her 
 lap the head of a man, whose size and dress he knew could only 
 belong to the trooper. As he approached the spot, the surgeon 
 became alarmed at the aspect of the washerwoman. Her little 
 black bonnet was thrown aside, and her hair, which was already 
 streaked with grey, hung around her face in disorder. 
 
 " John ! dear John," said the doctor, tenderly, as he bent and 
 laid his hand upon the senseless wrist of the trooper, from which 
 it recoiled with an intuitive knowledge of his fate; "John ! dear 
 John, where are you hurt ? can I help you ''." 
 
 " Yee talk to the senseless clay," said Betty, rocking her body, 
 and unconsciously playing with the raven ringlets of the trooper's 
 hair ; " it's no more will he hear, and it's but little will he mind 
 yee'r probes and yee'r med'cines. Och hone ! och hone ! and 
 where will be the liberty now ? or who will there be to fight the 
 battle, or gain the day ?" 
 
 " John !" repeated the surgeon, still unwilling to believe the 
 evidence of his unerring senses, " dear John, speak to me ; say 
 what you will, so that you do but speak. Oh, God !" exclaimed 
 the surgeon, giving way to his emotions, "he is dead; would 
 that I had died with him 1" 
 
 " There is but little use in living and fighting now," said Betty ; 
 " both him and the baste ! see, there is the poor cratur, and here 
 is the master. I fed the horse with my own hands, the day, and 
 the last male that he ate, was of my own cooking. Och hone ! och 
 hone ! that Captain Jack should live to be killed by the rig'lars?" 
 
 " John ! my dear John !" said the surgeon, with convulsive 
 sobs, " thy hour has come, and many a more prudent man sur 
 vives thee ; but none better, nor braver. Oh ! John, thou wert 
 to me a kind friend, and very dear ; it is unphilosophical to grieve; 
 but for thee, John, I must weep, even in bitterness of heart !" 
 
 The Doctor buried his face in his hands, and for several minutes 
 sat yielding to an ungovernable burst of sorrow ; while the wash 
 erwoman gave vent to her grief in words ; moving her body in a 
 kind of writhing, and playing with different parts of her favourite's 
 dress with her fingers. 
 
 " And who'll there be to incourage the boys now ?" she said ; 
 " oh ! Captain Jack ! Captain Jack ! yee was the sowl of the 
 troop, and it was but little we kuow'd of the danger, and yee 
 fighting. Och ! he was no maly mouth'd, that quarrelled wid a 
 widowed woman, for the matter of a burn in the mate, or the 
 want of a breakfast. Taste a drop, darling, and it may be, 'twill 
 revive yee. Och ! and he'll nivir taste agin ; here's the Doctor, 
 honey, him ye used to blarney wid, wapeing as if the poor sowl 
 would die for yee. Och ! he's gone, he's gone ; and the liberty 
 is gone wid him."
 
 318 THF. SPY. 
 
 A heavy and thundering sound of horses' feet caine rolling along 
 the road which led near the place where Lawton lay, and directly 
 the whole body of Virginians appeared, with Dunwoodie at their 
 head. The news of the Captain's fate had reached him ; for the 
 instant that he noticed the hody, he halted the squadron, and 
 dismounting, approached the spot. The countenance of Lawton 
 was not in the least distorted, but the angry frown which had 
 lowered over his brow, during the battle, was fixed even in death. 
 His frame was composed, and stretched as if in sleep. Dunwooriie 
 took hold of his hand, and gazed a moment in silence ; his own 
 dark eye began to flash, and the paleness which had overspread 
 his features was succeeded by a spot of deep red in either cheek. 
 " With his own sword will I avenge him !'' he cried, endeavouring 
 to take the weapon from the hand of Lawtou ; but the grasp re 
 sisted his utmost strength. " It shall be buried with him : Sit- 
 greaves, take care of our friend, while I revenge his death." The 
 Major hastened back to his charger, and led the way in pursuit of 
 the enemy. While Dunwoodie had been thus engaged, the body 
 of Lawton lay in open view to the whole squadron. lie was an 
 universal favourite, and the sight inflamed the men to the utmost ; 
 neither officers nor soldiers possessed that coolness which is ne 
 cessary to ensure success to military operations, but they spurred 
 ardently after their enemies, burning with a single wish for ven 
 geance. 
 
 The English were formed in a hollow square, which contained 
 their wounded, who were far from numerous, and were marching 
 tteadily across a very uneven country, as the dragoons approached. 
 The horse charged in column, and were led by Dunwoodie, who, 
 burning with revenge, thought to ride through their ranks, and 
 scatter them at a blow ; but the eneir.y knew their own safety too 
 well, and standing firm, received the charge on the points of their 
 bayonets. The horses of the Virginians recoiled, and the rear 
 rank of the foot throwing in a close tire, the Major, with a few 
 of his men, fell. The English continued their retreat the moment 
 they were extricated from their assailants, and Dunwoodie, who 
 was severely, but not dangerously wounded, recalled his men from 
 further attempts, which, in that stony country, must necessarily 
 be fruitless. A sad duty remained to be fulfilled. The dragoons 
 retired slowly through the hills, conveying their wounded com 
 mander, and the body of Lawton. The latter they interred under 
 the ramparts of one of the Highland forts, and the former they 
 consigned to the tender care of his afflicted bride. 
 
 Many weeks were gone, before the Major was restored to suf 
 ficient strength to be removed ; during those weeks, how often 
 did he bless the moment that gave him a right to the services of 
 his beautiful nurse ! She hung around his couch with fond at 
 tention ; administered, with her own hands, every prescription of 
 the indefatigable Sitgreaves ; and grew each hour in the affections
 
 THE SPY. 319 
 
 and esteem of her husband. An order from Washington soon 
 sent the troops into winter quarters, and permission was given to 
 Dunvvoodie to repair to his own plantation, with the rank of 
 Lieut.-Colonel, in order to complete the restoration of his health. 
 Captain Singleton made one of the party ; and the whole family 
 retired from the active scenes of the war to the ease and plenty of 
 the Major's own estate. Before leaving Fishkill, however, letters 
 were conveyed to them through an unknown hand, acquainting 
 them with Henry's safety and good health ; and also that Colonel 
 Well mere had left the continent for his native island, lowered in 
 the estimation of every honest man in the royal army. It was a 
 happy winter for Dunwoodie, and smiles once more began to play 
 around the lovely mouth of Frances. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 " 'Midst furs, and silks, and jewels sheen, 
 He stood, in simple Lincoln creen, 
 The centre of the glittering ring ; 
 And Snowdon's koiglit is Scotland's King !" 
 
 Lady of the Lake. 
 
 THE commencement of the following year was passed, on the 
 part of the Americans, in making great preparations, in conjunc 
 tion with their allies, to bring the war to a close. In the south, 
 Greene and Ravvdon made a bloody campaign, that was highly 
 honourable to the troops of the latter, and which, by terminating 
 entirely to the advantage of the former, proved him to be the 
 better general of the two. New York was the point that was 
 threatened by the allied armies, and Washington, by exciting a 
 constant apprehension for the safety of that city, prevented such 
 reinforcements from being sent to Cornvvallis, as would have 
 enabled him to improve his success. At length, as autumn ap 
 proached, every indication was given that the final moment had 
 arrived. The French forces drew near to the royal lines, passing 
 through the Neutral Ground, and threatened an attack in the 
 direction of Kingsbridge, while large bodies of the Americans were 
 acting in concert, by hovering around the British posts, and draw 
 ing nigh in the Jerseys, they seemed to threaten the naval forces 
 from that quarter also. The preparations partook both of the 
 nature of a siege and a storm. But Sir Henry Clinton, in the 
 possession of intercepted letters from Washington, rested securely 
 within his lines, and cautiously disregarded the solicitations of 
 Cornwallis for succour. 
 
 It was at the close of a stormy day in the month of September, 
 that a large assemblage of officers was collected near the door 
 of a building, that was situated in the heart of the American 
 troops, who held the Jerseys. The age, the dress, and the dig 
 nity of deportment, of most of these warriors, indicated them 
 to be of high rank ; but to one in particular was paid a deference 
 
 2 E 2
 
 320 THE SPY. 
 
 and obedience, that announced niin to be of the highest. His 
 dress was plain, but bore the usual military distinctions of com 
 mand. He was mounted on a noble animal of a deep bay, and 
 a group of young men, in gayer attire, evidently awaited liis 
 pleasure, and did his bidding. Many a hat was lifted, as its owner 
 addressed this officer ; and when he spoke, a profound attention, 
 exceeding the respect of mere professional etiquette, was exhi 
 bited on every countenance. At length the General raised his 
 own hat, and bowed gravely to all around him. The salute was 
 returned, and the party dispersed, leaving the officer without a 
 single attendant, except his body servants, and one aid-de-camp. 
 Dismounting, he stepped back a few paces, and for a moment, 
 viewed the condition of his horse with the eye of one who well 
 understood the animal, and then casting a brief but expressive 
 glance at his aid, he retired into the building, followed by that 
 gentleman. On entering an apartment that was apparently fitted 
 tor his reception, he took a seat, and continued for a long time in 
 a thoughtful attitude, as one who was in the habit of communing 
 much with himself- During this silence, the aid-de-camp stood 
 in respectful expectation of his orders. At length the General 
 raised his eyes, and spoke in those low, placid tones that seemed 
 natural to him. " Has the man whom 1 wished to see arrived, 
 sir?" " He waits the pleasure of your Excellency." "I will 
 receive him here, and alone, if you please-" The aid bowed and 
 withdrew. In a few minutes the door again opened, and a figure 
 glided into the apartment, and stood modestly at a distance from 
 the General, without speaking. His entrance was unheard by 
 the officer, who sat gazing at the fire, deeply absorbed in his own 
 meditations. Several minutes passed, when he spoke to himself 
 in an under tone " To-morrow we must raise the curtain, and 
 expose our plans. May heaven prosper them." 
 
 A slight movement made by the stranger at the sound of his 
 voice, caught his ear, and he turned his head, and saw that he 
 was not alone. He pointed silently to the fire, towards which the 
 figure advanced, although the multitude of his garments, which 
 seemed more calculated for disguise than comfort, rendered its 
 warmth unnecessary. A second mild and courteous gesture mo 
 tioned to a vacant chair, but the stranger refused it with a modest 
 acknowledgment. Another pause followed, and continued for 
 some time. At length the officer arose, and opening a desk that 
 was laid upon the table near which he sat, took from it a small 
 but apparently heavy bag. " Harvey Birch," he said, tumiug to 
 the stranger, " the time has arrived when our connexion must 
 cease ; henceforth and for ever we must be strangers." 
 
 The pedler dropped the folds of the great coat that concealed 
 his features, and gazed for a moment wildly at the face of the 
 speaker, and then, dropping his head upon his bosom, said meek 
 ly " If it is your Excellency's pleasure."
 
 THE SPY. 321 
 
 " It is necessary. Since I have filled the station which I now 
 hold, it has become my duty to know many men, who, like your 
 self, have been my instruments in procuring intelligence. You 
 have I trusted more than all ; I early saw in you a regard to truth 
 and principle that, I am pleased to say, has never deceived me 
 you alone know my secret agents in the city, and on your fidelity 
 depend, not only their fortunes, but their lives." 
 
 He paused, as if to reflect, in order that full justice might be 
 done to the pedler, and then continued " I believe you are one 
 of the very few that I have employed, who have acted faithfully 
 to our cause ; and while you have passed as a spy of the enemy, 
 have never given intelligence that you were not permitted to di 
 vulge. To me, and to me only of all the world, you seem to have 
 acted with a strong attachment to the liberties of America." 
 
 During this address, Harvey gradually raised his head from his 
 bosom, until it reached the highest point of elevation; a faint 
 tinge gathered in his cheeks, and, as the officer concluded, it was 
 di [Fused over his whole countenance in a deep glow, while he stood 
 proudly swelling with his emotions, but with eyes that humbly 
 sought the feet of the speaker. 
 
 " It is now my duty to pay you for your services ; hitherto you 
 have postponed receiving your reward, and the debt has become 
 a heavv one I wish not to undervalue your dangers ; here are 
 an hundred joes ; you will remember the poverty of our country, 
 :ind attribute to it the smallness of your pay." 
 
 The pedler raised his eyes to the countenance of the speaker 
 with amazement, and as the other held forth the money, he moved 
 back as if from contagion. 
 
 " It is not much for your services and risks, I acknowledge," 
 said the general, " but if is all that I have to offer ; at the end of 
 the campaign, it may be in my power to increase it'." 
 
 " Never \" said Birch, speaking out ; " was it for money that 
 I did all this ?" " If not for money, what then ?" 
 
 " What has brought your Excellency into the Held ? For what 
 do you daily and hourly expose your precious life to battle and 
 the halter ? What is there about me to mourn, when such men 
 as your Excellency risk their all for our country ? No no no 
 not a dollar of your gold will I touch ; poor America has need 
 of it all !" 
 
 The bag dropped from the hand of the officer, and fell at the 
 feet of the pedler, where it lay neglected during the remainder of 
 their interview. The officer looked steadily at the face of his 
 companion, and continued "There are many motives which 
 might govern me, that to you are unknown. Our situations are 
 different ; I am known as the leader of armies but you must 
 descend into the grave with the reputation of a foe to your native 
 land. Remember that the veil which conceals your true character 
 cannot be raised in years perhaps never." 
 
 2 E 3
 
 322 THE SPY. 
 
 Birch again lowered his face, hut there was no yielding of the 
 soul hetrayed in the movement. 
 
 " You will soon be old ; the prime of your days is already past ; 
 what have you to subsist on ?" 
 
 " These !" said the pedler, stretching forth his hands, that were 
 already embrowned with toil. 
 
 " But those may fail you ; take enough to secure a support to 
 your age. Remember your risks and cares. I have told you, 
 that the characters of men, who are much esteemed in life, de 
 pend upon your secrecy ; what pledge can I give them of your 
 fidelity ?" 
 
 " Tell them," said Birch, advancing, and unconsciously resting 
 one foot on the bag, " tell them that I would not take the gold." 
 
 The composed features of the officer relaxed into a fine smile 
 of benevolence, and he grasped the hand of the pedler firmly. 
 
 " Now, indeed, I know you ; and although the same reasons 
 which have hitherto compelled ine to expose your valuable life, 
 will still exist, and prevent my openly asserting your character, 
 in private I can always be your friend ; fail not to apply to me 
 when in want or suffering, and so long as God giveth to me, so 
 long will I freely share with a man who feels so nobly and acts 
 so well. If sickness or want should ever assail you, and peace 
 once more smiles upon our efforts, seek the gate of him whom 
 you have often met as Harper, and he will not blush to acknow 
 ledge you in his true character." 
 
 " It is little that I need in this life," said Harvey, the glow 
 still mantling over his features " so long as God gives me health 
 and honest industry, I can never want in this happy country ; but 
 to know that your Excellency is my friend, is a blessing that I 
 prize more than all the gold of England's treasury." 
 
 The officer stood for a few moments in the attitude of intense 
 thought. He then drew to him the desk, and wrote a few lines 
 on a piece of paper, and gave it to the pedler as he addressed 
 him " That providence destines this country to some great and 
 glorious fate I must believe, while I witness the patriotism that 
 pervades the bosoms of her lowest citizens. It must be dreadful 
 to a mind like yours to descend into the grave, branded as a foe 
 to liberty ; but you already know the lives that would be sacri 
 ficed should your real character be revealed. It is impossible to 
 do you justice now, but I fearlessly entrust you with this certifi 
 cate : should we never meet again, it may be serviceable to your 
 children." 
 
 " Children !" exclaimed the pedler, " can I give to a family 
 the infamy of my name !" 
 
 The officer gazed at the strong emotion he exhibited with 
 painful amazement, and made a slight movement towards the 
 gold ; but it was arrested by the proud expression of his com 
 panion's face. Harvey saw the intention, and shook his head, as
 
 THE SPY. 323 
 
 he continued more mildly, and with an air of deep respect " It 
 is, indeed, a treasure that your Excellency gives me ; it is safe 
 too. There are them living who could say, that my life was 
 nothing to me, compared to your secrets. The paper that I told 
 you was lost, I swallowed when taken last by the Virginians. It 
 was the only time I ever deceived your Excellency, and it shall 
 be the last ; yes, this is, indeed, a treasure to me ; perhaps," he 
 continued with a melancholy smile, " it may be known after my 
 death who was my friend, and if it should not, there are none to 
 grieve for me.'' 
 
 "Remember," said the officer, with strong emotion, "that in 
 me you will always have a secret friend ; but openly I cannot 
 know you." 
 
 " I know it, I know it," said Birch, " I knew it when I took 
 the service. 'Tis probably the last time that I shall ever see 
 your Excellency. May God pour down his choicest blessings on 
 your head." He paused, and moved towards the door. The 
 officer followed him with eyes that expressed powerful interest. 
 Once more the pedler turned, and seemed to gaze on the placid, 
 but commanding features of the General, with regret and rever 
 ence, and then, bowing low, he withdrew. 
 
 The armies of America and France were led by their illustrious 
 commander against the enemy under Cornwallis, and terminated 
 a campaign in triumph, that had commenced in difficulties. 
 Great Britain soon after became disgusted with the war, and the 
 independence of the States was acknowledged. As years rolled 
 by, it became a subject of pride to the different actors in the war, 
 and their descendants, to boast of their efforts in the cause which 
 had confessedly heaped so many blessings upon their country ; 
 but the name of Harvey Birch died away among the multitude 
 of agents who were thought to have laboured in secret against 
 the rights of their countrymen. His image, however, was often 
 present to the mind of the powerful chief, who alone knew his 
 true character, and several times did he cause secret inquiries to 
 be made into the other's fate, one of which only resulted in any 
 success. By this he learnt, that a pedler of a different name, 
 but similar appearance, was toiling through the new settlements 
 that were springing up in every direction, and that he was strug 
 gling with the advance of years, and apparent poverty. Death 
 prevented further inquiries on the part of the officer, and a long 
 period passed before the pedler was again heard of. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 "Some village Hampden, that, with dauntless breast, 
 
 The little tyrant of his fields withstood 
 Some mute, inglorious Milton here may rest ; 
 
 Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood." Gray. 
 
 IT was thirty- three years after the interview which we have just
 
 related, that an American array was once more arrayed against 
 the country of their ancestors ; but the scene was transferred 
 from the banks of the Hudson, to those of the Niagara. The 
 body of Washington had long lain mouldering in the tomb ; but 
 as time was fast obliterating the slight impressions of political 
 enmity or personal envy, his name was hourly receiving new 
 lustre, and his worth and integrity each moment became more 
 visible, not only to his countrymen, but to the world. He was al 
 ready the acknowledged hero of an age of reason and truth ; and 
 many a young heart, amongst those who formed the pride of our 
 army in"l814i was glowing with the recollection of the one great 
 name of America, and inwardly beating with the sanguine expec 
 tation of emulating, in some degree, its renown. In no one 
 were these virtuous hopes more vivid, than in the bosom of a 
 young officer, who stood on the table-rock, contemplating the 
 great cataract, on the evening of the 25th of July of that bloody 
 year. The person of this youth was tall and finely moulded, 
 indicating a just proportion between strength and activity ; his 
 deep black eyes were of a searching and dazzling brightness. At 
 times, as they gazed upon the flood of waters that rushed tutnul- 
 tuously at his feet, there was a stern and daring look that flashed 
 from them, which denoted the ardour of an enthusiast. But this 
 proud expression was softened by the lines of a mouth, around 
 which there played a suppressed archness, that partook of femi 
 nine beauty. His hair shone in the setting sun like ringlets of 
 gold, as the air from the falls gently moved the rich curls from a 
 forehead, whose whiteness showed that exposure and heat alone 
 had given their darker hue to a face glowing with health. There 
 was another officer standing by the side of this favoured youth, 
 and both seemed, by the interest that they betrayed, to be gazing 
 for the first time at this wonder of the western world. A pro 
 found silence was observed by each of the soldiers, until the com 
 panion of the officer that we have described suddenly started, 
 and pointing eagerly with his sword into the abyss beneath, ex 
 claimed " See ! Wharton, there is a man crossing in the very 
 eddies of the cataract, and in a skiff no biggrr than an egg-shell." 
 " He has a knapsack, and is probably a soldier," returned the 
 other. " Let us meet him at the ladder, Mason, and learn his 
 tidings." 
 
 Some time was expended in reaching the spot where the ad 
 venturer was intercepted. Contrary to the expectations of the 
 young soldiers, he proved to be a man far advanced in life, and 
 evidently no follower of the camp. His years might be seventy, 
 and were indicated more by the thin hairs of silver that lay 
 scattered over his wrinkled brow, than by any apparent failure of 
 his system. His frame was meagre and bent; but it was the 
 attitude of habit, for his sinews were strung with the toil of half
 
 THE SPY. 325 
 
 a century. His dress was mean, and manifested the economy of 
 its owner, by the number and nature of its repairs. On his back 
 was a scantily furnished pack, that had led to the mistake in his 
 profession. A few words of salutation, and, on the part of the 
 young men, of surprise, that one so aged should venture so near 
 the whirlpools of the cataract, were exchanged ; when the old 
 man inquired, with a voice that began to manifest the tremor of 
 age, the news from the contending armies. " We whipt the red 
 coats here the other day, among the grass on the Chippewa 
 plans," said the one who was called Mason ; " since when, old 
 daddy, we have been playing hide-aud-go-peep with the ships ; 
 but we are now marching back from where we started, shaking 
 our heads, and as surly as the devil." 
 
 " Perhaps you have a son among the soldiers," said his com 
 panion, with a more polished demeanour, and an air of kindness ; 
 " if so, tell me his name and regiment, and I will take you to 
 him." The old man shook his head, and, passing his hand over 
 his silver locks, with an air of meek resignation cast his eyes for 
 a moment to heaven, and answered " No ; I am alone in the 
 world !" 
 
 " You should have added, Captain Dunwoodie," cried his care 
 less comrade, " if you can find either ; for nearly half our army 
 have marched down the road, and may be by this time, under the 
 walls of Fort George, for anything that we know to the contrary." 
 The old man stopped suddenly, and looked earnestly from one 
 of his companions to the other ; the action being noticed by the 
 soldiers, they paused also. 
 
 " Did I hear right ?" at length the stranger uttered, raising his 
 hand to skreen his eyes from the rays of the setting sun ; " what 
 did he call you ?" " My name is Wharton Dunwoodie," replied 
 the youth, smiling. 
 
 The stranger motioned silently for him to remove his hat, 
 which the youth did accordingly, and his fair hair blew aside like 
 curls of silk, and opened the whole of his ingenuous countenance 
 to the inspection of the other. " 'Tis like our native land !" 
 exclaimed the old man with a vehemence that astonished his 
 companions, " improving with time ; God has blessed both." 
 
 " Wby do you stare thus, Lieutenant Mason ?" cried Captain 
 Dunwoodie, laughing and blushing a little ; " you show more 
 astonishment than when you saw the falls." 
 
 " Oh, the falls ! they are the thing to be looked at on a moon- 
 shiny night, by your aunt Sarah, and that gay old bachelor, 
 Colonel Singleton ; but a fellow like myself never shows surprise, 
 unless it may be at such a touch as this." 
 
 The extraordinary vehemence of the stranger's manner had 
 passed away as suddenly as it was exhibited, but he listened to 
 this speech apparently with deep interest, while Dunwoodie re-
 
 .X:'> THE SPY. 
 
 plied a little gravely " Come, come, Tom, no jokes about my 
 good aunt, I beg ; she is kind and attentive to me, and I have 
 heard it whispered that her youth was not altogether happy." 
 
 "Why, as to rumour," said Mason, "there goes one in Acco- 
 mac, that Colonel Singleton offers himself to her regularly every 
 Valentine's flay ; and therefore some who add, that your old 
 great-aunt helps his suit." 
 
 "Aunt Jeanette !'' said Dunwoodie, laughing; "dear good 
 soul, she thinks but little of marriage in any shape, I believe, 
 srnce the death of Dr. Sitgreaves. There were some whispers 
 of a courtship between them formerly, but it ended in nothing 
 but civilities, and I suspect that the whole story arises from the 
 intimacy of Colonel Singleton and my father. You know they 
 were comrades in the horse, as was your own father." " I know 
 all that, of course : but you must not tell me that the particular, 
 prim bachelor, goes so often to General Dunwoodie's plantation 
 merely for the sake of talking old soldier with your father. The 
 last time I was there, that yellow, sharp-nosed kind of a house 
 keeper of your mother's, took me into the pantry, and said that 
 the Colonel was no despiseable match, as she called it, and how 
 the sale of his plantation in Georgia had brought him oh, Lord ! 
 I don't know how much," 
 
 "Quite likely," returned the Captain; "Katy Ilaynes is a 
 famous calculator." They had stopped during this conversation 
 in a kind of uncertainty, whether their new companion was to be 
 left or not. The old man listened to each word ;is it was uttered, 
 with the most intense interest; but towards the conclusion of the 
 dialogue, the earnest attention of his countenance changed to a kind 
 of inward smile. He shook his head, and passing his hand over 
 his forehead, seemed to be thinking of other times. Mason paid 
 but little attention to the expression of his features, and continued 
 " Yes she is all that ; for herself too, I believe, sometimes." 
 
 " Her selfishness does but little harm," returned Dunwoodie, 
 smiling, as if in recollection of past scenes. " One of her 
 greatest difficulties is her aversion to the blacks. She says she 
 never saw but one that she liked." " And who was he ?" " His 
 name was Caesar ; he was a house servant of my late grandfather 
 AVharton. You don't remember him, I believe ; he died the same 
 year with his master, while we were children. Katy yearly sings 
 his requiem, and, upon my word, I believe he deserved it. I have 
 heard something of his helping my English uncle, as we call 
 General Wharton, in some difficulty that occurred in the old war. 
 My mother always speaks of him with great affection. Both 
 Ctesar and Katy came to Virginia with my mother when she was 
 married. My mother was " "An angel !" interrupted the old 
 man, in a voice that startled the young soldiers by its abruptness 
 and energy.
 
 THE SPY. H_7 
 
 "Did you know her?'"' cried the son with a bright glow of 
 pleasure OH his cheek. The reply of the stranger was inter 
 rupted by sudden and heavy explosions of artillery, which were 
 immediately followed by continued volleys of small arms, and in 
 a few minutes the air was filled with the tumult of a warm and 
 well contested battle. The two soldiers hastened with precipita 
 tion towards their camp, accompanied by their new acquaintance. 
 The excitement and anxiety, created by the approaching fight, 
 prevented a continuance of the conversation, and the three held 
 their way to the army, making occasional conjectures on the cause 
 of the fire, and the probability of a general engagement. During 
 their short and hurried walk, Captain Dunvvoodie, however, threw 
 several friendly glances at the old man, who moved over the 
 ground with astonishing energy for his years, for the heart of the 
 youth was warmed by an eulogium on a mother that he adored. 
 In a short time, they joined the regiment to which the officers 
 belonged, when the Captain, squeezing the stranger's hand, 
 earnestly begged that he would make inquiries after him on the 
 " v l]gwing morning, and that he might see him in his own tent. 
 
 separated. 
 
 e. Ai^ng in the American camp announced a-n approaching 
 ketry was hc^ distance of a few miles the sound of cannon and 
 troops were soon inN^ard above even the roar of the cataract. The 
 division of the armyNoiotion, an d a movement made to support that 
 set in before the rcserve\ which was already engaged. Night had 
 dy's Lane, a road that . \ and irregulars reached the foot of Lun- 
 conicnl eminence, at no grt\!i verged from the river and crossed a 
 The summit of this hill wa.^it distance from the Niagara highway. 
 British, and in the flat beneati \ crowned with the cannon of the 
 brigade, which had for a long tiXwas the remnant of Scott's gallant 
 distinguished bravery. A new Vnc held an unequal contest, with 
 column of the Americans directeuXline was interposed, and one 
 to the road. This column took thv%Lto charge up the hill, parallel 
 netting their artillerists, gained possessN^nglish in flank, and bayo- 
 \vere immediately joined by their comradeV.n of the cannon. They 
 swept from the hill. But large reinforcement. ,, and the enemy was 
 English General momentarily, and their troops wc-ere joining the 
 
 gs enera momenary, an e -^ere 
 
 rest easy under the defeat. Repeated and bloody\re too brave to 
 made to recover the guns, but in all they were recharges were 
 slaughter. During the last three struggles, the ardouWiUed with 
 youthful Captain whom we have mentioned, urged him toXnf the 
 his men some distance in advance, to scatter a daring party ot 
 the enemy. He succeeded, but in returning to the line missed 
 his lieutenant from the station that he ought to have occupied. 
 Soon after this repulse, which was the last, orders were given to 
 the shattered troops to return to the camp. The British were
 
 '<28 THE SPY. 
 
 nowhere to be seen, and preparations were made to take in such 
 of the wounded as could be moved. At this moment Wharton 
 Dunwoodie, impelled by affection for his friend, seized a lighted 
 fusee, and taking two of his men, went himself in quest of his 
 body, where he was supposed to have fallen. Mason was found 
 on the side of the hill, seated with great composure, but unable 
 to walk from a fractured leg. Dunwoodie saw and new to the 
 side of his comrade, exclaiming " Ah ! dear Tom, I knew I 
 should find you the nearest man to the enemy." 
 
 " Softly, softly ; handle me tenderly," replied the Lieutenant : 
 " no, there is a brave fellow still nearer than myself, and who he* 
 can be I know not. He rushed out of our smo 1 ^ near i,., 
 platoon, to make a prisoner or some such thing, but, poor fellow, 
 he never came back ; there he lies just over the hillock. I hav 
 spoken to him several times, but I fancy he is past answering. 
 
 Dunwoodie went to the spot, and to his astonishment be -.old 
 the aged stranger. 
 
 " It is the old man who knew my mother !" cried , .ic youth 
 " for her sake he shall have honourable burial ; lift him, 
 him be carried in ; his bones shall rest on uative soil." ^i 
 
 The men approached to obey. He was lying o^fftsee ; his eve 
 with his face exposed to the glaring light of the Snwith vears, wet- 
 were closed, as if in slumber ; his lips, sunke;Xbut it seemed more 
 slightly moved from their natural position^XTl the chantre. A 
 like a smile than a convulsion which causc<fcd fallen from his grasp 
 dier's musket lay near him, where it hnev breast, and one of them 
 his hands were both pressed upon hisuW like silver.. Dumvom 
 contained a substance that glittenj/vperceived the place when 
 stooped, and removing the limbs, ifcteart. The subject of his ia t 
 bullet had found a passage to his Ve;h the fatal lead had gone ; and 
 care was a tin box, through whitman must have passed in drawing 
 the dying moments of the old/?die opened it, and found a paper, ia 
 it from his bosom. Dunwo^Tue read the following : 
 which, to his astonishmej^olitical importance, which involve I!IP 
 
 "Circumstances of "'many, have hitherto kept secret what .us 
 lives and fortunes c-% Harvey Birch has for years been a faithful 
 paper now revei^ servant of his country. Though man does no 
 and unrequitj/^ard him for his conduct. " GEO. WASHINGTON " 
 may God rR/"ie SPY OF THE NEUTRAL GROUND, who died as he] 
 
 It wap-^d, devoted to his country, and a martyr to her liberties 
 had. 
 
 THE END. 
 1. BILLING, PRINTER AND STEREOTYPES, WOK1NG, SORBEY.
 
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