UC-NRLF 
 
 B 3 Sfll 523 
 
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 7" 
 
 
 -N .V-: »>'~><'* -»'-- 
 
 NO. 4. TALES OF THE REVOLFTir. 
 
 U^^ 
 
 nnCE, ONE SIIIIUNG. 
 
 ASPEB CROWE. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN H.> MANrUR 
 
 CHRISTINE,' ""ALDA GREY,"— "THE DESERTER, 
 
 "HENRI QUATRE; OR. THE DAYS OF THE 
 
 LEAGUE," &c.. &c., <fec. 
 
 ia^ 
 
 iSTiJir YORK; 
 WILLIAM H. COLYER, No. 5 HAGUE-STREET. 
 
 BURGESJ^ '^-. STRINGER, No. 2Vi Broadway, corner of Ann-street. SUN <^FFICE, 
 Sorulh Wet I corner of Nassan a->d Fulton strttts SAXTON «& MILES. 203 
 Broaiwtij GI< A HAM & CHlvISTIE, Asior Hou.fe, Broad.way G. B. ZlEBER & 
 Co.. J.'J?. rOi.'>N, Philaddjtkm. C H BRAhNAKD & Co., SAXTON, 
 PHIUCE, & \'u , J>)RDAN «t (Jo.. ,in<i REDDING di Co., Bostcn. N. HICK^ 
 MA.NV »n<l WiLIa'AM TAYi.OR, HaUimore. 
 
 18 4 3. 
 
 
 iy*.'>^<;i^ii>inttf"' ■■*':^'-?'i^4e-^-5ri'yu# 
 
 !li^ 
 
 f^m 
 
NOTICE. 
 
 The favour wiih which *' Christine,"' and "The I^osi :!er," have l. >; 
 received by the Piil)lic, induces the Author to persevtrti ia his original de- 
 sign of issuing a series of narrratives ilhistrative of the Rkvolltion. Each 
 number will complete a narration ; though for the convenience of those who 
 may be desirous of binding the series, the pages will be numbered conse- 
 cutively, and a general title-Jiage furnished with tlie concluding number. 
 
 [Enthbed, according to Act of Congress, in the 
 year 1643, by 
 
 William H. Colter, 
 in the Clerk's OHice of the Southern District of 
 Kew York.] 
 
JASPER CROWE. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 C.PTUN J.B..ONSKY, a Polc by birth, commanded a company 
 in^^Xs.an veganem of ^-P-^!' ^j-^;^/^!^::::! 
 „iliprs in the town of Trenton, on the Dclauare. lie vva> a 
 5 , ,. .howy officer, a year, or ttiore, on the jnventle ..de of 
 to "lU- thl generaht/of hi. oonntrymet, an excellent itn- 
 ffaiJ-brave, hamlsome, and somewhat reck.es.. 
 
 At the neriod when our narrative opens— early on Chl^.s,- 
 1 , '^^f the vear of Grace, one thousand seven htindred 
 '"'l'""°v ,;,v sx a^id of Independence, the primal year-lhe 
 ^Ite^rSiTn^cVlly^halte..^ 
 
 S;:K:^X Sa:; t^^afv^s or n.;e ,mf«.nce 
 to ll,°siro,iger party-without tnconvemctce to, or c>oud.n„, 
 the ,«iohty men-lf-war «'"> --'"'-^J?:^ Knipslatch, an 
 
 msmmm 
 
 ^™ lt:r;,\*d :7ew coppeTcolns, on ccnd.tion of he.ng show. 
 
 would save 
 
 hi 
 
 the way 
 
 16 
 
 95564.8 
 
194 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 ■•Thfey- p'&'SsdJ 'tl.'C fpiirket-place, where ihe Hessian nrlillery 
 was deposited, under proteciion from the weather, and turned 
 down a street on the left-hand. Tlie roar of water was now 
 audible ; pleasant to llie ear on a wairn, snmmer night, bnt dis- 
 mal in the extreme, in winter, to a stranger uncertain of the way, 
 uncertain of lodging, or enlertainment. 
 
 " Is what you call — old Crowe the miser—rich ?" asked the 
 captain, growing weary of the cold, dark street. 
 
 " Yes, sir !" replied the boy. 
 
 " And plenty of good Christmas-store in the house?" 
 
 " No, sir," answered the urchin: "he keeps it so long, that 
 he's obliged to throw it away. Uncle borrowed two score of 
 eggs, and they weie all rotten. Old Crowe wanted the same 
 number of good ones back, and Uncle vvouldn\ do it — so tliey 
 went lo law " 
 
 " Has Old Crowe any children ?" demanded Jablonsky, 
 
 lo whom the prospect was gloomy, and who began to waver in 
 his desire of l)eaiuig np the miser's quarters, and to entertain a 
 desire of returning to the guard-house for a guide toKnipslalch's 
 location. 
 
 " There's Mary Crowe," said the lad ; '' he has no other chil- 
 dren ; and I have not seen her for many days.'* 
 
 'J'he prospect of seeing Mary Crowe was rather enticing, as 
 by farther replies, which he drew from the boy, he learned that 
 she was accounted, in the neighboiyhood, a beauty, and that her 
 age did not exceed seventeen. 
 
 Meanwhile the noise of rushing waters grew louder ; it pro- 
 ceeded fr()m the Assanpink creek, whose stream, after turning a 
 mill, discharges itself into the Delaware, forming a boundary — 
 on the east — to the town of Trenton. Jablonsky now knew his 
 position, as the bridge over the creek was guarded by sentinels 
 from his own company. The boy turned sharply to the right, 
 down a retired street which ran parallel with the Delaware, the 
 murmur of whose rapids, breaking over rocks, near the opposite 
 shore, came feebly lo the car. 
 
 " That's the house, sir," cried the young guide, pointing to an 
 ancient stone edifice; and runnin<j off home, he left the captain 
 to make the most of th^ information. 
 
 Jablonsky could trace, through ihe gloom, the outlines of a 
 large homestead, occupying two sides of a square, or quadran- 
 gle : the gable end of one fronted the street. A piazza, or 
 covered gallery — or to use the old Dutch term, stoupe, extpnded 
 along the walls of both angles of the building, with a flight of 
 steps into the area, which was laid out as a garden. Behind 
 ran the broad river, at the distance of a rod or two; the old house 
 standing on an elevation not many feet above the surface of the 
 stream. 
 
 There appeared several avenues through which admittance 
 was gained. One approach led up to the stoupe, another under- 
 
JASPER CROWE. 195 
 
 neath it, a door in the basement of the gablc-fiont promised a 
 tliird ; but unfortunately for our captain, liie outer gaiden gale 
 was locked. 
 
 " Now for it!" cried Jablonsky, "Knipslalch or no Knipslaich! 
 — Mary Crowe or no Mary Crowe — supper, or — the devil !" 
 
 And siezing, witli both hands, the gale, lie shook it so violent- 
 ly, that — miser's gate as it was — it parted irom ihe old rusted 
 hinges, Tlie noise of this procedure brought forth, from beneatU 
 the piazza, an old woman, exclaiming — 
 
 " Tuusend teufeln ! wer isl da /"' 
 
 Recognizing the voice of Diana (iroots, camp-sutiler to Knip- 
 slatch's regiment, and an especial good cook, he knew the house 
 lo be his friend's quarters, and replying to the beldame's invectives 
 in her native language, bade her hold her tongue, bring a ligiit, 
 and lead him to the count's apariment. 
 
 Jablonsky found every thing prepared for his reception. A 
 blazing fire on the hearth, a table on which stood several kinds 
 of wines and liquors, a rcjw of large-bowled pipes, or meerschaums, 
 a vacant chair, and a trio of mililary companions waited on l)y a 
 regimental servant. All these appliances lo liilarity — in ihe ab- 
 sence of Mary Crowe, witli whose charms he had been teazing 
 his imagination — were very consolatory. 
 
 ( )f the guests, by whom he was cordially received, the chief 
 in rank shall have first description. Major Count Knipslatch, of 
 the Rahl-regiment of Hessians, was an impoverished German 
 nobleman. His person, like his forlunes, evinced premature de- 
 cay; though numbering scarcely fifty y^ars, his hair was blanch- 
 ed, his frame atienuaied; finocrs lon^ and bony. Of his face, 
 the strongest peculiarity was a pair of large prominent grey eyes, 
 gleaming at times rather wildly, which, in addition to thin, v\hite 
 locks which from his lempk^s (instead of, as locks ouoln to 
 do, hanging smoothly down the clieek), siitfened and projected, 
 as though under electric influence, and gave our count an odd, 
 eccentric, even affrighted aspect. Next him, nearer the fire, sat 
 Captain Fagel, whose features were intelligent, but cold and self- 
 ceniered ; a striking contrast to the frolicsome, mischievous 
 (though not malicious)-looking face of his opposite companion. 
 Ensign Schulz. 
 
 Jablonsky took his seat at the table, opposite Knipslatch, and 
 remarking the melancholy Gaze of the latter, rallied liini on his 
 temperament. Why not (he asked) have in Mary Crowe, the 
 young beauty ? Surely slie would drive away every trace of 
 sorrow. 
 
 "Mary Crowe!" echoed Capt. Fagel, with a start, "who is she?" 
 
 "Oh ! oh !" uttered Jablonsky, with significant tone and ges- 
 ture, "then I am free to the claret and cognac, but this little 
 peach-blossom, Mary Crowe, you keep simg to yourselves! The 
 secret is well preserved for three of you ; but it is strange yon 
 have not quarrelled, and made the jewel known." 
 16* 
 
196 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 " Jewel ! jewel! nonsense," rejoined Fagel, " we liave no bid- 
 den jewel here, unless our scientific, visionary fiiend lias dis- 
 covered ihe philosopiier's stone." 
 
 *' Our hos;*s name is Crowe," observed Knipslatch, with a 
 quiet, hesitating tone, which convinced Jablon^ky ilial the maid- 
 en's existence was unknown to his friends ; " but surely he has 
 no daughter or niece ; indeed, there is no woman in tlie house.'* 
 
 " Why, v.iiat's ])iana (Jroots ?" ciied Ensign Schulz. 
 
 "Ah! Dian," observed Knipslatch, with a melancholy smile, 
 " she was christened as one of the softer sex, and is one, I sup- 
 pose ; b\itlet her alone, we ouirht not to disparage any one who 
 can dish up a good mess in these barbarous wilds." 
 
 " Disparage her I" eclioed Jablon^ky, " none here would do 
 that, though I thought just now she would have broken my head 
 for making free with ihe gale. It's odd you have never seen 
 Mary Crowe. I'll describe her. She's seventeen years old, 
 rather short, but with a beautifully proportioned figure, nimble 
 and rather mischievous, as light bodies often are. Complexion 
 and colour of the hair I know not, for in truth, gentlemen, 1 have 
 not seen her, and my informant ran away too quick for me to 
 learn." "... 
 
 'i'he grave, deliberate shake of the head with which Knip- 
 slatch accompanied his confession of ignoraiice of ]\lary Crowe, 
 set every one laughing. 
 
 " Franz, have ?/ow seen such a being?" demanded Fagel, ad- 
 dressing the soldier, who sat smoking in one corner, at a respect- 
 ful distance from his superiors. 
 
 " No lady in the house, raeinherr, but Frau Groots," replied 
 the man, who, on hearing the question, started up, removed ihc 
 pipe from his month, placed his hand to iiis forehead, uttered 
 .what he bad to sav with precision, and then reversing the afore- 
 mentioned operations, sal down again. 
 
 "The ffirl is no ilouljt hidden in the house," remarked Fagel. 
 "The old fellow knows that none of us can speak his cursed 
 tongue; but with you here, Jablonsky, we'll give him an aleit. 
 Confound the rascal ! Franz, go you and lead up the old man, and 
 after you have brouglit him in, icturn, lock up al! the outer doors, 
 and fetch a lantern." 
 
 The man put down his pipe and departed. 
 
 "And now wc have an interpreter," said Knipslatch, " ITcrr 
 Crovi'e shall give me a sufficient reason why he cantrnt substi- 
 tute a piece of glass, in the broken casement, tor the old worsted 
 stuckinu. I cannot understand the customs cif these Americans. 
 The slocking is convenient in summer, to let in air." 
 
 " Nevermind the stocking," cried .laMonsky, interrupting him, 
 "you shall join us in the search after Mary Crowe." 
 
JASPER CUOWE. 197 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 Fr\nz presently relurned, leading by the arm, an old ma , 
 who appeared to have been broiighi much against his will, and 
 wbose looks betrayed alarm and agitation. In the clutches of 
 these tyrants of the hour, Jasper Crowe nriight deserve our pity, 
 but in other respects, lie was far from being entitled to it. He 
 Iiad been left, by his father, possession of a fair fortune, and — 
 though an old-fashioned — one of the largest, and best, houses in 
 Trenton- His fortune, by extreme parsimony, had increased 
 three-fold, but the stately stone edifice — one oT tlie most inter- 
 esting specimens of the earher Dutch style, of the more substan- 
 tial kind — he had suffered to fall partially into dilapidation. The 
 garden and grounds were one overgrown nest of weeds and rub- 
 bish ; a row of poplars, on the mjvrgin of the Delaware, which 
 once lent both shnde and picturesque effect to the homestead, 
 and which threw their long shadovvs on the rippling wave, had 
 successively disappeared beneiith the strokes of the axe, merely 
 to save the expense of carting fuel from more distant woods and 
 enclosures. The house now stood bare and lonely ; within, the 
 plastered walls and ceilings, crumbled daily, momently — like the 
 sand of an hour-glass recording Time's passage — without, the 
 wooden stoupe, or gallery, for lack of paint, was changed to the 
 colour of sandstone; for want of repair, was rickety and peiilous- 
 Soon as his daughter v.^as of an age to undertake household afftxirs 
 {her mother had been dead many years) Jasper Crowe sold his 
 female slave, made his daughter perform (wuh occasional aid) all 
 the menial labour, and congratulated himself, that there was ono 
 mouth the less to provide for. Mary with attractions, personal 
 and mental — such as were reported to the chance ear of Jablon- 
 sky — excited the syn^pnihy and consideration of neighbours, and 
 had she heen gifted with a lesser share of filial obedience, or 
 weaker notions of dutv, would have accepted one of many offers 
 to quit the desolate house, and harsh serviiwde, for a pleasant 
 home, and congenial society. But other reasocs apart, she knew 
 that if she fi)rsook her faiher, he would take no one in her stead; 
 and she feared that in his loneliness, he might fail sick, and lan- 
 guish without help, or perchance become the prey of robber or 
 assassin. 
 
 Deprived of all claim to our sympathy, by his conduct, neither 
 did his appearance — even in the grasp of Franz, in the hands of 
 mercenary spoilers, who sold their blood to one country to enable 
 it to perpetuate the servitude of another — create prepossession in 
 his favour. There was a lurking cunning in the expression of 
 the face, together with an affectation of extremity of ft>ar, which 
 the occasion did not warrant — for he knew not tlie object of the 
 •summons — which excluded every lingering sentiment of respect 
 from the breasts of his military inquisitors. 
 
198 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 At ihe command of Kiiipslalcb, he was led to ihe bottom of 
 the table. 
 
 " Ilerr Crowe !'* uttered the count, in a solemn tone of adju- 
 ration. 
 
 '' Heaven preserve yon, sir !" exclaimed Jasper, forgetting that 
 his language would nut be understood by the party to whom it 
 was addressed. " I could not help it. J am a poor man — a very 
 poor man. l^el the woman say what she will, 1 had no potatoes 
 in the house, nor had 1 luonev lo buy any." 
 
 Jablonsky bursl into a fit of laughter, in which ihe others 
 joined, afier lisiening to an interpretation. There had been — as 
 was made known to the Pole — a mighty quarrel that morning, 
 in the kiichen, between Diana Groots and Jasper. Diana found 
 means to make the old miser understand that she must, and would, 
 iiave a supply of jjotaloes for the officer's table ; a demand which 
 Jasper, wMih all the dumb eloquence i)e was master of, encea- 
 •voured to convince her, he was unable to meet. To save his 
 head, as well as end the dispute (for the chaste Dian was as nim- 
 ble with her hands as with her tongue), he forsook the field of 
 battle, and sought refuge in his chamber. The mess was con- 
 sequently served without vegetables — for our Hessians were not 
 fond of buying, if by any means they could avoid it ; perhaps 
 they had been taught that laying out money among the rebels was 
 strengthening the enemy. 
 
 Fagel, who was apprehensive tiiat Knipslatch would put Ja- 
 blonsky on any scent but the right one, immediiitely proposed that 
 the latier should endeavour to wrest the old man's secret from 
 liim. Jablonsky willingly undertook the task. 
 
 " Mr. Jasper Crowe," began the captain in a serious tone, " I 
 am sorry to find you are a most consummate rogue." 
 
 The old man started, and changed colour, on hearing himself 
 addressed in his own language ; but recovering self-possession, 
 replied with a deep show of liumdily, and affected earnestness, 
 that what he had spoken was the truth — he was a needy man. 
 
 " And you would have me believe," continued the Pole, "that 
 you have no secret storehouse, where what is reqttired for the 
 table of my friends might be found in plenty, if we knew where 
 lo look for it?" 
 
 On his honour (the old man affirmed with solemnity) every- 
 thing he had was at the service of the gentleman, and he had no- 
 thing concealed ! 
 
 " And you arc too poor to replace the broken casements, by 
 which my friend is pinched with cold, even while he lays in 
 bed ?" 
 
 Look at the house, inside and out, rejoined the culprit, the 
 garden, the dilapidated walls, and rotten fences; rdl U)us! con- 
 vince the honourable fjcnlleman, (if he mistrusted words) how 
 indigent were his circninsiances ! 
 
 "Now, on the contrary, I believe," leplicd Jablonsky, "that 
 
• JASPER CROWE. 199 
 
 if we tried, we should find a store of potatoes; and in the search 
 
 we should discover tlie hiding place of your daughter, Mary 
 
 Cro\^e!" 
 
 This severe, unexpected stroke staggered Jasper so completely, 
 that he fell back several paces ; changing from pale to red by 
 turns, and staring stupidly, the while, at the imperturbable coun- 
 tenance of Jablonsky. The latter kept his eye intently fixed on 
 ihe miser, determined to afford no respite. 
 
 " You do not answer," said he. 
 
 "I — T — T could borrow a few bushel from a neighbour, may- 
 be," observed the old man, in a hesitating voice, as though lie 
 were not quite certain that he could accomplish what he hinted. 
 
 " Damn the bushels," uttered Jablonsky quickly, "you shall 
 borrow a whip, and Franz shall use it." 
 
 "If there's a storekeeper in Trenton who will credit me for 
 the glass," cried Jasper, affecting the utmost despair, "I could 
 put it in with my own hands." 
 
 " Not while ihey shake so, you giriit-conscious rascal," cried 
 Jablonsky, rather at a loss for an epithet in English. "So you 
 will not sav where we can find your daughter?" 
 
 The miser, whilst answering aside from the main question, 
 was all the while cudgelling his brains how to parry the attack ; 
 and now that the question was put in a direct shape, replied, with 
 apparent candour, that the geiuleman must be much mistaken in 
 supposing that he had any reason, or desire, to conceal where his 
 daughter Vv-as staying : since the commencement of the troubles 
 which agitated the province, she had taken refuge with a kins - 
 woman, in Philadelphia. 
 
 " Do not deal too harshly by the old man," remarked Knip- 
 slatch, who judged by the trembling of Jasper, atid the stern 
 voice of his inquisitor, that they were at issue. " Point out the 
 enormity of which he is guiky, in the miserably shabby style in 
 which lie conducts his house. Nothing fit for a genlletnan to 
 eat, not a room fit for a gentleman to sleep in ! Tell him, in the 
 name of us all, thai if he will reinstate this little damsel at the 
 head of his establishment, we will freely forgive him the past, 
 for srike of the prospect of future comfort." 
 
 "You miserable skinflint! hear what I say," cried Jablonsky, 
 addressing the miser, " if in fifteen minutes from the present- 
 Mary Crowe, with her own hands — for I know she is cor.cealec^. 
 in the house, or close by — puts on the table a broiled bone or 
 mutton, all your past ofTences shall be overlooked." 
 
 " Good Heavens, sir!" exclaimed Jasper, with clasped hands, 
 " what can I do or say, to convince you that my daughter is in 
 Phil.idelphia ?" " :,. 
 
 " Help us in searching the house," replied Jablonsky, rising, 
 "and in good time, here comes Franz wiili a couple of lanterns." 
 
 Having explained to his friends, that he could draw no con- 
 fession from the culprit, but that he was nevertheless satisfied, 
 
1^ 
 
 200 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 from the replfcs, and more particularly from die manner of Jas- 
 per Croue, ihal his daughter was much nearer Trenton than he 
 affirmcd her lo be, he proposed insiilulinff a rigid search. 
 
 " I enlirel\' ajrree in the propriety of it,"^ said Knipslatch, "for 
 should I meet the damsel unawares at night, I might mistake her 
 for a ghost or spectre. Our family, for eleven generations, have 
 been gifted, or cursed, with the sight of visions." 
 
 " But xMarv Crowe, if you should be fortunate enough to meet 
 her, is a warm reality, not a vision," cried Schulz. 
 
 "I would raiber not meet anything wne.^cc/erf,"' remarked the 
 Count, in a lone which insinuated more than met the ear. 
 
 It was agreed that exploration should commence from the 
 basement upward. Jasper was con&igned to the n)orc particular 
 charge of Fran3, ahhon'gh he was under the general surveillance 
 of all. The cehars, and kitchen, were what is termed under- 
 ground ; the former exhibited a sad array of empty and broken 
 flour-barrels, with a few — and but a few — well plenishcd. A 
 miserable stock (under straw) of partially dried apples, wiihercd 
 cabbages, grisly and forlorn, suspended by strings from, the roof, 
 typical of a wretch's fate, but no Mary Crowe ! Jn the chimney- 
 corner of the vast, stone-paved kitchen, sat Dian, of dubious sex^^ 
 chattering to herself. The adjoining closets, and offices, every 
 nook and corner, "buttress and coigne of vantace," were searclied 
 for the lost Mary,, in vain. The oracle in the chimney-corner 
 ■was next applied Iso, but no response, either enigmatical, or other- 
 wise, was elicited which threw any light on the search. There 
 "were strange noises, it is true ; strange j^hadows oft flitted across 
 the eye, in the sombre realm over which Dian presided; but huge 
 rats which souaht change of scene from their holes, on the banks 
 of broad Delaware, in an occasional " passage-at-arms" with a 
 pair of fierce cats, which Jasper did not. keep, but gave a sort of 
 permission to occupy the " hunting grounds" in the basement of 
 Crowe Hall, fully,, in the opinion of the sage Groots, accounted 
 for pvery variety of noise^or vision, she heaid, ©r beheld. 
 
 The floor above — the principal floor — opening on the piaz?^,. 
 was next explored. The ordinary mess-room, which they had 
 just quilted, needed no inquisition ; the adjoining apartment (the 
 conni's sleeping chamber) would have been likewise passed, as 
 gratuitous waste of time, by the noble occupant, had not his com- 
 panions remonstrated. Their own rooms were to luidergo in- 
 spection ; why sht'uld he claim exemption for his quarters ? A 
 nian, loo, whose family, and probably himself, saw visions in the 
 night tinne \ 
 
 There was, IfoU'cver, no vision of Mary Crowe — at least to 
 the inquisitors ; and they were fain, after a few more insinuations 
 (for ihey Ibvcd to p?ay on the peculiar fancies of the Count), to 
 give <ip search in liis apartment. Ere they quitted it, JCnipslatch 
 takiiij; Jaspor l)y the ear, lugged hiiu to the broken caseiuonts^ 
 poinicd out the apertures, and read a lecture which, unfortunate- 
 
JASPER CROWE. 201 
 
 ly, was uniiilelligible, as Jablonskv liad no patience to inter- 
 pret it. Two other rooms, on the same floor, occupied by 
 Fagel and k^chnlz, were successively explored, with similar 
 result ; from whence ihe party ascended above. After inves- 
 tigating several unoccupied chainbcrs, with closets, they came, at 
 the end of one angle of the building, to the apartment of Jasper 
 Crowe, who was the only one sleeping on that floor; for Diana 
 would not mount beyond her peculiar region, and Franz, as an 
 out-post to prevent surprise, slept in a closet near the hall door. 
 
 The miser's room underwent thorough scrutiny ; there might 
 be, it was surmised, concealed closets, or pantries. iSome old- 
 fashioned, staring portraits were displaced, but disclosed naught 
 behind save the hard wall. As Fagel closed a cup-board door, 
 whose interior he had inspected, he accidentally caught the eye 
 of the miser, whose face exliibiied a remarkable change. 
 
 There is, then, a mysiery in iliat cupboard, thought the Hes- 
 sian ! He made kno'vn his suspicion, and the circumstance which 
 gave birth to it. The cupboard, which was very spacious, was 
 again inspected minutely. 
 
 "Ah!" cried Jablonsky, from the interior, "I see the villany!" 
 
 From beneath a heap of old clothes, he turned out a loi of 
 apples, egfTS, a botile of wine, the cork undrawn, and a cooked 
 fowl, of which only one leg had been eaten. This secret depo- 
 sitary of provender was, then, the cause of Jasper's agitation. 
 
 " Here is ingralUude and shameful inhospiiality," cried Knip- 
 slatch ; " the man who pleads such dire poverty, that he cannot 
 furnish his guests with potatoes, can aflord, in secret, to feast 
 in this style ! Herr Crowe ! Herr Crowe ! you do not deserve 
 to have gentlemen quartered upon you !" 
 
 Spite of the imputation, it is more than probable, that Mr. Jas- 
 per Crowe would have been content to bear any degree of moral 
 degradation, in the eyes of his visitors, on condition of their tak- 
 ing umbrage, and taking themselves away. In fact, he appeared 
 more cheerful after the discovery of his secret larder than before; 
 and accompanied the guests to the floor above, with a step of 
 alacrity which rather surprised his conductor, Franz. 
 
 The region into which they now ascerided, was one vast loft 
 covering the extent of both angles of the buildinfj. The floor was 
 of rough planking, the rafters overhead unceiled, but the roof 
 sloping from the centre, carried off" the rain, and the walls at each 
 extremity were lathed and coated with plaster, to protect the in- 
 terior from the weather, as also were the side-walls, which, ow- 
 ing to tlie slope of the roof, rose scarcely three feet from the 
 floor. The furniture cf this uarret reminded the Hessians of the 
 cellar and its contents, of which, indeed, it was a coimterpart, or 
 to particularize a slight variety, we may remark sundry ropes of 
 onions, of which none were oliservalile in the lower regions. 
 
 "Our search is ended," said the Count, with a melancholy 
 gaze around the drear waste ; " let us descend; I am quite ready 
 for what Diana may liave prepared." 
 
202 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 " Stay ! stay !" cried Fawel, who was excessively displeased 
 that the exploration provcti bootless. A libertine in his own 
 country, a lawless proflioate in the land lie was overninnin;^, the 
 liope of discovering, in his own quarters, such a damsel as fame 
 rejjorted Mary Crowe, was exciting, in the extieirie, to his vitiated 
 imasinalion. 
 
 " Stav ! gentlemen," he continued, " a dove-cot on the roof 
 would hold such a bird as we seek. Who knows what may be 
 above ?" 
 
 And he glanced kpcnly at Jasper, to observe the effect of his 
 remark ; but tlie miser bore the glance unflinching. A ladder was 
 at hand, and our inquisitive adventurer ascending, stood with head 
 an! shoulders above the outer roof. 
 
 " What saw you ?" asked Jablonsky, with a smile, when Fa- 
 gel descended. 
 
 " Noihing but the American camp-fires on the hills beyond the 
 river," was the reply. 
 
 " Then let's away, gentlemen," cried the Pole, marshalling his 
 friends down stairs. " Fai^el's trap has admitted a most spite- 
 ful zeph3'r. I feel its icv wing ever and anon brushing the tip 
 of my ear. O ! for a draught of Rudesheim ! and tlien — 
 
 Ich gehe, rauhe winde wehn ; 
 
 VVillst (Ju mit mir ins hullchen gehn 1" 
 
 His companions seizing the chorus, clattered down to the mess- 
 room after llieir leader. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 The Hessians were forced to acknovvledge their host honora- 
 bly acquitted ; there was not a shadow of evidence to sustain the 
 very grave charge — in their estimation — of secreting a more than 
 ordinarily pretty girl from unhallowed gaze. Jasper was there- 
 fore allowed to escape, for the present, on condition of dividing 
 with Franz — in fee for his trouble — the bottle of wine, and fowl, 
 discovered in the closet. 
 
 Supper passed olf in the mess-room — in comparative silence, 
 for the discussion of either dinner, or the evening-meal, is ever a 
 serious affair with Germans. Jablonsky, whose volatile temper- 
 ament could not long brook, either the habitual melancholy of llie 
 count, or the sullen moodiness of Fagel, (disap|)ninted of Ins prey) 
 otTered a hand at the compounding of a huae bow 1 of " bishop" — 
 a warm lucious bever.ige, in which red wine, and s;)ice, forni the 
 most essential condiments ; aficr drinking which — he declared — 
 Kmpslatch would be in condition to behold visions, as palpably 
 as any of his ancestry, or even — if he were so inclined — lo raise 
 
JASPER CROWE. _ 203 
 
 his ancestors from the dark world to which their spirits had flit- 
 led ; Fagel be sent to bed, to dream thai he was no long- 
 er disappoinied, and friend Schulz should be so thoroughly " in- 
 forit)ed" with my!«tic influence, that merely donning his nightcap, 
 would confer tlie gift of seeinir, even in such a hag as Diana 
 Groois, the charms of the famed goddess (her namesake) of the 
 heathen world. Jn fine — concluded the Pole — he would, that 
 night, outdo himself, and transport his friends to the third heaven. 
 Talk of conjurois and wizards! the only true necromancy lay in 
 the knowledge of combining ingredients, in such rare proportions, 
 as created a potent compound, whose mystic spell wafted the 
 souls of aien to a serener world ; imparted to their speech, a fa- 
 cility, and eloquence, which struck the ignorant novice with awe 
 and wonder. 
 
 " Franz," added the speaker, tnniing to the orderly, " bring me 
 the bottles, the phials, tiie spice-jars — and what you have not, 
 obtain from head-quarters." 
 
 Fortunately, vviihaut aid from the cuisine of Colonel Rahl, 
 (commandant of Trenton) the bowl was prepared without omis- 
 sion of a single, essential ingredient. Its flavour, and fragrance, 
 was applauded even by the dreamy, specuhitive Knipslaich. 
 
 " Confess now," said Jablonsky, " it must have beei? undert he 
 influence of sf)riies which lurk beneath the surface of that dark 
 fluid, over which the blue vapottr wreaths so fantastically, that 
 your ancestors beheld their visions. " Why should I confess 
 against firm belief?" demanded the count; " deride it as you may, 
 but I do assure you, that I have both seen, and heard that, which 
 I pray, I may never see; or hear, again. The influence which 
 haunts me, may be friemlly — I believe it is — fori never meet 
 with accident, or casualty, but I remember its l)avingbeen preced- 
 ed bv some extraordinary appearance or token." 
 
 " But how happens it," aslied Fagel, with a sly glance at the 
 Pole, which he took care should not be perceived by Knipslatch, 
 "that you never profit by these tokens — indeed, never recall them 
 till after the disaster has occu.rred ?" 
 
 " I have often asked myself that question," replied the count 
 with an air of deep seriousness, " and I can only account for it 
 by my extreme terror, which disgusts the influence, and repels 
 it, ere full revelation has been made. My ancestors were firmer- 
 minded, and were stonier of heart, and by listenino; to the dread 
 oracle, profiled. But I ! craven that I am ! flee from it — shud- 
 der at its approach — disgust and vex it. And behold ! I am wast- 
 ed both in bodily strength, and fortune. Our house is fast sink- 
 ing since its destinies have been coinmitled to a degenerate 
 scion 1" 
 
 As the count, with a deep sigh, concluded his lament, he re- 
 sorted, byway of consolation, to his snnfl'-box. It was a hand- 
 some gi)ld-box, with armorial !)earinss on the lid. Glancing for 
 a moment at the insignia, he shook his head despondingly. 
 
204 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 " See,^ coniimied he, poinling to tlie effigies, " on that canion, 
 five spolSjOr marks ! They represent, as nearly as can be depict- 
 ed, by die imperfect symbols of heraldry, the impression of bloud- 
 stained fingers on a cuirass. 'Tis now five centuries since my 
 great ancestor, lay wounded on the field of battle, his head re- 
 clining against a tree. Me was, till that day, only of knightly 
 rank, but his sovereign passing near the spot, grateful for servi- 
 ces rendered in the fray, placed his open hand on the warrior's 
 breast, saying, ' Tlianks ! sir Baron ! ihanks for this day's work.' 
 The king's lingers being gory, left their bloody impress on the 
 armour, which my ancestor, from thai lime, assumed in his es- 
 cutcheon, as a distinct charge. — Alas ! with me, the glory of our 
 race will expire." 
 
 " Then I presume," remarked Captain Fagcl, " if this guardian 
 angel, or demon, be consistent in its conduct, your ancestor — 
 who was so remarkably fortunate — showed more courage than 
 his descendant, on Us visits." 
 
 Neither Jablonuky, nor Schulz, could determine — j'ldging 
 only by the tone in which this was uttered — whether it were 
 spoken sneeringly, or in earnest. 
 
 " There runs in our family, a tradition — in compliance wiiJi the 
 unbelief of tlie present age, I will use no stronger term — " ob- 
 served Knipslaich, who was too deeply absorbed to remark the 
 sneer, if one were intended — " that on the night previous to the 
 battle, he beheld the spirit approach, and awaited in deep, re- 
 spectful silence, the token. The spirit held aloof a baron's bald- 
 rick. " Seek it," uttered the spectre, " beyond the wood of Un- 
 terwalden," and disappeared. Next day, my ancestor was posted 
 with the thicket of lliat name, on his flank ; he recalled the words 
 of the oracle, and wiih his troops penetrated through the wood. 
 The warning was prophetic : he fell in with, and routed an am- 
 buscade, which WHS lying in wait — till the general engagement of 
 both armies should commence — in order to fall on his rear. lie 
 was wounded in the melee, but lived to enjoy the honours confer- 
 red by the grateful monarch." 
 
 " And why, faint-hearted man, should you despair !" asked .Ta- 
 blonskv," are you not in the high-road to future honours — arc you 
 not — like your ancestor, in the field where honour may bewon ? 
 Here sit we on Christmas-night, around this jovial bowl — but ere 
 many weeks are past — nay days — one of us," and the Pole glanc- 
 ed at Knipslaich, " may belisienirifrio his good Cieniushow lo lurn 
 the dank of Washington, and lus rebel-crew, and restore the wither- 
 ed laurels and honours, of an ancient family." 
 
 " 'Tis too late !" almost shrieked the count " too late ! He 
 came last night — T averied my head, and fled from the spot, but 
 I saw his spiteful, angry glance. He warns of approaching dan- 
 ger, or poiiUs the way to fortune, lo those who dare stand and lis- 
 ten, but the coward who flies, he threatens. I fear my doom is 
 fixed." 
 
JASPER CROWE. 205 
 
 FciEjel, who had been listening attentively, sometimes smih'nc 
 inwjiidly, sometimes in deep cooiiaiion, suddenly exclaimed — 
 " Count ! you are but a coward ! — a poltron !" 
 
 " 1 I'ear no man — least of all — you !" replied Kinpslatch, rising 
 in nnr^er. 
 
 " Nay — but will you prove it, Herr von Knipslatch V 
 
 " Now — or at any lime," answered the German noble ; " Jablon- 
 sky arrange this matter for me, though I think we ought to pre- 
 serve Christmas-niwht sacred from brawl, or bloodshed." 
 
 " To-morrow, Captain Fagel, to-morrow, we will satisfy you," 
 responded Jablonsky, " sit down, count. xA.nd now that a truce is 
 concludeJ, I would fain ask our young friend, Herr Schuiz, why 
 his eyes have been so intensely lixed on our mysiic cauldron ?" 
 
 " Why, in sober trulh — if I must confess my folly," replied 
 Schtdz, " the count's awful revelations have set mv imaf^ination 
 astir. My disturbed brain cannot fancy that bow! of blue liquid 
 other than one of my native lakes 'midst tlie mountains : the 
 smoke which curls from its surface is like the mist at sunrise. 
 The longer I gaze, its shelving sides seem to grow sleeper and 
 steeppr — " 
 
 " Not a shadow of doubt on that point," said Jablonsky, inter- 
 rupting him, " wlulst four awful gulfs continually exdiaust it." 
 
 " But what chiefly riveted my eyes," continued ^^chulz, " was 
 the expectation I could not rid myself of, of seeing some sprite 
 lift Mp its head above the surface of the lake." 
 
 " ('ount,"said Fagel, who had been wailing an opportunity of 
 speaking, " when I asked, if you wei-e willing to prove 3'our 
 courage, I did not mean on myself, or any mortal — and as I just- 
 ly gave offence, I ask your forgiveness." 
 
 A murmur of approbation broke from both Jablonsky and 
 Schiilz ; and Knipslatch, rising, extended his hand to Fiio-e], the 
 quarrel was consequently at an end. " Where J would task your 
 courage," continued the captain, " is in confronting beings of the 
 other world. Would you not gladly recover the cpporfunity of 
 seeing again this awful influence from which you fled ? Of list- 
 eniniT to his omens of future fortune ?" 
 
 ^"The being never comes twice on the same errand," said 
 Knipslatch, " I doubt not, its visit was friendly till I anaered 
 it." 
 
 " Not without propitiation, will it come again — not in anywise 
 at your call, for it is offended," continued Fagel, in tone of in- 
 creased solemnity, " but you shall yet see once more, this dread 
 bein2, for I have the power to raise it !" 
 
 The seriousness with which this was uttered, struck awe, if not 
 terror, in Fagel's companions. The count looked at him with a 
 disturbed, anxious eye. 
 
 " Kave you courage, Herr Von Knipslatch, to undergo the or- 
 deal ? demanrled the captain. 
 
 Jablonsky, and Schuiz both srr.iled incredulously at this ques- 
 
206 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 lion, but the count answered seriously — as llioiigh he never for a 
 moment doubted the f^ood faith of the questioner — that he liad 
 been ever (lo his misfortune) afraid of hstcning face to face, and 
 he knew not that he could summon more courage on the present 
 occasion. 
 
 Fa^el declared that he had no personal motive in pressing him ; 
 his object solely regarded the court's interest. He dcscanied on 
 the antiquity and foimer iinportance of Knipslatch's family ; and. 
 urged with much earnestness, that as — according lo his own con- 
 fession — the decay of the family was entirely owing lo the un- 
 manly fears of its present chief, he should make an effort (ere 
 too late) to retrieve its honor. What was more likely — he asked, 
 than that the visit of last night was lo point a path to fortune ? i n 
 January, thev would probably cross the Delaware, which must 
 bring on an action, if Washington had any troops left, in camp, 
 lo make fight with. Who could deny, that between Trenton and 
 Phihdelf)hia, there hung a laurel-wreath to encircle the coronet 
 of Knipslatch.and that the Genius came with intent to maishal 
 the way ? 
 
 Fagel perceived that he had made an impression ; the pale face, 
 and eye, of the count beamed wiih wild ardor. 
 
 " But whence this strange power you possess, Captain Fagel?" 
 asked Knipslatch, " I never before heard of it. You are the last 
 man I should have suspected of practising mysterious arts ! You 
 who have ever derided what vuu have been pleased to term 
 " fancies" !" 
 
 " Aye — truly have I," replied the captain, "whilst I deemed 
 them only idle fancies, I discouraged the idea, and tried to laugh 
 down your belief. But I now see distincily, from your confes- 
 sion of this evening, that the fortune of your house — perhaps your 
 life — hangs on the chance of hearing what your visitant had lo im- 
 part." 
 
 Knipslaich urged that it was more than likely, that the influ- 
 ence would disobey the summons, or ifforced to obey, would mis- 
 lead, out of of sheer spite, at the compulsion. 
 
 But Fagel, who as the reader will perceive, had brought his 
 novice lothe point of believing — not only that he spoke wiili good 
 faiih, but that he possessed the power he claimed— found but lit- 
 tle trouble in removing the count's suspicions of the spectre's hos- 
 tility. 'I'o strengthen confidence, he related a strange history of 
 his childhood, how, and by whom, he had been taught to practice 
 the suiumoning of the mystic beings who live under, al)ove, and 
 on the earth, invisible to the human eye. On what occasion he 
 had made trial of his powers — the unhappy result lo a kinsman, 
 which had decided him to bury for ever, in his own breast, the 
 fearful knowledge — and only departed, in the count's favor, from 
 a fixed resolve, ihrouch desire of reinstating in their former splen- 
 dour, an ancient and honored family. 
 
 So earnestly, serious]}'-, and with deep impassioned utterance 
 
JASPER CBOWE. 
 
 207 
 
 did Facrel deliver his sentiments, that— not merely Ivnipslatch, 
 xvho believing in the existence of his family-fain.liar exeried but 
 Ihtle stretch of faith in crediting the power of 'l|e other to sum- 
 monit,butevenJablonskv,and!Schnlz,v\'eredumb-foundea. How 
 far successive potations from the blue lake which simmered be- 
 fore their eves, mystified the understanding, we cannot undertake 
 10 determine, but neither could bring himself wholly to a behef 
 of FacTel's trickery. Whether he himself credited his own power 
 to compel the attendance of sprites, the sequel of our narrative 
 must determine. ^^ . , , j • 
 
 After much musing, and pondering, Ivnipslatch arose, and seiz- 
 ing the captain's hand, dechired his readiness and desire, of sub 
 mming to the oracle. At this instant, a loud crack, astounded 
 
 the party. . , , , , . 
 
 "What's that?" exclaimed Schulz, m sudden tremor, letting 
 
 the class fall from his hand. 
 
 "Why, Franz," cried Jablonsky, turning to the corner where 
 the veteran sat, " if vou frighten Ensign Schulz after this faslaon, 
 YOU must make friends with Diana below." , ^, . , 
 
 It appeared the incident which so much alarmed bchulz, vvas 
 the veteran's dropping his pipe at the moment that he heard his 
 master, the count, make the compact. 
 
 Facrel intimated, that as Knipslalch was willing, he should com- 
 menc? initiatory proceedings in the upper floor, a few minutes 
 before midnight. 
 
 " Alone "? shall I be alone ?" asked the count. 
 " W^e will remain with you, til! ihe line of protection is com- 
 plete," replied Fasel, " but before the spirit approaches, we must 
 felire, but will sta> within reach of vour voice. We may talk, 
 if you Drove faint- hearied, but we must not be seen. 
 
 "Th'is is a strange affair, Captain Fagel," remarked Jablonskv, 
 " most strange that the secret should have been so long buried in 
 your breast. But come ! genilemen— ere Schulz's mountain-lake 
 grows cool, let us bathe our spirits in its dew. I am chilled _ 
 'I'he glasses were replenished, and the party renewed their 
 libations. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Leaving Jablonskv, and his friends, around.lheir bowl of nectar, 
 we must take up with one, with whom the readers of " Alda Grey 
 are familiar— Francois Girard, the former barber of Trenton, now 
 fulfillinft ihe perilous duties of spy, in the employment of Gen- 
 eral Washington. Since the occupation of New Jersey by the 
 British, and Hessians, they had committed ravaoes of a descrip- 
 tion which remind the siudent of history of the cruel warfare 
 wacred acrainst the Albigenses, and at a later period, by Louis the 
 
208 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 Fourlecnlh against the Huguenots. The Briiish commander, and 
 his brother, Lord Howe, his Majesty's commissioners, on erec- 
 ting the King's standard at New Brunswicii, issueii a proclama- 
 tion, on ihe thirtieth of November, promising safely and protec- 
 tion, both in person and property, to every inhabitant of tlie 
 province (notvvithsian(iing lie might have carried arms against 
 his lawful sovereign) upon taking an oath of allegiance. tSo des- 
 perate appeared the palriol-cause, near the close of the year, that 
 a considerable number, even of that party which had sup[)urted 
 Congress with their sword, joined thetoiies in receivinfi the oalh 
 adnuiiistered by llie king's officers, and went home, rejoicing in 
 the written protections which they carried in their pockets. But 
 during December, the conquerors spreading through the province, 
 left scarcely a sohiary farmhouse unvisited. The entire district 
 groaned under the scourge of murder, robbery, and rapine. 
 Defenceless females, in lone neighbourhoods, fleil to the woods 
 to shelter them from insult, but were tracked, and dragged from 
 ihence by the ruthless spoilers, guided by fires kindled l)y the half 
 frozen fugitives. These facts, which are picserved by affidavit, 
 and formal testimony, in the records of Congress, we would fain 
 — at this lale period — burv in oblivion, but as our object is — even 
 in tlie form wfiich these narratives assume — to throw light 
 on the character and working, of the great struijgle, we cannot 
 wholly suppress ihem. In excuse for ijiilisli and Hessian offi- 
 cers, gentlemen we may presume, by birth and education, it may 
 be stated, that infinite pains were taken, hoth in England and Ger- 
 many, to instil into the minds of the troops, ere they sailed from 
 their own shores, that they were employed to put down a crew 
 of ungrateful, rebellious colonists — who without cause had flown 
 in the face of their sovcreign-rulcr, and offered him every insult, 
 and who merited, by their conduct, wiiatever treatment they might 
 meet with. 
 
 Apart from all considerations of humanity, how inconsistent, 
 and impolitic, was the conduct of the British ! On the one hand, 
 the Royal Conunissioners were inviting in the smoothe?t, most 
 conciliating tone, all classes to partake ttie proffered amnncsty, on 
 the other, their canlonned troc^ps were'ravaging the property of 
 those who had submitted. When a Jersey farmer, or townsman, 
 whose house was being plundered or his family insulted — exhibi- 
 ted his written protection, it was "damned" by the British who 
 could read it, was laughed at by the Hessians, who could not. 
 
 As December drew loward a close, one universal feclinfj of 
 indiirnation, and disgust,-reigned through the province. The 
 militia-man, who had abandoned Washington in his retreat, and 
 refused to turn out to his aid, inspirited by wrongs wiiich cried 
 for redress, from his own hearth, from the bosom of his family, 
 repolished his arms, mustered in secret with his fellow-men, and 
 awaited, with impatience the signal of havock ! to sweep from 
 the land the scourge which infested it. 
 
JASPER cr.owE. 2C9 
 
 Meanwhile (and we solicit \\\g reader's palience for so long 
 wiiiiholding him from an iniioduclion to our old acquaintance, 
 Girnrd) let us glance at the condition and prospects of the British 
 army. 
 
 In the good old limes — of tlie last centnry — when the art of 
 warfare was conducted with clo-str reference to piecept, and 
 precedent, than in the present era of innovation, the term " win- 
 ter-quarters" was int-erpreted to iiican, nearly total suspension of 
 hoslihlies, coupled witl) a pleasant sojoiirn for four, five, or even 
 six months in a well sheltered town, or neighbourhood, with leisure 
 for bdliards, quarrelling and flirtations. These pasiimes continu 
 ed — with the occasional interlude of a turn-out, in small detalch- 
 ments, merely for collection of forage — till the spring was lar 
 advanced, and our gallant captain, or major, remorselessly for- 
 saking the fieart which lie had flattered or deluded, marcheil his 
 p^Ttoon, or battalion, into the field. As with regimental officer, 
 so with commander-in-chief. The latter (if wintering in large 
 European city, or capital) having lost — not his heart — but half 
 his fortune, in play, lured into the ambuscades of whist, picquet, 
 or ombre, by the fascinating wiles of some biight-eyed (yet 
 needy, finessing) duichess, or marchioness, was glad — when the 
 season opened — to escape from the toils, and seek, in the occasion 
 of a new victory, to restore his shattered finances. /• 
 
 After Sir William Howe had overrun the province with a d*IS- 
 posable force, of from eiglit to ten thousand m^en, part, the flower 
 of the British army, part Hessians, (whose natne, foreign language, 
 and habits alone, struck a terror into the country) his career was 
 stopped by the Delaware, and his march to Philadelphia imped- 
 ed. On the heights wliich sloped to the opposite bank, lay 
 General Washington with about one thousand regular troops, and 
 at his command — though not always in camp — perhaps fifteen, 
 or two thousand, Pennsylvania militia. How interesting were the 
 secret thoughts of Sir William recorded on beliolding his adver- 
 sary's camp ! 
 
 W'^ashington's small force, and the river, were the only obsta- 
 cles to Howe taking possession of Philadelphia, not thirty miles 
 distant. But how cross — the American commander had seized 
 every boat? Bui did Sir William, when he quitted New Yoik, 
 expect the contrary — did he imagine Washington would leave be- 
 hind, the means of being overtaken ? The British general was 
 in possession of New Brunswick, on the Rariian-river, a naviga- 
 ble water passage open to New York, and his Majesty's fleet. 
 Between New Brunswick, and the Delaware, by land, is but 
 forty miles, and the route, the regular highway, stage road be- 
 tween Philadelphia and New York. We are certain that in the 
 present century, an enterprising general so circumstanced — 
 whatever the place of his birih, the country he served — wiih the 
 purse-strings of a powerful and wealthy nation in his hands, an 
 army, a fleet, immense stores---everything which a commander 
 17 
 
210 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 could desire — would have found means to transport boats, a dis- 
 tance of forty miles, over a well-travelled liighway. Tiiol il was 
 feasible, is very evident from the well-grounded fears of Washing- 
 ton (expressed to Congress in his dispatches,) that the plan was 
 being put in execution. In crossing, the patriots, might have at- 
 tempted — as in duty bound — to oppose a landing, but the pow- 
 erful play of a large park of artillery, covering the passage, un- 
 dertaken, at the same lime, at different fords, and the weight of 
 columns three times outnumbering the foe, must have rendered 
 defence vain. 
 
 " Let well alone" — was probably Sir William's motto. He 
 had neglected to provide boats, and it was now too late to remedy 
 the fault, as ice already began to float down the stream, and 
 would daily become a more forinidaUle obstacle. But when the 
 surface froze solidly, the ice would stand in lieu of boat, or craft. 
 The tories, and his spies, did not fail informing him, that the 
 term of service, even of the poor remaining thousand regulars^ 
 would expire by the first of January, and the men being worn 
 out with suffering, were determined to leave the defence of their 
 country to the Pennsylvania militia, ai^d — to chance. As matiers 
 stood, why even let the rebel force, crumble to pieces ef itself? 
 
 Such we may reasonably conclude were Sir U iliiam's views, 
 and reasoning,and that having taken a peep, through his telescope, 
 at the patrioi-cainp, pocketed the glass, and giving orders to can- 
 ton the troops, returned to the delights of the faro-table in New 
 York, and the fascinations of his mistress on Long-Island. 
 
 His illustrious co-adjutor, and second in command, the Earl 
 Cornwallis, seemed equally desirous of seeking temporary repose 
 from tlie fatigues of war. With six thousand choice troops, (in- 
 cluding the Guards, the Royal Highlanders, the Queen's light-dra- 
 goons, and other crack corps,) he puisued Washington through 
 New Jersey for nineteen consecutive days, from the twentieth of 
 .November, to the eighth day of the ensuing month, and duiing 
 that period, had driven the retreating army the distance of ninety 
 miles, from C'loster-landing on the North river, to Trenton on the 
 Delaware ! The fugitives (at first) numbered three thousand 
 (daily diminishing by desertion) ; they had lost tents, artillery, 
 and baggage, and flight could be readily tracked over the snow, 
 by the blood which oozed from the wounded feet of the shoeless 
 rebels. After this wonderful exploit, he also, like the comman- 
 der-in-chief, acted on the motto of "let well alone." At his re- 
 quest, Sir Wiliam granted the Earl permission to spend the win- 
 ter in Europe, that he might, as we presume, display his laurelled 
 brow at court. 
 
 And yet, spite of the dilatory manner in which the war was con- 
 ducted by the British commander — the many advantages lost, as 
 for instance, whilst Cornwallis was forcing Washington to i-e- 
 Ircat, if Howe had pushed a division from New York, through 
 Aml)oy and New Brunswick, he would have caught the Ameri- 
 
SASPER CROWE. 211 
 
 cans in the rear, between two fires, and they must liave surrendered 
 — an omission which was both at the period, and since, repealed 
 dierae of comment — yet spile of these and similar drawbacks, boih 
 Howe and CornwalUs, were, inconJeslably, able generals. The 
 fine movements by which Howe surprised his adversaries, and 
 gained the victory both at Long-Island and at Chad's ford, eniiile 
 iiim, as a soldier, to {h-e highest praise. There must have been 
 fault somewhere; but ou.r scope will not allow us to pursue ihe 
 argumeni further, and we reiurn — tnuch perhaps to the romance- 
 reader's relief — to our more immediate subject. 
 
 The position of Washijiglon, and consequently, of tlie cause 
 for which he fought, was critical. In a few days, he felt that he 
 should be left without an army ; yet he felt also, ihat the time 
 was arrived when he could count on the aid of the New Jersey 
 miliiia. " I flatter myself," he wrote to Congress, " that the 
 many injuries they have received, will induce some to give their 
 aid. If what they have suffered docs not arouse their resent- 
 ment, they must not possess the common feelings of humanity. 
 To oppression, ravage, and deprivation of property, they have 
 had the more mortifying circumstance of insult added; after be- 
 ing stripped of all they had, without the least compensation, pro- 
 tections have been granted ihem for ihe free enjoyment of their 
 effects." 
 
 Flushed with the hope of co-operation from Jersey, he resolv- 
 ed, as the final week's engagement of his army commenced, lo 
 strike one blow for his counlry, while he had the power. 
 
 To steal from village to village, from cantonment to canton- 
 ment, was the work of the fearless (iirard. He found the 
 troops widely scallered, careless, and unsuspicious of surprise. 
 Chiefly from his report, the American commander resolved to 
 make an attack on Trenion, where were quartered the three 
 regiments of Hessians, and a troop of British light-horse. 
 
 Christmas-night, when it was, with good reason, imagined, 
 that the mercenaries would be drowned in festivity, most exposed 
 to the effects of a sudden surprise, was selected. Whilst the 
 Americans were preparing to cross the Delaware, Girard was in- 
 structed to elude the vigilance of the sentinels, and enter the 
 town, ]y'\ns^ [here pfrdu till the approach of the army; or should 
 aught unusal, or adverse to ihe success of the expedition, occur 
 in the Hessians' quarters, to make limely report. 
 
 Girard, as we have elsewhere described, was a tall, comely 
 fellow, of thirty or more years, capable of underooing almost any 
 amount of fatigue or privation ; generous and obliging to a fault, 
 reckless of life in protecting and serving his friends Careless 
 of the ends for which most men strive, he appeared to love dan- 
 ger for its own sake, or for mere excitement, and glided over the 
 surface of existence with a happy, haimless buoyancy of mind. 
 Bred a barber, he had followed the calling on both sides the 
 Atlantic, till his restless disposition led him into a more active 
 17* 
 
212 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 and perilous career. His ostensible pursuit (of laie) was express- 
 rider lo his Excellency, carrying letters to and Irom Congress; 
 his secret avocation was procuring itiielligence of the enemy's 
 designs and movements. Though serving the patriotic cause, 
 it may be doubted whether he did nut ri.-^k the doom which menaces 
 the person of a spy, more tliroiigh love of adventure, and dis- 
 inclination to settled pursuit, liian for the sake of his adopted 
 country. 
 
 On Christmas-night, then, to return to the course of events, Gir- 
 ard, by wading up to iiis knees in the chilling stream, succeeded 
 in eluding the out-picket, and found hicnself, lo his exceeding gra- 
 tification, once more in Trenton. Why he should be so much 
 gratified by the visit, was in consequence of a passion which over- 
 mastered even llie roving disposition of the express-rider. He 
 was in love, and with that smart little body, whose cruel destiny 
 every one so much pitied — Alary Crowe. Unknown lo her fa- 
 ther, she had framed many an audience to the Frenchman in the 
 deserted loft of the old house, lo wfiich the adventurous lover 
 clambered, in the first instance, by means of the shaft, or support, 
 of the piazza. Frotn the roof of the latter, it was easy lo gain the 
 roof of the main building, from whence — ihe trap-door being left 
 without bolt or fastening — he slid quietly, by means of a short 
 cord (which he carried, for the occasion, in his pocket), to the 
 floor of the garret, and the presence of Mary Crowe. 
 
 V^'hen an individual undergoes secret and extraordinary labour, 
 to effect entry into a house, it may be judged that he has good 
 reasons for not entering quieily by the usual approach. The 
 miser loved his daughter, even while subjecting her to menial 
 offices so far beneath her birth and station. Girard was obvious- 
 ly a very objectionable suitor; if fault be found with Mary for lis- 
 lening to his addresses, it may be pleaded, in extenuation, that 
 t'le loneliness of her situation — excluding her from clteerful, 
 unrestrained intercourse with persons of her own station — and 
 more especially of her own sex, from whom she would have 
 acquired knowleilge of the world — exposed her more readily lo 
 be captivated by the dashing, off-hand attentions of a man like 
 Girard, who, in addition to other accompli.ihmcnts (spite ol a li- 
 mited education), " the gods had made poetical." His brokeii 
 English, broken verses, snatches of song, impromptu effusions, 
 and at rare intervals, when the old man was iar away, the light 
 jingle of guitar-strings, were iirt^sistible. 
 
 In face" of the whiskered Hessians, and the provost-marshal's 
 cord, Trenton, with all its perils, had a fascination for Girard. 
 Conceive, then, iiis vexation, on learning from a townsman and 
 neighbour of Jasper Crowe — one who, well affecied to the pa- 
 triot cause, he knew would not betray him — that MaryCrowe had 
 disappeared, gone, as it was said, lo Philadel[)hia, or at least, 
 across the Delaware, lo avoid ihe troubles with which her native 
 town was threatened. It was, he could not help confessing, both 
 
JASPER CROWE. 213 
 
 natural and praise-worthy in old Jasper, to send his daughter 
 where she would be safe from insult; and his own affecliou for 
 the maiden extorted approval of tlie proceeding ; yet (he could 
 not help it) he was disappointed, grievously disappointed ; Tren- 
 ton had lost its charms. 
 
 Spite of vexation, he did not forget the (hities of his post. He 
 made visits to several parlies well affected to congress, by whom 
 he was faiihfuUy iufunned of every event which liad occurred. 
 As matters stood, everything promised success to the attack; 
 any military operation on the part of Washington was not dream- 
 ed of, as it was believed his force was crumbling away, and that 
 he was totally unable to lake the field; and he, nioreover, lay 
 behind a broad river, now almost impassable, on account of the 
 drifting ice. Being Christmas-night, both officers and men were 
 indulging themselves after the fashion of their country, though 
 the commandant, Colonel Rahl, who was a vigdant officer, did 
 not ncfrlect proper precautions at the out-posts, and the interior 
 of the town was also p.-itrolled. 
 
 It happened, unfortunately, that the spy, whilst crossing from 
 the northern to the southern quarter of Trenton, dreanung of 
 Mary Crowe, and forgetful of matters nearer home, came unex- 
 pectedly to llie market-place, where were ranged the field pieces 
 attached to the Hessian brigade. He was challenged, as cus- 
 tomary, by the setuinel on duty, and being thrown off his guard 
 by the unexpectedness of the rencontre, instead of submilting 
 himself to the soldier's inspection, who being a foreigner, igno- 
 ranl of the language, would have speedily dismissed him, in full 
 confidence of his being a townsman, took to his heels, and fled 
 down a side street. The report of the sentry's firelock convinced 
 our express-rider of his error ; but it was now too late to change his 
 tactics. Alive to ihe peril, he was cautious of flying to the out- 
 skirts, lest he should fall upon the guard ; yet to remain in the 
 town, after the alarm was given, was equally dangerous. If he 
 could but reach ilie banks of the Delaware, he was sure, he 
 ihouirht, of extrication by the same path through which lie gain- 
 ed ingress. 
 
 The discharge of the firelock caused a driun to beat al the 
 guard-house. It was about as dangerous a pedicament as Fran- 
 cois Girard had ever fallen into. To flee from the town was in 
 vain ; it was environed by sentinels : the Delaware was then the 
 only resort, anti thither he fled, determined, if no better chance 
 presented, to trust himself on one of the drifting islands of ice, 
 rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. As lie ran, he could 
 hear the sounds of pursuit. His route to the river-brink led him, 
 by chance rather than design, ne&r the dwelling of Jasper Crowe. 
 The view of the miser's dwelling changed the current of his 
 thoughts. Why should he trust his limbs to the chilly waters, 
 when less hazardous refuge were at hand ? He called to mind 
 the miser's old garret ; he might, if he reached it unperceived, 
 
2\4 JASPER CROWE-. 
 
 lay a while amongst tlie nibbjsh till piirsnit was over, and tlien 
 descend by the way he entered. A further inducement to this 
 course was the refleclion, that as affairs siooti in Trenton, he was, 
 according to instructiojjs, to tarry in it till warned of the army's 
 approach ; whereas,, should the alacrity of his pursuers oblige him 
 lo trust to the ice, he would, even if fife were preserved, be car- 
 ried away from the scene of impending action. 
 
 As he neared the garden paling, he was still debating which 
 course to pursue — whether scale hisoM Irvsting-phcc, or sliike 
 thr^ough the mepdow to the water's edge, when tlie open gate 
 (which Jablotisky had noS replaced) decided the question. He 
 ran into the yard, up the steps of the piazza, clomb the shaft 
 which supported the covering, crawled up the shingle-roof of the 
 house, and behold F the trap-door was wide open, Wl)at could 
 this mean? Neither himself, nor Mary, he was certain, were 
 ever guilty of the negligence of leaving it open ; so careful had 
 5ie been in everj^ matter which related to the stolen visits, that he 
 had removed the fastening from die tra:p, lest Jasper, by chance, 
 should bar the lover's approach. As he pondered over the strange 
 event, hesitating whether he shonld descend — more especially as 
 be had no cord wherewith to lower himself, without noise, till his 
 feel touched the floor, as he had practised heretofore — several 
 patrols came to the garden-gate, Cauliously, and noiselessly, he 
 stretched himself, at full length, along the roof, and had the satis- 
 faction of liearing them pass through the garden, ai the rear of 
 the house, and thence toward the Delaware, Nov/ must he risk 
 a jump, which might alarm old Jasper, whose bed-room was in 
 tlie floor beneath the loi'"t, or choose the alternative of lying, with- 
 out cover, in the freezing air, till he was himself stiffened and in- 
 animate F " Look before you leap," is an old proverb ; perhaps 
 Girard had forgotten the wise saw, but instinct prompted the 
 praciice. With head peering over the aperture, he cauifonsly 
 looked down on the region below; it lay in darkness, but the head 
 of a ladder was visible, within reach. Was old Jasper fond of 
 gazing at the stars ; or had Mary, ere slie qtfitled home, received 
 the visits of another lover? He could not believe Mary unfaith- 
 ful, vet his feelings were strongly roused, and he descended, step 
 by step, with the soft, cautious treatt remarked in the predaiojy 
 approach of the feline tribe. 
 
 CHAPTER V, 
 
 When Girard reached the bottom of the ladder, he found the 
 gloomy garret, as of yore, untenanted save by articles of lumber 
 and store. On listenins:, he heard a confused sound as of people 
 talking on the lower floor. Who were the visitors of Jasper 
 
JASPER CROWE, 215 
 
 Crowe? surely no one ever came by invitation ? We would ob- 
 seive, that Girard's aUaclimenl to Mary Crowe bad, for special 
 reasons., been kept a profound secret; to preserve it inviolate, he 
 had cautiously refrained from making inquiries of his friends in 
 the town concerning Jasper and his family, lest it should awaken 
 guspvcion.; which will account for his being entirely ignorant^ 
 ihat ihe old house was hurihened with foreigners, or he might 
 have been more chary of selecting it for his refuge. Perhaps — 
 he surmised — robbers had penetrated by the same w^ay as hinn- 
 self, arvd were now ca.rousing, or dividing spoil. He ventured, 
 however, to strike a light, and by aiil of his lantern, proceeded to 
 iex[)lore the old quarters. The only trace of depredators was the 
 ■ladder uplifted against the open trap. As he gazed, he became 
 ^conscious of some change, or alteration, in the garret, though in 
 what respect he could laot determine. A laugh fiom below re- 
 called attention to more urgent mailers. He went to the head of 
 the stairs and listened. There was no mistaking the German 
 •dialect. Hessians were then quartered in okl Jasper^s domicile! 
 
 " Hah ! dat is one good joke," said Girard, indulging in a quiet 
 iaugh ; *' How I do pity de poor German bodies who be obliga- 
 ted to live in dis house !" 
 
 Tiie Hessians, like their countrymen elsewhere, where keeping 
 op the festivity of the season, which was fortunate — there was 
 the less danger of their discovering his retreat. But then, old 
 Crowe's sleeping-chamber was beneath — and, walk as cautiously 
 as he might, there was considerable risk. If the miser heard him, 
 he would assuredly alarm the Hessians, and then — but why an- 
 ticipate evil ? A quiet half-hour passed in the garret — and the 
 baffled patroles, now seeking through the streets, for the stranger 
 w^ho had evaded the sentry's challenge, would give up profitless 
 pursuits, and our released adventurer might descend in safety. 
 
 " All ! vat is dis — a rai-racle ?" exclaimed the Frenchman, 
 holding alofi his lantern. 
 
 The object which excited Girard's astonishment was a fresh 
 coat of plaster on the walls. 
 
 " Dey did want a new jacket, sure enough," muttered the 
 Frenchman ; " but it cost de monie — and de old man's pockets 
 are like vun deep veil — he do put in, but he cannot draw out." 
 
 Here was food for meditation ! The new coat of plaster was 
 as great a mystery as the standing ladder, and open trap. I'pon 
 wdi;it compulsion had Jasper Crowe gone to the gratuitous ex- 
 pense of repairing walls, in a part of the house, untenanted ? 
 The Frenchman could scarcely believe the evidence of his own 
 eyes. On closer inspection, lie found, that each side of the 
 garret, where the sloping roof approached very near the floor, had 
 been simply whitewashed, but at the gable-end, immediately over 
 the miser's bed-chamber, the wall — which was not pierced for a 
 window^ — was entirely frcshcoated with piaster. 
 
 " De old man must have found vun grand money-bag," mur- 
 
216 JASPER CROWB. 
 
 mured Girard, as lie fc^lt ihe wall with his knuckle ; " but he be 
 vun grand fool afier all." 
 
 \.Vl)ile inspecting the renovation^ his thoughts recurring agaif> 
 and ag:!in, with breathless wonderme-nl, to liie extraordinary 
 outlay — wondering the while whether the old man had not gone 
 crazed through having the Hessians qunriered upon him — he 
 Jieard footsteps. Life was dear, though courage stood hijih ; 
 while his hand sought a pistol Jie turned to con.front the inlrudei'. 
 Did his sense of fiearing play truant ? He stood alone in the long 
 gairet f With noiseless tread, and shaded lantern., he crept lo the 
 hidden half of the loft, which occupied a space over the other an- 
 gle of the building. (Opening the lantern suddenly, to scare the 
 concealed visitor, he fcund cdy hiuisclf, and his long shadow. 
 
 " Uis d — d place be haunted!" said the Frenchman, with a 
 shght tremor, for although nearly insensible to the perils of flood 
 and field, he was not proof against supersiitiotis fears-. 
 
 His acute car again detected the sounds of footsteps at th.at 
 end of the loft which he had just quitted. One moment bcni on 
 discovering the mystery, the next, much inclined lo beat a retreat, 
 he izlided back lo his former station. 
 
 The sound of voices was now as distinctly audible, as lieforc, 
 were the tread of feet. Whence came they? From above or 
 beneath ? The charm was only partially broken by his hearing 
 disiincily the following ejaculation,, in the voice of Jasper 
 Crowe : — 
 
 " It i.s all gone„ I tell thee, child — the wretch drank it all." 
 
 " Well ! Father," replied a voice, whose tones caused a palpi- 
 tation in the heart of the listener — " we have had a narrow es- 
 cafie, and ontrht to be thankful." 
 
 " 'I'hankful I" screamed the old man ; " By G — d, ?.Iarv,uhai 
 have r to be thankful for? The rascally German carrion ! vvhet> 
 he saw how dissatisfied I was — he smashed the empty bottle be- 
 fore my eyes." 
 
 This dialogue between Jasper and his daughter, coming from 
 he knew not where, caused the Frenchman, after farther minute 
 inspection, to make discovery, that the miser had with wonderful 
 ingenuity (of course not without help of an artificer) walled oil a 
 narrow slip from the loft ; and that to avoid detection, the 
 whole had been whitewashed, to be in keeping with the new 
 lathe-and-plaster. Still listening — he learneil from the old man's 
 imprecations on Franz for having eaten his fowl, and drank the 
 wine ; atnl also from the attempts of Mary to assuage her father's 
 anger — a tolerable notion of what occurred {furin^ the evening. 
 
 The only avenue lo this stronghold in which were stored con- 
 siderable tre isiire, and ]:)rovision. wasbv a secreidoor in Jasper's 
 closet — the very closet from which Jablonsky produced the hi'lderi 
 viands. 
 
 Fortunnte, indeed, as Marv more titan once repeated, thai 
 Fagel and his companions had mistaken the cau.3C of her fulh,cr''s 
 
JASPER CROWE. 217 
 
 emotion when the closet w;i.s undergoing search : still more for- 
 tunate, that the viands had been deposited there, as iheir discov- 
 ery misled the sharp-wiited soldiers, and induced ihem to give 
 iipfaiiher investigation in that dangerous quarter. Yet spite of 
 the narrow escape, the old man could not lielp harping upon the 
 loss he sustained, and what was above all, a sore thought, the 
 catastrophe of the broken bottle. 
 
 In order to rest liimself, and, at the same time, listen Vviihout 
 inconvenience, the Frenchman took seat on the floor, with his 
 ear applied to the wall. 
 
 "All dis is vera strange," thought Girard, "vera strange ! I 
 be one fool to be frightened by de old man, and de young lass. 
 If de general hear, he would say — " Frangois Girard, you be no 
 longer fit for my officer ! Dc little lass, to fright one tall fellow 
 with four pistols in de pocket, and de lantern ! Bah ! but I vill 
 have de grand revenge." 
 
 After farther colloquy between Jasper and Mary, by which the 
 Frenchman learned the names of the Hessians, as well as t!ie 
 circumstance (-f tluMr visit lo the loft. — which fully accoimted for 
 the position of the ladder — the miser declared he must look after 
 Franz, and the female devil in the kitchen. He wished his 
 daughter, good nighi ; and his footsteps were heard descending 
 the secret staircase. 
 
 " Now den — here we be," said the Frenchman to himself; 
 "Mary and I, once more alone in de old room." 
 
 But the wall between, prevented farther comparison with old 
 times. How make the maiden hear without alarming her — to 
 an extent, perhaps, which might cause her, in terror, to make 
 known her hiding-place to the foreigners ! This consideration, 
 for awhile, withheld him fiom speaking: he heard her light foot- 
 step moving rapidly over the floor, and. opined that she was about 
 retirino to rest. 
 
 " Mary !" said our Frenchman, in a whisper, putting his lips 
 to the plaster. 
 
 There was no reply. 
 
 " Mary !" repeated the lover, in rather louder strains. 
 f" Still no repl3\ 
 
 " De note nuisl be high and shrill," muttered Girard, adding 
 in as loud, and high tone, as he dare venture ; " Mary ! " 
 
 " Come in, father — Vm not asleep," said the maiden. 
 
 " I can't," cried Girard. 
 
 " Why frighten me?" said Mary laughing, "it is quite bad 
 enough to live in this dreadful hole." 
 
 "If dis cursed vail vere down," said Girard in his ordinary 
 tone, " I would ask Mary Crowe why she frighten me ?" 
 
 "Mercy! who spoke then?" cried the maiden. Her words 
 were accompanied by a noise, as though she started from her 
 couch. 
 
 "Father ! father ! is it you?" 
 
218 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 The Frencliman heard her walk— as he supposed — toward the 
 door of llie prison chamber. 
 
 "Jt is me — Francois Girard," cried our lover, alarmed lest 
 her father should be summoned. 
 
 " Where ? where ?" exclaimed -\I:iry, in a lone which betray- 
 ed fright and astonishment. 
 
 "PiityoureartodevaiI,andIvill tell," rejoined theFrenchman. 
 
 " You wicked wretch ! (Tod forgive me — how you iiave scared 
 me," cried Mary, panting with alarm; "how came you in the 
 house? Vou will be killed." 
 
 " Dat is vat de bullet, which de sentinel shot, vispered in mine 
 ear, as it flew along;" replied Girard, "but 1 did turn de corner 
 and laugh. Mary, dis is Christmas-night." 
 
 " Yes," said the maiden sharply, " and there have been rare 
 doings, what with you, and the Germans, and it won't end, till 
 Mr. Girard comes by someihinfr he will not like." 
 
 *' Spoke like de oracle, Mary ;" remarked her lover, "de festival 
 has scarce begun. I vas one little hour too late, to see de game 
 of blind man's buff." 
 
 "You will not be too late for mischief, I can tell you, Mr. 
 Girard." 
 
 " Mary ! Yen dey did look under de old gcntelmon's bed, it 
 vas cold, vera cold — -ven dey went near de closet, it vas varm, 
 varm — ven de door of de closet vas opened, and Yab-lnnskee did 
 go in, it vas hot ; it did burn de hole bodie very much." 
 
 " You wretch !" exclaimed Mary, " you have been listening to 
 our secrets." 
 
 " Mary — der be plenty of vine de odcr side. I vill not break 
 de bottel." 
 
 " You shan't have the chance, Mr. Girard. But tell me — how 
 came you in ?" 
 
 " After de old fashion, Mary ;" replied the Frenchman ; "de 
 ladder was in dc scuttel, and de trap was open — and I did fancy 
 — O ! horre-ble things." 
 
 " What were thcy'like, Mr. Girard ?" 
 
 " Uey vere like viui pretty maiden talking to de brave gallant 
 — and de man vas iiot jue." 
 
 " Are you not very cold, Franoois ?" 
 
 " Are you not vera warm, Mary ?" 
 
 " I ought to be," replied the maiden ; " for there are three 
 feather-beds heaped under me." 
 
 " Ucn lie down, and I vill sing you to sleep with a vera fine 
 Christmas carol : 1 have de guitar wid me." 
 
 "The guitar," exrlaimed ]\Iary, "the guitar! For heaven's 
 sake, Mr. Girard — if you love me — I mean, if you love 3-ourself 
 — be not so foolhardy. Do comfort me, by going away while 
 your life is your own " 
 
 " Ah ! never minJ, Mary, dc guitar vas only a foolish idea of 
 mine head." 
 
JASPER CROWE. 219 
 
 " I wish I could reach that head will) father^s cane/* uttered 
 the girl. 
 
 " Jt is vera near," rejoined the Frenchman; " dcr I vcr I da 
 make de noise, der rests de head against de cold vail. Now, 
 if I had de guitar, I would sing \onjolie chanson." 
 
 7'o tease her, he began humming a doggrel verse : 
 
 " O, friends, gire ear unto de lav, 
 
 I'll tell you how I pass de day 
 
 Wid Mary Ciowe. 
 
 But his punishment was at hand, nearer than he dreamed of. 
 As he had foolishly indicaied the exact spot where rested his 
 head, Mary, with cane, or other insirumeni, struck liic slender 
 wall, a smart blow, the vibration of which was felt by her lover 
 more severely, than slie perhaps intended. 
 
 " Dat is vun bad way of beating tiiue to de music, Mary," cried 
 Girard, " bwt 1 will try anoder song : 
 
 O ! Christmas-night he come at last, 
 While Mary Crowe — " 
 
 But the threatened effusion was suddenly cut short. 
 
 (jirard, though indulging his wild humour, was too wary to 
 forget the peril. Whilst one ear was employed in listening to 
 the replies of Mary Crowe, and measuring the cadence of his own 
 stanzas, the other whs vigilant to detect the slightest occasion for 
 alarm, in the realms below. It was the sudden opening of the 
 door of the apartment where the Hessians were assembled, and 
 the confluence of their voices, which caused the Frenchman to 
 cease abruptly. 
 
 "I wish de promise, Mary." 
 
 " What is it, Mr. Girard, that I am to promise ?" asked the 
 girl. 
 
 " Dat you do hear all dat be said and done, and you speak no 
 word, or cry," 
 
 " I promise," rejoined Mary, " but you alarm me ; do you 
 hear anything ?" 
 
 " (^ood-night ! de deyvils be at foot of de stairs, and I must 
 go hide. Yen dey be gone to bed, I vill come again." 
 
 Withotit waiting to hear more, Girard went straight to a group 
 of empty barrels, and getting into the largest, drew over the top, 
 a small hamper. Although this moven)ent was effected with the 
 utmost celerity, yet it was the result of forethought ; he had pre- 
 viously, in his mind, selected the barrel as place of refuge, should 
 circumstances require it. 
 
 Scarcely ensconced, he heard footsteps on the stairs ; ignor- 
 ant of the quarter in which the Hessians selected their dormito- 
 ries, he surmised that they were departing to their several sleep- 
 ing-chambers on the floor beneath the garret, and as ihey had 
 doubtless drank freely, would very soon fall asleep, and afford 
 the opportunity of ^nolher confabulation with Mary Crowe. 
 
tl20 
 
 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 It \va?, however, rather a trying moment, when he heard iheni 
 ascend to the garret ; he blamed himself for not seizing the lost 
 opportunity of making a good retreat, when it was in liis power. 
 
 " Dey must be going to have anoder peep at de stars,'' he mur- 
 mnrcd in soliloquy. " J was vera wrong not to get de first peep 
 by the ladder, ^^importcl N'i?nporte , it was de fate of Marc 
 Anthony to lose all through de fair lass, and Francois Girard be 
 not von jot de viser. But vat vill become of de poor General if 
 I fall — de grand nation may be lost by mine folly." 
 
 Po^terily will not give so large a measure of credit to Francois 
 Girard, as he gave himself, in imagining that the forlmies of the 
 nascent reptiblic depended upon his lying undiscovered in the 
 barrel. Highly as individuals serving in the same capacity as 
 Girard, value the importance of their services ; momentous to the 
 interests of a slate as their intelligence oft proves ; yet our adven- 
 turous Frenchman, looking only on one side of the picture, did 
 not take into consideration, that "de poor general," always made 
 some provision against the loss, or non-return, of scouting parties, 
 or individuals. 
 
 The invaders of the gallant's solitary domain were Knipj^latch 
 and his friends. Potations deep had somewhat staggered ihem 
 all, their step was unstcad}', their features (with the exception of 
 Knipslatch's) flushed. ];Ut the couni's face was one of unvary- 
 ing paleness; drinking did not redden it; late hours, or wild mirth, 
 did not change its pallid hue : it was what the French term a tete 
 mart. His earnest, and ofi-tinies, fearful gaze at Fagel, was in 
 strange contrast with the collected, self-possessed expression of 
 the latter. An object of scrutiny not only to the count, but to 
 Jablonsky and .Schulz, who were (both of them) mystified and 
 bewildered by his manner, which defied penetraiion, and left them 
 in glorious uncertainty whether he were in jest, or earnest, he 
 demeaned hinriself with the solemnity of one about to perform a 
 feat, to which he was indeed equal, but which severely tasked 
 courage, and faculties, to accompli.sh. 
 
 " Do vou require to construct a horoscope, or ca.*t mv nativity ?'' 
 asked Knipslatch, as he gazed aroimd tlie desert-loft. 
 
 " To a poor mortal who undertakes to predict the destiny of 
 his fellow-man," replied Fagel, " such coiuse may be necessary, 
 for whence oiherwisc should lie obtain knowledge, but from 
 .sources beyond his limited ken ? But I pretend to nothing of the 
 kind, my dear count, I jjave no more rightful pretension to pre- 
 dict future events, than the old hag below. But I can summon 
 those who have the power — and there my art ceases !" 
 
 " But you spoke of protection," remarked Knipslatch, who it 
 was observable, was becoming more agitated, as the hour of trial 
 approached; "a line of protection! What did you intend, or 
 mean ?" 
 
 " To protect you from the possible effects of my own act. — 
 I have but two charms. Que to summon the being whom 
 
JASPER CROWE. 221 
 
 my palieni desires to behold ; the other lo ensure him from un- 
 happy consequences, should lie incur the anger of the being in- 
 voked." 
 
 " But excuse me one moment, gentlemen," continued the 
 adept ; "' I mns>t look on the face of the heavens." 
 
 Fagel ascended the ladder, and after several moments' survey^ 
 came down. 
 
 "You will stand thus," said he, leading TCnipslatch to the centre 
 of the garret, and placing his face in a particular du-ection. 
 
 " Why so, my good Fagel V asked the count, r-ather nervously, 
 laying his hand on the captain's arm. 
 
 *' Welt! if you must be informed," rephed the Hessian, as a 
 faint smile spread over his countenance; "it is necessary that 
 you stand due north and south, your face being northward. My 
 object in going aloft was to ascertain the position of the polar- 
 star." 
 
 Taking from his pocket a piece of red chafk, he commenced 
 drawing round the noviciate a circle, but paused when he had 
 described a small segment — muttered several unintelligible words, 
 and then recommenced. After this mode, with six nitermissions, 
 the circle was completed. 
 
 *' As far as you may be endangered by the summons," uttered 
 Fagel with cold solemnity of voice and rrjaruicr ; " so far, are yon 
 now protected. Have you aught mare to say ere I impress the 
 influence ?" 
 
 " Promise me — and do you join in the promise, Herren, Jab- 
 Jonsky, and Schulz," said the tremulous count; "that you keep 
 within hearing. If you will not, I feel I shall have no courao-e 
 jor the essay. 
 
 " We will all remain on the landing of the floor beneath," re- 
 plied Fagel, in a tone of quiet rebuke ; " we may not be seen, but 
 the slighiest word which you utter, wdl be heard by your friends.'^ 
 
 "Then I am prepared,''' exclaimed Knipslatch ; " and may the 
 issue of the interview be as prosperous to me, as it has been of 
 yore, to my foreft titers.'* 
 
 Fiigel motioned Jablonsky, and Schulz, to stand at the head of 
 the stairs, thai they might be prepared to descend. Soon as they 
 had taken the statioi^ pointed out, the adept placed himself on the 
 outer edge of the circle, with his back to the count, his face being 
 in the exact line of the patient's. After declaiming several mo- 
 ments, in some unknown <lialect, he paused, and turned toward a 
 distant part of the long garret. To the astonishment of Jablonsky 
 and Schulz, and the extreme terror of Knipslatch, whose knees 
 trembled, and whose hands shook, there proceeded from the 
 quarter whence Fagel gazed, several sounds, or words, resembling 
 the tones of the human voice. 
 
 " It is our signal to descend, Count," exclaimed Fagel, with 
 lofty sublimity of utterance, " be qiuck-witted, and courageous, 
 and stir not beyond the circle ; we'll listen for your call." 
 
222 JASPER CROWK. 
 
 Il is more Uian probable, but for ihe reileralioa, not to venture 
 beyond the circle, such was ihe awe and terror of the count, that 
 he would have fled down stairs, widi his friends. 
 
 The trio, taking with them their lanterns, descended, leaving 
 poor Knipslatch in darkness. Gazing in each others' faces, they 
 waited, after reaching the landing — one, two, three, perhaps four 
 eeconds — Fagel preserving the appearance of as much awe as his 
 companions. Suddenly, a confused heavy tread was heard ; there 
 was a noise of falling, or rolling, bodies; a loud prolonged cry 
 from Knipslatch ; a vivid flash of light, which they all beheld ; a 
 loud crash; and all was again silence and darkness. 
 
 '' Man or demon," cried Jablonsky, darting a furious glance at 
 Fagel, " we will summon fhee to a reckoning." 
 
 Lantern in hand, Jablonsky rushed up stairs followed by Schulz 
 — Fagel lagging slowly behind in evident trepidation. On ^ain- 
 jng the loft, the count was seen lying with his face on the floor, 
 across his shoulders was flung the ladder; several barrels were 
 upset, and had rolled from their station, 
 
 " How is this. Captain Fagel ?" exclaimed Jablonsky, pointing 
 to the body of the count, " is this your boasted protection ? if 
 there be justice, it shall be meted to whom it is due." 
 
 With assistance of Schulz, Knipslatch was carried down stairs 
 to his apartment, and placed on his bed. He remained insensi- 
 ble, but the pulse siill Ijcat, and he gradually gave otlier indica- 
 tions of life. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 As we stood lately on the banks of the Delaware, at McKon- 
 kcy's ferry, wc endeavoured to transport ourselves, in ima- 
 gination, to the period of llie great struggle, of which we write. 
 The eddying current searching each corner, and nook of its 
 banks, glided as swiftly then as now ; but liow different, in com- 
 plexion and character, from the present, peaceful, healthy pur- 
 suits of commerce and aiirieulture, which it daily witnesses, to 
 the scenes of martini strife, and predatory rapine, then enacted 
 on its shores. 
 
 In the evening of Christmas-day, soon as it grew dark, there 
 was extraordinary bustle in the American camp. Head-quarters, 
 at the village of Newtown, was thronged with officers of the 
 patriot-army, with messengers, and express-riders, condng and 
 departing. In the iricadows behind the ferry, the soldiers were 
 paraded in military array — the artillery stood ready for embar- 
 kation, and the craft prepared to carry over the troops, and the 
 cannon, were laimched on the current. 
 
 The commander-in-chief was in consultation with his generals, 
 
JASPER CROWE. 223 
 
 at his quarters, in the villau-e. Greene and Sullivan, and Reed 
 the adjutant-general ; Colonels HaniiUon, and Baylor of the staff, 
 and Harrison, the zealous, and indefatigable secretary, were 
 among the number who surrounded their chief. 
 
 Throughout the month of December — gloomy both in season 
 and prospects — the officers in communication wiih iiis Excellen- 
 cy, could not fail noticing, that his aspect — always grave and 
 thoughtful — appeared at ihat time pensive and solemn in the ex- 
 treme. In addiiion to the discouragement arising from so many 
 untoward events, which marked the close of the campaign, his 
 mind was farther depressed in being obliged, by the force of cir- 
 cumstances, to brood over ill-fortune without chance of remedy- 
 ing it. But now the case was altered ; the sense of security 
 in which the foe indulged, pointed the way to action. Though 
 care siiU furrowed the brow, the eye beamed with the fire of en- 
 tliusiam, cahn yet deep. 
 
 Afier issuing final instructions, and taking separate leave of 
 each officer, he rode out, with his suite, to direct personally, the 
 embarkation. Ami tedious was the passage beyond calculation ! 
 It had been estimated, in council, that both artillery, and men, 
 would be safely landed on the opposite bank, by midnight; but 
 the slowly moving ice was wedged so closely, and gave passage 
 to the crafl so reluctantly, that it was three o'clock, in the morn- 
 ing, before all the artillery was disembarked. By four o'clock, 
 the troops took up their luie of march. 
 
 After midnight, comirenced a storm of snow, and sleet, which 
 added much to the difficult}'' of the passage ; and, indeed, the 
 delay was so great, that the general began to despair of surpris- 
 ing the town. The march through the heavy snow under foot, 
 and beneath the fall of sharp, arrowy sleet, which almost blinded 
 the troops, he well knew — though the distance v/as but nine 
 miles — would occupy, at least, four hours ; and that he should 
 not reach Trenton before day fairly broke. ^ But this reflection 
 he wisely kept within his own breast ; he was certain there was 
 now no possibility of making a retreat without being discovered, 
 and harrassed, on repassing the river, and he determined to push 
 on at all events, and at every hazard. 
 
 The army, which consisted of two thousand four hundred men, 
 with twenty pieces of artillery, was formed into two divisions ; 
 one under General Sullivan, to march by the lower, or river-road, 
 over the bridge at mouth of Jacob's creek ; the left division, un- 
 der General Greene, and his Excellency in person, to take the 
 upper, or Pennington-road. As the divisions had nearly the 
 same distance to march, and would (barring accident) arrive at the 
 same time, he gave orders, that immediately on forcing the out- 
 guards, his troops were to push directly into town, that they 
 might charge the enemy before they had time to form. It was 
 arranged, that Generals Ewing, and Cadwallader, with the Jersey 
 and Pennsylvania militia, occupying stations below the ford of 
 
224 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 Trenton, should, durinjr the night, cross the river, southward of 
 the town, and uiake attack on ihal side ; or if arriving too late, 
 10 join in the assanh, prevent the escape of the enemy. 
 
 it was about eight o'clock, when the advanced guard of Ge- 
 neral Greene's division arrived in llie vicinity of Trenton. So 
 deeply anxious was Washington in the issue of the expedition — 
 so momentous the effects either of faiUue, or success — tliai on 
 this occasion, the comuiander-in-chief, wiih his aids, accompanied 
 the march of the out-guards. It was of the highest importance, 
 that the enemy sliould not suffer alarm previous to attack, and 
 this charge his Excellencv took on himsel! personally. 
 
 The snow, and sleet, which dm-ing the night proved so disas- 
 trous, was now of service in obscuring the approach. At a 
 juncture, when the sharpest look-out was preserved by the ad- 
 vancnig party, an individual suddenly threw himself in the mid- 
 dle of the road. He was instantly surrounded, and his person 
 secured, that he might neither escape, nor give alarm. 
 
 " De safety of Congress" cried Girard. 
 
 " Release your prisoner," said the subaltern in comruand of 
 the guards, " he is a friend." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Girard, cried Washington riding up, " lime presses. 
 In a word, how stands it in TreiUon ?" 
 
 The spy replied briefly, that the Hessians were sleeping after 
 their carouse — and the troop of British light-horse were in the 
 some pri'dicanient. 
 
 "But the guards — and pickets?" exclaimed Washington hastily; 
 " is good watch preserved at the oui-posts ?" 
 
 Giraid answered, that as far as his scouting went, though the 
 troops had been indulged, yet discipline was maintained, and the 
 out-guards regularly relieved. 
 
 " Whereshall wefind iheirpicket ?" demandedhis Excellency. 
 
 Perhaps two hundred yards hence — maybe a greater distance 
 — was the reply. The certainty of being taken, or shot, prevent- 
 ed the scout ascertaining the spot with more exactitude. He 
 did not fear the danijcr — he added — it was the dread of being 
 unable to serve his Excellency, which made liim keep aloof. 
 
 " Hand him a fire-lock, and let liim fall in," said the general. 
 
 The march recommenced. At a short distance in advance, at 
 an angle of the road, stood a cottage ; llie owner was at the 
 door, chopping wood. 
 
 On seeuig the guard approach, the man attempted to retreat 
 within doors, but was secui-ed, ere he could effect his purpose. 
 
 " Where is the Hessian sentinel ?" asked the general. 
 
 The cottaiier, ihrougli fear, or other cause, made no reply. 
 
 " Speak — and quickly, my good fellow." cried Colonel Bay- 
 lor, "iliis is General \^'ashingtorl." 
 
 " God bless your Excellency," said the man finding speech, 
 "the sentinel is under that large oak — he is sore driven by the 
 storm " 
 
JASPER CROWE. 225 
 
 A push was iinmedialely made to surprise the Hessian, ere 
 he could give alarin, but unlorluiialely, he espied his foes in lime 
 to retreat, after dischargintj his fiie-lock. 
 
 There was now no resource but in a rapid movement to pene- 
 trate ihe town. Tlie picket, to which the fugitive sentinel was 
 attached, made no stand, as iheir number was but small, but 
 they nevertheless behaved very well, keeping up a constant re- 
 treating fire from behind houses. 
 
 Soon as his Excellency came within view of the interior of 
 the town, and saw that ihe inain body of the enemy was forming 
 in ihe streets, he ordered his artillery-men to advance with three 
 light pieces. 
 
 The firing now heard in another quarter, proclaiming the ar- 
 rival, and engagement, of ^iiullivan's division, cheeied and en- 
 couraged the troops under Washingion. His artillery in advanc- 
 ing were met by a heavy galling fire which struck down many a 
 brave soldier, but being supported by light troops under the coin- 
 mand of his Excellency, who marched at their head, the cannon 
 were brought to bear, and speeddy swept from the streets, the 
 half-formed Hessian ranks. The enemy's cannon was seized 
 after a short and severe resistance — and they fled on ail sides. 
 The British light-horse, and many of the German infantry, es- 
 caped by a bridge over the Assanpink creek, (which forms a 
 boundary to the town, eastward,) and as the Pennsylvania, and 
 New Jersey, militia, were unable to cross the Delaware, and in- 
 vest the cantonment on fhat side, they made good their retreat 
 to Bordentown. 
 
 The main corps of the Hessians being hard pressed, attempted 
 to file off" by a road on (heir right, (near the banks of the Assan- 
 pink,) leading to Princeton, but his Excellency perceiving their 
 intention, threw a body of troops in their way, which immedi- 
 ately checked the design. Finding themselves surrounded — re- 
 treat cut off — that they must inevitably be cut to pieces, if they 
 made farther resistance, the drum sounded a parley, and after a 
 short conference, they agreed to lay down their arms. 
 
 *' Where is Colonel Rahl '^" demanded the commander-in- 
 chief. 
 
 " Your Excellency will receive his surrender in a few mi- 
 nutes," replied Baylor, " but I fear he is wounded beyond re- 
 covery." 
 
 Even while he spoke, the Hessian commandant was borne by 
 a file of his own sergeants. He had scarce strength, as his 
 sword — in token of surrender — was handed to Washington, to 
 exchange salutation with his conqueror. He had demeaned him- 
 self bravely, in ihe vain attempt to form and rally his troops un- 
 der the sweeping fire of the American aridleiy, and was carried 
 off to quarters, bearing with him the sympathy, and respect, of 
 his enemies. 
 
 " This is a proud day, gentlemen, both for the army and for 
 IS 
 
nB 
 
 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 Congress," exclaimed his Excellency, glancing around on his 
 victorious troops, *' but our task is not complete, till we secure 
 what we have won." 
 
 As it was supposed — with much probability — hat many of 
 tlie Hessians were concealed in the houses to which they had 
 fled, either for shelier, or to escape capture, a strict search com- 
 menced which resulted in a great increase of prisoners, both of- 
 ficers and privates. 
 
 ISix lirass fieliJ-pieces — about a thousand stand of arms, and 
 ihe same number of prisoners, Avere the results of the surprise 
 at Trenton. But to estimate the importance of this lucky hit by 
 the number of captives taken, or arms secured, was far umJerrat- 
 iug its advantages. In the low ebb to which the mililarv af- 
 fairs of the Republic were reduced, the successful issue of the 
 enierprise was calculated to inspire, with renewed courage, the 
 wavering spirits of the nation — to give it more thorough confi- 
 dence in Congress and the army, and to stimulate it lo fresh ex- 
 ertions for the common weal. 
 
 The merit of the enterprise Iny in the plan and conception, 
 and the perseverance with which it was completed ; in the 
 trarispoit of the army across a river blockaded with floating ice 
 —ill marching soldiers, destitute of shoes and other essential 
 clothing, through a pitiless, relentless storm, in the depth of win- 
 ter, rather than in the actual conflict. The engHgement, from 
 the commencement, was entirely in favour of the assailants, who 
 out-numbered the foe, and had the advantage of taking them by 
 surprise. 
 
 General Ewing was to have crossed, before daylifiht, at Tren- 
 ton-ferry, and taken possession of the bridge over the Assanpink 
 creek ; but the quantity of ice was so great, that although he did 
 everything in his power to effect it, he could not accomplish the 
 passage. The same difficulty also hindered General Cadvvala- 
 der, with the Pennsylvania militia, froin crossing ai Bristol-foid. 
 If either, or both, of these officers had succeeded, the surprise 
 would have been more complete, the nutiiber of captives, and 
 arms, taken, much larger. 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 In connecting the severed links of our narrative, it is necessary 
 tliat wo return to our acquaintaince at Jasper Crowe's old man- 
 sion. 
 
 When tlie coimt was borne senseless to his bed, the most assi- 
 duous attention was rendered both by Jablonsky and Schulz. 
 The presence of a surgeon was needful, and it was debated 
 wliether the rejiimental functionary should be sent for; but the 
 
JASPER CROWS. 227 
 
 extraordinary, and unaccountable manner in which Knipslalch 
 canae by his ml^hap — the impossibiliiy of explaining whai liad 
 •accrued by human agency — rendered his friends exiremelv aveit-e 
 not only to summoning the surgeon, but even calling in the aid 
 oi Franz, or Diana <jroois. 
 
 His pulse vibrated, and his breath dimmed the surface of a 
 mirror which — in ilieir deep concern for his faie — they applied 
 \o ihe mouih of the sufferer. That he was alive was evident — 
 that he would be soon rest()red to a state of consciousness, and 
 relieve them from the consequences of a most disagreeable di- 
 lemma, was their confident liope. 
 
 The behaviour of Fagel was almost as extraordinary as the 
 event which his agency originated. All former confidence, and 
 self-possession, seemed to have deserted him. Unwillingly — 
 will) fear and tremblinij — he had followed into the loft, to ascer- 
 tain the fate of the count. He was too much overcome with 
 ■emotion, to assist in the patient's removal; and now sat by the 
 bed-side, a concerned, ihough helpless, spectator of the condition 
 into which he had brought his victim. 
 
 When Knipslatch at length opened his eyes, and beheld by 
 whom he was surrounded, he turned a reproachful gaze on 
 Fagel. 
 
 " I predicted this result," he uttered with difficulty, " and I 
 dreaded it." 
 
 '' What result my dear count," said Jablonsky, taking hk hand, 
 *' what was it that you belield ?" 
 
 Knipsjatch shook his head, intimating by gesture, that he was 
 yet too weak to hold discourse. 
 
 Ardent spirits, mixed with water, were administered with hap- 
 py effect. He gradually recovered from the double effect of the 
 severe nervous shock, and the blow struck by the falling ladder. 
 
 The account he was enabled to give was as follows : His 
 friends had scarcely left him in darkness, when he beheld, by ilie 
 faint glimmer of the stars, and the indirect rays of the lanierns 
 on the landing below, the awful influence which Fagel had sum- 
 moned, rise ttu-ough the floor to a colossal height. In its pro- 
 gress, the lumber with which the garret was encumbered, was 
 Avhirled about on all sides. The direful being, v^hich for so many 
 centuries either favoured, or tormented, the family, deigned nut 
 to confer with its present degenerate representative. To testify 
 iis anger, a sudden flash of liglitning was flung in the eyes of the 
 bewildered nobleman — and, with a horrid screech, the spectre 
 flew through the roof ! 
 
 " I saw the flash," said Jablonsky, " my eye could not be de- 
 ceived." 
 
 " Nor my ears," added Schulz ; " it was an awful noise — and 
 God help me ! I hope the season is very distant when J shall pass 
 such another evening." 
 
 " How happened ii,Captain Fagel," asked Knipslatch, rising, 
 18* 
 
ZZS JASPER CROWE. 
 
 from his pillow, " did you omit what you ought to have per^ 
 formed ?" 
 
 "No! no! Herrvon Knipslairh," replied Fiigel, " the omis- 
 «ion would have been a virtue. 1 have practisied deception " 
 
 " How ? how, sir ?"" demanded the count, " what 1 saw was- 
 leal." 
 
 " Who will accompany me to the loft ?" asked Fagel, looking 
 alternately at Schulz and Jablonsky, "if 1 ca.inot satisfy my 
 fears, I vvdl at Jea>i! reveal all I know." 
 
 Schulz looked exceedingly blank at this proposal, but Jahlon- 
 sky beina determined lo fathom to the bottom, ihe mystery, both 
 of the apparent supernatural event, and his fellow-officer's suspi- 
 cious behaviour, agreed lo accompany him. Whatever wcie the 
 nature of FageTs agency,, it was impossible for the Pole lo be- 
 lieve otherwise ilian^ that the Hessian was now as terror-siricken- 
 as Knipslatch had shown himself previous lo the ceremony. He 
 suffered Jablonsky to lead the way. On arriving at the loft, he 
 gazed around with an expression in whieh f«ar antl astonishment^ 
 strove for mastery. 
 
 "• See f the trap has fallen, or been &hut. Who, or what could 
 have done that ?" asked the captain. 
 
 "Aye ! you may well ask that question," replied Jablonsky,, 
 **"and who rolled thpse barrels? Now none ou^ht to be able to- 
 afford an explanation so well as yourself!^ 
 
 " On my word of iionour. Captain Jablonskv," cried Fagcl, 
 laying hrs hand on the Pole^s shoulder ; the latter felt his hand 
 treml)le ; " 1 am guiltless u{ necromancy. My only crime was- 
 practising on the count's feais to an improper extent. I was- 
 maddened that we eould not discover the girl we s^Jpposed hidden 
 in the house, and was ripe for any mischief which presented. 
 Our friend's foolish fancies gave too ready occasion. I am truly 
 sorry for what has happened." 
 
 "You astound me, Facrel," said Jablonskvr changing colour, 
 " both ydmlz, and myself, believed you were fooling, till the re- 
 sult convinced us there was more than mere trickery. Do you 
 affirm. Captain Fagel, that the voice we heard,, before we left lliis 
 spot, was not a response to your cull ?" 
 
 " It was my own voice counterfeited, so as to appear coming 
 from a distant part," replied Fagel, "there is no- magic in ihal.'^ 
 
 " Maybe,"^ observed the Fole^ " I have heard of such decep- 
 tion. But the flash of light — the rolling barrels — the falling lad- 
 der. Had you an accomplice?" 
 
 "Of these matters, C^iptain Jablonsky," exclaimed the Hes- 
 sian, with much emotion, " I am entirely innocent. I know not 
 how lo account for them, and though a foolhardy man, almost 
 believe that an evil sprite obeved my rash summons." 
 
 "'Tis strange," observed Jablonskv, pondering, "for credit 
 you, or not, I do not see how you could find the opporlimity of 
 
JASPER ^nowE, 229 
 
 (Concerting with an accornpline. BiU aid me to replace the lad- 
 •der, and I will take a glance above." 
 
 'I'he Pole naonnted, hfted tlie trap, and looked over ihe sides 
 of ihe sloping roof. The snow, and i^leel, fell thick and fast, and 
 ^he soon descended. 
 
 " h must have been a good genius after all,'" said Jablonsky, 
 trying lo piu asmilingface on the event, *" for seeing that a storm 
 was coming on, he took care lo close the trap. Idu not see ifiat 
 ihe has left any vestige behind; not even a bad odour; so let's 
 away, and console poor Knipslatch." 
 
 " Do you break iilo him !'' whispered Fagel, as they descend- 
 ed the stairs, together. 
 
 Both liie count, and Schuk, w^re on'the str-elch of expectation, 
 when their friends reappeared, 
 
 " Why, Count, you look quite a different man," cried Jablon- 
 €ky, gaily, "from what you appeared iifieen minutes ago; and 
 our friend, Fagel, has made a confession which will nodoubtset 
 your mind<iuiie at ease."" 
 
 'J'hereupon, the Pole related wiiat they had seen, and what 
 Fajiel lind confessed. 
 
 The relation had certainly an cxtraordinar}' effect upon the 
 count. His face ciiafiged to an expression of deep and sullen 
 anger; aiul his strength seemed perfectly -restored. He arose 
 from bed, arranged his disordered apparel, and confronting the 
 Hessian, told him in a few wcrrds, tlxal there was but one mode 
 of wiping off the disgrace and ridicule, which had been ilung on 
 himself, and his family; and he would have satisfaction before 
 "daybrcaii. 
 
 " I have too often shown my cnud-age-. Major Knipslatch, for 
 even yt^'i to dispute it," said Fa<iei, cajnily, " but I would pre- 
 fer not meeting v»u. '* I iiave done yau wrong, and regret it — 
 accept my acknowledgments and apology." 
 
 " I cannot, if I would,'' replied the count, after a moment's 
 consideration, *' the affair trmst go farther, or 1 shall become — 
 %vlien the whole story gets wind— the ridicule and laughing-stock 
 of the army." 
 
 "No! no!" said Schiilz, interposing, " as the c?iptain apolo- 
 gizes, what more can he do, or what more can be expected ?" 
 
 " As far as regards him,"" rejoined Knipslatch, "the argument 
 applies. Hut you know niy feeling>; j'ou know to what secret 
 cause [ attribute tfie misforiunes which have befallen mp. 'J'here 
 •shall be, Captain Fagel. for my insulled honour, a -deeper feeling 
 than ridicule excited in the breasts of those who hear the story, 
 and the comments passed on it. Captain Jablonsky, I must 
 again tax your friendship." 
 
 " Herr von Knipshueh," exclaimed Fagel. gravely, " I am only 
 adding to my wrong in meeting you hostilely. I pray vou ta 
 think of some other mode. The occasion does not justify my 
 actintf." 
 
230 JASPBR CROWE. 
 
 "Thai I can remedy, Captain Fagel," cried Knip.slalch, sirik- 
 ing ihc oilier a blow, wiili ilie open liaiid, acioss liij- mouih. 
 
 " There is now indeed, I am afraid, no help (or ii," rejoined 
 the Hessi.in, *' H.e^r^^chn!z will, I hope, arrange everyihmg with 
 Capiain Jablonskv, and I shall be found in niy own quarier^." 
 
 Saying ihis, Kagr^l qiiiued the chamber ; and Schulz piesenily 
 followed. When Jablonskv, and Knip.slalch, were lefi alone, ihe 
 laiier asked ihe Pole lo leil liim, candidly, wiieiher he had acted 
 right in forcing a meeiing. 
 
 Jablonskv repln d ihal lookmg onlv to the consequences which 
 affeelcd himse.lt, and die service to which ihey were boih attach- 
 ed, he would say the roiuil dui wmno ; bul considering the pe- 
 culiar feelings, and sit'vation of his friend, and sympathizint; with 
 }iim, he conid not affirm, bul what he sbouhi have acted the same 
 way himself, 
 
 '' Tlini ij* spoken like an honest man and a gemleman," ex- 
 claimed Knip>Iatch, shakijigthe other warniiy by the hand; "yoii 
 are indeed my h'iend." 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Apper preliii>inarie& were arranyed bv the seconds-, they took 
 their princip'ds lo the intendeil scene (f action — the long garret 
 on the upper floor. 'I'o fiiihi out of d<w>rs.. in midst of the chilly 
 storm, was impracticable ; to postpone the event was contrary to 
 the wish of Kiiipslaich, amf even of Fagel, since he found il im- 
 possible to decline tlie meelini;. It was agreed, as the reoinien- 
 tal surgeon was quailered in the vicinity, lo defer sending for 
 him till occasion should require his services. 
 
 The old loft broiioht assoeiations to each party, poweifiil 
 ei'.omih to divert the inind even from the intended rencontre. 
 Knipslatch was confiruied, bv the extraordinary occurrence in 
 hereiiitary sn[)erslition, thouuh no man was more sensibly alive 
 lo ridicHle, of which he felt he shouM h«}ve his fni'l share, when 
 the mysiilicalion [iraciised bv Fagel yoi wind. Bclievii g in the 
 existence of a famiJiar, v\hich haunted his race, he found it difficult 
 to reconcile its appearance wi^h Fagel's confession of deception. 
 k could only be soived on the sup[)osilion, that the Hessian had, 
 like a child in an armoury unwitiini/ly played with weapons of 
 which he knew not the powoir, or the use 
 
 F.igel himself stooil ill almost .similar predicament, with respecl> 
 to his fiiih ; he had smmnoned the evil one in joke, and behold I 
 he ha<i appeared. Of i^early ihe same complexion were the 
 ihoughts of Jablonskv and 8chuJz ; soniPthinii supernnfural had 
 intervened, thongh whether tlnouizh ihe agency of FafjePs invo- 
 cations,, or at Knipslalch's silent appeal, tliey could not determine. 
 
JASPER CROWE. 23-1 
 
 Jahlonsky, the most sceptical of I he party, could not in anv wise 
 reduce ihe phenomena to the probabilities of natural experience. 
 
 Possessed wiih these feelings, ilie momentous occasion which 
 brought the parlies logetfier, was rendered more grave and se- 
 rious. The li^ditness, or nonchalance, which ordinarily charac- 
 terises, or which is assumeil, by ihe mditar}^ characier, under 
 circumstances such as atiendcd the quarrel of Kuipslalch and 
 Fagel, was subdued to a solemn gravity • 
 
 At the instance of Fagel, one more attempt was made to com- 
 promise the mailer, but Jablonsky and his princi[)al buih declareil, 
 that friendship coidd not possibly be riinewed till shots had been 
 exchanged. Without fur?her delay, the distance was then mea- 
 sured, and the combatants phiced. Knipslatch sto^Ki near the wall 
 which divided the lofl from the miser's private apartment ; Fagel 
 was placed opposite, at an interval of fifteen paces. 
 
 The weapons chosen were pistols. Preference wonld have 
 been given toeitiier the broad, or small sword, hu\ the infirm stale 
 of Ktiipslatch's health, in addition lo the severe shock his frame 
 had experienced, dictated the more equable substitute of fire- 
 arms. 
 
 " (s vour friend prepared ?" cried Jablonsky. 
 
 Schulz answered in the affiimative, 
 
 "Then let it be understood, as we have agreed," rejoined the 
 Pole, " tfiat both parlies fire at the instant that I drop the scarf." 
 
 'flip Pole stood midway between the combatants, though far 
 beyond the line of fire. Schulz was on the otlier side. The 
 eyes of the principals were fixed on Jablonsky: he held aloft 
 the red scarf for a second ; it then fell from his hand, and both 
 pistols were discharged together. 
 
 Neither party fell, but the double report was followed by a 
 most terrific crash, which to ordinary ears might resemble the 
 smashing of glass and crockerv-ware, united with the screams of 
 a female voice ; but to the asiounded officers, whose minds were 
 already beset with superstitious fears, the sudden avalanche of 
 sound bade i.hcm prepare to behold the spectre which before 
 frighted Knipslaich. 
 
 " My hour is come, Jablonsky — shield me — I cannot bear the 
 sight I" exclaimed t'le Count, dropping on his knees, and placing 
 both hands before his eyes. 
 
 Fagel looked aghast ; the pistol fell from his hand, and he 
 stood on the spot where he firi-d, cowed and stricken with i error. 
 
 " When will this end, gentlemen ■?" he exclaimed. "I ix ly 
 you, let us cease our quarrels, and seek relief from this h* ' sh 
 spell." The seconds were almost as iimch amazed and j:)etrified 
 as their principals. 
 
 Meanwhile the t^creams coniiiuied, intermingled with aji oc- 
 casional clatter of disl<»dge<l, or fallincr, pieces of glass. 
 
 "The spirit still ihreatens," uttered ihe terrified Count. v>''h- 
 out daring to open his eyes. 
 
232 JASPER CROWK. 
 
 " Murder! thieves ! robbery ! help !" shouted a maTe voice. 
 
 "Come, rouse yoursell"^ my friend," cried Jablonsky, laughing,, 
 and seizing Knipslatch by ilie arm ; " up, man, aud casi away 
 terror ! This is not your devil, but an AiiKTicaii iiend, who 
 speaks English with ;he accent of a native. He was born here,. 
 I do assure you," 
 
 " Do not }e&i with my infirmity, Captain Jablonsky,'* said the 
 Count, rising and looking fearfully about. 
 
 •' Gentlemen," remarked Jablonsky, "I suspect we have beet> 
 fooled, or fooling ourselves ; but stay — Schulz, your friend is 
 wounded." 
 
 "No, no !" exclaimed Faget, "the skin of the arm torn; no- 
 Ihing more, I do assure you,'' 
 
 The wound, on inspection, proved as slight as he intimated. 
 
 Returning to the former subject, Jablonsky translated the words 
 uttered by the unknown, and suggested that they should break 
 down the wall, as he suspected it would turn out that iheir host, 
 Herr Crowe, had some secret closet or store behind. 
 
 '* Here is the aperture made by Fagel's buFiel," cried Schulz^ 
 pointing to a hole in the plaster, 
 
 "I am thankful it took that, rather than another direction," ob- 
 served the Hessian. 
 
 Knipslatch, who had partially recovered from his terror, sug- 
 gesied, that before the wall was cast down, they had better sum- 
 mon the garrison; he certainly heard a whispering; perhaps^ 
 Captain Fagel could yet explain the whole manoeuvre. 
 
 Fiigel asserted his innocence, and proposed that Jablonsky 
 should adopt the Count's hint. 
 
 'I'hus appealed to, Jablonsky applied his mouth to the aper- 
 lore, and demanded that whoever were behind,, should njake 
 himsnif krvown. 
 
 There w^as no reply or signal, 
 
 " Summon the garrison agahi,'' cried Schulz. 
 
 Jablonsky repeated the summons, with addition,, that if no an- 
 swer were made, he woidd force an entry. 
 
 The Pole detected, or fancied, he heard a slight whispering, 
 and a hasty negative in reply : but the sunmions was tinheeded. 
 
 " Now I will try the third lime," cried Jablonsky, and then 
 we'll vary our pleasant Christmas pastimes, by an assault," 
 
 The third summons met with the same fate as the second and 
 first. 
 
 *' Depend upon if, Count," said Jablonsky, as Schu!z brought 
 wp an axe, " we shall discover your fanu'liar." 
 
 The first blow shaiiered the planter, laid bare and broke the 
 bathes. It was arcompnnicd by loud shrieki-ng within. Half-a- 
 dozen vigorous blows made a breach wide and high enough to- 
 afford injzrcss to the fortress, 
 
 Ou cnterinfT. they discovered a chamber, piled from floor to 
 ccihng, with boxes, beds, and miscellaneous articles ©f every 
 
JASPER CROWE. 233 
 
 description. In one corner, half-dressed, in ihe state in which 
 he li.id rushed np slairs, on hearinii; ihe report of fire-arms, stood 
 Jasper Crowe, pale and trembling, yet wiih resolute eye, and 
 pistols in hand, keepintr guard over a leatlier trunk. Wear him 
 crouched a young maiden, with apparel disurdered, and hair fal- 
 ling wildly over her shoulders, the very picture of terror and 
 despair. 
 
 The display, on every side, of rich furniture and provisions — 
 hams, in rows, without number; wine, in casks and botiles — 
 drove from the minds of the Hessians every trace of supersti- 
 tion. 
 
 " What has he in the trunk he stands guard over so firmly?" 
 cried ISchulz. 
 
 " Here is our prize, and a fair one she proves," exclaimed Fa- 
 gel, cazing at the damsel. 
 
 " We have a sirotig curiosily, FTerr Crowe, afier all the trou- 
 ble we have undergone," said Jablonsky, advancing, "to have a 
 peep at ihe interior of the trunk. Is there more cold fowl and 
 wine hidden ?" 
 
 •' Stand oflf, men ! stand ofT !" cried Jasper in a shrill, tremu- 
 lous tone, with one foot on the trunk, a pistol in each hand, point- 
 ed at the intruders, and which shook in his nerveless grasp; yet 
 he stood determined to part with the treasure only with life. 
 
 " Stand off! I say," continued the old man, as Jablonsky con- 
 tinued to advance, " J'U fire both pistols into ye." 
 
 "Go not near him, sir, he's desperate," cried Marv, flinging 
 herself between her father, and Jablonsky. "Use us, sir, as you 
 would have vour own sisters and parents used, and we'll submit 
 to your will." 
 
 " iNo, no !" gasped the old miser, " I'll surrender nothing ; it's 
 mine, all mine." 
 
 Meanwhile Fayel, after casting a glance round the chamber, 
 made free with a handsome fowling-piece, of antique cousirue- 
 tion, inlaid with silver and ivory. 
 
 " It is mine !" cried Jasper, making a spring at Fagel. Drop- 
 ping one pistol, he grasped the fowling-piece with one hand, and 
 pointed the other weapon at the captain's breast. 
 
 Mary, alert to [)revent bloodshed, and its fearful cf>nseqiiences, 
 had barely lime to dash aside the barrel of the pistol, as Jasper, 
 in his phrenzied passion to protect his property, pulled the trig- 
 ger. The ball pissed harrrdess into the wall. 
 
 Fagel, enraged at the attack, seized the old man by the throat. 
 In the strusgle, they fell together on the floor. 
 
 *' Part them ! part them !" cried Knipslatch. 
 
 Jablonsky and Schulz, with difficulty, succeeded in rescuing 
 Jasper from the grasp of the Hessian. 
 
 •' Protect us, sir — do you protect us !" exclaimed Mary, falling 
 on her knees before Knipslatch, " \^'hat in reason you would 
 have, we will give. My father is an old man and passionate ; 
 his goods he loves better than me — better than his life." 
 
234 
 
 JASPER CROWE, 
 
 " What does this poor s'nl say, Jablonsky ^" asked the Count, 
 as he hfied her from ihe floor. 
 
 The Pole comtiiunicated ihe substance of her appeal. 
 
 " h is but reasonable," said KMip>lalch. " My friends," he 
 continued, "let us make a treaty with this lilile maiden ; her fa- 
 ther is a blockhead and an ass, and we need not heed him — 
 tho'igh look lo him close." 
 
 Fagel was snlJen, and muttered dissent; the land, he said, was 
 capiive, and all thai was in it belonged to the conqneiors. Hut 
 on Knipslalch requiring his forbearance, as the only terins nn 
 which he would consent t .. forget the past, and renew' friendship, 
 the 1. liter pronjised acquiescence. 
 
 The Count ihen i-istrucied Jablonsky to propose, tliat ihey 
 should be supplied dady with a fair quantity of what Jasper pos- 
 sessed in such profusion, and in consideration of such supply, 
 they would refrain appropriating any nionev, jewelry, or other 
 article of value, or of apparel ; re^tricling their demand lo rations 
 of wine, hams, and other eatables. 
 
 These conditions were translated by Jablonsky, and very 
 cheerfully agreed to by Mary Crowe, though with many a half- 
 suppressed snarl of dissent from Jasper, 
 
 " What is the maiden's name ?" asked Knipslatch. 
 
 " Mary Crowe," answered Jablonsky, 
 
 On hearing lier name meniionefi, Mary looked with an inquir- 
 ing glance, both at the Count and his friend. 
 
 " Then tell the fraulein Crowe," said Knipslatch, returning 
 her glance, "how happy I, and all of us, will be, if she woi'ld 
 favour us by resuming the management of the house. Her fa- 
 ther (though this you need not repeal) is no better than a turnip, 
 and besides, he qnariels daily with Dian, and withholds the com- 
 monest supplies." 
 
 M iry's eye sought the floor on hearing this proposal : she 
 would consult her father, she replied, and obey his will. 
 
 " And now that we have l)rought old skin-fliint to the rod," ad- 
 ded the Count, '' let ii not be f ryot ten that I must have l!ie win- 
 dows in my bed-chamber repaired " 
 
 Mary, with the faintest smile, promised assent on her father's 
 behalf. 
 
 " Who passes there ?" demanded Fagel, on hearing footsteps 
 in the loft. 
 
 Ft was Franz, who said he came up on hearing ihe report of 
 fire-arms 
 
 "And he comes in good time," cried Jablonsky; "it is too 
 la'e, — ;it least f think we are ma disposed for bed. Franz, you 
 must untomb Diana; let her boil a couple of hatus ; take with 
 vou this string of sausa<fes, thai net of lemons, and return for a 
 few bottles of claret. We will close Christmas-night with tlie 
 rarest bre d<fast since we landed on these shores." 
 
 As Franz was on the point of unhooking the suspended hams, 
 
JASPER CROWE. 835 
 
 Jasper interposed his services, which speedily brought about a 
 wraigiinjj, as he pahried on ihe German two of the smallest. 
 The " Frau/ei?!," as Knipslaich called her, ended the dispute, by- 
 pushing aside her father, and allowing Franz a free choice. 
 
 ''And ere we go," said the Count, " I must apologize to our 
 hostci^s for the damage done by Fagel's bullet, though belter as 
 it is, than if it had winged its way to her bosom." 
 
 From her account, which she gave with limid reluctance, to 
 Jablonsky, it appeared she suffered rather a narrow escape. As 
 s!ie lay in bed (which was close to the wall of pan ii ion) she hoard 
 the Hessians disconising in the adjoining garret, but not under- 
 standing the language, knew not the danger sh'^ ran, till the bul- 
 let, flying over her liead, struck against a heap of plates and 
 glass on the opposite side, the noise of which brought up lier fa- 
 ther, who, with singular obstinacy, refused to answer the siun- 
 mons, or allow her to do so. 
 
 J.isper's military guests now retired, to talk over their adven- 
 tures, whilst waiting breakfast, leaving father and daughter to 
 their own company, 
 
 " All, all gone !" exclaimed the old man, with a deep sigh, sit- 
 ting down on the trunk; "and you, Mary, wojld give every- 
 thing ! I wonder you did not propose to the old marauder to 
 carry off this trunk." 
 
 " I don't know what you think, father," said the inaiden, with 
 asperity, " but after firing a pistol at one of these foreign officers, 
 I think you have escaped very easily, and I beheve I am not far 
 from the truth in saying, that you owe vour life, and the safety 
 of that trunk, to that same old marauder." 
 
 " I'gli !" grunted Jasper, " and in gratitude for their matchless 
 generosity, in not leaving me enlirelv destitute, I presume you 
 intend to make breakfast for these plunderers, and serve up thrir 
 dinner. Perhaps vour generosity may carry you to the extent of 
 
 accompanving them to Philadel['hia or to h — 11, if the whiie- 
 
 headed old rascal should ask it. — us a favour T 
 
 Mary burst into tears, and flinging herself on llie bed, wept 
 bitterly. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 About seven o'clock, our military carousers left their claret to 
 sit down to the substantial breakfast which Diana Groots had 
 been summoned to prepare. The board was lavishly supplied 
 with hams, sausages, tongues, tea of rare quality — which ov\ ing 
 to the contest with Great Britain was exceedingly scaice and dear 
 — chocolate and many o'her luxuries. Eggs there were in plen- 
 ty, but we are sorry to record, mostly unfit for table, having be- 
 come antiquated during sojourn in Jasper's store-room. 
 
23^ 
 
 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 A hearty breakfast was aboul ihe best prescription the hon-vi- 
 vans co\.\\& partake of, to wash away the eflccis of their bacchanal 
 vigil. The evenics of the night were discussed with freedom and 
 temper, and with remarkable courtesy to Knipslatch's peculiar 
 fancies — and with good reason — for the mystery of the flash of 
 light, and the falling ladder, was a spell, wliich haunted, and puz- 
 zled, the mind of each. 
 
 Fagel was the most thoughtful ; he was also the first to leave 
 the lable, before the otiicrs had finiohed their prolonged meal. 
 Meeting Franz in the hall, which he contrived purposely, on his 
 return from the kitchen— he told him that as breakfast was near- 
 ly over, his services would not be required ; and he himself had 
 occasion for them. The orderly fulluwed the captain to his 
 quarters. 
 
 " Franz," said the oiTicer, " you have a close tongue — a ready 
 hand, and a prompt wit. These aie good qualities, if you knovv 
 how to put them to iiood use." 
 
 *' 1 have been promoted, Meinherr, from the ranks," replied the 
 soldier, '' to serve the honorable mess." 
 
 " That is but small promotion in itself, Franz," rejoined the cap- 
 tain, " if It were not, that it put von in the way of serving others, 
 and by so doing, serving yourself." 
 
 '* How can 1 serve Meinherr?" 
 
 " You have seen the old man's pretty daughter — that little body 
 whom we unearthed so oddly this morning?" 
 
 FVanz replied in the affirmative. 
 
 " I have a notion of taking herto spend a few days at Princeton, 
 or New Brunswick," said Fagel," it will be a pleasant change af- 
 ter being so long immured amongst sausages, and old clothes." 
 
 " Very pleasant, both to the lady, and Meinherr," observed 
 Franz. 
 
 " And to yourself — I suppose, if [ pay you liandsomely for help- 
 ing ns off?" remarked the Hessian. 
 
 The soldier observed that, certainly, payment would make con- 
 sidei-Hblc difference in his feelings. But would not llerr von 
 Knipslatch,and Ensign bchulz, take it very ill ? He might suffer 
 from their anger. 
 
 " That is as much as to say, Franz, that yon susppct they would 
 be jealous of me, and visit iheir reseminent on yourself." 
 
 *' I hope ^Icinhcrr will protect me," replied the soldier. 
 
 "Make yoursell easy, Franz," said the captain; " I have the 
 best claim to her society, if it be only in recompense for the dan- 
 ger I ran frcnn her father. If it had not been for the daughter's 
 arm. the old brute would have slint me." 
 
 " That proves her affection for Meinherr," observed Franz, with 
 a broad vuloar grin. 
 
 As the parlies now understood each other, it was arranged, that 
 Franz should immediately procure a light country wagon ; and af- 
 ter receiving further instructions (with permission to absent himelf 
 
JASPER CROWE. 237 
 
 from duty) and being furnished with nrioney, he departed on his 
 unscrupulous errand. Captain Fagcl immediately went to iiead- 
 quarters, and procured from Colonel Hahl a fori night's leave of 
 absence. Relurnmg to Jasper Crowe's, he found his friend, still 
 lingering idly over the breakfast-iable. 
 
 " Why yuu look as bright as a newkreutzer, Herr Fagel," cried 
 the count, eyeing his late antagonist, " may I ask your recipe for 
 good looks after a nights debauch ?" 
 
 " The prescription, 1 followed this morning," replied Fagel, 
 "was ten minuies' walk through the sleet and snow." 
 
 " Billiards would be a good substitute," cried Jablonsky, " and 
 belter tlian a parade through ihe snow — What sound was that?" 
 
 " The crack of a rifle," said Schulz. 
 
 " An excellent idea !" cried the Pule, '' but let us go aloft. 'Tis 
 a famous shooting-gallery. We'll club tea dollars, and the 
 steadiest hand takes the purse." 
 
 " Add a kiss from Mary Crowe, and it's a compact," said 
 Schulz. 
 
 The Ensign had scarcely uttered the words, when ihey heard 
 the report of a scattered tiring. " What can that mean ?" ex- 
 claimed Knipslttch, appealing to his friends. I'he druvn im- 
 mediately beat to arms, and the firing momently ^rew louder 
 and nearer, and more frequent. "To arms, gentlemen," cried 
 Knipslatch, "the outposts are attacked ; whether I survive, or 
 fall — remember that I predicted, from the aspect of my secret 
 monitor, that a change was at hand." 
 
 There was no time for further parley, or discourse. Arming 
 iheiriselves hastily, Knipslatch and his friends issued forlh to join 
 their respective corps, amidst ceaseless discharges of musketry. 
 
 Soon as they were gone, Jasper Crowe crept forlh from his 
 chamber, and ventured into the officers' mess-room. Sad to the 
 miser, was the scene he contemplated ! Such a goodly array of 
 provisions — which under his penurious management would have 
 lasted several weeks — squandered, in profusion, in one moniiiig's 
 meal. 
 
 " The d d rats !" exclaimed Jasper, eyeing the remains of 
 
 breakfast. 
 
 " See, here, Mary," he continued, as his daughter entered the 
 apartment, "both hams cut at the same time ! The cursed lo- 
 custs ! may their own throats be cut, even as they sliced tlic 
 hams. But half-a-loaf is better than none — so help me, Mary, 
 to take up stairs what remains, or it will fall into the hands of tii'at 
 toad below." 
 
 Mary, ever obedient to her father's command, save when his 
 life, or property, was imminently endanojered by his obstinacy, 
 began removing the half-consumed viands as she had been bid- 
 den. 
 
 Meanwhile Franz returned with the wagon. From the dis- 
 charge of fire-arms, and other movements, he comprehended the 
 real posture of affairs : but as Fagel had granted leave of absence 
 
238 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 from military duty, he did not deem ii incumbent to join his regi- 
 nieni. J)rav\iiig up ihe wngon under shelter of the slal)le, he en- 
 tered the lioui^e, and found, as he expected, ihe officers liad quit- 
 led. Peepmg slyly into ilie mess-room, lie beheld the work in 
 which Jasper was so earnestly absorbed, but retreated without 
 showing himself. 
 
 [lurrying next into tlic kitchen, he was met by Diana Grools, 
 armed with a formidable bar of iron. 
 
 " VVh}^, whom do you lake mo for, Diana ?" cried ihe soldier. 
 " Mow fares it with the Anspachers?" demanded Diana, " do we 
 make prisoners, or strike tents V 
 
 '■ Tlie battle's scarce begun," replied Franz, " and your trade is 
 a long way otf." 
 
 '■ My trade !" exclaimed Diana, in a tone of mingled scorn 
 and derision; " my trade, indeed ! and what have I made of it ?" 
 
 '' Why, not much, perhaps," replied the oiher, " yet 1 have seen 
 two gold- watches, and I will nut say how many brtiad gold-pieces, 
 to say nothing of silver dollars." 
 
 " Why curt^e the poverty-stricken wretches," exclaimed Diana, 
 *' if one meets witli a pair of epaulets, there is nothing in the 
 pockets but a roll of paper money, not worih the weight in to- 
 bacco." 
 
 " You have not yet learned y^our trade, Diana," said Franz with 
 a sneer. 
 
 " What is it, ye mean, ye prowling thief!" rejoined the sut- 
 tler " tav.send teufeln! ihis bar shall teach ye how to behave." 
 
 " Throw asifie the beam, mv good Diana, and listen to ine," 
 said Franz, " and I'll point out the wav, by which you shall make 
 more money in five minutes, than you would have done in two 
 campaigns." 
 
 Seeing that lie was in earnest, Diana became an attentive list- 
 ener. Franz related on what mission he had been employed by 
 capiain Fagel ; he also gave a description of the store-chatuber in 
 which so much wealih was, confessedly, de[)osite{l. There were 
 but two beings now in the house, in custody of the treasure; a 
 feeble old man, and the young girl just come to liiiht, his dautrhter. 
 
 What prevented Diana and himself, he asked, binding Jasper 
 Crowe, and cnrrving off, in the confusion occasioned by the en- 
 emy's assault, both the treasure, and the young d.imsel ? 
 
 '^ Himmelsh/ast ? wfiy, the girl — is not the gold enough ?" 
 
 " Aye! for you and me," replied Franz, " but there is only one 
 road we can travel — backward, the way we came And if we 
 take the girl to either of the places, the captain named. I shall 
 make my peace with him, and stand clear of deserting I" 
 
 " Well ! and we go halves?" cried Diana. 
 
 " On my honor," exclaimed Franz, laying his hand on his 
 breast. 
 
 " And the old man, do you splinter him ?" 
 
 "No, Diana, I have a conscience," observeil Franz; "let u« 
 fasten him in the cellar." 
 
JASPER CROWK. 239 
 
 Providing themselves with a rope, and large sack, they made 
 fast the door leadmg from the basement into itie gardt- n, and then 
 stole quietly up stairs. The hall-doors, both front and back, were 
 next secured without obi^ervation. 
 
 Jasper's weak footsteps were now heard descending the stair- 
 case, and to prevent being seen, the worthy pair retreated into ihe 
 clot^et in which Franz usually slept. Soon as the old man pas- 
 sed into the mess-room, they crept after him, and ere he was 
 aware, the mouth of the uplifted sack was drawn over his face, 
 and body, by Franz. Diana Groots, who held the cord, wound 
 it several times round ihe sack, enveloped in which, the old inan 
 was strugfrling, and kicking to get free. But his arms being now 
 fastened by the rope, and his cries stifled in tlie sack, he was 
 borne neck and heels, into a cellar which opened from the kitch- 
 en, and in which was usually deposited the winter-fuel. 
 
 Having bound him securely to a post, from which there was 
 no possible escape, by his own unaided efforts, a hole was cut in 
 the sack, large enough to admit the passage of his head. 
 
 " He'll not die for want of air," said Franz, casting a last look at 
 his victim as he quitted the cellar. 
 
 " Wretches ! will ye starve me to death ? mercy ! mercy ! yon 
 mean it not ! Loose me, and I'll give you gold, all I have ! Ma- 
 ry — help — Mary— help. 
 
 More he may have uttered, but the door was closed on the un- 
 fortunate Jasper — the key turned in the lock, and withdrawn. 
 Harsh was the grating of that key in old Jasper's ear ! 
 
 Often h.id Mary ridiculed the idea of his affixing a lock on a 
 cellar into which there was need of constant access, and in which 
 nothing of more value, than fuel was stored. But the slave, (his 
 former menial,) he affirmed consumed by far too rancfi wood, so 
 he bought a lock. Did he feel how bitterly his niggardly penu- 
 riousness recoiled on himself? That lock in whose safe binding 
 maa;ic, he so much exulted— -which he had procured at— as he 
 said — a heavy cost, after the plan had so oft failed of counting the 
 number of sticks, and blocks! His own weapon turned on him- 
 self! 
 
 " Now we must silence the ]']H\efraulpw, while we peep into 
 the closet where all the gold and silver pieces be stored — and so, 
 frau (iroots, take off your shoes, and tread lightly. Those little 
 vixens have shurp ears, and shrill chippers." 
 
 And so saying, the adroit inarauder led his companion in quest 
 of their victim. 
 
240 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 When Franz and the siitller crept inlo llic loft, ihey found the 
 broken wall blockaded with fiirniuire, artd other cumbrous 
 articles, impeding further progress. It was a main pouit with 
 the rascal to surprise the girl and stifle her cries, ere she liad 
 lime, or chance, to raise alarm. As he heard, through the con- 
 versation at the breakfast table, that the secret stairs to Jasper's 
 stronghold led into a closet in his bed-chaiubcr, he proposed to 
 frau Groots, that she should remain sentine! in the loft, to pre- 
 vent escape in that direction, whil?;! he relurncd to the floor below, 
 and approached through the miser's ap;irlment. 
 
 But lids prudent arrangement met with unexpected opposition 
 from the sage Dian. 
 
 '' Nem ! «em/"was her whispered protest. More by signs 
 than by words, she gave the fellow to understand, thnt she would 
 not trust him alone in the treasure-chamber — they were to share 
 equally, and division should be made when boih were present. 
 
 Cursing her, in his heart, for a selfish old hag, and for every- 
 thing else that was bad and opprobrious, he found opposition to 
 her wishes both useless and dangerous, as lime was already 
 lost in discussion. Retracing ihcir steps, they entered Jasper's 
 bed-chamber, passed into the closet, and from thence upward. 
 The temporary and hastily arranged stairs, cieaked as llicy as- 
 cended. 
 
 "Father," cried the maiden, " this is all labour in vain. Wc 
 shall have to carry everything down again, when they have re- 
 turned from fighting." 
 
 Hearing no reply, nor yet seeing her parent, for Franz paused 
 in doubt how to act, she ran to the stair-head, and beholding the 
 unwelcome visitor, shrieked loudly, and ran to possess herself of 
 a gun which Jasper kept loaded. But the wary ruffian, second- 
 ed by the female fiend, were too nimble for the courageous at- 
 tempt ; the weapon was wrested from her grasp. 
 
 Spite of her cries, her hands were tied, and by signs which 
 there was no mistaking, she was threatened with instant death if 
 she resisted being blindfolded. Frighted with the horrid menaces 
 of the female fury wiio stood over her, and knowing but loo well 
 from the stories which she had heard related of the brutality of 
 the camp-women, when excited by hope of plunder, that the 
 threats would be put in execution, she submitted to her fate. 
 
 Thus far were the marauders successful. Their next exploit 
 — an easy one — was to commence ransacking the long-hoarded 
 stores of the miser. In its pr<^gress, however, it proved more dif- 
 ficult than they contemplated ; there was such an cmharras de 
 richcssc, that ihev knew not either how to act, or what to take — 
 or what they conld make up their mind to leave behind. 
 
 On forcing open the trunk, for whose safety Jasper displayed 
 
JASPER CROWE, 241 
 
 such desperate courage, it was found to contain an immense 
 bulk, in bags, of dollars in specie. Oilier bags, of lesser size, 
 were filled with gold coin — a treasure which llie miscaiculaling 
 old man had been afraid to put away from his sight,* and bury in 
 the earth, as most of his neighbours had done wiih their valu- 
 ables ; for whicli short-sighted policy he was now doomed to suf- 
 fer most bitterly. 
 
 To carry ojfif ihe trunk, enlire, was the discreet wish of both 
 robbers ; but it proved loo heavy, and ihey were, besides, in mo- 
 mentary fear of discovery. As often as Frauz withdrew his mind 
 from the absoibing contemplation of tlie riches by which he was 
 surrounded, he heard the commingling sounds of battle, and knew 
 from experience, that llie contest was growing severe, and the 
 issue doubtful ; and in whosever's favour it was decided, he must 
 away with his plunder, before victory gave leisure to the conquer- 
 ors. 
 
 " What hast there, fool ?" cried he, on beholding Diana ap- 
 propriating a very rich dress, probably the wedding apparel of 
 Jasper's mother, or deceased wife, and whose briglit colours and 
 woven gold, attracted the woman's fancy, not deadened to what 
 gratified her sex. 
 
 " Throw it down," he exclaimed, snatching it from her hand, 
 and flinging it aside ; " and those silver pieces, leave them for 
 our superiors. Here is gold, which will buy every thing, fill thy 
 pockets with it." 
 
 Not without much ailo-, Dian was persuaded to relinquish the 
 more gaudy, for tlie more substantial, and portable, wealth. Hav- 
 ing laden himself, and companion, with as much as they could both 
 carry on their persons, of the precious metal — as to encumber 
 themselves with boxes or trunks, was inconsistent with the line of 
 proceeding which he meant to adopt when he arrived at the Bri- 
 tish head-quarters at Princeton or New Brunswick, he left the 
 trembling captive in charge of his accomplice, and hastened be- 
 low. 
 
 Time was precious. As he gazed from a window in Jasper's 
 bed-chamber, he beheld many of his straggling countrymen re- 
 treating toward the bridge over the Assanpink Creek. The day- 
 was then inifavourable to his masters I Should he, or should he 
 not, persevere in his design of carrying off the old man's daugh- 
 ter? If he did not, his conduct would be viewed in no other 
 light than desertion, and as lie must follow the same road by which 
 his countrymen retreated — vvi;hin the British lines — to escape 
 from the service (ignorant of the language of the country, and 
 branded as a robber), was impracticable. But by carrying off 
 Mary Crowe, he was fulfiUing the orders of his superior officer, 
 on whom alone the blame must fHll, and who, for sake of his own 
 character, must screen him from the consequences of being ab- 
 sent from his regiment, and for his mal-practices (if ihey should 
 be complained of) in Jasper's house. The flight of Diana Groots 
 19 
 
242 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 he could justify on the argun-jent, that he had been forced to seek 
 her aid in accomphshing the captain^s designs upon the maiden. 
 He was the more incHued to the latter ahcriialive, as tliere ap- 
 peared every probability, from ihe expected issue of the engage- 
 meni, that the Hessian brigade would he forced to retreat on 
 Princeton, and his officers would arrive there nearly as soon as 
 himself. 
 
 The wagon was accq^^Boly brought from the stable, and 
 Mary (her cries partially s^pniered by a ch)ak wound around her 
 head) forced into it. She was laid on the bottom of the vehicle, 
 Dian following to prevent her rising, or attempting to escape. 
 Locking the outer door, Franz put tlie key in his pocket, and ap- 
 plying the whip to his steed, he drove rapidly down the street, 
 and over the Creek-bridge, refusing to listen to the call of several 
 fugitives on foot, escaping in the same direction. 
 
 Not ten minutes elapsed after his flight, when Girard came to 
 the house. Often, during the engagement, had he thought of 
 Mary in her lone prison-chamber, frightened at the horrid din, 
 which from every side, greeted her ears. 
 
 He knocked — there was no answer. Every door was locked — 
 every shutter fastened. It was natural, (he thovight,) whilst the 
 fate of the day was uncertain ; but how convince old Jasper that 
 he might unbar his doors with safety? He called to him by 
 name ; declared aloud that the town was in po.ssession of the 
 American forces ; still no response. 
 
 " Den I go in after de old fashion, and make Mr. Crowe give 
 me vun good breakfast for de news I bring. O ! I will have de 
 rare fun wid de old man, and wid Mary, if I can see her.'^ 
 
 And so, without more ado. Girard clambered to the roof, and 
 lifting up the trap, lowered his firelock by the belt, and dropped 
 after it himself. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The floor shook with the heavy weight of Girard, yet the noise 
 brought no one forth. Great was his surprise on beholding the 
 shattered wall, and the repaired breach. The retreat of Mary 
 was no doubt discovered ; perhaps the very means which he 
 adopted to frighten the old German, and encompass his own es- 
 cape, had proved the cause ! With this reflection rankling in his 
 mind, he hastened to Jasper's chamher, with in'ention of penetrat- 
 ing to the secret store, and of fathominjr the mystery of the strange, 
 and unaccountable silence. On the floor of the bed-chamber, he 
 observed several pieces of money, which increased his suspicion 
 of fuul play. Rushing up stairs, he bclield sad evidence of rob- 
 bery ; if no deeper crime had been perpetrated. Money, apparel, 
 letters, and parchments, were scattered about in s^ad confusion. 
 
JASPER CROWE. ^ 243 
 
 Lifting from a heap, a licb, antique dress, trembling at ibe tliought 
 thai beneath, lie might behold the lifeless form of the liiile piquant 
 Mary, his eyes rested on — a cooked and half-consnmed hain. 
 
 FJad Jasper, with his dau^jhier, (let! ? no! no! ihe idea was in- 
 capable of reconcilement with the old man's character. He would 
 never abandon his wealth ! Flad llie Hessian committed murder ? 
 Were such the case, they would hardly have left, undivided, the 
 spoil. 
 
 After inspecting the priming of his firelock, he descended again 
 to Jasper's bed-chamber : seaiched each apartment on that floor, 
 then passed to the rooms below, the mess-room, and the sleeping- 
 quarters of the Hessian officers. With lightest tread, lest he 
 should unawares encounter more than he could manage, with his 
 single arm, he crept softly down the basement stairs, but the 
 kitchen, and adjoining passages were as solitary as above. 
 
 Returning to the hall, on the principal floor, he espied on the 
 staircase, which led up stairs, a shoe. By the size, and shape, 
 it was Mary's. Strong proof, this, he thought, that she had been 
 carried away by comfjulsion. In refleclmg on the horrors to 
 which she might be exposed, it was but poor consolation, that the 
 idea of her murder was lessened by the discovery of the shoe. 
 It were well, and advisable, he conceived, to prevent farther de- 
 predation, that he should lock up Jasper's chamber, till the key 
 could be restored to the rightful owner, or placed in legal custody. 
 
 He had scarcely locked the door, when a noise at the garden- 
 gate, caused him to descend. It was follovv-ed by a loud knock- 
 ing at the hall-door. On opening it, he beheld on the piazza, the 
 same officer whom he had seen standing (whilst concealed in the 
 barrel,) within the red-chalk circle. But how diff'erent now his 
 condition ! He was borne, v/ith aid of several American soldiers, 
 by his companions, Jablonsky and. Schulz, and was carried straight 
 to his former quarters. 
 
 Without inquiring who or what he was, the services of Girard. 
 were readily accepted by Jablonsky. After the Count's wounds 
 were dressed, and the surgeon had departed to attend another 
 oflicer, the Pole, pleased wiih the alacrity of the Frenchman, put 
 several questions respecting ihe service to which he belonged, 
 and tlie character of General Washington. 
 
 Girard, who had been ruminating how to act — whom to apply 
 to, under the strange mystery whicl) overhang the fate of Jasper's 
 household, Vv'as delighted to "find liimself addressed in the English 
 language. There was an open military frankness in Jablonsky's 
 countenance which won confidence, and our spy made confes- 
 sion how he had discovered the house locked up, and that on 
 gaining access, found it untenanted. He suppressed, however, 
 the particular mode of entry, lest he should incur the resentment 
 of the officers whose strange vigils he had so unceremoniously 
 disturbed in his previous escape from the loft. 
 
 Jablonsky was astounded. Gone ! all gone ! — Herr Crowe — 
 19* 
 
244 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 his danglitcr — Franz (ihough he was possibly shot or made cap- 
 tive) — Diana Groots — surely shewns beh)\v"? 
 
 " Not vim soul in de house!" exclaimed Girard, emphalically^ 
 "and de shoe I find prove vera much wrong done.'^ 
 
 " The sutller," remarked the Pole, ihoughlfully, " would not 
 slick at murder, if there were store of gold to tempt her eyes, but 
 she alone could not carry off lier victims." 
 
 In coniinuation, Jablonsky said he was also templed to believe 
 there had been foul play, for, from what he had seen of his host, not 
 all tiie peril of the late fray, would have made him abandon wealth, 
 on vvhici) his affections were so deeply fixed. 
 
 The Polc'.s attention was suddenly recalled to Knipslatch, who 
 reminded his friends, that even as lie predicted, so it had fallen 
 out, that a change of fortune was at hand. Had he possessed the 
 courage to face his awful visitor, he would, doubtless (like his 
 ancestors), have been forewarned of, and taught how to evade, 
 the peril. 
 
 " Poor Fagel is dead," continued the Count ; " he did not sur- 
 vive his fall, many s-econds ; he fixed iiis eyes on mine, and I fan- 
 cied he wislied to communicate some request, but the power was 
 denied. The surgeon promises me better fortune, but there is 
 one in whom I have greater confidence, did T dare see him." 
 
 His fiiends listened in silence ; recent events made the sub- 
 ject too interesting to be treated with levity ; and yet Jablonsky, 
 after a pause, could not help observing, that he wished some fa- 
 miliar would communicate to him whether he should be speedily 
 exchanged, or whether it were his destiny to undergo a long cap- 
 tivity. 
 
 Even as he spoke, there issued, as from beneath, a noise re- 
 sembling cry, or groan. 
 
 " Heilige gcisf /" exclaimed Schnlz, changing colour, " I shall 
 be glad when the American Commissary orders our removal. 
 This old house is haunted from cellar to garret." 
 
 The groans or cries were repeated. 
 
 " What think you of this, Mr. Girard ?" asked Jablonsky, look- 
 ing significantly at the Frenchman. 
 
 "I do link i will make vun grand search below," replied Gi- 
 rard, pointing downward with his finger. 
 
 " 1 quite agree with the American officer," observed Schulz, 
 who saw Girard's motion with the finger, though he did not un- 
 derstand the words ; " the evil one is at work sure enough, but 
 I hope he'll not appear." 
 
 " Our new acrjuaintance," said Jablonsky, laughing, " is a 
 Frenchman, though in the service of the States. Will you accom- 
 pany him, and myself, to the realms beneath ?" 
 - Hcrr A^on Knipslatch may not prefer being left alone," replied 
 the Ensign. 
 
 " Go, Schulz," replied the Count, "the weaker I grow in body 
 the more courage I feel to possess." 
 
JASPER CROWE. 245 
 
 The Ensign, lliough very loth lo accept ihe challenge, scorned 
 further subLerfuge, and, pulling on a cheerful cuunienance, ex- 
 pressed his willingness to join in the adventure. 
 
 The strange noise ceased for the interval, perhaps, of one mi- 
 nule ; but as ihej crossed tlie stone flour of the kitchen, it was re- 
 newed- 
 
 " I do know dat cry," said Girar.d, stopping sudtienly. 
 
 " What does he say, Jablonsky ?" asked Schulz, looking from 
 one lo the other. 
 
 "He says," replied the Pole, with solemn gravity^ " ihat he 
 knows the being who made ihat noise." 
 
 " Der teufel! he does!" exclaimed Schnlz., widening the dis- 
 tance between himself and the Frenchman, " ihen I do not wish 
 ihe acquaintance of3''Our new fiiend" 
 
 " Whom do you suppose the cry lo proceed from ?" asked ihe 
 Pole, turning lo Girard. 
 
 " Oh ! it IS old Crowe, I be sure." 
 
 "Old Crowe !" ejaculated Jablonsky, " nut .the hlack crowe — 
 the devil, as my friend believes." 
 
 " Old Crowe be vun deyvi],sure enough," replied Giraid, "but 
 den he be fader to de litile cherub., Marie Crowe." 
 
 Meanwhile, old Crowe, or the devil, aware that he was in the 
 vicinity of good company, beg:in vociferaling most lustily. Schulz, 
 who had not the advanlagc, like Jablonsky, of confidential inter- 
 course with Girard — ignorant of the revelations made by the 
 Frenchman — participated 'u\ all the superstitious belief of Knip- 
 slalch, without possessing a particle of ihe laltcr's subdued cou- 
 rage and resignation. Ashamed lo display fear, yet too much 
 terrified wholly to conceal it, he watched tlie proceedings of the 
 others, without aiding them. 
 
 Several holes and corners were searched before they came lo 
 the right spot, but as soon as they began handling the cellar door,, 
 all doubt ceased. The prisoner, thuu.gh nearly exhausted with 
 previous efforts, redoubled his cries. The door was forced open, 
 and ihe old nian discovered. 
 
 At another season., the ludicrous aspect of Jasper — his head 
 iseeming to resl on the sack which enveloped his body — would 
 have excited daughter ; but the mental torture he had undergune, 
 claimed the sympathy of his rescuers. 
 
 " It be very cold here, Mr. f^rovve,'" cried Girard, pulling out 
 his case-knife to cut the rope which bound him. 
 
 " Untie it," cried the miser, faintly. It was his oivn rope ! 
 
 Ere released, he fell into a swooii, and was borne by Girard 
 and the others, to his chamber. 'Leaving him to lli,e caie of the 
 Frenchman, the officers retired to acquaint Knipslalch with the rc- 
 .'sult of their search, and ihe disappearance of Diana Groois. 
 
 " Where is Mary ?" cried the uld man, opening his eyes. 
 
 The Frenchman, in the feeble condition of Jasper, was afraid 
 io communicaie the truth ; lie lold liim tint she had been forced 
 m leave the hause^ but was in a jplaoe of «afeij. 
 
246 JASPER CTIOWE. 
 
 "Where? wliere is ihe " but the miser slopped shorty 
 
 and looked wisi fully at the closet door. 
 
 (iiiard took the old man's hand. Though but sligh/ly known 
 to each other, he trusied ihat Mr. Crowe had confidence m his 
 good inteniions. He was in the service of General Washington, 
 who was now master of'l'rcnion, luivmg totally routed the Hes- 
 sians; the officers in his house were prisoners, and would shortly 
 be removed to a place of safety beyond the Delaware. Yet be- 
 fore they departed, an invedtigaiion ought to take place. 
 
 " What? what ?'' exelainjed Jasper, shuffling ofi'lhe bed, "have 
 I been robbed? Stand aside — let me go — I can walk — I'll have 
 justice — ril pursue them to the end of the world !'*" 
 
 But his strength faded him,, and he fell into the arms of Girard^ 
 
 On (iirard demanding by whom he was bound and cast into 
 the cellar, he replied by staling what had occured. The French- 
 man said that both Franz and the woman had disappeared, and 
 he was afraid — indeed he was convuiced — they had been up stairs- 
 riflmg his property. 
 
 "Carry me up, Mr. Girard," said the miser, breathless and 
 fainting, "carry me up; I will see my loss, if I die." 
 
 (liraid bore him up stairs, and seated him on the bed. 
 
 " Ruined !' ruined !" ciied old Jasper, gazing around, wliilst 
 the tears fell fast down his (cheeks, "and Mary deserted me !" 
 
 " No ! no !" exclaimed Girard, " say not dat thought;" and he 
 related the circumstance of his eomins; to tlie house to bring the 
 glad tidings of deliverance from the Hessians — how lie was un- 
 able to make any one hear — that he forced an entry, and found 
 the premises untenanted, and ahhough he looked into the kitch- 
 en, he did not hear Mr. Crovve''s outcry, (which might arise from 
 his creeping down softly, unheard by the poor old irian,) that he 
 found one of Mary''s shoes (which he now produced) on the 
 stairs, above the hall, from whence he surmised that she had 
 been carried off against her will; and in conclusion, from adding 
 his own experience to Mr. Crowe's narrative, had no doubt that 
 Franz and the camp-woman, in the tumult which raged in the 
 town, had borne her away, that she might not raise an alarm, and 
 frustrate carrying off ihe spoil. 
 
 Here was frcc^h misfortune for Jasper Crowe ! Flis spirits ap- 
 peared quite broken with the loss of his daughter and his gold, 
 added to the cnfceblement sustained by his frame, during the 
 lone terrors of his prison-house, and the probability of being 
 starved to death. 
 
 Tiie coin and treasure lay ^scattered about; but he had no 
 heart to investigate the extent of the los&, but aai on the edge of 
 the bed, his mind stupified, his eyes dimmed with tears. 
 
 Girard endeavoured to console him with oft-repeated assurance, 
 that as soon as Jasper was in condition to take charge of the 
 scaitered property, and resume the manacement of liis house, he 
 would make every possible search after his daugjilcr. Her re- 
 
lASPER CROWE. 247 
 
 covery, he added — though he did not himself feel assured of the 
 fact — was, beyond doubt, certain ; for the German could not 
 cross the river, and he would be forced, not knowing the lan- 
 guage of the country, to lake refuge in the British lines, where 
 he would at least be obliged to set at liberty his prisoner, even if 
 the gold were irrecoverable. 
 
 After this strain, tlie Frenchman succeeded in soothing in some 
 degree the wo-begone miser ; and having suggested the neces- 
 sity of putting his money and valuables in order, and seen him 
 commence t[)e melancholy task, he hastened below with inten- 
 tion of conferring with Capiaiii Jablonsky on the probable route 
 of the fugitives, and the steps proper to be taken to arrest ihem. 
 
 Jablonsky communicated to his friends the treatment which 
 Jasper had received from Franz and Diana, which fully confirmed 
 suspicion of their villany, and forced conviction that they had also 
 carried off Mary Crowe. Whilst Girard departed in quest of in- 
 formation which might throw liglit on the nefarious proceedings, 
 Knipslatcli dictated a letter lo General de Heisler, commander- 
 in-chief of the Hessian forces, deiaihng particulars of tlie robbery 
 and abduction, and requesting his good offices, and co-operation 
 with the British authorities, in restoring the daughter to her fa- 
 ther's artns, and if possible, recovering the gold and valuables 
 which the accomplices had stolen. 
 
 The intelligence picked up was but scanty. From a boy re- 
 siding in the street in which Jasper's house was situate, Girard 
 was informed, that the lad, whilst peeping through the grating of 
 the cellar, where the family had taken refuge against tlie flyi'ig 
 balls and bullets, he saw a light wagon drive rapidly by, in which 
 were a Hessian and a female. From a woman living close to 
 the Creek-bridge, and who, from an upper window, beheld the 
 escape of the more fortunate Hessians, he gathered, that she saw 
 the wagon driven over the bridge, and there appeared a third 
 individual lying at bottom, whom she imagined was wounded. 
 Her mem.ory was clear, inasmuch as she was struck with the 
 selfishness and brutality of the driver. A pour disabled fellow, 
 in the same uniform, made appeal to be taken into the vehicle, 
 but was met with a heavy stroke of the whip, as he attempted to 
 3av hold of the reins. 
 
 This evidence was at least sufficient to confirm belief in the 
 abduction of the young maiden. On his return, Girard found the 
 old man v/ilh Knipslatcli and his friends. He had received the 
 letter to De Heisler, as well as one from Jablonsky, to a British 
 officer of rank, in New Brunswick, on the same subject. 
 
 They were interrupted by a visit from the Atnerican Commis- 
 sary-General of prisoners, who was accompanied by his Excel- 
 lency's staff physician. The laitercame with a poHte message 
 from Washington to Count Knipslatcli, and an offer of the doc- 
 tor's services; the former to announce intention of removing all 
 prisoners, who conld bear transportation, across the Delaware, 
 
248 JASPER CROWBT. 
 
 without delny. If Ilerr Von Knipslatch were unfit for removaT, 
 he \v;is inslrticted to take his parole, ihat he would, as soon as 
 convalescent, surrender himself to the nearest American outpost. 
 The condition of the Count's wounds — severe if not dangerous, 
 made ihe offer very acceplable, and parole was given accordingly. 
 
 The parting between Knipslatch and his friends was afiection- 
 ate and sincere, as between men who had shared the perils of 
 war, and the society and pleasures of the mess. The same day, 
 the twenty-sixth of December, witnessed the return of Washing- 
 ton to the Pennsylvania territory, vifh liis prisoners, and ihe rich 
 spoils of war. Colonel Baylor, chief of ihe staff, was despatched 
 to Congress, carrying with him the standard of the regiment of 
 Anspach, and his Excellency's narrative of the action. 
 
 The retrograde movement of the American commander was 
 dictated by sound policy. At New Brunswick, Ambov, and 
 other cantonraenis, were six thousand British and Hessian troops, 
 whilst Washington's forces were bur iwentv-fonr hundred, pre- 
 vious to the engagement. To repass the Delaware, in view of a 
 supprior arriiy, was impossible ; to secure the prisoners and cap- 
 tured artillery and ammunition was, therefore, a primary object,, 
 and this movement was effected without loss or accident. 
 
 CHAPTER XIJ. 
 
 Very mucti to his satisfaction, Girard was ordered to remain 
 in New Jersey to procure inte41igence of the enemy's motions. 
 He was prepared to run the risk of goina, in disguise, to Prince- 
 ton, in hope of tracing the flight of the Flessian and his victim; 
 but Jasper Crowe, who testified mttch gratitude for the French- 
 man's services, absoluiely forbade him risking llie inevntable fate 
 of a spy, by passing, for such a purpose, so near the British 
 head-quarters ; and our adventurer, having special regard to con- 
 ciliating tlie old m^-rn, was prompted to obey. At Jasper's sug- 
 gestion, the more open and direct course was adopted, in respect 
 to the documents fiu-nished by Jablonsky and Knipslatch. Ad- 
 vantage was taken of a ffag gomg witliin the British Tines, to 
 forward the letters to their destination, accimipanied by another 
 from Jasper, with a more mrnute account of the alidnction and 
 robbery, and descriptit)n of the figure and age of the accomplices. 
 He was advised to add the offer of a reward for the recovery of 
 his d.uigluer, or apprelrension of Franz and Diana, but this pro- 
 position was rejected by the thrifty Jasf)er, who alleged, very 
 speciously, that as it was known the Hessian had carried off a 
 eot\siderable sum, in gold, there needed no stronger indncetrjcnti 
 to cause the scoundrel to be arrestetl wherever he showed his^ 
 face. 
 
JASPER CROWE. 249 
 
 " I have said that iheir pockets were crammed wilh guineas 
 and doubloons," observed Jasper, " and depend upon it, Mr. Gi- 
 rard, for sake of tiie gold, the British will keep a sharp look-out. 
 I have put my mark upon the thieves as effectually as if I had 
 branded their foreheads with hot iron. Mary may be restored, 
 but the money," added the old man, wilh a deep sigh, and an 
 awful shake of the head, " will be sequestered as belonging to 
 an enemy. And where's the use, I would ask, of throwing more 
 after it, by offering reward ?" 
 
 The renewal of hostilities by the patriot army, was destined 
 to continue. The peculiar distresses to which Washington's troops 
 were reduced by the severities of rain, cold, snow and storm, 
 the charge of the prisoners and artillery they had captured, in 
 addition to the difficulty of crossing the river, under any circum- 
 stances, and of its impracticability if harrassed by the enemy, 
 forced him, as we noticed in the last chapter, to return whilst re- 
 turn was in his power, without pursuing the advantages his army 
 had gained. 
 
 Bill after repassing into Pennsylvania, he discovered that nu- 
 merous corps of militia — the entire detachments under Generals 
 Ewing and Cadwallader, and several regiments from Philadel- 
 phia — had crossed over to new Jeise)% at various fords. Cheered 
 and flattered by the reviving courage of the militia of both pro- 
 vinces, he prevailed on the regular continental forces, whose time 
 expired on the first of January, to stay with him a few weeks 
 longer, for which condescension he agreed to pay a large bounty. 
 
 After two days' rest, the army again passed into New Jersey, 
 and effected a junction with the militia assembled there. But 
 the British commander-in-chief was now roused to the necessity 
 of making a vigorous effort to prevent his forces being driven 
 shamefully from the district they had overrun. Lord Cornwallis, 
 on the pomt of embarking for Europe, was countermanded into 
 Jersey, to take command of the army, and drive back the Amer- 
 icans beyond the Delaware. Howe followed, with all the rein- 
 forcements he could with safety draw from New York. 
 
 From these preparations of the British, it will be apparent, that 
 the renewed zeal and alacrity of the militia (which had lain dor- 
 mant when most needed), drew Washington into a serious di- 
 lemma. Anxio)]s to give their courage scope whilst at its height, 
 he had thrown himself into the province, with intent to follow up 
 the victory at Trenton ; but through the activity of Howe and 
 Cornwallis, and the strength of the reinforcements they brought, 
 he stood exposed to a highly disciplined enemy, superior in num- 
 bers, in front, and the broad river in his rear, over which hasty 
 retreat was impossible. 
 
 After skirmishing on the road between Trenton and Princeton, 
 he found himself, on the afternoon of the second of January, ob- 
 liged to retreat into the former-named town (the scene of the re- 
 cent engagement). The best, and indeed, only tolerable posi- 
 
250 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 tion, was ihe eastern bank of the Assanpink creek, a small stream, 
 which, aficr turning a mill-wheel, flows under a bridge, and loses 
 its waters in the Delaware. The eastern bank presents a per- 
 pendicular rise of some fifteen feet, with a level surface above; 
 the opposite maroin is a continuation of marshy meadow ground. 
 Seizing and fortifying the bridge and i he njill, wiiich proicctcd 
 his left flank, Washington planied artillery along the bluff, with 
 full command of the low meadows opposite. Occupymg this 
 position, he awaited tlie attack of Cornwallis, and a severe can- 
 nonading commenced, and lasted till after dark. The river was 
 but a shallow fordable stream, and it were an easy affair for the 
 British to cross higher up, and turn his right flank. Sir William 
 Erskine proposed to Cornwallis that this movement shouM be 
 effected wiihout delay ; but his lordship replied, that the men 
 were excessively faiigued ; the Anierican general was in toils 
 from which he could not escape, and after a few hours' rest, he 
 would be easily beaten on the morrow. '* If Washington is the 
 man I take him lo be," rejoined Erskine, " we shall not find him 
 here on the morrow." 
 
 The event justified Erskine's sagacity. The American camp- 
 fires were lighted, the sentinels relieved and paraded, and there 
 was every appearance that the troops were bivouacking. Ii was 
 agreed in council, in the patriot army, that the heavy baggage 
 should march toward Burlmgion, tlie guards remain on the field 
 till day-break, whilst the main corps retreated in silence and in 
 darkness. 
 
 By midnight, the baggage was far on its march, its removal un- 
 heard by the Biitish ; ilie ground being soft and ihe wind blow- 
 ing from the south, having induced a partial thaw. Renewing 
 the camp-fires, and leaving guards at the biidge and other passes 
 on the stream above, the army commenced its retreat, A sud- 
 den change of wind to northward, refroze the ground, and facili- 
 tated the march of the troops over the clayey roads. 
 
 To avoid the appearance of retreat, which would have depres- 
 sed the spirits of the iniliiia, Washington determined on a cncui- 
 tous march to Princeton, with intent to fall on the rear of the 
 British army, which, he had been informed the same evening, by 
 the ftithful (Jirard, lay ihere encamped. 
 
 The general reached the town by sunrise, and found three regi- 
 ments of British infantry, two of which, under command of Co- 
 lonel Mawhood, were already on the march. They made a most 
 desperate resistance, which extorted the adiniralion and respect 
 of Washington, but the gallant colonel, with the entire American 
 army in his front, was obliged to retreat; he fled toward the di- 
 vision tuidcr Cornwallis. 'J'he- remaining regiment, which occu- 
 pied qtiaricrs in Princeton, retreated hastily, and the Americans 
 entered the town. Three hundred prisoners were the fruits of 
 this surprise, in addition to several hundred more slain in the en- 
 gagement. To bring our military illustration to a close, though 
 
JASPER CROWE. 
 
 251 
 
 rather out of order in point of time, we may add, thai Cornwallis, 
 on finding, in the monimg, the Americans flown, was so much 
 alarined for the safely of fSevv Brunswi(k, where he had left the 
 military chest and stores of every description, that he marched 
 ihitlier with all speed. It was, indeed, Washington's intention, 
 when he moved from Trenton, to tiave pushed on to Brunswick ; 
 but the harassed stale of his troops, many of whom had had no 
 rest for two nights and a day, joined to the danger of losing ad- 
 vantage gained by aiming at too much, induced him, with the ad- 
 vice of his officers, to reluiquish the attempt. 
 
 To return to Girard. Though strictly forbidden by Jasper 
 Crowe to risk entering the British lines, he had, nevertheless, 
 with his usual temerity, returned to the neighbourhood of Prince- 
 ton, and from inhabitants on the roadside, as wt-U as from parlies 
 within the town, succeeded in tracking Franz thither, and learn- 
 ing that he still sojourned in company with the suttler. Of Mary 
 he could gather no tidings. 
 
 Pursuit of this object enabled the spy to afford very accurate 
 information to the cotnmander-in-chief ; and he gained credit for 
 diligence and love of his adopted country, which, in truth, should 
 have been attributed to love of one of his adopted country's fair 
 daughters. However, we must not look loo closely at motives, 
 which at most, can only be imperfecily known. 
 
 During the short occupaiion of Prmceton — which did not ex- 
 lend beyond two hours — (iirard made the best use of time. He 
 discovered the lodging of Franz, and was fortunate enough to 
 surprise Diana Grools. During the engagement, she was aban- 
 doned by the Hessian, who fled lo New I3runswick, leaving to 
 her fate his accomplice, and what proved more fortunate, a con- 
 siderable portion of the stolen booty. Under threat, Diana con- 
 fessed, through an interpreter, to her share in the villanous ex- 
 ploit. For Ivvo days they succeeded in keeping Mary Crowe a 
 close prisoner, in a cottage near the town, through ihe mstru- 
 mentahty of a Hessian surgeon, to whom Franz carried a letter 
 from Captain Fagel. The surgeon was employed in tending a 
 barrack hospital, in the vicinity of which was the cottage. 
 On the evening of the second day, watching her opportunity, 
 whilst Franz was in the town, and the woman was in the hospi- 
 tal — whitlier she went daily — the prisoner, unable to force the 
 chamber door, broke the fiame of the window-sash, and lowered 
 herself to the ground. What hecaine of her. Diana could not tell. 
 On return from the hospital she found Mary fled, and the Hessian 
 in a lowering rage, cursing his victim, his partner in guili, him- 
 self, and the whole world. After rage had cooled, he informed 
 Diana that he had just learned, from one of his countrymen, of the 
 death of Captain Fagel, and he was afraid that if the surgf on did 
 not stand his friend, he should have no evidence to prove that his 
 absence was connived at by the captain ; he had nothing to 
 show for it, but the letter to the Hessian surgeon, and as the af 
 
252 
 
 JASPER CiiOWE. 
 
 fair, altogether, was a black one, and ihe principal was dead, it 
 was more ihaii probable that liis friend would deny all knowledge 
 of ihe iransaclion, and leave Franz lo the doublefaie of a deser- 
 ter and robber. He was relurnnig to the collage with inlcniion 
 and hope of making a comf)roniise wiih his poor victim, by set- 
 ting her free on condition thai the affair was liushed r.p, when he 
 had the mortihcalion lo find himself foiled by her unexpected es- 
 cape. The best chance of safely, as he lold his accomplice, 
 was 10 remove into the town, and wail ihe opponunity of rejoin-ng 
 the shatiered remnant of his own l)rigHde, or oiher corps, or what- 
 ever course presented. They accordingly took the lodgings in 
 which Diana was discovered. Franz had turned out to aid m de- 
 fending ijie post, and dreading — as his partner imagined (for she 
 had not seen him) — lo fall into the power of the victors, lied with 
 what gold he boie on his person, into safer quariers. 
 
 The gallantry of Girard would not permit him lo act v.'ilh the 
 severity which the cainp-woman deserved : she was dismis- 
 sed, with a litile silver coin; and the Frenchman, with a sorrow- 
 ful heart, and more than two-thirds of the stolen gold, returned to 
 head-quarters, to demand leave of absence, in order to pursue the 
 invesiination, and trace ihe present refuge, or faie, of poor Mary. 
 
 In his way through ihe main street, near the college, he found 
 his skirts in the grasp of some one who tugged violently, Be- 
 lieviiig, at the instant, that an attack was meditated on the booty, 
 he turned sharply on the intruder It was a shoemaker, with 
 whom he had a slight acquaintance, and who requested him to 
 step wiihin his dwelling, as one of the inmates, on seeing him 
 from the window, testified much anxiety for an interview. 
 
 Great was the surprise, intense the delight, on beholding Mary 
 Crowe ! On her escape, she had claimed the proteclion of the 
 tradesman, and been received into his family. On hearing her 
 sad history, he judged il prudent that she should remain a while 
 secluded, the town" being in possession of the British and Hes- 
 sians. Though ihe Encrlish generals no longer permitted the 
 ravages which had disgraced the arms, and injured the cause of 
 royally, which thoy sought to establish; ycl it was very proba- 
 ble that the Hessian ofBcer who had assisted Franz in keeping 
 her a prisoner in the cottage, would, if he knew where she had 
 taken refuge, make an attempt lo carry her away. 
 
 This reasoning [)revailed, and Mary staid till the successful at- 
 tack on Princeton afiforded her — more than she ever dreamed of 
 — llie presence of her friend and lover. 
 
 Having obtained the permission from head-quarters asked for, 
 Girard returned to the shoemaker's, ind leaving with him a gra- 
 tuity which, he trusted, Master Jasper woidd not begrudge, he 
 departed with the little Mary, in a wagon, by a circuitous route 
 throui-h Sandtown) to her own home. 
 
 It was not till after dark that Girard ariivcd, with his fair 
 charge, at the miser's residence. 
 
JASPER CROWE, 253 
 
 *' Dere ! go in, ]\Iary, and make de old man happie," cried the 
 Frenchman, Jifiing the maiden from the wagon, "and 1 will 
 put de horse in de stable." 
 
 To avoid being present at the meeting between father and 
 daughter, he sent Mary, as herald of her own escape and restora- 
 tion. The same motive induced him to linger over the olfices of 
 the stable, lillJasper himself canoe in search. 
 
 " Come into the house, Mr. Girard," exclaimed the miser, 
 grasping the Frenchman's hand ; "come into the house ! It will 
 do me good to look at your honest face." 
 
 Girard felt the old n)an's hand tremble. The lantern which the 
 latter carried, betrayed his furrowed cheeks wet with tears; his 
 utterance was thick and indistinct. 
 
 On the hearth, in Jasper's chamber, was kindled a glorious 
 fire, such as liad not been seen in the house for many a year, 
 thourrh as yet, it was only in embryo. A few smouldering slicks 
 satisfied the exigeticics of the miser's lone vigil ; but on the joy- 
 ful and unexpected return of his daughter, a huge pile of fuel 
 was heaped over the decaying embers, and flame began to shoot 
 through the mass. During her father's journey to the stable, 
 Mary spent the interval in several trips to the store-room above, 
 and the result was a well-furnished supper board. 
 
 "Empty glasses, Mary ! how is this?" cried Jasper, his eye 
 glancing the while over the table ; "the air is chilly for an old 
 man, and even Mr. Girard's hand is cold. 
 
 It is true, the glasses were empty, and so was the pitcher. The 
 old man was in such excellent spirits and temper, that his daugh- 
 ter, afraid to hazard a reverse, by a display of hospitality wliich 
 might awaken his dormant avarice and moroseness, wise]}' left 
 choice of beverage to Jasper. 
 
 " There is the old ale. Father ; will you have that warm, with 
 spice ? 
 
 " Ale !" exclaimed Jasper, " hang ale ! have I no Bursundv 
 left?" ^ > o o y 
 
 Mary uttered no reply, but went in quest of the wine. Per- 
 haps a consideration of his extravagance caused an inward twinge, 
 for scarcely had she left the chamber ere he attempted to call her 
 back ; fortunately for the honour of his nascent hospitality, she 
 was out of hearing. 
 
 "It was a good thought of Mary's," he remarked, turning to 
 Girard ; " spiced ale, on a winter's night, is better than cold 
 wine." 
 
 " Has Mary told you of de gold I did rescue ?" demanded 
 Girard, who saw how matters were going, and was anxious to 
 retain the old man in good humour. 
 
 "Gold? no!" cried Jasper, starting from his chair; "she said 
 the rascal fled to Brunswick before your friends entered Prince- 
 ton. Where did you get it ? How much have you ? The silly 
 wench said nothing about the money, and I gave it up for lost." 
 
 " Den feel here," cried Girard, displaying the exterior of one 
 
254 JASPER CROWE. 
 
 of llie large pockets of his overcoat, and compressing, with his 
 hands, tlie ctin into a lieap. 
 
 Jasper's eyes sparkled with delight, as his fingers felt the shape 
 of the gold pieces. 
 
 '•' Broad and thin, I know them ; th.ey are my own bright dou- 
 bloons !" 
 
 " Now de oder side," said the Frenchman, displaying the bulk 
 of the opposite pocket, which was equally well lined. 
 
 " Mercy ! mercy !" cried Jasper, there must be . How 
 
 much money, Mr. Girard, do you imagine is here?" 
 
 *' I. did never count it," replied the other, " der may be, in dc 
 two pockets, perhaps, vun gal-Ion. I did fear dey vud break." 
 
 At this instant, Mary returned with the wine, and Jasper com- 
 menced a sharp fire of invective for her utter heedlessness in not 
 acquainting him with Mr. Girard's recovery of the stolen gold. 
 She had no objection, he affirmed, to fine dress and good living 
 (neither of which, by the bye, poor Mary had ever experienced), 
 but, like her sex, knew not, nor cared not, whence came the 
 means of procuring ihem. Perhaps, coniin\]ed the old man, in 
 his testinesss, she deemed her own return to home such an ines- 
 timable blessing, that the restoration of gold were not worthy a 
 thought in comparison ! 
 
 " Veil, Mr. Crowe, 1 did bring back de little daughter, and de 
 big monie; and I do deserve de one or de oder. for de trouble. 
 '•' Vich shall I have for mine reward ?" 
 
 Clary's face and neck were flushed with crimson on her hear- 
 ing this bold attack. Jasper, in amazement, looked altcrnaiely at 
 the Frenchman, and his datighter. The latter sei/ed her father's 
 hand, and kissed it, the tears starling to her eyes. 
 
 " Did you know Mary bcTore she was carried away?" demand- 
 ed Jasper, with a shrewd glance at the Frenchman. 
 
 Girard confessed an affection, which he trusted was mutual. 
 
 The old man declared that what he now heard explained what 
 to him had proved unaccountable — the extreme solicitude of Mr. 
 Girard for the recovery of Mary. 
 
 " But supper waits," he added, and I make it a rule to sleep 
 once before I decide on any matter so important as the parting 
 with money, or the alternative you propose, Mr. Girard." 
 
 On the morrow, after along conferrence with Mary, he inform- 
 ed the impatient Frenchman, that as he was now growing very 
 aged, he was not insensible to the aid he might derive, in the 
 management of his afl'airs, from a son-in-law ; nor was he indif- 
 ferent to the claims of one who had behaved so honourably as 
 Girard. But there was an obstacle : Although he himself lived 
 secluded, perhaps ignobly, in the eyes of some people, yet Mary 
 was descended from a race of gentlemen ; and i\Ir. Girard's oc- 
 cupation, as he understood, though confidential, was far from 
 honourable in estimation or standing. The Frenchman hastened 
 
JASPER CROWE. 255 
 
 to remove the impediment by inquiring if objections would cease 
 on his obtaining from General Washington a commission in the 
 continental army, to which lie was at present only irregularly at- 
 tached. 
 
 Ja«per made the lovers happy, by giving his assent to the un- 
 ion, on the condition specified by Girard; thelaiter had no diffi- 
 culiy in obtaining — what his important service well entitled him 
 to — a captain's commission. In possession of this rank, he was 
 united to the daughter of Jasper Crowe ; and from the obscure 
 station of an emigrant barber, found himself heir apparent to a 
 large estate, and — what he valued infinitely beyond riches — guar- 
 dian of the happiness of the young bride committed to his pro- 
 tection. From this date he served faithfully and zealously the 
 cause to which he was attached, though we hear no more of hair- 
 breadth escapes, nor perilous adventures, v/ithin the enemy's 
 lines. 
 
 For the remaining term of an extended life, the character of 
 Jasper Crowe underwent but slight change. He hoarded his mo- 
 ney and effects, and denied himself the comforts of existence, 
 even as he had done hitherto ; but as age crept over him, he was 
 forced to delegate the management of the properly to his son-in- 
 lavv, and his eccentricities were confined within a narrow and 
 harmless range. 
 
 ]\Iary, by exchanging her name, had no I'eason to regret her 
 choice. Her sole fear of the future arose from the recklessness 
 which her husband's career had hitherto exemplified; but she 
 was charmed to discover, that lier persuasions, joined to the self- 
 consideration, which the possession of properly and station im- 
 parts, made Francois Girard place higher value on his life than be- 
 fore marriage. 
 
 For the term of two months, Count Knipslatch, attended by a 
 German nurse, from the Hessian head-quarters — an allentiou 
 which he owed to General de Heister — continued an inmate of 
 Jasper Crowe's domicile. He recovered and lived to return to 
 Germany. No change occurred in his superstitious fancies, or 
 belief; and as Girard — out of respect to Mary — did not divulge 
 his midnight adventure in the loft, explanation of the extraordi- 
 nary phenomenon was never afforded the Count. His familiar — 
 as he always affirmed — had followed him even to the regions be- 
 yond the Atlantic. When his assertions were doubted, he ap- 
 pealed to the testimony of Jablonsky and Schulz, who both sur- 
 vived the war, and they could not deny that they had been wit- 
 nesses to an agency inexplicable and mysterious. 
 
 The family belief, through the strange occurrence, has gained 
 rather than lost strength, and remains unimpaired in the house 
 of Knipslatch, as we presume, even in the present enlightened 
 century. 
 
 As Diana Groots, and Franz, were never again heard of by 
 
25G JASPER CROWE. 
 
 the family of Jasper, and both were lost sight of by the Hessian 
 officers, the villany of Fagel was not disclosed till mnny years 
 afterward. His premature fate was cerlainlj^ not undeserved- 
 
^ "F 
 
 11 1 
 
 m K E 
 
 A TALE OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 : Bv JOHN H. MANCUR, 
 
 Aiiil^.^r of '•' Christine^' — " The Deserter,^'' — '♦ Henri Quatrc ; or, the Days of the 
 League, <^c., <^-c, 
 vrey ss the title of No. 3 of this series, which improved wiih each tale issued. 1 he book 
 iJ v riniew describes —in a style which creates breathless inicre.st — the perilous adventures which 
 pel a New Jersey family during the Revolution Whilst attention is rivetted by the io;nance of the 
 jideiits, toe imagination of the reader is dejighled with the touches of poe.try and eloquence with 
 lich I ^ work aiiounds." — N. Y. Plclieiart. 
 
 " Thi. :^ c^ titrilling narrative of the dangers which environed two sisters, while their native pro- 
 K \ ' . Jersey, was in the hands of ttie British and their German mercenaries. It is a lale of 
 
 intorost, sustained with remarkable power, and enlivened by a style which letiects the 
 
 V and imagination.'' — ..V. Y, Trtlune, 
 
 SiLATHIEL. 
 
 \ STORY OF THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THi FUTURE. 
 
 i: T«s Rkv; GEORGE OAOLY, Author of "Life and Times of George IV.," Ac 
 
 One volume, ]2mo., stitched. Price, 31 1 cents. 
 
 vtraordinR.^y story — the production of a great man of genius— cannot be classed with any 
 
 h". w, r!c.s of imagination which have been put I'orth in these times so fertile in romance : it in 
 
 fectly original in the general conception, as well as in its spienJid and powerful eloquence. The 
 
 Bt striking peculiarity is the combination of lofty thought, expressed in a style which, fur its richness, 
 
 iuusness, and vigour, is almirst unrivalled Indeed a strain so exalted could not be judiciously 
 
 d, if the subject were tiot far above those which are usually selected for works of fiction But 
 
 ere the story is that of a being supposed to be under th« immediate and constant infliction oi 
 
 Div-ne wrath — driven through some of the most wonderful scenes and situations that the world 
 
 produced — the stately and sustained dilution of this work corresponds with the dignity of the 
 
 sWl is truly a magnificent fiction ; ii is the tale of the Wandering Jew: and as its hero is 
 ong life and to much variety of fortune, his story is of the destinies of naijons as well as 
 frtelings, experiences, and sorrows. The story commences at iliat.momerit when the mo- 
 rable ^.:;-:-=e was pronounced upon the Jew, ^Tarry thou iill I comc.^ The horrors of this infliction, 
 I the ii-erplicaWe conviction of his crime, are most powerfully depicted. Then come the more 
 I' ar.C' iv fji visitations of the earthquake and darkness which attended the crucifixion. We cannot, 
 tempt to trace the progress of this wild and wonderful laio, which, from its manoer, defies 
 i'uin If abounds in descriptions on which all the splendours of fancy and language are 
 I'tie only faults which can be attributed to it proceed from the unabated loftiness and sweep- 
 style wnicii is continued throughout. It is true, as we. have remarked before, that this is consi»- 
 t with ihe elevntion of the subject ; but we could almost have wished for occasional parts in a more 
 iple, sinf>t)ih, and easy strain It is astonishing that, without the relief of any such p.irts, there is 
 hing ti c'/iiiplain of in the shape of ridiculous pompousness or affectation. The most obtrusive 
 wbac:: :i, the impossibility of sympathising with the adventures of one who suffers to fulfil a rurse, 
 ' — '• life, stretched on the rock of evil fortune, endures for centuries. We feel with Salathi«l 
 oars and odd : and at the close of the usual term of hunian life shut our hearts, and com- 
 pering." — Boston Spectator, 
 I !i - urk: is one of the most powerfully written and brilliant productions of it« glftfJ author, and 
 eals, .- in a mirror, the most striking images of events of former times. The h»?ri> is ihat scoffer 
 ;he y ' iour who is supposed to be doomed to a preternatural existence, wandering from clime to 
 tie, tf ■ isred by the undying memory of guilt ; in short, the Wandering Jew, the hero of t:>any ialeg 
 I poei 3 but of no work so thrilling as the one before us." — Boston Paper. 
 
 'in S' u'i of the close print and fine type, which oppresses the eye, we read these pages, and dwelt 
 h str:-,r.g',-, indefinite emotions upon the philosophic?,!, highly wrought, an«J well-told » Story of 
 Exi;" whose path has for a thousand years been m the brier and the thorn.' A work of great 
 vet ar; \ imagination, though imbued somewhat too strongly vuiih wild, mysterious romance to po«- 
 s any of the claims to reality which would be likely to convey impressions of profit or utility. This 
 I ulili'nrian age, and we think the higher and better of the writer who keeps that |»oint in view;- 
 n amid his wild dreams or strange vHj^auee."— Pliiiadelphia Saturday Museum. 
 ' Thii* is a thrilling narrative of the wandering Jew, \viio has appeared in Europe from time to tima 
 irlg 'he last thousand years — & mysterious individual — a soji)urner in all lands, yet a citizen in 
 le. Many histories have been invented for him, some purely fictitious, others founded on ili-un^ 
 ■toQ($ records ; bat the present work has the supreme merit of truth. It will richly repay a peru^- 
 "•—•I'hiUtdeJfhia Mercury and Evewng Jourmil. 
 
chk; 
 
 BLI CATIONS 
 
 LYF^n. 
 
 .. .-. aAGUE-SlKKET, NKW \<}\: 
 ,wtP- »,>rk>«. I7 the mo<it ;>'.;.>. la- 
 
 lit: 
 
 i^'^.I^« 
 
 A Till Oi^ THE M^mm. 
 
 1^ By JOHN ft. MA •• 
 
 fitinri Qiiatfc ; or, The Dp; 
 " TLiisii.'l.t:.iwdi tide is by t! ' 'i autLnr ui -Ih^n^Uj .^. ur'I 
 
 the Leaeue, which, until th>w. ■ nlly 3ttrlbut«,^\to Mr James. 
 
 .:.il ♦©find thai such a wtiier i. ,r has tumei) !•..■ iHeniL-fi t. i 
 
 of our iriumiihant Rftoluiii>,i. Ti»« .st«^nd of the ule !■ 
 nciilrnts occur about the pe'.iod of »he battle fi)U:iht iv 
 >• -icral Sullivan, and the Hessian mercrnarics ot »- . 
 y Sir W. Howe. TbelocaliMes nf Long Islanij, am. 
 am «le8crit)f(l with graphic accuracy, in a siyl*" as t 
 i-^ n;arm of fine wniing is ease, and n>"> strorH- ' •■ ■< .r.,.,. 
 orks of Irrino and S,coit, of whom the author " 
 ifKkrstand thai this tale is to be fniltv ed up hy ; 
 
 .ri the Revolution, and we are fjlad th.t ■- - i.. .<«. 
 
 : of our youth, in so (deasing a manner. ' 
 lie scene of chis hiohly interesting roman 
 ■^ nk that has yet attempted to delineate 'u 
 crrrn*! in ary part of nur country do' h 
 
 Days 
 We 
 
 I,. »r^d t« thC'Sn'ij 
 
 l.ttlr 
 
 ^1: 
 
 ff^aT if our troops, the 
 , amid scenes - 
 General \Va 
 .V, and effect e. 
 hii r.' )t been lost or 
 
 :>, Uere related, and its perusal will repay the Unne deVotpd to it." — i#f^' 
 
 iHE DESERTEfii 
 
 LEGEND OF MOUNT WASHINGTON- 
 
 •W of "Chr.stine:' - -^ — 
 League" JfC. 4<- <^, 
 
 .r's 
 
 livfly and insirucliv.- 'r,\!c« of 
 
 ■ i!; ■ 
 
 
 tact 
 
 are heauifuilv blt-.n.led with a 
 
 love 
 
 
 .1 W*.SRiNGTOs cnvtroMfd vnh j' 
 
 ^iOr,. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 III 
 
 and firmness cmild h!i\ 
 
 nen 
 
 il was thrt-aiened by 1: 
 
 
 
 r.-„ 
 
 v,:.,P„, .rr ..-.n.-flhe • 
 
 
 
 
 •3 are dcicf itie'j 
 
 ^S iCll tliiitll 
 
 16 :;JfclUj 
 
 
 ical doconwiii!'. the use > 
 
 >.f wbi«t 
 
 
 jihor Our only obj.-ciion to ihi 
 
 
 .ippeurs to he 
 
 the inlfiiii 
 
 lun of th 
 
 
 lie, *; Christine,'" haNinc 
 
 liren em 
 
 .v/ 
 
 — Ill ., ■ ;i,rtiiM e phrasroioj^y — " 
 
 to bear fioi 
 
 1. ).im tb 
 
 
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Binder 
 
 Gaylord Bros., Inc. 
 
 Makers 
 Stockton, Calif. 
 
 PAT. IAN. 21. 1908 
 
 14 DAY USE 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 
 on the date to which renewed- 
 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
 90cr62WAr 
 
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 Mft^Af^. 3 bl9E3 
 
 subyect to recan sher-^ 
 
 ^m^ i'r> q ?y 
 
 BECTllD ft ^ " 
 
 , 1 ri -i \'^\ 4 3 
 
 LD 21A-50w-3,'62 
 
 (C7097slO)476B 
 
 General Library 
 University of California 
 Berkeley