THE SPY:
A TALE OF THE NEUTRAL GROUND.
BY J, FENIMORE COOPER.
-Batthes tiere a man -with soul so dead,
WVho never to himself hath said,
Thsi is ngy own, my native land --
COMPLETJf IN  OE  POL U3fE
NEWT  YORtK:
JA   IT ES   G -C. G-Z E  G- C Up O     Y
(SlJCCnESSOg' To Xr. A. TOWNSqENOD & CO.,)
i, X WALKER STl'2EET.
186g2,




THE SPY.
Entered according to the Act of Congiress. in the year 1850, by
STRINGER  AND TOWNSEND,
In the Clerlk's office of thel- I)istrict Court for the sol therllon l isetri'ct, of New  or('k,




PRE F ACE.
IT would be affectation to retain, in this edition
of our book, a preface that professes to doubt of
its favourable reception; we find ourselves, therefore, compelled to write something new.
We are told by the Booksellers that the public
is pleased with the tale, and we take this occasion
to say, that we are delighted with the public. We
hope that this reciprocity of good-will may continue.
Many people think, that as the United States
is, in the way of works of fiction,.untrodden
ground, it is a fine field for the pen of an author.
We can only speak of it as we have found it.  It
is true, that we are a people composed of emigrants
from every country of the Christian world: —but
they did not come here by chance, nor do they
stay here through necessity. They emigrated to
improve their temporal conditions; and they remain, because they have been successful. When
men assemble with such commendable intentions,
and under circumstances that afford a just ground
for hope, whatever is peculiar in custcms, is soon
merged in the expedients which the most ingenious invent for their mutual h}enefit, It is a geneI




6                  PREFACE.
ral relark anlongst travellers, that, contrary to
their expectations, they find less originality of character in this country than in England.  They
make the comparison with England, because we
are parts of the same people;, and the surprise is
occasioned, that so unexpected a result should proceed from the extraordinary freedom  of our government.  If by originality they mean oddness
and eccentricity, the observation is just; but if invention, quickness to remedy evils, and boldness
of thought, be intended, it is wrong.
Common sense is the characteristic of the Acmerican people; it is the foundation of their institutions; it pervades society, bringing the hign and
the low near to each other; it tempers our religion, yielding that indulgence to each other's weakness, which should follow the mandates of God; it
wears down the asperities of character —but it
r'uins the beau ideal.
The difficulty is only increased in works of fie
tion that are founded on the customs of America
when a writer attempts to engraft the scions ol
the imagination on the stocks of history.  The
plant is too familiar to the senses, and the freshness of the exotic is tarnished by the connexion.
This very book will, probably, be cited as an instance of the fallacy of this opinion. We wish that
we could think so.  " The Spy" was introduced
at a happy moment, and the historical incidents
were but little known, at the same time that they
were capable of deep inlterest; but, so far as well




PREFACE.                   7
known characters are concerned, we have been assailed with every variety of criticism, from the
cock of a hat to the colour of a horse.
Besides the familiarity of the subject, there is a
scarcity of events, and a poverty in the accompa.
niments, that drives an author from  the undertaking in despair.  In the dark ages of our history,
it is true that we hung a few unfortunate Women
for witches, and suffered some inroads from the
Indians; but the active curiosity of the people has
transmitted those events with so much accuracy,
that there is no opportunity for digression.  Then,
again, notwithstanding that a murder is at all times
a serious business, it is much more interesting in a
castle than in a corn field. In short, all that glow,
which can be given to a tale, through the aid of
obscure legends, artificial distinctions, and images
connected with the association of the ideas, is not
attainable in this land of facts.  Man is not the
same creature here as in other countries.  He is
mnore fettered by reason and less by laws, than in
any other section of the globe; consequently, while
he enjoys a greater political liberty, he is under a
greater moral restraint than his European brother.
We cannot suffer this edition of " The Spy"
to appear, without saying a few words in our own
justification.  While the book was in the press, we
consulted with a few  firiends on the subject of
abandoning it entirely, under the apprehension of
losing by its publication.  We were persuaded to
persevere, as it was urged that " Precaution" had




IREFACE.
received a respectful notice from a few English periodicals and newspapers, and it was thought its author would be secure from loss.  Could we have
found a Bookseller who would have given enough
for the work to pay the scribe, we might have
been tempted to dispose of the copy-right-but
none offered. With such a prospect before us, we
continued to write by the way of amusement, and
because we were committed by an advertisement;
but it was with an indifference and carelessness
that were somewhat disrespectful to the public, and
unljust to ourselves.  Were we to relate the disadvantages under which' The Spy" was written and
printed, we should only gain credit with some four
or five to whom we are intimately known; but after our -unexpected introduction to the American
public, we must add, that it was printed as it was
written; that it was printed with a very superflcial revision of the press-the second edition without a proof-sheet coming out of the office; and
that it was published without a hope of success.
We should have been above stating these facts
with a view to disarm criticism; but, after the reception that has been bestowed on our work, we
present them by way of apology.




THE SPY:
A TALE OF
X 11 Ti- El   It HJIRU 1, AL IC  G- I  O IJ I D.
CHAPTER I.
And though amidst the calm of'thought entire,
Some high and haughty features might betray
A soul impetuous once-'twas carthly fire
That fled composure's intellectual ray,
As Etna's fires grow dim before the rising day.
Gertrude of W'yomintill
IT was near the close of the year 1780, that at
solitary traveller was seen pursuing his way th ro u gh
one of the numerous little valleys of West Chester.
The easterly wind, with its chilling dampness, and
increasing violence, gave unerring notice of the
approach of a storm, which, as usual, might be expected to continue for several days: and the experienced eye of the traveller was turned, in vain,
through the darkness of the evening, in quest of
some convenient shelter, in which, for the term  of
his confinement by the rain, that already began to
mix with the atmosphere in a thick mist, he might
obtain such accommodations as his age and purposes required.  Nothing, however,  offered, but
the small and inconvenient tenements of the lower
order of the inhabitants, with whom, in that immediate neighbourhood, he did not think it eithlr
safe or politic to trust himself.




10                 THE SPY.
The country of' est-Chester, after the British
had obtained possession of the island of New-York,
became common ground, in which both Fai ties
continued to act for the remainder of the war of
the revolution.  A large proportion of its inhabitants, either restrained by their attachments, or
influenced by their fears, affected a neutrality they
did not feel.  The lower towns were, of course,
more particularly irnder the dominion of the crown9
while the upper, finding a security from  the vicinity of the continental troops, Nwere bold in asserting their revolutionary opinions, and their right to
govern themselves.  Great numbers, however,
wvore Inasks, which even to this day have not been
thltown aside; and many an individual has gone
down to the tomb, stigmatized as a foe to the rights
of his countrymen, while, in secret, he has been
the useful agent of the leaders of the revolution;
and, on the other hand, could the hidden repositories of divers flaming patriots have been opened to
the light of day, royal protections would have been
discovered concealed under piles of British gold.
At the sound of the tread of the noble horse
ridden by the traveller, the mistress of the farmhouse he,was passing at the time might be seen
cautiously opening the door of the building to examine the stranger; and perhaps, with an averted
face, communicating the result of her observations
to her husband, who, in the rear of the building,
was prepared to seek, if necessary, his ordinary
place of concealment in the adjacent uroods.  The
valley wras situated about mid-way in the length of
the county, and was sufficiently near to either army to make the restitution of stolen goods no uncommon occurrence in that vicinity.  It is true,
the same articles were not always regained; but a
summlnary substitute was generally resorted to, in




iHE SPY.
Ihe ansence of legr1 justice, which re.stored to the
loser the amlount of his loss, with no inconsiderable
addition for the tempo'rary use of his property.
The passage of a stranger, with an appearance
of somewhat doubtfil character, and mounted on
an animal wrhich, althoiigh unfurnished with any
of the ordinary trappings of war, partook largely
of the bold and upright carriage that distinguished
his rider, gave rise to many surmises among the
gazing inmates of the different habitations; and in
some instances, where conscience was more than
ordinarily awake, to no little alarm.n
Tired withl the exercise of a day of unusual fatigue, and anxious to obtain a speedy sheiter frnom
tle increasing violence of the storm, that now began to change its character to large drops of driving rain, the traveller determined, as a matter of
necessity, to make an application for admission to
the iiext dwelling  that offered.  An opportunity
was not long wanting; and, riding through a pail'
of neglected bars, lhe knocked loudly at the outer
door of a building, of a very humble exterior, without quitting his saddle.  A  female of middle age,
Nwith an outward bearing but little more prepossessing than that of her dwelling, appeared to answer to his summons.  The startled woman half
closed her door again in affright, as she savw, by
the glare of a large wood fire, a mounted man so
unexpectedly near its threshold; and an expression of terror minogled wit'h her natural curiosity,
as she required his pleasure.
Although the door was too nearly closed to admit of a minute scrutiny of the accommodations
within, enough had been seen to cause the horseman to endeavour, once more, to penetrate the
gloom, with longing eyes, in search of a more promising  roof before, wvith an ill-concealed reluc



12'ETHE SPY.
tance) he stated his necessities and wisles.  His
request was listened to with evident unwillingness,
and while yet unfinished, was interrupted, as she
replied, in a sharp key, with a tone of reviving
confidence, and an air of pert volubility" I can't say I like to give lodgings to a stranger
in these ticklish times; I'm nothing but a forlorn
lone body; or, what's the same thing, there's nobody but the old gentleman at home; but a half
mile further up the road is a house where you
can get entertainment, and that all for nothing.  I
am sure'twill be much convenienter to them, and
more agreeable to me; because, as I said before,
Harvey is away-I wish he'd take advice, and
leave off wandering; he's well to do in the world
by this time; and he ought to leave off his unsteady courses, and settle in life. But Harvey
Birch will have his own way, and die vagabond
after all."
The horseman did not wait to hear more than
the advice to pursue his course up the road; but
had slowly turned his horse towards the bars, and
was gathering the folds of an ample cloak around
him, preparatory to again facing the storm, when
something in the speech of the female suddenly
arrested the movement.
" Is this, then, the dwelling of Harvey Birch?"
he inquired, in an apparently involuntary manner,
then checking himself, as he was about to utter
more.
" Why, one can hardly say it is his dwelling,"
replied the other, drawing a breath somewhat between a sigh and a groan; "Ghe is never in it, or
so seldom, that I hardly remember his face, when
he does think it worth his while to show it to his
poor old father and —-rme.  But it matters little
to sme ['ln sure, if he ever comes back again, or




TI'>1e SPY.               13
not;-turn in the first gate on your left;-no, I
care but little, for lmy part, whether Harvey ever
shows his face again or not-no, not I;"-and she
closed the door abruptly on the horseman, who
gladly extended his ride a half mile fiurther, to obtain ledgings which promised both more comfort
and greater security.
Sufficient light yet remained to enable the traveller to d'-stinguish the improvements which had
been made in the cultivation, and general appearance, of the grounds around the building to which
he was now approaching. The house was of stone,
long, low, and with a small wing at either extremity.  A piazza, extending along the front, with
neatly turned pillars, together with the good order
and preservation of its fences and out-buildings,
gave it an air altogether superior to the common
fhrm houses of the country.  After leading his
horse behind an angle of the wall, where he was
in some degree protected from the wind and rain,
the traveller threw his vallise over his arm, and
knocked loudly at the entrance of the building for
adcmission.  An aged black soon appeared; and
without seeming to think it neecessary, under the
circumstances, to consult his superiors —first taking one prying look at the applicant, by the light
of the candle in his hand-he acceded to the request
for accommodations.  The traveller was shown
into an extremely neat parlour, where a fire had
been lighted to cheer the dulness of an easterly
storm, and an October evening. After giving the
vallise into the keeping of his civil attendant, and
politely repeating his request to the old gentleman,
who arose to receive him, and paying his compliments to the three ladies who were seated at their
needles, the stranger cofimenced laying aside some
C)




14                  THE SPY.
of the outer garments which he had worn in his
ride.
On taking an extra handkerchief froa his neck,
and renoving a cloak of blue cloth, with a surtout
of the sa ne material, he exhibited to the scrutiny
of the party within, a tall and extremely graceful
person, of apparently fifty years of age; his countenanee evinced a settled composure and dignity;
his nose was straight, and approaching to Grecian;
his eye, of a gray colour, was quiet, thoughtfuL,
and rather melancholy; the mouth and lower part
of his face expressive of decision and much character.  His dress, being suited to the road, was
simple and plain, but such as was worn by the
higher class of his countrymen; he vwore his own
hair, dressed in a manner tlat gave a military air
to his appearance, and whieh vwas rather heightened by his erect and conspicuously graceful carriage.
His whole appearance was so impressive and decidedly that of a gentleman, that as he finished laying aside the garments, the ladies arose from their
seats, and together with the master of the house,
received anew, and returned the complimentary
greetings xwhich were again offered.
The host was by several years the senior of the
traveller, and by his manner, dress, and every
thing around hia, showed he had seen much of'
life and the best society. The ladies were, a maiden
of forty, and two younger ones, who did not seem
to have reaehed half those years.  The bloom of
thle elder of these ladies had vanished, but her eyes,
and fine hair, gave an extremely agreeable expression to her couintenance; and there was a softness
and affability in her deportment, that added a
charm many more juvenile faces do not possess.
The sisters, for such the resemblance between the




THE SPY.                 15
younger maidens denoted them to be, we. e in all
the pride of youth, and the roses, so eminently the
property of the West Chester fair, glowed with
their richest colour on their cheeks, and lighted
their deep blue eyes with that lustre whicbh gives
so much pleasure to the beholder, and indicates so
much innocence and happiness in themselves.
There was much of that feminine delicacy in the
appearance of the three, which, in a great degree,
distinguishes the sex in this country; and, like the
gentleman, their demeanour proved them  to be
women of the higher order of life.
After handing a glass of excellent Madeira to
his guest, Mr. Wharton resumed his seat by the
fire, with another in his own hand. For a moment
he paused, as if debating with his politeness, but
at length threw an inquiring glance on the stranger, as he inquired, with a formal bowCC To whose health am I to have the honour of
drinking?".
The traveller had also seated himself, and sat
unconsciously gazing on the fire, while Mr. Whalton spoke; turning his eyes slowly on his host
with a look of close observation, he replied, bowing in his turn, while a faint tinge gathered on his
pale features"Mr. Harper."
a Mr. Harper,"' resumed the other, with the formal precision of the day, 1 I have the honour to
drink your health, and hope you will sustain no injury from the rain to which you have been exposed.7)
Mr. Harper bowed in silence to the complimen
and soon resumed the mleditations from which he
appeared to have been interrupted.
The young ladies had again taken their seats beside the work-stand, while their aunt, Miss Jea



16                THE SPY.
nette Peyton, withdrew, to superintend the preparations necessary to appease the hunger of their
unexpected visiter. A  short silence prevailed,
during which Mr. Harper was apparently enjoying
the change in his situation, when Mr. Wharton
again broke it, by inquiring, in the same polite, but
formal manner, whether smoke was disagreeable
to his companion; to which he received as polite a
negative, and immediately resumed the plpe he had
laid aside at the entrance of the traveller.
There was an evident desire on the part of the
host to enter into conversation, but either from an
apprehension of treading on dangerous ground, or
an unwillingness to intrude upon the rather studied
taciturnity of his guest, he several times hesitated
before he could venture to make any further remark. At length, a movement from Mr. Harper,
as he raised his eyes to the party in the room, encouraged him to proceed.' I find it very difficult," said Mr. Wharton,
cautiously avoiding, at first, such subjects as he
wished to introduce, " to procure that quality of
tobacco for my evenings' amusement, to which I
have been accustomed."
"' I should think the shops in New-York might
furnish the best in the country," rejoined the other,
with his usual gravity.
"' Why —yes," returned the host, in rather a
hesitating manner, lifting his eyes to the face of
Harper, and lowering them  quickly, under his
steady look, s" there must be plenty in town, but
the war has made many communications with the
city, however innocent in themselves, too dangerous to be risked for so'trifling an article as tobacco."
Thle box firom which Mr. Wharton had just taken
a, supply for his pipe, was lying open, within a few




THE SPY.                  17
inches of the elbow of Harper, who took a snall
quantity of the article and applied it to his tongue.
in a manner perfectly natural, but one that filled
his companion with instant alarm.  Without, however, observing that the quality was of the most
approved kind, the traveller relieved his host by
reiapsing again into his meditations.  Mr. Wharton now felt unwilling to lose the advantage he
had gained, and, making an effort of more than
usual vigour, he continuedCa I wish from the bottom  of may heart, this unnatural struggle was over, that we might again
meet our friends and relatives in peace and love."
" It is much to be desired," said Harper, enmphatically, again raising his eyes to the countenance of his host.
"' I hear of no movements of consequence since
the arrival of our new allies," said Mr. Wharton,
shaking  the ashes from his pipe, and turning his
back to the other, under the pretence of receiving
a coal from his youngest daughter.
CC  one have reached the public yet, I believe,"
replied the traveller, crossing his leg with steady
composure.
" Is it thought any important steps are about to
be taken?" continued Mr. Wharton, still occupied
with his daughter, yet unconsciously suspending
his employment, in expectation of a reply.
" Is it intimated any are in agitation?" inquired
the other, in a slight degree adopting the affected'ndifferenee of Mr. Wharton's manner.
s Oh! nothing in particular," said the host, hastily -   but it is natural to expect something, you
know, sir, from so powerful a force as the one under Rochambeau."
Harperf made an assenting inclination with his
6)




18                 THE SPY.
head, but no other reply to this remark; wbile
Mr. Wharton resumed the subject, by saying-' They appeal more act:ive in the south; Gates
and Cornwallis seem willing to bring the war to an
issue there."'
The brow  of Harper contracted, and a deeper shade of melancholy crossed his features; his
eye kindled with a transient beam of fire, that
spoke a latent source of deep feeling.  The admiring gaze of the younger of the sisters had barely time to read its expression9 before it passed
away, leaving in its room the acquired composure
which marked the countenance of the strangerp
and that inmpressive dignity which so conspicuously
denotes the empire of reason.
The elder sister made one or two movements
in her chair, before she ventured to say, in a tone
which partook in no small measure of triumph" General Gates has been less fortunate with the
Earl, than with General Burgoyne."
I' But General Gates is an Englishman, Sarah,"
cried the younger lady, with quickness; and then
colouring to the eyes at her own boldness, she employed herself in tumbling over the contents of her
work-basket, silently hoping her remark would be
unnoticed.
The traveller had turned his face from one sister to the other, as they had spoken in succession,
and an almost imperceptible movement of the
muscles of his mouth betrayed a newi emotion, as
he inquired of the younger, with much courtesy
of manner"C May I venture to ask, what inference you
draw fiomn that fact?"'
Frances blushed yet deeper at this direct appeal
to her opinions, upon a subject on which she had




THE SPY.                 19
ineautiausly spoken in the pre-sence of a stranger;
but, finding: an answer necessary, after some little
hesitation, and with a good deal of stammering in
ier manner, she replied" Only —only-sir -my sister and myself sometimes differ in our opinions of the prowess of the
British."'   A smile of much meaning playing on a
face of infantile innoceney of expression, as she
concluded, in a voice that shared Ln the covert humour of the speaker.
" On what particular points of prowess do you
differ?" continued Harper, meeting her look of
animation with an open smile of almost paternal
softness.: Why, Sarah thinks the British are never beaten; but I do not put so much faith in their invincibility."
The traveller listened to her with that pleased
indulgence, with which virtuous age loves to contemplate the ardour of youthful innocence; but
making no reply, he turned to the fire, and continued for some time gazing on its embers in silence.
Mlr. Wharton had in vain endeavoured to pierce
the disguise of his guest's political feelings; but,
while there was nothing forbidding in his countenance, there was nothing communicative-it was
strikingly reserved; and the umaster of the house
arose, in profound ignorance of what, in those days,
swas the most inaterial point in the character of
his guest, to lead the way -into another room to
the supper table.  Mr. Harper offered his hand to
Sarah Wharton, and they entered the room together; while Frances followed, greatly at a loss to
know, whether she had not xwounded the feelings
of her father's inmate.
The storm began to Irage with great violence




204                THE SPY.
without; and the dashing rain on the sides of tlhe
building, awakened that silent sense of enjoyment,
which is excited by such sounds in a room of quiet
comfort and warmth, when a loud summlons at the
outer' door again called the faithful black to the
portal.  In a minute the servant returned, and informed his master that another traveller, overtaken
by the storm, desired to be admitted to the house
for a shelter through the night.
At the first sounds of the impatient summons of
this new applicant, Mr. Wharton had risen from
his seat in evident uneasiness; and with eyes
glancing with alternate quickness fiom his guest
to the door of the room: seemed to be expecting
something to proceed fiom this second interruption, which was connected with the stranger who
had occasioned the first.  He scarcely had time
to bid the black, with a faint voice, to show this
second comer in, before the door was thrown hastily open, and the stranger himself entered the
apartment.  He paused a moment, as the person
of Harper met his view. and then, in a more formal manner, repeated the request he had before
made through the servant. iMr. Wharton and his
family disliked the appearance of this new visiter
excessively; but the inclemency of the wxreather,
and the uncertainty of the consequences, if he were
refused the desired lodgings, compelled the old
gentleman to give a reluctant acquiescence.
Some of the removed dishes were replaced by
the orders of Miss Peyton, and the weather-beaten
intruder was invited to partake of the remains of
the repast firom which ti e party had just rmisen.
Throwing aside a rough great coat, he veryy composedly took the offered chair, and gravely proceeded to allay the cravings of an appetite, which
appeared by jno means delicate.  But at every




TIlE SPY.                21
mouthful he would turn an unquiet eye on Harper, who studied his appearance with a closeness
of investigation, that was very embarrassing to its
subject.  At length, pouring out a glass of wine,
the new comer nodded significantly to his examiner, previously to swallowing the liquor, and said,
with something of bitterness in his manner-' I d(rink to our better acquaintance, sir; I believe this is the first time we have, miet."  The
quality of the wine seemed greatly to his fancy,
for, on replacing the glass upon the table, he gave
his lips a smack, that resounded through the room;
and, taking up the bottle, held it between himself
and the light for a moment, in silent contemplation
of its clear and brilliant colour.
c' I think we have never met before, sirs', replied Harper, with a slight smile on his features,
as he observed the movements of the other; but
appearing satisfied with his scrutiny, he turned to
Sarah \Wharton, who sat next him, and remarked,
with much suavity": You, doubtless, find your present abode solitary, after being accustomed to the gayeties of the
city.'
" Oh! excessively so," said Sarah, hastily; " 1
do wish, with my father, that this cruel war was at
an end, that we might return to our friends once
more.'"
( And you, Miss Frances, do you long as ardently for peace as your sister?"
a On 1many accounts, I certainly do," returned
the maid, venturing to steal a timid glance at her
interrogator"; and, meeting the same benevolent
expression of feeling as before, she continued, as
her own face lighted into one of its animated and
lovely smiles of intelligence, "but not at the expense of tile rights of nmy countrymien."




22                 THrE SPY.
Rights," repeated her sister, impatiently;
5 whose rights can be stronger than those of a
sovereign; and what duty is clearer, than to obey
those who have a natural right to command?"9
C NoneL certainly," said Frances, laughing with
great pleasantry; and, taking the hand of her sis.ter affectionately within both of her own, shea
added, with a smile directed towards Harper —
" I gave you to understand, that nmy sister and
myself differed in our political opi nions; but we
have an impartial umpire in my father, who loves
his own countrymen, and loves the British, so sides
with neither."
sc Yes," said Mr. Wharton, in a little alarm,
eyeing first one guest, and then the other;' I
have near friends in both armies, and I dread a
victory by either, as a source of misfortune to myself.'
I'  take it, you have little reason to apprehend
much fiom the Yankees in that way," interrupted
the guest at the table, as he coolly helped hilmself to another glass, fiom the bottle he had adimired.
" His majesty may have more experienced troops
than the continentals," answered the host, fearfully, " but the Americans have met awith distinguished success."
Harper disregarded the observations of both:
and, rising, desired to be shown to his place of
rest.  A small boy was directed to guide him to his
room; and wishing a courteous good-night to the
whole party, the traveller withdrew.  The knife
and fork fell from the hands of the unwelcome intruder, as the door closed on the retiring figure of
Harper;-he arose slowly from his seat; —listening
attentively, he approached the door of the roomopened it —-seemed to attend to the retreating foot



THE SPY.                ~2
steps of the other —and, amidst the panic and as-.tomnshment of his companions, closed it again.  In
an instant, the red wig, which concealed his black
locks, the large patch, which hid. half his face from
observation, the stoopo that had made him appear
fifty years of age, disappeared.'C My father!-my dear father 1"-cried the now.Landsorne young man; " and you, my dearest sis;
ters and aunt-have I at last met you again?"
" Heaven bless you, mry Henry, my son," exclaimed the astonished, but delighted parent; while
both his sisters sunk on his shoulders, dissolved in
tears.
The faithful old black, who had been reared
fiom infancy in the house of his present master,
and who, as if in mockery of his degraded state,
had been complimented with the name of Caesar,
was the only other witness of this unexpected discovery of the son of Mir. Wharton.  After receiving the extended hand of his young master, and
imprinting on it a kiss, and leaving on it a tear,
Caesar withdrew.  The boy did not re-enter the
r:oom; and the black himself, after some time, returned, as the young British captain exclaimed"- But who is this Mr. Harper?-is he likely to
betray me?"
T  No-no-no-Massa Harry," cried the Aftrican, shaking his head confidently;'" I been to seeMAassa Harper on he knees-pray to God-no gemmlan who pray to God, tell of good son, come to
see old fader-Skinner do tfhat-no christian."'
This poor opinion of the Skinners was not confined to Mr. -Cmsar Thompson as he called himself-but Causar Wharton, as he was styled by the
little world to which he was known.  The conve-iience, and perhaps the necessities, of the leaders
of the American arims, in the neighbourhood of




24                 THE SPY.
New-York, had induced them to employ certain
subordinate agents, of extremely irregular habits,
in executing their lesser plans of annoying the enemy. It was not a moment for fastidious inquiries
into abuses of any description; and oppression and
injustice were the natural consequences of the possession of a military power that was uncurbed
by the'restraints of civil authority.  In time, a
distinct order of the community was formed, whose
sole occupation appears to have been relieving
their fellow citizens from any little excess of temporal prosperity they might be thought to enjoy,
under the pretence of patriotism, and the love of
liberty.
Occasionally, the aid of military authority was
not wanting, in enforcing these arbitrary distributions of worldly goods; and a petty holder of a
commission in the state militia, was to be seen
giving the sanction of something like legality, to
acts of the most unlicensed robbery, and, not unfriequently, of bloodshed.
On the part of the British, the stimulus of loyalty was by no means suffered to sleep, where so
firuitful a field offered, on which it might be expended. But their fireebooters were enrolled, and
their efforts more systematized.  Long experience
had taught their leaders the efficacy of coneentlrated force; and, unless tradition does great injustice to their exploits, the result did do little credit
to their foresight.  The corps-we presume, florn
their known affection to that useful animal-had
received  the significant appellation  of " CowBoys."
CGsar was, however, far too loyal to associate
men who held the commission of George III., with
the irregular warriors, whose excesses he had so
*ften witnessed, and from whose rapacity, neither




THE SPY.                  25
his poverty, nor his bondage, had sufferedl even
him to escape uninjured.  The Cow-Boys, therefore, did not receive their proper portion of the
severity of the blackl's remark, when he said, no
Christian, nothing but a " Skinner,' could betray
a pious child, while honouring his father with a
visit, full of peril, and the danger of captivity.




CHAPTER II.
The rose of England bloomed on Gertrude's cheekliWhbat though these shades had seen her birth, her sire
A Briton's independence taughlt to seek
Far Western worlds; and there his household fire
The light of social love did long inspire,
Arnd many a halcyon day he liv'd to see
Unbroken, linut by one misfortune dire,
WVhen fate had reft his mutual heart-but she
Was gone-and Gertrude climIn'd a widow'd fathler's klee
Ge?-tr-Lde of Wlyomiaig,
TrH     father of Mr. Wharton  was a native  of
England, and of a family whose parliamentary interest had enabled  them  to provide for a younger
son in the colony of New-York.   The young man,
like hundreds of others in his situation, had settled
permanently in the country.   Ie mar'ied, and the
sole issue of his connexion had been sent, early in
life, to receive the benefits of the English schools.
After taking his degrees at one of the universities
of the nmother country, the youth  had been suffered to acquire a knowledge of life, with the advantages of- European  society.  But the death of his
athler recalled him, after passing two years in this
manner, to the possession of an honourable  m;-_,e,
and a very ample estate.
It was much the fashion of that day, to place the
youth of certain  families, in  the army or navy of
England, as the regular stepping-stones to preferment.  Most of the higher offices in the  col.onies
were filled by men who had made arms their profession; and it was no  uncommon  sight, to  see a
veteran warrior laying aside the sword, to assume




TIE SPY.                  27
the ermine on the benches of the highest judicial
authority.
In conformity with this system, the senior'Mr.
Wharton hatd intended his son for a soldier, but a
natural imbecility of character in his child inlterfered with his wishes.
A twelvenmonth hadl been spent by the young
man, in. weighing the advantages possessed by the
different classes of troops, among which he was to
serve, when the death of his father occurred. The
ease of his situation, and the attentions lavished
upon a youth, in the actual enjoymSent of one of the
largest estates in the colonies, interfered greatly
with his ambitious projects.  Love decided the
matiter; and Mr. W'harton, in becoming a busband,
ceased to think of becoming  a soldier.  For many
years he continued happy in his family, and respected by his countrymen, as a man of integrity
and consequence, when ai] his enjoyments vanished,
as it were, at a blow.  His only son, the youth
introduced in the preceding chapter, had entered
the army, and had arrived' in his native country,
but a short time before the commencement of hostilities, with the reinforcements the ministry had
thought it prudent to throw  into the, disaffected
parts of North Amlnerica.  His daughters were just
growing into life, and their education required all
the advantages the city could afford. His wife had
been for some years in deelining health, and had
barely time to fold her son to her bosom, and rejoice in the reunion of her family, before the revolution burst forth, in a continued blahze, from
Georgia to Massachuse-ts.  The shock was too
much for the feeble condition of the amother, who
saw her child called to the field, to combat against
the members of her own family in the South, and
she sunk under the blowo




TIHE SPY.
Trhere was no part of the continent where the
manners of England, and its aristocratic notions of
blood and alliances, prevailed with more force
than in a certain circle immnediately around the
metropolis of Neve-York.  The custoins of the
early Dutch inhabitants had, indeed, blended i,
some measure with the English manners; but still
the latter prevailed.  This attachment to Great
Britain was increased by the fiequent intermarriages of the officers of the mother country with
the wealthier and more powerful families of the
vicinity5 until, at the commnencenent of hostilities,
their united influence had very nearly thrown the
colony into the scales on the side of the crown.
A few, however, of the leading families espoused
the cause of the people; and a sufficient stand was
made against the eflorts of the ministerial party,
to organize, and, aided by the army of the confederation, to maintain, an independent and republican form of government.
The city of New-York, and the adjacent terri-.ory, wTere alone exempted from the rule of the
new commonwrealth; and the royal authority extended no further than its dignity could be supported by the presence of an army.  In this condition of things, the loyalists of influence adopted
such measures as best accorded with their different
characters and situations.  Many bore arims in
support of the ancient laws; and, by their bravery
and exertions, endeavoured to secure what they
deemed to be the rights of their prince, and their
own estates firom  confiscation.  Others left the
country; seeking in that place, they emphatically
called home, an asylum, as they fondly hoped, for
a season only, against the confusion and dangers
of war.  A third, and more wary portion, remained in the place of their nativity, with a prudent re



TIIE SPY.                  29
gard to their av nple possessions, and, pelihaps, influenced by their attachments to the scenes of their
youth.   Mr. Wharton was of this desciption. After making a provision against future contitngencies,
by secretly transmitting  the whole of his money
to the British fuinds, this gentle.man determined to
continue in the theatre of strife, and to maintain
so strict a neutrality, as to ensure the safety of his
large estate, whichever party succeeded.  IHe was
apparently engrossed in the educb tion of his dauoghters, when a relation' high in office in the nemstate, intimated, that a residence in what was now
a British camp, differed but little, in the eyes of
his countriymen, friom  a residence in the British
capital.  Mr. Wharton soon saxw this was an unpardonable offence in the existing state of things,
and instantly detetrmined to renove the difficulty
by retiring to the countXry.  He possessed a convenient residence in the county of West Chester,
and having been for many years in the habit of
withdrawing thither, during the heats of the summetr months, it was kept fulrnished, and ready for
his accommodation.  His eldest daughter was already admitted into the society of women; bui
Frances, the younger, required a year or two more
of the usual cultivation, to appear w\ith proper eclat:
at least so thought Miss Jeanette Peyton; and as
this lady, a younger sister of their deceased motheLr
had left her paternal home, in the colony of' Virginia, wi-th the devotedness and affection peculiar
to her sex, to superintend thle welfare of her orphan nieces, Mr. Wharton felt that her 6pinions
were entitled to profound respect.  In conforminity
to her advice, therefore, the feelings of the parent
were imade to yield to the welfare of his children.
Mr. Wharton withdrew to the GC Locusts,'l with
a heart rent with the pain of separating fromt all
34~




30                  TIHE SPY.
that w'as left hlin of a wife lhe had afdoed, but in
obedience to a constitutional pruidence thalt Dleaded
loudly in behalf of his Nw-orldly goods.  His handsome town residence was inhabited, in the mean
while, by his daughlters and their aunt.  The regiment to which Captain Wharton belonged formled
part of the permanent garrison of the city, and the
knowledge of the presence of his son was no little
relief to the father, in his unceasing  meditations
on his absent daughters.  But Captain Wharto-n
was a young man, and a soldier; his estimate of
chlaracter was not always the wisest, and his propensities led hinm to imagine, that a red coat nevei
concealed a dishonorurable heart.
The house of Mr. Wharton became a fashionable lounge to the officers of the royal army, as
did that of every  other family, thought worthy of
their notice.  The eonsequiences of this association were, to some few of the visited, fortunate,
to more, injurious, by exciting expectations which
were never to be realized, and, unhappily, to no
small number ruinous.  The known wealth of the
father, and, possibly, the presence of a high-spirited brother, forbade any apprehension of the latter
danger to tlhe young ladies; but it was impossible
that all the admiration bestowed on the fine figure
and lovely face of Sarah Wharton should be thrown
away.  HIer person was formned with the early maturity of the climate, and a strict cultivation of the
graces had maide her, decidedly, the belle of t he
city.  No one promised to dispute with her this
female sovereignty, unless it might be her younger
sister.  Frances, however, wanted some montlhs
to the charmed age of sixteen; and the idea of
competition was far from the minds of either of thli
affectionate girls.  Indeed, next to the conversation of Colonel Wellmere, the greatest pleasure ol




T1rE SPY.                  31
Sarab was in contemplating the buldding   beauties
of the little Hebe, who played around her with all
the innocency of youthl, vwith all the enthusiasmL of
her ardent temper, and with no little of the archness of her nativSe laumlour.  WVhether or not it was
oheinx -,, the fact, that Frances received none of.
the compliments which fell to the lot of her elder
sister-, in the often repeated discussions on the
merits of i1 -' fvar, between the nilitary beaus who
fiequente: iL-~ htouse, it is certaii their effects on
the sisters were exactly opposite.  It was much
the fashion, then, for the British officers to speak.';gh tingly of their enemies; and Sarah took all:i-,e idle vapourings of her danglers to be truths.
The first political opinions which reached the ears
of Frances were coupled xwith sneers on the conduct of her countrymien.  At first she believed
t;hem; but there w'as occasionally a general, who
was obliged to do justice to his enemry in older to
obtain Jistice for himself, and Frances became
somewhiat sceptical on the subject of the inefficiency of her countrylmen.  Colonel Wellmere was
among those who delighted most in expending his
wit on the unfortunate Americans; and, in time,
Frances began to listen to his eloquence with great
suspicion, and some little resentmlent.
It was on a hot sultry day, that the three were
sil. ring in the parlour of 1Mr. Wharton's house, the
Colonel and Sarah, seated on a sofa, engaged in
one of their combats of the eyes, aided by no little
flow of smuall talk, and Frances,  occupied at her
tambourin'i frame, in an opposite corner of the
roomn, when the gentleman suddenlky exciaimed-'" How gay the arrival of thle army under General Burgoyne will nmake the city, Miiss Wharton!"
C Oh' how  pleasant it must be," said  the




32                 THE SPY.
thoughtless Sarall, in reply; " I am told there are
many charming women with that army; as you
say, it will make us all life and gayety."'
Frances shook back the abundance of her golden hair, and raised fiom the work her eyes, daneing with the ardour of her national feeling, and
laughing, with a kind of concealed humnour, she
asked1" Is it then so certain, that General Burgoyne
will be permitted to reach the city?"
"G Permitted!'7 echoed the Colonel, in affected
surprise;'w ho is there to prevent it, if he wishes
it himselfW lay pretty Miss Fanny?"
Frances w-as at precisely that age, when yOUng
people are most jealous of their station in society;
neither quite a woman, nor yet a child.  The
C" pretty Miss Fanny" was rather too familiar to
be relished; and she dropped her eyes on her
work again, with cheeks that glowed like crimson,
as she continued very gravely —
" General Stark took the Gernmans into custody
— may not General Gates think the British too
dangerous to go at large?"
Oh! they were Germans, as you say," cried
the Colonel, excessively vexed at the necessity of
explaining at all, " mere  mercenary troops; but
when the really British regiments come in question, you will see a very different result."' Of that there is no doubt," cried Sarah, without in the least partaking of the resentment of the
Colonel to her sister, but hailing already in her
heart the triumph of the British.
C Pray, Colonel Wellinere," said Frances, recovering her good humour, and raising her joyous
eyes once more to the face of the gentleman, B' was
the Lord Percy of Lexington a kinsman of him
who fought at Chevy Chase'"




rua sPY.                33
BlWhy, Miss Fanny, you are becoming a reb-el'"
said the Colonel, endeavouring to laugh away the
anger he felt;   what you are pleased to insinuate
was a chase at Lexington, was nothing more than
a judicious retreat-a-kind of-l"
" Running fight," interrupted the good-humoured girl, laying great emphasis on the first word.
" Positively, young lady —" Colonel Wellinere
was interrupted by a laugh friom a person who had
hitherto been unnoticed.
There was a small family apartment adjoining
the room occupied by the trio, and the air had
blown open the door communicating between the
two. A fine young man was now seen sitting near
the entrance, who, by his smiling countenance, was
evidently a pleased listener to the foregoing conversation.  He rose instantly, and coming through
the door, with his hat in his hand, appeared a tall
graceful youth, of dark complexion, and sparkling
eyes of black, from which the mirth had not yet
entirely vanished, as he made his bow to the ladies.' Mr. Dunwoodie!' crlied Sarah, in surprise,' I was ignorant of your being in the house; you
wvill find a cooler seat in this room.'"
"' I thank you," replied the young man, " but I
must go and seek your brother, who placed me
there in ambuscade, as he called it, with a promise
of returning an hour ago." Without making any
further explanation, he boowsed politely to the young
women, distantly and with hauteur to the gentleman, and withdrew. Frances followed him into
the hall, and blushing richly, inquired, in a hurried
voice"c But why —why do you leave us, Mr. Dunwoodie?-Henry must soon returln."
The gentleman caught one of hler hands in his




34                THE SPY.
own, and the stern expression of his counteru;neo
gave place to a look of admiration, as he replihJl" You managed him famously, my dear tittle
kinswoman; never —no never, forget the laru of
your birthli; remember, Miss Wharton, if yol are
the grand-daughter of an Englishman, you ire,
also. the grand-daughter of a Peyton."' Oh!" returned the laughing girl, " it itould
be difficult to forget that, with the constant lectures
on genealogy before me, with which aunt Jeanette
favours me-but why do you go?"
I am on the wing for Virginia, and have much
to do."  He pressed her hand as he spoke, a. d
looking back, while in the act of closing the door,
exclaimed, " hbe true to your country-be American." rThe ardent girl kissed her hand to him as
he retired, and then instantly applying i` with its
beautiful fellow to her burning cheeks, ran into her
vown apartment to hide her confusion.
Between the open sarcasm of F~rances, and the
ill-concealed disdain of the young man, Colonel
Wellmere had felt himself placed in an awkward
predicament; but ashamed to resent such trifles,
in the presence of his mistress, he satisfied himself with observing, superciliously, as Dunwoodie
left the room" Quite a liberty for a youth in his situation; a
shop-boy with a bundle, I fancy."
The idea of picturing the elegant and graceful
Peyton Duniwoodie as a shop-boy, could never entet the mind of Sarah, and she looked around her
in surprise, when the Colonel continued:" This Mr. Dun-Dun-"' ll)nwoodie! Oh no-he is a relation of my
aunt," cried the young lady, " and an intimate
friend of nay brother; they were at school together,




THE SPY.
and only separated in England,
into the army, and the other to a Frntlleh lim.
academy."
" His money appears to have been thrown
away," observed the Colonel, showing the spleen
he was unsuccessfully striving to conceal.
" We ought to hope so," added Sarah, with a
smile; " for it is said he intends joining the rebel
army. He was brought in here in a French ship,
and has just been exchanged; you may soon meet
him in arms."
" Well, let him-I wish Washington plenty of
such heroes;" and he turned to a more pleasant
subject, by changing the discourse to themselves.
A few weeks had elapsed after this scene occurred,
when the army of Burgoyne laid down their arms.
Mr. Wharton, beginning to think the result of the
contest to be doubtful, resolved to conciliate his
countrymen, and gratify himself, by taking his:.ighters into his own abode. Miss Peyton consented to be their companion; and from that time,
until the period at which we commenced our narrative, they had forwed one family.
Whenever the main army made any movements,
Captain Wharton had, of course, accompanied it;
and once or twice, under the protection of strong
parties, acting in the neighbourhood of the Locusts,
he had enjoyed rapid and. stolen interviews with
his firiends. A twelvemonth had, however, passed
without his seeing them; and the impatient Henry
had adopted the disguise we have mentioned, and
unfortunately arrived on the very evening that an
unknown and rather suspicious guest was an inmate of the house, which seldom contained any
others than its regular inhabitants.
" But, do you think he suspects me?" asked




T;HE SPY.
anxiety, after pausing to listen to
o. p  opi.on of the Skinners.
a How should he?" cried Sarah, "whllen your
sisters and father could not.penetrate your disguise."
a There is something mysterious in his mannel;
his looks are too prying for an indifferent observer," continued  young Wharton, thoughtfully,
" and his face seems familiar to me. The recent
fate of Andre has created much irritation on both
sides.  Sir Henry threatens retaliation for his
death; and Washington is as firm as if half the
world were at his command.  The rebels would
think me a fit subject for their plans just now,
should I be so unlucky as to fall into their hands."
" But, my son," cried his father, in great alarm,
" you are not a spy; you are not within the Aebel-that is, the American lines;-there is notl Ing
here to spy.'' That might be disputed," rejoined the young
man, musing: " their pickets were as low as the
White Plains when I passed through in disguise.
It is true, my purposes are innocent; but howv is
it to appear.  My visit to you would seem a cloak
to other designs.  Remember, sir, the treatment
received by yourself, not a year ago, for sending
me a supply of fruit for the winter."
"' That proceeded from the misrepresentations of
my kind neighbours," said Mr. Wharton, " who
hoped, by getting my estate confiscated, to purchase good farms, at low prices.  Peyton Dunwoodie, however, soon obtained our discharge,
we were detained but a month."
"W We 1" repeated the son, in amazement; "did
they take my sisters also?-Fanny, you wrote mee
nothing of this."
" I believe,' said Frances. colouring highly. "I




THE SPYr.               37
mentioned the kind treatment we received from
your old fiiend, Major Dunwoodie; -and that he
procured my father's release."
" True;L-but were you with him in the rebel
camp?"' Yes," said the father, kindly, " Fanny would
not suffer me to go alone.  Jeanette and Sarab
took charge of the Locusts, and this little girl was
my companion in captivity."
"a And Fanny returned from  such a scene a
greater rebel than ever," cried Sarah, indignantly;
" one would think the hardships her father suffered would have cured her of such whims."
" What say you to the charge, my bonny sister?"
cried the Captain, gayly;-" did Peyton strive to
make you hate your king,'More than he does himself?"
" Peyton Dunwoodie hates no one," said Frances, quickly; and blushing at her own ardour, she
added immediately, "u he loves you, Henry, I know,
for he has told me so again and again."
Young Wharton tapped his sister on the cheek,
with a shrewd smile, as he asked her, in an affected whisper-" did he tell you also that he loved
mny little sister Fanny?1"
";Nonsense," said Frances; and the remnants
of the supper table soon disappeared lunder her sis
perintendenee.
4




CHAPTER lII.
9rwas when the fields were swept ot'Autumn's store,
And growling winds the fading foliage tore,
Behind the Lowmon hill, the short-liv'd light,
Descending slowly, usher'd in the night;
When from the noisy town, with mournful look,
His lonely way the meager pedler took.
IJVilsom.
A STORM below the highlands of the Hudson, if
it be introduced with an easterly wind, seldotn
lasts less than two days. Accordingly, as the inmates of the Locusts assembled, on the following
morning, around  their early breakfast, the driving rain was seen to strike in nearly horizontal
lines against the windows of the building, and
forbade the idea of exposing either man or beast
to the tempest. Harper was the last to appear:
after taking a view  of the state of the weather,
he apologized to Mr.'Wharton for the necessity
that existed, for his trespassing upon his goodness
for a longer time.  To appearances, the reply was
as courteous as the excuse; yet Harper wore a
resignation in his deportment that was widely different from the uneasy manner of the father. Henry Wharton had resumed his disguise with a reluctance amounting to disgust, but in obedience to
the commands of his parent.  No communications
passed between him and the stranger, after the first
salutations of the morning had been paid by Har
per to him, in common with the rest of the family.
Frances had, indeed, thought there was sonmething
like a smile passing over the features of the travel



THE SPY.                39
ier, when, on elteling the room, he first confronted her brother; but it was confined to the eyes,
seeming to want power to affect the muscles of
the face, and was soon lost in the settled and benevolent expression which reigned in his countenance, with a sway but seldom interrupted. The
eyes of the affectionate sister were turned in
anxiety, for a moment, on her brother, and glancing again on their unknown guest, met his look,
as he offered her, with peculiar grace, one of the
little civilities of the table; and the heart of the
maiden, which had begun to throb with violence,
regained a pulsation as tempered as youth, health,
and buoyant spirits could allow. While yet seated
at the table, Caesar entered, and, laying a small
parcel in silence by the side of his master, modestly retired behind his chair, where, placing one
hand on its back, he continued in an attitude half
familiar, but profoundly respectful
" What is this, Caesar?" inquired Mr. Wharton,
turning the bundle over in examination of its envelope, and eyeing it rather suspiciously.
"C The'baccy, sir; Harvey Birch, he got home
and bring you a little good'bacey from York."' Harvey Birch," rejoined the master with
great deliberation, stealing a look at his guest.
" I do not remember desiring him to purchase any
tobacco for me; but as he has brought it, he must
be paid for his trouble."
For an instant only, as the negro spoke, did
Harper suspend his silent meal; his eye moved
slowly from the servant to the master, and again
all remained in its impenetrable reserve.
To Sarah Wharton, this intelligence gave unexpected pleasure; rising friom her seat, with impatience, she bade the black show Birch into the
apartment; when suddenly recollecting herself,




40                 THE SPY.
she turned to the traveller with an apologlsing
look, and added, " if Mr. Harper will excuse the
presence of a pedler."
The indulgent benevolence expressed in the
countenance of the stranger, as he bowed in silent
acquiescence, spoke more eloquently than  the
nicest firamed period, and the young lady repeated
her order with a confidence in its truth, that removed all embarrassment.
In the deep recesses of the windows of the cottage were seats of pannelled work; and the rich
damask curtains, that had ornamented the parlour
in Queen-street, had been transferred to the Locusts, and gave to the room that indescribable air
of comfort, which so gratefully announces the approach of a domestic winter.  Into one of these
recesses Captain Wharton now  threw  himself,
drawing the curtain before him in such a manner
as to conceal most of his person from observation;
while his younger sister, losing her natural frankness of manner, in an air of artificial constraint,
silently took possession of the other.
Harvey Birch had been a pedler from his youth,
at least so he frequently asserted, and his skill in
the occupation went far to prove the truth of the
declaration.  He was supposed to be a native of
one of the eastern colonies; and, from something
of superior intelligence which belonged to his fa-.
ther, it was thought they had known better fortunes in the land of their nativity. Harvey iossessed, however, the common manners of the
country, and was in no way distinguished firom
men of his class, but by his acuteness, and the
mystery which enveloped his movements. Ten
years before, they had arrived together in the vale,
and, purchasing the humble dwelling at which lTarper had made his unsuccessful application, con



THE PWY.                 41
tinned ever since peaceful inhabitants, but little
noticed and but little known.  Until age and infirmities had prevented, the father devoted himself
to the cultivation of the small spot of ground belonging to his purchase, while the son pursued with
avidity his humble barter. Their orderly quietude
had soon given them so much consideration in the
neighbourhood, as to induce a maiden of five and
thirty to forget the punctilio of her sex, and to accept the office of presiding over their domestic
comforts.  The roses had long before vanished
from the cheeks of Katy Haynes, and she had seen
in succession, both her male and female acquaintances forming the union so desirable to her sex,
with but little or no hope left for herself, when,
with views of her own, she entered the family of
the Birches. Necessity is a hard master, and, for
the want of a better companion, the father and son
were induced to accept her services; but still Katy
was not wanting in some qualities, which made her
a very tolerable housekeeper. On the one hand,
she was neat, industrious, honest, and a good mnanager.  On the other, she was talkative, selfish.
superstitious, and inquisitive.  By dint of using
the latter quality with consummate skill, she had
not lived in the family but five years when she triumphantly declared, that she had heard, or rather
overheard, sufficient to say what had been the
former fate of her associates.  Could Katy have
possessed enough of divination to pronounce upon
their future lot, her task would have seemed comparatively easy. From the private conversations
of the parent and child, she learnt that a fire had
reduced them from competence to poverty, and at
the samle time diminished the number of their family to two. There was a tremulousness in the
voice of the father, as he touched lightly on the
4*




42                THE SPY.
event, which affected even the heart of Katy; but
no barrier is sufficient to repel vulgar curiosity.
She persevered, until a very direct intimation frmoln
Harvey, by threatening to supply her place with
a female a few years younger than herself, gave
her awful warning, that there were bounds beyond
which she was not to pass. From that period the
curiosity of his housekeeper had been held in such
restraint, that, although no opportunity of listening was ever neglected, she had been able to add
but little to her stock of knowledge.  There was,
however, one piece of intelligence, and that of no
little interest to herself, which she had succeeded
in obtaining; and from the moment of its acquisition, she directed her energies to the accomplishment of one object, aided by the double stimulus
of love and avarice.
Harvey was in the firequent habit of paying mysterious visits, in the depth of the night, to the fireplace of the apartment, that served for both kitchen and parlour.  Here he was observed by Katy;
and, availing herself of his absence, and the occupations of' the father, by removing one of the
hearth-stones, she discovered an iron pot, glittering with a metal that seldom fails to soften the
hardest heart.  Katy succeeded in replacing the
stone without discovery, and never dared to trust
herself with another visit. From that moment,
however, the heart of the virgin lost its obduracy;
and nothing interposed between Harvey and his
happiness, but his own want of observation.
The war did not interfere with the traffic of the
pedler, who seized on the golden opportunity
which the interruption of the regular trade afforded, and appeared absorbed in the one grand object of amassing money. For a year or two, his
employmtent was uninterrupted, and his success




proportionate, but, at length, dark and threatening
hints began to throw suspicion around his movements, and the civil authority thought it incumbent
on them to examine narrowly into his mode of life.
His imprisonments, though frequent, were not
long; and his escapes from the guardians of the
law comparatively easy, to what he endured from
the persecution of the military. Still Birch survived, and still he continued his trade, though
compelled to be very guarded in his movements,
especially whenever he approached the northern
boundaries of the county; or, in other words, the
neighbourhood of the American lines. His visits
to the Locusts had become less frequent, and his
appearance at his own abode so seldom, as to draw
forth from the disappointed Katy, in the fulness
of her heart, the complaint we have related, in
her reply to Harper. Nothing, however, seemed
to interfere with the pursuits of this indefatigable
trader; who, with a view to dispose of certain al'tieles for which he could only find purchasers in
the very wealthiest families of the county, had
now braved the fulry of the tempest, fol the half
mile between his own residence and the house of
Mr. Wharton.
in a few minutes after receiving the commands
of his young mistress, Cesar re-appeared, ushering
into the apartment the subject of the foregoing
ligression. In person, the pedler was a man above
the middle height, spare, but full of bone and muscle: at first sight, his strength seemed unequal to
manage:the unwieldy burden of his pack; yet he
threw it on and off with great dexterity, and with
as much apparent ease as if it had reen feathers.
His eyes were gray, sunken, restless, and, for the
flitting moments that they dwelt on the countenances of those with whom he conversed, seemed




A4                 THE SPY.
to read the very soul.  They possessed, however,
two distinct expressions, which, in a great measure, characterized the whole man. When engaged in traffic, the intelligence of his face appeared lively, active, and flexible, though uncommonly acute; if the conversation turned on the
ordinary transactions of life, his- air became abstractedl and restless; but if, by chance, the revolution, and the country, were the topic, his whole
system seemed altered —all his faculties were concentrated; he would listen for a great length of
time, without speaking, and then would break
silence by some light and jocular remarks, that
were too much at variance with his formner manner, not to be affectation.  But of the war, and of
his father, he seldom spoke, and always from some
apparent necessity.
To a superficial observer, avarice would seemn
his ruling passion-and, all things considered, he
was as unfit a subject for the plans of Katy Haynes
as can be readily imagined. On entering the
ioom, the pedler relieved himself from his burden,
which, as it stood on the floor, reached nearly to
his shoulders, and saluted the family with modest
civility. To Harper he made a silent bow, without lifting his eyes from the carpet; but the curtain prevented any notice of the presence of Captain Wharton.  Sarah gave but little time for the
usual salutations, before she commenced her sulrvey of the contents of the pack: and, for several
ninutes, the two were engaged in bringing to light
the various articles it contained.  The tables.
chairs, and floor, were soon covered with silks,
crapes, gloves, muslins, and all the stock of an
itinerant trader.  Caesar was employed to hold
open the mouth of the pack, as its hordes were
discharged, and occasionally aided his young lady,




THEI SPY. 4S
by directing her admiration to some articles of
finery, which, from their deeper contrast in colours, he thought more worthy of her notice. At
length, Sarah having selected several articles, and
satisfactorily arranged the prices, observed in a
cheerful voice" But, Harvey, you have told us no news. Has
LIord Cornwallis beaten the rebels again?"
The question could not have been heard; for
the pedler, burying his body in the pack, brought
forth a quantity of lace of exquisite fineness, and,
holding it up to view, required the admiration of
the young lady. Miss Peyton dropped the cup
she was engaged in washing, from her hand; and
Frances exhibited the whole of that lovely face,
which had hitherto only suffered one of its joyous
eyes to be seen, beaming with a colour that shamed
the damask, which enviously concealed her figure..
The aunt quitted her employment; and Birch
soon disposed of a large portion of this valuable
article.'The praises of the ladies had drawn'he
whole person of the younger sister into view; and
Frances was slowly rising from the window, as
Sarah repeated her question, with an exultation in
her voice, that proceeded more from pleasure in
her purchase, than her political feelings. The
younger sister resumed her seat, apparently examining into the state of the clouds, while the
pedler, finding a reply was expected, answered
slowly
" There is some talk below  about Tarleton
having defeated General Sumpter, on the Tiger
river.'
Captain Wharton now involuntarily thrust his
head between the opening of the curtains into the
room; and Francess in turning her ear, in breathless silence, noticed the quiet eyes of Harper look



4(                THE SPY.
ing at the pedler, over the book he was affecting
to read, with an expression that denoted him to be
a listener of no ordinary interest.
1" Indeed!" cried the exulting Sarah; " Sumpter-Sumpter-who is he? I'll not buy even a
pin, until you tell me all the news," she continued.
laughing, and throwing down a muslin she had
been examining.
For a moment the pedler hesitated; his eye
glanced towards Harper, who was yet gazing at
him with settled meaning, and the whole manner
of Birch was altered. Approaching the fire, he
took from his mouth a large allowance of the Virginian weed, and depositing it, with the superabundance of its juices, without mercy to Miss Peyton's
shining andirons, returned to his goods, and replied in a more lively tone" He lives somewherie among the niggars to the
south."': No more niggar than be yourself, Mister
Biirch," interrupted Caesar tartly, and dropping the
covering of the goods in high displeasure.
" Hush, Caesar-hush-never mind it now,"
said Sarah Wharton soothingly, waiting with impatience to hear further.
" A black man so good as white, Miss Sally,"
continued the offended African, " so long he behave heself."
" And firequently much better," rejoined his
mistress: " but, Harvey, who is this Mr. Sumpter?"
A slight indication of hulmour showed itself on
the face of the pedleI, as he continued-"'.As I
was saying, he lives among the coloured people in
the south"-Caesar resumed his occupation-" and
has lately lhad a skrimmage with this Colonel
Tarleton"



THE SPY.                47
"C Who defeated him of course,7" cried Sarah
with confidence.
"' So say the troops at Morrisania," returned the
other laconically.
" But what do you say?" Mr. Wharton ventured to inquire, yet speaking involuntarily in a
low tone.
" I repeat but what I hear," said Birch, offei
ing a piece of cloth to the inspection of Sarah, who
rejected it in silence, evidently determined to hear
more before she made any further purchases.
" They say, hlowever, at the Plains," the pedier continued, after first throwing his eyes again
round the room, and letting them rest for an instant on Harper, " that Sumpter and one or two
more were all that was hurt, and that the rig'lars
were all cut to pieces, for the militia were fixed
snugly in a log barn."
" Not very probable," said Sarah, contemptuously, " though I make no doubt the rebels got
behind the logs."
I thinkl  said the pedler coolly, again offering the silk, " it's quite ingenious to get a log between one and a gun, instead of getting between
a gun and a log."  The eyes of Harper dropped
quietly on the pages of the volume in his hand,
while Frances, rising, came forward with a smile
in her face, as she inquired, in a tone of affability
that the pedler had never before witnessed from
her"' Have you more of the lace, Mr. Birch?"
The desired article was immediately produced,
and Frances became a purchaser also; by hei
order a glass of liquor was offered to the trader,
who took it with thanks, and, having paid his com[)liments to the master of the house and the ladies,.Irank the beverage.




48~'rTHE SPY.
"So, it is thought that Colonel Tarleton has
worsted General Sumpter?" said Mr. Wharton,
affecting to be employed in mending the cup that
was broken by the eagerness of his sister-in-law.'C I believe they think so at Morrisania," said
Birch drily.
" Have you any other news, friend?"' asked
Captain Wharton, venturing to thrust his face
without the curtains again.
"' Have you heard that Major Andre has been
hung?" inquired the pedler with emlphasis, in
reply.
Captain Wharton started, and for a moment
glances of great significance were exchanged between him and the trader, when he observed, witll
affected indifference, " that must have been some
five weeks ago."
". Does his execution make much noise?"' asked
the father, striving to make the broken chijna
unite.
" People will talk, you know,'Squire," returned
the pedler, exhibiting his goods respectfully to the
young ladies.
(" Is there any probability of movements below,
my friend, that will make travelling dangerous?"
asked Halrper, looking steadily at the other, in expectation of his reply.
Some bunches of ribbons fell from the hands of
Birch; his countenance changed instantly, losing
its keen expression in intent meaning, as he answered slowly —   It is some time since the ric'lar
cavalry were out, and I saw some of De Lancey's
men cleaning their arms, as I passed their quarters; it would be no wonder if they took the scent
soon, for the Virginia horse are low in the county."
c Are they in much force?" asked Mr. Wharton, suspending all employmlent in anxiety.




'rHE sPY.                 49
i' I did not count them," said the pedler, giving
his attention to his trade again.
Frallnces was the only observer of the change in
the manner of Birch, and, on turning to Harper,
he had resumed his book in silence.  The maid
took some of the ribbons in her hand —laid them
dovwn again-and, bending over the goods, so that
her hair, falling in rich curlts, shaded her face, she
observed, blushing with a colour that suffused her
neck
"C I thought the southern horse had marched
towards the Delaware.'"
~" It may be so," said Birch; "1 I passed the
troops at a distance."
Caesar had now selected a piece of calico, in
which the colours of yellow and red were contrasted on a white ground, and, after admiring it
for several minutes, laid it down with a sigh, as he
exclaimed, "~ berry pretty calico.":~ That," said Sarah; " yes, that would make a
proper gown for your wife, C88sar.")
" Yes, Miss Sally," cried the delighted black,
CC make old Dinah heart leap for joy-so berry
genteel."'
"' Yes," added the pedler, quaintly, " that would
make Dinah look like a rainbow."
Cmsar eyed his young mistress eagerly, until,
laying it down with a smile, she inquired the price
of Harvey.
c; Why) much as I light of chaps," said the pedler.
" How much?"' demanded Sarah, in surprise.
4; According to my luck in finding purchasers;
for my friend Dinah, you may have it at four shillings."
"' It is too lmuch,7 said Sarah, turning to some
goods for herself.
5




5()              STHE SPY.
" Monstrous price for coarse calico, Mister
Birch," grumbled Caesar, dropping the opening
of the pack again.
"We will say three, thern," added the pedler,
" if you like that better."
" Be sure like'em better," said Caesar, smiling
good-humouredly, re-opening the pack —" Miss
Sally like a three shilling when she give, and a
four shilling when she take."
The bargain was immediately concluded; but
in measuring, the cloth wanted a little of the well
known ten yards required by the dimensions of
Dinah. By dint of a strong arm, however, it grew
to the desired length, under the experienced eye
of the pedler, who conscientiously added a ribbon
of corresponding brilliancy with the calico, and
Caesar hastily withdrew, to communicate the joyful intelligence to his aged partner.
During the movements created by the conclusion of the purchase, Captain Wharton had ventured to draw aside the curtain, so as to admit a
view of his person, and he now inquired of the
pedler, who had begun to collect his scattered
goods, at what time he had left the city.
" At early twilight," was the answer.'" So lately!" cried the other in surprise; and
then correcting his manner, by-assuming a more
guarded air, he continued —" Could you pass the
pickets at so late an hour?"
"I did," was the laconic reply.
"You must be well known by this time, Harvey, to the officers of the British army," cried Sarah, smiling archly on the pedler.
" I know some of them by sight," said Birch,
glancing his eyes round the apartment, taking in
their course Captain Wharton, and resting for am
instant on the countenance of HEl rper.




THE SPY.                61
Air. Wharton had listened intently to each
speaker in succession, and had so far lost the affectation of indifference, as to be crushing in his
hand the piece, of china on which he had expended so much labour in endeavouring to mend it;
when, observing the pedler tying the last knot in
his pack, he asked abruptly" Are we about to be disturbed again with the
enemy?"
" Who do you call the enemy?", said the pedler,
raising himself erect, and giving the other a look,
before which the eyes of Mr. Wharton sunk in instant confusion.
" All are enemies who disturb our peace," said
Miss Peyton, observing that her brother was unable to speak.  " But are the royal troops out fiom
below?"
"c'Tis quite likely they soon may be," returned
Birch, raising his pack from the floor, and preparing to leave the room.
" And the continentals," continued Miss Peyton
mildly, c are the continentals in the country?"
Harvey was about to utter something in reply,
when the door opened, and Cesar made his appearance, attended by his delighted spouse.
The race of blacks of which Caesar was a favourable specimen is becoming very rare. The old
family servant, who, born and reared in the dwelling of his master, identified himself with the welfare of those whom it was his lot to serve, is giving
place in every direction to that vagrant class
which has sprung up within the last thirty years.
and whose members roam through the country,
unfettered by principles, or uninfluenced by attachments. For it is one of the curses of slavery,
that its victims become incompetent to the attributes of a freeJllan.  The short curly hair of Cm —




52                THE SPY.
sar had acquired from age a colouring of gray, that
added greatly to the venerable cast of his appearance.  Long  and indefatigable  applications of
the comb had straightened the close curls of his
forehead, until they stood erect in a stiff and formal precision, that gave at least two inches to his
stature. The shining black of his youth had lost
its glistening hue, and had been succeeded by a
dingy brown. His eyes, which stood at a most
formidable distance fromn each other, were small,
and characterized by an expression of good feeling, occasionally interrupted by the petulance of
an indulged servant; they, however, now danced
with inward delight. His nose possessed, in an
eminent manner, all the requisites for smelling,
but with the most modest unobtrusiveness; his
nostrils  being  abundantly  cap.t:ious, without
thrusting themselves in the way of their neighbours. His mouth capacious to a fault, that was
only tolerated on account of the double row of
pearls it contained.  In person Cesar was short,
and we would say square, had not all the angles
and curves of his figure bid defiance to any thing
like mathematical symmetry.  His arms were long
and muscular, and terminated by two bony hands,
that exhibited on one side, a colouring of blackish
gray, and on the other, a faded pink. But it was
in his legs that nature had indulged in her most
capricious humours.  There was an abundance of
the material, but it had been injudiciously used.
The calves were neither before nor behind, but
rather on the outer side of the limb, inclining
forward, and so close to the knee as to render the
fiee use of that joint a subject of doubt.  In the
foot, considering  it as a base on which the body
was to rest, Caesar had no cause of complaint, unless, indeed, it might be that the leg was placed so)




THE SE Y.               53
near the centre, as to mnake it sometimes a matter
(,f dispute, whether he was not walking backwards.
But whatever might be the faults a statuary could
discover in his person, the heart of Caesar Thompson was in the right place, and, we doubt not, of
very just dimensions.
Accompanied by his ancient companion, Cmesar
now advanced, and paid his tribute of gratitude in
words.  Sarah received them with great complacency, and made a few compliments to the taste of
the husband, and the probable appearance of the
wife. Frances, with a face beaming with a look
of pleasure that corresponded to the smiling countenances of the blacks, offered the service of her
needle in fitting the admired calico to its future
uses. The offer was humbly and gratefully accepted.
As Caesar followed the pedler and his wife from
the apartment, and was in the act of closing the
door, he indulged himself-in a grateful soliloquy,
by saying aloud" Good little lady-Miss Fanny-take care of
old fader-love to make a gown for old Dinah,
too."  What else his feelings might have induced
him to utter is unknown, but the sound of his
voice was heard some time after the distance rendered his words indistinct.
Harper had dropped his book, and sat an admiring witness of the scene; and Frances enjoyed
a double satisfaction, as she received an approving
smile from  a face which concealed, under the
traces of deep thought and engrossing care, the benevolent expression which characterizes all the
best feelings of the human heart.
5*




CfHAPTER 1V.
cA It is the form, the eye, the word,
The bearing of that stranger Lord,
His stature, manly, bold, and tall,
Built like a castle's battled wall,
Yet moulded in such just degrees,
His giant strength seems lightsome ease.
Weather and war their rougher trace
Have left on that majestic face;But'tis his dignity of eye I
There, if a suppliant, would I fly,
Secure, I'id (langer, wrongs, and grief,
Of sympathy, redress, reliefThat glance, if guilty, would I dread
More than the doom that spoke me (ldead,
"Enough, enough!" the princess cried,''Tis Scotland's hope, her joy, her pride!"
Walter Scott.
TmIE party sat in silence  for many minutes
after the pedler withdrew.  Mr. Wharton had
heard enough to increase his uneasiness, without
in the least removing his apprehensions on behalf
of his son. The Captain was impatiently wishing
Harper in any other place than the one he occupied with such apparent composure; while Miss
Peyton completed the disposal of her breakfast
equipage, with the mild complacency of her nature, aided a little by an inward satisfaction at hel
possessing so large a portion of the trader's laceSarah was busily occupied in arranging her purchases, and Frances was kindly assisting her in
the occupation, disregarding her own neglected
bargains for the moment, when the stranger suddenly broke the silence by saying" If any apprehensions of me induce Captain
Wharton  to  maintain  his  disguise, I wish  him  to




TH'E SPY.                55
be undeceived; had I motives for betraying him;
they could not operate under present circumstances."
The younger sister sunk into her seat colourless
and astonished. Miss Peyton dropped the tea tray
she was lifting firom the table; and Sarah sat with
her purchases unheeded in her lap, in speechless
surprise.  Mr. Wharton was stupified; but the
Captain, hesitating a momeint fiom astonishment,
sprang into the middle of the room, and exclaimed,
as he tore off the instruments of his disguise"' I believe you from my soul, and this tiresome
unposition shall continue no longer under the roof
of my father. Yet I am at a loss to conceive in
what manner you know me."
a" You really look so much better in your proper
person, Captain Wharton," said Harper, with a
slight smile, "I would advise you never to conceal it in future.  There is enough to betray you,
if other sources of detection were wanting:" as he
spoke, he pointed to a picture suspended over the
mantel-piece, which exhibited the British officer
in his regimentals.
" I had flattered myself," cried young Wharton.
with a laugh, " that I looked better on the canvass
than in a masquerade. You must be a close observer, sirl'.
a Necessity has made me one," said Harper,
mildly, rising from his seat.
Frances met him as he was about to withdraw,
and, taking his hand between both her own, said
with earnestness, her cheeks mantling with theil
richest vermilion —" You cannot-you will not betray my brother."
For an instant Harper paused in silent admiration
of the lovely pleader, and then, folding her hands
on his breast, replied solemnly-" I cannot, and I




56                 THE SP PY.
will not;" he released her hands, and laying his
own (n her head  gently, continued —"  If the
b!essing of a stranger can profit you, receive it."
He turned, and bowing low, retired to his aparttu ent.
The whole party were deeply impressed with
the ingenuous and solemn manner of the traveller,
and all but the father found immediate relief in
his declaration.  Some of the cast-off clothes of
the captain, which had been renioved with the
goods from the city, were produced; and young
Wharton, released from the uneasiness of his disguise, began at last to enjoy a visit which had been
undertaken at so much personal risk to himself.
Mr. Wharton retiring to his apartment in pursuance of his regular engagements, the ladies, with
the young man, were left to an uninterrupted communication on such subjects as were most agreeable. Even Miss Peyton was affected with the
spirits of her younger relatives; and they:sat for
an hour enjoying, in heedless confidence, the pleasures of an unrestrained conversation, without refleeting on any danger which might be impending
over them. The city and their acquaintances
were not long neglected; for Miss Peyton, who
had never forgotten the many agreeable hours of
her residence within its boundaries, soon inquired,
among others, after their old acquaintance, Colonel
Wellmere.
" Oh!" cried the Captain, gayly, " he yet continues there, as handsome and as gallant as ever."
Although a woman be not actually in love, she
seldom hears without a blush the name of a man
whom she nmight love, and who has been connected with herself, by idle gossips, in the amatory
rumour of the day.  Such had been the case with
Sarah, and she dropped her eyes on the carpet




THu  sPY.                57
with a smile, that, aided by the blush which sutf
fused her cheek, in no degree detracted firom her
native charims.
Captain Wharton, without heeding this display
of interest in his sister, immediately continued —
" At times he is nmelancholy —we tell him it musi
be love."  Sarah raised her eyes to the face of her
brother, and was consciously turning them on the
rest of the party, when she met those of her sister,
laughing with good humour and high spirits, as she
cried, "G Poor man, does he despair?"
Go Why, no-one would think he could not; the
eldest son of a man of wealth, so handsome, and ta
Colonel."
" Strong reasons, indeed, why he should prevail,' said Sarah, endeavouring to laugh; " more
particularly the latter."
" Let me tell you," replied the Captain, gravely,' a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the Guards is a
very pretty thing"a And Colonel Wellmere a very pretty man,'"
cried Frances, with a laugh.
a' Nay, Frances,9 returned her sister, " Colonel
Wellmere was never a favourite with you; he is
too loyal to his king to be agreeable to your taste."
Frances took the hand of her sister, as she said,'C and is not Henry loyal to his king? "
" Come, come," said Miss Peyton, "; no difference of opinion about the Colonel-he is a favourite of mine."'
"' Fanny likes Majors better," cried the blrother,
pulling her upon his knee.
N aonsense," said the blushing girl, as she endeavoured to extricate herself friom the grasp of
her laughing brother.
i" It surprises me," continued the Captain, S" that
Peyton, when he procured the release of my fa



553~              T 8ruH  SPY.
ther, did not endeavour to detain mny sister ill the
rebel camp."
" That might have endangered his own liberty,"
said the maid, smiling archly, and resuming her
seat; c" you know it is liberty for which Major
Dunwoodie is fighting."
" Liberty!" exclaimed Sarah; " very pretty
liberty, which exchanges one master for fifty."
" The privilege of changing masters at all is a
liberty," returned the other, good humouredly.
" And one you ladies would sometimes be glad
to exercise," cried the Captain.': We like, I believe, to have the liberty, f
choosing who they shall be in the first place," said
the laughing girl; " don't we, aunt Jeanette?"
"' Me!" cried Miss Peyton, starting; " what do
I know of such things, child? you must ask some
one else, if you wish to learn such matters."
" Ah!" returned the maid, looking playfully at
her aunt, "you would have us think you were
never youngr; but what am I to believe of all the
tales I have heard about the handsome Miss Jeanette Peyton?"
" Nonsense, my dear, nonsense," said the aunt,
endeavou ing to suppress a smile; "it is very
silly to believe all you hear."
" Nonsense, do you call it?" cried the Captain,
gayly; " to this hour General Montrose toasts
Miss Peyton; I heard him within the week, at Sir
Henry's table."
"c Why, Henry, you are as saucy as your sister,"
returned the lady; " and to break in upon your
folly, I must take you to see my new home-made
manufactures in contrast with the finery of Birch."
The young people rose to follow their aunt, in
perfect good humour with each other and the
world.  On ascending the stairs to the place of




THIE SPY.,59
deposit for Miss Peyton's articles of economy, she
availed herself, however, of an opportunity to inquire of her nephew, whether General Montrose
suffered as much fiom the gout, as he had done
when she kinew him.
It is a painful discovery that we make, as wre
advance in life, that none of us are exempt from
its frailties. When the heart is fresh, and the
view of the future unsullied by the blemishes which
have been gathered firom the experience of the
past, our feelings are most holy; we love to identify with the persons of our natural friends, all
those qualities to which we ourselves aspire, and
all those virtues we have been taught to revere.
The confidence with which we esteem seems a
part of our nature; and there is a purity thrown
around the affections which tie us to our kindred,
that afterlife can seldom hope to see uninjured.
The family of Mr. Wharton continued to enjoy,
for the remainder of the day, a happiness to which
they had long been strangers; and one that sprung,
in its younger members, from the. delights of the
most confident affection, and the exchange of the
most disinterested endearments.
Harper' appeared only at the dinner table, and
retired with the cloth, under the pretence of some
engagements in his own room. Notwithstanding
the confidence created by his manner, the family
felt his absence a relief; for the visit of Captain
Wharton was necessarily to be confined to a very
few days, both from the limitation to his leave of
absence, and the danger of a discovery.
All dread of consequences, however, was lost
in the pleasure of the meeting. Once or twice
during the day, Mr. Wharton had suggested a
doubt as to the character of his unknown guest,
and the possibility of the detection of his son pro



60               TTH E SPY.
ceeding in some manner from his information:
but the idea was earnestly opposed by all his children; even Sarah united with her brother antd
sister in pleading warmly in favour of the sincerity
expressed in the outward appearance of the traveller.
cG Such appearances, my children," replied the
desponding parent, " are but too often deceitful;
when men like Major Andre' lend themselves to
the purposes of fraud, it is idle to reason from
qualities, much less externals."
" Fraud!" cried his son quickly;'" surely, sir,
you forget that Major Andre was serving his King,
and that the usages of war justified the measure."
" And did not the usages of war justify his death,
Henry?" inquired Frances, speaking in a low
voice, unwilling to abandon what she thought the
cause of her country, and yet unable to suppress
her feelings for the man.
" Never!" exclaimed the young man, springing
from his seat, and pacing the floor rapidly-" Frances, you shock me; suppose it should be my fate,
even now, to fall into the power of the rebels;
you would vindicate my execution-perhaps exult
in the cruelty of Washington."
I' Henry!" said Frances, solemnly, quivering
with emotion, and with a face pale as death, " you
little know my heart."'
"Pardon me, my sister —my little Fanny," cried
the repentant youth, pressing her to his bosom,
and kissing off the tears which had burst in torrents
from her eyes.
"c It is very foolish to regard your hasty words,
I know,"' said Frances, extricating herself from his
arms, and raising her yet humid eyes to his face
with a smile; " but reproach from those we love
is most severe, Henry; particularly-whetre we



THE SPY.                 61
we think —we know" —the paleness of the maid
gradually gave place to the colour of the rose, as
she concluded in a low voice, with her eyes directed to the carpet, 1' we are undeserving of it."
Miss Peyton moved from her own seat to the
one next her niece, and, kindly talking her hand,
observed, " you should not suffer the impetuosity
of your brother to affect you so much; boys, you
know," she continued with a smile, " are proverbially ungovernable."
" And you might add cruel, from my conduct,"
said the captain, seating himself on the other side
of his sister; " but on the subject of the death of
Andre we are all of us uncommonly sensitive.
You did not know him; he was all that was brave
-that was accomplished-that was estimable.?'
Frances smiled faintly, and shook her head, but
made no reply. Her brother, observing the marks
of incredulity in her countenance, continued-'" you doubt it, and justify his death?"' I do not doubt his worth," replied the maid,
mildly, " nor his beinig deserving of a more happy
fate; but I doubt the impropriety of Washington's
conduct. I know but little of the customs of war,
and wish to know less; but with what hopes of
success could the Americans contend, if they yielded all the principles which long usage had established, to the exclusive purposes of the British?"
"c Why contend at all?" cried Sarah, impatiently; "1 besides, being rebels, all their acts are illegal."'
"' Women are but mirrors, which reflect the images before them," cried the captain good naturedly.
" In Frances I see the picture of Major Dunwoodie, and in Sarah' —
" Colonel Wellnere,"' interrupted the younger
sister laughing, and blushing crimson.  " I mus-.
U




62                THE SPY.
confess I am indebted to the major for my reasoning- am 1 not, aunt Jeanette?"
" I believe there is something like it, indeed,
child," replied Miss Peyton with a smile, " in his
last letter to me.")' Yes, I plead guilty; and you, Sarah, have not
forgotten the learned discussions of Colonel Well
mere.'
" I trust I never forget the right," said Sarah:
emulating her sister in colour, and rising, under
the pretence of avoiding the heat of the fire.
Nothing  occurred of any moment during the
rest of the day; but in the evening Caesar reported
that he had overheard voices in the room of Harper conversing in a low tone. The apartment occupied by the traveller was the wing at the extremity of the building, opposite to the parlour in
which the family ordinarily assembled; and it
seems, that Caesar had established a regular system of espionage, with a view to the safety of his
young master. This intelligence gave some uneasiness to all the members of the family; but the
entrance of Harper himself, with the air of benevolence and sincerity which shone through his reserve, soon removed the doubts fiom the breast
of all but Mr. Wharton.  His children and sister
believed Caesar to have been mistaken, and the
evening passed off without any additional alarm.
On the afternoon of the succeeding day, th,
party were assembled in the parlour around the
tea-table of Miss Peyton, when a change in the
weather occurred. The thin scud, that apparently floated but a short distance above the tops of
the hills, began to drive from the west towards the
east in astonishing rapidity.  The rain yet continued to beat against the eastern windows of the
house with incredible fury; in that direction the




THE SPY.                 63
heavens were dark and gloomy.  Flrances was
gazing at the scene with the desire of youth to
escape from the tedium of confinement, when as
if by magic, all was still. The rushing winds had
ceased, the pelting of the storm  was over, and,
springing to the window, the maid, with delight
pictured in her face, saw a glorious ray of sunshine lighting on the opposite wood. The foliage
glittered with the chequered beauties of the October leaf, reflecting back fIom  the moistened
boughs the richest lustre of an American autumn.
In an instant, the piazza, which opened to the
south, was thronged with the inmates of the cottage. The air was mild, balmy, and refreshing;
in the east, clouds, which might be likened to the
retreating masses of a discomfited army, hung
around the horizon in awful and increasing darkness. At a little elevation above the cottage, the
thin vapour was still rushing towards the east with
amazing velocity; while in the west the sun had
broken forth in all his majesty, and shed his parting radiance on the scene below, aided by the fullest richness of a clear atmosphere and freshened
herbage. Such moments belong only to the climate of America, and are enjoyed in a degree proportioned to the suddenness of the contrast, and
the pleasure we experience in escaping firom the
turbulence of the elements to the quiet of a peaceful evening, and an air still as the softest mornings
in June.
" What a magnificent scene!" said Harper, in a
low tone; "' how grand! how awfully sublime!May such a quiet speedily await the struggle ir
wvhich my country is engaged, and such a glorioub
evening follow the day of her adversity."
Frances, who stood next to him, alone heard
the voice.  Turning in amazement from the view




64                THE SPY.
to the speaker, she saw him standing bare headed,
erect, and with his eyes to Heaven. There was
no longer the quiet which had seemed their characteristic, but they were lighted into something
like enthusiasm, andi a slight flush passed over his
pale features.
There can be no danger apprehended from such
a man, thought Frances; such feelings belong only
to the virtuous.
The musings of the party were now interrupted
by the sudden appearance of the pedler.  He had
taken advantage of the first gleam of sunshine to
hasten to the cottage. Heedless of wet or dry as
it lay in his path, with arms swinging to and firo,
and with his head bent forward of his body several
inches, Harvey Birch approached the piazza, with
a gait peculiarly his own; it was the quick, lengthened pace of a vender of goods.
1" Fine evening," said the pedler, saluting the
party without raising his eyes; "1 quite warm and
agreeable for the season."
Mr. Wharton assented to the remark, and inquired kindly after the health of his father.  Harvey heard him, and continued standing for some
time in moody silence; but the question being repeated, he answered with a slight tremour in his
voice
"G He fails fast; old age and hardships will do
their work."  The pedler turned his body fromn
the view of most of the family; but Frances noticed his glistening eyes and quivering lip, and, for
the second time, Harvey rose in the estimation of
the mlaid.
The valley in which was tihe residence of AMr.
Wharton ran in a direction firom  north-west to
south-east, and the house stood on the side of a
hill which terminated its length in the former di



TXH E.; aSPFY.           65
rectlon, A small opening, occasioned by the receding of the opposite hill, and the fall of ihe
land to the level of the tide water, afforded a view
of the sound over the tops of the distant woods on
its margin. The surface of the water which had
so lately been lashing the shores with boisterous
fury, was already losing its ruffled darkness in the
long and regular undulations that succeeded a tempest, while the light air from the south-west was
gently touching their summits, lending its feeble
aid in stilling the waters.  Some dark spots were
now to be distinguished, occasionally rising into
view, and again sinking behind the lengthened
waves which interposed themselves to the sight.
Fhely were unnoticed by all but the pedler.  Het
had seated himself on the piazza, at a distance fr'onl
Harper, and appeared to have forgotten the object
of his visit. His roving eye, however, soon caught
a glimpse of these new objects in the view, and he
sprang up with alacrity, gazing intently towards
the water.  The juices of the tobacco soon disfigured the floor of Miss Peyton; he changed his
Ilace, glanced his eye with marked uneasiness oil
Harper, and then said with great emphasis-'' The rig'lars must be out from below."
"f Why do you think so?" inquired Captain,
Wharton eagerly. " God send it may be true; I
want their escort in again."?
" Them  ten whale boats would not move so
fast," answered Birch drily, " unless they were
better manned than common."'
" Perhaps," cried Mr. Wharton in alarm, " they
are-they are continentals returning from  the
island."'
"' They look like rig'lars," said the pedler, with
gireat meaning.




th3                T~THE SPY.
i Look!" repeated the Captain, "  there. is no,
thing but spots to be seen."
Harvey disregarded his observation: hbt setem.
ed to be soliloquizing, as he said, in an u:L der tone,' They came out before the gale-havy  said on
the island these two days-horse are on the road —
there will soon be fighting near us."  During this
speech, Birch several times glanced his eye towards Harper, with evident uneasiness, but no
corresponding emotion betrayed any interest of
that gentleman in the scene.  He stood in silent
contemplation of the view, and seemed enjoying
the change in the air.  As Birch concluded, however, Harper turned to his host, and mentioned
that his business would not admit of unnecessary
lelay; he would, therefore, avail himself of the
fine evening to ride a few miles on his journey.
Mr. Wharton made many professions of regret al
losing so agreeable an inmate; but was too mindfiil of his duty not to speed the parting guest, and
orders were instantly given to that effect.
The uneasiness of the pedler increased in a
manner for which nothing apparent could account:
his eye was constantly wandering towards the
lower end of the vale, as if in expectation of some
interruption from that quarter.  At length Casar
appeared, leading the noble beast which was to
bear the weight of the traveller. The pedler officiously assisted to tighten the girths, and fasten
the blue cloak and vallise to the mail straps.
Every preparation  being completed, Harper
proceeded to take his leave.  To Sarah and her
aunt he paid his compliments with ease anid kindness; but when he caine to Frances, he paused a
rnmoment, while his face assumed an expression of
more than ordinary benignity; his eye repeated




T'HE SPY.                67
the blessing which had before fallen firom his lips,
and the maid felt her cheeks glow, and heart beat,
with a zqaiokter pulsation, as he spoke his adieus
There Aiks a mutual exchange of polite courtesy
betweel'.)the host and his parting guest; but as
Harper frankly offered his hand to Captain Wharton, he remarked, in a manner of great solemnity" The step you have undertaken is one of much
danger, and disagreeable consequences to yourself
may result fiom it; in such a case, I may have it
in my power to prove the gratitude I owe your
family for its kindness."
11 Surely, sir," cried the father, losing sight of
delicacy in apprehension for his child, " you will
keep secret the discovery which your being in my
house has enabled you to make."
IHarper turned quickly to the speaker, and then,
losing the sternness which had begun to gather on
his countenance, he answered mildly,' I have
learnt nothing in your family, sir, of which I was
ignorant before; but your son is safer fiom my
knowledge of his visit than he would be without
it."
He bowed to the whole party, and without taking any notice of the pedler, other than by simply thanking him for his attentions, mounted his
horse, and riding steadily and gracefully through
the little gate, was soon lost behind the hill which
sheltered the valley to the northward.
The eyes of the pedler followed the retiring
figure of the horseman so long as it continued within view, and as it disappeared from his sight, he
drew a long and heavy sigh, as if relieved from a
load of apprehension.  The Whartons had meditated in silence on the character and visit of their
unknown guest for the same period, when the fa-,l', ahpprmoae!~od Birch. and observed



ti' THE SPY.
" I ant yet your debtor, Harvey, for the tobacco
yoLu were so kind as to bring mie froom  the city."'i If it should not prove so good as the first," replied the pedler, fixing a last and lingering look in
the direction of Harper's route, "1 it is owing to the
scarcity of the article."'
" I like it much': continued the other, " but
you have forgotten to name the price."'
The countenance of the trader changed, and
losing its expression of deep care in a natural acuteness, he answered"~ It is hard to say what ought to be the price; I
believe I must leave it to your own generosity."
Mr. Wharton had taken a hand well filled with
tht images of Carolus Ill. from his pocket, and
now extended it towards Birch with three of the
pieces between his finger and thumb.  Harvey's
eyes tw7iainkled as he contemplated the reward; and
rolling over in his mouth a large quantity of the
article in question, coolly stretched forth his hand,
into which tihe dollars fell with a most agreeable
sound; but not satisfied with the transient music
of their fall, the pedler gave each piece in succession a ring on the stepping-stone to the piazza, before he consigned it to the safe keeping of a huge
deer-skin purse, which vanished friom the sight of
the spectators so dexterously, that not one of them
could have told about what part of his person it
was secreted.
The very material point in his business so satisfactorily completed, the pedler rose firom his seat
on the floor of the piazza, and approached to where
Captain Wharton stood, supporting his sisters on
either arm, as they listened with the lively interest of affection to his conversation.
The agitation of the preceding incidents had
caused s, ch an expenditure of the juices which




THE SPY.
had become necessary to the mouth of the pedler,
that a new supply of the weed was required before he could turn his attention to business of lesser  moment.  This done, he asked abruptlya Captain Wharton, do you go in to-night?"
" No!" said the Captain, laconically, and looking at his lovely burdens with gr eat affection
" Mr. Birch, would you have me leave such com
pany so soon, when I may never enjoy it again?"
"' Brother!" said Frances, in a low tone, "jesting on such a subject is cruel."
"' I rather guess," continued the pedler, coolly,
"now the storm is over, the Skinners may be
moving; you had better shorten your visit, Captain Wharton."
" Oh!" cried the British officer, " a few guineas
will buy off those rascals at any time, should i
mneet them.  No, no, Mr. Birch, here I stay until
morning.";" Money could not liberate Major Andre," said
the pedler,  ryly.
Both the sisters now turned to the Captain in
alarm, and the elder observed" You had better take the advice of Harvey'
rest assured, brother, his opinion in such matters
ought not to be disregairded."
I Yes," added the youngerl, "if, as I suspect,
Mr. Birch assisted you to come here, your safety,
IurI happiness, dear Henry, requires you to listen
lo him now."
" I brought myself out, and can take myself in,"
said the Captain, positively; "C our bargain went
no further than to procure my disguise, and let me
know when the coast was clear; and in the latter
particular, you Ivere mistaken, Mr. Birch."
I was," said the pedler, with some interest,
i"tand the greater is the reason  why you shotlid.ctf




70                THE SPY.
back to-night; the pass I gave you will serve you
but once."
" Cannot you forge another."
The pale cheek of the trader showed an nu -
sual colour, but he continued silent, with his eyes
fixed to the ground, until the young man added,
with great positiveness —-" Here I stay this night,
come what will."
cc Captain Wharton," said the pedler, with great
deliberation and marked emphasis, " beware a tall
Virginian, with huge whiskers; he is below you
to my knowledge; the devil can't deceive him; I
never could but once myself."
" Let him beware of me," said Wharton, ha-ughtily; "but, Mr. Birch, I exonerate you firom further responsibility.'
" Will you give me that in writing?" asked the
cautious Birch.
"Oh! cheerfully," cried the Captain, with a
laugh; " Cuesar! pen, ink, and paper, while I write
a discharge for my trusty attendant, Harvey Birch,
pedler, &c. &c."
The implements for writing were produced,
and the Captain, with great gayety, wrote the desited acknowledgment in language of his own;
which the pedler took, and carefully depositing it
by the side of the images of his Catholic Majesty,
made a sweeping bow to the whole family, and departed as he had approached. He was soon seen
at a distance, stealing into the door of his own
humble dwelling.
The father and sisters of the Captain were too
much rejoiced in retaining the young man, to express, or even entertain,'the apprehensions his
situation might reasonably excite; but on retiring
to their evening repast, a cooler reflection induce]:
the Captain to thinwk of changing his mind. Unw-ill




THE SPY.                 71
ing to trust himself out of the protection of his
father's domains, the young man despatched Casar to desire another interview  with Harvey. The
black soon returned with the unwelcome intelligence that it was now too late. Katy had told him
that Harvey must be miles on his road to the
northward, " having left home at early candle
light with his pack.'  Nothing nows remained to
the Captain but patience, until the morning afforded further opportunity of deciding on the best
course for him to pursue.
" This Harvey Birch. with his knowing looks
and portentous warnings; gives me more uneasiness than I am  willing to own," said Captain
Wharton, rousing himself from a fit of musing, in
which the danger of his situation made no small
part of his meditations.
"- How is it that he is able to travel to and ftiro
in these difficult times without molestation?"' inquired Miss Peyton.
"W Why the rebels suffer him to escape so easily.
is lmore than I can answer," returned the other:' but Sir Henry would not permit a hair of his
head to be injured."
"1 Indeed!" cried Frances, with interest; " is
he then known to Sir Henry Clinton?"
"1 At least he ought to be," said the Captain,
smiling significantly.
"Do you think, my son," asked Mr. Wharton,;" there is no danger of his betraying you?"
" Why-no; I reflected on that before I trusted
myself to his power," said the Captain, thoughtful
ly;  i he seems to be faithful in matters of business.
The danger to himself, should lhe return to the
city, would prevent such an act of' villany.'
t I think," said Frances, adopting the manner
of her brother, " Harvey Birch is not without




7%'' rHE spY.
goodt feelings; at least, he has the appearance of
hem at times."' Oh!"7 cried his sister, exulting,;" he has lovalty, and that with me is a cardinal virtue."' I am afriaid." said her brother, laughing, " lorve
of money is a stronger passion than love to his
king."' Then," said the father, " you cannot be safe
while in his power-for no love will withstand the
temptation of money, when offered to avarice."' Surely, sir," cried the youth, recovering his
gayety, " there must be one love that can resist
any thing- is there not, Fanny?"'
"Here is your candle,' said  the distressed
maiden; " you keep your father up beyond his
Usual hour?"




CHAPTER V.
Through Solway sands, through Taroas moss
Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross;
By wily turns, by desperate bounds,
Had baffled Percy's best blood hounds
In Eske, or Liddel, fords were none,
But he would ride them, one by one;
Alike to him was tine, or tide,
December's snow, or July's pride;
Alike to him was tide, or time,
Moonless midnight, or matin prime.
Walter Scott.
ALL the members of the Wharton  family laid
their heads on their pillows that ni hlt, with a fearfuil foreboding of some interruption to their orditary quiet.  This uneasiness kept the sisters frOlm
enjoying their usual repose, and they  rose from
their bed on the following morning, unrefireshed,
and almost without having closed their eyes.
On taking an eager and hasty survey of the valley from  the windows of their room, nothing, however, but its usual serenity was to be seen; it was
glittering  with the opening brilliancy of one of
those lovely, mild days, which  occur about the
time of the falling of the leaf; and which, by theih
firequency, class the American autumn with the
most delightful seasons in other countries.  We
have no spring; vegetation here seems to leap
into existence, instead of creeping, as in the samne
latitudes of the old world: but how gracefully it
retires! September, October, even November and
December, compose the season for enjoyment in
the open air; they have their storlms, but they are
distinct, and not of long continuance,' leaving a
clear atmosphere and a cloudless sky.
7




74                 THE SPY.
As nothing could be seen likely to interrupt the
enjoyments and harmony of such a day, the sisters
descended to the parlour, with a returning confidence in their brother's security, and their own
consequent happiness.
The family were early in assembling around
their breakfast table; and Miss Peyton with a little of that minute precision which creeps into the
habits of single life, had pleasantly insisted that
the absence of her nephew should in no manner interfere with the regular hours she had established;
consequently, the party were already seated when
the Captain made his appearance; though the untasted coffee sWmieciently proved, that by none of
his relatives was his absence disregarded.
C I think I did much better,' he cried, taking a
chair between his sisters, and receiving their offered salutes, "1 to secure a good bed, and such a plentiful breakfast, instead of trusting to the hospitality
of that renowned corps, the Cow-Boys. "
" If you could sleep," said Sarah, " you were
more fortunate than Frances and myself; every
murmur of the night air sounded to me like the
approach of the rebel army."
" Why," said the Captain, laughing, " I do acknowledge a little inquietude myself-but how was
it with you," turning to his younger and evidently
favourite sister, and tapping her cheek; " did you
see banners in the clouds, and mistake Miss Peyton's iEolian harp for rebellious music?"
a Nay, Henry," rejoined the maid, looking at
him affectionately, "c much as I love my own country, the approach of her troops just now would
give me great pain."
The brother made no reply, but returning the
fondness expressed in her eye by a look of fiaternal tenderness, he gently pressed her hand in s1



TIHE sPY.                75
lence; when Cesar, who had participated largely
in the anxiety of the family, and who had risen
with the dawn, and kept a vigilant watch on the
surrounding objects as he stood gazing from one
of the windows, exclaimed with a face that approached to something like the hues of a white
inan" Run-massa HIarry-run —if love old Cuesai,
run-here come the rebel horse."
" Run!" repeated the British officer, gathering
himself up in an air of military pride; " no, Mr.
Caesar, running is not my trade."  While speaking, he walked deliberately to the window, where
the family were already collected in the greatest
consternation.
At a distance of more than a mile, about fifty
dragoons were to be seen, winding down one ot
the lateral entrances to the valley.  In advance
with an officer, was a man attired in the dress of
a countryman, who pointed in the direction of the
cottage.  A small party now left the main body,
and moved rapidly towards the object of their destination.
On reaching the road which led through the bot.
tom of the valley, they turned their horses' heads
to the north.  The Whartons continued chained
in breathless silence to the spot, watching their
movements, when the party, having reached the
dwelling of Birch, made a rapid circle around his
giounds, and in an instant his house was sulrounded by a dozen sentinels.
Two or three of the dragoons now dismounted
and disappeared: in a few minutes, however, they
returned to the yard, followed by Katy, from whose
violent gesticulations, it was evident that matters
of no trifling concern were on the carpet. A short
communication withi the loquacious holsekeeper




76                 THE SPY.
followed the arrival of the main body of the troop,
and the advanced party remounting, the whole
moved towards the Locusts with great speed.
As yet none of the family had sufficient presence of mhind to devise any means of security for
Captain Wharton; but the danger now became too
pressing to admit of any delay, and various means
of secreting him were hastily proposed; but they
were all haughtily rejected by the young man, as
unworthy of his character.  It was too late to retreat to the woods in the rear of the cottage, for
he would unavoidably be seen, and, followed by a
taoop of horse, as inevitably taken.
At length, his sisters, with trembling hands, replaced his original disguise, the instruments of
which had been carefully kept at hand by Caesar,
in expectation of some apprehended danger.
This arrangement was hastily and imperfectly
completed, as the dragoons entered the lawn and
orchard of the Locusts, riding with the rapidity of
the wind; and in their turin the Whartons were.surrounded.
Nothing remained now, but to meet the impending examination with as much indifference as the
family could assume. The leader of the horse
dismounted, and, followed by a couple of his men,
approached the outer door of the building, which
was slowly and reluctantly opened for his admission by Caesar.  The heavy tread of the trooper,
as he followed the black to the door of the parlour,
rung in the ears of the females as it approached
nearer and nearer, and drove the blood firom theil
faces to their hearts, with a chill that nearly annihilated all feeling.
A man, whose colossal stature manifested the
possession of vast strength, entered the room, and
removingif his cap, saluted the family with a mild



THE SPY.                77
ness his appearance did not indicate as belonging
to his nature.  His dark hair hung around his brow
in profusion, though stained with the powder which
was worn at that day, and his face was nearly hid
in the whiskers by which it was disfigured.  Still;
the.xpression of his eye, though piercing, was not
bad, and his voice, though deep and powerfil, was
not unpleasant.  Frances ventured to throw  a
timid glance at his figure as he entered, and sawer
at once the man, from  whose scrutiny, Harvey
Birch had warned them, there was so much to be
apprehended.
~ You have no cause for alarm, ladies," said the
officer, pausing a moment, and contemplating the
pale faces around him-"I' my business will be confined to a few questions, which, if freely answered,
will instantly remove us firom your dwelling."
" And what may they be, sir?" stammered Mr.
Wharton, rising fiom his chair, and waiting anxiously for the reply.
"' Has there been a strange gentlemnan staying
with you during the storm?" continued the dragoon, speaking with interest, and in some degree
sharing in the evident anxiety of the father.
" This gentleman —here-favoured us with his
company during the rain, and has not yet departed;" answered the agitated parent, unable to lool;
his interrogator in the face.
" This gentleman!1" repeated the other, turning
to Captain Wharton, and contemplating his figure
br a moment, until the anxiety of his countenance
gave place to a lurking smile. He approached the
youth with an air of comic gravity, and, with a low
bow, continued-"    I alm sorry for the severe cold
you have in your head, sir'."
" Me!" exclaimed the Captain, in surprise; I" 
have no cold in mly hoad."




78                 THE SPY.' I flancied it then, frolm seeing you had covered
such handsome black locks with that ugly old wig,',
rejoincd the stranger; " it was my mistake, yol,
will please to pardon it.'
Mr Wharton groaned aloud; but the ladies, ignorant of' the extent of their visiter's knowledge,
remained in trembling yet rigid silence.  The Captain himself moved his hand involuntarily to his
head, and discovered that the trepidation of his
sisters had left somne of his natural hair exposed.
The dt:agoon watched the movement with a continued smile, when, seeming to recollect himself,
turning to the father, he proceeded-;' Then, sir, I am to understand there has not
been a IMr. Hariper here within the week."'
" Mr. HIarper," echoed the other, feeling a load
removed from. his lheart-" yes, sir-I had forgotten; but he is gone; and if there be any thing
wrong in his character, we are in entire ignorance
of it-to me he was a total strangert."
" You have but little to apprehend from  his
character," answered the dragoon, d(ryly; " but
he is gone-how-when-and whither?"
"f He departed as he arrived," said iMr. Wharton, gathering renewed confidence fi'om the manner of the trooper, " on horseback, last evening,
and he took the noithern road."
The officem listened to him with intense interest,
his countenance gradually lighting into a smile of
pleasure; and the instant Mr. Wharton concluded
his laconic reply, he turned on his heel and left
the apartment.  The Whartons, judging from his
mnanner, thought he was about to proceed in quest
of the object of his inquiries.  They noticed the
(Iragoon, on gaining the lawn, in earnest, and apparently pleased conversation with his two subalterns.  In a few moments orders were given tc




THE SPY.                 79
some of the troop, and horsemen left the valley,
at full speed, by its various roads.
The suspense of the party within, who were all
highly interested witnesses of this scene, was shortly terminated; for the heavy tread of the dragoon
soon announced his second approach.  He bowed
again politely as he re-entered the room, and walking up to Captain Wharton, said, with comic gravity-'I Now, sir, lmy principal business being done,
may I beg to examine the quality of that wig?"
The British officer imitated the manner of the
other, as he deliberately uncovered his head, and
handing him the wig, observed, " I hope, sir, it is
to your liking."'
" I cannot, without violating the truth, say it is
sir," returned the dragoon; " I prefer your ebony
hair, from which you seem to have combed the
powder with great industry.  But that must have
been a sad hurt you have received under this enormous black patch."
" You appear so close an observer of things, I
should like your opinion of it, sir," said Henry.
removing the silk, and exhibiting his cheek free
from blemish.
" Upon my word, sir, you improve most rapidly
in externals," added the trooper, preserving his
muscles in inflexible gravity: " if I could but persuade you to exchange this old surtout for that
handsome blue coat by your side, I think I nevei
could witness a more agreeable metamorphosis,
sinve I was changed myself from a lieutenant to a
captain."
Young Wharton very composedly did as was required; and stood an extremely handsome, welldressed young man. The dragoon looked at him




80'THE SPY.
tor a minute with the drollery tl at characterized
his manner, and then continued" Th;s is a new comer in the scene; it is usual,
you know, for strangers to be introduced; I am
Captain Lawton, of the Virginia horse."
c And I, sir, am Captain Wharton, of his Majesty's 60th regiment of foot," returned Henry,
bowing stiffly, and recovering his natural manner.
The countenance of Lawton changed instantly,
and his assumed quaintness vanished.  He viewed
the figure of Captain Wharton, as he stood proudly
swelling with a conscious pride that disdained ifurther concealment, and cried, with great earnestness —; Captain Wharton, from my soul I pity you.'"
" Oh! then," cried the father in agony, " if you
pity him, deal sir, why molest him? he is not a
spy; nothing but a desire to see his friends prompted him to venture so far from the iegular army in
disguise.  Leave him -wj7ith us; there is no reward,
no sum, which I will not cheerfully pay."
" Sir, your anxiety for your friend excuses your
language," said Lawton, haughtily;'; but you forget I am a Virginian, and a gentlenman.1"  Turning to the young man, he continued-"G Were you
ignorant, Captain Wharton, that our pickets have
been below you for several days?"
" I did not know it until I reached theim, and it
was then too late to retieat,"' said Wharton, sul
lenly. " I came out, as my father has mentioned,
to see my friends, understanding your parties to be
at Peekskill, and near the Highlands, or surely I
would not have ventured."'
" All this may be very true," said Lawton, inusing;' but the affair of Andre has made us on the
alert. When treason reaches the grade of general




THE sPY.                 81
officers, Captain Wharton, it behooves the friends
of liberty to be vigilant.'"
Henry bowed to this remark in distant silence;
but Sarah ventured to urge something in behalf
of her brother. The dragoon heard her politely.
and apparently with commiseration; but willing
to avoid useless and embarrassing petitions, answered mildly -
" I am not the commander of the party, madam;
Major Dunwoodie will decide what must be done
with your brother; at all events, he will receive
nothing but kind and gentle treatment.'
"1 Dunwoodie!" exclaimed Frances, with a facfin which the roses contended with the paleness ol
apprehension for the mastery; "' thank God  then
Henry is safe."
Lawton regarded her with a mingled expression of pity and admiration; then shaking his head
doubtingly, he continued" I hope so; and with your permission, we will
leave the matter for his decision."'
The colour of Frances changed from the paleness of fear to the glow of hope. HXer dread on
behalf of her briother was certainly greatly dinminished; yet her form shook, her breathing became
short and irregular, and her whole frame gave
tokens of extraordinary agitation.  Her eyes rose
from the floor to the dragoon, and were again fixed immoveably on the carpet-she evidently wished to utter something, but was unequal to the effort.  Miss Peyton was a close observer of these
movements of her niece, and advancing with an
air of feminine dignity, inquired" Then, sir, we may expect the pleasure of Major Dunwoodie's company shortly?"
"Immediately, ma(dam'," answered the dragoon,
wvithdrawing his admiring gaze firom the person of




82                 THE SPY.
Frances; " expresses are already onl the road to
announce to him our situation, and the intelligence
will speedily bring him to this valley; unless, indeed," he continued, contracting his lips, and looking droll, as he turned to Mr. Wharton, " some
private reasons may exist to make a visit particularly unpleasant."
" I shall always be happy to see Major Dunwoodie," said the father hastily, overhearing the
soliloquy of the trooper.
Oh! doubtless, sir," said the other;:" he is a
general favourite.  May I presume on it so far as
to ask leave to dismount and refiresh my mlen, wio
compose a part of his squadron?"
There was a manner about the trooper, that
would have made the omission of such a request
easily forgiven by Mr. Wharton, but he was fairly
entrapped by his own eagerness to conciliate, and
it was useless to withhold a consent which he
thought would probably be extorted; he, theres
fore, made the most of the necessity of the case,
and gave such orders as would facilitate the wishes
of Captain Lawton.
The officers were, politely invited to take their
morning's repast at the family breakfast table, and
having first made their arrangements without, the
invitation was firankly accepted.  None of the
watchfulness, which was so necessary to their situation, was neglected by the wary partisan. The
patroles were seen on the distant hills, taking their
protecting cilrcuit around  their comrades, -who
were enijoying, in the midst of- dangers, a security
that can only spring from the watchfulness of discipline, and the indifference of habit.
The addition to the party at Mr. Wharton's
table was in number only three, and they were
all of themn inen who, under the rough exterior in



THYE SPY                 83
duced by actual and arduous service, concealed
the manners of the highest class of society. Con
sequently, the interruption to the domestic privacy
of the family was marked by the observance of
strict decorum. The ladies left the table to their
guests, who proceeded, without much superfluous
diffidence, to do proper honours to the hospitality
of Mr. Wharton.
At length, Captain Lawton suspended for a moment his violent attacks on the buckwheat cakes,
to inquire of the master of the house, if there was
nlot a pedler of the name of Birch who lived in the
valley at times.
" At times only, I believe, sit," replied Mr.
Wharton, cautiously; " he is seldom here; I may
say I never see him."
"- That is strange, too," said the trooper, looking
at the disconcerted host intently, " considering he
is your next neighbour; he must be quite domestic, sir; and to the ladies it must be somewhat inconvenient. I doubt not but that muslin in the
window-seat, cost twice as much as he would have
asked them for it."
Mr. Wharton turned in consternation, and saw
some of the recent purchases scattered about the'0oom.
The two subalterns smiled on each other significantly, but the Captain resumed his breakfast
with an eagerness that created a doubt, whether
he ever expected to enjoy another. The necessity
cf a supply from the dominion of Dinah soon, however, afforded another respite, of which Lawton
availed himself to say" I had a wish to break this Mr. Birch of his
unsocial habits, and gave him a call this morning,
had I found him within, I should have placed hilrm




84                 THE SPY.
where he would enjoy life in the midst of society,
for a short time at least "
A" And where might that be, sir?" asked Mr.
Wharton,   conceiving it necessary to say something.
G The guard room," said the trooper, dryly.' What is the offence of poor Birch?" asked
Miss Peyton, handing the dragoon a fourth dish
of coffee.
"Poor!" cried the Captain; "if he is poor,
John Bull must pay him ill."
" Yes) indeed," said one of the subalterns1' king George owes him a dukedom."
" And congress a halter," continued the commanding officer, commencing anew on a fresh supply of the cakes.
1 I am sorry.'" said Mr. Wharton,' that any
neighbour of mine should incur the displeasure of
our rulers.'"
"G If I catch him," cried the dragoon, while buttering another cake, "Ghe will dangle from  the
limbs of one of his namesakes.'
"' He would make a very pretty ornament, suspended finom one of those locusts before his own
door," added the Lieutenant, coolly.' Never mind,'" continued the Captain, "I I will
have him vet before I'm a major."9
As the language of these officers appeared to
alow fr'om the strength of their feelings, the WhartOns thought it prudent to discontinue the subject.
It was no new intelligence to any of the family,
that Harvey Birch was distrusted, and greatly ha
rassed, by the American officers.  His escapes
from their hands, not less than his imprisonments
had been the conversation of the country in too
many instances, and under circumstances of toc




THE SPY,                 85
great mystery to be easily forgotten.  In fast, no
small part of the bitterness, expressed by Captain
Lawton against the pedler, arose, fiom the unaccountable disappearance of the latter, when intrusted to the custody of two of his most faith.
lul dragoons.
A twelveinonth had not yet elapsed, since Birch
had been seen lingering near the head quarters of
the commander-in-chief, and at a time when important movements were expected hourly to occur.  So soon as the information of this f{tct was
communicated to the officer, whose duty it was to
gulard the avenues to the American camp, he despatched Captain Lawton in pursuit of the suspected pedler.
Acquainted with all the passes of the hills, and
indefatigable in the discharge of his duty, the
trooper had, with much trouble and toil, succeeded
in effecting his object. The party had halted at
a tarm house for the purposes of refreshment, and
the prisoner was placed in a room by himself; but
under the keeping of the two men before mentionled; all that was known subsequently is, that a
woman was seen busily engaged in the employments of thle household near the sentinels, and wvas
particularly attentive to the wants of the Captain,
until he was deeply engaged in the employments
of the supper table.
Afterwards neither woman nor pedler were to
be found. The pack, indeed, was disccvered f p n,
and nearly empty, and a smRall door communicating
with a room adjoining to the one in which the pedler had been secured, wa-s also open.
Captain Lanwton never could forgive the deception; his antipathies to his enemies were not very
moderate, but this was adding an insult to his penetration that rankled deeply.  He sat in porten,q




86                 THE SPY.
tous silence, brooding over this exploit of' lis )ri~
soner, yet mechanically pursuing the business be.
fore him, until after sufficient time had passed to
make a very comfortable meal, a trumpet suddenly
broke on the ears of the party, sending its martial
tones up the valley in startling melody.  The
trooper rose instantly from the table, exclaiming —
" Quick, gentlemen, to your horses; there comes
l)unwoodie," and, followed by his officers, he precipitately left the room.
With the exception of the sentinels left to guard
Captain Wharton, the dragoons mounted, and
marched out to meet their comrades.
None of the watchfulness, necessary in war,
where similarity of language, appearance and customs, rendered prudence doubly necessary, was
omitted by this cautious leader. On getting sufficiently near, however, to a body of horse of more
than double his own number, to distinguish countenances, Lawton plunged his rowels in his chargem' and in a moment was by the side of his commander.
The ground in front of the cottage was again
occupied by the horse; and, observing the sanwe
precautions as before, the newly arrived troops
hastened to participate in the cheer prepared for
their comrades.




CHAPTER VI.
________ — " anmd let ce nquerors boast
Their fields of fame —he who in virtue arms
A young warm spirit against beauty's charms;
Who feels her brightness, yet defies her thrall,
Is the best, bravest conqueror of them a 1."
UMoor e.
THE ladies of the Wharton family had collected
about a window, deeply interested in the scene we
have related.
Sarah viewed the approach of her countrymen
with a simile of contemptuous indifference for the
persons and appearance of men, whom she thought
arrayed in the unholy cause of rebellion. Miss
Peyton looked on the gallant show with an exulting pride, which arose in the reflection, that the
warriors before her were the chosen troops of her
native colony, while Frances gazed with an intensity of interest that absorbed all other considerations.
The two parties had not yet joined, before her
quickly glancing eyes distinguished one horseman
in particular from  those around him.  Even the
steed of this youthful soldier seemed to be conscious that he sustained the weight of no common
man;-his hoofs but lightly touched the earth, and
his airy tread was the curbed motion of a blooded
chlarger.
The dragoon sat gracefully in his saddle, with
a firmness and ease that showed him  master of
both himself and horse; —his figure united the just
proportions of strength and activity, being tall,




88                 THE SPY.
round, and muscular.  It was to this officer Lawton made his report,. and side by side they rode
into the field opposite to the cottage.
The heart of the maiden beat with a pulsation
nearly stifling, as he paused for a moment, and
took a survey of the building, with an eye whose
dark and sparkling glance could be seen, notwithstanding the distance between them; —her colour
changed, and for an instant, as she saw the youth
throw himself from his saddle, she was compelled
to seek relief to her trembling limbs in a chair.
The officer gave a few hasty orders to his second
in command, walked rapidly into the lawn, and approached the cottage. Frances rose firom her seat,
and vanished from the apartment.  The dragoon
ascended the steps of the piazza, and had barely
time to touch the outer door, when it opened to
his admission.
The youth of Frances, when she left the city,
had prevented  her sacrificing, in conformity to
the customs of that day, all her native beauties on
the altar of fashion.  Her hair, which was of a
golden richness of colour, was left, untortured, to
fall in the niatural ringlets of her infancy, and
shaded a face which was glowing with the united
charms of health, youth, and artlessness;-her eyes
spoke volumes, but her tongue was silent; —her
hands were interlocked before her, and, aided by
her taper form, bending forward in an attitude of
expectation, gave a loveliness and interest to her
appearance, that for a moment chained her lover
in silence to the spot.
Frances silently led the way into the vacant
parlour, opposite to the one in which the family
were assembled, and turning to the soldier frankly, placing bath her hands in his own, exclaim
ed




PTHE SPY.                89
Ad Ah, Dunwoodie! how happy, on many accounts, I am to see you; I have brought you in
here, to prepare you to meet an unexpected fiie D.
In the opposite room.1"
(" To whatever cause it may be owing," cried
the youth, pressing her hands to his lips, " I, too,
am happy in being able to see you alone.  Frances, the probation you have decreed to my love
is cruel; war and distance may shortly separate us
for ever."
"C We must submit to the necessity which governs us," said the maid, losing the glow of excitenient in a more melancholy feeling. G" But ii
is not love speeches I would hear now: I have
other and more important matter for your attention."
" What can be of more importance than to make
you mine by a tie that may be indissoluble! Frances, you are cold to me-me-from whose mind,
days of service and nights of alarm have never
been able to banish your image.".
"' Dear Dunwoodie," said Frances, softening
nearly to tears, and again extending her hand to
him, as the richness of her colour gradually returned," you know my sentiments-this war once
ended, and you may take that hand for ever-but
I can never consent to tie myself to you by any
closer union than already exists, so long as you
are arrayed in arms against my only brothel.
Even now that brother is awaiting your decision
to restore him to liberty, or conduct him to a pro.
bable death.")
"Your brother!" cried Dunwoodie, starting
and turning pale; " your brother! explain yourself-what dreadful meaning is concealed in your
words?"1
i' Has not Captain Lawton told you of the ar(S 




90                THE SPY.
rest of Henry, as a spy, by himself this very nlorning?" continued Frances, in a voice barely audible, and fixing on hei lover a look of the deepest
and most anxious interest.
" He told enc of arresting a Captain of the 60th
in disguise, but without mentioning where or
whom," replied the Major in a similar tone, anti
dropping his head between his hands, he endeavoured to conceal his feelings firom his companion.
"' Dunwoodie! Dunwoodie!" exclaimed Frances, losing all her former confidence in the most
earfiul apprehensions, " what -means this agitation?"  As the Major slowly raised his face, in
which was pictured the most expressive concern,
she continued, " surely, surely, you will not betray
your friend-my brother-your brother-to an
ignominious death."
" Frances!" exclaimed the young man in ago..
ny,'" what can I do-what can I do?"
" Do!" repeated the maid, gazing at him  wildly; C" would Major Dunwoodie yield his friend to
his enemies-the brother of his betrothed wife "'
" Oh speak not so unkindly to mle, dearest Miss
Wharton —my own Frances.  I would this moment
die for you-for Henry-but cannot forget my
duty-cannot forfeit my honour; you yourself
would be the first to despise me if I did."
" Peyton Dunwoodie!"' said Frances, solemnly.
and with a face of ashy paleness, "* you have told
me-you have sworn, that you loved me."
c" I do, I do," interrupted the soldiers, with fervour; but the maid, motioning with her hand for
silence, continued, in a voice that trembled with
her emotions" Do you think I can throw myself into the arms
of a man whose hands are stained with the blood
of my only brother'"




TIHE SPY.                91
"' Frances!" exclaimed the Major, in agony,
" you wring my very heart;" then pausing for a
moment to struggle with his feelings, he endeavoured to force a smile, as he added, "' but, after
all, we may be torturing ourselves with unnecessary fears, and Henry, when I know the circumstances, may be nothing more than a prisoner of
war; in which case, I can liberate him on parole."
There is no more delusive passion than hope;
and it seems to be the happy privilege of youth to
cull all the pleasures that can be gathered from its
indulgence.  It is when we are most worthy of
confidence ouirselves, that we are least apt to distrust; and what we think ought to be, we are fond
to think will be.
The half-formed expectations of the young sol.
dier were communicated to the desponding sister
mnore by the eye than the voice, and the blood
rushed again to her cheek, as she cried" 0Oh!  there can be no just grounds to doubt it:
I knew  I knew —Dunwoodie, you would never
desert us in the hour of our greatest need." The
violence of her feelings conquered, and the agitated girl burst into a flood of tears.
The office of consoling those we love is one of
the dearest prerogatives of affection, and Major
Dunwoodie, although but little encouraged by his
own momentary suggestion of relief, could not undeceive the lovely woman who leaned on his shoulder, as he wiped the traces of her agitated feelings
from her face, with a trembling, but reviving confidence, in the safety of her brother, and the protection of her lover.
Frances having sufficiently recovered her recollection to command herself, now eagerly led
the wvay into the opposite room, to communicate




92                 THE SPY.
to her family the pleasing intelligence which she
already conceived as certain.
Dunwoodie followed her reluctantly, and with
dreadful forebodings of the result; but a few nmotnents brought' him into the presence of his relatives, and he summoned all his resolution to meet
the approaching trial with firmness.
The salutations of the young men were cordial
and sincere, and, on the part of Henry Wharton,
as collected as if nothing had occurred to disturb
his self-possession.
The abhorrence of being, in any manner, auxiliary to the arrest of his fiiend; the danger to the
life of Captain Wharton; and the heart-breaking
declarations of Frances, had, however, created an
uneasiness in the bosom  of Major Dunwoodie,
which all his efforts could not conceal.  His reception by the rest of the family was kind and sincere, both from old regard, and a remembrance of
former obligations, heightened by the anticipations
they could not fail to read in the expressive eyes
of the blushing maid by his side. After exchanging greetings with every member of the family,
Major Dunwoodie beckoned to the sentinel, whom
the wary prudence of Captain Lawton had left in
charge of the prisoner, to leave the room.  Turning to Captain Wharton, with an air of fixed resolution, he inquired mildly" Tell me, Henry, the circumstances of this
disguise, in which Captain Lawton reports you to
have been found, and remember-rememberCaptain Wharton —your answers are entirely voluntary."'I The disguise was used by me, Major Dunwoodie," replied the English othfficer, gravely, " to
enable me to visit my friends, without incurring
the danger of becoming a prisoner of war."




THE SPY.                93
" But you did not wear it until you saw the
troop of Lawton approaching?" inquired the Malor, quickly.
" Oh! no," interrupted Frances, eagerly, forgetting all the circumstances in her anxiety for her
brother; " Sarah and myself placed them on him
when the dragoons appeared,; it was our awkwardness that led to the discovery."
The countenance of Dunwoodie brightened, as,
turning his eyes in fond admiration on the lovely
speaker, he heard her explanation, and he added" Probably some articles of your own, which
were at hand, and were used on the spur of the
imoment."
"< No," said Whart:on, with dignity, " the clothes
were worn by me from the city; they were procured for tile purpose to which they were applied,
and I intended to use them in disguising me in iny
return this very day."
The appalled Frances shrunk back fromn between
her brother and lover, where her ardent feelings
hlad carried her, as the whole truth glanced over
her mind, and she sunk into a seat, gazing wildly
on the young men who stood before her.'" But the pickets-the party at the Plains"added Dunwoodie, turning pale.
" I passed them  too in disguise," continued
Wharton, proudly; " I made use of this pass for
which I paid; and, as it bears the name of Washington, I presume it is forged."
Dunwoodie caught the paper from  his hand
eagerly, and stood gazing on the signature for some
time in silence, during which the soldier gradually
prevailed over the man; when he turned to the
prisoner, with a searchingilook, as he askedGC Captain WVharton, whence did you procure
this paper?"




94                 THIE SPY.
" That is a question, I conceive, Major Dun
vwoodie has no right to ask," said the other dis
tantly.
" Your pardon, sir," returned the American officer; "  my feelings may have led me into an impropriety."
Mr. Wharton, who had been a deeply interested
auditor to the conversation, now so far conquered
his feelings as to say, " Surely, Major Duniwoodie,
the paper cannot be material; such artifices are
used daily in war.")
" This name is no counterfeit," said the dragoon, studying the characters, and speaking in a
low voice; is treason yet among us undiscovered?
The confidence of Washington hlas been abused,
for the fictitious name is in a different hand frnom
the pass.  Captain W harton, my duty will not
suffer me to grant you a parole: you must accomparny me to the Higohlands.'
"c I did not expect otherwise, Major Dunwoodie," said the prisoner haughtily, moving towards
his father, and speaking to him in a low tonre.
Dunwoodie turned slowly towards the sisters,
when the figure of Frances once more arrested his
gaze.  She had risen friom her seat, and stood again
with her hands clasped before him in an attitude
of intense interest: feeling himself unable to contend longer with his feelings, he made a hurried
excuse for a temporary absence, and left the room.
Frances followed him, and, obedient to the direction of her eye, the soldier re-entered the apartment in which had been their first interview.
(c Major Dunvwoodie," said Frances, in a voice
barely audible, as she beckoned to him to be seated; her cheek, which had been of a chilling whiteness, was flushed with a suffusion that crimsoned
her whole countenance; she struggled with her



TIIE SPY.                95
elfc for a moment, and continued, " I have already
acknowledged to you my esteem; even now, when
you most painfully distress me, I wish not to con
ceal it. Believe me, Henry is innocent of ever!
thing but imprudence.  Our country can sustain
no wrong."  Again she paused, and almost gasped
for breafh; her colour changed rapidly firom red
to white, until the blood rushed into her face, covering her features with the brightest vermilion;
and sihe added hastily, in an under tone, " I have
promised, Dunwoodie, when peace is restored to
our country, to become your wife; give to my
brother his liberty on parole, and I will this day
go with you to the altar, follow you to the camp;
and, in becoming a soldiet's bride, learn to endure
a soldier's privations."
Dunwoodie seized the hand which the blushing
girl had, in her ardour, extended towards him, and
pressed it for a moment to his bosom; then rising
from his seat, he paced the room in excessive agitation, and exclaimed —
" Frances, say no more, I conjure you, unless
you wish to break my heart."' You then reject my offered hand?" said the
maid, with an air of offended delicacy, rising with
dignity, though her pale cheek and quivering lip
plainly showed the conflicting passions within.
" Reject it'!" cried her lover, with enthusiasm;
" have I not sought it with entreaties-with tears?
HIas it not been the goal of all my earthly wishes?
But to take it under such conditions would be to
dishonour us both.  Yet hope for better things.
Henry must be acquitted; perhaps not tried. No'ntercession of mine will be wanting, you must well
know; and believe me, Frances, I am not without
(avour with Washington."
1C'Fhl,~ very paper, that abuse of his confidence,




96                 THE SPY.
to which you alluded, will steel him to my brother's sufferings.  If threats or entreaties coula
move his stern sense of justice, would Andre have
suffered?" said Franees, despairingly, as she flew
from the room to conceal the violence of her emotions.
Dunwoodie remained for a minute nearly stupified, at the distress of his mistress and the pain of
his own feelings; and then followed with a view
to vindicate himself, and relieve her apprehensions.
On entering the hall that divided the two parlours.
he was met by a small ragged boy, who looked
one moment at his dress, and placing a piece of
paper in his hands in silence, immediately vanish
ed through the outer door of the building.  The
bewildered state of his mind, and, the suddenness
of the occurrence, gave the Major barely time to
observe the messenger to be a country lad, meanly attired, and that he held in his hand one of those
toys which are to be bought in cities, and which
he now apparently contemplated with the conscious pleasure of having fairly purchased, by the
performance of the service required. The soldier
turned his eyes to the subject of the note.  It was
written on a piece of torn and soiled paper, and in
a hand barely legible; but, after same little labour, he was able to make out as follows:-  -
~ The rig'lars are at hand, horse and foot."
Dunwoodie started; and forgetting every thing
in the duties of a soldier, precipitately left the
house. While walking rapidly towards the troops,
he noticed on a distant hill a vidette riding with
speed; several pistols were fired in quicFk sue
cession, and the next instant the trumpets of
the corps rung  in his ears with the enlivening
strain of " to arms.7"  By the time he had reached the  triound  occupied by his squadron, the




THE SPY.                 97
TMajor saw that every man was in active motion.
Lawton was already in his saddle, eyeing the opposite extremity of the valley with the eagerness
of expectation, and crying to the musicians, in
tones but little lower than their own —
" Sound away, my lads, and let these Englishmen know, that the Virginia horse are between
them and the end of their journey."
The videttes and patrols now came pouring in,
each making in succession his hasty report to the
commanding officer, who gave his orders coolly,
and with a promptitude that made obedience certain. Once only as he wheeled his horse to ride
over the ground in front, did Dunwoodie trust
himself with a look at the cottage, and his heart
beat with an unusual rapidity as he saw a female
figure standing, with clasped hands, at a window
of the room in which he had met Frances.  The
distance was too great to distinguish her features
through the intervening object; but the soldier
could not doubt that it was his mistress. The paleness of his cheek and the languor of his eye endured but for a moment longer. As he rode towards the intended battle-ground, a flush of ardour
began to show itself on his sun-burnt features;
and his dragoons, who studied the face of their
leader, as the best index to their own fate, saw
again the wonted.flashing of the eyes, and cheerful
animation, which they had so often witnessed on
the eve of battle. By the additions of the videttes
and parties that had been out, and which now had
all joined, the whole number of the horse was increased to nearly two hundred. There was also a
small body of wounded men, whose ordinary duties were those of guides, but who in cases of
emergency, were embodied and did duty as foot
oldiers; these were dismounted, and procee(led,.9




98                 THE SPY.
by the order of Dunwoodie, to level the few
fences which might interfere witfl the intended
movements of the cavalry.  The neglect of husbandry, which had been occasioned by the war;
left this a comparatively easy task.  Those long
lines -of heavy and durable walls, which now sweep
through every part of the country, forty years ago
were unknown. The slight and tottering fences
of stone were then used more to clear the land for
the purposes of cultivation, than as permanent barriers in the divisions of estates, and required the
constant attention of the husbandman, to preserve
them against the fury of the tempests and the firosts
of winter.  Some few of them had been built with
more care immediately around the dwelling of
Mr. Wharton; but those which had intersected
the vale below were now generally a pile of ruins,
over which the horses of the Virginians would
bound with the fleetness of the wind.  Occasionally a short line yet preserved its erect appearance,
but as none of these crossed the ground on which
Dunwoodie intended to act, there remained only
the slighter fences of iails to be thrown down.
Their duty was hastily, but effectually, performned;
and the guides withdrew to the post assigned to
them for the approaching fight.
Major Dunwoodie had received from his scouts
all the intelligence concerning his foe, which was
necessary to enable him to make his arrangements.
The bottom of the valley was an even plain, that
fell with a slight inclination from the foot of the
hills on either side, to the level of a natural meadow that wound through the country on the banks
of a small stream, by whose waters it was often
inundated and fertilized.  This brook was easily
forded in any part of its course; and the only impedunent it offered to the movements of the horse;




THE SPY.                 99
was in a place where it changed its bed frioo  the
western to the eastern side of the valley, and
where its banks were more steep and difficult of
access than common; here the highway crossed it
by a rough wooden bridge, as it did again at the
distance of half a mile above the Locusts.
The hills on the' eastern side of the valley were
abrupt, and firequently obtruded themselves in
rocky prominences into its bosom, lessening the
w7idth to half its usual dimensions.  One of these
projections was but a short distance in the rear of
the squadron of dragoons, and Dunwoodie directed
Captain Lawton to withdraw, with two troops, behiind its cover.  The officer obeyed with a kind of
surly reluctanee, that was, however, somewhat lessened by the anticipations of the effect his sudden
appearau'nce would make on his enemy.  Dunwoodie knew his man, and had selected the Cap*tLain for this service, both because he feared hls
precipitation in the field, and knew, when needed,
his support would n-ever fail to appear.  It was
only in front of the enemy that Captain Lawton
was hasty; at all other times his discernment and
self-possession were consummately preserved; but
he sometimes forgot them  in his eagerness to engage.  On the left of the ground on which Dunwoodie intended to meet his foe, was a close wood,
tvhieh skirted that side of the valley for the distance of a mile.  Into this, then, the guides retired,
and took their station near its edge, in such a manner as would enable them to maintain a scattering,
but effectual fire, on the advTancing column of the
enemy.
It cannot be supposed that all these preparations
were mlade unheeded by the inmates of the cottage; on the contrary, every feeling which can
aritate the human brieast, iln witnessing sruch a scene.,
0 




100               TH1-E SPY.
was actively alive.  Mr. Wharton alone saw no
hopes to himself in the termination of the conflict.
If the British should prevail, his son would be
liberated; but what would then be his own fate!
Hle had hitherto preserved his neutral character in
the midst of trying cicumstances.  The fact of his
having a son in the royal, or, as it was called, the
regular army, had very nearly brought his estates
to the hammer.  Nothing had obviated this result,
but the powerful interest of the relation, who held
a high political rank in the state, and his own vigilant prudence. In his heart, he was a devoted.
loyalist; and when the blushing Frances had communicated to him the wishes of he- lover, on their
return from  the American camp the preceding
spring, the consent he had given, to her future
union with a rebel, was as much extracted by the
increasing necessity which  existed for his obtaining republican support, as by any considerations for
the happiness of his child.  Should his son now
be rescued, he would, in the public mind, be united with him as a plotter against the freedom of the
states; and should he remain a captive, and undergo the impending trial, the consequenees might be
still more dreadful. AMuch as he loved his we&th,
Mr. Wharton loved his children better; and he
sat gazing on the movements without, with a listless vacancy in his countenance, that denoted his
imbecility of character.
Far different were the feelings of his son. Captain Wharton had been left in the keeping of two
dragoons; one of whom  marched to and fro the
piazza with a measured tread,, and the other had
been directed to continue in the same apartment
with his ptisoner. The young man had witnessed
all the movements of Dunwoodie with admiration
att the ability he had displayed, and some fearful




TIrE SPY.               101
anticipations of the consequences to his friends.
He particularly disliked the ambush of the detachment under Lawton, who could be distinctly seen
from the windows of the cottage, cooling his impatience, by pacing on foot the ground in front of
his men.  Henry Wharton threw  several hasty
and inquiring glances around, to see if no means
of liberation would offer, but invariably found the
eyes of his sentinel fixed on him with the watchfulness of an Argus.  He longed, with the ardour
of youth, to join in the glorious fray, but was compelled to remain a dissatisfied spectator of a scene
in which he would so cheerfully have been an actor.
Miss Peyton and Sarah continued gazing on the
preparations with varied emotions, in which concern for the fate of the Captain formed the most
prominent feeling, until the moment the shedding
of blood seemed approaching, when, with the timiidity of their sex, they sought the retirement of
an inner room. Not so Frances; she had r'eturined
to the apartment where she had left Dunwoodie,
and, from one of its windows, been a deeply interested spectator of all his movements. The
wheelings of the troops, the deadly preparations,
had all been unnoticed; the maid saw her love,
only, and with mingled emotions of admiration and
dread that nearly chilled her. At one moment the
blood rushed to her heart, as she saw the young
warrior riding gracefully, and with admirable skill,
through his ranks, evidently giving life and courage
to all whomn he addressed; and the next, it curdled withl the thought, that the very gallantry she
so much valued, might soon prove the means of
placing the grave between her and the object of
her regard.  Frances gazed until she could gaze
no longer.




102                THE SPY.
In a field on the left of tilhe cottage, and at a
short distance in the rear of the troops, were a
small group, whose occupations seemed to differ
from all around them.  They were in number only
three, being -two men and a mulatto boy.'he
principal personage of this party was a man, whose
leanness made his really tall statur-e appear ex
cessive.  He wore spectacles-was unarmed, had
dismounted and seemed to be dividing his attention between a segar, a book, and the incidents of
the field before him.  To this party Frances determined to send a note, directed to Dunwoodie.
She wrote hastily, with. a pencil, " Conte to  ie,
Peyton,,if it be butfor a moment;"? and Cmesar
emerged firom the cellar kitchen, taking the precaution to go by the rear of the building, to avoid
the sentinel on the piazza, who had very cavalierty ordered all the family to remain housed.  The
black delivered the note to the gentleman, with a
request that it might be forwarded to Major Dun-.
woodie.  It was the surgeon of the horse to whom
Cesar addressed himself; and the teeth of the
Afirican chattered, as he saw displayed upon the
ground, the several instruments  which were in
preparation for the anticipated operations.  Tihe
doctor himself seenmed to view the arrangement
with great satisfaction, as he deliberately raised
his eyes from his book to order the boy to convey
the note to his commanding officer, and then dropping them  quietly on the page, he continued his
occupation.  Caesar was slowly retiring, as the
third personage, who by his dress might be an inferior assistant of the surgical department, coolly
inquired " if he would have a leg taken off." This
question seemed to remind the black of the existence of those limbs, for he made such use of them




THE SPY.                103
as to reach the piazza at the same instant that AMajor Dunwoodie rode up at half speed.  The brawny sentinel squared himself, and poised his sword
with military precision, as he stood on his post
while his officer passed; but no sooner had the
door closed, than turning to the negro, he said,
with great deliberation" Harkee, blacky, if you quit the house again
without my knowledge, I will shave off one of
those ebony ears with this razor."s
Thus assailed in another member, Cwesar hastily
retreated into his kitchen, muttering something,
in which the words CC Skinner, and rebel rascal,"
formed a principal part of his speech.
"L Major Dunwoodie,"5 said Frances to her lover
as he entered,   I may have done you injustice;
if I have appeared harsh"
The emotions of the agitated girl prevailed, ana
she burst into tears.
" Frances" cried the soldier with warmth, c you
are never harsh, never unjust, but when you doubt
my love."' Ah! Dunwoodie,' added the sobbing grl,
"you are about to risk you]r life in battle; remember that there is one heart whose happiness
is built on your safety; brave I lnow you are; be
prudent""' For your sake?" inquired the delighted youth.
" For my sake," replied Frances, in a voice
barely audible, and dropping on hlis bosom.
Dunwoodie folded her to his heart, and was
about to speak, as a trumpet sounded in the
southern end of the vale.  Imprinting one long
kiss of affection on her unresisting lips, the soldier
tore himself foiom his mistress, and hastened to the
scene of strife.




104                 I HE SPY.
Frances nrewN herself on a sofa, buried her hear
under its cushion, and with her shawl drawn over
her face, to exclude as much of sound as possible,
continued there until the shouts of the combatants,
the rattling of the fire-arms, and the thundering
tread of the horses had ceased.




CHAPTER VI.
I see you stand, like grey-hounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The gasme's afoot
Follow your spirit. And upon this charge
Cry-'                     alcskspearc.
THE rough and unimproved face of the courtry, the frequency of covers, together with the
great distance from their own country, and the facilities afforded them for rapid movements to the
different points of the war, by the undisputed command of the ocean, had all united to deter the En.
glish officers from employing a heavy force in cavalry, in their early efforts to subdue the revolted
colonies.
Only one regiment of regular horse was sent
from  the  mother country during  the struggle.
But legions and independent corps were formed
in different places as it best accorded with the
views of the royal commanders, or suited the exigency of the times. These were not unfrequenltly
composed of men raised in the colonies, and at other
times drafts were had from  the regiments of the
line, and the soldier was made to lay aside the
musket and bayonet, and taught to wield the
sabre and carabine.  One particular body of the
subsidiary troops were included in this arrangement, and the Hessian yagers were transformed
into a corps of heavy and inactive horse.
Opposed to them  were the hlardiest suiIts of




106                THE SPY
America.  TMost of the cavalry regilentel;s of the
continental army were led and officcred by genl
tlelmen fi-on the south.  The high and haughty
courage of the commanders 1had communicated itsell' to the privates, who were men selected with
care and attention to the service they were intended to perform.
While the British were confined to their empty
conquests in the possession of a few of the larger
towns, or marched through countries that were
swepet of every thing like military supplies, the
light troops of their enemies had the range of the
whole of the interior before them.
The sufferings of the line of the American army
were great beyond example; but possessing the
power, and feeling themselves engaged in a cause
which justified severity, the cavalry officers were
vigilant in Iproviding for their wants, and the horse
were well mounted, well fed, and consequently
very effective.  Perhaps the world could not furnish more brave, enterprising, and resistless corps
of light cavalry, than a few that were in the continental service at the time of which we write.
Dunwloodie's men had often tried their prowess
against the enemy and now sat panting to be led
once more against foes whom they seldom charged
in vain.  Their wishes were soon to be gratified;
for their conlmander had scarcely time to regain
his seat in the saddle, before a body of the enemy
caime siweep)ing round the base of the hill, which
intersected the view to the south. A few minuter
enabled the Major to distinguish their character.
tn one troop he saw  the green coats of the Cow
Boys, and in the other the leathern helmets and
wooden saddles of the yagers.  Their numbers
were about equal to the body under his imme-diate
ordelrs.




THE SPY.                107
On reaching the open space near the cottage
of Harvey Birch, the enemy halted and drew up
his men in line, and was evidently making preparations for a charge. At this moment a column of
foot appeared in the vale, and pressed forward to
the bank of the brook which we have already mentioned.
Major Dunwoodie was not less distinguished for
coolness and judgment, than, where occasion offered, by his dauntless intrepidity.  He at once
saw his advantage and determined to profit by it.
The column he led began slowly to retire firom
the field, when the youthful German, who commanded the enemy's horse, fearful of missing an
easy conquest, gave the word to charlge.  Few
troops were more hardy than the Cow-Boys; they
sprang eagerly forward in the pursuit, with a confidence created by the retiring foe and the column
in their rear; the Hessians followed more slow1ly,
but in better order.  The trumpets of the Virginians now sounded long and lively; they were answered by a strain from the party in ambush that
Event to the hearts of their enemies.  The column
of Dunwoodie wheeled in perfect order, opened,
and, as the word to charge was given, the troops
of Lawton emerged from their cover, with their
leader in advance, waving his sabre over his head,
and shouting, in a voice that was heard above the
clangour of the martial music.
The charge threatened too much for the refugee.
troop.  They scattered in every direction, flying
from the field as fast as their horses, the chosen
beasts of West Chester, could carry them.  Only
a few were hurt: but such as did meet the arms
of their avenging countrymen never survived the
blow, to tell who struck it.  It was upon the poor
vassals of the German tyrant that the shock fell.




a108              THE SPY.
Disciplined to the most exact obedience) these illfated men met the charge bravely, but they were
swept before the niettled horses and nervous arms
of their antagonists like chaff before the wind.
Many of them  were literally ridden down, and
Dunwoodie soon saw the field without an opposing
foe. The proximity of the infantry prevented pursuit, and behind its column the few Hessians who
escaped unhurt sought protection.
The nmore cunning refugees dispersed in small
bands, taking various and devious routes back to
their old station in front of Harlaem.  Many was
the sufferer, in his cattle, furniture, and person,
that was created by this route; for the dispersioi
of a troop of Cow-Boys was only the extension of
an evil.
Such a scene could not be expected to be acted
so near them, and the inmates of the cottage take
no interest in the result.  In truth, the feelings
it excited pervaded every bosom, from the kitchen
to the parlour.  Terror and horror had prevented
the ladies firom being spectators, but they did not
feel the less. Frances continued lying in the posture we have mentioned, offering up fervent arnd
incoherent petitions for the safety of her countrymen, although in her inmost heart she had personified her nation by the graceful image of Major
Dunwoodie. Her aunt and sister were less ex
elusive in their devotions, but Sarah began to feel,
as the horrors of war were thus brought home to
her senses, less pleasure in her anticipated triumphs.
The inmates of Mr. Wharton's kitchen were
four-namely, Caesar and his spouse, their granddaughter, a jetty damsel of twenty, and the boy
before alluded to. The blacks were the remnants
of a race of negroes which hatd been entailed on




THE SPY.                109
his estate friom Mr. Wharton's maternal ancestors,
who were descended from the early Dutch colonists. Time, depravity, and death, had reduced
them to this small number, and the boy, who was
white, had been added by Miss Peyton to the establishment, as an assistant, to perform the ordinary services of a footman.  CGasar, after first using
the precaution to place himself under the cover of
an angle in the wall, for a screen against any roy
ing bullet which might be traversing the air, became an amused spectator of the skirmish.  The
sentinel on the piazza was at the distance of but
a few feet from him, and entered into the spirit of
the chase with all the ardour of a tried blood
hound; he noticed the approach of the black, and,his judicious position, with a smile of contempt, as
he squared himself towards the enemy, offering his
unprotected breast to any dangers which might
come.
After considering the arrangement of Caesar, foI
a moment, with ineffable disdain, the dragoon said
with great coolness"You seem very careful of that beautiful person
of yours, Mr. Blueskin."
" I guess a bullet hurt a coloured man as quick
as a white,' muttered the black, surlily, casting
a glance at his rampart with much self-satisfaction.'" I'm thinking it's all guess with you, Snowball.  Suppose I make the experiment," returned
the sentinel; as he spoke, he deliberately drew a
pistol from his belt, and levelled it at the black.
Caesar's teeth chattered at the appearance of the
dragoon, although he believed nothing serious was
intended.  It was at this moment that the column
of Dunwoodie began to retire, and the royal caval
ry commenced their charge.
10




1 10               THE SPY.
c "here, Mister Light-Hoisemal,'" said Camsax
eagerly, who believed the Americans were retiring in earnest,  why you rebels don't fight-seesee how  King George's men make Major Dun.
woodie run. Good gentleman too, but don't like
to fight a riv'lar."
(c Damn your regulars," cried the other, fiercely; "C wait a minute, blackey, and you'll see Captain Jack Lawton come out from  behind yonder
hill, and scatter these Cow-Boys like wild geese
who've lost their leader.'
C'esar supposed the party under Lawton to
have sought the shelter of the hill friom siniilar motives to what had induced him to place the wall
between himself and the battle ground; but the
fact soon verified the trooper's prophecy, and the
black witnessed with consternation the total rout
of the Ioyal horse.
The sentinel manifested his exultation at the
success of his comrades with loud shouts, wvhich
soon brought his companion, who had been left in
the more immediate charge of Henry Wharton, to
the open window of the parlour.
( See, Tom, see," cried the delighted trooper,
h how Captain Lawton makes that Hessian's leather cap fly; and now the Major has killed the
officer's horse-zounds, why did'nt he kill the
Dutchman, and save the horse?'
A few pistols were discharged at the flying CowBoys, and a spent bullet broke a pane of glass
within a few feet of Caesar. Imitating the posture
of the great tempter of our race, the black sought
the protection of the inside of the building, and immnediately ascended to the parlour.
The small lawn in front of the Locusts was hidden firom the view of the road by a close line of
shurbbery, and the horses of the two dragoons had




TIE SPY.               111
been left linked together under its shelter to await
the movements of their masters.
At this moment two Cow-Boys, who had been
cut off fromn a retreat to their own party, rode
furiously through the gate, with an intention of
escaping to the open wood in the rear of the cottage.
The victorious Americans pressed the retreating Germans until they had driven them under the
protection of the fire of the infantry; and feeling
themselves, in the privacy of tile lawn, relieved
from  any immediate d(anger, the predatory warriors yielded to a temptation that few of the corps
were ever known to resist-opportunity and horseflesh.  With a hardihood and presence of mind
that could only exist from long practice in similar
scenes, they made towards their intended prizes by
an almost spontaneous movement.  They were
busily engaged in separating the fastenings of the
horses, when the trooper on the piazza discharged
his pistols, and rushed, sword in hand, to the rescue.
The entrance of Casar into the parlour had induced the wary dragoon within, to turn his attention more closely on his prisoner; but this new
interruption drew him again to the window. IHe
threw his body out of the building, and with dreadful imprecations endeavoured, by his threats and
appearance, to firighten the marauders from their
prey.  The moment was enticing. Three hundred of his comrades were within a mile of the
cottage; unridden horses were running at large in
every direction, and Henry Wharton seized the
unconscious sentinel by his legs, and threw him
headlong into the lawn. —Caesar vanished from the
room, and drew a bolt of the outer door.
The fall of the soldier was not great, and reco



11o               TIHE SPY.
vering his feet, he turned his fury for a moment on
his prisoner.  To scale the window in the face of
his enemy, was, however, impossible, and on trial
he found the main entrance barred.
His comrade now called loudly upon him for
aid, and forgetful of every thing else, the discornfited trooper rushed to his assistance. One horse
was instantly liberated, but the other was already
fastened to the saddle of a Cow-Boy, and the four
retired behind the building, cutting furliously at
each other with their sabres, and making the air
resound with the violence of their imprecations.
Caesar threw the outer door open, and pointing to
the remaining horse, that was quietly biting the
faded herbage of the lawn, exclaimedco Run-now —run-M-lassa Harry, run."'- Yes," cried the youth as he vaulted into the
saddle,  now, indeed, my honest fellow, is the
time to run."  He beckoned hastily to his father,
who stood at the window in speechless anxiety,
with his hands extended towards his child in the
attitude of benediction, and adding'4 God bless you,
Caesar, salute the girls," he dashed through the
gate with the rapidity of lightning.
The African watched him with anxiety as he
gained the highway, saw him incline to the right,
and riding furiously under the brow of some rocks,
which on that side rose perpendicularly, disappear
behind a projection, which soon hid him from view.
The delighted Caesar closed the door, pushing
bolt after bolt, and turning the key until it would
turn no more, soliloquizing the whole time on the
happy escape of his young master.
" How well he ride-teach him myself-salute
a -young lady-I guess a Miss Fanny would'nt let
old coloured man kiss her pl:etty red cheek."'
When the fortune of the day was decided, and




'rII SPY.               113
the time arrived for the burial of the dead, two
Cow-Boys and a Virginian were found in the rear
of the Locusts, to be included in the nt mber.
Happily for Henry Wharton, the searching eyes
of his captor were examining, through a pocket
glass, the column of infantry that still held its position on the bank of the streamn, while the remnants of the Hessian yagers were seeking its
friendly protection. His horse was of the best blood
of Virginia, and carried him with the swiftness of
the wind along the valley, and the heart of the
youth was already beating tumultuously with pleasure at his deliverance, when a well-known voice
reached his startled ear, crying aloud," Bravely done, Captain!  Don't spare the
whip, and turn to your left before you cross the
brook.'
Wharton turned his head in surprise, and saw.
sitting on the point of a jutting rock that commanded a bird's-eye view of the valley-, his former
guide, Harvey Birch.  His pack, much diminished
in size, lay at the feet of the pedler, who waved
his hat to the youth, exultingly, as the latter flew
by him.  The English captain took the advice of
this mysterious being, and finding a wood road.
which led to the highway that intersected the valley, turned down its direction, was soon opposite
to his friends, and the next minute crossed the
bridge, and stopped his charger before his old acquaintance, Colonel Wellmere.
" Captain Wharton!'" exclaimed the astonished
commander of tile English troops, i dressed in
blue, and mounited on a rebel dragoon horse! are
you from the clouds in this attire, and in such a
style?"
" Thank God!' cried the youtn, recovering his
breath,e  I am  safe, and have escaped firom  tb0h
10'*




1 14               THE SPY.
hands of my enemies; but five minutes since and
I was a prisoner, and threatened with the gallows.", The gallows, Captain Whartsn! surely those
traitors to the king would never dare to commit
another murder in cold blood; is it not enough
that they took the life of Andre? wherefore did
they threaten you with a similar fate?"
U" Under the pretence of a similar offnSee"
said the captain, briefly explaining to the group of
listeners the manner of his capture, the grounds
for his personal apprehensions, and the method of
his escape.  13y the time he had concluded his
narration, the fugitive Germans were eollected in
the rear of the column of infantry, and Colonel
Wellmere cried aloud
C" From my soul I congratulate you, mny brave
friend; mercy is a quality with which these traitors are unacquainted, and you are doubly fortunate in escaping friom their hands, and uninjured.
Prepare yourself to grant rme your assistance, and! will soon afford you a noble revenge.
" I do not think there was danger of personal
outrage to any man, ColoVnel Wellmere, frtom a
party where Major DunTwoodie comnmands,"' returned young Wharton, with a slight glow on his
face; " his character is above the imputation oi
such an offence; neither do I think it altogethec
prudent to cross this brook into the open plain. in,
the face of those Vi rginian horse, flushed as they
must be with the success they have just obtained."
"Do you call the rout of' those irregulars and
these sluggish Hessians a deed to boast of?" said
the other with a contemptuous smile;' you speak
of the affair, Captain Wharton, as if your boasted
Mr. Dunwoodie, for Major he is none, had discomfited the body guards of your king."
" And I must be allowed to say, Colonel Well



THE SPY.                 115
mere, that ii the body guards of my king were in
yon field, they would meet a foe that it would be
dangerous to despise.  Sir, my boasted Mr. DDunwoodie is the pride of Washington's army as a
cavalry officer,"' cried Henlry with warmth.
"'Dunwoodie-Dunxwoodie," repeated the Colonel slowly; 1" surely I have met the gentleman
before."' "I have been told you once saw him, sir, for a
moment, at the town residence of my sisters," ieulied Wharton, with a lurking smile.
CC Ah! I do remember me of such a youth,"
said the Colonel with affected irony; A" and does
the most potent congress of these rebellious colonies intrust their soldiers to the leading of such a
warrior?"
"' Ask the commander of your Hessian horse,
whether he thinks Major Dunwo)odie worthy of
the confidence," said Henry Wharton keenly, indignant at the trifling of the other, when applied to
such a man as his friend, and at a moment so unseasonable.
Colonel Wellmere was far from  wanting that
kind of pride which makes a man bear himself
bravely in the presence of his enemies. He had
served in America a long time without ever meeting with any but new raised levies, or the militia
of the country; these would sometimes fight, and
that fearlessly, but they as often chose to run away
without pulling a trigger. He was too apt to judge
from externals, and thought it impossible for men
whose gaiters were so clean, whose tread so regular, and who wheeled with so much accuracy, to
be beaten. In addition to all these, they were Englishmen, and their success was certain.  Colonel
Wellmere had never been kept much in the field,
or these notions, which lie had brought with him




116               THE SPY.
from home, and which had been greatly increased
by the vapourings of a garrisoned town, would
have long since vanished. He listened to the
warm reply of Captain Wharton with a supercilious
smile, and then' inquired" You would not have us retire, sir, before these
boasted horsemen, without doing something that
may deprive them of part of the glory which you
appear to think they have gained?"
"' I would have you advised, Colonel Wellmere,
of the danger you are about to encounter."
" Danger is but an unseemly word for a soldier," continued the British commander with a
sneer.
" And one as little dreaded by the 60th as any
corps who wear the royal livery," cried Henry
Wharton, fiercely;' give but the word to charge,
and then let our actions speak."
"Now again I know my young friend," said
Wellmere, soothingly; " but if you have any thing,
to say before we fight, that can in any manner
help us in our attack; we'll listen. You know the
force of the rebels; are there more of them in ambush.";s Yes,"' replied the youth, chafing still with the
other's sneers, "c in the skirt of this wood on our
right are a small party of foot; their horse are all
before you."
"1 Where they will not continue long," cried
Wellmnere, turning to the few officers around him;
" gentlemen, we will cross the stream in column,
and display on the plain beyond, or else we shall
not be able to entice these valiant Yankees within
the reach of our muskets. Captain Wharton, I
claim your assistance as an aid-de-camp."
The youth shook his head in disapprobation of
a movement which his good sense taught him was




THE SPY.               117
rash, but prepared with alacrity to perform his
duty in the impending trial.
During this conversation, which was held at a
small distance in advance of the British column,
and in fhll view of the Americans, Dunwoodie had
been collecting his scattered troops, securing his
few prisoners, and retiring lto the ground where
lihe had been posted at the first appearance of his
enemy.  Satisfied with the success he had already obtained, and believing the English too wary
to give him an opportunity of harassing them farther, he was about to withdraw the guides, and,
leaving a strong party on the ground to watch the
movement of the regulars, to fall back a few miles,
to a favourable place for taking up his quarters for
the night. Captain Lawton was reluctantly listening to the reasoning of his commander, and had
brought out his favourite glass, to see if no opening could be found for an advantageous attack,
when he suddenly exclaimed"' How's this? a blue coat among those scarlet
gentry," again applying his glass to his eye; cu as
I hope to live to see old Virginia, it is my masquerading friend of the 60th, the handsome Captain Wharton, escaped friom two of my best men."
He had not done speaking when the survivor of
these heroes joined his troop, bringing Ewith him
his own horse and those of the Coxv-Boys; he reported the death of his comrade, and the escape of
his prisoner. As the deceased was the immediate sentinel over the perso:i of young Wharton,
and the other was not to be blamed for defending
the horses, which were more particularly under
his care, his captain heard him with uneasiness, but
without anger.
This intelligence made an entire change in the
views of Major Dunwoodie.  He saw at once that




1 1               THE SPY.
his own reputation was involved in the escape o,
his prisoner. The order to recall the guides was
countermanded, and he now joined his second in
command, watching as eagerly as the impetuous
Lawton himself, for some opening to assail his foe
to advantage.
But two hours before, and ]Dunwoodie had felt
the chance which made Henry Wharton his captive, as the severest blow he had ever sustained.
Now he panted for an opportunity in which, by
risking his own life, he might return his fiiend to
bondage. All other considerations were lost in
the goadings of his wounded spirit, and he might
have soon emulated Lawton in hardihood, had not
Wellmere and his troops at this moment crossed
the brook into the open plain.
" There," cried the delighted Captain, as he
pointed out the movement with his finger, " there
comes John Bull into the mouse trap, and with his
eyes wide open."
Surely," said Dunwoodie, eagerly, " he will
not display his column on that flat; Wharton must
tell him of the ambush. But if he does"" We will not leave him a dozen sound skins in
his battalion," interrupted the other, springing into
his saddle.
The truth was soon apparent; for the English
column, after advancing for a short distance on the
level land, displayed with an accuracy that would
have done them honour on a field day in their own
Hyde Park.
"' Prepare to mount-mount;" cried Dunwoodie; the last word being repeated by Lawton in
a tone that rung in the ears of Caesar, who stood
at the open window of the cottage. The black recoiled in dismay, having lost all his confidence itn




THE SPY.                119
Captain Lawton's timidity, for he thought he yet
saw lim emerging from his cover and waving his
sword on high.
As the British line advanced slowlyT and in exact order-, the guides opened a galling fire. It began to annoy that part of the royal troops which
was nearest to them. Wellhnere listened to the
advice of the veteran who was next to him in rank,
and ordered two companies to dislodge the American foot from their hiding place. The movement
created a slight confusion; and Dunwoodie seized
the opportunity to charge. No ground could be
more favourable for the mlaneuvres of horse, and
the attack of the Virginians was irresistible.  It
was aimed chiefly at the bank opposite to the
wood, in order to clear the Americans from the
fire of their friends who were concealed; and it
was completely successful. Wellmere, who was
on the left of his line, was overthrown by the imPetuous fury of his assailants. Dunwoodie was in
time to save him firom the impending blow of one
of his men, and raised him fiom the ground, had
lhim placed on a horse, and delivered to the custody of his orderly.  The officer who had suggested the attack upon the guides had been entrusted with its execution, but the menace was sufficient for these irregulars.  In fact, their duty
was performed, and they retired along the skirt of
the wood with intent to regain their horses, which
had been left under a guard at the upper end of'
the valley.
The left of the British line was outflanked by
the Americans, who doubled in their rear, and
thus made the rout in that quarter total. But the
second in command, perceiving how  the battle
event, promptly wheeled his party, and threw




120               THE SPY.
in a heavy fire on the dragoons, as they passea
him to the charge; with this party was Henry
Wharton, who had volunteered to assist in dispersing the guides: a ball had struck his bridle
arm, and compelled him  to change hands.  As
the dragoons dashed by them, rending the air
with their shouts, and with trumpets sounding a
lively strain, the charger ridden by the youth
became ungovernable-he plunged, reared, and
his rider being unable, with his wounded airm, to
manage the impatient animal, Henry Wharton
found himself, in less than a minute, unwillingly
riding by the side of captain Lawton. The dragoon comprehended at a glance the ludicrous situation of his new comrade, but had only time to
cry aloud before they plunged into the English
line" The horse knows the righteous cause better
than his rider.  Captain Wharton, you are welcome to the ranks of freedom."
KNo time was lost, however, by Lawton, after the
charge was completed, in securing his prisoner
again; and, perceiving him to be hurt, he directed
him to be conveyed to the rear.
The Virginian troopers dealt out their favours,
with no gentle hands, on that part of the royal foot
who were thus left in a great measure at their
mercy. Dunwoodie, noticing that the remnant ot
the Hessians had again ventured on the plain, led
on in pursuit, and easily overtaking their light and
half fed horses, soon destroyed the remainder of
their detachment.
In the mean while, great numbers of the En
glish, taking advantage of the smoke and confusion
in the field, were enabled to get in the rear of the
body of their countrymen, who still preserved their




THE SPY.                121
order in a line parallel to the wo d, but who had
been obliged to hold their fire fiorna the fear of injuring friends as well as foes.  The fugitives were
directed to form a second line within the wood itself; and under cover of its trees. This arrangement was not yet completed, when Captain Lawton called to a youth, who commanded the other
troop left with that part of the force which remained on the ground, and proposed charging the unbroken line of the British.  The proposal was as
promptly accepted as it had been made, and the
troops  were arrayed for the purpose.  The eagerness of their leader prevented the preparations necessary to insure success, and the horse, receiving
a destructive fire as they advanced, were thrown
into additional confusion.  Both Lawton and his
more juvenile comrade fell at this discharge. Fortunately for the credit of the Virginians, Majoi
Dunwoodie ie-entered the field at this critical instant; he saw his troops in disorder; at his feet
lay weltering in blood George Singleton, a youth
endeared to him by numberless virtues, and Lawton was unhorsed, and stretched senseless on the
plain.  The eye of the yeuthful warrior flashed
with unwonted fires.  Riding between this'squadron and the enemy, in a voice that reached to the
hearts of his dragoons, he recalled them to their
duty. His presence and words acted like magic.
The clamour of voices ceased; the line was formed
promptly and with exactitude; the charge sounded; and, led on by their commander, the Virginians swept ac ross the plain with an impetuosity that
nothing could withstand, and the field was instantly cleared of the enemy; those who were not destroyed, sought a shelter in the woods. Dunwoodie slowly withdrew from the fire of the English
11




122               THE SPY.
who were covered by the trees, and comnenced
the painful duty of collecting his dead and wounded.
The sergeant, charged with conducting Henry
Wharton to where he might procure surgical aid,
set about performing his duty with alacrity, in or
der to return as soon as possible to the scene of
strife.  They had not reached the middle of the
plain, before the captain noticed a man whose appearance and occupation forcibly arrested his attention. His head was bald and bare, but a wellpowdered wig was to be seen, half concealed, in
the pocket of his breeches. His coat was off, and
his arms naked to the elbow; blood had disfigured
much of his dress, and his hands, and even face,
bore this mark of his profession; in his mouth was
a segar; in his right hand some instruments of
strange formation, and in his left the remnants of
an apple, with which he occasionally relieved the
duty of the before-mentioned segar.  He was
stanlding, lost in the contemplation of a Hessian,
who. lay breathless before him.   At a little distance were three or four of the guides, leaning on
their muskets, and straining their eyes in the direction of the combatants, and at his elbow stood
a man who, from the implements in his I and, and
bloody vestments, seemed an assistant in nis duty.
"a There, sir, is the doctor,"' said the attendant
of Henry, very coolly; I"he will patch up your
arm in the twinkling of an eye;" and beckoning
to the guides to approach, he whispered and pointed to his prisoner, and then galloped furiously towards his comr.ades.
Wharton advanced to the side of this strange
figure, and observing himself to be unnoticed, was
about to request his assistance, when the other
broke silence in a soliloquy —




TIlE SPY.                123
N Iow, I know this man to have been killed by
Captain Lawton, as well as if I had seen him strike
the blow.  How often have I strove to teach him
the manner in which he can disable his adversary,
without destroying life.  It is cruel thus unnecessarily to cut off the human race, and furthermore.
such blows as these render professional assistance
unnecessary; it is in a measure treating the lights
of science with disrespect."
" If, sir, your leisure will admit,": said Henry
Wharton, "' I must beg your attention to this slight
hurt of mine."
" Ah!" cried the other, starting, and examining
him from bead to foot,'" you are from the field below; is there much, business there, sir?"'
" Indeed," answered Henry, accepting the offer
of the surgeon to assist in removing his coat, "'tis
a stirring time, I can assure you."' Stirring!" repeated the surgeon, busily employed with his dressings; "you give me great
pleasure, sir, for so long as they can stir there
must be life, and while there is life, you know,
there is hope; but here my art is of no use; I did
put in the brains of one patient, but I rather think
the man must have been dead before I saw him.
It is a curious case, sir; I will take you to see itonly across the fence there, where you may perceive so many bodies together. Ah! the ball has
glanced around the bone without shattering it;
you are fortunate in falling into the hands of an old
practitioner, or you might -have lost this limb."
s" Indeed!'" said Henry, with a slight uneasiness; "' I did not apprehend the injury to be so
serious."'
cc Oh! the hurt is not bad, but you have such
a pretty arm for an operation," rXeplied the surgeon,




124                THE SPY
coolly, " the pleasure of the thing might easily
tempt a novice."
"' The devil!" cried the horror-stricken Captain;
"can there be any pleasure in mutilating a fellow
creature?"
" Sir,' said the surgeon, with great gravity, " a
scientific amputation is a very pretty operation,
and doubtless might tempt a younger man, in the
hurry of business, to overlook all the particulars of
the case."
Further conversation was interrupted by the
appearance of the dragoors, slowly marching towards their former halting place, and new  applications firom the slightly wounded soldiers, who
now came riding in, making hasty demands on the
skill of the doctor.
The guides took charge of Wharton, and with a
heavy heart, the young man retraced his steps to
his father's cottage.
Thile English had lost in the charges about one
third of their foot, but the remainder were rallied in the wood, and Dunwoodie, perceiving them
to be too strongly posted to assail, had left a strong
party with Captain Lawton, with orders to watch
their motions, and seize every opportunity to harass them before they re-embarked.
Intelligence had reached the Major of another
party being out by the way of the Hudson, and
his dulty required that he should hold himself in
readiness to defeat the intentions of these also.
Captain Lawton received his orders, with strong
injunctions to make no efforts on the foe, unless a
fhvourable chance should offer. The injury received by this officer was in the head, being stunned by a glancing bullet, and parting with a laugh.
ing declaration from the Major, that if he again




..IE SPY                12b
forgot himself, they should all thinkl him more m:terially hurt, each took his own course.
The British were a light party without baggage,
that had been sent out to destroy certain stores understood to be collecting for the use of the American army.  They now retired through the woods
to the heights, and keeping the route along their
Immits, in places unassailable by cavalry, cornmenced their retreat to their boats.




CHAPTER VIII.
Ct With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide;
And many a childing mother then,
And new-born infant-died;
But things like thllesc, you knows, must be
At every famous victory. "
THE last sounds of the combat (lied on the ears
of the anxious listeners in the cottage, and were
succeelded by the stillness of suspense.  Frances
nad continued by herself, striving to exclude the
uproar, and vainly en.lcavouring to summon resolution to meet tne dreaded result.  The ground
where the charge on the foot had taken place, was
but a short mile firom the Locusts, and, in the intervals of the musketry, the cries of the soldiers
had even reached the ears of its inhabitants. After
witnessing the escape of his son, Mr. Wharton had
ioined his sister and eldest daughter in their retreat,
and the three continued fearfully waiting for news
from  the field.  Unlable longer to remain undei
the painful uncertainty of her situation, Frances
soon added herself to the uneasy group, and Caesar
was directed to examine into the state of things
without, and report on whose banners victory had
alighted.  Tihe father now briefly related to his
astonished children the circumstance and manner
of their brother's escape.  They were yet in the
freshness of their surprise, when the door opened,
and Captain Wharton, attended by a couple of the
guides, and followed by the black, stood before
themn.




THE SPY.                 127
"Henry —my son, my son," cried the agitated
parent, stretching out his arms, yet unable to rise
from his seat; " what is it I see; are you again a
captive, and in danger of your life?"
" The better fortune of these rebels has prevail.
ed," said the youth, endeavouring to force a cheerful smile, and takling a hand of' each of his distressed sisters.  "G I strove nobly for my liberty;
but the perverse spirit of rebellion has even lighted
on their horses.  The steed I mounted carried
me, greatly against my will, I acknowledge, into
the very centre of Dunwoodie's men."'
"~ And you were again captured," continued the
father, casting a fearful glance on the armled attendants who had entered the room.
"- That, sir, you may safely say; this Mr. Lawton, who sees so far, had me in custody again immediately."
" Why you didhnt hold'emr in, Massa HEarry?"9
cried Coesar, advancing  eagerly, and disregarding
the anxious looks and pallid cheeks of the female
listeners.
" That," said Wharton, smiling, " was a thing
easier said than done, Mr. Cwesar, especially as
these gentlemen," (glancing his eyes at the guides, )
" had seen proper to deprive me of the use of my
better arm."7
W' Wounded!"' exclaimed both sisters in a breath,
catching a view of the bandages.
"'A mere scratch, but disabling me at a most
critical moment," continued the brother, kindly,
and stretching out the injured limb to manifest the
truth of his declaration.  Caesar threw a look of
bitter animosity on the irregular warriors who
were thought to have had an agency in the deed,
and left the moom.  A few more words sufficed to
exxplain all that Captain Wharton knew  relative




128               THE SPH Y.
to the fortune of the day. The result he thought
yet doubtrul, for when he left the ground, the Virginians were retiring from the field of battle.
"' They had treed the squirrel," said one of the
sentinels abruptly, " and didn't quit the ground
without leaving a good hound for the chase, when
he comes down."
" Ay," added his comrade, drily, "1 I'm thinking
Captain Lawton will count the noses of what are
left before they see their whale-boats."
Frances had stood supporting herself by the
back of a chair, during this dialogue, catching in
breathless anxiety, every syllable as it was uttered; her colour changed rapidly; her limbs shook
under her; until, with desperate resolution, she
inquiredl —
Is any oficel hurt on-the-on either side?"
"' Yes," answered the man, cavalierly, "these
southern youths are so full of mettle, that it's seldom we fight but one or two gets knocked over;
one of the wounded, who came up before the
troops told me that Captain Singleton was killed,
and Major Dunwoodie "Frances heard no more, but fell back lifeless in
the chair behind her. The attention of her fiiends
soon revived her, when the Captain, turning to the
man, said, fearfully" Surely Major Dunwoodie is unhurt?"'
" Never fear him," added the guide, disregarding the agitation of the family; " they say a man
who is born to be hung will never be drowned: it
a bullet could kill the Major, he would have been
dead long ago. I was going to say, that the Major
is in a sad taking because of the Captain's being
killed; but had I known how much store the lady
sat by him, I wouldn't have been so plain spoken."
Frances now rose quickly firom her seat, with




TH-IE SPY.                )(
cheeks glowing with confusion, and leaning on
her aunt, was about to retire, when Dunwoodie
himself appeared. The first emotion of the agitated girl, wrhen she saw him, was unalloyed happiness; in the next instant she shrunk back appalled from the unusual expression that reigned in
his countenance.  The sternness of battle yet sat
on his brow; his eye was fixed, penetrating, and
severe. The smile of affection that used to lighted
his dark features on meeting his mistress, was sup.
planted by the lowering iodok of care; his whole
soul seemed to be absorbed with one engrossing
emotion, and he proceeded at once to his object.' Mr. Wharton," he earnestly began, " in times
like these, we need not stand on idle ceremony:
one of my officers, I am afraid, is hurt mortally;
anti presuming on your hospitality, I have brouglht
him to your door."
G~ I am happy, sir, that you have done so," said
AeTr. Whartoln at once perceiving the importance to
his son, of conciliating the American troops;   tlhe
necessitous are always welcome, and doubly so, in
being the friiend of Major Dunwoodie."
" Sir, I thank you for myself, and in behalf of
him who is unable to render you his thanks," xreturned the other, hastily; CG if then you please,
we will have him conducted where the surgeon
may see and report upon his case without delay."
To this there could be no objection, and Frances
felt a chill at her heart, as her lover -withdrew,
without casting a solitary look on herself.
There is a devotedness in female love that admits of no rivalry.  All the tenderness of the heart,
all the powers of the imagination, are enlisted
in benalf of the tyrant passion, ard whfiere all is,iven, much is looked for in return.  Frances had
spent houlrs of anguish, of tortume, on accounl




130               TIE SPY.
of Dunwoodie, and he now  met her without a
smile, and left her without a greeting.  The ar..
dour of feeling in the maid vwas unabated, but the
elasticity of her hopes was weakened.  As the
supporters of the nearly lifeless body of Dunwoolie's friend passed her, in their way to the apartment prepared for his reception, she caught a view
of this seeming rival in her interest with her lover.
His pale and ghastly countenance, sunk n eye, and
difficult breathing, gave her a glimpse of death in
its most fearful form.  Dunwoodie was by his side,
and held his hand, giving firequent and stern injunctions to the men to proceed with care, and, in
short, manifesting all the solicitude that the most
tender friendship could, on such an occasion, inspile.  Frances moved lightly before them, and,
wvith an averted face, held open the door for theii
passage to the bed; it was only as the Major
touched her garments, on entering the rooin, that
she ventured to raise her mild blue eyes to his
face.  But the glance was unreturned, and Frances unconsciously sighed as she soulght the solitude
of her own apartment.
Captain Wharton voluntarily gave a pledge to
his keepers not to attempt again escaping, and
then proceeded to execute those (luties on behalf
of his father, which were thouglit necessary in a
host.  On entering the passage for that purpose,
he met the operator who had so dexterously dressed
his alnn, advancing to the room of the wounded
officer.
" Ah!" cried the disciple of Esculapius, " I see
you are doing well: but stop; have you a pin?
No! here, I have one; you must keep the cold air
from your hult, or some of the youngsters will be
at work at youI yet."
"'  od forbid,"  muttered the Captain, in an tin



THE SPY.                131
der tone, and attentively adjusting the bandages,
when Dunwoodie appeared at the door, impatiently crying aloud" Hasten, Sitgreaves, hasten; or George Singleton will die from loss of blood."
" What! Singleton! God forbid. Bless meis it George-poor little George," exclaimed the
surgeon, as he quickened his pace with evident
emotion, and hastened to the side of the bed; " he
is alive, though, and while there is life there is
hope. This is the first serious case I have bad today where the patient was not already dead. Captain Lawton teaches his men to strike with so little
discretion-poor George bless me, it is a musket
bullet."
T'he youthful sufferer turned his eyes on the
man of science, and with a faint smile endeavoured
to stretch forth his hand.  There was an appealin
the look and action that touched the heart of the
operator, with a force that was irresistible.  The
surgeon removed his spectacles to wipe an unusual
moisture from his eyes, and proceeded carefully to
the discharge of his duty. While the previous arrangements were, however, making, he gave vent
in some measure to his feelings, by saying —' When it is only a bullet, I have always some
hopes; there is a chance that it hits nothing vital;
but, bless me, Captain Lawton's men cut so at random-generally sever the jugular, or let out the
brains, and both are so difficult to remedy-the
patient mostly dying before one can get at him. 1
never had success but once in replacing a man's
brains, although I tried three this very day. It is
easy to tell vwhere Lawton's troop charge in a battle, they cut so at random."
The group around the bed of Captain Singleton
were too mnuch accustomed to the Inanner of their




132                THIE SPY.
surgeon, to regard or reply to his soliloqtuy; but
they quietly awaited the moment when he was to
commence his examination.  This now took place,
and Dunwoodie stood looking the operator in the
face, with an expression that seemed to read his
soul.  The patient shrunk from the application of
the probe, and a smile stole over the features of
the surgeon, as he muttered" There has been nothing before it in that quarter."  He now applied himself in earnest to his
work, took off his spectacles and threw aside his
wig. All this time Dunwoodie stood in feverish
silence, holding one of the hands of the sufferer in
both his own, watching the countenance of Doctor
Sitjreaves.  At length Singleton gave a slight
gloan, and the surg eon rose with alacrity, and said
aloud" Ah  there is some pleasure in following a bullet; it may be said to meander through the human
body injuring nothing vital; but as for Captain
Lawton's men" —
" Speak," interrupted Dunwoodie, in a voice
hardly articulate; "is there hope? can you find
the ball?"
"c It's no difficult matter to find that which one
has in his hand, Major Dunwoodie,;' replied the
surgeon, coolly, and preparing his dressings;' it
took what that literal fellow, Captain Lawton,
calls a circumbendibus, a route never taken by the
swords of his men, notwithstanding the multiplied
pains I have been at to teach him how to cut scientifically. Now, I saw a horse this day with his
head half severed fiom his body."
c That," said Dunwoodie, as the blood rushed
to his cheeks again, and his dark eyes sparkled
with the rays of hope revived, " was some of my
own handy work; I killed that horse myself."'




TIaE SPY.               133' You!" exclaimed the surgeon, dropping his
dressing in surprise, G" you   but then you knew it
was a horse."
" I had such suspicions, I own," said the Ma'jor,
smiling, and holding a beverage to the lips of his
friend.
c Such blows alighting on the human fiame are
fatal," continued the doctor, pursuing his business,
"' and set at nought all the benefits which flow from
the lights of science; they are useless in a battle,
for disabling your foe is all that is required.  I
have sat, Major Dunwoodie, many a cold hour,
while Captain Lawton has been engaged, and after all my expectation, not a single case worth recording has occurred-all scratches or death wounds;
all! the sabre is a sad weapon in unskilful hands.
Now, Major Dunwoodie, many are the hours I
have thrown away in endeavouring to impress this
on Captain Lawton."
The impatient Major pointed silently to his
friend, and the surgeon quickened his movements
as he continued-'l Ah! poor George, it is a narrow chance; but"
-he was interrupted by a messenger requiring the
presence of the commanding officer in the field.
Dunwoodie pressed the hand of his friend, and
beckoned the doctor to follow him, as he withdrew.
" What think you?" he whispered, on reach
ing the passage, "c will he live?"
l He will," said the surgeon, laconically, turning on his heel.: Thank God!" cried the youth, hastening beloVw.
Dunwoodie for a moment joined the family, who
were now collecting in the ordinary parlour.  His
face was no longer wanting in smiles, and his sa12




13k4              THE SPY.
lutations, though hasty, were cordial. IHe took
no notice of the escape and recapture of Henry
Wharton, but seemed to think the young man had
continued where he had left him before the encounter.  On the ground they had not met.  The
English officer withdrew in haughty silence to a
window, leaving the Major uninterrupted to make
his communications.
The excitement produced by the events of the
day in the youthful feelings of the sisters, had been
succeeded by a languor that kept them both silent,
and it was with Miss Peyton that Dunwoodie held
his discourse.
" Is there any hope, my cousin, that your friend
can survive his wound?" said the lady, advancing
towards her kinsman, with a smile of benevolent
regard.
" Every thing, my dear madam, every thing,"
answered the soldier cheerfully.  " Sitgreaves
says he will live, and he has never yet deceived
rle."
" Your pleasure is not much greater than my
own at this intelligence.  One so dear to Major
Dunwoodie cannot fail to excite an interest in the
bosom of his firiends."' Say one so deservedly dear, madam," returned the iMajor with warmth: " he is the beneficent
spirit of the corps, equally beloved by us all; so
mild, so equal, so just, so generous, with the
meekness of a lamb and the fondness of a doveit is only in the hour of battle that Singleton is a
lion."
~ You speak of him as if he were your mistress,
Major Dunwoodie," observed the smiling spinster,
glancing her eye at her niece, who sat pale and
listening, in a corner of the room.
" I love him as one," cried the excited youth;




THE SPY.                 135
" but he. requires care and nursing; all now depends on the attention he receives."' Trust mne, sir," said Miss Peyton, with dignity, "1 he wvill want for nothing under this roof."
6 Pardon ne, dear madam," cried the youth hastily; " you are all that is benevolent, but Singleton requires a care which many men would feel
to be irksome.  It is at moments like these, and
in sufferings like this, that the soldier most finds
the u ant of female tenderness."  As he spoke, he
turned his eyes on Frances with an expression that
again thrilled to the heart of his mistress; she rose
froom her seat with burning cheeks, and saidC" All the attention that can with propriety be
given to a stranger, will be cheerfully bestowed or
your friend."
" Ah!" cried the Major, shaking his head,: " that
cold word propriety will kill him; he must be fostered. cherished, soothed."
"L These are offices for a sister or a wife," said
the maid, with still increasing colour.
" A  sister!" repeated the soldier, the blood
rushing to his own fac;e tumultuously; 4 "A sister!
he has a sister; and one that miight be here with
to-morrow's sun."  He paused, mused in silence,
glanced his eye uneasily at Frances, and muttered
in an under tone-" Singleton requires it, and it
must be done."
The ladaes had watched his varying countenance
in some surprise, and Miss Peyton now observed,
that" If the-e were a sister of Captain Singleton near
t;hem, aer presence would be gladly requested both
by herself and nieces."
". It rm:st be, madamn; it cannot well be otherwise," reltied Dunwoodie, with a hesitation that
but ill ag;fied with his former declarations; "6 she




136                THE SPY.
shall be sent for express this very niglht'.And
then, as if willing to change the subject, he approached Captain Wharton, and continued, mildlycs Henry Wharton, to mne honour is dearer than
life; but in your hands I know  it can safely be
confided; remain here un1watched, until we leave
the county, which will not be for some days to
come.7'
The distance in the manner of the English officer vanished, and taking the offered hand of the
other, he replied wivth warmth-" Your generous
confidence, Peyton, will not be abused, even thouegh
the gibbet on -which your Washington hung Andr6 be ready fsr my own execution'."
lHenry, Henry Wharton,"7 said Dunwoodie
reproachfully,' you little know the man -who leads
our armies, or you would have spared him that reproach; but duty calls me without.    I leave you
where I could wish to stay myself, and where you
cannot be wholly unhappy."~
In passing Franees, she received another of those
smailing looks of affection she so much prized, and
for a season the impression  made by hs appearance after the battle was forgotten.
Among the veterans that had been impelled by
the times to abandon tlhe quiet of age for the service of their country, was Colonel Singleton. e
was a native of Georgia, and had be.n for the earier years of his life a soldier by profession. WThen
the struggle for liberty commeneced, he offered his
services to his country, and f -om respect to his
character, they had been accepted. His years and
health had, however, prevented his discharging the
active duties of the field, and he had been 1-kept in
comman d of dIffierent posts of trtust, whelre his e.Onn
try mnight receive the benefits of his vigilance and




THE SPY.                137
idedlity without inconvenience to himnself.  For
the last year he had been intrusted with the passes
to the Highlands, and was now quartered. with
his daughter, but a short day's march above the
valley where Dunwoodie had met his enemy. His
only other child was the wounded officer we have
mentioned.  Thither, then, the Major prepared to
despatch a messenger with the unhappy news of
the Captain's situation, and charged with such an
invitation from  the ladies as, he did not doubt,
would speedily bring the ardent sister to the couch
of her barother.
This duty performed, though with an unwillingness that only could make his former anxiety more
perplexing, Dunwoodie proceeded to the field
where his troops had again halted.  The remnant
of the English were already to be seen, over the
tops of the trees, marching on the heights towards
their boats in  compact order, and with great
watchfulness.  The detachment of the dragoons
under Lawton were a short distance on their flank,
eagerly awaiting a favourable moment to strike a
blow. In this manner both parties were soon lost
to the view.
A short distance above the Locusts was a small
hamlet, where several roads intersected each other,
and fronm which, consequently, access was easy to
the surrounding country.  It was a favourite halting place of the horse, and frequently held by the
light parties of the American army during their
excursions below. -Dunwoodie had been the first
to discover its advantages, and as it was necessary
for him to remain in the county until further oiders from above, it cannot be supposed he overlooked them now. To this place the troops were
directed to retire, carrying with themn their wounded; parties were already employed in the sad




138               THIE SPY.
duty of interring the dead. In making these airangements, a new object of embarrassment presented itself to our young soldier. In moving to
and fro the field, he was struck with the appearance of Colonel Wellmere, seated by himself,
brooding over his misfortunes, uninterrupted by
any thing but the passing civilities of the American officers.  His anxiety on behalf of Singleton
had hitherto banished the recollection of his captive from the mind of Dunwoodie, and he now approached him with apologies for his neglect. The
Englishman received his courtesies with coolness,
and complained of being injured, by what he af
fected to think was the accidental stumbling of his
horse. Dunwoodie, who had seen one of his own
men ride him down, and doubtless with very little.
ceremony, slightly smiled, as he offered him sur
gical assistance. This could only be procured at
the cottage, and thither they both proceeded.
" Colonel Wellmere," cried young Wharton in
astonishment, as they entered, " has the fortune of
war been thus cruel to you also? —but you are
welcome to the house of my father, although I
could wish the introduction to have taken place
under more happy circumstances."
Mr. Wharton received this new guest with the
guarded caution that distinguished his manner, and
Dunwoodie left the room to seek the bedside of
his friend. Every thing here looked propitious,
and he acquainted the surgeon that another patient waited his skill in the room below.  Fhe
sound of the word was enough to set the doctor in
motion, and seizing his implements of office, he
went in quest of this new applicant for his notice.
At the door of the parlour he was met by the ladies, who were retiring. Miss Peyton detained
him for a moment, to inquire into the welfare of




THE SPY.                139
Captain Singleton, before she suffered himl to proceed.  Frances smiled with something of her natural archness of manner, as she contemplated the
grotesque appearance of the bald-headed prac
titioner; but Sarah was too much agitated, with
the surprise of the unexpected interview with the
British Colonel, to notice his attire. It has already
been intimated that Colonel Wellmere was an old
acquaintance of the family.  Sarah had been so
long absent from the city, that she had in some
measure been banished friom the remembrance of
the gentleman, but the recollections of Sarah were
more vivid. There is a period in the life of every
woman, when she may be said to be predisposed
to love; it is at the happy age when infancy is
lost in opening maturity-when the guileless heart
beats with the joyous anticipations of life which
the truth can never realize, and when the imagination forms images of perfection that are copied
after its own unsullied visions; it was at this age
that Sarah left the city, and she had brought with
her a picture of futurity, faintly impressed, it is
true, but which gained durability from her solitude, and in which Wellmere had been placed in
the fore-ground.  The surprise of the meeting had
in some measure overpowered her, and after receiving the salutations of the colonel, she had risen,
in compliance with a signal from her observant
aunt, to withdraw.
c Then, sir," observed Miss Peyton, after listening to the surgeon's account of his young patient,
C we may be flattered with the expectation that he
will recover."'
"'Tis certain, madam," returned the doctor,
endeavouring, out of respect to the ladies, to replace his wig, "'tis certain, with care, and good
nursing."




140 -             THE SPY.
"c In those he shall not be wanting," said the
spinstea, mildly.;" Every thing we have he can
command, and Major Dunwoodie has despatchen
an express for his sister1."'~ His sister," echoed the practitioner, with a
look of particular meaning; " if the Major has sent
for her she wvill come."
Ad Her brother's danger would induce her, one
would imagine."
" No doubt, madamn" continued the doctor, laconically, bowing low, and giving roomn to the ladies to pass.  The words and the manner were
not lost on the younger sister, in whose presence
the name of Dunwoodie was never mentioned unheeded.;~ Sir," cried Dr. Sitgreaves, on entering the
parlous', addressing himself to the only coat of scarlet in the room,' I am advised you are in want of
my aid.  God send'tis not Captain Lawton with
whom you came in contact, in which case I may
be too late."'
"C There must be some mistake, sir," said Wellmere, haughtily; " it was a surgeon that Major
Dunwoodie was to send me, and not an old womnan.1"
"'Tis Dr. Sitgreaves,'" said Henry Wharton,
quickly, though with difficulty suppressing a laugh,
a the multitude of his engagements, to-day, has
prevented his usual attention to his attire."
" Your pardon, sir," added Wellmere, but very
angraciously proceeding to lay aside his coat, and
exhibit what he called a wounded arm.
" If, sir," said the surgeon, dryly, " the degrees
of Edinburgh-walking your London hospitals —
amputating some hundreds of limbs-operating on
the human frame in every shape that is warranted
by the lights of seience, a clear conscience, and




THE SPY.                141
Che commission of the Continental Congress, can
make a surgeon, then I am one."
"' Your pardon, sir," repeated the colonel, stiffly.
c Captain Wharton has accounted for nmy error.")
I' For which I thank Captain Wharton," said
the surgeon, proceeding coolly to arrange his amputating instruments with a formlality that made
the cotonel's blood run cold. GC Where are you
hurt, sir? What, is it then this scratch in the
shoulder? In what manner might you have received this wound, sir?
" From the swTord of a rebel dragoon,' said the
Colonel, with emphasis.
" Never," exclaimed the surgeon as positively.
"Even the gentle George Singleton would not
have breathed on you so harmlessly."  He took a
piece of sticking plaster from his pocket and applied it to the part.  " There, sir, that Awill answer
your purpose, and I am certain it is all that is required of me."
" What do you take to be my purpose, then, sitr,"
said the Colonel, fiercely.
"  To report yourself wounded in your despatches,' replied the doctor, with great steadiness;' and you may say that an old woman dressed your
hurts, for if one did not, one easily might!"
"' Very extraordinary language," muttered the
Englishman.
Here Captain Wharton interfered, and by explaining the mnistake of Colonel Wellnere to proceed from his irritated mind and pain of body, he
in part succeeded in mollifying the insulted practitioner, who consented to look further into the hurts
of the other.  They were chiefly bruises fimom his
fall, to which Sitgreaves made some hasty applicad
tions, and withdrew.
The horse, having taken their required refresh




14l!               THE SPY.
ment, prepared to fall back to their intended position, and it became incumbent on Dunwoodie t(
arrange the disposal of his prisoners.  Sitgreaves
he determined to leave in the cottage of Mr. Wharton in attendance on Captain Singleton. Henry
came to him with a request that Colonel Wellmere might also be left behind, under his parole,
until the troops marched higher into the country.
To this the Major cheerfully assented, and as
all the rest of the prisoners were of the vulgar
herd, they were speedily collected, and, under the
care of a strong guard, ordered to the interior.
The dragoons soon after marched, and the guides,
separating in small parties, acconmpanied by patroles from  the horse, spread themselves across
the country, in such a manner as to make a chain
of sentinels fiom the waters of the Sound to the
Hudson.
Dunwoodie himself had lingered in firont of the
cottage, after he paid his parting compliments for
the time, with an unwillingness to return, that he
thought proceeded friom solicitude for his wounded firiends.  The heart which has not become calious, soon sickens with the glory that has been
purchased with a waste of human life. Peyton
Dunwoodie, left to himself, and no longer excited
by the visions which youthful ardour had kept before him throughout the day, began to feel there
were other ties than those which bound the soldier within the rigid rules of honour. He did not
waver in his duty, yet he felt how Strong was the
temptation. His blood had ceased to flow witli
the impulse created by the battle.  The stern expression of his eye, gradually gave place to a look of
softness; and his reflections on the victory brought
with them no satisfaction that coinpensated for the
sacrifices by which it had been pul)chstlSed. While




THE SPY.                143
turning his last lingering gaze on the Locusts. he
rememembered only that it contained all that he most
valued.  The friend of his youth was a prisoner,
under circumstances that endangered both life and
honour.  The gentle companion of his toils, who
could throw around the rude enjoyments of a soldiel', the graceful mildness of peace, lay a bleeding
victim to his success.  The image of the maid,
who had held, during the day, a disputed sovereignty in his bosom, again rose to his view with
a loveliness that banished her rival, glory, from his
mind.
The last lagging trooper of the corps had already disappeared behind the northern hill, and
the Major unwillingly turned his horse in the same
direction.  Frances, impelled by a restless inquietude, now timidly ventured on the piazza of the
cottage.  The day had been mild and clear, and
the sun was shining brightly in a cloudless sky.
The tunult, which so lately disturbed the valley,
was succeeded by the stillness of death, and the
fair scene before her looked as if it had never
been marred by the passions of men. One solitary
cloud, the collected smoke of the contest, hung
over the field; and this was gradually dispersing,
as if no vestige of its origin was woithy to hover
above the peaceful graves of its victims. All the
conflicting feelings, all the tumultuous circumstances of the eventful day, for a moment, appeared to
the maid like the deceptions of a troubled vision.
She turned, and caught a glimpse of the retreating
figume of him, who had been so conspicuous an ae.
tor in the scene, and the illusion vanished.  Fran
ces recognised her lover, and with the truth, came
other recollections that drove her to the room,
with a heart as sad as that which Dunwoodie himself bore from the valley.




CHAPTER IX.
A nemoment gaz'd adown the dale,
A moment snuff'Id the tainted:gale,
A moment listen'd to the cry,
That thicken'd as the chase drew nigh;
Then, as the headimost foe appear'd,
With one brave bound the copse he clear'd,
And, stretching forward free and fiar,
Sought the wild heaths of Uam-Var.
IWalter Scott.
TH-E party under Captain Lawton had watchkd
the retirin,  foe to his boats with the most unrelitt;ing vigilance, without finding any fit opening
for a charge.  The experienced successor to Colonel Wellmere  in command, knew  too  well the
power of his enemy to leave the  uneven surface
of the heights, until compelled to descend to the
level of the  water.   Beibre he attempted this
hazatdous movement, he  threw  his men into a
compact square, with its outer edges bristling with
oayonets.  In this position, the impatient trooper
well understood, that brave imen could never be
assailed by cavalry with success, and he was reluctantly obliged to hover near them, without seeing  any opportunity of stopping their slow, but
steady march to the beach. A small schooner had
been their convoy firom the city, and lay with her
guns bearing on the place of embarkation.  Against
this combination of force and discipline, Lawton
had sufficient prudence to see it would be folly to
contend  aned the Engis1- were stuIcred to elmbar




TH'E SPY.               145
without further molestation. The dragoons lingered on the shore until the last moment, and then reluctantly commenced their own  retreat back to the
main body of the corps.
The gathering mists of the evening had begun
to darken the valley, as the detachment of Lawtoln
made its re-appearance at the southern extremity.
The march of the troops was stow9 and their line
extended, for the benefit of ease in their progress.
In the fiont rode the Captain, side by side with
his senior subaltern, apparently engaged together
n close conferencee, while the rear was brought up
by a young cornet, humming an air, and thinking
of the sweets of a straw bed after the fatigues of a
hard day's duty.
"' Then it struck you too?" said the Captain,': the instant I placed my eyes on her, I remembered the face; it is one not easily forgotten; by
nyfait, I or.m7 the girl does no discredit to the
Major's taste.';
"6 She would do honour to the corps," replied
the Lieutenant, with soine warmth; " those blue
eyes misgt easily win a man to gentler emnployments tha.n this trade of ours. In sober truth, I
can easily imagine that such a girl might tempt
even me to quit the broadsTwoord and saddle, for a
darning-needle and pillion."
" Mutiny, sir, mutiny," cried the other, laughing;" what you, Tom Mason, dare to rival the
gay, admired, and withal, rich, Major Dunwoodie
il his love! You, a Lieutenant of Cavalry, with
but one horse, and he none of the best! whose
Captain is as tonugh as a peperage 1og, and has as
many lives as a cat.'
Faith," said the subaltern, smiling in his turn,' the log may yet be split, and Grimalkin lose his
lives. if you often charge as madly as you did this
13




146                THE SPY.
morning.  What think you of mnany raps fi on
such a beetle as laid you on your back to-day?11'Ah! don't mention it, my good Tom; the
thought makes my head ache," ieplied the other,
shrugging up his shoulders;,G it is what I call forestalling night."
"' The night of death?"
"' NoT  sir, the night that follows day.  I saw
myriads of stars, things which should hide their
faces in the presence of the lordly sun. I do think
nothing but this thick cap saved me to you a little
longer, maugre the cat's lives."
" I have much reason,to be obliged to the
cap," said Maason, dryly; 6 that or the skll nmust
have had a comfortable portion of thickness, I admit."
" Come, come, Tom, you are a licensed jokeI-,
so I'll not feign anger with you," returned the
Captain, good humour edly; 6 but Singleton's Lieutenant, I am fearful, will fare better than youIrself
for this day's service."''" I believe both of us will be spared the pain of
receiving promotion purchased by the death of a
comrade and faiend," observed Masjon, kindly;
"it was reported that Sitgreaves said he would
live."
" From my soul I hope so," exclaimed Lawton;
"for a beardless face, that boy carries the stoutest
heart I have ever met with. It surprises me, however, that as we both fell at the samne instant, the
men behaved so well."
"' For the compliment, I might thank you" ci led
the Lieutenant with a laugh; " but my modesty
forbids; I did my best to stop them, but without
success.'
" Stop them,' roared the Captain; " would you
stop men in the middle of a charge?")




THE SPY.'               147
" I thought they were going the wrong way,"
answered the subaltern.; Ah!" sail the other, more mildly, " our fall
drove them to the right about."
" It was either your fall, or apprehensions of
their own,' returned the waggish subaltern; "until the Major rallied us, we were in admirable disorder."
"' Dunwoodie!" exclaimed the astonished Lawton; "why the Major was on the crupper of the
Dutehman."7
1 "Ah! but he managed to get off the crupper of
th.e Dutchman," continued Mason.  "C He came in
at half speed with the other two troops, and riding
between us and the enemy, with that imperative
way he has when roused, brought us in line in the
twinkling of an eye.  Then it was," added the
Lieutenant, with animation, " that we sent John
Bull to the bushes. Oh! it was a sweet charge
-heads and tails, until we were upon them."
" The devil!" cried the Captain, " what a sight
I missed."';" You slept through it all," said Mason, laconically.
6' Yes," returned the other, with a sigh; " it
was all lost to me and poor George Singleton. But,
Tom, what will George's sister say to this fairhaired maiden, in yonder white building?"
so Hang herself in her garters," said the subaltern.  "' I owe a proper respect to my superiors,
but two such angels are more than justly falls to
the.share of one mnan, unless he be a Turk or a
1lindoo."
" Yes, yes," said the Captain, quickly, i the
Major is ever preaching morality to the youngsters, but he is a sly fellow in the main.  Do youobserve how fond he is of the cross roads above




148               THE SPY.
this valley? Now, if I were to halt th  troops
twice in the same place, you would all swear there
was a petticoat in the wind."
"' You are well known to the corps," returned
the sententious subaltern.
c Well, Tom, your slanderous propensity is incurable-but," stretching forward his body in the
direction he was gazing, as if to aid him in distinguishing objects through the darkness, "' what
animal is moving through the field on our right?"
"'Tis a man,"' said Mason, looking intently at
the suspicious object.
G By his hump'tis a dromedary," added the
Captain, still eyeing it keenly. Wheeling his horse
suddenly from the highway, he exclaimed. " Harvey Birch- take him dead or alive."
Mason and a few of the leading dragoons only
understood  the sudden cry, but it was heard
throughout the line. A dozen of the men, with
the Lieutenant at their head, followed the impetuous Lawton, and their speed threatened the pursued with a sudden termination to the race.
Birch prudently kept his position on the rock,
where he had been seen by the passing glance of
Henry Wbharton, until evening had begun to shroud
the surrounding objects in darkness. From this
height he had seen all the events of the day as
they occurred. Pie had watched, with a beating
heart, the departure of the troops under Dunwoodie, and with difficulty had curbed his impatience
until the obscurity of night should render his moving firee from danger.  He'had not, however,
completed a fourth of his way to his own residence,
when his quick ear distinguished the tread of the
approaching horse.  Trusting to the increasing
darkness, he, notwithstanding, determined to persevere. By crouching and moving quidckly along




THE SPY.               149
the surface of the ground, he hoped yet to escape
unnoticed.  Captain Lawton was too much engrossed with the foregoing conversation to suffer
his eyes to indulge in their usual wandering; and
the pedler,perceiving by the voices that the enemy
he most feared had passed him, yielded to his impa.
tience, and stood erect, in order to make greater
progress. The moment his body arose above the
shadow of the ground, it was seen, and the chase
commenced.  For a single instant Birch remained
helpless, with his blood curdling in his veins at the
imminence of his danger, and his legs refusing their
natural, and what was now so necessary office.
But it was for a moment only.  Casting his pack
where he stood, and instinctively tightening the
belt he wore, the pedler betook himself to flight.
He knew that by bringing himself into a line fwith
his pursuers and the wood, his form would be lost
to the sight. This he soon effected, and he was
straining every nerve to gain the wood itself, when
several horsemen rode by him but a short distance
on his left, and cut him off from this place of refuge.
The pedler threw himself on the ground as they
came near him, and was in this manner passed unseen. But delay, now, became too dangerous for
him to remain in that position.  He accordingly
arose, and still keeping in the shadow of the wood,
along the skirts of which he heard voices crying to
each other to be watchful, he ran with incredible
speed in a parallel line, but in an opposite direction, to the march of the dragoons.
The confusion of the chase had been heard by
the whole of the men, though none distinctly understood the order of the hasty Lawton but those
who followed.  The remainder were lost in doubt
as to the duty that was required of them; and the
aforesaid cornet was miaking eager inquiries of the
13 *




150                THE SPY.
trooper near him, on the subject, when a man, at
a short distance in his rear, crossed the road in a
single bound.  At the same instant, the stentorian
voice of Captain Lawton rang through the valleys
shouting in a manner that told the truth at once to
his men.
c Harvey Birch-take him, dead or alive."
Fifty pistols lighted the scene instantly, and the
bullets whistled in every direction around the head
of the devoted pedler. A feeling of despair seized
his heart, and he exclaimed bitterly-' Hunted like a beast of the forest."  He felt
life and its accolnpaniments to be a burden, and
was about to yield himself to his enemies.  IN-ature, however, prevailed; he feared, that if taken
his life would not be honoured with the forms of a
trial, but that most probably the morning sun would
witness his ignominious execution; for he had already been condemned to, and only escaped that
fate by stratagem.  These considerations, with the
approaching footsteps of his pursuers, roused hinm
to new exertions; and he again fled before them.
A fragment of a wall that had withstood the I'avages made by war, in the adjoining fences of wood,
fortunately crossed his path.  He hardly had time
to throw his exhausted limbs over this barrier before twenty of his enemies reached its opposite
side.  Their horses refused to take the leap in the
dark, and amid the confusion of the rearing chargers, and the execrations of their riders. Birchl was
enabled to gain a sight of the base of the hill, on
whose summit was a. place of perfect security
against the approach of any foe.  The heart of the
pedler now beat high with the confidence of his
revived hopes, when the voice of Captain Law
ton again rang in his ears, shouting to his men to
give him room. The order was promptly obeyed,




THE SPY.                151
and the fearless trooper came at the wall at the top
of his horse's speed, plunged the rowels in his
charger, and flew over the obstacle like li'htning,
and in safety.  The triumphant hurrahs ofi the men,
and the thundering tread of the horse, now too
plainly assured the pedler of the emergency of his
danger.  He was nearly exhausted, and his fate
no longer seemed doubtful.. Stop, or die," said the trooper, in the suppressed tones of inveterate determination.
Harvey stole a fearful glance over his shoulder,
and saw, within a bound of him, the man he most
dreaded. By the light of the stars he beheld the
uplifted arm and threatening sabre.  Fear, exhaustion, and despair, seized on his heart, and the
intended victim suddenly fell at the feet of the
dragoon. The horse of Lawton struck the prostrate pedler, and both steed and rider came together violently to the earth.
As quick as thought Birch was on his feet again,
and with the sword of the discomfited dragoon in
his hand.  Vengeance seems but too natural to
human passions.  There are but few who have
not felt the seductive pleasure of making our injuries recoil on the supposed authors; and yet
there are some who know how much sweeter it is
to return good for evil. All the wrongs of the
pedler shone on his brain with a dazzling brightness.  For a moment the demon within him prevailed, and Birch brandished the powerful weapon
in the air; in the next it fell harmless on the reviving but helpless trooper; and the pedler vanished
up the side of the friendly rock.
a Help Captain Lawton there," cried Mason, as
he rode up, followed by a dozen of his men, "c and
some of you dismount with me, and search these
trolks; the villain lies here concealed."




152                THIRE SPY.
6H Hold,) roared the discomfited Captain, rais.
Ing himself with difficulty on his feet; G' if one of
you dismount, he dies; Tom, my good fellow, you
will help me to straddle Roanoke again."
The astonished subaltern complied in silence,
while the wondering dragoons remained as fixed
in tneir saddles as if they composed part of the
animals they rode.
6 You are much hurt, I fear," said Mason, with
something  of condolence in his manner, as they
re-entered the highway, and biting off the end of
a segar for the want of a better quality of tobacco.
Something so, I do believe," replied the Captain, catching his breath, and speaking with difficulty; " I wish oure bone-setter was at hand, to
examine into the state of my ribs."
" Sitgreaves is left in attendance on Captain
Singleton, at the house of Mr. Wharton," said
Mason in reply.
"' Then there I halt for the night, Tom,9 returned the other quickly; G these rude times must
abridge ceremony; besides, you may remember
the old gentleman professed a great regard for the
corps.  Oh! I can never think of passing so good
a friend without calline.o
" And I will lead the troop to the four corners,"
said the Lieutenant  "'G if we all halt there,.we shall
breed a famine in the land."' A condition I never desire to be placed in,"
added Lawton.  " The idea of that graceful spinster's buckwheat cakes is highly comfortable in
the perspective."' Oh! you -won't die if you can think of eating," cried Mason, with a laugh.'" I should surely die if I could not," observed
the Captain, gravely.
Captain Lawton,'  said the orderly of his




THE SPY.                153
troop, riding to the side of his commanding officer,
"' we are now passing the house of the pedler spy:
is it your pleasure that we burn it?"
"'No!" roared the Captain, in a voice that startled the disappointed sergeant; "are you an incendiary? would you burn the house in cold blood?
let out a spark approach it and the hand that carries it will never light another."
" Zounds!" exclaimed the sleepy cornet in the
rear, as he was nodding on his horse, "1 there is life
in the Captain, notwithstanding his tulmble."
Lawton and Mason rode on in silence, the latter ruminating on the wonderful change produced
in his commander by his fall, when they arrived
opposite to the gate which was before the residence
of Mr. Wharton.  The troop continued its march,
but the Captain and his Lieutenant dismounted,
and, followed by the servant of the former, proceeded slowly to the door of the cottage.
Colonel Wellmere had already sought a retreat
for his mortified feelings in his own room,; Mr.
Wharton and his son were closeted by themselves;
and the ladies were administering the refireshments
of the tea-table to the surgeon of the dragoons,
who had seen one of his patients in his bed, and
the other happily enjoying the comforts of a sweet
sleep.  A few natural inquiries from Miss Peyton
had opened the soul of the doctor, who knew every
individual of her extensive family connexion in
Virginia, and who even thought it impossible that
he had not seen thle lady herself.  The amiable
spinster smiled as shle felt it to be improbable that
she should ever have met her new acquaintance
before, and not remember his singularities.  It,
however, greatly relieved the embarrassment of
their situation, and something like a discourse was
maintained between thenm; the nieces were only




154                THE SPY.
listeners, nor could thle aunt be said to be much
more.;' As I was observing, MAiss Peyton, it was no.
thing but the noxious vapours of the low lands tlhat
made the plantation of your brother an unfit residence for man; but quadrupeds were-"
"' Bless me, what's that?" said Miss Peyton,
turning pale at the report of the pistols fired at
Birch.
"' It sounds prodigiously like the concussion on
the atmosphere made by the explosion of fire
arms," said the precise surgeon, very coolly, and
sipping his tea with great indifference.  " I should
imagine it to be the troop of Captain Lawton returning, did I not know  the Captain never uses
the pistol, and that he dreadfully abuses the sabre."
" NMerciful providence!" exclaimed the agitated
maiden, " he would not injure.one with it ceitainly."
"' Injure!" repeated the other quickly; "it is
certain death, madam; the most random  blows
imaginable; all that I can say to him will have no
effect."
" But Captain Lawton is the officer we saw this
mornlng, and is surely your friend," said Frances.
hastily, observing her aunt to be dlreadfully alarmed.
"' I find no fault with his want of fiiendship,"
returned the doctor; " the man is well enourgh if
he woutl learn to cut scientifically, and give ine
some chance with the wounded.  All trades, madain, ought to be allowed to live; but what becomes of a surgeon, if his patients are dead before
he sees them?"
The doctor continued haranguing on the probability and improbability of its being the returning
troop, until a loud knock at the front door gave




THE SPY.                15S
new alarm to the ladies. instinctively laying his
hand on a small saw, that had been his companion
for the whole day in the vain expectation of an
amputation, the surgeon, coolly assuring the ladies
that he would avert any danger, proceeded in per
son to answer to the summons.
"' Captain Lawton!" exclaimed the surgeon, as
he beheld the trooper leaning on the arm of his
subaltern, and with difficulty crossing the thresh
old.'" Ah! my dear bone-setter, is it you?"' returned the other, good-humouredly; "1 you are here
very fortunately to inspect amy carcass; but do lay
aside that rascally saw."
A few words from Mason explained to the sur'geon the nature and manner of his Captain's hurts,
and Miss Peyton cheerfully accorded the required
accommodations.  While the room  intended for
the trooper was getting in a state of preparation,
and the doctor was giving certain portentous orders, the Captain was invited to rest himself in the
parlour. On the table was a dish of more substantial food than ordinarily adorned the afternoon's repast, and it soon caught the attention of
the dragoons. Miss Peyton, recollecting that they
had probably made their only meal that day at her
own table, kindly invited them  to close it with
another.  The offer required no pressing, and in
a few minutes the two were conifortably seated,
and engaged in an employment that was only interrupted by an occasional wry face fi'om the Captain, as he moved his body in evident pain. These
interruptions, however, interfered but little with
the principal business in hand; and the Captain
had got happily through with this important duty
before the surgeon returned to announce all things




156               THE SPY'.
as ready for his accommodation, in the room above
stairs.
W' What, eating!" cried the astonished physician; "d Captain Lawton, do you wish to die?"'
c" I have no particular wish that way," said the
trooper, rising, and bowing a polite good night to
the ladies,' and, therefore, have been providing
the materials necessary to preserve life within me."
The surgeon muttered his dissatisfaction while
lie followed Mason and his Captain from  the
apartment.
Every house in America had at that day what
was emphatically called its best room, and this had
been allotted, by the unseen influence of Sarah,
to Colonel Welhnere.  The down counterpane,
which a clear frosty night would render extremely
grateful over bruised limbs, decked the English
officer's bed. A massive silver tankard, richly embossed with the Wharton arms, held the beverage
he was to drink during the night; while beautiful
vessels of china performed the same office for the
two American Captains.  Sarah was certainly unconscious of the silent preference she had been
giving to the English officer, and it is equally certain, that but for his hurts, bed, tankard, and every
thincg but the beverage, would have been matters
of indifference to Captain Lawton, half of whose
nights were spent in his clothes, and not a few ofi
tlem in the saddle. After takingpossession, however, of what was a small but very comfortable
room, Dr. Sitgieaves proceeded to inquire into the
state of his injuries.  He had begun to pass his
hand over the body of his patient, when the latter
cried impatiently" Sitgreaves, do lay that rascally saw aside; the
sight of it makes my blood cold."'




THE SPY.                157
6 Captain Lawton," rejoined the surgeon, "I I
think, for a man who has so often exposed life and
limb, you are unaccountably afraid of what is a
very useful instrument."
"E Heaven keep me from its use," said the trooper, with a shrug.
so Surely you would not despise the lights of
science nor refuse surgical aid, because this saw
might be necessary?" asked the incorrigible operator.
(' I would."
"C You would!"
"S Yes, you never shall joint me like a quarter
of beef, while I have life to defend myself,"' cried
the resolute dragoon; "but I grow sleepy; are,
any of my ribs broken."
"' Any of my bones'
cc lNo."
" Tom, I'll thank you for that pitcher."  As he
2nded his draught, he very deliberately turned his
back on his companions, and  good naturedly
cried —  Goood night, Mason; Good night, Galen.3"
Captain Lawton entertained a profound respect
for the surgical abilities of his comrade, but was
very sceptical on the subject of administering internally foi' the ailings of the human, frame.  With
a full stomach, a stout heart, and a clea  conscience, he often maintained, that a man might
bid defiance to the world and its vicissitudes.
Nature provided him with the second, and, to say
the truth, he strove manfully himself, to keep up
the other two requisites in his creed of worldly
prosperity. It was a favourite maxima witlh him.
that the last thing death assailed was the eyes,
and next to the last. the jaws.  This he intetpret14




1S8               THIE SPY.
ed in a clear expression of the intention of nature,
that every man might regulate, by his own volition,
whatever was to be admitted into the sanctuary of
his mouth; consequently, if the guest proved unpalatable, he had no one to blame but himself. The
surgeon, who was well acquainted with these views
of his patient, beheld him, as he cavalierly turned his
back on Mason and himself with a commiserating
contempt, replaced in their leathern repository the
phials he had exhibited, with a species of care that
was allied to veneration, gave the saw, as he concluded, a whirl of triumph,  and departed, without condescending to notice the compliment of the
trooper, to give some of his care to the guest in
the best bed-room. Mason, finding, by the breath.
ing of the Captain, that his own good night would
be unheard, hastened to pay his respects to the
ladies-mounted, and followed the troop at the top
of his horse's speeds




CHAPTER X.
On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Seome pious drops the closing eye requirecs
E'en from the tomb the voice of nature c ries
E'cn in our ashes, live their wonted fires.
Gray.
TI3n  possessions of Mr. Wharton extended to
some distance on each side of the house in which
ne dwelt, and most of his land was unoccupied.
A few scattering dwellings were to be seen in different parts of his domains, but they were fast falling to decay, and were untenanted. The proximity
of the country to the contending armies had nearly
banished the pursuits of agriculture fonom the land.
It was useless for the husbandman to devote his
time, and the labour of his hands, to obtain overflowing garners, that the first foraging party would
empty.  None tilled the earth with any other
view than to provide the scanty means of subsistence, except those who were placed so near to one
of the adverse parties as to be safe friom the inroads
of the light troops of the other.  To these the
war offered a golden harvest, more especially to
such as enjoyed the benefits of an access to the
Royal army.  Mr. Wharton did not require the
urse of his lands for the purposes of subsistence,
and willingly adopted the guarded practice of the
day, and limited his attention to such articles as
were soon to be consumed within his own -walls,
or could be easily secreted from the prying looks
of the foragers.  In consequence, the ground on
which the action wvas fought, had not a single in.




160               THE SPY.
habited building, besides the one belonging to the
father of Harvey Birch. This stood between the
places where the cavalry had met, and the charge
had been made on the party of Wellnere.
To Katy Haynes, it. had been a day fruitful in
incidents to furnish an inexhaustible themne to her
after life. The prudent housekeeper had kept her
political feelings in a state of rigid neutrality; her
own friends had espoused the cause of the country, but the maiden never lost sight of the momemnt
when she herself was to be espoused to Harvey
Birch. She did not Iwish to fetter the bonds of Hymen with any other clogs than those with which nature had already so amply provided them. Katy
could always see enough to embitter the marriage
bed, without calling in the aid of political contention; and yet, at times, the prying spinster had
her doubts of which side she should be, to escape
this dreaded evil. There was so much of practised deception in the conduct of the pedler, that
the housekeeper firequently arrested her own words
when most wishing to manifest her sympathy.
His lengthened absences from  home had commenced immediately after the hostile armies had
made their appearance in the county; previously
to that event, his returns had been regular and
frequent.
The battle of the Plains had taught the cautious Washington the advantages possessed by his
enemy, in organization, arms, and discipline.
These were difficulties to be mastered by his own
vigilance and care.  Drawing off his troops to the
heights, in the northern part of the county, he bia
defiance to the attacks of the royal army, and Sir
William Howe fell back to the enjoyments of hi,
barren conquests, a deserted city and the adjacent
islands.   Never allerwards did the  opposing




THE SPY.                161
armnieo mlake the trial for success within the li
1mits of West-Chester; yet hardly a day passed,
that the partisans did not make their inroads; or
a sunrise, that the inhabitants were spared the relation of the excesses that the preceding darkness
had served to conceal.  Most of the movements
of the pedler through the county were made at
the hours which others allotted to repose. The
evening sun would frequently leave him at one extremity of the district, and the morning find him
at the other.  His pack was his never-failing companion, and there were those who closely studied
him in his moments of traffic, who thought his only
purpose was the accumulation of gold. He would
be often seen near the Highlands with a body bending under the weight it carried; and again near
the Harlaem river, travelling, with lighter steps,
with his face towards the setting sun. But these
glances at him were uncertain and fleeting.  The
intermediate time no eye could penetrate.  For
months he disappeared, and no traces of his course
were ever known.
Strong parties held the heights of Harlaem, and
the northern end of Manhattan Island was bristled
with the bayonets of the English sentinels, yet the
pedler glided among them  unnoticed and uninjured. His approaches to the American lines were
also frequent; but generally so conducted as to
baffle pursuit.  Many a sentinel, placed in the
gorges of the mountains, spoke of a strange figure
that had been seen gliding by them in the mists
of the evening.  The stories reached the ears of
the officers, and, as we have related, in two instances, the trader fell into the hands of the Ame
ricans.  The first time he escape(d from Lawton,
shortly after his  -rrest; but the second he was
c ondenu-ed to die. Onl thle mornin of his intenrs
IIC 




1 6                THE SPY.
ed execution, the cage was opened, but the bird
had flown.  This extraordinary escape had been
made from  the custody of a favourite officer of
Washingto.i, and sentinels who had been thought
worthy to guard the person of the Commander-inchief.  Bribery and treason could not approach the
characters of men so well esteemed, and the opinion gained ground among the common soldiery,
that the pedler had dealings with the dark one.
Katy, however, always repelled this opinion with
indignation; for within the recesses of her own
bosom, the housekeeper, in ruminating on the
events, concluded that the evil spirit did not pay
in gold.  INor, continues the wary spinster in her
cogitations, does Washington; paper and promises
were all that the leader of thle American troops
could dispense to his servants, until after the receipt of supplies firom France; and even then, although the scrutinizing eyes of Katy never let any
opportunity of examining into the deer-skin purse
pass unimproved, she was never able to detect the
image of Louis, intruding into the presence of the
well known countenance of George IIl.
The house. of Harvey had been watched at different times by the Americans, with a view to his
arrest, but never with success; the reputed spy
possessed a secret means of intelligence, that invariably defeated their schemes.  Once, when a
strong body of the Continental army held the Four
Corners for a whole summer, orders had been received from Washington himself, never to leave the
door of Harvey Birch unwatched; the command
was rigidly obeyed, and during this long period
the pedler was unseen; the detachment was withdrawn, and the next night Birch re-entered his
dwelling.  The father of Harveyhad been greatly
molested, in consequence -of the suspicious clharac



THE SPY.               163
t-xr of tho  son. But, notwithstanding the most
minute scrutiny into the conduct of the old man,
no fact could be substantiated against him to his
injury, and his property was too small to keep alive
the zeal of professed patriots; its confiscation and
purchase would not reward them for their trouble.
Age and sorrow were now about to spare him from
further molestation, for the lamp of life had begun to be drained of its oil. The separation of the
father and son had been painful, but in obedience
to what both thought a duty. The old man had
kept his situation a secret from the neighbourhood,
in order that he might have the company of his
child in his last moments  The confusion of the
past day, and his increasing dread that Harvey
might be too late, helped to hasten the event he
would fain arrest for yet a little while. As night
set in, his illness increased to such a degree, that
the dismayed housekeeper had sent a truant boy,
who had been shut up with them for the day ran
ther than trust himself in the presence of the coinbatants, to the Locusts, in quest of a companion to
cheer her desolate situation.  Caesar was the only
one who could be spared, and, loaded with eatables and cordials by the kind-hearted Miss Peyton, the black had been despatched on this duty.
The dying man was past the use of such articles,
and his chief anxiety seemed to centre in a meeting with his absent child.
The noise of the chase had been heard by the
group in the house, but its cause not understood;
and as both the black and Katy were apprised of
the detachment of American horse being below
them, with its discontinuance all apprehension from
this disturbance ceased. They healrd the dragoons,
as they moved slowly by the building, but in compliance with the prudent injunction of the blacel,




164                THIE SPY.
the housekeeper forbore to indulge her curiosity
by taking a view of the pageant. The old man
had closed his eyes, and his attendants supposed
him to be asleep.  The house contained two large
rooms, and as many small ones.  One of the former
served for kitchen and parlour; in the other lay
the father of Birch; of the latter, one was the
sanctuary of the vestal, and the other contained the
provisions for subsistence.  A huge chimney of
stone rose in the centre of the building, serving.
of itself, for a partition between the larger rooms;
and fire-places of corresponding dimensions were in
each apartment. A bright fire was burning in that
of the common room, and within the very jambs
of its monstrous jaws sat Caesar and Katy, at the
time of which we write.  The African was impressing his caution on the housekeeper to suppress an idle curiosity that might prove dangerous.
" Best nebber tempt a Satan," said Casar, rolling up his eyes significantly, till the whites glistened by the glare of the fire; 1' I like to lose art
ear, only for carrying a little bit of a letter: but
I wish Harvey get back."
" It is very disregardful in him to be away at
such times," said Katy, imposingly. "G Suppose
now his father wanted to make his last will in the
testament, who is there to do such a thing for him 0
Harvey is a very wasteful and a very disregardfui
man."
a Perhaps he make him afore," said the black
inquiringly.
"' It would not be a wonderment if he had," returned the housekeeper; " he is whole days looking into the Bible."
" Then he read a good book," said the black,
solemnly.  " Miss Fanny read him to Dinah berry
often."




'rH E SPY.              165
"Yes," continued the inquisitive spinster; " but
he would not be for ever studying it, if it didn't
hold something more as common.."
She rose from her seat, and stealing softly to a
chest of draw'ers in the room where lay the sick.
took fiom it a large Bible, heavily bound, and seMured with strong clasps of brass, with which she
returned to the expecting African.  The volume
was opened, and she proceeded instantly to the
inquiry.  Katy was far from  an expert scholar,
and to Caesar the characters wer'e absolutely strangers.  For some time the housekeeper was occupied with finding out the word Matthew, which she
at last saw in large Roman letters crowning one
of the pagea, and instantly announced her discovery to the attentive Cesar.' Berry well, now look him  all through," sail
the black, peeping over the damsel's shoulder, as
he held a long, lank, candle of yellow tallow in his
hand, in such a manner as to throw its feeble light
on the volume.
" Yes, but I must begin with the book," replied
the other, turning the leaves carefully back, until,
moving two at once, she lighted upon a page covered with the labours of a pen.  " Here," said
the housekeeper with impatience, and shaking with
the eagerness of expectation, "G here is the very
words themselves; now I would give the world to
know who he has left them big silver shoe buckles
to."' Read'em," said Ceesar, laconically.
" And the black walnut drawers; for Harvey
could never want them."'
c Why no wvant'em as well as he fader?" asked the black, dryly.
" And the six silver table spoons: for Harvey
always uses the iron."'




6l 6               THE SPY.
" I guess he say," continued the African, point.
ing significantly to the writing, and listening eagerly, as the other thus opened the store of the
elder Birch's wealth.
Thus repeatedly advised, and impelled by her
own curiosity, Katy commenced her task.  Anxious to come to the part which most interested herself, she dipped at once into the centre of the subject.
" Chester Birch, born Septenmber 1st, 1755;"'
read the spinster, with great deliberation.
"' Well,'" cried the impatient CTsar, "G what he
give him?"
a Abigail Birch, born July 12th, 1757;" continued the housekeeper, in the same tone.
1" I guess lhe give her a spoons," interrupted the
black.
"1 June 1st, 1760. On this awful day, the judgnent of an ofrended God lighted on my house" —a
heavy groan from the adjoining room  made the
spinster instinctively close the book, and Cmesar,
for a moment, shook with fear. Neither possessed
sufficient resolution to go and examine the condition of the sufferer, but his heavy breathing continued as usual.  Katy dared not, however, reopen the Bible, and carefully securing its clasps,
it was laid on the table in silence. CssaI' took his
chair again, and after looking timidly round the
lroom, remarked-;' I tought he'bout to go."
" No"9 said Katy, solemnly, ": he will live till
the tide is out, or the first cock crows in the morning."
" Poor man!" continued the black, nestling still
farther into the chimney corner; "1 I hope he lay
quiet after he die."
"1'Twould be no astonishment to ine if hie



THE sPY.                167
didn't,7' returned Katy, glancing her eyes round
the room, and speaking in an under voice;. " for
they say an unquiet life makes an uneasy grave."' Johnny Birch a berry good man," said the
black, quite positively.
" Ah! Cwesar,"' said the housekeeper in the
same voice, " he is good, only, who does goodcan you tell me, Caesar, why honestly gotten gold
should be hidden in the bowels of the earth?"
" If he know where he be, why don't he dig
him up?" asked the black, promptly.
"1 There may be reasons not comprehendible tc
you,"' said Katy, moving her chair so that her
clothes covered the charmed stone, underneath
which lay the secret treasures of the pedler, unable
to refirain speaking of that which she would have
been very unwilling to reveal; " but a rough outside often holds a smooth inside."  Cesar stared
around the building, unable to fathom the hidden
meaning of the damsel, when his roving eyes suddenly became fixed, and his teeth chattered with
affright. The change in the countenance of the
black was instantly perceived by Katy, and turning her face, she saw the pedler himself, standing
within the door of the room.
" Is he alive?" asked Birch, tremulously, and
seemingly afraid to receive an answer to his own
question.
~' Surely," said the maiden, rising hastily and
officiously offering her chair to the pedlerl, " he
must live till day or the tide is down."
Disregarding all but her assurance, the pedler
stole gently to the roomn of his dying paren't. The
tie which bound this father and son together was
one of no ordinary kind.  In the wide world they
were all to each other.  Had Katy but read a few
lines farther in the record, she wouldl have seen




168                THE SPY.
the sad tale of their misfortunes.   At one blow
competence and kindred had been swept firomn before them, and friom that day to the present hour,
persecution and distress had followed their wandering steps.  Approaching the bedside, Harvey
leaned his body forward, and said, in a voice nearly choked by his feelings-'~ Father, do you know me 9
The parent slowly opened his eyes, and a smile
of satisfaction passed over his pallid features, leaving behind it the impression of death in still greater force, by the contrast.  The pedlier gave a restorative he had brought with him to the parched
lips of the sick man, and for a few minutes new
vigour seemed to be im-parted to his frame..le
spoke, but slowly and with difficulty.  Curiosity
kept Katy silent; awe had the same effect on COesa'; and Harvey seemed hardly to breathe, as he
Listened to the language of the departing spirit.
M' My son," said the father in a hollow voicee
" God is as merciful as he is just: if I threw the
cup of salvation friom my lips when a youth, ihe
graciously offers it to ime in mine age. He chastiseth to purify, and I go to join the spirits of our
lost family.  In a little while, my child, you will
be alone.  I know you too well not to foresee you
will be a lone pilgrim through life.  The bruised
reed may endure, but it will never rise.  You
have that within you, Harvey, that will guide you
aright; persevere as you have begun, for the duties of life are never to be negleeted-and"'-A
noise in the adjoining room interrupted the dying
man, and the impatient pedler hastened to learn
the cause, followed by Katy and the blaek.  The
first glance of his eye on the figure in the door
way told the trader but too well, both his errand.
and the fate that probably awxaited hi-mnself. Th'




THE SPY.                169
intruder was a man still young in years, but his
lineaments bespoke a mind long agitated by evil
passions.  His dress was of the meanest materials,
and so ragged and unseemly, as to give him the
appearance of studied poverty. His hair was prematurely whitened, and his sunken, lowering eye,
avoided the bold, forward look of innocence. There
was a restlessness in his movements, and an agitation in his manner, that proceeded from the workings of the foul spirit within hiin, and which wvas
not less offensive to others than distressing to himself.  This man was a well known leader of one
of those gangs of marauders who infested the county
with a semblance of patriotism, and were guilty of
every grade of offence, from  simple theft up to
murder.  Behind him stood several other figures
clad in a similar manner, but whose countenances
expressed nothing more than the callous indifference of brutal insensibility.  They were all well
armed with muskets and bayonets, and provided
with the usual implements of foot soldiers.  Harvey knew resistance to be vain, and quietly suibmitted to their directions. In the twinkling of an
eye both he and Caesar were stripped of their decent garments, and made to exchange clothes with
two of the filthiest of the band. They were th:On
placed in separate corners of the room, and, under
the muzzles of the muskets, required faithfully to
answer such interrogatories as were put to them.
" Where is your pack?' was the first question
to the pedler.' Hear me," said Birch, trembling with agitation; " in the next room is my father, now in the
agonies of death; let me go to him, receive his
blessing, and close his eyes, and you shall have all
— ay, all."'
"' Answer me as I put the questions, or this
15




170               THE SPY.
musket shall send you to keep the old driveller
conipany; where is your pack?',
" I will tell you nothing, unless you let me go
to my father," said the pedier, resolutely.
His persecutor raised his arm with a malicious
sneer, and was about to execute his threat, when
one of his companions checked him, and cried" What would you do? you surely forget the
reward.  Tell us where are your goods, and you
shall go to your father.'
Birch complied instantly, and a. man was despatched in quest of the booty; he soon returned,
ti rowing the bundle on the floor, swearing it was
as light as feathers.' Ay," cried the leader, cc there must he gold
so mewfhere fbr what it did contain; give us your,gold, Mr Birch; we know you have it; you will
not take continental, not you."
G' You breaki your faith," said Harvey, sullenly.
6G Give us your gold,"' exclaimed the other, furiously, pricking the pedler with his bayonet until
the blood followed his pushes in streams.  At this
instant a slight movement was heard in the adjoining room, and H-1arvey cried imploringly" Let ine-let me go to my father, and you shall
have all."
I I swear you shall go then," said the skinner.' Here, take the trash,' cried Birch, as he
threw aside the purse, which he had contrived to
conceal, notwithstanding the change in his garments.
The robber raised it from the floor with a hel!ish laugh, as he said coolly —" Ay, but it shall be to your father in heaven."
" Monster!" exclaimed Birch, " have you no
feeling, no faith, no honesty?"
" Why, to hear him, one woulld think there was




THE SPY.               171
not a rope around his neck already," said the
other malignantly.  "' There is no necessity of
your being uneasy, Mr. Birch; if the old man gets
a few hours the start of you in the journey, you
will be sure to follow him before noon to-morrow")
This unfeeling communication had no effect on
the pedler, who listened with gasping breath to
every sound friom the roonm of his parent, until he
heard his own name spoken in the hollow, sepulchral tones of death. Birch could endure no more,
but shrieking out16 Father, hush-father, 1 come-I come:" he
darted by his keeper, and was the next moment
pinned to the wall by the bayonet of another. Fortunately, his quick mnotion had caused hilem to escape a thrust aimed at his life, and it was by his
clothes only that he was confined.
" No, Mr. Birch," said the skinner, " we know
you too well for a slippery rascal, to trust you out
of sight-your gold, your gold."
" You have it," said the pedler, writhing with
the agony of his situation.
Ay, we have the purse; but you have more
purses.  King George is a prompt paymaster, and
you have done him many a piece of good service.
Where is your hoard? without it you will never
see your father."
" Remove the stone underneath the woman,9
cried the pedler, eagerly-" remove the stone."
c He raves, he raves," said Katy, instinctively
moving her position to another stone than the one
on which she had been standing.  In a moment it
was torn fiom its bed, and nothing but earth wras
seen under it.' He raves; you have driven him from his right
nind," continued the trembling spinster, " would




1 ~72             THE SPY.
anvy man in his senses think of keeping gold under
a healrth-stone?"
so Peace, babbling fool,:) cried Harvey.  " Lift
the corner stone, and you will find what will make
you rich, and me a beggar."
" And then you will be despiseable,"' said the
housekeeper, bitterly.'A pedler without goods
and without money is sure to be despiseable.'"'" There will be enough left to pay for his halter,"' cried the skinner, as he opened upon a store
of English guineas.  These were quickly transferred to a bag, notwithstanding the declarations
of the spinster, that her dues were unsatisfied, and
that, of right, ten of the guineas should be her property.
Delighted with a prize that greatly exceeded
their expectations, the band prepared to depart,
intending to take the pedler with them, in order
to give him up to some of the American troops
above, and to claim the reward offered for his apprehension. Every thing was ready, and they were
about to lift Birch in their arms, for he refused to
move an inch, when a figure entered the room that
appalled the group: around his body was thrown
the sheet of the bed fromn which he had just risen,
and his fixed eye and haggard face gave him the
appearance of a being firom another world. Even
Katy and Cmsar thought it was the spirit of the
elder Birch, and they both fled the house, followed
by the alarmed skinners.
The excitement, which had given the sick man
strength, soon vanished, and the pedler, lifting him
in his arms, re-conveyed him to his bed. The reaction of the system  which followed hastened to
close the scene.
The glazed eye of the father was fixed upon
the son; his lips moved: but his voice was unheard.




THiE SPY.               173
Harvey bent dozwn, and, with his parting breath,
received the dying benediction of his parent. A
life of privation, of care, and of wrongs, embittered most of the future hours of the pedler.  But
under no sufferings, in no misfortunes, the subject
of poverty and biting obloquy, the remembrance
of that blessing never left him; it constantly
gleamed over the images of the past, shedding a
holy radiance around his saddest hours of despondency; it cheered the prospect of the future with
the prayers of a pious spirit for his well-being; and
it brought assurance to his soul, of having discharged faithfully and truly the sacred offices of
Eilal love.
The retreat of Caesar and the spinster had been
too precipitate to admit of m1uch calculation; yet
had the former instinctively separated himself from
the skinners. After fleeing a short distance they
paused from fatigue, and the maiden commenced
in a solemn voice" Oh! Caesar,'twas dreadful to wallk before he
had been laid in his grave; but it must have been
the money that disturbed him; they say Captain
Kidd walks where he buried gold in the old war."
"I  neber tink Johnny Birch had such big eye,"9
said the African, his teeth yet chattering with the
firight.
"a I'm sure'twould be a botherment to a living
soul, to lose so much money, and all for nothing,"
continued Katy, disregarding the other's remark.
" tHarvey will be nothing but a despiseable, poverty-stricken wretch.  I wonder who he thinks
would marry him now."
"' Maybe a spooke take away Harvey too," observed Cesar, moving still nearer to the side of
the maiden.  But a new idea had seized the ima
15 *




1714               THE SPY.
gination of the spinster; she thought it not ila.
probable that the prize had been forsaken in the
confusion of the retreat; and after deliberating and
reasoning for some time with Caesar, they both de.
termined to venture back, and ascertain this im
portant fact, and, if possible, learn what had been
the fate of the pedler.  Much time was spent in
cautiously approaching the dreaded spot; and as
the spinster had sagaciously placed herself in the
line of the retreat of the skinners, every stone
was examined in the progress, to see if it was not
the abandoned gold. But, although the suddenness of the alarin, and the cry of Caesar, had impelled the freebooters to so hasty a retreat, they
grasped the hoard with an instinctive hold that
death itself would not have loosened.  Perceiving
every thing to be quiet within, Katy at length
mustered resolution enough to enter the dwelling,
where she found the pedler with a heavy heart
performing the last sad offices for the dead. A few
words sufficed to explain to Katy the nature of
her mistake; but Cesar continued till his dying
day to astonish the sable inmates of the kitchen
with learned dissertations on spookes, and to relate how  direful was the appearance of Johnny
Birch.
The danger to himself compelled the pedler to
abridge even the short period that American custom leaves the deceased with us; and, aided by
the black and Katy, his painful task was soon ended.  Caesar volunteered to walk a couple of miles
with orders to a carpenter, and the body, being habited in its ordinary attire, was left, with a sheet
laid over it with great decency, to await the return
of the messenger.
The skinners had fled precipitately to the wood)




THE SPY.                   75
which was but a. short distance friom  the house ol
Birch, and once safely sheltered within its shades,
they halted, and  mustered their panic-stricken
forces.
" What in the name of fuiry  seized on your
coward hearts?"1 cried the dissatisfied leader, drawing his breath heavily.'4 The same question might be asked yourself,"'
returned one of the band, sullenly.
" From  your fright, I thought a party of De
Lancy's men were upon us.  Oh! you are brave
gentlemen at a race:," continued the leader, bitterly.
" We follow our Captain."
(' Then follow me back, and let us secure the
scoundrel, and receive the reward."
"' Yes; and by the time -we reach the house,
that blackl rascal will have the mad Virginian upon
us; by my sou.l, I would rather meet fifty CowBoys, than that single man."
"Fool,"' cried the enraged leader, " don't you
know Dunwoodie's horse are at the Corners, full
two miles fromn here r?'
" I care not where the dragoons are, but I will
swear that I saw Captain Lawton enter the house
of old Wharton, while I lay watching an opportunity of getting the British Colonel's horse fron
the stable."
" And if he does come, won't a bullet silence a
dragoon from  the south as well as one from old
England?"
"6 Ay, but I don't choose a hornet's nest about
my ears; raise the skin of one of that corps, and
you will never see another peaceable night's foraging again"
" Well," muttered the leader, as they retired




176               THIE SPY.
deeper into thIe wood, "this sottish pedler will
stay to see the old devil buried, and though we
mustn't touch hin at the funeral, he'll wait to look
after the moveables, and to-morrow  night shall
wind up his concerns."'
With this threat they withdrew to one of their
usual places cf:tesort, until darkness should again
give them  an opportunity of marauding on the
community without danger of detection.




CHAPTER XI.
0 wo! 0 wofu{l woful, wofusi e'
lost lamentable day. most wof;'.y
That ever, ever, I (lid yet behl'
O day! Oday! O day! 0  Il rld
Never was seen so black'  ty!  t':y
wofl fu  ay! 0 owoful y I
Tu  family at the Locusts had slept orl  Atched
thllrough all the disturbances of the cottage of Birch.
in perfect ign orance of their occurrence.   The attacks of the skinners were always made with so
much privacy as to exclude the sufferers, not only
from sucecour, but frequently through a dread of
future depredations, from  the commiseration of
their neighbours also.  The cares of their additional duties had drawn the ladies from  their pillows at an  hou1r somewbat earlier than usual, and
Captain Lawnton, notwithstanding the sufferings of
his body, had risen in compliance with a rule that
he never departed from, of sleeping but six hours
at a time. This was one of the few points in which
the care of the human firame was involved where
the trooper. and the surgeon of horse were  ever
known to agree.  The doctor had watched, during the night, by the side of the bed of Captain
Singleton, without once ecosing his eyes.  Occasionally he would pay a visit to the wounded Englishman, w-ho, being nmore hurt in the spirit than
in. the flesh, tolerated the interruptions to his repose with a very ill grace; and once, for an inctant, he ventured to steal softly to tao bed of his




178                THE SPY.
obstinate comrade, and was near succeeding in
obtaining a.feel of his pulse, when a terrible oath,
sworn by the trooper in a dream, startled the prudent surgeon, and warned him of a trite saying in
the corps,' that Captain Lawton always slept
with one eye open."  This group had assembled
in one of the parlours as the sun made its appear.,
ance over the eastern hill, and dispersed the co-.
lumns of fog which had enveloped the low land.
Miss Peyton was looking from a window in the
direction of the tenement of the pedler, and was
expressing a kind  anxiety after the welfare of
the sick it was supposed to contain, when the person of Katy suddenly emerged from the dense covering of an earthly cioud, whose mists were scattering before the cheering rays of the sun, and was
seen making hasty steps towards the  Locusts.
There was that in the air of the housekeeper,
which bespoke distress of an unusual nature, and
the kind-hearted mistress of the Locusts opened
the door of the room with the benevolent intention of soothing a grief that seemed so overwhelming.  A nearer view of the disturlbed features ot
the visiter confirmed Miss Peyton in her belief,
and with the shock that gentle feelings ever experience at a sudden and endless separation from
even the meanest of their associates, she said
hastily" -What, Katy, is he gone?"
G No, mrala'am,," replied the disturbed damsel with
great bitterness, 1" he is not yet gone, but he may
go as soon as he pleases no w, for the mischief is
all done.  I do verily believe, AMiss Peyton, tlhey
naven't so imuch as left him money enoutgh to buy
him another suit of clothes to cover his nakedness,
amid what he has on are none of the best, I can tell
you1."




THE SPY.                179' How!" exclaimed the astonished spinster,
" could any one have the heart to plunder a man
in such distress?')
" Hearts!" repeated Katy, catching her breath,
" men like them have no bowels at all. Plunder
and distress indeed! Why ma'anm, there were in
the iron pot, in plain sight, fifty-four guineas of.gold, besides what lay underneath, which I couldn't
count without handling; and [ did'nt like to touch
it, for they say, that another's gold is apt to stick
-so judging from that in sight, there wasn't less
than two hundred guineas, besides what was in
the deer-skin purse. But Harvey is little better
now than a beggar, and don't you think a beggar
very despiseable, Miss Peyton?"
a" Poverty is to be pitied, and not despised,"
said the lady in reply, still unable to comprehend
the extent of the misfortune that had befallen her
neighbour during the night. "But how is the old
man; and does this loss you speak of affect him
much?"
The countenance of Katy changed instantly,
from the natural expression of concern to the set
form of melancholy, as she answered1G He is happily removed froml the cares of the
world; the chinking of the money made him get
out of his bed, and the poor soul found the shock
too great for him.  EHe died about two hours and
ten minutes before the cock crowved, as near as
we can say;"-she was interrupted by the physician, who, approaching, inquired, with much interest, the nature of his disorder.  Glancing her
eye over the figure of this new acquaintance, Katy,
after instinctively adjusting her dress, repliedc"'Twas the troubles of the times, and the loss
of property, that brought him down; he wasted
from day to day, and all my care and anxiety were




180               T1HE SPY.
lost; for now Harvey is no better than a beggar,
and who is there to pay me for what I have done?"
(c God will reward you for all the good you have
done," said Miss Peyton, mildly.
A Yes," interrupted the spinster, hastily, and
with an air of reverence that was instantly succeeded by an expression that denoted more of
worldly care; " but then I left my wages for three
years past in the hands of Harvey, and how am I
to get them?  My brothers told me again and
again to ask for my money, but I always thought
accounts between relations were easily settled."
1" Were you related, then, to Birch?"' asked
Miss Peyton, observing her to pause.
" Why," returned the housekeeper, hesitating
a little, "' I thought we were as good as so. I
wonder if I have no claim on the house and garden, though they say now it is Harvey's it will
surely be confisticated;" turning to Lawton, who
had been sitting in one posture, with his piercing
eyes lowering at her through his thick brows, in
silence, " perhaps this gentleman knows-he seelms
to talke an interest in my story"M Madamn," said the trooper, bowing very low,' both you and the tale are extremely interesting"3
-Katy smiled involuntarily —" but my hulble
knowledge is limited to the setting of a squadron
in the field, and using it when there. I beg leave
to refer you to Dr. Archibald Sitgreaves, a gentleman of universal attainments, and unbounded
philanthropy."
The surgeon drew up in proud disdain, and employed himself in whistling a low air as he looked
over some phials on a table; but the housekeeper, turning to him with an inclination of her head,
continued-' I suppose, sir, a woman has no dower in her




THE SPY.                181
husbalnd's property: unless they be actually mar
ried?"
It was a maxim with Dr. Sitgreaves, that no
species of knowledge was to be despised, and consequently he was an empiric in every thing but his
profession. At first, indignation at the irony of
his comrade kept him silent; but suddenly changing his purpose, he answered the maiden, with a
smilecc I judge not.  If death has anticipated your
nuptials, I am fearful you have no remedy against
his stern decrees."
To Katy this sounded well, although she understood nothing of its meaning, but " death," and
" nuptials."  To this part of his speech, then, slito
directed her reply.
"' I did think he only waited the death of the old
gentleman before he married," said the housekeeper, looking on the carpet; "but now he is
nothing more than despiseable, or what's the same
thing, a pedler without house, pack, or money.
It might be hard for a man to get a wife at all in
such a pledicary-don't you think it would, Miss
Peyton?"'
" I seldom  trouble myself with such things,"
said the lady, gravely, busying herself in preparations for the morning's repast.
During this dialogue Captain Lawton had been
studying the countenance and manner of the housekeeper, with a most ludicrous gravity; and fearful the conversation would cease, he inquired with
an appearance of great interest-' Then you think it was age and debility that
removed the old gentleman at last?"
( And these troublesome times,"' returned the
spinster promptly; "C trouble is a heavy pull down.
to a sick bed; but I suppose his time had come
16




18~2              THE SPY.
and whlen that happens, it matters but little what
doctor's stuff we take."'
" Let me set you right in that particular," in
terrupted the surgeon, gravely; " we must all die
it is true, but it is permitted us to use the lights
of science, in arresting dangers as they occur,
until"- -
"We can die secundum artem,"  said the trooper, dryly.
To this observation the physician did not deign
to make any reply; but deeming it necessary, in
order to support his dignity, that the conversation
should continue, he added" Perhaps, in this instance, judicious treatment
might have prolonged the life of the patient; who
administered to the case?"
"No one yet," said the housekeeper, with
quickness;' I expect he has made his last will in'the testamlent."
The surgeo-n disregarded the smile of the ladies,
and pursued his inquiries, by saying" It is doubtless wise to be ever prepared for
death.  But under whose care was the sick man
during his indisposition?"
" Under mine," answered Katy, with an air of
a little importance; "' and care thrown away I may
wrell call it; for Harvey is quite too despiseable to
think any more nor that."
There was a mutual ignorance of each other's
meaning, between the surgeon of horse and the
loquacious maiden, but it made very little interruption in their communications; both took a good
deal for granted, and Sitgreaves pursued his question by asking" And how did you treat him?",t Why kindly, you may be certain," said Katy
with spirit, and rather tartly.




THE SPY.                183
$ The doctor means medically, madam," observed Captain Lawton, with a face that would
have honoured the funeral of the deceased.
C 1I doctor'd him mostly with yarbs," said the
housekeeper, smiling at her consciousness of error.
" With simples," returned the surgeon; "c they
are safer in the hands of the unlettered than more
powerful remedies; but why had you no regular
attendant?"
" I'm sure Harvey has suffered enough already
from having so much concerns with the rig'lars,
without having one to waitf on his father," replied
the housekeeper; "1 he has lost his all, and made
himself a vagabond through the land; and I have
reason to rue the day I ever crossed the threshold
of his house.'
" Dr. Sitgreaves does not mean a rig'lar soldier,
but a regular physician, madam," said the troopers
without moving a muscle.
~~ Oh!" cried the maiden, again correcting herself, with a smile, " for the best of all reasons;
there was none to be had, so I took care of him
myself.  If there had been a aoctor at hand, I am
sure we would gladly have had him; for my part.
I am clear for doctoring, though Harvey says I am
killing myself with medicines, but I am sure it will
make but little difference to him, whether I live or
die."
a Therein you show your sense," said the surgeon, approaching to where the spinster sat holding the palms of her hands and the soles of her
feet to the genial heat of a fine fire, making the
mhost of comfort amid all her troubles; " you appear to be a sensible, discreet woman, and some
who have had opportunities of acquiring more correct views might envy you your respnect for knowledge and the lights of science."




184               TrHE SPY.
Although the housekeeper did not altogethei
comprehend its meaning, she knew it was a compliment, and as such was highly pleased with the
surgeon's observation; with increased animation,
therefore, she cried, " it was always said of me,
that I wanted nothing but opportunity to make
quite a physician myself; so long as before I came
to live with Harvey's father, they called me the
bitch doctor."
"i More true than civil, I dare say,'" returned
the surgeon, losing sight of the woman's character
in his admiration of her respect for the healing art.'In the absence of more enlightened counsellors,
the experience of a discreet matron is frequently
of great efficacy in checking the progress of disease in the human system; under such circumstances, madam, it is dreadful to have to contend
with ignorance and obstinacy.")
"  Bad enough, as I well know from experance,"
cried Katy, in triumph; "c Harvey is as obstinate
about such things as a dumb beast; one would
think the care I took of his bed-ridden father,
might learn him better than to despise good nursing. But some day he may know what it is to
want a careful worman in his house, though now 1
am sure he is too desuiseable himself to have a
house."
"- Indeed, I can easily comprehend the iortifi
cation you must have felt in having one so self
willed to deal with,"' returned the surgeon, glancing his eyes reproachfully at his comrade; " but
you should rise superior to such opinions, and pity
the ignorance by which they are engendered."
The housekeeper hesitated a moment, at a loss
to comprehend all that the surgeon expressed, yet
she felt it was both complimentary and kind;




THE SPY.                185
therefore, suppressing her natural flow of language
a little, she replied" I tell Harvey his conduct is often despiseable,
and last night he made my words good; but the
opinions of such unbelievers is not very consequential; yet it is dreadful to think how he behaves at
limes: now, when he threw away the needle'-.
c' What r," said the surgeon, interrupting her,
"does he affect to despise the needle? But it is
my lot to meet with men, daily, who are equally
perverse, and who show a still more culpable disrespect for the information that flows from the
lights of science."
The doctor turned his face towards Captain
Lawton while speaking, but the elevation of the
head prevented his eyes from resting on the grave
countenance maintained by the trooper.  Katy
listened with the most profound attention, and
added" Then Harvey is a disbelievem in the tides."
" Not believe in the tides!" repeated the healer of bodies in astonishment; " does the man distrust his senses; but perhaps it is the influence of
the moon that he doubts?"'c That he does," exclaimed Katy, shlaking with
eager delight at meeting with a iman of learning,
who could support her in her favourite opinions.
"' If you was to hear him talk, you would think he
didn't believe there was such a thing as a moon at
all."'
"' It is t'he misfortune of ignorance and incredu
lity, madam, that they increase themselves," said
the doctor, gravely.  "; The mind once rejecting
useful information insensibly leans to superstition,
and conclusions on the order of nature, that are
aot less prejudicial to the cause of truth, than thev
16 -




ISG               THE SPY.
are at variance with the first principles of human
knowledge."
The spinster was too much awe-struck to venture an undigested reply to this speech, and the
surgeon, after pausing a moment in a kind of philosophical disdain, continued" That any man in his senses can doubt of the
flux of the tides is more than I could have thought
possible; yet obstinacy is a dmngerousinmate toharbour, and may lead us into an error, however gross."
"' You think then they have an effect on the
flux,'" said the housekeeper, inquiringly.
Miss Peyton rose with a slight smle, and beckoned to her nieces to give her their assistance in
the adjoining pantry, while for a moment the dark
visage of the attentive Lawton was lighted by an
animation that vanished by an efolrt, as powerful,
and as sudden, as the one that drew it into being.
After reflecting whether he rightly understood
the meaning of the other, the surgeon making due
allowance for the love of learning: acting upon a
want of education, r eplied —"6 The moon, you mean; many philosophers have
doubted how far it affects the tides; but I think it
is wilfully rejecting the lights of science not to believe it causes both the flux and reflux.."
As reflux was a disorder the spinster was not
acquail'ted with, she thought it prudent to be silent for a time; yet burning with curiosity to
know the meaning of certain portentous lights that
the other so often alluded to, she ventured to ask-' If them  lights he spoke of were what was
called northern lights in these parts?"'
in charity to her ignorance, the surgeon would
have entered into an elaborate explanation of his
meaning, had he not been interrupted by the mirth
of Lawton.  The trooper had listened so far with




THIE SPY.               187
great composure; but now he laughed until his
aching  bones reminded him of his fall, and the
tears rolled over his cheeks in larger drops than
had ever been seen there before. At length the
offended physician seized an opportunity to say" To you, Captain Lawton, it may be a source
of triumph, that an uneducated woman should
make a mistake in a subject, on which men of science have long been at variance; but yet you find
this respectable matron does not reject the lightsthe lights-does not reject the use of proper instruments in repairing injuries sustained by the
human frame. You may possibly remember, sir,
her allusion to the use of the needle."'  Ay," -cried the delighted trooper, " to mendl
the pedler's breeches."
Katy drew up in evident displeasure at this allusion to such familiarity between herself and the
nether garments of the trader, but prompt to vindicate her character for more lofty acquirements,
said"'Twas not a common use that I put that needle to  but one of much greater virtue."
4' Explain yourself, madam," said the surgeon
impatiently, " that this gentleman may see how
little reason he has for exultation."
Thus solicited, Katy paused to collect sufficient
eloquence with which to garnish her narrative.
The substance of which was, that a child who had
been placed by the guardians of the poor in the
keeping of Harvey, had, in the absence of its master, injured itself badly in the foot by a large needle. The offending instrument had been carefully
greased, wrapped in woollen, and placed in a certain charmed nook of the chimney; while the foot,
from a fear of weakening the incantation, was left
in a state of nature. The arrival of the pedler had




188               THE SPY.
altered the whole of this admirable arrangement)
and the consequences were expressed by Katy, as
she concluded her narrative, by saying"'Twas no wonder the boy died of a lock-jaw.'
Dr. Sitgreaves looked out of the window in adiniration of the brilliant morning; striving all he
could to avoid the basilisk eyes of his comrade,
but in vain. He was impelled, by a feeling that
he could not conquer, to look Captain Lawton in
the face. The trooper had arranged every muscle of his countenance in perfect accordance with
due sympathy for the fate of the poor child; but
the exultation of his eves cut the astounded man
of science to the quick; he muttered something
concerning the condition of his patients, and Mre
treated with precipitation.
Miss Peyton entered into the situation of things
at the house of the pedler, with all the interest of
her excellent feelings; she listened patiently while
Katy recounted, more particularly, the circumstances of the past night as they occurred. The
spinster did not forget to dwell on the magnitude
of the pecuniary loss sustained by Harvey, and in
no manner spared her invectives, at his betraying
a secret which might so easily have been kept.
" For, Miss Peyton,"' continued  the housekeeper, after a pause of a moment to take breath.
"~ I would have given up life before I would have
given up that secret. At the most, they could only have killed him, and now a body may say that
they have slain for this world, both soul and body;
or what's the same thing, they have made him a
despiseable vagabond. I wonder who he thinks
would be his wife, or who would keep his house.
For my part, my good name is too precious to be
living with a lone man; though, for the matter of
that, he is never there. I am resolved to tell him




THE SPY.                189
this day, that stay there, a single woman, t will
not an hour, after the funeral; and marry him I
don't think I will; unless he becomes steadier, and
more of a homebody."
The cmild mistress of the Locusts suffered the
exuberance of the housekeeper's animation to expend itself, and then, by one or two judicious
questions, that denoted a more intimate knowledge
of the windines of the human heart in matters of
Cupid, than might fairly be supposed to belong to
a spinster, she extracted enough from Katy, to discover the improbability of Harvey's ever presuming to offer himself, with his broken fortunes, to
the acceptance of Miss Katharine Haynes.  She,
therefore, mentioned her own want of assistance
in the present state of her household, and expressed a wish that Katy would change her residence
to the Locusts, in case the pedler had not farther
use for her services. After a few preliminary conditions on the part of the wary housekeeper, she
concluded the arrangement; and making a few
more piteous lamentations on the weight of her
own losses, the stupidity of Harvey, united with
some curiosity to know  the future fate of the ped1er, Katy withdrew to make certain preparations
for the approaching funeral, which was to take
place that day.
During the interview  between the maidens,
Lawton, through delicacy, had withdrawn. Anxiety took him to the room of Captain Singleton.
The character of this youth, it has already been
shown, endeared him in a peculiar manner to eveiy
officer in the corps.  The singularly mild deportment of the young dragoon had, on so many oecasions, been proved not to proceed from want of
manly resolution, that his almost feminine softness
of manner and appearance had failed to bring him




190                THE SPY'.
into disrepute, even among a band of partisan
warriors.
To the Major he was as dear as a brother, and
his easy submission to the directions of his surgeon had made him a marked favourite with Dr.
Sitgreaves.  The rough usage this corps often received in their daring attacks, had brought each
of its officers, in succession, under the temporary
keeping of its surgeon. To Captain Singleton the
man of science had decreed the palm, on such occasions, and Captain Lawto'n he had fairly blackballed.  He frequently declared, with unconquerable simplicity and earnestness of manner, to his
assembled comrades, that it gave him more pleasure to see the former brought in wounded than
any officer in the squadron, and that the latter afforded him the least; a compliment and condemnation that was received by the first of the parties
withil a quiet smile of good nature, and by the last
with a grave bow of thanks.  On the present occasion, the mortified surgeon and exulting trooper met in the room of Captain Singleton, as a place
where they could act on common ground.  Some
time was occupied in joint attentions to the comfort of the wounded officer, and the doctor retired
to an apartment prepared for his own accommodation; here, within a few minutes, he was surprised
by the entrance of Lawton.  The triumph of the
tr ooper had been so complete, that he felt he, could
afford to be generous, and commencing by voluntarily throwing aside his coat, he cried carelesslyc Come, Sitgreaves, administer a little of the
aid of the lights of science to my body, if you
please."
The surgeon was beginning to feel this was a
subject that was intolerable, but venturing his first




THE SPY.                191
glance towards his comrade, he saw with surprise
the preparations he had made, and an air of sincerity about him, that was unusual to his nanner
when making such a request.  Changing his intended burst of resentment to a tone of civil ihquiry, he said" Does Captain Lawton want any thing at my
hands?"1
"' Look for yourself: my dear Sit." said the
trooper mildly; "G here seem to be most of the colours of the rainbow, on this shoulder of mine."' Indeed you have reason for saying so,'" said
the other, handling the part with great tenderness
and consumlmate skill; "1 but happily nothing is
broken.  It is wonderful how well you escaped."
" Oh. I have been a tumbler fionn my youth,
and I am past minding a few falls from a horse 
out Sitgreaves," he added with affection, and
pointing to a scar on his body, " do you remembem
this bit of'Work?'
s Perfectly well, Jack," replied the doctor, with
a smile; "1 it was bravely obtained, and neatly extracted; but don't you think I had better apply an
oil to these bruises?"'
" Certainly," said Lawton, with unexpected conlescenesion.
N" Tow) my dear boy,'. cried the doctor, exult
ingly, as he busied himself in applying the remedy
to the hurts, "c do you not think it would have been
better to have done all this last night?'
" Quite probable," returned the other, complacently.
"' Yes, Jack, but if you had let me perform the
operation of phlebotomy when I first saw you, it
would have been of infinite service."
"No phlebotomy,": said the other, positively.
"It is now  too late, replied the dejected sui




192               THE SPY.
geon; " but a dose of oil would carry off the huiours famously.)"
To this the Captain made no reply, but grated
his teeth, in a way that showed the fortress of his
mouth'was not to be assailed without a resolute
resistance, and the experienced physician changed
the subject by saying —
" It is a pity, John, that you did not catch the
rascal, after the danger and trouble you incurred."
The Captain of dragoons made no reply; and,
while placing some bandages on the wounded
shoulder, the surgeon continued"' If I have any wish at all to destroy human life,
it is to have the pleasure of seeing that traitoi
hung.')
"I thought your business was to cure and not
to slay," said the trooper, dryly.'CAy! but he has caused us such heavy losses
by his information, that I sometimes feel a very
unphilosophical temper towards that spy."
"c You should not encourage such feelings of animosity to any of your fellow creatures," returned
Lawton, in a tone that caused the operator to drop
a pin he was arranging in the bandages from his
hand.  He looked the patient in the face to remove all doubts of his identity, and finding.; however, it was his old comrade, Captain John Lawton, who had spoken, he rallied his astonished
faculties, and proceeded by saying( Your doctrine is just, and in general I sulbscribe to it.  But, John, my dear fellow, is the
bandage easy?"
" Quite.7"
(' Yes, I agree with you as a whole; but as mat
ter is infinitely divisible, so no case exists without
an exception   l,awton, don't you-do you-feec
easy?"'




THE SPY.                193
"Very."
"It is not only cruel to the sufferer, but sometimes unjust to others, to take human life where a.
less punishment would answer the purpose. Now,
Jack, if you were only-move your arm a littleif you were only-I hope you feel easier, my dear
friend?"'
" Much."
" If, my dear John, you would teach your men
to cut with more discretion, it would answer you
the same purpose,-and give me great pleasure."
The doctor drew a heavy sigh, as he was enabled to get rid of what was nearest to his heart;
and the dragoon coolly replaced his coat, saying
with great deliberation as he retiredI know  no troop that cutt more judiciously:
they generally shave fiom the crown to the jiatw."
The disappointed operator collected his instruments, and with a heavy'heart proceeded to pay a
visit to the room of Colonel Wellinre,.e
1:7 




CHAPTER XII.
This fairy form contains a soul as mighty
As that which lives within a giant's frame;
These slender limbs, that tremble like the aspen
At summer-evening's sigh, uphold a spirit,
Which, rous'd, can tower, to the height of heaven,
And light those shining windows of the face
With much of heaven's own radiance.
Duo.
THE  number and character of her guests, had
greatly added to the cares of Miss Jeanette Peyton.  The morning found them  all restored, ml
some measure. to their former ease of body, with
the exception of the youthful Captain of dragoons,
who had been so deeply regretted by Dunwoodie.
The wound of this officer was severe, though the
surgeon persevered in saying that it was without
danger.  His comrade, we have shown, had deserted his couch; and Henry Wharton awoke from
a sleep that had been undisturbed by any thing but
a dream of suffering amputation under the hands
of a surgical novice. As it proved, however, to
be nothing but a dream, the youth found himself
much refreshed by his slumbers, and Dr. Sitgreaves
removed all fiurther apprehensions by confidently
pronouncing that he would be a well man within a
fortnight.
During all this time Colonel Wellmere did not
make his appearance; he breakfasted in his own
room,  and, notwithstanding  certain  significant
smiles of the man of science, declared himself too
much Initured to rise firom his bed.  Leaving him,




THIE SPY.               195
therefore, endeavouring to conceal his chagrin in
the solitude of his chamber, the surgeon proceeded to the more grateful task of sitting an hour by
the bedside of George Singleton.  A slight flush
Avas on the face of the patient as the doctor entered the room, and he advanced promptly, and laim
his fingers on the pulse of the youth, beckoning
him to be silent, while he filled the vacuum in the
disccurse, by saying" Growing symptoms of a febrile pulse-no, no,
my dear George, you must remain quiet and dumb;
though your eyes look better, and your skin has
even a moisture.'
" Nay, my dear Sitgreaves," said the youtlh,
taking his hand, " you see there is no fever about
me: look, is there any of Jack Lawton's hoarfrost
on my tongue?"
Cc No, indeed," said the surgeon, clapping a
spoon in the mouth of the other, forcing it open,
and looking down his throat as if he was disposed
to visit his interior in person; " your tongue is
well, and your pulse begins to lower again. Ah 
the bleeding did you good. Phlebotomy is a sovereign specific for southern constitutions. But that
mad-cap Lawton obstinately refused to be blooded
for a fall he had from his horse last night. Why.
George, your case is becoming singular," continued
the doctor, instinctively throwing aside his wig;
" your pulse even and soft, your skin moist, but
your eye fiery, and cheek flushed. Oh! I must
examine more closely into these symptoms."
" Softly, my good fi iend, softly," said the youth,
falling back on his pillow, and losing some of that
colour which alarmed his companion; " I believe
in extracting the ball you did for me all that is required.  I am firee from pain, and only weak, I do
assull'e you.')




196               TIlE SPY.
(' Captain Singleton,'" said the surgeon, with
heat, " it is presumiptuoous in you to pretend to tell
your medical attendant when you are free fi-ron
pain; if it be not to enable us to decide in such
matters, of what avail the lights of science? For
shame, George, for shame; even that perverse
fellow, John Lawton, could not behave with more
obstinacy."
His patient smiled, as he gently repulsed his
physician in an attempt to undo the bandages,
and, with a returning glow to his cheeks, inquired-'" Do, Archibald," a term of endearment that
seldom failed to soften the operator's heart, " tell
me what spirit from  heaven has been gliding
around my apartment, while I lay pretending to
sleep, but a few minutes befire you entered."' If any one interferes with my patients," cried
the doctor, hastily, " I will teach them, spirit or
no spirit, what it is to meddle with another man's
concerns."'Fut —my dear fellow," replied the wounded
man with a faint smile, " there was no interference
made, nor any intended; see," exhibiting the
bandages, "' every thing is as you left it,-but it
glided about the room with the grace of a fairy, and
the tenderness of an angel."
The surgeon, having satisfied himself that every
thing was as he had left it, very deliberately resumed his seat and replaced his wig, as he inquired, with a brevity that would have honoured
Lieutenant Mason" Had it petticoats, Gecrge "'
"I saw nothing but its heavenly eyes-its bloom
— its majestic step-its grace;' replied the young
man, with rather more ardour than his surgeon
thoug~ht consistent with his debilitated condiiLon,




I'mll 14.             197
and he laid hib hand on his mouth, to stop him,
saying himself-' It must have been Miss Jeanette Peyton —a
lady of fine accomplishments, with-with-hemwith something of the kind of step you speak ofa very complacent eye; and as to the bloom, I
dare say offices of charity can summon as fine a colour to her cheeks, as glows in the faces of her
more youthful nieces."
" Nieces!" said the invalid; " has she nieces
then? Oh! the angel I saw may be a daughter, a
sister, or a niece, but never an aunt."
CC Hush, George, hush, your talking has brought
your pulse up again; you must observe quiet, and
prepare for a meeting with your own sister, who
will be here within an hour."
" What, Isabella! and who sent for her?'9
"' The Major," said the surgeon, dryly.' Kind, considerate Dunwoodie," muimured the
exhausted youth, sinking again on his pillow; where
the commands of his attendant compelled him to
continue in silence.
Even Captain Lawton had been received with
many and courteous inquiries after the state of his
health, from all the members of the family, when
he made his morning entrance; but an invisible
spirit presided over the comforts of the English
Colonel.  Sarah had shrunk with retiring delicacy
from entering the room; yet she knew  the dosition of every glass, and had, with her own hands,
supplied the contents of every bowl, that stood on
his well-furnished table.
At the time of which we write, we were a divided people, and Sarah thought it was no more
than her right to cherish the institutions of that
country to which she had yet clung as the land of
iher forefacthers; but there were other, and more
1 S -I




198                TH E SPY.
cogent reasons. for the silent preference sloe was
giving to the Englishman.  Hlis image had first
filled the void in her youthfui fancy, and it was an
image that was distinguished by many of those attractions that can enchain a female heart.  It is
true, he wanted the graceful and lofty stature of
Pevton Dunwoodie, his commanding brow, his
speaking eye, and his clear and comprehensive die,
tion; but his skin was fair, his cheeks coloured,
and his teeth no less white than those which shone
in the fascinating smile of the young Virginian.
Sarah had moved about the house during the morning, casting frequent and longing glances at the
door of Wellmere's apartment, anxious to learn the
condition of his wounds, and yet ashamed to inquire; conscious interest kept her tongue tied, until her sister, with the frankness of innocence, had
put the desired question to Dr. Sitgreaves.
" Colonel Wellmere," said the operator, gravely, cc is in what I call a state of fiee-will, madalm.
He is ill, or he is well, as he pleases; his case,
young lady, exceeds my art to heal; and I take it
Sir Henry Clinton is the best adviser he can apply to; though Major Dunwoodie has made the
comnmunicationl with his leech rather difficult.'
Frances smiled archly, but averted her face to
do so, while Sarah moved haughtily, and with the
stately grace of an offended Juno, from the apartment.  Her own room, however, afforded her but
little to relieve her thoughts, and in passing through
the long gallery that communicated with each of
the chambers of the building, she noticed the door
of Singleton's room to be open.  The wounded
youth seemed sleeping, and was alone. Sarah had
ventured lightly into the apartment, and busied
herself for a few minutes in arranging the tables,
and nourishment provided for the patient halrdly




't'HE SPY.              199
conscious of what she was doing, and possibly
dreaming that it was done for another. The natural bloom of her cheek was heightened by the
insinuation of the surgeon, nor was the lustre of her
eye in any degree diminished from the salme cause.
The sound of the approaching footsteps of Sitgreaves had hastened her retreat through another
door, and down a private stair way, to the side of
her sister. Together they sought the friesh air on
the piazza to the cottage, and they pursued their
walk, arm in arm, holding the following dialogue" There is something disagreeable about this
surgeon Dunwoodie has honoured us with," said
Sarah, "c that causes me to wish him away, most
heartily."
Frances fixed her laughing eyes on her sister,
who, meeting their playful glance as they turned
in their walk, blushed yet deeper than before, as
she added hastily; "' but I forget he is one of this
renowned corps of Virginians, and as such must be
spoken reverently of."
" As respectfully as you please, my dear sister,"
returned Frances, mildly; " there is but little danger of your exceeding the truth."
Not ill our opinion," said the elder, with a
little warmth; " but I think Mr. Dunwoodie has
taken a liberty that exceeds the rights of consanguinity; he has made our father's house an hospital."
sc We ought to be grateful," replied the younger
sister, in a low voice, " that none of the patients it
contains are dearer to us."'
" Your brother is one," said Sarah, laconically.
"' True, true," interrupted Frances, hastily, and
Dlushing to the eyes; "but he leaves his room,
and thinks his wound lightly purchased by the
pleasure of being with his ftiends.  If,"' she added




200                THE SPY.
with a tremulous lip, "1 this dreadful suspicion that
is affixed to his visit were removed, I could feel
Ils wound as nothing."
" You now have the fruits of rebellion brought
ilome to you," said Sarah, moving across the piazza with something more than her ordinary stateliness; " a brother wounded and a prisoner, and
perhaps a victim; your father distressed, his privacy interrupted, and not improbably his estates
torn from  him  on account of his loyalty to his
king."
Frances continued her walk in silence.  While
facing the northern entrance to the vale, her eyes
were uniformly fastened on the point where the
road was suddenly lost by the intervention of a
hill; and at each turn, as she lost sight of the spot,
she lingered until an impatient movement of her
sister quickened her pace to an even motion with
that of the other.  At length, a single horse chaise
was seen making its way carefully among the stones
which lay scattered over the country road that
wound through the valley, and approached the cottage.  Frances lost her brilliancy of colour as the
vehicle gradually drelwr nearer, and when she was
enabled to see a female form in it by the side of a
liveried black, who held the reins, her limbs shook
with an agitation that compelled her to lean on
Sarah for support.  In a few minutes the travellers approached the gate, and it was thrown open
by a dragoon who had followed the carriage, and
who had been the messenger despatched by Dunwoodie to the father of Captain Singleton.  M[iss
Peyton advanced to receive their guest, and the
sisters united in giving her the kindest welcome;
still Frances could with difficulty withdraw  her
truant eyes from reading the countenance of the
visitel.  She was young, of a light ant- firagile




THE SPY.                 201
formr, yet of exquisite proportions; but it was in
her eye that her greatest charm  existed; it was
large, full, black, piercing, and at times a little
wild.  Her hair was luxuriant, and without the
powder it was then the fashion to wear, but shone
in its own glossy, raven blackness.  A few of its
locks had fallen on her cheek, giving its chilling
whiteness by the contrast yet a more deadly character.  Dr. Sitgreaves supported her froim the
chaise, and when she gained the floor of the piazza,
she turned her expressive eye on the face of the
practitioner in silence; but it spoke all that she
wished to sav" Your br-other is out of danger, and wishes to
see you, Miss Singleton," said the surgeon, in reply to her look.
For an instant the lady clasped her hands with
energy, rolled her dark eyes to heaven, while a
slight flush, like the last reflected tinge of the setting sun, beamed on her features, and she gave
vent to her feelings in a flood of tears.  Frances
had stood contemplating the action and face of Isabella with a kind of uneasy admiration, but she
now sprang to her side with the ardour of a sister,
and kindly drawing her arm within her own, led
the way to a retired room.  The movement was
so ingenuous, so considerate, and so delicate, that
even Miss Peyton withheld her interference, following the youthful pair with only her eyes and a
smile of complacency.  The feeling was conmmunicated to all the spectators, and they dispersed in
pursuit of their usual avocations.  Isabella yielded
to the gentle influence of Frances without resistance, and, having gained the room where the latter
conducted her, wept in silence on the shoulder of
the observant and soothing maid, until Frances
thought her tears exceeded the emnotion natuial to




2)02               THE SPY.
the occasion.  The sobs of AMiss Singleton for a
time were violent and uncontrollable, until, with
an evident exertion, she yielded to a kind observation of her companion, and succeeded in suppressing her tears.  Raising her face to the eyes
of Frances, she rose, while a smile of beautiful radiance passed over her features, made a hasty
apology for the excess of her emotion, and desired
to be conducted to the room of her brother.
The meeting between the brother and sister
was warlm, but, by an effort on the part of the lady,
more composed than her previous agitation had
given reason to expect. Isabella found her brother looking bettel, and in less danger than her
sensitive imagination had led her to suppose, and
her spirits rose in proportion; firom despondency,
she passed to something like gayety; her beautiful eyes sparkled with renovated brilliancy, and
her face was lighted with smiles so fascinating,
that Frances, who, in compliance with her earnest
entreaties, had accompanied her to the sick chamber, sat gazing on a countenance that possessed
such wonderful variability, as if impelled by a
charm that was beyond her control.  The youth
had thrown an earnest look at Frances as soon as
his sister raised herself from his arms, and perhaps
it was the first glance at the lovely lineaments of
our heroine, when the gazer turned hlis eyes from
the view in disappointment; pausing a moment,
during which the wandering eyes of Singleton were
bent on the open door of the room, he said, as he
took the hand of his sister affectionately" And where is Dunwoodie, Isabella? he is
never weary of kind actions.  After a day of such
service as that of yesterday, he has spent the night
in bringing me a nurse, whose presence alone is
able to raise me friom my couch."




THE SPY.                203
The expression of the lady's countenance change d
instantly; her eye roved round the apartment with
a character of wildness in it that repelled the anxious Frances, who studied her movements with intensity of interest, as forcibly as the moment before it had attracted her; while the sister answered
with trembling   emotion-'" Dunwoodie! is he then not here? with me
he has not been: I thought- to have met him by the
side of my brother's bed."' I-e has duties that require his presence elsewvhere; yes, these English are said to be out by
the way of the Hudson, and give the light troops
but little rest," said the brother, musing;' surely
nothing else could have kept him so long from a
wounded fiiend. But, Isabella, the imeeting has
been too much for you; you tremble like an aspen."'
Isabella made no reply, but stretched fortlh her
hand towards the table which held the nourishmnent of the Captain, and the attentive Frances
comprehended her wishes in a moment; a glass
of water in some measure revived the sister-, who,
smiling faintly, was enabled to say" Doubtless it is his duty..1T'was said above, a
royal party was moving on the river; though I
passed the troops but a short two miles firom this
spot."  The latter part of the sentence was hardly audible, and spoken more in the manner of a
soliloquy than as if intended for the ears of her
companions.
" On the march, Isabella?' eagerly inquired
her brother.
"No, dismounted, and seemingly at rest," was
the reply, in the same abstracted manner as beforle.
The wondering brother turned his gaze on the




204                THE SPY.
countenance of his sister, who sat with het full,
black eye, bent- on the carpet in unconscious absence, but found no explanation.  His look was
changed to the face of Frances, who. startling with
the earnestness of his expression, arose, and hastily inquired if he would have any assistance.
" if, madam, you can pardon the rudeness,' said
the wounded officer, making a feeble effort to raise
his body, a" I would request to have Captain Lawton's company for a momrent."
Frances hastened instantly to communicate his
wish to that gentleman, and, impelled by an anxious interest she could not control, returned again
to her seat by the side of EMiss Singleton.
" Lawton," said the youth, impatiently, as the
trooper entered, " hear you from the Majar?"
The eye of the sister was now bent on the face
of the trooper, who made his salutations to the lady with the ease of a gentleman, blended with the
frankness of a soldier, and answered"' His man has been here twice to inquire how
we fared in the Lazaretto."
L" And why not himself?" said the other, quickly.
"1 A h! that is a question the M0ajor can answer
best himself," returned the dragoon, dryly; " but
you know the red coats are abroad, and Dunwoodie commands in the county; these English must
be looked to."
True," said Singleton, slowly, as if struck
with the other's reasons;' but how is it that you
are idle, when there is work to do?"
" My sword arm  is not in the best condition,
and Roanoke has a dreadful shambling gait this
mornings" said the trooper, with a shrug; *"besides, there is another reason I could mcition, if it




THE SPY.                 205
were not that Miss Wharton would never forgive
mne."
1' Speak, I beg, sir, without dread of my displeasure," said Frances, withdrawing her eyes from
the countenance of Miss Singleton, and returning
the good-hulnoured smile of the trooper, with the
natural archness of her own lovely face.
"' The odours of your kitchen, then," cried Lawton bluntly, i' forbid me quitting the domains, until
I qualify myself to speak with more certainty concerning the fatness of the land."
" Oh! aunt Jeanette is exerting  herself to (lo
credit to my father's hospitality," said the laughing maid, " and I am a truant from her labours, as
I shall be a stranger to her favour, unless I proffer
my assistance.)"
After making a proper apology to the stranger,
Frances withdrew to seek her aunt, musing deeply on the character and extreme sensibility of the
new acquaintance chance had brought to the cottage.
The wounded officer followed her with his eyes,
as her lovely figure moved, with infantile grace,
through the door of his apartment, and as she vanished from his view, he observed" Such an aunt and niece are seldom to be met
with, Jack; this seems a fairy, but the aunt is angelic."'
(" Ah! George, you are doing well, I see," said
the trooper; " your enthusiasm holds its own.'"
o" I should be ungrateful as well as insensible,
did I not bear testimony to the loveliness of Aiss
P iyton."'
"' A good motherly lady," said the dragoon, dry
ly;   but as to love, you know  that is a matter
of taste., I think a few years younger, with defer




206                THE SPY.
ence to the sex," bowing to Miss Singletotn,
i would accord better with my fancy."'" She must be under twenty," said the other,
quickly.
" Oh, doubtless, about nineteen," said Lawton,
with extreme gravity; " yet she looks a trifle
older."
" You have mistaken an elder sister for the
aunt," said Isabella, laying aer fair hand on the
mouth of the invalid; " but you. must be silent!
your feelings are beginning to affect your firame."
The entrance of Doctor Sitgreaves, who, in
some alarmn, noticed the increase of feverish symptoms in his patient, enforced this mandate; and
the trooper withdrew, to pay a visit of condolence
to Roanoke, who had been an equal sufferer with
himself in their last night's somerset. To his great
joy, his man pronounced the steed to be equally
convalescent with the master; and Lawton found
that by dint of rubbing the animal's limbs several
hours without ceasing, he was enabled to place his
feet in what he called systematic motion. Orders
were accordingly given to be in readiness to prepare to rejoin the troop at the Four Cornelrs, so soon
as the Captain had shared in the bounty of the approaching banquet.
In the mean time, HIenry Wharton had entered
the apartment of Wellmere, and, by his sympathetic feelings on account of a defeat in which
they had been alike unfortunate, succeeded greatly in restoring the Colonel to his own good graces;
who was consequently enabled to rise, and to prepare to meet a rival of whom he had spoken so
lightly, and, as the result had proved, with so little reason. Wharton knew their misfortune, as it
was termed by both, was owing to the other's
rzashness; btut he forbore to speak of any thing




THE SPY.               207
except the unfortunate accident which had deprived the English of their leader, and their consequent defeat.' In short, Wharton," said the Colonel, putting
one leg out of bed; " it may be called a combination of untoward events; your own ungovernable
horse prevented my orders firom being carried to
the Major, in season to flank the rebels."
Cc Very true,"' replied the Captain, kicking a
slipper towards the bed; "had we succeeded in
getting a few good fires upon them in flank, we
should have sent these brave Virginians to the
right about."
" Ay! and that in double quick time," cried the
Colonel, with very considerable animation, making
the other leg follow its companion; " then it was
necessary to rout the guides, you know, and the
movement gave them the best possible opportunity
to charge."
Yes," said the other, sending the second slipper after the first, " and this Major Dunivoodie never overlooks an advantage."
" I think if we had the thing to do over again,"
continued the Colonel, raising himself on his feet,
"c we might alter the case very materially, though
the chief thing the rebels have now to boast of is
my capture; they were repulsed, you saw, in their
attempt to drive us from the wood."
" At least they would have been, had they made
an attack," said the Captain, throwing his clothes
within reach of the Colonel.
" Ah! why that, you know, is the same thing,"
returned Wellmere, dressing himself; " to assume
such an attitude as to intimidate your enemy, is
the chief art of war."' Doubtless," said the Captain, entering himself a little into the proud feelings of a soldier;




20S'riaTH SPY.
" then you may remember in one charge they
were completely routed."
G True-true,,' cried the Colonel, with animation: " had I been there to have improved that
advantage, we might have turned the table completely on the Yankees;" while saying wbhich, he
completed his toilette, and was prepared to mlake
his appearance fully restored to his own good
opinion, and fairly persuaded that his capture was
owing to casualties, absolutely without the control
of man.
The knowledge that Colonel Wellmnere was to
be a partaker in the feast, in no degree diminished
the preparations -which were already makihg for
that important event; and Sarah, after receiving
the compliments of the gentleman, and making,
with blushing cheeks, many kind inquiries after
the state of his wounds, proceeded in person to
lend her aid in embellishing that wllich would now
be of additional interest.




CHAPTER XIII.
I will stand to and feed,
Although my last: no matter, since I feel
The best is past: —Brother my Lord the Duke,
Stand to, and do as we —J"
Tempest.
THE savour of preparation which had been noticed by Captain Lawton began to increase vastly within the walls of the cottage-Certain sweet
smelling odours, that rose from the subterranean
territories of Caesar, gave to the trooper the mostpleasing assuranae, that his olfactory nerves, which
on such occasions were as acute as his eyes on
others, had faithfully performed. their duty; and
for the benefit of enjoying the passing sweets as
they arose, the dragoon so placed himself at a window  of the building, that not a vapour charged
with the spices of the east, could exhale on its
passage to the clouds, without first giving its incense, by way of tribute to his nose.  Lawton,
however, by no means indulged himself in this
comfortable arrangement, without first making
such preparations to do meet honour to the feasts
as his scanty wardrobe would allow. The uniform of his corps was always a passport to the
proudest tables, and this, though somewhat tarnished by faithful service  and  unceremonious
usage, was properly brushed and decked out for
the occasion.  His head, which nature had marked with the blackness of a crow, now shone with
the spotless whiteness of the dove; and his hand,
18*




210'THIE SPY.
that so well became, by its bony and gigantic firalme,
the sabre it wielded so indiscreetly, peered from
beneath a ruffle with something like maiden delicacy.  The improvenments of the dragoon went no
farther, excepting that his boots shone'with more
than holiday splendour, and his spurs glittered in
the rays of the sun, like worthy offspring of the
hills of Potosi.
Caesar moved through the apartments with a
face charged with an importance vastly exceeding
that which had accompanied him in his melancholy task of the morning. The black had early returned from  the message on which he had been
despatched by the pedler, and, obedient to the
commands of his mistress, promptly appeared to
give his services, where his allegiance was due
so serious, indeed, was his duty now becoming,
that it was only by odd moments he was enabled
to impart to his sable brother, who had been sent
in attendance on Miss Singleton to the Locusts,
any portion of the wonderful incidents of the momentous night he had so lately passed through.
By ingeniously using, however, such moments as
might be fairly thought his own, C sar communicated so many of the heads of his tale, as served
to open the eyes of his visiter to a width that justly
entitled them to the significant appellative of saucer. Indeed, to such a state of amazement had
the gusto for the marvellous conducted the sable
worthies, that MI-iss Peyton found it necessary to
interpose her authority, in order to postpone the
residue of the history to a more befitting opportunity.
" Ah! Miss Jinnett," said Casar, shaking his
head, and looking all that he expressed, C"twas
awful to see Johnny Birch walk on a feet when lie
lie dead."




THE SPY.                 1 1
This concluded the conversation for the present,
though the black promised himself, and a' tually
put in execution his intention of having many a
good gossip on the solemn subject hereafter.
The ghost thus happily laid, the department of
Miss Peyton throve with additional success, and
by the time the afternoon's sun had travelled a
two hours' journey firom the meridian, the formal
procession firom the kitchen to the parlour commenced under the auspices of Cwesar, who led the
van, supporting a turkey on the palms of his witlhered hands with the dexterity of a balance master.
Next followed the servant of Captain Lawton,
bearing, as he marched stiffly, and walking wide,
as if allowing room for his steed, a ham of true
Virginian flavour; being a present firom the spinster's wealthy brother in Accomac.  The supporter
of this savoury dish kept his eye on his trust with
military precision, and by the time he reached his
destination, it might be difficult to say which contained the most juice, his mouth or the Accoinac
bacon.
Third in the line was to be seen the valet of
Colonel Wellmere, who carried in either hand
chickens firicasseed, and oyster patties.
After him  marched the attendant of Dr. Sitgreaves,  who had instinctively seized an enormous tureen, as most resembling matters he understood, and followed on in place, until the steams of
the soup so, completely bedimmred the spectacles
he wore as a badge of office, that on arriving at the
scene of action, he was compelled to deposit his
freight on the floor, until, by removi-ng the glasses,
he could see his way through the piles of reserved
china and plate-warmers, in safety.
Next followed another trooper, whose duty it
wvas to attend on Captain S'ngleton; and, as if a,



212                THE SPY.
portioning his appetite to the feeble state of his
master, he had contented himself with conveying
a pail of ducks, roasted, until their tempting fragrance began to make him repent his demolishing
so lately a breakfast that had been provided for his
master's sister, with another prepared for himself.
The white boy who belonged to the house
brought up the rear, groaning under the load of
sundry dishes of vegetables, that the cook, by way
of climax, had unwittingly heaped on him.
But this was far friom  all of the preparations for
that day's feast. Caesar no sooner deposited hi,
bird, which but the week before had been flying
amongst the highlands of Dutchess, little dreaming of so soon heading such a goodly assemblage,
than he turned mechanically on his heel, and took
up his line of march again for the kitchen. In this
evolution the black was imitated by his companions
in succession, and another procession to the parlour followed in the same order. By this admirable arrangement, whole flocks of pigeons, certain
levies of quails, shoals of flat-fish, bass, and sundry wood-cock, found their way into the presence
of the company above' stairs.
A third attack brought suitable quantities of potatoes, onions, beets, cold-slaw, rice, and all the
other minutia of a goodly dinner; and, for a time,
this completed the preparations.
The board now fairly groaned with American
profusion, and Casar, glancing his eye over the
show with a most approving conscience, after moving every dish that had not been placed on the table with his own hands, proceeded to acquaint the
mistress of the revels, that his task was happily
accomplished.
Some half hour before the martial array we
have just recorded took place, all the ladies had




THE SPY.                213
disappeared, much in the same unaccountable manner that swallows flee the approach of winter.
Bu t the spring-time of their return had arrived,
and the whole party were collected in an apartment that, in consequence of its containing no sidetable, and being furnished with a chintz coverlet
settee, was termed a withdrawing room.
The kind-hearted spinster had deemed the occasion worthy, not only of extraordinary preparations in the culinary department, but had seen proper to deckl her own person'in garments suited to
the guests whom it was now her happiness to entertain.
On her head Miss Peyton wore a cap of exqui.
site lawn, which was ornamented in front with a
broad border of lace, that spread firom the face in
such a manner as to admit of a display of artificial
flowers, clustered in a tasteful group on the summit of her fine forehead.
The colour of her hair was lost in the profusion
of powder with which it was covered; but a slight
curling of the extremities in some degree relieved
the formality of its starched arrangement, and gave
a look of feminine softness to the features,
Her dress was a rich, heavy silk, of violet colour,
cut low around the bust, with a stomacher of the
same material, that fitted close to the figure, and
exhibited the form, from the shoulders to the waist,
in its true proportions: below, the dress was full,
and sufficiently showed, that parsimony in attire
was not a foible of the day.  A small hoop displayed the beauty of the fabric to advantage, and
aided in giving majesty to the figure.
The tall stature of the spinster was heightened
by shoes of the same material with the dress.
whose heels added more than an inch to the liberality of nature




214                THE SPY.
The sleeves were short, and close to the limbl
until they fell off at the elbows in large ruffles, that
hung in rich profusion from  the arm when extended; and duplicates and triplicates of lawn,
trimmed with Dresden lace, lent their aid in giving delicacy to a hand and arm that yet retained
their whiteness and symmetry. A treble row of
large pearls closely encircled her throat, and a
handkerchief of lace partially concealed that part
of the person that the silk had left exposed, but
which the experience of forty years had warned
Miss Peyton should now be veiled.
Thus attired, and standing erect with the lofty
grace that distinguished the manners of that day,
the spinster would have looked into atoms a bevy
of modern belles.
The taste of Sarah had kept even pace with the
decorations of her aunt; and a dress, differing in
no respect from the one just described, but in material and tints, exhibited her imp6sing form to equal
advantage. The satin of her robe was of a pale
blush colour. Twenty years did not, however, require the skreen that was prudent in forty, and nothing but an envious border of exquisite lace hid,
in some measure, what the satin left exposed to the
view. The upper part of the bust, and fine fall
of the shoulders, were blazing in all their native
beauty, and, like the aunt, the throat was ornamented by a treble row of pearls, to correspond
with which, were rings of the same jewel in the
ears.  The head was without a cap, and the hair
drawn up from  the countenance so as to give to
the eye all the loveliness of a forehead as polished
as marble and as white as snow. A few straggling
curls fell gracefully in the neck, and a bouquet of
artificial flowers was also placed, like a coronet,
iver her commnanding brow.




THE SPY.               215
Miss Singleton had yielded her brother to the
advice of Dr. Sitgreaves, who had succeeded in
getting his patient in a deep sleep, after quieting
certain feverish symptoms that followed the agitation of the interview related. The sister was
persuaded by the observant mistress of the mansion, to make one of the party, and sat by the side
of Sarah; differing but little in appearance firom
that lady, except in refusing the use of powder on
her raven locks, and that her unusually high forehead and large and brilliant eyes gave'an expression of thoughtfulness to her features0 that was possibly heightened by the paleness of her cheek.
Last and least, but not the most unlovely, in this
display of female charins, was the youngest daugh —
ter of Mr. Wharton.  Frances, we have already
mentioned, left the city before she had attained to
the age of fashionable womanhood. A few adventurous spirits were already beginning to make
inroads in the barriers which custom had so long
drawn around the comforts of the fair sex; and
the maid had so far ventured in imitation, as to
trust her beauty to the height which nature had
given her. This was but little, but that little was
a master-piece. Frances several times had determined, in the course of the morning, to bestow
more than usual pains in the decoration of her person. Each time in succession, as she formed this
resolution, she spent a few minutes in looking earnestly towards the north, and then she as invariably changed it.
At the appointed hour, the maid appeared in
the drawing room, clothed in a vestment of pale blue
silk, of a cut and fashion much like that worn by her
sister. Her hair was left to the wild curls of nature,
its exuberance being confined to the crown of het
head by a long low comb, marie of light tortdise




216              THE SPY.
shell; a colour barely distinguishable in the golden
hue of her tresses. Her dress was without a plait
or a wrinkle, and fitted the form with an exactitude that might lead one to imagine, that the arch
girl more than suspected the beauties it displayed.
A tucker of rich Dresden lace softened the contour of the figure. Her head was without ornament; but around her throat was. a necklace of
gold clasped in front with a rich cornelian.
Dr. Sitgreaves was a mineralogist, among his
other qualities, and during the day he ventured a
remark on the beauty of the stone; and for a long
time the simple operator was at a loss to conjecture what there was in the observation to call the
blood so tumultuously to the face of the maiden.
His surprise might haply have continued to the
hour of his death, had not Lawton kindly intimated that it was indignation at his overlooking
the object on which the bauble reposed. The
gloves of kid which concealed the hands and part
of the arm, leaving enough of the latter in sight,
however, to proclaim its fair proportions, indicated
that there was no one present to tempt the flattering, and perhaps unconscious display of womanly
power.
Once, and once only, as they moved towards
the repast prepared with so much judgment ^and
skill by Caesar, did Lawton see a foot thrust itself
from beneath the folds of her robe, and exhibit its
little beauties encased in a slipper of blue silk,
clasped close to the shape by a buckle of brilliants.
The trooper caught himself sighing as he thought,
though it was good for nothing in the stirrup, how
enchantingly it would grace a minuet.
As the black appeared on the threshold of the
room, making a low reverence, which has been interpreted for some centuries into " dinner waits:'




THE SPY.               217
Mr. Wharton, clad in a dress of drab, and loaded
with enormous buttons, advanced formally to Miss
Singleton, and bending his powdered head to near
the level of the hand he extended, received hers
in return.
Dr. Sitgreaves offered the same homage to Miss
Peyton, and met with equal favour; the lady first
pausing, with stately grace, to draw on her gloves.
Colonel Wellmnere was honoured with a smile
from Sarah, while performing a similar duty; and
Frances gave the ends of her taper fingers to Captain Lawton, with a manner that said so much to
the corps, and so little to the man.
Much time, and some trouble, was expended
before the whole party were, to the great joy of
Cmesar, comfortably arranged around the table,
with proper attention to all points of etiquette and
precedence. The black well knew the viands
were getting cold, and felt his honour concerned
in the event.
For the first ten minutes, all but the Captain of
the dragoons found themselves in a situation much
to their liking; but he felt himself a little soured
at the multiplicity of the questions and offers of
the host which were meant to be conducive to his
enjoyments, but which in truth had an exactly
ccntrary effect.  The Captain could not eat and
give answers in a breath, and the demands for the
latter somewhat interfered;Aith the execution of
the former.
Next came the drinking with the ladies; but as
the wine was excellent, and the glasses of very
ample size, the trooper bore this interruption with
consummate good nature. Nay, so fearful was he
of giving offence, and omitting any of the nicer
points of punctilio, that having commenced this
courtesy with the lady who sat next him, he per19




218                rHaE SPY'.
severed until not one of his fair companions could
with justice, reproach him with partiality in thhi
particular.
His long abstemiousness firom any thing like
generous wirne might plead the excuse of Captain
Lawton, especially when exposed to so strong a
temptation as was now before him.  Mr. Wharton had been one of a set of politicians in NewYork, whose principal exploits, before the war,
had been to assemble, and pass sage opinions on
the signs of the times, under the inspiration of celtain liquor made firom  a grape that grew  on the
south side of the Island of Madeira, and which
found its way into the colonies of North Americe:
through the medium of the West Indies, sojourning awhile in the Western Archipelago, by way
of trying the virtues of the climate.  A large supply of this cordial had been drawn from his storehouse in the city, and some of it now sparkled in
a bottle before the Captain, blushing luxuriantly
in the rays of the sun, which were passing ob
liquely through it.
If the meat and vegetables had made their en
trance with perfect order and propriety, their,xeunt was effected with far less.  The point was
(o clear the board something after the fabled tale
of the harpies, and by dint of scrabbling, tossing,
breaking, and spilling, the overflowing remnants
of the repast vanished fiom the room.  And now
another series of processions commenced, by virtue of which a goodly display of pastry, with ito
usual accompaniments, garnished the table.
Mr. Wharton poured out a glass of wine for the
lady who sat on his right hand, and pushing the
oottle to a guest, said, with a low bow —
" We are to be honoured waith a toast fiolmn Mliss
Singleton."




THE SPY.               219
Although there was nothing more in this movement than occurred every day on such occasions, yet the lady trembled, coloured, and grew
pale again, seemingly endeavouring to rally her
thoughts, until by her agitation, she had excited
the interest of the whole party; when, by arn
effort, and in a manner as if she had strived in vain
to think of another, Isabella said faintly"' Major Dunwoodie."
The health was drunk cheerfully by all but
Colonel Wellrnere, who wet his lips, and drew
figures on the table with some of the liquor he had
spilt; and Frances thought deeply on the manner
of doing, what, in itself} would have excited no
suspicions.
At.length Colonel Wellmele broke silence by
saying aloud to Captain Lawton"I suppose, sir, this Mr. Dunwoodie will receive promotion in the rebel army, for the advantage my misfortune gave him over my command."
The trooper. had supplied the wants of nature to
his perfect satisfaction; and, perhaps, with the exception of Washington and his immediate commander, there was no mortal whose displeasure
he regarded a tittle: he was fiee to converse ot
to fight; to him it mattered nought. First helping himself, therefore, to a little of his favou~ite
bottle, he replied with admirable coolness"G Colonel Welmnere, your pardon; Major Dunwoodie owes his allegiance to the confederated
states of North America, and where he owes it he
pays it, and is no rebel. Promoted I hope he may
be, both because he deserves it, and I am next in
rank in the corps; and I know not what you call
a misfortune, unless you deem  meeting the Virginia horse as such."
"' We will not differ abotut terms, sir'," saidl the




220                THE SPY.
Colonel, haughtily; " I spoke as duty to my sovereign prompted; but do you not call the loss of a
commander a misfortune to a party?"
" It certainly may be so," said the trooper, with
great emphasis.
"s Miss Peyton, will you favouar us with a toast?"
cried the master of the house, anxious to stop a
dialogue in which he might be called on for an
opinion.
The spinster bowed her head with infinite dignity, as she named " General Montrose;" and her
nephew smiled as he noticed the long absent bloom
stealing lightly over her fine features.
" There is no term  more doubtful than that
word misfortune," said the surgeon, regardless of
the nice manceuvres of the host: " some deem one
thing a misfortune, others its opposite: misfortune
begets misfortune: life is a misfortune, for it may
be the means of enduring misfortune; and death
is a misfortune, as it abridges the enjoyments of
life."
": It is a misfortune that our mess has no such
wine as this," interrupted the trooper, and laying
in a stock to supply the deficiency.
W" We will pledge you a sentiment in it, sir, as
it seems to suit your taste," said Mr. Wharton, still
uncertain what would be the termination of all
these misfortunes.
Filling to the brim, Lawton said, looking hlard
at the English Colonel —" A clear field and no faVOUIr."
1" I drink your toast, Captain Lawton," said the
surgeon, gravely; " inasmuch as courtesy requires
no less at myhands; but I wish never to see
your troop nearer to an enemy than long pistol
shot."
~" Let me tell you, Mr. Archibald Sitgreaves,"




rilE sr'.              221
said the dragoon, hastily, " that's a damned unneighbourly wish."
The ladies bridled, and Miss Peyton made a motion to withdraw, which was instantly obeyed by
her fair bevy of juniors.
The suddenness of the movement somewhat appalled the trooper, and he stammered out an apo
logy to Frances, who stood next him, which the
laughing maid received very good-naturedly, out
of regard to the coat he wore, although she knew
it would afford matter of triumph to her sister for
a month to comle.
"'Tis unneighbourly to wish a man at such a
distance from his friends,"' said the Captain, goodhumouredly, in a manner that spoke his willingness
to atone; it was, however, too late, and the ladies
retired with much dignity, amidst the bows and
compliments of all but the chop-fallen dragoon.
The discomfiture produced an utter stagnation in
the thoughts of the trooper; and Mr. Wharton,
making a profusion of apologies to his guests, arose
and left the room, followed by his son, and together
both quitted the. house. The retreat of the ladies
was the signal for the appearance of the surgeon's
segar, which, being comfortably established in a
corner of his mouth in a certain knowing way,
caused not the slightest interruption to the following discourse" If any thing can sweeten captivity and wounds,
it must be the happiness of suffering in the society
of the ladies who have left us,"' said the Colone'
gallantly, feeling something of the kind due to the
hospitality he experienced, and, perhaps, also,
moved by a softer sentiment.
The doctor cast a glance of silent observation
on the black scarf around the neck of the Englishman, and knocking the ashes from his segir with
19 




2922              THIE SPY.
his little fingcer in the manner of an adept, re
plied" Sympathy and kindness have, doubtless, their
genial influence on the human system. The connexion is intimate between the moral and physical feelings; but still, to accomplish a cure, and
restore nature to the healthy tone it has lost from
disease or accident, requires more than can flow
from unguided sympathies. In such cases, the
lights"-the surgeon accidentally caught the eye
of the trooper, which was fast regaining its complacency. Taking two or three hasty puffs inhuge
disdain, he essayed to finish the sentence-" Yes,
sir, in such cases, the knowledge that flows firom
the-the lights""~ You were saying, sir —" said Colonel Welllere, sipping his wine-; Yes, sir," said the operator, turning his back
abruptly on.Lawton; "' I was saying that a bread
poultice would not set a broken arim."'
"~ More is the pity," cried the trooper, venturing again to trust the sound of his own voice.;" Now, Colonel Wellhnere, to you, as a man of
education," said the surgeon, with great earnestness, " I can with safety appeal."' The Colonel
bowed complacently.' You must have noticed
the dreadful havoc made in your ranks by the
men who were led by this gentleman;" the Colonel looked grave again; " how, when blows lighted on their frames, life was invariably extinguished, beyond all hope of scientific reparation; how
certain yawning wounds were indicted, that must
prove fatal to the art of the most experienced piactitioner; now, sir, to you I triumphantly'appeal,
to know whether your detachment would not have
been as effectually defeated, if the men had all lost




THE SPY.                 223
a right arm, for instance, as if they had all lost their'heads."
" The triumph of your appeal is somewhat
nasty, sir,"' said Wellmere, nettled at the unfortunate conjunction of terms in the doctor's question.
" Is the cause of liberty advanced a step by
such injudicious harshness in the field?" continued the surgeon, disregarding the other's equivocation, and bent on the favourite principle of his
life.
" I am yet to learn that the cause of liberty is
in any manner advanced by the services of any
gentleman in the rebel army," said the Colonel,
promptly.
N" Not liberty!" said the appalled operator, in
astonishment; c" Good God, for what then are we
contending?"
" Slavery, sir, yes, even slavery," cried the
Englishman, with confidence in his infallibility;
iC you ar'e putting the tyrrany of a mob on the
throne of a kind and lenient prince; where is the
consistency of your boasted liberty?"' Consistency," repeated the surgeon, looking
about him a little wildly, at hearing such sweeping charges against a cause he had so long thought
to be holy.
" Ay, sir, your consistency. Your congress of
sages have published a manifesto, wherein they set
forth the equality of political rights."
" Tis true, and it is done most ably."'* I say nothing of its ability; but if true, why
not set your slaves at liberty?" cried Welllnere,
in a tone that plainly showed he had transferred
the triumph to his own standard.
Every American feels humbled at the necessity
of vindicating his country friom the inconsistency




224               THE SPY.
and injustice of this practice; his emotions are much
like those of an honourable man who is compelled to exonerate himself from a disgraceful charge,
although he may know the accusation to be false.
At the bottom, Sitgreaves had much good sense,
and thus called on, he took up the cudgels of argument in downright earnest.
"' We deem. it a liberty to have a voice in the
councils by which we are governed. We think it
a hardship to be ruled ~by a people who live at a
distance of three thousand miles from us, and who
cannot, and who do not, feel a. single political interest in common with ourselves. I say nothing
of oppression; the child was of age, and was entitled to the privileges of majority. In such cases,
there is but one tribunal to which to appeal f6r a
nation's rights-it is power, and we now make the
appeal."
" Such doctrines may suit your present purposes," said Wellmere, with a sneer of contempt;:" but I apprehend it is opposed to all the opinions
and practices of civilized nations."
G" It is in conformity with the practices of all
nations," said the surgeon, returning the nod, and
drinking to Lawton, who enjoyed the good sense
of his comrade as much as he disliked what he
called' medical talk.'  "' Who would be ruled
when he can rule; the only rational ground to
take is, that every community has a right to govern
itself, so that in no manner it violates the laws of
God.'"
" And is holding your fellow creatures in bondage, in conformity to those laws?" asked the Colonel, impressively.
The surgeon took another glass, and hemming
once,returned to the combat.
"Sir," said he, " slavery is of very ancient ac i




THE SPY.                225
gin, and seems to have been confined to no particular religion or form of government; every nation of civilized Europe does, or has held their fellow creatures in this kind of duresse."
" You will except Great Britain, sir," cried the
Colonel, proudly.
" No, sir," continued the surgeon, confidently,
feeling that he was now carrying the war out of his
own country;   I cannot except Great Britain.
It was her children, her ships, and her laws, that
first introduced the practice into these states; and
on her institutions the judgment must fall.  It is
true, we continue the practice; but we must come
gradually to the remedy, or create an evil greater
than that which we endure at present: doubtless.
as we advance, the manmnission of our slaves will
accompany us, until happily these fair regions will
exist, without a single image of the Creator that
is held in a state which disqualifies him to judge of
that Creator's goodness."
It will be remembered that Doctor Sitgreaves
spoke forty years ago, and Welimere was unable
to contradict his prophetic assertion.
Finding the subject exceeding his comprehlen
sion, the Englishman retired to the apartment where
the ladies had assembled, and, seated by the side
of Sarah and her aunt, found a more pleasing employment in relating the events of fashionable life
in thae metropolis, and recalling the thousand little
anecdotes of their former associates.  Miss Peyton was a pleased listener, as she dispensed the
nounties of the tea table with precise grace, and
Sarah frequently bowed her blushing countenance
to thle needle-work in her lap, as her face glowed
at the flattering remarks of her companion.
The dialogue we have related established a
perfect truce again betwcen the surgeon  and his




226               THE SPY,
comrade; and the former having paid a visit to
Singleton. they took their leave of the ladies, and
mounted; the former to visit the wounded -at the
encampment, and the latter to rejoin his troop.
But their movement was arrested at the gate by
an appearance, which we will relate in the succeeding chapter.




CHAP'TER  XIl.
I see no more those white locks thinly spread,
Round the bald polish of that honoured head:
No more that meek, that suppliant look in prayer
Nor that pure faith that gave it force, are there:
But he is blest, and I lament no more,
A wise good man, contented to be poor.
Crabbe.
WE  have already  said, that the  customs of
America leave the remains of the dead but a short
time in the sight of the mourners; and the necessity of providing for his own safety, compelled the
pedler to abridge even this brief space. In the confusion and agitation produced by the events we
have recorded, the death of the elder Birch had
occurred unnoticed; but a sufficient number of the
immediate neighbours were hastily collected, and
the ordinary rites of sepulture were paid to the deceased; it was the approach of this humble procession that arrested the movements of the trooper
and his comrade. Four of the men supported the
body on a rude bier; and four others walked in
advance, ready to relieve their friends occasionally from their burthen.  The pedler walked next
the coffin, and by his side moved Katy Haynes,
with a most determined aspect of wo, and next to
the mourners came Mr. Wharton and the English
Captain. Two or three old men and women, with
a few straggling boys, brought up the ream.  Cap



228                THE SPY.
tain Lawton sat in his saddle, in rigid silence, until
the bearers came opposite to his position, and then,
for the first time, Harvey raised his eyes fiom the
ground, and saw the enemy that he dreaded so
near him. The first impulse of the pedler was
certainly flight; but recovering his recollection, he
fixed his eye on the coffin of his parent, and passed
the dragoon with a firm step, but swelling heart.
The trooper slowly lifted his cap from his head,
and continued uncovered until Mr. Wharton and
his son had moved by him, when, accompanied by
the surgeon, he rode leisurely in the rear, maintaining an inflexible silence. Caesar emerged firom
the cellar kitchen of the cottage, and with a face
of settled solemnity, added himself to the numbei
of the followers of the funeral, though with a humble mien, and at a mnost respectful distance from
the horseman; the feeling was owing to the colour
of his skin; and the circumstance, to certain emotions of dread that prevailed in the bosom of the
rlack, whenever Captain Lawton prevented his
organs of vision from resting on more agreeable
objects.  Caesar had placed around his arm, a
little above the elbow, a napkin of unsullied whiteness, it being the only time since his departure
from the city, that the black had an opportunity
of exhibiting himself in the garniture of servile
mourning. He was a great lover of propriety, and
had been a little stimulated to this display by a desire to show to his sable friend from Georgia; all
the decencies of a New-York funeral; and ihe
ebullition of his zeal went off very well, producing
no other result, than a mild lecture from Miss Peyton at his return, on the fitness of things.  The
attendance of the black was thought well enoughl
in itself; but the napkin was deemed a superfluous
exhibition of ceremony, at the funeral of a man who




T'1:E S-'Y              229
hLad performed all the menial offices in his own person.  The grave-yard was an enclosure on the
grounds of Mr. Wharton, which had been fenced
with stone, and set apart for the purpose, by that
gentleman, some years before.  It was not, however, intended as a burial place for any of his own
family.  Until the fire, which raged as the British
troops took possession of New-York, had laid
Trinity in ashes, a goodly gilded tablet graced its
walls, that spoke the virtues of his deceased parents, and beneath a flag of marble, in one of the
aisles of the church, their bones were left to moulder with becoming dignity.  Captain Lawton made
a movement as if he was disposed to follow the
procession when it left the highway, to enter the
field which contained the graves of the humble
dead, but he was recalled to his recollection by a
hint from his companion, that he was taking the
wrong road.
" Of all the various methods which have been
adopted by man for the disposal of his earthly renmains, which do you prefer, Captain Lawton?"
said the surgeon, with great deliberation, as they
separated from  the little procession: " now) ill
some countries the body is exposed to be devoured by wild beasts; in others it is suspended in the
air to exhale its substance in the manner of decomposition; in some countries it is consumed on
the funeral pile, and then, again, it is inhumed in
the bowels of the earth; every people have their
own particular fashicn, and to which do you give
the preference?'
"a All are very agreeable," said the trooper, disregarding the harangue of the other, find following
the group they had left with his eyes;'C which do
you.most admilre?"
(" The last, as practised by ourselves,'" said thie




230               THE SPY.
operator promptly, " for the other three are destructive to the opportunities for dissection; but
in the last, the coffin can lie in peaceful decency,
while the remains are made to subserve the useful
purposes of science. Ah! Captain Lawton, I en
joy comparatively but few opportunities of such t
nature, to what I expected to meet on entering the
armly."
" To what may these pleasures numerically
amount in a year?" said the Captain, dryly, and
withdrawing his gaze from the grave-yard.
"' Within a dozen, upon my honour," said the
surgeon, piteously; " my best picking is when the
corps is detached; for when we are with the main
army, there are so many boys to be satisfied, that
I seldom get a good subject. Those youngsters
are dreadfully wasteful, and as greedy as vultuI es."
" A dozen!" echoed the trooper, in surprise,
" why I furnish you more than that number with
my own hands."
" Ah! Jackl," returned the doctor, approaching
the subject with great tenderness of manner, "it
is seldom I can do any thing with your patients;
you disfigure tbhem  wofully; believe me, John,
when I tell you as a fiiend, merely as a firiend, that
your system is all wrong; for you unnecessarily
destroy life, and then you injure the body so that
it is unfit for the only use that can be made of a
dead man."
The trooper maintained a silence, which, he
thought, would be the most probable means of preserving peace between them; and the surgeon,
turning his head from taking a last look at the burial, as they rode round the foot of the hill that
shut the valley foomn their sight, continued with a
kind of suppressed sigh



THE SPY.                 231
"A body might get a natural death from that
grave-yard to-night, if there was but tine and opportunity; the patient must be the father of the
lady we saw this morning."
" The bitch-doctor; she with the sky-blue comnplexion," said the trooperl, with a shrewd smile,
that began to cause uneasiness to his companion;
"but the lady was.not the gentleman's daughter,
only his medico-petticoat attendant; and the HIarvey, whose name was made to rhyme with every
word in her song, is the-renowned pedler-spy."'" What!" cried the astonished surgeon; " he
who unhorsed you?"
" No man ever unhorsed me, D)octor Sitgreaves,"
said the dragoon, with abundant gravity; " I fell
by a mischance of Roanoke; we kissed the eatth
together."
" A warm  embrace, from thle love spots it left
on you'r cuticle," returned the surgeon, with sotle
of the other's archness; "' but'tis a thousand pities
that you cannot find where the tattling rascal lies
hid."
" He followed his father's body," said the trooper, composedly.
" What! and you let him pass!" cried the surgeon, with extraordinary an i mation, checking his
horse instantly; "let us return ilmmediately and
take him; to-morrow you have hinl hung, Jack,
and, damn him, I'll dissect him."
" Softly, softly, imy dear Archibald," sai(l the
trooper; "1 would you arrest a maln while paying
the last offices to a dead father? leave him to mne,
and I pledge myself he shall have justice."
The doctor muttered his dissatisfaction at any
postponement of his vengeance, but was compelled
to acquiesce, fiom a regard to his reputation lor
propriety, andl they continued their ri(le to the




232                THE SPY.
quarters of the corps, engaged in various discus.
sions concerning the welfare of the human body.
Birch supported the grave and collected manner, that was thought becoming in a male mourner on such occasions, and to Katy was left the part
of exhibiting the tenderness of the softer sex
There are- some people, whose feelings are of such
a nature, that they cannot weep unless it be in
proper company, and the spinster was a good deal
addicted to all congregational virtues; after casting her eyes round the small assemblage, the housekeeper found the countenances of the few females
who were present fixed on her in solemn expectation, and the effect was instantaneous; the maiden
really wept, and gained no inconsiderable sympathy and reputation for a tender heart from the
spectators. The muscles of the pedler's face were
seen to move, and as the first clod of earth fell on
the tenement of his father, sending up that dull,
hollow sound, that speaks so eloquently the mor
tality of man, his whole frame was for an instant
convulsed; he bent his body down as if in pain,
his fingers worked as his hands hung lifeless by his
side, and there was an expression in his countenance that seemed to announce a writhing of the
soul; but it was not unresisted, and it was transient: he stood erect, drew  a long breath, and
looked around him with an elevated face, that even
seemed to smile with a conscicusness of having obtained the mastery.  The grave was soon filled.; a
rough stone, placed at either extremity, marked its
position, and the turf, with a faded vegetation that
was adapted to the fortunes of the deceased, covered the little hillock with the last office of seemliness.  The task ended, the neighbouts,  who had
each officiously tendered his services in performing this duty, paused, and lifting their hats, tood




THE SPY.               2oS
looking towards the mourner, who now felt himself to be really alone in the world. Removing his
hat also, the pedler hesitated a moment to gather
energy, and spoke-' My fiiends and neighbours, I thank you for
assisting me to bury my dead out of my sight."
A solemn pause succeeded the brief and customary conclusion, and the group dispersed in silence,
some few walking with the mourners back to their
own habitation, but respectfully leaving them at its
entrance. The pedler and Katy were followed
into the building by one man, however, who was
well known to the surrounding country by the sig
nificant term of " speculator."  Katy saw him enter with a heart that palpitated with dreadful forebodings, but Harvey civilly handed him a chair,
and evidently was prepared for the visit.
The pedler went to the door, and taking a cauitious glance about the valley, quickly returned,
and commenced the following dialogue" The sun has just left the top of the eastern
hill; my time presses me; here is the deed for the
house and lot, every thing done according to law."
The stranger took the paper, and conned its
contents with a deliberation that proceeded partly
from his caution, and partly from the unlucky cicumstance of his education having been sadly neglected when a youth. The time occupied in this
tedious examination was employed by Harvey
in gathering together certain articles, which he intended to include in the stores that were to leave
the habitation with himself. Katy had already
inquired of the pedler, whether the deceased had
left a will, and saw the bible placed in the bottom
of a new pack, which she had made for his ac-,
cominl(dation, with a most stoical indifference,
but as the six silver spoons were laid.carefully
cO';




2341              TIEM SPY.
by its side, a sudden twinge of her conscience
objected to such a palpable waste of property, and
she broke silence by saying somewhat abruptly. —
" When you marry, Harvey, you may miss them
spoons."e
" I never shall marry," said the pedler, laconically.
" Well, if you don't, there's no occasion to be
short. I'm sure no one asked you. I should like
to know, though, of what use so many spoons can
be to atsingle man: for my part, I think it's a duty
for every man who is so well provided, to have a
wife and family to maintain."
At the time when Katy expressed this sentiment, the fortune of women in her class of life
consisted of a cow, a bed, the labours of their own
hands in the shape of divers pillow cases, blankets,
and sheets, with, where fortune was unusually
kind, a half dozen of silver spoons. The spinster
herself had obtained all the other hecessaries to
completing her store, by her own industry and
prudence, and, it can easily be imagined, saw the
articles, she had long counted her own, vanish in
the enormous pack with a very natural dissatisfaction, that was in no degree diminished by the declaration that had preceded the act.  Harvey,
however, disregarded her opinions and feelings,
and continued his employment of filling the pack,
which soon grew to a sire something like the ordinary burden of the pedler.
" I'm rather timersome about this conveyance,"
said the purchaser, having at length concluded his
task.
" Why so?" said Harvey, quickly.
"I'm afraid it won't stand good in law; I know
that two of the neighbours leave home to-morrow
morning, to have the place entered for confistica



THE SPY.               235
tion, and if I should go now, and give forty p)ounds,
and lose it all,'twould be a dead pull back to
me."
" They can only take my right," said the pedler; "pay me two hundred dollars, and the house
is yours~ you are a well known whig, and you,
at least, they won't trouble."' As Harvey spoke,
there was a strange mixture of bitterness with the
care he expressed concerning the sale of his property.
" Say one hundred, and it is a bargain," returned the man, with a grin that he meant for a goodnatured smile.': A bargain!'" echoed the pedler, in surprise;
" I thought the bargain already made.7'
"' Nothing is a bargain," said the purchaser,
with a gratulating chuckle, "; until papers are delivered, and the money paid in hand."
"' You have the paper," returned the pedler,
quickly.
" Ay, and will keep it, if you will excuse the
money," replied the speculator, with a sneer;
" come, say one hundred and fifty, and I won't be
hard; here-here is just the money.'"
The pedler looked from the window, and saw
with dismay that the evening was fast advancing,
and knew well that he endangered his life by remaining in the dwellino after dark; yet he could
not tolerate the idea of being defrauded in this
manner, in a bargain that had already been fairly
made; he hesitated"Well," said the purchaser, rising; "mayhap
you can find another man to trade with between
this and morning; but if you don't, your title won't
be worth much afterwards."
" Take it, Harvey," said Katy, who felt it impossible to resist a tender like the one before hei




236               THE SPY.
all in Engli ihl guineas; her voice roused the ped
ter, and a new idea seemed to strike him.
" I agree to the price,"' he said; and, turning to
the spinster, placed part of the money in her hand,
as he continued —" had I other imeans to pay you,
I would have lost all, rather than have suffered
myself to have been defrauded of part."
" You may lose all yet," muttered the strangeI,
with a sneer, as he rose and left the building.
cc Yes,"' said Katy, following him with her eves;
" he knows your failing, Harvey; he thinks with
me, now the old gentleman is gone, you will want
a careful body to take care of your concerns."'
The pedler was busied in arranging things for
his departure, and took no notice of this insinuation, while the spinster returned again to the attack. She had lived so many years in expectation
of a different result firom that which now seemed
likely to occur, that the idea of separation began
to give her more uneasiness than she had thought
herself capable of fe-ling, about a man so destitute
and friendless as the pedler.
" Have you another house to go to?" inquired
Katy, with unusual pathos in her manner.'" Providence will provide me with a home,"
said Harvey, with a perceptible tremor in his
voice.
" Yes," said the housekeeper; "~but maybe'twill not be to your liking."
" The poor must not be difficult," returned the
pedler.
" I'm sure I'm every thing but a difficult body,"
cried the spinster, very hastily; "but I love to
see things becoming, and in their places; yet I
wouldn't be hard to persuade to leave this place
tmyself:  I can't say I altogether like the ways of
the people."




THE SPY.                o231
i The valley is lovely," said the pedler, with
fervour, " and the people like all the race of man;
but to me it matters nothing; all places are now
alike, and all faces equally strange;" as he spoke
he dropt the article he was packing from his hand,
and seated himself on a chest with a look of vacant
misery.
"Not so, not so," said Katy, instinctively shoving her chair nearer to the place where the pedler
sat;'" not so, Harvey, you mraust Lknow  r me at least;
my face cannot be strange to you certainly."
Birch turned his eyes slowly on her countenance,
which exhibited more of feeling, and less of self,
than he had ever seen there before: he took her
hand kindly; and his own features lost some of
their painful expressions, as he said" Yes, good woman, you, at least, are not a
stranger to me; you may do me partial justice;
when others revile me, possibly your feelings may
lead you to say something in my defence."
" That I will; that I would!" said Katy, eagerly; a I will defend you, Harvey, to the last drop;
let me hear them that dare revile you! you say
true, Harvey, I am partial and just to you; what
if you do like the king; I have often heard say he
was at the bottom a good man; but there's no religion in the old country, for every body allows the
ministers are desperate bad."
The pedler paced the floor in evident distress of
mind; his eye had a look of wildness that Katy had
never witnessed before, and his step was measured
with a dignity that appalled the housekeeper.
" While he lived,'" cried Harvey,  unable to
smother his feelings, "' there was one who read my
heart; and oh! what a consolation to return from
my secret marches of danger, and the insults and
wrongs that I suffered, to receive his blessing and




23 8              rTHE SPY.
his praise; but he is gone," he continued, stopping
and gazing wildly towards the corner that used to
hold the figure of his parent, " and who is there to
do me justice?"'6 Why, Harvey, Harvey," Katy ventured to say,
imploringly; when the pedler added, as a smile
stole over his haggard features-' Yes, there is one who will, who must know
me before I die. Oh t it is dreadful to die, and
leave such a name behind me."
" Don't talk of dying, Harvey," said the spinster, glancing her eye around the room, and pushing
the wood in the fire to obtain a light from the blaze.
But the ebullition of feeling in the pedler was
over; it had been excited by the events of the past
day, and a vivid perception of his sufferings; it;
was not long that passion maintained an ascendency over the reason of the trader, and perceiving
that the night had already thrown an obscurity
around the objects without doors, he hastily threw
his pack over his shoulders, and taking Katy kind.
ly by the hand, made his parting speech-' It is painful to part with even you, good woman; but the hour has come, and I must go. What
is left in the house is fi-eely yours; to me it could
be of no use, and it may serve to make you more
comfortable.  Farewell-we meet hereafter."
c Yes, in the regions of darkness," cried a voice
thatcaused the pedler to sink on the chest he had
risen firom, in despair.
" What! another pack, Mr. Birch, and so well
stuffed so soon?1'
cc Have you not yet done evil enough?" cried
the pedler, regaining his firmness, and springing
on his feet with energy; " is it not enough to harass the last moments of a dying man; to inIpo.
verish ume; what more would you have'"




H TE SPY.              239' Your blood," said the skinner, with cool malignity.
c" And for money," cried Harvey, bitterly; " like
the ancient Judas, you would grow rich with the
price of blood."
"Ay! and a fair price it is my gentleman; fifty
guineas; nearly the weight of that scare-crow carcass of yours in gold.'
sH lere," said Katy, promptly, ".here are fifteen
guineas, and -these drawers, and this bed are all
mine; if you will give Harvey but one hour's start
from the door, they shall be yours."
"' One hour?" said the skinner, showing his
teeth, and looking with a longing eye at the money.' Yes, but one hour; here, take the money."' Hold," cried Harvey, "put no faith in the
miscreants."
" She may do what she pleases with her faith,"
said the skinner, with malignant pleasure; " but I
have the money in good keeping; as for you, Mr.
Birch, we will bear your insolence, for the fifty
guineas that are to pay for your gallows."
Go on,'" said the pedler, proudly; "take me
to Major Dunwoodie; he, at least, may be kind,
although he may be just.'"
" I can do better than by marching so far in such
disgraceful company," replied the other, very coolly; "this Mr. Dunwoodie has let one or two tories
go at large; but the troop of Captain Lawton is
quartered some half mile nearer, and his receipt
will get me the reward as soon as his Major's:
how relish you the idea of supping with Captain
Lawton, this evening, Mr. Birch?"
"Give mne my money, or set Harvey free," cried
the spinster in alarm.
" Your bribe was not enough, good woman, un
less there is money in this bed;" thrusting his ba




240                THE SPY.
yonet throgh the ticking, and ripping it for some
distance, he took a malicious sati-sfaction in scat
tcring its contents about the room.
" If," cried the housekeeper, losing sight of her
personal danger, in care for her newly acquired
property, Cc there is law in the land, I will he
righted."'" The law of the neutral ground is the law of
the strongest," said the skinner, with a malignant
laugh; "a but your tongue is not as long as my baggonet; you had, therefore, best not set them at
loggerheads, or you might be the loser."
A figure stood in the shadow of the door, as if
afraid to be seen in the group of skinners, but a
blaze of lighl, raised by some articles thrown in
the fire by his persecutors, showed the pedler the
face of the purchaser of his little domain: occasionally there was some whispering between this
man and the skinner nearest him, that induced
Harvey to suspect he had been the dupe of a contrivance in which that wretch had participated.
It was, however, too late to repine, and he followed the party from' the house with a firm and collected tread, as if marching to a triumph and not
to a gallows.  In passing through the yard, the
leader of the band fell over a billet of wood, and
received a momentary hurt from the fall; exasperated at the incident, the fellow sprang on his feet,
and exclaimned" The curse of heaven light on the log; the
night is too dark for us to move in; throw  that
brand of fire in yon pile of tow, to light up the
scene.",
" Hold!" roared the horror-stricken speculator,'6 you'll fire the house."
" And see the farther," said the other, hurling
the fire in the midst of the combustibles.  In an




THE SPY.               241
instant the building was in flames; " come on, let
us move towards the heights while -we have light
to pick our road."' Villain!" cried the exasperated purchaser,
"'is this your friendship, this my reward for kidnapping the pedler?"
"'T would be wise to move more from the light,
if you mean to entertain us with abuse, or we
may see too well to let a bullet miss you," cried
the leader of the gang. The.next instant he was
as good as his threat, but happily missed the terrified speculator, and equally appalled spinster, who
saw herself again X educed firm comparative wealth
to poverty, by the blow. Prudence dictated to
the pair a speedy retreat, and the next morning,
the only remains of the dwelling of the pedler was
the huge chimney we have already mentioned.
21




CHAPTER XV.
Trifles, light as air,
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs from holy writ..Jlioo   of Venice
THE weather, which had been mild and clear
since the storm, now changed with the suddenness
of the American climate. Towards evening the
cold blasts poured down from the mountains, and
flurries of snow plainly indicated tha the month of
November had arrived; a season whose temperature varies from the heats of summer to the cold
of winter. Frances had stood at the window of
hee own apartment watching the slow progress of
the funeral procession, with a melancholy that was
too deep to be excited by the spectacle. There
was something in the sad office which engaged the
attention of her father and brother that was in unison with the feelings of the maid. As' she gazed
around, she saw the trees bending to the force of the
whirlwinds, that swept through the valley w. Lh an
impetuosity that shook even the buildings of lesser
importance; and the forest, that had so lately glittered in the sun with its variegated hues, was fast
losing its loveliness, as the leaves were torn from
the branches, and were driving, irregularly, before
the eddies of the blast. A few of the southern
dragoons, who were patrolling the passes which
led to the encampment of the corps, could be dis
tinguished -at a distance on the heights, bending to
their pommels, as they faced the keen air which
had so lately traversed the great fresh-water lakes




THE SPY.               243
and drawing their watch coats abou them in tighter folds.
Frances witnessed  the disappearance of the
wooden tenement of the deceased, as it was slowly lowered from the light of day, and the sight still
added to the chilling dreariness of the view. Captain Singleton was sleeping under the careful
watchfulness of his own man, while his sister had
been persuaded to take possession of her room,
for the purpose of obtaining the repose, of which
her last night's journeying had robbed her.  The
apartment of Miss Singleton communicated with
the room occupied by the sisters, through a private door, as well as through the ordinary passage
of the house; tmis door was partly open, and
Frances moved towards it with the benevolent intention of ascertaining the situation of her guest,
when the surprised girl saw her whom she had
thought to be sleeping, not only awake, but employed in a manner that banished all probability of
present repose.  The black tresses, that during
the dinner had been drawn in close folds over the
crown of the head, were now loosened, and fell in
profusion over her shoulders and bosom, imparting
a slight degree of wildness to her expressive countenance; the chilling white of her complexion was
st-ongly contrasted with the brilliant glances of
eyes of the deepest black, that were fixed in rooted attention on a picture she held in her hand.
Frances hardly breathed, as she was enabled, by
a movement of Isabella, to see that it was the
figure of a man in the well known dress of the
southern horse; but she gasped for breath, and in
stinctively laid her hand on her heart to quell its
throbbings, as she thought she recognised the
lineaments that were so deeply seated in her own
imiagination.  Frainces felt she was improperly pry



244                THE SPY.
ing into the sacred privacy of another, but her
ernotions were too powerful to permit her to speak,
and she drew back to a chair, where she still retained a view of the stranger, from whose countenance she felt it to be impossible to withdraw her
eyes.  Isabella was too much engrossed by her
own feelings to discover the trembling figumre of the
witness to her actions, and she pressed the inanimate image to her lips, with an enthusiasm  that
denoted the most intense passion.  The expression of the countenance of the fair stranger was so
changeable, and the transitions were so rapid, that
Frances had scarcely time to distinguish the cha
racter of the emotion, before it was succeeded by
another equally powerful, and equally attractive.
Admiration and sorrow were, however, the preponderating passions; the latter was indicated by
large drops that fell friom her eyes on the picture.
and which followed each other over her cheek at
such intervals, as seemed to pronounce the grief
too heavy to admit of the ordinary bursts of soIrow. Every movement of Isabella was marked by
an enthusiasm that was peculiar to her nature, and
every passion in its turn triumphed in her breast,
with an undisputed sway.  The fury of the wind,
as it whistled round the angles of the building
was in consonance with those feelilgs, and she
rose and moved to a window of her apartment.
Her figure was now hid from the view of Frances,
who was about to rise and approach her guest,
when tones of a thrilling melody chained her in
breathless silence to the spot;. The notes werei'
wild: and the voice not powerful, but the execution exceeded any thing that Frances had ever
heard, and she stood, endeavouring to stifle the
sounds of her own gentle breathing, until the fol
lowing song was conicluded:




TrHiE SPY.                          -245
Cold b ow the blasts o'er the tops of the mountain,
And bare is the oak on the hill,
Slowly the vapours exhale from the fountain,
And bright gleams the ice-bordered rill;
All nature is seeking its annual rest,
But the slumbers of peace have deserted my breast.
Long has the storm pour'd its weight on my nation,
And long have her brave stood the shock;
Long has our chieftain ennobled his station,
A bulwark on liberty's rockUnlicens'd ambition relaxes its toil,
Yet blighted affection represses my smile.
Abroad the wild fury of winter is low'ring,
And leafless and drear is the tree,
But the vertical sui of the south appears pouring
Its fierce killing heats upon meWithout, all the season's chill symptoms beginBut the fire of passion is raging within.
Frances abandoned her whole soul to the suppressed melody of the music, though the language
of the song expressed a meaning, which, united
with certain events of that and the preceding day,
left a sensation of uneasiness in the bosom of the
warm-hearted girl, to which she had hitherto been
a stranger.  Isabella moved from  the window  as
her last tones melted on the ear of her admiring
listener, and, for the first  time, her  eye  rested  on
the face of the pallid listener. A glow of fire lighted the countenance of both at the same instant
and the blue eye of Frances met the brilliant black
one of her guest for a single moment, and both
fell in abashed  confusion  on  the carpet;  they  advanced, however, until they met, and had taken
each other's hand, before either ventured again to
look  her companion in the face.
" This sudden change in the weather, and perhaps the  situation  of my brother, have  united  to
make me melancholy, Miss Wharton," said Isa21 *'




246               THE SPY.
bella, in a low tone, and in a voice that trembled
as she spoke.
"'Tis thought you have little to apprehend for
your brother," said Fiances, in the same embarrassed manner; 1" had you seen him when he was
brought in by Major Dunwoodie-"-'
Frances paused, with a feeling of conscious
shame, for which she could not account, and in
raising her eyes, she saw Isabella studying her
countenance, with an earnestness that again drove
the blood tumultuously to her temples.'You were speaking of Major Dunwoodie,'
said Isabella, faintly.
L He was with Captain Singleton."
"' Do you know Dunwoodie? have you seen him
often?" continued Isabella, in a voice that startled
her companion. Once more Frances ventured to
look her guest in the face, and again she met the
piercing eyes bent on her as if to search her inmost heart.  " Speak, Miss Whalton; is Major
Dunwoodie known to you?"
" He is my relative," said Frances, appalled at
the manner of the other.
" A relative " echoed Miss Singleton; " in
what degree?-speak, Miss Wharton, I conjure
you to speak."'" Our parents were cousins," replied Frances,
in still greater confusion at the vehemence of Isabella.
" And he is to be your husband," cried the
stranger, impetuously.
Frances felt her pride awakened by this direct
attack upon the delicacy of her feelings, and she
raised her eyes friom the floor to her interrogator
a little proudly, when the pale cheek and quivering' lip of Isabella removed her resentment in a
moment




THE SPY                247
" It is true; my conjecture is true; speak to
me, Miss Wharton; I conjure you, in mercy to
my feelings, to tell me-do you love Dunwoodie?"
There was a plaintive earnestness in the voice of
Miss Singleton, that disarmed Frances of all resentment, and the only answer she could make,
was hiding her burning face between her hands, as
she sunk back in a chair to conceal her confusion.
Isabella paced the floor in silence for several
minutes, until she had succeeded in conquering the
violence of her feelings, when she approached the
place where Frances yet sat, endeavouring to exclude the eyes of her companion friom reading the
shame expressed in her countenance, and taking
the hand of the other, she spoke with an evident
effort at composure.
" Pardon me, Miss Wharton, if my ungovernable feelings have led me into impropriety; the
powerful motive-the cruel reason"-she hesitated; Frances now raised her face, and the eyes of
the maids once more met; they fell in each other's
arms, and laid their burning cheeks together. The
embrace was long-was ardent and sincere-but
neither spoke.; and on separating, Frances retired
to her own room without farther explanation
While this extraordinary scene was acting in the
room of Miss Singleton, matters of great importance were a,itated in the drawing-room. The disposition of the fragments of such a dinner as the
one we have recorded, was a task that required no
little exertion and calculation.  Notwithstanding
several of the small game had nestled in the pocket of Captain Lawton's man, and even the assistant of Dr. Sitgreaves had calculated the uncertainty of his remaining long in such good quarters, still
there was more left, unconsumed, than the prudent
spinster knew how to dispose of to advantage.




248               THE SPY.
Caesal and his mistress had, therefore, a long and
confidential communication on this important buslness, and the consequence was, that Colonel Wellmere was left to the hospitality of Sarah Wharton
All the ordinary topics of conversation were exhausted, when the Colonel, with a little of the uneasiness that is in some degree inseparable fronm
conscious error, touched lightly on the transactions
of the preceding day.
" We little thought, Miss Wharton, when I first
saw this Mr. Dunwoodie in your house in Queenstreet, that he was to be the renowned warrior he
has proved himself," said Wellmere, endeavouring
to smile contemptuously.:" Renowned, when we consider the enemy he
overcame."- said Sarah, with consideration for her
companion's feelings.  "'Twas most unfortunate,
indeed, in every respect, that you met with the ac.
cident, or doubtless the arms of our prince would
have triumphed in their usual manner."
"' And yet the pleasure of such society as this
accident has introduced me to, would more than
repay the pain of a mortified spirit and wounded
body," added the Colonel, in a manner of peculiar
softness.;~ I hope the latter is but trifling," said Sarah,
stooping to hide her blushes under the pretext of
biting a thread from the work on her knee.; Trifling, indeed, compared to the former,"'e
turned the Colonel, in the same manner.  " Ah 
Miss Wharton, it is in such moments that we feel
the full value of friendship and sympathy."
Those who have never tried it, cannot easily
imagine, what a rapid progress a warm-hearted female can make in love, in the short space of half
an hour, particularly where there is a predisposition to the distemper.  Sarah found the conver



THE SPY.               249
sation, when it began to touch on friendship and
sympathy, too interesting to venture her voice
with a reply. She, however, turned her eyes on
the Colonel, and saw him gazing at her fine face
with an admiration that was quite as manifest, and
much more soothing, than any words could make
it.
Their tete-a-tete was uninterrupted for an hour,
and although nothing that would be called decided, by an experienced matron, was said by the
rentleman, he uttered a thousand things that deighted his companion, who retired to her rest with; lighter heart than she had felt since the airest
f' her brother by the Americans.




CHAPTER XVI.
And let me the canakin clink, clink
And let me the canllakin clink.
A sollticr's a man;
A life's but a span,
Wily tllen, let a soldier drink.
Iago.
THE position held by the corps of dragoons, we
have already said, was a favourite place of halting
with their commander.  A  cluster of some half
dozen Small and dilapidated buildings formed
what, from  the circumstance of two ioads intersecting each other at right angles, was called the
village of the Four Corners. As usual, one of the
most imposing of these edifices had been termed,
in the language of the day, "' a house of entertainment for man and beast." On a rough board suspended from the gallows looking post that had
supported the ancient sign, was, however, written
in red chalk, "' Elizabeth Flanagan, her hotel,"
an ebullition of wit fi'on some of the idle wags of
the corps.  The matron, whose name had thus
been exalted to an office of such unexpected dignity, ordinarily discharged the duties of a female
sutler, washerwoman, and, to use the language of
Katy Haynes, bitch-doctor to the troops; she was
the widow of a soldier who bad been killed in the
service, and who, like herself, was a native of a
distant island, and had early tried his fortune in
the colonies of North America.  She constantly
migratced with the troops; and it Nwas seldom  that
they became stationary for two days at a time,
but the little cart of the bustling woman was seen
dtrivinlg. into their encamlpment, loaded with such
alticles as slic conceived would make her pre



THE SPY.                251
sence most welcome. With a celerity that seemed almost supernatural, Betty took up her ground
and commenced hler occupation.  Sometimes the
cart itself was her shop; at others, the soldiers
made her a rude shelter of such materials as offered; but, on the present occasion, she had seized
on a vacant building, and by dint of stuffing the
dirty breeches and half dried linen of the troopers
in the broken windows, to exclude the cold, which
hlad now become severe, she formed what she
herself had pronounced to be " most illigant lodgings."  The men were quartered in the adjacent
barns, and the officers collected in the " Hotel
Flanagan," as they facetiously called head-quarters.  Betty was well known to every trooper in
the corps, could call each by his christian or nickname, as best suited her fancy; and, although absolutely intolerable to all whom habit had not made
familiar with her virtues, was a general favourite
with these partisan warriors.  Her faults were, a
trifling love of liquor, excessive filthiness, and a
total disregard to all the decencies of language;
her virtues, an unbounded love for her adopted
country, perfect honesty when dealing on certain
known principles with the soldiery, and great good
nature: added to these, Betty had the merit of
being the inventor of that beverage which is so
well known at the present hour, to all the patriots
who make a winter's march between the commercial and political capitals of this great state, and
which is distinguished by the name of" cock-tail."
Elizabeth Flanagan was peculiarly well qu'alified
by education and circumstances to perfect this implrovement in liquors, having been literally brought
up on its principal ingredient, and having acquired
from her Virginian customers the use of mint, fromn
its flavour in a julep, to its height of renown in the




25as'TH:e SP Yo
article in question.  Such, then, was the mistress
of the mansion, who, reckless of the cold northern
blasts, showed her blooming face from the door. of
the buiiding to welcome the arrival of her favourite, Captain Lawton, and his companion, her maoter in matters of surgery.
" Ah! by my hopes of promotion, my gentle
Elizabeth, but you are welcome," cried the trooper, as he threw himself friom his saddle; "' this villanous fresh water gas from the Canadas has been
whistling among my bones till they ache with the
cold, but the sight of your fiery countenance is as
cheering as a christmas fire."
" Now sure, Captain Jack, yee's always full of
your complimentaries," replied the sutler, taking
the bridle of her customner; "1 but hurry in for the
life of you, darling; the fences hereabouts are not
so strong as in the Highlands, and there's that withiinl will warm both sowl and body."
" So you have been laying the rails under contribution, I see; well, that may do for the body,"
said the Captain, coolly; " but I have had a pull at a
bottle of cut glass with a silver stand, and don't think
I could relish your whisky for a month to come."
" If it's silver or goold that yee'r thinking of, it's
but little I have, though I've a trifling bit of the
continental," said Betty, with a look of much meaning; "bult there's that within that's fit to be put
in vissels of di'monds."'" What can she mean, Archibald?"' asked Lawton, quickly: " the animal looks as if she meant
more than she says."
"'Tis probably a wandering of the reasoning
powers, created by the frequency of intoxicating
draughts," observed the surgeon, as he deliberately threw his left leg over the pommel of his saddle,
and slid down on the right side of his horse.




THE SPY.               253
t' Faith, my dear jewel of a doctor, but it was
hlis side I was expicting you; the whole corpse
come down on this side but yeerself," said Betty,
winking at the trooperl: "~ but I've been feeding the
wounded, ir, yeer absence, with the fat of the
land."
c Barbarous stupidity!" cried the panic-stricKen physician, " to feed men labouring under the
excitement of fever with powerful nutriment; woman, woman, you are enough to defeat the skill of
Hippocrates himself."
" Pooh!" said Betty, with infinite composure,
" what a botheration yee make about a little whisky; there was but a gallon betwixt a good two
dozen of them, and I gave it to the boys to make
them sleep asy; sure jist as slumbering drops."
Lawton and his companion now entered the
building, and the first objects which met their eyes
explained the hidden meaning of Betty's comfortable declaration.  A long table, made of boards torn
from the side of an out-building, was stretched
through the middle of the largest apartment or barroom, and on it was a very scanty display of crockerv ware. The steams of cooking arose fron an
adjoining kitchen, but the principal attraction was
in a demijohn of fair proportions, which had been
ostentatiously placed on high by Betty as the object most worthy of notice. Lawton soon learnt
that it was teeming with the real amber-coloured
juice of the grape, and had been sent from the Locusts as an offering to Major Dunwoodie, from his
fiiend Captain W/harton, of the royal army.
" And a royal gift it is," said the grinning subaltern who made the explanation.'" The Majoi
gives us an entertainment in honour of our victory, and you see the principal expense is borne, as
it should be, by the enemy.  Zounds, I am think4)




254               THE SPY.
ing that after we have primed with such stuff, we
could charge through Sir Henry's head quarters,
and carry off the knight himself."
The Captain of dragoons was in no manner displeased at the prospect of terminating so pleasantly
a day that had been so agreeably commenced;
he was soon surrounded by his comrades, who
made many eager inquiries concerning his adventures, while the surgeon proceeded, with certain
quakings of the heart, to examine into the state of
his wounded. Enormous fires were crackling in
the chimneys of the house, superseding the necessity of candies, by the bright light which was
thrown from the blazing piles.  The group within
were all young men, and tried soldiers; in number
they were rather more than a dozen, and their
manners and conversation were a strange mixture
of the bluntness of the partisan with the polish of
gentlemen. Their dresses were neat, though plain;
and a never failing topic amongst them was the performance and. aality of their horses.  Some were
endeavouring to sleep on the benches which lined
the walls, soine weie walking the apartments, and
others were seated in earnest discussion on subjects connected with the business of their lives.
Oceasionally, as the door of the kitchen opened, the
hissing sounds of the Irying pans and the inviting
savour of the food, created a stagnation in all other
employments; even the sleepers, at such moments,
would open their eyes, and raise their heads to reconnoitre the state of the preparations.  All this
time Dunwoodie sat by himself, gazing at the fire,
and lost in reflections which none of his officers presumed to disturb.  He had made earnest inquiries
of Sitgreaves on his entrance after the condition
of Singleton, during which a profound and i espectftll silence was maintained in the room; but as




THE SPY.               255
soon as he had ended and resumed his seat, the
usual ease and freedom prevailed.
The arrangement of the table was a matter of
but little concern to- Mrs. Flanagan, and Caesar
would have been sadly scandalized at witnessing
the informality with which various dishes, each
bearing a wonderful resemblance to the others,
were placed before so many gentlemen of consideration. In taking their places at the board, the
strictest attention was paid to precedency; for,
notwithstanding the freedom  of manners which
prevailed in the corps, the points of military etiquette were at all times observed, with something
approaching to religious veneration.  Most of the
guests had been fasting too long to be in any degree fastidious in their appetites; but the case was
different with CaDtain Lawton; he felt an unaccountable loathing at the exhibition of Bctty's food,
and could not refrain from making a few passing
comments on the condition of the knives, and the
clouded colourings of the plates. The good nature and personal affection of Betty for the offend.
er restrained her for some time from answering to
his inuendoes, until Lawton, with a yawn, ventured to admit a piece of the black meat before him
into his mouth, where, either from sated appetite,
or qualities inherent in the food, much time was
spent in vain efforts at mastication, when he cried
with some spleen" What kind of animal might this have been
when living, Mrs. Flanagan'?"
" Sure, Captain, and wasn't it the ould cow,"
replied the sutler, with an emotion, that proceeded partly from dissatisfaction at the complaints of
her favourite, and partly from grief at the loss of
the deceased.
" What!" roared the trooper, stopping short as




256                THE SPY.
he was rapidly abo ut to swallow his morsel,' an.
cient Jenny!"'
" The devil!" cried another, dropping his knife
and fork, 6 she who made the campaign of the
Jerseys with us?"
" The very same," replied the mistress of the
hotel, with a most piteous aspect of wo; " sure, gentlemen,'tis awful to have to eat sitch an ould fi-ind."' And has she sunk to this?" said Lawton, pointing with his knife to the remnants on the table.
" Nay, Captain," said'Betty, with spirit, " I sould
two of her quarters to some of your troop; but
divil the word did I tell the boys what an ould
firind it was they had bought, for fear it might
damage their appetites.";" Fury!" cried the trooper, with affected anger,'c I shall have my fellows as limber as supple-jacks,
on such fare; afraid of an Englishman as a Virginian negro is of his driver."
a Well," said Lieutenant Mason, dropping his
knife and fork in a kind of despair, "' my jaws have
more sympathy than many men's hearts.  They
absolutely decline making any impression on the
relics of their old acquaintance."
" Try a drop of the gift," said Betty, soothingly,
pouring a large allowance of the wine into a bowl,
and drinking it off as taster to the corps. " Faith,'tis but a wishy-washy sort of stuff after all."
The ice once.broken, however, a clear glass of
wine was handed to Dunwoodie, who, bowing to
his companions, drank'the liquor in the midst of a
most profound silence. For a few glasses there
was much formality observed, and sundry patriotic
toasts and sentiments were duly noticed by the
company.  The liquor, however, performed its
wonted office; and before the second sentinel at
their doors had been relieved, all recollection of the




THE SPY.                  257
dinner and their cares were lost in the present festivity.  Dr. Sitgreaves did not return in season
to partake of Jenny, but was in time to receive his
fair proportion of Captain Wharton's present.
" A song, a song from  Captain Lawton," cried
two or threeof the party in a breath, on observing
the failure of some of the points of good fellowship
in the trooper; "silence for the song of Captain
Lawton."
Gentlemmen," returned Lawton, his dark eyes
swimming with the bumpers he had finished, though
his' head was as impenetrable as a post, " I am not
much of a nightingale, but under the favour of your
good wishes, I consent to comply with the demand."
" Now, Jack," said Sitgreaves, nodding on his
seat,  remember the air I taught you, and-stop,
I have a copy of the words in my pocket.'
" Forbear, forbear, good doctor," said the trooper, filling his glass with great deliberation, " I never could wheel round those hard names. Gentlemen, I will give you a humble attempt of my own."
" Silence for Captain Lawton's song," roared
five or six at once, when the trooper proceeded,
in a fine full tone, to singo the following words to a
well known bacchanalian air, several of his comrn
rades helping him  through the chorus with a fervoeW that shook the crazy edifice they were in:
Now push the mug, my jolly boys
And live, while live we can,
To-mnorrow's sun may end your joys,
For brief's the hour of man
And he who bravely meets the foe
his lease of life can never know.
Old mother Flanagan
Come and fill the can again,
For you can fill, and we car swil
G ood Betty Flanagan.




258                   THE SPY.
If love of life pervades your breast,
Or love of ease your frame,
Quit honour's path for peaceful rest,
And bear a coward's name;
For soon and late, we danger know,
And fearless on the saddle go.
Old mother, &c.
When foreign foes invade the land,
And wives and sweethearts call:
In freedom's cause we'll bravely stand,
Or will as bravely fall.
In this fair home the fates have given,
We'll live as lords, or live in heaven.
Old mother, &c.
At each appeal made to herself, by the united
voices of the choir, Betty invariably advanced and
complied literally with the request contained in
the chorus, to the infinite delight of the singers,
and perhaps with no small participation in the satisfaction on her own  account.   The hostess was
provided with a beverage more suited to the high
seasoning she had accustomed her palate to, than
the tasteless present of Captain Wharton; by which
means Betty had nanaged, with tolerable facility,
to keep even pace with  the exhilaration of her
guests.  The applause received by Captain Lawton was general. with the exception of the surgeon,
who rose from  the bench during the first chorus,
and paced the floor, in a fine flow of classical indignation.  The bravos and bravissimos drowned
all other noises for a short time, but as they gradually ceased, the doctor turned to the musician,
and exclaimed, with manifest heat" Captain Lawton, I marvel that a gentleman,
and a gallant officer, can find no other subject for
his muse, in these times of trial, than in such beastly invocations to that notorious follower  of the
camp, the filthy Elizabeth  Flanagan.  Methinks




TIHE SPY.                   259
the Goddess of Liberty could furnish a more noble;lspiration, and the sufferings of your country
a mnore befitting theme."
a" Heyday!"' shouted the hostess, advancing upon him in a most threatening attitude," and who
is it that calls me filthy.? AMaster squirt; Master
pop-gun-"
" Peace," said Dunwoodie, in a voice that was
exerted but a little more than common, but which
was succeeded by the stillness of death; " woman,
leave the  room.   Dr. Sitgreaves, I call you to
your seat, to wait the order of the revels."
" Proceed, proceed," said the surgeon, drawing
himself up in an atttiude of dignified composure;' I trust, Major Dunwoodie, I am not unacquainted with the rules of decorum, nor ignorant of tile
by-laws of good fellowship." Betty made a hasty
but somewhat devious retreat to her own dominions, being unaccustomed to dispute the orders
of the commanding officer.
" Major Duntwoodie will honour us with a sentimental song," said Lawton, bowing to his leador, with the politeness of a gentleman,   and the
collected manner he so well knew how to assume.
The Major hesitated a moment, and then sung,
with fine execution, the following words:
Some love the heats of southern suns,
Where life's warm current mad'ning runs,
In.one quick circling stream;
But dearer far's the mellow light,
Which trembling shines, reflected bright
In Luna's milder beams.
Some love the tulip's gaudier dies,
Where deep'ning blue with yellow vics
And gorgeous beauty glows;
But happier he, whose bridal wreath,
By love entwin'd, is found to breathe
The sveetness of the rouse.




t60                  TIIE  P Y.
The voice of Dunwoodie never lost its authori
ty with his inferiors, and the applause which fol[owed his song, though by no means so riotous as
that which succeeded the effort of the Captain,
was much more flattering.
" If sir," said the doctor, after joining in the
plaudits of his companions, ~ you would but learn
to unite classical allusions with your delicate imagination, you would become a pretty amateur poet."
"He who criticises ought to be able to perfotrml'
said Dunwoodie, with a smile; " I call on Dr. Sitgreaves for a specimen of the style he admires."
a Dr. Sitgreaves' song; Dr. Sitgreaves' song,"
echoed all at the table with delight: " a classical
ode from Dr. Sitgrea.ves."
The surgeon made a complacent bow of acquies
cence, took the remnant of his glass, and gave a
few preliminary hems, that served hugely to delight three or four young cornets at the foot of the
table. He then commenced singing, in a cracked
voice, and to any thing but a tune, the following
dittyHast thou ever felt love's dart, dearest,
Or breathed his trembling sigh —
Thought him, afar, was ever nearest,
Before thlat sparkling eye.
Then,east thou Known what'tis to feel
The pain that Galen could not heal.
" Hurrah!"' shouted Lawton, in a burst of applause, 1" Archibald eclipses the muses themselves:
his words flow like the sylvan stream  by moorllight, and his melody is a cross breed of the nightingale and the owl."
" Captain Lawton,' cried the exasperated operator, "it is one thing to despise the lights of classical learning, and another to be despised for your
own ignorance."




THE SPY.                261
A loud summons at the doom of the building created a dead halt in the uproar, and the dragoons
instinctively caught up their arms, to be preparetl
for any intruders. The door was opened, and the
skinners entered, dragging in the pedler, bending
under the load of his pack.
" Which is Captain Lawton?" said the leadel
of the gang, gazing around him in some little as,
tonishment.
Cl He waits your pleasure," said the trooper,
dryly, and with infinite composure.'" Then here I deliver to your hands a condemned
traitor; this is Harvey Birch, the pedler spy."
Lawton started as he looked his old acquaintance ill the face, and, turning to the skinner with a
lowering look, continued"' And who are you, sir, that speak so freely of
your neighbours?" bowing to Dunwoodie, "o but
your pardon, sir; here is the commanding officer;
o him you will please address yourself."
" No,"  said the man, sullenly, 6' it is to you I delilver the pedler, and from you I clainm my reward."
" Are you Harvey Birch?" said Dunwoodie,
advancing with an air of authority, that instantly
drove the skinner to a corner of the room.'' I am," said Birch, proudly.
" And a traitor to your country," continued the
Major, with sternness; " do you know that I should
oe justified in ordering your execution this night?"
"1'Tis not the will of God to send a soul so hastily to his presence," said the pedler, with solemnity.'I You speak truth," said Dunwoodie;:" and a
few brief hours shall be added to your life; but as
your offence is most odious to a soldier, so it will
be sure to meet with the soldier's vengeance: you
die to-morrow."




96. r_. QTHE SPY.
"'Tis as God wills," returned Harvey, without
moving a muscle.
" I have spent many a good hour to entrap the
villain," said the skinner, advancing a little friom
his corner, " and I hope you will give me a certificate that will entitle us to the reward;'twas
promised to be paid in gold."
a Major Dunwsoodie," said the officer of the day,
entering the room, " the patroles report a house to
be burnt, near yesterday's battle ground."
c"'Twas the hut of the pedler," muttered the
leader of the gang; " we have not left him a shingle for shelter; I should have burnt it months ago,
but I wanted his shed for a trap to catch the sly
fox inll."
C You seem a most ingenious patriot," said Lawton, with extreme gravity; " Major Dunwoodie, I
second the request of this worthy gentleman, and
crave the office of bestowing the reward on him
and his fellows.'
cc Take it," cried the Major; " and you, miserable man, prepare for that fate which will surely
await you before the setting of to-morrow's sun."
C" Life offers but little to tempt me with," said
Harvey, slowly raising his eyes, and gazing wildly at the strange faces in the apartment.' Come, worthy children of America," said
Lawton, " follow, and receive your reward."
The gang eagerly accepted this invitation, and
followed the Captain towards the quarters assigned
to his troop. Dunwoodie paused a moment, from
reluctance to triumph over a fallen foe, and proceeded with great solemnity" You have already been tried, Harvey Birch,
and the truth has proved you to be an enemy too
dangerous to the liberties of America to be suffered to live."




TILE SPY.               263
" The truth!" echoed the pedler, starting, and
raising himself proudly, in a manner that regarded
the weight of his pack as nothing.
" Ah, the truth; you were charged with loitering near the continental army, to gain intelligence
of its movements, and by communicating them to
the ei, emy, to enable him to frustrate the intentions of Washington."
" Will Washington say so, think you?" said
Birch, with a ghastly smile.
" Doubtless he would; even the justice of
Washington condemns you."
" No, no, no," cried the pedler, in a voice, and
with a manner that startled Dunwoodie; " Washington can see beyond the hollow views of pretended patriots.  Has he not risked his -all on the
east of the die? if a gallows is ready for me, was
there not one for him also? no, no, no, no-Washington would never say,'lead him to a gallows.' 
" Have you any thing, wretched man, to urge te
the Commander-in-chief, why you should not die?"
said the Major, recovering from the surprise created by the manner of the other.
Birch trembled with the violence of the emotions that were contending in his bosom; his face
assumed the ghastly paleness of death, and his hand
drew a box of tin from the folds of his shirt; he
opened it, and its contents was a small piece of
paper; his eye was for an instant fixed on it-he
had already held it towards Dunwoodie, when suddenly withdrawing his hand, he exclaimed-'i No-it dies with me; I kl.:now the conditions
of my service, and will not purchase life with their
forfeiture-it dies with me."
"o Deliver that paMper, and you may possibly, yet,
find favour," said Dunwoodie, eagerly, expecting
a discovery of importance to the cause.




264                THE SPY.
"' It dies with me," repeated Birch, a flush pass.
ing over his pallid features, and lighting them with
extraordinary brilliancy.
c Seize the traitor," cried the Major, 1" and
wrest the secret fi'om his hands."
The order was immediately obeyed; but the
movements of the pedler were too quick; in an instant he swallowed it.  The officers paused in astonishment, at the readiness and energy of the spy;
but the surgeon cried eagerly" Hold him, while I administer an emetic."' Forbear," said Dunwoodie, beckoning him
back with his hand; " if his crime is great, so will
his punishment be heavy."
6 Lead on," cried the pedler, dropping his pack
froml his shoulders, and advancing towards the door
with a manner of incomprehensible dignity.:" Whither?" asked Dunwoodic, in amazement.
"11 T  the gallows."'No,  said the Major, recoiling in horror at his
own justice.  a My duty requires that I order you
to be executed, but surely not so hastily; take until nine to-morrow to prepare for the awful change
you are to undergo."
Dunwoodie whispered his orders in the ear of a
subaltern, and motioned to the pedler to withdraw.
The interruption caused by this scene prevented
further enjoyment around the table, and the officers dispersed to their several places of rest.  In
a short time the only noise to be heard was the
heavy tread of the sentinel, as he paced over the
frozen ground, in fiont of the Hotel Flanagan.




CHAPTER XVII.
"- -- There are, whose changing lineaments
Express each guileless passion of the breast;`Where Love, and I-Hope, and tender-hearted Pity
Are seen reflected, as from a mirror's faceBut cold experience can veil these hues
With looks, invented, shrewdly to encompass
The cunning purposes of base deceit."
Duo.
THE officer to whose keeping  Dunwoodie had
coramitted the  pedler, transferred his charge  to
the custody of the regular sergeant of the guam d.
The gift of Captain Wharton had npt been lost on
the youthful lieutenant, and a certain dancing motion that had unaccountably taken possession of objects before his eyes, gave him  warning of the necessity of recruiting  nature by sleep.   After admonishing the non-commissioned guard-ian of Harvey to omit no watchfulness in securing the prisoner, the youth wrapped himself in his cloak, and
stretched on a bench before a fire, sought and soon
found the repose he needed. A rude shed ex
tend(d the whole length of the rear of the building, and from  off one of its ends had been  parti23




266                THE SPY.
tioned a small apartment, that was intended as a
repository for many of the lesser implements of
husbandry.  The lawless times had, however, occasioned its being stript of every thing of any
value, and the searching eyes of Betty Flanagan
selected this spot, on her arrival, as the storehouse
for her moveables, and a withdrawing-room for
her person.  The spare arms and baggage of the
corps had also been deposited here; and the united
treasures were placed under the eye of the sentinel who paraded the shed as a guardian to the rear
of the head quarters.  A second warrior, who was,ltationed near the house to protect the horses of
the offcers, could command a view of the outside
of the apartment, and as it was without window,
or outlet of any kind, excepting its door, the considerate sergeant thought this the most befittinga
place in which to deposit his prisoner, until the Inoment of his execution.  There were several inducements that urged Sergeant Hollister to this
determination, among which was the absence of
the washerwoman, who lay before the kitchen fire,
dreaming that the corps were Lttacking a party of
the enemy, and mistaking the noise that proceeded from her own nose, for the bugles of the Virginians sounding the charge. Another was the peculiar opinions that the veteran entertained of life
and death, and by which he was distinguished In
the corps, as a man of most exemplary piety and
holiness of life.  The sergeant was more than fifty
years of age, and for half that period had borne
arms as a profession.  The constant recurrrence
of sudden deaths before his eyes had produced an
effect on him  differing greatly from  that whichl
was the usual moral consequence of such scenes,
and he had become not only the most steady, but
the most trust-worthy soldier in his troop.-Cap



THE SPY.               267
tain Lawton rewarded his fidelity by mnaking him
its orderly.
Followed by Birch, the sergeant proceeded in
silence to the door of the intended prison, and
throwing it open with one hand, held a lantern
with the other to light the pedler as he entered.
Seating himself on a cask that contained some of
Betty's favourite beverage, the sergeant motioned
to Birch to occupy another in the same manner.
The lantern was placed on the floor, when the
dragoon, after looking his prisoner steadily in the
face, observed-' You look as if you would meet death like a
man, and I have brought you to a spot where you
can fix things to suit yourself, and be quiet and undisturbed."'
"'Tis a fearful place to prepare for the last
change in," said Harvey, shuddering, and gazing
around his little prison with a vacant eye.
"Why, for the matter of that,?' returned the
veteran, " it can reckon but little in the great account where a man parades his thoughts for the
last review, so that he finds them fit to pass the
muster of another world.  I have a small book
here, which I make it a point to read a little in.
whenever we are about to engage, and I find it a
great strength'ner in time of need." While speaking, he took a bible from his pocket, and offered it
to the acceptance of the pedler. Birch received
the volume with habitual reverence, but there
was an abstracted air about him, and a wandering
of the eye, that induced his companion to think
that alarm was getting the mastery over the pedler's feelings; accordingly, he proceeded in what
he conceived to be the offices of consolation.
" If there's any thing that lies heavy on your
mind, now is the best time to get rid of it-if yu




26 8             TIlE SPY.
have done wrong to any one, I promise you, on
the word of an honest dragoon, to lend you a helping hand to aee them righted."
" There are few who have not done so," said the
pedler, turning his vacant gaze once more on his
companion.
" True-'tis natural to sin-but it sometimes
happens, that a man does what at other times he
may be sorry for. One would not wish to (lie with
any very heavy sin on his conscience, after all."
Harvey had by this time thoroughly examined
the place in which he was to pass the night, and
saw no means of escape.  But hope is ever the
last feeling to desert the human breast, and the
pedler gave the dragoon more of his attention, fix
ing on his sun-burnt features such searching looks,
that Sergeant Hollister lowered his eyes before the
wild expression which he met in the gaze of his
prisoner.
" I have been taught to lay the burden of my
sins at the feet of my Saviour," replied the pedler.
sa Why, yes-all that is well enough," returned
the other; "1 but justice should be done while there
is opportunity. There have been stirring times in
this country since the war began, and many have
been deprived of their rightful goods. I oftentimes
find it hard to reconcile my lawful plunder to a
tender conscience. 9
" These hands," said the pedler, stretching forth
his meagre, bony fingers, and speaking with unlusual pride, " have spent years in toil, but not a
moment in pilfering."
" It is well that it is so,9 said the honest-hearted soldier; " and no doubt you now feel it a great
consolation.  There are three great sins, that if
a man can keep his conscience clear of, why, by




THE SPY.                269
the mercy of God, he may hope to pass mlustei
with the saints in Heaven: they are stealing, inurdering, and desertion."
" Thank God!" said Birch wJith fervour, " 1
have never yet taken the life of a fellow creature."
" As to killing a man in lawful battle, why that
is no more than doing one's duty," interrupted the
sergeant, who was a close imitator of Captain Lawton in the field. "o If the cause is wrong, the sin
of such a deed, you know, falls on the nation, and
a man receives his punishment here with the rest
of the people-but nmurdering in cold blood stands
next to desertion, as a crime, in the eye of God."
"1 I never was a soldier, therefore never could
desert," said the pedler, resting his face on his hand
in a melancholy attitude.
"' Why, desertion consists of more than quitting
your colours, though that is certainly the worst
kind," continued the dragoon, speaking slowly,
and with some emphasis; " a man may desert his
country in the hour of her utmost need."
Birch buried his face in both his bands, and hi.
whole firame shook with violent agitation; the sergeant regarded him closely, but good feelings soon
got the better of his antipathies, and he continued
more mildly"1 But still that is a sin which I think may be
forgiven, if sincerely repented of; and it matters
but little when or how a man dies, so that he dies
like a christian and a man.-I recommend you to
say your prayers, and then get some rest, in order
that you may do both. There is no hope of your
being pardoned, fom Colonel Singleton has sent
down the most positive orders to take your life
%whenever Nwe met you.  No-ro-nothing can
save you."
" You say the truth," cried Birch.  " It is now
r) {o *
g4wu




270               THE SPY.
too late-I have destroyed my only safeguard. But
Ire will do my memory justice at least."
" What safeguard?" asked the sergeant, with
awakened curiosity.
"'Tis nothing," replied the pedler, recovering
his natural manner, and lowering his face to avoid
the earnest looks of his companion.
" And who is he?"
" No one," added Harvey, evidently anxious to
say no more.
"Nothing and no one, can avail but little now,"
said the sergeant, rising to go; "lay yourself on
the blanket of Mrs. Flanagan, and get a little sleep;
[ will call you betimes in the morning, and, from
the bottom of my soul, I wish I could be of some
service to you, for I dislike greatly to see a man
hung up like a dog."
" Then you might save me from this ignominious death,' said Birch, springing on his feet, and
catching the dragoon by the armn-"- And oh! what
gwill I not give you in reward!"
" In Mwhat manner?" asked the sergeant, looking
at him in surprise.
Go See," said the pedler, producing several guineas from his person; " these are but as nothing
to what I will give you, if you will assist me to
escape."
1" Was you the man whose picture is on the gold,
i would not listen to such a crime," said the trooper, throwing the money on the floor with cool contempt.  " Go —go-poor wretch, and make your
peace with God; for it is he only that can be of
service to you now."
The sergeant tooiK up'le lantern, and, with
some indignation in his mannler, left the pedler to
his sorrowful meditations c:n his approaching fate.
Birch sunk in momentary d-espair on the pallet of




THE SPY.                271
Betty, while his guardian proceeded to give thle
necessary instructions to the sentinels for his safe
keeping.
Hollister concluded his injunctions to the man in
the shed, by saying,'" your life will depend on his
not escaping."
"But," said the troopers,c my orders are, to let
the washerwoman pass in and out, as she pleases."
c Well, let her then, but be careful that this
wily pedler does not get out in the folds of her
petticoats." HIe then continued his walk, giving
similar orders to each of the sentinels near the
spot.
For sometime after the departure of the ser'geant, silence prevailed within the solitary prison
of the pedler, until the dragoon at his door heard
his loud breathings, which soon rose into the regular cadence of one in a deep sleep.  The man
continued walking his post, musing on the indifference to life which could allow nature its customary rest, even on the threshold of the grave.
Harvey  Birch had, however, been a name too
long held in detestation by every man in the corps,
to suffer any feelings of commiseration *to mingle
with'these reflections of the sentinel; for notwithstanding the consideration and kindness manifested by the sergeant, there probably was not another
man of his rankl in the whole party, who woula
have discovered equal benevolence to the prisoner, or who would not have imitated the veteran
in rejecting the bribe, although probably fiom a
less worthy motive. There was something of disappointed vengeance in the feelings of the man
who watched the door of the room, on finding his
prisoner enjoying a sleep of which he himself was
deprived, and at his exhibiting such obvious indifference to the utmost penalty that military rigour




272                THE SPY.
could inflict, on all his treason to the cause of li.
berty and America.  More than once he  felt
prompted to disturb this unwonted repose of the
pedler by taunts and revilings, but the discipline
he was under, and a secret sense of shame at the
brutality of the act, held him in subjection.
His meditations were, however, soon interrupted by the appearance of the washerwoman, who
came staggering through the door that communicated with the kitchen, muttering  execrations
against the servants of the officers, who, by theii
waggery, had disturbed her slumbers before the
fire. The sentinel understood enough of her maledictions to comprehend the case, but all his efforts
to enter into conversation with the enraged woman were useless, and he suffered her to enter
her room  without explaining that it contained
another inmate.  The noise of her huge franme
falling on the bed, was succeeded by a silence that
was soon interrupted by the renewed respiration
of the pedler, and within a few minutes Harvey
continued to breathe aloud, as if no interruption
had occurred.  The relief arrived at this moment.
The sentinel, who felt excessively nettled at the
contempt of the pedler, after communicating his
orders, while he was retiring exclaimed to his successor —"' You may keep yourself warm  by dancing,
John; the pedler spy has tuned his fiddle, you
hear, and it will not be long before Betty will
strike up in her turn."
The joke was followed by a general laugh from
the party, who marched on in the performance of
their duty.  At this instant the door of the prison
was opened, and Betty re-appeared, staggering
back again towards her former quarters.
" Stop," said the sentinel, catching her by her




THE SPY.               273
clothes; " are you sure the spy is not in your
pocket?"
" Can't you hear the rascal snoring in my roomn
you dirty blackguard?" sputtered Betty, her whole
frame shaking with the violence of her rage; " and
is it so yee would sarve a dacent female that a
man must be put to sleep in the room wid her,
yee rapscallion."
" Pooh! what do you mind a man who's to be
lung in the morning for? you see he sleeps already; to-morrow he'll take a longer nap."
"' Hands off, you villain," cried the washerwo
man, relinquishing a small bottle that the fellow
had suceeded in wresting from her. " But I'll go'
to Captain Jack, and know if it's his orders to put
a hang-gallows spy in my room, ay, even in my
widow'd bed, you tief.")
"' Silence, you old Jezebel," said the fellow
Awdith a laugh, taking the bottle from his mouth to
breathe, " or you will wake the gentleman —would
you disturb a man in his last sleep?"
"' I'll awake Captain Jack, you riprobate villain,
and bring him here to see me righted; he will
punish yee all, for imposing on a dacent widow'd
body, you marauder."
With these words, which only extorted a laugh
from the sentinel, Betty staggered round the end
of the building, and made the best of her way towards the quarters of her favourite, Captain John
Lawton, for redress. Neither the officer nor the
woman, however, appeared during the night, both
being differently employed, and nothing furthei
occurred to disturb the repose of the pedler, who,
to the astonishment of the. sentinel, continued apparently, by his breathing, to manifest, how little
the gallows could affect his slumbers.




CHAPTER  XVIII.
D A laniel come to judgment! yea, a Danicl e0 wise young judge, how do I honour thee!".4erchantof VYcnieTHE skinneirs followed Captain  Lawton with
alacrity towards the quarters occupied by the
troep of that gentleman.  The captain of dragoons
lhad on all occasions manifested so much zeal for
the cause in which he was engaged, was so regardless of personal danger when opposed to the
enemy, and his stature and stern countenance contributed so much to render him terrific at such moments, that they had, in some measure, procured
him a reputation distinct froln the corps in which
he served.  His intrepidity was mistaken for ferocity, and his hasty zeal for the natural love of
cruelty.  On the other hand, a few  acts of clemency, or, more properly speaking, of discriminating justice, had, with one portion of the community, acquired for Dunwoodie the character of
undue forbearance.  It is seldom  that either popular condemnation or applause falls where it is
merited.
While in the presence of the major, the leader
of the gang had felt himself under that restraint
which vice must ever experience in the company
of acknowledged virtue; but having left the house,
he at once conceived that he was under the protection of a congenial spirit.  There was a gravity in
the manner of Lawton, that deceived most of those
who did not know him intimately, and it was a
common saying in his troop, that " when the captaiI lauglicd he was sure to plunish.'  DraHwing




THE SPY.               27 T
near his conductor, therefore, the leader commenced, with Inward satisfaction, the following
dialogue -
"''Tis always well for a man to know his friends
from his enemies."
To this prefatory observation, the captain made
no other reply than an assenting sound, that could
not be called a word.
" I suppose Major Dunwoodie has the good opinion of Washington?" continued the skinner, in a
low, confidential tone, that rather expressed a doubt
than asked a question.
" There are some who think so," returned the
captain, ambiguously.
" Many of the friends of Congress in this county," the man proceeded, " wish the horse was led
by some other officer; for my part, if I could only
lbe covered by a troop now and then, I could do
many an important piece of service to the cause,
that this capture of the pedler would be nothing
to."
" Indeed!" said the captain, drawing familiarly
nigh him, and lowering his voice; " such as what?"
" For the matter of that, it could be made as
profitable to the officer, as it would be to us who
did it," said the skinner, with a look of the most
significant meaning.
" But how?" asked Lawton, a little impatiently,
and quickening his step, to get out of the hearing
of the rest of the party.
W' Why, near hand to the royal lines, even under
the very guns of the heights, might be good picking if we had a force to guard us from DLe Lancey's
men, and to cover our retreat from being cut off by
the way of King's-Bridge.'
" I thought the reflgees took all that game to
themselves," said the Captain.




276               THE SPY.
" They do a little at it, but are obliged to be
sparing among their own peotle," returned the
fellow, in perfect confidence. " I have been down
twice under an agreement with them; the first time
they acted with honour, but the second they came
upon us and drove us off, and took the plunder t9
themselves."' That was a very dishonourable act, ihideed,'
said Lawton; cc I wonder that you associate with
such rascals."
"a It is necessary to have an understanding with
some of them, or we might be taken," returned
the skinner; " but a man without honour is worse
than a brute. Do you think Major Dunwoodie is
a:man to be trusted?"
"' You mean on honourable principles?" said
Lawton.
a Certainly; you know Arnold was thought well
of, until the royal major was taken."'
c" Why, I do not believe Dunwoodie would sell
his command as Arnold wished to,') said the captainm; " neither do I think him exactly trust-worthy
in a delicate business like yours."
I That's just my notion,' rejoined the skinner,
with a self-approving manner that showed how
much he was satisfied with his own estimate of
character.
By this time they had arrived at a better sort of
farm-house, the very extensive out-buildings of
which were in tolerable repair for the times.The barns were occupied by the men of the
troop in their clothes, while their horses were arranged under the long sheds which protected the
yard from the cold north wind, and were quietly
eating, with their saddles on their backs, and
bridles thrown on their necks, ready to be bitted
at the shortest warning.  Lawton excused himn



THE SPY.                27 
self for a moment to tile skinner, and entered his
quarters.  He soon returned, holding in his hand
one of the common lanterns used by the men when
working on their steeds, and led the way towards
the large orchard that surrounded the buildings on
three sides. The gang followed the leader in silence, who suspected the object to be the facility
of communicating further on this interesting topic,
without the danger of being overheard.
Approaching the captain, he renewed the discourse, with a view of establishing further confidence, and giving his companion a more favourable opinion of his intellects.
" Do you think the colonies will finally get the
better of the king?"' he inquired, with a little of
the importance of a politician.
" Get the better!" echoed the captain, with
impetuosity-then checking himself, he continued,
" no doubt they will. If the French will give us
arms and money, we can drive the royal troops out
in six months.";~ Well, so I hope we will soon," said the skinner, hastily, conscious of having meditated joining
the refugees for some time; " and then we shall
have a free government, and we, who fight for it,
will get our reward."
" Oh!" cried Lawton, " your claims will be indisputable, while all these vile tories who live at
home peaceably to take care'of their farms, will be
held in the contempt they merit.  You have no
farm I suppose?"
"Not yet-but it will go hard if I do not find
one before the peace is made."
" Right; study your own interests and you study
the interests of your country; press the point of
your own services, and rail at the tories, and I'll
24




278.THE SPY
bet my spurs against a rusty nail, that you get to
be a county clerk at least."
" Don't you think Paulding's party were fools
in not letting the Royal Adjutant-General escape?"
said the man, thrown off his guard by the freedom
of the Captain's manner.
" Fools!" cried Lawton, with a bitter laugh;
" ay, fools indeed; King George would have paid
them better, for he is richer. He wvould have made
them gentlemen for their lives. But, thank God,
there is a pervading spirit in the people that seems
miraculous. Men who have nothing, act as if the
wealth of the Indies depended on their fidelity; all
are not villains like yourself, or we should have
been slaves to England years ago."
-How!" exclaimed the skinner, starting back,
and dropping his musket to the level of the other's
breast; " am I betrayed, then-and are you my
enemy?'"
" Miscreant!" shouted Lawton, his sabre ringing in its steel scabbard, as he struck the musket
of the fellow from his hands, " offer but again to
point your gun at me, and I'll cleave you to the
middle.'' And you will not pay us, then, Captain Lawton?" said the skinner, trembling, and noticing a
party of mounted dragoons silently encircling the
whole party.
" Oh! pay you-yes, you shall have the full
measure of your reward.  There is the money that
Colonel Singleton sent down for the captors of the
spy,' throwing a bag of guineas with disdain at the
other's feet.  " But ground your arms, you rascals, and see that the money is truly told."'
The intimidated band did as they were ordered,
and while they were eagerly employed in this




THE SPY,               279
pleasing avocation, a few of LaNton's men prilvately knocked the flints fiom their muskets.
" Well," cried the captain, " is it right-have
you the promised reward?"
" There is just the money," said the leader,
"C and we will now go to our homes with your per
mission."
" Hold!" returned Lawton, with his usual gravity; " so much to redeem our promise-now for
justice; we pay you fbr taking a spy, but we punish you for burning, robbing, and murdering. Seize
them, my lads, and give them  each the law of
Moses-forty, save one."
This command was given to no unwilling listenelrs, and in the twinkling of an eye'the skinners
were stripped and fastened, by the halters of the
party, to as many of the apple-trees as were necessary to furnish one to each of the gang; swords
were quickly drawn, and fifty branches cut from
the trees like magic: from these were selected a
few of the most supple of the twigs, and a willing
dragoon was soon found to wield each of these new
weapons.  Captain Lawton gave the word, humanely cautioning his men not to exceed the discipline prescribed by the Mosaic law, and directly
the uproar of Babel commenced in the orchard.
The cries of the leader were easily to be distinguished above those of his men, and the circumstance might be accounted for, by Captain Lawton's reminding his corrector that he had to deal
with an officer;, and he should remember and pay
hiin un-usual honour.  The flagellation was executed with great neatness and despatch, and was
distinguished by no irregularity, excepting that
none of the disciplinarians began to count until
they had tried their whips by a dozen or more
blows, by the way, as they said themselves, of




280              THE SPY.
finding out the proper places to strike. As soon
as this summary operation was satisfactorily completed, Lawton directed his men to leave the
skinners to replace their own clothes, and to
mount their horses, fbr they were a party who had
been detailed for the purpose of patrolling lower
down in the county.
~ You see, my friend," said the captain to the
leader of the skinners, after he had prepared himself to depart, "c I can cover you to some purpose
when necessary. If we meet often, you will be
covered with scars, which, if not very honourable,
will, at least, be merited'"
The fellow made no reply, but was busy with
his musket, and hastening his comrades to march;
when, every thing being ready, they proceeded
sullenly towards some rocks, at no great distance,
which were overhung by a deep wood.  The
moon was just rising, and the group of dragoons
could easily be distinguished where they bad been
left. Suddenly turning, the whole gang levelled
their pieces and drew the triggers. The action
was noticed, and the snapping of the locks was
heard by the soldiers, who returned theiI futile attempt with a laugh of derision, the captain crying
aloud" Ah!  rascals, I know you, and have taken
away your flints.9"
You should have taken away the one in my
pocket too," shouted the leader, firing his gun in
the next instant. The bullet grazed the ear of
Lawton, who laughed as he shook his head, and
said, "a miss was as good as a mile."  One of the
diagoons had noticed the preparations of the skinner-who had been left alone by the rest of his
gang, as soon as they had made their abortive attempt at revenge-and was in the act of plunging




THE SPY.                281
his spurs in his horse as the fellow  fired.  The
distance to the rocks was but small, yet the speed
of the horse compelled the leader to abandon both
money and musket, to effect his escape. The soldier returned with his prizes, and offered them to
the acceptance of his captain, but Lawton coolly
rejected them, telling the man to retain them himself, until the skinner, appeared in person to claim
his property. It would have been a business of
no small difficulty for any tribunal then existing in
the new states, to have enforced a decree of restitution of the money, for it was shortly after most
equitably distributed by the hands of Sergeant
Hollister, among a troop of horse.  The patrol departed, and the captain slowly returned to his
quarters, with an intention of retiring to rest. A
figure moving rapidly among the trees in the direction of the wood, whither the skinners had retired, caught his eye, and, wheeling on his heel,
the cautious partisan approached it, and to his astonishminent saw the washerwoman at that hour of
night, and in such a place.
" What, Betty!' walking  in your sleep, or
dreaming while  awake,)  cried the astonished
trooper; " are you not afraid of meeting with the
ghost of ancient Jenny in this her favourite pasture?"
" Ah, sure, Captain Jack," returned the sutler
in her native accent, and reeling in a manner that
made it difficult for her to raise her head, " its not
Jenny, or her ghost, that I'm  saaking, but some
yarbs for the wounded. And its the vartue of the
rising moon, as it jist touches them, that I want.
They grow under yon rocks, and I must hasten, or
the charm will lose its power."
" Fool, you ale fitter for your pallet than wancering among those rocks; a fall from one of them
24 




282               THE SPY.
would break your bones; besides, the skinners
have fled to those heights, and should they see
you, would revenge on you a flogging they have
but just now received firom me. Better return,
old woman, and finish your nap; we march in tile
morning, I hear."
Betty disregarded his advice. and continued her
devious route to the hill side. For an instant, as
LawTton mentioned the skinners, she paused, but
immediately resumed her course and was soon out
of sight among the trees.
As the Captain entered his quarters, the sentinel
at the door inquired if he had met Mrs. Flanagan, and added that she had passed there, filling
the air with threats against her tormentors at the
" Hotel," and inquiring for the Captain in search
of redress.  Lawton heard the man in astonishment-appeared struck with a new idea-waaked
several yards towards the orchard, and returned
again; for several minutes he paced rapidly to
and fio before the door of the house, and then hastily entering it, threw himself on a bed in his
clothes, and was soon in a profound sleep.
In the mean time, the gang of marauders had
successfully gained the summit of the rocks, and
scattering in every direction, buried themselves in
the depths of the wood. Finding, however, there
was no pursuit, which would have been impracticable for horse, the leader ventured to call his
band together with a whistle, and in a short time
succeeded in collecting his discomfited party at a
point where they had but little to apprehend fiomn
this new enemy.
" Well," said one of the fellows, while a fire
was lighting to protect them against the air, which
was becoming severely cold, c" there is an end to
our business in West Chester.  The Virginia




THE SPY.               283
horse will soon make the county too hot to hold
us."
sa I'll have his blood," muttered the leader, c if
I die for it the next instant."
" Oh, you are very valiant here in the wood,"
cried the other, with a savage laugh; " why did
you, who boast so much of your aim. miss your
man just now, at thirty yards?'
c'Twas the horseman that disturbed me, or I
would have ended this Captain Lawton on the
spot; besides, the cold had set me a shivering, and
I had no longer a steady hand."
" Say it was fear, and you will tell no lie," said
his comrade with a sneer. " For my part, I think
I shall never be cold again; my back burns as if a
thousand gridirons were laid on it, and that not
very gently."
" And you would tamely submit to such usae,
and kiss the rod that beat you?"
" As for kissing the rod, it would be no easy
matter I'm thinking," returned the other. "c Yes,
mine was broke into such small pieces on my own
shoulders that it would be difficult to find one big
enough to kiss; but I would rather submit to
losing half my skin, than to losing the whole of it,
with my ears in the bargain. And such will be
our fates, if we tempt this mad Virginian againl.
God willing, I would at any time give him enough
of my hide to make a pair of jack boots to get out
of his hands with the remainder.  If you had
known when you were well off, you would have
stuck to Major Dunwoodie, who don't know half
so much of our evil-doings."
LG Silence, you talking fool," shouted the enraoed leader; " your prating nonsense is sufficient
to drive a man mad; is it not enough to be robbed
and beaten, but we must be tormented with your




284               THE SPY.
folly? —help to get out the provisions, if any is
left in the wallet, and try and stop your mouth
with food."
This injunction was obeyed, and the whole partyV amidst sundry groans and contortions, excited
by the disordered state of their backs, made their
arrangements for a scanty meal. A large fire of
dry wood was burning in the cleft of a rock, and
at length they began to recover in some measure
from the confusion of their flight, and tc collect
their scattered senses. Their hunger being appeased, and many of their garments thrown aside
for the better opportunity of dressing their wounds,
the gang began to plot measures of revenge. An
hour was spent in this manner, and various expedients were proposed, but as they all depended a
good deal on personal prowess Ior their success,
and were attended by great danger, they were of
course rejected. There was no possibility of approaching the troops by surprise, their vigilance
being ever on the watch; and the hope of meeting
Captain Lawton away from his men was equally
forlorn, for the trooper was constantly engaged in
his duty, and his movements were so rapid, that
any opportunity of meeting with him at all must
depend greatly on accident. Besides, it was by
no means certain, that such an interview would
result happily for themselves.  The cunning of
the trooper was notorious, and rough and broken
as was West Chester, the fearless partisan was
known to take desperate leaps, and stone walls
were but slight impediments to the charges of
the Southern horse. Gradually, the conversation
took another direction, until the gang determined
on a plan which should both revenge themselves,
and at the same time offer some additional stimulus to their exertions.  The whole business was




THE SPY.                25a
accurately discussed, the time fixed, and the manner adopted; in short, nothing was wanting to the
previous arrangement for this deed of villany, when
they were aroused by a voice calling aloud"'rhis way, Captain Jack-here are the rascals
ating by a fire-this way, and murder the tieves
where they sit-quick, lave your horses and shoot
your pistols."
This terrific summons was enough to disturb
the philosophy of the gang entirely, and springing
on their feet, they rushed deeper into the wood,
and having already agreed upon a place of rendezvous previously to their intended expedition,
they dispersed towards the four quarters of thL
heavens. Certain sounds and different voices were
heard calling to each other, but as the marauders
were well trained to speed of foot, they were soon
lost in the distance.
It was not long before Betty Flanagan emerged
from the darkness, and very coolly tookt possession
of what the skinners had left in their flight-these
were food, and divers articles of dress.  The
washerwoman  deliberately  seated  herself, and
made a meal with great apparent satisfaction; for
an hour she sat with her head upon her hand in
deep musing; then gathered together such articles
of the clothes as seemed to suit her fancy, and retired into the wood, leaving the fire to throw its
glimmering light on the adjacent rocks, until its
last brand died away, and the place was abandoned
to solitude and darkness.




CHAPTER XIX.
" No longer then perplex thy breastWhen thoughts torment, the first are bost'Tis mad to go,'tis death to stay!
Away, to Orra, haste away "
Lapland Love Soneg.
WHILE his comrades were sleeping, In perfect
forgetfulness of their hardships and dangers, tile
slumbers of Dunwoodie were broken and unquiet.
After spending a night of restlessness, he arose
unrefreshed from  the  rude bed where he had
thrown himself in his clothes, and without awaking
any of the group around him, wandered into the
open air in search of relief.  The soft rays of the
moon were just passing away in the more distinct
light of the morning; the wind had fallen, and the
rising mists gave the promise of another of those
autumnal days, which, in this unstable climate,
succeed a tempest with the rapid transitions of
magic.  The hour had not arrived when he intended moving from his present position; and
willing to allow his warriors all the refreshment
that circumstances would permit, he strolled towards the scene of the skininers' punishment, mus11g upon the embarrassments of his situation,
and uncertain how he should reconcile his sense
of manly delicacy  to his love.  Added to this
dilemma, was the dangerous situation of Henry
Wharton.   Although Dunwoodtie himself placed
the most implicit reliance on the Capltain's pur)ity




THE SPY.                237
ot intention, he was by no means assured that a
board of officers would be equally credulous; and
independent of all feelings of private regard, he
felt certain that with the execution of Henry would
be destroyed all hopes of an union with his sister.
Hle had despatched an officer the preceding evening to Colonel Singleton, who was in command in
the advance posts, reporting the capture of the
British Captain, and, after giving his own opinion
of his innocence, requesting orders as to the mnaner in which he was to dispose of his prisoner.
These orders might now be expected every hour,
and his uneasiness increased, in proportion as the
moment approached when his friend might be removed from his protection.  In this disturbed stat.
of mind, the major wandered through the orchard,
and was stopped in his walk by arriving at the base
of those rocks which had protected the skinners in
their flight, before he was conscious whither his
steps had carried him.  He was about to turn, and
retrace his path to his quarters, when he was startied by a voice, bidding him to" Stand or die."
Dunwoodie turned in mnazenlent, and beheld
the figure of a man placed at a little distance above
him on a shelving rock, with a musket in his hands
that was levelled at himself.  The light was not
yet sufficiently powerful. to reach the recesses of
that gloomy spot, and a second look was necessary
before he discovered, to his astonishment, that it
was the pedler who stood before him.  C(omprehending in an instant the danger of his situation,
and disdaining to implore mercy or to ietreat, had
the latter been possible, the youth cried firmly" If I am to be murdered, fire; for I will never
become your prisoner."
" No, N Major Dunwoodie," said Birch, lowering




C288              THE SPY
his musket, " it is neither my intention to capture
nor to slay.'"
" What then would you have, mysterious be
ing?" said Dunwoodie, hardly able to persuade
himself that the forml he saw was not a creature ot
the imagination.' Your good opinion," answered the pedler.
with emotion; " I would wish all good men to
judge me with lenity."
" To you it must be indifferent what may be
the judgment of men on your actions," said the
major, gazing around him in continued surprise;
" for you seem to be beyond the reach of their
sentence."
" God spares the lives of his servants to his own
time," said the pedler, solemnly: "'tis but a few
hours and I was your prisoner, and threatened with
the gallows; now you are mine; but, Major Dunwoodie, you are free. There are them  abroad
who would treat you less kindly. Of what service
would that sword be to you against my weapon
and a steady hand? Take the advice of one who
has never harmed you, and who never will. Do
not trust yourself in the skirts of any wood, unless
in company and mounted."
"' And have you comrades who have assisted
you to escape," said Dunwoodie, " and who are
less generous than yourself?'
N No —no,"' cried Harvey, clasping his hands
wildly, and speaking with bitter melancholy; " 1
am alone truly-none know inme but my Gcd and
Him."
"' And who?"7 asked the major, with an interest
he could not control.
None,"' continued the pedler, recovering his
composure.' But such is not your case, Major
Dunwoodie; you are young and happy; theme are




THE SPY.                289
them that are dear to you, and such are not far
away-danger is near them you love most-danger within and without; double your watchfulness
-strengthen your patrols-and be silent.  With
your opinion of me, should I tell you more, you
would suspect an ambush.  But remember and
guard themn you love best."
The pedler discharged the musket in the air, and
threw it at the feet of his astonished auditor; and
when the surprise and smoke suffered Dunwoodie
to look again on the rock where he had stood, the
spot was vacant.
The youth was aroused fromn the stupor which
had been created by this strange scene, by the
trampling of horses, and the sound of the bugles.
A patrol was diawn to the spot by the report of
the musket, and the alarm had been given to the
corps.  Without entering into any explanation
Nwith his men, the major returned quickly to his
quarters, where he found the whole squadron urnde arms, in battle array, impatiently awaiting the
appearance of their leader.  The officer wMhose
duty it was to superintend such matters, had directed a party to lower the sign of the Hotel
Flanagan, and the post was already arranged for
the execution of the spy.  On hearing firom the
imajor that the musket was discharged by himself,
and was probably another dropped by the skinners,
(for by this timne Dunwoodie had learnt the punishmnent inflicted by Lawton, but chose to conceal
his interview with Birch,) his officers suggested
the propriety of executing their prisoner before
hey marched.  Unable to believe that all he had
een was not a dream, I)unwoodie, followed by
many of his officers, and preceded by Sergeant
Hollister, went to the place which was supposed
to coiitain tlis liy.st1 tious pedllr.
25




290               THE SPY.
" Well, sir," said the major, sternly, to the sen
tinel who guarded the door, " I suppose you have
your prisoner in safety."
" He is yet asleep," replied the man, " and
makes such a noise I could hardly hear the bugles
sound the alarm."
" Open the door and bring, him forth," said
DIunwoodie to the sergeant.
The order was obeyed, so far as circumstances
would allow; but to the utter amazement of the
honest veteran, he found the room in no little disorder —the coat of the pedler was where his body
ought to have been, and part of the wardrobe of
Betty was scattered in disorder on the floor. The
washerwoman herself occupied the pallet in a profound mental oblivion, in all her clothes excepting
the little black bonnet, which she so constantly
wore, that it was commonly thought she made it
perform the double duty of both day and night capThe noise of their entrance, and the exclamations
of the party, awoke the woman, and rising, she
exclaimed hastily" Is it the breakfast that's wanting? well, faith,
yee look as if yee would ate myself-but patience a
little. darlings, and yee'll see sich a fry as never was."
" Fry!" echoed the sergeant, forgetful of his
religious philosophy, and the presence of his officers; " we'll have you roasted, you jade-you've
helped that damn'd pedler to escape."'
" Jade back agin in your teeth, and damn'd pedler too, Mister Sargeant," cried Betty, who was
easily roused ~:" what have I to do with pedlers or
escapes? I might have been a pedler's lady and
worn my silks, if I'd had Sawny M'Twill, instead
of tagging at the heels of a parcel of dragooning
rapscallions, who don't know how to trate a lone
body with dacency."




THE SPY.               291
" The fellow has left my bible," said the veteran, taking the book from the floor; "in place of
spending his time in reading it to prepare for his
end, like a good Christian, he has been busy in labouring to escape."
" And who would stay and be hung like a dog?"
cried Betty, beginning to comprehend the case;
"'tisn't every one that's born to meet with sich an
ind-like yourself; Mister Hollister."
" Silence!" said Dunwoodie; " this must be inquired into closely, gentlemen; there is no outlet
but the door, and there he could not pass, unless
the sentinel connived at his escape, or was asleep
on his post-call up all the guard."
As these men were not paraded, curiosity had
already drawn them to the place, and they all, excepting one, denied that any person had passed
out, and he acknowledged that Betty had gone by
him, but pleaded his orders in justification.
" You lie, you tief-you lie!" shouted Betty,
who had impatiently listened to his exculpation;
" would yee slanderize a lone woman, by saying
she walks a camp at midnight? —Here have I been
slaaping the long night as swaatly as the sucking
babe."
" Here, sir," said the sergeant, turning respectfully to Dunwoodie, " is something written in my
bible that was not in it before; for having no family to record, I would never suffer any scribbling
in the sacred book."'
One of the officers read aloud —" These certify,
that if suffered to get free, it is by God's help alone,
to whose divine aid I humblny riccommind myself.
[I'i forced to take the woman's clothes, but in her
oocklet is a ricompinse.- Witness nmy hand-Harvey Birch."
"' What!" roared Betty, in consternation. " has




2992              THE SPY.
the tief robbed a lone woman of her all?-hang
him-catch him and hang him, major, if there's
Jaw or justice in the land."'
" Examine your pocket," said one of the young
sters, who was enjoying the scene, careless of the
cause or its consequences.
i Ah! faith," cried the washerwoman, producing a guinea, " but he is a jewel of a pedler; long
life and a brisk trade to him, say I; he is welcome
to the duds-and if he is ever hung, many a bigger rogue will go friee."'
Dunwoodie turned to leave the apartment, and
saw Captain Lawton standing with folded arms,
contemplating the scene in profound silence.  His
manner, so different from his usual impetuosity and
zeal, struck his commander as singular; their eyes
met, and they walked together for a few minutes
in close conversation, when Dunwoodie retrurned,
and dismissed the guard to their place of rendez.
vous.  Sergeant Hollister, however, continued
alone with Betty, who, having found none of her
vestments disturbed but such as the guinea more
tlan paid for, was in high good-humour for the interview.  The washerwoman had for a long time
looked on the veteran with the eyes of affection,
and had secretly determined within herself to remove the dangers from a lone woman, by making
the sergeant the successor of her late husband.
For some time the trooper had seemed to flatter
her preference, and Betty, conceiving that her violence had mortified the feelings of her lover, was
determined to make him  all the amends in her
power. Besides, rough and uncouth as she was,
the washerwoman had still enough of her sex to
know that the moments of reconciliation were the
moments of her power. She the, efore polired out




THE SPY.                293
a glass of her morning beverage, and handed it to
her companion, as she observed —
" A few waarm woirds between frinds are a trifle, yee must be knowing, sargeant.  It was Michael Flanagan that I ever calumnated the most
when I was loving him the best."?
"Michael was a good soldier and a brave man,"
said the warrior, finishing the glass; " our troop
was covering the flank of his regiment when he
fell, and I rode over his body myself more than
once during the day; poor fellow, he lay on his
back, and looked as composed as if he had died a
natural death after a year's consumption."
" Oh! Michael was a great consumer, and be
sartain," said the disconsolate widow; " two like
us make dreadful inroads in the stock, sargeant.
But yee'r a sober discrate man, Mister Hollister,
and would be a helpmate indeed."
"' Why, Mrs. Flanagan," said the veteran, with
great solemnity, " I've tarried to speak on a subject that lies heavy at my heart, and will now open
my mind, if youv'e leisure to listen."
"Is it listen?" cried the impatient woman;
C and I'd listen to you, sargeant, if the officers never ate another mouthful-but take another drop,
dear, and it will encourage you to spake frieely."': I am already bold enough in so good a cause,"
returned the veteran, rejecting her bounty; " but,
Betty, do you think it was really the Pedler-Spy
that I placed in this room the last night?"
" And who should it be else, darling?"
"C The evil-one."'" What, the divil?'
"c Ay, even Belzebub, disguised as the pedler,
and them fellows we thought to be skinners were
his imps," said the sergeant, with a most portentons gravity in his countenance.
25




294               THE SPY.
"' Well sure, sargeant dear,"' said Betty, " yee'r
but little out this time, any way; for if the divil's
imps go at large in the county ~West Chester, sure
it is the skinners themselves."
a No, but, Mrs. Flanagan," interrupted her coinpanion,'I mean in their incarnate spirits; the
evil-one knew that there was no one we would
arrest sooner than the pedler Birch, and took on
his appearance to gain admission to your room."'" And what should the divil be wanting of me?"
cried Betty, tartly; " and is'nt there divils enough
in the corps already, without one's coming frorn
the bottomless pit to frighten a lone body?"
"'Twas,'twas in mercy to you, Betty, that
he was permitted to come. You see lie vanished
through the door in your form, which is a symbol
of your fate, unless you mend your life. Oh! I
noticed how he trembled when I gave him the
good book. Would any Christian, think you, imy
]eai Betty, write in a bible in this way; unless it
might be the matter of births and deaths, and such
like chronicles?"
The washerwoman was pleased with the softness
of her lover's manner, but dreadfully scandalized
at his insinuation; she, however, preserved her
temper, and with the quickness of her own country's people, rejoined-'" And would the divil have paid for the clothes,
thinks ye? —ay and overpaid."
" Doubtless the money is base," said the sergeant, a little staggered at such an evidence of hlonesty in one he thought so meanly of. c" He tempted mue with his glittering coin, but the Lord gave
me strength to resist."'" The goold looks well," said the washerwoman,' but I'll change it, any way, with Captain Jack,




THE SPY'.               2(5
the day; he is niver a bit afeard of any divil of
them all."
cc Betty, Betty," said her companion, "C do not
speak so dlisreverently of the evil spirit; he is ever
at hand, and will owe you a grudge for your language."
" Pooh! if he has any bowels at all, he won't
mind a fillip or two from a poor lone woman," returned the washerwoman.  "I'm sure no other
Christian would."
" But the dark one has no bowels, except to devour the children of men," said the sergeant,
looking around him in horror; c" and it's best to
make friends every where, for there is no telling
what may happen till it comes.  But, Betty, no
man could have got out of this place, and passed
all the sentinels without being known-take awful
warning from the visit, therefore"Here the dialogue was interrupted by a summons to the sutler to prepare her morning's repast,
and they were obliged to separate; the woman secretly hoping that the interest the sergeant manifested for her was more earthly than he imagined;
and the man, bent on saving a soul from the fangs
of the dark spirit that was prowling through their
camp in quest of victims.
During the breakfast several expresses arrived,
one of which brought intelligence of the actual
force and destination of the enemy's expedition
that was out on the Hudson; and another, orders
to send Captain Wharton to the first post above,
under the escort of a body of dragoons.  These
last instructions, or rather commands, for they admnitted of no departure from their letter, completed
the sum of Dunwoodie's uneasiness.  The despair
and misery of Frances were constantly before his
eyes, and fifty times he was tempted to throw hinm



296               TIlE SPY.
self on nis horse and gallop to the Locusts, bult an
uncontrollable feeling of delicacy prevented him.
in obedience to the commands of his superior, anl
officer, with a small party, was sent to the cottage
to conduct Henry Wharton to the place directed,
and the gentleman who was entrusted with the execution of the order was charged with a letter firom
Dunwoodie to his firiend, containing the most
cheering assurances of his safety, as well as the
strongest pledges of his own unceasing exertions
in his favour.  Lawton was left with part of his
own troop, in charge of the few wounded; and as
soon as the men were refireshed, the encampment
broke up, and the main body marched towards the
Hudson. Dunwoodie repeated, again and again,
his injunctions to Captain Lawton-dwelt upon
every woird that had fallen from the pedler, and canvassed, in every possible manner that his ingenuity
could devise, the probable meaning of his mysterious warnings, until no excuse remained for delaying his own departure a moment longer. Suddenly recollecting, however, that no directions had
been given for the disposal of Colonel Wellnere,
instead of following the rear of his column, the
maj.or yielded to his passions, and turned down the
road which led to the Locusts.  The horse of
Dunwoodie was fleet as the wind, and scarcely a
minute seemed to have passed before he gained
sight, from an eminence, of the lonely vale, and as
he was plunging into the bottom lands that formed
its surface, he caught a glimpse of Henry Wharton
and his escort, at a distance, defiling through a pass
which led to the posts above.  This sight added to
the speed ot the anxious youth, who now turned
the angle of the hill that opened to the valley, and
camne suddl(enly on the object of his search. Frances had followed at a distance the party which




THE SPY.               297
guarded her brother; and as they vanished from
her sight, she felt as it deserted by all that she
most prized in this world. The unaccountable absence of Dunwoodie, with the shock of parting
from Henry under such circumstances, had entirely
subdued her fortitude, and she had sunk on a stone
by the road side, and wept as if her heart would
break. Dunwoodie spIrung friom his charger, tbrowing the reins over the neck of the animal, and in a
moment was by the side of the weeping girl.
~ Frances-my own Frances," he exclaimed,
"' why this distress?-let not the situation of your
brother create any alarm. As soon as the duty I
am now on is completed, I will hasten to the feet
of Washington, and beg his release.  The Father
of his Country will never deny such a boon to om e
of his favourite pupils."
a Major Dunwoodie, for your interest on behalf of mny poor brother, I thank you," said the
maid drying her eyes, and rising with dignity;'but such language, addressed to me, surely is
improper."
" How! improper!"' echoed her lover in amazement; " are you not mine-by the consent of your
father-your aunt-your brother-nay, by your
Own consent, my sweet Frances?"
" I wish not, Major Dunwoodie, to interfere
with the prior claims that any other lady may
lave to your affections," said Frances, motioning
to rettlrn.
" None other, I swear by Heaven, none other
obut yourself has any claim on me,  cried Dunwoolie, wvith fervour; "c you alone are mistress of my
inmlost soul."'
(~ You have practised so much, and so successfully, Major Dunwoodie, that it is no wonder you
excel in deceiving the credulity of my sex," re



298               THE SPY.
turned Frances, bitterly, attempting a smile which
the tremulousness of her muscles smothered in its,nirth.
" Am I a villain, Miss Wharton, that you receive me with such language?-when have I ever
deceived you, Frances? who has practised in this
manner on your purity of heart?'"
"c Why has not Major Dunwoodie honoured the
dwelling of his intended father with his presence
lately? Did he forget it contained one fiiend on a
bed of sickness, and another in deep distress? Has
it escaped his memory that it held his intended
wife? Or is he fearful of meeting more than one
that can lay a claim to that title? Oh, PeytonPeyton, how have I been deceived in you! with
the foolish credulity of my youth, I thought you
all that was brave, noble, generous, and loyal."
sc Frances, I see how it is that you have deceived yourself,' cried Dunwoodie, his face in a
glow of fire; " you do me injustice; I swear by
all that is most dear to me, that you do me injustice."
" Swear not, Major Dunwoodie,'" interrupted
the maiden, her fine countenance lighting up with
all the lustre of womanly pride; " the time is gone
by for me to credit oaths."
" Miss Wharton, would you have me a coxcomb-make me contemptible in my own eyes, by
boasting with the hope of raising myself in your
estination?"'
" Flatter not yourself that the task is so easy,
sir," returned Frances, moving towards the cottage; " we converse together, in private, for the
last timne;-but my father would gladly welcome
may mother's kinsman."
" No, Miss Wharton, I cannot enter his dwelling
now.  II should act in a manner unworthy of rmy



THE SPY.                299
self.  You drive me from you, Frances, in despair,
I am going on desperate service, and may not live
to return.  Should fortune prove severe to me, at
least do my memory justice; remember that the
last breathings of my soul will be for your happiness." So saying, he had already placed his foot
in the stirrup, but his mistress turning on him a
face that was pallid with emotion, and an eye that
pierced his soul with its thrilling expression, arrested the action, and he paused.
" Peyton-Major Dunwoodie," she said, " can
you ever forget the sacred cause in which you are
enlisted? Your duty both to your God and to your
country, forbids your doing any thing rashly. The
latter has need of your services; besides"-but
her voice became choked, and she was unable to
proceed.
"' Besides what?" echoed the youth, springing
to her side, and offering to take her hand in his
own. Frances having, however, recovered herself, coldly repulsed hilm, and continued her walk
homeward.'" Miss Wharton, is this our parting!" cried Dunwoodie, in agony;   am I a wretch, that you treat
me so cruelly? You have nevei loved me, and
wish to conceal your own fickleness by accusations
against me that you will not explain4.'"
Frances stopped short in her walk, and turned
on her lover a look of so much purity and feeling,
that, heart-stricken, Dunwoodie would have knelt
at her feet for pardon; but motioning him tbr silence, she once more spoke" Hear me, Major Dunwoodie, for the last time;
it is a bitter knowledge when we first discover our
own inferiority; but it is a truth that I have lately
learnt..Against you I bring no charges -make no
accusations; no, not willingly in my thoughts.




300               THE SPY.
Were my claims to your heart just, I am not wor
thy of you. It is not a feeble, timid girl, like mej
that could make you happy.  No, Peyton, -you are
formed for great and glorious actions, deeds of
daring and renown, and should be united to a soul
like your own; one that can rise above the weakness of her sex. I should be a weight to drag you
to the dust; but with a different spirit in your
companion, you might soar to the very pinnacle
of earthly glory.  To such an one, therefore, I resign you freely, if not cheerfully; and pray, oh!
how fervently, that with such an one you may be
happy."'
" Lovely enthusiast," cried Dunwoodie, "c you
know not yourself nor me. It is a woman, mild,
gentle, and dependent as yourself, that my very
nature loves; deceive not yourself with visionary
ideas of generosity, which will only make me miserable."
Go Farewell, Major Dunwoodie," said the agitated girl, pausing for a moment to gasp for breath;
"f forget that you ever knew me-remember the
claims of your bleeding country, and be happy."' Happy!" repeated the youthful soldier bitterly, as he saw her light form gliding through the
gate of the lawn, and disappearing behind its shrubbery; "C oh! yes, I am now happy, indeed."
Throwing himself into the saddle, he plunged
his spurs into his horse, and soon overtook his
squadron, which was marching slowly over the
hilly roads of the county to gain the banks of the
Hudson.
But painful as were the feelings of Dunwoodie
at this unexpected termination to the interview
with his mistress, they were but light compared
to those which were experienced by the maiden
herself. Frances had, with the keen eye of jea



TIiE SPY.              301
ious love, easily detected the attachment of Isabella Singleton to Dunwoodie. Delicate and retiring herself as the fairest visions of romance had
ever portrayed her sex, it never could present itself to the mind of Frances that this love had been
unsought.  Ardent in her own affections, and artless in their exhibition, she had early caught the eye
of the youthful soldier; but it required all the
manly firankness of fDunwoodie to court her favour,
and the most pointed devotion to obtain his conquest.  This once done, his power was durable,
entire, and engrossing.  But the unusual occurrences of the few preceding days, the altered miern
of her lover during those events, his unwonted indifference to herself, and chiefly the romantic idolatry of Isabella, had aroused new sensations in her
bosom. With a dread of her lover's integrity had
been awakened the never-failing concomitant of
the purest affection, a distrust of her own merits.
In the moment of enthusiasm, the task of resigning her lover to another, who might be more worthy of him, seemed easy; but it is in vain that the
imagination attempts to deceive the heart.  Dunwoodie had no sooner disappeared, than our heroine felt all the misery of her situation; and if
the youth found some relief in the cares of his comrn
mnand from his anxiety of mind, Frances was less
fortunate in the performance of a duty imposed on
her by filial piety.  The removal of his son had
nearly destroyed the little energy of Mr. Whai ton,
who required all the tenderness of his remaining
children to convince him that he was able to per
form the ordinary finctions of life.
26




CHAPTER XX.
"Fiatter and praise, commend, extol their graces,
Tholugh ne'er so black, say they have angels' faces;
That man who hath a tongue I say is no man,
If with that tongue lie cannot win a woman."
Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Is inaking the arrangement by which Captain
Lawton had been left, with Sergeant Hollistel and
twelve men, as a guard over the wounded and
heavy baggage of the corps, Dunwoodie had consulted not only the information which had been
conveyed in the letter of Colonel Singleton, but
the supposed bruises of his comrade's body. It
was in vain that Lawton had declared himself fit
for any duty that man could perform, or that he
had plainly intimated that his men would never
follow Tom Mason to a charge, with the alacrity
and confidence with which they followed himself:
his commander was firm, and the reluctant captain
was compelled to comply with as good a grace as
he could assume. Before parting, Dunwoodie repeated his caution to Lawton, to keep a watchful
eye on the inmates of the cottage, and especially
enjoined him, if any movements of a particularly
suspicious nature were noticed in the neighbourhood, to break up from his present quarters, and
to move down with his party, and take possession
of the domains of Mr. Wharton.  A vague suspicion of danger to the family had been awakened
in the breast of the major, by the language of the
pedler, although he was unable to refer it to any
particular source, or to understand why it was to
be apprehended.




THE SPY.               303
For some time after the departure of the troops,
the Captain was walking to and firo, before the
door of the " Hotel," inwardly cursing his fate,
that condemned him to an inglorious idleness, at
a moment when a meeting with the enemy might
be expected, and replying to the occasional queries of Betty, who, froln the interior of the building, ever -and anon, demanded in a high tone of
voice, an explanation of various points in the pedler's escape, which as yet she could not comprehend. At this instant he was joined by the surgeon, who had hitherto been engaged among his
patients in a distant building, and was profoundly
ignorant of every thing that had occurred, even to
tle departure of the troops.
" Where are all the sentinels, John?" he inquir6d, as he gazed around with a look of curiosity,'c and why are you here alone?"
" Off-all off, with Dunwoodie to the river.
You and I are left here to take care of a few sick
men and some women."3
"I am glad, however," said the surgeon, "c that
iMajor Dunwoodie had consideration enough, not
to move the wounded. Here, you Mrs. Elizabeth
Flanagan, hasten with some food, that I may appease my appetite. I have a dead body to dissect,
and am in a hurry."; And here, you Mister Doctor Archibald Sitgreaves," echoed Betty, showing her blooming
countenance firom a broken window of the kitchen,
" you are ever a coming too late; here is nothing
to ate but the skin of Jenny, and the body yee'r,nintioning."
" Woman," said the surgeon, in anger, " do yoA
take me for a cannibal, that you address your filthy discoulse to me in this manner? I bid you




304               THE SPY.
hasten with such food as may be proper to be re
ceived into the stomach fasting."
" And I'm sure it's for a pop-gun that I should
he taking you sooner than for a cannon-ball," said
Betty, winking at the Captain, " and I tell yee that
it's fasting you must be, unless yee'l let me cook
yee a stake firom the skin of Jenny.  The boys
have ate me up entirely."'
Lawton now interfered to preserve the peace, and
assured the surgeon that he had already despatch
ed the proper persons in quest of food for the party.
A little mollified with this explanation, the operator soon forgot his hunger, and declared his intention of proceeding to business at once.
" And where is your subject?" asked Lawton,
gravely.
" The pedler," said the other, gazing on the
sign-post; " you see I made Hollister put a stage
so high that the neck would not be dislocated by
the fall, and I intend making as handsome a skele
ton of him, as there is in the States of North America; the fellow has good points, and his bones are
well knit.  Oh! Jack, I will make a perfect beauty
of him. I have long been wanting something of
the sort to send as a present to my old aunt in
Virginia, who was so kind to me when a boy."
" The devil!" cried Lawton; "c would you send
the old woman a dead man's bones."
" Why not?" said the surgeon; " what nobler
object is there in nature than the figure of a manand the skeleton may be called his elementary
parts. But what has been done with the body?'
*" Off too."
*o" Off!" echoed the panic-stricken operator,
" and who has dared to take it away without my
leave?"
" Sure jist the divil," said Betty  " and who'll




TIlE SPY.               305
be after taking veerself away some of these times
too, without asking yeer lave."'
" Silence, you witch,"' said Lawton, with diffi
culty suppressing a laugh; " is this the manner in
which to address an officer?"
" Who called me the filthy. Elizabeth Flanagan?" cried the wasberwoman, snapping her fingers contemptuously; 1" I can reinimber a frind for
a year, and don't forgit an inimy for a month."
But the fiiendship or enmity of Mrs. Flanagan
were alike indifferent to the surgeon, who could
think of nothing but his loss; and Lawton was
obliged to explain to his friend the apparent manner in which it had happened.
" And a lucky escape it was for yee, my jewel
of a doctor,' cried Betty, as the captain concluded.
" Sargeant Iollister, who saw him face to face, as
it might be, says it's Beelzeboob, and no pedler,
unless it may be in a small matter of lies and thefts,
and sich wickednesses.  Now a pretty figure yee
would have been in cutting up Beelzeboob, if the
major had hung him.  I don't think it's very asy
he would have been under yeer knife."
Thus doubly disappointed in both his meal and
his business, Sitgreaves suddenly declared his intention of visiting the " Locusts," and inquiring
into the state of Captain Singleton.  Lawton was
ready for the excursion, and- mounting, they were
soon on the road, though the surgeon was obliged
to submit to a few more jokes from  the Masherwoman, before he could get out of hearing.  For
some time the two rode in silence, when Lawton
perceiving that his companion's temper was somewhat ruffled by his disappointments and Betty's
attack, made an effort to restore the tranquillity of
his feelings, by saying-' That was a charming song, Archibald, that
26 *-?




306               THE SPY.
you commenced last evening, when we were in
terrupted by the party that brought the pedler.
T!e allusion to Galen was extremely neat."
" I knew you would like it, Jack, when your
eyes were opened to its beauties," returned the
operator, suffering his muscles to relax into a smile;
" but when the brain has become confused by the
fulmes of wine ascending from the stomach, intoxication is liable to ensue, and the faculties by no
means continue qualified to discriminate, either in
matters of taste or of science."
" And yet your ode partook largely of both,"
observed Lawton, suffering no part of him to smile
but his eyes.
"C Ode is by no means a proper term for the composition," said Sitgreaves.  " I should rather term
it a classical ballad."
" Very probably," said the trooper; "G hearing
only one verse, it was difficult to affix a name to
it."
The surgeon involuntarily hemmed, and began
to clear his throat, although by no means conscious
himself to what the preparation tended. But the
Captain, rolling his dark eyes towards his companion, and observing him  to be sitting with great
uneasiness on his horse, continued" Trhe air is still, and the road solitary-why not
give me the remainder? it might correct the bad
taste you accuse me of possessing, to hear it."
" Oh! my dear John, if I thought it would cor
rect the errors you have imbibed, from habit and
indulgence, nothing could give me more pleasure.";C Try; we are fast approaching some rocks on
our left; the echo from them, I should think, must
be delightful."
Thus encouraged, and somewhat impelled by
tihe opinion that he both sung and wrote with ex



THE  SPY.                          307
quisite taste, the surgeon set about complying witlh
the request in sober earnest. After carefully removing his spectacles fi'om his eyes, and wiping
the glasses, they were replaced with the utmost
accuracy and precision; his wig was adjusted to
his head with mathematical symmetry, and his
voice being cleared by various efforts, until at length
its melody pleased  the exquisite  sensibility  of his
own ear; then, to the no small delight of the troop-elr, lie began anew the ditty of the preceding evenino. But whether it was that his steed became
eniivened by the notes of his master, or that he
caught a disposition  to trot from  Lawton's charger,
the surgeon had not concluded his second verse,
before his tones vibrated in regular cadence to the
rise and fall of his own body on the saddle. Notwithstanding  this  somewhat  inharmonious  interruption, Sitgreaves resolutely persevered, until he
lhad got through with the following words —
Hast thou ever felt love's dart, dearest,
Or breathed his trembling sighThought him, afar, was ever nearest,
Before that sparkling eye?
Then hast thou known what'tis to fee
The pain that Galen could not heal.
Hlast thou ever known shame's blush, dearest,
Or felt its thrilling smart
Suffuse thy cheek, like marble clearest,
As Damon read thy heart?
Then, silly girl, thou'st blushed to own
A pain that Harvey e'en has known
But for each pain of thine, dearest,
Or smart of keen love's wound,
For all that, foolish maids thou fearest,
An antidote is found.
And mighty Hymen's art can heal
Each wound that youthful lovers feel
" Hast thou ever"



308                THE SPY.
~ Hush!" interrupted the trooper; " what rus
tling noise is that among the rocks?"
" The echo." —
a" Ila- thou ever-)"
" Listen," said Lawton, stopping his horse. He
had inot done speaking, when a stone fell at his
feet, and rolled harmlessly across the path.'b A friendly shot, that," cried the trooper;' neither the weapon nor its force, implies much
ill will towards us."'
aC Blo~w~s from stones seldom produce more than
contusions," said the operator bending his gaze in
every direction in vain, in quest of the hand from
which the missile had been hurled; "it must be
meteoric; there is no living being in sight, except
ourselves."
"' It would be easy to hide a regiment behind
those rocks," returned the trooper, dismounting,
and taking the stone in his band    Oh! here is
the explanation along with the mystery." So saying, he tore a piece of paper that had been ingeniously fastened to the small friagment of rock
which had thus singularly fallen before him, and
opening it, the captain read the following words,
written in no very legible hand:
" A musket bullet will go farther than a stonDe,
and things more dangerous than yarbs for wounded
Men, lie hid in the rocks of West Chester.  ThJ
horse rnay be good, but can he mount a pricipice?'
" Thou sayest the truth, strange man," said
Lawton;  " courage and activity would avail but
little against assassination and these rugged passes."'  Remounting his horse, he cried aloud" Thanks, unknown friend; your caution will be
remembered, and it shall never be forgotten that
all my enemies are not merciless."




THIE SPY.               309
A meagre hand was extended for an instant over
a rock, waving in the air, and afterwards nothing
further was seen or heard in that quarter by the
soldiers.
" Quite an extraordinary interruption, -said the
astonished operatorl,  and a letter of a very mysterious meaning."
o Oh!'tis nothing but the wit of some bumpkin
who thinks to frighten two of the Virlginians by an
artifice of this kind," said the trooper, placing the
billet in his pocket; " but let me tell you, Mr.
Archibald Sitgreaves, you were wanting to dissect,
just now, a damn'd honest fellow."
" It was the pedler-one of the most notorious
spies in the enemy's service," returned the other;
" and I must say, that I think it an honour to such
a man to be devoted to the use of science."
" He may be a spy-lbe must be one," said
Lawton, musing; " but he has a heart above enmity, and a soul that would honour a gallant soldier-."
The surgeon turned an inquiring eye on his companion as he uttered this soliloquy, while the penetirating looks of the trooper had already discovered
another pile of rocks, which, jutting forward, nearly obstructed the highway that wound directly
around its base.
c What the steed cannot mount, the foot of
man can overcome"9 exclaimed the wary partisan.
Throwing himself again from his saddle, and leaping a wall of stone, he began to ascend the hill at
a pace which would soon have given him a birds'
eye view of the rocks in question, together with
all their crevices.  This imovement was no sooner
made than Lawton caught a glimpse of the figure
of a man stealing rapidly from  his approach, and
<disappearing on the opposite side of the preciplice.




310               THE SPY.
"' Spur, Sitgreaves-spur," shouted the trooper,
dashing over every impediment in pursuit, " and
murder the villain as he flies."
The request was promptly complied with, and a
few moments brought the surgeon in full view of
a man armed with a musket, who was crossing the
road, and evidently seeking the protection of the
thick wood on its opposite side.
" Stop, my friend-stop until Captain Lawton
comes up, if you please," cried the surgeon, observing him to flee with a rapidity that baffled his
iorsemanship. But as if the invitation contained
new terrors, the footman redoubled his efforts, nor
paused even to breathe until he had reached his
goal, when, turning on his heel, he discharged his
musket towards the operator, and was out of sight
in an instant.  To gain the highway, and throw
himself in his saddle, detained Lawton but a moment, and he rode to the side of his comrade just
as the figure had disappeared.
" Which way has he fled?" cried the trooper.
" John," said the surgeon,' am I not a non
combatant?"
" Whither has the rascal fled?"' cried Lawton
again, impatiently.
"c Where you cannot follow-into that wood,"
r:eturned the surgeon.  " But I repeat, John, am I
not a non-combatant?"
The disappointed trooper perceiving that his
enemy had escaped him, now turned his eyes,
which were flashing with anger under his dark
brows, upon his comrade, and gradually his muscles lost their rigid compression, his brow relaxed,
and his eyes changed finom their fierce expression,
to the covert laughter which so often distinguished
those olgans in the trooper.  The surgeon sat in
dignified composure on his horse; his thin body




THE SPY.               311
erectt and his head elevated with all the indignity
of conscious injustice towards himself; his specracles hadl been shaken down to the extreme end of
the ample member on which they rested, and his
eyes were glaring above them with the fulness of
indignation.
A slight convulsive effort composed the muscles
of the trooper's face, however, and he broke the silence again, by saying-' Why did you suffer the rascal to escape?had you but brought him within the reach of my
sabre, I would have given you a substitute for the
pedler."''-'Twas impossible to prevent it," said the surgeon, pointing to the bars, before which he had
stopped his horse; " he threw himself on the other
side of this fence, and left me where you see; nor
would the man in the least attend to my remonstrances, or intimation that you wished to hold discourse with him."
"No!" exclaimed Lawton, in an affected surprise; " he was truly a discourteous rascal; but
why did you not leap the fence, and compel him
to a halt?-you see but three of the bars are up,
and Betty Flanagan could clear them on her cow."
The surgeon, for the first time, withdrew his
eyes from the place where the fugitive had disappeared, and turned his countenance towards his
comrade.  His head, however, was not permitted
to lower itself in the least, as he repliedGc I humbly conceive, Captain Lawton, that neither Mrs. Elizabeth Flanagan, nor her cow, are
examples to be emulated by Doctor Archibald Sitgriiaves; it would be but a sorry compliment to
science, to say, that a Doctor of Medicine had fractured both his legs, by injudiciously striking them
against a pair of bar-posts."'   While speaking, the




312                THE SPY.
surgeon raised the limbs in question to nearly a
horizontal position, which really appeared to bid
defiance to any thing like a passage for himself
through the defile; but the trooper, disregarding
this ocular proof of the impossibility of the movement, cried hastily" Here was nothing to stop you, man; I could
leap a platoon through, boot and thigh, without
pricking with a single spur. Pshaw, I have often
charged upon the bayonets of infantry over greater difficulties than this."'I You will please to remember, Captain John
Lawton," said the surgeon, with a most imposing
air of offended dignity, "a that I am not the riding
master of the regiment-nor a drill sergeant-nor
a crazy cornet; no, sir-and I speak it with a due
respect for the commission of the continental Coingress-nor an inconsiderate captain, who regards
his own life as little as that of his enemies.  I amn
only, sir, a poor humble nan of letters, a mere Doctor of Medicine, an unworthy graduate of Edinburgh. and a surgeon of dragoons, nothing more
I do assure you, Captain John Lawton."  So saying, he turned his horse's head towards the cottage,
and recommenced his ride.:' Ay! you speak the truth," muttered the dragoon; "' had I but the meanest rider of my troop
with me, I should have taken the scoundrel, and
given at least one victim to the offended laws of
my country.  But, Archibald, no man can ride
well who straddles in this nmanner like the Colossus of Rhodes.  You should depend less on your
stirrup, and keep your seat by the power of the
knee."'" With proper deference to your experieneet
Captain Lawton," returned the surgeon, "I conceive myself to be no incompetent judge of nuis



THE SPY.                313
cular action, whether in the knee or any other part
of the human framne. And although but humbly
educated, I am nlot now to learn that the wider the
base, the more firm. is the superstructure."
is Yes, but Archibald," cried Lawton, impatient.
ly, " would you fill a highway in this manner with
one pair of legs, when half a dozen might pass together in comfort, stretching them abroad like
the sithes to the ancient chariot wheels?'"
The allusion to the practice of the ancients
somewhat softened the indignation of the surgeon,
and he replied with rather less hauteur" You should speak with reverence of the usages
of those who have gone before us, and who, however ignorant they were in matters of science, and
particularly that of surgery, yet furnished many
brilliant exceptions to the superstitions of the day.
Now, sir, I have no doubt that Galen has operated:
on wounds occasioned by these very sithes that
you mention, although we can find no evidence of
the fact in cotemporary writers. Ah! they must
have given dreadful injuries, and I doubt not, caused great uneasiness to the medical gentlemen of
that day.' 
" There could not have been much science displayed, I think," returned the trooper, collecting
himself into his usual manner; " and occasionally
a body must have been left in two pieces, to puzzle the ingenuity of those gentry to unite.  Yet,
doubtless, they did it."
" What!" cried the operator in amazelment,
nlllte two parts of the human body that have
been severed by an edged instrument, to any of
the purposes of animal life?"
c That have been rent asunder by a sithe, and
are united to do military duty," said Lawton.
"'Tis ilpossil)le-qulite impossible," cried the
27




314                TIlE SPY.
surgeon; C it is in vain, Captain Lawtonl, that huLI
man ingenuity endeavours to baffle the efforts oi
nature.  Think, my dear sir, in this case you separate all the arteries-injure all of the intestines
-sever all of the nerves and sinews, and, Mwhat is
of more consequence, you" —
" Enough," said Lawton, waving his hand;
" you have said enough, Dr. Sitgreaves, and I am
convinced.  Nothing shall ever tempt me willingly to submit to be divided in this irretrievable
manner-a manpner, I say, Dr. Sitgreaves, that puts
at defiance all the arts of surmgery."
"1 True —most true, my dear John," cried the
surgeon with warmth, and forgetting his displeasure; "it removes all the pleasure of a wound.
when you find it beyond the reach of science to
heal."
" I should think so," said Lawton, rather dryly.
" What do you think is the greatest pleasure in
life?" asked the operator suddenly, and with all
his confidence in his companion restored.
" That may be difficult to answer."
" Not at all," cried the surgeon; " it is in witnessing, or rather feeling, the ravages of diseast
repaired by the lights of science co-operating with
nature.  I once broke my little finger intentioaally,
in order that I might reduce the fracture and watch
the cure; it was only on a small scale, you know,
dear John; still I think the thrilling sensation, excited by the knitting of the bone, aided by the
contemplation of the art of man thus acting in uni.
son with nature, exceeded any other enjoyment
that I have ever experienced.  Oh! had it beelm
one of the more important members, auch as the
leg or arm, how much greater must the pleasure
have been."
" Or the neck," said the trooper; but their dis



THE SPY.                31 
course was interrupted by their arrival at thle cot,
tage of Mr. Wharton.  No one appe-aring to usher
them into an apartment, the Captain proceeded to
the door of the parlour, where he knew visiters
were commonly shown. On opening it, he paused
for a moment, in admiration at the scene within,
The person of Colonel Wellmere first met his eye,
bending forward towards the figure of the blushing Sarah, with an earnestness of manner, that prevented the noise of Lawton's entrance from being heard by either of the parties.  Certain significant signs, which were embraced at a glance by
the prying gaze of the trooper, at once made him
a master of their secret, and he was about to retire
as silently as he had advanced, when his companion, pushing himself through the passage, abruptly entered the apartment. Advancing instantly
to the chair of Wellnmere, the surgeon instinctively
laid hold of his armn, and exclaimed" Bless me-a quick and irregular pulse-flushed cheek and fiery eye-strong febrile symptoms.
and such as must be attended to."  While speaking, the doctor, who was much addicted to practising in a summary way, had already produced his
lancet, and made certain other indications of his
intentions to proceed at once to business. But
Colonel Wellmere, recovering friom the confusion
of the surprise, arose from his seat, rather haughtily, and said" Sir, it is the warmth of tihe room, that lends
iie the colour, and I am already too much indebted to your skill to give you any farther trouble;
Aliss Wharton knows that I am quite well, and I
do assure you that I never felt better or happ)ier
in my life."'There was a peculiar emphasis in the latter part
of this speech, that, however it might gratify the




316                 THI-I SPY.
feelings of Sarah, brought thle colour to her cheeks
with a redoubled brilliancy, and Sitgreaves, as his
eye followed the direction of those of his patient,
did not fail to observe it.
1" Your arm, if you please, madam," said the
surgeon promptly, advancing with a bow;   anxiety and watching have done their work on your delicate friame, and there are symptoms about you
that must not be neglected."
C Excuse me, sir," said Sarah, recovering herself with womanly pride; " the heat is oppressive,
and I will retire and acquaint Miss Peyton with
your presence."
There was but little difficulty in practising on
the abstracted sinlplicity of the surgeon; but it
was necessary for Sarah to raise her eyes to return the salutation of Lawton, as he bowed his
head to nearly a level with the hand that -held
open the door for her passage.  One look was sufficient; she was able to control her steps sufficiently to retire with dignity, but no sooner was she relieved from  the presence of all observers, than
she fell into a chair, and abandoned herself to a
feeling of mingled shame and pleasure.
A little nettled at the contumacious deportment
of the British colonel, Sitgreaves, after once more
tendering services that were agaiin rejected, withdr-ew to the chamber of young Singleton, whithe;
Lawton had already preceded him.




CHAPTER XXI.
"Oh I Henry, when thou deign'st to sue,
Canl 1 thy suit withstand?
When thou, lov'd youth, hast won my heart,
Can I refuse my hand?
Hlermtit of Wa -kzworth.
TIHE graduate of Edinburgh found his patient
rapidly improving in health, and  entirely  free
fiom fever.  His sister, with a cheek that was, if
possible, paler than on her arrival, watched around
his couch with vigilant care, and the ladies of the
cottage had not, in the midst of their sorrows and
varied emotions, forgotten to discharge the duties
of hospitality.  Frances felt herself impelled towards their disconsolate guest, with an interest for
which she could not account, and with a force that
she could not control.  She had unconsciously
connected the fates of Dunwoodie and Isabella in
her imagination, and felt, with all the romantic ardour of a generous mind, that she was serving her
former lover most, by exhibiting kindness to her
he loved best.  Isabella received her attentions
with a kind of vacant gratitude, but neither of them
indulged in any allusions to the latent source of
their uneasiness.  The observation of Miss Peyton seldom penetrated beyond things that were
visible, and to her the situation of Henry Wharton
seemed to furnish an awful excuse for the fading
cheeks and tearful eyes of her niece. If Sarah
manifested less of care than her sister, still the unpractised spinster was not at a loss to comprehend
the reason.  Love is a species of holy feeling with
27:




318               THE SPY.
the virtuous of the female sex, and seems to hallow all that comes within its influence. Although
Miss Peyton mourned with sincerity over the danger which threatened her nephew, still she indulged her eldest niece, with motherly kindness
in the enjoyment that chance had given to her early attachment. War; she well knew, was a dreadfill enemy to love, and the moments that were
thus granted to his votaries were not to be thrown
away.
Several days now passed without any interruption to the usual avocations of the inhabitants of
the cottage, or the party at the Four Corners.
T'he former were supporting their fortitude with
the certainty of Henry's innocence, and a strong
reliance on Dunwoodie's exertions in his behalf,
and the latter waiting with impatience the intelligence, that was hourly expected, of a conflict, and
their orders to depart.  Captain Lawton, however,
waited for both these events in vain. Letters from
his major announced that the enemy, finding the
party which was to co-operate with them had
been defeated, and was withdrawn, had retired also behind the works of Fort Washington, where
they continued inactive, but threatened momentarily to strike a blow in revenge for their disgrace.'The trooper was enjoined to vigilance, and the letter- concluded with a compliment to his honour,
zeal, and undoubted bravery.
" Extremely flattering, Major Dunwoodie," muttered the dragoon, as he threw down this epistle,
and stalked across the floor of his room  to quiet
his impatience. C A proper guard have you selected for this service; let me see-I have to
watch over the interests of a crazy, irresolute old
Inan, who does not know whether he belongs to us
or to the enemy; four women, three of whom are




TIHE SPY.              319
well enough in themselves, but who are not ilnmensely flattered by my society; and the fourth,
who, good as she is, is on the wrong side of forty;
some two or three blacks; a talkative housekeeper, that does nothing but chatter about gold and
despiseables, and signs and omens; and poor
George Singleton. —Ahi! well, a conirade in suffering has a claim on a man, next to his honour in
the field, and an engagement with his mistress-so
I'll make the best of it."'
As he concluded this soliloquy, the trooper took
a seat and began to whistle, to convince himself
how little he cared about the matter,  when, by
throwing his booted leg carelessly round, he upset
the canteen that held his whole stock of brandy.
The accident was soon repaired, but in replacing
the wooden vessel, he observed a billet lying on
the bench, on which the liquor had been placed.
It was soon opened, and he read-" The mzoon will
not rise till after midnight-a fit time for deeds of
darkrness."  There was no mistalking the hand;
it was clearly the same that had given him the
timely warning  against assassination, and  the
trooper continued, for a long time, musing on the
nature of these two notices, and the motives that
could induce the mysterious pedler to favour an
implacable enemy in the manner that he latterly
had done. That he was a spy of the enemy, Lawton knew, for the fact of his conveying intelligence to the English commander-in-chief, of a
party of Americans that were exposed to the enemy, was proved most clearly against him on the
trial for his life. The consequences of his treason
had been avoided, it is true, by a lucky order from
Washington, which withdrew the reginment a short
time before the British appeared to cut it off, but
still the crime was the same; peiraps, thought the




8'2 ~ 0             THE SPY.
partisan, lie wishes to make a friend of nce against
the event of another capture; but, at all events,
he spared my life on one occasion, and saved it on
another.  I will endeavour to be as generous as
himself, and pray that my duty may never interfere with my feelings.  Whether the danger, intimated in the present note, threatened the cottage
or his own party, the captain was uncertain, but he
inclined to the latter opinion, and determined to
beware how he rode abroad in the dark.  To a
man in a peaceable country, and in times of quiet
and order, the indifference with which the partisan
regarded the impending danger would be inconceivable.  His reflections on the subject were
more for devising means to entrap his enemies
than to escape their machinations.  But the arrival of the suroeon, who had been to pay his daily visit to the locusts, interrupted his meditations.
Sitgreaves brought an invitation firom the mistress
of the mansion to Captain Lawton, desiring that
the cottage might be honoured with his presence
at an early hour on that evening.
" What!"' cried the trooper, " then they have
received a letter also."~
" I think nothing' more probable,'" said the operator; " there is a chaplain at the cottage from the
royal army, who has come out to exchange the
British wounded, and who has an order'fiom Col.
Singleton for their delivery.   But a more mad
project than to remove themn now was never adopted1."
"4 A )riest, say you!-is he a hard drinker- a
real canmp-idler-a fellow to breed a famine in a
regiment? or does he seem a man who is in earnest in his trade?'
" A  very respectable and orderly gentleman,




THE sPY.               321
not at all given to intemperance, judging from the
outward symptoms," returned the surgeon; "' and
a man who really says grace in a very regular and
appropriate manner."'
" And does he stay the night?"
a Certainly, he waits for his cartel; but hasten,
John, we have but little time to waste. I will
just step up and bleed two or three of the Englishmen who are to move in the morning in order
to prevent inflammation, and be with you immediately."
The gala suit of Captain Lawton was easily adjusted to his huge frame, and his companion being
ready, they once more took their route towards
the cottage.  Roanoke had been as much benefited by a few days rest as his master, and Lawton
ardently wished, as he curbed his gallant steed, on
passing the well-remembered rocks, that his treacherous enemy stood before him, mounted and armed as himself. But no enemy, nor any disturbance
whatever, interfered with their progress, and they
reached the Locusts just as the sun was throwing
his setting rays on the valley, and tinging the tops
of the leafless trees with the colour of gold. It never required more than a single look, to acquain
#he trooper with the particulars of every scene that
was not uncommonly veiled, and the first survey
that he took on entering the house, told him more
than the observations of a day had put into the
possession of Dr. Sitgreaves. Mliss Peyton accosted him with a smiling welcomre, that exceeded the
bounds of ordinary courtesy, and which evidently
flowed more fiorm feelings that were connected
with the heart, than firom manner. Frances glided
about, tearful and agitated, while Mr. Wharton
stood ready to receive them, decked in a suit of
velvet, that would have been conspicuous in the




822               THE SPY.
gayest drawing rooms on the continent.  Coloncta
Wellmere was in the uniform )f an officer of the
household troops of his prince, and Isabella Singleton sat in the parlour, clad in the habilimentQ
of joy, but with a countenance that belied her ap
pearance; while her brother by her side, looked
with a cheek of flitting colour, and an eye of intense interest, like any thing but an invalid.  As
it was the third day that he had left his room, Dr.
Sitgreaves, who began to stare about him in stupid
wonder, forgot to reprove his patient for his imprudence. Into this scene, Captain Lawton moved
with all the composure and gravity of a man whose
nerves were not easily discomposed by novelties.
His compliments were received as graciously as
they were offered, and after exchanging a few
words with the different individuals in the rooln,
Ibe approached to where the surgeon had withdrawn in a kind of confused astonishment, to rally
his senses to the occasion.
cc John," whispered the surgeon, with awakened
curiosity, " what do you think.?"' That your wig and my black head would look
the better for a little of Betty Flanagan's best flour;
but it is too late now, and we must fight the battle
armed as you see. Why, Archibald, you and I
took like militiamen, flanked by those holyday
Frenchemen, who have come amongst us."
Observe,"  said  Sitgreaves, in  increasing
wonder, "here comes the army chaplain in his
full robes as a Doctor Divinitatis; what can it
mean?i"
A An exchange," said the trooper; " the wounded of Cupid are to meet and settle their accounts
zweith the god, in the way of plighting their faith to
suffer from his archery no mnore."
"' Oh!"' ejaculated the operator, laying his fin



THE SPY.                323
ger on the side of his nose, and for the first time
comprehending the case.
b Yes-oh!" muttered Lawton, in imitation;
when turning suddenly to his comrade, he said
fiercely, but in an under tone, " Is it not a crying
shame, that a sunshine-hero, and an enemy, should
thus be suffered to steal away one of the fairest
plants that grows in our soil-a flower fit to be
placed in the bosom of any man."
" You speak the truth, John; and if he be not
more accommodating as a husband, than as a patient, I fear me, that the lady will lead a troubled
life."
Let her," said the trooper, indignantly; " she
has chosen from her country's enemies, and may
she meet with a foreigner's virtues in her choice."
Their further conversation was interrupted by
Miss Peyton, who, advancing, acquainted them that
they had been invited to grace the nuptials of her
eldest niece and Col. Wellhere. The gentlemen
bowed in silence at this explanation of what they
already understood, and the good spinster', with an
inherent love of propriety, went on to add, that
the acquaintance was of an old date, and the attac hment by no means a sudden thing. To this
Lawton merely bowed, but the surgeon, who loved
to hold converse with the virgin, replied" That the human mind was differently consti
touted in different individuals. In some, impres
sions are vivid and transitory; in others, more
deep and lasting:-indeed, there are some philosophers who pretend to trace a connexion between
the physical and mental powers of the animal; but
for my part, madam, I believe that the one is much
influenced by habit and association, and the other
ubject to the laws of science."
Miss Pevton, in her tulrn bowed her silent as



324-               THE SPY
sent to this temark, and retired with dignity, to
usher the intended bride into the presence of the
company.  The hour had arrived when American
custom has decreed, that the vows of wedlock must
be exchanged; and Sarah, blushing with a variety
of emotions, followed her aunt to the withdrawing
room.  Wellmere sprang to receive the hand that
she extended towards him with an averted face,
and, for the first time, the English Colonel appeared conscious of the important part that he was to
act in the approaching ceremonies.  Hitherto his
air had been abstracted, and his manner uneasy
but every thing excepting the certainty of his bliss,
seemed to vanish at the blaze of loveliness, that
burst on his sight with the presence of his mistress.
All arose from their seats, and the reverend gentleman had already opened the volume in his hand,
when the absence of Frances was noticed: Miss
Peyton again withdrew in search of her youngest
niece, whom she found in her own apartment, andi
in tears.
"~ Come, my love, the ceremony waits but for
us,' said the aunt, affectionately entwining her arm
in that of her niece; " endeavour to compose yourself, that proper honour may be done to the choice
of your sister."
" Is he-can he be worthy of her?" cried Frances, in a burst of emotion, and throwing herself
into the arms of the spinster.
" Can he be otherwise?" returned Miss Peyton; " is he not a gentleman?-a gallant soldier,
though an unfortunate one? and certainly, my love,
one who appears every way qualified to make any
woman happy."
Frances had given vent to her feelings, and, with
an effort, she collected sufficient resolution to venture to join the expecting party below.  But to




VHE SPYr.              325
releive the emnbarrassment of this delay, the clergyman had put sundry questions to the bridegroom;
one of which was by no means answered to his
satisfaction.  Wellimere was compelled to acknowledge that he was unprovided with a ring; and to
perform the marriage ceremony without one, the
divine pronounced to be impossible.  His appeal
to Mr. Wharton for the propriety of this decision,
was answered affirmatively, as it would have been
negatively, had the question been put in a manner
to lead to such a result. The owner of the Locusts
had lost the little energy he possessed, by the
blow recently received through his son, and his
assent to the objection of the clergyman, was as
easily obtained, as his consent to the premature
proposals of WVellmere. In this stage of the dilemlma, Miss Peyton and Frances appeared.  The
surgeon of dragoons approached the former, and as
he handed her to a chair, observeda It appears, madam, that untoward circumstan
ces have prevented Colonel Wellmere from providing all of the decorations that custom, antiquity,
and the canons of the church, have prescribed as
indispensable to enter into the honourable state of
wedlock."
Miss Peyton glanced her quiet eye at the uneasy bridegroom, and perceiving him to be adorned with what she thought sufficient splendour, al.
lowing for the time and the suddenness of the occasion, she turned her look on the speaker with;,
surprise that demanded an explanation.
The surgeon understood her wishes, and pro.
oeeded at once to gratify them.
" There is," he observed, Can opinion prevalent, that the heart lies on the left side of the body,
and that the connexion between the memblers of
that side and what may be called the seat of life,
28




326                THE SPY.
is more intimate than that which exists with their
opposites. But this is an error that grows out of
an ignorance of the scientific arrangement of the
human frame.  In obedience to this opinion, the
fourth finger of the left hand is thought to contain
a virtue that belongs to no other of its class, and is
encircled, during the solemnization of wedlock
with a cincture or ring, as if to chain that affection
to the marriage state, which is best secured by the
graces of the female character."  While speaking,
the operator laid his hand expressively on his heart,
and bowed nearly to the floor as he concluded.
" I know not, sir, that I Lightly understand your
meaning," said Miss Peyton, with dignity, but suffering a slight vermilion to appear on a cheek that
had long lost that peculiar charm of youth.' A  ring, madam-a ring is wanting for the
ceremony."
The instant that the surgeon spoke explicitly,
the awkwardness of their situation was comprehended.  She glanced her eyes at her nieces, and
in the younger she read a secret exultation that
somewhat displeased her; but the countenance of
Sarah was suffused with a shame that the considerate aunt well understood.  Not for the world
would she violate any of the observances of female etiquette.  It suggested itself to all the females of the Wharton family, at the same moment,
that the wedding ring of their late mother and sister was reposing peacefully amid the rest of her
jewellery, in a secret receptacle that had been
provided at an early day, to secure the valuables
against the predatory inroads of the marauders who
roamed through the county. Into thishidden vault,
the plate, and whatever was most prized, made a
nightly retreat, and there the ring in question had
long lain, forgotten until at this momennt- But it




THE SPY.                327
was the business of the bridegroom, from time immemorial, to furnish this indispensable- to wedlock,
and on no account would Miss Peyton do any thing
that exceeded the usual courtesies of her sex on
this solemn occasion; certainly not until sufficient
expiation for the offence had been made, by a due
portion of trouble and disquiet.  The spinster,
therefore, retained the secret with a regard to decorum, Sarah through feeling, and Frances through
both, united to dissatisfaction at the connexion. It
was reserved for Dr. Sitgreaves to break the embarrassment of the party by again speaking:
" If, Madam, a plain ring, that once belonged to
a sister of my own"-   The operator paused a
moment, and hemmed once or twice; " if; Aadapm,
a ring of that description might be admitted to this
honour, I have one that could be easily produced
firom my quarters at the Corners, and I doubt not
it would fit the finger for which it is desi ad. There
is a strong resemblance between-hem —between
my late sister and Miss Wharton, in stature and
anatomical figure, and the proportions are apt to be
observed throughout the whole animal economy.('
A glance of Miss Peyton's eye recalled Colone.
Wellmere to a sense of his duty, and springing
from his chair, he assured the surgeon, that in no
way could he impose heavier obligations on himself than by sending for that very ring. The operator bowed a little haughtily, and withdrew to
fulfil his promise, by despatching a messenger on
the errand.  The spinster suffered him to retire;
but unwillingness to admit a stranger into the privacy of their domestic arrangements, induced her
to follow and tender the services of Caesar, instead
of Sitgreaves' man, who had been offered by Isabella for this duty; her brother, probably from bo
dily weakness, continued silent throughoalt thle




328               THE SPY.
whole evening. Katy Haynes was accordingly di
rected to summon the black to the vacant parlour,
and thither the spinster and surgeon repaired, to
give their several instructions.
The consent to this sudden union of Sarah and
Wellmere, and especially at a time when the life
of a member of the family was in such imminent
jeopardy, was given from a conviction, that the
unsettled state of the country would probably prevent another opportunity to the lovers of meeting,
and a secret dread on the part of Mr. Wharton,
that the death of his son might, by hastening his
own, leave his remaining children without a protector.  But notwithstanding Miss Peyton hadl
complied with her b rother's wish to profit by the
accidental visit of a divine, she had not thought it
necessary to blazoe. the intended nuptials of her
niece to the neighbourhood, had even time been
allowed: she thought, therefore, that she was now
communicating a profound secret to Caesar and her
housekeeper.
" Casar," she commenced, with a smile, c you
are now to learn, that your young mistress, Miss
Sarah, is to be united to Colonel Wellmere this
evening."'" No, no-I tink I see um afore," said Caesar
laughing and chuckling with inward delight, as he
shook his head with conscious satisfaction at his
own prescience; "u old black mlan tell when a young
lady talk all alone wid a gentle'umn in a parlour."
" Really, Caesar, I find I have never given you
credit for half the observation that you deserve,"
said the spinster, gravely;'"but as you already
know on what emerg(ency your services are required, listen to the directions of this gentleman,
and take care to observe them strictly."




THE SPY.                "'. 9
The black turned in quiet submission to the surgeon, who commenced as follows:
-' Casar, your mistress has already acquainted
you with the important event about to be solenimnized within this habitation; but a ring is wanting,
and by riding to the mess-house at the Four Corners, and delivering this billet to either Sergeant
Hollister, or to Mrs. Elizabeth Flanagan, it will
speedily be placed in your possession.  On its receipt, return hither; and fail not to use diligence
in both going and returning, for my patients will
shortly require my presence in the hospital, andt
Captain Singleton already suffers for the want of
rest."
By this time the surgeon had forgotten every
thing but what appertained to his own duties, and
rather unceremoniously left the apartment.  Curiosity, or perhaps an opposite feeling, delicacy, induced Miss Peyton to glance her eye on the opon
billet that Sitgreaves had delivered to the black,
where she read as follows:-it was addressed to
his assistant.
" If tim fever has left Kinder, give him nourishment.  Take three ounces more of blood from
Watson.  Htave a search made that the woman
Flanagan has left none of her jugs of alcohol in
the hospital. Renew the dressings of Johnson, and
dismiss Smith to duty. Send the ring, which is
pendent from the chain of the watch, that I left
with you to time the doses, by the bearer.
"ARCHIBALD SITGREAVES,) M. D.
Surgeon of Dragoons."
Miss Peyton yielded this singular epistle to the
charge of the black, in silent wonder, and with28 x




330                THE SPY.
drew, leaving Katy and Caesar to arrange tile de
parture of the latter.
6( Ctsar," said Katy, with imposing solemnity,
C' put the ring, when you get it, in your left pocket, that is nearest your heart; and by no means
endeavour to try it on your finger, for it is unlucky."
a1 Try um on a finger?" interrupted the negro,
stretching forth his bony knuckles; " tink a Miss
Sally's ring go on old Caesar finger?"
"'Tis not consequential whether it goes on or
not," said the housekeeper; "but it is an evil
omen to place a marriage ring on the finger of an
other after wedlock, and of course it may be dangerous before."
" I tell you, Katy," cried CPesar, a little indignantly, 6 I go fetch a ring and neber tink to put
um on a finger.."
Cc Go-go then, Cwesar," said Katy, suddenly
recollecting divers important items in the suppeu
that required  her attention; " and hurry back
again, and stop not for living soul."
With this injunction Cwesar departed, and was
soon firmly fixed in the saddle.  Fromnkis youth,
the lblack, like all of his race, had been a hard rider; but charged with a message of such importance, he moved at first with becoming dignity, but
bending under the weight of sixty winters, his African blood had lost some of its native heat.  The
night was dalrk, and the wind whistled through
the vale with the chilling dreariness of the blasts
of Novemiber.  By the time Casar reached the
grave-yard, that had so lately received the body
of the elder Birech, all the horrors of his situation
began to burst on the mind of the old man, and
he threw around him many a fearful glance, in




THE SPY.                *331
momentary expectation of seeing something superhuman.  There was barely light sufficient to
discern a being of earthly mould emerging into
the highway, and apparently from the graves of
the dead.  It is in vain that philosophy and reason
contend with our fears and early impressions;
but Caesar had neither to offer him their fi'ail support. He was, however, well mounted on a coachhorse of Mr. Wharton's, and clinging to the back
of the animal with  instinctive skill, he  abandoned the rein to the pleasure of the beast. Hillocks, woods, rocks, fences and houses, flew by
him with the rapidity of lightning, and the black
had just begun to think where and on what business it was, that he was riding in this headlong
manner, when hle reached the place where the
two roads met, and the " Hotel Flanagan" stood
in all its dilapidated simplicity.  The sight of a
cheerful fire through its windows first gave Caesar
a pledge that he had reached the habitation of
man, and with it came all his dread of the bloody
Virginians;-his duty must, however, be done
and dismounting, he fastened the foaming animal
to a fence, and approached the window with cautious steps, to listen and reconnoitre.
Before a blazing fire sat Sergeant Hollister and
Betty Flanagan, enjoying themselves over a liberal donation from the stores of the washerwoman
"a I tell yee, sargeant, dear," said Betty, remov
ing the mug from her mouth, a'tis no rasonable to think it was any thing more than the pidlar himself; sure now, where was the smell of sul
phur, and the wings, and the tail, and the cloven
foot?-besides, sargeant, its no dacent to tell
lone female that she had Beelzeboob for a bedfellow."




'$332              THE SPY.
" It matters but little, Mrs. Flanagan, provided
you escape his talons and fangs hereafter," returned the veteran, following his remark by a heavy
potation.
Caesar heard enough to convince him, that
danger to himself from this pair was but little to
be apprehended.  His teeth already began to
chatter with cold and terror, and the sight of the
comfort within stimulated him greatly to adventure to euter.  He made his approaches with proper caution, and knocked with extreme humility
at the door. The appearance of Hollister with a
drawn sword, roughly demanding who was without, contributed in no degree to the restoration of
his faculties; but fear itself lent him power to explain his errand.' Advance," said the sergeant, with military
promptness, and throwing a look of close scrutiny
on the black, as he brought him to the light; " advance, and deliver your despatches:-but stop,
have you the countersign?"
"I don't tink a know what he be," said the
black, shaking in his shoes.
" Who ordered you on this duty, did you say?"9
"c A tall massa, with a speckaele," returned Cam
sar; "c he came a doctering a Captain Singleton."
"o'Twas Doctor Sitgreaves; he never knows the
countersign himself. Now, blackey, had it been
Captain Lawton, he would not have sent you here,
close to a sentinel, without the countersign; for
you might get a pistol bullet through your head,
and that would be cruel to you, for although you
be black, I am none of them who thinks niggars
haven't no souls."
"I Sure a nagur has as much sowl as a white,"
said Betty; "1 come hither, ould man, and warm




THE SPY.                333
that shivering carcass of yeers by the blaze of this
fire. I'm sure a Guinea nagur loves heat as much
as a souldier loves his drop."
Caesar obeyed in silence, and a mulatto boy,
who was sleeping on a bench in the room, was
bidden to convey the note of the surgeon to the
building where the wounded were quartered.
"1Here," said the washerwoman, tendering to
Cesar a taste of the article that most delighted
herself, "try a drop, smooty,'twill warm  the
black sowl within your body, and be giving you
spirits as you are going homeward."
" I tell you, Elizabeth," said the sergeant, " that
the souls of niggars are the same as our own;
how often have I heard the good Mr. Whitfield
say, that there was no distinction of colour in hea
ven. Therefore it is reasonable to believe, that
the soul of this here black is as white as my own,
or even Major Dunwoodie's."
"Be sure he be," cried Caesar, a little tartly,
who had received a wonderful stimulus by tasting
the drop of Mrs. Flanagan.
" It's a good sowl that the major is, any way,"
returned the washerwoman; " and a kind sowlay, and a brave sowl too; and yee'll say all that
yeerself, sargeant, I'm thinking."
"For the matter of that," returned the veteran, " there is one above even Washington, to
judge of souls; but this I will say, that Major
Dunwoodie is a gentleman who never says, go,
boys-but always says come, boys; and if a poor
fellow is in want of a spur or a martingale, and
the leather-whack is gone, there is never wanting
the real silver to make up the loss, and that from
his own pocket too."
"  Why, then, are you here idle when all that
he holds most dear are in danger?" cried a voice




334               THE SPY.
with startling abruptness;' moulnt, mouliit; and
follow  your captain; aim  and mount, and that
instantly, or you will be too late."
This unexpected interruption produced an instantaneous confusion amongst the tipplers. Cesar
fled instinctively into the fire-place, where he
maintained his position in defiance of a heat that
would have roasted a white man.  Sergeant Hollister turned promptly on his heel, and seizing his
sabre, the steel was glittering in the fire-light, in
the twinkling of an eye;  but perceiving the
intruder to be the pedler, who stood near the
open door that led to the stoop in the rear, he
began to fall back towards the position of the
black, with a kind of military intuition which
taught him to concentrate his forces. Betty alone
stood her ground by the side of the temporary table.  Replenishing the mug with a large addition of the article known to the soldiery by the
name of "choke dog," she held it towards the
pedler.  The eyes of the washerwoman had for
some time been swimming with love and liquor.
and turning them good naturedly on Birch, she
cried" Faith, but yee're welcome, Mr. Pidlar, or
Mister Birch, or Mister Beelzeboob, or what's
yeer name. Yee're an honest divil any way, and
I'm hoping that you found the pitticoats conva
nient.  Come forward, dear, and fale the fire;
Sergeant Hollister won't be hurting you, for the
fear of an ill turn you may be doing him hereafter
-will yee, sargeant, dear?"
A Depart, ungodly man," cried the veteran,
edging still nearer to Caesar, but lifting his legs
alternately as they scorched with the heat, " depart in peace. There is none here for thy set
vice, and you seek the woman in vain.  Thlere is




THF, SPY.              3835
a tender mercy that will save her firom thy talons."'
The sergeant ceased to utter aloud, but the motion
of his lips continued, and a few scattering words
of prayer were alone to be heard.
The brain of the washerwoman was in such a
state of confusion, that she did not clearly comprehend the meaning of her lover, but a new idea
struck her imagination, and she broke forth"If it's me the man saaks, where's the matter,
pray; am I not a widowed body, and my own prope-rty? And you talk of tinderness, Sargeant, but
it's little I see of it any way; who knows but Mr.
Beelzeboob here is free to spake his mind? I'm
sure it is willing to hear that I am."'6Woman,"7 said the pedler, "be silent; and
you, foolish man, mount-arm  and mount, and
flee to the rescue of your officer, if you are worthy of the cause in which you serve, and would
not disgrace the coat that you wear."  The feelings of the pedler communicated to his manner the
oower of' eloquence, and he vanished from the sight
of the bewildered trio, with a rapidity that left
them uncertain whither he had fled.
On hearing the voice of an old friend, Caesar
emerged from his quarters, with a skin that was
glistening with moisture, and fearlessly advanced
to where Betty stood in a maze of intellectual confusion.
"' I wish a Harvey stop," said the black;   if
he ride down a road, I should like to go'long; —
don't tink Johnny Birch hurt a own son."
" Poor ignor ant wretch!"' exclaimed the veteran, recovering his voice with a long drawn
breath; " think you that figure was of flesh and
blood?"
" Harvey an't a berry fleshy," replied the black;
"but he berry clebber man."




336                THIE SPY.
" Pooh! sargeant dear," exclaimed the washer
woman, " talk rason for once, and mind what the
knowing one tells yee; call out the boys, and ride
a bit after Captain Jack; rimimber, darling, that
he told yee, the day, to be in readiness to mount
at a moment's warning."
" Ay, but not at a summons from the foul fiend.
Let but Captain Lawton, or Lieutenant Mason, or
Cornet Skipwith, say the word," cried the veteran,
"' and who is quicker in the saddle than I am?'
"Well, sargeant, how often is it that vee've
boasted to myself, that the corps was'nt a bit afeard
to face the divil?"
" No more be we, in bathfe array, and by daylight; but it's fool-hardy and irreverent to tempt
Satan, and on such a night as this; listen how the
wind whistles through the trees; and hark! theie
is the howling of evil spirits abroad."
"G I see him," said Cuesar, opening his eyes to a
width that might have embraced more than an
ideal form.
" Where?" interrupted the sergeant, again in
stinctively laying his hand on the hilt of his sabre.'N do-no,n" said the black, " I see a Johnny
Birch come out of he grave-Johnnly walk afore
ie buried."
" Ah! then he must have led an evil life indeed," said Hollister; "the blessed in spirit lie
quiet until the general muster at the last day, but
wickedness disturbs the soul in this life as well as
in that which is to come."
" And what is to come of Captain Jack?" cried
Betty, angrily; "a is it yeer orders that yee won't
mind, nor a warning given? I'll jist git my cart
and ride down and tell him that yee're afeard of a-~
dead man and Beezeboob; and it isn't succour he
tmay be expecting from yee.  I wonder who'll be




THE SPY.               337
the orde, ly of the troop, the morrow, then; —his
name won't be Hollister, any way."
c Nay, Betty, nay," said the sergeant, laying
his hand familiarly on her shoulder; " if there must
be riding to-night, let it be by him whose duty it
is to call out the men and set an example.  The
Lord have mercy, and send us enemies of flesh
and blood."
Another glass confirmed the veteran in a resolution that was only excited by a dread of his Captain's displeasure, and he proceeded to summon the
dozen men who had been left under his command.
The boy arriving with the ring, Caesar placed it
carefully in the pocket of his waistcoat next his
heart, and mounting, shut his eyes, seized his charger by the mane, and continued in a state of comparative insensibility, until the animal stopped at
the door of the warm  stable whence he had started.
The movements of the dragoons, being timed
to the o(rder of a march, were much slower, and
and made with a watchfulness that was intended
to gu~.r(l against surprise from the evil one him29




CHAPTER XXII.
" Be not your tongue thy own shame's orator;
Look sweet, speak fair, become disloyalty;
Apparel vice like virtue's harbinger."
Comedy of Errors.
TI-E  situation of the party in Mr. Wharton's
dwelling was  sufficiently awkward, during the
short hour of Caesar's absence; for such was the
astonishing rapidity displayed by his courser, that
the four miles of road was gone over, and the
events we have recorded had occurred, somewhat
within that period of time.  Of course, the gentlemen strove to make the irksome moments fly as
swiftly as possible; but premeditated happiness is
certainly of the least joyous kind.  The bride and
bridegroom, from a variety of reasons, are privileged to be dull, and but few of their friends seemed disposed, on the present occasion, to dishonour
their example.  The English Colonel exhibited a
proper portion of uneasiness at this unexpected interruption to his felicity, and sat with a varying
countenance by the side of Sarah, who seemed to
be profiting by the delay, to gather fortitude for the
solemn ceremony. In the midst of this embarrassing silence, Dr. Sitgreaves addressed himself to
liss Peyton, by whose side he had contrived to
procure a chair.
" Marriage, madam, is pronounced to be honourable in the sight of God and man: and it may
be said to be reduced, in the present age, to the
la-ws of nature and reason.  The ancients, in sanc



THE SPY.               339
tioning polygamy, lost sight of the provisions of
nature, and condemned thousands to misery; but
with the increase of science have grown the wise
ordinances of society, which ordain that man
should be the husband of but one woman."
Wellmere glanced a fierce expression of disgust
at the surgeon, that indicated his sense of the tediousness of the other's remarks; while the spinster, with a slight trembling at touching on forbidden subjects, replied with an extremely dignified
inclination of her body" I had thought, sir, that we were indebted to
the Christian religion for our morals on this subject."
a True, madam," replied the operator; "it is
somewhere provided in the prescriptions of the
apostles, that the sexes should henceforth be on
an equality in this particular. But in what degree
could polygamy affect holiness of life? Certainly
it was a scientific arrangement of Paul, who was
much of a scholar, and probably had friequent conferences on this important subject with Luke, whom
we all know to have been bred to the practice of
medicine."
To this profound discussion the spinster made
no other reply than another bend of her body,
that would have struck an ordinary man dumb;
but Captain Lawton, placing the point of his
sheathed sabre on the floor, folded his hands across
the hilt, and leaning his chin thereon, threw singular glances, with his searching eyes, alternately
firom the surgeon to the bridegroom.
"' Yet this practice still prevails," said the trooper; ": and in those very countries where it was
first abolished by the Christian code. PIray, Colonel Wellmere, in what manner is bigamy punished
in England?"




340                THE SPY.
Thus addressed, the bridegroom raised his eyes
to the countenance of the other, but they quickly
sunk again under the pryin.g look they encountered; an effort banished the tremour ftom his lip,
and restored some of the colour to his cheek, as he
replied" Death!-as such an offence merits."
"1 Death and dissection,' continued the opera
tor; " it is seldom that the law loses sight of even -
tual utility in a malefactor.  Bigamy in a man is
certainly a most heinous offence."'
"' More so, think you, than celibacy?" asked
Lawton, a little archly.
"Even so," returned the surgeon, with undisturbed simplicity; " he who remains in a single
state may devote his life to science and the extension of knowledge, if not of his species; but
the wretch who profits by the constitutional tendency of the female sex to credulity and tenderness, incurs all the wickedness of a positive sin,
heightened by the baseness of deception in its execution."
" Really, sir, the ladies are infinitely obliged to
you, for attributing folly to them as par't of their
nature."
C" Captain Lawton, in man the animal is more
nobly formed than in woman.  The nerves are
endowed with less sensibility; the whole frame is
less pliable and yielding; is it, therefore, surprising, that a tendency to rely on the faith of her
partner is more natural to woman than to the
other sex?"
Wellmere, unable at this moment to listen with
any degree of patience to the dialogue, sprung
from his seat and paced the floor in disorder.
P itying his situation, the reverend gentleman, who,
in his robes, was patiently awaiting the return of




TIHE SPY.              341
Cesar, changed the discourse, and a few minutes
brought the black himself. The billet was handed to Dr. Sitgreaves; for Miss Peyton had expressly enjoined Casar, not to implicate her in any
manner in the errand on which he was despatched.
The note contained a summary statement of the
several subjects of the surgeon's directions, and
referred him' to the black for the ring; it was in
stantly demanded, and promptly delivered. A
transient look of melancholy crowded the brow
of the operator, as he stood a moment, and gazed
silently on the bauble; nor did he remember the
place, or the occasion, while he soliloqliized as fol
lows:
"' Poor Anna! gay as innocence and youth could
make you was thy heart, when this cincture was
formed to grace thy nuptials; but ere the hour had
come, God had taken you to himself. Years have
passed, my sister, but never have I forgotten the
companion of my infancy?" he advanced to Sarah,
and, unconscious of observation, placing the ring
on her finger, continued, " she for whom it was
intended has long been in her grave, and the youth
who bestowed the gift soon followed her sainted
spirit; take it, madam, and.God grant that it may
be an instrument in making you as happy as you
deserve to be."
Sarah felt an unaccountable chill at her heart,
as this burst of feeling escaped from the surgeon;
but Wellmnere offering his hand, she was led before
the divine, and the ceremony began. The first
words of this imposing office produced a dead stillness in the apartment; and the minister of God
proceeded to the solemn exhortation, and witnessed the plighted troth of the parties, when the investiture with the ring was to follow. It had been
left, from inadvertency, and the agitation of the
~t.




342               THE SPY,
moment, where Sitgreaves had placed it; —a slight
interruption was occasioned by the circumstance,
and the clergyman was about to proceed, when a
figure glided into the midst of the party, that at
once put a stop to the ceremony. it was the pedler.  His sunken and cowering eye no longer
avoided the look of others, but glared wildly
around him; and his whole frame was agitated by
an exertion that had shaken even his iron nerves.
But all these emotions passed away like shadows
from a fleeting cloud, and assuming a look of deep
humility, and habitual respect, he turned to the
bridegroom, and bowing low, said" Can Colonel Wellmere waste the precio-us
moments here, when his wife has crossed the ocean
to meet him? The nights are long, and the moon
bright; —a few hours riding would take him to the
city."
Aghast at the suddenness of this extraordinary
address, Wellmere for a moment lost the command
of his faculties.  To Sarah, the countenance of
Birch, wild and agitated as it was, produced no
terror; but the instant she recovered from the surprise of his interruption, she turned her anxious
gaze on the features of the man to wrhom she had
iust pledged herself for life. They afforded the
most terrible confirmation of all that the pedler atfirmed; the room whirled round with her, and she
fell lifeless into the arms of her aunt. There is an
instinctive delicacy in woman, that for a time seems
to conquer all other emotions, however powerful,
and through its impulse, the insensible bride was
immediately conveyed fisom sight by her friends,
and the parlour was occupied only by the wondering group of men.
The confusion of the fall of Sarah enabled the
pedler to retreat with a rapidily that would have




THE SPY.               3413
haffled pursuit, had any been attempted, and Wellmere stood with all eyes fixed on him in ominous
silence.
"'Tis false-'tis false as hell!" he cried, striking
his hand to his forehead. " I have ever denied
her claim; nor will the laws of my country compel me to acknowledge it."
" But will not conscience and the laws of God?"
asked Lawton.
Before Wellmere could reply, Singleton, who
had hitherto been supported by his servant, moved
into the centre of the circle, and with cheeks
glowing with animation, and eyes that hashed fire,
exclaimed —
" Thus is it ever with your nation, proud Englishman; your boasted honour, where is it? obligatory only among yourselves. But have a care,'
striking the hilt of his sabre,  each daughter of
America has a claim on the protection of her sons.
and there are none so helpless, but a countryman
can be found to avenge her injuries, or redress her
wrongs."'Tis well, sir," said Wellmere, haughtily, and
retreating towards the door-"- your situation protects you now: but a time may come-"
He had reached the entry, when a slight tap on
his shoulder caused him to turn his head;-it was
Captain Lawton, who, with a smile of peculiar
meaning, beckoned to him to follow. The state
of Wellmere's mind was such, that he would gladly have gone any where to avoid the gaze of horror and detestation that glared from every eye he
met.  They reached the stables before the trooper
spoke, when he cmried aloud-' Bring out Roanoke."'
His man appeared with the steed caparisoned as
when ready for its master; and LawtonJ, coolly




344               THE SPY.
throwing the bridle on the neck of the animal, took
his pistols from the holsters, and continued, " You
said truly, Colonel Wellmere, when you pronounced
George Singleton unfit for combat; but here are
weapons that have seen good service before today-ay, and in honourable hands, sir. These
were the pistols of my father, Colonel Wellmere;
he used them with credit in the wars with France,
and gave them to me to fight the battles of my
country with. In what better way can I serve her
thanh in exterminating a wretch who would have
blasted one of her fairest flowers?"
"' This injurious treatment shall meet with its
reward," cried the Englishman, seizing the offered
weapon eagerly; "; and the blood lie on the head
of him who sought it."
" Amen!" said Lawton; "' but hold a moment.
sir. You are now free, and the passports of Washington are in your pocket; I give you the fire; if
I fall there is a steed that will outstrip pursuit; ana
I would advise you to retreat without much delay,
for even Archibald Sitgreaves would fight in such
a cause-nor will the guard above be very apt to
give quarter."
Go Are you ready?" asked Welmere, gnashiag
his teeth with rage.' Stand forward, Tom, with the lights;-fire!"
Wellmere fired, and the bullion flew from the
epaulette of the trooper, in fifty pieces.
" Now, then, the turn is mine," said Lawton,
deliberately, and levelling his pistol.
" And mine!" shouted a voice, as the weapon
was struck from his hand; " can you find nothing
to do but to shoot at a man, as if he was a turkey
at a Christmas match? By all the devils in hell,'tis the mad Virginian-fall on, my boys, and take
him; this is a prize not hoped for.'




THE SPY.               345
Unarmed, and surprised as he was, Lawton's
presence of mind did not desert himn; he felt that
he was in the hands of those from whom he was to
expect no mercy; and as four of the skinners fell
upon him at once, he used his gigantic strength to
the utmost.  Three of the band grasped him by
the neck and arms, with an intent to clog his efforts, and pinion him with ropes. The first of these
he threw fromn him with a violence that sent him
against the building, where he lay for a moment
stunned with the blow. But the fourth seized his
legs, and unable to contend with such odds, the
trooper came to the earth, bringing with him both
of his assailants. The struggle on the ground was
short, but terrific;-curses, and the most dreadful
imprecations, were uttered by the skinners, who
in vain called on three more of their band, who
were gazilg on the combat in nerveless horror, to
assist in securing their prize. A difficulty of breathing, from one of the combatants, was heard, accompanied by the stifled moanings of a strangled
man; and directly one of the- group arose on his
feet, shaking himself free from the wild grasp of
the others. Both Wellmere and the servant of
Lawton had fled; the former to the stables, and
the latter to give the alarm-and all was darkness.
The figure that stood erect sprang into the saddle
of the unheeded charger; sparks of fire, from the
armed feet of the horse, gave light enough to discovet the trooper dashing like the wind towards
the highway.
" By hell he's off!" cried the leader, hoarse with
rage and exhaustion  " fire!-bring him downfire, I say, or you'll be too late."
The order was obeyed, and one moment of awful suspense followed, in the vain hope of hearing
the huge firame of Lawton tumbling from his steed




3-6                ThE SPY.
c" He'd never fall, if you had killed him," inut
teIed one; "I've known them Virginians sit their
horses with two or three balls through them; ay,
even after they were dead."
A freshening of the blast wafted the tread of a
horse dvown the valley, which, by its speed, gave
assurance of a rider governing its motion.
"C Them  trained horses al.wNays stop when the
rider falls," observed one of the gang.
" Then," cried the leader, striking his musket
on the ground in a rage, " the fellow is safe!-to
your business at once. A short half hour will bling
down that canting sergeant and the guard upon us.'Tis lucky if the guns don't turn them out. Quick,
to your posts, and fire the house in the chambers;
smoking ruins are good to cover evil deeds."
"' What is to be done with this lump of earth?"
cried another, pushing the body that yet lay insensible, where the grasp of Lawton had deprived it
of animation; G" a little rubbing would bring him
to."
" Let him lie,"' said the leader, fiercely; " had
he been half a man, that dragooning rascal would
have been in my power;-enter the house, I say,
and fire the chambers.  We can't go amiss here;there is plate and money enough to make you all
gentlemen-yes, and revenge too."
The idea of silver in any way was not to be resisted; and, leaving their companion, who began
to show faint signs of life, they rushed tumultu.
ously towards the dwelling.  Wellmere availed
himself of the opportunity, and, stealing from the
stable with his own charger, was able to gain the
highway unnoticed. For an instant he hesitated,
whether to ride towards the p)int where he knew
the guard was stationed, and endeavour to rescue
the family, or, profiting by his liberty, and the ex



THE SPY.               347
change that had been effected by the divine, to
seek the royal army.  Shame, and the consciousness of guilt, determined him  to take the latter
course, and he rode towards New-York, stung with
the reflection of his own baseness, and harassed
with the apprehension of meeting with an enraged
woman, that he had married during his late visit
to England, bcit whose claims, so soon as his passion was sated, he had resolved never willingly to
admit. In the tumult and agitation of the moment,
the retreat of Lawton and Wellmere was but little
noticed; the condition of Mr. Wharton, and the
exhaustion that succeeded the excitement of George
Singleton, demanding the care and consolation of
both the surgeon and the divine. The report of
the fire-arms first roused the family to the sense
of a new danger, and but a minute elapsed before
the leader, and one more of the gang, entered the
room.
"c Surrender! you servants of King Georgc,"'
shouted the leader, presenting his musket to the
breast of Sitgreaves, " or I will let a little of your
tory blood from your veins."
" Gently-gently, my friiend," said the surgeon;
" you are doubtless more expert in inflicting
wounds than in healing them; the weapon that
you hold so indiscreetly is extremely dangerous to
animal life."' Yield, then, or take its contents," exclaimed
the other.
" Why and wherefore should I yield?-I am a
practitioner of medicine, and a non-combatant. The
articles of capitulation must be arranged with Captain John Lawton, though yielding, I believe, is
not a subject on which you will find him particularly complying."
The fellow had by this time taken such a sur




348                THE SPY.
vey of the group, as convinced him that little dan
ger was to be apprehended from resistance, and,
eager to seize his share of the plunder, he dropped
his musket, and was soon busy, with the assistance
of one of his men, in arranging divers articles of
plate in bags, so that it would be in the most convenient situation to accompany them in their retreat. The cottage now presented a most singular
spectacle;-the ladies were gathered around Sarah, who yet continued insensible, in one of the
rooms that had escaped the notice of the marauders. Mr. Wharton sat in a state of perfect imbecility, listening to, but not profiting by, the words
of comfort that fell from the lips of the clergyman,
who soon became too much terrified with the scene
to offer them. Singleton was lying on a sofa,
shaking with debility, and inattentive to surrounding objects; while the surgeon was administering
restoratives, and looking at the dressings, with a
coolness that mocked the tumult.  Caesar, and the
attendant of Captain Singleton, had retreated to the
wood in the rear of the cottage, and Katy Haynes
was flying about the building, busily employed in
forming  a bundle of valuables, from which, with
the most scrupulous honesty, she rejected every
article that was not really and truly her own.
But to return to the party at the Four Corners.
When the veteran had got his men mounted and
under arms, a restless desire to participate in the
glory and dangers of the expedition, came over tthe
washerwoman.  Whether she was impelled to the
undertaking by a dread of reinaining alone, or a
wish to hasten in pelrson to the relief of her fivourite, we will not venture to assert; but, as Hollister was willingly giving the orders to wheel and
march, the voice of Betty was heard, exclaiming-'" Stop a bit, sargeant dear, till two of the boys




THE SPY.               349
git out the cart, and I'll jist ride wia yee;'tis like
there'll be wounded, and it will be mighty convanient to bring them home in."
Although inwardly much pleased with any cause
of delay to a service that he so little relished,
Hollister affected some displeasure at the detention, and replied" Nothing but a cannon ball can take one of my
lads from his charger, and it's not very likely that
we shall have as fair fighting as cannon and nmusketry, in a business of the evil one's.inventing; so,
Elizabeth, you may go if you will, but the cart
will not be wanting."9' "Now, sargeant deal, you lie, any way,"' said
Betty, who was somewhat unduly governed by her
potations; " and wasn't Captain Singleton shot off
his horse but tin days gone by? ay, and Captain
Jack himself too; and didn't he lie on the ground,
face uppermost, and back downwards, loo-king
grim? and didn't the boys tink him dead, and turn
and lave the rig'lars the day?'"
" You lie back again," cried  the sergeant,
fiercely: "1 and so does any one who says that we
didn't gain the day."
" For a bit or so-only I mane for a bit or so,"
said the washerworman; "but Major Dunwoodie
turn'd you, and so you lick'd the rig'lars. But the
Captain it was that fell, and I'm  thinking that
there's no better rider going; so, sargeant, it's the
cart that will be convanient.  Here, two of you,
jist hitch the mare to the tills, and it's no whiskey
that yee'll be wanting the morrow; and put the
piece of Jinny's hide under the pad; the baste is
never the better for the rough ways of the county
iWest Chester." The consent of the sergeant being obtained, the equipage of Mrs. Flanagan was
soon in readiness to receive its burthen.
30




.:50               THE SPY.
"'.As it is quite uncertain whether we shali be
attacked in fiont or rear," said Hlollister, " five of
you shall march in advance, and the remainder
shall cover our retreat towards the barrack, should
we be pressed.'Tis an awful moment to a man
of little learning, Elizabeth, to command in such
a service; for my part, I wish devoutly that one
of the officers were here; but my trust is in the
Lord."
" Pooh! man, away wid yee," said the washerwoman, who had got herself comfortably seated;
"c the divil a bit of an inimy is there near. March
on hurry-sklurry, and lit the mare trot, or it's but
little that Captain Jack will thank yee for the
help."'L Although unlearned in matters of communicating with spirits, or laying the dead, Mrs. Flanagan," said the veteran, c I have not served through
the old war, and five years in this, not to know
how to guard the baggage.  Doesn't Washington
always cover the baggage? I am not to be told
my duty by a camp follower.  Fall in as you are
ordered, and dress."
" Well, march any way," cried the impatient
washerwoman; "c the black is there already, and
it's tardy the captain will think yee."
"o Are you sure that it was really a black man
that brought the order?" said the sergeant, dropping in between the platoons, where he could converse with Betty, and was equally at hand to lead
either way.
"C Nay," said the washerwoman, " and IHm sure
of nothing, dear.  But why don't the boys prick
their horses and jog a trot; the mare is mighty
unasy, and it's no warm  in this cursed valley,
riding as much like a funeral party as old rags is
to continental."




THE SPY.                351
"Fairly and softly, ay, and prudently, Mrs.
Flanagan,' said the veteran;   it's not rashness
that makes the good officer.  If it is a spirit that
we have to encounter, it's more than likely that
he'll make his attack by surprise; horses are not
very powerful in the dark, and I have a character
to lose, good woman."
"1 Garactur!" echoed Betty, "C and isn't caractur and life too, that Captain Jack has to lose?"
" Halt!" cried the sergeant; " what is that
lurking near the foot of the rock, on the left?"' Sure, it's nothing," said the uneasy washerwoman, " unless it be matter of Captain Jack's
sowl that's come to haunt yee, for not being brisker on the march."
"' Betty, Otis foolishness to talk in such a way.
Advance, one of you, and reconnoitre the spotdraw swords!-rear rank, close to the front!"
"' Pshaw!i" shouted Betty, "; is it a big fool or a
big coward that yee are? jist wheel from the road,
boys, and I'll shove the mare down upon it in the
twinkling of an eye-and it's no ghost that I fear."
By this time, one of the men had returned,
and declared there was nothing to prevent their advancing, and the party continued their march, btlt
with great deliberation and caution.
" Courage and prudence are the jewels of a soldier, Mrs. Flanagan," said the sergeant; " and
without the one) the other may be said to be good
for nothing."
" Prudence without courage," cried the other,
" is it that you mane?-and it's so that I'm thinking myself, sargeant.  This baste pulls tight on
the reins, any way."
"c Be patient, good woman-hark! what is that?"~
said Hollister, pricking up his ears at the report
of Wellmere's pistol; " I'll swear'tis a pistol, and




352               THE SPY.
one from our regiment.-HIark! rear rank cose to
the front!-Mrs. Flanagan, I Inust leave you." So
saying, having recovered all his faculties, by hearing a martial sound that he understood, he placed
himself at the head of his men with an air of military pride, that the darkness prevented the washerwoman from beholding. A volley of musketry
now rattled in the night wind, and the sergean
exclaimed" March! —quick time!"
The next instant the trampling of a horse was
heard coming up the road, at a rate that announced a matter of life or death; and Hollister again
halted his party, and rode a short distance in front
himself to meet the rider.
" Stand! —who goes there?" shouted Hollister,
in the full tones of manly resolution.' Ha i Hollister, is it you?" cried Lawton,' ever
ready and at your post; but where is the guard?1"
" At hand, sir, and ready to follow you through
thick and thin,"' said the veteran, relieved at once
from his responsibility, and now eager to be led
against his enemy.'Tis well:,' said the trooper, riding up to his
men; and, speaking a few words of encourage
ment, he led them  down the valley at a rate bu
little less rapid than his approach. The miserable
horse of the sutler was soon distanced, and Betty,
thus thrown out in the chase, turned to the side of
the road, and observed" There-it's no difficult to tell that Captain
Jack is wid'emn, any way; and it's the funeral that's
soon over now; and away they go like so many
nagur boys to a husking-friolick;-well, I'll jist
litch the mare to this bit of a fence, and walk down
and see the sport, a-foot-it's no reasonable to expose the baste to be hurted."




THE SPY.                353
Led on by Lawton, the men followed, destitute
alike of fear and reflection.  Whether it was a
party of the refugees, or a detachment firomn the
royal army, that they were to assail, they were
profoundly ignorant; but they knew that the officer in advance was distinguished for courage and
personal prowess, and these are virtues that are
sure to captivate the thoughtless soldiery.  On arriving near the gate of the Locusts, the trooper
halted his party, and made his arrangements for
the assault.  Dismounting, he ordered eight of his
men to follow his example, and turning to Hollister, said —' Stand you here, and guard the horses; but if
any thing attempts to pass, stop it or cut it down,
and —"  The flames at this moment burst through
the dormant windows and cedar roof of the cottage,
and a bright light glared on the darkness of the
night.  " On," shouted the trooper, o" on-give
quarter when you have done justice."
There was a startling fierceness in the voice
of the trooper that reached to the heart, even amid
the horrors of' the cottage.  The leader of the
skinners dropped his plunder, and, for a moment,
stood in nerveless dread; then rushing to a Twin
dow, he threw up the sash; —at this instant Lawton entered, sabre in hand) into the apartment.
"' Die, miscreant!" cried the trooper, cleaving
the other marauder to the jaw, but the leader
sprang into the lawn, and escaped his vengeance.
The shrieks of the appalled females restored Lawton to his presence of mind, and the earnest entreaty of the divine induced him to attend to the
safety of the family.  One more of the gang fell
in with the dragoons, and met with a similar fate,
but the remainder had taken the alarm in season
to escape.  Occupied with Sarah, neither Miss
30 "




354                THE SPY.
Singleton, nor the ladies of the house, discovered
the entrance of the skinners, while the flames were
raging around them with a fury that threatened the
building with rapid destruction.  The shrieks of
Katy, and of the terrified consort of Caesar, together with the noise'and uproar in the adjacent
apartment, first roused Miss Peyton and Isabella to
a sense of their danger.
"a Merciful Providence!" exclaimed the alarmed
spinster; "there is a dreadful confusion in the
house, and there will be bloodshed in consequence
of this affair."
" There are none to fight," returned Isabella,
with a face paler than that of the other;' Dr.
Sitgreaves is very peaceable in his disposition, and
surely Captain Lawton would not forget himnself
so far."
"' The southern temper is quick and fiery," continued Miss Peyton; " and your brother, feeble
and weak as he is, has looked the whole afternoon
flushed and-angry."
- " Good Heaven!" cried Isabella, with difficulty
supporting herself on the couch of Sarah; " he is
gentle as the lamb by nature, though the lion is
not his equal when roused."
c' We must interfere," said the spinster; " our
presence will quell the tumult, and possibly save
the life of a fellow creature."
Miss Peyton was excited to attempt what she
conceived was a duty worthy of her sex and nature, and she advanced with all the dignity of injured female feeling to the door, followed by Isabella, whose energy had returned, and whose eye,
by its sparkling brilliancy, announced a soul equal
to its task.  The apartment to which Sarah had
been conveyed was in one of the wings of the
building, and communicated nv th the principal hali




THE SPY.                355
of the cottage by a long, and, usually, dark passage. This was now light, and across its ternmination several figures were noticed, rushing with
an impetuosity that prevented an examination of
their employment.
" Let us advance,"' said the spinster, with a firmness that her face belied: "' they surely must respect our sex."
C They shall,"s' cried Isabella, taking the lead in
the enterprise; and Frances was left alone with
her sister. A few minutes were passed in silence
by the maid, as she stood earnestly gazing on the
pale countenance of Sarah, watching her reviving
looks with an anxiety that prevented her observing
the absence of her friends, when a loud crash in
the upper apartments was succeeded by a bright
light that glared through the open door, and made
objects as distinct to the eye as if they were placed
under a noon-day sun. Sarah raised herself on
her bed, and staring wildly around, pressed both
her hands on her forehead, as if endeavouring to
recollect events, and then smiling vacantly on her
sister, said" This, then, is heaven-and you are one of its
bright spirits.  Oh! how glorious is its radiance 
I had thought the happiness I have lately experienced was too much for earth. But we shall meet
again-yes-yes-we will meet again."
" Sarah! Sarah!" cried Frances, in terror; " my
sister-my only sister-Oh! do not smile so horridly: know me, or you will break my heart."
" Hush," said Sarah, raising her hand for silence;
" you miay disturb his rest-surely he will follow
me to the grave. Think you there can be two
wives in the grave?-No-no —no —cne-oneone-only one."




356                THE SPY.
Frances dropped her head into the lap of her
sister, and wept in agony.
" Do you shed tears, sweet angel?" continued
Sarah, soothingly; " then heaven is not exempt
from grief. But where is Henry?  He was exeeuted, and he must be here too; but perhaps they
will come together. Oh, how joyful will be the
meeting!")
Frances sprang on her feet, and paced the apartment in a bitterness of sorrow  that she could not
control.  The eye of Sarah followed her in childish admiration of her beauty, and her attire, which
had been adapted to the occasion, and then pressing her hand across her forehead, she said~ You look like my sister; but all good and
lovely spirits are alike.  Tell me, were you ever
married? Did you ever let another, and a stranger, steal your affections from your father, and
brother, and sister, as I have done? If not, poor
wretch, I pity you, although you may be in heaven."'
" Sarah-peace, peace-I implore you to be
silent," shrieked Frances, again rushing to her bed,
" or you will kill nme at your feet."
Another dreadful crash was heard, that shook
the building to its centre.  It was the falling of the
roof, and the flames threw their light abroad, so as
to make objects visible around the cottage through
the windows of the room.  Frances flew to one
of them, and saw the confused group that was collected on the lawn.  Among them were her aunt
and Isabella, pointing with distraction to the fiery
edifice, and apparently urging the dragoons, who
were near them, to enter it.  It was the first tinme
the maid comprehended their danger, and uttering
a wild shriek, she flew through the passage instiiietively, without consideration or object.




THE siPY.              357
A dense and suffocating column of smoke opposed her progress. She paused to breathe, when
a man caught her in his arms, and bore her, in a
state of insensibility, through the falling embers
and darkness to the open air. The instant that
Frances recovered her recollection, she perceived
that it was to Lawton she owed her life, and throwing herself on her knees before him, she cried" Sarah! Sarah! Sarah! Save my sister, and
nay the blessing of God await you."
Hier strength failed her, and she sunk on the
grass in insensibility. The trooper pointed to her
figure, and motioned to Katy for assistance, and
then advanced once more near to the building.
The fire had already communicated to the woodwork of the piazzas and windows, and the whole
exterior of the cottage was covered with smoke.
The only entrance was through these dangers, and
even the hardy and impetuous Lawton paused to
consider.  It was for a momraent only, and he dashed into the heat and darkness, where, missing the
entrance, he wandered for a minute, and precipitated himself back again upon the lawn. Drawing a single breath of pure air, he renewed the effort, and was again unsuccessful; but on a third
trial, he met a man staggering under the load of a
human body. It was neither the place, nor was
there time, to question or to make distinctions, and
the trooper caught both together in his arms, and,
with gigantic strength, bore them  through the
smoke. He soon perceived, to his astonishment,
that it was the surgeon and the body of one of the
skinners that he had saved.
" Archibald!" he exclaimed, Cwhy, in the name
of justice, did you bring this dead miscreant to
light again? His deeds are rank to heaven!"'
The operator was too much bewildered to reply




358               THE SPY.
instantly, but wiping the moisture from his forehead, and clearing his lungs from the vapour that
le had inhaled, he said, piteously" Ah! it is all over. Hfad I been in time to
have stopped the effusion from the jugular, he
might have been saved; but the heat was conducive to hemorrhage; yes, life is extinct indeed.
Well, are there any more wounded?"
His question was put to the air, for Frances
was removed to the opposite side of the building,
where her friends were collected, and Lawton
once more had disappeared in the smoke.
By this time the flames had dispersed much
of the suffocating vapour, so that the trooper was
able to find the door, and in its very entrance he
was met by a man supporting the insensible Sarah
in his arms. There was but barely time to reach
the lawn again, before the fire broke through all
the windows, and wrapped the whole building in a
single sheet of flame.
"' God be F;raised," ejaculated the preserver of
Sarah; "it would have been a dreadful death to
have died."
The trooper turned from gazing at the edifice, to
the speaker, and, to his astonishment, instead of
one of his own men, beheld the pedler.
" Ha! the spy," he exclaimed: "By heavens!.
you cross me like a spectre."
" Captain Lawton," said Birch, leaning in momentary exhaustion against the fence to which
they had retired from the heat, " I am again in
your power, for I can neither flee nor resist."
"The cause of America is dear to me as life,"
said the trooper; but she cannot require me to
forget both gratitude and honour. Fly, unhappy
man, while yet you are unseen by mny men, or I
cannot save you."




THE SPY.               359'May God prosper you, and make you victorious over your enemies," cried Birch, grasping the
hand of the dragoon with an iron strength that his
meagre figure did not indicate.' Hold!" said Lawton, "but a word-are you
what you seem?-can you-are you-"
" A royal spy," interrupted Birch, averting his
face, and endeavouring to release his hand.
" Then go, miserable wretch," said the trooper,
relinquishing his grasp; " either avarice or delusion
has led a noble heart astray."
The bright light from the flames reached to a
great distance around what was left of the building, but the words were hardly passed the lips of
Lawton, before the gaunt form of the pedler had
glided over the visible space, and plunged into the
darkness beyond, which was rendered more gloomy
by the contrast.
The eye of Lawton rested for a moment on the
spot where he had last seen this inexplicable man,
and then turning to the yet insensible Sarah, he
lifted her in his arms, and bore her, like a sleeping
infant, to the care of her friends.




CH-TAPTER XXIII.
X And now her charms are fading fa'st,
Her spirits now no more are gay:
Alas I that beauty cannot last I
That flowers so sweet so soon decay t
How sad appears
The vale of years,
How chang'd from youth's too flattering scene
Where are her fond admirers gone
Alas I and shall there then be none
On whom her soul may lean?"
Cynthia's Grave.
TO1'I: torrent and the blast can mar the loveliest;
scenes in nature'; war, with his ruthless hand,
may rival the elements in their work of destruction; —but it is passion alone that can lay waste the
human heart.  The whirlwind and the flood have
duration in their existence, and have bounds fIo
their fury; the earth recovers from  the devastation of the conflict woith a fertility that seems enrichled by the blood of its victims;-but there are
feelings that no human agency can limit, and mental wounds which are beyond the art of man to heal.
For some years Sarah Wharton had indulged in
reflections on the person and character of Wellmere, that were natural to her sex and situation;
and now, when these transient recollections were
become permanent from  security, and she looked
forward to the moment that she was to take the
miost momentous step of her life, with that engrossing passion  which  marks a woman's love,
the discovery of his real character was a blow too




THE SPY.                 361
heavy for her faculties to bear.  It has already
been seen that her first indications of returning
life were unaccompanied by a consciousness of
what had so recently occurred, nor did her friends,
on receiving her from the arms of the trooper, recover more than the lovely image of her whom
they had once known.
The walls of the cottage were all that was left
of the building; and these, blackened by smoke,
and stripped of their piazzas and ornaments, served only as dreary memorials of the peaceful contentment and security that had so lately reigned
within. The roof, together with the rest of the
wood work, had tumbled into the cellars, and a
pale and flitting light, ascending from their embers,
shone faintly through the windows on objects in
the lawn.  The early flight of the skinners left
the dragoons at liberty to exert themselves in
saving from  the flames much of the furniture,
which lay scattered in heaps, giving the finishing
touch of desolation to the scene.  Whenever a
stronger ray of light than common shot upwards,
the composed figures of Sergeant Hollister and
his associates, sitting on their horses in rigid discipline, were to be seen in the back ground of
the picture, together with the beast of Mrs. Flanagan, that, having slipt its bridle, was quietly grazing by the highway. Betty herself had advanced
to where the sergeant was posted, and, with an ilncredible degree of composure, witnessed the whole
of the events as they occurred.  More than once
she suggested to her companion, that, as the fighting seemed to be over, the proper time for plunder
bad arrived; but the veteran promptly acquainted
ber with his orders, and remained both inflexible
and immoveable; until the washerwoman, noticing
Lawton to colne round the wing of the building
ol




362                 THE SPY.
with Sarah, ventured by herself amorngst the warriors.  The Captain, after placing Sarah on a
sofa that had been hurled from the building by
two of his men, retired with delicacy, that the
ladies might succeed him in his care, and in order
to reflect on what further was necessary to be
done.  Miss Peyton and her niece flew, with a
rapture that was blessed with a momentary forgetfulness of all but her preservation, to receive
Sarah from the trooper; but the vacant eye, and
flushed cheek, restored them instantly to their recollection.
1' Sarah, my child, my beloved niece," said the
spinster, folding her in her arms, "you are saved,
and may the blessing of God await him who has
been the instrument."
"See,' said Sarah, gently pushing her aunt
aside, and pointing to the glimmering ruins, 1' the
windows are illuminated in honour of my arrival.
They always receive a bride thus-he told me so;
listen, and you will hear the bells."
" Here is no bride, no rejoicing, nothing but
wo," cried Frances, in a manner but little less
frantic than that of her sister;  1 Oh! may Heaven
restore you, my sister, to us-to yourself."
" Peace, foolish young woman," said Sarah,
with a smile of affected pity; " all cannot be happy at the same moment; perhaps you have no brother, or no husband, to console you; you look
beautiful, and you will yet find one; but," she continued, dropping her voice to a whisper, " see that
he has no other wife-'tis dreadful to think~ what
might happen, should he be twice married."'
" The shock has destroyed her mind," said
Miss Peyton, shalking with  apprehension, and
clasping her hands in agony; " my child, my
beauteous Sarah is a maniac."




THE SPY.               363
"    no, no no," cried Frances, c" it is fever; she
is light-headed-she must recover-she shall recover."
The aunt caught joyfiully at the hope conveyed
in this suggestion, and despatched Katy to request
the immediate aid and advice of Dr. Sitgreaves.
The operator was found inquiring among the men
for professional employment, and inquisitively examining every bruise and scratch that he could induce the sturdy warriors to acknowledge they had
received. A summons of the sort conveyed by
Katy was instantly obeyed, and not a minute
elapsed before he was by the side of Miss Peyton.
"1 This is a mnelancholy termination to so joyfilf
a commencement of the night, madam,"7 he observed with a soothing manner;'but war must
bring its attendant miseries, though doubtless it
often supports the cause of liberty, and improves
the knowledge of surgical science.'
Miss Peyton could make no reply, but pointed
to her niece in agony.
"'Tis fever," answered Frances; "' see how
glassy is her eye, and look at her cheek, how
flushed."
The surgeon stood for a moment deeply study
ing the outward symptoms of his patient, and then
silently took her hand into-his own. It was sel
dom that the hard and abstracted features of the
operator discovered any violent emotion; all his
passions seemed schooled to the most classical dignity, and his countenance did not often betray
what his heart so frequently felt. In the present
instance, however, the eager gaze of the aunt and
sister soon detected the emotions of Sitgreaves.
After laying his fingers for a minute on the beautiful arm, which, bared to the elbow, and glittering with jewels, Sarah suffered him to retain, he




364                THE SPY.
dropped it with a heavy sigh, and dashing his
hand over his eyes, turned sorrowfully to Miss
Peyton as he said —
", Here is no fever to excite-'tis a case, my
deal madam, for time and care only; these, with
the blessing of God, may effect a cure."
" And where is the wretch who has caused this
ruin?" exclaimed Singleton, rejecting the support
of his man, and making an effort to rise from the
chair, where the care of his sister had placed him.
"c It is in vain that we overcome our enemies, if, conquered, they can still inflict such wounds as this."'L Dost think, foolish boy," said Lawton, with a
bitter smile,' that hearts can feel in a colony?
What is America but a satellite of England-to
move as she moves, follow where she wists, and
shine, that the mother country may become more
splendid by her radiance? Surely you forget that
it is honour enough for a colonist to receive ruin
froi'n the hand of a child of Britain."' I forget not that I wear a sword," said Singleton, falling back exhausted; "but was there no
willing arm ready to avenge that lovely suffererto appease the wrongs of this hoary father?"'
C" Neither arms not' hearts are wanting, sir, in
such a cause," said the trooper, fiercely; "but
chance oftentimes helps the wicked.  By heavens,
I'd give Roanoke himself for a clear field with the
miscreant."
"c Nay! captain dear, no be parting with the horse,
any way," said Betty, with a significant look; "1 it
is no trifle that can be had by jist asking, and the
baste is sure of foot, and jumps like a squirrel.'
"c Woman!"' cried Lawton, " fifty horses, ay,
the best that were ever reared on the banks of the
Potomac, would be but a paltry price for one blow
at such a villain.2'




THE SPY.                365' Come," said the surgeon,'< the night air can
do no service to George or these ladies, and it is
incumbent on us to remove them  where they
can find surgical attendance  and  refireshment.
Here is nothing but smoking ruins and the miasma
of the swamps.'"
To this rational proposition no objection could
ne raised, and the necessary orders were issued
by Lawton to remove the whole party to the Four
Corners..
America furnished but few and very indifferent
carriage makers at the period of which we write,
and every vehicle, that in the least aspired to the
dignity of patrician notice, was the manufacture
of a London mechanic.  When  Mr. Wharton
left the city, he was one of the very few who
maintained the state of a carriage in their establishments; and at the time that Miss Peyton and
his daughters joined him in his retirement, they
had been conveyed to the cottage in the heavy
chariot that had once so imposingly rolled through
the windings of Queen-Street, or emerged with
sombre dignity into the more spacious drive of
Broadway. This vehicle stood, undisturbed, where
it had been placed on its arrival, and the ages of
the horses had alone protected the favourites of
Caesar from sequestration, by the contending forces in their neighbourhood. With a heavy heart,
the black, assisted by a few of the dragoons, proceeded to prepare it for the reception of the ladies.  It was a cumbrous vehicle, whose faded
linings and tarnished hammereloth, together with
its pannels of changing colour, denoted the want
of that art which had once given it lustre and
beauty. The " lion couchant" of the Wharton
arms was reposing on the reviving splendour of a
blazonry that told the arnorial bearings of a prince
21 *




366               TnHE SPY.
of the church; and the mitre, that already began
to shille th.-ough its American mask, was a symbol
of the rank of its original owner.  The chaise
which conveyed Miss Singleton was also safe, for
the stable and out buildings had entirely escaped
the flames: it certainly had been no part of the
plan of the marauders to leave so well appointed
a stud behind them, but the suddenness of the attack by Lawton, not only disconcerted their
arrangements on this point, but on many others
also. A guard was left on the ground, under the
command of Hollister, who, having discovered that
his enenmy was of mortal mould, took his position
with admirable coolness, and no little skill, to
guard against surprise.  He drew off his small
party to such a distance from the ruins, that it was
effeetually concealed in the darkness, while at the
same time the light continued sufficiently powerful to discover any one who might approach the
lawn with an intent to plunder.
Satisfied with this judicious arrangement, Captain Lawton made his dispositions for the march:
Miss Peyton, her two nieces, and Isabella, were
placed in the chariot, while the cart of Mrs. Flanagan, being amply supplied with blankets and a bed,
was honoured wlth the persons of Captain Singleton and his man. Dr. Sitgreaves took charge of
the chaise and Mr. Wharton. What became of the
rest of the family during that eventful night is unknown; for Caesar alone, of the domestics, was
to be found, if we except the housekeeper. Having disposed of the whole party in this manner,
Lawton gave the word march. He remained himself for a few minutes alone on the lawn, secreting
various pieces of plate and other valuables, that
he was fearful might tempt the cupidity of his own
men; when, perceiving nothing more that he con




THE SPY.               367
ceived likely to overcome their honesty, he threw
himself into the saddle, with the soldierly intention
of bringing up the rear.' Stop, stop," cried a female voice: " will you
leave me alone to be murdered? the spoon is
melted, I believe, and I'll have compirsation il
there's law or justice in the land."
Lawton turned an inquiring eye in the direction
of the sound, and perceived a female emerging
from the ruins, loaded with an -enormous bundle,
that vied in size with the renowned pack of the
pedler.
"' Who have we here," said the trooper, "1 rising
like a phoenix from the flames? Oh! by the soul
of Hippocrates, but it is the identical she-doctor,
of famous needle reputation. Well, good woman,
what means this outcry?"
1 Outcry!" echoed Katy, panting for breath;
"is it not disparagement enough to lose a silver
spoon, but I must be left alone in this lonesome
place, to be robbed, and perhaps murdered? Harvey would not serve me so: when I lived with
Harvey I was always treated with respect, at least,
if he was a little close with his secrets, and wasteful with his money."
" Then, madam, you once formed part of the
household of Mr. Harvey- Birch?"
" You may say I was the whole of his household," returned the other; "there was nobody
but I, and he, and the old gentleman; you didn't
know the old gentleman, did you?"
" That happiness was denied me," said Lawton;' but how long did you live in the family of this
Birch?"
" I disremember the precise time," said Katy;: but it must have been hard on upon nine years:
but what better am I for it all?"




368                THE SPY.
" Sure enouhl, I can see but little benefit tha
you have derived from the association truly. But
is there not something odd in Mr. Birch?"
G Odd indeed," replied Katy, lowering her voice
and looking around her;'" he was a wonderful
disregardful man, and minded a guinea no more
than I do a karnal of corn.  But help me to some
way of joining Miss Jinitt, and I will tell you prodigies of what Harvey has done, first and last."
" You will!1" exclaimed the trooper, musing;
"here, give me leave to feel your arnn above the
elbow.  There-it is no small matter of bone that
you have, I see." So saying, he gave the spinster
a sudden whirl that at once destroyed her philosophy of mind, and effectually confused all her faculties, until she found herself safely, if not comfortably, seated on the crupper of Lawton's steed.
". Now, madam, you have the consolation of
knowing that you are as well mounted as heart
can wish. The nag is sure of foot, and will leap
like a panther."
1s Let me get down," cried Katy, struggling to
release herself from his' iron grasp, and yet afraid
of falling, " this is no way to put a woman on a
horse; besides, I can't ride without a pillion."
1' Softly, good madam," said Lawton; " for although Roanoke never falls before, he sometimes
rises behind.  He is far from being accustomed to
a pair of heels beating upon his flanks like a drummajor on a field day; a single touch of the spur
will serve him for a fortnight, and it's by no means
wise to be kicking in this manner, for he is a horse
that: but little likes to be outdone."
c Let me down, I say," screamed Katy; c I
shall fall and be killed.  Besides, I have nothing
to hold on with; my arms are full, don't you see?')
a True," returned the trooper, observing that he




THE SPY.               369
had brought bundle and all from the ground, 1 I
perceive that you belong to the baggage guard;
nut my sword-belt will encircle your little waist as
well as my own."
Katy was too much pleased with this conmpliment to make any resistance while he buckled her
close to his own Herculean frame, and, driving a
spur into his charger, they flew from the lawn with
a rapidity that defied further denial. After proceeding for some time, at a rate that discomposei
the spinster vastly, they overtook the cart of the
washerwoman driving slowly over the stones, with
a proper consideration for the wounds of Captain
Singleton. The occurrences of that eventful night
had produced an excitement in the young soldier,
that was followed by the ordinary lassitude of reaction, and he lay carefully enveloped in blankets,
and supported by his man, but little able to converse, though deeply brooding over the past. The
dialogue between Lawton and his companion ceased
with the commencement of their motions, but. a
foot pace being more favourable to speech, the
trooper began anew" Then, you have been an inmate in the same
house with Harvey Birch?"
" For more as nine years,n' said Katy, drawing
her breath, and rejoicing greatly that their speed
was abated.
The deep tones of the trooper's voice were soon
conveyed by the night air to the ears of the washerwomnan, and turning her head, where she sat diecting the movements of her mare, she heard both
question and answer.' Belike, then, good woman, yee'r knowing
whether or no he's a-kin to Beelzeboob," said
Betty; " it's Sargeant Hollister who's saying the
same, and no fool is the sargeant, any way."




370                THE SPY.
It's a scandalous disparagement," cried Katy,
most vehemently; "1 there's no kinder soul than
Harvey that carries a pack;> aLx:for a gownd or a
tidy apron, he will never take a king's farthing
from  a friend.  Belzebub indeed!  For what
would he read the Bible, if he had dealings with
the evil spirit?"
(c He's an honest divil, any way, as I was saying before," returned Betty; " the guinev-~?iwas
pure. But then the sargeant thinks him alliss,
and it's no want of larning that Mister- Hollister
has."
" He's a fool," said Katy, tartly; "Harvey
mought be a man of substance, but he's so disregardful. How often have I told him, that if he
did nothing but peddle, and would put his gains to
use, and get married, so that things at home could
be kept snug and tidy, and leave off his dealings
with the rig'lars, and all sich incumberments, that
he would soon become an excellent liver.  Sargeant Hollister would be glad to hold a candle to
him, I guess, indeed."
" Pooh!" said Betty, in her philosophical way;
cc yee'r no thinking that Mister Hollister is an officer, and stands next the cornet in the troop. But
this pidlar gave warning of the brush, the night,
and it's no sure that Captain Jack would have got
the day, but for the reinforcement."'
" How say you, Betty,"' cried the trooper, bending forward on his saddle; 6' hicad you notice of our
danger from this said Birch?"
" The very same, darling; and it's hurry I was
till the boys was in motion; not but I knew yee'r
enough for the cow-boys any time.  But wid the
divil on your side, I was sure of the day.  I'm only
wondering there's so little plunder in a business
of Beelzeboob's contriving."




THE SPY.                371
i' l  obliged to you for the rescue," said Law
ton, " and equally indebted to the mnotive."' Is it the p uJler? But little did I tink of it
till I saw the moveables on the ground, some burnt,
and some broke, and other some as good as new.
It would be convanient to have one feather-bed in
the corps, any way."
" By heavens,'twas timely succour.  Had not
Ro- -ke been swifter than their bullets, I must
have fallen. The animal is worth his weight in
gold."
" It's continental you nmane, darling.  Goold
weighs heavy, and is no plenty in the states. If
the nagur had'nt been staying and frighting the
sargeant with his copper-coloured looks, and a
matter of blarney'bout ghosts, we should have
been in time to have killed all the dogs, and taken
the rest prisoners."
" It is very well as it is, Betty," said Lawton;
" a day will yet come, I trust, when these miscreants will be rewarded, if not in judgments upon
their persons, at least in the opinions of their fellow citizens.  The time must arrive, when America will learn to distinguish between a patriot and a
robber."
" Speak low," said Katy; c there's some who
think much of themselves that have doings with the
skinners."
"c It's more they are thinking of themselves,
then, than other people thinks of them," cried Betty; "1 a tief's a tief, any way, whether he stales for
King George, or for Congress."
" I know'd that evil would soon happen," said
Katy; "c the sun set to-night behind a black cloud,
and the house-dog whined, although I gave him
his supper with my own hands; besides, it's not a
week sin' I dreamed that dream ablout the thou




372               THE SPY.
sand lighted candles, and the cakes being burnt in
the oven. Miss Peyton said it was all because I
had the tallow melted to dip the next day, and a
new baking set; but I know'd better nor that fiom
the beginning."
"' WellI" said Betty, GC it's but little I dramne, any
way. Jist keep an asy conscience and a plenty of
the stuff in yee, and yee'll sleep like an infant.
The last draie I had was when the boys put the
thistle-tops in the blankets, and then I was thinking that Captain Jack's man was currying me down,
for the matter of Roanoke; but it's no trifle I mind
either in skin or stomach."
" I'm sure," said Katy, with a stiff erection that
drew Lawton back in his saddle, " no man should
ever dare to lay hands on any bed of mine; it's
undecent and despisable conduct."
" Pooh! pooh!" cried Betty; " if you tag after
a troop of horse, a small bit of a joke must be botne:
what would become of the states and liberty, it the
DOys had never a clane shirt, or a drop to comfort
them? Ask Captain Jack, there, if they'd fight,
Mrs. Beelzeboob, and they no clane linen to keep
the victory in."
" I'm a single woman, and my name is H-Faynes,"'
said Katy, 1" and I'd thank you to use no disparaging tarms when speaking to me; it's what I isn't
use to, and tHarvey is no more of Beelzebub not
yourself."
" You must tolerate a little license in the tongut
of Mrs. Flanagan, madam," said the trooper; "' the
drop she speaks of is often of an extraordinary size,
and then she has acquired the freedom of a soldier's
manner.")
" Pooh! Captain, darling," cried Betty, "G why
do you bother the woman'? talk like yeerself, dear,
and, it's no fool of a tongue that yee've got in yeer




TH1  SPY.               373
own head. But it's here away that the sargeant
made a halt, thinking there might be more divils
than one stirring, the night.  The clouds are as
black as Arnold's heart, and deuce the star is there
twinkling among them.  Well, the mare is used to
a march after night-fall, and is smelling out the road
like a pointer slut."
"c It wants but little to the rising moon," observed the trooper. He called a dragoon, who was
riding in advance, to him, gave a few orders and
cautions relative to the comfort and safety of Singleton, and speaking a consoling word to his friend
himself, gave Roanoke the spur, and dashed by the
cart at a rate that again put to flight all the philosophy of Catharine Haynes.
" Good luck to yee for a free rider and a bold,"'
shouted the washerwoman as he passed; "c if yee'r
meeting Mister Beelzeboob, jist back the baste up
to him and show him his consort that yee've got
on the crupper.  I'm thinking it's no long he d
tarry to chat.  Well, well, it's his life that we
saved, he was saying to himself —though the plunder is nothing to signify."
The cries of Betty Flanagan were too familiar
to the ears of Captain Lawton to cause any alteration in the gait of the steed, or to elicit a reply.
Notwithstanding the unusual burden that Roanoke
sustained, he got over the ground with great rapidity, and the distance between the cart of Mr:s.
Flanagan and the chariot of Miss Peyton, was
passed in a manner, that, however it answered the
intentions of the trooper, in no degree contributed
to the comfort of his companion. The meeting
occurred but a short distance from the quarters of
Lawton, and at the same instant the moon broke
froom behind a mass of clouds that hovered over
the horizon, and threw  a light upon objects that
32




374                THE SPY.
seemed paler than usual, after the glaring brightness of the conflagration.  There is, however, a
sweetness in moonlight that no competition of art
can equal, and Lawton checked his horlse, and
mused in silence for the remainder of the ride.
Compared with the simple elegance and substantial comfort of the Locusts, the"' Hotel Flanagan" presented but a dreary spectacle.  In the
place of carpeted floors and curtained windows,
were the yawning cracks of a rudely constructed
dwelling, and boards and paper were ingeniously
applied to supply the place of the green glass in
more than half the lights.  The care of Lawton
had anticipated every improvement that their situation woilld allow, and blazing fires were made before the party arrived, to cheer as mnuch as possible the desolation within.  The dragoons, who had
been charged with this duty, conveyed a few necessarv articles of furniture, and IMiss Peyton and
her companions, on alighting, found something like
habitable apartments prepared for their reception.
The mind of Sarah had continued to wander during the ride, and, with the pliability of insanity,
she accommodated every circumstance to the feelings that were uppermost in her own bosom.  I1
was necessary to support her to the room intended for the ladies; but the instant she was
placed on the seat where her sister sat, she passed
an arm affectionately around the waist of Frances,
and pointing slowly with the other, said, in an under tone" See, this is the palace of his father; here is
the light of a thousand torches-but no bridegroom.
Oh! never —never wed without a ring-a prepared ring; and be wary lest another has a right
to it. Poor little girl, how you tremble!'but you
are safe-there never can be two bridegrooms for




THE SPY.               375
more than one bride. Oh!-no-no-no; do not
tremble, do not weep, you are safe."
" It is impossible to minister to a mind that has
sustained such a blow," said the trooper, who was
compassionately regarding the ruin, to Isabella Singleton; " time and God's mercy can alone avail
her; but something more may be done towards
the bodily comfort of you all. You are a soldier's
daughter, and used to scenes like this; help me
to exclude some of the cold air from  these win
dows."
Miss Singleton promptly acceded to his request,
and while Lawton was endeavouring, from without,
to remedy the defect of broken panes, Isabella was
arranging a substitute for a curtain within.
I hear the cart," said the trooper in reply to
one of her interrogatories.  "Betty is tenderhearted in the main; believe me, poor George will
not only be safe but comfortable."
"God bless her for her care, and bless you all,"
said Isabella, fervently. " Dr. Sitgreaves has gone
down the road to meet him, I know-but what is
that glittering in the moon-beams?"
Directly opposite to the window where they
stood, were the out-buildings of the farm, and the
quick eye of Lawton caught, at a glance, the object to which she alhuded.
"'Tis the glare of fire arms,"1 said the trooper,
springing from the window towards his charger.
which yet remained caparisoned at the door. His
movement was quick as thought, but a flash of fire
was followed by the whistling of a bullet, before
he had proceeded a step. A loud shriek burst
from the dwelling, and the Captain sprang into his
saddle; the whole was the business of but a mo.
ment.
"Mount-mount, and  follow," shouted  tho




376               THE SPY.
trooper, and before his astonished men could understand the cause of alarm, Roanoke had carried
him in safety over the fence which intervened between him and his foe. The case was for life and
death, but the distance to the rocks was again too
short, and the disappointed trooper saw his intended victim vanish in their clefts, where he could
not follow.
" By the life of Washington," muttered Law(on, as he sheathed his sabre, " I would have made
two halves of him had he not been so nimble on
the foot-but a time will come."  So saying, he
returned to his quarters, with the indifference of a
man who knew his life was at any moment to be
offered a sacrifice to his country.  An extraordinary tumult in the house induced him to quicken
his speed, and on arriving at the door, the panic
stricken Katy informed him that the bullet aimed at
his own life had talken effect in the bosom of Miss
Singleton.




CIAPTEtl  XXIV.
Husll'd were his Gertrude's lits I but still their bland
And beautiful expression seem'd to nleit
With love that could not die! and still his hand
She presses to the heart no more that felt.
Gertrude of.T'yomins.
THE brief arrangements of the dragoons had
prepared two apartments for the reception of the
ladies, the one being intended as a sleeping room,
and situated within the other.  Into the latter Isabella was immediately conveyed at her own request, and placed on a rude bed by the side of the
unconscious Sarah. When Miss Peyton and Francis flew to her assistance, they found her with a
smile on her pallid lips, and a composure in her
countenance, that induced them to think her uninjured.
" God be praised!"  exclaimed the trembling
aunt; " the report of fire-arms, and your' fall, had
led me into an error.  Surely, surely, there was
enough of horror before; but this has been spared
uS."
Isabella pressed her hands upon her bosom, still
smiling, but with a ghastliness that curdled the
blood of Frances, and said" Is George far distant? let him know  hasten
him, that I may see my brother once again."'' It is as I apprehended!" shrieked Miss Pey
ton; " but you smile-surely you are unhurt'
32yi




378                THE SPY.
"a Quite well-quite happy," murlnured Isabella;
" here is a remedy for every pain.'
Sarah arose from the reclining posture she had
taken, and gazed wildly at her companion.  She
stretched forth her own hand, and raised that of
Isabella from her bosom, where she had continued
to hold it, and exhibited it stained with blood.
" See," said Sarah, " there is blood, but will it
wash away love? Marry, young woman, and then
no one can expel him from your heart, unless,"
she added, whispering, and bending over the other,
"C you find another there before you; then die, and
go to heaven-there are no wives in heaven."
The lovely maniac hid her face under the clothes,
and continued silent during the remainder of the
night.  It was at this moment that Lawton entered.  Inured as he was to danger in all its forms,
and accustomed to the horrors of a partisan war,
the trooper could not behold the ruin before him
unmoved.  He bent over the friagile form of Isabella, and the gloomy lowering of his eye betrayed
the extraordinary workings of his soul.
" Isabella," he at length uttered, " I know you to
possess a courage beyond the strength of women."
" Speak,"l she said, earnestly; " if you have any
thing to say, speak fearlessly."
The trooper averted his face as he reDlied"C none ever receive a ball there and survive."
" I have no dread of death, Lawton,7 returned
Isabella —" I thank you for not doubting me; I
felt it from the first.'
C These are not scenes for a form like yours,l
added the trooper; cc'tis enough that Britain calls
our youth to the field; but when such loveliness
becomes the victim of war, I sicken at mly trade."
" Hear me, Captain Lawton," said Isabella, raising herself with difficulty, but rejecting aid: " from




THE SPY.                 379
early womanhood to the present hour have 1 been
an inmate of camps and garrisons.  It was to c-heet
the leisure of a father and brother; and think you
I would change those days of danger and privation for all the luxurious ease of England'3 palace?"'
The paleness of her cheek gave place to a flush of
ardour as she continued-  No! I have the consolation of knowing, in my dying moments, that
what woman could do in such a cause, I have done."
" Who could prove a recreant, and witness such
a spirit!" exclaimed the trooper, unconsciously
grasping the hilt of his sabre.  cc Hundreds of
warriors have I witnessed in their blood, but never
a firmer soul among them all.")
" Ah!'tis the soul only," said Isabella;  na my
sex and strength have denied me the dearest of
privileges.  But to you, Captain Lawton, nature
has been bountiful: yours are an arm and a heart,
to make the proudest of Britain's soldiers quail;
and I know that they are an arm and a heart that
will prove true to the last."
~ So long as liberty calls, and Washington points
the way," returned the trooper, in the low tone
of determination, smiling proudly.
"I know it-I know it; and George-and —"
she paused, her lip quivered, and her eye sunk to
the floor.
"c And Dunwoodie!" added the trooper; " would
to God he was here to witness and admire.""
" Name him not," said Isabella, sinking back
upon the bed, and concealing her face in her garments; " leave me, Lawton, and prepare poor
George for this unexpected blow."' The trooper continued for a little while gazing,
in melancholy interest, at the convulsive shudderings of her frame, which the scanty covering




380               THE SPY.
could not conceal, and withdrew to meet his coin
rade. The interview between Singleton and his
sister was painful, and, for a moment, Isabella
yielded to a burst of tenderness; but, as if aware
that her hours were numbered, she was tile first to
rouse herself to exertion. At her earnest request,
the room was left to herself, the captain, and Frances. The repeated applications of the surgeon, to
be permitted to use professional aid, were steadily
rejected, and, at length, he was obliged unwillingly to retire. The rapid approach of death gave to
the countenance of Isabella a look of more than
usual wildness; her large and dark eyes being
strongly contrasted to the ashy paleness of her
cheeks.  Still Frances, as she leaned over her in
sorrow, thought that the expression was changed.
Much of the loftiness that formed so marked a
characteristic of her beauty, had been succeeded
by an appearance of humility; and it was not difficult to fancy, that with the world itself there was
vanishing her worldly pride.
"Raise me,' she said,   and let me look on a
face that I love, once more.'"  Frances silently
complied, and Isabella turned her eyes in sisterly
affection upon George —c It matters but little, my
brother, a few hours must close the scene."
"' Live, Isabella, my sister, my only sister," cried
the youth, with a burst of sorrow that he could not
control; "6 my father! my poor father-"
" Ah! there is the sting of death,"' said Isabella, shuddering; " but he is a soldier and a Christian.  Miss Wharton, I would speak of what interests you, while yet I have strength for the task."
C Nay,"  said  Frances, tenderly, " compose
yourself; let no desire to oblige me endanger a
life  that is precious to-to-so many."   The




THE SPY.                 381
words weie nearly stifled by the emotions of the
maid, who had touched a chord that thrilled to her
inmost heart.
" Poor sensitive girl!" said Isabella, regarding
her with tender interest; "but the world is still
before you, and why should I disturb the little
happiness it may yet afford! Dream on, lovely innocent! and may God keep the evil day of knowledge far distant."
"' Oh, there is even now little left for me to
enjoy," said Frances, burying her face in  the
clothes; "I am heart-stricken in all that I most
loved."
"No!" interrupted Isabella;'" you have one
inducement to wish for life that pleads strongly in
a woman's breast.  It is a delusion that nothing
but death can destroy —"  Exhaustion compelled
her to pause, and her auditors continued in breathless suspense, until, recovering her trength, she
laid her hand on that of Frances, and continued  more  mildly-"d Miss Wharton, if there
breathes a spirit congenial to Dunwoodie's, and
worthy of his love, it is your own."
A flush of fire passed over the face of the listener, and she raised her eyes, flashing with an
ungovernable look of delight, to the countenance
of Isabella; but the ruin she beheld recalled her
better feelings, and again her head dropped upon
the covering of the bed.  Isabella watched her
emotions with a smile that partook both of pity
and admiration.
"C Such have been the feelings that I have escaped,"9 she continued; " yes, Miss Wharton, Dunwoodie is wholly yours."
" Be just to yourself, my- sister," exclaimed the
youth; "let no romantic generosity cause you to
forget your own character."




382               THE SPY.
She heard lhm, and fixed a gaze of tender interest on his face, but slowly shook her head as
she replied" It is not romance, but truth that bids me
speak.  Oh! how much have I lived within an
hour! Miss Wharton, I was born under the bumning sun of Georgia, and my feelings seem to have
imbibed its warmth; I have existed for passion
only."
" Say not so-say not so, I implore youl," cried
the agitated brothelr;' think how devoted has
been your love to our aged father; how disinterested, how tender your affection to me."
a Yes,' said Isabella, a smile of mild pleasure
beaming on her countenance; " that is a reflectiobn
which mlay be taken to the very grave."
Neither Frances nor her brother interrupted
her meditations, which continued for several minutes; when suddenly recollecting herself, she
continued"' I remain selfish even to the last; with me,
IMiss Wharton, America and her liberties was nay
earliest passion, and-" again she paused, and
Frances thought it was the struggle of death that
followed; but reviving, she proceeded, with a flush
on her face that exceeded the bloom of health.
" Why should I hesitate on the brink of the grave!
Dunwoodie was my next and my last.  But," burying her face in her hands, " it was a love that
was unsought."
c Isabella!" exclaimed her brother, springing
from the bed, and pacing the floor in disorder.
" See how dependent we become under the dominion of worldly pride," said the dying maiden;
" it is painful to George to learn that one he loves
had not feelings superior to her nature and educaticn "




TiE SPY.                383' Say no more," whispered Frances;   you distress us both-say no more, I entreat you."
"  In justice to Dunwoodie I must speak; and
for the same reason, my brother, you must listen.
By no act or word has Dunvwoodie ever induced
me to believe, he wished me more than a fiiend;
nay, latterly, I have had the burning shame of
thinking that he avoided my presence."
" Would he dare!" said Singleton, fiercely.
CG Peace, my brother, and listen," continued Isabella, rousing herself with an effort that was final;
"'here is the innocent, the justifiable cause. We
are both motherless; but that aunt-that mild,
plain-hearted, observing aunt, has given you the
victory. Oh! how much she loses, who loses a
female guardian to her youth.  I have exhibited
those feelings which you have been taught to repress. After this, can I wish to live?"'
" Isabella! my poor Isabella! you wander in
your mind."
" But one word more-for I feel that blood
which ever flowed too swiftly, rushing where nature never intended it to go. Woman must be
sought to be prized; her life is one of concealed
emotions; blessed are they whose early impressions make the task free filom hypocrisy, for such
only can be happy with men like-li'ke Dunwoodie;" her voice failed, and she sunk back on her
pillow in silence.  The cry of Singleton brought
the rest of the party to her bedside, but death was
already upon her countenance; her remaining
strength just sufficed to reach the hand of George,
and pressingof it to her bosom for a moment, she relinquished her grasp, and with a slight cornvulsion:
expired.
Frances Wharton had thought that fate had




384                THE SPY.
done its worst, in endangering the life of her brother, and destroying the reason of lher sister; but
the relief that was conveyed by the dying declaration of Isabella, taught her that another sorrow
had aided in loading her heart with grief. She
saw the whole truth at a glance; nor was the
manly delicacy of Dunwoodie's forbearance lost
upon her-every thing tended to raise him in her
estimation; and, for mourning that duty and pride
had induced her to strive to think less of him, she
was compelled to substitute regret, that her own
act had driven him from her in sorrow, if not in
desperation. It is not the nature of youth, however, to despair; and Frances knew a secret joy
in the midst of their distress, that gave a new
spring to her existence.
The sun broke forth, on the morning that sue.
ceeded this night of desolation, in unclouded lus
tre, and seemed to mock the petty sorrows of
those who received his rays.  Lawton had early
ordered his steed, and was ready to mount as the
first burst of golden light broke over the hills.
His orders were already given, and the trooper
threw his leg across the saddle in silence; and,
casting a glance of fierce chagrin at the narrow
space that had favoured the flight of the skinner,
he gave Roanoke the rein, and moved slowly towards the valley.
The stillness of death pervaded the road, noI
was there a single vestige of the scenes of the
night to tarnish the loveliness of a glorious morn
Struck with the contrast between man and nature,
the fearless trooper rode by each pass of danger,
regardless of what might happen, nor roused himself from his musings, until the noble charger,
proudly snuffing the morning air, greeted his com



THE SPY.                385
panions, as they stood patiently by the sides of
their masters, who composed the guard under Sergeant Hollister.
Here, indeed, was to be seen sad evidence of
the midnight fray; but the trooper glanced his eye
over it with the coolness of a veteran, and checked his horse as he gained the spot selected by the
cautious orderly, and slightly returning his salute,
inquired" Have you seen any thing?"
"c Nothing, sir, that we dare charge upon,"
returned Hollister, with a little solemnity; " but
we mounted once at the report of distant firearnms."'Tis well," said Lawton, gloomily.  "' Ah 
Hollister, I would give the animal I ride, to have
had your single arm between the wretch who drew
that trigger and these useless rocks, which overhang every bit of ground, as if they grudged pasture to a single hoof.'
The dragoons exchanged looks of surprise, and
wondered what could have occurred to tempt their
leader to offer such a bribe.' Under the light of day, and charging man to
man,'tis but little I fear," said the sergeant, with
proud resolution; " but I can't say that I'm overfond of fighting with them that neither steel nor
lead can bring down."
"_ What mean you, silly fellow?" cried Lawton,
frowning in disdain; " none live who can withstand either."
"a If there was life, it would be easy to take it,"
returned the other; "c but blows and powder cannot injure him that has alleady been in the grave.
I like not the dark object that has been manceuvring in the skirt of the wood, since the first dawn
of day; and twice during the night the same was
33




386                THE SPY.
seen marching across the fire-light, no doubt with
evil intent."
" Ha!" said the trooper, " is it yon ball of black
at the foot of the rock-maple, that you mean? By
heaven! it moves."
" Yes, and without mortal Inotion,') said the
sergeant, regarding it with awful reverence; " it
glides along, but no feet have been seen by any
who watch here."
"- Had it wings," cried Lawton, " it is mine;
stand fast, until I join."  The words were hardly
uttered, before Roanoke was flying across the
plain, and apparently verifying the boast of his
master.
"' Those cursed rocks!" ejaculated the troopers
as he saw the object of his pursuit approaching the
hill-side; but either from want of practice, or from
terror, it passed the obvious shelter they offered,
and fled into the open plain.
" I have you, man or devil!" shouted Lawton,
whirling his sabre front its scabbard.' Halt and
take quarter."
His proposition was apparently acceded to, folr
at the sound of his powerful voice, the figure sunlk
upon the ground, exhibiting a shapeless ball of
black, without life or motion.
"G What have we here?" cried Lawton, drawing
up by its side; "s a gala suit of the good maiden,
Jeanette Peyton, wandering around its birth-place,
or searching in vain for its discomfited mistress.?"
He leaned forward in his stirrups, and placing the
point of his sword under the silken garment, by
throwing aside the covering, discovered part of the
form of The reverend gentleman, who had fled from
the Locusts the evening before, in his robes ot
office.,
" Ah! in truth, Hollister had some ground foi




THE SPY.                387
his alarm; an army chaplain is, at any time, a ter.
ror to a troop of horse."
The clergyman had collected enough of his dtls
turbed faculties, to discover that it was a face he
knew, and, somewhat disconcerted at the terror he
had manifested, he endeavoured to rise and offer
some explanation.  Lawton received his apologies
good-humouredly, if not with much faith in their
truth; and, after a short communication upon the
rtate of the valley, the trooper courteously alighted, and they proceeded towards the guard.
" I am so little acquainted, sir, with the rebel
uniform, that I really was unable to distinguish,
whether those men, whom you say are your own,
did or did not belong to the gang of marauders."
~ Apology, sir, is unnecessary," replied the
ulooper, curling his lip; " it is not your task, as a
minister of God, to take note of the facings of a
coat.  The standard under which you serve is acknowledged by us all."
" I serve under the standard of his gracious majesty George III." returned the priest, wiping the
cold sweat from his brow; "1 but really the idea of
being scalped has a strong tendency to unman a
new beginner like myself."
" Scalped!" echoed Lawton, a little fiercely,
and stopping short in his walk; then recollecting
himself, he added with infinite composure-" if it
is to Dunwoodie's squadron of Virginia light dragoons that you allude, it may be well to inform
you, that they generally take a bit of the skull with
the skin."
"c Oh! I can have no apprehensions of gentlcmen of your appearance,"' said the divine, with a
smirk; Ad it is the natives that I apprehend."
": Natives  1 have that honour, I do assure you.
sir-.,




THIE SPY.
"Nay, sir, I beg that I may be understood-I
mean the Indians; Ihey who do nothing but rob,
and murder, and destroy."' And scalp!"
" Yes, sir, and- scalp too," continued the clergy
man, eyeing his companion a little suspiciously-;
the copper-cologred, savage Indians."
"~ And did you expect to meet those nose-jewelled gentry in the neutral ground?"
" Certainly," returned the chaplain, confidently;
C we understand in England  that the interior
swarms with them."
" And, call you this the interior of America?"
cried Lawton, again halting, and staring the other
in the face with a surprise too naturally expressed
to be counterfeited.
"~ Surely, sir, I conceive myself to be in the interior."
" Attend," said Lawton, pointing towards the
east " see you not that broad sheet of water which
the eye cannot compass in its range? thither lies
the England you deem worthy to hold dominion
over half the world, See you the land of your nativity?"
"'Tis impossible to behold objects at a distance
of three thousand miles!" exclaimed the wondering priest, a little suspicious of his companion's
sanity.
" No! what a pity it is that the powers of man
are not equal to his ambition.  Now turn your
eyes westward; observe that vast expanse of water which rolls between the shores of America and
China."
I see nothing but land," said the trembling
priest; " there is no water it be seen."
"c'Tis impossible to behold objects at a distance
of three thousand miles!" repeated Laawton, grave




'rie SPY.              389
ly, and pursuing his walk; " if it be the savages
that you apprehend, seek them in the ranks of
your prince. Rum and gold have preserved their
loyalty."
"Nothing is more probable than m3 being deceived," said the man of peace, casting furtive
glances at the colossal stature and whiskered front
of his companion; "but the rumours we have at
home, and the uncertainty of meeting with such
an enemy as yourself, induced me to fly at your
approach."
"''Twas not judiciously determined," said the
trooper, " as Roanoke has the heels of you greatiy; and flying from Scylla, you were liable to encounter Charybdis.  Those woods and rocks cover
the very enemies you dread."
" The savages!" exclaimed the divine, instinctively placing the tfrooper in the rear.
" Ay! more than savages," cried Lawton, his
dark brow contracting to a look of fierceness that
was far from quieting the apprehensions of the
other; "c men who, under the guise of patriotism,
prowl' through the community, with a thirst for
plunder that is unsatiable, and a love of cruelty
that mocks the Indian ferocity. Fellows whose
mouths are filled with liberty and equality, and
whose hearts are overflowing with cupidity and
gall-gentlemen that are y'clep'd the Skinners."
"' I have heard thema  mentioned in our army,"
said tMe frightened divine, "( and had thought them
to be the aborigines."
cc You did the savages injustice,"' returned the
trooper, in his natural dry manner.
They now approached the spot occupied by
iHollister, who witnessed with surprise the chaiacter of the prisoner made by his captain.  Lawton
gave Ih's orders plromiptlvy, and the men immediate:
0` 3




390               THE SPY.
ly commenced securing and removing such arti
cles of furniture as were thought worthy of the
trouble; and the captain, with his reverend associate, who was admirably mounted on a mettled
horse, returned to the quarters of the troop.
It was the wish of Singleton, that the remains
of his sister should be conveyed to the post commanded by his father, and preparations were early made to this effect, as well as a messenger despatched with the melancholy tidings of her death.
The wounded British were placed under the control of the chaplain, and towards the middle of the
day Lawton saw that all the arrangements were
so far completed, as to render it probable, that in
a few hours, he would be left, with his small party,
in undisturbed possession of the Corners.
While leaning in the door-way, gazing in moody
silence at the ground on which had been the last
night's chase, his ear caught the sound of a horse,
at speed, and the next moment a dragoon of his
own troop appeared dashing up the road, as if on
business of the last importance. His steed was
foaming, and the rider had the appearance of having done a hard day's service.  Without speaking,
he placed a letter in the hand of Lawton, and led
hlis charger to the stable. The trooper knew
the hand of his Major, and ran his eye over the
following:
" I rejoice it is the order of Washington, tlht the
family of the Locusts are to be removed above
the Highlands. They are to be admitted to the
society of Captain Wharton, who waits only for
their testimony to be tried. You will communicate this order, and with proper delicacy I do not
doubt. The English are moving up the river, and
the moment you see the mWhartons in safety,




THE  PSPY.             391
break up and join your troop. There will be good
service to be done when we meet, as Sir Henry
is reported to have sent out a real soldier in command.  Reports must be made to the commandant at Peekskill, as Col. Singleton is withdrawn to
head quarters, to preside over the inquiry upon
poor Wharton. Fresh orders have been sent to
hang the pedler if we can take him, but they are
not from the Commander-in-chief. —Detail a small
guard with the ladies, and get into the saddle as
soon as possible.
Yours, sincerely,
PEYTON DUNWOODIE."'
This communication entirely changed the whole
arrangement. There could be no motive to convey the body of Isabella to a post where her father
was not, and Singleton reluctantly acquiesced in
her immediate interment. A retired and lovely
spot was selected, near the foot of the adjacent
rocks, and such rude preparations were made as
their time and the situation of the country permitted.  A few of the neighbouring inhabitants
collected from  curiosity and interest, and Miss
Peyton and Frances wept in sincerity over her
grave. The solemn offices of the church were performed by the minister of Gdd, who had so lately
stood forth to officiate in another and very different
duty; and Lawton bent down his head, as he
leaned upon his sabre, and passed his hand across
his brow, while the words were pronouncing that
for ever shut such fervent feeling and loveliness
from the sight of man.
A new stimulus was given to the Whartons by
the intelligence conveyed in the letter of Dunwoodie; and Caesar, with his horses, was once more
put in requisition.  The relics of the property




392               THE SPY.
were entrusted to a neighboui, in whom they had
confidence, and accompanied by the unconscious
Sarah, and attended by four dragoons, and all of
the American wounded, Mr. Wharton's party took
their departure. They were speedily followed by
the English chaplain, with his countrymen, who
were conveyed to the water side, where a vessel
was in waiting to receive them. Lawton joyfully
witnessed these movements, and as soon as the
latter were out of sight, he ordered his own bugle
to be sounded. Every thing was instantly in imotion. The mare of Mrs. Flanagan was again fastened to the cart; Dr. Sitgreaves exhibited his
shapeless form once *more on horseback; and the
trooper appeared in the saddle, rejoicing in his
emancipation.
The word to march was given; and Lawtomt,
thrnowing a look of sullen ferocity at the place ot
the skinner's concealment, and another of melancholy regret towards the grave of Isabella, led the
way, accompanied by the surgeon, in a brown
study; while Sergeant Hollister and Betty brought
up the rear, leaving a firesh southerly wind to
whistle through the open doors and broken windows of the " Hotel Flanagan,"l where the laugh
of hilarity and the joke of the hardy partisans had
so lately echoed in triumph.




CHAPTER XXV.
iNou vernal blooms tneir torpid rocks array,
But winter, lingering, chills the lap of May;
No zephyr fondly sues the mountain's breast,
But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest."
Goldsqmzth.
1 l was only after the establishment of their independence that the American people seemed to
consider themselves as any thing more than sot
journers in the land of their nativity.  Before that
era, their inventions, their wealth, and their glory,
centred in the isle of Britain, as unerringly as the
needle pointed to the pole. Forty years of selfP
government has done for them, what a century and
a half of dependence was unable to achieve.
The uneven surface of West Chester was, at
the period of which we write, intersected with
roads in every direction, it is true; but they were
of a character with the people and the times.
None of those straight, tasteless paths, which,
with premeditated convenience running directly
ifrom  one point of the  country to the  other,
abound in our newly settled territory, were to be
found under the ancient regime; unless, in extraordinary instances, wnere a river curbed their vagaries on one side, and a mountain on the other.
Instead of these direct and shortened passages.
with the few exceptions we have mentioned, the
highways uniformly discovered that classical taste




394'              THE SPY.
which is only cherished under the institutions
that partake of the poetry of life-the two forlming no unapt illustration of the different institutions to which we have alluded.  On one side is
the result of accident and circumstances, embelished with the graces of art, so as to render pleasing what is not always convenient; and on the
other, a straight-forward reason, that tends directly to the object, leaving the moral of applicability to atone for what it may want in beauty and
interest.
Whatever evidence of a parallel between the
roads and the governments our ingenuity may devise, Caesar Thompson found, in the former, no
thing but transitory pleasures and repeated dan
gels.  So long as one of those lovely valleys,
which abound in the interior of the county, lay
before himn, all was security and ease.  Following the meanderings of the stream  that invariably
wound through the bottom, the path lingered to
the last moment among the rich meadows and
pleasant pastures; or, running off at a right angle, shot up the gentle ascent to the foot of the
hill that bounded the vale, and sweeping by the
door of some retired dwelling, again sought the
rivulet and the meadow, until every beauty was
exhausted, and no spot, however secluded, had
escaped the prying curiosity of the genius of the
highway; then, as if eager to visit another place
ol sylvan beauty, the road ran boldly to the base
of a barrier that would firighten a spirit less adventurous, and, regardless of danger and difficulties, kept its undeviating way until the summit was
gained, when, rioting for a moment in victory, it
as dlaringly plunged into the opposite vale, and restimed its mearnering and its sloth.  In getting
over a highway of such varied characteristics.




ITHE SPY.               395
Caesar necessarily  experienced a diversity of
emotions. The cumbersome chariot, that he directed, moved at an even pace over the level
ground, and, perched on the elevated box, the
black felt no little of the dignity of his situation;
but the moment of ascension was one of intense
anxiety, and the descent one of terror. As soon
as the foot of a hill was discerned, Caesar, with a
reasoning derived from  the Dutch settlers of the
colony, commenced applying the whip to his venerable steeds, and accompanying the blows with a
significant cry, their ambition was roused to the
undertaking. The space between them and the
point of struggle was flown over with a velocity
that shook the crazy vehicle, and excessively annoyed its occupants; but the manmeuvre sufficed
to obtain an impetus that carried the steeds up the
ascent one third of the way with glory. By this
time their wind was gone, their strength enfeebled,
and the heaviest difficulties remained to be overcome.  Then, indeed, it was often a matter of
doubt which were to prevail in the dispute, the
chariot or the horses.  But the lash and the cries
of the black stimulated the steeds to unwonted efforts, and happily they prevailed in each of these
well contested points. Short breathing time was
allowed on gaining what in truth might be termed
the cc debateable land," before a descent more dangerous, if less difficult than the ascent, was to be
encountered.  At these moments, Casar would
twine the reins round his body, in a manner of remarkable ingenuity, and lead them over his head
in such a way, as to make that noble member sustain the labour of curbing his horses, with either
hand grasping a side of his dangerous perch, and
with a countenance showing a double row of ivory,
and eyes glistening like diamonds set in ebony, he




396               THrE SP'Y
abandoned every thing to the government of the
ancient proverb of " the devil take the hindmost."
The vehicle, with the zeal of a new made convert,
would thrust the horses to the conclusion of the
argument, with a rapidity that was utterly discomfiting to the philosophy of the African.  But practice makes perfect; and by the time that evening
had begun to warn the travellers of the necessity
of a halt, Caesar was so much accustomed to these
critical flights, that he encountered them with incredible fortitude. We should not have ventured
thus to describe the unprecedented achievements
of Mr. Wharton's coach-horses on this memorable
occasion, did not numberless instances still exist of
those dangerous pinnacles-to which we fearlessly
refer as vouching for our veracity; a circumstance
the more fortunate for us, when we consider, that
in almost every instance, inviting passes are open,
where alterations might long since have been made,
that would have entirely deprived us of this indisputable testimony.
While Caesar and his steeds were thus contending with the difficulties we have recorded, the inmates of the carriage were too much engrossed
with their own cares to attend to those who served
them. The mind of Sarah had ceased to wander
so wildly as at first; but at every advance that
she made towards reason, she seemed to retire a
step from animation; from being excited and
flighty, she was gradually becoming moody and
melancholy. There were moments, indeed, when
her anxious companions thought, with ecstasy,
that they could discern  marks of recollection;
but the expression of exquisite wo that accompanied these transient gleams of reason, forced
them to the dreadful alternative of wishing, at
times, that she might for ever be spared the agony




THE SPY.               397
of thought.  The day's march was performed
chiefly in silence, and the party found shelter for
the night in different farm houses.
The following morning the cavalcade dispersed.
The wounded diverged towards the river, with the
intention of taking water at Peekskill, and thus to
be transported to the hospitals of the American
army above; the litter of Singleton was conveyed
to a part of the Highlands where his father held
his quarters, and where it was intended that the
youth should complete his cure; the carriage of
Mr. Wharton, accompanied by a wagon, conveying the housekeeper and what baggage had been
saved, and could be transported, resumed its route
towards the place where Henry Wharton was held
in duresse, and where he only waited their arrival
to be put on trial for his life.
The country which lies between the waters of
the Hudson and Long-Island Sound, is, for the
first forty miles from their junction, a succession
of hills and dales. The land bordering on the
latter then becomes less abrupt, and gradually assumes a milder appearance, until it finally melts
into the lovely plains and meadows of the Connecticut. But as you approach the Hudson, the rugged aspect increases, until you at length meet with
the formidable barrier of the Highlands. It was
here the Neutral Ground ceased. The royal army
held the two points of land that commanded the
southern entrance of the river into the mountains;
but all the remaining passes were guarded by the
Americans.
We have already stated that the pickets of the
continental army were sometimes pushed low into
the country, and that the hamlet of the White
Plains was occasionally maintained by parties of
troops.  At other times, their advanced guards.
34




398               THE SPY.
were withdrawn to the northern extremity of the
county, and the intermediate country was abandoned entirely t' the ravages of the miscreants
who plundered between both armies, serving neither.
The road taken by our party was not the one
that communicates between the two principal cities of the state, but was a retired and unfrequented pass, that to this hour is but little known, and
which entering, the hills near the eastern boundary, emerges into the plain above, many miles from
the Hudson.
It would have been impossible for the tired
steeds of Mr. Wharton to drag the heavy chariot
up the lengthened and steep ascents which now
lay before them, and a pair of country horses were
procured, with but little regard to their owner's
wishes, by the two dragoons who still continued
to accompany the party. With their assistance,
Casar was enabled to advance, by slow and toilsome steps, into the bosom of the hills. Willing
to relieve her own melancholy by breathing a
fresher air, and also to lessen the weight, Frances
alighted, as they reached the foot of the mountain,
and found that Katy had made similar preparations, with the like intention of walking to the
summit. It was near the setting of the sun, and
firom the top of the mountain their guard had declared, that the desired end of their journey might
be discerned.  The maid moved forward with the
elastic step of youth; and, followed by the housekeeper at a little distance, they soon lost sight of
the sluggish carriage, that was slowly toiling up
the hill, occasionally halting to allow the animals
that drew it to breathe.
" Oh, Miss Fanny, what dreadful times these,e," said Katy, when they paused for breath them



THE SPY.               399
selves; " but I know'd that calamity was about to
befall, ever sin' the streak of blood was seen in the
clouds."
" There nas been blood upon earth, Katy," returned the shuddering Frances, " though but little
I imagine is ever seen in the clouds."
"1 Not blood in the clouds!" echoed the housekeeper; "yes, that there has, often, and comets
with fiery, smoking tails. Didn't people see arme.
men in the heavens the year the war begun? and
the night before the battle of the Plains, wasn't
there thunder just like the cannon themselves?Ah' Miss Fanny, I'm fearful that no good can follow-rebellion against the Lord's anointed."
" These events are certainly dreadful," returned
Frances, " and enough to sicken the stoutest heart.
But what can be done, Katy?-Gallant and independent men are unwilling to submit to oppression;
and I am fearful that such scenes are but too com
mon in in war."
"( If I could but see any thing to fight about,'"
maid Katy, renewing her walk as the young lady
proceeded, " I shouldn't mind it so much.'Twas
said the King wanted all the tea for his own family,
at one time; and then agin, that he meant the co
lonies should pay over to him all their arnins.
Now this is matter enough to fight about-for I'm
sure that no one, howsomever he may be a lord
or a king, has a right to the hard arnins of another.
Then it was all contradicted, and some said Washington wanted to be king himself; so that between
the two one doesn't know which to believe."
"C Believe neither-for neither are true. I do
not pretend to understand, myself, all the imerits
of this war, Katy," said Frances, pausing, and
blushing with the consciousness of whence it was
that she had derived her opinions;   but to me it




400               THE SPY.
seems unnatural, that a country like this should be
ruled by another so distant as England."
"G So I have heard Harvey say to his father that
is dead and in his grave," returned Katy, approaching nearer to the young lady, and lowering her
voice.-" Many is the good time that I've listened
to them talking, when all the neighbours was
asleep; and sich conversations, Miss Fanny, that
you can have no idee on.-Well, to say the truth,
Harvey was a mystified body, and he was like the
winds in the good book; no one could tell whence
he came or whither he went."'
Frances glanced her eye at'her companion with
ail interest altogether new to her, and, with an apparent desire to hear more, observed" There are rumours abroad relative to the character of Harvey, that I should be sorry were true."';G'Tis a disparagement, every word on't,"' cried
Katy, vehemently; " Harvey had no more dealings with Belzebub than you nor I had. I'm sure
if Harvey had sold himself, he would take care to
be better paid; though, to speak the truth, he was
always a wasteful and disregardful man."
" Nay, nay," returned the smiling Frances, CG I
have no such injurious suspicion of him; but has
he not sold himself to an earthly prince; one good
and amiable I allow, but too much attached to the
interests of his native island to be always just to
this country?"'
" To the king's majesty!" replied Katy. c" Why,
Miss Fanny, your own brother that is in gaol serves
King George."
" True," said Frances,' but not in secretopenly, manfully, and bravely."
"'Tis said he is a spy, and why an't one spy as
bad as another."
"'Tis false I" exclaimed Frances, her eyes light



TL-IE SPY.              4011
ing with extraordinary animation, and the colour
trushing to her face until even her fine forehead
glowed with fire; "1 no act of deception is worthy
of my brother, nor of any would he be guilty, for
so base a purpose as gain or promotion."
" Well, I'm sure,:' said Katy, a little appalled at
the manner of the young lady, a" if a body does the
work, he should be paid for it. Harvey is by no
means partic'lar about getting his lawful dues, and
I dar'st to say, if the truth was forthcoming, King
George owes him money this very minute."
(' Then you acknowledge his connexion with the
British arnmy,"' said Frances; "1 I confess there have
been moments when I have thought differently."
1' Lord, Miss Fanny, Harvey is a man that no
calculation can be made on. Though I lived in his
house for a long concourse of years, I have never
known whether he belonged above or below. The
time that Burg'yne was taken, he came home, and
there was great doings between him and the old
gentleman, but for the life I couldn't tell if'twas
ioy or grief. Then, here, the other day, when the
great Biritish general-I'm  sure I have been so
flurried with losses and troubles, that I forget his
name- "; Andre," said Frances, in a melancholy tone.
c Yes, Ondree; when he was hung acrost the
Tappaan, the -old gentleman was near hand to going crazy about it, and didn't sleep for night nor
day till Harvey got back; and then his money was
mostly golden guineas; but the skinners took it
all, and now he is a beggar, or, Twhat's the same
thing, despiseable for poverty and want."
To this speech Frances imade no reply, but continued her walk up the hill, deeply engaged in her
own reflections.  The allusions to Andre had recalled her thoughts to the situation of her own
34 *




102               THIE SPY.
brother.  HIope is a powerful stimulus to enjoyment, and though arising friom a single cause, selliom fails to mingle with every emotion of the heart.
The dying declarations of Isabella had left an impression on the mind of Frances that influenced
hei whole deportment.  She looked forward with
confidence to the restoration of Sarah's intellect;
and even now, as she mused on the condition of
Henry, there was a secret presentiment of his acquittal that pervaded her thoughts, which sprang
from the buoyancy of youth, but for which she
would have been at a loss to account.
They now reached the highest point in their
toilsome progress to the summit, and Frances seated herself on a rock to rest and to admire.  Immediately at her feet lay a deep dell, but little altered by cultivation, and dark with the gloom of a
November sun-set.  Another hill rose opposite to
where she sat, at no great distance, along whose
rugged sides nothing was to be seen but shapeless
rocks, and oaks whose stinted growth proved the:
absence of soil.
To be seen in their perfection, the Highlands
must be passed immediately after the fall of the
leaf.  The picture is then in its chastest keeping,
for neither the scanty foliage which the summer
lends the trees, nor the snows of winter, are present to conceal the minutest objects from the eye.
Chilling solitude is the characteristic of the scenery, nort is the mind at liberty, as in March, to look
forward to a renewed vegetation that is soon to
check, without improving the view.
The day had been cloudy and cool, and thin
fleecy clouds hung around the horizon, often promising to disperse, but as fi-equently disappointing the maid in her expectation of a parting beam
from the setting sun.  At length a solitary gleam




TIHE SPY.               403
of light struck on the base of the mountain on which
she was gazing, and moved gracefully up its side,
until, reaching the summit, it stood for a minute,
forming a crown of glory to the sombre pile beneath.  So strong were the rays, that what was
before indistinct, now clearly opened to the view.
With a feeling of awe at being thus unexpectedly
admitted, as it were, into the secrets of that desert
place, Frances gazed intently, until, among the
scattered trees and fantastic rocks, something like
a rude structure was seen. It was low, and so obscured by the colour of its materials, that but for
its roof, and the glittering of a window, it must
have escaped her notice.  While yet lost in the
astonishment created by discovering a habitation
for man in such a spot, on moving her eyes she
perceived another object that increased her wonder.  It apparently was a human figure, but of singular mould and unusual deformity.  It stood on
the edge of a rock, but a little above the hut, afid
it was no difficult task for our heroine to fancy it
was gazing at the vehicles that were ascending the
side of the mountain beneath her.  The distance,
however, was too great for her to distinguish with
precision.  After looking at it a moment in breathless wonder, Frances had just come to the conclusion that it was ideal, and that what she saw was a
part of the rock itself, when the object moved
swiftly from its position, and glided into the hut.
at once removing any doubts as to the nature of
either. Whether it was owing to the recent conversation that she had been holding with Katy, or
to some fancied resemiblance that she discerned,
Frances thought, as the figure vanished from her
view, that it bore a marked likeness to Birch, moving under the weight of his pack. She continued
to gaze in breathless silence towards the mysteri



404               THE SPY.
ous residence, when the gleam of light passed
away, and at the same instant the tones of a bugle
rang through the glens and hollows, and were reechoed in e-ery direction.  Springing on her feet
in alarm, the maid heard the trampling of horses,
and directly a party in the well known uniform of
the Virginians, came sweeping round the point of
a rock near her, and drew up at a short distance
from where she stood. Again the bugle sounded
a lively strain, and before the agitated girl had
time to rally her thoughts, Dunwoodie dashed by
the party of dragoons, threw himself from his charger, and advanced to the side of his mistress.
His manner was earnest and interested, but in a
slight degree constrained. In a few words he explained to Frances, that he had been ordered up,
with a party of Lawton's men, in the absence of
the Captain himself, to attend the trial of Henry,
which was fixed for the morrow, and that anxious
for their safety in the rude passes of the mountain,
he had ridden a mile or two in quest of the travellers. Frances explained, with blushing cheeks and
trembling voice, the reason of her being in advance, and taught him to expect the arrival of her
father momentarily. The constraint of his manner
had, however, unwillingly on her part, commnuni
rated itself to her own deportment, and the approach of the chariot was a relief to both. The
major handed hel in, spoke a feaw worCd3 of encouragement to Mr. Wharton and Mtiss Peyton, and
again mounting, led the way towards the plains ol
Fishkill, which broke on their sight on'urning the
rockl with the effect of enchantment. A. short half
hour brought them to the door of the farm-house,
which the care of Dunwoodie had already prepared
for theirm reception, and where Captain Wharton
was anxiously expecting their arlrival.




CElAFTER XXVI
i; These limbs are strengthen'd with a soldier's toil
Nor has this cheek been ever blanch'd with fearBut this sad tale of thine enervates all
Within me, that I once could boast as man
Chill, trembling agues seize upon my frame,
And tears of childish sorrow pour, apace,
Through scarred channels, that were mark'd by woundsf.5
Dao.
TINE friends of Henry Wharton had placed so
much reliance on his innocence, that they were
unable to see the full danger of his situation. As
the moment of trial, however, approached, the
uneasiness of the youth, himself, increased; and
after spending most of the night with his afflicted
family, he awoke, on the following morning, from
a. short and disturbed slumber, to a clearer sense
of his condition, and survey of the means that were
to extricate him  fiom  it with life.  The rank of
Andre, and the importance of the measures he
was plotting, together with the powerful intercessions that had been made on his behalf, occasioned his execution to be stamped with greater notoriety than the ordinary events of the war.   But
spies were friequently arrested, and the instances
that occurred of summary  punishment for this
crime were numberless.  These were facts that
were well known to both Dunwoodie and the prisoner; and to their experienced judgments the preparations for the trial were indeed alarming. Notwithstanding their apprehensions, they succeeded




406                THE SPY.
so far in concealing them, that neither Miss Peyton
nor Frances was aware of their extent.  A strong
guard was stationed in the out-building of the
farm-house where the prisoner was quartered, and
several sentinels watched the avenues that approached the dwelling; one was constantly near
the room of the British officer.  A court was already detailed to examine into the circumstances;
and upon their decision the fate of Henry rested.
The moment at length arrived, and the different
actors in the approaching investigation assembled.
Frances experienced a feeling like suffocation,
as, after talking hei- seat in the midst of her family,
her eyes wandered over the group who were thus
collected. The judges, three in number, sat by
themselves, clad in the martial vestments of theiprofession, and maintained a gravity worthy of the
occasion, and becoming in their rank.  In the
centre was a man of advanced years, but whose
person continued rigidly erect, and whose whole
exterior bore the stamp of early and long-tried
military habits.  This was the president of the
court; and Frances, after taking a hasty and unsatisfactory view of his associates, turned to his
benevolent countenance as to the harbinger of
mercy to her brother. There was a melting and
subdued expression in the features of the veteran.
that, contrasted with the rigid decency and composure of the others, could not fail to attract her
notice.  His attire was strictly in conformity to
the prescribed rules of the service'to which he
belonged; but while his hair was erect and mili..
tary, his fingers trifled, with a kind of convulsive and unconscious motion, with the crape that
entwined the hilt of the sword on which his body partly reclined, and, which, like himself,
seemed a relic of older times. There were the




THE SPY.                 407
workings of an unquiet soul within; but his cormmanding and martial fiont blended a-we with the
pity that its exhibition excited.  His associates
were officers selected from the eastern troops who
held the fortresses of West Point and the adjacent
passes; they were men who had attained the meridian of life, and the eye sought in vain the expression of any passion or emotion, on which it
might seize as an indication of human infirmity.
In their demeanour, there was a mild, but a grave
intellectual reserve.  If there was no ferocity or
harshness to chill, neither was there compassion
or interest to attract.  They were men who had
long acted under the dominion of a prudent reason, and whose feelings seemed trained to a perfect submission to their judgments.
Before these arbiters of his fate Henry Wharton
was ushered, under the custody of two armed men.
A profound and awful silence succeeded his entrance, and the blood of Frances chilled in her
veins. There was but little of pomp in the preparations to impress her imagination, but the reserVed, business-like air of the whole scene, made
it seem, indeed, as if the destinies of life awaited
on the judgment of these men.  Two of the judges
sat in grave reserve, fixing their inquiring eyes on
the object of their investigation; but the president
continued gazing around with uneasy, convulsive
motions of the muscles of the face, that indicated a
restlessness, foreign to his years and duty. It was
Colonel Singleton, who, but the day before, had
learned the fate of Isabella, but who proudly stood
forth in the discharge of a duty that his country
required at his hands.  The silence, and the expectation in every eye, at length struck him, and
making an effort to collect himselfW he spoke, in
thie deep tones of one used to authority-'




408                THE SPY.
"C Bring forth the prisoner."
The sentinels dropped the points of their bayo
nets towards the judges, and Henry Wharton advanced, with a firm step, into the centre of the
apartment. All was now anxicty, and eager cue
riosity.  Frances turned for a moment in grateful
emotion, as the deep and perturbed breathing of
Dunwoodie reached her ears; but her brother
again concentrated all her interest into one feeling
of intense care.  In the back-ground were arranged the inmates of the family who owned the
dwelling, and behind them, again, was a row of
shining faces of ebony, glistening with pleased
wonder at the scene. Amongst these was the faded
lustre of Caesar Thompson's countenance.
"c You are said,9 continued the president, 1 to
be Henry Whartoln, a Captain in his Britannic
Majesty's 60th regimi ent of foot."
~" I am.")'1 like your candour, sir; it partakes of the
honourable feelings of a soldier, and cannot fail to
impress your judges favourably."'
" It would be prudent," said one of his companions, "d to advise the prisoner that he is bound to
answer no more than he dee-ms necessary; although we are a court of martial law, yet, in this
respect, we own the principles of all firee governments."
A nod of approbation from the silent memboe
was bestowed on this remark, and the president
proceeded with caution, referring to the minutes
he held in his hand.
"; It is in accusation against you, that, being an
officers of the enemy, you passed the pickets of the
American army at the While Plains, in disguise,
on the 29th of October last, whereby you are suspected. of views hostile to the interests of America,




THE SPY.                409
and have subjected yourself to the punishment of
a spy."
The mild, but steady tones of the speaker's
voice, as he slo0wly repeated the substance of this
charge, sunk to the hearts of most of the listeners.
The accusation was so plain, the facts so limited,
the proof so obvious, and the penalty so well established, that eseape at once seemed impossible.
But Henry replied, with eatrnest grace" That I passed your pickets, in disguise, is
true but" —' Peace," interrupted the president; "' the usages of war are stern enough, in themselves; you
need not aid them to your own condemnation.s"
cc The prisoner can retract that declaration, if
he pleases," remarked another judge.  " His confession, which must be taken, goes fully to prove
the charge."''" I retract nothing that is true," said Itenry,
proudly.
The two nameless judges heard him  in silent
composure, yet there was no exultation mingled
with their gravity.  The president now appeared,
however, to take new interest in the scene; and,
with an animation unlooked for in his years, he
cried"' Your sentiment is noble, sir; I only regret
that a youthfuil soldier should so far be misled by
loyalty, as to lend himself to the purposes of deceit.'"
" Deceit!"' echoed Wharton; " I thought it prudent to guard against capture from my enemies."
cc A soldier, Captain Wharton," exelaimed the
veteran, " should never meet his enemy but openly, and with arms in his hands. For fifty years
have I served two kings of Englarld, and now my
native land; but never did I approach a foe, unless
35




410                THE SPY.
under the light of the sun, and with hottest notice
that an enemy was nigh."
" You are at liberty to explain what your mnc
tives were, in entering the ground held by our atr
my, in disguise," said the other judge, with a slight
movement of the muscles of his mouth.
" I am the son of this aged man before you,"
continued Henry.  "It was to visit him that I encountered the danger.  Besides, the country below is seldom held by your troops, and its very
name implies a right to either party to move at
pleasure over its territory."
"c Its name, as a neutral ground, is unauthorized
by law; and is an appellation that originates with
the condition of the country. But wherever an
army goes, it carries its rights along, and the first is,
the ability to protect itself."
" I am no casuist sir," returned the youth, earnestly; " but I feel that my father is entitled to my
affection, and would encounter greater risks to
plrove it to him, in his old age.'
"d A very commendable spirit," cried the veteran; "' come, gentlemen, this business brightens.
I confess, at first, it was very bad; but no man
can censure him for desiring to see his parent."
" And have you proof that such only was your
intention?"
" Yes —here," said Henry, admitting a ray of
hope; " here is proof-my father, my sister, Ma
jor Dunwoodie, all know it."
" Then, Indeed," returned his irnmoveable judge,
"C we may be able to save you.  It would be well,
sir, to examine further into this business."
" Certainly," said the president, with alacrity;
"let the elder Mr. Wharton approach and take the.
oath.,"
The father made an effort at composure, and ad




THE SPY.                411
vancing with a feeble step, complied with the necessary forms of the court.
" You are the father of the prisoner?" said
Colonel Singleton, in a subdued voice, after pausing a moment in respect of the agitation of the witness.
cc He is my only son."
" And what, sir, do you know of his visit to
your house, on the 29th day of October last?"
" He came, as he told you, sir, to see me and
his sisters."
"C Was he in disguise?" asked the other judge.
" He did not wear the uniform of the 60th."
" To see his sisters, too!" said the president
with great emotion.  A' Have you daughters, sir?"
" I have two-both are in this house."
c Had he a wig?" interrupted the officer.
" There was some such thing, I do believe, upon
his head."
"c And how long had you been separated?" asked the president.
" One year and two months."
" Did he wear a loose great coat of coarse materials?" inquired the officer, referring to the paper that contained the charges.
" There was an over-coat.")
(" And you think that it was to see you, only,
that he came out?"
" And my daughters."
" A boy of spirit," whispered the president tc
his silent comrade.  " I see but little harm in such
a fireak;'twas imprudent, but then it was kind.9"
"' Do you know that your son was entrusted
with no commission fiom  Sir Henry Clinton, and
that the visit to you was not merely a cloak to
other designs?"'
" IHow can I know it?"? said Mr. Wharton, in




412                THE SPY.
alarm; CC would Sir Henry entrust ine with such
a business?"
" Know you any thing of this pass?" exhibiting
the paper that Dunwoodie had retained when
Wharton was taken.
"' Nothing-upon my honour, nothing,s" cried
the father, shrinking from the paper as fiom contagion.
" But, on your oath?9"
(c Nothing."
c' Have you other testimony?-this does not avail
you, Captain Wharton.  You have been taken in
a situation where your life is forfeited; the labour
of proving your innocence rests with yourself.
Take time to reflect, and be cool."
There was a frightful calmness in the manner of
this judge that appalled the prisoner.  In the
sympathy of Colonel Singleton, he could easily
lose sight of his danger; but the obdurate and
collected air of the others was ominous of his
fate.  He continued  silent, casting expressive
glances towards his friend.  Dunwoodie understood the appeal, and offered himself as a witness.
lie was sworn, and desired to relate what he knew.
His statement did not materially alter the case,
and Dunwoodie felt that it could not. To him personally but little was known, and that little rather
militated against the safety of Henry than otherwise.  His account was listened to in silence, and
the significant shake of the head that was made by
the silent member spoke too plainly what effect it
had produced.
"' Still you think that the prisoner had no other
object than what he has avowed?" said the president, when he had ended.
" None other, I will pledge my life," cried the
major with fervolr.




THE SPY,                413
"Will you swear it?" asked the immoveable
judge.
" How can I? God alone can tell the heart; but
I have known this gentleman from a boy; deceit
never formed part of his character. He is above
it."
" You say that he escaped, and was retaken in
open arms?" said the president.
" He was; nay, he received a wound in the
combat.  You see he yet moves his arm with difficulty. Would he, think you, sixr, have trustee
himself where he could fall again into our hands,
unless conscious of his innocence?7
" Would Andrll have deserted a field of battle,
Major Dunwoodie, had he encountered such arh
event near Tarry-town?" asked his deliberate examiner. " Is it not natural to youth to seek glory?"
" Do you call this glory?" exclaimed the Major,
" an ignominious death, and a tarnished name."
"1 Major Dunwoodie," returned the other, still
with inveterate gravity; "you have acted nobly;
your duty has been arduous and severe, but it has
been faithfully and honourably discharged; ours
must not be less so."'
During the examination, the most intense interest prevailed among the hearers.  With that kind
of feeling which could not separate the principle
from the cause, most of the auditors thought that
if Dunwoodie failed to move the hearts of Henry's judges, no other possessed the pox er.  Caesar
thrust his misshapen form. forward; and his features, so expressive of the concern he felt, and
so different fiom the vacant curiosity pictured in
the countenances of the other blacks, caught the
attention of the silent judge.  For the first time
he spoke" Let that blackl be brought forward."
35:




414               THE SPY.
It was too late to retreat, and Coesar found him.
self confronted with a row of the rebel officers, before he knew what was uppermost in his thoughts.
The others yielded the examination to the one who
suggested it, and using all due deliberation, he proceeded accordingly" You know the prisoner?"
" I tink I ought," returned the black, in a manner as sententious as that of his examiner.
"' Did he give you the wig, when he threw it
aside?"
" I don't want'em," grumbled Caesar; " got a
berry good hair he'self."
" Were you employed in carrying any letters
or messages, while Captain Wharton was in your
master's house?"'
" I do what a tell me," returned the black.
" But what did they tell you to do?"
" Sometime a one ting —sometime anoder."
" Enough," said Colonel Singleton, with dignity; " you have the noble acknowledgment of a
gentleman, what more can you obtain from this
slave? Captain Wharton, you perceive the unfortunate impression against you. Have you other
testimony to adduce?
To Henry, there now remained but little hope;
his confidence in his security was fast ebbing, but
with an indefinite expectation of assistance from
the loveliness of his sister, he fixed an earnest
gaze on the pallid features of Frances.  She arose,
and with a tottering step moved towards the
judges; the paleness of her cheek continued but
for a moment, and gave place to a flush of fire, and
with a light, but firm tread, she stood before them.
Raising her hand to her polished forehead, Frances
threw aside her exuberant locks, and displayed a
beauty and innocence to their view, that was un



THE SPY.                 415
rivalled.  The president shroulded his eyes for
a moment, as if the wildly expressive eye and
speaking countenance recalled the image of another.  The imovemr-ent was transient, and recovering himself proudly, he said, with an earnestless that betrayed his secret wishes" To you, then, your brother communicated his
intention of paying your family a secret visit."
" No! —no!" said Frances, pressing her hand
on her brain, as if to collect her thoughts; " he
told me nothing-we knew not of the visit until
he arrived: but can it be necessary to explain to
gallant men, that a child would incur hazard to
meet his only parent, and that in times like these,
and in a situation like ours?"
"' But was this the first time?  Did he never
even talk of doing so before?"' inquired the colonel.
leaning towards her with paternal interest.
"Certainly-certainly," cried Frances, catching the expression of his own benevolent countenance.  " This is but the fourth of his visits.")
" I knew it!" exclaimed the veteran, rubbing
his hands with delight; "N an adventurous, warmhearted son-I warrant me, gentlemen, a fiery
soldier in the field. In what disguises did he
come?"
" In none, for none were then necessary; the
royal troops covered the country, and gave him
safe passage."
1" And was this the first of his visits out of the
uniform of his regiment?" asked the Colonel, in a
suppressed voice, avoiding the penetrating looks
of his companions.
" Oh! the very first," exclaimed the eager girl'' his first offence, I do assure you, if olfence it
be."
" But you wrote him-you urged the visit;




4 i6             CTHE SPI.
surely, young lady, you wished to see your bro
ther?" added the impatient Colonel.
(" That we wished it, and prayed for it, oh! how
fervently we prayed for it, is true; but to have
held communion with the royal army would have
endangered our father, and we dared not."
" Did he leave the house until taken, or had he
intercourse with any out of your own dwelling?"
" With none-not one, excepting our neighbour,
the pedler Birch."
i" With whom?"' exclaimed the Colonel, turning
pale, and shrinking as from the sting of an adder.
Dunwoodie groaned aloud, and striking his head
with his hand, cried in piercing tones, "o he is lost!'"
and rushed from the apartment.
"- But Harvey Birch," repeated Frances, gazing
wildly at the door through which her lover had
disappeared.
" Harvey Birch!"' echoed all the judges.  The
two imamoveable members of the court exchanged
significant looks, and threw many an inquisitive
glance at their prisoner.
ca To you, gentlemen, it can be no new intelligence to hear that Harvey Birch is suspected of
favouring the royal cause," said Henry, again ad
vancing before the judges; "G for he has already
been condemned by your tribunals to the fate that
I now see awaits myself. I will, therefore, explain, tfhat it was by his assistance that I procured
the disguise, and passed your pickets; but to my
dying moment, and with my dying breath, I will
avow, that my intentions were as pure as the in
nocent being before you.'
a Captain Wharton," said the president, solemnly, " the enemies of American liberty have inade
mighty and subtle efforts to overthrow our power.
A more dangerous man, for his means and educa



T'HE SPY.                417
nlon, is not ranked among our foes, than this pedler of West Chester.  He is a spy —artful, delusive and penetrating, beyond the abilities of any
of his class. Sir Henry could not do better than
to associate him with the officer in his next attempt.  He would have saved him Andre'.  Indeed, young man, this is a connexion that may
prove fatal to you."
The honest indignation that beamed on the
countenance of the aged warrior as he spoke, was
met by a satisfied look of perfect conviction on the
part of his comrades.
" I have ruined him!" cried Frances, clasping
her hands in terror; " do you desert us? then he
is lost indeed."
" Forbear!-lovely innocent-forbear!" cried
the Colonel, with strong emotion; " you injure
none, but distress us all."
CC Is it then such a crime to possess natural affection?" said Frances, wildly; "1 would Washington-the noble, upright, impartial Washington,
judge so harshly? delay but till Washington can
hear his tale."
" It is impossible," said the president, covering
h]is eyes, as if to hide her beauty from his view.
" Impossible! oh! but for a week suspend your
judgment.  On my knees I entreat you, as you
will expect mercy yourself, where no human power can avail you, give him but a day."
cc It is impossible,"' repeated the Colonel, in a
voice that was nearly choked; cc our orders are
peremptory, and too long delay has been given already."
He turned from the kneeling suppliant, but could
iiot, or Nwould not, extricate the hand that she
Llrasped with frenzied fervou'r.'   eniand yo0tu p' risonerlC'1 said brc of the judgci&;,,~~~~~~~




418               THlE SPY.
to the officer who was in the charge of IHenry.'" Colonel Singleton, shall we withdraw?"
" Singleton! Singleton!" echoed Frances; " then
you are a father, and know lbow to pity a father's
woes: you cannot, will not, wound a heart that is
now nearly crushed. Hear me, Colonel Singletonl: as God will listen to your dying prayers, hear
me, and spare my brother."'" Remove her," said the Colonel, gently endeavouring to extricate his hand; but there were none
who appeared disposed to obey. Frances eagerly
strove to read the expression of his averted face,
and resisted all his efforts to retire.
s" Colonel Singleton! how lately was your own
son in suffering and in danger? under the roof of
my father he was cherished-under my fathei's
roof he found shelter and protection.  Oh! suppose that son the pride of your age, the solace and
protector of your orphan children, and then pronounce my brother guilty, if you dare."
"r What right has Heath to make an executioner
of me!"' exclaimed the veteran fiercely, rising
with a face flushed like fire, and every vein and
artery swollen with suppressed emotion.  "a But
I forget myself; come, gentlemen, let us mount;
our painful duty must be done."
"5 Mount not! go not!" shrieked Frances; " can
you tear a son from his parent? a brother from his
sister, so coldly? Is this the cause I have so ardently loved? Are these the men that I have been
taught to reverence? But you relent, you do hear
me, you will pity and forgive."
" Lead on, gentlemen," said the Colonel, motioning towards the door, and erecting himself into an air of military grandeur, in the vain hope of
quieting his feelings.
C Lead not on; but hear me," cried Frances,




THE SPY.               419
grasping his hand convulsively, " Colonel Singleton, you are a father!-pity-mercy-imercy for
the son l mercy for the daughter! Yes-you had
a daughter. On this bosom she poured out her
last breath; these hands closed her eyes; these
very hands, that are now clasped in prayer, did
those offices for her, that you condemn my poor,
poor brother, to require."
One mighty emotion the veteran struggled with,
and quelled; but with a groan that shook his whole
frame. He even looked around in conscious pride
at his victory; but a second burst of feeling conquered. His head, white with the frost of seventy
winters, sunk upon the shoulder of the frantic suppliant. The sword that had been his companion
in so many fields of blood, dropped from his nerveless hand, and as he cried" May God bless you for the deed!" he wept
aloud.
Long and violent was the indulgence that Colonel Singleton yielded to his feelings.  On recovering, he gave the senseless Frances into the
arms of her aunt, and, turning with an air of fortitude to his comrades, he said11 Still, gentlemen, we have our duty as officers
to discharge;-our feelings as men may be indulged hereafter. What is your pleasure with the
prisoner?"'
One of the judges placed in his hand a written
sentence, that he had prepared while the Colonel
was engaged with Frances, and declared it to be
the opinion of himself and his companion.
It briefly stated, that Henry Wharton had been
detected in passing the lines of the American army as a spy, and in disguise.  That, thereby, according to the laws of war, he was liable to suffer
death, and that this court adjudged him to the pe



420               THE SPY.
nalty-recommending him to be executed, by hanging, before nine o'clock on the following morning.
It was not usual to inflict capital punishments,
even on the enemy, without referring the case to
the Commander-in-chief, for his approbation; or
in his absence, to the officer commanding for the
time being. But, as Washington held his head
quarters at New-Windsor, on the western bank of
the Hudson, sufficient time was yet before them to
receive his answer.' This is short notice," said the veteran, holding the pen in his hand, in a suspense that had no
object  "not a day to fit one so young for heaven?"
"' The royal officers gave Hale but an hour," red
turned his comrade; " we have extended the usual
time. But Washington has the power to extend
it, or to pardon."
" Then to Washington will I go," cried the Colonel returning the paper with his signature, Go and
if the services of an old man like me, or that brave
boy of mine, entitle me to his ear, I will yet save
the youth."
So saying, he departed, full of his generous intentions in favour of Henry Wharton.
The sentence of the court was communicated
with proper tenderness to the prisoner; and after
giving a few necessary instructions to the officer
in command, and despatching a courier to headquarters with their report, the remaining judges
mounted, and rode to their own quarters, with the
same unmoved exterior, but with the consciousness
of the same dispassionate integrity, that they had
maintained throughout the trial




CHIIPTERI XXVIL
" ave you no countermand for Claudio yet
But he must die to-morrow?
Jleasure for pleasere.
A FEW hours were passed by the condemned prisoner, after his sentence was received, in the bosom of his family.  Mr. Wharton wept in hopeless despondency over the untimely fate of his son;
and Frances, after recovering from her insensibility, experienced an anguish of feeling to which the
bitterness of death, itself, would have been comparatively light. Miss Peyton alone retained a vestige of hope, or presence of mind to suggest what
might be proper to be done, under their circumstances. The comparative composure of the good
spinster in no degree arose from any want of interest in the welfare of her nephew, but was found
ed in a kind of instinctive dependence on the character of Washington.  He was a native of the
same colony with herself, and although his early
military services, and her'requent visits to the family of her sister, and subsequent establishment
at its head, had prevented their ever meeting, still
she was familiar with his domestic virtues, and
well knew that the rigid inflexibility for which his
public acts were distinguished, formed no part of
his reputatron in private life.  He was known in
Virginia as a consistent but just and lenient master, and the maiden felt a kind of pride in associatingr in her mind, her countryman with the man who




422                THE SPY.
led the armies, and, in a great measure, controlled
the destinies of America.  She knew that Henry
was innocent of the crime for which he was condemned to suffer, and with that kind of sinmple
faith, that is ever to be found in the mcst ingenuous and innocent characters, could not conceive
of those constructions and interpretations of law,
that inflicted punishment. without the actual existence of crime. But even her confiding hopes were
doomed to meet with a speedy termination.  Towards noon, a regiment of militia that was quartered on the banks of the river, moved up to the
ground in firont of the house that held~%ur heroine
and her family, and deliberately pitched their tents,
with the avowed intention of remaining until the
following morning, to give solemnity and impression to the execution of a British spy.
Dunwoodie had performed all that was required
of him by his orders, and was at liberty to retrace
his steps to his expecting troops, who were impatiently awaiting his return to be led against a detachment of the enemy, that was known to be slowly moving up the banks of the river, to cover a party of foragers in their rear. He was accompanied
by a small party of Lawton's troop, under the expectation of their testimony being required to convict the prisoner, and Mason, the lieutenant, was
in command. But the confession of Captain Wharton had removed the necessity of examining any
witnesses on behalf of the people.  The major,
fr-om an unwillingness to encounter the distress of
Henry's friends, and a dread of trusting himself
within its influence, had spent the time we have
mentioned, in walking by himself, in keen anxiety,
at a short distance from the dwelling.  Like Miss
Peyton, he had some reliance on the mercy ol
Washington, although moments of terrific doubt




THE SPY.               423
and despondency were continually crossing his
mind, To him the rules of service were familiar,
and he was more accustomed to consider his General in the capacity of a ruler, than as exhibiting
the characteristics of the individual.  A dreadfiul
instance had too recently occurred, which fully
proved that Washington was above the weakness
of sparing another in mercy to himself. While
pacing with hurried steps through the orchard, labouring under these constantly recurring doubts,
enlivened by transient rays of hope, Mason approached him, accoutred completely for the saddle.
"' Thinking you might have forgotten the news
brought this morning from below, sir, I have taken
the liberty to order the detachment under arms,"
said the Lieutenant, very coolly, cutting down with
his sheathed sable the mullen tops that grew within his reach.
" What news?" cried the Major, starting.
"Only that John Bull is out in West Chestet,
with a train of wagons, which, if he fills, will compel us to retire through these cursed hills, in search
of provender.  These greedy Englishmen are so
shut up on York island, that when they do venture
out, they seldom leave straw enough to furnish the
bed of a Yankee heiress."'
" Where did the express leave them, did you
say?  The intelligence has entirely escaped my
Inemory."
"' On the heights above Sing Sing," returned
the Lieutenant, with no little amazement.  " The
road below looks like a hay-marklet, and all the
sm ine are sighing forth their lamentations, as the
corn passes them towards Kingsbridge.  George
Sing eton's orderly, who brought up the tidings,
says that our horses were holding consultation if
14! ~




424                THE SPY.
they should not go down without their ride s, and
eat another meal, for it is questionable with them
whether they can get a full stomach again. If they
are suffered to get back with their plunder, we
shall not be able to find a piece of pork, at Christmas, fat enough to fry itself."' Peace, with all this nonsense of Singleton's orderly, Mr. Mason,"' cried Dunwoodie impatiently;
"Clet him  learn to wait the orders of his superiors."
" I beg pardon in his name, Major Dunwoodie,"
said the subaltern; "but, like myself, he was in
error. We both thought it was the order of General Heath, to attack and molest the enemy whenever he ventured out of his nest."
"c Recollect yourself, Lieutenant Mason," said
the Major fiercely; "o or I may have to teach you
that your orders pass through me.'
c' I know it, Major Dunwoodie-   know it," said
Mason with a look of reproach; " and I am sorry
that your memory. is so bad, as to forget that I
never have yet hesitated to obey them."
" Forgive me, Mason," cried Dunwoodie; taking both his hands; c' I do know you for a brave
and obedient soldier; forget my humour.  Bu
this business.-Had you ever a friend?"'C INay, nay," interrupted the Lieutenant; " forgive me and my honest zeal.  I knew of the orders, and was fearful that censure might fall on my
officer.  But remain, and let a man breathe a syllable against the corps, and every sword will start
firom the scabbard of itself; besides, they are still
moving up, and it is a long road from  Croton to
Kingsbridge. Happen what may, I see plainly that
we shall be on their heels, before they are housed
again."
" Oh! that the courier was returned from head



THE SPY.                425
quarters," exclaimed  Dunwoodie.  " This suspense is insupportable."
" You have your wish,"9 cried Mason; (" here
he is coming at the moment, and riding like the
bearer of good news. God send it may be so; for
I can't say that I particularly like myself to see
a brave young fellow dancing upon nothing.")
Dunwoodie heard but very little of this feeling
declaration; for, ere half of it was uttered, he
had leaped the fence, and stood before the messenger.
" What news have you?"' cried the Major, the
moment that the soldier stopped his horse.
" Good!" exclaimed the man; and feeling no
hesitation to entrust an officer so well known as
Major Dunwoodie, he placed the paper in his
hands, as he added, " but you can read it, sir, foi
yourself."
iDunwoodie paused not to read; but flew, with
the elastic spring of youth and joy, to the chamber
of the prisoner. The sentinel knew him, and he
was suffered to pass without question.
" Oh! Peyton," cried Frances, as he entered
the apartment,' you look like a messenger fionm
heaven: bring you tidings of mercy?"
c Here, Frances-here, Henry —here, dear
cousin Jeanette," cried the youth, as with trembling hands he broke the seal; 1" here is the letter
itself directed to the captain of the guard. But
listen"All did listen with intense anxiety; and the
pang of blasted hope was added to their misery, as
they saw the glow of delight which had beamed on
the countenance of the Major on his entrance, give
place to a look of astonishment and terror.  The
paper contained the sentence of the court, and un
derneath was written these simple words,.qu:x



426               THE SPY.' Approved-George Washington.'"
"' He's lost, he's lost!" cried Frances, in the
piercing tones of despair, sinking into the arims of
her aunt.
"M ay son! my son!" sobbed the father, " there
is mercy in heaven, if there is none on earth. May
VVashington never want that mercy he thus denies
to my innocent child."
c Washington!" echoed  Dunwoodie  gazing
around him in vacant horror. C Yes,'tis the act
of Washington himself; there are his characters;
his very name is here to sanction the dreadful
deed.'' Cruel, cruel Washington!' cried Miss Peyton; 1" how has familiarity with blood changed his
nature!"
C' Blame him not," said Dunwoodie; "c it is the
General, and not the man; my life on it, he feels
the blow he is compelled to inflict."
"I have been deceived in hin," cried Frances.
-' He is not the saviour of his country; but *a cold
and merciless tyrant.  Oh! Peyton, Peyton! how
have you misled me in his character!"
1' Peace, dear Frances; peace for God's sake;
use not such language,"' cried her lover.   li He is
but the guardian of the law."
~ You speak the truth, Major Dunwoodie," said
Henry, recoverinog from  the shock of having his
last ray of hope extinguished, and advancing firom
his seat by the side of his father. c" I, who am to
suffer, blame him not. Every indulgence has been
granted me that I can ask.  On the verge of the
grave, I cannot continue unjust. At such a moment, with so recent an instance of danger to your
cause from treason, I wonder not at Washington's
unbending justice.  Nothing now remains but for
tme to prepare for that fate which so speedily awaits




THE SPY.               427
me. To you, Major Dunwoodie, I make my first
request."
a Name it," said the Major, giving utterance
with difficulty.
Henry turned, and pointed impressively to the
group of weeping mourners near him, as he continued" Be a son to this aged man; help his weakness,
and defend him fi'om any usage to which the stigma thrown upon me may subject him. He has
not many friends amongst the rulers of this country; let your -powerful name be found among
them."
" It shall," said Dunwoodie, fervently pressing
the hand of his friend.
" And this helpless innocent," continued Henry, pointing to where Sarah sat, in unconscious
melancholy. " I had hoped for an opportunity to
revenge her wrongs;" a momentary flush of excitement passed over his pallid features; " but such
thoughts are evil-I feel them to be wrong. Under
your care, Peyton, she will find sympathy and
refuge."
" She will," whispered Dunwoodie, unable to
speakr aloud.
" This good aunt has claims upon you already;
of her I will not speak: but here," taking the hand
of Frances, and dwelling upon her countenance
with an expression of fraternal affection —" here is
the choicest gift of all. Take her to your boson,
and cherish her as you would cultivate innocence
and vi-tue.'
Tlhe Major could not repress the eagerness with
which he extended his hand to receive the precious boon, aLtt Frances, shrinking, from his touch,
hid her face in the bosom of her aunt, as she murnmured —




428               THE SPY.
c No, no, no —none can ever be any thing to
me, who aid in my brother's destruction."
Henry continued gazing at her in tender pity for
several moments, before he again resumed a discourse that all felt was most peculiarly his own.
"' I have been mistaken, then.  I did think, Pey
ton, that your worth, your noble devotion to a
cause that you have been taught to revere, that
your kindness to our father when in imprisonment,
your friendship to me, in short, that your character
was understood and valued by my sister."
" It is-it is," whispered Frances, burying her
face still deeper in the bosom of her aunt.
" I believe, dear Henry," said Dunwoodie,
" this is a subject that had better not be dwelt
upon no0w."
CC You forget," returned the prisoner, with a
faint smile, "n how much I have to do, and how little time is left to do it in."7' I apprehend," continued the Major, with a
face of fire, " that Miss Wharton has imbibed some
opinions of me, that would make a compliance with
your request irksome to her-opinions that it is
now too late to alter."
cc No, no, no, cried Frances, quickly; " you
are exonerated, Peyton- with her dying breath
she removed my doubts."
c" Generous Isabella!" murmured Dunwoodie,
with a glow of momentary rapture; " but still,
Henry, spare your sister now; nay, spare even
~ I speak in pity to myself," returned the brother, gently removing Frances firom the arms of
her aunt.  " What a time is this to leave two such
lovely females without a protector!-Their abode
is destroyed, and misery will speedily deprive them
of their last male friend," looking at his father;




THE SPY.               429'
"' can I die in peace with the knowledge of the
danger to which they will be exposed?"'
" You forget me," said Miss Peyton, shrinking
herself at the idea of celebrating nuptials at such a
moment.
" No, my dear aunt, I forget you not, nor shall
I, until I cease to remember; but you forget the
times and the danger.  The good woman who lives
in this house has already despatched a messenger
for a man of God, to smooth my passage to another
world?-Frances, if you would wish me to die in
Deace, to feel a security that will allow me to turn
my whole thoughts to heaven, you will let this
clergyman unite you to Dunwoodie."
Frances shook her head, but remained silent.
" I ask for no joy —no demonstration of a felicity that you will not, cannot feel, for months to
come-but obtain a right to his powerful namegive him an undisputed title to protect you —"
Again the maid made an impressive gesture of
denial.
"- For the sake of that unconscious sufferer-"
pointing to Sarah, " for your sake —for my sakemy sister-"
"~ Peace, Henry, or you will break my heart,":
cried the agitated girl; " not for worlds would I
at such a moment engage in the solemn vows that
you wish. It would render me miserable for lifie.'
" You love him not," said Henry, reproachfii
ly. c" I cease to importune you to do what is
against your inclinations."
Frances raised one hand to conceal the coun
tenance that was overspread with crimson, as she
extended the other towards Dunwoodie, and said
earnestly" Now you are unjust to me —-before you were
unjust to yourself.)




430              THE SPY'.
"c Promise me, then,'" said Wharton, musing
awhile iln silence, "c that so soon as the recollection
of my fate is softened, you will give my friend that
hand for life, and I am satisfied."
" I do promlise," said Frances, withdrawing the
hand that Dunwoodie delicately relinquished, without even pressing it, to his lips.
" Well, then, my good aunt," continued, Henry,
"will you leave -me for a short time alone with my
fiiend? I have a few melancholy commissions with
which to entrust him, and would spare you and my
sister the pain of hearing them.'
G" There is yet time to see Washington again,"
said Miss Peyton, moving towards the door; and
then, speaking with extreme dignity, she continued —" I will go myself: surely he must listen to a
woman from his own colony!-and we are in some
degree connected with his family."
"Why not apply to Mr. Hal-per?" said Frances, recollecting the parting words of their guest
for the first time.
"Harper!'" echoed Dunwoodie, turning towards
her with the swiftness of lightning; I" what of him?
do you know him?"'
"' It is in vain," said Henry, drawing him aside;
"Frances clings to hope with the fondness of a
sister.  Retire, my love, and leave me with myV
friend."'
Bu,t Frances read an expression in the eye of
Dunwoodie that chained her to the spot.  After
struggling to command her feelings, she continued
" He staid with us for two days —he was with us
when Henry was arrested."
" And —and-did you know him?"'
" Nay," continued Frances, catching her breath
is she witnessed the intense interest of her lover




THE SPY.                 431; e knew him not; he came to us in the night, a
stranger, and remained with us during the severe
storm; but he seemed to take an interest in Henry, and promised him his friendship."
" What!"1 exclaimed the youth, in astonishment;
" did he know your brother?
"' Certainly;-it was at his request that Henry.
threw aside his disguise."
" But," said Dunwoodie, turning pale with
suspense, "he knew him not as an officer of the
royal a:my."'
" indeed he did," cried Miss Peyton; "and
cautioned against this very danger."
Dunwoodie caught up the fatal paper, that still
lay where it had fallen from his own hands, and
studied its characters intently.  Something seemed
to bewilder his brain. He passed his hand over
his forehead, while each eye was fixed on him in
dreadful suspense-all feeling afraid to admit
those hopes anew that had once been so sadly de
stroyed.
" What said he? what promised he?" at length
Dunwoodie asked with feverish impatience.
" He bid Henry apply to him when in danger,
and promised to requite to the son the hospitality
of the father."
" Said he this, knowing him to be a British
officer?"'6 Most certainly; and with a view to this very
danger."
" Then,"  cried the youth aloud, and yielding
to his rapture,'"then you are safe —then will J
save him; yes, Harper will never forget his
word."
" But has he the power?" said Frances; " can
he move the stubborn purpose of Washington?"




432              THE SPY.
" Can he! If he cannot," shouted the youth
in uncontrollable emotion, C if he cannot, who
can? —Greene, and Heath, and young Hamilton,
are as nothing, compared to this Harper. But,"
rushing to his mistress, and pressing her hands
convulsively, cc repeat to me-you say you have
his promise?"'
" Surely, surely, Peyton;-his solemn, deliberate promise, knowing all of the circumstances."
" Rest easy," cried Dunwoodie, holding her
to his bosom for a moment, "I rest easy, for HTenry
is safe."
He waited not to explain, but darting from the
room, he left the family in amazement. They
continued in silent wonder, until they heard the
feet of his charger, as he dashed from the door
with the speed of an arrow.
A long time was spent after this abrupt departure of the youth, by the anxious friends he had
left, in discussing the probability of his success.
The confidence of his manner had, however, communicated to his auditors something of its own
spirit. Each felt that the prospects of Henry were
again brightening, and wmith their reviving hopes,
they experienced a renewal of spirits, which, in all
but Henry himself, amounted to pleasure; with
him, indeed, his state was too awful to admit of
trifling, and, for a few hours, he was condemned
to feel how much more intolerable was suspense,
than even the certainty of calamity. Not so with
Frances.  She, with all the reliance of affection,
reposed in security on the assurance of Dunwoodie, without harassing herself with doubts, that
she possessed not the means of satisfying; but
believing her lover able to accomplish every thing
that man could do, and retaining a vivid reecollec



Ti'E sIY.               433
tion of the manner and benevolent appearance of
Harper, she abandoned herself to all the felicity of
renovated hope.
The joy of Miss Peyton was more sobered, and
the took frequent occasions to reprove her niece
for the exuberance of her spirits, before there
was a certainty that their expectations were to be
realized.  But the slight smile that hovered around
the lips of the spinster contradicted the very sobriety of feeling that she inculcated.
" Why, dearest aunt," said Frances, playfully,
in reply to one of her frequent reprimands, " would
you have me repress the pleasure that I feel at
Henry's deliverance, when you yourself have so
often declared it to be impossible, that such men
as ruled in our country could sacrifice an innocen'
man?"'
" Nay, I did believe it impossible, my child, and
yet think so; but still there is a discretion to be
shown in joy as well as in sorrow."
Frances recollected the declaration of Isabella,
and turned an eye filled with tears of gratitude on
her excellent aunt, as she replied" True; but there are feelings that will not yield
t-o reason.  Ah! here are those monsters, who
have come to witness the death of a fellow creatlre, moving around yon field, as if this life was
to them nothing but a military show."
" It is but little mlore to the hireling soldier,'
said Henry, endeavouring to forget his uneasiness.
" You gaze, my love, as if you thought a military show of some importance," said Miss Peyton,
observing her niece to be looking from  the window with a fixed and abstracted attention.  But
Frances answered not.
From  the wlindow where she stood, the pass
that they had travelled through the Highlands was
37 7




434                THE SPY.
easily to be seen; and the mountain which held oii
its summit the mysterious hut was directly before
her.  Its side was rugged and barren; huge, and
apparently impassable barriers of rocks presenting
themselves through the stunted oaks, w!ich, stripped of their foliage, were scattered over its surface.  The base of the hill was not half a mile
from the house, and the object which attracted
the notice of Frances, was the figure of a man
emerging fi'om behind a rock of remarkable formation, and as suddenly disappearing. This manceuvre was several times repeated, as if it were the in
tention of the fugitive, (for such by his air he
seemed to be,-) to reconnoitre the proceedings of
the soldiery, and assure himself of the position of
things on the plain. Notwithstanding the distance,
Frances instantly imbibed the opinion that it was
Birch. Perhaps this impression was partly owing
to the air and figure of the man, but in a great
measu-e to the idea that presented itself, on formerly beholding the object at the summit of the mountain.  That they were the same figure she was
confident, although this wanted the appearance
which, in the other, she had taken for the pack of
the pedler. Harvey had so connected himself with
the mysterious deportment of Harper within her
imagination, that, under circumstances of less agitation than those in which she had laboured since
her arrival, she would have kept her suspicions to
herself. Frances, therefore, sat ruminating on this
second appearance in silence, and endeavouring to
trace, in her thoughts, what possible connexion
this extraordinary man could have with the fobrtunes of her own family.  He had certainly saved
Sarah, in some degree, from the blow that had partially alighted on her, and in no instance had le
proved himself to be hostile to their interests




THE SPY.                435
After gazing for a long time at the point where
slhe had last seen the figure, in the vain expectation of its re-appearance, she turned to her friends
in the apartment. Miss Peyton was sitting by Sarah, who gave some slight additional signs of noticing what passed, but who still continued insensible to either joy or grief.
cc I suppose, by this time, my love, that you are
well acquainted with the manceuvres of a regimnent," said the spinster, smiling at her nephew,
" It is no bad quality in a soldier's wife, at all
events."
"I  am not a wife yet,:" said Frances, colouring
to the eyes; " and we have no reason to wish for
another wedding in our family."
" Frances!" exclaimed her brother, starting
from his seat, and pacing the floor in violent a/gi
tation, " touch not the chord again, I entreat you.
While my fate is yet so uncertain, I would wish to
be at peace with all men."
" Then let the uncertainty cease," cried Frances, springing to the door:, "for here comes Peyton with the joyful intelligence of your release."
The words were hardly uttered, before the dooi
opened, and the Major entered. In his air there
was neither the appearance of success nor defeat,
but there was a marked display of vexation.  He
took the hand that Frances, in the fulness of her
heart, extended towards him, but instantly relinquishing it, threw himself into a chair, in evident
fatigue.
"1 You have failed,"' said Wharton, with a bound
of his heart, but an appearance of composure.
"' Have you seen Harper?" cried Frances, turning pale.
" I have not; I crossed the river in one boat as
he must have been coming to this side in another,




136               THE SPY.
I returned without delay, and traced him for se.
veral miles into the Hfighlands by the western pass
but there I unaccountably lost him. I have re
turned here to relieve your uneasiness; but see
him I will this night, and bring a respite for Henry.'
" But saw you Washington?" asked Miss Peyton.
Dunwoodie gazed at her a moment in abstracted musing, and the question was repeated.  Ile
answered gravely, and with some reservec' The Commander-in-chief had left his quarters."
c' But, Peyton," cried Frances, in returning terror, " if they should not see each other, it will be
too late. Harper alone will not be sufficient."
Her lover turned his eyes slowly on her anxious
countenance, and dwelling a moment on her features, said, still rmusing" You say that he promised to assist Henry."
" Certainly, of his own accord, and in requital
for the hospitality that he had received."
Dunwoodie shook his Leaa, and began to look
extremely grave.
" I like not that word hospitality-it has an
empty sound; there must be something more rea
sonable to tie Harper.  I dread soale mistake; reprat to nie all that passed."
Frances, in a hurried and earnest voice, complied with his request.  She related particularly
the manner of his arrival at the Locusts, the reception that he received, and the events that passed, as minutely as her memory could supply her
twith the means.  As she alluded to the conversation that occurred between her father and his guests
the Major smiled, but remained silent. She thern
gave a detail of Henry's arrival, and the events of




THE SPY.               4to7
the following day. She dwelt upon the part where
Harper had desired her brother to throw aside his
disguise, and recounted with wonderful accuracy
his remarks upon the hazard of the step that the
youth had taken.  She even remembered a remarkable expression of his to her brother, " that
he was safer from  Harper's knowledge of his
person than he would be without it."  Frances
mentioned, with the warmth of her youthful admiration, the benevolent character of his deportment
to herself, and gave a minute relation of his adieus
to the whole family.
Dunwoodie at first listened with grave attention; then evident satisfaction followed as she proceeded. When she spoke of herself in connexion
with their guest, he smiied with pleasure, and as
she concluded, he exclaimed, with perfect delight" We are safe-we are safe."
But he was interrupted, as we will show in the
following chapter.
37 




CHAPTER  XXVIII.
" The owlet loves the gloom of night,
The lark salutes the day,
The timid dove will coo at handBut falcons soar away.1"
Song in Duo.
IN a country, settled like these states, by a people who fled their native land, and much-loved firesides, victims to their tender consciences and religious zeal, none of the decencies and solemnities
of a Christian death are dispensed with, when ciircumstances will admit of their exercise. The good
woman of the house was a strict adherent to the
forms of the church to which she belonged; and
having herself been awakened to a sense of her depravity, by the ministry of the divine who ha
rangued the people of the adjoining parish, she
thought that it was from his exhortations only, that
salvation could be meted out to the short-lived
hopes of Henry Wharton.  Not that the kindhearted matron was so ignorant of the doctrines
of the religion which she professed, as to depend,
theoretically, on mortal aid for protection; but she
had, to use her own phrase, " set so long under
the preaching of good Mr.," that she had
unconsciously imbibed a practical reliance on his
assistance for that which her faith should have
taught her could  come from  the Deity alone.
With her, the consideration of death was at all
imes awful; and the instant that the sentence of




THE SPY.               439
the prisoner was promulgated, she despatched Ce
sar, mounted on one of her husband's best horses,
in quest of her clerical monitor. This step had
been taken without consulting either Henry or his
fiiends, and it was only when the services of Caesar were required upon some domestic emergency,
that she explained the nature of his absence. The
youth heard her, at first, with an unconquerable
reluctance to admit of such a spiritual guide; but
as our view of the things of this life becomes less
vivid, our prejudices and habits cease to retain
their influence; and a civil bow of thanks was
finally given, in requital for the considerate care
of the well-meaning woman.
The black returned early firom his expedition,
and, as well as could be gathered from his somewhat incoherent narrative, a minister of God might
be expected to arrive in the course of the day.
The interruption that we mentioned in our preceding chapter was occasioned by the entrance of
the landlady. At the intercession of Dunwoodie,
orders had been given to the sentinel who guarded
the door of Henry's room, that the members of the
prisoner's family should at all times have free access to his apartment: Cwesar was included in this
arrangement, as a matter of convenience, by the
officer in command; but strict inquiry and examination was made into the errand of every other ap.
plicant for admission.  The Major had, however,
included himself among the relatives of the British
officer; and one pledge, that no rescue should be
attempted, was given in his name for them all. A
short conversation was passing between the wo.
man of the house and the corporal of the guard, before the door that the sentinel had already opened
in anticipation of the decision of his non-comnris
sioned commandant.




440               THE SPY.
C" Would you refuse the consolations of religion
to a fellow creature about to suffer death?" said
the matron, with  earnest zeal. "' Would yoni
plunge a soul into the fiery furnace, and a minister at hand to point out the straight and narrow
path?"
(" I'll tell you what, good woman," returned the
corporal, gently pushing her away; "I've no notion of my back being a highway for any man to
walk to heaven upon. A pretty figure I should
make at the pickets, for disobeying my orders.
Just step down and ask Lieutenant Mason, and
you may bring in the whole congregation. We
have not taken the guard from the foot-soldiers
but an hour, and I shouldn't like to have it said
that we know less of our duty than the militia."
" Admit the woman," said Dunwoodie, sternly,
observing, for the first time, that one of his own
corps was on post.
The corporal raised his hand to his cap, and fell
hack in silence; the soldier stood to his arms, and
the matron entered.
" Here is a reverend gentleman below, come to
sooth the parting soul, in the place of our own
divine, who is engaged with an appointment that
could not be put aside;'tis to bury old Mr.."
" Show him in,'" said Henry, with feverish impatience.
" But will the sentinel let hiln pass? I would
not wish a friend of Mr.  ~ to be rudely stopped
on the threshold, and he a stranger."
All eyes were now turned on Dunwoodie, who,
looking at his watel, spoke a few words with
Henry, in an under tone, and hastened from the
apartment, followed oy Frances. The subject of
their conversation was a wish expressed by the
prisonem for a clergyman of his wvn persuasion,




THE SPY.               441
and a promise fronm the Major, that one should be
sent fiom Fishkill town, through which he was
about to pass, on his way to the ferry to intercept
the expected return of Harper. Mason soon made
his bow at the door, and willingly complied with
the wishes of the landlady, and the divine was invited to make his appearance accordingly.
The person who was ushered into the apartment, preceded by Caesar with a face of awful
gravity, and followed by the matron with one of
deep concern, was a man beyond the middle age,
or who might rather be said to approach the
downhill of life. In stature he was above the size
of ordinary men, though his excessive. leanness
might contribute in deceiving as to his height; his
countenance was sharp and unbending, and every
muscle seemed set in the most rigid compression.
No joy or relaxation appealed ever to have dwelt
on features that frowned habitually, as if in detestation of the vices of mankind.  The brows were
beetling, dark, and forbidding, giving the promise
of eyes of no less repelling expression; but the organs were concealed beneath a pair of enormous
green  spectacles, through  which  they  glared
around with a fierceness that denounced the coming day of wrath, nor spoke any of that benevolence which, forming the essence of our holy religion, should be the characteristic of its ministers. All was fanaticism, uncharitableness, and
-denunciation. Long, lank, and party-coloured hair,
being a mixture of gray and black, fell down his
neck, and in some decree obscured the sides of
his face, and, parting on his forehead, fell in
either direction in straight and formal screens.
On the top of this ungraceful exhibition was laid,
impending forward, so as to overhang in some
measure the whole fabric, a large hat of three equal




442                THE SPY.
cocks. His coat was of a rusty black, and his
breeches and stockings were of the same colour;
his shoes without lustre, and half concealed beneath their huge plated buckles.
He stalked into the room, and giving a stiff nod
with his head, took the chair offered him by the
black, in dignified silence. For several minutes no
one broke this ominous pause in the conversation;
Henry feeling a repugnance to his guest that he
was vainly endeavouring to conquer, and the strangel himself drawing forth occasional sighs and
groans, that threatened a dissolution of the unequal
connexion between his sublimated soul and its ungainly tenement. During this deathlike preparation, Mr. Wharton, with a feeling nearly allied to
that of his son, led Sarah from the apartment. His
retreat was noticed by the divine, in a kind of
scornful disdain, who began to hum the air of a
popular psalm tune, giving it the full richness of
the twang that distinguishes the Eastern psalmody.
" Cmesar," said Miss Peyto-n, " hand the gentleman some refreshment; he must need it after his
ride."'" My strength is not in the things of this life,"
said the divine, sternly, speaking in the startling
tones of a hollow, sepulchral voice.  " Thrice have
I this day held forth in my master's service, and
fainted not; still it is prudent to help this frail tenement of clay, for, surely,' the labourer is worthy
of his hire.' "
Opening a pair of enormous jaws to the exit of
a proportionable chew of tobacco, he took a good
measure of the proffered brandy, and suffered it to
glide downwards, with that facility with which nman
is prone to sin.'"I appiehend, then, sir, that fatigue will disable




THE SPY                443
you from performing those duties which kindness
has induced you to attempt."
a" Woman!"' exclaimed the stranger, with appalling energy, " when was I ever known to shrink
(rom a duty? But'judge not, lest ye be judged,'
and fancy not that it is given to mortal eyes to
fathom the intentions of the Deity."
" Nay," returned the spinster, meekly, and
slightly disgusted with his jargon, 1" I pretend not
to -judge of either events or the intentions of my
fellow creatures, much less of those of Omnipotence."
":'Tis well, woman —'tis well,"' cried the minister, waving his head with supercilious disdain;
" humility becometh thy sex, and lost condition;
thy weakness driveth thee on headlong, like'unto
the besom of destruction.' "
Surprised at this extraordinary deportment, but
yielding to that habit which urges us to speak reverently on sacred subjects, even when perhaps we
had better continue silent, Miss Peyton replied" There is a power above that can and will sustain us all in well-doing, if we seek its support in
humility and truth."
The stranger turned a lowering look of dissatisfaction at the speaker, and then composing himself
into an air of self-abasement, continued in the same
repelling tones as before": It is not every one that crieth out for mercy
that will be heard.  The ways of Providence are
not to be judged by men —  Many are called, but
few chosen.' It is easier to talk of humility, than
to feel it. Are you so humble, vile worm, as to
wish to glorify God by your own damnation? If
not, away with you for a publican and a pharisee."
Such gross fanaticism was uncommon in America and Miss Peyton began to imbibe the impres



444               THE SPY.
sion that their guest was deranged; but remem
bering that he had been sent by a well-known divine, and one of reputation, she discarded the idea,
and, with much forbearance, observed" I may deceive myself, in believing that mercy
is piroffered to all, but it is so soothing a doctrine,
that I would not willingly be undeceived."
" Mercy is only for the elect," cried the stranger, with an unaccountable energy; " and you are
in theI'valley of the shadow of death.' Are you
not a follower of them idle ceremonies, which belong to the vain church, that our tyrants would
gladly establish here, along with their stamp-acts
and tea-laws? Answer me that, woman; and remeiriber, that heaven hears your answer: are you
not of that idolatrous communion?"
" I worship at the altars of my fathers," said
the spinster, motioning to Henry for silence; " but
bow to no other idol than my own infirmities."
" Yes, yes, I know ye, self-righteous and papal,
as ye are —followers of forms, and listeners to bookish nreaching; think you, woman, that holy Paul
had notes in his hand to propound the word to the
believers?"
c" My presence disturbs you," said Miss Peyton,
rising: " I will leave you with my nephew, and
offer those prayers in private that I did wish to
mingle with his."
So saying, she withdrew, followed by the landlady, who was not a little shocked, and somewhat
surprised, by the intemperate zeal of her new acquaintance, for, although the good woman believed
that Miss Peyton and her whole church were on
the high road to destruction, she was by no means
accustomed to hear such offensive and open avow
als of their fate.
Henry had with difficulty repressed the indigna




THE SPY.               445
tion excited by this unprovoked attack on his mneek
and unresisting aunt; but as the door closed on
her retiring figure, he gave way to his feelings, and
exclaimed with heat" I must confess, sir, that in receiving a minister
of God, I thought I was admitting,a Christian; and
one who, by feeling his own weaknesses, knew
how to pity the friailties of others. You have
wounded the meek spirit of that excellent woman,
and I acknowledge but little inclination to mingle
in prayer with so intolerant a spirit."
The minister stood erect, with grave composure, following with his eyes, in a kind of scornful
pity, the retiring spinster, and suffered the expostulation of the youth to be given as if unworthy of
his notice. A third voice, however, spoke" Such a denunciation would have driven many
women into fits; but it has answered the purpose
well enough as it is."
" Who's that?" cried the prisoner, in ainaze-.ment, gazing around the room  in quest of the
speaker"~ It is me, Captain Wharton," said Harvey
Birch, removing the spectacles, and exhibiting his
piercing eyes shining under a pair of false evebrows.
" Good Heavens! —Harvey!"
" Silence!" said the pedler, solemnly; "'tis a
name not to be mentioned, and least of all, here
within the heart of the American army."  Birch
paused and gazed around him for a moment, with
an emotion exceeding the base passion of fear, and
then continued in a gloomy tone, " there are a
thousand halters in that very name, and little hope
would there be left me of another escape, should I
be again taken. This is a fearful venture that now
I am making; but I could not sleep in quiet, and
38




446               TI-IE SPY.
know that an innocent man was about to die the
death of a dog, when I might save him."
" No," said Henry, with a glow of generous
feeling on his cheek; " if the risk to yourself be
so heavy, retire as you came, and leave me to my
fate. Dunwoodie is making, even now, powerful
exertions in my behalf; and if he meets with Mr.
Harper in the course of the night, my liberation is
certain."
('  Harper!" echoed the pedler, remaining with
his hands raised, in the act of replacing the spectacles; " what do you know of Harper? and why
do you think he will do you service?"'
cc I have his promise;-you remember our recent meeting in my father's dwelling, and he then
gave an unasked promise to assist me.'
" Yes-but do you know him? that is-why do
you think he has the power? or what reason have
you for believing he will remember his word?"
" If there ever was the stamp of truth, or silmple, honest benevolence, in the countenance of
man, it shone in his," said Henry; " besides, Dunwoodie has powerful friiends in the rebel army,
and it would be better that I take the chance where
I am, than thus to expose you to certain death, if
detected."
" Captain Wharton," said Birch, looking guard
edly around, with habitual caution, and speaking
with impressive seriousness of manner, " if I fail
you, all fail you. No Harper or Dunwoodie can
save your life; unless you get out with me, and
that within the hour, you die to-morrow on the
gallows of a murderer. Yes, such are their laws;
the man who fights, and kills, and plunders, is honoured; but he who serves his country as a spy,
no matter how faithfully, no matter how honestly,
lives to be reviled, or dies like the vilest criminal."




THE SPY.               447
i You forget, Mr. Birhe,' said the youth, a little indignantly, "G that I am not a treacherous, lurking spy, who deceives to betray; but am innocent
of the charge imputed to me."'lhe blood rushed over the pale, meagre fentures of the pedler, until his face was one glow of
fire; but it passed away as quickly, and he replied —
" I have told you.  Cesar met me, as he was
going on his errand this morning, and with him I
have laid the plan, which, if executed as I wish,
will save you-otherwise, you are lost; and I again
tell you, that no other power on earth, not even
Washington, can save you."
cc I submit," said the prisoner, yielding to his
earnest manner, and goaded by the fears that were
thus awakened anew.
The pedler beckoned him to be silent, and
walking to the door, opened it, with the stiff,
formal air, with which he had entered the apartment.
"' Friend, let no one enter," he said to the sentinel, " we are about to go to prayer, and wopuld
wisih to be alone."
"' I don't know that any will wish to interrupt
you," returned the soldier, with a waggish leer of
his eye; 1" but, should they be so disposed, I have
no power to stop them, if they be of the prisoner's friends; I have my orders, and must mind
them, whether the Englishman goes to heaven or!Dot."
" Audacious sinner!" said the pretended priest,
" have you not the fear of God before your eyes?
1 tell you, as you will dread punishment at the last
day, to let none of the idolatrous communion enter to mingle in the prayers of the righteous."
6'VWhew-ew-ew-what a noble commlander




448               THE SP Y.
you'd make for sergeant Hollister; you'd preacb
him dumb in a roll-call. Hark'ee, I'll just thank
you not to make such a noise when you hold forth,
as to drown our bugles, or you may get a poor fellow a short horn at his grog, for not turning out to
the evening parade: if you want to be alone, have
you no knife to stick over the door-latch, that you
must have a troop of horse to guard your meetinghouse?"7
The pedler took the hint, and closed the door
immediately, using the precaution suggested by
the angry dragoon.
"' You overact your part," said young Wharton,
in constant apprehension of a discovery; "your
zeal is too intemperate."
" For a foot soldier and them eastern militia, it
might be," said Harvey, turning a bag upside down
that Cxesar now handed him;' but these dragoons
are fellows that you must brag down.  A faint
heart, Captain Wharton, would do but little here;
but come, here is a black shroud for your goodlooking countenance," taking, at the same time, a
parchment mask and fitting it to the face of Henry.
"- Tle master and the man must change places for
a season."'
" 1 don't tink he look a bit like me," said Ce —
sar, with disgust, as he surveyed his young mastts
with his new complexion.
" Stop a minute, Caesar," said the pedler, with
the lurking drollery that at times formed part of
his mlanner, "'till we get on the wool."
" lie worse than ebber now," cried the discon
tented African.  a" A  tink coloured man like a
sheet,. I nebber see sich a lip, Harvey; he most
as big as a sausage."
Great pains had been taking in forIming the diffe ent articles used in the disguise of Captain




ITfiHE SPY.            4149
Wharton, and when ar anged under the skilful
superintendence of the pedler, they formed together a transformation that would easily escape
*detection from any but an extraordinary observer.
The mask was stuffed, and shaped in such a
manner as to preserve the peculiarities, as well as
the colour, of the African visage, and the wig was
so artfully formed of black and white wool, as to
imitate the pepper-and-salt colour of Cwesar's own
head, and to exact plaudits from the black himself,
who thought it an excellent counterfeit in every
thing but quality.' There is but one man in the American army
who could detect you, Captain Wharton," said the
pedler, surveying his work with satisfaction, " and
he is just now out of our way."
" And who is he?' The man who made you prisoner.  He would
see your white skin through a horse-hide.  But
strip both of you; your clothes must be changed
firom head to foot."
Caesar, who had received minute instructions
from the pedler in their morning interview, immediately commenced throwing aside his coarse garments, which the youth took up and prepared to
invest himself with;. unable, however, to repress a
few signs of loathing.
In the manner of the pedler, there was an odd
mixture of care and humour; the former was.the
result of a perfect knowledge of their danger, and
the means necessary to be used in avoiding it; and
the latter proceeded from the unavoidably ludicrous circumstances before him, acting on an in.
difference which sprung from habit, and long fa
miliarity with such scenes as the present.
Here, C ptainm," 1e said, taking up some lcose
38 




450               THE SPY.
wool, and beginning to stuff the stockings of Caesar, Mwhich were already on the leg of the prisoner;
i" some judgment is necessary in shaping this limb.
You will have to display it on horseback, and
them southern dragoons are so used to the brittleshins, that should they notice your well turned calf,
they'd know at once that it never belonged to the
carcass of a black."
" Golly!" said Caesar, with a chuckle that exhibited a mouth open fiom ear to ear, "massy
Harry breeches fit like ebbery ting."
Every thing but your leg," said the pedler,
coolly pursuing the toilet of Henry. " Slip on the
coat, Captain, over all.  Upon my word, you'd
pass well at a pinkster frolic; and here, Caesar,
place this powdered wig over your curls, and be
careful and look out of the window whenever the
door is open, and on no account speak, or you will
betray all."
" I s'pose Harvey tink a color'd man an't got a
tongue like oder folk," grumbled the black, as he
took the station assigned to him.
Every thing now was arranged for action, and
the pedler very deliberately went over the whole
of his injunctions to the two actors in the scene.
The Captain he conjured to dispense with his
erect military carriage, and for a season to adopt
the humble paces of his father's negro; and Caesar
he enjoined to silence and disguise, so long as he
could possibly maintain them.  Thus prepared,
he opened the door, and called aloud to the sentinel, who had retired to the farthest end of the passage, in order to avoid receiving any of that spi
ritual comfort, which he felt was the sole property
of another.
"Let the woman of the house be called," said
Harvey, in the solemn key of his assumed charao




THE SPY.                4al
ter;   and let her come alone. The prisoner is
in a happy train of meditation, and must not be
led from his devotions."
Casar sunk his face between his hands, and
when the soldier looked into the apartment, he
thought he saw his charge in deep abstraction.
Casting a glance of huge contempt at the divine,
he called aloud for the good woman of the house.
She hastened at the summons with earnest zeal,
entertaining a secret hope that she was to be admitted to the gossip of a death-bed repentance.
" Sister,'" said the minister, in the authoritative
tones of a master, " have you in the house,' The
Christian criminal's last moments, or thoughts on
eternity for them who die a violent death?' "
1" I never heard of the book!" said the matron,
in astonishment.''Tis not unlikely; there are many books you
have never heard of; it is impossible for this poor
penitent to pass in peace, without the consolations
of that volume. One hour's reading in it is worth
an age of man's preaching."
" Bless me, what a treasure to possess!-when
was it put out?"
" It was first put out at Geneva in the Greek
language, and then translated at Boston. It is a
book, woman, that should be in the hands of
every Christian, especially such as die upon the
gallows. Have a horse prepared instantly for this
black, who. shall accompany me to my Brother
-----—, and I will send down the volume yet in
season.-Brother, compose thy mind; you are
now in the narrow path to glory."
Caesar wriggled a little in his chair, but had
sufficient recollection to conceal his face with
hands that were in their turn concealed by gloves.
The landlady departed, to comply with this very




452               THE SPY.
reasonable request, and the group of conspirators
were again left to themselves.
" This is well," said the pedler; " but the difficult task is to deceive the officer who commands
the guard —he is lieutenant to Lawton, and has
learned some of the captain's own cunning in
these things. Remember, Captain Wharton," continued he, with an air of pride, " that now is the
moment when every thing depends on our coolness."
" My fate can be made but little worse than it
is at present, my worthy fellow," said Henry;
"but for your sake I will do all that in me lies."
"' And wherein can I be more forlorn and persecuted than I now am?" asked the pedler, with
that wild incoherence which often crossed his manner. " But I have promised one to save you, and
to him I never have yet broken my word."
" And who is he?" said Henry, with awakened
interest.
" No one," returned the pedler.
The man now returned, and announced that
both their horses were at the door. Harvey gave
the captain a glance of his eye, and led the way
down the stairs, first desiring the woman to leave
the prisoner to himself, in order to his digesting
the wholesome food that he had so lately received
at his hands.
The rumour of the odd character of the priest
had spread from the sentinel at the door to his
comrades; so that when Harvey and Whal tonreached the open space before the building, they
found a dozen idle dragoons loitering about, with
the waggish intention of quizzing the fanatic, and
employed in affected admiration of the steeds.
"A  fine horse, you have," said the leader in
this plan of mischief; 1 but a little low in flesh; I
suppose from hard labour in your calling."




THE SPY.               453
"My calling may be laboursome to both my self
and this faithful beast, but then a day of settling
is at hand, that will reward me for all my out-goings and in-comings," said Birch, putting his foot
in the stirrup, and preparing to mount.
"s So then you work for pay, as we fight for't?"
cried another of the party.
" Even so —' is not the labourer worthy of his
hire?' "'' Come, suppose you give us a little preaching;
we have a leisure moment just nowv, and there's
no telling how much good you might do a set of
reprobates like us, in a few words; here, mount
this horse-block, and take your text from where
you please."1
The men now gathered around the pedler in eager delight, who, glancing his eye expressively towards the Captain, who had been suffered to mount
in peace, replied"' Doubtless, for such is my duty. But Ctesar,
you can ride up the road, and give the note —the
unhappy prisoner will be wanting the book, for
his hours are numbered."
" Ay-ay, go along, Caesar, and get the book,"
shouted half a dozen voices, all crowding eagerly
around the ideal priest, in anticipation of a fr(lie.
The pedler inwardly dreaded, that, in their unceremonious handling of himself and garments, his
hat and wig might be displaced, when detection
would be certain; he was therefore fain to comply with their request. Ascending the horse-block,
after hemming once or twice, and casting several
glances at the Captain, who continued immoveable, he commenced as follows:
1" I shall call your attention, my brethren, to that
portion of scripture which you will find in the 2d




454               THE S'P.
book of Samuel, and which is written in the fo:
lowing words:' And the king lamented over Ab.
ner, and said, died Abner as a fool dieth —thpy
hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters; as a man falleth before wicked men, so filleth thou, and all the people wept again over him.'
Caesar, ride forward, I say, and obtain the book as
directed; thy master is groaning in spirit even now
for the want of it."
c An excellent text," cried the dragoons. " Go
on-go on-let the snow ball stay; he wants to be
edified as well as another."
" What are you at there, you scoundrels?I cried
Lieutenant Mason, as he came in sight from a walk
he had taken to sneer at the evening parade of the
regiment of militia; " away with every man of you
to your quarters, and let me find that each horse
is cleaned and littered when I come round." The
sound of the officer's voice operated like a charm,
and no priest could desire a more silent congregation, although he might possibly have wished for
one that was more numerous.  Mason had not done
speaking, when it was reduced to the image of
Caesar only.  The pedler took that opportunity to
mount, but lie had to preserve the gravity of his
movements, for the remark of the troopers upon
the condition of their beasts was but too just, and
a dozen of dragoon horses stood saddled and bri
died at hand, ready to receive their riders at a lnoment's warning.
" Well, have you bitted the poor devil within,"
said Mason, "i that he can take his last ride under
the curb of divinity, old gentleman?'"
" There is evil in thy conversation, profane
man," cried the priest, raising his hands, and casting his eyes upwards in holy horror;' so) I will




THIE SPYY.              455
depai  from thee unhurt, as Daniel was liberated
from the lion's den."
" Off with you, for a hypocritical, psalm-singing, canting rogue in disguise," said Mason, scornfi.llly; "1 by the life of Washington! it worries aln
honest fellow, to see such voracious beasts of prey
ravaging a country for which he shed his blood.
If I had you on a Virginia plantation for a quarter
of an hour, I'd teach you to worm the tobacco with
the turkeys."
"' I leave you, and shake the dust off my shoes,
that no remnant of this wicked hole may tarnish
the vestments of the godly.":1 Start, or I will shake the dust from your jacket, you designing knave. A fellow to be preaching to my men! There's Hollister put the'devil
in them by his exhorting; the rascals were getting
too conscientious to strike a blow that would rase
the skin. But hold, whither do you travel, master
blackey, in such godly company?"
" He goes," said the minister, hastily speaking
for his companion, " to return with a book of much
condolence and virtue to the sinful youth above,
whose s5 ul will speedily become white, even as his
outwards are black and unseemly.  Would you
deprive a dying man of the consolation of religion?"' No, no, poor' fellow, his fate is bad enough;
a famous good breakfast his prim body of an aunt
gave us.  But harkee, Mr. Revelations, if the
youth must die secunduin artem, let it be under a
gentleman's directions; and my advice is, that you
never trust that skeleton of yours among us again,
or I will take the skin off and leave you naked."
": Out upon thee for a reviler and scoffer of
goodness!" said Birch, moving slowly, and with a
due observance of clerical dignity, down the road,




456 %              THE SPY.
followed by the imaginary Caesar; "but I leave
thee, and that behind me that will prove thy condemnation, and take fronm thee a hearty and joyful
deliverance.g "
" Damn him'," muttered the trooFer, pursing his
lip with a scornful smile; " the fellow rides like a
stake, and his legs stick out like the cocks of his
hat.  I wish I had him  below these hills, where
the law is -not over particular, I'd  "
" Corporal of the guard!-corporal of the guard!'
-shouted the sentinel in the passage to the chain
bers —" corporal of the guard!-corporal of thie
guard!"
The subaltern flew up the narrow stairway that
led to the room of the prisoner, and demanded of
the man the meaning of his outcry.
The soldier was standing at the open door of the
apartment, looking in with a suspicious eye, on the
supposed British officer. On observing his lieutenant, he fell back wvith habitual respect, and replied, with an air of puzzled thought"' I don't know, sir; but just now the prisoner
looked queer. Ever since the preacher has left
him he don't look as he used to do-but"-gazing
intently over the shoulder of his officer, " it must
be him, too.  There is the same powdered head,
and the darn in the coat, where he was hit the day
we had the last brush with the enemy."
" And then all this noise is occasioned by your
doubting whether that poor gentleman is your prisoner or not, is it, sirrah? Who the devil do you
think it can be else?"
" I don't know who else it can be," returned the
fellow, sullenly,; " but he is grown thicker and
shorter, if it is him; and see for yourself, sir, he
shakes all over like a man in an ague."
This was but too tmrue.  Cesar was an alarmed




THE SPY.                457
auditor of this short conversation, and from  congratulating himself upon the dexterous escape of
his young master, his thoughts were very naturally beginning to dwell upon the probable consequences to his own  person.  The pause that
succeeded to the last remark of the sentinel, in
no degree contributed to the restoration of his
faculties.  Lieutenant Mason was busied in examining with his own eyes the suspected person of
the black, and Cesar'was aware of the fact, by
stealing a look through a passage under one of his
arms, that he had left for the purpose of reconnoitering.  Captain Lawton would have discovered the fraud immediately, but Mason was by no
means so quick-sighted as his commnander.  He
therefore turned rather contemptuously to the soldier, and, speaking in an under tone, observed" That anabaptist, methodistical, quaker, psalmhn
singing rascal has frightened the boy, with his farrago about flames and brimstone I'll step in and
cheer him with a little rational conversation.";" I have heard of fear making a man white,"
said the soldier, drawing back, and staring as if his
eyes would start from their sockets; " but it has
changed the royal captain to a black."
TIe truth was, that Caesar, unable to hear what
Mason uttered in a low voice, and having every
fear aroused in him by what had already passed,
incautiously removed the wig a little fronm one of
his ears, in order to hear the better,. without in
the least remembering that its colour might prove
fatal to his disguise.  The sentinel had kept his
eyes fastened on his prisoner, and noticed the action  The attention of Mason was instantly drawn
to the same object, and forgetting all delicacy for
a brother officer in distress, or, in short, forgetting;39




458                THIE SPe
every thing but the censure that might alight on
his corps, the lieutenant sprang forward and seized
the terrified African by the throat; for no sooner
had Caesar heard his colour named, than he knew
his discovery was certain; and at the first sound
of Mason's heavy boot on the floor, he arose firom
his seat, and retreated precipitately to a corner of
the room.
" Who are you?" cried Mason, dashing the head
of the old man against the angle of the wall at each
interrogatory, 1" who the devil are you, and where
is the Englishman? Speak! you thundercloud.
Answer me, you jack-daw, or I'il hang you on the
gallows of the spy."
But Caesar continued firm.  Neither the threats
nor the blows could extract any reply, until the
lieutenant, by a very natural transition in the attack, sent his heavy boot forward in a direction
that brought it in exact contact with the most sensitive part of tie negro-his shin.  The most obdurate heart could not have exacted further patience, and Caesar instantly gave in. The first
words lhe spoke were-;' Golly! Massa! you tink I got no feelin!"
" By Heavens!" shouted the lieutenant, " it is
the negro himself. Scoundrel! where is your master, and who was the priest!"' While speaking, he
made a movement, as if about to renew the attack;
but Caesar cried aloud for mercy, promising to tell
all that he knew.
" Who was the priest!" repeated the dragoon
drawing back his formidable leg, and holding it in
threatening suspenseA Harvey, Harvey!" cried Caesar, dancing from
o-ne leg to the other, as he thought each member
In its turn assailed.




THE SPY.                459
" Harvey who, you black villain?" cried the
impatient lieutenant, as he executed a full measure of vengeance by letting his leg fly.
" Birch!" shrieked Caosar, falling on his knees,
the tears rolling in large drops over his shining
face.
" Harvey Birch!" echoed the trooper, hurling
the black from him, and rushing from the room;
" To arms! to arms! Fifty guineas for the life of
the pedler spy-give no quarter to either. Mount,
mount! to arms! to horse!"
During the uproar occasioned by the assembling
of the dragoons, who all rushed tumultuously to
their horses, Caesar rose fromn the floor, where he
had been thrown by Mason, and began to examine
into his injuries.  Happily for himself, he had
alighted on his head, and sustained no material
damage.




CHAPTER XXIX.: Away went Gilpin, neck or nought
Away went ihat and wig;
He little dreamt, when he set out,
Of running such a rig."
Cowper.
THWE road which it was necessary for the pedley
and the English captain  to travel, in order to
reach the shelter of the hills, lay, for a half-mile,
in full view from the door of the building that had
so recently been the prison of the latter; running
for tile whole distance over the rich plain, that
spreads to the very foot of the mountains, which
nere rise in a nearly perpendicular ascent from
their bases; it then turned short to the right, and
was obliged to follow the windings of nature, as it
won its way into the bosom of the Highlands.
To preserve the supposed difference in their sta
tions, Harvey rode a short distance ahead of his
companion, and maintained the sober, dignified
pace, that was suited to his assumed character.
On their right, the regiment of foot, that we have
already mentioned, lay in tents; and the sentinels
who guarded their encampment, were to be seen
moving with measured tread under the skirts of
the hills themselves.
The first impulse of Henry was, certainly, to
urge the beast he rode to his greatest speed at
once, and by a coup-de-main, not only accomplish
his escape7 but relieve himself from the torturing




IHE SPY.              461
suspense of his situation. But the forward movement that the youth made for this purpose was instantly checked by the pedler.
"1 Hold up!" he cried, dexterously reining his
own horse across the path of the other; " would
you ruin us both? Fall into the place of a black,
following his master.  Did you not see thei;
blooded chargers, all saddled and bridled, standing in the sun before the house? How long do
you think that miserable Dutch horse you are on
would hold his speed, if pursued by the Virginians 
Every foot that we can gain, without giving the
alarm, counts us a day in our lives. Ride steadily after me, and on no account look back. They
are as subtle as foxes, ay, and as ravenous for
blood as wolves!"
Ifenry reluctantly restrained his impatience, and
followed the direction of the pedler.  His imagination, however, continually alarmed him with the
fancied sounds of pursuit; though Birch, who occasionally looked back under the pretence of addressing his companion, assured him that all con
tinued quiet and peaceful.
" But," said Henry, " it will not be possible for
Cesar to remain long undiscovered; had we n)t
better put our horses to the gallop, and by the
time that they can reflect on the cause of our flight,
we can reach the corner of the woods?7'
" Ah! you little know them, Captain Wharton,"
returned the pedler; " there is a sergeant at this
moment looking after us, as if he thought all was
not right; the keen-eyed fellow watches me like
a tiger laying in wait for his leap. When I stood
on the horse-block, he half suspected that something was wrong. Nay, check your beast-we
must let the animals walk a little, for he is laying
his hand on the pommel of his saddle.  If he
39.y




462               THE SPY.
mounts now we are gone. The foot-soldiers could
reach us with their muskets."
"' What does he do?" asked Henry, leining lhi
horse to a walk, but at the same time pressing his
heels into the animal's sides, to be in readiness for
a spring.'" He turns from his charger, and looks the other
way; now trot on gently-not so fast-not so fast,
Observe the sentinel in the field, a little ahead of
us-he eyes us keenly."
" Never mind the footman," said Henry, impatiently; "' he can do nothing but shoot us-where
as these dragoons may make me a captive again.
Surely, Harvey, there are horse moving down the
road behind us.  Do you see nothing partieu
lar?"
": Humph!" ejaculated the pedler; " there is
something particular indeed, to be seen behind the
thicket on our left. Turn youi head a little, and
you nmay see and profit by it too."
Henry eagerly seized this permission to look
aside, and the blood curdled to his heart as he observed that they were passing a gallows that unquestionably had been erected for his own execution. He turned his face from the sight in undisguised horror.
" There is a warning to he prudent in that bit
of wood," said the pedler, in the sententious manner that he often adopted.
" It is a terrific sight, indeed!" cried Henry, for
a moment veiling his eyes with his hand, as if to
drive a vision from before him.
The pedler moved his body partly around, and
spoke with energetic but gloomy bitterness —" And
yet, Captain Wharton, you see it where the setting
sun shines full upon you; the air you breathe is
clear, and fresh from the hills before you  Ev ery




THE SPY.,463
step that you take, leaves that hated gallows behind, and every dark hollow, and every shapeless
rock in the mountains, offers you a hiding place
from the vengeance of your enemies. But I have
seen the gibbet raised, when no place of refuge offered. Twice have I been buried in dungeons,,where, fettered and in chains, I have passed nights
in torture, looking forward to the morning's dawn
that was to light me to a death of infamy. The
sweat has started from limbs that seemed already
drained of their moisture, and if I ventured to the
hole that admitted air through grates of iron to
look out upon the smiles of nature, which God
has bestowed for the meanest of his creatures, the
gibbet has glared before my eyes like an evil conscience, harrowing the soul of a dying man. Four
times have I been in their power, besides this last;
but-twice-twice-did I think that. my hour had
come. It is hard to die at the best, Captain Wharton; but to spend your last moments alone and
unpitied, to know that none near you so much as
think of the fate that is to you the closing of all
that is earthly; to think, that in a few hours, you
are to be led from the gloom, which, as you dwell
on what follows, becomes dear to you, to the face
of day, and there to meet all eyes upon you, as if
you were a wild beast; and to lose sight of every
thing amidst the jeers and scoffs of your fellowcreatures-that, Captain Wharton, that indeed is
to die."
Henry listened in amazement, as his companion
uttered this speech with a vehemence altogether
new to him; both seemed to have forgotten their
danger and their disguises, as he cried" What! were you ever so near death as that?"
"H Iave I not been the hunted beast of these hills




464               TIlE SPY.
for three years past?" resumed Harvey, "and
once they even led me to- the foot of the gallows
itself, and I escaped only by an alarm fiom the
royal troops. Had they been a quarter of an hour
later, I must have died. There was I placed in the
midst of unfeeling men, and gaping women and
children, as a monster to be cursed.  When I
would pray to God, my ears were insulted with the
history of my crimes; and when, in all that multitude, I looked around for a single face that showed
me any pity, I could find none-no, not even one;
all cursed me as a wretch who would sell his country for gold. The sun was brighter to my eyes
than common-but then it was the last time I
should see it. The fields were gay and pleasant,,and every thing seemed as if this world was a kind
of heaven. Oh! how sweet life was to me at that
moment!'Twas a dreadful hour, Captain Wharton, and such as you have never known. You
have fiiends to feel for vou, but I had none but a
father to mourn my loss, when he might hear of it;
but there was no pity, no consolation near to soothe
my anguish.  Every thing seemed to have deserted me. I even thought that HE had forgotten
that I lived."
" What! did you feel that God had forsaken
you, Harvey?" cried the youth, with strong sympathy.
" God never forsakes his servants,"' returned
Birch, with reverence, and exhibiting naturally a
devotion that hitherto he had only assumed.
" And who did you mean by HIE?"
The pedler raised himself in his saddle to the
stiff and upright posture that was suited to the outward appearance. The look of fire, that for a
short time glowed upon his countenance, disap



THE S s46. 46a
peared in the solemn lines of unbending self-abasemnent, and speaking as if addressing a negro, he
repliedCC In heaven there is no distinction of colour,
my brother; therefore you have a precious charge
within you, that you must hereafter render an account of;" dropping his voice-" this is the last
sentinel near the road; look not back, as you value your life."
Henry remembered his situation, and instantly
assumed the humble demeanour of his adopted
character.  The unaccountable energy of the
pedler's manner was soon forgotten in the sense of
his own immediate danger; and with the recollection of his critical situation, returned all
the uneasiness that he had momentarily forgotten.
" What see you, Harvey?" he cried, observing
the pedler to gaze towards the building they had
left, with ominous interest; "G what see you at the
house?
"' That which bodes no good to us," returned
the pretended priest. " Throw aside the mask
and wig; you will need all your senses without
much delay; throw them in the road: there are
none before us that I dread, but there are those
behind who will give us a fearful race."
" Nay, then," cried the Captain, casting the implements of his disguise into the highway, " let
us improve our time to the utmost. We want a
full quarter to the turn; why not push for it at
once?"
" Be cool; they are in alarm, but they will not
mount without an officer, unless they see us flyhow he comes, he moves to the stables; trot
briskly; a dozen are in their saddles, but the officer stops to tighten his girths; they hope to steal
a march upor us; he is mounted; now ride, Cap



466               THE SPY.
taln Wharton, for your life, and keep at my heels,
If you quit me you will be lost."
A second request was unnecessary.  The instant that Harvey put his horse to his speed, Captain Wharton was at his heels, urging the miserable animal that he rode to the utmost. Birch had
selected the beast on which he rode, and although
vastly inferior to the high fed and blooded chargers
of the dragoons, still it was much superior to the
little pony that had been thought good enough to
carry Caesar Thompson on an errand. A very
few jumps convinced the Captain that his companion was fast leaving him, and a fearful glance that
he threw behind, informed the fugitive that his
enemies were as speedily approaching. With that
abandonment that makes misery doubly grievous,
when it is to be supported alone, Henry cried aloud
to the pedler not to desert him. Harvey instantly
drew up, and suffered his companion to run alongside of his own horse.  The cocked hat and wig
of the pedler fell firom his head, the moment that
his steed began to move briskly, and this developement of.their disguise, as it might be termed,
was witnessed by the dragoons, who announced
their observation by a boisterous shout, that seemed to be uttered in the very ears of the fugitives;
so loud was the cry, and so short the distance between them.
" Had we not better leave our horses?" said
Henry, " and make for the hills across the fields
on our left?-the fence will stop our pursuers.9'
" That way lies the gallows," returned the pedlel, " these fellows go three feet to our two, and
would mind them fences no more than we do these
ruts; but it is a short quarter to the turn, and there
are two roads behind the wood. They may stand




THE SPY.               46
to choose until they can take the track, and we
shall gain a little upon them there."
"' But this miserable horse is blown already,"
cried Henry, urging his beast with the end of his
bridle, at the same time that Harvey aided his ef
forts by applying the lash of a heavy riding whip
that he carried; " he will never stand it for half a
mile further."
" A quarter will do; a quarter will do," said
the pedler; " a single quarter will save us, if you
follow my directions."
Somewhat cheered by the cool and confident
manner of his companion, Henry continued silently urging his horse forward. A few moments
brought them to the- desired turn, and as they
doubled round a point of low under-brush, the
fugitives caught a glimpse of their pursuers seat
teled along the highway.  Mason and the sergeant, being better mounted than the rest of the
party, were much nearer to their heels than even
the pedler thought could be possible.
At the foot of the hills, and for some distance
up the dark valley that wound among the mountains, a thick underwood of saplings had been suffered to shoot up, where the heavier growth was
felled for the sake of the fuel. At the sight of this
cover, Henry again urged the pedler to dismount,
and to plunge into the woods; but his request was
promptly refused. The two roads, before mentioned, met at a very sharp angle, at a short distance from the turn, and both were circuitous, so
that but little of either could be seen at a time.
The pedler took the one which led to the left, but
held it only a moment; for, on reaching a partial
opening in the thicket, he darted across into the
right-hand path, and led the way up a steep ascent,
which lay directly before them. This mnanceuvre




468               THE SPY.
saved them. On reaching the fork, the dragoons
followed the track, and passed the spot where the
fugitives had crossed to the other road, before they
missed the marks of the footsteps.  Their loud
eries were heard by Henry and the pedler, as theii
wearied and breathless animals toiled up the hill,
ordering their comrades in the rear to ride in the
right direction. The Captain again proposed to
leave their horses and dash into the thicket.
" Not yet, not yet," said Birch, in a low voice;
" the road falls from the top of this hill as steep as
it rises; first let us gain the top."  While speak-;ng, they reached the desired summit, and both
threw themselves from their horses, Henry plunging into the thick underwood, which covered the
side of the mountain for some distance above them.
Harvey stopped to give each of their beasts a few
severe blows of his whip, that drove them headlong down the path on the other side of the eminence, and then followed his example.
The pedler entered the thicket with a little
caution, and avoided, as much as possible, rustling
or breaking the branches in his way. There was
but time only to shelter his person from view,
when a dragoon led up the ascent, and on reaching
the height, he cried aloud"' I saw one of their horses turning the hill this
minute."
" Drive on; spur forward, my lads," shouted
Mason; " give the Englishrman quarter, but cut
down the pedler, and make an end of him."
Henry felt his companion gripe his arm hard, as
he listened in a great tremor to this cry, which was
followed by the passage of a dozen horsemen, with
a vigour and speed, that showed too plainly how
little security their over-tired steeds could have
afforded them.




THE SPY.               469
" Now," said the pedler, rising from their cover
to reconnoiter, and standing for a moment in suspense, " all that we gain is clear gain; for, as we
go up, they go down.  Let us be stirring."
~ But will they not follow us, and surround this
mountain?" said Henry, rising, and imitating the
laboured but rapid progress of his companion;
" remember, they have foot as well as horse, and
at any rate we shall starve in the hills."
" Fear nothing, Captain Wharton," returned the
pedler, with confidence; " this is not the mountain that I would be on, but necessity has made me
a dexterous pilot among these hills. I will lead
you where no man will dare to follow. See, the
sun is already setting behind the tops of the western mountains, and it will be two hours to the rising of the moon. Who, think you, will follow us
far, on a November night, among these rocks and
precipices?"' But listen!"' exclaimed Henry; " the dragoons
are shouting to each other; they miss us already."
" Come to the point of this rock, and you may
see them," said Harvey, composedly setting himself down to rest. " Nay, they can see us-notice,
they are pointing up with their fingers. There!
one has fired his pistol, but the distance is too
great for even a musket to carry upwards."
c They will pursue us," cried the impatient
Henry; " let us be moving."
c They will not think of such a thing," returned
the pedler, picking the chicker-berries that grew
on the thin soil where he sat, and very deliberately chewing them, leaves and all, to refresh his
mouth. " What progress could they make here,
in their heavy boots and spurs, With their long
swords, or even pistols? No, no-they may go
back and turn out the foot, but the horse pass
40




470               THE Spy
through these defiles, when they can keep the sad
dle, with fear and trembling. Come, follow me,
Captain Wharton; we have a troublesome march
before us, but I will bring you where none will
think of venturing this night.'
So saying, they both arose, and were soon
hid from view amongst the rocks and caverns of
the mountain.
The conjecture of the pedler was true. Mason
and his men dashed down the hill, in pursuit, as
they supposed, of their victims, but on reaching
the bottom lands, they found only the deserted
horses of the fugitives. Some little time was spent
in examining the woods near them, and in endeavouring to take the trial on such ground -as might
enable the horse to pursue, when one of the party
descried the pedler and Henry seated on the rock
already mentioned.
" He's off," muttered Mason, eyeing Harvey,
with savage fury; "he's off, and we are disgraced. By heavens, Washington will not trust us
with the keeping of a suspected tory, if we let
this rascal trifle in this manner with the corps;
and there sits the Englishman too, looking down
upon us with a mighty smile of benevolence.  I
fancy that I can see it. Well, well, my lad, you
are comfortably seated, I will confess, and something better than dancing upon nothing; but you
are not to the west of the Harlaem river yet, and
I'll try your wind before you tell Sir Henry what
you have seen, or I'm no soldier."
c" Shall I fire, and frighten the pedler?"' asked
one of the men, drawing his pistol from the holstein
i" Ay, startle the birds from their perch-let um
see how they can use the wing." The man fired
the pistol, and Mason continued-"'Fore George,
I ielieve the scoundrels laugh at us. But home



THE SPY.               471
ward, or we si all have them  rolling stones upon
our heads, and the Royal Gazettes teeming with
an account of a rebel regiment routed by two loyalists. They have told bigger lies than that before
now."
The dragoons moved sullenly after their officer,
who rode towards their quarters, musing on
the course it behooved him to pursue in the present dilemma. It was twilight when Mason's party reached the dwelling, before the door of which
were collected a great number of the officers and
men, busily employed in giving and listening to
the most exaggerated accounts of the escape of
the spy. The mortified dragoons gave their ungrateful tidings with the sullen.air of disappointed men; and most of the officers gathered round
Mason, in consultation as to the steps that ought
to be taken.  Miss Peyton and Frances were
breathless and unobserved listeners to all that passed between them, from the window of the chamnber immediately above their heads.
" Something must be done, and that speedily,"
observed the commanding officer of the regiment,
which lay encamped before the house; " this English officer is doubtless an instrument in the great
blow aimed at us by the enemy lately; besides,
our honour is involved in his escape."
C" Let us beat the woods!" cried several at
once; " by morrning we shall have them  both
again."
" Softly, softly, gentlemen," returned the Colonel; "' no man can travel these hills after dark,
unless used to the passes. Nothing but horse can
do service in this business, and I presume Lieutenant Mason hesitates to move without the orders
of his Major."' I certainly dare not," replied the subaltern,




472              THE SPY.
gravely shaking his head, " unless you will take
the responsibility of an order; but Major Dunwoodie will be back again in two hours, and we
can carry the tidings through the hills before daylight; so that by spreading patrols across from
one river to the other, and offering a reward to
the country people, their escape will yet be impossible, unless they join the party that is said to
be out on the Hudson."
(c A very plausible plan," cried the Colonel,
" and one that must succeed; but let a messenger
be despatched to Dunwoodie, or he may continue
at the ferry until it proves too late; though doubtless the runaways will lie in the mountains to
night."
To this suggestion Mason acquiesced, and a
courier was sent to the Major, with the important
intelligence of the escape of Henry, and an intimation of the necessity of his presence to conduct
the pursuit. After this arrangement, the officers
separated.
WChen Miss Peyton and her niece first learnt
the escape of Captain Wharton, it was with difficulty theyr could credit their senses. They both
relied so implicitly on the success of Dunwoodie's
exertions, that they thought the act, on the part
of their relative, extremely imprudent; but it was
now too late to mend it. While listening to the
conversation of the officers, both were struck with
the increased danger of Henry's situation, if recaptured, and they trembled to think upon the
great exertions that would be made to accomplish
this object. Miss Peyton consoled herself, and
endeavoured to cheer her niece, with the probability, that the fugitives would pursue their course
with unremitting diligence, so that they might
reach the Neutral Ground, before the horse would




THE SPY.                473
carry down the tidings of their flight.  The absence of Dunwoodie seemed to her all-important,
and the artless spinster was anxiously devising
some project that might detain her kinsman, and
thus give her nephew the longest possible time.
But very different were the reflections of Frances.
She could no longer doubt that the figure she had
seen on the hill was Birch, and she felt certain,
that instead of flying to the friendly forces below,
her brother would be taken to the mysterious hut
to pass the night.
Frances and her aunt held a long and animated
discussion by themselves, when the good spinster
reluctantly yielded to the representation of her
niece, and folding her in her arms, she kissed her
cold cheek, and fervently blessing her, allowed
her to depart on an errand of fraternal love.
40 *




CHAPTER XXX.
u And here, forlorn and lost, I tread,
With fainting steps, and slow;
Where wilds, Immeasurably spread.
Seem length'ning as I go."
Goldsmith.
TIle night had set in dark and chilling, as Frances Wharton, with a beating heart, but light steps,
moved through the little garden that lay behind
the farm-house which had been her brother's prison, and took her way to the foot of the mountain,
where she had seen the figure of him  that she
supposed to be the pedler.  It was ~still early, but
the darkness and dreary nature of a November
evening would, at any other moment, or with less
inducement to exertion, have driven her back in
terror to the circle that she had left.  Without
pausing to reflect, however, she flew  over' the
ground with a rapidity that seemed to bid defiance
to all impediments, nor stopped even to breathe,
until she had gone half the distance to the rock,
that she had marked as the spot where Birch made
his appearance on that very morning.
The good treatment of their women is the surest
evidence that a people can give of their civilization, and there is no nation which has more to
boast of, in this respect, than the Americans. Frances felt but little apprehension from the orderly
and quiet troops, who were taking their evening's
repast on the side of the highway, opposite to the
field through which she was flying. They were
her countrymen, and she knew that her sex would
be respected by the Eastern militia, who composed
this body; but in the volatile and reckless charace




THE SPY.               475
ter of the Southern horse, she had less confidence.
Outrages of any description were seldom committed by the really American soldiery, but the maid
recoiled with exquisite delicacy from even the appearance of humiliation.  When, therefore, she
heard the footsteps of a horse moving slowly up
the road, she shrunk, timidly, into a little thicket
of wood, which grew, neglected, around the spring
that bubbled from the side of a hillock near her.
The vidette, for such it proved to be, passed her
without noticing her form, which was so enveloped
as to be as little conspicuous as possible, humming a low air to himself, and probably thinking of
some other fair that he had left, in the pride of her
beauty, on the banks of the Potomac.
Frances listened anxiously to the retreating footsteps of his horse, and as they died upon her ear,
she ventured from her place of secrecy, and advanced a short distance into the field; where,
startled at the gloom, and appalled with the dreariness of the prospect, she paused to reflect  on
what she had undertaken.  Throwing back the
hood of her cardinal, she sought the support of a
tree, and gazed towards the summit of the mountain that was to be the goal of her enterprise. It
rose firom the plain, like a huge pyramid, giving
nothing to the eye but its outlines. The pinnacle
could be faintly discerned in front of a lighter
back ground of clouds, between which a few glimmering stars occasionally twinkled in momentary
brightness, and then gradually became obscured
by the passing vapour, that was moving before the
wind, at a vast distance below the clouds themselves. Should she return, Henry and the pedler
would most probably pass the night in fancied security, upon that very hill, towards which she was
straining her eyes, in the vain hope of observing




476               THE SPY.
some light that might encourage her to proceed.
The_ deliberate, and what to her seemed cold
blooded, project of the officer, for the re-capture
of the fugitives, still rung -in her ears, and stimulated her to go on; but the solitude into which
she must venture, the time, the actual danger of
the ascent, and the uncertainty of her finding the
hut, or what was still more disheartening, the
chance that it might be occupied by unknown tenants, and those of the worst description-all urged
her to retreat.
The increasing darkness was each moment rendering objects less and less distinct, and the clouds
were gathering more gloomily in the rear of the
hill, until its form could no longer be discerned
Frances threw back the profusion of her rich curls
with both hands on her temples, in order to possess her senses in their utmost keenness; but the
towering hill vWas entirely lost to the eye.  At
length she discovered a faint and twinkling blaze
in the direction in which she thought the building
stood, that by its reviving and receding lustre,
might be taken for the glimmering of a fire. But
the delusion vanished as the horizon again cleared,
and the star of the evening shone forth from a
cloud, after struggling hard, as if for existence, in
all its unrivalled brilliancy.  The maid now saw
the mountain, to the left of where the planet was
shining, through an opening in the hills, and suddenly a streak of mellow light burst upon the fancastic oaks that were thinly scattered over its summit, and gradually moved down its side, until the
whole pile stood proudly erect under the rays of
the rising moon. Although it would have been
physically impossible for our heroine to advance
without the aid of the friendly light, which now
gleamed in softened brightness on the long line of




THE sPY.               477
level land before her, yet she was not encouraged to
proceed. If she could see the goal of her wishes,
she could also perceive the difficulties that must attend her reaching it.
While deliberating in distressing incertitude,
now shrinking with the timidity of her sex and
years from the enterprise, and now resolving to
rescue her brother at every hazard, Frances turned her looks towards the east, in earnest gaze at
the clouds which constantly threatened to involve
her again in comparative darkness.  Had an adder stung her, she could not have sprung with
greater celerity than she recoiled fiom the object
against which she was leaning, and which she,
for the first time, noticed. The two upright posts,
with a cross beam on their tops, and a rude platform beneath, told but too plainly the nature of
the structure; even the cord was suspended from
an iron staple, and was swinging to and fro in the
night air. Frances hesitated no longer, but rather
flew than ran across the meadow, and was soon at
the base of the rock, where she hoped to find
something like a path to the summit of the mountain. Here she was compelled to pause for breath,
and she improved the leisure by surveying the
ground about her. The ascent was quite abrupt,
but she soon found a sheep path that wound among
the shelving rocks and through the trees, so as to
render her labour much less tiresome than it otherwise would have been. Throwing a fearful glance
behind, the determined girl commenced her journey upwards. Young, active, and impelled by
the generous wish of saving her brother, she moved
up the hill with elastic steps, and very soon emerged from the cover of the woods, into an open
space of more level ground, that had evidently
been cleared of its timber for the purpose of culti




478               THE SPY.
vation. But.e'ther the war, or the sterility of the
soil, had compelled the adventurer to abandon the
advantages that he had obtained over the wilderness, and already the bushes and briers were springing up afresh, as if the plough had never traced its
furrows through the mould which nourished them,
Frances felt her spirits invigorated by even these
faint vestiges of the labour of man, and walked up
the gentle acclivity with renewed hopes of success. The path now diverged in so many different directions, that she soon saw it would be use
less to follow their windings, and abandoning it, at
the first turn, she laboured forward towards what
she thought was the nearest point to the summit.
The cleared ground was soon past, and woods and
rocks, clinging to the precipitous sides of the mountain, again opposed themselves to her progress.
Occasionally, the path was to be seen running
along the verge of the clearing, and then striking
off into the scattering patches of grass and herbage,
but in no instance could she trace it upward. Tufts
of wool, hanging to the briers, sufficiently denoted
the origin of these tracks, and Frances rightly conjectured that whoever descended the mountain,
would avail himself of their existence, to lighten
the labour. Seating herself on a stone, the maid
again paused to rest and to reflect: the clouds
were rising before the moon, as if repelled by her
brightness, and the whole scene at her feet lay
pictured in the softest colours.
The white tents of the militia were stretched
in regular lines immediately beneath her. The
light was shining in the window of her aunt, who,
Frances easily fancied, was standing watching the
mountain, racked with all the anxiety she might
be supposed to feel for her niece. Lanterns were
playing aboyt in the stable-uard, where she knew




THE SPY.                479
the horses of the dragoons were kept, and believing them to be preparing for their night march, she
again sprang upon her feet, and renewed her toil.
It was more than a quarter of a mile farther that
our heroine had to ascend, although she had already conquered two thirds of the height of the
mountain.  But she was now without a path, or
any guide to direct her in her course: fortunately,
the hill was conical, like most of the mountains in
that range, and, by advancing upwards, she was
certain of at length reaching the desired hut, which
hung, as it were, on the very pinnacle. Nearly
an hour did she struggle with the numerous difficulties that she was obliged to overcome, when,
having been repeatedly exhausted with her efforts,
and, in several instances, in great danger from
falls, she succeeded in gaining the small piece of
table-land on the summit.
Faint with her exertions, which had been unusually severe for her slender frame, she sunk on a
rock, to recover her strength and fortitude for the
approaching interview with her brother.  A few
moments sufficed for this purpose, when she proceeded in quest of the hut. All of the neighbouring
hills were distinctly visible by the aid of the moon,
and Frances was able, where she stood, to trace
the route of the highway, from the plains into the
mountains.  By following this line with her eyes,
she soon discovered the point whence she had seen
the mysterious dwelling, and directly opposite to
that point she well knew the hut must stand.
The chilling air sighed through the leafless
branches of the gnarled and crooked oaks, as with
a step so light as hardly to rustle the dry leaves
over which she trod, Frances moved forward to
that part of the hill where she expected to find
this secluded habitation; but nothing could she




480               TtHE SPY.
discern that in the least resembled a dwelling of
any sort. In vain she examined every recess of
the rocks, or inquisitively explored every part of
the summit that she thought could hold the tenemnent of the pedler. No hut, nor any vestige of a
human being, could she trace. The idea of her
solitude struck on the terrified mind of the aifrighted girl, and approaching to the edge of a shelving
rock, she bent forward to gaze on the signs of life
in the vale, when a ray of keen light dazzled her
eyes, and a warm air diffused itself over her whole
frame.  Recovering from her surprise, Frances
looked on the ledge beneath her, and at once perceived that she stood directly over the object of
her search.  A hole through its roof afforded a
passage to the smoke, which as it blew aside
showed her a clear and cheerful fire crackling and
snapping on a rude hearth of stone. The approaco
to the front of the hut was by a winding patn
around the point of the rock on which she stood
and by this she advanced to its door.
Three sides of this singular edifice, if such it
could be called, were composed of logs laid alternately on each other, to a little more than the
height of a man; and the fourth was formed by
the rock against which it leaned. The roof was
made of the bark of trees, laid in long strips from
the rock to its eaves; the fissures between the logs
had been stuffed with clay, which in many places
had fallen out, and dried leaves were made use of
as a substitute to keep out the wind; a single window of four panes of glass was in front, but a
board carefully closed it, in such a manner as to
emit no light from the fire within. After pausing
some time to view this singularly constructed
hiding-place, for such Frances knew it must be,
she applied her eye to a crevice to examine the




THE SPY.                481
scene within. There was no lamp nor candle, but
the blazing fire of dry wood made the interior of
the hut light enough to read by. - n one corner
lay a bed of straw, with a pair of blankets thrown
carelessly over it, as if left where they had last
been used by the occupant.  Against the walls an
rock were suspended, from pegs forced into th
crevicesvarious garments, and such as were apparently fitted for all ages and conditions, and for
either sex.  British and American uniforms hung
peaceably by the side of each other; and on the
peg that supported a gown of striped calico, such
as was the usual country wear, was also depending
a well powdered wig: in short, the attire was numerous, and as various as if a whole parish were to
be equipped firom this one wardrobe.
In the angle against the rock, and opposite to
the fire, which was burning in the other corner, was
an open cupboard, that held a plate or two, a mug,
and the remains of some broken meat.  Before the
fire was a table, with one of its legs fractured, and
made of rough boards; these, with a single stool,
composed the furniture if we except a few articles
for cooking.  A book that, by its shape and size,
appeared to be a Bible, was lying on the table, unopened.  But it was the occupant of the hut in
whom Frances was chiefly interested.  This was
a man, sitting on the stool, with his head leaning
on his hand, in such a manner as to conceal his
features, and deeply occupied in examining some
open papers before him.  On the table lay a pair
of curiously and richly mounted horseman's pistols,
and the handle of a sheathed rapier, of exquisite
workmanship, protruded from between the legs oi
the gentleman, one of whose hands carelessly restedl on its guard.  Tihe tall stature of this unexpected tenant of the hut, and hia foir, muchl more
41




482               THAE SPY.
athletic than that of either Harvey or her brother,
told Frances, without the aid of his dress, that it
was neither of those whom she sought. A close
sui'tout was buttoned high. in the throat of the
stranger, and parting at his knees, showed breeches of buff, with military boots and spurs.  His hair
was dressed so as to expose the whole face, and,
after the fashion of that day, was profusely powdered. A round hat was laid on the stones that
formed a paved floor to the hut, as if to make room
for a large map, which, among other papers, occupied the table.
This was an unexpected event to the maid.
She had been so confident that the figure she hadl
twice seen was the pedler, that on learning his
agency in her brother's escape, she did not in the
least doubt of finding them both in the place, which,
she now discovered, was occupied by another and
a stranger's form.  She stood earnestly looking
through the crevice, hesitating whether to retire,
or to wait under the expectation of yet meeting
with Henry, as the stranger moved his hand firom
before his eyes, and raised his face apparently in
deep lnusing, when Frances instantly recognised
the benevolent and strongly marked, but composed
features of IHarper.
All that Dunwoodie had said of his power and
disposition; all that he had himself promised her
brother, and all the confidence that had been created by his dignified and paternal manner, rushed
across the mind of Frances, who threw open the
door of the hut, and falling at his feet, clasped his
knees with her arms, as she cried" Save him —save him —-save my brother; remember your promise, and save him!"'Harper had risen as the door opened, and there
was a slight movement of one hand towards his




THE SPY.               483
pistols, but it was cool, and instantly checked, as
Frances entered.  He raised the hood of the cardinal which had fallen over her features, and exclaimed, writh some uneasiness" Miss Wharton! But you cannot be alone?"
" There is none here but my God and you; and
by his sacred name, I conjure you to remember
your promise, and save my brother."
Harper gently raised her from her knees, and
placed her on the stool he resigned, begging her
at the same time to be composed, and to acquaint
him with all that she knew. This Frances instantly
did, with a hurried voice, ingenuously admitting
him to a knowledge of her own views in visiting
that lone spot at such.an hour, and by herself.
It was at all times difficult to probe the thoughts
of one who held his passions in such disciplined
subjection as Harper, but still there was a lighting
of his thoughtful eye, and a slight unbending of his
muscles, as the maid proceeded in her narrative.
His interest, as she dwelt upon the manner of
Henry's escape, and the flight to the woods, was
deep and manifest, and he listened to the remainder of her tale with a marked expression of benevolent indulgence. Her apprehensions that her
brother might still be too late through the mountains seemed to have much weight with him, for,
as she concluded, he walked a turn or two across
the hut, in silent musing.
Frances hesitated, and unconsciously played with
the handle of one of the pistols, and the paleness
that her fears had spread over her fine features began to give place to a rich tint, as, after a short
pause, she added" We can depend much on the friendship or
Major Dunwoodie, but his sense of honour is so
pure, that-that-notwithstanding his-his-feel



484               THE SPY,
ings-he will conceive it to be his duty to appre
hend my brother again. Besides, he thinks there
will be no danger in so doing, as he relies greatly
on your interference."
"a On mine!" said Harper, raising his eyes in
surprise.
" Yes, on yours. When we told him of your
kind language, he at once assured us all, that
you had the power, and if you had promised,
would have the inclination, to procure Henry's
pardon."
" Said he more?"' asked Harper, glancing a quick
and searching eye towards the maiden.
" Nothing but reiterated assurances of Henry's
safety; even now he is in quest of you."
" Miss Wharton," said Harper, advancing with
calm but impressive dignity, "' that I bear no mean
part in the unhappy struggle between England and
America, it might be now useless to deny. You
owe your brother's escape, this night, to may
knowledge of his innocence, and the rememirbranec
of my word. Major Dunwoodie is mistaken, when
he says that I might openly have procured his
pardon. I now, indeed, can control his fate, and
I pledge to you a word which has some influence
with Washington, that means shall be taken to
prevent his re-capture.  But from you, also, I exact a promise, that this interview, and all that has
passed between us, remain confined to your own
bosom, until you have my permission to speak
upon the subject."
Frances gave the desired assurance, and he continued" The pedler and your brother will soon be
here, but I must not be seen by the royal officer.
or the life of Birch might be the forfeiture.'
" Never!" cried Frances, ardently; " Henry




THE SPY.               485
could never be so base as to betray the man Ni ho
saved him."'
" It is no childish game that we are now playing, Miss Wharton.  Men's lives and fortunes hang
upon slender threads, and nothing must be left to
accident that can be guarded against.  Did Sir
Henry Clinton know that the pedler held communion with me, and under such circumstances, the
life of the miserable man would be taken instantly;
therefore, as you value human blood, or remember
the rescue of your brother, be prudent, and be silent. Communicate what you know to them both,
and urge them to instant departure. If they can
reach the last pickets of our army before morning's
dawn, it shall be my care that there are none to intercept them. There is better work for Major Dunwoodie than to be exposing the life of his friend."
While Harper was speaking, he carefully rolled
up the map he had been studying, and placed it,
together with sundry papers that were also open,
into his pocket. He was still occupied in this manner, when the voice of the pedler, talking in unusually loud tones, was heard directly over their heads.
1" Stand further this way, Captain Wharton, and
you can see the tents in the moonshine. But let
them mount and ride; I have a nest here that will
hold us both, and we will go in at our leisure."
"c And where is this nest?" cried Henry, with
a voice of exultation; "' I confess that I have eaten
but little the two last days, and I crave some of the
cheer that you mentioned."
" Hem,' said the pedler, exerting his voice still
more, " hem-this fog has given me a cold; but
move slow-and be careful not to slip, or you may
land on the baggonet of the sentinel on the flats;'tis a steep hill to rise, but one can go down'it with
all ease."'
41'




:d86               THE SPY.
Harper pressed his finger on his lip, to renmind
Frances of her promised silence, and taking his
pistols and hat, so that no vestige of his visit remained, retired deliberately to a far corner of the
hut, where, lifting several articles of dress, he entered a recess in the rock, and letting them  fall
again, was hid from view.  Frances noticed, by the
strong fire-light, as he entered, that it was a natural
cavity, and contained nothing but a few more articles for domestic use.
The surprise of Henry and the pedler, on entering and finding Frances in possession of the hut,
may be easily imagined.  Without waiting for explanations or questions, the warm-hearted girl flew
into the arms of her brother, and gave a vent to
her emotions in tears.  But the pedler seemed
struck with very different feelings.  His first look
was at the fire, which had been recently supplied with
fuel: he then drew open a smnall drawer of the table, and looked a little alarmed at finding it empty-' Are you alone, Miss Fanny?" he asked, in a
quick voice; " you did not come here alone?"
"' As you see me, Mr. Birch, " said Frances,
raising herself from her brother's arms, and turning
an expressive glance towards the secret cavern, that
the quick eye of the pedler instantly understood.
" But why, and wherefore are you here?" exclaimed her astonished brother; " and how knew
you of this place at all??"
Frances entered at once into a brief detail of what
had occurred at the house since their departure, and
the motives which induced her to seek them.
" But," said Birch, " why follow us here, when
we were left on the opposite hill?"
The maid related the glimpse that she had caught
of the' hut and the pedler, in her passage through
the Highlands, as well as her view of nirm on that




THE SPY.                487
day, and her immediate conjecture that the fugitives wvould seek the shelter of this habitation for
the night. Birch examined her features, as, with
open ingenuousness, she related the simnple incidents that had made her mistress of his secret,
and as she ended, he sprang upon his feet, and
striking the window with the stick in his hand, demolished it at a blow.
"'Tis but little of luxury or comfort that 1
know," he said, "but even that little cannot be ernjoyed in safety. Miss Wharton," he added, advancing before Fanny, and speaking with the bitter melancholy that was common to him, cc I am
hunted through these hills like a beast of the forest; but whenever, tired with my toils, I can reach
this spot, poor and dreary as it is, I can spend my
solitary nights in safety. Will you aid to make
the life of a wretch still more miserable?
" Never!" cried Frances, with fervour; " your
secret is safe with me."
"G Major Dunwoodie-" said the pedler, slowly,
turning an eye upon her that read her soul.
Frances lowered her head upon her bosom for a
moment in shame, then elevating her fine face
glowing with fire, she added with enthusiasm"Never, never, Harvey, as God may hear my
prayers."
The pedler seemed satisfied; for he drew back,
and, watching his opportunity, unseen by Henry,
slipped behind the screen, and entered the cavern.
Frances and her brother, who thought his companion had passed through the door, continued
conversing  on the latter's situation for several
mninutes, when the maid urged the necessity of expedition on his part in order to precede Dunwoodie, friom whose sense of duty they knew they
had no escape.  The Caplain took out his pocket




488              THE SPY.
book, and wrote a few lines with his pencil, then
folding the paper, he handed it to his sister —
"' Frances,' he said, " you.have this night proved
yourself to be an inceomparable woman. As you
love me, give that unopened to Dunwoodie, and
remember that two hours of time may save my life."
"1I will-I will; but why delay? why not fly,
and improve these precious moments?"
" Your sister says well, Captain Wharton," exclaimed Harvey, who had re-entered unseen; "c we
must go at once. Here is food to eat as we travel."
" But who is to see this fair creature in safety?'"
cried the Captain. " I can never desert my sister
in such a place as this."
"Leave lme! leave mee!" said Frances; " I
can descend as I came up.  Do not doubt me;
you know not my courage nor my strength."
"' I have not known you, dear girl, it is true;
but now, as I learn your value, can I quit you
here? no; never, never."
"' Captain Wharton," said Birch, throwing open
the doorI, " you can trifle with your own lives, if
you have many to spare: I have but one, and must
nurse it. Do I go alone or not?"
" Go, go, dear Henry," said Frances, embracing
him; c go; remember our father; remember
Sarah." She waited not for his answer, but gently forced him through the door, and closed it with
her own hands.
For a short time there was a warm debate between Henry and the pedler; but the latter finally
prevailed. and the maid heard the successive plunges,
as they went down the sides of the mountain at a
rapid rate, and they were soon out of hearing.
Immediately after the noise of their departure
had ceased, Harper re-appeared. He took the arma
of Frances in silence, and led her fi'om the lhut.




THE SPY.               489
The way seemed familiar to him, as, ascending to
the ledge above them, he led his companion across
the table land, tenderly pointing out the little difficulties in their route, and cautioning her against
injury.
Frances felt, as she walked by the side of his
majestic person, that she was supported by a man
of no common stamp. The firmness of his step,
and the composure of his manner, seemed to indicate a mind that was settled and resolved.  By
taking a route over the back of the hill, they descended with great expedition, and but little danger. The distance it had taken Frances an hour
to conquer, was passed by Harper and his companion in ten minutes, and they entered the open
space already mentioned. He struck into one of
the sheep paths, and crossing the clearing with
rapid steps, they came suddenly upon a horse,
caparisoned for a rider of no mean rank. The noble beast snorted and pawed the earith as his master
approached and replaced the pistols in the holsters.
Harper then turned, and taking the hand of
Frances, spoke as follows;
"' You have this night saved your brother, Miss
Wharton.  It would not be proper for me to explain why there are limits to my ability to serve
him, but if you can detain the horse for two hours,
he is safe. After what you have already done, I
can believe you equal to any duty. God has denied to me children, young lady, but if it had been
his blessed will that my marriage should not have
been childless, such a treasure as yourself would I
have asked from his mercy. But you are my child;
all who dwell in this broad land are my childrena
and my care, and take the blessing of one who
hopes yet to meet you in happier days."
As he spoke, with a solemnity that touched




490               THE SPY.
Frances to the heart, he laid his hand ihpresbively
upon her head.  The maid turned her face to
wards him, and the hood again falling back, exposed her lovely features to the fulness of the
moonbeams. A tear was glistening on either cheek,
and her mild blue eyes were gazing upon him in
reverence. Harper bent and pressed a paternal kiss
upon her forehead, and continued —" Any of these
sheep paths will take you to the plain; but here
we must part-I have much to do, and far to ride;
forget me in all but your prayers."
He then mounted his horse, and lifting his hat
with studied politeness, rode towards the back of
the mountain, (lescending at the same time, and
was soon hid by the trees.  Frances sprang forward with a lightened heart, and taking the first
path that led downwards, in a few minutes reached
the plain in safety. While busied in stealing privately through the meadows towards the house,
the noise of horse approaching startled her, and she
felt how much more was to be apprehended from
man, in some situations, than firom solitude.  Hiding her form in the angle of a fence near the road,
sh.e remained quiet for a moment, and watched their
passage. A small party of dragoons, whose dress
was different from the Virginians, passed at a brisk
trot, and were followed by a gentleman, enveloped
in a large cloak, whom she at once knew to be
Harper. Behind him rode a black in livery, and two
youths in uniforms brought up the rear.  Instead
of taking the road that led by the encampment,
they turned short to the left, and entered the hills.
WVonderinr, who this unknown but powerful
fiiend of her brother could be, Frances glided
across the fields, and using due precautions in approaching the dwelling, regained her residence undiscovered and in safety.




CHAPTER XXXI.
A" Hence, bashful cunning!
And prompt me, plain and holy innocence
I anm your wife, if you will marry me."
Tempest
ON joining Miss Peyton, Frances learnt that
Dunwoodie was not yet returned; although with
a view to relieve Henry from the importunities of
the supposed fanatic, he had desired a very respectable divine of their own church to ride up
from the river and offer his services.  This gentleman was already arrived, and spent the half
hour he had been there, in a sensible and well-bred
conversation with the spinster, that in no degree
touched upon their domestic affairs.
To the eager inquiries of Miss Peyton, relative
to her success in her romantic excursion, Frances
could say no more, than that she was bound to be
silent, and to recommend the same precaution to
the good maiden also.  There was a smile that
played. around the beautiful mouth of Frances,
while she uttered this injunction, chasing away the
momentary gleam of distrust that clouded her features, which satisfied her aunt that all was as it
should be. She was urging her niece to take some
refreshment after her fItiguing expedition, with a
kind-hearted consideration of her habits, when the
noise of a hoi seman riding to the door, announced
the return of the TMajor.  He had been found by




492               THE SPY.
the courier, who was despatched by Mason, impa.
tiently waiting the return of Harper to the ferry,
and'immediately flew to the place where his friend
had been confined, harassed by many different reflections.  The heart of Frances bounded with
violence, as she listened to his approaching footsteps.  It wanted yet an hour to the termination
of the shortest period that the pedler had fixed as
the time necessary, in which to effect his escape.
Even Harper, powerful and well disposed as he
acknowledged himself to be, had laid great stress
upon the importance of detaining the Virginians
from pursuit during that hour.  She_ however, had
not time to rally her thoughts, before Dunwoodie
enltered one door, as Miss Peyton, with the readiness of female instinct, retired through another.
The countenance of Peyton was flushed, and
there was an air of vexation and disappointment
p)ervading his whole manner.
cc'Twas imprudent, Frances; nay, it was unkind," he cried, throwing himself in a chair, "c to
fly at the very moment that I had assured him of
his safety.  I can almost persuade myself, that you
delight in creating points of difference in our feelings and duties."
"a In our duties there may very possibly be a
difference," returned his mistress, approaching
near to where he sat, and leaning her slender form
slightly against the wall;   but not in our feelings,
Peyton.  You must certainly rejoice in the escape
of Henry fioml death!"'
" There was no death impending.  He had the
promise of Harpbr; and it is a word never to be
doubted. Oh! Frances! Frances! had you known
this man, you would never have distrusted his assurance; nor would you have again reduced me
to this distressing alternative."




THE SPY.                493'" What alternative?" asked Frances, pitying his
emotions deeply, but eagerly seizing upon every
circumstance to prolong the interview.
" What alternative! am  I not compelled to
spend this night in the saddle, to re-capture your
brother, when I had thought to have laid my head
on its pillow, with the happy consciousness of contributing to his release?  You make me seem your
enemy; I, who would cheerfully shed the last
drop of blood in your service.  I repeat, Frances, it was rash; it was unkind; it was a sad, sad
mistake."
The maid bent towards him, and timidly took
one of his hands, while with the other she gently
removed the raven curls from his burning brow, as
slhe said-' But why go at all, dear Peyton?  You have
done much for our country, and she cannot exact
such a sacrifice as this at your hand."
" Frances!  Miss Wharton!"  exclaimed the
youth, springing on his feet, and pacing the floor
with a cheek that burnt with fire through its brown
covering, and an eye that sparkled with conscious
integrity; " it is not my country, but my honour,
that requires the sacrifice.  Has he not fled from
a guard of my own corps? But for this I might
have been spared the blow! But if the eyes of
the Virginians are blinded to deception and artifice, their hcrses are swift of foot, and their sabres
keen. We will see, before to-morrow's sun, who
it is will presume to hint, that the beauty of the
sister furnished a mask to conceal the brother.
Yes, yes; I should like, even now," he continued, laughing bitterly, " to hear the villain, who
would dare to surmise that such a treachery existed!"
"' Peyton, dear Peyton," said Frances, recoiling
*   a:




494               THE SPY.
in terror from his angry eye, " you curdle my blood
-would you kill my brother?"
" Would I not die for hin!" exclaimed Dunwvoodie, with a softened voice, as he turned to her
more mildly; "1 you know I would; but I am distracted with the cruel surmise to which this step
of Henry's subjects me.  What will Washington
think of me, should he learn that I ever became
your husband?"
" If that alone impels you to act so harshly towards my brother,"' returned Frances, with a slight
tremor in her voice, " let it never happen for him
to learn."
" And this is consoling me, Frances!" cried
her lover; " what a commentary on my sufferings!'
" Nay, dear Dunwoodie, I meant nothing harsh
nor unkind; but are you not making us both of
more consequence to Washington than the truth
"xill justify?"
" I trust that my name is not entirely unknown
to the Comlnander-in-chief," said the Major, a little proudly; " nor are you as obscure as your
modesty would make you. I believe you, Frances, when you say that you pity me, and it must
be my task to continue worthy of such feelings.
But I waste the precious moments; we must go
through the hills to-night, that we may be refieshed, in time, for the duty of to-morrow. Mason is
already waiting for my orders to mount. Frances, I leave you with a heavy heart; pity me, but
feel no concern for your brother; he must again
become a prisoner, but every hair of his head is
sacred."
a Stop! Dunwoodie, I conjure you," cried Frances, gasping for breath, as she noticed that the hand
of the clock still wanted many minutes to the de



THE spY.               495
sired hour, " before you go on your errand of fastidious duty, read this note that Henry has left for
you, and which, doubtless, he thought he was writing to the friend of his youth."' Frances, I excuse your feelings; but the time
will come when you will do me justice."
" That time is now," she answered, extending
her hand, unable any longer to feign a displeasure
that she did not feel.
" Where got you this note?" exclaimed the
youth, glancing his eyes over its contents. " Poor
Henry, you are indeed my friend! If any one
wishes me happiness, it is you."
" He does, he does," cried Frances, eagerly;
- he wishes you every happiness; believe what
he tells you; every word is true."
" I do believe him, lovely girri, and he refers me
to you for its confirmation. Would that I could
trust equally to your affections!"
1" You may, Peyton," said Frances, looking up
with innocent confidence towards her lover.
" Then read for yourself, and veriif your words,"
interrupted Dunwoodie, holding the note towards
her eyes, that sparkled with every passion but
anger.
Frances received it in astonishment, and read
the following:
" Life is too precious to be trusted to uncertainties. I leave you, Peyton, unknown to all but Ctesar, and I recommend him to your mercy.  But
there is a care that weighs me to the earth.  Look
at mny aged and infirm parent.  He will be stigmatzedfor the supposed crime of his son.  Look at
those helpless sisters that I leave behind me without a protector.  Prove to me that you love us all.
Let the clergyman  whom you will bring with yoq,




196               TH'rIE SPY.
unite you this night to Fracnes, and become, at
once, brother, son, and husband."
The paper fell from the hands of Frances, and
she endeavoured to raise her eyes to the face of
Dunwoodie, but they sunk abashed before his eager gaze.
" What say you!" said Peyton, with an insinuating voice; " am I worthy of this confidence?
will you send me out against your brother this
night, to meet my own brother? or will it be the
officer of Congress in quest of the officer of Britain?"
" And would you do less of your duty because
I am your wife, Major Dunwoodie? in what degree would it better the condition of Henry?9'
" Henry, I repeat, is safe. The word of Harper is his guarantee; -but I will show the world a
bridegroom," continued the youth, perhaps deceiving himself a little, " who is equal to the duty
of arresting the brother of his bride."
(" And will the world comprehend it all?" said
Frances, with a musing air, that lighted a thousand hopes in the bosom of her lover. In fact, the
temptation was mighty. Indeed, there seemed no
other way to detain Dunwoodie until the fatal hour
had elapsed. The words of Harper himself, who
had so lately told her that openly he could do but
little for Henry, and that every thing depended
upon the gaining of time, were deeply engraved
upon her memory.  Perhaps there was also a
fleeting thought of the possibility of an eternal
separation friom her lover, should he proceed and
bring back her brother to punishment. It is difficult at all times to analyze human emotions, and
they pass through the sensitive heart of a woman
wfith the rapidity and nearly with the vividness of
lightning.




T'rnE:k SP Y.         4197'"Why do I tarry, dear Frances," cried Dunwoodie, who was studying her varying countenance with rapture; "a few minutes might give
me a husband's claim to protect you."
The brain of Frances whirled.  She turned an
anxious eye to the clock, and the hand seemed to
linger over its face, as if with intent to torture her.
"; SDeak, my Frances,"  murmured Dunwoodie;
" may I summon my good kinswoman? determine,
for time presses."
Frances endeavoured to reply, but could only
whisper something that was inaudible, but which
her lover, with the privilege of immemorial custom, construed into assent. He turned and flew
to the door, when the maid recovered her voice"' Stop, Peyton; I cannot enter into such a solemn engagement with a fri-aud upon my conscience.
[ have seen Henry since his escape, and time is
all important to him. Here is my hand; if, with
this knowledge of the consequences of delay, you
will not reject it, it is freely yours."
" Reject it!' cried the delighted youth; " I
take it as the richest gift of heaven.  There is
time enough for us all. Two hours will take me
through the hills, and by noon, to-morrow, I will
return with Washington's pardon for your brother,
and Henry will help to enliven our nuptials."
" Then meet me here in ten minutes," said Frances, greatly relieved by unburthening her mind,
and filled with the hope of securing Henry's safety, "' and I will return and take those vows which
will bind me to you for ever."
Dunw0oodie paused only to press her once to
his bosom, and flew to communicate his wishes to
the priest.
Miss Peyton received the avowal of her niece
with infinite astonishment, and a little displeasure,
42 "




498               THE SPY.
it % as violating all the order and decorum  of a
wedding to get it up so hastily, and with so little
ceremony.  But Frances, with modest firmness,
declared that her resolution was taken; she had
long possessed the consent of her friends, and their
nuptials, for months, had only waited her pleasure.
She had now promised Dunwoodie, and it was hei
wish to comply; more she dare not say without
committing herself, by entering into explanations
that might endanger Birch, or Harper, or both.
Unused to contention, and really much attached
to her kinsman, the feeble objections of Miss Peyton gave way to the firmness of her niece. Mr.
Wharton was too completely a convert to the doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance, to
withstand any solicitation from an officer of Dunwoodie's influence in the rebel armies, and the
maid returned to the apartment, accompanied by
her father and aunt, at the expiration of the time
that she had fixed. Dunwoodie and the clergyman were already there. Frances, silently, and
without the affectation of reserve, placed in his
hand the wedding ring of her own mother, and after some little time spent in arranging Mr. Wharton and herself, Miss Peyton suffered the ceremony to proceed.
The clock stood directly before the wandering
eyes of Frances, and she turned many an anxious
glance at the dial; but soon the solemn language of
the priest caught her attention, and her mind became intent upon the vows she was uttering.  It
was quickly over, and as the clergyman closed the
words of benediction, the clock told the hour of
nine. This wasthe time that Harper had deemed
so important, and Frances felt as if a mighty load
was at once removed fiom her heart.
Dunwoodie folded her in his arms, saluted the




THE SPY.               499
spinster again and again, and shook Mr. Wharton
and the divine repeatedly by the hands. In the
midst of this excess of rapture, a tap was heard at
the door. It was opened, and Mason appeared.
"WVe are in the saddle," said the lieutenant,
" and with your permission, will lead on; as you
are so well mounted you can overtake us at your
leisure."
"Yes, yes, my good fellow; march," cried
Dunwoodie, gladly seizing an excuse to linger; " I
will reach you at the first halt.)"
The subaltern retired to execute these orders,
and was followed by Mr. Wharton and the divine.
1"'Now, Peyton," said Frances, " it is indeed a
brother that you seek; I am sure I need not caution you in his behalf, should you unfortunately
find him.'"
"' Say fortunately," cried the youth; "for I am
determined he shall yet dance at my wedding.
Would that I could win him to our cause; it is the
cause of his country, and I could fight with more
pleasure, Frances, with your brother by my side."
"Oh! mention it not! you awaken terrible reflections."'
" I will not mention it," returned her husband;
"h but I must now leave you. Tom Mason moved
off at a famous rate, and the fellow has no orders.
But the sooner I go, Frances, the sooner I will return."
The noise of a horseman was heard approaching
the house, with great speed, and Dunwoodie was
yet taking leave of his bride and her aunt, when
an officer was shown into the room by his own
man.
The gentleman wore the dress of an Aid-decamp, and the Major at once knew him to be one
of the family of Washington.




o00               THE SPY.
a Major Dunwoodie," he said, after bowing
courteously to the ladies; "the Commander-inchief has directed me to give you these orders."
He executed his mission, and, pleading duty,
took his leave immediately.
" Here, indeed!" cried the Major, " is an unexpected turn in the whole affair; but I understand
it; Harper has got my letter, and already we feel
his influence."
" Have you news affecting Henry?" cried Frances, springing to his side.'c Listen, and you shall judge."
" SIR-Upon the receipt of this, you will concentrate your squadron, so as to be in front of the
enemy's covering party to their foragers, by ten
o'clock to-morrow, on the heights of Croton, where
you will find a body of foot to support you.  The
escape of the English spy has been reported to one,
but his arrest is unimnportant, compared with the
duty I now assign you.  You will, therefore, recall your men, if any are in pursuit, and endleavour to defeat the enemynforthwith.
"C Your Obedient Servant,
C GEORGE WASHINGTON.''- There, thank God," cried Dunwoodie, C my
hands are washed of Henry's recapture; I can
now move to my duty with honour."
": And with prudence too, dear PPyton," said
Frances, with a face as pale as death; " remember Dunwoodie, you leave behind you new claims
upon your caution and care."
The youth dwelt on her lovely but pallid features with rapture, and as he pressed her hand to
his heart, exclaimed" But why this haste? I can reach Peekskill
before the troops have breakfasted, if I start some




'HIE SPY.               501
hours hence. I am too old a soldier to be hastened or disconcerted."
" Nay! go at once," said Frances, in a hurried
voice, with a face whose bright tints would have
shamed a ruddy morn; "neglect not the orders
of Washington. —And oh! be prudent-be careful.""
" For your sake I will, lovely innocent," cried
her husband, folding her to his heart for the last
time.  Frances sobbed a maoment on his bosom,
and he tore himself firom her presence.
Miss Peyton retired with her niece, to whom
she conceived it necessary, before they separated
for the night, to give an abundance of good advice
on the subject of matrimonial duty.  Her lecture
was modestly received, if not properly digested.
We regret that history has not handed down to us
this precious dissertation; but the result of all our
investigation has been to learn that it partook
largely of those peculiarities which are said to
tincture the rules prescribed to govern bachelors'
children. We will leave them, and return to Cap.
tain Wharton and Harvey Birch.




CHAPTER XXXII.
5 Allow him not a parting word;
Short he the shrift, and sure the cord!"
Rokeb
THE pedler and his companion soon reached the
valley, and after pausing to listen, and hearing
no sounds which announced that pursuers were
abroad, they entered the highway. Acquainted
with every step that led through the mountains,
and possessed of inews inured to toil, Birch led
the way, in silent activity, with the lengthened
strides that were peculiar to the man and tiis profession; his pack was alone wanting to finish the
appearance of his ordinary business air. At times,
when they approached one of those little posts held
by the American troops, with which the Highlands abounded, he would take a circuit to avoid
the sentinels, and plunge at once fearlessly into a
thicket, or ascend a rugged hill, that to the eye
seemed impassable. But the pedler was familiar
with every turn in their difficult route, knew where
the ravines might be penetrated, or wheie the
streams were fordable.  In one or two instances,
Henry thought that their further progress was absolutely at an end, but the ingenuity or knowledge
of his guide conquered every difficulty.  After
walking at an incredible rate for three hours, they
suddenly diverged from the road which inclined




THE SPY.                503
to the east, and held their course directly acioss
the hills in a due south direction.  This movement
was made, the pedler informed his companion, in
order to avoid the parties who constantly patroled
in the southern entrance of the highlands, as well
as to shorten the distance, by travelling in a
straight line. After reaching the summit of a very
considerable hill, Harvey seated himself by the
side of a little run, and opening the wallet, that
he had slung where his pack was commonly suspended, invited his comrade to partake of the
coarse fare that it contained.  Henry had kept
pace with the pedler, more by the excitement
natural to his situation, than by the equality of his
physical powers. The idea of any halt was unpleasant, so long as there existed a possibility of
the horse getting below him, in time to intercept
their retreat through the neutral ground.  He,
therefore, started his apprehensions to his companion, and urged his wish to proceed.
" Follow my example, Captain WVharton," said
the pedler, commencing his fiugal meal; " if the
horse have started, it will be more than man can
do to head them; and if they have not, other work
is cut out for them, that will drive all thoughts of
you and I firom their brains."
(" You said yourself, that two hours detention
was all-important to us, and if'we loiter here, of
what use will be the advantage that we may have
already obtained?"
"C Them two hours are passed, and Major Dun
woodie thinks little of following two men, when
hundreds are waiting for him on the banks of the
river."
"c Listen!" interrupted Henry; " there are horse
at this moment passing at the foot of the hill. I
hear them even laughing and talking to each other.




504               THE SPY.
By heavens! there is the voice of Dunwoodie himself, and he calls to his comrade in a manner that
shows but litt>o uneasiness. One would think that
the situation of his friend would lower his spirits;
surely Frances could not have given him the retter."
On hearing the first exclamation of the Captain,
Birch arose from his seat, and approached cautiously to the brow of the hill, taking care to keep
his body in the shadow of the rocks, so as to be
unseen at any distance, and earnestly reconnoitered the passing group of horsemen.  He continued
listening, until their quick footsteps were no longer
audible, and then quietly returned to his seat, and
with incomparable coolness resumed his meal.'" You have a long walk, and a tiresome one, before you, Captain Wharton; you had better do as
I do-you was eager for food at the hut above
Fishkill, but travelling seems to have worn down
your appetite."
"I thought myself safe then, out the information of my sister fills me with uneasiness, and I
cannot eat."'
"c You have less reason to be troubled now than
at any time since the night before you was taken,
when you refused my advice and offer to see you in
safety," returned the pedler. "c Major Dunwoodie
is not a man to laugh and be gay, when his friend
is in difficulty. Come, then, and eat, for no horse
will be in our way, if we can hold our legs for
four hours longer, and the sun keeps behind the
hills as long as common."
There was a composure in the pedler's manner
hat inspired the youth, and having once determined to submit to Harvey's government, he suffered himself to be persuaded into a tolerable supper, if the quantity be considered without any re




THE SPY.               505
ference to the quality.  After completing their re
past, the pedler again resumined his journey.
IHenry followed in blind submission to his will.
For two hours more they struggled with the difficult and dangerous passes of the Highlands, without road, or any other guide than the moon, which
was travelling the heavens, now wading through
the flying clouds, and now shining upon objects
wvith a brilliancy second only to her great source
of light. At length they arrived where the mountains sunk into rough and unequal hillocks, and
passed at once from the barren sterility of the
precipices, to the imperfect culture of the neutral
ground.
T'he pedler now became more guarded in the
manner in which they proceeded, and took divers
precautions to prevent meeting any moving parties
of the Americans.  With their stationary posts he
was too familiar to endanger his falling upon them
unawares. He wound among the hills and vales,
now keeping the highways and now avoiding them,
with a precision that seemed instinctive. There
was nothing elastic in his tread, but he glided over
the ground with enormous strides, and a body bent
forward, without appearing to use exertion, or
know weariness.
The moon had set, and a faint streak of light was
beginning to show  itself in the east.  Captain
Wharton ventured to express a sense of fatigue,
andl to inquire if they were not yet arrived at a
pait of the country where it might be safe to apply
at,ome of the farm-houses for admission.
c See here," said the pedler, pointing to a hill
at a short distance in their rear; " do you not see
a mal walking on the point of that rock?  Turn
more, so as to bring the daylight in the rangenotice, now he moves, and seems to be looking
43




50b               THE SPY.
earnestly at something to the eastward. That is
a royal sentinel, and two hundred of the rig'lar
troops lay on that hill, no doubt sleeping on their
arms.')
" Then," cried Henry, " let us join them, and
our aanger is at once ended."
" Softly, softly, Captain Wharton," said the
pedler, dryly; " you've once been in the midst of
three hundred of them, but there was a man who
could take you out; see you not yon dark body on
the side of the opposite hill, just above the corn
stalks? There are the-the rebels-waiting only
for day, to see who will be master of the ground."
~ Nay, then," exclaimed the fiery youth, " I will
join the troops of my prince, and share their fortunes, be it good or be it bad."
" You forget that you fight with a halter around
your neck; no, no-I have promised one whom I
must not disappoint, to carry you safe in; and unless you forget what I have already done, and
what I have risked for you, Captain Wharton, you
will turn and follow me to Harlaem."?
To this appeal the youth felt unwillingly obliged
to submit; and they continued their course to
wards the city. It was not long before they gained
the banks of the Hudson. After searching for a
short time under the shore, the pedler discovered
a skiff, that from its movements appeared to be an
old acquaintance; and entering it with his comnpanion, he landed him on the south side of the
Croton. Here Birch declared they were in safety; for the royal troops held the continentals at
bay, and the former were out in too great strength,
for the light parties of the latter to trust themselves
below that river, on the immediate banks of the
Hudson, from a dread of having their retreat cut
off.




THE SPY.               507.
Throughout the whole of this arduous flight, the
pedler had manifested a coolness and presence of
mind that nothing appeared to disturb. All his
faculties seemed to be of more than usual perfection, and the infirmities of nature to have no dominion over him.  Henry had followed him like a
child in leading-strings, and he now reaped his reward, as he felt a bound of pleasure at his heart,
on hearing that he was relieved from apprehension,
and permitted to banish every doubt of his security.
A steep and laborious ascent brought them from
the level of the tide-waters to the high lands, that
form, in this part of the river, the eastern banks of
the Hudson.  Retiring a little from the highway,
under the shelter of a thicket of cedars, the pedler
threw his form on a flat rock, and announced to his
companion, that the hour for rest and refreshment
was at length arrived. The day was now opened,
and objects could be seen in the distance with distinctness. Beneath them lay the Hudson, stretching to the south in a straight line as far as the eye
could reach. To the north, the broken fragments
of the Highlands threw upwards their lofty heads,
above the masses of fog that hung over the water,
and by which the course of the river could be
traced into the bosom of the hills, whose conical
summits were grouping together, one behind
another, in that disord r which might be supposed to succeed their mighty, but fruitless, efforts to stop the progress of the flood. Emerging from these confused piles, the river, as if
rejoicing at its release from the struggle, expanded into a wide bay, which was ornamented by a
few fertile and low points that jutted humbly into
its broad basin. On the opposite or western shomre,
the rocks of Jersey were gathered into an array




508                THE SPY.
that has obtained for them the nanac of the " pal.isadoes," elevating themselves for many hundred
feet, as if to protect the rich country in their rear
from the inroads of the conqueror; but, disdaining such an enemy, the river swept proudly by
their feet, and held its undeviating way to the
ocean. A ray of the rising sun darted upon the
slight cloud that hung over the placid river, and
at once the whole scene was in motion, changing
and assuming new forms, and exhibiting frIesh oblects to the view in each successive moment.  At
the daily rising of this great curtain of nature, at
the present time, scores of white sails and sluggish vessels are seen thickening on the water,
with that air of life which denotes the neighbourhood to the metropolis of a great and flourishing
empire; but to Henry and the pedler it displayed
only the square yards and lofty masts Gf a vessel
of war, riding a few miles below them. Before the
fog had begun to move, the tall spars were seen
above it, and from one of them a long pendant
was feebly borne abroad in the current of night air,
that still quivered along the river; but as the
smoke arose, the black hull, the crowded and complicated mass of rigging, and the heavy yards and
booms, spreading their arms afar, were successively brought into view.
" There, Captain Wharton," said the pedler,
there is a safe resting place for you; America has
no arm that can reach you, if once you gain.the
deck of that ship.  She is sent up to cover the
foraers, and support the troops; the rig'lar officers are over fond of the sound of cannon from
their shipping."
Without condescending to reply to the sarcasm
conveyed in this speech, or perhaps not noticing
It, Henry joyfully acquiesced in the proposal, and




TH-E SPY.               509
it was accordingly arranged betw een them, that,
so soon as they were refreshed, he should endeavour to get on board the vessel.
While busily oceupied in the very indispensable
operation of breaking their fast, our adventurers
were startled with the sound of distant fire arms.
At first a few scattering shots were fired, which
were succeeded by a long and animated roll of
nuslketry, and then quick and heavy volleys followed each other.
"' Your prophecy is made good," cried the English officer, springing upon his feet. "c Our troops
and the rebels are at it;-I would give six months'
pay to see the charge."
"' Umph!1" returned his companion, without
ceasing his meal; " they do very well to look at
firom a distance; but I can't say but the company
of this bacon, cold as it is, is more to my taste,
just now, than a hot fire from the continentals."' The discharges are heavy for so small a force;
but the fire seems irregular."'' The scattering guns are from the Connecticut
militia," said Harvey, raising his head to listen;' they rattle it off finely, and are no fools at a
mark.  The volleys are the rig'lars, who, you
know, fire by word-as long as they can."
c" I like not the warmth of what you call a scattering fire," exclaimed the Captain, moving about
with uneasiness; " it is more like the roll of a drum
than the pop-gun shooting of skirmishers."
No, no; I said not skrimmagers," returned
the other, raising himself upon his knees, and
ceasing to eat; "c so long as they'll stand, they are
too good for the best troops in the royal army.
Each man does his work as if fighting by the job;
and then they think while they fight, and don't
43 *




510               THE SPY.
send bullets among the clouds, that were meant to
kill men upon earth."
"' You talk and look, sir, as if you wished them
success," cried Henry, sternly.
" I wish success to the good cause only, Captain
Wharton," returned the pedler, suddenly changing his air of exultation to an abstracted manner.
" I thought you knew me too well, to be uncertain which party I favoured."
"' Oh! you are reputed loyal, Mr. Birch," said
the youth, with a little contempt;-" but, by Heavens! the volleys have ceased!)"
They both now listened intently, for a little
while, during which the irregular reports became
less brisk, and suddenly heavy and repeated volleys followed.
" They've been at the baggonet," said the pedler;   the rig'lars have tried the baggonet, and
have drove the rebels."
L' Ay! Mr. Birch, the bayonet is the thing for
the British soldier, after all!" shouted Henry
with exultation. " They delight in the bayonet!"
"  Well, to my notion," said the pedler, " there's
but little delight to be taken in any such pokerish
thing. But I dare say the militia are of my mind,
for half of them don't carry the ugly things. —
Lord! Lord! Captain, I wish you'd go with me
once into the rebel camp, and hear what lies the
men will tell about Bunker hill and Burg'yne:
you'd think they loved the baggonet as much as
they do their dinner."
There was an inward chuckle, and singular air
of affected innocency about his companion, while
speaking, that rather annoyed Henry, and he
deigned no reply to his remarks.
The firing now became desultory, occasionally




THE SPY.                511
intermingled with heavy volleys.  Both of the
fugitives were standing, listening with much anxiety, when a man, armed with a musket, was seen
stealing towards them  under the shelter of the
cedar bushes that partially covered the hill. lienry first noticed this suspiciously looking stranger,
and instantly pointed him  out to his companion.
Birch started, and certainly made an indication of
sudden flight; but recollecting himself, he stood,
sullen silence, until the stranger was within a
few yards of them.''Tis friends," said the fellow, clubbing his gull,
but jet apparently afraid to venture nearer.
~ You had better be off," cried Birch, in a loud
voice, " here's rig'lars enough at hand to take
care of you; we are not neatr Dunwoodie's horse
now, and you will not easily get me again."
" Damn Major Dunwoodie and his horse," cried
the leader of the skinners, (for it was he,)'; God
bless king George.! and a speedy end to the rebellion, say I. - If you would just show me the safe
way in to the refugees, Mr. Birch, I'll pay you
well, and ever after stand your friend in the bargain."
(' The road is as open to you as to me,"" said
Birch, turning from him in ill-concealed disgust;'" if you want to find the refugees, you know well
where they lay."
"a Ay, but I'm a little afeard of going in upon
them by myself; now you are well known to them
all, and it will be no detriment to you just to let
me go in with you."
Henry interfered, and after holding a short dialogue with the fellow, entered into a compact with
him, that- on condition of surrendering his arms, he
might join their party.  The man complied instantly, and Birch received his gun with eager



512               THE SPY.
ness, nor did he lay it upon his shoulder to renew
their march, before he had carefully examined the
priming, and ascertained, to his satisfaction, that
it contained a good dry ball-cartridge.
As soon as this engagement was completed, they
commenced their journey anew. By following
the bank of the river, Birch led the way free from
observation, until they reached the point opposite
to the frigate, when, by making a signal, a boat
was induced to approach.  Some time was spent,
and much precaution used, before the seamen
would trust themselves ashore; but Henry having
finally succeeded in making the officer, who commanded the party, credit his assertions, he was
able to rejoin his companions in arms in safety.
Before taking leave of Birch, the Captain handed
him his purse, which was tolerably well supplied
for the times: the pedler received it, and watching an opportunity, he conveyed it, unnoticed by
the skinner, to a part of his dress that was ingeniously contrived to hold such treasures.
The boat pulled from the shore, and Birch turned on his heel, drawing a sigh of vast relief, and
shot up the hills with the enormous strides for
which he was famous.  The skinner followed, and
each party pursued their common course, casting
firequent and suspicious glances at the other, and
both maintaining a most impenetrable silence.
Wagons were moving along the river' road, and
oecasional parties of horse were seen, escorting
the firuits of their excursion towards the city,
As the pedler had views of his own, he rather
avoided failing in with any of these patrols, than
sought their protection.  But, after travelling for
a few miles, on the immediate banks of the river,
during which, notwithstanding the repeated efforts
of the skinner to establish something like socia




'HE SPY.               1.13
bility, he maintained a most determined silence,
keeping a firm hold of the gun, and a side glance
upon his associate, the pedler suddenly struck into the highway, with an intention of crossing the
hills towards Harlaem.  At the moment that he
gained the path, a body of horse came over a little
eminence, and was upon him before he perceived
them. It was too late to retreat, and after taking
a view of the materials that composed this scouting
party, Birch rejoiced in the rencontre, as a probable means of relieving him from his unwelcome
companion. They were some eighteen or twenty
men, who were mounted and equipped as dragoons,
though neither their appearance nor manners delnoted much of discipline.  At their head rode a
heavy, middle aged man, whose features expressed
as much of animal passion, and as little of reason,
as could well be imagined. He wore the dress of
an officer, but there was none of that neatness in
his attire, nor grace in his movements, that was
usually found about the gentlemen who bore the
roval commission. His limbs were firm, and not
pliable, and he sat his horse with strength and
confidence, but his bridle hand would have been
ridiculed by the meanest rider in the Virginia regi
ment. As he expected, this leader instantly hailed
the pedler, in a voice by no means more conciliat
ing than his appearance.
" Hey! my gentleman, which way so fast?" he
cried. " Has Washington sent you down as spies?"
" I am an innocent pedler," returned Harvey,
meekly, " andl am going below to lay in a fresh
stock."'A And how do you expect to get below, my innocent pedler? Do you think we hold the forts at
Kingsbridge to cover such peddling rascals as you,
in your goings in and comings out?"




514                THE SPY.
" I believe I hold a pass that will carry me
through," said the pedler, handing him a paper,
with an air of consummate indifference.
The officer, for such he was, read it, and gave a
look of extraordinary intelligence for the man, at
Hai vey, when he had done.
Then turning fiercely to one or two of his men,
who had officiously passed on and stopped the
way, he criedc' Why do you stop the man? give way and let
him pass in peace: but who have we here? your
name is not on the paper."
C No, sir," said the skinner, lifting his hat with
humility; " I have been a poor deluded man, who
has been serving in the rebel arrmy; but, thank
God, I've lived to see the error of my ways, and
am now come to make reparation, by enlisting under the Lord's anointed."
"' Umph! a deserter-a skinner, I'll swear,
wanting to turn cow-boy. In the last brush I had
with the scoundrels, I could hardly tell my own
men from the enemy. We are not over well supplied with coats, and as for the faces, the rascals
change sides so often, that you may as well count
their faces for nothing; but trudge on, we will contrive to expend you before long."
Ungracious as was this reception, if you could
judge of the skinner's feelings from his manner, it
nevertheless delighted him hugely.  He moved
with alacrity towards the city, and really was so
happy to escape the brutal looks and frightful man-.ner of his interrogator,,as to lose sight of all other
considerations. But the man who performed the
functions of orderly in the irregular troop, rode
up to the side of his commander, and commenced
a close and apparently confidential discourse with
his principal. They spoke in whispers, and cast




THE SPY.               515
frequent and seal ching glances at the slinner, until
the fellow began to think himself an object of more
than common attention.  His satisfaction at this
distinction was somewhat heightened, at observing
a smile on the face of the Captain, which, although
it might be thought grim, certainly denoted much
inward delight.  This pantomime occupied the
time they were passing a hollow, and concluded
as they rose another hill. Here the Captain and
his sergeant both dismounted, and ordered the
party to halt. The warriors each took a pistol
from his holster, a movement that excited no suspicion or alarm, as it was a precaution always observed, and beckoned to the pedler and the skinner to follow.  A short walk brought them to
wMhere the hill overhung the river, the ground
falling nearly perpendicularly to the shore. On
the brow of the eminence stood a deserted and dilapidated building that had been a barn. Many
of the boards that had formed its covering were
torn from their places, and its wide doors were
lying, the one in front of the building, and the other
half was down the precipice, whither the wind had
cast it. Entering this desolate spot, the refugee
officer very coolly took from his pocket a short
pipe, whose colour might once have been white,
but which now, from long use, had acquired not
only the hue but the gloss of ebony, a tobacco
box, and a small roll of leather, that contained
steel, flint) and tinder.  With this apparatus, he
soon furnished his mouth with a companion, that
habit had long rendered necessary to extraordinary' reflection in its owner. So soon as a large column of smoke arose from this arrangement, the
Captain significantly held forth his hand towards his
assistant. A small cord was produced from the
pocket of the sergeant, and handed to the other.




:5i''TH.E SPY.
Now, indeed, appeared a moment of deep care
in the refugee, who threw out vast puffs of smoke
until nearly all of his head was obscured, and
looked around the building with an anxious and
inquisitive eye. At length he removed the pipe,
and inhaling a draught of pure air, returned it to
its domicil, and proceeded to business at once.
There was a heavy piece of timber laid across the
girths of the barn but a little way from the southern door, which opened directly upon a full view
of the river, as it stretched far away towards the
bay of New-York.  Over this timber the refugee
threw one end of the rope, and, regaining it, joined
the two parts in his hand.  A small and weak
barrel, that wanted a head, the staves of which
were loose, and at one end standing apart, was
left on the floor, probably as useless to the owner.
This was brought by the sergeant, in obedience to
a look friom his officer, and placed beneath the
beam. All of these arrangements were made with
immoveable composure, and now seemed completed to the officer's perfect satisfaction.
" Come," he said coolly to the skinner, who,
amazed with the preparations, had stood both a
close and silent spectator of their progress. He
obeyed; and it was not until he found his neckcloth removed, and hat thrown aside, that he took
the alarm. But he had so often resorted to a si-,milar expedient to extort information or plunder,
that he by no means felt the terror an unpractised
man would have suffered, at these ominous movements. The rope was adjusted to his neck witn
the same coolness that formed the characteristic
of the whole movement, and a. fragment of board
oeing laid upon the barrel, he was ordered to
mount it.'But it may fall," said the skinner, for the first




'rIE sPY.               517
time beginning to tremble.  " I wili tell you any
thing —even how to surprise our party at the Pond,
without this trouble, and it is commanded by my
own brother."
" I want lno information,'" returned his executioner, (for such he now seemed really to be,) as
he threw the rope repeatedly over the beam, first
drawing it tight so as to annoy the skinner a little,
and then casting the end from him, far beyond the
reach of any one.
" This is joking too far,"' cried the skinner, in
a tone of remonstranee, and raising himself on his
toes, with the vain hope of releasing himself fr'om
the cord, by slipping his head through the nooseBut the caution and experience of the refugee officer had guarded against this escape.
" What did you with the horse you stole friom
me, rascal?" he cried, throwing out extraordinary
columns of smoke, while he waited for a reply.' He broke down in the chase," replied the skinner, quickly; " but I can tell you where one is to
be found, that is worth him and his sire."
"1 Liar! I will help myself when I want one;
but you had better call upon God for aid, as your
hour is short."  On concluding this consoling advice, he struck the barrel a violent blow with his
heavy foot, and the slender staves flew in every
direction, leaving the skinner whirling in the air.
As his hands were uneonfined, he threw  themi
upwards, and held lhimself suspended by main
strength.
C Come, captain,"' he said, coaxingly, a little
huskiness creeping into his voice, and his knees
beginning to shake with a slight tremor, "just end
the joke;'tis enough to imake a laugh, and my
alms begin to tire-i4ndeed 1 can't hold on much
tonge.r4."
44




518               TH-ITIE SPY.
" Harkee, Mr. Pedler," said the refugee, in a
voice that would not be denied, " I want not your
company.  Through that door lies your roadmarch! offer to touch that dog, and you'll sw-ing
in his place, if twenty Sir Henrys wanted your
services." So saying, he retired to the road with
the sergeant, as the pedler precipitately retreated
down the bank.
Birch went no farther than a bush that opportunely offered itself, as a skreen to conceal his
person, while he yielded to an unconquerable desire to witness the termination of this extraordinary scene.
Left thus alone, the skinner began to throw
fearful glances around, to espy the hiding places
of his tormentors. For the first time, the horrid
idea seemed to shoot through his brain, that something serious was intended by the Cow-boy. He
called entreatingly to be released, and made rapid
and incoherent promises of important information,
mingled with affected pleasantry at their conceit,
which he would hardly admit to himself could
mean any thing so dreadful as it seemed.  But as
he heard the tread of the horses moving on their
course, and in vain looked around for human aid,
violent trembling seized his limbs, and his eyes
began to start from his head with terror. He made
a desperate effort to reach the beam; but, too
much exhausted with his previous exertions, he
caught the rope in his teeth, in a vain eflbrt to sever the cord, and fell to the whole length of his
arms.  Here his cries were turned into shrieks"' Help! cut the rope! Captain! —Birch! good
pedler! Down with the Congress!-Sergeant!for God's sake, help! Hurrah for the King! —Oh
God! oh God! —merey-mercy-mercy."
As his voice became suppressed, one of his




THE SPY7.              519
hands endeavoured to make' its way between the
rope and his neck, and partially succeeded, but
the other fell quivering by his side. A convulsive
shuddering passed over his whole frame, and he
hung a hideous livid corse.
Birch continued gazing on this scene with a
kind of infatuation, and at its close he placed his
Lands to his ears, rushing towards the highway;
but still the cries for mlercy rung though his brain,
and it was many weeks before his memory ceased
to dwell on the horrid event. The Cow-boys rode
steadily on their route, as if nothing had occurted,
and the body - as left swinging in the wind, until
chance directed the footsteps of some stragglers to
the place.




CHAPTER  XXXII.I.
"Green be the turf above thee,
Friend of my better daysNone knew thee but to love thee,
Nor nam'd thee but to praise."
Halleck.
WHILE the scenes and events that we have recorded were occurring, Captain Lawton led his
small party, by slow and wary marches, from the
Four Corners to the front of a body of the enemy;
where he so successfully manceuvred, for a short
time, as completely to elude all their efforts to entrap him, and yet so disguised his own force, as to
excite the constant apprehension of an attack from
the Americans. This forbearing policy, on the
side of the partisan, was owing to orders that he
had received firom his commander.  When Dunwoodie left his detachment, the enemy wvere known
to be slowly advancing, and he directed Lawton
to hover around them until his own return, and the
arrival of a body of foot, which might aid in intercepting their retreat.
The trooper discharged his duty to the letter,
but with no little of the impatience that made part
of his character, when restrained from the attack.
During these movements, Betty Flanagan guided her little cart with indefatigable zeal among the
rocks of West Chester, now discussing with the
sergeant the nature of evil spirits, and the quality
of her own, and now co.I bating with the surgeon
sundry points of practice, that were hourly arising




THE SP Y.               521
utnder their opposite opinions, upon the subject o.
stinmulus.  But the moment at length arrived that
was to terminate their controversies, and to decide
the mastery of the field.  A detachment of the
eastern militia moved out from their fastnesses, and
approached the enemy.
The junction between Lawton and his auxiliaries was made at midnight, and an immediate consultation was held between him and the leader of
the foot soldiers. After listening to the statements
of the partisan, who rather despised the prowess
of his enemy, the commandant of the party determined to attack the British, the moment that daylight enabled him to reconnoitre their position,
without waiting for the aid of Dunwoodie and his
horse.  So soon as this decision was imade, Lawton retired from the building where the consultation was held, and rejoined his own small command.
The few troopers who were with the Captain
had fastened their horses in a spot adjacent to a
hay-stack, and laid their own frames under its
shelter to catch a few hours sleep. But DI. Sitgreaves, Sergeant Hollister, and Betty Flanagan,
were congregated at a short distance, by themselves, having spread a few blankets upon the dr'y
surface of a rock.  Lawton threw his huge frame
by the side of the surgeon, and folding his cloak
about him, leaned his head upon one hand, and
appeared deeply engaged in contemplating the
moon as she waded majestically through the heavens.  The sergeant was sitting upright in respectful deference to the conversation that the operator was kindly dispensing, and the washerwoman was now raising her head in order to vindicate
some of her favourite maxims, and now composing
it on one of her gin casks, in a vain effort to sleep.
44 




522               THE SPY.
" So, sergeant," continued the operator, afiel
pausing a moment while Lawton took the position
which we have described, "' if you cut upwards,
the blow, by losing the additional momentum  of
your weig-ht, will be less destructive, and at the
salne time effect the true purposes of war, that of
disabliing your enemy."
" Pooh! pooh! sargeant dear," said the washerwoman, raising her head firom  the blanket;
" where's the harmn of taking a life jist in the way
of battle? Is it the rig'lars who'll show favour, and
they fightinog?  Ask Captain Ja k, there, if the
country could get the liberty, and the boys no
strike their might. Pooh! I would'nt have themn
disparage the whiskey so much."
" It is not to be expected, that an ignorant female like yourself, Mrs. Flanagan," returned the
operator, with ineffable disdain, " can comprehend
the distinctions of surgical science; neither are
you accomplished in the sword exercise; so that
dissertations. upon the judicious use of that weapon
could avail you nothing, either in theory or practice."
" It's but little I care, any way, for such botherinents,"' said Betty, sinking her head under her
blanket again; " but fighting is no play, and a body shouldn't be partic'lar how'they strike, or who
they hit, so it's the inimy."
" Are we likely to have a warm  day, Captain
Lawton?" said the surgeon, turning from the
washerwoman with vast contempt.
"'Tis more than probable," replied the trooper,
in a voice that startled his companion; " these
militia seldom fail of making a bloody field, either
by their cowardice or their ignorance.  And the
real soldier is made to suffer for their bad conduct."




THE SPY.               523' Are you ill, John?' said the surgeon, passing
his hand along the arm of the Captain, until it instinctively settled on his pulse; but the steady,
even beat, announced neither bodily nor mental
malady.
" Sick at heart, Archibald, at the folly of our
ruleis, in believing that battles are to be fought,
and victories won, by fellows who handle a musket as they would a flail; lads who wink when
they pull a trigger, and form a line like a hooppole. It is the dependence we place on these men
that spills the best blood of the country."
Tile surgeon listened to his philippic with amazement. It was not the matter but the manner that
surprised him.  The trooper had uniformly exhibited, on the eve of battle, an animation and
eagerness to engage, that was directly at variance
with the admirable coolness of his manner at other
times. But now there was a despondency in the
tones of his voice, and a listlessness in his air, that
was entirely different. The operator hesitated a
moment, to reflect in what manner he could render
this change of service in furthering his favourite
system, and then continued" It would be wise, John, to advise the Colonel
to keep at long shot; a spent ball will disable-'"
" No!" exclaimed the trooper impatiently; " let
the rascals singe their whiskers at the muzzles of
the British muskets, if they can be driven there;
but enough of them. Archibald, do you deem that
moon to be a world like this, and containing creatures like ourselves?"
" Nothing more probable, dear John; we know
its size, and reasoning from analogy, may easily
conjecture its use. Whether or not its inhabitants
have attained to that perfection in the sciences
which we have  acquired, murst depend greatly on




524'TrIh  SP,Y.
the state of its society, and in some measure upon
its physical influences."
" I care nothing about their learning, Archibald:
but'tis a wonderful power that can create such
worlds, and control them in their wanderings.  I
know not whyv but there is a feeling of melanch-oly excited within me, as I gaze on that body of
light, shaded as it is by your fancied sea and land.
It seems to be the resting-place of departed spirits!"
"; Take a drop, darling," said Betty, raising her
head once more, and proffering her own bottle;
"1'tis the night damps that chills the blood-and
then the talk with the cursed militia is no good for
a fiery temper; take a drop, darling, and yee'l
sleep'till the morning. I fed Roanoke myself,
for I thought yee might need hard riding the morrow.")
"'Tis a glorious heaven to lookl upon," continued the trooper, in the same tone, and utterly disregarding the offer of Betty; " and'tis a thousand
pities, that such worms as men should let their
vile passions deface such goodly work."
" You speak the truth, dear John; there is room
for all to live and enjoy themselves in peace, if
each could be satisfied with his own.  Still war
has its advantages; it particularly promotes the
knowledge of surgery; and-"
"There is a star," continued Lawton, still bent
on his own ideas, " struggling to glitter through a
few driving clouds; perhaps that too is a world,
and contains creatures endowed with reason like
ourselves; think you, that they know of war and
bloodshed?"
" If I might be so bold," said Sergeant Hollister, mechanically raising his hand to his cap, "'tis
mentioned in the good book, that the Lord made




TIHE SPY.              5 25
the sun to stand still, while Joshua was charging
the enemny, in order, do you see, sir, as I suppose,
that they. might have day-light to turn their flank,
or perhaps make a feint in the rear, or some such
natter. Now, if the Lord would lend them a hand,
fighting cannot be sinful.  I have often been nonplushed, though, to find that they used them chariots instead of heavy dragoons, who are, in all
comparison, better to break a line of infantry, and
who, for the matter of that, could turn such wheel
carriages, and getting in the rear, play the very
devil with them, horses and all.";" It is because you do not understand the construction of those vehicles for war, Sergeant Hollister, that you judge of them so erroneously," said
the surgeon.;' They were armed with sharp
weapons that protruded from their wheels, and
which broke the columns of foot, like the dismemtered particles of matter.  I doubt not, if similar
instruments were affixed to the cart of Mrs. Flanagan, that great confusion might be carried into the
ranks of the enemy thereby, this very day."
" It's but little that the mare would go, and the
rig'lars firing at her," grumbled Betty from under
her blanket; " when we got the plunder, the time
we drove them through the Jarseys it was, I had
to back the baste up to the dead, the divil the foot
would she move, forenent the firing, wid her eyes
open.   Roanoke and Captain Jack are good
enough for the red coats, letting alone myself and
the mare."
A long roll of the drums, from the hill occupied
by the British, announced that they were on the
alert, and a corresponding signal was immediately
heard fiom  the Americans.  The bugle of the
Virgillians struck up its martial tones, and in a fesw
moments, both the hills, the one held by the royal




526               THE SPY.
troops, and the other by their enemies, were alive
with armed men.  Day had begun to dawn, and
preparations were making by either party, to give
and to receive the attack. _ T numbers the Americans had greatly the advantage, but in discipline
and equipments, the superiority was entirely with
their enemies. The arrangements for the battle
/wvere brief, and by the time that the sun had risen,
the militia moved forward to the attack.
The ground did not admit of the movements of
tne horse, and the only duty that could be assigned to the dragoons was to watch the moment of
victory, and endeavour to improve the success to
the utmost. Lawton soon got his warriors into
the saddle, and leaving them to the charge of Hollister, he rode himself along the line of foot, who,
in varied dresses, and imperfectly armed, were
formed in a shape that in some degree resembled
a martial array.  A scornful smile lowered about
the lip of the trooper, as he guided Roanoke
with a skilful hand through the windings of theii
ranks; and when the word was given to march, he
turned the flank of the regiment, and followed
close in the rear.  The Americans had to descend
into a little hollow, and rise a hill on its opposite
side, to approach the enemy.  The descent was
made with tolerable steadiness, until near the foot
of the hill, when the royal troops advanced in
a beautiful line, with their flanks protected by the
formation of the ground. The appearance of the
British drew a fire from the militia, which was
given with good effect, and for a moment staggered
the regulars.  But they were rallied by their
officers, and threw in volley after volley, with
great steadiness. For a short time the fire was
warm and destructive, until the English advanced
with the bayonet.  This assault the militia had




THE SPY.                527
not sufficient discipline to withstand. Their line
wavered, then paused, and finally broke into companies, and fragments of companies, keeping up
at the same time a scattering and desultory fire.
Lawton witnessed these operations in silencee
nor opened his mouth io speak, until the field was
covered with parties of the flying Americans.
Then, indeed, he seemed stung with the disgrace
that was thus heaped upon the arms of his country.
Spurring Roanoke along the side of the hill, he
called to the fugitives in all the strength of his
powerful voice. He pointed to the enemy, and
assured his countrymen that they had mistaken
the way. There was such a mixture of indifference and irony in his exhortations, that a few
paused in surprise-more joined them, until, roused by the example of the trooper, and stimulated
by their own spirits, they demanded to be led
against their foe once more.
" Come on, then, my brave friiends!" shouted
the trooper, turning his horse's head towards the
British line, one flank of which was very near
him; " come on, and hold your fire until it will
scorch theil eye-brows."
The men sprang forward, and followed his example, neither giving nor receiving a fire, until
they had reached to within a very short distance
of the enemy. An English sergeant, who had
been concealed by a rock, enraged with the audacity of the officer who thus dared their arms, stept
from behind his cover, and advancing within a few
yards of the trooper, levelled his mtsket" Fire, and you die!" cried Lawton, spurring
his charger, who sprang forward at the instant.
Thle action and the tone of his voice slhook the
nerves of the Englishman, who drew his trigger
with an uncertain aim. Roanoke sprang with all




528                THE SPY.
his feet from the earth, and, plunging, fell headlong
and lifeless at the feet of his destroyer. Lawton
kept his feet, and stood face to face with his enemy, who presented his bayonet, and made a desperate thrust at the trooper's heart. The steel of
their weapons emitted sparks of fire, and the bayonet flew fifty feet in the air.  At the next moment its owner lay a quivering corpse.
": Come on," shouted the trooper, as a body of
English appeared on the rock, and threw in a close
fire; " come on," he repeated, and brandished
his sabre fiercely.  His gigantic form  fell backward, like a majestic pine that was yielding to the
axe; but still, as he slowly fell, he continued to
wield his sabre, and once more the deep tones of
his voice were heard uttering, " come on."
The advancing Americans paused aghast, as they
witnessed the fate of their new leader, and then
turning, they left to the royal troops the victory.
It was neither the intention nor the policy of
the English commander to pursue his success, for
he well knew that strong parties of the Americans
would soon arrive; accordingly, he only tarried to
collect his wounded, and forming in a square, he
commenced his retreat towards their shipping.
Within twenty minutes of the fall of Lawton, thoe
ground was deserted by both English and Americans.
When the inhabitants of the country were called upon to enter the feld, they were necessarily
attended by such surgical advisers, as were fiurnished by the low state of the profession in the interior at that day.  Dr. Sitgreaves entertained ouite
as profound a contempt for the medical attendants
of the lnilitia, as the captain did of the troops
themselves.  He wandered, therefore, around the
field, casting many an expressive glance of disap




T'rTE SPY.             52)9
probation at the slight operations that came under
his eye; but when, among the flying troops, he
found that his comrade and friienid was no where
to be seen, he hastened back to the spot at which
Hollister was posted, to inquire if the trooper was
returned.  Of course, the answer he received was
in the negative. Filled with a thousand uneasy
conjectures, the surgeon, without regarding, or indeed without at all reflecting upon any dangers
that might lie in his way, strode over the ground
at an enormous rate, to the point where he knew
had been the final struggle.  Once before the surgeon had rescued his friiend from death, in a simnilar situation, as he supposed, and he felt a secret
joy in his own conscious skill, as he perceived
Betty Flanagan seated on the ground, holding in
her lap the head of a man, whose size and dress
he knew could belong only to the trooper. As he
approached the spot, the surgeon became alarmed
at the aspect of the washerwoman.  Her little
black bonnet was thrown aside, and her hair,
which was already streaked with gray, hung around
her face in disorder.
"John! dear John,7' said the Doctor tenderly,
as he bent and laid his hand upon the senseless
wrist of the trooper, from which it recoiled with
an intuitive knowledge of his fate; " John! dear
John, where are you hurt?-can I help you?"
" Yee talk to the senseless clay,s said Betty,
rocking her body, and unconsciously playing with
the raven ringlets of the trooper's hair; "c it's no
more will he hear, and it's but little will he mind
yee'r probes and yee'r med'cines. Och hone!
och hone!-and where will be the liberty now?
or who will there be to fight the battle, or gain the
day?"
45




530               THE SPY.
"John!" repeated the surgeon, still unwilling
to believe the evidence of his unerring senses;
1" dear John, speak to me; say what you will, that
you do but speak.  Oh, God!" exclaimed the
surgeon, giving way to his emotions," " he is dead;
would that I had died with him!"
" There is but little use in living and fighting
now," said Betty; " both him  and the baste!
see, there is the poor cratur, and here is the master. I fed the hot se with my own hands, the day;
and the last male that he ate, wmas of my own
cooking. Och hone! och hone!-that Captain
Jack should live to be killed by the rig'lars?"
" John! my dear John!" said the surgeon, with
convulsive sobs, " thy hour has come, and many
a more prudent man survives thee; but none bet
ter, nor braver. Oh! John, thou wert to me a
kind friend, and very dear; it is unphilosophical
to grieve; but.for thee, John, I faust weep, even
in bitterness of heart?"
The Doctor buried his face in his hands, and
for several minutes sat yielding to an ungovernable
burst of sorrow; while the washerwoman gave
vent to her grief in words; moving her body in a
kind of writhing, and playing with different parts
of her favourite's dress with her fingers.
" And who'll there be to incourage the boys
now?" she said; I" oh! Captain Jack! Captain
Jack! yee was the sowl.of the troop, and it was
but little we know'd of the danger, and yee fighting. Och! he was no maly mouth'cl, that quar
relled wid a widowed woman for the matter of a
burn in the mate, or the want of a breakfast
Taste a drop, darling, and it may be,'twill revive
yee. Och! and he'll nivir taste agin  here's the
Doctor, honey, him  yee used to blarney wid,




THE SPY.                531
wapeing as if the poor sowl would die for yee.
Och! he's gone, he's gone; and the liberty is gone
wid him."
A heavy and thundering sound of horses' feet
came rolling along the road which led near the
place where Lawton lay, and directly the whole
body of Virginians appeared,.with Dunwoodie at
their head. The news of the Captain's fate had
reached him; for the instant that he noticed the
body, he halted the squadron, and dismounting,
approached the spot. The countenance of Lawton was not in the least distorted, but the angry
frown which had lowered over his brow, during
the battle, was fixed even in death.  His frame
was composed, and stretched as if in sleep. Dunwoodie took hold of his hand, and gazed a moment in silence; his own dark eye began to flash,
and the paleness which had overspread his features was succeeded by a spot of deep red in
either cheek.
"' With his own sword will I avenge him!" he
cried, endeavouring to take the weapon firom the
hand of Lawton; but the grasp resisted his utmost
strength.'" It shall be buried with him: Sitgreaves, take care of our friend, while I revenge
his death."
The Major hastened back to his charger, and
led the way in pursuit of the enemy.
While Dunwoodie had been thus engaged, the
body of Lawton lay in open view tc the whole
squadron. He was an universal favourite, and the
sight inflamed the men to the utmost: neither officers nor soldiers possessed that coolness which
is necessary to ensure success to military operations, but they spurred ardently after their ene
mies, burning with a single wish for vengeance.
The English were formed in a hollow square,




532               THE SPY.
which contained their wounded, who were far front
numerous, and were marching steadily across a
very uneven country, as the dragoons approached:
The horse charged in column, and were led by
Dunwoodie, who, burning with revenge, thought
to ride through their ranks, and scatter them at a
blow; but the enemy knew their own safety too
well, and standing firm, received the charge on
the points of their bayonets.  The horses of the
Virginians recoiled, and the rear rank of the foot
throwing in a close fire, the Major, with a few of
his men, fell. The English continued their retreat
the moment they were extricated from their assailant; and Dunwoodie, who was severely, but
not dangerously wounded. recalled his men from
further attempts, which, in that stony country,
must necessarily be fruitless.
A sad duty remained to be fulfilled. The dragoons retired slowly through the hills, conveying
their wounded commander, and the body of Lawton. The latter they interred under the ramparts
of one of the Highland forts, and the former they
consigned to the tender care of his afflicted bride.
3Many weeks were gone, before the Major was
restored to sufficient strength to be removed; during those weeks, how often did he bless the mo
ment that gave him a right to the services of his
beautiful nurse! She hung around his couch with
fond attention; administered, with her own hands,
every prescription of the indefatigable Sitgreaves,
and grew each hour in the affections and esteem
of her husband. An order from Washington soon
sent the troops into winter quarters, and permission was given to Dunwoodie to repair to his own
plantation, with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, in order to complete the restoration of his health. Capt.
Singleton made one of the party; and the whole




TIHE SPY.              533
family retired from the active scenes of the war
to the ease and plenty of the Major's own estate.
Before leaving Fisnlkill, however, letters were conveyed to them through an unknown hand, acquainting them with Henry's safety and good health;
and also that Colonel Wellmere had left the continent for his native island, lowered in the estimation of every honest man in the royal army.
It was a happy winter for Dunwoodie, and smiles
once more began to play around the lovely mouth
of Frances.
415 -




CHAPTER XXXIV.
~'Midst furs, and silks and jewels sheen,
He stood, in simple Lincoln green,
The centre of the glittering ring;
And Snowdon's knight is Scotland's King!"
Lady of the Lake
THE commencement of the following year was
passed, on the. part of the Americans, in making
great preparations, in conjunction with their allies,
to bring the war to a close. In the south, Greene
and Rawdon made a bloody campaign, that was
highly honourable to the troops of the latter, and
which, by terminating entirely to the advantage of
the former, proved him to be the better general
of the two.
New-York was the point that was threatened
by the allied armies, and Washington, by exciting
a constant apprehension for the safety of that city,
prevented such reinforcements from being sent to
Cornwallis, as would have enabled him to improve
his success.
At length, as autumn approached, every indication was given that the final moment had arrived.
The French forces drew near to the royal lines,
passing through the Neutral Ground, and threatened an attack in the direction of Kingsbridge,
while large bodies of the Americans were acting
in concert, by hovering awound the British posts,
and drawing nigh in the Jerseys, they seenled to




TIle  s PY.             535
threaten the royal forces from that quarter also.
The preparations partook both of the nature of a
siege and a storm.  But Sir Henry Clinton) in the
possession of intercepted letters from Washington,
rested securely within his lines, and cautiously
disregarded the solicitations of Cornwallis for succour.
It was at the close of a stormy day in the month
of September, that a large assemblage of officers
was collected near the door of a building, that
was situated in the heart of the Amnerican troops,
who held the Jerseys. The age, the dress, and
the dignity of deportment, of most of these warriors, indicated them to be of high rank; but to one
in particular was paid a deference and obedience,
that announced him to be of the highest.  His
dress was plain, but bore the usual military distinctions of command.  He was mounted on a noble
animal of a deep bay, and a group of young men,
in gaver attire, evidently awaited his pleasure, and
did his bidding.  Many a hat was lifted, as its
owner addressed this officer; and when he spoke,
a profound attention, exceeding the respect of mere
professional etiquette, was exhibited on every
countenance.  At length the General raised his
own hat, and bowed gravely to all around him.
The salute was returned, and the party dispersed,
leaving the officer without a single attendant, except his body servants and one aid-de-camp. -Dismounting, he stepped back a few paces, and for a
moment, viewed the condition of his horse with
the eye of one who well understood the animal,
and then casting a brief but expressive glance at
his aid, he retired into the building, followed by
that gentleman.
On entering an apartment that was apparently
fitted for his reception, he took a seat, and con



536               tHE sPY.
tinued for a long time in i thoughtful attitude, as
one who was in the habit of communing much with
himself.  During this silence, the aid-de-camp
stood in respectful expectation of his orders. At
length the General raised his eyes, and spoke in
those low placid tones that seemed natural to him.
" Has the man wholm I wished to see arrived,
sir?"
" He waits the pleasure of your excellency."
" I will receive him here, and alone, if you
please."
Tho aid bowed and withdrew. In a few minutes
the door again opened, and a figure glided into the
apartment, and stood modestly at a distance friom
the General, without speaking.  His entrance was
unheard by the officer, who sat gazing at the filre,
deeply absorbed in his own meditations.  Several
minutes passed: when he spoke to himself in an
under tone —" To-morrow we must raise the curtain, and
expose our plans. May heaven prosper them."
A slight movement made by the stranger at the
sound of his voice, caught his ear, and he turned
his head, and saw that he was not alone.  He
pointed silently to the fire, towards which the
figure advanced, although the multitude of his garments, which seemed more calculated for disguise
than comfort, rendered its warmth unnecessary.
A second mild and courteous gesture motioned to
a vacant chair, but the stranger refused it with a
modest acknowledgment.  Another pause followed, and continued for some time.  At length the
officer arose, and opening a desk that was laid uponthe table near which he sat, took from it a small
but apparently heavy bag.
" Harvey Birch,' he said, turning to the stranger, " the time has arrived when our connexion




THE SPY.               537
must cease; henceforth and for ever we must be
strangers.>"
The pedler dropped the folds of the great coat
that concealed his features, and gazed for a moment wildly at the face of the speaker, and then
dropping his head upon his bosom, said meekly" If it is your excellency's pleasure."
" It is necessary. Since I have filled the station
which I now hold, it has become my duty to know
many men, who, like yourself, have been my instruments in procuring intelligence. You have I
trusted more than all; I early saw in you a regard
to truth and principle that, I am pleased to say,
has never deceived inme —you alone know my secret agents in the city, and on your fidelity depends, not only their fortunes, but their lives."
He paused, as if to reflect, in order that full
justice might be done to the pedler, and then continued" I believe you are one of the very few that I
have employed, who have acted faithfully to our
cause; and while you have passed as a spy of the
enemy, hlave never given intelligence that you
were not permitted to divulge. To me, and to me
only of all the world, you seem to have acted
with a strong attachment to the liberties of America."
During  this address, Harvey gradually raised
his head from his bosom, until it reached the highest point of elevation; a faint tinge gathered in
his cheeks, and, as the officer concluded, it was diffused over his whole countenance in a deep glow,
while he stood proudly swelling with his emotions,
but with eyes that humbly sought the feet of the
speaker.
" It is now my duty to pay you for your services; hitherto you have postponed receiving




538               THE SPY.
your reward, and the debt has become a heavy
one-I wish not to undervalue your dangers;
here are an hlundred joes; you will remember the
poverty of our country, and attribute to it the
smallness of your pay."
The pedler raised his eyes to the countenance
of the speaker with amazement, and as the other
held forth the mnoney, he moved back as if from
contagion.
" It is not nmuch for your services and risks, I
~ acknowledge," said the general, " but it is all that 1
have to offer; at the end of the campaign, it may
be in my power to increase it."
"c Never!" said Birch, speaking out; "G~ was it
for money that I did all this?"
" If not for money, what then?"
" What has brought your excellency into the
field? For what do you daily and hourly expose
your precious life to battle and the halter? What
is there about me to mourn, when such men as
your excellency risk their all for our country? No
-no-no-not a dollar of your gold will I touch;
poor America has need of it all!"
The bag dropped from the hand of the officer,
and fell at the feet of the pedler, where it lay neglected during the remainder of their interview.
The officer looked steadily at the face of his com~ panion, and continued-' There are many motives which might govern
me, that to you are unknown.  Our situations are
different; I am known as the leader of armiesbut you must descend into the grave with the reputation of a foe to your native land.  Remember that the veil which conceals your true character cannot be raised in years-perhaps never."
Birch again lowered his face, but there was no
yielding of the soul betrayed in the movement.




TIHE SPY.              539' You will soon be old; the prime of your days
is already past; what have you to subsist on?'
"' These!" said the pedler, stretching forth his
hands, that were already embrowned with toil.
" But those may fail you; take enough to secure a support to your age. Remember your risks
and cares. I have told you, that the characters of
men, who are much esteemed in life, depend upon
your secrecy; what pledge can I give them of your
fidelity?"
" Tell them," said Birch, advancing, and unconsciously resting one foot on the bag, " tell them
that I would not take the gold."
The composed features of the officer relaxed into a firie smile of benevolence, and he grasped the
hand of the pedler firmly.
" Now, indeed, I know you; and although the
same reasons which have hitherto compelled me
to expose your valuable life, will still exist, and
prevent my openly asserting your character, in
private I can always be your friend; fail not to
apply to me when in want or suffering, and so long
as God giveth to me, so long will I freely share
with a man who feels so nobly and acts so well. If
sickness or want should ever assail you, and peace
once more smiles upon our efforts, seek the gate
of him whom you have often met as Harper, and
he will not blush to acknowledge you in his true
character."
c It is little that I need In this life," said Harvey, the glow still mantling over his featuresC so long as God gives me health and honest industry, I can never want in this happy country;
but to know that your excellency is my firiend, is
a blessing that I prize more than all the gold of
England's treasury."
The officer stood for a few moments in the atti



540               THE SP"y.
tude of intense thought. He then drew to him the
desk, and wrote a few lines on a piece of paper,
and gave it to the pedler as he addressed him" That providence destines this country to some
great and glorious fate I must believe, while I witness the patriotism  that pervades the bosoms of
her lowest citizens. It must be dreadful to a mind
like yours to descend into the grave, branded as
a foe to liberty; but you already know the lives
that would be sacrificed should your real character
be revealed. It is impossible to do you justice
now, but I fearlessly entrust you with this certificate; should we never meet again, it may be serviceable to your children."
" Children!" exclaimed the pedler,  "can 1
give to a family the infamy of my name!"
The officeer gazed at the strong emotion he exhibited with painful amazement; and made a slight
movement towards the gold; but it was arrested
by the proud expression of his companion's face.
Harvey saw the intention, and shook his head, as
he continued more mildly, and with an air of deep
respect" It is, indeed, a treasure that your excellency
gives me; it is safe too. There are them living
who could say, that my life was nothing to me, compared to your secrets. The paper that I told you
was lost, I swallowed when taken last by the Viirginians. It was the only time I ever deceived your
excellency, and it shall be the last; yes, this is,
indeed, a treasure to me; perhaps,"' he continued,
with a melancholy smile, " it may be known after
my death who was my friend, and if it should not,
there are none to grieve for me."
"' Remember," said the officer, with strong emotion,' that in me you will always have a secret
friend; but openly I cannot know you.-"




THE S.'",.               541
"I know it, I kno-, it," said Birch; " I knew
it when I took the service.'Tis probably the last
time that I shall ever see your excellency.  May
God pour down his choicest blessings on your
head."  He paused, and moved towards the door.
The officer followed him with eyes that expressed
powerful interest. Once more the pedler turned,
and seemed to gaze on the placid, but commanding
features of the General, with regret and reverence,
and then, bowing low, he withdrew.
The armies of America and France were led by
their illustrious commander against the enemy under Cornwallis, and terminated a campaign in triumph, that had commenced in difficulties.  Great
Britain soon after became disgusted with the war,
and the independence of the States was acknowledged.
As years rolled by, it became a subject of pride
to the. different actors in the war, and their descendants, to boast of their efforts in the cause
which had confessedly heaped so many blessings
upon their country; but the name of Harvey Birch
died away among the multitude of agents who were
thought to have laboured in secret against the
rights of their countrymen.  His image, however,
was often present to the mind of the powerful chief,
who alone knlew his true character, and several
times did he cause secret inquiries to be made
into the other's fate, one of which only resulted in
any success. By this he learnt that a pedler of a
different name, but similar appearance, was toiling
through the new settlements that were springing
up in every direction, and that he was struggling
with the advance of years, and apparent poverty.
Death prevented further inquiries on the part of
the officer, and a long period passed before tile
pedler was again heard of:
46




CHAPTER XXXV.
" Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breazt,
The little tyrant of lis fields withstoodSome mute, inglorious Milton here may rest;
Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood."
Gray
iT was thirty-three years after the interview
which we have just related, that an American army was once more arrayed against the country of
their ancestors; but the scene was transferred from
the banks of the Hudson, to those of the Nlagara.
The body of Washington had long lain mouldering in the tomb; but as time was fast obliterating
the slight impressions of political enmity or personal envy, his name was hourly receiving new
lustre, and his worth and integrity each moment
became more visible, not only to his countrymen,
but to the world.  He was already the acknowledged hero of an age of reason and truth; and
many a young heart, amongst those who formed
the pride of our army in 1814, was glowing with
the recollection of the one great name of America, and inwardly beating with the sanguine expectation of emulating, in some degree, its renown.  In no one were these virtuous hopes more
vivid, than in the bosom of a young officer, who
stood on the table-rock, contemplating the great
cataract, on the evening of the 25th of July of
that bloody year. -The person of this youth was




THE SPY.                543
tall and finely moulded, indicating a just proportion between strength and activity; his deep
blac'k eyes were of a searching and dazzling
brightness.  At times, as they gazed upon the
flood of waters that rushed tumultuously at his
feet, there was a stern and daring look that flashed from them, whic h denoted the ardour of' an enthusiast.  But this proud expression was softened
by the lines of a mouth, around which there played a suppressed archness, that partook of feminine beauty. His hair shone in the setting sun
like ringlets of gold, as the air from the falls gently moved the iich curls from a forehead, whose
whiteness showed that exposure and heat alone
had given their darker hue to a face glowing with
health.  There was another officer standing by
the side of tlis favoured youth, and both seemed,
by the interest that they betrayed, to be gazing
for the first time at this wonder of the western
world. A profound silence was observed by each
of the soldiers, until the companion of the officei
that we have described suddenly started, and
pointing eagerly with his sword into the abyss beneath, exclaimed" See! Wharton, there is a man crossing in the
very eddies of the cataract, and in a skiff no bigger than an egg-shell."
" He has a knapsack, and is probably a soldier,"
returned the other.  " Let us meet him at the ladder, Mason, and. learn his tidings."
Some time was expended in reaching the spot
where the adventurer was intercepted.  Contrary
to the expectations of the young soldiers, he proved
to be a man far advanced in life, and evidently
no follower of the camp. His years might be seventy, and were indicated more by the thin hairs
of silver that lay scattered over his wrinkled brow




544             TrHE SPY.
than by any apparent failure of his system. HIi
frame was mneagre and bent; but it was the attitude of habit, for his sinews were strung with the
toil of half a century. His dress was mean, and
manifested the economy of its owner, by the number and nature of its repairs. On his back was a
scantily furnished pack, that had led to the mistake in his profession. A few words of salutation,
and, on the part of the young men, of surprise,
that one so aged should venture so near the whirl.
pools of the cataract, were exchanged; when the
old man inquired, with a voice that began to manifest the tremor of age, the news -from the contending armies.
"' We whipt the red-coats here the other day,
among the grass on the Chippewa plains," said
the one who was called Mason; " since when, old
daddy, we have been playing hide-and-go-peep
with the ships; but we are now marching back
firom where we started, shaking our heads, and as
surly as the devil."
I' Perhaps you have a son among the soldiers,"
said his companion, with a more polished demeanour, and an air of kindness; " if so, tell me his
name and regiment, and I will take you to him."
The old man shook his head, and, passing his
hand over his silver locks, -with an air of meek
resignation cast his eyes for a moment to heaven,
and answered" No; I am alone in the world!"
" You should have added, Captain Dunwoodie,"
cried his careless comrade, "if you could find
either; for nearly half of our army have marched
down the road, and may be, by this time, under
the walls of Fort George, for any thing that we
know to the contrary."
The old man stopped suddenly, and looked




THE SPY.              545
earnestly forom one of his companions to the other;
the action being noticed by the soldiers, they
paused also.
" Did I hear right?" at length the stranger utteled, raising his hand to skreen his eyes firom the
rays of the setting sun; " what did he call you?"'
" My name is Wharton Dunwoodie," replied
the youth, smiling.
The stranger motioned silently for him  to remove his hat, which the youth did accordingly,
and his fair hair blew aside like curls of silk, and
opened the whole of his ingenuous countenance to
the inspection of the other.
"c'Tis like our native land!" exclaimed the old
man with a vehemence that astonished his coirn
panions, " improving with time; God has blessed
both."
" Why do you stare thus, Lieutenant Mason?'
cried Captain Dunwoodie, laughing and blushing
a little; "you show more astonishment than when
you saw the falls."
"c Oh, the falls!-they are a thing to be looked
at on a moonshiny night, by your aunt Sarah and
that gay old bachelor, Colonel Singleton; but a
fellow like myself never shows surprise, unless it
may be at such a touch as this."
The extraordinary vehemence of the stranger's
manner had passed away as suddenly as it was exhibited, but he listened to this speech apparently
with deep interest, while Dunwoodie replied a
little gravely —
" Come, come, Tom, no jokes about my good
aunt, I bleg; she is kind and attentive to me, and
I have heard it whispered that her youth was not
altogether'appy."
"' Why, as to rumour," said Mason, " there goes
one in Accomac, that Colonel Singleton offers
46  




546               THIE SP.
himself to her regularly every Valentine's day;
and there are some who add, that your old greataunt helps his suit."' Aunt Jeanette!" said Dunvoodie, laughing;
" dear good soul, she thinks but little of marriage
in any shape, I believe, since the death of Dr. Sitgreaves.  There were some whispers of a courtship between them formerly, but it ended in nothing but civilities, and I suspect that the whole
story arises from the intimacy of Colonel Singleton and my father. You know they were comrades in the horse, as was your own father."
" I know all that, of course; but you must not
tell me that the particular, prim bachelori, goes so
often to General Dunwoodie's plantation, merely
for the sake of talking old soldier with your father.
The last time I was there, that yellow, sharp nosed,
kind of a housekeeper of your mother's, took me
into the pantry, and said that the Colonel was no
despiseable match, as she called it, and how the
sale of his plantation in Georgia had brought him
-oh, Lord! I don't know how much."
"- Quite likely," returned the Captain;:" Katy
Haynes is a famous calculator."
They had stopped during this conversation in a
kind of uncertainty, whether their new companion
was to be left or not.
The old man listened to each word as it was uttered, with the most intense interest; but towards
the conclusion of the dialogue, the earnest attention of his countenance changed to a kind of inward smile. He shook his head, and passing his
hand over his forehead, seemed to be thinking of
other times. Mason paid but little attention to the
expression of his fe.tures, and continued —
" Yes-she is all that; for herself too, I believe,
sometimes."




THE SPY.               547
b' Her selfishness does but little harm," returned
Dlunwoodie, smiling, as if in recollection of past
scenes.' One of her greatest difficulties is her
aversion to the blacks. She says that she never
saw but one that she liked."
" And who was he?"
"C His name was Caesar; he was a house servant
of my late grandfather Wharton.  You don't remember him, I believe; he died the same year
with his master, while we were children. Katy
yearly sings his requiem, and, upon my word, I believe he deserved it. I have heard something of
his helping my English uncle, as we call General
Wharton, in some difficulty that occurred in the
old war. My mother always speaks of him with
great affection. Both Caesar and Katy came to
Virginia with my mother when she married. My
mother was -"
" An angel!" interrupted the old man, in a voice
that startled the young soldiers by its abruptness
and energy.
" Did you know her?" cried the son with a
bright glow of pleasure on his cheek.
The reply of the stranger was interrupted by
sudden and heavy explosions of artillery, which
were immediately followed by continued volleys
of small arms, and in a few minutes the air wa,
filled with the tumult of a warm and well contested battle.
The two soldiers hastened with precipitation
towards their camp, accompanied by their new
acquaintance. The excitement and anxiety, created by the approaching fight, prevented a continuance of the conversation, and the three held
their way to the army, making occasional conjectures on the cause of the fire, and the probability
of a general engagement. During their short and




54S               THE SP'Y.
hurried walk, Captain Dunwoodie, however, threow
several friendly glances at the old man, who
moved over the ground with astonishing energy
for his years  for the heart of the youth was warmed by an eulogium on a mother that he adored.
-In a short time, they joined the regiment to which
the officers belonged, when the Captain, squeezing
the stranger's hand, earnestly begged that he
would make inquiries after him on the following
morning, and that he might'see him in his own
tent. Here they separated.
Every thing in the American camp announced
an approaching struggle. At a distance of a few
miles the sound of cannon and musketry was heard
above even the roar of the cataract. The troops
were soon in motion, and a movement made to support that division of the army which was already
engaged.  Night had set in before the reserve
and irregulars reached the foot of Lundy's Lane, a
road that diverged firom the river and crossed a
conical eminence, at no great distance fronm the
Niagara highway. The summit of this hill was
crowned with the cannon of the British, and in the
flat beneath was the remnant of Secott's gallant brigade, which had for a long time held an unequal
contest, with distinguished bravery. A new line
was interposed, and one column of the Americans
directed to charge up the hill, parallel to the
road. This column took the English in flank, and,
bayoneiting their artiilerists, gained possession of
the cannon. They were immediately joined by
their comrades, and the enemy was swept from the
hill. But large reinforcements were joining the
English General momentarily, and their troops
were too brave to rest easy under the defeat. Repeated and bloody charges were made to recover
the guns, but in all they were repulsed with slaugh



FHE SPY.               549
terl. During the last of these struggles, the ardour
of the youthful Captain whom we have mentioned,
urged him to lead his men some distance in advance, to scatter a daring party of the enemy. He
succeeded, but in returning to the line missed his
lieutenant from the station that he ought to have
occupied. Soon after this repulse, which was the
last, orders were given to the shattered troops to
return to the camp.  The British were no where
to be seen, and preparations were made to take in
such of the wounded as could be moved.  At this
moment Wharton Dunwoodie, impelled by affection for his friend, seized a lighted fusee, and taking
two of his men, went himself in quest of his body,
where he was supposed to have fallen.  Mason
was found on the side of the hill, seated with great
composure, but unable to walk from a fractured leg.
Dunwoodie saw and flew to the side of his comrade, exclaiming-' Ah! dear Tom, l knew I should find you the
nearest man to the enemy."
": Softly, softly; handle me tenderly," replied
the Lieutenant; " no, there is a brave fellow still
nearer than myself, and who he can be I know not.
He rushed out of our smoke near my platoon, to
make a prisoner or some such thing, but, poor fellow) he never came back; there he lies juzt ov,-,
the hillock. I have spoken to him several times,
but I fancy he is past answering."
Dunwoodie went to the spot, and to his asto-,lishment beheld the aged stranger.
" It is the old man who knew my mother!"
ried the youth; " for her sake he shall have ho-,'arable burial; lift him, and let him be carried in;
his stones shall rest on native soil."
Thtl  men approached to obey. He was lying
on his.-)ack, with his face exposed to the glaring




` 55-0             THE SPY.
light of the fusee; his eyes were closed, as if in
slumber;-his lips, sunken with years, were slightly moved from their natural position, but it seemed more like a smile than a convulsion which
caused the change. A soldier's musket lay near
him, where it had fallen from his grasp; his hands
were both pressed upon his breast, and one of
them contained a substance that glittered like silver'. Dunwoodie:stooped, and removing the limbs,
perceived the place where- the bullet had found a
passage to his heart. The subject of his last care
was a tin box, through which the fatal lead had
gone; and the dying moments of the'old mail must
have passed in drawing it from his bosom. Dunwoodie opened it, and found a paper, in which, to
his astonishment, he read the following:; Circumstances of political importance, which
involve the lives and fortunes of many, have hi.
therto kept secret what this paper now reveals.
Harvey Birch has for years.been a faithful and
unrequited servant of his country.  Though man
does not, may God reward him for his conduct.:
" G:EORGE WASHINGTON.')
It was the SPY o8F THE NEUTRAL GROUND) who
tiled a he had lived, devoted to his country, and
a. martyr to her liberties.
THE END.