--what you will. Young Andre follows.
I chased ahead to find you. Put it high!
You'll put the figure high?--I'm out of breath--

_Arnold_. I'll put it high enough to help a friend.--
No fear of that, my lad. Go rest awhile:
Stand sentinel upon the shore below.

[_Exit_ Smith. _As he goes out he indicates_ Arnold _to_ Andre _by a
gesture. Enter_ Andre. _His slender, refined, almost girlish youth is
in contrast with_ Arnold's _battle-worn, gigantic figure._]

_Arnold_. [_Aside._] At last my arrows strike!
[_To_ Andre.] What! Major Andre!
This is a crazy meeting,--somewhat strange
After your jigging nights in Philadelphia,--
A _Mischianza_, where we play a masque,
And act a drama fraught with consequence
More serious than any since the Duke
Brought back King Charles. Two true-born Englishmen,
If you'll accept my hand, shall this day place
A jewel in old England's diadem,
Which some rash spirits would shake out of it.

_Andre_. Have you the papers ready?

_Arnold_. They are here;
The plans of all the out-posts to the dot,
And every man on duty in the Fortress.

_Andre_. The general is in Hartford?

_Arnold_. And returns
Not for some days. Our garrison I'll post
Distributively on the distant hills;
While from the _Vulture_ half a thousand men
Land in the darkness. Thus without a blow,
But with the magic of a countersign,
West Point becomes your own.

_Andre_. Is there some house
Or tavern, where with more deliberate mind
We may o'erlook the papers, and make note
Of our exacter meanings?

_Arnold_. Close at hand,
The mansion of my agent, Joshua Smith.

_Andre_. Good, we'll go there. O Arnold, death is nothing;
Our lives are forfeit to our country's cause.
Which of us would not quit the world in peace
After some act that scaled the walls of time,
And stood on the rampart?

_Arnold_. Right, and bravely said! I've given my life
As many times as I have mounted horse
To reconnoitre--

_Andre_. But this is different, Arnold.

_Arnold_. Different, ay different! it saves men's lives:
Without a drop of blood it ends a war.

_Andre_. You are a veteran, and know the feel
Of imminent death. I could die bravely, too.

_Arnold_. Of course you could. All fear is bookish talk
Cooked up by writers out of literature,
To give the shud