self
in readiness, and may success crown the enterprise.'

"'At the appointed time, a company of troop well mounted, left White
Plains; and, under the pilotage of Crosby, directed their course
towards the spot. In the mean time, the company had assembled, and
now, amid the darkness of the night, were arranging their plans----"

* * * * *

"'What noise is that!' asked one--rising from his seat, and turning
his ear towards the quarter whence the sound came.

"'Nothing, I guess,' said a witty sort of fellow, in one corner of the
room, 'but my old horse, taking lessons at the post, before----'

"'Something more serious, perhaps,' said the farmer, with whom Enoch
Crosby had quartered, 'that yankee!'

"'Where is he?' asked a dark eyed, keen sighted tory, rising from his
seat--'I didn't much like his looks, the other day.'

"'Something serious abroad!'--exclaimed several at the same time
rising--'Captain! Captain!'

"'Go to the door,' thundered the Captain of the gang--'and
reconnoitre'--

"'You are prisoners!' exclaimed a voice which struck a panic through
the clan, as the door was opened--'surrender, or you are dead men!'

"'By whose authority is this?' asked the captain of the tories,
rushing to the door, with his sword drawn, followed by his clan, with
their guns uncharged.

"'We demand it in the name of the Continental Congress'--exclaimed he
of the whigs.

"'We surrender to nothing, but to superior strength,' said the tory
captain. 'Soldiers! come on.'

"'My brave comrades! advance,' exclaimed the leader of the patriots--
'death or victory--make ready!'--

"'It's of no use to contend,' said the farmer--'not a gun loaded,
captain!--we're betrayed!--a blight on that yankee!--'

"'Take aim!'--uttered the patriot leader.

"'Hold! hold!' exclaimed the captain of the tories--'it's needless to
shed blood--what are your terms?'"

[Illustration]

"'Immediate surrender!' replied the commander of the whigs.

"'Done'--rejoined the leader of the traitors--and now they were
marched out, and were tied together in pairs, and were conducted to
prison, some miles distant to the tune, of 'Rogue's march.'"

_William_. "Was Crosby seen by them?"

_Gen. P_. "Probably not. The darkness of the night would conceal him;
and it was needless to expose himself, as their betrayer. He was
suspected by some--especially by the farmer--who recollected a
significant look which Crosby gave him, whe