to encompass the city on the land
side, when General Putnam, the American commander who held it, was
compelled to make a precipitate retreat, being very nearly cut off
before he joined Washington at King's Bridge. Had not, indeed, the
British delayed their advance to refresh themselves, they would in all
probability have captured the whole division of the rebel army. A large
number of the inhabitants remained in New York, those only who had taken
a prominent part in the rebellion thinking it necessary to leave it. It
was very doubtful, however, had I gone on shore, whether I should have
fallen among friends or foes. I resolved, therefore, to make, the best
of my way to the ship. I watched the lights glimmering in the houses,
one after the other being put out as I pulled slowly by, and I could
hear the constant call of the sentries as the officers went their
rounds, while any moment I felt that my mutinous crew might come to
their senses and make an end of me. I amused myself, however, by
whistling and singing snatches of songs to make them suppose that I was
perfectly indifferent to their threats, and at length, by half-past one
in the morning, to my great relief I got alongside the ship. The
mutineers only at that moment roused up, and very much astonished they
were to find themselves clapped into irons as soon as they got on board.
The next morning they each received nine dozen, with the exception of
the two who had at once returned to their duty. I took care to get them
ultimately rewarded.

The most disagreeable duty we had to perform while we lay in Turtle Bay
was to row guard at night abreast of Hell Gate, the name, as I have
before mentioned, given to the entrance of Harlem River. With the
ebb-tide a terrific current sets out through the narrow channel, forming
a whirlpool, on which is bestowed the pleasant-sounding title of the
Devil's Pot. On one side is his gridiron, and on the other his
frying-pan, while another batch of rocks goes by the name of his "hen
and chickens." Now, although I cannot take upon myself to affirm that
even on the darkest and most stormy night I ever beheld his Satanic
majesty engaged in the exercise of his well-known culinary talents in
frying soles or any other fish or fowl, or quadruped, or biped, yet I
had the greatest dread of getting within the power of his voracious
cauldron. I therefore always kept at a respectful distance from it. I
advise all those who may have to