the ranks. A few days later
the farmer with whom he had arrived came again and, after selling his
wagon load, found the ex-merchant and conferred with him in private.
That evening, when the farmer had got a mile or so from camp, he was
stopped and searched by Colonel Irons. A letter was found in the
farmer's pocket which clearly indicated that the ex-merchant was a spy
and the farmer a Tory. Irons went at once to General Washington with
his report, urging that the spy be taken up and put in confinement.

The General sat thoughtfully looking into the fire, but made no answer.

"He is here to count our men and report our weakness," said the Colonel.

"The poor fellow has not found it an easy thing to do," the General
answered. "I shall see that he gets help."

They went together to the house where the Adjutant General had his home
and office. To this officer Washington said:

"General, you have seen a report from one Weatherly, a New York
merchant, who came with information from that city. Will you kindly do
him the honor of asking him to dine with you here alone to-morrow
evening? Question him as to the situation in New York in a friendly
manner and impart to him such items of misinformation as you may care
to give, but mainly look to this. Begin immediately to get signed
returns from the brigadiers showing that we have an effective force
here of twelve thousand men. These reports must be lying on your desk
while you are conferring with Weatherly. Treat the man with good food
and marked politeness and appreciation of the service he is likely to
render us. Soon after you have eaten, I shall send an orderly here.
He will deliver a message. You will ask the man to make himself at
home while you are gone for half an hour or so. You will see that the
window shades are drawn and the door closed and that no one disturbs
the man while he is copying those returns, which he will be sure to do.
Colonel Irons, I depend upon you to see to it that he has an
opportunity to escape safely with his budget. I warn you not to let
him fail. It is most important."

The next morning, Weatherly was ordered to report to Major Binkus for
training in scout duty, and the morning after that he was taken out
through the lines, mounted, with Colonel Irons and carefully lost in
the pine bush. He was seen no more in the American camp. The spy
delivered his report to the British and the little remnant of an army
at Morristown was s