“So the Gen'ral's off without never a thankee,” said a
in not the best humored tones in the world. Andre turned round
and beheld Smithson.

“Ha! boatswain,” said he quickly, you are in good time.—
Loose not a moment in conveying me on board the Vulture.”

“There are two parties to that bargain,” said the man in an indifferent
manner, proceeding to place his oars in bickets on the
portico.

“What, fellow.”

“Fellow not me, said the boatswain doggedly; “I am at no
man's beck and bidding. I have my reasons for serving the General,
but am not every man's servant you may depend. If you
want to get back to your ship you have arms, and can pull an
oar I reckon, as well's another body.”

Annoyed and irritated at the unexpected position assumed by
his guide, Andre paced the ground a few seconds, reflecting upon
his situation and deliberating on the course he should pursue;
then turning to the man who was removing his thick over coat
with great deliberation, he said in a tone of mild entreaty:

“Smithson, my good fellow, take this gold and conduct me to
your boat.”

[figure description] Page 024.[end figure description]

“Mr. John Anderson, what Jack Smithson wont do for favor
he wont do for gold. Besides I have been up all night and I want
sleep. The Vulture lays full two leagues below, and it would be
broad day before I could reach her. No, no, nothing less than
the General's orders will make me put oar in row-lock this night.”

“Fatal negligence on the part of Arnold not to leave instructions
to this effect,” said Andre bitterly. Turning full upon the
man he suddenly drew a pistol and leveled it at his breast—saying
in a stern voice, “swear to guide me to your boat or you are
a dead man.”

“Is this your game, ha!” said Smithson with a laugh, quickly
seizing the muzzle of the pistol in his gigantic grasp and turning
it upward—“now Mr. Anderson if you are wise you'd best put
up that play-thing, for I am not a going to be frightened at such
things as them. Good night.” Thus speaking, he released his
hold of the pistol and entered the dwelling.

Mortified at his want of success, indignant at the supposed
carelessness of Arnold, and not a little alarmed at the danger of
being discovered within the American lines, the young man stood
still for a moment with indecision. Then approaching a light
Smithson had placed in a window, he unfolded Arnold's passport,
which he had not yet examined, to see to what extent it could
protect him. To his surprise and infinite relief, he saw that there
were two passports, one authorizing him to return to New York
by land, the other by water, with duplicates for Smithson, who
was directed to see Mr. John Anderson safe beyond the American
lines.

With a face, from which all traces of anxiety had disappeared,
he entered the room and placed the passports in Smithson's
hands. The man read them twice over with the most annoying
deliberation, and without speaking placed his own passport in
his pocket, and returned the others, resumed his dreadnaught
and flapped hat, walked out of the house, and gazed steadily at
the eastern skies for a few seconds, when he spoke:

“Mr. Anderson, it will be day-break in twenty minutes. It is
no use trying to get back to the Vulture, for it's flood tide and
blowing a dead head wind. The best oarsman on the Hudson,
could'nt pull to her before ten o'clock, and during that time,

[figure description] Page 025.[end figure description]

there's no knowing what might happen to us. I would'nt like to
trust myself in a boat, for there are boat rowers along shore that
little care for passports. We must ride to King's ferry just above
here, and cross to Verplanck's Point, and so go down on the
west side if you want to get to New York.”

After putting a few questions to him, Andre was satisfied that
the danger by land was less than by the river, and that there remained
no alternative but to take the land route.

Hitherto he had worn his uniform concealed, even from Smithson,
beneath his great coat; but he saw the danger of travelling
in this manner, and the necessity of appearing simply as a plain
citizen. To effect this change, it became necessary to make a
confident, in some sort, of his guide.

“Smithson,” he said, as the other was busily saddling a second
horse, “if you have a worn coat I should like to exchange
mine for it, as I fear the one I wear may subject me to suspicions.”
As he spoke he approached the light in the window, and
threw open his surtout.

The eyes of the man opened with surprise as they fell on the
dazzling uniform of a British officer of high rank.

“By the twelve apostles!” he said advancing, “this is a discovery.
A British officer in the —”

“Hush, my dear fellow,” said Andre, affecting the voice and
manner of an exquisite—“a—a—you see a—Mr. Smithson—that
we young fellows, a—that is you know—we like to dress gaily—”

“Well.”

“Why—a—foolish vanity, a—that is all—nothing more I assure
you—I thought I might fall in with some of the pretty rustics—
Ha, ha, ha! you understand me Smithson, my good fellow,
ha?—and so I borrowed this coat of an old acquaintance. You
take, ha?”

“D—n your gibberish,” muttered Smithson, and then added,
in a tone of supreme contempt; “Yes, I understand.” From
that moment, Mr. Smithson set down Mr. Anderson as one of the
genus between the ourang outang and human. Whether the
young man succeeded in blinding him altogether, was doubtful;
but he made no further remark, and went into the house with the
gorgeous uniform in his hands, and returned with a

[figure description] Page 026.[end figure description]

claret-colored coat, and nankeen waistcoat, which Andre put on, covering
his head with a round hat, and wrapping himself again in his
blue overcoat. In a few minutes the horses were ready, and
mounting, they moved away from the house at a fast trot in the
direction of King's ferry.