Whig Against Tory Part 4

"'Sir,' said Crosby, in haste to make his excuse, 'I understand you are a true friend to your country, and I have important--'

"'Come in, come in,' said Mr. Young--the expression of Crosby's face carrying more conviction of honesty, than words could do--'come in-- you travel late--'

"'I have reason for it,' replied the now animated soldier--' I am told you are a friend to the upper party--I have something to tell you which may be important."

"'What is it,' asked Mr. Young.

"'Sir,' said Crosby--'do you know the character of the people who live around you?'

"'I think I do,' said Mr. Young.

"'They are traitors,' said Crosby.

"'Many are--too many,' said Mr. Young--'but they pa.s.s for friends, and it is difficult to discriminate--difficult to bring them to justice.'

"'Well!' said Crosby, 'I have the means of pointing them out. I have been among them--I know them--I know their plans--and--'

"'Can you give me their names?' eagerly inquired Mr. Young--at the same time rising from his seat.

"'I can do more,' rejoined Crosby--and then he went on to relate the interviews which he had had--and about the contemplated meeting of the company, two nights following--'and,' said the soldier, 'if you will a.s.sist me, we will _join_ them, as I promised, and make them march to the tune of good old 'yankee doodle,' instead of 'G.o.d save the king.'

"'With all my heart,' exclaimed Mr. Young--taking down his hat--'no time is to be lost--the committee of safety are at White Plains--they must know it to-night.'"

_William_. "'The committee of safety!' father, who were they?"

_Gen. P_. "Your inquiry is well suggested. The committee of safety consisted of men of distinction friendly to the liberties of their country. They were appointed in almost every district throughout the land. It was their business to watch over the interest of the country in their vicinity, to obtain information, and, when necessary, to seize upon suspected persons."

_William_. "Who were the committee at White Plains?"

_Gen. P_. "The princ.i.p.al man was John Jay, who afterwards went amba.s.sador to England.

"Mr. Young and Crosby were soon on their way to White Plains, which lay but a few miles distant. Crosby was not a little fatigued; but his zeal was now all alive, and made him quite forget his weariness.

"It was near two o'clock, before they reached the quarters of Mr. Jay.

He was soon summoned, and listened with deep interest to the tale of Crosby. It was important intelligence--precisely the information desired, he said; and he promised, at early dawn, to call the committee together, and consult what should be done.

"Mr. Young and Crosby now retired to a neighbouring inn. But the door was fastened, and the landlord was fast locked in sleep. They rapped at the door, and called, and, as you say, Master Henry, when you speak Monsieur Tonson--

"'And loud indeed were they obliged to bawl, Ere they could rouse the torpid lump of clay.'

"The door, however, was at length opened, and after receiving a growl from the landlord, and a snarl from the landlady, that their rest should be thus broken--they were shown to a bed room, where both in the same bed soon forgot the toils of the night, in a refres.h.i.+ng sleep.

"The committee were together at an early hour, as had been promised.

Again Crosby told over his story--and when he had finished,--'Are you willing,' asked the committee, 'to accompany a body of horse to the spot, and attempt to take the traitors?'

"'Sure I am,' said Crosby. 'I gave them encouragement that I would '_join_' them, and well should I like to fulfil such an engagement.'

"'You shall have an opportunity,' said the committee. 'Hold yourself 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 a.s.sembled, 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, rus.h.i.+ng 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?'"

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"'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, when he left him."

_Henry_. "He was justly rewarded, was'n't he, father?"

_Gen. P_. "Justly, indeed!--and all the rest, who were designing to sacrifice their country's liberty and honour."

CHAPTER IV.