""On Tuesday evening, at the barn of Mr. S----; what say you, will you be present?"
""I will," replied Crosby.
""Done!" said the captain--"now turn in; and in the morning, go back to farmer B----"s, and be ready to meet us, at the time and place appointed."
"On the following morning, which was Sat.u.r.day, Crosby returned to his employer, with whom he concluded to stay, till the appointed time of marching.
"Much now depended on good management. News of the above arrangement must he sent to the committee of safety, and as early as possible. At some distance from farmer B----"s, Crosby had ascertained there lived an honest old whig, whom he determined to employ to carry a letter to Mr. Jay, then at Fishkill.
"Accordingly, having prepared a letter, he hastened, on the setting in of evening, to fulfil his purpose. In this he succeeded to his wishes; and, before the usual hour of rest, had returned, without exciting the suspicion of any one.
"The important Tuesday evening, at length, arrived, and brought together, at the appointed place, the captain and about thirty tories.
"Crosby was early on the spot, and before eleven, he was the only individual of the whole cla.s.s, who was not quietly asleep.
"At length, some one without was heard by him to cough. This being the signal agreed upon, Crosby coughed in return; and the next minute, the barn was filled with a body of captain Townsend"s celebrated rangers;--"surrender!" exclaimed Townsend, in a tone, which brought every tory upon his feet--"surrender! or, by the life of Washington, you"ll not see day light again."
"It was in vain to resist, and the English officer delivered up his sword.
""Call your muster-roll," ordered Capt. Townsend.
"The Englishman did as directed; and, at length, came to the name of _Enoch Crosby_.
"No one answered. Crosby had concealed him self, with the hope of escaping--but, finding this impossible, he presented himself before Captain Townsend, and Col. Duer, one of the committee of safety, who was present.
""Ah! is it you, Crosby?" asked Townsend. "You had light heels at Fishkill; but, my word for it, you will find them heavy enough after this."
""Who is he?" inquired Col. Duer, as if he knew him not, though he knew him well, yet not daring to recognize him.
""Who is he!" exclaimed Townsend, "Enoch Crosby, sir--like an eel, slipping out of one"s finger"s as water runs down hill--but he"ll not find it so easy a matter to escape again."
"The party were soon on their way to Fishkill, where they arrived in the course of an hour or two, and lodged their prisoners in the old Dutch church.
"Crosby was not thus fortunate. Townsend"s quarters were at some distance, and to these Crosby was quite civilly invited to go, as the captain declared, that he wished to have him under his own eye.
"On his arrival, Crosby was placed in a room by himself--was heavily ironed, and a trusty guard detached to see that he came to "no _harm_," as the captain said.
"During the expedition, which had occupied some twelve or fourteen hours, the company had fasted. Supper was therefore prepared with some haste, after the return of the officer, who, on sitting down, fairly gorged himself with food and wine.
"About midnight Crosby was unexpectedly awakened, by a gentle shake.
On opening his eyes, whom should he see before him but a female, who a.s.sisted in doing the work of the family. "Here, Enoch Crosby." said she, "rise and follow me--say nothing--hold fast your chains."
[Ill.u.s.tration]
"Crosby was not at first satisfied, whether it were a dream or a reality; but quite willing to make his escape, he rose as he was bid, and followed her.
"As they pa.s.sed from the room, _there_ lay the sentinel, extended at full length, dreaming of battles, it might be, but certainly, very quiet as to the safety of his prisoner.
""Some virtue in _Miller"s opiates_," whispered the girl.
""That"s the secret, is it?" asked Crosby, in rather a louder tone than was pleasant to his attendant.
""Hush! hush!" said she, "or the Philistines will be upon you.""
_Henry_. "Pray, father, what did she mean by Miller"s opiates?"
_Gen. P_. "Miller was a physician in those parts, and kept an apothecary"s store. By some means, the girl had obtained from him anodyne or sleeping potions, which she had put into the food, or drink, of both the captain and his sentinels.
""They sleep well," said Crosby, on descending from the chamber to the first floor, where he could hear the loud breathing of the captain.
""I hope they"ll sleep till morning," rejoined the girl. "Stay! a moment, till I put the key of your door into the captain"s pocket."
""What?" asked Crosby, "does he keep the key himself?"
""Yes, indeed," replied the girl. "He was determined that you should play no more yankee tricks, as he said, while under _his_ care."
""He must have thought me a man of some contrivance, to take such precaution."
""Oh!" said the girl, "I"ve often heard him call you _the_--a bad name--at least, he said he believed that you and the old boy understood one another pretty well."
""I wonder what he"ll think _now_?" said Crosby.
"The key being once more safely in the pocket of the Captain, the girl conducted Crosby out of the door, and pointing towards a mountain lying to the west, now but just discernible.
""Hasten thither," said she, "and lie concealed till the coming search is over."
""But tell me," said Crosby, "before I go, how will you escape suspicion?"
""Oh!" said the girl, laughing, "never fear for me. I shall be out of harm"s way before morning."
""One more question," said Crosby--"who put it into your heart to deliver me?"
""Jay is your friend," said she,--waving her head--"farewell."
"To Crosby, the whole was now plain. With a light heart, he directed his course towards the mountain pointed out; and before morning, he was safely hid in some of its secret recesses.
"Capt. Townsend awoke at his usual hour, having slept away the anodyne potion which had been administered to him. The key to Crosby"s door was still in his pocket--and not a suspicion had ever entered his mind, that Crosby himself was not safely in his room.
"The hour at length coming, when Crosby"s meal was to be given, Townsend himself opened the door--he started back, on looking in, and seeing no one--"what!" exclaimed he, "empty!--impossible!--here!"
vociferated he, in a tone of thunder, "Sentinel, what is the meaning of all this?" But no one could tell--no noise had been heard--the shutters of the room were safely closed--the door was locked--the key was in his pocket.
"Due search was now made. Every nook and corner were examined; but not a trace of the vagrant was discovered.
""Well!" said the captain, "I thought Crosby and the ---- were in _league_--now I know it.""
CHAPTER VII.