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upon a British picket by Wayne, with the driving into the American camp of a drove of cattle by Lee's dragoons. It is written with great humor, and is full of grotesque imagery "Mad Anthony" especially is in broad caricature, and repre sented to have lost his horse upon the great occasion.

"His horse that carried all his prog,

His military speeches,

His cornstalk whiskey for his grog

Blue stockings and brown breeches."

The cantos were published at different times in Rivington's Gazette. It so happened that the last canto appeared on the very day André's capture and ended with the following

stanza, which might be considered ominous:

"And now I've closed my epic strain,

I tremble as I show it,

Lest this same warrio-drover, Wayne

Should ever catch the poet."

CHAPTER X.

Interview of Washington with the French Officers at Hartford. Plan of Attack disconcerted. Washington's Return. Scenes at Arnold's Head-quarters in the Highlands. Tidings of André's Capture. - Flight of Arnold.- Letters from the Traitor. - Washington's Precautions. Situation of Mrs. Arnold.

N the very day that the treasonable conference between Arnold and André took

place, on the banks of Haverstraw Bay, Washington had his interview with the French officers at Hartford. It led to no important result. Intelligence was received that the squadron of the Count de Guichen, on which they had relied to give them superiority by sea, had sailed for Europe. This disconcerted their plans, and Washington, in consequence, set out two or three days sooner than had been anticipated on his return to his head-quarters on the Hudson. He was accompanied by Lafayette and General Knox with their suites; also, part of the way, by Count Matthew Dumas, aide-de camp to Rochambeau. The count, who regarded Washington with an enthusiasm which appears to have been felt by many of the young French officers, gives an animated picture of the manner in which he was greeted in one of the towns through which they

passed. “We arrived there," says he, "at night ; the whole population had sallied forth beyond the suburbs. We were surrounded by a crowd of children carrying torches, and reiterating the ac

clamations of the citizens; all were eager to ac.

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the person of him whom they hailed with loud cries as their father, and they thronged before us so as almost to prevent our moving onward. General Washington, much affected, paused a few moments, and pressing my hand, We may be beaten by the English,' said he, it is the chance of war; but there is the army they will never conquer!""

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These few words speak that noble confidence in the enduring patriotism of his countrymen, which sustained him throughout all the fluctuating fortunes of the Revolution; yet at this very moment it was about to receive one of the cruelest of wounds.

On approaching the Hudson, Washington took a more circuitous route than the one he had originally intended, striking the river at Fishkill just above the Highlands, that he might visit West Point, and show the marquis the works which had been erected there during his absence in France. Circumstances detained them a night at Fishkill.

Their baggage was sent on

to Arnold's quarters in the Robinson House, with a message apprising the general that they would breakfast there the next day. (September 24th) they were in break of day, having a ride to miles through the mountains.

In the morning the saddle before make of eighteen It was a pleasant

WASHINGTON'S RETURN.

137

and animated one. Washington was in excellent spirits, and the buoyant marquis, and genial, warmhearted Knox, were companions with whom he was always disposed to unbend.

When within a mile of the Robinson House, Washington turned down a cross road leading to the banks of the Hudson. Lafayette apprised him that he was going out of the way, and hinted that Mrs. Arnold must be waiting breakfast for him. “Ah, marquis!" replied he good-humoredly, "you young men are all in love with Mrs. Arnold. I see you are eager to be with her as soon as possible. Go you and breakfast with her, and tell her not to wait for me. I must ride down and examine the redoubts on this side of the river but will be with her shortly."

The marquis and General Knox, however, turned off and accompanied him down to the redoubts, while Colonel Hamilton and Lafayette's aide-de-camp, Major James McHenry, continued along the main road to the Robinson House, bearing Washington's apology, and request that the breakfast might not be retarded.

The family with the two aides-de-camp sat down to breakfast. Mrs. Arnold had arrived but fonr or five days previously from Philadelphia, with her infant child, then about six months old. Sho was bright and amiable as usual. Arnold was silent and gloomy. It was an anxious moment with him. This was the day appointed for the consummation of the plot, when the enemy's ships were to ascend the river. The return of the commander-in-chief from the East two days sooner

than had been anticipated, and his proposed visit to the forts, threatened to disconcert everything. What might be the consequence Arnold could not conjecture. An interval of fearful imaginings was soon brought to a direful close. In the midst of the repast a horseman alighted at the gate. It was the messenger bearing Jameson's letter to Arnold, stating the capture of André, and that dangerous papers found on him had been forwarded to Washington.

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The mine had exploded beneath Arnold's feet; yet in this awful moment he gave an evidence of that quickness of mind which had won laurels for him when in the path of duty. Controlling the dismay that must have smitten him to the heart, he beckoned Mrs. Arnold from the breakfast-table, signifying a wish to speak with her in private. When alone with her in her room up stairs, he announced in hurried words that he was a ruined man, and must instantly fly for his life! Overcome by the shock, she fell senseless on the floor. Without pausing to aid her, he hurried down stairs, sent the messenger to her assistance, probably to keep him from an interview with the other officers; returned to the breakfast room, and informed his guests that he must haste to West Point to prepare for the reception of the commander-in-chief: and mounting the horse of the messenger, which stood saddled at the door, galloped down by what is still called Arnold's Path, to the landing-place, where his six-oared barge was moored. Throw ing himself into it, he ordered his men to pull out into the middle of the river, and then made down

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