a gentleman; you can see he's no common countryman. Boys, let's stop him!"

To this they all agreed; and when the unsuspecting horseman drew near, they rushed suddenly out and pointed their firelocks at his breast.

"Halt!" they shouted. "Who are you, and where are you going?"

The young man was evidently frightened. He stopped, and without answering their questions, said, "Gentlemen, I hope you belong to our party." "Which party?" asked Paulding.

"Why

the lower party," was the answer.

"The lower party! That's right. That's our party, certainly," cried the three men.

"Well, then, gentlemen," said the horseman, very pleasantly, "I hope you won't detain me more than a minute; for I'm a British officer, and I'm out in the country on important business."

And then, to prove the truth of his statement, he showed them his watch, which was of the kind that British officers carried.

"Very well, sir," said Paulding, sternly. "You say you're a British officer, and it's British officers we're after. Now get down off that horse, and we'll see what else you have. Off with you!"

The young man, seeing the muzzle of a musket close to his face, obeyed with what readiness he could. He had made a mistake and would try to correct it.

Then, with a feeble effort to laugh, he said, "Well, well! I see that I must do anything to get along."

And with that he opened his wallet and handed a folded piece of paper to his captors. Paulding opened it, and read:

Headquarters, Robinson House,
Sept. 22d, 1780.

Permit Mr. John Anderson to pass the grounds to White Plains, or below if he chooses. He being on public business by my direction.

B. ARNOLD, M. Gen'l."

"You see, gentlemen," remarked the horseman, you see that, although I was joking a while ago, I am now telling you the truth, and this is the proof of it. I may also add that I am on my way to Dobbs Ferry, where I shall meet a courier who is to carry an important message to General Arnold. So you had best let me go at once, or you will get yourselves into trouble."

"Well," said Paulding, handing back the pass and speaking with hesitation, "if you hadn't told us that you are a British cfficer, we might now let you go. But we must have further proof that you are an American."

"Let's search him," said Van Wart. And so, while he tied the horse to a tree, the other two men dragged their prisoner into the bushes.

There, after examining his pockets, they ordered him to pull off his boots. He did this very unwillingly,

but they found nothing in them. Then they pulled off his stockings and found, in the foot of each, three papers containing much writing and carefully-drawn plans of forts and fortifications belonging to the Americans.

"He's a spy!" said Paulding to his companions.

The papers revealed the fact that the young man's real name was John André, and that he was an adjutant general in the British army; and they further disclosed the information that General Arnold, the commander of the American forces on the Hudson, was a traitor to his country and had conspired to surrender West Point and other important places to the British.

"Well, Mr. André," then said Paulding, "you see that we have found you out and have learned your business. Will you give us your horse, bridle, and saddle if we will let you go?"

"Yes," answered André, “and my watch also."

"We must have a hundred guineas besides," said Van Wart.

"I have not any money with me," said André, “but I pledge myself to send you that amount to any place that you may name."

"I am thinking of setting up a store," said Williams, "and I should like a quantity of fresh English goods to put into it."

"You shall have them," answered André. "Only give me my freedom, and I will send you any quantity of dry goods to any place that you may pitch upon.'

"Never, sir," said Paulding, very firmly. "Not even for ten thousand guineas shall you have your freedom. Come now, you shall go with us to the American military post at North Castle, and there you shall give an account of yourself to the officers in charge."

Thus ended John André's anxious ride to Tarrytown. Of the events that led up to it, as well as those that followed it, you may read in any school history of the United States.

IT

In the low-lying peninsula of the York the weather was still warm with not even a hint of frost to color the dying leaves in the woods and orchards. But there had been rain, and the old south road, formerly so firm and smooth, was little else than a succession of mudholes and deep wagon ruts winding through the pine woods, among bogs and over causeways, and losing itself in an ocean of mire. For of late there