Arnold left home on the afternoon of the 10th, went down the river in his barge to King's Ferry, and passed the night at the house of Joshua H. Smith, who resided about two miles and a half from the Ferry, near the road leading to Haverstraw. Early the next morning he proceeded to Dobb's Ferry, at which place Andre had arrived according to his appointment, accompanied by Colonel Beverly Robinson, to whom the secret had already been intrusted by Sir Henry Clinton, probably at the suggestion, or at least with the knowledge of Arnold. An accident occurred which prevented the interview, and was near putting an end to the plot itself. ^Iien Arnold was approaching the point of destination by water, he was fired upon by the British gun-boats stationed in that part of the river, and so

a n> ath Mem. 69. b [bid. 84. c Ibid. 113.

HISTORY OF THE COUNffY OF WESTCHESTER.

closely pursued that his life was in danger, and he was on the point of being taken prisoner. By some oversight the boats had not been withdrawn, or it may have been expected that Arnold would come with a flag, which appears not to have been the case.

" Having landed on the west side of the river, he went down to the Ferry, where he remained till night. Whether Andre and Robinson were at the landing place on the opposite side, or whether they came up from New York in a vessel and remained on board, has not been ascertained; but, at any rate, no meeting took place.