" When at home at the roost, the stout Jacob was not idle ; he was prone to carry on a petty warfare of his own, for his private recreation and refreshment. Did he ever chance to espy, from his look-out place, a hostile ship or galley anchored or becalmed near shore, he would take down his long goose-gun from the hooks over the fire-place, sally out alone, and lurk along shore, dodging behind rocks and trees, and watching for hours together, like a veteran mouser intent on a rat hole. So sure as a boat put off for shore, and came within shot,

a The goose -gnn is still in existence, having been preserved for many years in a hollow tree. It is now in the possession of Mr. Caleb Brush, of Grove street, New "York, who married the celebrated heroine, Lauey van Tassel.

THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH.

2S9

bang went the great goose-gun j a shower of slugs and buck-shot whistled rW)out the ears of the enemy, and, before the boat could reach the shore, Jacob had scuttled up some woody raviue, and left no trace behind.

"About this time the Roost experienced a vast accession of warlike importance, in being made one of the stations of the water-guard.

" This was a kind of aquatic corps of observation, composed of long, sharp canoe-shaped boats, technically called whale-boats, that lay lightly on the water, and could be rowed with great rapidity. They were manned by resolute fellows, skilled at pulling an oar or handling a musket. These lurked about in nooks and bays, and behind those long promontories winch run out into the Tappan Sea, keeping a look-out, to give notice of the approach or movements of hostile ships. They roved about in pairs, sometimes at night, with muffled oars, gliding like spectres about frigates and guard ships riding at anchor; cutting off any boat that made for shore, and keeping the enemy in constant uneasiness.