The travellers partook of a frugal breakfast together, at the house of a good Dutch woman, who had been plundered by three marauders, but who was yet enabled to set before them a repast of hasty pudding and milk.6 This being dispatched, Smith divided his small stock of paper money with Andre, took a final leave, and, with his servant, hastened back to Peekskill, and the same evening to Fishkill, where he had left his family four days before, at the house of his brother-in-law. On his way, he took the road leading to Robinson's house, where he called on General Arnold, and dined. He gave an account of Andre's progress, and mentioned the place where he had left him, with which Arnold appeared well pleased. It is to be understood, however, that Smith had not, at this time, as he always affirmed, any knowledge of Andre's true character, and that he supposed his name to be John Anderson.

The Cozv-boys were a set of people, mostly, if not wholly, refugees, belonging to the British side, and engaged in plundering cattle near the lines, and driving them to New York. The name indicates their vocation. There was another description of banditti, called Skinners, who lived, for the most part, within the American lines, and professed attachment to the American cause; but, in reality, they were more unprincipled, perfidious and inhuman than the Cow-boys themselves; for these latter exhibited some symptoms of fellow feeling for their friends, -- whereas, the Skinners committed their depredations equally upon friends and foes.