THE WESTCHESTER GUIDES 83 he refused to dismount, and performed from necessity the duty of a common vidette, for the men under his command; while the latter after leaving his horse and mingling occasion-ally with his comrades in the house, rejoined his commander for a lookout, at frequent intervals. While they were thus at Orser's, refreshing themselves in imaginary security, the refugee leaders had overtaken and encompassed them with their whole cavalry, leaving no way open for escape but that of the river. The attack was commenced by the firing of a volley upon the out-buildings of the farm, and the surprise proved complete and irremediable. Williams seeing at a glance that no successful resistance could be made, directed his volunteers to shift for themselves, and pricking hard, attempted to reach Tellers Point by the ice, the river being frozen nearly all the way across; but he was followed upon the spur by Lieutenant-colonel Holmes and Captain Totten, two of the refugee officers, who, better mounted than himself, happened to be ahead of their followers. Finding in a short time that escape was imprac-ticable he dismounted, surrendered his sword, and was admit-ted to parole. At this moment, Odell was endeavoring to pass them, by making a detour to the left. On the first alarm he had sallied from the house, but found his horse had broken loose and disappeared. He lost not a moment in throwing himself upon the first steed he could find, and galloped at full speed upon the ice, in hopes of gaining the friendly shore of Cortland's Manor above the Croton, but as he attempted to pass the two royal officers, they rode out westerly and cut off his retreat. Odell now found that many of his compan-ions were endeavoring to secure their safety by following the route he had taken, while close behind them were DeLancey's dragoons in full career, pushing forward with execration and outcry.