Until his last excursion he had passed through the perils of the field without the slightest injury, so that at length some, apparently half in earnest, began to assert of him an immunity, such as the Thane of Cawdor claimed for himself, - that he wwas not destined to be harmed by one of woman born. It was but a few weeks before he received his mortal wound, that he conducted a large party below, which was met in Fordham by a detachment of the enemy still more numerous, and driven in some confusion across the Bronx. Here, while the American force halted to form anew, Dyckman perceived a continental officer bare-

86 THE MCDONALD PAPERS headed, and learned from him that, closely pursued through an orchard by a refugee dragoon, his cocked hat was caught and retained by its plume, in the boughs of a tree under which he had passed. The tree was pointed out, whereupon Dyckman exclaimed, "You shall have your hat again," and instantly spurred back across the Bronx. Although by this time, the orchard for the most part was in possession of the Royal forces, he did not hesitate to enter it, and having found the hat, bore it off upon the point of his sword, literally amidst a shower of balls, almost every hostile soldier, whether of foot or horse, following and firing at him unsuccessfully. In this plight, with the whole body of the enemy at his heels, he recrossed Williamsbridge at full speed, being welcomed back with shouts of exultation. He never hesitated to accept a challenge from the enemy or to encounter superior numbers, however great the odds might be. Once, in 1781, while reconnoitring near Fort Independence at the head of five guides and volunteers, a patrol of DeLancey's dragoons far superior in numbers, advanced upon him with loud shouts; but he lost not a moment in becoming the assailant himself, and a long combat with the sabre ensured, in which five of the dragoons, each one of whom was wounded, were taken prisoners.