92 THE MCDONALD PAPERS fellow prisoners he was lowered from one of the upper stories into the street, the attention of the sentinels in the mean-while being directed to an opposite quarter by his friends, who pointed down the street, and inquire the meaning of the crowd of people there assembled. The rope was instantly drawn back, and the manoeuvre proved successful and unob-served. His first object was to reach a public house at the head of Harlem Lane, kept by the Widow Day, with whom he was well acquainted. It was about the middle of the after-noon when he presented himself to this well known and ben-evolent landlady, and threw himself upon her protection as an old acquaintance. For several minutes she wrung her hands in silent perplexity, and then informed him that her house was filled with Westchester refugees, who, if they saw him but for a moment, would recognize and remand him to prison. Regaining her presence of mind, she led him to a place of concealment. It was after sundown before her guests departed, and as it was not possible to procure a boat, she furnished our guide at his request, with some refreshments and with a cord, in order that he might form a raft for the purpose of crossing Harlem river with dry clothes. The night that came on was one of bright moonlight, and in a short time he constructed out of some rails and his rope, a tolerable raft, upon which he secured his clothes and refreshments, and then pushed out into the stream; but when near the middle of the creek, his strength which had been much impaired by sickness while in confinement began to fail, in addition to which he was attacked by the cramp. Weary and discouraged, he relinquished for a while, all further efforts to get across.