What a contrast does this scene present to the passage of the traitor himself, who, as soon as his villainy was ascertained, " mounted a horse belonging to one of his aids that stood saddled at the door, and rode alone, with all speed, to the bank of the river. He there entered a boat, and directed the oarsmen to push out to the middle of the stream. The boat was rowed by six men, who, having no knowledge of Arnold's intentions, promptly obeyed his orders. He quickened their activity by saying, that he was going down the river and on board the Vnlture with a flag, and that he was in great haste, as he expected Gen. Washington at his house, and wished to return as expeditiously as pos-

» American Scenery, by Bartlett anci Willis.

100 HISTORY OF THE

sible to meet him there. He also added another stimulating motive, by promising them two gallons of rum, if they would exert themselves with all their strength. As they approached King's Ferry, Arnold exposed to view a white handkerchief, and ordered the men to row directly to the Vulture, which was now in sight a little below the place it had occupied when Andre left it. The signal held out by Arnold, while the boat was passing Verplanck's Point, caused Col. Livingston to regard it as a flag-boat, and prevented him from ordering it to be stopped and examined. The boat reached the Vulture unobstructed in its passage ; and after Arnold liad gone on board and introduced himself to Capt. Sutherland, he called the leader of the boatmen into the cabin, and informed him that he and his companions were prisoners. The boatmen, who liad capacity and spirit, said they were not prisoners; that they came on board wiih a flag of truce, and under the same sanction they would return. lie then appealed to the captain, demanding juslice and a proper respect for the rules of honor.