The Skinners and Cow-boys often leagued together. The former would sell their plunder to the latter, taking in exchange contraband articles brought from New York. It was not uncommon for the farce of a skirmish to be acted near the American

. lines, in which the Skinners never failed to come off victorious ; and then they would go boldly to the interior with their booty, pretending it had been captured from the enemy while attempi-

" ing to smuggle it across the lines.

Such was the social condition of that part of the county through which Andre was now to pass alone, for nearh^ thirty miles, before he could be perfectly secure from danger; for, although every step diminished the chances of untoward accidents, yet there was no absolute safety till he was beyond the limits of this ill- . fated neutral ground.''^

" But Andre had the American general's pass to produce to the ■ one, and his true character to protect him from the other, ^till he could not but feel that his situation was one of peril. The remarks he had heard from the captain of the patrole on the preceding night, seems to have induced the adjutant-general to take

' the Tarrytown road, as the one most frequented by the Cow-boys ^ for it was understood by Saiith that he would proceed toward White Plains. Upon what apparently chance circumstances the fate of individuals, and armies, and states, appears to depend ! Had this bearer of ruin to thousands proceeded on the road at first