The negotiations not having been completed, they, in the gray of early morn, rode through Haverstraw to Smith's house, three miles distant, Andre expecting to return to the " Vulture" on the next night. Smith, his servant, and the boatmen returned by water. Andre had scarcely entered the house when booming of cannon was heard, causing him considerable uneasiness, and with reason. The Americans at Croton had not been idle. They had sent a delegation to Colonel Livingston to inform him that the "Vulture" was within cannon shot of Teller's Point, whereupon Livingston sent a party with a four-pound cannon from Verplanck's Point in the night. A small breastwork was erected at the west end of the point, the gun planted, and a fire directed upon the " Vulture," which was returned by several broadsides.
The Americans fired with effect, shivering some of the spars of the vessel, and compelled, her to weigh anchor and drop down the river. One of the shots from the "Vulture" lodged in an oak tree, where it remained for more than half a century, when the oak tree, which had become decayed, was cut down, the ball removed and presented by William Underbill to George J. Fisher, M.D., of Sing Sing. Andre had watched the cannonade with anxious eye from an upper window of Smith's house, and after the " Vulture " had been obliged to shift her anchor, Arnold and Smith, knowing well that she was closely watched from both sides of the river, became convinced that it would be unsafe to return Andre on board.
After breakfast the plot for the betrayal of West Point and its