During the first half hour several persons whom they knew passed, then Van Wart, who was standing guard while Paulding and Williams played cards, discovered, at about nine o'clock, on the rising ground directly opposite to where the Tarrytown Academy now stands, slowly riding toward them, a man on a black horse. He said to Williams and Paulding, k' Here's a horseman coming! We must stop him." At that, Paulding, who was the master spirit of the party, got up, stepped out into the road, leveled his musket at the rider, and asked him which way he was going. Paulding at this time wore the coat and cap of a German yager, green laced with red, and it is very probable that his appearance deceived Andre, for, instead of producing Arnold's pass, he said, " Gentlemen, I hope you belong to our party." " What party? " asked Paulding. kt The lower party," said Andre. Upon that Paulding told him that they did. Andre answered, "I'm glad to see you. I am an officer in the British service, out in the country on particular business, and I hope you won't detain me a minute; and to let you know that I am a gentleman " he then pulled out his watch, upon which Paulding told him to dismount, and that they were Americans. Astonished to find into what hands he had fallen and how he had betrayed himself, yet promptly recovering his composure, he laughed, declared himself a continental officer going down to Dobbs Ferry to get information from the enemy, and said, " My God, a man must do anything to get along," and then produced his pass from Arnold and handed it to Paulding, who read it. He then dismounted and said, " Gentlemen, you had better let me go, or you will bring yourselves into trouble." Paulding then told him that he hoped he would not be offended, as they did not mean to take anything from him, that there were a great many bad people going the road, and they did not know but he might be one, and then asked him if he had any letters about him; to which Andre answered "No." They then took down the fence and led him and his horse into the woods.