The cleverness with which they questioned him in the first place shows that they were men of alert perceptions and not dull country hinds. At least they could not doubt that here was a decidedly promisingchance for a splendid financial speculation, without the least risk. His proposal that two of them should hold him hostage while the third should go to New York and get the ransom was capable of easy execution. It was early in the day. All of them were known to everybody in the neighborhood as loyal Americans, and any one of them could have gone unquestioned to the nearest British post, been forwarded thence to New York, and returned the same night. Or two of them could have gone, or even all three, for the whole party was eight in number, the five original companions of Paulding, Will-

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iams, and Van Wart being nearby.1 There ynwas tfa"a single possible difficulty that might have occurred to them in this connection: not one of them had ever visited the British camp except as a prisoner, or had had any previous experience in the line of experimental transactions. This fact was highly honorable to them; but there is not the least reason for thinking that it, or any other consideration except their incorruptible patriotic integrity, was instrumental in determining their decision. The simple honesty of these country boys, as well as their freedom 1 It is presumed that Andre was questioned »nd searched by the throe captors only. But the throe wore still an integral part of the expedition of eight, the other five, at whoso head was Sergeant John Dean, being in ambush some distance farther up the road.