There is an admiral^le ring of courage in the note written at this time to the Council of Safety by Clinton: " I am persuaded, if the militia will join me, we can save the country from destruction and defeat the enemy's design of assisting the northern army." A new and definite evidence of this design had been strangely received by the Governor about the time of the penning of those words. The arrest of two persons coming from the direction of Fort Montgomery led to important developments. One of the twain, seeming to swallow something, was given an emetic, upon which a silver bullet was produced, but, being more nimble than his captors, he succeeded in disposing of the morsel again in the same manner as before. He refused so energetically to be dosed a second time

462 The Hudson River

that the Governor threatened to have him hanged and his body cut open. He then 34elded, and the buUet, again dehvered, was found to enclose a paper bearing a note from Sir Henry Chnton to General Burgoyne: " Here we are (Fort Montgomery -- Oct. 8th) and nothing between us and Gates. I sincerely ho]5e this little success of ours will facilitate your operations." The resolute postman did not escape the penalty of his mission he ; was tried as a spy and sentenced to be hanged. The Governor ])ressed forward with what force he could hastily get together to protect Kingston if possible, as that was then the seat of the State Legislature. He saw here and there at villages and hamlets, and even single residences on the river shore, marauding parties of British at work, their motions being marked by flames and depredation, but he could not move rapidly enough to intercept them. When General Vaughan and his force landed from their vessels, a little body of about a hundred and fifty militia opposed them at Kingston, but these valiant defenders were soon overcome and put to flight.