Arnold's pass was presented, and the travellers were about to pass on, when the officer on duty advised them to remain until morning, because of dangers on the road. After much persuasion, Andre consented to remain, but passed a sleepless night.^ At an early hour the party were in the saddle, and at Pine's Bridge over the Crotou, Andre, with a lighter heart, parted company with Smith and his servant^having been assured that he was then upon the neutral ground, beyond the reach of the American patrolling parties.

Andre had been warned to avoid the Cow Boys. These were bands of Tory marauders who infested the neutral ground. He was told that they were more numerous upon the Tarrytown road than that which led to the "White Plains. As these were friends of the British, he resolved to travel the Tarrytown or river road. He felt assured that if he should fall into the hands of the Cow Boys, he would be taken by them to New York, his destination. This change of route was his fatal mistake.

/On the morning when Andre crossed Pine's Bridge, a little band of seven volunteers went out near Tarrytown to prevent the Cow Boys driving the cattle to New York, and to arrest any suspicious travellers upon the highway. Three of these -- Paulding, Yan "Wart, and "Williams -- were under the shade of a clump of trees, near a spring on the borders of the stream just mentioned, and now known by the name of Andre's Brook, playing cards, when a stranger appeared on horseback, a short distance up the road, His dress and manner were different from ordinary travellers seen in that vicinity, and they determined to step out and question him. Paulding had lately escaped from captivity in New York, in the dress of a German Yager, the mercenaries in the employment of the British ; and on seeing him, Andre, thereby deceived, exclaimed, " Thank God !