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 ! I am once more among friends." But Paulding presented his musket, and ordered him to stop.) "Gentlemen," said Andre, "I

THE HUDSON. 335

hope you belong to our party?" "What party?" asked Paulding-. "The Lower Party" (meaning the British), Andre replied. "I do," said Paulding; when Andre said, "I am a British officer, out in the country on particular business, and I hope you will not detain me a minute." Paulding told him to dismount, when Andre, conscious of his mistake, exclaimed, "My God! I must do anything to get along ; " and with a forced good-humour, pulled out General Arnold's pass. Still they insisted upon his dismounting, when he warned them not to detain him, as he was on public business for the General. They were inflexible. They said there were many bad people on the road, and they did not know but he might be one of them. (He dismounted, when they took him into a thicket, and searched him J They found nothing to confirm their suspicions that he was not what he represented himself to be. They then ordered him to pull off his boots, which he did without hesitation, and they were about to allow him to dress himself, when they observed something in his stockings under his feet.