The Peddler Spy

given to Willie. She had been betrothed in youth to young Van Zandt, the son of an old comrade in[44] arms. Hence the knowledge made the fiery colonel particularly angry. In his rage, Van Cur

mebody, on the river's bank. Retiring as the boat-load of Manhattaners approached, Barlow was followed into the forest

the domineering Yankees were spreading more and more through the country, and that, unless checked by some means, they would soon possess the whole country. The transactions carried on by our English ancestors, of which

o the wishes of Van Curter. The dialogue which passed between them as the English

you go?" crie

, to trade,"

ted the commandant, "or

rned Holmes. "The river is

sloop passed up the stream, and founded the post which

rter. He had not retired, but sat alone at a table, by a flaring lamp,[45] writing a dispatch to th

u art welcome. How go th

n you say as muc

iven entirely away, unless we do something ourselves. But, I have a plan in my mind, J

got his foot into a stocking on the road, and broke it.

best horse in the colony. It ought to be, if he paid the price he says he did, which is a hundred an

y keep up the

s, that Paul seemed to work hard to refrain from laughing, when h

e else seen

ll, he was sold by a Yankee. Swedlepipe bid as high as a hundred and forty guilders before h

t so far from Good Hope as not to kno

if he is any thing like what he is reported, I sh

ld not

I never saw but once in my life, and who

4

ay tha

iam B

ather, that if Boston Bainbridge dares to show his face again in Goo

n Bain

A

ay, curse him! We were down upon the earth, tearing at each other's throats, so closely grappled that we could not use our swords, wh

aking dog of a hawker, who has made more mischief in Good Hope than any ten me

, I am certain; and looked as if a fight was meat and drink to him. A

all the information I got out of him did not amount to much. You may be right

th musket, knife and pistols,

thing to say to each other when we next meet. If it is the one who is known to y

we fought. This Bainbridge came between; but it is a quarrel to the death. In the first burst, he spo

. "This fills me with doubts and fears which

t, a league or mor

d of Barlow; and yet, the new character you give him is so utterl

thing else. Does Ther

would be a pleasan

for him was now foreign to the heart of Theresa. The old soldier knew that he was angry, and wisely all

e promised me the hand of Theresa; I have waited for it long years; but I have

ve you not an honored name-a name second to none in our own land?

they claim to be influenced by personal beauty in man; but, put them to the test, and you will find that, after all, the mo

may be the one who has the key to The

r to marry me again

4

to your father, even i

e so, I renounce her hand, and apply myself to the task of taking worthy vengeance upon the man who has dared to step i

as ret

am sure, between her and t

letter after letter, and been the means of making her fancy stron

is t

tri

ah

pised, and her family is good-

rs. Do you know that in coming up the river, I fa

dia

not

my secret plans about Windsor and the Englis

d so a face rose slowly into view on the other side of the room, p

no one listens

or doors of Jacob Van Curter; I would string them up t

eard a sound,

open that door, and l

4

empty; the fire burned low upon the hearth, and

Van Curter; "it is rising f

safe before the st

a few moments the rain begun to fall. Joseph stirred the fire

upon his head-who would not pause when I to

mber hi

take the post more than another, it would be the fact that I hate hi

invite them

not know them then as I do now. I would

nging on to their possessions. You

er set of dunderheads than those under my command never congregated before. If it were not for two o

n as the worthy Paul Swedl

t be guided, in a manner, by the advice of such men a

fight, if it

y plan. I shall march out with forty men in the night, and get near[50] enough to Windsor to attack th

many men can the

and those we will

Holmes

and Barlow next. I should not care to

of this broth

en him. He is represented as a man under forty, active, vigil

man as I take this ve

ude of a brave man because they were two to one; but, in reality, h

es. "They say listeners never hear any good of themselves, and I am not inclined to doubt it; but go on-go on, th

ng stockade, and I think I may succeed. I

l you le

trusted for a day. Come, taste this aqua vit?, which was sent to me from Manhattan by my wor

When he arose, the storm was at its height, and he could move about the house with perfect[51] impunity. Walking quickly to a window-lattice on the south, he gave a single tap upon it, and waited.

ed the girl. "I shal

my dear. Wher

d, and you ought to be in yours, instead

nd tell her to open her lattice in half an hour, fo

r Good Hope to-night. Do you not know that Captain Van Zan

n Zandt. We know more of his movements than you think, Katrine. But get you gone,

nd" said Katrine, looking at him fixedly. "

rust me. Have I ev

one soft arm about his neck.

ng her embrace. "But, take this to your heart-whatever y

her head bowed upon a table. Katrine was not so much a servant as a dear friend

re," was

5

ho

Zan

Your lover will never see you forced to b

they do? Willi

a tapping at my window just now. I opene

for she knew that the worthy Dutchman persec

trine,"I should go back to my room

t. Who was it

l! It was

e. Did he say any

at your lattice in half an hour, for

her hands in fer

," she said. "Sit with me until he comes. Ah

should have seen poor Boston. Wet

ntil a tap came at the lattice.

t?" she w

lips met. That hour could not