The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 146: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

146 THE GENERAL’S EMISSARY. I took the direction suggested by Captain Wilson, which led up a long hill, and on reaching the summit I was suddenly brought to a standstill by a couple of rough looking fellows armed with muskets. ‘* Halt !’’ they cried. I reined up. ‘* Friend or foe?’’ one of them demanded. ‘*That depends on circumstances,’’ I answered coolly. ‘“Come now, young fellow, no fooling there,’’ said the other. ‘‘ Speak up or I'll blow your brains out. Are you for the north or south? ”’ Noticing that one of the men wore a blue cockade on his hat, I answered confidently, ‘‘ North, and a messenger from General Washington. Clear the road !”’ ‘* Not so fast, young man,’’ said the one wearing the cockade, advancing a few steps and taking hold of my bridle. ‘* What is your business? ”’ If the man had been alone I could have given him his deserts for his in- solence, but the other one kept a close watch on me with his musket ready. ‘¢T’m looking for Major Ellery,’’ I replied. ‘* Major Ellery ?”’ ‘* Ves, at the mouth of the Croton.’’ ‘‘ Mouth of the Croton!’’ he exclaimed. ‘‘ Why, you wouldn’t reach the mouth of the Croton by this road in a year.”’ I looked at the fellow in surprise. ‘* Which is the road, man?”’ ‘The one to the left,’’ he replied. I tried to turn my horse in the direction of the tavern, but the man at the bridle still held me fast. ‘Hold on there,’’ he cried. ‘‘We can’t let you go until you give us some proofs of citizenship. You said you were a messenger from Mr. Washington. Can’t you show us some writings or something of the sort, just to make our conscience easy ?”’ ‘It was evident that I was on the wrong track, thanks to Captain Wilson. I realized that I must get back to the main road soon, or I would be liable to miss Major Ellery. , ““Ves,’? I said, ‘‘I have in my pocket a note for Major Charles Ellery, written in the general’s own hand.’’ I fished into my pocket where I had placed the letter, but to my utter astonishment, discovered that it was gone. The fellow standing by noticed my dismay, but misinterpreted it. ‘“Lost it, I suppose,’’. said he with a cynical laugh. ‘‘ That’s what they all say when they get caught. Bill, I guess this is the one we’re after. Dis- mount, sir. We shall have to see Captain Hunter about this.’’ While the fellow was talking, it flashed through my mind how I had been duped. Delay would now be fatal to my mission. ven my honor might be questioned. I knew that it would be useless to argue with these two stub- born countrymen. ‘There was but one thing to do, and although it was at- tended with great risk, I did it quickly. As the man turned to say some- thing to his companion, I cracked him over the head with the butt of my pistol, which I had instinctively grasped when accosted. It was a good sound blow, and the man threw his hand to his head and reeled backward. Eomichbooks 3 Pe