The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

THE GENERAL’S EMISSARY. 149 should return. Had he been equal to the task, I should have compelled him to ride back with me. It was terribly dark and the dripping of wet from the somber trees by the roadside gave an unusually ghostly effect to the surroundings. I urged my horse into a gallop, and was soon at the inn again. But as I was dismounting I was surrounded by three men, who secured my arms before I could defend myself. ‘What is the meaning of all this?’’ I demanded. “Vou are just the chicken we are after,’’ said one. ‘‘ We’re always on the lookout for just such as you. Southern spies are not going to thrive well in this soil.’’ “But I am of the northern party and am a messenger from the general to Major Ellery.’’ ‘Exactly,’ said the man, ‘‘ but you’ll wish you hadn’t seen the major quite so soon.”’ They hustled me into the main hall of the inn, where I found, seated at a table, looking over a map, a large man, of middle age possessing a round, jovial face. ‘‘Here’s another one, major,’’ announced one of my captors. We just caught him eavesdropping at the door.’’ ‘‘ Are you Major Ellery ?’’ I inquired. “That is my name, sir,’’ he replied. “Well, Major Ellery,’’ I went on, ‘‘I wish to protest against the very discourteous and uncivil manner in which I have been treated by these men. I have come by order of General Washington, to instruct you to proceed to North Castle instead of White Plains. ‘The whole army will be at North Castle in a day or so: You are to leave the post road just below Sparta, in order to avoid any trouble from the enemy’s ships at Tarrytown.”’ ‘‘Vour namie, sir,’’ he asked. ‘Captain Walker Heywood of the Maryland volunteers.’’ He motioned one of the men to him and whispered something to him, whereupon the fellow entered a room somewhere back of me, and the major continued his questioning. “The general invariably consigns his orders to writing. You doubtless have some communication from him, for me.’’ I imagined that I saw his eyes twinkle as he said this. I bit my lip in embarrassment, but did not oe I would willingly con- fide my misfortune to the major, but to do so before those country lunkheads standing by me, was more than I could endure. ‘Captain Heywood,’’ said the major finally, ‘‘I perceive that there is something wrong. It is a very serious offense with which you are charged. The fate of a spy, as you know, is to hang. I shall consider your case, and possibly refer it to the commander in chief. In the meantime I shall be obliged to have you confined in the guard room.’’ I was turned about and pushed through the door of the room already mentioned, which was immediately closed. | To my astonishment there sat old Mr. Everard and Ruth. They arose as CORMielooolks