at a moment's notice,
and Arnold was to weaken the post at West Point by sending out
detachments among the mountain gorges under the pretence of meeting
the enemy, as they advanced, at a distance from the works; and that
the river might be left free for the passage of the British vessels a
link from the great chain at Constitution Island was to be removed. So
the enemy could take possession with very little resistance.

"Also Arnold supplied Andre with papers explaining the military
condition of West Point and its dependencies, asking him to place them
between his stockings and his feet, and in case of accident to destroy
them. He also gave him a pass; then bade him adieu and went up the
river in his barge; probably feeling greatly satisfied with the
thought that he had at last fully succeeded in carrying out his wicked
scheme to betray his country.

"Andre remained where he was until evening, then asked Smith to take
him back to the _Vulture_. Smith refused, saying he was not well--had
the ague. Probably, though, it had been caused by the firing upon the
_Vulture_, as he was willing to go with Andre if he would take the
land route.

"To that Andre finally consented, as he had no other means of reaching
the vessel. Arnold had persuaded him that in case of taking a land
route he would better exchange his military coat for a citizen's
dress, and that he did. Both that and the receiving of papers were
contrary to the orders of Sir Henry Clinton; but Andre felt obliged to
be governed by the unforeseen circumstances in which he was now
placed. He and Smith started on the short journey together, Smith
promising to conduct him as far as the lower outposts of the American
line.

"A little before sunset, on the evening of September 22d, they crossed
King's Ferry, accompanied by a negro servant, and at dusk passed
through the works at Verplanck's Point and turned toward White Plains.
They had gone as far as Crompond, a little village about eight miles
from Verplanck's Point, when they were hailed by a sentinel who
belonged to a party under Captain Boyd. That officer asked the
travellers many searching questions, and would not be satisfied that
all was right until they showed him Arnold's pass. He had a light
brought and examined the pass, and, seeing that it was genuine, he
gave them permission to go on, after he had apologized for his doubts
of them and given them a friendly warning of danger from the Cowboys
in the neigh