interpose any delay.
In this decision he was warranted by the unpromising intelligence
received from Champe--by the still existing implication of other
officers in Arnold's conspiracy--by a due regard to public opinion, and
by the inexorable necessity of a severe example.

The fate of Andre, hastened by himself, deprived the enterprise
committed to Champe of a feature which had been highly prized by the
projector, and which had engaged the heart of the individual selected
for its execution. Washington ordered Major Lee to communicate what had
passed to the sergeant, with directions to encourage him to prosecute
with vigor the remaining objects of his instructions. Champe bitterly
deplored the fate of Andre, and confessed that the hope of saving the
unfortunate young man had been his main inducement in undertaking his
dangerous enterprise. Nothing now remained but to attempt the seizure of
Arnold. To this object Champe gave his undivided attention. Ten days
elapsed before he could conclude his arrangements, at the end of which
time, Lee received from him his final communication, appointing the
third subsequent night for a party of dragoons to meet him at Hoboken,
when he hoped to deliver Arnold to the officer.

From the moment of his enlistment into Arnold's corps, Champe had every
opportunity he could desire for watching the habits of that individual.
He discovered that it was his custom to return home about twelve every
night, and that, previous to going to bed, he generally walked in his
garden. During this visit, the conspirators were to seize him, gag him,
and carry him across the river.

Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided, and in which it was
designed to seize and gag him, Champe had taken out several of the
palings and replaced them, so that they might be readily removed, and
open a way to the neighboring alley. Into this alley he meant to have
conveyed his prisoner, aided by his companions, one of two associates
who had been introduced by the friend to whom Champe had been originally
made known by letter from the commander-in-chief, and with whose aid and
counsel he had so far conducted the enterprise. His other associate was
in readiness with the boat at one of the wharves on the Hudson river, to
receive the party.

Champe and his friend intended to have placed themselves each under
Arnold's shoulder, and to have thus borne him through the most
unfrequented alleys and streets to the boat; representi