Whig Against Tory | Page 9

at White Plains--they
must know it to-night.'"
William. "'The committee of safety!' father, who were they?"
Gen. P. "Your inquiry is well suggested. The committee of safety
consisted of men of distinction friendly to the liberties of their country.
They were appointed in almost every district throughout the land. It
was their business to watch over the interest of the country in their
vicinity, to obtain information, and, when necessary, to seize upon
suspected persons."
William. "Who were the committee at White Plains?"
Gen. P. "The principal man was John Jay, who afterwards went
ambassador to England.
"Mr. Young and Crosby were soon on their way to White Plains, which
lay but a few miles distant. Crosby was not a little fatigued; but his zeal
was now all alive, and made him quite forget his weariness.

"It was near two o'clock, before they reached the quarters of Mr. Jay.
He was soon summoned, and listened with deep interest to the tale of
Crosby. It was important intelligence--precisely the information desired,
he said; and he promised, at early dawn, to call the committee together,
and consult what should be done.
"Mr. Young and Crosby now retired to a neighbouring inn. But the
door was fastened, and the landlord was fast locked in sleep. They
rapped at the door, and called, and, as you say, Master Henry, when
you speak Monsieur Tonson--
"'And loud indeed were they obliged to bawl, Ere they could rouse the
torpid lump of clay.'
"The door, however, was at length opened, and after receiving a growl
from the landlord, and a snarl from the landlady, that their rest should
be thus broken--they were shown to a bed room, where both in the
same bed soon forgot the toils of the night, in a refreshing sleep.
"The committee were together at an early hour, as had been promised.
Again Crosby told over his story--and when he had finished,--'Are you
willing,' asked the committee, 'to accompany a body of horse to the
spot, and attempt to take the traitors?'
"'Sure I am,' said Crosby. 'I gave them encouragement that I would
'join' them, and well should I like to fulfil such an engagement.'
"'You shall have an opportunity,' said the committee. 'Hold yourself in
readiness, and may success crown the enterprise.'
"'At the appointed time, a company of troop well mounted, left White
Plains; and, under the pilotage of Crosby, directed their course towards
the spot. In the mean time, the company had assembled, and now, amid
the darkness of the night, were arranging their plans----"
* * * * *
"'What noise is that!' asked one--rising from his seat, and turning his

ear towards the quarter whence the sound came.
"'Nothing, I guess,' said a witty sort of fellow, in one corner of the room,
'but my old horse, taking lessons at the post, before----'
"'Something more serious, perhaps,' said the farmer, with whom Enoch
Crosby had quartered, 'that yankee!'
"'Where is he?' asked a dark eyed, keen sighted tory, rising from his
seat--'I didn't much like his looks, the other day.'
"'Something serious abroad!'--exclaimed several at the same time
rising--'Captain! Captain!'
"'Go to the door,' thundered the Captain of the gang--'and reconnoitre'--
"'You are prisoners!' exclaimed a voice which struck a panic through
the clan, as the door was opened--'surrender, or you are dead men!'
"'By whose authority is this?' asked the captain of the tories, rushing to
the door, with his sword drawn, followed by his clan, with their guns
uncharged.
"'We demand it in the name of the Continental Congress'--exclaimed he
of the whigs.
"'We surrender to nothing, but to superior strength,' said the tory
captain. 'Soldiers! come on.'
"'My brave comrades! advance,' exclaimed the leader of the patriots--
'death or victory--make ready!'--
"'It's of no use to contend,' said the farmer--'not a gun loaded,
captain!--we're betrayed!--a blight on that yankee!--'
"'Take aim!'--uttered the patriot leader.
"'Hold! hold!' exclaimed the captain of the tories--'it's needless to shed
blood--what are your terms?'"

[Illustration]
"'Immediate surrender!' replied the commander of the whigs.
"'Done'--rejoined the leader of the traitors--and now they were marched
out, and were tied together in pairs, and were conducted to prison, some
miles distant to the tune, of 'Rogue's march.'"
William. "Was Crosby seen by them?"
Gen. P. "Probably not. The darkness of the night would conceal him;
and it was needless to expose himself, as their betrayer. He was
suspected by some--especially by the farmer--who recollected a
significant look which Crosby gave him, when he left him."
Henry. "He was justly rewarded, was'n't he, father?"
Gen. P. "Justly, indeed!--and all the rest, who were designing to
sacrifice their country's liberty and honour."
CHAPTER IV.
GEN. P. TELLS HOW CROSBY ENLISTED IN THE SERVICE OF
THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, AND HOW HE WAS TAKEN
PRISONER.
Gen. P.