The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-02-17

nome near Albany, he was by no means
idle. Washington had given him
special instructions TO intercept all
communication between Clinton, who
then wac in New York, and General
Haldimand, in Canada.
Few men had won the confidence
and respect of the American COM
mander as had Philip Schuyler, and
few men we're more feared by the
British. His service had been great,
and he always had shown the
spirit of true man as we'll as of a
brave soldier; and, although he had
given up his position in the Continen-
tai Army, there was no one the British
would have been more delighted to
capture.
On the evening following the inter.
view we have described, John Walter
meyer was at the crossroads, awaiting
the coming of the band which the spy
had promised. He had not been there
long before he heard the sounds of
approaching men. He stepped behind
one OF the large trees that grew by the
roadside, and waited for them to ap.
proach. They were talking in low
tones but as soon as he heard them
he was satisfied that they we're the
men he wanted and, giving the watch
word agreed upon, he approached and
joined them.
They were amotley crowd of a dozen
men. He recognized some as former
acguaintances; but the Indians and
Tories were all strangers. Relying
upon the word of Joe Bettys that they
could be depended upon, he immedi-
ately entered into conversation and ar
ranged his plans. In a brief time they
all had approached the home of Gen
eral Schuyler, and were peering from
behind the pine trees and shrubbery
that grew about the place.
All the lights hadtdlsappeared, and
it was evident that all within had re-
tired. Disappointed, Waltermeyer
withdrew his band, and prepared for
the night.
The next day careful watch was
kept, but the opportunity they desired
did not present itself. Frequently the
General came out upon the lawn, but
he was always attended, and the cow
|'ardly men wanted to catch him alone.
Sometimes he was seated on the broad
piazza, playing with his youngest
child, and sometimes he was with one
of his daughters and her children; but
servants in each case were not tar
away, and the attempt could not be
made.
Several days passed in this manner,
and Waltermeyer found his men be.
coming restless. Something must be
done. Starting out alone, he soon re-
turned to the camp they had made in
the woods, attended by a Dutchman
whom he had met and compelled to
accompany him.
"Now, Hans" said Waltermeyer,
when he had called his band about
him, 1--WE want to know just how many
men are at Schuyler's house."
"Yah," replied Hans, turning his
round, expressionless face from one
man to another. "Yah; dere vas men,
also vimins dere"-
"Yes, but how many?" asked Wal
termeyer, impatiently.
al should dink dere vas," replied
Hans.
"But how manyP" repeated the
Tory.
''Shust aboud enough" answered
the laconic Dutchman.
"But doesn't Schuyler ever leave
home? Doesn't he go alonep When
does ne go to Albany?" The leader,
almost hopeless, was changing the line
of his questions.
"Yah, he goes TO Albany. Some.
times NIT de soldiers-but always NIT
de guns. General Schuyler he know
how to shood."
At length, by dint of many ques-
ftions. Waltermeyer contrived to gain
some of the information he was GEEK
ing, and, with many threats of what
would befall him if he revealed the
presence OF his men, or repeated the
questions he had asked, he dismissed
the Dutchman and watched him as he
departed down the road.
His heart would not have been COM
| forted If he could have followed him,
for Hans proceeded directly to General
Schuyler's home, aud was with him O
long time in his private room. When
at last he arose to go, he met on the
piazza the man of whom Joe Bettys
had been suspicious during his inter
view with John Waltermeyer.
He, too, remained in the general 5
private room for half an hour and
when his host accompanied him to the
door he said: 81 thank you, my
friend. We are on opposite sides in
this fearful struggle; but you have
placed friendship above country, and
l should be less than a man did not
heed two such energetic warnings as l
have just had"
''But you'll protect yourself, will
you not?" said the Tory.
"Never fear, my friend, replied the
general, with a smile. ''I shall do as
you suggest.
AS result of these two warnings,
General Schuyler obtained a guard of
six men, three of whom were on duty
by day and three by night. But several
days passed and no signs of the kid
nappers appeared. The family began
TO think the alarm had been needless,
and that if there had been any danger
it had passed. The guard, however,
was not dismissed, aud all due pre-
cautions still were observed. More
than a week had passed now since the
interview of Joe Bettys with John
Waltermeyer, and the general was
hoping that the project had been aban-
| doued.
! IA had haan nm awoaadino,I,- erIKr,,