The record-union., 1897-11-11

was intense Already General Wash
ington was the object of the hero wor-
ship of American boys, for we had
heard many stories of his leadership IN
the French and Indian wars. Also,
however many of our elders may have
wavered between a sentimental love for
the English monarch and the newborn
spirit of freedom, we boys had no en-
tangling doubts. We were patriots, ev-
cry enc, and now, tied ingloriously to
tree, my wrath and horror were
aroused indeed at the danger to one
great mans life, but as much at the
peril to the country
Ralph Lidgett had under reckoned
my strength and agility; doubtless be-
cause | was, and am still, of a slender
build and not noticeably tall your
grosser men / have ever pitied-he i'm
agined me easily suppressed. l wriS-
gled and struggled, however, to such
excellent purpose that FIVE minutes az
ter the rascals left me, / slipped free.
and tore the sitting gag from my
mouth. My first impulse was to run
back to the house and alarm my aunt
and the servants, but that was now
some distance away and I knew that
Washington's boat should be already
coming up the river from Paulus Hook.
| had slight hope that he might come
with attendants sufficient to protect
him, but l knew that the British were
as far as Staten Island, and their ships
in the bay, and instinctdvely felt that
the General, as yet untried by black
lngratitude, would feel himself safe in
paying a passing visit to an old friend
so far up the island. All. there was
that traitor guards cunning, for | re-
allied that the deed might be done. ami
Washington's dead body be borne on
board the Kings ship before an alarm
could beat the patriots to arms L
turned about and ran to the shore
In the dusky dimness of the now fall
len night / perceived, as / lessened my
pace to walk on approaching the riv-
er many silent, shadowy forms scat
tered along the edge. They were seen
by me against the water but could be
scarcely seen from a coat against the
black hills of the island. They were
evidently thus picketed to meet the boat
at once wherever, few hundred yards
up or down, she should land. I hes
itated a minute, desperately turning in
right and left were these watching
traitors, and, to give the alarm sue
cessfully, l must not allow the boat
men to land. l saw but one course,
and that I took l crept down to
point which obtruded on the water, and
| from which 1 had often bathed.
knew the water was deep enough there
to dive from. A solitary man skulked
on the edge. fntently watching for the
boat, and him I rushed past silently
and suddenly, and, grazing his shoul-
ders. dived into the current The man
gave startled, suppressed cry as
plunged, but when l came to the sur
face, after swimming under water as
TAR as L could | heard no sound and
l concluded that he fancied me some
frightened beast. The waiting wretches
suspected nothing; they could not dis
tinguish my head in the dark waters.
and took care to swim noiselessly out
upon and down the river.
| was just in time. / had not swan
three hundred yards before I heard the
beat of oars. made for them. fearful
to cry out lest should alarm the boats
occupants, and grasped the stern. A
tall man, wrapped in boat cloak. sat
there alone. save for the boatman at the
sculls. l thanked God that Washing
toms fearlessneSs and trust in going
alone to visit an old friend in such dis
turbed times had not led him to his
death. For it was he and though
startled at my strange apparition he
remained calm and listened to my agi-
tated story While the amazed boat
| man lay on his oars, the General said
| not a word until l finished, though
felt his grand frame tremble with
| wrath. AT last his hand gripped mine
with a convulsion of grief and:
so soon are there traitors?" he said.
Indeed, SIR l broke in my aunt
Il know, | know he said, with little
! laugh. Il remember her well, my lad.
Mistress Redwood's heart was always in
| advance of her head
! He thought for a moment and then
| ordered the boatman to turn down
stream and pull his hardest. We had
not gone a mile before We overhauled
a barge with many men, who, at Wash
| jngton's voice. came alongside us with
many expressions of surprise. Wash
! ington stepped into the larger boat with
me by the hand and / found them to
I he his staff and guard coming from
| Paulus Hook. Many of them pressed on
me and shook my hand when they heard
the tale but one turned to the General
reproachfully.
General he said, you take too
much risk. VIII chance always stand
between you and treason, do you
| tbink?"
'fGod," said Washington gravely, TAX
ing off his hat, always watches over
the right"
And | remembered these words at
West Point four years later.
We landed, by the Generals order,
down the river, and marching uD the
shore, surprised the traitors. still wait
i ing for the boat, and there was but a
short fight, for the wretches ran. OF
all of that band who that night were
carrying out the ideas of bigger men,
only one was killed, and that was Ralph
Lidgett. We bore him to my aunts, the
nearest house, and let my dear relatives
horror and contrition at the black crime
meditated by those whom she had
looked upon as wellmeaning peace
makers. be passed over with this word.
She was overcome, but Washington
took her hand most kindly and spoke
cheeringly to her.
Il should be ungrateful to many dear
/ Virginia memories" said he, with a
courteous kindness at which none ever
equaled him, IF ] believed that Susan
nah Redwood ever erred but with the
best intent"
But my fault is beyond pardon, she
said, weeping. Stay General. take the
last of our family with you to the wars
believe if he is like his father, that
he will earn forgiveness for me. though