The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-15
None But the Brave

someone | towards daVerstraw. Cna would have said the whole world walked abroad that day. for l met one l after another; till. the sense or eauton 1 growing stronger in inc for what hao been through. I stepped toward the river bank into the thick forest, and lay me down to wait for darkness. In good trutn' what with tic want of food and the "ork of the rsst night l needed rest naoly' and my wandering thoughts that stray cd back to certain tavern ana us strangely fair occupant, must soon have been oYerruled by honest sleep, Tor when sat up agaIn, with the sense of some thIng occurring, or about to occur near by darkness had settled over the lana for several hours.
 It has ever been a peculiar quality or mine eo wake fully at orce, and had made no movement when there came in my mind less through the eyes than the cars that there, in the noonlit woods walked someone A turn of the head showed me .he figure of man striding up and down, his hands clasped behind his back, ilis hcadbent forward, but each mcment nervously lifted, as if expecting to hear some sound nc ar by.
 ''An officer" said to myself, for the straight shoulders, the straight figure and the unknown something in the car la precision were visible in every move mont of the figure could not trust my self to move, for he passed constantly within a few. feet Of the spot where l 1 lay, oriy separated frd m me by the great | ein. whose roots had served me for a | pillow. '.-.-'
 | An officer, and no mistake went on my musings and he-e in the woods at night by tho river, waiting, 1t would | seem. for some one. Car it be that he | he grows impatient? He moves toward the stream. No" My musings were cut short by the unniis takahle sounds of cars regularly striking the tholepins of boat. Tho noise drew near. and the boat must have stopped clcse by, for in a moment q mar-ray, two-appearcd, | and one, at least, was an officer as we'll, for beneath his long coat dangled the | roiut of @ scaobard. The one. whc wait | ed reteeated to my tree, and stood not i've feet away in deep shadow, the oth- | CT came up the bank into the little open | glade.
 | Gradually 1t dawned upon me that I | was, by some strange freak of chance. | become the spectator in the gallery, so | to speak, of a theater. What the spec | tacle should be knew not; but strong, perhaps natural, feeling led me to watch with peculiar eagcrncss for what was | about to take place.
 There was not long to wait, for the elder man stepped guardedly from the shadows near me, and, on the moment, | one of the new arrivals said in low | tone:
 'Is that vol, General?' Tt is l.. said the deep tones of the elderly officer.
 This Is MT. Anderson-Mr. John An dcrson. whom you expect
 There is none other with you?"
 None" answered the first speaker. except the two boatn en below, and they bc out of earshot" Then he who seemed to be master of ceremonies in this strange midnight drama continued: MT Ander- | son, this is Mir. Gustavus, Of whom we have spoken"
 T;hereurou went over me a cold sweat, for there could be no mistake-the third party to this drama spoke with a clear, strong voice in the unmistakable accents of an Dnglishman.
 T am then in the presence of Mir. Gus tayusT'
 You are" replied that person. There is no reason for raising our voices. | have the honor. then. of addressing MT. John Andcrson7''
 The same"
 What had an Engl.hhman to do here, within. or nearly within. American lines And what meant this meeting? Here were the voices and figures of officers! | No country louts were thus getting to- gether in the midst of the woods. The torres. too, were of a character with the time and place. Those of him called An derson wtre distant and of no very for bearing nature. Those of the older man came. from one who was in haste. T understand, sir" said MT. Anderson. that you arc the rerson who has made | certain congratulations touching the for | tifications at West Point"
 Yes" answered Mir. Gustavus. | 'I aun given to understand further" went on the English voice. that there has arisen some question as to the sin certty of both parties; especially as re- gards Sir Henry Clinton" 1 Yes" came the answer again.
 Sir Henry Clinton, In spite of myself the third member of this strange trio must have taken the rustic of the leaves l to be the night wind, for he turned and certainly heard the sound. Sir Henry Clinton! Sir Henry Clinton!
 T sn lere, sir. to prove my chiefs sin cerity,' the English voice was saying as tbe spectator In this thcater gathered his scattered wits. T am here ir reply 1 to note from MT. Gustavus, which says
 
 of the fortress at West Point together with a list of the guns. a sign of his good faith and sincerity and as first | step ir the arrangements to be consum- mated. Am I correct?"
 "So understand. sir" replied the cid. erly- officer quickly.
 "I have the honor then, of addressing General Benedict Arnold7'
 ''Yes; and F"
 'of addressing Maj. John Andre oi Clinton's star-but what Is that?"
 CT Is the wind in the leaves" an. swered the master of ceremonies q heard it but now" and. by the grace oi chance, the wind did. indeed at that mo mont, rustic among the foliage on al sides. Otherwise my spasmodic move. ment must have discovered me then and there.
 What followed will never be clear to me, for my :nipd on the instant became so crazed with the idea that was grow | ing on me moment hy moment that | car but recall n certain sense of moon- light and woods. with three tall figures standing in bit of open swale, talking as If for my benefit, while lay there in a dream. Yet. do I remember the SO. called G,stavus saving:
 l May ask what Is your plan for the taking of ths fortifcatiors?,'
 "'T Is that en the 2sth the attack should be made by falling quickly on thn southern outposts, and that you, expect | ing us. should have made the way clear by leaving picIcts widely separated. by | having the garrison lnprerared and by | showing me on tine Clans the exo,t ,,o.i