The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-09-05
[ did not reply.

" - F..E-.t.l
You can, sir"
II think I can"
Then. after a moments pause: "You
are not known to any one in his Hud-
son river country?"
ITO no n except Colonel Living
stones command" o., gg 9Fw
You are known to others" y
ITO others?" or.
ITO a dozen British soldiers, five of
| whom are at large"
Yes, that is true, you e~xcellency."
How could he have heard of last
| nights work so soon?
"You should lave taken them all.
They are dangerous men, and one who
| escaped is more dangerous than all the
dozen put together. mi
ut was impossible, sir, under the"
Nothing is impossible, young man."
said Washington quietly. Then he went
on, You have never been in New
York;" ' .
mo, u excellency."
Washington paused again.
Lieutenant, you are to prepare to
undertake a difficult work. 3.
Yes, you eXcellency."
You are to &C to New York at once"
yes, your e~Xcellency."
You will examine the situation; he
paused a moment. .
The situation Of"
'Of Benedict Arnold's house, at No.
5 Broadway. You are to form some
plan for abducting the traitor Arnold
across the Hudson to CommuripaW,
where you will be safe"
1 could not reply now.
you will then bring Arnold alive to
me here" 1 could scarce tell where 1
was with this calm voice laying upon
me so easily such a work. VS.
You can do it?" >>#.
at shall be done, your excellency, If
the traitor is in the town."
You will also search out a man who
goes by the name Of Captain Hazeltine
-ah, you know him?" for I had started
i~nvoluntarily. "He may not be in the
town when you get there. II not, wait
for him unless the Arnold matter is
more urgent" x
1T. shall be done, your ~excellency."
None might question this man.
IF O bring him to me dead or alive,
you will bring the most dangerous spy
in the British army. Still further: Sir
Henry Clinton has by this time heard
of the arrival of Rochambeau's fleet,
and will be forming some plan for cut
ting off his corporation with me. I
must know this plan in time to stop it,
Or ~. "t H.
Cor
you must stop it yourself"
"It shall be done, your excellency."
Why I spoke with such confidence,
God only knows. The whole bearing
Of the great soldier seemed to go into
me for that moment and I felt certain
all should be done as he said. I little
know what was to come.
Lieutenant continued Washington,
still more slowly, mo, human oul in
this world knows of this commission
but you and I, and If you are taken
II shall not be, your excellency."
eff your are taken, sir, neither I nor
any huraon sould can save your life.
You will be hung as a spy and 1 can
not lift a finger to help YOU"
II understand" said I, looking him in
the y EE,
"Now, as. to your necessaries," and he
went into another room, returning in a
moment with several papers. In the in
slant of his absence ]. had made up my
mind to one thing, and as he returned,
I asked: 5@s e.
your excellency gives me three COM
missions? ?" ss$
well, sir?" said he, in some surprise,
1T will be wiser to have three men
execute them"
quickly. Three American soldiers in
New York would be discovered in ar
hour" ~
mot the three that will CO."
1T is impossible" reiterated the
commander. II am putting great re-
lance in my Judgment when I give you
these weighty. commissions, but{I must
have are known in New York, partly
because I rely on General Putnam's
recommendation of you"
THAT confidence shall not be mis-.
placed" W 1%$4 $s
II feel that 1t is not
Besides, If I fail, as you say, sir, j
shall be hanged, and that will be the
end of it"
What is in your mind?"5 he asked
with a slow quiet smile. E
There are two lieutenants in Colone
LivingstoE's command" EtEf
Washington glanced at a bundle OF
papers on the table again. |"Lieuten.
ants Curtis and Acton?". a&- /.
Yes, you excellency."
You have known them long ant
well?" Z
IT have scarcely known them scarce.
iy two weeks, but I knowlthem WELL"
h may betray YOU" b '&,
THAT will be impossible as
"How Is that?" +rE 2"a
Because shall not tell them any.
thing, your e~xcellency."
They will, go with you in ignor.
ance?" @s
"They will go with me without know.
ing the purpose of their journey. I,
they succeed, they will know soor
enough. If they are taken, they viii
die without ever knowing why the,
died. 81.
Then they are brave men,"
That they are. YOU excellency,.
said 1, earnestly. "And I beg you, sir
to let me have their assistance ane
counsel
IT know n Of them well, the other
have heard somewhat of. You vii
answer for them?
7 will answer for them, your ex.
ceilency.n
Thereupon he sat down in his chair
and looked tfoughtfully out of the win.
dow for d few moments. Then, col.
lecttng himself again, he opened the
pacIkageo Of papers brought from the il.
ner room, and, selecting two, handed
them to me. They were peculiar bit.
of waterproof paper not. more than !
couple of inches by ne In measurement
ard rs + read them carefully u could
not repress an exclamation. Both Were
signed by Sir Henry Clinton and read
as follows: ss
Captain Hazeltine is to- be allowed u
4 pass and repass the British lines any.
i where at any tine Of day or night.
Clinton, Commander-in-Chief,