Year: 1861

'A''He ~ NoAAhN J W. W - ~ s&'1'~ :
questions by Sir Henry as to the strength
Of this post, the number Of troops, anC
other matters, which you must be careful


to exaggerate as much as you can will


safety. By making him believe that the


post is well defended, you may prevent


an attack until spring, when we shall have


reinforcements, and be better prepared to


receive him should he think fit to pay us


a visit. Do you perfectly understand me,


Fearing?


Perfectly, sir


'Well, then, give heed You will enter


the British army, watch with keen eyes


everything that transpires, aequaint your


self with its movements, lis numbers, and


everything that would be likely to be in


teresting to me, and having obtained ev-


cry information in your power, you can


watch your opportunity, make your es-


cape, and return hither, when you will


obtain your promised reward. 1t will
require great caution, great discretion,
great secretness on your pant, to insure
success, but should you chance to succeed,
you will be doing your country a great
service, which she will not be likely 10
forget. AT the same time l will not con-
ceal from you that the mission is fraught
with no little danger. Should your plans
be discovered, you would be hanged just
as sure as your name is Albert Fearing


| know that sir


And knowing it, you decide to run
the hazard ?


i do. Tomorrow morning | will be
of, and in two days in the presence of Sir
Henry Clinton


IT'S well. l will now return to the
fort, and remember shall look with anx-
iety for the success of your dangerous
mission. Good night


Good night, sir


And the tall and stately figure turned
and disappeared within the shadow of
the neighboring thicket, from which he
had emerged when we first introduced |
him to our readers, while the grim SEN
tinel continued to pace to and fro upon
bis post, as if nothing had happened to
break in upon the quiet tour of his duty.
At length the hour of midnight arrived,
and the soldier was relieved, and return
ing to his straw couch in the barracks at
Fort Putnam, he was soon buried in q
profound and dreamless slumber.


The next morning our hero applied to
the captain Of his company for pass to
cross the river on the ice, giving as
reason that he wished TO visit relative
who resided on the other side. Although
Fearing had been but few days enlist
ed, yet SO cheerlully and faithfully had
he performed bis duties, that the request
was readily granted, and the young man
having dressed himself in his best conti-
mental unifoIm, started off and and was
soon seen plodding over the smooth sur
face Of the ice which bridged the noble
Hudson. That night at sunset the new
recruit did not return, and the next morn
ing party was sent TO look after him,
They however returned unsuccessful,
much TO the evident surprise of Washing
ION and the other officers, he was report
ed to have deserted to the enemy. This
considerable chagrin among
he soldiers, as Fearing had always been
ooked upon as a very exemplary man,
md a reward of forty dollars was at once I
,fered for his apprehension. 1t was, how
,yer, Of no avail-no tidings of the ab- !
ientee could be obtained, and in the stir /
ing times which find place in every If
amp in the time of war, the circum-
tance soon faded from the memory of the S
'ficers and troops. c


Some two or three days after the events t
ust recorded, Sir Henry Clinton, the t
ommander-in-chief of the British army c
n America, was seated with number of b
lis officers in his comfortable quarters in
he upper part of the city of New York. /
hickory fire was cheerfully blazing up C
n the huge hearth, and everything wore P
n air of comfort and luxury, notwith- a
tanding the weather was biting cold Fl
Iithout. Presently the orderly at the S
oor put in his head, and said to Sir Il
henry; s.


There is man who would like to see fl
er excellency.' Il


Show him in here c


The orderly disappeared for a moment a
nd then returned, usheFing in Albert t'
fearing. Sir Henry instantly caught a n
limpse of the continental uniform be- c.
cath the great coat which Albert had ST
left unbuttoned, and said: b
'Ah, an American soldier, are you d? h
md, pray, what do you want, my man il