Year: 1861

1t was a cold day in January, and tn,


winding Hudson was brdged with glitter


ing ice. The tree-tops that crown The


romantic highlands were covered will


masses of snow, which in many cases took


fantastic forms, presenting images knight:


and warriors Of the olden time, and some


times that of regular encampments, as the
eye wandered over their singular outlines


In the distance, towards the frowning
ramparts of old Fort Putnam, then in
good repair, for the period in which we
have opened our tale, was that of Amer


lean Revolution, and the dull roar Of war


was resounding throughout the snowclad
land.


Near the rivers brink, at spot now
occupied by Cozzen's Hotel at West
Point, soldier was slowly pacing to and
fro, pausing occasionally TO listen for a
moment, and then again resuming his
walk. 1t was one of the outposts on
which it was necessary to exercise the
utmost vigilance; hence, the cautious
manner in which the soldier trod bis snow
beaten path, and listened with keen ears
to every sound that arose upon the frosty
air. 1t was about eleven o'clock at night,
and having come at ten, and his hour of
duty being limited to two hours, he had
consequently an hour to stand, which was.
long enough in such lonely position,
with the thermometer five degrees below
zero. The moon, however, was shining
down brightly upon the sheeted SHOWS,
and he was a young and hardy soldier of
the future republic, so he did not shrink
from the duty before him, but watch(ul
and attentive, and yet as if expecting
something to occur, he marched up and
down upon his post, nor needed the chill
blast, as it went rudely sweeping by.


All at once a sound was heard at a
little distance, as of some one tramping
through the deep snow. The sentinel
paused in his walk, and gazed toward the
spot from which the noise proceeded, and
presently tall figure wrapped in large
gray overcoat, was seen to emerge from
the shadows of neighboring thicket, and
stalk with martial stride out into the sill
very moOnbeams.


Who goes there T shouted the senti-
mel, his voice awaking the echoes that
slumbered in the breast Of the forest
clothed mountains.


a friend, Fearing friend of Amer
lea and her cause, replied the intruder,
as he advanced still nearer.


Stand, and give me the countersign,
SAID the sentinel, in low, stern, voice, as
he brought bis musket to a charge. !
know who you are, sir, of course, but then
all needful forms must be gone through
with


You are right, Fearing-always at
tend to duty to the letter. The counter
sign P,etaam.'


Countersigu's correct, replied the
sentinel, bringing his musket down
athwart his breast to the position known
among military men, as the port and
now, sir, we will commence our confer
ence.


The conference need not be long, this.
bitter cold night, replied the tall stranger,
as he drew his gray overcoat more closely
about his noble figure you know that
when l wrote you to come on from Vir-
ginia and enlist in the army, expressly
gave you to understand, that although
you would be for the time being ostensi- I
blya private soldier, yet had higher
and more important duties for you to en-
gage in, which, if you successfully ac- {
complished, you should have commits {
sion as a Lieutenant {
Yes sir, / am patriot. would serve
my country to the last drop of my blood,
if it was necessary,
l believe you, Fearing. know you i
to be good man and true, and that is |
why l have selected you for the duty t
which l want performed. l could not !
send for you to come to my quarters with c
out exciting suspicion, and as it is neces- a
sary to use great caution and circumspec- S
ton, l decided to visit you at time when v
you were a sentinel on the outpost, a spot d
where we can converse without danger
OF being overheard"


Your plans are well formed, sir, and I y
am now ready to listen to whatever in
struction you may have to give


Tomorrow morning. continued the a
tall stranger, in low tone, you will OBJ i
tain pass from your captain to 60 over Q
the river and spend the day, and to return 4
IN the evening, But so far from return D
ing, you will make tue best of your way
10 New York, represent to Sir Henry
L L. 4 ! I =