138 WINTER SKETCHES. 



If the British had been victorious, they might 

 have returned to become office-holders, but as 

 things turned out it was the part of discretion 

 to stay away. Benedict never came home, 

 but Jarvis, after many years, had an irrepres- 

 sible desire to visit his friends. He came to 

 them in disguise, but his presence in the town 

 was suspected. The mob came to the house 

 of his sister where he was imperfectly con- 

 cealed. Again a woman's fertility of resource 

 came into play. She pushed her brother into 

 the great brick oven, and piling him over with 

 kindling-wood, bade the intruders search the 

 house ; and they searched it in vain. 



On the first appearance of the British, ex- 

 presses were sent to Gens. Arnold and Woos- 

 ter at New Haven. They arrived one day too 

 late for effective service. If they could in 

 season have collected even a few men, they 

 might have swept down on their enemies at 

 night, when they lay around the smoking 

 ruins of the town in the stupor of intoxication. 

 They arrived, however, on the next day, and 

 dividing their forces, Arnold pushed on ahead 

 over the road I had just travelled, to fortify 

 a pass against the enemy's approach, while 

 Wooster followed in their rear. 



