A COLD MORNING. 1 63 



fortunes were traced as he was led from place 

 to place, a prisoner. I now proposed to avail 

 ourselves of the chance offered by the closing 

 of the river, to cross it as near as might be, in 

 an opposite direction, on the route of the old 

 ferry which served Andre's purpose, for it is 

 not true, as is generally supposed, that he was 

 brought over by a row-boat in the darkness, 

 being supplied with a horse after landing. 



It was very cold on the morning of the i6th 

 of -February. The mercury at eight o'clock 

 stood at five degrees below zero, but the air 

 was perfectly still, so that at ten, when the 

 glass indicated zero, the lack of wind aided by 

 the sun-warmth already appreciable in the 

 advance of the season, rendered riding not 

 only far from uncomfortable, but gave it a 

 zest and enjoyment not to be attained under 

 any other conditions. 



Leaving Lake Mohegan we pursued our 

 noiseless way over the well-beaten sleigh 

 tracks, down through the village of Peekskill, 

 meeting here and there a muffled pedestrian. 

 Most of the people were occupied in the many 

 stove foundries which contribute to its princi- 

 pal industry. On a day like this they might 

 well make themselves comfortable about their 



