A SPIRITED ENGAGEMENT. IJJ 



mediate return to the ship, which forthwith 

 entered into a spirited engagement with the 

 cider-mill. The noise brought all the neigh- 

 boring farmers to the spot, and as fortunately 

 there was a twelve-pounder field-piece at hand, 

 it was brought into requisition. They dragged 

 it down to the end of the point and directed it 

 over a bank of natural earthworks against the 

 Vulture. She replied with round shot, one of 

 which lodged in an oak tree. When the tree 

 fell from decay not many years ago, the ball 

 was extracted, and is now one of the many 

 curiosities gathered by Dr. Coutant at Tarry- 

 town. The farmers made it too hot for the 

 sloop of war, and she accordingly dropped 

 down the river, out of range. 



The conspirators at Haverstraw had wit- 

 nessed the action, and, as may be imagined, 

 were chagrined at its consequences. Smith 

 himself was too badly frightened to undertake 

 the return of Andre by passing the battery 

 and running the risk of being overhauled by 

 patrol boats, and as Arnold was unaccountably 

 unwilling to provide another flag of truce, the 

 boat's crew became suspicious and absolutely 

 refused to go upon the errand. Arnold ac- 

 cordingly departed for his quarters, after pro- 



12 



