OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 301 



were doing this, Lee had time to examine his companions; one of them 

 was a large quiet looking soldier, the other a short stout man with much 

 of the aspect of a villain. They examined him in turn, and as Lee had 

 been obliged formerly to punish the shorter soldier severely, he felt some 

 misgivings when the fellow's eyes rested ui)on him. The conductor was 

 a middle aged harsh looking man, whom Lee had never seen before. 



"As no time was to be lost, their guide explained to them in few words, 

 that before he should undertake his dangerous enterprise, he should 

 require of them to swear upon the Scriptures not to make the least at- 

 tempt to escape, and never to reveal the circumstances or agent.s in the 

 proceeding, whatever might befall them. The soldiers however insisted 

 on deferring this measure till they had formed some slight acquaintance 

 with the contents of the jug, and expressed their sentiments on the 

 subject rather by actions than words. In this they were joined by Lee, 

 who by this time had begun to contemplate the danger of his enterprise 

 in a new and unpleasant point of view. If he were to be compelled to 

 accompany his party to New York, his disguise would at once be de- 

 tected, and it was certain he would be hanged as a spv. He had sup- 

 posed beforehand, that he should find no difficulty in escaping at any 

 moment; but he saw that their conductor had prepared arms for them, 

 which they were to use in taking the life of any one who should attempt 

 to leave them — and then the oath. He might possiblv have released 

 himself from its obligations, when it became necessary for the interests 

 of his country, but no honorable man could well bear to be driven to 

 an emergency, in which he must violate an oath, however reluctantly it 

 was taken. He felt that there was no retreating, when there came a 

 heavy shock as of something falling against the sides of the house; 

 their practiced ears at once detected the sound of the alarm gun, and 

 their conductor, throwing down the old Bible which he had held all 

 the while impatiently in his hand, directed the party to follow him in 

 close order, and immediately quitted the house, taking with him hi.x 

 dark lantern. 



"They went on with great despatch, but not without difficulty. Some- 

 times their footing would give way on some sandy bank or slippery 

 field; and when their path led through the woods, the wet boughs 

 dashed heavily in their faces. Lee felt that he might have deserted his 

 precious companions while they were in this hurry and alarm; but he 

 felt that as yet he had made no discoveries, and however dangerous hL^ 

 situation was he could not bear to confess that he had not nerve to carry 

 him through. On he went, therefore, for two or three hours, and wa.s 

 beginning to sink with fatigue, when the barking of a dog brouglit the 

 party to a stand. Their conductor gave a low whistle, which was an- 

 swered at no great distance, and a figure came forward in the darkness, 



