304 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



hand upon liis knife, with an ominous scowl upon his conductor, but 

 seeing that he had to do with one who was likely to be as good as his 

 word, he restrained himself, and began to arrange some rubbish to serve 

 him for a bed. The other soldier followed his example, and their guide 

 withdrew, locking the door after him. 



"The next night they went on as usual, but the manner of their con- 

 ductor showed that there was more danger than before ; in fact, he ex- 

 plained to the party that they were now not far from the Delaware, and 

 hoped to reach it before midnight. They occasionally heard the report 

 of a musket, which seemed to indicate that some movement was going 

 on in the country. Thus warned, they quickened their steps, and it was 

 not long before they saw a gleam of broad clear light before them, such 

 as is reflected from calm waters, even in the darkest night. They moved 

 up to it in deep silence ; there were various emotions in their breasts ; Lee 

 was hoping for an opportunity to escape from an enterprise which was 

 growing too serious, and the principal objects of which were already 

 answered; the others were anxious lest some accident might have hap- 

 pened to the boat on which they depended for crossing the stream. 



"When they came to the bank there were no traces of a boat on the 

 waters. Their conductor stood still for a moment in dismay; but recol- 

 lecting himself, he said it was possible it might have been secured lower 

 down the stream, and, forgetting everything else, he directed the larger 

 soldier to accompany him, and giving a pistol to the other, he whisper- 

 ed, ' if the rebel officer attempts to betray us, shoot him ; if not, you will 

 not, for your own sake, make any noise to show where we are.' In the 

 same instant they departed, and Lee was left alone with the ruffian. 



" He had before suspected that the fellow knew him, and now doubts 

 were changed to certainty at once. Dark as it was, it seemed as if fire 

 flashed from his eye, now he felt that revenge was within his power. 

 Lee was as brave as any officer in the army ; but he was unarmed, and 

 though he was strong, his adversary was still more powerful. While he 

 stood, uncertain what to do, the fellow seemed enjoying the prospect of 

 revenge, as he looked on him with a steady eye. Though the officer 

 stood to appearance unmoved, the sweat rolled in heavy drops from his 

 brow. He soon took his resolution, and sprang upon his adversary with 

 the intention of wresting the pistol from his hand ; but the other was 

 upon his guard, and aimed with such precision, that had the pistol been 

 charged with a bullet, that moment would have been his last. But it 

 seemed that the conductor had trusted to the sight of his weapons to 

 render them unnecessary, and had therefore only loaded them with pow- 

 der; as it was, the shock threw Lee to the ground; but, fortunately as 

 the fellow dropped the pistol, it fell where Lee could reach it, and as his 

 adversary stooped and drew his knife from his bosom, Lee was able 



