302 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



introduced as Mr. Anderson. He excused himself from going ashore, 

 but this person would go in his stead, and was competent to the trans- 

 action of the business. Andre, although in his uniform, was so com- 

 pletely enveloped in a blue great-coat, that Smith (if we believe his as- 

 sertions) did not suspect his real name or character. 



Smith and Andre descended into the boat, where the Colquhouns 

 awaited them. They were landed at the foot of a mountain called the 

 Long Clove, on the western margin of the river, about six miles 

 below Stony Point. The Vulture lay between the place and Teller's 

 Point. Here Arnold was in attendance on horseback, with another 

 horse brought by a servant of Smith's. It was perfectly dark, and 

 Smith, knowing tbe spot designated by Arnold, groped his way up the 

 bank, and found the commander of West Point concealed among the 

 trees and bushes." 



Smith was sent back for his companion ; and, having introduced him, 

 was requested to retire to the boat, where he remained ill at ease and 

 watchful, while the Colquhouns, conscience-free, slept soundly through 

 the remainder of the night. The conference appeared unnecessarily 

 long to Mr. Smith, and he retraced his way to give notice of the ap- 

 proach of morning, and the necessity of departing before daylight ap- 

 peared. 



The conspirators had exhausted the night, and their business was not 

 yet completed. It was agreed that the boat should be dismissed and 

 sent up the river. Andre consented to mount a led horse brought to 

 the Clove with Arnold, and to accompany him to Smith's house, there 

 to remain through the day, and to return to the sloop of war next night. 

 It was still dark, and, as Andre asserts, the voice of the sentinel de- 

 manding the countersign, was the first indication to the adjutant-general 

 that he was within the American lines. About the break of day, the 

 conspirators arrived at Smith's house. He had proceeded with the 

 boat to Crown Island, in Haverstraw creek, and, dismissing the Colqu- 

 houns, joined Arnold. To the alarm of the group, a cannonade was 

 very soon heard ; and, from the window, Andre beheld that the Vulture 

 was in peril from the guns, and saw her obliged to weigh anchor and 

 stand down the river. In an upper apartment in Smith's house, the spy 

 and the traitor viewed this unexpected incident, and Sir Henry Clinton's 

 adjutant general, no doubt, felt for a time, that the net prepared for 

 others was closing around him. It is to be supposed that the com- 

 mander of West Point reassured him, and, after breakfast, Smith left 



a Smith's words are, "hid among the flrs." 



