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Page 25
"'Madam,' interrupted the officer, awed by the stern majesty of her
manner, 'I came not here to interchange words with a woman, or, I might
speak about warring against our lawful king.--But you know, Tom,'
turning to his companion, 'I never was good at preaching.' 'Not to a
woman, certainly,' said Tom, laughing, 'or rather you could never bring
one to your way of thinking.'
"A slight noise warned them of the impropriety of their longer
remaining. The General having completed dressing, took an affectionate
farewell of his wife, assuring her he would soon be enabled to return.
They left the house--but to gain the shore was a matter of some
difficulty. The general was rendered incapable of making the slightest
noise if he had wished to, and they had tied Mrs. Sullivan, and bound
her mouth to prevent her giving any alarm. But the tents were not so
easily passed. The morning was fast approaching, and the route they came
would occupy too much time to retrace it--their only plan now was to
make as straight a line as possible to the shore. Already had they
passed one tent, when the cry 'who goes there' was heard. In a moment
they gained the shadow of an adjoining tent, when a man suddenly stept
before them and demanded their business. No time could be lost--the two
officers proceeded on to the boat with the general, while the remainder
overpowered the sentinel and joined their companions as the dawn was
faintly perceptible in the east. By the time an alarm was given, they
were far beyond the reach of pursuit.
"Their prisoner was borne triumph to their commander, who intended
waiting superior orders as to the disposal of him.
"In the meanwhile, Mrs. Sullivan was not idle. A council was called, and
every plan was proposed that could tend to liberate her husband.
"The womanly wit of Mrs. Sullivan suggested that they should cross the
river in the same manner as the British had done, and seize the person
of one of their influential men, and hold him as an hostage until terms
could be agreed upon for the exchange of prisoners. It was a risk, and
if discovered, no mercy could be expected.
"The nephew of the general, a young officer of merit, and several
others, volunteered their services. The following night was arranged for
the purpose.
"The difficulty, when the time arrived, was to procure some mode of
getting over. A whale-boat was at length found, into which the
adventurers got, disguised as fishermen. They soon arrived at Long
Island and proceeded to the residence of Judge Jones.
"With some difficulty they secured that worthy functionary, and
notwithstanding his assurance as to being a good patriot, which they
assured him they did not in the least question, conveyed the good man to
the boat, in spite of his wish to finish his sleep out, and embarked
pleased with their success. On reaching the house of Mrs. Sullivan they
introduced their prisoner. Mrs. Sullivan courteously apologized for the
necessity they had been under for requesting his society without due
time for preparation; a suring him that the house and all in it were at
his service while he honoured it as his abode.
"The Judge was taken quite at a loss. At any time he was a man of a few
words, but the sudden transition had quite bewildered his faculties. At
times he doubted whether the good old cogniac, of which he had taken a
plentiful supply before retiring to rest, had not turned his head.
"He stood in the centre of the apartment gazing listlessly around him,
until the voice of Mrs. Sullivan, politely inquiring if her guest stood
in need of any refreshment, recalled his fleeting thoughts. The tempting
repast set before him did wonders in restoring his good humor, his sail
having given him quite an appetite, and at any time a lover of the good
things of life, and knowing arguments could produce no alteration in his
fate, he submitted with as much good grace as possible, a little
alleviated by the reflection that a woman's care was not the worst he
could have fallen into. By a singular coincidence, Mrs. Sullivan learnt
that her husband was an inmate in the house of the Judge, an assurance
in every way relieving, having been placed in his charge until conveyed
from Flatbush.
"Letters were soon interchanged, the Americans refusing to yield their
prisoner without the British doing the same. Terms were accordingly
entered into, and the Judge prepared to take leave of his fair hostess
at the same time her husband was taking leave of the Judge's wife.--The
Judge had been highly pleased with the manners of Mrs. Sullivan, who did
every thing in her power to make his stay agreeable.
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