The Skinner followed, and each party pursued
the common course, casting frequent and suspicious glances at the other,
and both maintaining a most impenetrable silence.
Wagons were moving along the river road, and occasional parties of horse
were seen escorting the fruits of the inroad towards the city. As the
peddler had views of his own, he rather avoided falling in with any of
these patrols, than sought their protection. But, after traveling a few
miles on the immediate banks of the river, during which, notwithstanding
the repeated efforts of the Skinner to establish something like
sociability, he maintained a most determined silence, keeping a firm
hold of the gun, and always maintaining a jealous watchfulness of his
associate, the peddler suddenly struck into the highway, with an
intention of crossing the hills towards Harlem. At the moment he gained
the path, a body of horse came over a little eminence, and was upon him
before he perceived them. It was too late to retreat, and after taking a
view of the materials that composed this party, Birch rejoiced in the
rencounter, as a probable means of relieving him from his unwelcome
companion. There were some eighteen or twenty men, mounted and equipped
as dragoons, though neither their appearance nor manners denoted much
discipline.
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