CHAPTER XX
Passing through scenes which impressed upon Barclugh the virtues and the hardihood of the Colonists, he rode the whole day wondering how such noble souls as Benjamin Andrews were to be conquered. They were resourceful, self-reliant, and the peer of any Englishman in gentlemanly virtues. So long as they had no need or desire for the artificial demands of society their character remained absolutely unassailable. But in the cities, where luxury and old-world customs were imbued, there the power of money would be felt, and only there.
However, after six days of travel, the suborner of American character had had several good-sized shocks to his theories, and one of these was the fact that one hundred years ago or less, the ground over which he had travelled had been an unbroken wilderness, and now flourishing settlements and homes were met at every turn. What was Britain to do with four millions of earnest, fearless people launched in a war for independence? Oh, that the King’s advisers had known what he had seen! They would have paused and considered the demands of their people across the sea.
Such reveries were suddenly to cease, however, for passing out of New Jersey on the mountain road, Barclugh had passed into the confines of Ulster County, New York, when he was abruptly confronted by three armed men. He had been walking ahead and leading his horse after a long day’s travel and had no thoughts of war:
“Halt! Friend? or foe? Advance and give the countersign,” thundered out the leader of the three.
As Barclugh looked up he saw three gun-barrels levelled at him, and not losing his nerve replied:
“Friend! I will present my passport.”
The passport was the one from Arnold, commandant at Philadelphia. It ran as follows: