1898

Copyright, 1895, by
UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING CO.
Press of J. J. Little & Co.
Astor Place, New York

CONTENTS

.INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL NOTE.[3]
I.A RURAL SCENE IN 1780.[5]
II.THE PEDDLER.[9]
III.THE STRANGER’S WARNING AND THE PEDDLER’S RETURN.[16]
IV.CAPTAIN WHARTON’S CAPTURE.[20]
V.DUNWOODIE’S INVESTIGATION.[25]
VI.THE SKIRMISH AND ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN WHARTON.[29]
VII.DUNWOODIE’S TRAP AND THE RECAPTURE OF CAPTAIN WHARTON.[35]
VIII.THE PURSUIT.—BIRCH’S ESCAPE.[39]
IX.THE UNWELCOME VISITORS.[42]
X.A COLONIAL REPAST.[48]
XI.THE PEDDLER’S CAPTURE.[50]
XII.HOTEL FLANAGAN AND ITS INTRUDERS.[54]
XIII.THE SKINNERS’ REWARD.[60]
XIV.THE DOUBLE WARNING.[64]
XV.MISS WHARTON’S MARRIAGE INTERRUPTED.[69]
XVI.HELP WELL TIMED.[72]
XVII.CAPTAIN WHARTON’S TRIAL.[77]
XVIII.MR. HARPER IS SOUGHT BUT NOT FOUND.[86]
XIX.WHAT CAME OF A REVEREND GENTLEMAN’S VISIT TO CAPTAIN WHARTON.[92]
XX.THE ALARM AND THE PURSUIT.[100]
XXI.FRANCES REMINDS MR. HARPER OF HIS PROMISE.[105]
XXII.DUNWOODIE GAINS HIS SUIT, AND CAPTAIN WHARTON HIS FREEDOM.[113]
XXIII.WASHINGTON’S LAST MEETING WITH THE SPY.[118]
XXIV.DEATH OF THE SPY.—A REVELATION.[123]

INTRODUCTION.

James Fenimore Cooper was born in Burlington, N. J., in 1789—the year in which George Washington was inaugurated first President of the United States. His boyhood was passed at Cooperstown, N. Y., a village founded by his father. After completing his studies at Yale, young Cooper entered the American navy as midshipman, subsequently obtaining the rank of lieutenant. He also made some voyages in a merchant vessel, and in this service acquired that knowledge of sea life of which he made good use in many of his novels.