[Enter hurriedly, and meeting, Arnold and André on one side, Joshua Smith on the other.]
Joshua Smith. General Arnold! Major André!
Arnold. What is it? What has happened?
Joshua Smith. Colonel Livingston's redoubts on the eastern bank. He has fired on the Vulture. They are exchanging shots; and the Vulture is dropping down stream. She cannot bear the fire.
Major André. We are lost!
Arnold. No, no, no; not lost, not lost. You have only to drop down stream also. Mr. Smith goes with you; and you shall be put aboard the vessel a few miles below. Eh, Smith?
Joshua Smith. Not for the world, General! It is daylight now, and if I should be seen taking this gentleman to the Vulture, the Yankees would shoot both of us.
Arnold. Some truth in that. But what can we do?
Joshua Smith. Go the other way, General. You must give a pass to both Major André and me, allowing us to cross the river, and so on to New York. I'll go with the Major till we reach the British lines. It's a plain road to safety.
André. But my uniform—