George mentioned several other names, and, to his surprise, Mr. Hewes could account for almost all of them.
"Schoolmaster Anderson," said George.
Colonel Hewes smiled. "You need not fear him," he responded. "He will not know you; he is blind."
George started.
"But you will hear more of that anon, perhaps. The plan, in short, is this: I have a passport. 'Twill carry you through the American lines. You will be rowed across the river and placed so you can make your way safely up to the British works. These papers will do the rest for you. You will be Richard Blount, of Albany, will go at once to the 'City Arms,' wait for a day or so, and then receive instructions what to do. You will be watched, of course, but act with caution; keep off the streets as much as possible; stay with the soldiers, and forget that you have ever been in New Jersey. It is necessary that the one who undertakes this venturous trip should know New York and its by-ways. Therefore you have been chosen. The people you will meet will be those with whom you have never come into contact, and many of whom you have never even heard. It will not be for long. If you start to-morrow, you can be in New York in three days." The Colonel paused, then added:
"If you follow this story that I have written, you can explain how you came down from Albany."
George was thinking deeply. It did look like a wild, impossible scheme, but still be trusted in Colonel Hewes's judgment.
"Listen," again went on the older man. "Here is a cipher. It is not hard to learn." He handed George a slip of paper hardly larger than his thumb-nail.
"I cannot make much out of this," said the latter.
"Try it now," said Colonel Hewes, taking a magnifying-glass out of his pocket. Under the strong lens the characters could be easily read. Above each one was the letter of the alphabet it represented. "With this at your elbow you can readily write anything you please," said the Colonel. "When you have arrived at the inn, pretend to be ill; stay in your room, and write out in this cipher a description, frankly stating who you are, what you are doing, and who sent you. Add that you are waiting to receive your orders, and tell where you are to be found."