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44 os ' 0 PEDDLER: SPY.
arms. Hence the knowledge made the fiery colonel particu.
larly angry. In his-rage, Van Curter had sent a messenger
to Joseph, desiring. his presence-at Good Hope, Every thing
being remarkably quiet in the Manhattan settlement, just then,
the captain readily obtained leave of absence.* While on hig
way to the House of Good Hope, by the river, he met the
young lieutenant, who was evidently waiting for somebody,
on the rivers bank. Retiring as the boat-load of Manhat-
tancrs approached, Barlow was followed into the forest by the
captain. Not. being a man to run from a Manhattaner, Bar-
low paused, and, as we haye seen, closed in mortal combat.
It was the desire of Van Curter to hurry on the marriage
by every means in his power. But, at present, his- whole at-
tention was turned to a project for driving the English’ from
Windsor.’ He saw, with increasing fear, that-the domincering
Yankees were spreading more and more. through the country,
and that, unless checked by -some means, they would soon
possess the whole ‘country,. The transactions carried on by
our English ancestors, of which the dealings of Boston Bain-
bridge ‘was a fair type, were enough to drive that well-inten-
tioned people stark mad.’ No wonder, therefore, that they
concocted a plan for the possession of Windsor, on the river
above Good Hope.
Captain Holmes had set up this post, as has been suggest-
ed, in direct. opposition. to the wishes of Van Curter. The
dialogue which passed ‘between them as the English sloop
passed; up ‘the. stream, was $0, characteristic of the two men,
_ that we repeat it:
.
~“Where would you go?” cried ‘Van Curter.
“Up. the river, to trade,” replied Holmes. .
“ Strike and stay!” shouted the commandant, “ or I will
fire into you.”
“Wire and be hanged,”: roturned: Holmes. “Tho river ig
mine as much as. your own.” .. -
Van Curter thought vetter of it, and did not fire. The
‘sloop passed up the stream, and founded the post which after-
ward-awakened the Dutchman’ 3 ire to such an extent.
It was. night when Joseph Van Zandt arrived’ at Good ’
Hope, and he went at once to the cabin of Van Curter. He
had not retired, but sat alone at a table, by a flaring lamp,
DP
ye RS