The British were entirely out of provisions, and had been living exclusively on congress water for some weeks past. Mr. Burgoyne had written home to the Crown that, if the war was to be successfully prosecuted in America, the army must be supplied with something more filling for the price than mineral water. But he must have forgotten to mail the letter, for no commissary stores arrived, and the soldiers continued to subsist upon their aqueous diet. They were consequently greatly reduced and fell an easy prey to the Americans. That year Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States,[3] which (with the addition of other stars from time to time) has been handed down to grateful posterity, and to-day proudly reveals to the youth of a free Republic the whereabouts of the circus tent. Footnote 3: NOTE—This supplied a want long felt, as the army had hitherto rallied round Mr. Washington’s red pocket handkerchief tied to a broom handle. _CHAPTER XXII._ IMPRUDENT CONDUCT OF BENEDICT ARNOLD—A REAL ESTATE SPECULATION—$50,000 THE PRICE OF LIBERTY (TERMS CASH)—MAJOR ANDRÉ IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED—SUSPENSE—EVIL COMMUNICATION—A TALE-BEARING YELLOW DOG. It was in the fall of 1780 that one Benedict Arnold, being seriously inconvenienced for want of funds, employed some very questionable means of getting on his financial legs again. After laying his head together for a spell, he resolved to realize on some real estate belonging to the colonial government, and make a European tour on the proceeds. He secretly negotiated with the British Commander, Lord Clinton, (then at New York,) for the sale of a few acres at West Point, where he (Arnold) happened to be in command, which he agreed to transfer to the said Lord Clinton for and in consideration of $50,000 to him, the said Arnold, paid in hand. [Illustration: _BENEDICT ARNOLD MEDITATING TREASON_ _Mr ARNOLD ABANDONS HIS PLANS_ _CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRÉ_ _MAJOR ANDRÉ ABANDONS HIS PLANS._ _M ANDRÉ IN A STATE OF SUSPENSE._ ]