“What!” said the general, “have your fathers been teaching you rebellion, and sent you here to utter it?” “Nobody sent us, sir,” replied the brave little fellow. “We have never injured or insulted your soldiers, but they have trodden down our snow-hills, and broken the ice on our skating-ground. We complained, and they called us young rebels, and told us to help ourselves if we could. Yesterday our works were destroyed for the third time, and now,” said the lad, with flashing eyes, “we will bear it no longer.” General Gage looked at the boys with undisguised admiration. Then, turning to an officer who stood near, he exclaimed: “Good heavens, the very children draw in a love of liberty with the air they breathe.” To the lads he then said: “You may go, my brave boys; and be assured that if any of my troops hereafter molest you, they shall be severely punished.” WASHINGTON AND THE SPY[S] By JAMES FENIMORE COOPER In this Revolutionary story of Cooper’s, the Spy was one of Washington’s most faithful helpers. The following pages tell of their last meeting, shortly before the close of the war. The commencement of the year was passed, on the part of the Americans, in making great preparations, in conjunction with their allies, to bring the war to a close. In the south, Greene and Rawdon made a bloody campaign that was highly honorable to the troops of the latter, but which, by terminating entirely to the advantage of the former, proved him to be the better general of the two. New York was the point that was threatened by the allied armies; and Washington, by exciting a constant apprehension for the safety of that city, prevented such reënforcements from being sent to Cornwallis as would have enabled him to improve his success. At length, as autumn approached, every indication was given that the final moment had arrived. The French forces drew near to the royal lines, passing through the Neutral Ground, and threatened an attack in the direction of Kingsbridge, while large bodies of Americans were acting in concert. By hovering around the British posts, and drawing nigh in the Jerseys, they seemed to threaten the royal forces from that quarter also. The preparations partook of the nature of both a siege and a storm. But Sir Henry Clinton, in the possession of intercepted letters from Washington, rested securely within his lines, and cautiously disregarded the solicitations of Cornwallis for succor.