[Illustration: "MY LAD," SAID WASHINGTON, "I THANK YOU"] IN THE DAYS OF WASHINGTON A STORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BY WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON [Illustration] THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA MDCCCXCVI COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY FRANKLIN PRINTING COMPANY 516-518 Minor Street Philadelphia CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I IN WHICH MR. NOAH WAXPENNY INTRODUCES HIMSELF 5 II IN WHICH A BRITISH OFFICER LOSES A FINE HORSE 24 III IN WHICH NATHAN BECOMES A SOLDIER 42 IV IN WHICH NATHAN'S MILITARY CAREER VERY NEARLY TERMINATES 62 V IN WHICH BEGINS A MEMORABLE BATTLE 91 VI IN WHICH NATHAN MEETS AN OLD ENEMY 106 VII IN WHICH A BUTTON BETRAYS ITS OWNER 117 VIII IN WHICH SIMON GLASS MAKES A VERY STRANGE REMARK 135 IX IN WHICH NATHAN TAKES PART IN THE BATTLE OF WYOMING 154 X IN WHICH NATHAN FINDS THE PAPERS 176 XI IN WHICH GODFREY PLEADS FOR THE CONDEMNED PRISONERS 190 XII IN WHICH A MYSTERIOUS ISLAND PLAYS A PART 208 XIII IN WHICH NATHAN MAKES A PERILOUS SWIM 226 XIV IN WHICH NATHAN FEIGNS SLUMBER TO SAVE HIS LIFE 244 XV IN WHICH THE MYSTERY IS VERY NEARLY EXPLAINED 263 XVI IN WHICH A PEEP AT THE STATE-HOUSE LEADS TO AN UGLY ADVENTURE 273 XVII IN WHICH MR. WAXPENNY ASSERTS THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW AND THE CURTAIN FALLS 300 IN THE DAYS OF WASHINGTON CHAPTER I IN WHICH MR. NOAH WAXPENNY INTRODUCES HIMSELF It was an evening in the first week in February, 1778. Supper was over in the house of Cornelius De Vries, which stood on Green Street, Philadelphia, and in that part of the town known as the Northern Liberties. Agatha De Vries, the elderly and maiden sister of Cornelius, had washed and put away the dishes and had gone around the corner to gossip with a neighbor. The light shed from two copper candlesticks and from the fire made the sitting-room look very snug and cozy. In one corner stood a tall clock-case, flanked by a white pine settee and a chest of drawers. A spider legged writing-desk stood near the tile lined fireplace, over which was a row of china dishes--very rare at that time. The floor was white and sanded, and the walls were hung with a few paintings and colored prints.