“‘What can detain them?’ he muttered to himself.  ’Can they have deceived me?  Why answer they not the signal?’ At that moment a bright flame rose from the river, illuminating, for a moment, the surrounding scenery, and showing a small boat filled with persons making rapidly towards the shore.  ‘All’s well,’ he continued; ’in three minutes I shall be the possessor of a coronet, and the cause of the Republic be no more.’

“Then gaily turning to Washington, he said, ’Come, General, pledge me to the success of your arms.’  The eye of Rugsdale at that moment encountered the scrutinizing look of Washington, and sunk to the ground; his hand trembled violently, even to so great a degree as to partly spill the contents of the goblet.  With difficulty he conveyed it to his lips—­then retiring to the window, he waved his hand, which action was immediately responded to by a third sound of the cannon, at the same moment the English anthem of ‘God save the King,’ burst in full volume upon the ear, and a band of men attired in British uniform, with their faces hidden by masks, entered the apartment.  The American officers drew their swords, but Washington, cool and collected, stood with his arms folded upon his breast, and quietly remarked to them, ’Be calm, gentlemen—­this is an honour we did not anticipate.’  Then, turning to Rugsdale, he said, ‘Speak, sir, what does this mean?’

“‘It means,’ replied the traitor, (placing his hand upon the shoulder of Washington,) ’that you are my prisoner.  In the name of King George, I arrest you.’

“‘Never,’ exclaimed the General.  ’We may be cut to pieces, but surrender we will not.  Therefore give way,’ and he waved his sword to the guard who stood with their muskets levelled, as ready to fire, should they attempt to escape.  In an instant were their weapons reversed, and, dropping their masks, to the horror of Rugsdale, and the agreeable surprise of Washington, his own brave party, whom he had left in charge of the barge, stood revealed before him.

“‘Seize that traitor!’ exclaimed the commander.  ’In ten minutes from this moment let him be a spectacle between the heavens and the earth.’  The wife and daughter clung to his knees in supplication, but an irrevocable oath had passed his lips that never should treason receive his forgiveness after that of the miscreant Arnold.  ‘For my own life,’ he said, while tears rolled down his noble countenance at the agony of the wife and daughter:  ’For my own life I heed not; but the liberty of my native land—­the welfare of millions demand this sacrifice.  For the sake of humanity, I pity him; but my oath is recorded, and now in the presence of Heaven, I swear I will not forgive him.’

“Like a thunderbolt fell these words upon the wife and daughter.  They sank lifeless into the hands of the domestics, and when they had recovered to consciousness, Rugsdale had atoned for his treason by the sacrifice of his life.