Here he took off his
clothes and spread them in the sun to dry.
Returning to the road he was proceeding on his way, when at a bend in
the road, he came upon two light dragoons, evidently looking for
him. What was he to do? His mind acted quickly, and, as they
approached, he leisurely got over a fence into a small corn field,
near a cottage by the way-side. Here he busied himself as if he were
the owner of the cottage, going about the field; deliberately picking
up ears of corn; righting up the cap sheaf of a stack of stalks, and
examining each one. He had lost his hat, and had a handkerchief around
his head, which helped to deceive the dragoons, who supposed that he
had just come out of the cottage. They eyed him sharply, but passed
on.
After this he dared not show himself, and wandered about, living on
apples and water. He would lie concealed all day, in barns or hollows
of the woods. At night he travelled as far as his weakened condition
would allow He often found unfermented cider at the presses, for it
was cider-making time.
After several days of this wandering life he sought refuge in a barn,
where he was found by a cross old man, who refused to do anything for
him. He says that in the course of his wanderings he uniformly found
women kind and helpful. They gave him food and kept his secret. One
night, feeling utterly spent, he came to the poor dwelling of an old
man and his wife, on the east side of Long Island.
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