_Gen. P_. "Because, my son, it was here that a great number of tories
resided--the worst enemies which the Americans had to contend with."

_Henry_. "Worse than the British, father?"

_Gen. P_. "In several respects worse. The tories, in general, were
quite as unfriendly to American liberty, as the British themselves.
And, besides, living in the country, and being acquainted with it,
they could do even more injury than strangers.

"Many of this description of persons lived on the 'neutral ground;'
and, what was worse, they often pretended to be Whigs--and passed for
such--but in _secret_, did all in their power to injure their country.

"Crosby, as I told you, had reached a part of this ground, on his way
to the American camp. It was just at evening, that he fell in with a
stranger, who appeared to be passing in the same direction with
himself.

"'Good evening,' said the stranger--'which way are you travelling?--
below?'"

_William_. "Which way was that?"

_Gen. P_. "Towards New-York. The British were sometimes called the
'_lower party_'--the Americans the '_upper party_' because the latter
lay north of the former. The stranger meant to ascertain which party
Crosby was going to join."

_Henry_. "And did Crosby tell him?"