shop of Captain Godfrey, and sternly demanded of him all his goods and
chattels, to be held by them in trust, and to be restored to him at the
close of the American rebellion, on condition that he joined General
Washington. His refusal of these conditions was, by the decree of the
war committee, to be punished with death. This committee had a number of
armed men as the instruments by which they enforced their decrees. The
three envoys gave the Captain one hour to consider their proposal.

At the expiration of the hour Margaret Godfrey and her husband came into
the room where the rebels were seated. Margaret asked them how her
husband and family should be able to join General Washington; "Would
they not be arrested as spies or enemies of the New England colonists if
they attempted to pass over among them?"

One of the rebels answered her, "If you will go and join General
Washington, we will give you a pass into New England, and as soon as we
can consult with the war committee we will bring or send you the
passport."

Margaret trembled lest her husband would suddenly object to the
proceeding, as nothing definite had been arranged during their hour of
debating the situation, only that they must escape if possible. She was
well aware of her husband's sterling loyalty. She caught his eye and
nodded to him to assent to the proposition of the rebels.

He did so. The rebels left, promising the pass the next day, and that in
twenty-four hours after receiving it, a guard would be ready to escort
them on their way to New England. It being late in the afternoon the
rebels then left. At noon the following day a messenger arrived with the
passport, and also an order to be ready to proceed toward New England on