Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/350

334 of the region. This man, Shoemaker by name, had assembled one evening at his house about fourteen of his fellow loyalists, who were trying to devise some means by which they might aid St. Leger, whose loud proclamations had failed to terrify Colonel Gansevoort or bring: much assistance from the friends of the king. Word of this gathering having come to the Americans, they sent a small band to seize the men who might be found in Shoemaker's house, and in the success that crowned their efforts they compelled all their prisoners to return with them to Fort Dayton.

Among these prisoners was a well-grown lad, Han Yost Schuyler, who had the reputation of being a half-wit, and had been granted much freedom in both armies. It had been discovered, however, that Han Yost was more a traitor than a fool, for he had been carrying word to St. Leger of the numbers and plans of the patriots. When it was found that Han Yost was among the prisoners secured, he, too, was tried with others by a "" court-martial which Arnold at once ordered, and with the others was condemned to die.

At once Han Yost's mother and brother made a great outcry. They came to the