A young Scotch Highlander in the British army, during the Revolutionary war, was one evening creeping out of a thicket just behind the lines, evidently returning from some secret errand. The American outposts along the Hudson were then quite near the British, and being concealed in the forest, their exact number and distance were always uncertain under these circumstances, the Highlander was suspected of being an informer, or a spy, in communication with the enemy. It was just after Major Andre had been accused as a spy, and the enraged British were in no state to let a man go who was accused of being in sympathy with the Americans.
The young fellow was taken bore his Colonel, and the witnesses of his supposed guilt told their story.
“What have you to say for yourself?” demanded the Colonel, with a threatening frown.
“Only this, Sir; I got away very quietly from my comrades to pray a bit while in the bush, and was coming back when the soldiers took me.”
“Are you in the habit of praying then?” demanded the officer.
“Yes, Sir!”
“Then pray now. You never need it more in your life.” And the Colonel took out his watch.
Fully believing that he had but a few minutes to live, the Christian soldier knelt down and poured out his soul to the Lord in such language as only a friend of God could use. All who heard it were astonished, the Colonel himself among the rest.
“Go,” said he “You have told the truth. If you had not been often to drill, you could not have done so well at review.”
ML 08/18/1968