47 Wolferfs Roost.
The Roost, as has been observed, was one of their lurking-places ; having a cove in front where their whale-boats could be drawn up outof sight, and Jacob Van Tassel being a vigilant ally, ready to take a
part in any " scout or scrummage" by land or water. At this little warrior nest the hard-riding lads from the hills would hold consultations with the chivalry of the river, and here were concerted divers of
those daring enterprises which resounded from Spiting Devil Creek, even unto Anthony's Nose. Here was concocted the midnight invasion of New York Island, and the conflagration of Delancy's Tory
mansion, which makes such a blaze in revolutionary history. Nay,more, if the traditions of the Roost may be credited, here was meditated, by Jacob Van Tassel and his compeers, a nocturnal foray into
New York itself, to surprise and carry off the British commanders, Howe and Clinton, and put a triumphant close to the war.
There is no knowing whether this notable scheme might not have
been carried into effect, had not one of Jacob Van Tassel's egregious exploits along shore with his goose-gun, with which he thought himself a match for any thing, brought vengeance on his house.
It so happened that in the course of one of his solitary prowls he descried a British transport aground; the stern swung toward shore within point-blank shot. The temptation was too great to be resisted.
Bang! went the great goose-gun, from the covert of the trees, shivering the cabin-windows and driving all hands forward. Bang ! bang !
the shots were repeated. The reports brought other of Jacob's fellow
bush-fighters to the spot. Before the transport could bring a gun to
bear, or land a boat to take revenge, she was soundly peppered, and the coast evacuated.
This was the last of Jacob's triumphs. He fared like some heroic spider that has unwittingly ensnared a hornet to the utter ruin of his web. It was not long after the above exploit that he fell into the hands of the enemy in the course of one of his forays, and was carried
away prisoner to New York. The Roost itself, as a pestilent rebel nest, was marked out for signal punishment. The cock of the Roost
