Read the excerpt from “Tools of the Spymaster." Both the British and the Americans frequently used horseback riders to carry messages, and both sides tried to capture the riders and get the messages. The rider who lost one of Washington's important messages was Tallmadge himself. It happened when Tallmadge and some of his men were attacked by British troops near the Connecticut–New York border. Tallmadge escaped unharmed but lost a saddlebag full of secret papers.

Luckily, Tallmadge's code did not fall into British hands. But among the papers was a letter from Washington in which he carelessly gave the name and address of an agent, George Higday, saying that he was a man who would probably "convey intelligence to me." Higday was arrested, but he had managed to destroy all evidence of spying. That move probably saved him from hanging.

What evidence in the excerpt suggests that being a spy for the Americans could be deadly?

The British and the Americans both sent secret messages by horseback riders.
Tallmadge lost some of Washington’s important messages.
Tallmadge escaped unharmed from an attack by the British.
Higday probably saved himself from hanging when he destroyed all evidence of spying.

Tallmadge escaped unharmed from an attack by the British.

Explanation:

Benjamin Tallmadge was an American spy and politician, founder of the first American spy organization, Culper Ring. He was the best friend of Nathan Hale, the first American spy whose death contributed to his subsequent conspiratorial activities. He joined the Patriot cause in 1776, and took part in the Battle of Long Island, during which he lost his older brother. General George Washington appointed him head of intelligence following the release of Nathaniel Sackett. He created the Cupel Ring spy network, which allowed him to control the situation in British-occupied New York. His intelligence services helped to expose the traitor, Benedict Arnold, an American officer who wanted to sell West Point to the British, which could have resulted in the Americans losing the war.

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