"They come not single spy, but in battalions."

American usages no longer swim to our shores as single spies, as "reliable" and "talented" did.

First a single spy appeared on the opposite rise, watching.

He had not disdained the dollars that came as single spies rather than in battalions.

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions."

Again, the animals come as themselves, but also as single spies into the ways of being (and not being) human.

There they came, "not as single spies, but in battalions," as I think the Old Testament says somewhere.

Little accounts came not in single spies but in battalions.

I come a single spy.

Well, the harm was done; but Andrea doubted if anyone, now, would trouble to track down who was behind a single spy.