Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924012535690 
 
Cornell University Library 
 P3 3511.U425V8 
 
 Vivian of Virginia; being tlie memoirs of 
 
 3 1924 012 535 690 
 
■ A young maiden appeared coming down the winding 
 lane." — Page 42. 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Being 
 
 The Memoirs of Our First Rebellion, 
 
 by John Vivian, Esq., of Middle 
 
 Plantation, Virginia 
 
 By 
 
 HuLBERT Fuller 
 
 Illustrated by 
 Frank T. Merrill 
 
 . VTCRESCII 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 > 
 
 Lamson, Wolffe and Company 
 Boston, New York, and London 
 
 M DCCC XCVII 
 
Copyright, 1897, 
 By Lamson, WolfFe and Company. 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 
 The Norwood Press 
 
 J. S. Cusbing & Co. — Ber-wkk Sf Smith 
 
 Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 
 

 Contents 
 
 
 Chapter 
 
 
 Page 
 
 I. 
 
 As blows the Wind 
 
 I 
 
 II. 
 
 On Board the Henrietta Maria 
 
 i8 
 
 III. 
 
 Master Lawrence's Ordinary . 
 
 39 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Heart of Virginia . 
 
 59 
 
 V. 
 
 The Ride to Curies 
 
 76 
 
 VI. 
 
 Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 
 
 92 
 
 VII. 
 
 A Governor by Divine Right . 
 
 109 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Ball at the Mansion 
 
 127 
 
 IX. 
 
 Master Bacon's Commission . 
 
 147 
 
 X. 
 
 The Flight from the Mansion . 
 
 168 
 
 XI. 
 
 A Crown of Laurel 
 
 191 
 
 XII. 
 
 Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 
 
 211 
 
 XIII. 
 
 A Night at the Bacon Plantation 
 
 228 
 
 XIV. 
 
 The Rescue .... 
 
 245 
 
 XV. 
 
 A Romance of the Rhine 
 
 263 
 
 XVI. 
 
 The Scene at Middle Plantation 
 
 278 
 
 XVII. 
 
 In Accomack .... 
 
 29 s 
 
vi Contents 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 XVIII. A Truce to His Excellency . . .311 
 
 XIX. His Excellency up Again . . .327 
 
 XX. The Passing of Master Bacon . . . 344 
 
 XXI. Terms of Surrender . . . .360 
 
List of Illustrations 
 
 Opposite Page 
 
 "A young maiden appeared coming down the wind- 
 ing lane " . . . . . Frontispiece 
 
 " ' How, sir ; have the knaves done you an in- 
 jury ?' " . . . . . . .12 
 
 " Feeling my face grow hot with embarrassment as I 
 
 handed her the ring " . . . . .47 
 
 "He fell in a struggling, swearing heap " . . 87 
 
 " Drawing my pistol, I watched them beating about 
 
 the thicket " . . . . . .120 
 
 " Seeming to bespeak the favour of her hand for the 
 
 dance " . . . .138 
 
 " My rapier flashed and thrust home " . . .190 
 
 "It was no little task to urge our horses to venture 
 
 on board" ....... 201 
 
 " Upon this platform I now recognized General 
 
 Bacon" . . . .291 
 
 " I caused him to turn and look up at me in sur- 
 prise " . , 315 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Chapter I 
 As Blows the Wind 
 
 I HAD returned to England from following 
 the wars with sundry and dire forebodings 
 of the future ; and for six weeks I had been 
 dallying in London, hopefully waiting to hear 
 news of some fresh engagement that would at 
 last turn the tide of my ill fortunes that en- 
 sued on the recall of the English troops from 
 Flanders ; where, under the ascendant star of 
 Churchill, our forces had repeatedly distin- 
 guished themselves fighting with Turenne 
 against the Dutch. Having been long inured 
 to such stirring scenes, these days of indolent 
 life in London in the spring of 1676 had become 
 well-nigh unbearable, so that I was ready for 
 any honourable adventure that might serve as a 
 fulcrum to the hopeful leverage of better fort- 
 unes. 
 
 I had been expecting, and not without just 
 cause, some further assistance from Colonel 
 Churchill ; having been one of a dozen men in 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 his party when Turenne won his now well- 
 known wager, at the time we attacked and re- 
 gained a position previously lost by twice that 
 number of his own men. But Churchill at 
 present had no mind for anything save his 
 love-affair with Mistress Sarah Jennings, of 
 whom it was rumoured that she was an exceed- 
 ing coy maiden, so that, despite the colonel's 
 well-known ardour, the works he had carried 
 impetuously on one day he was fain to sur- 
 render and give away again on the next. 
 
 I had on various occasions tried to get speech 
 with him, knowing that underneath his some- 
 what cold and haughty exterior there beat the 
 warm heart of a youthful soldier who never for- 
 got a service rendered. So far, however, all 
 my efforts to see him had been in vain. 
 
 Sitting there in my lodgings that spring day, 
 near the church of St. Mary Le-Bow in Cheap- 
 side, the events of my life passed before me in 
 review as in a dream. I was alone in the world, 
 and never, it seemed to me, had I felt my lone- 
 liness more keenly than at this moment. My 
 father had been, in his day, one of Cromwell's 
 Ironsides; fighting zealously through the wars 
 against the first Charles, and having, as I well 
 remember, a souvenir of his death in the.shape 
 of a lace handkerchief dipped in the king's 
 blood at the time of his execution. All through 
 the following years my father remained a 
 stanch Puritan and an aggressive Roundhead. 
 
As Blows the Wind 
 
 And it was this very severity of my early 
 training, perhaps, that first turned my boyish 
 sympathies towards the second Charles, then a 
 wanderer on the Continent. There being at 
 that day a trite saying that, if a parent wished 
 to make an ardent Royalist of his son, he should 
 bring him up as a Roundhead. So prone are 
 we to revolt from surroundings into which we 
 are born. 
 
 Such being the bent of my sympathies, eager 
 to slip the collar on an instant's warning, my 
 enthusiasm knew no bounds when the king at 
 last returned to his own. At that time I was 
 a lad of fourteen, and I still recall with a smile 
 that curious species of pleasure and dismay 
 which my father manifested on first hearing of 
 the king's successful contrivance with General 
 Monk. As a Puritan he remained set and 
 stern, believing that naught s'ave disaster could 
 result from this overthrowing of all the princi- 
 ples for which he had once fought ; whilst as a 
 merchant — and that, too, by virtue of one of 
 those vague and but ill-understood orderings 
 of Providence whereby he, a Roundhead, had 
 been impelled to follow the calling of a haber- 
 dasher and trader in trifles — he must perforce 
 smile and clap his hands ; for in sooth it meant, 
 as subsequent events proved, a handsome trade 
 in ribands, gewgaws, and French finery out of 
 which my parent made a goodly profit. 
 
 Perceiving my advantage, therefore, and be- 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ing ably seconded by my mother withal, I 
 made bold to ask him for permission to run 
 with the other lads of my acquaintance out 
 to Blackheath, there to witness the king's tri- 
 umphal entry. But at my request he instantly 
 frowned, so that my mother must needs inter- 
 pose, " Nay, father, we have had our day ; let 
 the lad have his and be merry." And straight- 
 way she bedecked me after a manner befitting 
 the occasion, then bade me quickly begone. 
 
 Whereof there is scant to add ; the events of 
 that day being still too fresh in the minds of all 
 for me to presume to revive them through child- 
 ish memory. Suffice it, therefore, that on this 
 day, falling in with a party of gayly clad soldiery, 
 we followed out to wnere the army of the Com- 
 monwealth, numbering some thirty thousand 
 martial saints formerly under Cromwell, was 
 drawn up to receive the king. At last, me- 
 thought, the day of arbitrary suppression of 
 popular merriment was over ; so that when his 
 Majesty passed we burst out into a wild, spon- 
 taneous shout that followed after him all the 
 way into London. A morris dance following, 
 I discovered Robin Hood and Maid Marian, 
 the hobby horse and the dragon, for the first 
 time ; the dancers all being dressed in gay cos- 
 tumes, sparkling with tinsel, and adorned with 
 bells and ribands. Whilst hour after hour the 
 procession continued to pass down streets fes- 
 tooned with costly garlands made up of scarfs 
 
As Blows the Wind 
 
 and ribands decorated with spoons and bodkins 
 of silver, small plate of various kinds, and some 
 with gold chains. At Deptford the procession 
 was met by a company of young maidens num- 
 bering nigh one hundred, dressed all ahke in 
 white robes and scarfs, and strewing garlands and 
 nosegays in the path of the king. And so on 
 into London, where the popular joy was even 
 wilder and less restrained than in the country. 
 
 On nearing Whitehall, the king's party was 
 still further swelled by the presence of cer- 
 tain eminent citizens of the town, dressed brill- 
 iantly in black velvet coats, with gold chains 
 about their necks, all handsomely mounted, 
 and with their footmen dressed in suit, cassock, 
 and ribands to match. Bands of music played 
 everywhere, the houses were hung with tapes- 
 try, ^arpets, and costly stuffs, while the foun- 
 tains and conduits ran with claret as the king 
 passed. At Charing Cross, within the rails, 
 was a stand of six hundred pikes, being com- 
 posed — by that strange turn of events — of 
 the same gentlemen and knights who had been 
 officers in the first Charles's army. -But I had 
 followed the procession from an early hour in 
 the afternoon, and now as I turned to go home, 
 late in the evening, tired and weary, but still 
 rejoicing with the excitement and fatigue of the 
 long march, I remember a distant clock striking 
 nine just as the roaring of guns announced the 
 arrival of the king in his palace at Whitehall. 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 On quitting school some three years following 
 this event, and having little inclination toward 
 the business followed by my father, I was ap- 
 prenticed to Master Pillsbury, apothecary and 
 physician, with the laudable ambition to follow 
 in his career of bone-setting and healing of the 
 sick, by the administering of drugs and the 
 mastery of certain occult processes with which 
 he was well acquaint ; he having certain pills of 
 his own devisement whereby he could insure 
 his patients well-nigh everything, save immor- 
 tality. Nevertheless, after two years' service 
 of this kind, it dawned on me that I was as ill 
 fit to follow this calling as any I could have 
 made choice of. Puissant and lusty knave that 
 I was, with scarce any consciousness of the 
 wisdom of pains and aches in others, I felt that 
 it ill became my six feet of developing ^nan- 
 hood to be playing the nurse in the sick-room ; 
 so that my ardour in following the instructions 
 of my preceptor and the perusal of his tablets 
 soon became only lukewarm at best. 
 
 That I was somewhat stupid in evolving the 
 plain meaning of these latter I am now free to 
 confess, though at that time, I remember, I 
 could make scarce any headway in their arrange- 
 ment of logical sequences. As when on one 
 occasion Master Pillsbury saw cause to admin- 
 ister a drachm of hemlock dropwort to a car- 
 penter in a fever, so effecting his recovery ; yet 
 at another time, when a smith called him to 
 
As Blows the Wind 
 
 attend on a similar fever, he administered to 
 him also a drachm of hemlock dropwort and 
 the smith died. Wherefore beneath his brief 
 citement of these events Master Pillsbury 
 had written boldly in red ink : " Warning ! A 
 Dose that will Cure a Carpenter will Kill a 
 Smith." 
 
 It was about this time, while I was wavering 
 in the choice of a career, that the plague swept 
 over England, causing thought of aught else to 
 be blotted out whilst I followed Master Pillsbury 
 about from house to house, or was sent by him 
 to visit such as he was unable to attend himself. 
 And fearful days they were, compared to which 
 the horrors of war — and I have seen my share 
 — pale into insignificance. Eventually I was 
 stricken like the rest, and I shall ever remem- 
 ber, so long as I continue to live, of lying 
 in old St. Paul's, which had been turned into a 
 pest-house, and seeing the bodies lying there 
 on every side so closely that one could touch 
 his neighbour by turning his hand ; the dead- 
 wagons coming and going, heaping up the 
 dead into great piles to be carted off and buried 
 in trenches. Watching the scene round me, 
 the wonder and the horror of it all made it 
 seem to me like a diabolical dream of some 
 other world, until the terrible pains eame and 
 carried me off into unconsciousness. So that 
 when told afterwards of the death of my parents 
 and all my nearest of kin, I was still so benumbed 
 
8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 by the sights I had witnessed as to be scarce 
 conscious of the bitter misery and lonely heart- 
 ache which the news implied. Heaven spared 
 me this at the time, but I was to learn it later 
 in all its force. 
 
 Left to shift for myself thus early in life, and 
 being of a strong frame and rugged constitution, 
 I naturally became a follower of the army •, 
 rising slowly out of the lower ranks, by reason, 
 chiefly, of a strong arm and a hard-won name 
 for bravery in action, to the honourable rank 
 of sergeant. True, there had been others of 
 my station reckless alike of honour and country, 
 who had far outstripped me in the acquisition 
 of rank, and the winning of wealth besides ; 
 but, thinking of them now, I could not recall 
 to mind any that had managed cither to keep 
 their dishonourable gains or to escape the con- 
 tempt of their comrades. In the midst of my 
 poverty and humble surroundings, of which I 
 could not help but feel ashamed, I remem- 
 bered — and I think of it to this day with the 
 same satisfaction — that my name, thank God, 
 was unsullied. 
 
 Resolving still to find some way to see my 
 old commander, and quitting my lodgings just 
 as dusk was falling, I turned down Cheapside, 
 intending to go towards Whitehall. I had pro- 
 ceeded but a short distance, however, when my 
 attention was attracted by a party of three stand- 
 ing in front of the Nag's Head ; two of whom 
 
As Blows the Wind 
 
 I recognized at once, with their flopping hats 
 pinned up on one side, sandy weather-beaten 
 perukes, dirty linen, and long iron swords jar- 
 ring at their heels — a couple of rufBers, camp- 
 followers kicked out of the army, dwellers in 
 Alsatia, whom I knew to be ready for any crime 
 sufiiciently profitable and lacking of courage. 
 
 Seeing my approach, they suddenly ceased 
 their talk and turned quickly into the tavern, 
 but in such a manner as could not fail to arouse 
 my suspicions ; so that I followed anon and 
 seated myself at a table directly opposite to 
 them, where I could easily overhear their con- 
 versation without exciting their notice. In this 
 object my purpose was aided by the character 
 of the crowd present, where tradesmen and cava- 
 liers, courtiers and apprentices, rubbed elbows 
 good-naturedly, sitting at long tables drinking, 
 playing cards, and shaking dice. 
 
 The third member composing the party of 
 three in which I was interested, I could now 
 observe at pleasure. He was dressed richly 
 but plainly in black' velvet, with a high-crowned 
 hat, ornamented by two plumes, cocked jauntily 
 on the back of his head. I came to the con- 
 clusion, therefore, that he was a tradesman, in 
 well-to-do circumstances, and who, being out 
 for a lark, had fallen in with the rascals now 
 with him. In this opinion I was confirmed by 
 such scraps of conversation as I could now and 
 then catch above the din of the room ; discov- 
 
lo Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ering, in substance, that they had been to the 
 cock-fight at the pit by the King's Gate, some 
 money having been passed between them on 
 wagers that they were still discussing with but 
 scant signs of agreement. 
 
 Hence it was greatly to my astoundment 
 when, after drinking freely for the space, I should 
 think, of less than an hour, they arose with 
 many protestations of good-fellowship, and 
 passed out of the tavern arm in arm. They 
 had been gone but a few seconds, however, ere 
 I was up and after them ; and, catching sight of 
 them as they passed under a lamp some twenty 
 doors ahead, I followed on past St. Paul's down 
 Ludgate Hill into Fleet Street, and was but a 
 few paces behind when they turned down White- 
 friars Street into Alsatia. As I turned the 
 corner, a muffled cry of " Help ! thieves ! " 
 caused me to quicken my pace into a run as I 
 drew my rapier. 
 
 On passing the corner of an alley, a door was 
 suddenly thrown open, flooding the dark pas- 
 sage with a dim light. At the same moment 
 two men came out of the room, and peering 
 cautiously up and down the alley, stooped and 
 picked up a dark form lying at their feet, and 
 were returning through the door when my foot- 
 steps surprised them. Recognizing my friends 
 of the Nag's Head, I sprang for the door just 
 in time to prevent, by a few inches, its being 
 closed and barred. 
 
As Blows the Wind ii 
 
 I could hear their muttered curses of sur- 
 prise and anger as I stood there leaning firmly 
 against the door while recovering my breath. 
 Until, finding that with all their efforts they 
 could not dislodge me by force of weight, one 
 of them thrust his ugly face in the narrow space 
 left open, and began to parley. 
 
 " What do you want here ? " he demanded 
 with an assurance I knew to be assumed. 
 
 I did not answer, but stood there firmly, 
 watching him closely the while lest he should 
 take advantage of me unawares. 
 
 " Come, now ! " he growled. " You beggarly 
 soldier out of a job. We know you ! Will 
 you be off about your business, or wait to be 
 spitted and thrown into the Fleet .'' " 
 
 Still I did not answer, fearing to arouse the 
 neighbourhood ; though I could see that my 
 continued silence was like a wave of the scarlet 
 sash in the face of a mad bull, and that he was 
 rapidly working himself into a pretty passion 
 in which he would shortly do something reck- 
 less. 
 
 It came almost as the thought struck me. 
 Maddened by my pertinacy, and not daring to 
 leave the door with his companion alone to 
 guard it, and being unable to get at their prey 
 till first getting rid of me, the knave suddenly 
 made a pass at me with his sword through the 
 opening. But I was ready for him. Keeping 
 my boot firmly pressed between the edge of the 
 
12 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 door and the sill, I parried in such a manner 
 as to throw his sword hard up against the jamb 
 of the door, and pressing suddenly forward, 
 snapped it short off below the hilt. 
 
 Giving them not a moment's time to recover, 
 while they stood there fortifying themselves 
 with curses, with one lusty push I felt the door 
 yield, and stepped quickly over the threshold. 
 
 But while I engaged his companion, the ras- 
 cal with the broken sword took to his heels 
 and was out of the door like a flash ; so that, 
 being fearful he might have others of his ilk 
 within calling, I gave my man a cut on the 
 shoulder that caused him to abandon his sword 
 and beg for quarter. Paying no further heed 
 to him, I turned to look at the man whom I 
 had seen lying on the floor. He was now sit- 
 ting up in a corner supporting himself against 
 the wall, and looking round in a dazed manner. 
 
 " How, sir ; have the knaves done you an 
 injury ? " I asked, with alarm at his appearance 
 and anxious to get him quickly out of that 
 thieves' neighbourhood. 
 
 For a space he made no reply, sitting there 
 as though dazed ; but whether from the effects 
 of a blow or being in the drowse of drink, I 
 could not tell. Presently arousing himself, 
 however, as the meaning of my words came to 
 him, he replied with an effort, " Methinks, my 
 friend, you have come in the nick of time " ; 
 and after waiting a moment, placing his hand 
 
" ' How, sir : have the knaves done you an injury ? ' " 
 — Page 1 2. 
 
As Blows the Wind 13 
 
 within his doublet, he added, "those villains 
 would have had my life; as it is, they have 
 failed even to rob me." 
 
 " Aye, sir ! " I replied, impatient at what I 
 took to be his cupidity at this time ; " but I 
 would remind you, sir, that you are not yet 
 safe, nor will be till away from this den." So, 
 offering him my hand as he attempted to rise, 
 I presently had him on his feet testing his power 
 to stand alone. 
 
 " Well, sir ? " I asked again, expecting every 
 moment to hear footsteps coming up the alley. 
 
 " Aye," he answered confusedly ; " let us go." 
 
 Accepting the assistance of my arm, he 
 passed out with me down the alley into White- 
 friars Street, down which we turned, going tow- 
 ards the Temple stairs. 
 
 " I have a boat in waiting, sir," he explained. 
 " Otherwise I should not have ventured through 
 this nest of thieves in the plight I was in." He 
 said nothing more at this time, I remember, 
 about the company he was with. Yet I could 
 hear him muttering to himself as we walked 
 along, as though he were still striving to collect 
 his wits, which seemed sadly scattered from the 
 blow on the head which he explained those ras- 
 cals had dealt him when I heard him cry out. 
 
 "Your name, sir?" he asked finally as we 
 hurried on. 
 
 I replied, stating that I had but recently re- 
 turned to England, and had been in the service 
 
14 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 of Colonel Churchill at Maistricht and at 
 Lenzheim. 
 
 " Churchill ? Egad, that's good ! The fin- 
 est soldier in England." 
 
 At this moment we passed a tavern, a low 
 dive, a glimpse through the window revealing 
 shabby courtiers, painted courtesans, and ruined 
 merchants, dwelling there in Alsatia under the 
 shadow of the Temple, to avoid punishment for 
 debts and greater crimes. And the scene brought 
 me back to England as it was ; setting me to 
 thinking of the king and his royal mistresses, 
 his bastard noblemen, his contempt for honour, 
 and his broken compacts. Secure in his sins 
 and secure in his kingdom under the protection 
 of Whitehall, even as the Alsatians under the 
 Temple walls. God knows I felt the dishonour 
 of my country keenly ! I know not what it 
 was precisely ; whether it was the brawling night, 
 the sights we were passing at the time, or some 
 sudden recollection of my own miserable con- 
 dition that filled my soul with melancholy. 
 But I became strangely conscious of a loathing 
 of it all, and began to regret that I had not 
 sold my sword — when I formerly had that 
 opportunity — to the King of France, or, better 
 still, to the Prince of Orange ; for scenes like 
 these, dominating equally o'er the rabble and 
 the court, scarce gave a quittance to my then 
 distemper. 
 
 " My friend," he continued, in slight em- 
 
As Blows the Wind 15 
 
 barrassment, " in sooth I know not how to 
 thank you — " 
 
 " Nay, I prythee, sir, thank your lucky stars 
 and let it pass. It was the merest accident." 
 
 He may have detected the slight bitterness 
 with which I spoke, as a man will reply at 
 times, when oppressed with gloomy thoughts, 
 to those who, affluent themselves, he yet be- 
 lieves are powerless to assist him ; seeming, in 
 sooth, as though some overshadowing sense of 
 loneliness would fain seize upon the heart and 
 silence it, when the feet are upon the very 
 threshold of release. Be that as it may, 
 however, when next he spoke his manner 
 was assuredly sympathetic. Turning squarely 
 round — as we stood there on the Temple 
 stairs overlooking the Thames — and placing 
 one hand on my shoulder while observing me 
 keenly, he said, — 
 
 " That is all very well. Sergeant Vivian ; but 
 at least, sir, I discover that you wear a good 
 sword, and would reward you." 
 
 I bowed. " Pray do not speak of it, sir. 
 Good-night." 
 
 " Nay ; and it has a sharp tongue and speaks 
 favourably," he urged. " Stay ! have you any 
 commission at present? " 
 
 " A commission, sir ? " I cried, joyed at the 
 very sound. 
 
 "Aye, hear me out," he continued. "My 
 name is George Barton, and I am engaged in 
 
1 6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 trade with the colonies. To-morrow night a 
 ship sails for Virginia, where I go to make ex- 
 tensive purchases on my own account and that 
 of several merchant firms. Because of the seas 
 being infested with numerous piratical craft, I 
 wish to employ a guard besides that already 
 afforded by the owners of the vessel. Select 
 five reliable men, come with me, and I promise 
 to make it worth your while." 
 
 The suddenness of the proposal fairly made 
 my head whirl ; for here at last was an oppor- 
 tunity almost too good, it seemed, to be real. 
 Neither was life at sea distasteful nor unfamiliar 
 to me, my first engagements having been with 
 Prince Rupert against the Dutch. And yet 
 the first thought of quitting England for the 
 plantations was none too seductive to my mind, 
 there having come to my ears naught save vague 
 albeit uncommon bad reports of that far-off 
 country. Fortunately, however, I quickly be- 
 thought myself of my necessities and of the 
 emoluments the voyage promised, and so made 
 out to accept his offer with more spirit than rriy 
 feelings warranted at the time. 
 
 " Nay ! " he replied hurriedly to my thanks ; 
 " the debt lies all on my side. I will pay you 
 two hundred crowns, and allow two hundred 
 more to be distributed among your five men as 
 well as providing passage for the entire company. 
 And now that you have accepted, sir, tell me 
 where you can be found in the morning." 
 
As Blows the Wind 17 
 
 I gave him my address, my heart bounding 
 in joyful surprise at his liberality ; and, again 
 bidding him good-night, albeit in a happier 
 mood, was about to return to my lodgings, 
 when, rising from his seat in the boat he called : 
 
 " Stay, my friend ; why not come with me 
 now ? Take a glance at your new quarters, 
 and stay the night." 
 
 Being nothing loath, I accepted this time as 
 I had the first. Pushing off from the stairs, 
 our boat shot out down the river ; and, arriving 
 at Blackwall, we were soon climbing up the 
 sides of the Henrietta Maria. 
 
Chapter II 
 On Board the Henrietta Maria 
 
 WHEN I awoke the following morning 
 with the murmur in my ears of the 
 gentle plashing of the Thames, I could 
 not at first collect my wits. Then, as return- 
 ing consciousness brought back the events of 
 the night before, I could scarce contain my- 
 self at the good fortune that had so timely 
 befallen me. I had no further regrets at 
 thought of quitting England, my mind being 
 already full of the adventure now in hand. 
 When I reflected at all, it was only on the 
 future. In fancy I could already see myself 
 landing in Virginia, whither so many cavaliers 
 and their families had fled during Cromwell's 
 reign, when I was but a lad. So that it joyed 
 me to look forward to seeing a country settled 
 and controlled by a free people, and unmolested 
 by the whims and extravagances of a profligate 
 king. 
 
 Having many duties to perform before tak- 
 ing our departure that night, I hastened on 
 deck and made inquiry after Master Barton, 
 who shortly made his appearance, showing no 
 signs of his last night's adventure. In sooth, 
 
 i8 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 19 
 
 he appeared in all respects that which he was, 
 the jovial, generous, reckless Virginia trader. 
 
 " Ha ! my friend ; it's business this morning, 
 you perceive. No more cock-fights for a space, 
 by my faith, sir ! " 
 
 " Nay, but cheer up, sir," said I ; "perchance 
 we shall find amusement in plenty off the Car- 
 olinas." 
 
 " Aye, or lose my cargo," he admitted, be- 
 coming suddenly sober. " The last voyage 
 taught me a lesson," he continued. " Muskets, 
 pistols, and a sufficiency of ammunition — don't 
 neglect the latter, sergeant, by all that's holy ! 
 Here are three hundred crowns," he contin- 
 ued, drawing a bag from within his doublet ; 
 "purchase your supplies, and give a small re- 
 tainer to your men till they come on board. I 
 leave all details to you. Only report here, with 
 your command, by six o'clock to-night." 
 
 Promising not to disappoint him, I hailed a 
 boat and, picking my way carefully between the 
 large vessels constantly arriving and departing, 
 soon found myself out into the open stream, 
 moving quietly up the river. It was an un- 
 common fine morning, I remember, and my 
 spirits rose with every minute of the day ; for 
 though of a melancholy habit when unem- 
 ployed, my heart was quick to take fire again 
 at any fresh adventure. Having space now to 
 quickly think of such of my former comrades 
 as were out of employment, by the time the 
 
20 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 boat touched the stairs at Blackfriars I had de- 
 cided on whom I should ask to accompany me. 
 
 Going up into Fleet Street, I had no sooner 
 entered a coiFee-house where I had hoped to 
 find one whom I had in mind, than I was 
 greeted by a quondam comrade, one Master 
 Paul Seager, who was an ill mixture of a gentle- 
 manly courtier and a lying rascal in the same 
 breath. " How now. Sergeant Vivian ! " he ex- 
 claimed ; " methinks you tread the ground this 
 morning with the air of a captain in the King's 
 Guard." 
 
 I saw at once that the knave had read in my 
 face — which had worn an air of despondency 
 for the past six months — the exultant bright- 
 ness which could only come from a change in 
 my fortunes. But Master Seager being little 
 to my liking, I replied shortly : " Aye, I have a 
 commission." 
 
 " 'Fore God ! I congratulate you, John," he 
 rejoined with all the frankness of a friendly 
 soul in his manner ; " it joys me, sir, to see a 
 man of your skill get his just deserts now and 
 then. Belike you are off to the Rhine ? " 
 
 Though I knew this to be nothing more 
 than lying flattery, such as was wont to flow 
 from Master Seager's lips whenever he saw fit 
 to first propitiate a friend that he intended 
 shortly to take advantage of, and though I 
 knew instinctively, as well as from earlier ex- 
 periences with him, that when I turned my 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 21 
 
 head the rascal's face would take on another 
 expression whilst his lips would play a quite 
 different tune ; yet, fool that I was, I confess 
 — and I repeat it now with chagrin — that I 
 was touched by the fellow's flattery and tone of 
 sincere appreciation, as only the heart of a 
 man, for many weeks without means and with- 
 out friends, will be affected at times by slight 
 praise, when flushed with the first joy of better 
 fortunes. 
 
 So, whilst I scanned his features closely, I 
 could see at this time only the knave's better 
 side. And he was a person far from displeas- 
 ing to look at ; nay, he was even handsome — 
 with his long sandy mustachios and fresh com- 
 plexion — or would have been but for a sinis- 
 ter slant in his small blue eyes and a wrinkling 
 of the lower lids that betrayed the whole face 
 as that of a cunning rogue. Being christened 
 Paul by his parents, he had grown up under 
 that strange perversity of fate that, I have ob- 
 served, so often wrecks the unfortunate bearer 
 of an illustrious name. For of the manner of 
 the apostle it was notorious that he possessed 
 •only one trait in common, and that a pernicious 
 one, — of being all things to all men. 
 
 That he succeeded only too well in his plans 
 of duplicity, to the utter discomfiture of his 
 friends and the complete preferment of himself, 
 I could well attest. As on one occasion in the 
 battle of Tiirkheim, when, seeing a point of 
 
22 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 vantage left open in the Imperialists' line, I 
 made bold to occupy it by a sudden rally. 
 My men being few in number, however, I had 
 agreed with Master Seager for him to come up 
 with his squad and assist me after the first 
 skirmish was over and before the enemy could 
 recover and drive us back. How well he ful- 
 filled his promise I could not even now forget; 
 for, waiting until the enemy had all but deleted 
 my little command in the fierce recovery after 
 their first surprise, whilst I was slowly forced 
 to give way, then — and the moments seemed 
 like hours — up comes Master Seager with his 
 lusty knaves, and together we held our ground. 
 But for this piece of work I was nearly reduced 
 to the ranks for my vain temerity and the ex- 
 posure of my command; whilst Seager, — the sly 
 rogue ! — for his keen perception and mastery of 
 military tactics in thus seizing and occupying 
 a strong position, was given unstinted praise 
 and received personal recognition by Turenne. 
 
 " Well, Sergeant Vivian," said Seager finally, 
 as I sat there reviewing in my own mind the 
 knave's fitness for the enterprise now in hand, 
 " have you nothing to offer to a comrade in 
 misery ? " 
 
 He might have been jesting so far as any 
 truth in his words was implied ; for misery, as 
 I had been taught the term by my own deplora- 
 ble experiences, had ever been a stranger to 
 Master Seager. On the contrary, the man was 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 23 
 
 finely arrayed, with a new velvet cloak and 
 shining scabbard, serving but to make more 
 glaring and ill-favoured my own shabby habili- 
 ments. So that I answered dryly : " No, 
 Master Seager, I can report no adventure into 
 which you would be like to fit." 
 
 " Come, come. Master John ! " he urged 
 good-naturedly ; " in times like these beggars 
 cannot be choosers." 
 
 " Not even a well-attired beggar, I pre- 
 sume," said I. 
 
 " Oh, as to these togs ! " he sneered con- 
 temptuously, " I can easily explain their posses- 
 sion, if you care to listen." And though I had 
 scant time or inclination to listen to him, he 
 thereupon must needs tell me of his having 
 been recently concerned in the abduction of a 
 certain lady of rank from the king's court. 
 For this he had been paid handsomely by a 
 certain earl under whose protection the lady was 
 now living. I had heard the tale before with- 
 out knowing Seager's part in it; it having been 
 bruited about for the past week that the king 
 was so incensed at the loss of one of his favour- 
 ites that he had privately placed a price on the 
 head of the reckless kidnapper. 
 
 " And afterwards," said I, when he had 
 done, " you must certainly have had a hole in 
 your purse ? " 
 
 " By my faith, sir ! " he exclaimed impetu- 
 ously, "you may well think that. But what 
 
24 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 is a soldier to do in this damned town ? Be- 
 tween their cursed cock-fights and bear-baiting 
 I have lost my last crown and placed my head 
 in danger as well. For God's sake. Sergeant 
 Vivian," he continued with eager excitement, 
 " if you have a commission and are in need of 
 a good sword, do me the favour of seeking no 
 farther !" 
 
 "Well, well!" I replied, touched by the 
 man's solicitation, and quickly bethinking my- 
 self that in an adventure like the present one 
 on board ship the knave would have little 
 chance to play me false. " What would you 
 say, Master Seager, to going out to the planta- 
 tions ? " 
 
 He gave a slight start of surprise as the 
 remoteness of the country dawned upon him, 
 then answered recklessly : " It is all the same 
 to me ; a soldier goes anywhere, you know, and 
 just now," with a sly smile, " the farther from 
 England the better for me." 
 
 Seeing the plight that the knave was in, there- 
 fore, and knowing him for a good sword when he 
 chose to fight squarely, I decided to ignore my 
 feeling against him and engaged him without 
 further ado for the service of Master Barton. 
 But for this leniency and willingness to assist a 
 rascal who had once done me a wrong, I was to 
 curse my folly in many a thwarted purpose in 
 the days to come. 
 
 Telling him only as much of the nature of 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 25 
 
 the enterprise as I saw fit, therefore, and hav- 
 ing agreed to pay him one hundred crowns on 
 landing in Virginia, I named a rendezvous at 
 the foot of Blackfriars Street at five o'clock 
 that same afternoon. At that hour he was to 
 be ready to leave England. But as I counted 
 out ten crowns to him on account, he fumbled 
 them a moment contemptuously whilst he 
 sneered : " For fighting pirates, I suppose." 
 
 "Aye," I replied grimly, " if necessary." 
 
 "And for walking the plank likewise, if nec- 
 essary," he added, shrugging his shoulders. 
 
 " Certainly, sir," I rejoined a little hotly ; 
 " you may back out if you choose." 
 
 " No, no. Master Vivian," he expostulated, 
 suddenly changing his tone ; " a mere jest, by 
 my faith ! In sooth, it has been many a day 
 since you and I stood shoulder to shoulder 
 fighting for the same cause ; yet I trust you 
 have not forgotten that, wherever the skirmish 
 was thickest, there you could always find Paul 
 Seager with his sword in good play." 
 
 Accordingly, but with the knave's braggado- 
 cio ringing in my ears, and exciting many grave 
 doubts in my heart as to his sincerity, I arose 
 and took my leave. 
 
 I still had sundry matters to look after before 
 night ; not the least of which was the employ- 
 ment of four sturdy fellows to complete our 
 party. In this, however, I found little diffi- 
 culty ; for at that time many without employ- 
 
26 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ment were desirous of quitting England for the 
 Colonies, hundreds having already gone over 
 as bonded servants, and on arrival in Virginia, 
 toiling for three or four years to repay the cost 
 of their passage. 
 
 Knowing that the costly attire of Master 
 Seager would do much to give him undue im- 
 portance in the eyes of my little command, I 
 next proceeded to purchase such articles of wear 
 as I had long been in infinite need of. And, 
 though I hold it to be but an idle vanity for a 
 gentleman to apparel himself beyond the means 
 of his purse, there be yet occasions when he 
 must do so perforce in order to maintain his 
 self-respect, as well as sometimes to administer 
 a well-merited rebuke to the foppishness of his 
 inferiors. 
 
 To this intent I made such improvement 
 in my attire as good judgment did seem to 
 warrant and suggest. Then, completing my 
 other purchases and paying a few farewells, the 
 hour being now nigh the time of departure, I 
 sauntered at an easy pace to the foot of Black- 
 friars Street. 
 
 " God-'a-mercy, sergeant ! " cried Master 
 Seager, as he stood waiting there with my men. 
 *' Did I understand your Excellency to say that 
 we were bound for Paris or the plantations ? " 
 
 " For the plantations, sir, forsooth," I an- 
 swered stiffly, affecting not to notice the envy 
 in his tones. " Be so kind as to call a boat." 
 
On Board the Henrietta. Maria 27 
 
 "Yes, your Excellency," he replied with a 
 low bow, albeit of such courtliness that — 
 though I knew his wiles — I could scarce find 
 it in my heart to reprove him. But seeing 
 him give a sly wink aside at one of my men, I 
 remarked sternly : " Enough of that, Master 
 Seager ! Be pleased to remember that you are 
 earning honest money at my hands, and are 
 amongst honest people." 
 
 " At your hands, sir ? " he cried, being un- 
 able longer to mask his envy. "And how 
 long, pray, has this honest money swollen your 
 purse ? " 
 
 " Tut, tut, you rascal ! that's neither here nor 
 there," I cried ; and was on the point of dis- 
 missing him that very instant. But the hour 
 was growing late, and the boat we had sum- 
 moned was lying at the stairs in waiting for 
 us even now. Hence it was that I continued 
 sharply : " Make choice, sir ; go, or stay be- 
 hind as you please ! " 
 
 For a moment he hesitated ; then, as the 
 other men were making for the boat, he turned 
 and walked sullenly after them. So that even 
 as the boat shoved off from the stairs I began 
 to repent me of my folly in engaging him to 
 accompany us. 
 
 The ship was nearly ready to weigh anchor 
 when we arrived. But whilst I reported to 
 Master Barton, he pointed out another boat 
 for which we were delaying and that was now 
 
2 8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 rapidly approaching us from down stream. 
 As it drew alongside, I counted, besides the 
 sailors sitting at their oars, eight men securely 
 fettered and bound. These appeared to be in 
 charge of a long-faced, cadaverous knave, at- 
 tired in glossy velvet, who sat in the stern- 
 sheets, and now gave orders for delivering his 
 party on board. 
 
 " As you love your liberty, sergeant," said 
 Master Barton in a low tone, " I warn you to 
 steer clear of that sleek villain in charge of 
 those poor devils." 
 
 " You know him then, sir ? " I asked, hearing 
 my own misdoubt of him confirmed. 
 
 " Nay, my friend," he answered ; " I know 
 him for a spirit, and a damned wicked spirit 
 at that ! His name's Teed — Theodore Teed ; 
 and many's the poor knave that he has spirited 
 into Virginia and sold for a good round sum." 
 
 " And this," I cried, between my wonder and 
 contempt, "in broad daylight under the very 
 shadow of Whitehall ? Zounds, sir ! what has 
 the king done with that love for his subjects 
 that he was wont to boast of fifteen years ago ? " 
 
 " Tut, my friend," he replied blandly. " Be- 
 like he has bartered it for the love of his mis- 
 tresses ; but that," he protested loyally, "is 
 only between you and me. The king hates a 
 row, sir ; and the plantations being in need of 
 men, he merely winks at deeds such as these, 
 and allows the wrong to go on." 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 29 
 
 By this time the men were bundled on board 
 and into the hold, but it was not till the follow- 
 ing day, when we were far out at sea, that they 
 were released and permitted to mingle among 
 the rest. And, though I had heard somewhat 
 of such occurrences, my curiosity over the fate 
 of the unhappy wretches was such that I again 
 spoke to Master Barton of the matter. 
 
 "Aye," said he at some length, "these men 
 go to make up the Helots of the New World ; 
 numbering, I opine, some six thousand souls. 
 On arrival in Virginia, they are sold by the 
 spirit to the grandees for whatever they will 
 fetch above the cost of their passage. At the 
 planting season, of course, their services are in 
 goodly requirement, and they command a very 
 pretty figure." 
 
 " But do they submit, sir, like slaves ? " I 
 asked in astoundment. 
 
 " Perforce," said he, " until the cost of their 
 purchase has been repaid in hard labour. Now 
 and then one manages to effect his escape. 
 But the penalty is such, in case of recapture, 
 as to discourage many attempts at seeking their 
 liberty. Look there," he continued, directing 
 my eyes to a knave engaged in scrubbing the 
 decks ; " you see that letter ' R ' branded into 
 the man's cheek ? That is the punishment for 
 his second offence of running away from his 
 owner. For the first, they are compelled to 
 serve double the time ; and if, driven to des- 
 
30 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 peration, one dares to sling his gun over his 
 shoulder and go amongst the Indians, he is to 
 suffer death if captured." 
 
 " By my faith, sir, 'tis a rigorous discipline 
 for a free country to adopt," said I in very pity. 
 
 " Free, sir ? " he rejoined somewhat bitterly. 
 " Nay, Master Vivian, Virginia can boast of 
 precious little freedom as yet. But the day is 
 not far distant when her own sons will declare 
 for a quittance of divers evils. Not the least 
 of these is her oppressive trade laws, by which, 
 though her commerce has grown extensive, she 
 is compelled to trade only with England and in 
 English ships, whilst her exports are taxed a 
 heavy duty on leaving Virginia, and again on 
 arriving in England." 
 
 "A fine thing, no doubt, for men of your 
 calling. Master Barton," said I respectfully. 
 
 "Yes, and no, sir," he replied frankly. 
 "This is my sixth voyage to Virginia, and 
 belike it will be my last. For the planters, 
 unable to sell their great staple, tobacco, to 
 any advantage, are even now diminishing or 
 destroying their crop." 
 
 It was in such converse with Master Barton, 
 that I began to know and feel an interest in 
 Virginia. And as the days passed by on ship- 
 board with little to disturb the serenity of the 
 voyage for a space, — after the weathering of a 
 five days' storm, — it pleased me to hold long 
 and frequent speech with my generous employer. 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 31 
 
 From him I learned that the Virginians were 
 at this time highly incensed with the king by- 
 virtue of his grant of the entire colony to my 
 lords Culpepper and Arlington. These two 
 courtiers — than whom no trickier ever breathed 
 — now held the conveyance of land-titles in 
 their own hands ; the title of such lands as were 
 already honestly held and occupied being now 
 placed in dispute ; this injustice supporting 
 perforce a swarm of beggarly courtiers who 
 occupied offices that were mere sinecures, save 
 for the task of collecting moneys from the sale 
 of lands and rents, the which they quietly 
 placed in their own purses and said nothing. 
 
 "For this system of royal finance," said 
 Master Barton, " my lords Culpepper and Ar- 
 lington did agree to pay the king the sum of 
 forty shillings a year, on the Feast-day of St. 
 Michael the Archangel, and may God have 
 mercy on their souls ! 
 
 " Then there are those rascally redskins, 
 Master Vivian, of whom you will learn anon. 
 Ever since the coming of the whites, it has 
 been their wont to hold scalping receptions to 
 the accompaniment of their own devilish mer- 
 riment. Becoming weary of this, the settlers 
 petitioned the governor to build forts along 
 the frontier, to which they could flee for pro- 
 tection. Whereat the governor — " and break- 
 ing off suddenly, he added with a smile, " But 
 you have forced me, my friend, to speak now 
 
32 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 of that greatest incubus of all that rests upon 
 Virginia." 
 
 " Breathe yourself, sir ; breathe yourself," I 
 protested, " the while I go drill our men for 
 a space. The incubus, perchance, will scarce 
 take flight for a pause ? " 
 
 " Nay, my friend," he answered with a laugh. 
 "Though I would for Virginia's sake that it 
 might ! " 
 
 With the assistance of Master Seager — 
 whose temper had greatly improved since the 
 sailing of the ship — I had drilled my men by 
 the hour, until they had now become fair 
 swordsmen and equally ready with the pistol. 
 This I had done to the intent that Master Bar- 
 ton might find us of good avail and well worthy 
 of his hire should occasion arise to put us to a 
 test. Besides our own men, I had impressed, 
 at their own willingness, the eight knaves in 
 charge of Master Teed. And though these 
 poor devils had but a listless eye at first, they 
 had come to pluck up spirit again — as men 
 will do at such times — upon the gad of daily 
 drill. 
 
 Master Seager had just been displaying his 
 skill with the rapier as I approached. Seeing 
 me standing there now, he quickly challenged 
 me and we saluted and fell to. Nor can I in 
 good sooth deny his skill, wherein, putting 
 aside the fact of a trained eye and dextrous 
 wrist in which neither of us held the advantage. 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 23 
 
 he excelled me by just so much as his tricky- 
 nature did give him ready prompting. Like- 
 wise he oft befooled me by that subtle way of 
 dropping his wrist suddenly for the radius of 
 full ten inches, and then describing easily the 
 entire circle with his hilt, the while his point 
 never varied by so much as the fraction of a 
 line. 
 
 So whilst the laugh was on me as he went 
 on scoring points and plaudits against me, he 
 cried out proudly : " Methinks, Sergeant 
 Vivian, if you would kindly loan me your 
 bonnet a second, I could show you a pretty 
 trick." 
 
 " With all my heart, my friend," said I ; 
 though as I proceeded to give it him I added, 
 "Promise you will do it no injury. Master 
 Seager." 
 
 " Aye, sir, upon the honour of a gentleman," 
 he assured me. 
 
 Securing my bonnet to a cleat on the fore- 
 mast, I watched him the while he adjusted it. 
 There was a silver pin securing the plume, 
 whose head was set with a glittering jewel that 
 did much delight me. Pressing it an instant 
 till It lay flat against the mast, I now perceived 
 his intent. But, the vessel rolling somewhat, 
 I had scarce any fear of his success, and so 
 again I warned him, — 
 
 " Remember, my friend, no harm to the 
 bonnet." 
 
34 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 "Twenty crowns to you if I touch it," he 
 cried. 
 
 Then came an instant's poise, a swift lunge, 
 whilst his rapier flashed and bent like a rainbow, 
 and my jewel lay buried inches deep in the 
 mast. 
 
 " 'Fore God, sir, a noble thrust ! " I could 
 not help but exclaim. But, gazing ruefully at 
 my bonnet as it still hung there with its eye 
 put out, I turned to one of my men who car- 
 ried a broadsword, saying : " And now. Master 
 Seager, one hundred crowns to you if I so 
 much as graze your skin or injure your 
 doublet." 
 
 He paled a trifle at seeing me feel the edge 
 of the good broadsword that the knave handed 
 me, — and it was keen as a razor fresh from the 
 hands of the cutler. Then with a swinging 
 stroke, and ere he had time to mark my intent, 
 I had slashed the rich baldric he wore clean 
 through from the shoulder down to the waist. 
 
 " The devil ! " he exclaimed in disgust as he 
 glanced at the gaping strips. " A haberdasher 
 could have done no worse with his little scis- 
 sors." 
 
 "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Master Barton, 
 mightily tickled. " Put your shoulders back, 
 man ! Keep it taut and 'twill never be no- 
 ticed." 
 
 But he was not to be appeased, and strode 
 from our midst in a sullen huff. So that a 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 35 
 
 whole day passed without his speaking civilly 
 again to any of us. 
 
 It was in this wise, then, that some five and 
 thirty days went by with little to vary the rou- 
 tine life on board ship. We had been hoping 
 to hear the lookout sing out, " Land, ho ! " for 
 a day or two past. Until one day — and when 
 we had long abandoned all apprehensions — 
 what he did cry out was that a brig with tall 
 rakish masts was bearing rapidly down upon 
 us. 
 
 " Call up your men. Sergeant Vivian ! I fear 
 me 'tis a Carolina pirate," cried Master Barton 
 excitedly. 
 
 There was no time to cut and run for it, the 
 brig outsailing us at every point; and neatly 
 tacking, she shortly came within hailing distance 
 and ran up the black flag. Seeing that we were 
 in for a battle, therefore, I quickly completed 
 all our arrangements. Then, walking up to 
 Master Teed, with whom I had scarce ex- 
 changed a word as yet, I requested him to give 
 his men their freedom. 
 
 " How so ? " he replied in miserly dismay ; 
 " who will repay me for their passage ? " 
 
 " Pay you, you fool ! " said I, there being 
 scant time to bandy words. "The devil will 
 pay you, belike, whilst you make ready to walk 
 the plank." 
 
 " Sir ! " he cried, his face flushing hot as he 
 laid his hand on his hilt, " I'd have you know, 
 
^6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Master Sergeant, that I have no will to swallow 
 insult from such as you." 
 
 " Tut, you peagoose ! " said I contemptuously, 
 " and mark what I say ! You are to do my 
 will in this. Give every mother's son of them 
 his freedom this instant, or by the eternal, sir, 
 when we stand by to repel boarders, you shall 
 be the first knave to go over the rail ! " And 
 calling to Master Barton, I continued, as he 
 came up : " Kindly bear me witness, sir, that 
 because of the present uncertainty of any of 
 us ever reaching Virginia, Master Teed now 
 gives freedom to all his men." 
 
 " That I will, sir," answered Master Barton 
 heartily. Whereupon I cocked my pistol with 
 scant ceremony and watched Master Teed 
 slink off to do my bidding. 
 
 Then, whilst our white flag was innocently 
 run up, and the black hull of the brig with its 
 grim-visaged crew came alongside and threw its 
 grappling irons over us, we were prepared to 
 give them a hearty reception. They expected 
 no resistance, I opine, there being not more 
 than a half score men to be seen upon our 
 decks ; our three cannon not being unmasked 
 till the rascals began pouring over our sides. 
 
 Whereupon all was instantly changed. With 
 our cannon pouring forth slugs and raking 
 them fore and aft, our men sprang up from 
 below and we pressed them back — back, over 
 the rail and on to their own decks. Here we 
 
On Board the Henrietta Maria 37 
 
 fought hand to hand, till the decks grew slippery 
 and the sun went down ; till the last night- 
 hearted knave had gone over the rail to per- 
 dition or begged upon his knees for quarter 
 and the chance to become a Christian. Nor 
 had I on this occasion — and I record it now 
 in respect to his soul withal — any cause for 
 misdoubting Master Seager ; for I still re- 
 member his careless grace and smile disdainful 
 as he engaged and deftly pinked their leader ; 
 whereat a pistol being suddenly thrust in his 
 face by a swearing bully, the next instant I saw 
 both pistol and the hand that held it go flying 
 over the rail as the broadsword of one of my 
 men came providentially into good play. Yet 
 another lunge, and Master Seager stood wiping 
 his sword. 
 
 But not to dwell too long upon a displeasant 
 affair of this sort — it being but a common 
 everyday occurrence off the Carolinas, the par- 
 ticulars of which, methinks, may in general 
 well be left to the historian — I would add that 
 the brig fell into our hands with all of its 
 contraband cargo. And though our roll-call 
 no longer sounded as many voices as formerly, 
 several sailors and three of Master Teed's men 
 lying silent and stiff, with two of my own sorely 
 wounded, there was yet great rejoicing at our 
 victory. For Master Barton concluded to buy 
 the brig ; and as we entered the mouth of the 
 James River on the following day and began to 
 
38 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ascend the beautiful stream, he proceeded to 
 give us goodly quittance, my share alone 
 amounting to a thousand crowns. 
 
 So it joys me to boast that our ship, at least, 
 brought no white slaves to Virginia ; and that, 
 as we came to anchor off the little green isle 
 of Jamestown, low-nestling in the arms of the 
 river, there was not a man of us but had his 
 passage paid, and a few crowns jingling cheerily 
 in his pocket when he landed. 
 
Chapter III 
 Master Lawrence's Ordinary 
 
 FOR nigh a week now I had been in James- 
 town, observing quietly the place and 
 manner of its people. Considering the 
 disturbed state of the colony, I had so far found 
 little to attract me, and still less to which I 
 could safely attach myself with the limited 
 means at my disposal. I was still keeping an 
 eye open, however, and was greatly aided in 
 this intent by the kindness of a Master Law- 
 rence at whose ordinary I was stopping. He 
 was a frank, affable gentleman, bred at Oxford 
 University, whose conversation abounded with 
 wit and wide learning. On coming to Virginia 
 he had purchased a considerable estate, in which 
 he had afterwards become involved at law with 
 a corrupt favourite of his Excellency, Sir Wil- 
 liam Berkeley. By reason of a partial and 
 unjust decision of the governor. Master Law- 
 rence had lost his entire estate ; but, as though 
 fortune would still requite him, he had lately 
 married a rich and attractive widow, with whom 
 he was now engaged in running the ordinary. 
 
 I was sitting there in the yard of the ordi- 
 nary one morning, at a table under a sweeping 
 
 39 
 
40 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 oak, hearkening to Master Lawrence's strictures 
 on the times, and seeking his counsel. 
 
 " Well, Master Vivian," he continued, in his 
 frank, pleasant tone, " take my advice, and 
 engage in nothing at present. Wait till you 
 see our governor. Ha ! ha ! there's a man who 
 could give the very devil hints on success." 
 
 Knowing that some men had hitherto been 
 able to reap a handsome profit through trade 
 with the savages, I asked : " What is this I 
 hear. Master Lawrence, about the governor's 
 having forbidden all trafficking with the 
 Indians ? " 
 
 "Aye, unless you wish to act only as his agent, 
 — his accomplice, rather, " he replied ; " his 
 Excellency will then be pleased to grant you a 
 license, for and in consideration of, say, five 
 hundred crowns. Master Vivian, or say, rather, 
 for all the money you have to give ! This will 
 allow you to buy beaver-skins of the Indians, 
 and make him a present as well of one out of 
 every four skins you secure. An eminently 
 just arrangement, is it not ? " 
 
 " Zounds ! you amaze me, sir," I exclaimed. 
 " But why do the people not protest, appeal to 
 the king ? You elect your own burgesses and 
 make your own laws ; why do you continue to 
 let yourselves be ruled by a tyrant ? " 
 
 " Hush ! " he whispered ; " not so loud, not 
 even here in my own premises. Protest, you 
 ask ? Appeal to the king ? Why, our Assem- 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 41 
 
 bly has remained unchanged for fourteen years. 
 It is our long parliament, you know. And 
 Berkeley ! " he added with a laugh, "why, he's 
 our Protector. And as for the king — pish! 
 You who have fought for him. Sergeant Vivian ; 
 would you have faith in an appeal to his Majesty 
 from Virginia ? No, he is too — too occupied, 
 let us say. Besides, he has but lately sold us 
 for forty shillings a year." 
 
 I could make no reply, remembering what 
 Master Barton had told me of the colony's 
 travail, in favourable refutation of Master Law- 
 rence's words. And yet, though I wished to re- 
 main in the land, I saw before me such fearful 
 obstacles of tyrannical misrule to first be over- 
 come ere any one could prosper, that I was 
 tempted to banish all desire. 
 
 "Yet Sir William is a wise man," Master 
 Lawrence continued. " Verily, he has all the 
 learning of a priest and all the hatred for it — 
 in others — of a Puritan. He forbids us schools 
 and printing — calling them devices of the devil 
 which he hopes we won't have these hundred 
 years. Ha ! ha ! ha ! And if any one would be 
 so reckless as to run counter to his wishes in this 
 respect, behold ! Sir William will stand before 
 him and accuse him out of the mouth of his 
 worthy brother. Jack Cade : ' Thou hast most 
 traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm 
 in erecting a grammar school ; and whereas, 
 before our forefathers had no other books than 
 
42 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the score and tally, thou hast caused printing 
 to be used, and, contrary to the king, his crown 
 and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill ! ' " 
 
 Hearing footsteps approaching, however, we 
 ceased our talk abruptly, and looked up just as a 
 young maiden appeared coming down the wind- 
 ing lane past our seats. She was, I should judge, 
 about the age of twenty, slightly above the aver- 
 age height, and of a graceful, well-rounded figure. 
 There was something imperious, I remember, 
 in her carriage, implying a certain hauteur ; which 
 was instantly belied, however, by the sweetness 
 of her face. She was attired all in white, with 
 a broad hat covered with white lace and resting 
 on a mass of wavy brown hair caught up in a 
 loose knot on the back of her head. Whilst 
 under the chin — and it might have been 
 chiselled of marble, so calm yet beautiful it 
 was — two broad white bands, loosely tied, held 
 the hat in position, the ends falling away at her 
 side as though in pettish reluctance. In one 
 hand she carried a small bunch of wild flowers 
 yet wet with the dew, and in the other she 
 trailed a cardinal's cloak of rich scarlet cloth 
 trimmed with ermine, its folds faUing softly 
 over her arm. 
 
 " Good-morning," cried Lawrence, a touch 
 of tender raillery in his voice, as he jumped to 
 his feet and made a low bow, his hat sweeping 
 the ground. " Bound on an errand of mercy, 
 Mistress Zoe, by my troth ! " 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 43 
 
 " Only for myself, Master Lawrence," she 
 replied with a smile. " I am only out for a 
 walk in the woods." 
 
 " It is all the same, my dear ; 'tis the greatest 
 mercy of all, " Lawrence rejoined. " Only keep 
 the roses in your cheeks, and the people will 
 yet live to feel the blush of hope in their hearts." 
 She turned and gave him a pleased smile, and 
 passed on down the lane leading to the river. 
 
 " There goes a girl — a woman," continued 
 Lawrence to me, resuming his seat, " who does 
 more for Virginia to-day than king and , gov- 
 ernor together." 
 
 Wondering as much at the beauty of the 
 maiden as at the strangeness of Master Law- 
 rence's words, I could only ask, " Who is she, 
 pray ? " 
 
 " That girl who just passed," Lawrence con- 
 tinued, a tone of affection plainly audible, " God 
 bless her ! is Mistress Zoe Langdon, a niece 
 of Governor Berkeley ! I have known her ever 
 since she was a little tot of five years, when she 
 came here to live at her uncle's some fifteen 
 years ago. Poor little miss ! " his voice 
 growing softly reminiscent, " her parents were 
 killed by a sudden Indian outbreak at that 
 time, on their own plantation above Green 
 Springs. It all happened before the child's 
 eyes, and she, fainting away, the red fiends left 
 her there, thinking she was dead. The gov- 
 ernor has become attached to her as though she 
 
44 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 were his own child. This much I will say in 
 his favour : he seems to have as much affection 
 for her as for his wife, and he thinks as much 
 of his wife — the old rogue ! — as he does of 
 himself. 
 
 " In this way," he continued, " Mistress Zoe 
 has come to stand between the governor and 
 his people — or his prey — like Antigone of old 
 in that fine play of Sophocles's, standing ever 
 between her brothers and the conquering Fates. 
 With her sweet womanly instinct she has come 
 to understand the needs of Virginia better than 
 that bigoted old fool, her uncle, ever has through- 
 out his long and mistaken career as the king's 
 vicegerent. Still, the girl has never plotted nor 
 intrigued for her uncle's undoing, but simply 
 to stay his hand at evil times and so thwart him 
 from recklessly working his own downfall in 
 the respect and affections of his people." 
 
 " A fortunate thing for the people, in truth, 
 sir," I answered, " that they have such a glorious 
 mistress to ever plead their cause. But will the 
 time never come. Master Lawrence, when the 
 colony will be freely in the hands of the people ? " 
 
 " Wait," he said ; " Sergeant Vivian, a change 
 is coming, and that before many days are past. 
 Even now trouble is brewing. The Indians 
 are gathering their forces, whilst that old rascal, 
 his Excellency, is furnishing them arms and 
 ammunition through his agents — his licensed 
 traders — almost, one might say, as though he 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 45 
 
 were trying to force us into rebellion. 'Rebels' 
 forfeitures will be loyal inheritances/ you know. 
 But the madame is calling me, sir. Coming ! 
 coming ! my dear ! " he cried out to his wife 
 standing in the doorway of the ordinary. And 
 telling me to make myself free about the place, 
 he took his leave. 
 
 Scarce had he left me, however, than my mind 
 returned to the lady who had passed ; and re- 
 membering that I had seen Seager precede her 
 down the lane less than half an hour before, 
 and that — unscrupulous fellow that he was, in 
 the guise of a gentleman — he was not above 
 offering insult to a lady when unprotected, I 
 presently arose and strolled after them that I 
 might be within easy call if required. 
 
 Through the dense growth of willow and 
 white birch, and beneath the arching of the 
 branches over the pathway, the vista was at all 
 points charming and beautiful, though wont to 
 be somewhat abrupt and irregular. At places 
 I could now and then catch a glimpse, through 
 the tangled shrubbery, of the tawny outline of 
 the James sparkling in the sunlight ; quickly 
 obliterated, however, by some sudden turn, rise, 
 or descent in the pathway. 
 
 I was walking meditatively along with my 
 eyes cast down, I remember, picking my way 
 along the uneven ground, when I discerned all 
 at once — and almost beneath my feet — the 
 bright glint that could come only from the 
 
46 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 polished facets of a gem as it reflected the sun- 
 light slanting through the foliage. Stooping 
 over, I picked up a ring curiously set with a 
 brilliant jewel ; and whilst I stood there won- 
 dering how it could have been lost and over- 
 looked directly in the pathway, I chanced to 
 glance to one side, where, peeping beneath the 
 leaves and grass of a little hillock, a bed of vio- 
 lets grew. Those nearest to me, I saw, had been 
 recently plucked, the leaves somewhat crushed 
 and disordered, whilst beyond, and fairly out of 
 reach of any one standing there in the pathway, 
 hundreds of blue heads nodded with the weight 
 of the dew. 
 
 And then the memory of the flowers Mistress 
 Langdon had carried returned to me, and I con- 
 jectured that in plucking the violets the ring had 
 slipped from her finger unnoticed or forgotten, 
 and rolled down into the path. Hence I hast- 
 ened onward, resolved to return the ring at 
 once. And then again I faltered and stood 
 still ; for in sooth it might not be hers. So 
 that I began suddenly to wax hot and cold by 
 turns at thought of the consequences of my 
 vain presumption in daring to address her on 
 some frippery device of a ring picked up by 
 the wayside. " Sir ! Sir ! Sir ! " I fancied I 
 could hear her say in tones now grateful and 
 anon ringing in scorn. And by my troth ! 
 even were it hers how was I to acknowledge 
 her thanks ? I, Sergeant Vivian, who wot little 
 
" Feeling my face grow hot with embarrassment as I handed 
 her the ring." — Page 47. 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 47 
 
 of woman's ways, and, such being my nature, 
 would sooner stand before the cannon's mouth 
 in fair battle any day than to be facing a beau- 
 tiful woman passing those — to me — deadly 
 pleasantries of gallantry as are wont to ensue on 
 such occasions. 
 
 But whilst I continued to stand there like a 
 perdieu, unable to retreat or to go forward, and 
 half resolved to hand the ring to Master Law- 
 rence when I returned to the ordinary, telling 
 him where and how I had picked it up, and 
 my ideas — my apprehensions even — of its 
 ownership, I detected the lady in person ap- 
 proaching me. She was walking very slowly, 
 her eyes bent on the ground, so that she could 
 not have seen me until quite near. Then, as I 
 stood aside to let her pass, she suddenly raised 
 her eyes to my face, and, in a clear, sweet voice, 
 she said, — 
 
 " Sir, I have lost a ring somewhere along the 
 way you have just come. You may have seen 
 it perhaps ? " 
 
 "Yes, my lady," I replied, bowing and sweep- 
 ing my bonnet ; " I did pick up a ring but a 
 moment ago." 
 
 " Then why did you not offer it to me, sir ? " 
 she demanded impatiently, and frowning with 
 displeasure. 
 
 " I was not sure," I stammered, feeling my 
 face grow hot with embarrassment as I handed 
 her the ring ; " I was going — " 
 
48 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 "Aye, you were going by, that is sure ! " she 
 interrupted haughtily, but looking at me with 
 such an arch expression that, in my witless state, 
 I could not tell whether she were only teasing 
 me, or meant to hand me over to her uncle's offi- 
 cers for purloining her jewellery. With thoughts 
 of this luckless possibility, my wits happily re- 
 turned, as they ever do in times of real danger. 
 So that, determined not to let her think so ill 
 of me, I said, with all the honesty of voice I 
 could command, — 
 
 " If your ladyship will pardon me, I meant 
 only to say that I intended giving the ring to 
 Master Lawrence, at whose ordinary I am 
 stopping, that he might deliver it to its rightful 
 owner." 
 
 Continuing to stare at me distrustfully, as 
 though she would seek the truth of my words 
 in my face, she asked, though seemingly as 
 much of herself as of me : " I wonder if the 
 knave is to be trusted ? " 
 
 I own that I did not know what to say. 
 Never before, I thought, had I been so mer- 
 cilessly misjudged, and all because of that 
 equivocal timidity of mine in failing to ask if 
 she had lost the ring, and then offering it to her 
 in the manner of a courtier without her having 
 to first question me like a thief Howbeit, I 
 was more incensed with myself, I remember, 
 than with her, as she stood there now demurely 
 plucking the white petals from a daisy as though. 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 49 
 
 forsooth, she would read my character after 
 the dire custom of "rich man, poor man, beg- 
 gar man, thief" Nevertheless, bowing low, I 
 was turning away with considerable heat, when 
 she cried : " One moment, sir ! You have not 
 gfven me your name ? " 
 
 "John Vivian, my lady, at your service," 
 I replied, bowing again ; and was for going on 
 down the lane. 
 
 " Stay ! Master Vivian," she replied in an 
 altered tone, her face lighting into a confident 
 smile, " I believe that I may trust you, and 
 may God help me if I be mistaken ! Listen," 
 she continued ; " would you be willing to exe- 
 cute a commission for me, sir ? " 
 
 "With all my heart," I replied, my former 
 feeling of embarrassment and chagrin suddenly 
 passing. " Nor shall the confidence you choose 
 to repose in a stranger be regretted, my lady." 
 
 " It is loyally said, sir," she answered fer- 
 vently. " But I must not be seen speaking 
 with you. Say to no one that you have met 
 me, sir, and be at the north gate of Governor 
 Berkeley's mansion at nine o'clock to-night. 
 I shall have a message for you." 
 
 And giving me no time to reply, she made 
 a courtesy and was gone. 
 
 I remained standing there a moment, watch- 
 ing her until she was out of sight. Then, my 
 mind full of this sudden meeting and the ad- 
 venture that it promised, I turned, and resumed 
 
50 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 my walk. Oh, to be in action again ! To 
 feel myself a factor of some moment in help- 
 ing to sustain the fortunes of some lofty cause ! 
 Beneath the repose of these southern skies and 
 blissful days of early June, a sullen volcano of 
 discontent and long-suppressed public opinion 
 was smouldering ; nor could it be many days 
 now at the rate that the differences between 
 the governor and the people kept multiply- 
 ing, ere the flames would burst forth and the 
 country be plunged into the midst of a civil 
 war, where Church and State, Assembly and 
 Governor, would come together with clash of 
 arms the while the Indians played havoc along 
 the border outposts of civilization. And whilst 
 civil war is terrible, methinks that tyranny is 
 worse. That the Virginians were a patient 
 people, slow to become aroused, I had quickly 
 discovered. Her trade had become extensive, 
 her products rich and varied ; some eighty ships 
 arriving and departing from England during 
 the course of a single year. Yet, ground under 
 the heel as she was, her very richness had served 
 only to excite the greed of her rulers the while 
 they continued to plunder her. 
 
 Despite these thoughts of impending danger, 
 therefore, I remember that I was conscious of 
 a great buoyancy of spirits as I thought of it 
 all. The woods were never greener, and the 
 birds never sang sweeter than on that morning 
 of my meeting with Mistress Langdon. In 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 51 
 
 sooth I saw at every turn, and by the steady 
 impellent of my surroundings, that I was being 
 drawn into the swift-flowing current of events ; 
 nor had I any doubt that the message she meant 
 to entrust to me had to do with some plans for 
 furthering the well-being of the people, else 
 would she not be concerned in it. Master Law- 
 rence, indeed, would understand its meaning ; 
 but to Master Lawrence, or to any one else, I 
 was forbidden to speak. And so, with the 
 thought of soon having the message fresh from 
 her own lips, I contented myself to wait. 
 
 I had now reached a point where the lane 
 made straight for the river, but as I turned to 
 retrace my steps I discovered some one step 
 out from under cover of the woods where I 
 had passed, and start to come towards me. 
 Seeing me returning, however, he appeared to 
 hesitate a moment; then, as though changing 
 his mind, he came straight on again. Yet I 
 soon found it was only Master Seager, whom 
 until this morning I could not recall having 
 seen for several days, our habits throwing us 
 but rarely together. However, chancing to 
 meet him there suddenly, I now remembered 
 having seen him only the day before, accom- 
 panied by two of the men whom we had brought 
 with us from England, — Masters James and 
 Lewis. They were chatting at the time I saw 
 them with some of the governor's guard, with 
 whom they seemed to be on very good terms 
 
52 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 as they sat there drinking in front of the 
 Sailor's Yarn down by the river. 
 
 But I had come, somehow, to feel such a loath- 
 ing and distrust of the man that I hated to see 
 him darken the path as he approached me that 
 morning. My face must certainly have re- 
 vealed my feeling towards him quite plainly ; 
 but such was the composure of the fellow, he 
 so affected to disregard any formality in my 
 manner, that he began at once on the subject 
 that was evidently uppermost in his mind. 
 
 "There's going to be the devil to pay in 
 Virginia before long. Master John," he said 
 soberly, after greeting me. 
 
 " Well," I returned dryly, " and you will 
 stay to help pay your share, I opine ? " 
 
 " Ha ! not I, sergeant," he replied. " I 
 think too much of my hair to engage in their 
 damned border warfares. Give me a French- 
 man, or a Dutchman — any one who fights in 
 the open." 
 
 " Then why not return to England, sir ? " I 
 asked, wanting to pass on and leave him. 
 " You are two hundred crowns the better for 
 the voyage." 
 
 " Now you have said it for me. Master John," 
 he replied with a quick sigh of relief " I have 
 been robbed, sir, by a set of these desperate 
 adventurers who have been swarming into the 
 colony, and am without a crown to assist 
 myself." 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 53 
 
 " Faugh ! " I returned in swift disgust at his 
 story. " You dare come to me, Seager, and 
 say that you, who have played the chances of 
 Hfe for high stakes among the cleverest knaves 
 the world over, have been swindled of your 
 money here in Virginia ? Robbed ! " I sneered 
 sarcastically ; " tricked with cards by some 
 planter in homespun, belike." 
 
 " So help me heaven, sergeant ! " he ex- 
 claimed in eager protest, " what I tell you is 
 the truth. O John ! I beg of you, don't look 
 at me like that. Remember how you per- 
 suaded me to come with you to this raw coun- 
 try, and for the honour of old days, sergeant, 
 give me the favour of a little assistance for a 
 time." 
 
 Though I smiled queerly at his reference to 
 my persuading him to come with me to Vir- 
 ginia, and could do naught but doubt the story 
 of his losing two hundred crowns in scarce a 
 week's residence in Jamestown, yet was I moved 
 sufficiently by his appeal to be willing to extend 
 him a word of caution looking to his present 
 aJid future well-being here in the colony. So 
 — and with the willingness to assist a comrade 
 to stand on his own feet — I turned to him, 
 saying, — 
 
 " Listen, Seager ! What you have heard is 
 true. Lively times are coming here in Virginia, 
 when any man drawing as good a sword as you 
 should be able to step quickly to the front." 
 
54 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Waiting a moment to mark the effect of my 
 words upon him, I saw at once — and should 
 have been warned by it at the time — that he 
 had but scant incHnation to fight for a matter 
 so meaningless to him as the rights of a free 
 subject. Replying airily, in a manner that be- 
 lied his alleged present necessities, he said : " I 
 tell you, sergeant, that I want nothing to do 
 with these troubles between the governor and 
 the Virginians. That old bull-dog of a Berke- 
 ley is ever on the watch sharp after his rations, 
 and ready to eat any one up who opposes 
 him." 
 
 " Then what the devil do you come begging 
 round me for ? " I exclaimed, swiftly lowering 
 my guard in hot impatience at the fellow's 
 pusillanimity. " I can have no work for such 
 as you." 
 
 "'Fore heaven, sir!" he returned in well- 
 feigned surprise, " how could you expect me to 
 know you had embraced the cause of the Vir- 
 ginians ? I took you for a soldier in the king's 
 service at all times." 
 
 Chagrined and more than half angry with 
 myself that I had let him into the secret of my 
 affairs so easily, I bade him a curt good-morn- 
 ing, and was turning to leave, when he cried 
 out : " I beg a thousand pardons, sergeant, if 
 I have said aught to offend you. But you 
 know my own plight, sir. I was not born to 
 die with a halter round my neck fighting for 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 55 
 
 the freedom of an ill-starred colony against the 
 king. You understand, sir," he urged, " I am 
 sure." 
 
 Aye, I understood very well. I saw that 
 whatever I did now, whichever way I turned 
 for a shift on my own part, I must ever have 
 this knave for an assistant or run the fear of 
 his checkmating me. But realizing that he 
 could know nothing of my plans, and resolving 
 to be closer-mouthed hereafter, the idea of his 
 causing me any inconvenience never occurred 
 to me. Accordingly, as I would need a com- 
 panion on my ride that very night — and 
 knowing no man in Jamestown who could so 
 ably support me if recompensed for it — I 
 thought best to appease and reassure him by 
 manifesting some concern in his welfare. 
 
 " Where are you staying, Seager ? " I asked. 
 
 " Down below, sir," he replied, pointing to the 
 lane leading to the river, "at the Sailor's Yarn." 
 
 " Very well," I answered, with as much 
 nonchalance in my voice as I could assume ; 
 " though I have no employment to offer any one 
 now, I may have work in a few days. Here," 
 I continued, offering him a guinea ; " this will 
 relieve your present necessities, I presume ? " 
 
 " God bless you, sergeant ! " he answered ; 
 "it's the most generous deed ever done to a 
 comrade in hard luck." Then, bidding me 
 farewell with every protestation of loyalty and 
 good will, we parted. 
 
56 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 That same afternoon I took occasion for a 
 stroll about the outlying points of the town, 
 that I might know the position of the main 
 highways leading in and out of the capital of 
 Virginia. In the town the houses, for the 
 greater part, were built of brick, a number of 
 log houses peeping out here and there from 
 small clearings in the woods in the outskirts of 
 the town. Save for a narrow glistening stretch 
 known as Sandy Beach, and which was the 
 only approach from the outlying country, 
 the town was entirely surrounded by water. 
 The James, however, afforded all the conven- 
 iences — and more of the grandeur — of a great 
 public highway which was quite generally re- 
 sorted to, being dotted with small craft of vari- 
 ous kinds owned by well-to-do planters. 
 
 Keeping the main outlines well in mind, I 
 went on to the mansion of Governor Berkeley 
 that I might view the surroundings before 
 nightfall. I found the place to be located on 
 rising ground, a little way back from the town ; 
 whence a wide highway led through the woods 
 straight on to the edge of a clearing, covering 
 about fifty acres, in the centre of which stood 
 the mansion. 
 
 Standing now at the eastern gateway with 
 its tall and rough-hewn stone pillars, I gazed 
 down a long vista, between lofty pines, to where 
 the gravelled walk led up to the stone steps of 
 the main entrance. Here a verandah extended 
 
Master Lawrence's Ordinary 57 
 
 nearly the entire front of the building, with 
 Ionic columns supporting a broad flat roof, 
 surrounded with a low railing. The building 
 itself, I could presently see, was of brick, alter- 
 nately dull and glazed, two full stories in height, 
 topped with a half story set with a steep roof, 
 and dormer windows peeping from out a green 
 tangle of creeper and ivy. Continuing on up 
 the road a piece, I discovered that the outbuild- 
 ings were of the same material, and arranged in 
 the form of a hollow square approached by a 
 colonnade. The yard, I remember, was at that 
 time trimly kept ; the giant pines and splendid 
 oaks rearing their branches high in the air as 
 though they felt the responsibility upon them 
 of playing their share in maintaining the lofti- 
 ness and dignity of his Majesty's loyal servant 
 in Virginia. 
 
 I next made out that the north gate — which 
 Mistress Langdon had named for our meeting — 
 was approached by a narrow, gravel walk, lead- 
 ing from the north portico of the mansion. 
 Hence I should be obliged to leave the high- 
 way at a point a hundred yards above where I 
 now stood, and to travel a piece in the woods 
 in order to reach it, unless I chose to pass 
 boldly across the lawn and run the risk of arrest 
 and detention at the hands of the governor's 
 guard. 
 
 Returning to the ordinary, I observed proper 
 caution the balance of the day in keeping a 
 
58 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 seal on my lips. Letting no one know of my 
 assignation for that evening, as the hour ap- 
 proached I quietly left the room. Retracing 
 my steps of the afternoon, I went straight on 
 past the mansion, and, turning into the woods, 
 soon arrived — my heart beating tumultuously, 
 I remember — at an open space by the north 
 gate, there to await the coming of my lady. 
 
Chapter IV 
 The Heart of Virginia 
 
 I HAD not long to wait, however, ere I 
 saw a door open from the mansion, and 
 in the light that streamed forth I could 
 see two figures pass out on to the walk. After 
 a few moments I made out the sound of ap- 
 proaching footsteps on the gravel walk, and the 
 voice of Mistress Langdon. 
 
 " Stay here, Katy," she said. " I shall only 
 be gone a moment." 
 
 Stepping forward from the shadow of the 
 trees, I advanced a few paces down the walk 
 until challenged, " Who is there ? " 
 
 " It is I, my lady ; John Vivian," I answered 
 quietly. 
 
 " Ah, you are punctual, sir," she replied in 
 a voice wherein I could detect a quick sigh of 
 relief. " And for this I shall be the more 
 willing to trust you, perchance." 
 
 Bowing low, I protested that she need feel 
 no further concern on that score. 
 
 " Then listen, Master Vivian," she began in 
 rapid tones. " I would have you carry a mes- 
 
 S9 
 
6o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 sage for me to Curies on the upper James. 
 Do you know the way, sir ? " 
 
 " No, my lady," I replied ; " yet it is easily 
 found, belike." 
 
 "Very well, sir," she continued. "You 
 are to call at the Bacon plantation, and tell 
 Mistress Betty Bacon that the ship Adam and 
 Eve left Jamestown this evening for Curies, 
 with orders from Governor Berkeley to arrest 
 her husband for a rebel. Assure her, sir, of 
 my love and consideration ; but warn her that 
 his Excellency is very wroth, and that it were 
 well for her husband to lie hidden for a space 
 until the burgesses convene." 
 
 " That is all, my lady ? " I asked, as she 
 came to a pause. 
 
 " Aye, it is all, sir ; and perchance of little 
 significancy to you unless you know the trend 
 of affairs in Virginia," she answered. " So 
 would I advise you. Master Vivian, that upon 
 the prompt conveyance of this message there 
 may rest the life of a noble gentleman, who is 
 in every way necessary to the cause of freedom 
 in Virginia. This much I do, then, without 
 regard for the love I bear Mistress Betty Bacon 
 herself." 
 
 "In this commission, my lady," I replied 
 with feeling, "and in all others, I shall be 
 proud to do your service. Your message shall 
 be delivered as quickly as a good horse can 
 carry me." 
 
The Heart of Virginia 6i 
 
 " Stay ! " she returned directly. " The wind 
 blows from the westward. Master Vivian, and 
 you can easily overhaul the ship by waiting 
 till moonrise. Methinks such will be about 
 an hour to midnight. Have you a horse, 
 sir ? " 
 
 " No, my lady, I am only recently from 
 England," I replied. 
 
 " Then go to Master Dale's stables. Tell 
 him to loan you his gray," she continued, " and 
 provide you with a guide to Curies. A report 
 has lately come in that the Indians are rising 
 again in the up-country. But, thanks to Na- 
 thaniel Bacon, sir, methinks you need have 
 little fear on this score. Still, 'tis always well 
 to be prepared in these days." 
 
 Again I thought that I detected a note of care 
 and anxiety in her voice as she thus particular- 
 ized. To reassure her, therefore, I said, " I 
 have trusty men — " 
 
 " Hush ! " she exclaimed sharply. " What 
 was t^at ? " 
 
 I was on the alert in an instant. But after 
 listening intently, and hearing only the snap- 
 ping of a twig as of a bird in the branches over- 
 head, I answered quietly, — 
 
 " Nay, my lady ; I heard naught, I believe." 
 
 Quickly recovering herself, she laughed 
 lightly whilst a mocking-bird began whistling 
 above us. " I am forever hearing fearsome 
 sounds nowadays, sir, where I formerly heard 
 
62 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 naught. But may God speed you, Master 
 Vivian. I shall go in now." 
 
 " By your leave, Mistress Langdon, I shall 
 guard you to the door," said I as she turned 
 to depart. 
 
 " Oh, no, sir," she protested ; " my maid is 
 waiting." But, hesitating a moment, she con- 
 tinued : " It troubles me to think, though, 
 that at a time like this when suspicion is 
 rife, your message may not be trusted at 
 Curies." 
 
 " There is yet time, my lady, if you choose 
 to indite a missive." 
 
 Reflecting a moment, she answered : " No, 
 Master Vivian, we'll let it pass ; though, by 
 my faith, it was a witless act. But here ! " she 
 continued hastily, " do you show this ring to 
 Mistress Bacon, sir ; it is oddly set, and, hav- 
 ing seen it oft, I doubt not that she will recog- 
 nize it." 
 
 With this she handed me the ring, which I 
 accepted with a low bow. But whilst I was 
 placing it in my doublet, she said archly, — 
 and I knew that she was laughing at me under 
 cover of the darkness, — " You might at least 
 have been gallant enough to wear it, sir." 
 
 So sudden was my surprise at these words, 
 that in my confusion I stood there fumbling 
 awkwardly with the ring for a space that seemed 
 to me to cover several moments. And ere I 
 could collect my wits, she added : " Come, sir, 
 
The Heart of Virginia 6^ 
 
 I swear no wight shall serve me so. I prythee 
 hand it back ! " 
 
 " But, my lady," I began to murmur, as I 
 quickly did her bidding, " if I had — " 
 
 " chut ! " she said sharply ; whilst for an 
 instant I felt my hand retained, and the ring 
 slipped deftly over my finger. Then, swiftly 
 turning, and with a laugh that betokened more 
 of a blithe diablerie than of aught else, she 
 cried : " Good-night, Master Vivian, and may 
 God be with you ! " 
 
 The next moment she had disappeared in 
 the darkness. Yet again I heard her voice 
 saying, "Come, Katy"; then stood there lis- 
 tening to the footsteps retreating down the path 
 until I saw the door of the mansion open and 
 two figures pass within the light. And whilst 
 I continued to wait there, between marvelling 
 and worshipping, the mocking-bird in the 
 branches overhead did pour out such an in- 
 souled rapture of music as I had never heard, 
 whereof every note seemed to echo in my 
 heart. And in sooth it is the maddest of 
 songsters, with its notes stolen from divers 
 throats in seasons sad and joyous. So that I 
 remember as I hearkened to its song that 
 night, bursting out into glad paeans one 
 moment but restrained the next as though by 
 the very melancholy and soul sadness of 
 oppression, I bethought myself of Virginia. 
 Wherefore at one moment I was thrilled. 
 
64 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 it seemed, by all the gladness that life could 
 bestow ; whilst the next, swiftly recalling the 
 nature of my errand, I felt for an instant a 
 sense of all the bitterness it held as well. 
 
 Leaving the premises of Governor Berkeley, 
 I set off down the highway in the direction of 
 the stables kept by Master Dale, whose nags 
 I knew to be famous for their breeding and 
 good qualities. Approaching the premises, I 
 detected a lanthorn swinging in the open door- 
 way ; and as I came up I made out by the 
 dim light that it shed a number of coaches and 
 vehicles, trimly kept, and all of the latest and 
 most fashionable designs then in vogue in 
 London. 
 
 In response to my heavy footsteps on the 
 rough board floor, a tall brawny fellow, heavily 
 bewhiskered, came out of an adjoining room 
 and inquired my business. 
 
 " I must have a horse to-night, sir," I replied 
 briskly ; " or, rather," bethinking myself that I 
 should not go alone, " three of them, my friend. 
 And only such as are able to carry three men 
 of goodly weight on a continuous ride of fifty 
 miles." 
 
 Paying scarce any heed to my request, he 
 scanned me sharply from head to foot. " In 
 what direction, pray," he asked finally, " would 
 you be travelling at this late hour ? " 
 
 I was as much astonished, I remember, as 
 irritated by the man's inquisitiveness. But, 
 
The Heart of Virginia 65 
 
 attributing it to the love of his nags and un- 
 willingness to let them go out with a stranger 
 at that late hour, I replied curtly : " Where I 
 am travelling, sir, is my own affair. Here are 
 three hundred crowns for the return of the 
 animals, and a fair sum for their use until that 
 time." 
 
 "You may keep your money, sir," he 
 answered dryly. " My horses are not for 
 hire." 
 
 " What the devil do you mean ? " I de- 
 manded impatiently. " I was told that I could 
 be accommodated here." 
 
 "And who told you that? " he asked in cool 
 indifferency, whilst he picked up a coarse broom 
 and began sweeping the dirt back from the 
 doors as though he would close them for the 
 night. 
 
 Seeing, perforce, that the man had an obsti- 
 nate will of his own, and that I was only los- 
 ing time by parleying with him, I smothered 
 my wrath the while I bethought myself of 
 Mistress Langdon's words. Then, knuckling 
 to his mood for the nonce, I replied, — 
 
 " Why, sir, I was told by Mistress Langdon 
 to call for your gray nag — if it be any concern 
 of yours to know who sent me." 
 
 "And it is, sir!" he exclaimed, dropping the 
 broom, so that I smiled to note the sprightly 
 change in his manner. "It concerns me, as 
 well as others, a great deal. You shall be ac- 
 
66 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 commodated as quickly as you desire, and need 
 say naught about the pay. Only you see, sir," 
 — and he looked at me knowingly, — "it be- 
 hooves us to act cautiously." 
 
 " Yes, yes," I replied ; " I understand, and 
 shall know the word to your favour another 
 time." 
 
 " Belike, sir," he answered ; " for some- 
 times my nags are for hire, and then again, 
 sometimes they are not. Will you start at 
 once, sir ? " 
 
 " No, Master Dale ; kindly have them ready, 
 and I will call with my men when the moon is 
 up." And, with a few instructions as to how I 
 liked my saddle placed, leaving the selection of 
 the nags entirely to himself, I took my leave. 
 
 Going on towards the Sailor's Yarn, I re- 
 flected on the secret understanding which, I 
 had observed, pervaded all classes in Virginia 
 at this time, so strongly was the favour of the 
 people turning from the governor and setting 
 towards Master Bacon. Nor could I wonder 
 much at this as I thought of the last trick his 
 Excellency had played them on the frontier. 
 When, in response to their appeal for protec- 
 tion against the Indians, with a fine sense of 
 humour he had readily acquiesced to their de- 
 mands by building a line of forts, absurdly in- 
 adequate, yet affording a subtle excuse to tax 
 them roundly on their tobacco for this benefi- 
 cent protection. And when the people — and 
 
The Heart of Virginia 67 
 
 God help all such everywhere, say I ! — dared 
 to murmur against this high insurance on their 
 lives, then did his Excellency, Sir William 
 Berkeley, disdainfully forbid all further trifling 
 on this matter under threat of heavy penalty. 
 
 Arriving at the tavern, I at once made in- 
 quiry for Master Seager. But to no avail. 
 Seeking out the keeper, therefore, I asked, 
 " Did Master Seager leave any word with you, 
 sir ? " 
 
 " No, sir," he answered courteously ; " I saw 
 him go out some two hours ago." 
 
 Trusting that he would shortly return, I 
 waited round well-nigh an hour. Then, fearing 
 that he was in his cups, perchance, and might 
 long be absent, I asked after James and Lewis. 
 But they, likewise, were out. Whereupon I 
 took my departure, albeit with much disap- 
 pointment. For I well knew the value of 
 Master Seager's assistance in a tight place, 
 and, knowing the disturbed state of the coun- 
 try, I apprehended some little difficulty in 
 making the ride to Curies. I therefore re- 
 traced my steps towards Master Lawrence's 
 ordinary, stopping only by the way to pick up 
 another of my former command, one of the 
 brothers Henry, who agreed to hold himself 
 in readiness at the appointed hour at Master 
 Dale's stables. 
 
 I had still to find a guide, however ; so kept 
 straight on to the ordinary, where I conjectured 
 
68 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 that this could be readily effected. Lifting the 
 latch, I remember being struck as I entered 
 the tap-room by the numbers there at that late 
 hour ; for Jamestown was a quiet place, and 
 one early to retire, and as for Master Lawrence, 
 being a gentleman of culture and refinement, 
 he did ever keep an orderly house. Howbeit, 
 the place was wont to throb responsive and in 
 nice sympathy with the life of the colony. On 
 this night there was considerable stir in the air. 
 Men were sitting round the tables, drinking 
 modestly, but speaking with some heat of the 
 incidents of the day. Whilst over at one side 
 of the room, a little group was gravely discuss- 
 ing certain ominous presages that they had 
 recently observed. 
 
 " As I came over the hill this night by the 
 governor's mansion," one of the men remarked, 
 " I saw a great comet like a horse's tail stream- 
 ing westward." 
 
 " God a' mercy, John ! " answered a strap- 
 ping youth with a wink sidewise at the rest ; 
 "did the thing enter at his Excellency's door?" 
 
 "Nay, Master Clarke," quoth John, per- 
 ceiving that the others were laughing at him 
 in misdoubt ; " but it were an instrument of 
 Providence if it had." 
 
 " Faith, you are right, John ! " admitted 
 Master Clarke frankly, amid the jeering of the 
 crowd. 
 
 " But that is naught. Master Clarke," spoke 
 
The Heart of Virginia 69 
 
 up a venerable patriarch whose long gray hair 
 fell over his shoulders. Removing the stem 
 of an Indian pipe from his mouth, he con- 
 tinued, in a voice of earnest cogency : " It is 
 naught, sir, to the sight I saw yesternight just 
 after sundown. I was standing at the rear of 
 my plantation down by the river. Looking up,' 
 whilst the sun set with a red glow, I saw, nigh 
 a quarter of the mid-hemisphere, flights of 
 pigeons that of their length was there no vis- 
 ible end. 'Twere a sight to shudder at," he con- 
 tinued slowly, " and did remind me of the same 
 that I saw more than fifty year ago, the night 
 before we were attacked by Opechancanough." 
 This time, however, no one had the hardi- 
 hood to laugh. Nor was this merely out of 
 respect to the man's white hairs, for I doubt 
 not that there were many present to whom the 
 words were fraught with a dire significancy. 
 The mere mention of the name of that old 
 chief, brother to Powhatan, was sufficient to 
 silence all for a space ; for there were those 
 present who remembered and shortly began to 
 speak of the chief's last battle some thirty years 
 ago. Then it was Sir William Berkeley who 
 led them to victory ; and it was strange to 
 remark the look of astonishment that swept 
 over the faces of the younger portion of the 
 listeners, as their elders went on to relate of 
 this same Sir William Berkeley, his Excel- 
 lency, whom they were now all so heartily 
 
yo Vivian of Virginia 
 
 execrating. At that time he was a dashing 
 young courtier fresh from the court of the 
 first Charles. At that time, so all admitted, 
 he was brave and honest and loyal, and won 
 every Virginian's heart by his charming man- 
 ners and lavish hospitality. But ah ! at that 
 time the iron had not entered into his soul ; 
 his king had not been beheaded ; nor had he 
 himself, after being called a royal rebel, been 
 thrust ignominiously out of his high office after 
 holding out against the Commonwealth for full 
 two years. 
 
 Whilst I listened to the Virginians' account- 
 ing of the aged cavalier, learning how, when 
 the king's men were up again, he had resumed 
 his duties of governor, and, never a liberal 
 mind, had returned more zealous in his big- 
 otry, more rabid in his intolerance, and more 
 bitter in his tyranny, — then did I greatly mar- 
 vel at this trick of the vafrous devil, whereby 
 he ofttimes claims his own when a man's years 
 should grant him holy quittance. 
 
 I was about leaving the room when Master 
 Lawrence, beckoning me aside, acquainted me 
 with a Master Drummond. " My friend 
 Drummond," said Master Lawrence, "is from 
 the Carolinas." 
 
 " Ah," I answered laughingly, as we clasped 
 hands, " methinks that I have met men from 
 there before." 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! my friend," laughed Master Law- 
 
The Heart of Virginia 71 
 
 rence, " you have the jest upon him, I fear me." 
 Whereat he related briefly to Master Drum- 
 mond my encounter with the Carolina free- 
 booters. 
 
 "Yes, Sergeant Vivian," he made answer 
 cordially, but speaking in a broad Scotch 
 accent; "things are in but a sorry plight in 
 the Carolinas. Thanks be to his Excel- 
 lency ! " 
 
 "And what of the Indians, sir," asked Mas- 
 ter Lawrence, " along the Nottoway and in the 
 up-country ? " 
 
 " I learn they are gathering, sir, — the red 
 devils ! " he replied. " You may believe that it 
 takes scant time for them to learn that his Ex- 
 cellency has refused to grant Master Bacon his 
 commission to go out against them." 
 
 For a space I waited, hearing them speak of 
 Master Nathaniel Bacon and the gathering dis- 
 affection of the people, until, the hour being 
 close upon eleven, seeing Master Clarke pass 
 out, I arose and set out after him. 
 
 " Master Clarke ! " I called out, coming up 
 behind him a few paces down the road. 
 
 Turning on hearing his name called, he recog- 
 nized me as I came up. " You are Sergeant 
 Vivian, sir, I believe ? " he said. 
 
 "Yes," I answered; "I am in need of a 
 guide to Curies. Would you be pleased to 
 engage, sir ? " 
 
 " Perchance, sir," he ventured pleasantly. 
 
72 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Yet I should first like to know more of your 
 intent." 
 
 " Of a surety," I admitted ; " I am carrying 
 a message to Master Bacon. Yet by my faith, 
 sir, wherefore all this inquisitiveness is more 
 than I can say ! " 
 
 " Nay, Sergeant Vivian," he replied gravely. 
 " But mayhap had your own brother been 
 hanged for daring to ask how the revenues of 
 the colony were disbursed, you likewise would 
 learn the need of caution. Such is my position. 
 Yet I am now at your service, sir." 
 
 "Your pardon, Master Clarke," I cried 
 hastily, seeing that I had but ill bespoken him. 
 "In all fairness, sir, let me explain that I have 
 had scarce any experience as yet with the life of 
 a free colony." 
 
 Chuckling slightly, he replied : " I prythee, 
 sir, do not speak of it, lest you would shortly 
 know it better. When would you be off, 
 sergeant ? " 
 
 "At once, if it please you," said I. " My 
 nags are even now in waiting at Master Dale's." 
 Whereupon he expressed his readiness to 
 depart that very minute, his own horse being 
 stabled at Master Dale's, after having been 
 ridden in from Gloucester that same morning. 
 
 But If, on arrival at the stables, I had before 
 been astonished at the unwillingness and obsti- 
 nacy displayed by the proprietor, I was now no 
 less amazed at his generous spirit, and the care- 
 
The Heart of Virginia 73 
 
 fulness for every detail that shone resplendent 
 in his equipment of the horses. Holding my 
 stirrup whilst I mounted, he said : " You will 
 find your haversacks fairly supplied, gentlemen, 
 for you have but a barren country to traverse 
 in these days." 
 
 Thanking him heartily for his considerate- 
 ness, we walked our horses down the lane into 
 the highway, and then set off at a hand-gallop, 
 Clarke leading the way. The full moon was 
 just climbing above the tops of the trees in our 
 rear as we left Jamestown and turned into a 
 bridle-path winding through the forest close by 
 the river. Long ere this the good town was 
 asleep, the night being still to holiness ; there 
 being naught to break the silence as our horses 
 stepped in Indian file along the mossy swang. 
 Only when the path wound backwards for a 
 space from the river deep into the forest, would 
 we catch at intervals the wild cry of a panther 
 abroad on a midnight prowl, with other strange 
 sounds of the midnight life of the forest. 
 
 Yet I loved the silence at this hour, I re- 
 member, my mind being intent upon the im- 
 port of my present mission. For of Master 
 Bacon I had heard divers reports bruited round 
 Jamestown. All agreeing, however, as to his 
 being a man of parts and holding a position of 
 great cogency in the favour of all true Virgin- 
 ians. As for his antecedents, I had learned 
 that he was a gentleman by right of birth and 
 
74 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 education, his father being Master Thomas 
 Bacon of Fristan Hall, a gentleman of known 
 loyalty and a stanch supporter of his king all 
 through his troublous days preceding the Com- 
 monwealth. 
 
 Proceeding to his degree at Cambridge, 
 Master Bacon thereupon delved sedulously for 
 a space at the Inns of Court ; and it was by 
 virtue of the wisdom he there stored up, I doubt 
 not, that he had now come to look scornfully 
 askant at the judicial sophistries perpetrated 
 by his Excellency, Sir William Berkeley, upon a 
 patient and long-suffering populace. Nor such- 
 wise had his education been completed ; for, 
 being provided with a generous competency by 
 his father, he had then set forth to see the world 
 by travel and adventure in many foreign lands. 
 And, being a gentleman of fine aspirations, and 
 striving to know his fellow-creature by intimate 
 association and experience of such divers pleas- 
 antries of folly and high-living as befitted a young 
 gentleman of his education and resources, he had 
 soon permanently invested his competency and 
 returned to the home of his father. 
 
 Wherefore, being anxious to prove the merit 
 of his son's training, his father gave him eigh- 
 teen thousand pounds and a letter to his cousin, 
 Nathaniel Bacon, senior, who was a rich and 
 politick gentleman high in the Council of Vir- 
 ginia. Accordingly, after marrying his sweet- 
 heart, the daughter of Sir William Duke, young 
 
The Heart of Virginia 75 
 
 Master Bacon — for he was barely nine-and- 
 twenty — had come to Virginia ; and, ensconc- 
 ing himself upon a plantation at Curies, he had 
 risen rapidly from the Assembly to the Council, 
 until now there was none to doubt the vigor- 
 ous supremacy of his parts, save Sir William 
 Berkeley himself. 
 
Chapter V 
 The Ride to Curies 
 
 WE had skirted the narrow road winding 
 round the governor's plantation at 
 Green Springs shortly past midnight. 
 Thence bearing to the westward, we kept on 
 at a brisk pace until we arrived at the banks of 
 the Chickahominy. Following up the stream 
 awayward before coming to the bridge. Master 
 Clarke warned us that we might here have some 
 difficulty in crossing. For I had fully explained 
 to him the object of my journey; and, know- 
 ing that the Adam and Eve had gone up the 
 James to Curies, he assumed that the main 
 roads leading out of Jamestown would at least 
 be guarded in order to prevent the passing of 
 any courier. But his Excellency, seemingly, 
 had no suspicion of any scheme being afoot to 
 thwart his plans ; for, finding the bridge clear, 
 we passed on over the Chickahominy, and, 
 going ahead at a steady canter, had arrived by 
 daybreak in the settlement of Wyanoke. 
 
 Here we dismounted beside the river to water 
 our horses, and take a bite of food ourselves. 
 Then, taking a hitch to our saddle girths, we 
 
 76 
 
The Ride to Curies 77 
 
 were about to mount and be off, when we ob- 
 served a strange party a short distance ahead 
 of us walking streamward. There were four 
 men, I saw, and they were leading a woman or 
 a girl between them, who hung back as though 
 in great reluctancy. 
 
 " Here's a sight for you, sergeant," said 
 Master Clarke. " Do you see that plank, with 
 the chair on the end of it, swung out over the 
 river ? " 
 
 Looking in the direction he pointed, I an- 
 swered directly, " Surely, Master Clarke." 
 
 " Well, sir," said he, " belike you know those 
 are the devil's balances, and I misdoubt not 
 that they are about to weigh yon hapless bag- 
 gage." 
 
 " Weigh her ? " said I, as I saw them attempt- 
 ing to place the struggling lithesome wench in 
 the chair. " What mean you. Master Clarke ? 
 — or stay! let us join them." 
 
 " Why, sir," quoth Master Clarke as we 
 quickly mounted, " what I mean is that, if she 
 sinks, she is sound and the Lord has her ; but 
 peradventure, sir, she is light weight, — then 
 the devil has her." 
 
 " My faith, sir, 'tis a queerish test," I laughed, 
 "and of a fine subtility." 
 
 " And the maids like it, sir," he added, " as 
 a cat likes water." 
 
 By this time we were up with them. The 
 girl, I saw, — when her struggling ceased long 
 
7 8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 enough for me to catch a fair look, — could not 
 have been past eighteen years, and though her 
 cheeks were deeply flushed with her eflForts, it 
 but added to the wildsome beauty of her face 
 with its dark hair and flashing eyes. The men 
 had not yet succeeded in fastening her in the 
 chair ; and, seeing us come up, her eyes changed 
 swiftly from anger to pleading as they sought 
 me out where I sat in mute wonderment astride 
 my nag. 
 
 " Oh, sir ! " she cried, " free me from these 
 godly fools, I prythee. I swear to you that I 
 have done no wrong ! " 
 
 And if at first I tried not to hearken, whilst 
 she again began struggling as they now thought 
 to take advantage of her, it was only because 
 I do ever try to mind my own affairs. But 
 zounds ! how could any man sit by and see 
 these things, save, mayhap, he had been bred 
 to them ? So that, seeing one great knave 
 with peaked bonnet, who appeared to be their 
 leader, lay his rough hands upon the girl's 
 soft shoulders and press her downwards upon 
 the chair, whether the cry she uttered came 
 from pain or dissembling mattered naught at 
 that time. 
 
 " Tut tut, you rascal ! " I cried out sharply ; 
 " what has the girl done to you ? " 
 
 " Done, sir ? " he demanded in fierce sur- 
 prise at my interference. " Nay, she has done 
 naught, but methinks she is a witch." 
 
The Ride to Curies 79 
 
 " Then stand aside ! " said I, springing from 
 my seat. " Have done with your ' methinks,' 
 you rogue, or try it on yourselves ! " And 
 drawing my sword, I quickly cut the thongs 
 that bound her, with scant heed to the angry 
 muttering of the men. For like all knaves of 
 this saintly kidney, who do the devil's work 
 mistaking that it is the Lord's, there was no 
 fight in them. And though they kept looking 
 backwards at the girl whilst they walked off, as 
 though they would fain find her out and prove 
 their doubts upon her at some later day when 
 under no restraint, we waited a moment with 
 her till they had gone a goodly piece. Look- 
 ing up suddenly, however, I caught Master 
 Clarke smiling slyly at Master Henry, and, 
 seeing that I had noted his look and thereat 
 frowned slightly, he said soberly, — 
 
 " Well, well, sergeant, the prize is yours. 
 But take my advice, sir, and weigh her well ere 
 you take her." 
 
 " Nay," I answered, albeit in some con- 
 straint, I remember, " I doubt not the lass 
 loves freedom best." 
 
 " By my faith, sir ! " she answered, with a 
 smile that just revealed for an instant a flash of 
 pearly teeth, "as I'm a gypsy, you speak true!" 
 Then seizing my hand swiftly, she continued 
 in a spirited voice : " Look you, Master Vivian," 
 — though how she knew my name I know not, 
 for it had not been spoken, — " you have done 
 
8o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 me a favour. But now I prythee listen, sir : 
 When the October crescent seeks rest in the 
 westward forest — " 
 
 " Alas ! " I cried, amidst the laughter of my 
 men, " spare me, spare me, my pretty ! " And 
 I held my gauntlet before her lips to check her 
 speech, albeit the next moment I regretted that 
 I had not effected this result after a pleasanter 
 fashion. 
 
 Yet such regrets were brief; for, standing 
 not one whit abashed, — the little hussy ! — she 
 cried : " What, sir ; you won't hearken ? Then 
 take that ! " And ere I could divine her intent, 
 she had kissed me soundly on the cheek and 
 ran off laughing down the marge a piece into 
 the woods. 
 
 So for a space, whilst I mounted and rode 
 on, my companions affected to be so mightily 
 amused that I presently strove to turn their 
 thoughts upon the serious import of our jour- 
 ney by pushing rapidly onwards, and speaking 
 of the events that had recently been crowding 
 thick and fast upon the colony. Being an old 
 Indian campaigner, Master Clarke recited to 
 me how the present troubles had begun. A 
 party of Indians, he stated, of the tribe of 
 Doegs, had killed a herdsman. These were 
 pursued and killed — together with a number 
 of Susquehannocks, who were keeping ill com- 
 pany — by a party of militia. Whereupon the 
 tribes became alarmed and sought refuge in a 
 
The Ride to Curies 
 
 fort near the head of the Potomac, where they 
 were besieged by Colonel John Washington. 
 
 " That was a year ago, Master Vivian," con- 
 tinued Clarke. " Many of our men who 
 chanced near the fort were killed ; and so it 
 was that, having starved them to it, when six 
 of their chiefs came out in a parley, our men 
 broke all restraint and shot them down. That 
 same night the Indians evacuated the fort, and 
 skulking off by moonlight, killed ten of the 
 militia. Then, going on to the head waters of 
 the James and Potomac, men, women, and 
 children were horribly butchered — sixty per- 
 sons, all told, sir, paying forfeit with their lives 
 for those of the six chiefs. 
 
 "But I fear me, sir," he concluded, "that tales 
 such as these bear scant vitality to a man fresh 
 from home. One must serve in an Indian 
 campaign or two ere he comes to know these 
 fiends at their devil's worth. Then you would 
 learn, sir, some idea of the dangers the settlers 
 have risked ever since the time of first landing 
 in Virginia." 
 
 Waiting for a space, he continued : " I well 
 remember my first campaign, sir, some fifteen 
 years ago, when I was a mere child. At that 
 time the Indians had broken out and the people 
 had fled to convenient forts for shelter. My 
 father's plantation being scarce a mile from the 
 fort, my brother and I were wont to return 
 there every morning and again at nightfall to 
 
82 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 feed the cattle. Naught having been seen of a 
 savage for a week past, it so happed that we 
 returned early in the afternoon one day, and 
 were engaged in clearing and preparing a small 
 patch for watermelons. But do you believe in 
 dreams, sir ? " 
 
 " Perchance," I answered, startled at the 
 way he had broken off; "leastwise they have a 
 strange significancy at times." 
 
 " By heavens, sir, that they do ! " he ex- 
 claimed. " For barely had we left the fort that 
 afternoon, when my father, falling into a sound 
 sleep, dreamt that he saw his two children 
 walking scalped about the fort yard. So im- 
 pressed was he with this that he awoke with a 
 startled cry, and, learning that we had gone to 
 the plantation, set off after us at once. Coming 
 to an eminence, he at first saw us working there 
 quietly about the place ; but as he came on near 
 us, he saw two Indians run out of the house 
 and make for us. Our backs being towards 
 them, however, we saw only our parent as he 
 came hurrying on and commanded that we run 
 at once straight back to the fort. 
 
 " At this the Indians set up a yell, whilst he 
 braved them alone, running from tree to tree. 
 Finding himself at last behind a sugar-maple 
 that left part of his body exposed, he quitted 
 it swiftly for a large oak, whilst one of the sav- 
 ages dodged quickly behind the maple. Yet 
 the savage found the same fault with this tree 
 
The Ride to Curies 83 
 
 as did my parent, and conscious that it would 
 not shelter him, he threw himself down beside 
 a log. Here, likewise, part of his body lay ex- 
 posed ; but ere he could turn again, my father 
 had put a bullet in him, so that the savage, 
 finding himself wounded, at once stabbed him- 
 self according to their habit. 
 
 " But a fight with Indians is a fight to 
 the death. Master Vivian," he continued ; "my 
 parent's gun now being of no avail, he man- 
 aged to draw the fire of the second savage, 
 and then advanced boldly to meet him without 
 a weapon save his clubbed musket. This the 
 savage promptly knocked out of his hands with 
 his tomahawk, and they closed. But, notwith- 
 standing his age, sir, my parent was a lithe 
 wrestler and had soon thrown the Indian. But 
 like a snake the savage crawled from under him 
 and got atop ; then giving a horrific yell, as is 
 their wont when assured of victory, he reached 
 for his knife. But here it was that my mother's 
 apron, which the rascal had adorned himself 
 with when in the house, came into good play 
 by preventing him from easily drawing it. 
 So that, whilst he was feehng for his knife, 
 my father managed to get one of his fingers in 
 his mouth, and grinding it between his teeth 
 he fairly disconcerted him for a space and 
 caused him to howl with pain. Not for long, 
 however; for at length the Indian got hold of 
 his knife, but with his grasp so far up on the 
 
84 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 blade that my parent likewise caught hold of 
 the end of the handle. Then, diverting his 
 enemy's mind for a space by again grinding his 
 finger sharply, he pulled suddenly at the handle 
 and drew the blade clean through the savage's 
 fist." 
 
 " The devil ! " I cried, my excitement wrought 
 to a pitch. " A fine tale ; proceed ! " * 
 
 " Both sprang to their feet, sir, yet my parent 
 never once let go of the rascal's finger with his 
 teeth till he gave him a fatal stab. Then, run- 
 ning after us, he hurried us away to the fort, 
 and returned directly with a party of men to 
 learn if other Indians were prowling round. 
 But there was none ; and, following a trail of 
 blood to beneath the branches of a fallen tree, 
 they were accosted by the man with whom my 
 father had just done battle. 
 
 " ' How do, broder ; how do ! ' he cried 
 out on being discovered. ' Me good Injun, 
 how do ! ' 
 
 " But I fear me, sir," Clarke concluded, " that 
 they well assured themselves of this ; for " — 
 drawing a tobacco-pouch from his doublet, and 
 loading his pipe — " this is a piece of the hide 
 
 * Note by the Editor. — Should anyone but myself ever chance to 
 become interested in these memoirs, it may please them to know that these 
 Indian tales which Master Vivian has herein recorded for the first time are 
 true to the very letter j being long afterwards, in company with numerous 
 others, collected into a volume known as Wither^ s Chronicles of Border 
 Warfare, published in Clarkcsburg, Va., early in the present century, but 
 now long out of print. — ■ H. F. 
 
The Ride to Curies 85 
 
 of him who, but for my parent's dream, would 
 have prevented me from ever telling the tale." 
 
 Coming to a turn in the road where the 
 river made a sharp curve, we again galloped 
 for a piece close to the river's marge. We 
 had not proceeded more than a mile farther ere 
 we passed a large ship that we knew to be 
 the Adam and Eve. She was standing up the 
 river, with a light breeze that scarce permitted 
 her to keep pace with the stream's current. 
 And, the hour being then a little past nine, 
 Master Clarke conjectured that it would be late 
 in the afternoon before ever she would arrive 
 at Curies. 
 
 About a mile beyond here, a little stream 
 empties into the James, making a wide and 
 marshy indentation into the adjacent country, 
 the road becoming treacherous and somewhat 
 heavy under foot. Yet we could see that it 
 had been built up, by means of logs and sod, 
 to a height of several feet above the swamp. 
 This elevation kept increasing as we went on 
 nearing the mouth of the stream. Here again 
 the road takes a sharp turn ; and, coming out 
 from our concealment behind the willows that 
 fringed it closely on either side, we found our- 
 selves directly within a hundred paces of the 
 bridge. But to my infinite dismay, I remember, 
 we discerned at the same time a number of 
 horsemen riding their nags slowly up and down 
 as though guarding the approach. 
 
86 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 We were discovered by them at the same 
 time ; although they made so little ado on our 
 appearance, continuing to sit their horses in a de- 
 fenceless indifFerency, — due, no doubt, to their 
 numbering nearly two to our one, — that I at 
 first misdoubted my own surmise of their being 
 placed there by his Excellency to prevent a 
 passage. However, I preferred to take no 
 chances after travelling safely all this distance. 
 So, telling my men to press close to me on 
 either side but sHghtly in the rear, and to fight 
 shy with their swords if spurs alone would avail, 
 we went ahead at a brisk gallop. 
 
 All this time the road-bed continued to rise, 
 so that as we neared the approach of the bridge, 
 it stood, I should judge, fully ten feet above 
 the marsh, and to which it fell away sheer into 
 a dense growth of flags on either side. As we 
 drew nigh, one of their men — who appeared 
 to be their captain — rode forward and saluted 
 me with his sword, so that perforce I drew rein 
 slightly whilst returning it. 
 
 " It is the governor's wish, sir," said he, 
 " that no one shall pass this bridge until further 
 notice. We are sorry, gentlemen," he added, 
 bowing suavely, "to put you to any incon- 
 venience ; still, such is his Excellency's com- 
 mand." 
 
 " Yes," I replied, after his own manner, but 
 never drawing rein, "we, too, are pained to 
 ride contrary to his Excellency's pleasure; but," 
 
■ He fell in a struggling, swearing heap." — Page 87. 
 
The Ride to Curies 87 
 
 I continued, gathering my nag well in hand 
 and spurring suddenly forward, "we have urgent 
 business beyond and little time for jesting." 
 
 With this we were instantly in their midst 
 before they had time to prepare. AH save 
 their captain, whom I had engaged sharply, 
 and found but slight difficulty in keeping at 
 my sword's point, — for I had no intent to 
 stain it at such a moment, — whilst gradu- 
 ally forcing nearer and nearer to the bridge. 
 But by this time their men had had time to 
 rally ; one of them coming close up to me and, 
 with an oath, levelling his pistol full in my 
 face, just as Master Henry struck up his arm 
 and caused the ball to sing harmlessly over my 
 head. 
 
 I now realized the expediency of our forma- 
 tion ; my men being compact and in the centre 
 of the narrow road, whilst our opponents were 
 scattered and on the verge of tumbling over 
 the banks. So, striking my spur suddenly into 
 the shoulder of the captain's horse, I caused 
 him to rear high in the air ; then, spurring sud- 
 denly forward, with Master Clarke close behind 
 and almost beneath the captain, both horse and 
 rider were quickly crowded over the embank- 
 ment. 
 
 And whilst he fell in a struggling, swearing 
 heap in the marsh below, we gave a shout and 
 a laugh, and went through the balance with a 
 rush and a sharp clatter of hoofs that rang and 
 
88 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 echoed away behind us, as our horses' feet 
 struck firm on the planks of the bridge. A 
 few shots whizzed after us, it is true, in lively 
 accompaniment, but hastily aimed ; and, as I 
 turned in my saddle and looked backward a 
 moment, I saw that the knaves were more con- 
 cerned in looking after their discomfited leader 
 than in watching the heels of three as dis- 
 courteous rogues as ever set the governor's 
 will at defiance. 
 
 " Egad ! " cried Master Clarke as we flew 
 on, " that pleases me well, my friend ; for 'tis 
 precious few skirmishes we see here in the open." 
 
 " Yet you may see more, I opine," said I, 
 "if rumour be true." 
 
 " Belike," he answered ; " yet 'twill be only 
 at his Excellency's desire, the same as the one 
 just past." 
 
 " Too much meddling, I presume. Master 
 Clarke," I answered, as we dropped presently 
 into a slower pace, "with the free rights of a 
 free people." 
 
 "Aye, sir, that is all," he admitted. "And 
 see what he intends doing at this moment, by 
 arresting Master Bacon ere the feeling of the 
 people has recovered from that last massacre ! 
 At that time, sir. Master Bacon had sworn that 
 if a redskin harmed any of his household he 
 meant to avenge himself whether the governor 
 willed or no. A few days later, during his 
 absence from home, the fiends swooped down 
 
The Ride to Curies 89 
 
 upon his plantation and murdered his overseer, 
 to whom he was greatly attached. Upon his 
 return the day after, the settlers to the number 
 of three hundred gathered at his house and 
 begged him to lead them into the wilderness 
 against the Indians." 
 
 " But you know. Master Vivian," continued 
 Clarke, " of the fine trade the governor profits 
 himself to with the Indians. Why, by heaven, 
 sir ! he has come to care more for the preserva- 
 tion of the savages than of the settlers. And 
 you heard Master Drummond declare, no 
 doubt, that ' no bullets can pierce beaver- 
 skins.' And it is a fact ; for, having issued 
 his proclamation that no one was to do battle 
 against the savages without his permission, 
 however grave the circumstance, these settlers 
 — many of whom had lost their wives and 
 children but a few hours before — waited there 
 at Master Bacon's till they could send a courier 
 to his Excellency granting them a commission 
 to defend themselves." 
 
 " Monstrous ! " I exclaimed in great amaze- 
 ment. " And did they wait ? " 
 
 " Aye, sir, that they did," he replied, " for 
 several days, whilst all this time the savages 
 continued their devil's campaign of murder 
 along the frontier. And the settlers kept 
 coming into Curies by the score, bringing fresh 
 accounts of the most barbarous deeds ever 
 committed. Yet still they waited, nor heard 
 
go Vivian of Virginia 
 
 aught from his Excellency. Seeing now that 
 their lives were of but scant concern to the 
 governor, and yielding to the clamour of the 
 settlers. Master Bacon finally despatched a 
 missive to his Excellency thanking him for the 
 commission that was momentarily expected but 
 had not yet arrived, and — egad, sir ! what a 
 speech he made ! followed with a cheer that 
 rang and echoed away into the forest, where- 
 upon we took up our musketoons and set out." 
 
 Now this tale was fresh to me at the time, I 
 remember, yet it gathered and broke on my 
 mind as Clarke came to a pause, with all the 
 ominous significancy of fate that there was no 
 evading, — nay, that none would evade if he 
 could. And as I bethought myself how that 
 it was for a deed like the one just related that 
 Master Bacon was now in risk of being arrested 
 as a rebel, I felt that it quickened the intent 
 I had already made to act with the Virginians. 
 Nor yet, God knows, as a mere adventurer, 
 but as one who would bravely bare the arm 
 and fight with all the strength that Heaven has 
 blessed him, for the freedom of a land that he 
 shall some day proudly call his own. 
 
 We continued on at a goodly pace through 
 the fertile country lying round Westover and 
 Berkeley, though the lands were mostly lying 
 fallow in the bright June sun that should have 
 been rearing splendid crops of maize and to- 
 bacco. Away to our right, the stately forest 
 
The Ride to Curies 91 
 
 of oak and pine swept by mile after mile ; 
 whilst near by at our left flowed the tawny and 
 tranquil James, an ever-open and ever-available 
 source of transportation and communication. 
 Numbers of strange birds scurried across our 
 path at our sudden approach, whilst in the 
 trees and shrubbery were others of brilliant 
 plumage and some of a wildsome pretty song. 
 It was long past midday ere we arrived at 
 Shirley ; but, though our horses showed unmis- 
 takable signs of fatigue, we stopped only long 
 enough to drink them in front of a friendly 
 ordinary, where the host came out and spoke 
 pleasantly a moment to Master Clarke, whom 
 he knew. Then again we were off; travelling 
 now due northwards and following the turn in 
 the river as it winds from Shirley to Curies. 
 A dozen miles more, belike, if I rightly remem- 
 ber, and we had sighted the buildings of the 
 Bacon plantation. 
 
Chapter VI 
 Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 
 
 THE Curies plantation was at that day one 
 of the noblest in all Virginia, being in 
 due accord with the wealth and prospects 
 of its proprietor, Master Nathaniel Bacon, jun- 
 ior. Yet at this time I paid little heed to the 
 surroundings ; save to note, as we turned in, 
 that a wide, gravelly drive wound from the high- 
 way back to the house, which latter was built 
 of brick, two stories in height, with a wing ad- 
 joining the west exposure that was completely 
 massed in ivy. Breasting an eminence as we 
 approached the buildings, we now caught a 
 glimpse of the James, being able to outline its 
 course for some distance whilst it wound — 
 dotted here and there with small sailing craft 
 — in and out between the far green hills. 
 
 Reining up at the side portico, a few servants 
 cautiously stuck their heads out of the out- 
 house windows and began whispering together 
 mysteriously when I inquired for Master Bacon. 
 One of them, an elderly darky with a fleece of 
 snowy wool atop his wrinkled, weather-beaten 
 face, finally came out and, with much quaint 
 
 92 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 93 
 
 fearsomeness in his tones, advised me that his 
 master was not at home. 
 
 " So much the better, then," I assured him, 
 in delight that there was now little likelihood of 
 his being arrested. " But do you go tell your 
 mistress that a messenger from Jamestown 
 would be pleased to speak with her a moment." 
 
 So saying, I dismounted, followed by my 
 men, and was about loosening the girth of my 
 saddle, when, chancing to look up, I saw that 
 the servant had not budged from his tracks. 
 Whereupon I warned him sharply: — 
 
 " Come, come, gather your wits there ! If 
 you be a good servant of your mistress step 
 lively and have no fear." 
 
 At this he moved oif. Then, after we had 
 waited a few moments, he returned, saying that 
 his mistress would be at the door directly. 
 
 " Well, sir, what would you with me ? " a 
 voice called out as the door opened and a 
 woman stood forth on the portico. A beauti- 
 ful, queenly, golden-haired woman she was, 
 too ; though her face was a trifle too pale may- 
 hap at that moment, due, no doubt, to surprise 
 or concern for her husband. 
 
 Bowing low, my feather sweeping the ground, 
 I answered : " I bear a message for you, ma- 
 dame, from Mistress Langdon." 
 
 " What ! " she exclaimed with a start ; " from 
 Mistress Langdon } " 
 
 " Yes, madame," I assured her, bowing 
 
94 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 again, but with a halt in my speech at the cold 
 look that came over her face. " This is pass- 
 ing strange," she said, as though speaking more 
 to herself " But let me hear what word you 
 bring, sir." 
 
 Greatly awed at the haughty way she com- 
 manded, I repeated the message as it had been 
 given me by Mistress Langdon. For a moment 
 she paled slightly ; then, looking down at me 
 scornfully, whilst the colour flamed fiercely into 
 her cheeks, with felling fervency she cried out : — 
 
 " You knave ! you contemptible hireling ! 
 How dare you fetch me such a tale ? Oh, that 
 my husband were here to reward you, sir ! " 
 and to the negro holding my bridle: "'Lijah, 
 face his nag towards the gate ! " 
 
 Whereat I felt my head swim wildly and 
 my wits grow dim in sudden astoundment. 
 After the journey I had come over the long 
 fifty miles almost without a pause and in the 
 face of all hazard of arrest or impediment at 
 the hands of the governor, — the disappoint- 
 ment, the chagrin, yea, even a little anger 
 that I felt at this undeserved humiliation at 
 her hands, and before the eyes of my men, 
 did so unnerve me that I can scarce speak off 
 it to this day without a flush of the face at the 
 displeasant remembrance of it all. Nor can I 
 yet say how long I continued to stand there 
 like a fool, saying naught in my own defence 
 whilst my eyes grew fastened to the toes of my 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 95 
 
 boots ; and though it could not have been more 
 than a moment at worst, yet was I conscious 
 through it all of the sniggering of the coloured 
 servants as they gathered round and exchanged 
 glances filled with delight and approval of their 
 mistress ; whilst as I looked up I remember 
 noting a swift glance of wonder and confusion 
 passing betwixt my two men. 
 
 Yet it was only for a moment — a plague on 
 the tale ! have I not already said so ? — ere I 
 bethought myself of what Mistress Langdon 
 had warned me : that the Bacon family was 
 sore beset and perforce suspicious of all strange 
 comers through fear of such being instruments 
 of the governor's revenge. Therefore, drawing 
 the ring from my finger that she had in sheer 
 mischief placed there, I passed it to Mistress 
 Bacon, saying, — 
 
 " This, madame, may satisfy you whence I 
 come, and that I am no impostor." 
 
 " My God, sir ! " she cried, recognizing it at 
 a glance, " if your message be indeed the true 
 one, — and I can no longer doubt it, — then 
 am I undone ! " 
 
 " How so ? " I asked quickly, viewing her 
 distress with alarm. " Master Bacon, you say, 
 is not at home ? " 
 
 " Nay, nay, — would that he were, sir ! " she 
 answered hotly. " For we have been duped ; 
 some one has played us false ! Scant two hours 
 past a knave, accompanied like yourself by two 
 
g6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 riders, called here and delivered a message to 
 me from Mistress Langdon, saying : ' A troop 
 of horse leaves Jamestown to-night for Curies, 
 purposing to arrest your husband. Have him 
 escape in his sloop while there is yet time.' " 
 
 "And your husband — was he at home?" 
 I asked. 
 
 " Aye, there is the pity of it, sir," she an- 
 swered impatiently. " For, though he strangely 
 misdoubted the men, he yielded to my en- 
 treaties ; and the men, leaving their horses 
 here, embarked with him on board the sloop 
 and sailed off down the river." 
 
 " Alas, madame ! " I exclaimed, with all my 
 former anger at her melted to pity at this sorry 
 plight. " It is indeed a trick ; but do you 
 describe to me as briefly as possible the leader 
 of those men." 
 
 And with that and a thousand pardons in her 
 face for her misdoubt of me she went on to tell 
 of the knave, — the cut of his face, the style of 
 his wear, and the manner of his speech, the while 
 I listened in growing anger and amazement as 
 she confirmed my every suspicion. And, whilst 
 she proceeded, I saw that I had been com- 
 pletely thwarted and outwitted by a man who 
 had dogged my footsteps and played the spy 
 upon me — listening, no doubt, to every word 
 let fall that he could turn to his own advantage 
 — ever since I had been in Jamestown. And 
 that man, I knew, was Seager ! 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 97 
 
 I had only one thought as I sprang hastily 
 into the saddle, telling my men to use their 
 spurs as we rode out of the Bacon plantation 
 and dashed away at a lively gallop. This was 
 to intercept in some manner Master Bacon's 
 sloop ere the Adam and Eve should arrive beat- 
 ing up the river against a westerly breeze. I 
 remembered a point in the road between Shirley 
 and Westover where the river approached to 
 within a few feet of the highway, which was 
 there unobstructed by trees or willows. If we 
 could make that position before the ship should 
 arrive, there was yet a chance of hailing those 
 on board the sloop as it came down the stream ; 
 warning Master Bacon and squaring accounts 
 with Seager at the same time. 
 
 I now comprehended the cause of the fellow's 
 appearance on the morning of the day before, 
 when he had stepped out from the thicket into 
 the lane near the spot where I had first met 
 Mistress Langdon. Nor did I forget the fine 
 humour that he was in, and his graciousness at 
 swallowing the words I threw him — with a 
 guinea besides — when telling me that he had 
 been robbed. Robbed ! you sly dog ; forsooth, 
 when a thief shall cry out to an honest man he 
 is robbed, then shall the honest man fain hand 
 him his own purse. And again I recalled that 
 sudden snap of a twig that had so startled 
 Mistress Langdon the night before. Her ears, 
 in sooth, were sharper than mine, and the idle 
 
98 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 fears she cried out against not wholly without 
 desert. How much he had heard, whose reve- 
 lation to the governor would be liable to cause 
 her annoyance, I could not in sooth know, yet 
 suffered no little anxiety at the thought. 
 
 This, however, was naught to the way I 
 cursed my own simplicity in so trusting the 
 knave. For, knowing him in the past, I had 
 such wise given him an opportunity now, 
 besides making a fool of myself, of jeopardiz- 
 ing the life of Master Bacon and the cause for 
 which many brave and loyal hearts were strug- 
 gling. For I well knew the temper of Sir 
 William Berkeley. In his egotistic way he 
 considered Master Bacon to be a man but 
 popularly inclined — a demagogue, methinks, 
 was the word his royal lips applied, with that 
 fatuous humour that railed at books and 
 printing, and issued proclamations on the 
 security of the savages and settlers whilst 
 snugly ensconced in his own study. Yet 
 Sir William Berkeley was no coward, albeit he 
 had scant inclination to go out into the forest 
 and fight savages when he could the better 
 pander to his tastes — and to his exchequer — 
 by staying at home and maintaining the sem- 
 blance of a trade with such of the tribes as were 
 still friendly. So, whilst this tragedy was going 
 on outside of the mansion, it did greatly delight 
 his Excellency to be scribbling plays and more 
 immortal tragedies, mayhap, such as " The 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 99 
 
 Lost Lady " ; the which I remember being 
 played in London to the great amusement of 
 the court. 
 
 Filled with anxiety as to the outcome of the 
 day's adventure, we forced our poor nags ahead 
 as fast as spur could impel. But they were 
 fagged out with the long distance they had come 
 without food or rest, so that after traversing 
 the first half-dozen miles it was impossible to 
 keep them moving faster than a slow canter ; 
 and by the time we reached Shirley we were 
 forced to pull up at the ordinary where we had 
 paused on the way to Curies. 
 
 " Master Wilkins ! " cried out Clarke as we 
 drew rein. And as the landlord appeared in 
 the doorway, — a quick, dapper, little fellow 
 with a patriotic heart too big for his body, — 
 Clarke continued : " Master Bacon has been 
 arrested ! " 
 
 "What's that, sir?" cried mine host in quick 
 excitement. 
 
 " He is arrested, I say — Master Bacon ! " 
 repeated Clarke firmly. 
 
 "Impossible, Master Clarke!" blustered the 
 little man as he hastened towards us ; " why, 
 there's no man living could arrest Nathaniel 
 Bacon at his own home ! " 
 
 " But the deed's done. Master "Wilkins," 
 Clarke urged, " unless we can ride ahead and 
 overtake his captors." 
 
 " Good heavens ! then why do you wait 
 
lOO Vivian of Virginia 
 
 here, sir ? " he asked, standing first on one 
 foot and then on the other as his impatience 
 increased. 
 
 "And where are your eyes, landlord?" 
 retorted Clarke, pointing to where our horses 
 stood flecked with foam and frothing at the 
 bit. " Can't you see they are well-nigh foun- 
 dered ? " and seeing that he and Clarke were 
 two of a tale and galloping backward at that, I 
 added my voice with the request that he fetch 
 me a nag at once. 
 
 " God-'a-mercy, sir ! " he stammered, colour- 
 ing confusedly. " Yes, yes ; what an ass I am, 
 sir — I mean that you are, sir ! No ; yes. 
 Tom ! here, Tom ! " he continued, crying out 
 to the stable boy. " Fetch up three gentle- 
 men for these horses fresh from the stable, 
 boy, to arrest Master Bacon. Come, step 
 lively ! " 
 
 "Nay, Master Host," I interfered hastily, 
 though scarce refraining from a laugh at the 
 confusion of the man's loyal tongue ; " one 
 horse will do the business if perchance you have 
 a runner." 
 
 "The best in Virginia, sir. Tom, bring up 
 the filly ! " And for some reason he failed to 
 confuse the filly with the three gentlemen he 
 had just ordered fetched, and who, because of 
 this, could now remain, belike, resting quietly 
 in their stalls. 
 
 To change the saddle from the back of the 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve loi 
 
 gray and on to the filly, was only the work of 
 a moment. Then, telling my men to await 
 me there, but to return to Jamestown in the 
 morning should I fail to return, I sprang into 
 the saddle and was off like the wind. 
 
 For Master Wilkins was as good as his 
 word ; having mounted me on a spirited nag 
 whose little feet seemed scarcely to touch the 
 earth, so quick was her step and light the 
 rebound as the ground flew away beneath us. 
 At any time other than this it was a ride that 
 would have filled me with delight. But now 
 I was oppressed with gloomy forebodings and 
 a sense of defeat that even the rapid and 
 rhythmic swing of our flight could not dispel, 
 there being, I feared me, scarce one chance out 
 of ten of my being able to reach the spot on 
 time, ere the sloop should run up squarely 
 against the Adam and Eve. 
 
 Reaching at last the jutting point in the road, I 
 saw already, ere I had dismounted, the white sails 
 of a large ship standing up the stream. She 
 was scarcely a half-mile distant, but the hull I 
 could not even yet discern on account of its 
 being hidden by the dense growth of willows 
 alongshore. However, there was still the 
 curve in the river beyond that she must round 
 ere reaching the point where I stood. Hastily 
 dismounting, therefore, I tethered the filly to a 
 sapling close by ; then turning, and sweeping 
 my eye rapidly over the river, I discerned a 
 
I02 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 sloop running swiftly before the wind, now 
 nearly opposite me, but well over towards the 
 southward shore. 
 
 This, I had no doubt, was the sloop of 
 Master Bacon ; and with a warning shout, I 
 quickly unfastened my cloak from the saddle 
 and waved it about my head. Then again, and 
 again, I halloed ; but to no purpose save af- 
 frighting the filly half out of her wits and with- 
 out attracting the slightest notice on board the 
 sloop. Whereat I was in despair, fearing the 
 sloop would shortly pass me; when I suddenly 
 espied a small skiff tied to the willows a hun- 
 dred yards below. 
 
 Then with a mad cry of " Whoa, there ! " to 
 my crazy nag, but never ceasing to wave my 
 cloak over my head whilst running down to 
 the boat, I quickly sprang in, and, cutting the 
 painter adrift, pushed off into the stream. A 
 leaky, cumbersome craft it was, without oars, 
 save for a paddle whittled out of a rough board 
 lying athwart the seats. With this I made my 
 way as best I could. But as I stood up in the 
 boat my feet were already in water ankle-deep, 
 and I could see that it was rising every moment 
 nearer and nearer to the level of the seats. Ere 
 this befell me, however, I was out some three 
 hundred yards from shore. Then, standing on 
 one of the seats, I raised my cloak aloft on the 
 point of my sword and waved it violently to 
 and fro. 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 103 
 
 Once, twice, thrice it circled, full and flafEng 
 and free above my head ; and then I swore. 
 For the treacherous breeze that pays scant heed 
 to the cause of rebel or tyrant, martyr or knave, 
 had caught it full in the belly ; and, though I 
 made a wild thrust after it into the empty air 
 and well-nigh lost my balance, it sailed high 
 over my head and presently dropped, like some 
 great bird of ill-omen, fujil fifty yards below me 
 into the stream. 
 
 That I must have appeared a woful and alien 
 apparition rising up suddenly out of the mid- 
 dle of the James, standing up above the gun- 
 wale of a rickety and rotten old hulk half filled 
 with water and ready at any moment to sink to 
 the bottom, my sword in the air and my cloak 
 suddenly wafted beyond my reach, — a picture 
 at once of a gentleman gone suddenly out of 
 his wits, or of a knight run amuck, I can readily 
 opine. And that I must likewise have afforded 
 fulsome measure for the boisterous guffaws of 
 Seager and the merriment of his companions on 
 board the sloop, I can have no reason to doubt, 
 — despite the protestations of Master Bacon to 
 the contrary afterwards. 
 
 Be that as it may, however, my signal had been 
 seen and the sloop had slowly put about with 
 her nose up into the wind. Her sails had even 
 begun filling for a tack towards me, when a 
 bright flash to my left and a little down stream, 
 followed by a sudden report and the quick 
 
I04 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 plash of a ball falling into the water directly in 
 front of the sloop's bows, caused her to again 
 come up into the wind. Turning my head 
 quickly, I saw that the ship — which I had lost 
 sight of for a space whilst attempting to attract 
 the attention of the sloop — had come up and 
 was bearing swiftly down upon her. 
 
 It was now evident that there was no further 
 chance for escape ; the ship being so near that 
 I could plainly read the name, Adam and Eve, 
 on her bows. Ere the sloop's sails had again 
 filled, the ship was abreast of her ; whilst a 
 boat was quickly lowered from her side, and 
 manned by a uniformed crew, started swiftly in 
 pursuit of the sloop. 
 
 Seeing that I could now do nothing more, 
 therefore, I paddled down to where my cloak 
 lay spread out on the surface of the water; and, 
 by dint of skilful balancing, effected to fish it 
 out with the point of my sword without upset- 
 ting the boat. Whereupon I turned about and 
 made for the shore as speedily as possible. But 
 the water was rising with every minute higher 
 and higher above the seats ; so that by the time 
 I had arrived within a half-dozen yards from 
 the shore, I felt the crazy old craft slowly set- 
 tling beneath me, and then rapidly sink to the 
 bottom, leaving me standing there in the stream, 
 shoulder-deep amidst the rushes. 
 
 Whereat for a space, methinks, and ere my 
 feet had found bottom, I had realized to the 
 
of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 105 
 
 full how Jonah felt to be swallowed; nor could 
 I find words for the nonce that were in any 
 sense adequate to the occasion. But as with 
 infinite stress I waded ashore through the slimy- 
 water, pulling one foot out of the oozy muck 
 only to sink it anew whilst lifting its fellow, it 
 was as though each step of the way were a curse 
 that had shamed the devil. Zounds ! that ras- 
 cally Seager would yet feel the prick of my 
 point for his share in my undoing. And, whilst 
 I thought of him, in my rising wrath the gov- 
 ernor and all his train-bands did pale into such 
 utter insignificancy that naught should avail in 
 the rascal's protection when my time should 
 come in good earnest ! 
 
 Scrambling up the bank on to firm ground, 
 and seating myself on a rock whilst I drew off 
 my heavy boots and poured the water out of 
 them, I again turned to look at the vessels 
 lying opposite. The long-boat was now return- 
 ing in the direction of the Adam and Eve, being 
 heavily loaded with men crowded together and 
 standing up in the stern-sheets, where I thought 
 I recognized Seager. But there was no con- 
 fusion or disorder such as I apprehended would 
 attend on Master Bacon's arrest. On the con- 
 trary, he had evidently concluded to quit play- 
 ing a game of hide-and-seek with the governor, 
 whilst matters would now be forced squarely to 
 an issue. Reaching the ship, therefore, the pas- 
 sengers were hastily disembarked ; then, with 
 
io6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 her great sails .spread before the wind, she 
 moved silently off down the river, followed by 
 the sloop that was now manned by a uniformed 
 crew. 
 
 By this time the sun was setting with a 
 vivid glow in the tops of the dense forest 
 away to the westward; a sudden flare of 
 coloured lights shooting ever and anon high 
 up into the zenith like arrows, and reflected in 
 the dark mirror of the James as it glided on 
 beside the wooded shores. Above and around 
 a deep silence filled all space, holding it as 
 though in thrall ; save for a sudden whirr of 
 wings sounding its note of alarm, as a flock of 
 wild-fowl took flight when I half turned round. 
 Whilst to my right the mournful plaint of a 
 turtle-dove amidst the pines again broke the 
 stillness for a moment, as I stood there watch- 
 ing the boats round the curve in the river below 
 and pass on out of sight. 
 
 Returning to where I had tethered the filly, 
 I found her pawing the earth impatient to be 
 off; the bridle already slipped over one ear, 
 and the knot by which I had tied her half 
 undone. It needed but her escape, methought, 
 smiling grimly whilst I readjusted the harness, 
 to have fittingly crowned the day's adventures, 
 leaving me to make the best of my way back 
 to Shirley afoot in my drowned garments. 
 Howbeit, it was long past dark ere I reached 
 there ; and the clatter of the filly's hoofs being 
 
Of the Doings of the Adam and Eve 107 
 
 recognized by the stable boy, I handed the 
 bridle to him as I dismounted wearily and 
 passed on into the ordinary. 
 
 A great fire of logs was roaring forth a cheer- 
 ful welcome when I entered the room ; whilst 
 circled round it were an indefinite number of 
 coloured servants, all lying at full length, some 
 with their black heels and others with their 
 woolly heads poked almost into the flames. See- 
 ing me enter, Master Wilkins cried out for them 
 to begone and make way for me round the fire ; 
 and in the same breath asked eagerly after news 
 of Master Bacon. Such was briefly told, how- 
 ever ; and after a light supper I was fain to take 
 myself ofi^ to bed after one of the most disas- 
 trous days withal in all my experience, the dis- 
 pleasant events of which still prick me mightily 
 to record. 
 
 Yet I was up betimes the following morning. 
 My garments having been taken by a servant 
 and spread before the fire, I now found them 
 placed before me warm and dry; so that, being 
 again comfortably attired, I was in tolerably good 
 spirits when I entered the room where my men 
 sat waiting me with the host. Then, after a 
 hearty breakfast, and with our host accompany- 
 ing us with a mind made up to see justice done 
 to Master Bacon, we mounted and set off to 
 Jamestown. 
 
 Our horses likewise being in trim condition, 
 showing no signs of the hard ride we had 
 
io8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 given them the day before, after the first few 
 miles were past we pressed forward at a stiff 
 gait. Yet all the way along we were joined by 
 little parties coming from divers directions, all 
 bent on the same intent of rallying to the sup- 
 port of Master Bacon, whose arrest was now 
 known. Stern-faced and grave they were ; 
 speaking little, but that to the point. And, as 
 their numbers kept increasing, by the time we 
 had arrived at Master Lawrence's that evening 
 we numbered several score. 
 
 Here I bade farewell to Master Clarke, who 
 would, accept no pay for attending me ; and, 
 with his horse in lead, I continued on to the 
 stables. 
 
Chapter VII 
 A Governor by Divine Right 
 
 AS I rode up to Master Dale's stables that 
 evening, I noticed that the yard was 
 dotted here and there with little groups 
 of men speaking in low tones. Now and then 
 some voice more clamorous than the others 
 raising its tones in eager excitement, but shortly 
 subsiding again into the general murmur. Sev- 
 eral men passed me a-foot going townward ; 
 having safely stabled their horses, I inferred, 
 and now seeking out some ordinary where they 
 could give vent to their pent feelings in discus- 
 sion with their countrymen and He the night. 
 
 "A stiff ride. Master Dale," I cried, draw- 
 ing rein beside the open doorway, as he came 
 forward to meet me. "Yet I trust, sir, you 
 will find your horses none the worse for it." 
 
 " Never mind the nags, Master Vivian," he 
 answered coldly. " But be so good as to ex- 
 plain your late return and the arrest of Master 
 Bacon." 
 
 " Why, damn it, man ! " I replied hotly, the 
 memory of my awkward discomfiture being 
 revived by the unfriendly misdoubt in his 
 manner, " I was too late ; that is all ! " 
 
 log 
 
no Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " How so ? " he asked angrily. " Were the 
 nags not in condition to carry you, sir ? " 
 
 "Yes, yes," I answered; "but some rascally 
 spy, whom I would I could lay my hands on, 
 had a full two hours' start of me." And with 
 this I proceeded to tell him of my defeat, but 
 making no mention of the name of Seager — 
 that being my own affair. 
 
 He heard me out, and his manner be- 
 came more hospitable as he remarked, grimly: 
 "Mayhap they have outwitted us this time, 
 sir. But let them look sharp, and take heed 
 that they do no harm to Master Bacon. For 
 the people are in no mood to be tricked again 
 by his Excellency, Master Vivian." 
 
 " Nor will they be, sir," I assured him, " if 
 the massing of the people counts for aught. 
 But has the Adam and Eve arrived ? " 
 
 " Yes," said he ; " late this afternoon, with 
 the sloop close behind that was at once known 
 for Master Bacon's. He is to be tried," he 
 added with a hard accent on the word, " to- 
 morrow morning." 
 
 Taking my way towards Master Lawrence's, 
 I parted company with Henry in front of his 
 lodgings ; and, knowing that the man was 
 short of money, I insisted on paying for his 
 services out of my own purse. This he at 
 first refused to accept, however, but I pressed 
 it upon him, and with a satisfactory sense that 
 it was well applied. 
 
A Governor by Divine Right iii 
 
 " Count on me always, sir, and on my 
 brother," he assured me, "when in need of a 
 man at your back." 
 
 Promising to bear them both in mind, I 
 continued on down the road, where there was 
 a steady clatter of late arrivals. The stalls in 
 the town now being full, men were tethering 
 their nags along the wayside and letting them 
 graze at will. And had not nearly every family 
 in Jamestown at that day gained its livelihood 
 by the keeping of ordinaries — and some, I 
 must confess, at an extraordinary high rate — 
 many would have been forced to lie that night 
 with their nags. 
 
 The room was full to overflowing when I 
 entered Lawrence's, so that it was some time 
 ere I was recognized by him in the crowd, 
 where all was confusion and uncertainty. Al- 
 ready my ears heard many and widely varying 
 reports of the events of the previous day now 
 being discussed in different parts of the room. 
 And, as is common at such times, trifles were 
 eagerly seized upon and made mountains of by 
 some narrator of a livelier fancy than his com- 
 petitors. So that after I had heard all these 
 varying tales, I scarce knew whether to credit 
 that which I had assuredly seen with my own 
 eyes. But this, I have observed, is ever the 
 way with history ; and even now when I chance 
 to read at this late day some old wives' tale of 
 the dramatick scenes then being enacted, I scarce 
 
112 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 can believe that these memoirs alone are cor- 
 rect and that other recorders have committed 
 some glaring inadvertency. 
 
 For myself, I sat at a table drinking a bottle 
 of Master Lawrence's sack, until after the guests 
 had been disposed of and the room cleared for 
 the night. Then, coming over and taking a 
 seat opposite me. Master Lawrence began, — 
 
 " You have been away, sergeant, I take it ? " 
 
 " Yes," I made answer, uncertain at first 
 whether to speak of my trip. But having no 
 desire to publish its futility, I added, " I've 
 been back a piece in the up-country." 
 
 " Ah," he said frankly, " you are bound to 
 invest, my friend, regardless of what I have 
 told you." 
 
 " Nay, Master Lawrence," I assured him, 
 " I have scant inclination to do so after a sight 
 of the country. I have seen the settlers as well, 
 sir, and I fear me they are in sore stress." 
 
 " You noted wisely, my friend ; but listen ! " 
 he answered earnestly. " To-morrow the first 
 great struggle for liberty in Virginia — or in 
 America — will begin. You know somewhat 
 of its justice. Sergeant Vivian, and are in good 
 season to bear a hand if it so please you." 
 
 " And it does, Master Lawrence," I readily 
 assured him. " My choice has been already 
 made, sir, and the little assistance that one man 
 can give, I shall freely give to Virginia." 
 
 " Good ! " he cried, rising and taking my 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 113 
 
 hand. "You are the kind we need." Where- 
 upon he went on to speak hastily of such 
 portentous events as I have already recorded. 
 Until, the hour being late, he at length showed 
 me to a pallet in the long hall where several 
 men were already sleeping off the effects of their 
 ride and excitement, and bade me good-night. 
 
 I was awakened the following morning by 
 the noise of the people in the adjoining room, 
 for all Jamestown appeared to be aroused at an 
 unwonted hour. Dressing hurriedly, I passed 
 in with the crowd, where men were constantly 
 coming and calling for Master Lawrence, he 
 being a burgess and in great demand at this 
 time. 
 
 By nine o'clock there was a line of men 
 extending all the way from the village green to 
 the state house where the trial of Master Bacon 
 was to take place. Having great curiosity to 
 view the outcome of these proceedings, I fell 
 in line with the others and elbowed my way to 
 the door. 
 
 The hall itself, I could now see, was of a 
 goodly spaciousness. A lofty arch of polished 
 oaken timbers supported the roof, and on cither 
 side were several long, low windows, latticed 
 above and barred with polished oak below. At 
 the farther end of the room was a great stage, 
 with many chairs circled about a long table 
 covered with a dark red cloth. 
 
 Two soldiers with drawn swords, attired in 
 
114 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the uniform of his Excellency's guard, stood on 
 either side of the doorway as we filed in ; and as 
 we passed on down the aisle towards the stage, 
 I saw others in similar costume stationed here 
 and there about the hall. There was, despite 
 the multitude, however, little noise and no con- 
 fusion ; the men sitting round me having a 
 solemn, determined look on their faces such as 
 forbade trifling converse. 
 
 When all were at last seated, the gentlemen 
 composing the Council of Virginia began to file 
 in on the stage. Remaining standing a moment 
 till the last had entered, a hush fell over the 
 room ; so that the men might have been walk- 
 ing on tiptoe, or moving, in their habit of 
 black velvet and snowy perukes, more like the 
 figures in a dream. It was a relief when they 
 took their seats, I remember, and the grating 
 of their chairs on the floor broke the stillness 
 that had otherwise grown ominous. 
 
 As a body, the Council presented an appear- 
 ance not inferior to the Parliament of Eng- 
 land ; the men being for the greater part of a 
 goodly height and of a muscular development, 
 their faces showing the vigour and robustness 
 of much life in the open air. Withal, theirs 
 was a nobleness of presence, methought, such 
 as I had scarce ever seen. Yet still it was not 
 strange that this should be so, nor that some 
 of the first Charles's cavaliers should here be 
 seen, with others claiming descent from some 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 115 
 
 of the oldest families in England. Many, no 
 doubt, being forced to flee the country on the 
 defeat of their king, and coming to Virginia 
 with their wealth, had acquired vast estates and 
 were again living after the manner of country 
 gentlemen in England. That it was a system 
 his Excellency, Sir William Berkeley, dearly 
 loved, bred as he had been under the first 
 Charles ; that it tickled his dignity mightily, 
 and joyed his sense of the jus divinum, and 
 mayhap pampered his pride a bit; and that 
 it was a nice state of things that he would 
 strive to maintain until he could no longer 
 draw his sword from its scabbard, or encompass 
 his enemies by all the arts and the tricks of a 
 wily courtier, no reasonable person could doubt. 
 A troop of soldiery now filed on to the stage 
 in double rank, then separating and forming a 
 line on either side leading to the governor's 
 chair that was placed on a raised platform to 
 the right. A moment's pause, and there passed 
 down the line a gentleman of haughty bearing, 
 attired severely in lustreless black and with 
 scanty ruffs ; but in marked contrast to this — 
 as though not quite to conceal his love of display 
 — there were huge silver buckles to his shoes, 
 and his slender white hands were heavily bejew- 
 elled. But it was his face that commanded at- 
 tention. Below the high-arched cheek-bones 
 it grew thin and pointed, the mouth being fine 
 and sensuous, whilst the lips, cruel and thin. 
 
ii6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 were half concealed beneath the white mus- 
 tachios. His steel-gray eyes glanced coldly 
 round the assembly-hall, over the Council, bur- 
 gesses, and freeholders sitting beneath him, say- 
 ing, in a language that was unmistakable : " Ye 
 gentlemen ! ye knaves ! ye rascally and rebel- 
 lious dogs of freeholders! take care; watch 
 out ! for his Excellency, Sir William Berkeley, 
 governor of Virginia by divine right, is now 
 amongst ye ! " 
 
 When the governor had seated himself, two 
 gentlemen of the Council rose, and, stepping 
 over to where he sat, began to address him in 
 a low voice. These men were, my neighbours 
 informed me. Sir Henry Chicheley and Nathaniel 
 Bacon, senior. They spoke rapidly and ear- 
 nestly for a space, and were obviously inter- 
 ceding for the prisoner. But the governor, 
 paying scant heed to them, waved them off 
 abruptly, crying : " Guards, let the prisoner be 
 fetched before me ! " 
 
 Four of the guards retiring at the end of the 
 line, they returned directly with a tall, finely 
 proportioned young man, whose features I 
 could not see as he stood facing the governor. 
 But from the low murmur of excitement that 
 swept over the spectators round me, it needed 
 no crier to announce that this was Master 
 Nathaniel Bacon of the Curies plantation. 
 
 Glancing him over with his glittering eyes 
 but without rising, the governor said bitterly : 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 117 
 
 " Behold now the greatest rebel that ever 
 was in Virginia ! " 
 
 But at this the ill-suppressed excitement 
 round me rose to a low hum, in which a few 
 sharp hisses were distinctly audible, causing the 
 governor to spring quickly to his feet. Stand- 
 ing erect, with his white head thrown back, and 
 one soft hand on which the jewels sparkled 
 held sternly in front of him on a level with his 
 face, he commanded : " Silence, ye knaves 1 
 Would ye defeat the ends of justice ? " 
 
 Turning to Master Bacon once more, he 
 continued : " Sir, do you continue to be a gen- 
 tleman ? " 
 
 " Always, your Excellency," replied Master 
 Bacon proudly. 
 
 " Then, sir," said the governor, " I may take 
 your word, and you are released on your own 
 parole." 
 
 This time a great cheer rose up from the 
 body of the hall, and the name of Sir William 
 Berkeley being shouted out by some lucky- 
 minded knave, there was this time no effort 
 made by the governor to suppress the popular 
 clamour, whilst he stood there taking the cheers 
 as though meant for himself. 
 
 So that, whilst the gentlemen of the Council 
 rose to congratulate Master Bacon, the governor 
 continued to stand there with a set smile on 
 his face, bowing his acknowledgments to the 
 applause of the people as they began to file out 
 
ii8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 of the hall. Then, in his courtliest 
 he turned to the Council, saying, — 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Council, and of the House 
 of Burgesses, I would ask the favour of your 
 presence to-night on the occasion of the ball 
 at the mansion. The assembly is now dis- 
 missed." 
 
 As I passed out upon the street, I saw at once 
 that this clemency of his Excellency's had been 
 well timed, and had done much to allay the 
 popular uprising in favour of Master Bacon. 
 Already men were preparing to quit Jamestown, 
 returning to their homes in the up-country 
 feeling not one whit less loyal to Master Bacon, 
 but scarce so bitter towards the governor as on 
 the previous night. 
 
 Keeping on down the road that morning, I 
 had reached a point nearly opposite the church, 
 when I noticed a group of three men standing 
 together about a hundred paces ahead. They 
 were in the uniform of the guard, and were 
 speaking in low tones when they discovered my 
 approach. Whereupon they ceased speaking, 
 whilst one of them turned away and set off 
 down the path skirting the river. Not, however, 
 before I had time to recognize the knave as 
 being Master Seager, and, quickening my pace, 
 I at once started in pursuit. 
 
 The other two eyed me sharply as I came 
 up, and one of them, who carried his arm in 
 a sling, glanced evilly at me a moment and then 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 119 
 
 looked aside. So that I gave a sudden start of 
 surprise on again seeing my opponent of the 
 bridge whom I had rudely crowded into the 
 marsh a couple of days before. Still I saluted 
 him fairly, giving him a smile as I passed that 
 should have amply assured him, had he been 
 a gentleman, that I was at his service as soon 
 as ever his arm had mended. 
 
 But had I been longer in Virginia at that 
 time, I should have hesitated and thought twice 
 before turning into the wooded pathway in pur- 
 suit of Seager. For Jamestown in those days 
 was full of a class of reckless adventurers, mak- 
 ing it easy of accomplishment for any party to 
 carry out a deed of spite or revenge, and attrib- 
 ute it plausibly to the hands of this slippery 
 class. And even here his Excellency had done 
 more to foster than restrain ; many of his guard 
 being as arrant knaves and dissolute courtiers 
 as were ever forced to flee their country, but 
 now fain to gain a subsistence in genteel attend- 
 ance upon a governor whom they cunningly 
 trusted never to risk their precious lives in fair 
 fight before an enemy. 
 
 On this occasion, however, I was intent only 
 on speedily overhauling one of them. Hasten- 
 ing along, therefore, and catching a glimpse of 
 Master Seager a short distance ahead, I gave a 
 shout for him to stand still lest he chose to be 
 shot in the back for a rascally sneak. Whereat 
 he turned, gave a jeering laugh at me, and then 
 
I20 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 went on at a quickened pace. So that I was 
 in two minds whether to execute the threat, 
 when a pistol cracked suddenly behind me, and 
 a bullet tore an unseemly hole through the 
 flap of my bonnet. 
 
 Nor had I barely time to glance backwards ere 
 a second pistol gave a report, and another ball 
 whizzed past my head whose aim had been 
 true enough had 1 not stepped somewhat out 
 of line in turning. Seeing therefore that I was 
 outnumbered three to one, — the rogues behind 
 being the same pair I had just passed, whilst 
 Seager, too, was now running towards me, — I 
 broke away into the thicket bordering the path. 
 
 Then, dodging behind and beneath a shrub 
 of a dense foliage, I was well content to lie 
 hidden a moment, and remain discreetly silent. 
 For I now saw that I had been artfully trapped ; 
 and whether they sought merely to satisfy their 
 own despite upon me, or to drag me before his 
 Excellency to be dealt with scarcely less sum- 
 marily for running the guard, was of slight 
 choice to me at this time. Drawing my pis- 
 tol, I watched them beating about the thicket, 
 albeit they passed so close to me at times that 
 I could have winged two of them at one shot. 
 
 " The devil ! " I heard Seager exclaim, " he 
 has escaped us after all. And to think, gen- 
 tlemen," he continued as they beat about the 
 bush, " that this knave whom I fetched from 
 England in my own party, should turn out to 
 
' Drawing my pistol, I watched them beating about the 
 thicket. ' ' — Page i zo. 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 121 
 
 be such a rebellious rogue and cause us all so 
 much annoyance ! By my faith ! 'tis bound 
 to put me in great disfavour. Come, a guinea 
 to each of you if we fetch him before the gov- 
 ernor ! 
 
 " Keep your money ! " answered one of them 
 with an oath. " I have a score of my own to 
 settle." 
 
 " As you please," replied Seager airily ; " yet 
 I would willing give it." 
 
 Wondering whether it were my own guinea 
 he so generously staked in my behalf, it galled 
 me mightily, I remember, after all I had done 
 for him in the past, that he should lie about me 
 so and know so little loyalty. So that, whilst 
 his face came in front ot my muzzle, I was 
 half a mind to place him where rogues of his 
 kind, belike, have scant cause for feeling grate- 
 ful. But 'tis a trick I have never served any 
 one, — save, mayhap, a savage in war-paint who 
 was out for murder ; accordingly, as they re- 
 luctantly gave up the search and went on, I 
 was fain to make the best of my way out of 
 the thicket into the path, and repace my steps 
 quickly back to the highway. Thence, resolv- 
 ing in future to be more cautious till some- 
 thing should occur to divert my enemies' 
 attention in some other channel, I returned 
 direct to the ordinary. 
 
 Master Lawrence was speaking in a low voice 
 to a tall, dark-complexioned man as I entered. 
 
122 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Looking round for an instant, thoughtfully, 
 and catching my eye, he signed for me to join 
 them. " Master Bacon," said he, turning to 
 the gentleman at his side, "let me acquaint 
 you with a new friend and supporter, — Sergeant 
 Vivian, lately from home." 
 
 So saying. Master Lawrence bowed and with- 
 drew. 
 
 Removing our bonnets as we bowed and 
 saluted, I saw that he scanned me keenly ; 
 howbeit, his face spoke welcome, nor have I 
 forgotten to this day the strong and vigor- 
 ous character which I there read clearly por- 
 trayed. He was a man of about my own 
 height, the face beinp of a swarthy and some- 
 what melancholy cast. The eyes were dark, 
 large, and of an open fearlessness in their 
 expression. Yet they were kindly eyes, such 
 as a dreamer might have had who had been 
 wont to search the past, and to peer, hopefully 
 and unswervingly, far into the future. The 
 nose was long and somewhat aquiline, suggest- 
 ing the aggressive nature of the man ; whilst 
 the mouth and chin, immaculate of hair, were 
 fine and beautifully moulded as of an ascetic. 
 
 " So you have concluded," he asked, in a 
 round melodious voice, " to stake your fortunes 
 with ours. Sergeant Vivian ? " 
 
 "All that I have, sir," I replied frankly, 
 " though I fear me it is but little to stake." 
 
 " Hence your winnings, sir," he returned 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 123 
 
 with a smile, "shall be the more creditable. 
 But do not set too low value on your services 
 at this time, I prythee. For it is men that we 
 need at present, sir ; men who have seen some- 
 what of the world, and have battled for their 
 rights and their country in times of danger ; 
 recking little of the price of a blow till the day 
 is fought — and won. England," he continued 
 thoughtfully, " once could boast a worthy meed 
 of such, but the mawkish life of the court has 
 wrought its curse by sapping the spirit of all 
 alike." 
 
 There was a quiet force in his words, I re- 
 member, that went home to me with all their 
 latent significancy. Yet was it not so much 
 the little he said, but a certain rapt manner of 
 speaking — the same, I have observed, that 
 occasionally attends on little men out of their 
 infinite conceit, but which is never to be mis- 
 taken for that conscious sincerity of a great 
 soul soaring free from all restraint of prejudice. 
 Of his wide notoriety as an orator I had oft 
 heard rumour; and, hearing him afterwards, I 
 learned how that, under the magic alchemy of 
 his words, men were moved to see far and 
 beyond the vista of their ken, — their igno- 
 rance resolved into wisdom, the fearsomeness 
 of their arms nerved into swift bravery, whilst 
 the truth — the grand keystone to all that he 
 said — would shine out amid the sullen clouds 
 of doubt and oppression like a cross of bur- 
 
124 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 nished gold, a thing to love, to cling to, and 
 to protect. 
 
 Presently, after speaking for a space of 
 colonial affairs, as though to know somewhat 
 my own impressions, he added : " But our 
 country, sir, is yet unknown to you, I pre- 
 sume." 
 
 " Not wholly, sir," I replied ; and thereupon 
 I explained to him that I had already been as 
 far back as Curies and barely missed making 
 his acquaintance at the time. 
 
 " Indeed ! " he exclaimed, starting slightly, 
 "and you called perchance at my planta- 
 tion ? " 
 
 " Perforce, sir, such being the purpose of 
 my ride," I answered. And whilst his sur- 
 prised expression gave place gradually to an 
 angry frown, I proceeded to tell him in detail 
 of the message that had been sent him and the 
 manner of its defeat. 
 
 " Aye, sir, a clever trick ! " he answered 
 passionately. " I greatly misdoubted the knave 
 after he had spoken, yet the mention of Mistress 
 Langdon's name reassured me. Howbeit, the 
 deed is done. But I can never return to Curies 
 without my commission granting me the power 
 to protect my own, and to assist my neighbours 
 when appealed to against the attacks of the 
 Indians. Suchwise, sir, my release by the gov- 
 ernor is only a trick, of no consequence to me, 
 or of any risk to himself; for he well knows 
 
A Governor by Divine Right 125 
 
 that I shall not go very far away from James- 
 town before securing my commission." 
 
 " Tut, man ! nor do you need go very far 
 from Jamestown at present for enlivening 
 scenes," spoke up Master Lawrence, who had 
 caught the last of Master Bacon's remark as 
 he again joined us. " There is our good friend, 
 his Excellency," he continued, " giving a ball 
 to-night that he may display his coy affection 
 for us ; and incidentally, belike," he added 
 quizzically, " hoping to crush Antaeus by lift- 
 ing him off the floor with the ecstasy of the 
 fiddle and dance, hence humiliating him before 
 the pygmies. Come, my friends, what say you ; 
 shall we attend ? " 
 
 " In good sooth, Lawrence," answered Mas- 
 ter Bacon with a laugh, " 'tis a thing that had 
 not occurred to me before." 
 
 "Well, 'tis not too late," he persisted, 
 " though you will be forced to attend without 
 your wife. Howbeit, gentlemen, methinks a 
 ball is not always spoilt for lack of a wife. 
 Wherefore to prove it, in the event of the 
 three of us going together I may perchance 
 prevail upon Mistress Lawrence to remain at 
 home and observe the best interests of the 
 ordinary." 
 
 " By my faith, sir ! whilst you go dance to 
 the best interests — and observe the prettiest 
 women — of all Virginia. Lord, sir," cried 
 Master Bacon, " who could resist you ? Come, 
 
■I a 6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Master Vivian, do you consent to go with 
 US r 
 
 "You forget, gentlemen," I protested, with- 
 out the faintest thought of accepting, " that I 
 am neither of the Council nor of the House of 
 Burgesses." 
 
 " Pish ! you are our guest," said Lawrence. 
 
 " But there are sufficient reasons," I urged, 
 " why I should not expose myself to his Excel- 
 lency at present." 
 
 " How so ? " asked Lawrence doubtingly. 
 
 " Chut ! I'll answer for the amenity of the 
 old rogue's behaviour this night," assured Mas- 
 ter Bacon. 
 
 "Aye, come along, my friend," cried Master 
 Lawrence in a manner that left no doubt of its 
 heartiness ; then, in a confidential tone, " and I 
 promise you shall meet the sweetest girl in all 
 Virginia." 
 
Chapter VIII 
 The Ball at the Mansion 
 
 SHORTLY past the hour of eight that 
 night I left the ordinary in company with 
 Masters Bacon and Lawrence, and set off 
 up the road leading to Governor Berkeley's. 
 The streets had again become quiet since the 
 excitement of the morning attendant on Master 
 Bacon's trial. A number of coaches, however, 
 with flaring lights, passed us here and there 
 along the way, together with frequent couples 
 on horseback, laughing and chatting gayly, all 
 going in the direction of the mansion. The 
 moon had not yet risen, and the road, bordered 
 with its tall trees of dense foliage, lay somewhat 
 dark before us ; but as we approached the gov- 
 ernor's premises, the space round the buildings 
 shone enchantingly with a pale light from many 
 lanthorns of coloured paper — such as I had 
 once seen at Vauxhall during a fete — hung 
 here and there amongst the trees, and height- 
 ened by the brighter glare streaming outwards 
 from the long low windows of the mansion. 
 
 Turning in at the gateway, on either side of 
 which stood a sentinel in the uniform of the 
 governor's guard, we passed on up the walk 
 127 
 
128 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 leading to the main entrance, which stood wide 
 open on to the broad verandah. Crossing the 
 threshold, we entered a spacious hall running 
 the entire length of the mansion. In front, 
 nigh half the space was occupied by a noble 
 staircase, with its beautiful newel and graceful 
 railing ; and, running the length of the walls, 
 was a high oaken wainscoting, interrupted only 
 by a carved chimney-piece, and the doors open- 
 ing into the parlours and library on either side. 
 
 Following the liveried footman down the 
 hall, which was already crowded with a goodly 
 assemblage, we were conducted to the gentle- 
 men's waiting-room. Scarce had we entered, 
 however, when we were greeted by a gentleman, 
 elegantly attired, and of a cheery speech that 
 won the heart at once. 
 
 " Good -evening, gentlemen," he cried. 
 " Master Bacon, let me congratulate you on 
 your appearance under more joyous environ- 
 ment than of the morning. But Henrico 
 County," he continued, a courteous raillery in 
 his manner, " has ever been turbulent and in- 
 clined to reforms since your worshipful burgess. 
 Master Hatcher, was summarily dealt with for 
 saying that the mouth of the House, Master 
 Speaker Hill, was a devil." 
 
 " And by my faith, sir ! Master Hatcher 
 spoke the, plain truth about Hill," declared 
 Lawrence roundly. 
 
 "Aye, Master Hammond, if what I've heard 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 129 
 
 be true," added Master Bacon loyally. " But 
 let me acquaint you with our friend and guest. 
 Master Vivian," he continued with a bow, 
 " Master John Hammond, burgess from the 
 lower parish of the Isle of Wight." 
 
 " And author of that scandalous book, ' Leah 
 and Rachel,' " laughed Master Lawrence, " for 
 which he was made to be expelled the House 
 by the worshipful burgesses." 
 
 " Tut, tut, man ! speak not to every stranger 
 of those two maids of my undoing," protested 
 Master Hammond ironically. And to me : 
 " Sir, it grieves me to give you welcome to 
 Virginia for the first time in the company of 
 as great a pair of rogues as ever plotted free- 
 dom in a tap-room." 
 
 " Nay," continued Lawrence, not to be out- 
 done, " I do assert, sir, that yours was the 
 greater crime and less like to be forgotten. 
 Bethink yourselves, gentlemen ! After his 
 Excellency's known hostility to books and 
 printing and other temptations of the devil. 
 Master Hammond, here, almost upon the gad, 
 as 'twere, writes a book ! But, ods-pitikins, 
 man ! why it was you didn't name it Adam 
 and Eve in the garden of Virginia, with a 
 graceful sketch of his Excellency in the guise 
 of the royal wily, hath ever been a mystery to 
 me." 
 
 " Drat the book, Lawrence, and the critics, 
 too, say I ! But come, gentlemen, let us be 
 
130 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 dancing ; lest we be plotting treason in the very 
 home of our excellent ruler." So saying. Mas- 
 ter Hammond led the way out and we followed. 
 
 Thence, passing on through the hall again, 
 we ascended the wide and gliding staircase to 
 the floor above, where it landed almost at the 
 entrance of the assembly-room. Here the 
 hardwood floor, polished and waxed, shone like 
 a mirror under the feet of the company. At 
 the far end of the room, to the side of a carved 
 chimney-piece, stood a low stage that was occu- 
 pied by a band of ten goodly fiddlers and viol 
 players. Glancing rapidly round thfe room, I 
 noted its painted wainscoting, of an odd design, 
 running continuously ; and above, Italian cor- 
 nices that caught and held the eye for a monient's 
 admiration. 
 
 A group of gentlemen with their ladies stood 
 at the right of the door as we entered. In 
 their midst, and a little in front, stood Sir 
 William Berkeley, and by his side, resplendent 
 in rich clothes and costly jewellery, was a lady 
 many years his junior. This, Master Lawrence 
 whispered, was Lady Frances Berkeley, — add- 
 ing under his breath, " Chut ! — she is the devil ! " 
 
 Yet was she fair to look upon, methought, 
 being of a trim figure, though somewhat small 
 of stature. The face, with its open blue eyes, 
 was winning in its general expression, save for 
 an iil-defined and scarce noticeable turning up- 
 wards of the tip of thS nose, as though in half- 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 131 
 
 contempt of all and everything round her. 
 Such, I opine, must have been the cause, for 
 there was naught else save a delicate perfume 
 and fragrancy round her wherewith to offend 
 that sensitive organ. For her sake it was, and 
 by reason of her persistency — or so many 
 Virginians fancied — that her husband had so 
 oft become embroiled in difficulties with them 
 that were even now pending settlement. For 
 she was jealous and quick to perceive anything 
 that promised to advance the fortunes of the 
 house of Berkeley ; albeit — as is frequently 
 the case, I have observed, with women of her 
 kind when so situate — she was easily excited 
 to wrath, and uncommon slow to forgive any 
 one who happed to run counter to her own or 
 her husband's interests, however selfish. 
 
 Suchwise then, and mayhap because Master 
 Lawrence never spoke very highly of widows 
 of late, — to which order Lady Frances had 
 once belonged, — he now classed her whilst we 
 entered the room, under the one general head. 
 Yet who shall condemn such ; for what can 
 form a more heightened or pleasing contrast in 
 all nature than the flaming attire of the Prince 
 of Darkness against the darksome habit of the 
 sprightly widow ? Nor can such libel — if such 
 it be — ever detract to a gentleman so much as 
 a jot or a tittle from any of the charms of this 
 sable and seductive sisterhood. 
 
 Yet it was little wonder that a sudden cloud 
 
iji Vivian of Virginia 
 
 swept over her face, and that the corners of her 
 mouth were relentlessly drawn down, when she 
 saw Master Bacon standing before her with 
 Lawrence and myself at either hand. She did 
 not offer him her hand as he bowed on one 
 knee before her, and half turned her head aside 
 as he rose and presented us to Sir William. 
 With Master Lawrence, I knew he was nicely 
 acquaint already ; so did but little wonder, 
 knowing the grudge they bore each other, to 
 see his Excellency turn from him with scarce a 
 word. 
 
 Eying me closely for an instant, he then un- 
 bent, graciously. "You are late from England, 
 Master Vivian, I learn ? " he asked pleasantly. 
 
 "Yes, your Excellency," I replied, bowing 
 low, but inwardly wishing that he had taken 
 less interest in learning even this little of myself. 
 
 " And the good King Charles," he asked ; 
 "is he in the enjoyment of sound health and 
 the continued love and respect of his subjects ? " 
 
 Remembering how I had last seen the king 
 in broad daylight, darkly vizarded, with several 
 of the women of the court and play-house 
 romping round the town, I hastened to assure 
 him, — 
 
 " His gracious Majesty, your Excellency, is 
 the same as usual." 
 
 " Sh ! " laughed Lawrence, with his hand to 
 his mouth, as Sir William looked away for a 
 moment. " Sh ! that's a poser for him." 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 133 
 
 The fiddlers, striking up a brantle, now re- 
 lieved me from further questioning ; whilst Sir 
 William and Lady Frances took their position 
 at the head and led off, followed by full a score 
 of other couples in their turn. A pretty scene, 
 in sooth, and I stood there watching it with 
 dehght until the close. Presently a livelier tune 
 was timed to the coranto ; whilst Colonel Philip 
 Lu dwell took the hand of Lady Frances — it 
 being a dance somewhat too capering, or, per- 
 adventure, thought too undignified for the 
 indulgency of his Excellency — and stepped 
 the measures with her in perfect rhythm to the 
 music. 
 
 Master Bacon now approached me with a 
 little lady, brilliantly attired, and sparkling with 
 rich jewellery, leaning upon his arm. To her 
 he presented me, naming her as Mistress Mary 
 Byrd, the wife of young Master Byrd, his 
 fellow-burgess from Henrico County. Beg- 
 ging the favour of her little hand for the fol- 
 lowing dance, that by good fortune chanced to 
 be the minuet of the reigning king of France, 
 I was so carried away by the poesy of it all, I 
 remember, that for the moment I forgot that 
 this was still Virginia, whilst the stately 
 dames and beautiful maidens, with their pow- 
 dered hair and floating laces around snowy 
 shoulders, stepped and courtesied round me. 
 Beautiful painted butterflies they seemed for 
 the greater part, with heads finely poised, their 
 
134 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 bright eyes and rosy lips scattering sunshine 
 round the brilliant room. Stepping from out 
 some distant fairy-land into this new world of 
 ours, forsooth, to soil their dainty hands in 
 common toil, and surrender their hearts in 
 affection to these rough gentlemen in powdered 
 perukes and sun-burnt faces dancing round 
 them. 
 
 But how it was that after this dance such 
 a merry rollicking movement as the Virginia 
 Reel could follow, was a mystery never to- be 
 forgotten. All down the hall the couples 
 formed, merrily vis-a-vis. Then, whilst the 
 fiddlers rose up in their chairs and drew their 
 bows to an enlivening strain, stateliness was 
 unceremoniously put aside, and naught save 
 joyous abandon filled the hearts of the dancers, 
 the while they galloped up and down the cen- 
 tre, crossing and turning rapidly, the ladies all 
 the time holding their flounces and furbelows, 
 and their long, puffed-out skirts coquettishly 
 out of mischief, such as was a delight to behold. 
 
 To my great disappointment, however, I had 
 seen naught of Mistress Langdon as yet. But 
 now, after the reel was danced, and as I stood 
 apart to one side of the room, I saw Master 
 Lawrence approaching with a lady on his arm. 
 Nor did it require a second glance for me to 
 know her. And yet she did not discover me, 
 until nearly face to face; whilst even then — 
 although I saw the colour mantle swiftly o'er 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 135 
 
 her face in recognition — she made as if she 
 would pass straight on without a sign. 
 
 But Master Lawrence chose otherwise. 
 Bringing his partner to a stop squarely before 
 me, he said, in a manner of gentle assurance : 
 " Permit me, my dear, to beg that Mistress 
 Langdon will favour my friend. Master Vivian, 
 with the charm of her acquaintance." 
 
 And, though she courtesied to m.e distantly, 
 I still remarked the beautiful head, covered 
 with snowy powder, bent gently toward the 
 bosom, the knee almost to the floor, and the 
 little red slipper with its high heel peeping an 
 instant at me from beneath the rustling silken 
 skirt. 
 
 Then, and as though she had fain passed on, 
 whilst Master Lawrence bowed and withdrew, 
 she turned slowly towards me. " I can but 
 marvel, sir," she said, her face flushing indig- 
 nantly, " at your effrontery in daring to face 
 me here." 
 
 Though in a measure prepared by the cool- 
 ness I had remarked in her demeanour as she 
 approached, yet was I in no wise ready for such 
 an assailment of discourteous words from her 
 lips. Nor could I place but one construction on 
 them, and that the worst. For, knowing that 
 she was wont to move proudly and aright under 
 her dower of beauty and of birth, I could think 
 of naught save that it shamed her to recognize 
 me there — a man of scant resource and of 
 
136 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 uncertain fame — in the presence of her friends. 
 Wherefore, with a low bow, I was on the point 
 of withdrawing without a word. 
 
 " One moment, sir," she said hastily ; " you 
 may return the token loaned you, and then go." 
 
 " I am sorry, my lady," I answered, as I 
 remembered with dismay how, in my hurry to 
 leave Mistress Bacon on learning of her hus- 
 band's imminent danger, I had ridden away 
 leaving Mistress Langdon's ring in her posses- 
 sion. " It is impossible, my lady, to — " 
 
 " My faith ! what insolence is this ! " she 
 cried angrily. " Impossible, you say, sir, to 
 hand back my ring ? " 
 
 "Yes and no, my lady, in all fairness," I 
 began. " When I delivered my message — " 
 
 " And it was delivered very well, it seems," 
 she retorted, stamping her foot impatiently. 
 " But I seek no explanations from you. Master 
 Vivian. Keep the ring, I say, keep it ! — as a 
 pledge of your broken' faith ! " 
 
 And ere I could utter another word in pro- 
 test, she had swept haughtily past me, her head 
 disdainfully carried, a crimson spot blazing in 
 either cheek. In great amazement at her man- 
 ner, I stood there for a space. Surely I had 
 done her errand in all respects, save to bring 
 back her ring. And again, methought, I could 
 see Mistress Bacon standing there in the door- 
 way in distress over the token I had handed 
 her, and all that it signified. Yet whilst the 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 137 
 
 fiddles played on, and the gliding feet of the 
 merry dancers played the very devil in my 
 ears as I stood there beneath the shadow of her 
 scorn, I still remembered in my chagrin how I 
 had carried messages for Churchill from Turenne 
 with the sound of other and quite different 
 music ringing in them. How it was ever 
 " Sergeant Vivian this, and Sergeant Vivian 
 that" — and in tones of hearty respect and 
 good-will — whenever they had need of a knave 
 whose valour had already been put to the proof. 
 But to carry a message fifty miles from one 
 woman to another, without incurring the dis- 
 pleasure or suspicion of either, — or both, as I 
 had done, — zounds ! such were a trick for a 
 courtier rather than a feat for a soldier, the 
 maladventures of which I prayed to be exempt 
 from ever after ! 
 
 So thinking, half in anger at every one, and 
 half, I fear me, in very contempt and pity of 
 myself, I turned to leave the room. But near 
 the door I again caught sight of Mistress 
 Langdon. She was looking somewhat pale, 
 methought, but, ah, how beautiful still ! The 
 fairness of her neck and shoulders in gentle 
 contrast to her gown, which was of a pale yel- 
 low like the sunset clouds in summer. The 
 wavy hair, trained back over the forehead, was 
 caught up in some mystical way so as to pre- 
 sent everywhere a graceful roundness of form ; 
 whilst as she moved her fan lightly to and fro, 
 
138 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the full sleeve fell away, revealing a snowy and 
 perfectly moulded arm. 
 
 The flush of indignation had now passed 
 from her cheeks, and her eyes, I could see, 
 were peering thoughtfully far beyond the con- 
 fines of the ball-room. So that she scarce saw 
 for a moment a gentleman who had quietly 
 approached, and now stood bowing before her, 
 his back towards me, seeming to bespeak the 
 favour of her hand for the dance. 
 
 With some reluctancy, I thought, she con- 
 sented, as though equally indiiferent to the 
 dance or the partner. Then as she silently 
 accepted and the man turned round and came 
 towards me with her on his arm, passing so 
 close to me that I caught the sweet scent of 
 the jasmine girdled at her waist, I saw at once 
 — and it staggered me for a moment — that 
 her partner was none other than Seager, whom 
 I had at first failed to recognize in his showy 
 regimentals. 
 
 I became on the instant so filled with jealous 
 wrath, that I was tempted to stand before the 
 scoundrel then and there and expose him to 
 the contempt of Mistress Langdon and the as- 
 sembled guests. Yet it required little wit to 
 know that for me to create such a scene would 
 react only to my own discomfiture before his 
 Excellency. So, telling myself — despite the 
 cry at my heart — that whatever Mistress 
 Langdon was pleased to do could on no ac- 
 
' Seeming to bespeak the favour of her hand for the 
 dance." — Page 138. 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 139 
 
 count be of the slightest concern to myself, I 
 passed on through the door and down the 
 stairs to the hall below. Then, securing my 
 cloak and bonnet, I set off homeward without 
 further ado. 
 
 Several days now passed without my seeing 
 much of either Masters Bacon or Lawrence. 
 Friends and supporters were constantly calling 
 at the ordinary, they being generally men of a 
 liberal spirit and quick to perceive the pressing 
 necessities of the country. Nor were these 
 meetings proper conventions for conservatives 
 to attend, there being at that time precious 
 little use that any of us had for gentlemen of 
 that kidney, as the following well-remembered 
 words from one of Lawrence's speeches will 
 explain. " My friends," said he, " note well 
 that there are but two things in all the world 
 which a conservative does in sooth conserve ; 
 namely, the Past, and his own ignorance. No 
 great poet, philosopher, or benefactor of hu- 
 manity was ever in his day called a conserva- 
 tive ; nay, such had always to fight valiantly 
 for every spark of truth that had flashed upon 
 his soul." Whereat, generous cheers following, 
 Master Lawrence proceeded to illustrate his 
 remarks by the citement of classic history, 
 mentioning Nero, Herod, Pontius Pilate, Soc- 
 rates' jurymen, and the names of other and 
 somewhat moderner gentlemen who belonged 
 to this abhorrent group that sought, not to 
 
140 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 conserve the welfare of the many, but merely 
 their own outrageous property interests, though 
 the devil take the hindmost and all poster- 
 ity ! 
 
 After this manner, therefore, it will not seem 
 strange that the current of feeling was wont to 
 flow high at times and with a goodly force ; so 
 that this ordinary of Master Lawrence's came 
 in a few days to be the real statehouse for the 
 people's representatives, where affairs of mo- 
 ment were brought forward for discussion and 
 active measures passed for reform. So far, 
 however, no restraint had been placed upon us, 
 though everybody knew that his Excellency 
 was keeping a wrathful eye upon the place, and 
 that some day his gathering wrathfulness would 
 be let loose and the meetings broken up in 
 confusion. 
 
 In quick confirmation of such fears, as I was 
 returning early one evening to the ordinary I 
 encountered Master Henry, who informed me, 
 with much nicety of detail, of a piece of news 
 he had just caught up at the " Sailor's Yarn." 
 Master Seager, it seemed, being half-seas-over, 
 had revealed a plan of descent that was to take 
 place against Master Lawrence's ordinary early 
 on the morrow. Master Bacon was to be re- 
 arrested, and such other traitors and adventu- 
 rous knaves as were to be found there — 
 including myself. Master Seager had sworn 
 with an oath — were to be disposed of with 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 141 
 
 military despatch. Assuring myself, therefore, 
 by careful questioning of Henry that this was 
 no idle boast he had heard, but was actually the 
 governor's intent, I thanked him for his timely 
 warning and hurried on. 
 
 Being fortunate in finding Masters Lawrence 
 and Bacon sitting together when I entered, 
 without wasting words I proceeded to tell 
 them briefly the news I had learned. 
 
 " Well, my friends," said Master Bacon 
 coolly, "there's nothing for it but to cut and 
 run. I well knew my release was only a trick 
 to quiet the popular clamour. Now that it 
 has subsided somewhat, the old rogue will 
 attempt to wreak his hatred upon me." 
 
 Making no answer for a space, Master 
 Lawrence appeared to be lost in thought or 
 indifferency. Then, speaking in suave tones, 
 he said : " Still, my friend, you are released on 
 parole, naught being said about your remaining 
 in Jamestown. Why not, then, try a change of 
 air ? Take Master Vivian with you for a quick 
 ride into the country and be back here by early 
 morning. To be sure, sir, you need not come 
 alone. Bring your friends with you, sir, a 
 hundred or more if it please you. Leastwise 
 it will please Mistress Lawrence by filling the 
 ordinary, and belike it will have a nice effect 
 in again dispelling the humours from the mind 
 of his Excellency." 
 
 " By heavens, sir, the very play ! " cried 
 
142 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Master Bacon heartily, springing to his feet. 
 " Come, my friend, will you join me ? " 
 
 " With pleasure, sir," I answered. "In 
 sooth, I've no desire to be here should the 
 governor chance to call informally." 
 
 "Aye, you may mark my words. Master 
 Vivian," he replied, " that Berkeley is one of 
 the kind that neither forgets nor forgives." 
 
 " But," asked Lawrence in a puzzle, " what 
 reason can he have to be offended with you .'' " 
 
 " Only for a little service. Master Lawrence, 
 that I attempted to render Master Bacon," said 
 I, proceeding to tell him of my ride to Curies. 
 
 " Ha, you sly knave ! " said he when I had 
 done. " So you had already met the fair be- 
 fore the night of the ball ? She should have 
 treated you handsomely, by my troth, sir ! yet 
 I remember that you departed early without 
 waiting for me." 
 
 "Yes," I answered, regretting the turn of 
 our converse. 
 
 " And yet you dance, methinks ? " he asked 
 pertinently. 
 
 " Sometimes, Master Lawrence," I assured 
 him, though there was scarce any divertisement 
 in which I took more delight. 
 
 " Then why, my friend," — but scanning my 
 face sharply, and seeing that I accepted his offices 
 with but scant patience, he desisted. " Pardon 
 me, sir; both of you being friends of mine, 
 gave me, methought, just ground for asking." 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 143 
 
 " Pish ! it is of no consequence, Master 
 Lawrence," I answered, whilst feeling my face 
 flush hot at the remembrance of it all. But 
 as the kindly manner of his words went home 
 to me, I exclaimed indignantly, " She treated 
 me like a fool, sir, or a lackey — I scarce 
 know which ! " 
 
 " Softly, softly ; bethink yourself, my friend, 
 there must have been some misunderstanding," 
 he urged. 
 
 " Misunderstanding ! " I cried. " Did I 
 not deliver her message to Mistress Bacon ? " 
 
 " But what said Mistress Langdon to you, 
 sir ? " he persisted. " Did she say nothing of 
 your failure ? " 
 
 " Nay," said I, raising my glass that I knew 
 was empty to my lips. In an attempt to cover 
 my confusion , "she said naught that it pleases 
 me to recall, sir." 
 
 " Come, come ! nothing about the message ? " 
 he again asked. 
 
 Recalling her words, regardless, I answered, 
 " She admitted, sir, that I had delivered her 
 message very well." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! where were your wits, man ? " 
 he cried. " Did you not see that she could 
 have heard only vague rumours of the particu- 
 lars of Master Bacon's arrest .'' " 
 
 " She is the governor's niece," I retorted, 
 smarting, and not catching the tenor of his 
 defence. 
 
144 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Pish ! " said he. " Be assured that the 
 old rascal has caught an inkling of the drift 
 of affairs by this time, and that his niece hears 
 little or nothing of the reports that now reach 
 him. In sooth, recollecting the lateness of 
 her appearance on the night of the ball, and 
 then only after much importuning of his 
 Excellency, I fear me she may even now be 
 suffering his displeasure." 
 
 " Surely, sir, I trust not," I answered quickly. 
 
 " Nay, and let me tell you. Master Vivian," 
 he continued, " the report I heard relative to 
 our friend's arrest. I was told that a man, 
 somewhat elegantly attired after the latest 
 fashion, and accompanied by two knaves, had 
 ridden to Curies, delivered a message to Mis- 
 tress Bacon, and secured the confidence of her 
 husband to help him escape arrest by flight in 
 his sloop. Of a surety, sir, I heard naught of 
 any other knave, whose wear," — and he winked 
 at Master Bacon, — " perchance, was somewhat 
 richer, and accompanied by the same comple- 
 ment of knaves, delivering another message to 
 Mistress Bacon somewhat later. In fact, my 
 friend, no one can know of this ride of yours 
 save Seager and the governor, besides those 
 concerned with yourself." 
 
 Whereat he ended, whilst I had nothing to 
 say in protest as I reviewed the disastrous ad- 
 venture from beginning to end. Not until 
 Master Bacon, giving me a clap on the back. 
 
The Ball at the Mansion 145 
 
 cried out : " You see, my friend, my service has 
 strange vicissitudes." Whereupon he asked 
 me, slyly, which experience were the fittest test 
 of a man's nerve : that of the ball-room, or 
 to be recklessly standing in the middle of the 
 James on the seat of a rotten skiff about to 
 sink to the bottom ? 
 
 " Would to heaven, sir," I exclaimed fer- 
 vently, "that it had ere ever I had reached 
 the shallows ! " 
 
 "Nay, nothing is final, sir — with men," he 
 cried, standing mockly erect. "And as to 
 women, let me tell you, my friend, when you 
 have once stirred their interest, their curiosity 
 mayhap, leave them alone the while their roman- 
 tic fancy drives them on straight towards you." 
 
 " Straight to destruction, sir, why say you 
 not in gallant fairness ? " asked Lawrence with 
 a laugh. "Yet are you somewhat of a seer, 
 my friend," he continued. " For what says 
 Terence : ' I know the disposition of women : 
 when you will, they won't ; when you won't, 
 they set their hearts upon you of their own 
 inclination.' " 
 
 And whilst we laughed at his apt philosophy, 
 he went on, spouting eloquently those lines of 
 that young coxcomb, Master Thomas Otway : 
 
 " ' What mighty ills have not been done by women ! 
 Who was't betrayed the Capitol ? A woman ! 
 Who lost Mark Antony the world ? A woman ! 
 Who was the cause of a long ten years' war. 
 
146 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 And laid at last old Troy in ashes ? — Woman ! 
 Destructive, damnable, deceitful worn — ' " 
 
 " Faith, Master Lawrence ! " snapped his stout 
 goodwife, entering the room quietly without his 
 seeing her, just in time to catch the final lines and 
 interrupt their ungallant peroration. " It's my 
 belief, sir, that if men paid more heed to their 
 business and less to politicks, sir, the women 
 wouldn't trouble them much. God-a'-mercy, 
 sir, are you never going to close the ordinary 
 to-night ? " 
 
 " Directly, my dear, directly," answered Mas- 
 ter Lawrence mildly, quailing somewhat before 
 her flashing eyes. For though he was becom- 
 ing nicely accustomed to her management, it 
 was notorious that she relished his popularity 
 among the people only because of the business 
 it brought to the ordinary. Yet when she 
 bethought herself how he was endangering 
 them, and laying their property liable to con- 
 fiscation by his open and active participation in 
 the politicks of the colony, then was she wont 
 to wax mightily wroth, and, with much juniper 
 in her utterance, have at him with scant heed 
 to time or place. 
 
 Hence, perceiving that we were in disfavour. 
 Master Bacon cried heartily : " Come, Vivian, 
 you and I should be starting. Good-night, 
 my good friends ! " 
 
Chapter IX 
 Master Bacon's Commission 
 
 EQUIPPING ourselves for a night's ride. 
 Master Bacon and I shortly left the or- 
 dinary on the way to the stables. His 
 plan, he told me softly whilst we walked along, 
 was to muster not merely a hundred, but all 
 the men he could find ere the morn should 
 break, and return to Jamestown with all haste. 
 
 As we were passing the ordinary where the 
 Henrys were lodged, I told him of the lads, 
 whom I thought would be glad to enlist with us. 
 
 " Certainly, we want them," he said, coming 
 to a halt. " But do you rouse them whilst I 
 go on and get the horses in readiness." 
 
 Feeling my way in the darkness, I walked 
 up to the front of the building, where I at 
 length made out to find the door. Rapping 
 firmly with my knuckles, I waited a space. 
 But getting no response, and after vainly re- 
 peating with the same ill-success, I was obliged 
 to rap loudly with my sword-hilt and in great 
 danger of rousing the neighbourhood, — as the 
 sound echoed away in the night from tree to 
 tree, ^- ere I finally heard footsteps within, fol- 
 lowed by the unbarring of the door, 
 
 147 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Allowing it to open slightly, an old lady, 
 with a peaked nightcap on her head, presented 
 herself in the gap. Holding a flaring candle 
 above her head and peering out into the gloom, 
 she asked, in a voice that trembled in quick 
 sympathy with the fear writ in her wrinkled 
 features, " What would you, kind sir ? " 
 
 " Nothing, nothing, my goodwife ! " I ex- 
 claimed in very pity of her comical fearsome- 
 ness. " I would only speak with the Henrys 
 a moment, if it please you." 
 
 " The Henrys, sir ? " she asked. 
 
 "Yes, goodwife," said I quietly. 
 
 " There is naught gone wrong with the lads, 
 sir, I trust ? " she again asked, only partially 
 reassured. 
 
 " No, no ! " I replied, a trifle impatient at 
 this delay. " The lads are all right, but time 
 is priceless. Kindly call them at once, good- 
 wife, and tell them that Sergeant Vivian is 
 waiting at the door." 
 
 After waiting a few moments, the men ap- 
 peared. " Another little ride. Master Henry," 
 said I to the elder. " Do you and your brother 
 care to join me ? " 
 
 " Certainly, sir," he answered willingly. 
 " Shall we need arms — another pirate, per- 
 chance ? " 
 
 " Aye," I answered dryly ; " we are after the 
 arch-smuggler of all Virginia. Step lively, 
 lads, whilst I wait here ! " 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 149 
 
 It pleased me to note their willingness, and 
 that they were gone but a second before re- 
 turning properly equipped. This, no doubt, 
 was in part due to there being at this time no 
 demand for employment in Virginia. Matters 
 were absolutely at a standstill, one industry 
 after another being forced to suspend on ac- 
 count of the excessive taxation, whilst the 
 revenues were scattered, no man — save one — 
 knew whither. Anything, then, that offered 
 work at living wages to a mass of men — many 
 of them late arrivals who were neither indents 
 nor grandees — even war, and especially with 
 the savages, was likely to be hailed with delight 
 as a relief to present necessities. 
 
 " Off again, sir, I see," cried Master Dale, 
 good-naturedly, as we entered the stables. 
 
 " Aye," said I, " and may better luck attend 
 me, — even though you have given me the 
 same nag." 
 
 " Stay, Vivian ! " interposed Master Bacon, 
 as I was about to mount, " you could, if you 
 chose, do me a greater service than to go with 
 me." 
 
 In wonderment at his meaning, I slipped my 
 foot out of the stirrup and stood before him. 
 
 " In this wise," he continued. " Lend me 
 your men, and do you remain here and keep 
 watch." 
 
 " What ! when you expect to be back here 
 by daylight ? " 
 
150 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Mayhap," he replied ; " but the governor 
 may prevent, or my men found wanting in 
 number — who knows? But you are loth, I 
 see. 
 
 Now, seeing him sitting there astride his 
 horse preparatory to riding away for action 
 amongst his men, whilst I remained behind in 
 full sight of his Excellency, whom I felt it would 
 be inconvenient for me to meet, I answered : 
 " Only reasonably so, I trust. Master Bacon." 
 
 "Nay, hearken," he began impatiently; then, 
 reining his horse sidewise and leaning over his 
 saddle, he continued in a low voice, " listen to 
 me, my good friend ! I can have no means of 
 knowing what steps the governor may take 
 when he hears — should I be delayed — that 
 I have escaped. He assuredly knows it would 
 not be my purpose to long stay away and leave 
 him master of affairs. Nay ; you may depend 
 upon it that he will expect me back shortly 
 with a command sufficiently strong to compel 
 him to sign my commission without further 
 delay. So do you stay and watch him. If he 
 succeeds in mustering the train-bands in any 
 force, ride out, or send a messenger on the 
 Middle Plantation road to inform me." 
 
 "Very well, sir," I answered readily, per- 
 ceiving the cogency of his remarks, and ashamed 
 to think that I had been loth a moment before. 
 " I shall return to the ordinary, then." 
 
 " No, not that ! " he exclaimed hastily. 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 151 
 
 "Yet I assure you, sir, when the old rascal 
 hears that I have escaped him he will be 
 too vexed to bethink himself of lesser of- 
 fenders. Ho there. Master Dale ! " he called, 
 " can you lodge my friend with you a few 
 days ? " 
 
 " Surely, sir, with pleasure," said he promptly. 
 
 Telling my men, therefore, that they were to 
 ride with Master Bacon, and assuring him of 
 my purpose to watch zealously after our in- 
 terests in Jamestown, I bade him God-speed. 
 
 The following morning, after breakfasting 
 with Master Dale and his goodwife, I effected 
 such change in my appearance as I well could 
 by putting aside my sword, and donning a long 
 great-coat and slouch hat that he kindly loaned 
 me. I then ventured forth. Coming pres- 
 ently in sight of the assembly-hall, although it 
 was scarce two hours past sun-up, I observed 
 a goodly crowd already gathered there and 
 passing in at the door. Marvelling at the 
 cause for this assemblage at such an unwonted 
 hour, I continued on into its midst and, feel- 
 ing sure of my disguise, shortly filed into the 
 building behind the others. 
 
 On the stage where Master Bacon's trial 
 occurred, a number of men were again seated. 
 This time, however, all kept their hats on, 
 save one, who sat before a small table in their 
 midst. He, I was told, was the Speaker of the 
 House of Burgesses that was now in session. 
 
152 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 At this news I was greatly surprised ; for, the 
 governor having dismissed them shortly after 
 Master Bacon's trial, with instructions to con- 
 sider ways and means of putting a stop to 
 Indian depredations, their assembling now 
 must surely be counter to his wishes. 
 
 In this opinion I was confirmed by what 
 followed. Instead of considering the Indian 
 difficulty, motions were now being put by first 
 one burgess and then another — respectfully 
 removing their hats when they arose to address 
 the Speaker — looking to the redressing of 
 divers grievances. And chief of all, amidst 
 much confusion, a committee was bravely ap- 
 pointed to inspect the publick revenues and 
 collectors' accounts ! 
 
 Matters had reached this point when a mes- 
 senger arrived from the governor. In hot haste 
 he proceeded straight up to the Speaker's table 
 and handed him a missive. Breaking the seal, 
 the Speaker' glanced swiftly at its contents ; 
 then, rising to his feet, and clearing his throat 
 harshly — and I remember it seemed to sound 
 up from the very bottom of the deep silence — 
 he read, — 
 
 "To the Most Worshipful Burgesses of 
 Virginia in convention assembled, his Excel- 
 lency, Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Vir- 
 ginia, sends greeting. It having haply come 
 to the governor's ear that his beloved burgesses 
 have so opportunely assembled, it behooves his 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 153 
 
 Excellency to remind them that they shall deal 
 with no irrelevancies or vagaries concerning 
 publick revenues, but that portending Indian 
 troubles may be prayerfully considered, and 
 means and measures devised for their speedy 
 relief. Signed, Sir William Berkeley, Governor 
 of Virginia." 
 
 Instantly the hall was in a turmoil. " Master 
 Speaker ! Master Speaker ! Master Speaker ! " 
 shouted out a score or more of the burgesses, 
 springing to their feet at the same moment. 
 
 " Silence ! silence, gentlemen ! Put on your 
 hats, I say, and be seated ! " cried the Speaker, 
 rapping sharply on the table with his gavel. 
 
 Howbeit, this command served only to bring 
 another to his feet. " Hear, Master Speaker ! " 
 he shouted, whilst another hat came off. 
 " Hear, I prythee, the — " 
 
 " Put on your hat, sir ! " again cried the 
 Speaker, getting red in the face. " Be seated, I 
 say, all save Master Wilson. He has the floor." 
 
 Again the clamour rose high at this prefer- 
 ence, the factions for and opposed to the gov- 
 ernor both seeking to be heard at once. Until 
 Master Speaker, losing all patience, shouted 
 out : " Damn it, gentlemen ! Will you put on 
 your hats and be seated, or must I call the 
 guard to bring us to order ? " 
 
 This threat had its eflfect. And whilst the 
 others slowly sat down in sore reluctancy, 
 Master Wilson held the floor, and moved that 
 
154 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 his Excellency be petitioned to assign two gen- 
 tlemen of the Council to sit with them and 
 assist them in their debates. 
 
 But again the faces of the followers of Master 
 Bacon grew dark. " It be my opinion, gentle- 
 men," said the burgess of Stafford County, on 
 being privileged to cool his head and to stand 
 on his feet, " that 'twould be as well for the 
 committee to first report to this House, when 
 we can then decide on what points it were 
 needful to trouble his Excellency." 
 
 " But, Master Speaker," urged an opponent, 
 " such has always been customary ! " 
 
 Once more the Speaker began rapping for 
 silence, when Master Presly rose up and de- 
 clared bluntly : " 'Tis true it has been custom- 
 ary, but if we have any bad customs amongst 
 us we are come here to mend them." 
 
 Whereupon, as though to subdue the ad- 
 vantage gained by the cheering of this sally, 
 the governor's faction now quickly ushered 
 in a distinguished visitor, crying out : " The 
 Queen of Pamunkey, Master Speaker." 
 
 The appearance of this personage, as I now 
 recall her, was strange and wild, albeit pictu- 
 resque. She was attired in a voluminous robe 
 of deerskin, with the fiar outwards, and deco- 
 rated v/ith fringes from shoulders to feet, whilst 
 around her forehead she wore a thick plait of 
 white and black wampum by way of a crown. 
 In her comportment there was a quiet dignity, 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 155 
 
 grave always, and at times graceful even to 
 admiration. At her right hand stood an inter- 
 preter, whilst at her left stood her son, a lad 
 of about twenty, whose father — rumour said 
 
 — was an English colonel. 
 
 Being persuaded to be seated, she was asked 
 by the chairman of the committee on Indian af- 
 fairs, how many Indians she would lend them 
 for guides in their war against the unfriendly 
 tribes. But for a space she made no reply, 
 aifecting not to understand — though I learned 
 afterwards that she knew our language perfectly 
 
 — whilst she glanced first at her son and then at 
 her interpreter as though for assistance. Gath- 
 ering no encouragement from them, however, 
 she burst out into a wild lament, her eyes filling 
 with tears, and speaking in a tongue that few 
 knew save for the words, " Totopotamoi che- 
 piack ! " which she repeated over and over again. 
 
 Finally, naught being done to appease the 
 queen, one of the burgesses rose up, saying : 
 " Gentlemen, all that this good woman says is 
 true, to our shame. Some twenty years ago 
 this woman's husband, Totopotamoi, led a 
 hundred of his tribe to our assistance and was 
 there slain. The queen is scoring us roundly 
 for failing in any manner to compensate her for 
 the killing of her husband." 
 
 But again, with scant heed to these words, 
 the chairman asked, "How many Indians will 
 you lend us ? " 
 
156 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Six," she answered bitterly, in a shrill voice. 
 
 Affecting not to have caught her reply, the 
 chairman once more put the question to her. 
 But she looked sullenly and disdainfully over 
 him for a space ; till, persisting in his question 
 in the same monotonous voice, harassed and 
 defiant, she cried out, " Twelve ! " 
 
 Then paying no heed to any one, and seem- 
 ing not to see them, whilst her eyes flashed 
 scornfully as though intent only on her wrongs, 
 she turned and walked majestically out of the 
 room without a word. 
 
 This scene stirred up much sympathy for the 
 queen, even among the followers of Master 
 Bacon, who were many of them old Indian 
 fighters. Nor did it bode aught but ill for 
 the governor and his party in their present 
 bellical attitude on Indian affairs ; for without 
 the aid of the friendly tribes in the capacity 
 of guides, it would be well-nigh impossible 
 to carry forward successfully a concerted cam- 
 paign in the wilderness and up-country. How- 
 ever, there were few that had any faith in the 
 governor's intent to undertake such emprise ; 
 the feeling being general that this sudden 
 spirit manifested by his Excellency was sim- 
 ply a scheme of hoodwinking the burgesses 
 by exciting their minds against the savages, 
 whilst he continued to plunder the people 
 under the manifold niceties of his system and 
 administration of publick revenues. 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 157 
 
 But the grave distrust and silent uneasiness 
 that fell over the house when the Queen of 
 Pamunkey walked out of their midst was sud- 
 denly swept aside now as a messenger sprang 
 into the room. " Bacon is fled ! Bacon is 
 fled ! " he shouted, whilst every one sprang to 
 his feet. But it was pleasing to observe that, 
 when the first thunder-clap of consternation 
 had cleared away, most of the faces I saw 
 wore a look of sunny and smiling satisfaction. 
 True, a few dark clouds were to be seen here 
 and there, but such were hopelessly scattered 
 and dispersed. 
 
 Whereupon the House was hastily adjourned, 
 and the people crowded out in much confusion. 
 
 Having seen nothing of Master Lawrence 
 amongst the burgesses, however, I now went 
 on to see if the threat we had heard the night 
 before had been executed. A number of men 
 were standing round the ordinary as I ap- 
 proached, all speaking eagerly, and now and 
 then bursting out into a shout of laughter. 
 As I entered the room. Master Lawrence 
 looked straight at me, but at first failed to 
 recognize me in the caparison I had loaned of 
 Master Dale. Presently, however, his gravity 
 gave way to a look of amusement whilst he 
 cried, — 
 
 " Halloa ! so you have deserted Master 
 Bacon and turned planter, my friend ? " 
 
 Explaining to him the purpose of my stay 
 
158 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 in Jamestown, he began to speak of their visit 
 from the guard, when Mistress Lawrence en- 
 tered the room. She came straight up to us, 
 her arms akimbo, her breath coming and going 
 in quick gasps in rhythm with the angry rise 
 and fall of her bosom. 
 
 " To think. Master Vivian ! " she exclaimed, 
 without other greeting as she recognized me, 
 " that my house should be put to such an in- 
 dignity. Those impudent rascals ! they went 
 from room to room in my house — my house, 
 sir ! " stamping her foot, " overhauling my 
 closets, and tearing my linen in strips by run- 
 ning their swords through my best beds. And 
 all, sir, under the pretence of searching for 
 Master Bacon." 
 
 " Master Bacon ? " I asked gently, hoping 
 to stem the current of her wrath. 
 
 "Aye, sir," she continued, flying to the 
 desk and snatching up a book which she 
 opened close under my nose, " Master Bacon, 
 who my books show squared his account and 
 quit the ordinary only last night. But god-'a- 
 mercy ! " she broke out, squaring in front of 
 her spouse, " 'tis all your doings, Master Law- 
 rence ! With your politicks and burgesses 
 and what not, we shall ever be in hot water 
 with the governor." 
 
 Knowing that it was impossible for the good- 
 wife to see farther than the end of her own 
 nose, I could not wonder much — albeit I 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 159 
 
 felt for him — when Master Lawrence sought 
 to mollify her wrathful upbraiding by repeat- 
 ing " Softly, softly, my dear," rather than at- 
 tempting to meet her half-way with that logic 
 and argument by which he commonly won 
 men to his persuasion. In sooth, to his wife 
 Master Lawrence quoted scarce anything from 
 the classics by way of precept. For, whenever 
 his temerity carried him to such lengths, she 
 would instantly straddle her distemper and 
 over-ride all precedents like a flash, and, with 
 a snap of her fingers, roundly declare that 
 if he attended more to the ordinary and less 
 to what some man long dead had once said, 
 it would result vastly to their advantage. 
 
 However, all this went to prove, as I now 
 bethink myself of the circumstances, what a 
 sincere patriot Master Lawrence had come to 
 be. For it is ever easy for men to drift with 
 the current when there are no obstacles to be 
 overcome. But, affable and scholarly gentle- 
 man that he was, robbed of all his possessions 
 at the hands of the governor and now depend- 
 ent solely on his wife for his keep, I clearly per- 
 ceived that for him to hold his way firmly and 
 sweetly amidst the people when so sorely beset 
 at his own fireside, was a piece of self-sacrifice 
 to wonder at and respect. Hence I have 
 sometimes thought that, whilst it may oft be 
 true that the evil a man does lives after him, 
 such is scarce to be reckoned, and is more 
 
i6o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 than forgiven, by that generous indifferency 
 to petty and insignificant domestic di£Ferences 
 which great men have ever displayed towards 
 their wives, and which, no doubt, has ofttimes 
 prevented the mischief that a woman might do 
 from hving after her. 
 
 But God rest her weary soul, and others of a 
 similar tale ! For in sooth I do greatly pity a 
 woman who, being of a nice rotundity of form 
 and not displeasant to look upon, seems meant 
 for cheerfuUer things and happier moods ; yet 
 Mistress Lawrence, when not engaged in giving 
 her husband a downright juniper-lecture, had, 
 I deplore to confess, but a figent jaundering 
 jaw, such as would straightway impel a man 
 out of the door and cause him to fain seek rest 
 beside still waters among the quiet ways of the 
 woods. 
 
 But this, however, is neither here nor there, 
 the purpose of these memoirs being only to 
 record and to condemn no one. So that, if 
 she now flung herself out of the room in much 
 the same vigorous spirit that she had entered, 
 heaven knows the good Mistress Lawrence 
 had much to prick her. 
 
 It being now two hours of noon, and still 
 no sign of Master Bacon's return, I began to 
 fear me that somewhat beyond common had 
 detained our friend, and so expressed myself 
 to Master Lawrence after this little flurry had 
 abated. 
 
Master Bacon's Commission i6i 
 
 " Aye," he replied, " a planter came in from 
 the up-country early this morning, saying that 
 the Indians on Queen's Creek were gathering 
 to attack one of our forts on the York, and 
 that the freeholders are hurrying to its de- 
 fence." 
 
 " Then it may be several days," said I un- 
 easily, " ere he will be able to return." 
 
 "Till to-morrow, mayhap," he answered con- 
 fidently. " Master Bacon has a goodly antipa- 
 thy to Indians, and an outbreak is quickly 
 quelled when he takes a hand." 
 
 Restless and impatient whilst stirring scenes 
 were being enacted round me, therefore, I was 
 constrained to remain in Jamestown ; but mean- 
 while dodging round here and there, and pick- 
 ing up such scraps of information as I well 
 could. Yet no arrests had been made so far, 
 nor at the time of the raiding of the ordinary. 
 For as Master Bacon had anticipated, the gov- 
 ernor was so fired on learning of his escape, 
 that he was scant inclined to arrest any of his 
 followers until he could feel assured that he 
 should not afterwards be compelled to give an 
 accounting to Master Bacon. 
 
 On the third morning following the flight 
 of Master Bacon, I caught news of the sum- 
 moning by his Excellency of the York and 
 Gloucester train-bands, and that four cannon 
 had been mounted at Sandy Beach guarding 
 the approach by land to Jamestown, Hearing 
 
1 62 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 this, I was in a quandary whether to ride at 
 once with the news, or to wait and watch 
 developments a few hours longer. Passing 
 the assembly-hall, however, and observing a 
 crowd gathered there, I paused and inquired 
 the cause. And being told that the train-bands 
 were expected within the hour, and that there 
 was to be a grand review before the governor, 
 I concluded to remain and count their forces 
 whilst observing their evolutions. 
 
 The clock in the church spire had just struck 
 the hour of eleven, when their vanguard — or 
 such I first mistook it — hove in sight. March- 
 ing down the street, they came to a halt in front 
 of the assembly-hall ; and, no others following, 
 I at length decided that these were all. Al- 
 beit only a little handful of men, numbering 
 less than a hundred ; mostly wearing bright 
 uniforms, and a hang-dog expression as though 
 in great shame of their paucity or their service. 
 
 And, presently, along came his Excellency, 
 gloriously caparisoned in his regimentals, astride 
 a nag whose dapples shone like satin in the 
 bright sunlight as he bowed his neck to the 
 curb and danced sidewise down the street. 
 In sooth, he looked as smug as silk, so that it 
 did me good to gaze at him ; but as he reined 
 up before the train-bands, I noted a look of 
 astonishment sweep over his face, followed 
 swiftly by one of infinite disgust as he glanced 
 at them. Only for an instant, however, ere 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 163 
 
 his eyes blazed angrily, whilst he cried out in 
 hot scorn, — 
 
 " Away with ye, ye knaves ! Methought I 
 had summoned the train-bands of York and 
 Gloucester ! " 
 
 And turning to the captain of the guard, he 
 ordered him to see that the cannon at Sandy 
 Beach were instantly dismounted ; then tighten- 
 ing his reins cruelly, he brought his nag's head 
 round with a jerk and went galloping back to 
 the mansion. 
 
 Whereat the men dispersed. But with curses 
 and mutterings of disaffection that were exceed- 
 ing comical and provoked the laughter of the 
 bystanders at their discomfiture. For they had 
 marched no little distance through the night 
 and morning to rally to the support of his 
 Excellency, and it kindled their zeal but ill, I 
 fear me, to be thanked in this wise. Hence, 
 seeing the turn affairs had taken, I concluded 
 there was no necessity for carrying word to 
 Master Bacon, as Jamestown belonged to him 
 now whenever he chose to enter. 
 
 And on this same day, a little past the hour 
 of noon, I learned news of his near approach. 
 A detachment having been sent forward by 
 him, all roads leading out of Jamestown were 
 seized and orders given to disarm every one 
 who arrived either by boat or land. Shortly 
 afterwards the army made its appearance ; a 
 host of six hundred men, all well armed with 
 
164 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 fusils and broadswords, Master Bacon riding 
 at their head. And, with drums beating and 
 trumpets blaring, they held straight on to the 
 green, where they halted not an arrow's flight 
 from the state-house. 
 
 Whilst the rolling of the drum within an- 
 nounced that the assembly was being called. 
 Master Bacon began advancing upon the 
 building, a file of fusileers on either hand. 
 Whereupon the excitement ran high, both 
 outside and in, and, when half-way to the 
 State-house, the windows became filled with 
 heads sticking out and faces gazing at us in 
 consternation. The next moment the door 
 opened, and his Excellency himself advanced 
 to meet Master Bacon face to face. 
 
 But the comportment of his Excellency, I 
 remember, despite the dignity of his years, was 
 preposterous. Strutting pompously forward to 
 within a sword's length of his young adversary, 
 as though he would fain prove him a coward, 
 he suddenly snatched open the lace at his 
 breast, crying tragically, — 
 
 " Stab me. Master Bacon ! Draw your sword 
 and stab me ! 'Fore God, a fair mark ! " 
 
 Master Bacon looked at him, a melancholy 
 wonderment in his expression, whilst he con- 
 tinued to hold himself well in hand, as he 
 repHed : " My sword shall rust in its scabbard, 
 your Excellency, ere ever I draw it to harm a 
 hair of your head." 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 165 
 
 Starting back, as though he had received a 
 slap in the face, it was with great difficulty that 
 his Excellency collected himself. Then resum- 
 ing his former role, he cried, with a sweep of 
 the arm to embrace the fusileers in his denun- 
 ciation : " Come, come ! ye well know that ye 
 seek my life ! " 
 
 " No, your Excellency ; let your life be your 
 own — and your Maker's." And there was a 
 shade of contempt in his tone, methought, ere 
 he broke off impatiently : " Your Excellency 
 well knows that I seek only my commission so 
 long promised and deferred ! " 
 
 At this, without a word — seeing it was an 
 ill time for tricks, I opine — his Excellency 
 turned squarely round on his heel and walked 
 back to the state-house. 
 
 " Make ready, men ! Present ! " cried Ba- 
 con, followed by the levelling of their fusils at 
 the frightened faces in the windows. 
 
 Instantly the faces vanished. Whilst a mo- 
 ment later a white kerchief was waved from the 
 window and a voice rang out : " Wait, wait. 
 Master Bacon ! You shall have your com- 
 mission." 
 
 " Damn my blood ! " he cried, whilst the 
 door was thrown open and he sprang into the 
 room, closely followed by his fusileers ; " I'll 
 kill governor. Assembly, and all, ere I let my- 
 self be balked again in this matter ! " 
 
 " Have patience. Master Bacon ! " cried the 
 
1 66 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Speaker. " No one save the governor him- 
 self, the king's vicegerent, has power to grant 
 the commission." 
 
 " Patience, sir, patience ! " cried Bacon in a 
 voice of thunder, whilst his eyes flashed fire. 
 " Have the Indians patience. Master Speaker, 
 whilst they go on killing as we keep up this 
 farce ? " And, his rich voice trembling with 
 the grand and melancholy earnestness of a 
 divine purpose, he continued to address the 
 House with all that inspiration of impassioned 
 oratory which he alone, of all the men of his 
 day, was capable. Speaking now of the exor- 
 bitant taxes, the maladministration of publick 
 revenues under Sir William Berkeley, and then 
 closing with a rousing appeal to the manhood 
 of all present, for protection against the red 
 devils that were that very moment murdering 
 the settlers on the frontier. Then, whilst we 
 were under that same strain of intensity that 
 had held us spellbound for full half an hour, 
 he took his seat. 
 
 But with a shout — a shout that echoed and 
 swelled, gathering volume as it went, beyond 
 the James and far into the future, methinks, 
 wherever liberty dwells — every man sprang to 
 his feet ; and, pressing round Master Bacon, we 
 surged forward through the door leading into 
 the council-chamber where his Excellency sat 
 in deliberation with the Council. 
 
 " For God's sake. Master Bacon ! " he cried, 
 
Master Bacon's Commission 167 
 
 snatching up a parchment roll that lay before 
 him, whilst he jumped to his feet, his face white 
 with fear and anger. " Here, take your com- 
 mission ! " 
 
 " Is it signed, sir ? " asked Bacon, his voice 
 calm and repressed, making no motion as yet 
 to accept the roll. 
 
 Quickly the governor plumped himself down 
 in his seat, a hot flush suffusing his pale face, 
 whilst he nervously grasped a quill and writ 
 his name on the parchment. 
 
 " Now," he snapped out without rising, as he 
 held out the roll, "will you accept it, sir? " 
 
 Bowing with grave dignity as he took it in 
 his hand, Master Bacon replied : " For the 
 weal of Virginia, your Excellency, I accept." 
 
Chapter X 
 The Flight from the Mansion 
 
 AGAIN Jamestown was swarming with 
 people ; the six hundred that had come 
 with Master Bacon being quartered round 
 the various ordinaries and tenting on the green. 
 A martial spirit pervaded the town ; men mov- 
 ing to the tap of the drum and responding to 
 the call of the bugle. Whilst on every hand 
 was heard naught but praise for the newly- 
 commissioned general-in-chief, and the resolute 
 stand he had taken the day before. 
 
 Nor was he yet through with the governor 
 and his Council ; for among many measures 
 for reform that were now begun, he insisted on 
 a letter being drafted and sent to the king, 
 exonerating himself and his followers from all 
 blame in the events that had lately occurred. 
 Howbeit, though his Excellency graciously 
 signed the missive, purring contentedly as 
 though he had fallen asleep beside this domestic 
 fire, it was not till many days afterwards that we 
 learned of another missive of his that travelled 
 across the sea by the same packet, and in which 
 he bemoaned his fate to the king, after having, 
 he said, "governed for thirty years the most 
 i68 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 169 
 
 prosperous country that ever the sun shone on, 
 but that was now beset with rebellion." 
 
 The following night, as I was sitting by 
 myself in the ordinary. Master Bacon entered 
 with his arms loaded down with parchment 
 rolls. "I pry thee, my friend," he cried, let- 
 ting them drop on the table beside me, " be so 
 kind as to write a few names for me ; for I 
 note. Master Vivian, that you write a neat 
 hand." 
 
 "With pleasure, sir ; what shall it be first ? " 
 I asked. 
 
 " Beshrew my heart, sir," he answered with 
 a laugh as he opened a roll, "methinks I'll 
 have a captain first. Write your name in there. 
 Captain Vivian, just above Sir William's." 
 
 And I did so with many thanks. Then, 
 with not a little merriment, whilst he went on 
 telling me of the pretty pleasantries he had 
 exchanged with his Excellency in securing 
 them, I kept on till I had filled thirty com- 
 missions altogether. The last one, I remem- 
 ber, bearing the name of his lieutenant-colonel, 
 Giles Bland. 
 
 " Done ! " he concluded with a laugh ; " ' the 
 poor ye have always with ye '" ; and he swept 
 the commissions aside. Then in soberer mood 
 he continued : " How oft have I heard his 
 Excellency quote these very words whenever 
 the people's demands have grown clamorous 
 for an economic administration, extension of 
 
lyo Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the suffrage, or greater equality of opportunity 
 for all ! Zounds ! for a man in high estate, or 
 any other smug rascal, to thus find it possible 
 to shield himself behind an old delusion of this 
 sort, is enough to make one misdoubt the very 
 book that gives it utterance. And mark my 
 words, sir, every struggle for freedom on the 
 part of a. people has always been beset by some 
 holy malediction of this species, used by a 
 tyrannical few that they may continue to strap 
 saddles upon the backs of the struggling many." 
 
 The next day the sun dawned on a Sunday, 
 June the 25th, 1676, — a day that marked 
 a turning-point in my life, as well as in 
 that of Virginia and countless others. And 
 so vivid it all returns to me at times that 
 methinks it was scarce a week ago. A bright, 
 beautiful day, the sun glinting joyously through 
 the full green foliage, whilst above the tense 
 monotone of a droning summer's morn, there 
 rose the wild note of the thrush and the well- 
 ing song of the wren as they flitted in and out 
 betwixt the branches. 
 
 And then, rising above these confused and 
 inopinate utterings of nature, sounded the bell 
 in the church spire as it began tolling softly 
 and calling the people to attend on divine 
 worship. Almost, methought, for its note of 
 courteous insinuation, as though it were the 
 voice of Sir William, drowning the murmur 
 of worldly complaint and beseeching his good 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 171 
 
 subjects to no longer adjudge him by what 
 their eyes saw and their ears heard, but to put 
 aside all wicked thoughts of stray publick reve- 
 nues whilst they hearkened unto the voice of 
 God. For aside from Jiis own voice, there 
 was no other that Sir William did so much 
 delight in. 
 
 " Don't you know, my friend," cried Master 
 Bacon, coming up behind me as I sat there in 
 the yard of the ordinary, " that you are incur- 
 ring his Excellency's displeasure by not obey- 
 ing the call of the bell ? " 
 
 " I was just wondering, sir," I replied 
 drowsily, "if Sir William were ringing it." 
 
 "To all intents, aye," he answered with a 
 laugh. " He likes all sinners to attend service, 
 even to commanding it. Come, will you join 
 me?" 
 
 And having little doubt that his Excellency 
 considered me as unholy a rogue as any in all 
 Jamestown, I arose and accepted. 
 
 Wending our way towards the little church, 
 therefore, we arrived just in time to see the 
 governor's chariot roll up before the high 
 wooden horse-block and the footman descend 
 to open the door. Whereupon the governor 
 stepped out on to the block with a sprightly 
 air and turned to assist his companions. First 
 came Lady Frances, who frowned slightly and 
 just lifted the tip of her proudish nose as 
 Master Bacon courteously stepped forward and 
 
172 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 offered her his hand. She had no way out 
 of it, however, save to accept, the governor 
 standing by the coach door as another lady 
 stepped out whom I saw was Mistress Lang- 
 don. 
 
 And whereupon I knew not what to do, — 
 save perchance to turn my head aside not to 
 embarrass her, — as she now suddenly stood 
 before me, looking as radiantly lovely, clad all 
 in white again, as on that morning that I first 
 beheld her. So that I must needs steal a fur- 
 tive glance at her, when, lo ! was I dreaming ? 
 — she gave me a pretty bow of recognition, 
 and, smiling coyly as she advanced towards the 
 stairs, gathered her skirts coquettishly in her 
 right hand and extended her left towards me in 
 naive command of my attendance. 
 
 For a moment her hand rested firmly in 
 mine as she descended the four or five rather 
 precipitous stairs; and, short as the moment 
 was, I yet had time to wonder and rejoice at 
 the change that had come over her. Now she 
 had learned, methought, the truth of my futile 
 ride at her desire ; or, seeing me standing there 
 with Master Bacon, was proof sufficient of her 
 mistake. 
 
 Bowing low to her courtesy as she stepped 
 to the ground, my bonnet pressed to my heart, 
 when next I looked up she was gone, follow- 
 ing after Lady Frances; whilst Sir William, 
 giving us both a formal greeting as he passed 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 173 
 
 between us, stepped airily along behind the 
 ladies into the church. 
 
 "Aha, Master Vivian !" exclaimed my com- 
 panion with a sly chuckle, "the little witch 
 has relented, has she ? " And looking at me 
 comically, he added, " Come, man ! don't take 
 It to heart like that, or you won't be able to 
 understand a word that good Master Clough 
 has to say this morning." 
 
 And it was even as he had said. For pass- 
 ing into the church and being shown to a pew, 
 I sat there all through the service and naught 
 can I record of what was said, — paying such 
 scant heed to the preaching of the Word on 
 that morning that I pray the good Lord has 
 ere this forgiven me for it. I only remember 
 that my eyes roved round the room after the 
 inconsequential manner of a child ; now fol- 
 lowing down the nave, that was crossed by 
 the transept leading to a massive doorway 
 on either side, to the cedar chancel that was 
 panelled all around more than half-way to the 
 groined ceiling ; and again returning — the 
 vagrant sinners ! — they played for a moment 
 over the communion table of black walnut, and 
 then wandered away again over the quaint yel- 
 low letters painted on black canvas, the Creed 
 and Commandments, framed in two tablets that 
 hung above the communion table. 
 
 And in sooth it was a restful spot, such as 
 did me good to behold ; howbeit I have already 
 
174 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 recorded that the day was drowsily inclined, so 
 that, in whatsoever direction one chanced to 
 look, the soft light falling on the eyelid was 
 like a finger that would fain close it shut. 
 Above the high-backed cedar pews, I could 
 see naught but the waving of bonnets, and anon 
 the well-trimmed and powdered peruke of some 
 tall cavalier who, methought, might have once 
 fought for the king at Marston Moor. Whilst 
 all this time, high above in his cock-loft pit. 
 Parson Clough was preaching away — alas ! 
 far away — my wandering fancy full of the 
 alluring picture of Mistress Langdon. 
 
 Yet I distinctly remember the moment he 
 stopped speaking. And it may have been 
 only this sudden hush that roused me, or, 
 more likely, the hurrying footsteps of a travel- 
 stained messenger as he sped past me down the 
 aisle, and, followed by the eyes of all, hurried 
 onward to the governor's pew. 
 
 Rising to his feet, his Excellency quickly 
 read the message handed him, and passed it 
 up for Parson Clough to read to the congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 Nor was any one dreaming now, whilst the 
 parson proceeded to read how the Indians 
 had broken out and the people being massa- 
 cred along the York scarce twenty miles from 
 Jamestown. Whence, the congregation being 
 hurriedly dismissed that the people might 
 repair to their homes and agree on plans for 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 175 
 
 defence, I passed out of the church and back 
 to the ordinary with Master Bacon. 
 
 "You have heard the news, general?" asked 
 Master Lawrence when we entered. 
 
 " Yes, at church," he replied abruptly. 
 
 " Then you stopped to confer with the gov- 
 ernor, belike," said Lawrence. 
 
 " By heavens, no ! " answered the general, 
 with emphasis. "This matter belongs to the 
 general of the army, and no meddling at the 
 hands of the governor will longer be toler- 
 ated in such affairs." 
 
 Using the full power of his commission, 
 therefore, the general and his officers were 
 kept busy the balance of the day in provision- 
 ing the army, and collecting supplies of ammu- 
 nition sufficient for a long campaign in the 
 wilderness. And ere night fell we had made 
 all arrangements for an early march on the 
 following morn. Yet on this same Sunday — 
 such devious ways hath destiny — whilst Gen- 
 eral Bacon was vigilantly preparing his army, 
 looking to the everlasting welfare of Virginia, 
 his father, Master Thomas Bacon of Fristan 
 Hall, was standing humbly before the king 
 and petitioning him not to be too hard upon 
 his son till all the facts were known concerning 
 his rebellion. 
 
 Quitting the encampment shortly after dark 
 that same night, I crossed the green and was 
 passing beneath the light of a cresset fixed in 
 
176 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 front of the church, when I was accosted sud- 
 denly by a young negress. 
 
 She continued to peer cunningly into my 
 face for a moment, ere my reply to her query 
 assured her that I was Captain Vivian. But, 
 hearing footsteps approaching, she quickly drew 
 forth a folded piece of white paper which she 
 placed in my hand and then darted away in the 
 darkness. 
 
 Mystified at her manner, and in wonder- 
 ment at the contents of the missive, I opened 
 it then and there. But I could make out 
 nothing by the flickering light ; and so, quick- 
 ening my pace, I went on to the ordinary. 
 
 Master Bacon was sitting at a table writing 
 when I entered. " In good season, captain," 
 he cried. " Here's more scribbling to be 
 done." 
 
 " I prythee, sir, one moment," I begged, as 
 I tilted my chair back against the table so as 
 to get a good light from his candle. Then, 
 again unfolding the missive, I read, — 
 
 " Sir : Prove, if it please you, that you can 
 forget a mistake by escorting me to Curies 
 to-night. Provide yourself with horses from 
 Master Dale's and meet me at same hour and 
 place as before." 
 
 No signature — no address ! Nor did it re- 
 quire either, as the fore legs of my chair struck 
 the floor with a smart report as I arose, a glad 
 cry of joy at my heart, and began pacing slowly 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 177 
 
 up and down distrait for aught save her. For- 
 get her mistake ? forsooth ! and I smiled to 
 think how I had already forgotten everything ; 
 everything save the gray eyes and the soul 
 behind them that had followed the penning of 
 this dear little billet. That, and the joy of the 
 ride to Curies — with her ! 
 
 Suddenly, however, — and I stopped short 
 in my tracks, — the thought came to me that 
 I was no longer my own master. For weeks 
 past I had been free to act as I willed, but 
 now, I remembered, I was a regularly commis- 
 sioned officer in the army of Virginia. An 
 hour ago, and no one was more ready for the 
 service than I. And here at the table sat the 
 general, busily writing and forming his plans 
 ere the army marched on the morrow, and de- 
 pending on me in all confidence to bear my 
 part and lend the willing hand that I had 
 always promised. 
 
 " The devil ! " I exclaimed impatiently as I 
 bethought myself of my position ; "why 'tis that 
 everything happens either too soon or too late 
 for me in this uncertain country is a thing to 
 marvel at ! " 
 
 " How now," he asked, looking up from his 
 writing with a smile ; " has she heard you are 
 off to the wars, and would make peace with her 
 conscience ere you depart ? " 
 
 " Nay, read this," said I, placing the note 
 before him. " I fear me she is in trouble." 
 
lyS Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Zounds ! and she wishes to go to Curies ? " 
 he exclaimed hastily. " You may depend upon 
 it, Vivian, that something beyond common 
 tempts her to take this step. That old tyrant, 
 her uncle, belike has vented his spleen upon 
 her till she can no longer remain under his 
 roof." 
 
 " But surely, sir, he will not allow her to 
 depart ? " 
 
 " No, no, you little reck the old man's pride 
 if you hope that," he answered. " To have it 
 bruited among the people that his own niece 
 was forced to flee from his wrath and seek 
 refuge under the roof of General Bacon would 
 be a bitter pill for him to swallow." 
 
 " But her message, sir ? " I asked impatiently, 
 as he paused for a moment. 
 
 " Aye, I am considering it," said he quietly. 
 " How came you by it ? " 
 
 I told him briefly. 
 
 " And did any one see her hand it you ? " 
 
 " In sooth, sir, I know not," I answered, re- 
 gretting now my heedlessness in unfolding it 
 beneath the glare of the church cresset. 
 
 " That is unfortunate," said he, as I related 
 the circumstance ; " the wench may have been 
 watched and followed. What hour is named ? " 
 
 " Nine o'clock, sir," said I, readily recalling 
 the hour of our first meeting. 
 
 " Then meet her as she desires," said he, 
 "and let me tell you, my friend, to lose no 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 179 
 
 tinae in getting out of Jamestown when once 
 you have her safely mounted in the saddle. It 
 will be Wednesday night before the army 
 reaches West Point, so if it please you, you 
 may remain at Curies till the same morning. 
 Then by taking a path due north through the 
 woods east of Shirley for a dozen miles, thence 
 bearing eastward by following the course of a 
 deer-run through the laurel, you should be 
 able to reach West Point about the time of our 
 own arrival." 
 
 Thanking him, and fixing his directions care- 
 fully in my mind, I arose to depart. 
 
 " Stay, captain," he added ; " you had better 
 take a couple of men with you, for a ride in 
 the night is not without its uncertainties nowa- 
 days. And let me warn you again," he con- 
 tinued smiUng, as I lifted my sword from the 
 table, "to fight shy of his Excellency. He is 
 absolute lord of the manor, power of infangthef 
 and all. So that my friendship would be of 
 little service to you if captured. Hence, take 
 the retreat, I say. If discovered, and wait a more 
 favourable time." 
 
 Promising to be cautious, therefore, and bear- 
 ing a message from him to his mistress, I took 
 my leave. 
 
 Thence repacing my way to the encamp- 
 ment, I made arrangements for the Henrys to 
 accompany me, telling them to wait me in the 
 saddle at a point in front of the church ; 
 
i8o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 whereon I proceeded to Master Dale's. Com- 
 ing presently beneath the light of his lanthorn 
 swinging in the doorway, I gave a quick rap 
 with my hilt against the door. And as he 
 appeared, — taller, lankier, more bushy-whis- 
 kered, if possible, than ever, — I bethought 
 myself with an amused smile of his obstinate 
 humour the night of our first meeting. 
 
 "The dapple-gray, and a side-saddle on 
 the bay hunter. Master Dale, if it please 
 you," I cried. 
 
 "Aye, sir, it does," he answered heartily, 
 " and fasten the girths myself" 
 
 Nor had I any need to advise him who was 
 to ride in that saddle, whilst he hitched it a 
 little now this way, now that, till it rightly 
 suited his sense of proportion between ease 
 and security. So that some little time passed 
 ere he finally held my stirrup for me and 
 allowed me to depart between great good- 
 nature at his kindness and impatience at his 
 delay. 
 
 For the hour was growing late, and, recall- 
 ing Master Bacon's fear that my messenger 
 had been spied upon, I had still to make a 
 far detour to the north of the mansion, lest 
 by riding boldly past with my led horse, I 
 should perchance encounter a guard and con- 
 firm a suspicion of my intent. So, taking a 
 roundabout course, I came at length to a 
 narrow pathway leading into the woods north 
 
The Flight from the Mansion i8i 
 
 of the mansion. Yet here I must needs dis- 
 mount because of the low-lying branches, and 
 pick my way carefully along ere I came to the 
 clearing round the north gate. 
 
 But I saw no sign of Mistress Langdon. 
 And at once I became apprehensive lest she 
 had come, and, disappointed at my failance, 
 returned again to the mansion. As my eyes 
 grew accustomed to the darkness, I again 
 traced the dim outline of the gravel walk 
 down to where it approached the north por- 
 tico. A light shone through the transom, 
 and where it fell across the walk I observed a 
 figure pass. Keeping my eyes fixed steadily 
 on this spot, after a few minutes the figure 
 passed again, pacing slowly, and going in the 
 same direction as before. Whereat I con- 
 cluded that a guard was doing duty, circling 
 the mansion in his beat. 
 
 Seeing this, I tethered my horses a piece 
 back from the gate, and went on to reconnoitre 
 round the mansion. Keeping close beside the 
 walk, I advanced to within fifty paces of the 
 building. At this point I discerned a dim 
 light streaking out from a window over the 
 verandah. Then, passing round the corner, 
 where the light fell athwart the walk a few 
 yards distant, I observed two figures standing. 
 Scarce had I reached, however, the shelter of 
 a low-branching tree where I ran no risk of 
 discovery, than my horses became impatient. 
 
1 82 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 A long, dubious neigh the one gave, followed 
 a second later by the sociable response of the 
 other. And as though pleased with their own 
 conversation, they must needs repeat it again 
 ere they were satisfied. 
 
 " Hush ! " I heard one of the voices say 
 distinctly. And moving slightly in my direc- 
 tion, to a point where the light fell full upon 
 him, I saw that one of the men was no other 
 than Sir William himself. Listening a mo- 
 ment, he added quickly, " Call the guard ! " 
 
 Whereupon I waited no longer, but set off 
 at a trot across the velvety sward, back through 
 the gate, and beyond to where my nags were 
 tethered. And leading them outwards a piece, 
 I mounted hastily, and rode off down the high- 
 way directly past the mansion at a rattling 
 gallop. A voice shouted at me from the yard ; 
 and glancing up at the window whence the 
 light came, I noted the curtain drawn slightly 
 aside, and a face peeping out for an instant as 
 I flew past. 
 
 Going on to the church where I found my 
 men waiting me, I remained with them, despite 
 my impatience, a full hour by the clock in the 
 spire. By this time, I hoped, his Excellency 
 and the guard had retired, believing I had been 
 driven to give up my quest for the night. 
 Wherefore turning to my men finally, I said : 
 " Come ; follow me at a short distance, one 
 behind the other." 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 183 
 
 Riding slowly, and bearing well over on the 
 soft turf fringing the highway so that the foot- 
 fall of our nags should make no sound, I again 
 came in front of the premises. This time, how- 
 ever, seeing that all was quiet about the place, 
 I reined up before the main gate, which was 
 some two hundred yards from the mansion. 
 Then, gathering the horses in the shadow of 
 a thick shrubbery growing beside the gate, I 
 dismounted, telling one of the men to stand at 
 their heads and keep them quieted whilst the 
 other should come with me. 
 
 " I'll come, sir," cried the younger eagerly, 
 springing forward ere his brother could an- 
 swer. 
 
 " Hist ! not so loud," said I softly. And 
 waiting a moment to be sure no one was stir- 
 ring about the place, I added, " Come, but step 
 carefully." 
 
 Passing through the gateway, with its mas- 
 sive stone pillars standing like sentinels on 
 either side, we advanced to within a few yards 
 of the mansion. Over the verandah, the light 
 was still streaming out from a long, low win- 
 dow, and slanting in a narrow line across the 
 lawn, whilst from the south side of the house 
 I now discerned another and paler light that 
 I had not hitherto noticed, and whose source I 
 resolved to learn before venturing any farther. 
 I therefore continued cautiously round the 
 corner of the mansion, to a point close beside 
 
184 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the latticed window that stood somewhat high 
 above the ground. 
 
 Peering through the lattice, I noticed a Ian- 
 thorn flickering dimly on a table in the centre 
 of an oak-panelled room, on two sides of which 
 were great shelves of books reaching from the 
 polished floor to the ceiling. Sheets of manu- 
 script, scattered confusedly as though after a 
 battle, were lying about on the table ; whilst 
 drawn close up, was a low chair with a lofty 
 back, tilted at a restful angle and luxuriously 
 upholstered with yielding cushions of leather 
 richly stamped in black and gold. And in this 
 chair, blinking and yawning and now drowsing 
 oflF for a bit, sat the learned savant. Master 
 Seager ! 
 
 I opined, however, from prior knowledge 
 of his habits, that the manuscript lying there 
 was scarcely the travail of his pregnant intellect ; 
 but that Sir William, — in the arrogant mid- 
 night of his life, — having been frittering the 
 late hours of the day over some idle frippery 
 of a play, had retired to rest, leaving his library 
 in some disorder, and his household to the 
 watchful eye of Master Seager. So that I could 
 not refrain from smiling as I gazed upon the 
 fellow sitting there in such unholy comfort, his 
 legs stretched straight out before him and his 
 boot heels digging deeply into the soft rug be- 
 neath the table, the while his occiput rested 
 luxuriously in the soft nest it had bored into 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 185 
 
 the downy head-cushion. Suchwise, I saw, 
 had the rascal profited by his duplicity. 
 
 Ere this, however, 1 had concluded that the 
 light in front shone from Mistress Langdon's 
 chamber. And, wishing Master Seager a sound 
 repose, I turned quietly away and began to make 
 search for some means of scaling the verandah. 
 But for a space I searched vainly, until, passing 
 in the rear of the servants' quarters and finding 
 myself presently in the orchard, I at length 
 discovered a ladder leaning against a tree. This 
 I eagerly seized upon, yet at the very moment 
 that I lifted it, rejoicing at its discovery, a great 
 bucket came tumbling down from the top, hit- 
 ting, it seemed to me, each particular rung in 
 its descent, and landing with a loud crash at 
 my feet. 
 
 Then for a space I stood there, cursing my 
 luck, and fearing that I had again aroused the 
 house by some untoward circumstance. And 
 may no one who haps to peruse these memoirs 
 ever accuse me of being a favourite of fortune 
 in any of these adventures, wherein, whenever 
 I came out best, it was only by virtue of a 
 strong arm and the grace of Providence. 
 However, after listening intently and hearing 
 no one stirring, I again seized hold of the 
 ladder and swung it clear of the branches. 
 Thence passing round to the front of the man- 
 sion and finding Henry in waiting, we placed 
 it carefully against the verandah and found. 
 
1 86 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 with infinite satisfaction, that it easily reached 
 the height of the low railing above. 
 
 " Stand here, lad," I whispered, " and if 
 any one be foolish enough to come, deal with 
 him quickly ere he can raise an outcry ! " 
 
 Leaving him standing there at the foot with 
 his sword drawn, I ascended the ladder lightly 
 and stepped over the railing without a mishap. 
 Now, however, as I began moving towards the ■ 
 window, the narrow boards beneath me, with 
 their sun-warped edges, snapped when I put 
 my boot down and creaked again as I lifted it. 
 So that after each stealthy step I must needs 
 pause for a moment and listen in great alarm. 
 And so it happened that, before I could reach 
 the window, the curtain was drawn suddenly 
 aside and she whom I sought stood revealed. 
 
 She started back in surprise. Recovering 
 quickly, however, and holding her finger to 
 her lips warningly, she whispered, " Hush ! 
 One moment, sir." 
 
 And as though to prove that I was not the 
 only one who had long been kept waiting when 
 ready to depart, she had returned in a trice. 
 Looping the curtain aside and placing one foot 
 on the sill, she took the hand I held towards 
 her and stepped lightly down beside me. 
 
 God bless her ! Shall I ever forget the way 
 she appeared that night ? Looking for all the 
 world in her trim riding-habit — with flapping 
 hat of white fur cocked jauntily on her head. 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 187 
 
 and the erstwhile carefully tucked-up hair fall- 
 ing in a wavy mass over her shoulders and 
 secured into a queue with a streaming scarlet 
 riband — like some sweet-faced lad, methought, 
 out for an innocent lark. 
 
 " Come," I said softly, holding her hand in 
 mine as we moved towards the ladder, " I have 
 a man waiting below. You need have no fear." 
 
 Gathering her long skirt closely round her, 
 she descended whilst I held the ladder secure 
 at the top. And feeling its impulse as she 
 reached the ground, I followed rapidly after 
 her. 
 
 " Quick, Henry ! " said I. " Never mind 
 the ladder, but get to the horses." But in 
 stepping over the railing one of my spurs had 
 caught and bent below my heel, so that I could 
 scarce go on for its ploughing a great hole in the 
 turf with every stride. However, we hurried 
 along beside the walk until we were within 
 a few paces of the gate. Then seeing that all 
 was still quiet, I told Henry to go on and 
 see my lady safely mounted whilst I stopped 
 a moment to adjust my spur. 
 
 So, bending to the ground on one knee, I 
 caught hold of the shank, and with no little 
 difficulty effected to bend it back again to its 
 proper form, and was then about to rise and 
 go on, when I suddenly became aware of a 
 shadow falling in front of me. Dodging in- 
 stinctively, ere I could rise or look up I was 
 
Vivian of Virginia 
 
 well-nigh undone by a blow squarely aimed, 
 but glancing off from the side of my head to 
 my shoulder, that received the full brunt of it. 
 
 But before my assailant had time to recover 
 and strike again, — for he had come up sud- 
 denly and struck with his sheathed sword, — I 
 was on my feet. Whipping my sword out just 
 in time to parry a thrust, I saw at once by 
 the light that streamed over the lawn, that my 
 time had now come in good earnest for a swift 
 reckoning with Master Seager. 
 
 " You coward ! you lying rascal ! " I ex- 
 claimed, dashing the blood out of my eyes, and 
 casting my cloak aside with the same move- 
 ment. " Now I shall teach you to meddle 
 with the affairs of honest men !" 
 
 " Honest men," he sneered, closely parrying 
 my savage play, " don't prowl round gentle- 
 men's houses with ladders late at night." 
 
 " Sometimes they do, sirrah," said I, with a 
 grim chuckle, " and steal a lady to boot ! " 
 
 At this reply, knowing without a doubt that 
 I had outwitted him, his anger ran high, and 
 his play became more savage and rapid than- 
 my own. So that, bethinking myself quickly 
 for what I was fighting, and seeing her ever in 
 my mind's eye as she waited, mounted and 
 ready for the ride but for me, I at once became 
 calmer, more prudent, more wary. My arm 
 became suddenly nerved like steel, and my 
 wrist, methinks, was never so firm or so supple. 
 
The Flight from the Mansion 189 
 
 Nor did his feints and his tricks catch me lung- 
 ing forward to the death, as he hoped ; whilst 
 I parried, closely and skilfully, yet never 
 ashamed to take the retreat when in doubt. 
 
 The light from the open window, with its 
 curtain looped back as she had left it, cast but 
 a faint glow over the spot where we were stand- 
 ing. Yet it was only a moment ere Master 
 Henry, hearing the clash of our swords, came 
 running up with drawn sword, and a lighted 
 Ian thorn. 
 
 " Stand back, Henry ! " I cried ; " but hold 
 the lanthorn, and give the knave a fair 
 fight." 
 
 A lunge, rispost, parry, and counter-rispost, 
 over and over in quick succession, whilst our 
 rapiers took on a more sinister click, and the 
 rapid play was beginning to tell on Master 
 Seager. Being trained in the same school, and 
 of about the same age and physique, there 
 was little advantage apparent to either at first. 
 But if he never had cause to rue his loose 
 habits before, he surely had now. He began 
 to breathe heavily, his eyes to start and roll 
 hopelessly, whilst his lips made as though they 
 would fain cry out for assistance had I not kept 
 him busy with my point. It was he who took 
 the retreating step now, yet still with a watch- 
 ful eye to parry my thrust in the chase. 
 
 But he knew, the villain ! that his time had 
 come. And somewhat he must have felt of 
 
190 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the fearsome sting of an inglorious death, else 
 he would not have tried that trick upon me 
 that could not advantage him once in a hun- 
 dred times. Responding to his feint, as I 
 lunged, he gave a wild yell and sprang sud- 
 denly aside, as much in hope of disconcerting 
 me as, mayhap, to summon aid to his back. 
 But I knew the trick, having once seen it 
 achieved by an Italian at Miihlhausen ; so 
 that, catching him before his recovery, ere he 
 could fub me again, my rapier flashed and 
 thrust home. 
 
 He fell with a curse at my feet, just as a 
 number of his comrades of the guard came 
 rushing to the spot. 
 
 " To your mount, man ! " I cried to Henry, 
 standing there stoutly at my side. " To your 
 mount and away ! " 
 
" My rapier flashed and thrust home." — Page 190. 
 
Chapter XI 
 A Crown of Laurel 
 
 WE were into the saddle and ofF at a gallop 
 down the road, just as the roll of a drum 
 behind us gave warning that the guard 
 at the mansion was being called. But we had 
 a fair start; and though the night enveloped 
 us in its dark folds and made the road nearly- 
 impossible to outline at first, there was a bond 
 of sympathy between us, that caused every ring- 
 ing footfall of our horses to sound a bold free- 
 dom in my ears and an exaltation with every 
 wild pulse of my heart. Nor was this spirit 
 repressed by the snatches of sentences that she 
 let fall as we flew on, as though in maidenly 
 explanation of the course she had been com- 
 pelled to take at the last moment. When, 
 finding that her uncle was bent on plans that 
 would serve only to widen the breach between 
 himself and the army, she had — after exerting 
 the most strenuous efforts to turn him in his 
 will — loyally decided upon casting her lot with 
 her friends, and quitting his roof forever. 
 
 I had paid little heed to the blow on my 
 head given me by Seager. But now, as we 
 came out in the glare of a lanthorn hanging in 
 191 
 
192 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 front of a tavern at Sandy Beach, I was startled 
 by my lady's crying out : " Why, sir, you are 
 injured ! " And ere I could protest that it was 
 of little concern, she had whipped out her ker- 
 chief and reined her horse close to my side. 
 
 " 'Tis an ugly wound. Master Vivian," she 
 said, her hand resting so lightly on my fore- 
 head for a moment that the dull ache was 
 quickly forgotten ; " surely, sir, this is no 
 sword cut ? " 
 
 " A scabbard, my lady, I think it was," said 
 I, remembering how Seager had rushed at me 
 whilst I was kneeUng on the ground, and my 
 shoulder still paining me where it had received 
 the brunt of the blow as it glanced off. 
 
 " Quick ! " she cried, turning to one of the 
 lads riding behind us, " dip this kerchief in 
 the water and hand it me." 
 
 We were standing then on the little neck of 
 sand where the water reached almost to the feet 
 of our nags. So it was but a moment's space 
 ere the kerchief was returned and bound, cool 
 and moist, round my aching head. Thence 
 proceeding at a leisurely gait, we had passed 
 beyond the peninsula, and were within a few 
 miles of Green Springs ere anything served to 
 advise us that we were being pursued. Now, 
 however, we could hear galloping footsteps on 
 the gravelly road behind us. Bringing my 
 little party to a sudden halt, I listened intently. 
 Aye, I could misdoubt it no longer. A party of 
 
A Crown of Laurel 193 
 
 horse was rapidly overtaking us. For a moment 
 I knew not what to do. To our right the forest 
 lay, dense and impenetrable, wrapped in the 
 midnight gloom ; yet on our left, reaching 
 almost to the edge of the road, was a field of 
 corn, shoulder high, rustling eerily in the night's 
 damp air. Knowing it would be foolhardy to 
 attempt to outride our followers, I had about 
 decided to scatter our little party into the corn, 
 when my lady willed otherwise. 
 
 " Come, sir," she said impatiently, " ride 
 straight on. We are within a quarter of a 
 mile of Green Springs." 
 
 " But what then," I objected, my horse start- 
 ing after hers involuntarily ; " we can expect but 
 scant welcome there, methinks ? " 
 
 " No matter," she answered, the bay hunter 
 stretching himself into a long canter, my 
 own nag close at his side, "we shall outwit 
 them. They will never dream of our stopping 
 there." 
 
 And, giving our horses a free rein, we pressed 
 on, the Henrys close in our rear. Down the 
 dark vista, narrowing into a dim curtain far 
 ahead, which was suddenly raised and mysteri- 
 ously lowered again far beyond as we flew on. 
 We heard no sound of the midnight's life, 
 naught but the ring of our horses' hoofs on the 
 firm road beneath us ; and far away, but draw- 
 ing no nearer now that we were in full flight, 
 the rhythmic sound of the rise and fall, rise 
 
194 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 and fall, of the horse of the governor's guard 
 behind us. 
 
 The mansion at Green Springs, the country 
 seat of his Excellency, now loomed before us. 
 But as we slackened our speed to turn in at the 
 gateway, I was startled by the nearing footfalls 
 behind us. Surely, methought, they would note 
 the stop of our nags ! Hence before turning in 
 at the gate, I checked my horse and allowed 
 my men to come abreast with me. 
 
 " Keep straight ahead, lads," I said hastily, 
 " and let them follow and pass you half a mile 
 beyond. They will ask if you have seen a 
 party pass with a lady, belike, and do you 
 answer them, "^Yes." When they have gone 
 on down the road, bring your nags about and 
 return here." 
 
 Scarce drawing rein, my men went on past 
 the gate whilst I turned in towards the mansion 
 after Mistress Langdon. Walking our horses, 
 we went on round the side of the building, 
 keeping in the shadow of the wall and making 
 as carefully as possible not to arouse the ser- 
 vants. Here we waited a few minutes, fasci- 
 nated by the clamp of the swiftly advancing 
 horse. But as they came on I grew fearful lest 
 our horses should neigh and discover us to 
 them. Quickly dismounting, therefore, I held 
 my cloak spread out before their eyes, whilst 
 the guard came on with clangous clatter of 
 scabbard and spur ; but ah ! sweeping rapidly 
 
A Crown of Laurel 195 
 
 by — a dozen or more, following after my two 
 lads, whose horses' footsteps were now almost 
 beyond hearing. 
 
 " A clever ruse. Captain Vivian," spoke up 
 my lady. " But come, sir, we cannot get to 
 Curies now, for the road will be guarded till 
 morning. Do you hold my horse while I 
 arouse the house." 
 
 " Do you mean to lie the night here, my 
 lady ? " I asked in some surprise. 
 
 " Certainly," she answered, springing out of 
 the saddle and beginning to ascend the porch. 
 She had reached the top stair when, my query 
 having evidently stirred some sudden recollec- 
 tion of her present position in the governor's 
 family, she turned about, saying wistfully, " It 
 has been my home, sir, here and at Jamestown, 
 ever since I can remember." 
 
 And though I would have given worlds to 
 reassure her, I could do naught but bow my 
 acceptance of her meaning. 
 
 For a moment she waited in silent medita- 
 tion. Then, walking quickly to the door, she 
 lifted the massive knocker whose summons 
 now echoed and reechoed down the hall. In 
 a short time a light appeared, shining through 
 the narrow latticed panes of stained glass on 
 either side of the door. 
 
 " It is I, aunty," cried Mistress Langdon, 
 as the light shone nearer and then stood still. 
 " May I come in ? " 
 
196 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Lawd sabe us, honey ! " I could hear a 
 hoarse voice call out ere the bolt was drawn. 
 Then as the door was thrown wide open, a 
 portly negress with a queerish white night-cap 
 enveloping all save a motherly old face, quickly 
 caught the girl in her arms, laughing and cry- 
 ing in quick alternation over the sweet face 
 buried for a moment in her matronly bosom. 
 
 There were tears glistening in my lady's 
 eyes as she looked up, I remember. But, laugh- 
 ing shamefacedly as she dashed them away, 
 she said : " It is nothing, aunty. I am riding 
 to Curies, and will stay with you till morn- 
 ing." 
 
 " Ridin' to Curies, honey ! " she cried in 
 surprise. " At dis hyar time o' night — an' 
 alone ? " 
 
 " No, aunty," replied my lady, " I am not 
 alone. Call Mose to come and care for the 
 horses." And whilst I stood holding the horses 
 just in front of the porch, she gave me a pretty 
 smile of assurance from the doorway and a 
 low " Good-night, Captain Vivian ; aunty will 
 see to making you and your men comfortable 
 for the night." 
 
 A negro presently came round the corner of 
 the mansion and took the bridles. Telling him 
 that there would be two more horses to stable 
 when my men arrived, I walked down towards 
 the gate to await them. But it was some time, 
 I remember, and I had begun to fear they had 
 
A Crown of Laurel 197 
 
 been arrested, ere I heard the sound of their 
 horses galloping up the road towards me. 
 
 " Were you detained, lads ? " I asked. 
 
 "A short time, captain," replied the elder. 
 " They swore roundly when they found we 
 were alone." 
 
 " But they kept straight on, I suppose ? " I 
 asked eagerly. 
 
 " Oh, yes, sir," he answered, " after a brief 
 halt ; but they were desirous of pressing us 
 into their company to show them the way, 
 only," he added dryly, " our nags could not 
 travel fast enough for his Excellency's service, 
 so they were fain to go on and leave us." 
 
 Returning to the stables, I presented a tester 
 to Mose for his work on our nags, and told 
 him that I wished him to watch the road till 
 morning. If a party of horse should pass 
 going towards Jamestown, he was to let me 
 know. Whereat, feeling sure that he could be 
 depended upon, I returned to the mansion with 
 the Henrys, and, being shown to our rooms by 
 the negress, retired for the night. 
 
 Howbeit, when I awoke the following morn- 
 ing, I could scarce collect my wits for the raging 
 pain in my head. Raising my hand, I felt the 
 kerchief that Mistress Langdon had bound there. 
 It was stiff and hard from the oozing of blood, 
 and when I started to rise to my feet I felt so 
 sick and dizzy for a spell, that I must needs lie 
 down again. Waiting a space, and watching 
 
198 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the sunlight streaming through a gap in the 
 curtains showing that the morn was well ad- 
 vanced, I again essayed to do battle with my 
 own weakness, and this time was more success- 
 ful. For by the time I had bathed and clad 
 myself the sharp pain was gone, leaving only 
 a dull ache as I descended the stairs to the 
 rooms below. 
 
 I was not to pass muster with my lady, how- 
 ever, without a word. Bidding me a good- 
 morning as I stepped into the hall, she said, 
 looking at her kerchief which I had freshened 
 and again bound to my head : " You did not 
 rest well. Captain Vivian. It is your wound, 
 perhaps ? " 
 
 I thanked her hastily. "In very truth, my 
 lady, my rest was unbroken" — which was a fact. 
 
 She looked at me askant, but such was my 
 eagerness to assist her safely to her journey's 
 end, I betrayed no weakness at her inspection. 
 
 " Then come, sir," she said finally, as though 
 satisfied, " breakfast is waiting." 
 
 I was about to order the horses fetched round 
 after breakfast, when Mose appeared, saying 
 that he had seen no party go by towards 
 Jamestown. 
 
 " Let us be leaving then, sir, at once," said 
 my lady ; " for they are sure to return here 
 when they learn I am not at Curies." 
 
 " But whither now, my lady ? " I asked, be- 
 wildered what route to take ; knowing there 
 
A Crown of Laurel 199 
 
 was only one road leading either back to James- 
 town or on to Curies, equally to be shunned. 
 
 " There is a road," she said thoughtfully, 
 " across the river." And reflecting a moment, 
 she turned to the negro who stood waiting our 
 decision, and asked, " Mose, is the lighter at 
 the pier ? " 
 
 Receiving a quick affirmative, she turned to 
 me. " Then we will cross on the lighter, sir, 
 and take the road by the south shore." 
 
 And though I knew naught of the road on 
 the other side, I yielded to my lady — as I fear 
 I should have done anyway. I conjectured, 
 however, that the distance would be consider- 
 ably farther by that route, and was somewhat 
 apprehensive lest we should be unable to get 
 beyond the mouth of the Appomattox, where it 
 widened out opposite Shirley, without making 
 a far detour to the southward. Albeit I re- 
 membered that it would be three full days yet 
 ere I was to report to General Bacon at West 
 Point. Accordingly, when a little negress came 
 round the house lugging a huge basket of prov- 
 ender that had been prepared for us, I at once 
 dropped all thought of Master Bacon and the 
 army and entered properly into the present 
 occasion. 
 
 " May we take Mose along, aunty ? " asked 
 Mistress Langdon. And turning to me, she 
 added in explanation, " He knows the way of 
 the woods. Captain Vivian." 
 
200 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 I bowed my acknowledgment of the wisdom 
 of Moses. 
 
 "Yas, missy," answered the negress, "dat 
 thyar niggah am too wuthless to be aHbe. He 
 am no good to de guberner's plantation nohow. 
 Take him 'long ! " 
 
 Mose paid scarce any heed to the sounding 
 of his praises, however, but was off to the 
 stables with a glad yell, presently returning 
 with our horses in readiness and himself, with 
 an axe over his shoulder, astride of a gray 
 mule. Whereupon I helped my lady to 
 mount, and with a " Good-by, aunty," that 
 echoed back a hearty " God bless you, honey," 
 we were off down the narrow lane leading to 
 the river. 
 
 It was my first ride over a grandee's planta- 
 tion. The estate comprised full a thousand 
 acres, sweeping nobly from the road down to 
 the beautiful James. To my right stretched a 
 broad field of that staple, tobacco, which has 
 come to be held in such goodly favour by men 
 of all classes whom it has enslaved. And though 
 I scarce can think that its habit has ever caused 
 idiocy, despite the bitter contention between its 
 enemies and habitues, yet in the cultivation and 
 distribution of this crop there has been much 
 madness of spirit displayed. Whereas it has 
 grown to be the standard of value here in Vir- 
 ginia for all else, even unto the preaching of 
 the Word of God ; our every clergyman receiv- 
 
" It was no little task to urge our horses to venture on 
 board." — Page zoi. 
 
A Crown of Laurel 201 
 
 ing sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco yearly 
 in requital for the grace that his eloquence has 
 extended over the colony. And — though I 
 run ahead of my discourse — when it was 
 purposed to establish our college for the train- 
 ing of the youth of Virginia unto the ways of 
 divinity and other godly services, it was tobacco 
 that was to gild the way thereto. Howbeit, 
 when the time came for the fulfilment of this 
 project, much dispute rose up between the 
 people and the representatives of the crown 
 who wished to apply the tobacco otherwise. 
 " Sir," urged the Reverend James Blair, Com- 
 missary of the Colonial Church, before At- 
 torney-General Seymour, " the people of 
 Virginia have souls to be saved as well as 
 the people of England." 
 
 " Souls ! " shouted Master Seymour, " damn 
 your souls ! Make tobacco ! " 
 
 We presently arrived at the pier where the 
 lighter lay. This being a large scow, with flat 
 deck, used for conveying tobacco from the 
 plantation to the vessels lying at Jamestown. 
 A low railing ran around the deck, and from 
 the stern dangled a huge sweep or oar, which 
 served the double purpose of a rudder when 
 drifting heavily-laden down the stream, and as 
 a scull when returning up stream to the pier. 
 It was no little task, however, to urge our horses 
 to venture on board. The bay hunter, especially, 
 who would walk warily along to nigh the edge 
 
202 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 of the pier, lifting his feet high as though he 
 feared they were to be caught in a trap, then 
 turn with a snort and break away up the lane 
 with a bound. So that, despite her trained 
 hand, my lady was forced to dismount and 
 turn the nag over to my men. Then by dint 
 of much urging and tugging, and, I fear me, 
 a little swearing, the hunter was finally made 
 to take his chances at sea with the balance 
 of us. 
 
 The painter being now cast off, Mose took 
 a long pole, and pushed the craft well out 
 into the stream. Seizing hold of the scull, 
 which he worked slowly back and forth, we 
 were soon ferried to the south shore, where, 
 after making the lighter fast to' a stout birch 
 near the bank, our gang-plank was run out 
 and we were presently safely landed and ready 
 to proceed on our way to Curies. 
 
 Taking the road that lay along the river, 
 we went on to the westward, till, coming to 
 where the bank fell off in a sandy slope, we 
 were forced to stop and take counsel with our- 
 selves. The road itself had strangely disap- 
 peared. Standing on this sandy point, it was 
 as though the James had become suddenly 
 divided, one branch going straight on to the 
 westward, whilst another fully as large coursed 
 through a tangled mass of birch and willow to 
 the southward. Seeing perforce that there was 
 no other way than to follow this latter, we re- 
 
A Crown of Laurel 203 
 
 luctantly reined to the left and picked our way 
 slowly onwards through the primeval forest. 
 At places we were forced to halt for some little 
 time, whilst Mose set to work with his axe and 
 cleared a space through the dense brush suffi- 
 cient for our horses to break their way. 
 
 It was on one of these halts, some time after 
 the hour of noon, that my lady first made 
 known to me her anxiety over the tmcertainty 
 of our way. " Sir," she said petulantly, " I 
 fear me that you have mistaken the road." 
 
 " The road, my lady ? " I asked, bewildered 
 as much by her manner of asking as by the 
 utter absence of any well-defined highway since 
 landing on the south shore. 
 
 " Yes," she replied impatiently, her face 
 flushed from the heat of the ride and glow- 
 ing somewhat warmer as she spoke, " I said 
 the road. Captain Vivian." 
 
 I bowed my acknowledgment of hearing her 
 words, albeit, the air being warmish, I pru- 
 dently held my tongue. 
 
 After a short interval she again spoke, as 
 the sound of the axe began to grow feeble and 
 then stop altogether. " Are we to go on cut- 
 ting our way through the woods, sir, all the 
 way to Curies ? " 
 
 Now, it being her own choosing, I remem- 
 ber that I thought it a question that she could 
 answer easier than I, who was a stranger to 
 these parts, whilst she had been over this same 
 
204 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 course on previous occasions. Yet I could 
 only answer, " Surely, my lady, I hope not." 
 
 " Say rather, Captain Vivian," she rejoined 
 sarcastically, " that you know not — or mayhap 
 care not ! " 
 
 " Nay, Mistress Langdon ! " I exclaimed 
 eagerly, the quick injustice of her words forc- 
 ing me to reply more as I felt ; " it is my one 
 desire to escort you to Curies as safely and 
 as quickly as possible." 
 
 " As quickly, sir ? " she asked, though not 
 in displeasure, as I had half expected. And, 
 unless my eyes deceived me, I fancied that I 
 saw a smile chase across her features, which 
 was quickly banished, however, as she added, 
 " But come, let us dismount and spread our 
 lunch ; perchance it will mend your temper, 
 sir." 
 
 And as we all gathered round a cleared space 
 beneath a tall pine, and partook of the dainty 
 viands prepared for us by the housekeeper 
 at Green Springs, it was impossible for me ' to 
 long feel aggrieved at the flash of asperity my 
 lady had shown towards me. But, though she 
 took every pains to propitiate me, I had eyes 
 to see forsooth that she treated us all with the 
 same charm of manner, and that to my men 
 — yea, even to Moses — she displayed the 
 same sweet unreservedness that she was wont 
 to manifest towards me. However admirable 
 to observe this freedom of manner doubtless 
 
A Crown of Laurel 205 
 
 was, therefore, yet was I strangely conscious 
 because of It of a barrier between us that 
 seemed well-nigh insurmountable. Rich and 
 handsome and courted as I knew she had 
 been by many a cavalier's son in Virginia, what 
 had I, a soldier of fortune, that I could ever 
 dare offer her in obedience to the wish of my 
 heart ? 
 
 Our horses being presently made ready 
 again, we mounted and rode on through the 
 pathway that Mose had cut, and were soon 
 pleased to emerge into a clearing extending 
 for several miles. So that I hoped all difh- 
 culties in making our way on to Curies were 
 now left behind. A forest fire had swept over 
 the ground, leaving naught but the charred 
 earth and blackened stumps far as the eye 
 could reach. And as the sun had now begun 
 to drop in the west, we quickened the pace of 
 our horses into a hand gallop, and had suc- 
 cessfully covered a good half of the distance 
 to Curies when we came suddenly out of the 
 burnt forest to a point where the land began 
 to descend. Standing upon the eminence 
 which we had now reached, we looked away 
 to the westward over a vast green sea extend- 
 ing to meet the horizon, and bordered far to 
 the north and south by a fringe of the olden 
 forest. 
 
 " The laurel ! " cried my lady. " Is it not 
 beautiful ? " 
 
2o6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " In good sooth, my lady," I replied, my 
 eyes resting on a little island of pine rising 
 out of the midst of the green laurel, then 
 glancing away in search of some vulnerable 
 point to penetrate. " But," and I hesitated, 
 " I doubt we shall ever cross it." 
 
 For a moment she made no reply, as a sud- 
 den fear chased the beauty of the scene away 
 from her face. Till suddenly, with a gleeful 
 laugh she exclaimed, looking into my face, 
 " Why, sir, there is Moses, you know ! " 
 
 " Yes," I admitted, albeit with an incredulous 
 smile at the mention of Moses, " though it is 
 writ, my lady, that that was a red sea." 
 
 With a merry laugh at me, she answered, 
 " Well, at any rate, sir, Moses can do no less 
 than try his power." And, galloping down 
 the slope, we went on a matter of a quarter of 
 a mile to the edge of the laurel. At this time 
 none of us, save Mose and Mistress Langdon 
 perhaps, knew of the almost absolute impene- 
 trability of the laurel. Growing from waist to 
 shoulder high, it seemed — save for its rose- 
 red blossom — like some tough coil of gnarled 
 roots of the devil's own get up rather than 
 like anything deserving the glory of such a 
 name. For a space, therefore, we rode up and 
 down the edge of the brake, seeking the course 
 of a deer-run which we might follow through 
 it. For aside from the deer, — and the bear 
 with its monstrous weight, — there is scarce an 
 
A Crown of Laurel 207 
 
 animal of the forest able to penetrate its 
 meshes. 
 
 Failing to find any pathway, however, and 
 the day drawing rapidly to a close, we dis- 
 mounted and followed after Mose, who had 
 his axe slung over his shoulder ; leaving one 
 of the men to stay with Mistress Langdon and 
 watch the horses till our return. Then strik- 
 ing into the laurel and making for the little 
 island of pine straight ahead, the way seemed 
 so easy at first that we became scattered, each 
 striving to find a path by which our party 
 could be safely conducted. So, going on by 
 myself a matter of a quarter-mile, I all at once 
 came to a place where the laurel seemed to take 
 on a ranker growth, the leaves became greener, 
 and the branches thicker and more tangled 
 and gnarly. Beneath my feet the ground sank 
 away and oozed like a sponge, and, as I made 
 to go ahead, a great root wound itself tightly 
 about my ankle, wherefore I must needs bend 
 nearly double and finally resort to my scabbard 
 to pry the knot of laurel wide open, ere I 
 could disengage my foot and be free. 
 
 Rising to my feet again, I beheld with dis- 
 may that the laurel was now even with the top 
 of my head. Bethinking myself, therefore, 
 that I had become turned round when kneel- 
 ing and struggling to disengage my foot, I 
 again tried to find the little island of pine that 
 I might shape my course accordingly. Lo ! 
 
2o8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 as I looked, I now saw two clusters of pine, 
 the tops plainly visible, but their trunks hardly 
 to be seen, so tall was the laurel about me. I 
 grew on the instant bewildered. Stories that 
 I had heard of men becoming lost in the laurel 
 now recurred to me with all their force. So 
 that I began to scramble hurriedly to get out. 
 But I was in a pit, it seemed. Whichever way 
 I turned the ground sloped lower and lower, 
 and the laurel grew ranker, taller, and more 
 tenacious in its clinging. Thrice now had I 
 been forced to kneel and struggle painfully to 
 release my feet. On one of these occasions the 
 bandage about my head became caught in a 
 branch and torn loose, so that I now felt a sud- 
 den welling up and pulsation of the wound. 
 This was instantly followed, as I rose to my 
 feet, by a burst of blood trickling down over 
 my eyes and half blinding me as on the night 
 before. A sudden sickness came over me. 
 Dusk was falling rapidly now. Or was it 
 my eyes, blind and faint from loss of blood ? 
 Then it was that I felt a sensation unknown 
 to me since early boyhood. Terror! A mad, 
 blind fear ; as of battling in one's sleep with 
 some strange and all-powerful foe. Again I 
 had become entangled, and the more I strug- 
 gled the fainter and weaker I became. A thou- 
 sand serpents seemed coiled about my limbs, 
 and round my neck one great tough coil held 
 me fast as in a vise. I was so affrighted now. 
 
A Crown of Laurel 209 
 
 and so weak from loss of blood, that I could 
 scarce muster up strength to cry out roundly. 
 Help ! Ho, there ! and, disengaging myself 
 once more, I scrambled on till I fell in a swoon 
 on the bank of the little pine island. 
 
 Here, I still remember, I seemed to lie in 
 a long dream. My head ached miserably, and 
 for a time I fancied myself sleeping upon the 
 gnarly tops of the laurel whose knots sunk 
 deep into my back, and which swayed back and 
 forth frightfully when I turned; till, dropping 
 me suddenly from their support, I began to 
 fall down — down — slowly at first, then faster 
 and faster, till I seemed to wake, and the jolt- 
 ing and swaying would again be resumed. And 
 the thirst ! heavens ! was there no water to be 
 had in this cursed wilderness ? Water ! water ! 
 water ! I would cry, and lo ! almost as though 
 by magic the cry would bring its relief. Hence 
 all through the night, resting on sticks and 
 dying of thirst, I seemed to pass on to a morn 
 that brought restful sleep at last. Again I was 
 sleeping the tired repose of a soldier, after a 
 hard-fought battle in the valley of the Elsenz. 
 A short sleep, at best, the drums never seeming 
 to pause in their rolling in a country where 
 Turenne does battle. No sleep for Turenne, 
 they roll. No, nor for his army, nor the har- 
 assed troops of the ImperiaHsts now well-nigh 
 cut to pieces. Heavens ! how the boat rolls 
 and plunges forward into the sea ! A stormy 
 
2IO Vivian of Virginia 
 
 passage, Master Barton, in good sooth ; and 
 that rogue of a Seager, leering ever at me as 
 the deck rises and falls. " How now, you vil- 
 lain ! what would you here ? " And again I 
 stand there thrusting and parrying in the light 
 that shines forth from the mansion, until he 
 attempts that trick of his that redounds to my 
 own advantage as my point finds him. Then, 
 for a space, I lay sleeping peacefully at Green 
 Springs till a voice that I love asked, as I half 
 opened my eyes, — 
 
 " Well, sir ; will you go on sleeping all your 
 life. Captain Vivian ? " 
 
Chapter XII 
 Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 
 
 FOR a space I could not realize what had 
 happened ; whereat I again closed my 
 eyes, and began to muse over the events 
 of the day before, when, feeling a cool hand on 
 my forehead, I looked up, and there was my 
 lady standing beside my couch, smiling down 
 on me archly as was her wont. Then, my eyes 
 following her every movement, she stepped 
 lightly to the window and looped back the cur- 
 tain; so that, after my eyes had felt a first 
 blinding flash, I saw that I was once more in 
 the room at Green Springs where I had slept 
 the night before. 
 
 " How is this, my lady ? " I asked, in a per- 
 plexity which was in no manner relieved by the 
 strange sound of my own voice, and the weak- 
 ness that I felt as I essayed to rise on my elbow. 
 
 " Hush, sir ! " she commanded, tripping back 
 to me with her finger to her lips. " You will 
 know presently." 
 
 And I was well content to drop off again 
 into a quiet sleep, and to catch the story at fre- 
 quent intervals from her own lips of how, my 
 wound having broken out afresh and fever set- 
 ting in, our party had returned to Green Springs, 
 
212 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 where I had lain for nigh three weeks in a state 
 of deHrium and extreme prostration. Naught 
 but the sedulous attention manifested towards 
 me by my men in bringing me carefully back 
 to Green Springs, followed by the gentle min- 
 istration afterwards of my lady — she having 
 that instinctive knowledge of medicinal herbs 
 that was not uncommon among Virginia ladies, 
 and oft pursued as an elegant accomplishment, 
 
 — conspired to bring me safe through this un- 
 toward adventure. 
 
 Howbeit, my strength rapidly returned, so 
 that in a few days I was able to help myself 
 about the plantation. Whereupon, I bethought 
 myself of my service that was beholden to 
 General Bacon's army, and was for leaving at 
 an early date. Early one morning, therefore, 
 I broached the matter to my lady, who there- 
 upon reminded me shortly that my first duty 
 was to escort her to Curies, as had been origi- 
 nally intended, as soon as ever I felt able to 
 sit in the saddle. 
 
 " Such strength as I have, my lady — 
 which, thanks be to you, is as good as ever 
 
 — is all yours to command," I made answer, 
 my hand on my heart. 
 
 A pretty blush covered the dimples in her 
 cheeks as she replied mockingly : " You are 
 fain, Captain Vivian, to seek another crown 
 of laurel at my hands. Then shall we vent- 
 ure to-day, sir ? " 
 
Colonel Lu dwell catches a Tartar 213 
 
 " At your pleasure," I answered, " though I 
 would beg exception, my lady, to the road by 
 the south side." 
 
 "Tut! this is mutiny already," she admon- 
 ished. " But there is no occasion to choose 
 aught save the common road ; for, that same 
 day of our leaving Green Springs, the gov- 
 ernor's guard stopped here on their return 
 from Curies and made thorough search of the 
 house." 
 
 Making hasty preparation to leave while the 
 hour was yet early, therefore, our horses were 
 shortly fetched to the door and we mounted 
 and rode quietly away by ourselves. For both 
 of my men had left ; the first going to West 
 Point to join the army and report news of my 
 disability within a day or two after our return 
 to Green Springs, and his brother following him 
 there some two weeks later, after feeling assured 
 of my chances being favourable to recovery. 
 
 I felt somewhat strange on again being in 
 the saddle, albeit I knew no fatigue or aught 
 save a keen delight as we rode on. How 
 genially the sun shone forth this morning 
 across the glistening James, playing in vivid 
 colours as it slanted through the foliage at our 
 left ! In that heightened fancy that one only 
 knows on restoration to sound health after an 
 illness, I observed every fleeting scene that had 
 been wont to pass without remark. The day, 
 I remember, was late in the month of July. 
 
214 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 The mimosa, and the magnolia to which my 
 companion directed my attention, with its dark 
 leaves that glinted when the sunhght fell on 
 them with a lustre like enamel, were now in full 
 bloom, the rare perfume of their flowers being 
 wafted tremulously on the morn's caressing 
 breeze. Walking our horses now, we came 
 silently round a curve in the pathway upon 
 a brood of bright-plumed pheasants feeding 
 daintily on the wild grapes that fringed the 
 woods, and recking so little of danger that 
 they scarce took flight at our approach. 
 
 Riding leisurely along, we presently came to 
 the Chickahominy, where it widened out as it 
 entered the James into a broad and dismal 
 swamp, crossed by a long float or bridge con- 
 structed out of the trunks of trees, and roughly 
 planked with hewn timbers. Here — and as 
 though life will take on strange shapes when 
 living beyond the ken of God's sunshine — all 
 was fraught with the spirit of some nether world. 
 The blue crane, rising from his morning watch 
 in the shallows, dangled his ungainly shanks 
 as he flapped ponderously overhead; whilst 
 quitting its perch in the top of a lofty pine from 
 which the bark and foliage had been well-nigh 
 stripped by the dank death at its roots, a bald 
 eagle soared away into the cloudless sky. 
 
 Some two or three miles beyond, on coming 
 into rising ground again at the edge of a wood, 
 we almost ran over a covey of plump partridge. 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 215 
 
 so that I quickly aimed my pistol for a try at 
 them. Ere I could snap it, however, my com- 
 panion startled me with a sharp, " No, no, 
 sir ! " 
 
 Lowering my gun, I looked at her in some 
 wonderment at her aversion to my act. 
 
 "At least. Captain Vivian, you must learn 
 to respect our traditions," she said, smiling at 
 my surprise; "this one being of ill potency, sir, 
 as you might some day learn to your disad- 
 vantage." 
 
 Thinking it was only some tale of Indian 
 superstition, I laughed and invited her tale, 
 albeit I reposited my pistol. 
 
 " At this season of the year," my lady con- 
 tinued, " we neither shoot the partridge because 
 of the tradition, nor eat them because their flesh 
 is poison." And with that she went on to tell 
 me of how the partridge in late summer waxed 
 fat on the berries of the poisonous laurel, to 
 no inconvenience to themselves, but producing 
 deathly symptoms in such as ate of their flesh. 
 Long afterwards, when Virginia had grown to 
 be an open book to me, I chanced to come upon 
 a party of English lads who were on a visit to a 
 neighbouring plantation, and had been out for 
 a day's shooting. They were about finishing 
 their midday meal, and as I came upon them 
 they hospitably invited me to join them in 
 finishing their birds. As I squatted beside 
 them, they began to recite their praises of the 
 
21 6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 plantations, and were telling eagerly the num- 
 ber of partridges they had killed ; when, hold- 
 ing by the drumstick the bird they had served 
 me, in a mixture of sudden fear and disgust, I 
 exclaimed, " Body o' me, my lads ! you've not 
 been eating partridge, I trust ? " 
 
 " Surely, sir," answered one of the youths 
 in some heat ; " our palate is not yet so fine as 
 to despise partridge, however 'tis with a Vir- 
 ginian." 
 
 Scarce had I finished admonishing them, 
 however, ere they were all three seized with 
 terrible pains at the stomach, their eyes dilating 
 wildly, and their lips assuming a purplish ex- 
 pression, so that it stood them well that I had 
 my flask of Hollands with me, and could thus 
 rally their flagging pulses till the poison had 
 spent itself. But this is a great digression, 
 albeit of such a species that I trust the reader 
 may pardon the telhng of it ; for in sooth it is 
 as though every word I trace did body forth 
 some later experience, so that I can scarce con- 
 fine myself within the memoirs of our rebellion, 
 which I have alone set out to do. 
 
 Arriving at Shirley a little past the noon 
 hour, we put up at the ordinary of Master 
 Wilkins. He, however, was off on the Indian 
 campaign with General Bacon, so that we were 
 entertained, and right hospitably, too, by his 
 goodwife, who had long known Mistress 
 Langdon. As we were again mounting our 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 217 
 
 horses to resume our ride, a child of about 
 the age of six, whose long fair curls floated in 
 a mass of sunshine over her shoulders, came 
 running round the corner of the building to 
 see us depart. 
 
 " Come here, Bertha ! " cried my lady, catch- 
 ing a glimpse of her, and as the child approached 
 she picked her up in her arms with a " God bless 
 you, little one ! " kissing her on her mouth, 
 but smiling sadly, methought, and winking her 
 eyes sharply to keep the tears back as she set 
 the child on her feet again and accepted my 
 assistance to mount. 
 
 And with a fervent God-speed from Dame 
 Wilkins, who stood on the porch waving her 
 kerchief at us, we were off up the road again 
 towards Curies. My companion was strangely 
 silent for a space, I remember, and her face 
 wore again that look of anxious meditation 
 which I had observed following so quickly 
 upon her wonted blltheness on the first day of 
 our meeting. Yet some there are whose beau- 
 tiful faces sorrow serves but to heighten and 
 intensify, as though she fained to paint with a 
 masterly hand the shadows that the lights 
 might glow the brighter. So that, stealing a 
 glance at her anon, I was loth to interrupt 
 the thoughts that played over her fairhood 
 like a summer's cloud athwart the morning 
 sky. 
 
 " You little know, Captain Vivian, save per- 
 
21 8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 chance you have heard the tale," she said pres- 
 ently, "what Spartan hearts that mother and 
 her child possess." 
 
 I answered that I knew naught of the family, 
 beyond the fact of Master Wilkins's being a 
 generous host to me on a prior occasion. 
 
 " He would always be that, sir," she an- 
 swered. " But that you may know somewhat 
 of the trials our people have had to encounter 
 before conquering this land from the savages, 
 I may tell you that, scarce one year ago, the 
 Indians along the Appomattox broke out into 
 one of their wonted murderous campaigns. 
 Amongst other homes that were molested, and 
 which were generally plundered and burned 
 whilst their occupants were murdered, was that 
 of Master Wilkins. It was nigh the close of 
 an afternoon late in September. Dame Wil- 
 kins's brothers, two lusty young men, had 
 returned to the house after a day's work on 
 the plantation, expecting Master Wilkins to 
 follow anon. They had scarce reached the 
 house, however, when the three children, who 
 were playing happily in the yard, set up a 
 frightened cry, ' The ugly red men ! the ugly 
 red men ! ' And, ere they could reach the 
 shelter of their home, a band of savages sprang 
 out of a ravine near them, striking the children 
 down with their tomahawks and rushing on 
 towards the open doorway. Emptying his 
 gun into the shoulder of one of the brothers, 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 219 
 
 the foremost succeeded in crossing the thresh- 
 old, but was at once seized by the other 
 brother and thrown to the floor, where he was 
 quickly despatched by the dame herself, who 
 had picked up an axe and struck the savage 
 in the head. Almost at the same moment 
 a second savage entered the house, shooting 
 her brother dead over the prostrate Indian, but 
 was himself instantly disembowelled by a well- 
 directed blow of the axe in the hands of the 
 courageous dame. Then, with the assistance 
 of the first brother, who had been shot in 
 the shoulder, she effected to close and bar 
 the door, after cracking the skull of a third 
 Indian who tried to enter. In less than three 
 minutes' time from the first appearance of the 
 Indians, this one woman had with her own 
 hands killed three of their number and suc- 
 ceeded in saving her home from utter destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 After a pause, she added : " And this horrible 
 butchery has been a well-nigh every-day occur- 
 ence. Why, sir, 'tis a tale that could not be 
 told in England for its very barbarity, and yet 
 the crown, through its licensed traders, con- 
 tinues to deal out guns and ammunition to the 
 Indians wherewith to murder our people as the 
 fancy moves them." 
 
 Her face was flushed with the telling, as we 
 broke away into a quick gallop covering a 
 quarter-mile or more ere I could ask, "And 
 
220 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the children. Mistress Langdon, were they all 
 killed save Bertha ? " 
 
 " Certainly," she answered hardly ; " for I 
 have never known an instance where they have 
 knowingly spared the life of a child. The Ind- 
 ian who struck Bertha down was in such haste 
 to get into the house, that he did not notice the 
 glancing of his tomahawk on the child's neck. 
 She fell, but almost immediately got to her feet 
 again unseen, and hid herself in the trunk of 
 a sycamore which the children had been wont 
 to use for a playhouse. Though the Indians 
 made search for her after scalping the other 
 children, they were forced to leave this one 
 child to comfort the well-nigh frantic parents." 
 
 As we rode on over the country, I could not 
 but marvel at the courage that had so long 
 contended against such fearful obstacles in its 
 settlement. For no land, I ween, ever had 
 such a numerous and treacherous race of sav- 
 ages to be subdued — nay, to be utterly deleted, 
 ere either safety or prosperity could obtain. 
 All hope of civilizing them by precept of 
 brotherly love and fair dealing was now well- 
 nigh abandoned ; bitter experience having taught 
 the whites that they were no more to be inured 
 to ways of husbandry than were the panther or 
 rattlesnake. In sooth an accursed race, with- 
 out one jot of manly attribute to plead for their 
 perpetuation ; so that, even whilst I write at 
 this late day, I can in truth more than in fancy 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 221 
 
 still turn my face to the westward and behold 
 again the massacre — a word that has become 
 so common as to bear scarce any significancy — 
 and the quick revenge, as the march of civiliza- 
 tion goes on, on, over the Blue Ridge and be- 
 yond to the broad prairie, perchance to the verge 
 of the western sea, ere these red devils shall 
 finally become exterminated root and branch. 
 
 Lest some should hap to see these memoirs 
 and condemn me for holding sentiments that 
 they might class as being unchristian, I would 
 add that it is true there are some tame Indians 
 whom God in his mercy may have set aside for 
 his own purpose. But it is even as though 
 one should chance to pick up a cub or a wee 
 wolf in the forest, and bear it home in his 
 bosom, as I have done on divers occasions. 
 They become anon very droll and amusing 
 pets, albeit I have observed many an unwonted 
 loss in my sheep and hives at such times, so 
 that I was fain to part company with my erratic 
 pets, and resolve in the future to limit my love, 
 so far as might be, to the human family — in 
 which category Indians can scarce belong. 
 
 When we arrived in sight of Curies it was 
 Hearing sundown, and searching the road far 
 ahead where it skirted Master Bacon's planta- 
 tion, I could now discern a troop of horse riding 
 slowly out of the premises, and, coming to the 
 gate, turn and make straight towards us. They 
 were yet about a quarter of a mile away, how- 
 
222 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ever, and, bringing our horses to a sudden halt, 
 my companion said in distress, — 
 
 " Surely, Captain Vivian, the governor's 
 guard again ! " So after all these days had 
 passed, it seemed that our journey to Curies 
 was to be circumvented after all. But there 
 was no help for it now, that I could see. On 
 either side of the highway, a broad clearing 
 extended for a space of half a mile, whilst to 
 turn and ride down the road would surely 
 excite the suspicion of our followers, and bring 
 them upon us anon in hot pursuit. 
 
 "It must be matter of sudden import, my 
 lady," said I, " that brings them back at this 
 late day. However, there's naught we can do 
 now, save to ride boldly ahead and let come 
 what may." 
 
 " Then do you leave me, sir ! " she cried 
 impetuously. " No harm can come to me, 
 though his Excellency may inflict some penalty 
 upon you if captured." 
 
 " You need have no fear on that score, my 
 lady," I answered firmly, " so long as General 
 Bacon's army endures. I am but exercising 
 his commission." 
 
 "And as for kidnapping, sir?" she asked, 
 smiling at me blithely ; " that, methinks, is our 
 own affair." 
 
 " If it so please you, my lady," I rejoined 
 with a sweep of my bonnet, as our horses broke 
 away into a rapid canter. 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 223 
 
 I had but little time to deliberate over a 
 plan for the avoidance of any direct issue with 
 the governor's party, ere we were upon them. 
 They were riding two abreast, and at their 
 head, resplendent in a rich riding-coat of scarlet 
 and gold, rode a gentleman whom I had seen 
 at the governor's ball. Colonel Philip Ludwell. 
 
 Greeting Mistress Langdon with a manner 
 of gallant effusiveness, he cried : " A pretty 
 chase you have led us, my lady, by my troth ! 
 His Excellency has been half crazed lest you 
 were lost. Thank heaven ! we have found you 
 at last ! " 
 
 " His Excellency need not concern himself 
 so unwontedly, Colonel Ludwell," she an- 
 swered ; " I am old enough, sir," and she 
 raised herself full an inch in her stirrup, " to 
 look after myself." 
 
 " Faith, my lady !" he protested impulsively, 
 " you are unjust to his Excellency. I do assure 
 you — 
 
 " Sir ! " she answered, her face colouring 
 warmly ; " have I not lived under his roof 
 well-nigh all my life ? Methinks you forget 
 yourself, Colonel Ludwell." 
 
 " Your pardon. Mistress Langdon," said the 
 colonel swiftly, " I did in sooth speak hastily ! 
 I prythee, be so kind as to attribute it only 
 to my concern for your welfare." And turn- 
 ing to me, he continued haughtily, "As for 
 you, sir, consider yourself my prisoner." 
 
224 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " On what grounds, Colonel Ludwell ? " my 
 lady interposed, ere I could object. 
 
 " For abduction, my lady," he answered, 
 though not without some constraint, " and for 
 wounding an officer of the guard." 
 
 "Pish! a trumpery charge, sir!" she laughed 
 contemptuously. " I marvel greatly at your 
 temerity in making it." And again she 
 laughed. 
 
 " How so ? " he cried passionately. " These 
 are his Excellency's words, my lady." 
 
 " A fig for his Excellency's words ! " she 
 answered scornfully. " Am I not of age, sir ? 
 And as for the wounded guard, I trow the 
 rogue only got his deserts ! " 
 
 For an instant the colonel's face paled at 
 this unexpected humiliation in the sight of 
 his men. Quickly rallying, however, and curb- 
 ing his temper finely, he continued : " It vexes 
 me sorely. Mistress Langdon, to have such an 
 unpleasant mission to perform. His Excel- 
 lency authorized me to say to you, that certain 
 grave matters of state impel him to quit James- 
 town in a day or two. He therefore begs you 
 to return at once, and abide with him under 
 the protection of his arm." 
 
 "Well," she asked dryly when he had done, 
 " and Is that all. Colonel Ludwell ? " 
 
 " That is all, my lady," he echoed eagerly. 
 " Will you be pleased to return with me this 
 evening ? " 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 225 
 
 " Nay, not this evening, Colonel Ludwell," 
 she rejoined in the same steady voice. 
 
 " Ah, you are tired, perchance, having been 
 riding far the day," he replied in tones of cour- 
 teous consideration that I inwardly thanked 
 him for. So, mistaking her meaning, he con- 
 tinued, "Then on the morrow. Mistress Lang- 
 don, when you are rested, you will return with 
 us?" 
 
 " Pardon me, sir, but I must likewise decline 
 your escort on the morrow," she answered in 
 a low firm voice. 
 
 "Zounds!" he retorted at this unexpected 
 reply to his solicitations. " Do you wish, 
 then, to compel me to deliver you up to the 
 governor ? " 
 
 " Sir ? " she asked imperiously. 
 
 " It is as I say, my lady," replied the colonel. 
 " His Excellency has commissioned me to fetch 
 you back to Jamestown." 
 
 " Fetch, sir ? " she mocked scornfully. " Me- 
 thinks you said ' begs ' before." 
 
 The colonel bowed, albeit he risked no 
 reply. 
 
 " Go tell your master. Colonel Ludwell," 
 she added, leaning over in her saddle and 
 looking saucily up into his face, " that when 
 the governor's niece chooses to be fetched to 
 the capital across Colonel Ludwell's saddle- 
 bows, she will send him word." And with 
 that, and a quick laugh of stinging rebuke. 
 
226 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 she gave the bay hunter a touch of the whip 
 that sent him off up the road like the 
 wind. 
 
 Whereat the colonel's face flamed suddenly 
 to the colour of his coat, as he sat there 
 amidst the ill-concealed merriment of his fol- 
 lowers ; his discomfiture being so intense, so 
 absorbing even, that had I chosen I could 
 have likewise dashed away down the road 
 toward Jamestown, and so on to West Point, 
 with very little fear of their fire or pursuit 
 overtaking me. Some notion of this did in- 
 deed come over me, I remember, as I be- 
 thought myself of the summary way his 
 Excellency had of meting out punishment for 
 petty offences; but, my deed being known to 
 him, I quickly concluded that it might be as 
 well to let the matter be adjusted now once 
 for all, as to feel the inconvenience of his dis- 
 favour doled out to me at my every chance 
 meeting with his guard. 
 
 "Well, sir," said the colonel finally, as 
 though my presence had been overlooked for 
 the nonce, " will you return quietly with us to 
 Jamestown ? " 
 
 "To answer to the charge just recited?" I 
 asked. 
 
 " Certainly ! " he cried testily, as though 
 fearful of the serious nature of his complaint 
 again becoming the butt of ridicule. 
 
 My quiet affirmative reassured him, however, 
 
Colonel Ludwell catches a Tartar 227 
 
 and studying me sharply for a moment, he said, 
 "Very well. Captain Vivian, you may retain 
 your sword." And, giving the command to 
 march, we began our return down the road to 
 Jamestown. 
 
Chapter XIII 
 A Night at the Bacon Plantation 
 
 WE had gone scarce a quarter of a mile, 
 however, ere the colonel, who was rid- 
 ing silently at my side, reined up his 
 horse with a sudden jerk, bringing us all to 
 a halt. 
 
 " The devil ! " he exclaimed. And from 
 the way he turned his horse and looked back 
 over the road we had just come, I could have 
 little doubt what his thoughts were. Albeit 
 he being too gallant a gentleman to apply 
 such an epithet to my lady, I inferred that it 
 was merely an argument of impatience at the 
 dilemma in which he found himself; for, hav- 
 ing been commissioned to bring Mistress Lang- 
 don back with him, he was riding every minute 
 farther and farther away from the accomplish- 
 ment of his object. 
 
 Watching him therefore, as he meditated for 
 a moment, I expected to hear him command 
 the guard to proceed with me to Jamestown 
 whilst he returned to Master Bacon's planta- 
 tion after my lady. But he willed otherwise. 
 So that, recalling the circumstance now, and 
 wondering why it was that he failed to act as 
 228 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 229 
 
 I expected him to, and which would have 
 materially altered the course of several lives, 
 I can only explain it by attributing it to the 
 dominance of his one great quality, — vanity. 
 For Colonel Philip Ludwell, though a coura- 
 geous officer, was ever the conscious courtier 
 and king's man. Whichever way he ventured 
 when in military array, he must ever have his 
 full complement of men round him attired in 
 the spickest and spannest of uniforms, and with 
 the trumpets flourishing and the drums rolling 
 unceasingly. Wherefore, he could not permit 
 himself to be seen riding into Jamestown, 
 mayhap leading a wilful lady on horseback, 
 and attended only by a little handful of 
 men. 
 
 Thus it was, I presume, that he now gave the 
 order for us to turn about and retrace the road 
 to Curies. But as I turned my horse and fol- 
 lowed after the colonel, I passed close to one 
 of the guard whose face I at once recognized as 
 that of Clarke's, whom I had seen only at in- 
 frequent intervals in Jamestown since our first 
 ride to Curies. And knowing him to be a true 
 follower of our cause, I marvelled greatly at 
 his presence in the guard. But there was no 
 chance to speak with him now ; and drawing 
 nigh to the Bacon plantation, we turned in at 
 the gateway and continued on to the mansion, 
 where the colonel dismounted and knocked at 
 the door. 
 
2JO Vivian of Virginia 
 
 A servant answering his summons, he said, 
 "Tell Mistress Bacon that Colonel Ludwell 
 begs to speak with her." 
 
 I was surprised, thinking that he could wish 
 to speak with none save my lady. However, 
 assuming his most winning address — than 
 which I doubt no man ever had a pleasanter — 
 when Mistress Bacon stood before him, with a 
 low bow and sweep of his bonnet, he said, — 
 
 " I have returned. Mistress Bacon, to beseech 
 your permission to quarter my men here the 
 night. Our nags are so jaded from their quick 
 travel over a roundabout course that it were 
 cruel to spur them on to Jamestown ere morn- 
 
 Mistress Bacon glanced at him in surprise, 
 which quickly gave way to a look of merriment 
 playing round the corners of her mouth as the 
 situation dawned upon her. Courtesying pret- 
 tily, she made answer, " Of a certainty. Colonel 
 Ludwell, we shall be honoured to extend our 
 humble hospitality to the colonel and men of 
 the governor's guard." 
 
 And again, it must have been naught save 
 the colonel's vanity that bedimmed his eyes to 
 such a degree that he failed to perceive any 
 roguishness in her reply, or that would have 
 swiftly banished all such suspicion if aroused. 
 For was not he Colonel Philip Ludwell ? And 
 was he not welcome, no matter what the hour 
 or circumstance, at the house of every noble 
 
A. Night at the Bacon Plantation 231 
 
 dame in Virginia, all the way from Gloucester 
 to Henrico ? Assuredly. And as he smiled 
 there was no doubt of it — not to Colonel 
 Philip ! Our horses being led to the stables, 
 therefore, and bedded down for the night, the 
 while they crunched with a fine appetite — 
 these royal nags ! — the fodder that was raised 
 on the plantation of the greatest rebel in all 
 Virginia, we proceeded to the mansion to pre- 
 pare and do likewise. 
 
 It must have been somewhat past the hour 
 of seven, the sun having gone down in the west 
 with a crimson glow and flashing its dying lights 
 athwart the James into the fringing forest that 
 seemed strangely alight for an instant, I remem- 
 ber, when the bell rang, summoning us to sup- 
 per. Whereat we filed into the dining-room, 
 where the table, set in snowy linen, ran nearly 
 the entire length, from the door opening on to 
 the yard to the southward, to near the bay- 
 window commanding the north exposure. 
 
 Passing my lady on the way in, who gave 
 me a smile as of mischievous amusement at the 
 turn which affairs had taken, I proceeded on to 
 the seat assigned me to the farther side of 
 Colonel Ludwell, almost within the bay-win- 
 dow. Then, Mistress Bacon having taken her 
 seat near the open door with my lady at her 
 side assisting in doing the honours of the 
 table, we fell to with all of the gusto that is 
 usual to men after a day spent in the saddle. 
 
232 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 "You are not assisting. Colonel Ludwell," 
 said Mistress Bacon, " in the present Indian 
 campaign, I believe." 
 
 The colonel looked up in momentary embar- 
 rassment at the directness of his hostess' query. 
 Hesitating an instant, he replied in tones of 
 suave politeness, " No, Mistress Bacon ; his 
 Excellency has seen fit to detail me on other 
 commissions." 
 
 " Of vastly more import to the state. Colonel 
 Ludwell," said my lady ironically, thinking his 
 commission referred simply to his present task 
 of getting her back to Jamestown, " than to 
 assist in destroying the savages. Is it not 
 so ? " she added, rallying him saucily. 
 
 Concealing as best he could the flush of 
 annoyance that mounted swiftly over his feat- 
 ures, he replied gallantly : " In good sooth, 
 my lady, were I the sole judge I should answer, 
 'yes.' For what can be of greater import to 
 us than your own safety ? " 
 
 " What, forsooth," echoed Mistress Bacon, 
 quite properly jealous of her husband's cause, 
 "save that of ensuring the safety of all with 
 the same measure of interest that you show for 
 one. But for what purpose. Colonel Ludwell, 
 do you seek to terminate my friend's visit on 
 the morrow ? " 
 
 Scarce liking the question, he answered dryly, 
 " It is his Excellency's wish, Mistress Bacon." 
 
 Whereupon, quickly changing the conversa- 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 233 
 
 tion into a pleasanter channel wherein we all 
 took part, laughing and jesting with great 
 gayety whilst tickling our palates and keeping 
 the victuals flying, Mistress Bacon — the ser- 
 vants being busily occupied round the table — 
 picked up the cream pitcher, and excused her- 
 self whilst she stepped to the spring-house. A 
 minute or two may have passed, when, hearing 
 my lady, whose back was towards the open 
 doorway, give a shrill cry of alarm, I had scarce 
 time to look up and then spring hastily to my 
 feet ere the room was in a turmoil, — swarming 
 with savages, mad with the flush of bloodshed, 
 as they struck down the surprised guard, and 
 filled the chaotic air with their wild cry of 
 victory and massacre. 
 
 Lurking round the corner of the building, 
 they had entered swiftly and silently on their 
 hands and knees through the open door, and, 
 rising to their feet with a yell as they wielded 
 their tomahawks, had caught us unprepared. 
 Being in the remote corner from the door, I had 
 just time to draw my pistol and despatch the 
 foremost savage who sprang towards us when 
 another was upon us. Making for Colonel 
 Ludwell with his raised tomahawk, the colonel 
 levelled his pistol at the Indian's face, but 
 missed fire. By this time, however, I had 
 managed to draw my sword, and, catching the 
 tomahawk close to my hilt just as it began its 
 descent towards the colonel's head, one of the 
 
234 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 guard, seeing our close quarters, snapped his 
 pistol squarely in the face of the savage, who 
 sprang into the air like a wounded animal and 
 dropped stone-dead. Then making towards 
 the door where the Indians were now closely 
 pressed as they turned to retreat, we succeeded 
 in making several of them pay dearly, ere they 
 escaped, for the lives of the guards they had 
 murdered. 
 
 The entire engagement could not have occu- 
 pied more than two or three minutes ; from 
 the time that I had first heard Mistress Lang- 
 don cry out in alarm, until the savages fled in 
 confusion out into the gathering gloom and on 
 towards the cover of the westward forest. Of 
 their number there were doubtless not less 
 than a score ; for, counting the bodies lying 
 there on the floor, we made out a baker's dozen 
 of the redskins, besides seven poor fellows of 
 the guard who lay weltering in their life's blood. 
 
 Filled with pity at the sight, I remember 
 that my gorge rose at the lax discipline and 
 wicked craftiness of a governor under whose 
 rule such crime was possible and wont to pass 
 unpunished. God knows I felt no resentment 
 towards the seven guards — dupes of his Excel- 
 lency — who lay there in horrid death. They 
 were but hired soldiers of the chief conspirator, 
 employed against the regular army of Virginia, 
 which was now in command of General Bacon. 
 That they, fighting with the governor and 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 235 
 
 against our cause, as events afterwards showed, 
 should be brought low in consequence, is not 
 for me to record — as many a Christian might 
 do — as being due to the wrath of Providence. 
 For it has ever irked me mightily to observe 
 how the great armies of men that should be at 
 peace continue to wage war amongst each other, 
 reckoning ill or scarce at all of the principles 
 for which they struggle, whilst vainly assuming, 
 like Joshua of old, that theirs is the cause of 
 God. 
 
 "My God, sirs!" exclaimed Mistress Bacon, 
 appearing now in the doorway as we were count- 
 ing our loss, " I feared that you all were killed. 
 Where is Mistress Langdon ? " 
 
 " Nay ; was she not with you in the spring- 
 house?" asked Colonel Ludwell quickly. 
 
 " With me ? " she echoed, her voice trem- 
 bling with concern for her friend. " Surely 
 not ; there was no Indian in sight when I left 
 the house." 
 
 I listened in hot impatience ; yet no one 
 spoke for what seemed to me a period of many 
 minutes. Wherefore knowing beyond a doubt 
 that she was being carried into captivity, I cried 
 out upon him for this delay. 
 
 But still the colonel stood there impassive 
 and without replying ; and another long space 
 it was, I thought — though it could only have 
 been a few seconds — ere any one spoke. 
 
 " God be with the lass, Master Vivian ! " 
 
236 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 cried Mistress Bacon, and, turning towards 
 Colonel Ludwell, she added, "You will be 
 starting in pursuit directly, I trust." 
 
 The room had now grown so dark I could 
 not see his face as he replied : " Nay, Mistress 
 Bacon, pursuit with the few men I have left 
 would be folly. Moreover, I must be in 
 Jamestown on the morrow." 
 
 "What!" cried Mistress Bacon warmly, 
 and her words found an echo in my heart. 
 " You call it folly. Colonel Ludwell, to rescue 
 this helpless child from the hands of those 
 fiends ! Do my ears hear aright ? What 
 manner of concern is this that demands your 
 presence in Jamestown when such danger con- 
 fronts us ? " 
 
 " The governor's orders, Mistress Bacon, 
 which I have no mind to disobey," he an- 
 swered, with all the pertinacy of a royal court- 
 ier. 
 
 " My faith ! what a craven pack ! " she re- 
 torted hotly, and the man must have had a 
 heart of stone not to feel the lash of her words. 
 "Why, sir, are his Excellency's orders infalli- 
 ble when a human life is at stake ? And that 
 life a woman's of his own flesh and blood ? 
 Are we not to lift a finger in defence of our 
 lives lest we interrupt for a space some intrigue 
 of state ? Some plot of treachery is hatching, 
 sir, I'll warrant you ; or whence this luke- 
 warmness .'' For shame, sir ! " she continued, 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 237 
 
 her voice rising in swift anger. " Out of my 
 house with your dead, the while I go seek for 
 a man, a Virginian ! who dares say his soul is 
 his own long enough to ride to the rescue of a 
 woman in peril ! " 
 
 Howbeit, I had already resolved to be off, 
 and quickly, ere ever she had spoken ; whereof 
 I now assured her, and beholding how she had 
 tamed the colonel, I completely overlooked the 
 fact of my being prisoner to him. But as I 
 was quitting the room one of the guards 
 stepped forward, saying, — 
 
 "And if Captain Vivian will accept my 
 company. Mistress Bacon," — and I saw the 
 man was Clarke — "I shall be honoured to 
 assist him." 
 
 Taking his hand proffered me, I was well 
 pleased to find that his heart was loyal and 
 must be true to our cause, despite the fact of 
 his being in the governor's guard. At the 
 same moment, clearing his voice, which was 
 somewhat husky. Colonel Ludwell said : " You 
 greatly misjudge me. Mistress Bacon, and do 
 but ill conceive my position. We could 
 scarcely hope to come up with the band this 
 night, and, I repeat, I must be in Jamestown 
 the morrow's afternoon. But for these men," 
 he continued, " they have my permission to go 
 and my best wishes. Such others of the guard 
 as elect may desert and do likewise." 
 
 But no one else followed Clarke's example. 
 
238 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 They had already seen quite enough of Indian 
 warfare, and, having comfortable berths in the 
 governor's pay, had small motive to go on 
 perilous venture unless compelled. 
 
 Whilst Clarke went out to prepare the horses, 
 the colonel stepped aside with me for a space, 
 and when we were out of hearing, he remarked : 
 "I know naught of your antecedents. Master 
 Vivian, and, Virginia being full of adventurers, 
 one is apt to suspect a stranger at first sight. 
 Of your valour, however, I am assured, and 
 shall not forget the service you rendered me 
 by drawing your sword for my protection in 
 this Indian scrimmage." 
 
 " It was nothing, sir," I answered coldly, 
 feeling a dislike for the man despite of his 
 smug ignorance of my grandfather, belike. 
 
 " Not much, sir," he made answer dryly, 
 " to many save myself. Yet I shall remember 
 it, nevertheless. And, as a first instance, I 
 will venture the displeasure of his Excellency 
 by telling him that I allowed you to escape in 
 order to effect the rescue of his niece. How 
 he will take it, I know not ; for he is as anxious 
 for your capture as for his niece's safety." 
 
 I thanked him as best I could, meanwhile 
 taking occasion to ask if Seager had suffered of 
 his wound ? 
 
 " No," he answered curtly ; " but it had 
 been well for the knave had he been so fortu- 
 nate. He met death by hanging. Of this, 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 239 
 
 however, you will doubtless hear more anon." 
 And with expressions of real interest relative 
 to Mistress Langdon, and the hope that we 
 might be successful in our mission, he bade me 
 a formal adieu. 
 
 Filled with anxiety though I was at the 
 perilous position of Mistress Langdon, I could 
 not but give a moment's thought to the pass- 
 ing of Seager, having known him for well- 
 nigh a dozen years, during which interval 
 we had been ofttimes associated. And so he 
 had met death by hanging ! Yea, truly, al- 
 though I knew not his offence, the colonel 
 spoke rightly when he stated that Seager might 
 better have died by my sword. And yet I felt 
 it somewhat acutely that any man who had 
 come out to Virginia in my service had so far 
 disgraced me as to be hanged. Albeit Master 
 Seager ever had but scanty consideration for 
 the honour of his friends or associates. So 
 that, passing on to the stables where Clarke 
 was preparing to saddle a second horse, I 
 asked, — 
 
 " What's this I hear of Seager being hanged. 
 Master Clarke ? " 
 
 " Well, sir," he answered, " I know not 
 where you have been living. Captain Vivian, 
 but matters have been getting nicely arranged 
 during the past month, and Seager's rather too 
 much so for his own advantage." 
 
 " Proceed," said I, impatient to hear the 
 
240 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 particulars. " I have been ill and have heard 
 naught of recent events." 
 
 Glancing round a second, and seeing that 
 we were alone, he made answer in a low voice, 
 "It is a long story, captain, and can be more 
 conveniently told when we are in the saddle. 
 But as for Seager, sir," he continued, speaking 
 through his teeth as he tightened the girth to 
 his saddle, " he was hanged for a spy and on 
 very sufficient evidence." 
 
 Contenting myself to hear the tale later, 
 we hastily finished our preparation of the nags, 
 of which there were three, we having decided 
 to take one led horse besides our own, the 
 better to facilitate our escape with Mistress 
 Langdon. Clarke, however, grumbled greatly 
 at this, he being of the opinion that horses 
 were but of slight avail in an adventure like 
 the present, the woods being dense and for the 
 greater part pathless. However, I urged that 
 we should the sooner overhaul the savages, 
 should we be so fortunate as to find a way, 
 by going mounted. And, on the other hand, 
 it were a trifling matter to dismount and release 
 our nags to pick their own way homeward, 
 should they prove but a cumbersome baggage. 
 
 Then crowding our haversacks with the 
 food that Mistress Bacon had sent out to us, 
 we quickly mounted and rode out past the 
 house. As we did so, the door opened, and 
 standing there in the light that shone forth. 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 241 
 
 shading her eyes with her hand and seeming 
 somewhat larger and grander in form than I 
 had hitherto remarked, — though mayhap it 
 was naught but the shadows and the silence that 
 deepened round her, — was Mistress Bacon, one 
 of the noblest dames of all Virginia, and whom, 
 since hearing her vigorous denunciation of the 
 governor's policy, I now recognized as being 
 the fitting consort of a fearless and princely 
 husband. 
 
 The night fell black in our faces as we rode 
 on and approached rapidly to the shadow of 
 the woods. Going on for a space, we discov- 
 ered a narrow pathway among the trees, into 
 which we reined our horses and then permitted 
 them to choose their own pace. I was riding 
 slightly in advance whilst Clarke followed on 
 with the led horse. Seeing no sign of a camp- 
 fire, however, and little relishing the gloom 
 and silence of the ride, I finally said, — 
 
 " And now. Master Clarke, of the governor's 
 guard, I am ready to hear your story." 
 
 " Let me begin with myself," he answered. 
 " You wonder at my presence in the guard ; yet, 
 if any one of their number knew my motive, 
 my neck would be stretched longer than Mas- 
 ter Seager's. It was at General Bacon's re- 
 quest, and not of my seeking, that I joined 
 the guards. And it is my observation and 
 despatches that have kept him duly informed 
 of all that has transpired in the governor's 
 
1^2 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 camp during the army's campaign round West 
 Point." 
 
 "Aye, proceed," said I, realizing the risk 
 the man had been under. 
 
 " When the army," he continued, " marched 
 out of Jamestown on the day following your 
 affair at the mansion, there was undoubtedly 
 a feeling of relief and security pervading most 
 of the homes of our people. This event, as 
 you know, was what all true Virginians had 
 been waiting and praying for : an end to royal 
 intrigue, and protection assured to life and 
 property. Yet the army had scarce been gone 
 three days when a courier arrived from Glouces- 
 ter begging the governor for protection against 
 the Indians in that county." 
 
 "How so?" I asked. "Did not General 
 Bacon sweep that neighbourhood clear of the 
 rascals on his way ? " 
 
 " Such was his intention, captain," Clarke pro- 
 tested, " but a scout brought word to him that 
 the savages had escaped and were now await- 
 ing his coming along the Pamunkey. He 
 therefore marched straight on to West Point. 
 Thus it was that the governor, seeing a chance 
 to outrival the general-in-command, and win 
 back the hearts of his people by re-establishing 
 his early reputation as an Indian fighter, sum- 
 moned all the forces at his back that he could 
 buy or kidnap — promising freedom to the in- 
 dented servants — and marched on to York- 
 town." 
 
A Night at the Bacon Plantation 243 
 
 I made no reply, having heard naught as 
 yet that should have caused any ruption be- 
 tween the governor and the army, such as the 
 innuendo in Clarke's manner of speech sug- 
 gested. 
 
 " After pushing rigorously forward and arriv- 
 ing at Gloucester with little delay," continued 
 my companion, " we were met with the intelli- 
 gence that the Indians had again fled. Upon 
 this his Excellency made a great parade, gath- 
 ering followers on every hand under the pre- 
 tence of going in pursuit of the Indians. You 
 know the manner of the old cavalier. Captain 
 Vivian, when he seeks to win the hearts of his 
 subjects ? " 
 
 "Aye. But did he speak of publick rev- 
 enues ? " I asked. 
 
 Clarke chuckled. " Nay, nor of his other 
 friends, the Indians. For, with the loyal train- 
 bands and housekeepers of Gloucester drawn up 
 before him, his Excellency proceeded to deliver 
 a lengthy tirade on fealty to their king and 
 respect to their governor. He spoke of the 
 great danger then threatening the country, not 
 by virtue of Indian outbreaks, but because so 
 many were daft on being led astray into open 
 rebellion to the confiscation of their estates and 
 the destruction of their rights of citizenship. 
 Finally, as amazement and consternation swept 
 over the ranks, he declared it his purpose to 
 march that very day for West Point and 
 
244 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 make war on the rebellious army of General 
 Bacon." 
 
 " The devil ! " I exclaimed, marvelling at 
 the duplicity I had heard. "After signing 
 General Bacon's commission, could he dare to 
 do this ? " 
 
 " Of a surety, sir ; yet when the troops 
 caught the significancy of his words, loud was 
 the murmuring as they cried, ' Bacon ! Bacon ! ' 
 Casting down their arms in disgust, they almost 
 without exception broke ranks ere his Excel- 
 lency had ceased speaking and deserted the 
 field, leaving Sir William to rant and expostu- 
 late till he fell in a faint from sheer exhaustion 
 and sore dismay ! " 
 
Chapter XIV 
 The Rescue 
 
 THE cogency of Clarke's words fell on me 
 like a blow. Look whither I would, I 
 could see naught but black ruin and 
 inevitable confusion staring us in the face. So 
 that even the darkness of the night and the 
 purpose of our present mission were for the 
 nonce driven from my mind, as I reflected on 
 the peril encompassing General Bacon and 
 the army. True, much might be hoped for 
 in our favour by the desertion of the men of 
 Gloucester ; it being known even unto the king 
 that the county of Gloucester was populated 
 by a cavalier element as stanch and loyal as 
 the heart of any monarch could desire. So 
 that I doubted not when news came to his 
 Majesty of the thrusting out of the great army 
 of Virginia, and the verbal proclamation of 
 Sir William that we were all rebels, that a rigid 
 investigation would obtain looking to the desert 
 of the matter. 
 
 For a space I seemed not to grasp his words, 
 though dimly conscious of their utterance, as 
 he went on speaking of the hopeless maze into 
 which oiir cause had drifted. Till, catching 
 
 24S 
 
246 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the name of Seager being mentioned, I inter- 
 rupted grimly, " Methought that knave had 
 already played out his role." 
 
 " And so he has. Captain Vivian, at present," 
 he made answer, " though not at the time I 
 speak of. For, within a week after his en- 
 counter with you — if rumour be true — he 
 was once more amongst us for a few days until 
 detailed by Colonel Ludwell to go and enlist 
 in General Bacon's army. The rascal put up 
 such a penitent aspect that, being in need of 
 trained men, he was commissioned into the 
 service with little ado. And so secretly was 
 this effected that I, who kept my eyes ever 
 with me, failed to fathom the matter and so 
 send word to General Bacon ere the deed was 
 done." 
 
 " And so he deliberately thrust his neck into 
 the noose," said I, recalling the grudge Master 
 Bacon had cause to bear him for the trick prac- 
 tised on him at Curies. 
 
 " Nay," Clarke replied quickly, " the knave 
 was given every chance to redeem himself 
 Yet he had not been in the army more than a 
 day or two when he was discovered making 
 mischief. To some he made pleasing over- 
 tures of commissions awaiting them at better 
 pay and less fighting than with General Bacon. 
 But to all with whom he dared speak he let 
 fall dark hints of the punishment that awaited 
 them if they failed to get under cover at once. 
 
The Rescue 247 
 
 Withal, the general displayed much leniency. 
 For when Seager was brought before him and 
 thus accused, General Bacon said, ' If any 
 man can say a good word to save this man's 
 life, let him speak out.' 
 
 " But none spake," continued Clarke, " and 
 Seager swung within the hour. Yet it is — " 
 
 " Hush ! " said I suddenly, seeing a light 
 directly ahead of us and but a short distance 
 away, as we came all at once round a turn in 
 the course. At the same time I pulled up my 
 horse sharply, so that Clarke came bumping 
 against my flanks ere he had time to gather 
 his reins. " Have we come up with them 
 already ? " I asked, in a voice little above a 
 whisper. 
 
 " Impossible," he answered ; " but it is well 
 to keep an eye open." 
 
 Dismounting, therefore, and tethering our 
 nags hastily we proceeded cautiously onward 
 for a space afoot. We could still see the light 
 blazing fitfully through the foliage, and were 
 fearful of a challenge as we approached. Now 
 and then a twig snapped with a startling report 
 beneath our tread, bringing us to a halt whilst 
 we stood for an instant with our ears on the 
 stretch and all our senses a-quiver. The hour 
 must have been long past midnight when the 
 moon rose over the tops of the forest, scatter- 
 ing its uncertain lights over the scene before 
 us and serving rather to discover us to the 
 
248 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 enemy, if present, than as an aid in our 
 search. 
 
 In this manner we advanced to within fifty- 
 yards of the fire ; till, coming to a spot where 
 we could see between the branches of the trees 
 the cleared space in the centre of which the 
 fire burned, we discerned at the same time the 
 forms of Indians sleeping in their blankets. 
 They were disposed like the spokes of a 
 wheel, with their heads outward and their feet 
 towards the fire. As yet we saw no sign of 
 any prisoners or captives; though it was not 
 till we had advanced so close as to hear their 
 heavy breathing and peered into every clump 
 of brushwood where a captive could have lain 
 hidden, that we were at length satisfied to 
 retrace our steps. 
 
 " A different tribe, sir," whispered Clarke to 
 me as we picked our way out. " The party 
 that attacked us belonged to the race of 
 Doegs ; while this band, from the way they 
 are painted, must belong to the Susquehan- 
 nocks. A fugitive party, belike." 
 
 " But what can account for their presence 
 here ? " I asked, knowing them to be out of 
 their land, where we were at this time, along 
 the shores of the Appomattox. 
 
 "They are on the retreat, I judge, sir," 
 Clarke made answer; "as was also the party 
 of Doegs. They have been routed by the 
 army along the Pamunkey and are fleeing for 
 
The Rescue 249 
 
 their lives to the south and west. Depend 
 upon it, Virginia will see no more Indian 
 troubles below the Falls of the James for 
 many a year to follow." 
 
 Accordingly we retraced our way to where our 
 horses were tethered ; and, continuing backward 
 for a matter of a quarter of a mile, we skirted 
 the Indian encampment by a wide detour before 
 continuing onward in our pursuit. By the 
 time morning broke we had travelled so deep 
 into the woods that it was well-nigh impossible 
 for us to go any farther with our horses, what 
 with the dense undergrowth and the low 
 branching trees that threatened, with every 
 step we went on, to lay us low. So that per- 
 force we dismounted ; and bending a couple 
 of birch saplings to the ground for our horses 
 to browse upon, we fixed the spot well in our 
 minds and proceeded steadily forward a-foot. 
 
 A fine mist had begun to gather as day- 
 light opened, which now turned into a steady 
 drizzle that encompassed us like a sombre 
 cloud. Through this we were barely able to 
 discern objects but a few yards distant. Yet 
 it needed not a moment's reflection on my part 
 — nor, I believe, on my companion's — of the 
 necessity of our advancing swiftly and so sur- 
 prising the savages with their captive ere they 
 were securely harboured in the wild country 
 beyond the Blue Ridge. 
 
 "Tell me, Clarke," said I, after we had 
 
250 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 plodded along for several miles, and had finally 
 paused to rest for a space as we came out on 
 an upland where the growth was less rank, 
 " what is the treatment of a captive by the 
 Indians ? " 
 
 " If marked for captivity, sir," he answered 
 reassuringly, "they are uniformly treated with 
 respect. I have known women who had been 
 made captive and lived among the Indians for 
 several months, till, by virtue of the respect 
 and confidence inspired in their captors, they 
 were eventually able to elude them and make 
 their way homeward." 
 
 " And others," I asked, though scarce daring 
 to set my fears in words, " when not meant for 
 captivity ? " 
 
 "Their barbarity is horrible, sir," he an- 
 swered. So that, springing to my feet at once, 
 I was quickly plunging ahead through the mist 
 with Clarke close behind, with naught but my 
 alarm to give vivid answer to the sickening fears 
 at my heart. 
 
 Coming presently to the edge of a small 
 stream that flowed deeply and with no slight 
 current between its gravelly banks, we were 
 stooping beneath a trailing branch that jutted 
 streamward, when we plainly discerned foot- 
 prints directly in our course. They were yet 
 oozing with the mark of a fresh impress, and 
 as we examined them closely we judged them 
 to be made by a party composed of about a 
 
The Rescue 251 
 
 half-dozen men. But what sent a thrill to my 
 heart, and caused the blood to leap swiftly to 
 my head, was the imprint of a small shoe with 
 its dainty heel buried deeply into the yielding 
 earth where I now knew my lady had but 
 recently stepped. 
 
 The glad cry I uttered — an oath it may 
 have been — was sufficiently unrestrained to 
 cause Clarke to remonstrate in a low voice : 
 " Sh ! Speak lightly, sir, for Heaven's sake ! 
 Else our presence will work her more harm 
 than good." 
 
 At this moment we heard a grating sound 
 down the stream, and Clarke whispered ; " Quick ! 
 now is our chance ! They are launching a raft." 
 
 Going back from the marge a piece, we 
 hurried on down the stream and separated 
 at a point whence we judged the sound to 
 come. Here Clarke, looking to his firearms, 
 plunged ahead through the underbrush, telling 
 me to follow at a distance, and to keep the 
 stream in close sight. In this manner I had 
 proceeded about fifty paces farther when, com- 
 ing all at once from behind a huge boulder, I 
 was brought suddenly face to face with two 
 Indians, Mistress Langdon standing a few 
 paces distant to one side. 
 
 A raft whereon to cross the stream had just 
 been put together when I came full upon them. 
 There was no time to draw back, for I was 
 seen by them at once. Standing in a moment's 
 
252 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 surprise, and seeing no one following to back 
 me, they gave a grunt of disaffection and sprang 
 towards me with their tomahawks raised. In- 
 stantly I levelled my pistol, but snapped it in 
 vain, as it missed fire. Something else, though, 
 ringing out sharply at the same moment, fairly 
 disconcerted them. This was the report of 
 Clarke's musquetoon, followed in quick succes- 
 sion by his pistol, and from the yell that rose 
 up from down stream, I gathered that both 
 shots had been of good avail. At any rate, it 
 gave me time to grapple with the larger Ind- 
 ian, whom I saw was a chief, whilst the smaller 
 one danced round us, aiming blows at me with 
 his hatchet. Although the chief was no mean 
 wrestler, I might have disposed of him easily 
 save for his bulk, which prevented a secure 
 hold, and the necessity of dodging the blows 
 aimed at me by his companion. So far I had 
 eluded him ; but now, receiving a deep cut on 
 the wrist, my anger rose. Quickly tripping 
 the chief, I sent him sprawling to the water's 
 edge as I dodged a blow and picked up a gun 
 lying by the raft. And this time my gun spoke 
 out, quickly sending the dancing tomahawk- 
 fiend close to its muzzle, into some far eternity 
 of better Indians. 
 
 Ere I could prepare for the chief, however, 
 he had risen with a savage yell and, catching 
 me by the shoulder and one leg, threw me 
 violently to the ground. But I clung to him 
 
The Rescue 253 
 
 grimly ; giving him no chance to escape or 
 pick up a hatchet, so that we were both soon 
 rolling and tumbling together in the water's 
 edge. By the time I had regained my feet the 
 water was waist-high, and as we gripped and 
 struggled we were getting every moment farther 
 and farther out to a point that must shortly be 
 beyond our depth. 
 
 Seeing this, I made out to catch my enemy 
 by the hair, which his vanity had suffered to 
 grow long, and so to force his head beneath the 
 stream and hold it there. But he continued 
 for several moments to grip me with a hand of 
 steel, and it was not till I felt his grasp grow 
 limp and powerless that I ventured to desist. 
 Scarce had I done so, however, ere he arose 
 sputtering wildly and struggling to escape by 
 running down stream. Yet again I caught 
 him by his hair, dragging his head backward 
 and below the surface, just as I felt the bottom 
 sink beneath me and knew that now I should 
 have to swim for it. 
 
 On land I had been his equal, or, better. 
 But here in mid-stream his strength seemed to 
 return. Or was it my own that was forced to 
 relax and so give him the advantage ? How- 
 ever this may be, I was powerless to hold his 
 head under any longer, as he splashed and swam 
 wildly about, and so was forced to release him. 
 Thereupon he struck out for the shore, swim- 
 ming vigorously, and I after him in hot pur- 
 
254 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 suit, and fearful of his vengeance on Mistress 
 Langdon should he escape me now or first 
 reach the shore. 
 
 But I was no match for him in swimming. 
 His great body, unencumbered by a surfeit of 
 clothing, lunged through the deep waters like 
 some sportive sea-monster. He distanced me 
 with every stroke ; so that, when my feet again 
 touched bottom, he had already reached the 
 shore and had picked up a gun lying there. 
 
 With no time to dodge or dive, I could look 
 only to his imperfect aim for my safety. I was 
 within twenty paces of him as he pulled the 
 trigger. But that gun — and I can yet hear 
 his cry of baffled rage as he snapped the trigger 
 ineffectually — had been previously discharged, 
 it being the same with which I had killed his 
 companion. Turning swiftly to pick up his 
 own gun, which I had noticed lying close to 
 where Mistress Langdon had been standing, he 
 found himself looking suddenly into its muzzle 
 and my lady herself levelling it steadily at his 
 breast. Waiting not an Instant as her eye 
 flashed along the barrel, she discharged the gun 
 full in his body. And with a great cry he leapt 
 backward into the stream and sank instantly 
 below the surface. 
 
 And so it was that she fell into my arms, 
 panting and sobbing and terrified. Forgetting 
 for the nonce all manner of courtly restraint, 
 thoughtless alike of pride or station or aught 
 
The Rescue 255 
 
 save the danger and deliverance so quickly 
 passed. So that as I folded her in my arms for 
 a moment, soothing and chiding her gently till 
 her heart beat tranquil, I remember that I was 
 conscious for a space of being fiercely thankful 
 for the circumstance that had so thrown us 
 together. For however much I may have 
 struggled thereafter against the feeling of the 
 great difference of wealth and station between us, 
 —and it rose ever before me like some grim 
 fortress, — the tender memory of this one time 
 when we stood all in all to each other did 
 much embolden and encourage me through the 
 days that followed. 
 
 When Master Clarke appeared,— and I have 
 never ceased to wonder how he could have ap- 
 pr oached us so quickly from the distance at which 
 I had last heard his gun explode, — he gave a 
 low whistle ; then, glancing round, he muttered : 
 "It is strange, sir, that this band should be 
 without a chief. There were six Indians on 
 the raft below, crossing the stream when I 
 fired into them. Yet there was no chief amongst 
 them." 
 
 I quickly explained the mystery of the chief 
 and his disappearance. Whereupon he added, 
 " It is their invariable custom, captain, when 
 killed near a stream to sink themselves into it 
 to avoid being scalped." The which I accepted, 
 I remember, as being but a disgraceful commen- 
 tary on the manner in which Indian warfare was 
 
256 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 sometimes waged by the planters. Albeit there 
 is naught to set the fashion for such spoils save 
 environment ; so that to shudder more at scalps 
 depending from a belt than at gory heads car- 
 ried by pikemen is but to cavil at a nicety of 
 choice that can have no honourable foundation. 
 
 After waiting only a sufficient time to recharge 
 our guns, we hastily made a pack of such as we 
 could conveniently carry and began to retrace 
 our way. Still fearful of pursuit, however, Mis- 
 tress Langdon kept well in advance of Clarke 
 and even hurried him over such places where 
 he would fain have passed more slowly. So it 
 was that, noting her anxiety at length, he said : 
 " Have no fears, my lady, leastwise not of 
 pursuit. Every hostile tribe is on the wing 
 and in full flight out of tide-water Virginia 
 towards the Blue Ridge. Our danger is now 
 all before us, if at all, hence we may as well go 
 slowly." 
 
 And being thus reassured, she thereafter 
 walked easily at my side, permitting me to 
 assist her now and then where the ground rolled 
 rough and broken beneath our tread, rather 
 than continuing to bound ahead like some 
 startled deer with nerve and sinew tense. So 
 that as we advanced steadily onward towards 
 the spot where we had tethered our nags, stop- 
 ping for a moment's rest on coming to a con- 
 venient spot and where Clarke would recite a 
 tale or two of Indian adventure that served to 
 
The Rescue 257 
 
 belittle the fearsomeness of our present affair, 
 she again resumed that independency of man- 
 ner that was usual to her. 
 
 Yet still another adventure befell us ere we 
 reached safe lodgement. And that came about 
 in this wise. The mist had Hfted and the hot 
 July sun was pouring down upon us with an 
 intensity that set our moist garments to steam- 
 ing as we were crossing an open moor. See- 
 ing that the way lay far before us, we made a 
 detour to the left that we might journey onward 
 in the shade of the forest. Scarce had we en- 
 tered into it, however, ere the howl of a wolf 
 close to our left, followed by a quick answering 
 howl of the same species far in our rear, caused 
 Clarke to prick up his ears in alarm, as he 
 cried : " Quick ! captain ! we are discovered. 
 Those were signals you heard." 
 
 Hastening to our utmost, and keeping the 
 edge of the moor close in view to our right, we 
 came presently to an old cabin standing open 
 and deserted. From the huge chimney and 
 charred ashes scattered about it had probably 
 been used as a place to boil potash. Hesi- 
 tating a moment, but hearing again the same 
 wolf-howl signal now close behind us, Clarke 
 said, " Do you two go in the cabin and hide 
 the while I lead them a little chase." 
 
 There being no other way, seemingly, and 
 not knowing the number of our enemy, we 
 could do naught save assent. Entering the 
 
258 Vivian of Vifginia 
 
 cabih, we discovet-ed only one room, from which 
 a ladder Ascended into a loft above. • There 
 was small time to pause Or choose ; so that, 
 seieifig no place suitable for eoncealmeftt below, 
 We hastily mounted the ladder into the loft. 
 
 Thereupon I was for drawing the ladder up 
 after us, had hot rtiy companion, with sharper 
 wit, objected ih season. " No, no, sir ! " she 
 exclaimed. " GiV'e them but the faintest sus- 
 picion that any one is in the cabin and it will be 
 fired." 
 
 I murmured at this, I remember, and it was 
 not until later that I saw the wisdom of her 
 words. When, standing hidden behind the 
 brick chimney, we heard the stealthy tread of 
 a moccasined foot below fer an instant, ere a 
 savage began lightly to ascend the ladder. 
 Scarce daring to breathe, we waited, whilst he 
 thrust his head above the floor and, with a 
 sound that was between a sniff and a grunt, 
 dropped softly back again to the ground below 
 and ran out. 
 
 It was in these little experiences, repeated 
 ever and anon, that I begaft gradually to 
 learn Indian craft, and how best to baffle and 
 elude them with tricks of Cuiinihg. Had I, 
 following my own bent, drawn up the ladder, 
 the Indian would assuredly have fired the cabin 
 from V^ry suspicion of seeing the ioft and find- 
 ing no way to explore it. That which a savage 
 can see and fathom with his naked eye he does 
 
The Rescue 259 
 
 and is satisfied ; but, on the other hand, what 
 he sees and cannot understand, he destroys. 
 The which, methinks, has been a custom with 
 savages the world over. 
 
 But enough of Indian warfare, of which I 
 have already striven to record only sufficient 
 to throw light on the causes leading up to the 
 present campaign of Master Bacon. Nor has 
 it been with a glad hand that I have writ this 
 little, making choice with a jealous eye out of 
 my oft experiences only for such as were meet 
 to make mention of. For savage warfare is 
 but savage at best; and aside from making 
 idle tales for grandchildren, — to which ominous 
 intent I pray these memoirs may never be 
 relegated, — there can be little to interest gen- 
 tlemen or ladies of honour in the perusal of such 
 history, however potent it may be to our day. 
 
 We remained, then, concealed in the cabin 
 for a space ; till, hearing the discharge of fire- 
 arms round us and catching an occasional 
 glimpse of Indians running rapidly by the 
 cabin and on to the westward, we ' felt assured 
 that the settlers were giving them battle. 
 Quitting the cabin anon during a lull in the 
 firing, we hurried forward and presently found 
 ourselves face to face with a score or so of men 
 who had been gradually approaching us. 
 
 These proved to be none other than a detail 
 of the army of General Bacon ; and, himself 
 stepping forward on seeing us, he greeted my 
 
26o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 lady in such terms of affectionate concern at 
 finding her safe and unharmed as the occasion 
 warranted. Whilst to me he displayed the same 
 kindly consideration and cordiality that had 
 hitherto marked our intimacy at Jamestown. 
 
 Yet there was an anxious, hunted look in 
 his expression at this time, I remember, for 
 which I could ill account considering his 
 successful campaign — the complete routing 
 of the Indians with a loss of a mere handful 
 of his own men — about West Point. When, 
 seating Mistress Langdon in his own saddle, 
 he walked by my side for a space and gave 
 frank utterance to his thoughts. 
 
 " Bad days are before us, Vivian," said he. 
 " A messenger arrived from Jamestown at an 
 early hour this morning, bringing word that his 
 Excellency has posted a proclamation against 
 us, naming us therein as rebels, and is preparing 
 to cross the Chesapeake into Accomack, where 
 he will await the assistance of vessels from 
 England preparatory to our dispersion." 
 
 I was appalled. Well as I had come to 
 know the ways of Sir William Berkeley, and 
 though Clarke had in a measure prepared me 
 for this by the news he had recited, this last 
 subtle trick of the governor's, whereby he had 
 lured us all into an appearance of rebellion, — 
 despite his signature to our commissions, — was 
 of a piece, so vile, so traitorous, that I could 
 scarce make answer for my gorge rising. 
 
The Rescue 261 
 
 " Zounds ! " I exclaimed. " And what of 
 the letter to the king, endorsed by the Council 
 and burgesses, and signed by the governor him- 
 self? Surely, sir, his Majesty will not sanction 
 this deception ? " 
 
 " That depends, my friend," he replied, as 
 though he had long felt the weight of this con- 
 tingency. "Sir William stands in high favour 
 at court. A wish expressed on his part has oft 
 outweighed justice in the royal balances. Let 
 him but cry, ' Sire, my country is in revolt/ and 
 I greatly fear me lest we shall be overpowered 
 and undone by troops sent over from England 
 ere ever an investigation be made. Such might 
 afterwards follow. And it is to circumvent such 
 prejudiced interference that we must now stand 
 together to a man. Such a confederacy I shall 
 enforce, Captain Vivian," he continued firmly, — 
 almost fiercely, — " with all my might ; that the 
 loyal housekeepers of Virginia may receive the 
 same just dispensation from his Majesty that 
 he would accord to his royal oflScials." 
 
 To this purpose, of which I clearly saw the 
 necessity, I hastened to assure him of my own 
 sympathy and support. So that by the time 
 we arrived at the spot where our three horses 
 had been tethered, — and where we found Clarke 
 awaiting us, seated on a log with his musquetoon 
 across his knee, — the plans and the hopes of 
 the general of the army were now fully revealed 
 to me. And, desperate though they were, I 
 
262 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 remember — as I helped my lady from the 
 general's horse and so again into her own sad- 
 dle, whilst she smiled on me an instant and said 
 something of my wearing but a rueful coun- 
 tenance for a victorious knight-errant — I well 
 remember that, adown the vista of the gathering 
 days, — wherein many of us should find naught 
 save ruin and disgrace, — my heart already 
 discerned the prize, and I was satisfied. 
 
Chapter XV 
 A Romance of the Rhine 
 
 IT was somewhat past the noon hour when 
 our party arrived back at Curies. But the 
 joy with which we were hailed by Mistress 
 Bacon and various members of the household, 
 on learning of our successful return, formed a 
 scene which these eyes shall not speedily forget ; 
 for, immeshed in misfortune though we were 
 between the governor and the Indians, such did 
 but serve to better unite the interests and affec- 
 tions of our own party. 
 
 " Thank God, my love ! " cried Mistress 
 Bacon, running towards us and catching my 
 lady from her saddle ere any of us could dis- 
 mount ; " thank God for your safe return ! " 
 
 Of the welcome extended to me, however 
 gratifying it was to myself, there can be but 
 little merit in its telling. And yet, such was 
 their influence over my life, I cannot rush 
 rapidly over the details of the days that fol- 
 lowed ; when, the army of Virginia having 
 been temporarily disbanded, a small and oddly 
 assorted party of us remained as guests in 
 attendance on General Bacon at his home for 
 a few days. A call had been issued, however, 
 263 
 
264 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 looking to a vast assemblage of the people on 
 the third day of August at Middle Plantation. 
 And until that day we had now little to do, 
 save that of seeking our own amusement. 
 
 Among others in our party was a young 
 gentleman, Captain Harry Evelyn, lately re- 
 turned from England, whither he had been in 
 attendance on one of the universities. Having 
 reached Jamestown at about the time of the 
 organization of the army, his enthusiastic bent 
 and the wealth of his family had easily led to 
 his procuring a commission as captain on Gen- 
 eral Bacon's staff. And a very prince of young 
 officers he was ; being scarce five and twenty 
 years of age, of a slender habit, and a queerish 
 little black line that stood him in lieu of a 
 mustache. His military information — gathered 
 from reading principally, for he had experienced 
 little — was of that nature which was at least 
 seductive to hearken to ; and this, coupled with 
 his generous wit and gayety of demeanour, in- 
 sured him the favour of all in the army who 
 knew him. 
 
 Having known Mistress Langdon from early 
 childhood, they were naturally much given to 
 seeking each other's company during these idle 
 days ; now fishing and rowing on the river, and 
 anon — with the sly pretence of a fowling-piece 
 cocked over one shoulder — off for a stroll and 
 a chance shot in the woods. 
 
 My feelings on beholding how matters stood. 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 265 
 
 I remember, were a strange medley of a lover's 
 impatience and a soldier's abnegation. For, 
 not presuming so far as to court her openly 
 myself, or to strain that confidence which acci- 
 dent and not her choice had fixed, I yet had 
 that feeling of priority in her service, which 
 all the wealth and prominence and childhood 
 affection in the world, on the part of Master 
 Evelyn, could not quite annihilate. 
 
 And as for herself — but when is a woman 
 ever more beautiful, more captivating, more 
 altogether admirable, than when flushed with 
 that improvident independency of having two 
 or more strings to her bow ? 
 
 This I may not answer, however, it being, for- 
 sooth, far removed from my province to do so. 
 But this I do know : that she never looked 
 sweeter than on such times, when, coming 
 suddenly round the corner of the house, oft- 
 times carrying a basket in one hand and trail- 
 ing her hat in the other, she would chance to 
 catch Master Evelyn and myself lounging and 
 swapping stories on the porch. And at sight 
 of her, with a great sweep of our bonnets and 
 much unseemly haste, would the both of us 
 strive swiftly to reach her side and mayhap 
 seize her basket on one and the same instant. 
 
 Then would follow much raillery, much 
 maidenly blushing; and the hour chancing to 
 be late and close upon the dinner, perchance a 
 little indignant protest over these unsoldierly 
 
266 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 antics and our forcible detention of her. 
 Whereupon Captain Evelyn, with a great 
 parade of judicial resource and regard for 
 historic precedent, would threaten to end the 
 matter then and there by halving the basket 
 with his sword, Solomon-like, giving one 
 piece to me and retaining the other unto 
 himself. 
 
 On such occasions, then, whenever there was 
 a duty to be performed, such, to wit, as carrying 
 a basket, I was ever ready to insist upon my 
 right to serve. But at other times, when by 
 no manner of excuse could I place myself at 
 her side, I was wont to stand aloof and leave 
 the way broadly open to Master Evelyn. And 
 this I did — as I now pride myself — with all 
 the graciousness that a gentleman should com- 
 mand on such trying occasions. 
 
 At all events, I think my lady noted such 
 regard, and the sedulous respect with which I 
 ever honoured the difference of our positions. 
 For, coming to me one morning, — and I 
 remember it was the day before we left Curies, 
 — she said : " Will you not row me upon the 
 river this morning. Captain Vivian ? Methinks 
 it would drive the dulness from my head." 
 
 And as I assented, joyfully, I still remember 
 Master Evelyn as he continued to stand there, 
 gazing out into space and pulling so fiercely 
 with his finger-nails at the black line along his 
 lip, that I did greatly fear me lest his face 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 267 
 
 should be as smooth as my lady's ere ever 
 we returned. 
 
 Wending our way to the river by the path 
 through the pasture, the scene was everywhere 
 so blithe and spirited as to make the heart 
 beat gladly in response. Here and there 
 the grass rose on either side half-way to my 
 boot tops, switching them with a rhythmic 
 sound as we walked on that was musical to 
 the ear — such as I still love to hearken unto 
 when passing across my fields, as it recalls the 
 day. Near by, swinging jauntily on the end of 
 some slender twig, the bobolink whistled at 
 us saucily ; the while his neighbour and rival, 
 the meadow-lark, rose into the air for an in- 
 stant with his throat full to bursting and then 
 dropped silently to perch again in a cluster of 
 goldenrod growing beside the path. And 
 above, in the soft blue sky, the swallows twit- 
 tered and circled, keeping the outline of the 
 river ever in their path as it glinted and flowed 
 in the sunshine like a silvery thread in the 
 distance. 
 
 " Shall it be up or down stream, sir ? " she 
 asked as we came to the skiflF, which was fas- 
 tened to a small landing at the end of the 
 path. 
 
 " Either way, my lady," I made proud to 
 answer ; " my happiness will be the same." 
 
 She frowned an instant, but affected to con- 
 ceal a smile the next as she asked carelessly. 
 
268 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Oh, sir, but do you never give expression to 
 a wish ? " 
 
 Posed by her manner,, but taking the hand 
 she held out and assisting her to a seat by 
 the tiller, I replied : " Nay, my lady ; would the 
 stream that's flowing seaward wish to flow the 
 other way ? " 
 
 She glanced quickly down into the water. 
 "You mean back to its scattered sources, sir, 
 perchance ? " And the next instant, her eyes 
 dancing at me, she added : " Methinks that 
 some streams might." 
 
 Whereat I grasped an oar and pushed silently 
 into deep water. 
 
 A little way offshore the sloop was riding 
 with her anchor apeak. Passing alongside, I 
 recalled the time when I had last seen her, 
 when struggling to hail her just before her 
 capture by the Adam and Eve. But already 
 I was thinking of the marvellous change that 
 had come over my life since landing in Vir- 
 ginia but two months ago, and thence back to 
 the time in London, when, being sore put to it 
 for employment, I had been driven to accept 
 the opportunity afforded by a voyage to the 
 plantations. 
 
 From such reflections I was interrupted by 
 Mistress Langdon asking, "And shall you 
 return to England, Captain Vivian, after your 
 present engagement ? " 
 
 " Never, my lady," I replied, with somewhat 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 269 
 
 more vehemence than the occasion mayhap 
 warranted. 
 
 " Nay, has the stream likewise no love for 
 its sources ? " And she laughed. " Yet you 
 can know little of the future here, sir." 
 
 " True," I replied humbly ; " and yet I 
 know even less of England. Methinks the 
 free air of the colonies has cast its spell 
 upon me." 
 
 " Ah, the colonies ? " she repeated doubt- 
 ingly ; and added : " Such, I believe, is oft the 
 effect on those that come across the seas. 
 But look ! " she continued, pointing off to the 
 right. " That is Varina, the estate of Poca- 
 hontas." 
 
 " And of Captain John Smith, I opine ? " 
 said I, but dimly remembering the tale of the 
 intrepid chevalier, save that he had, perchance, 
 wrought more for Virginia in his day than any 
 other person. 
 
 " Nay, sir, you do forget yourself," she re- 
 plied ; " Pocahontas became the bride of Cap- 
 tain Rolfe." And, after a moment's pause, she 
 continued, "Is it not sad to think, sir, that she 
 did not marry Master Smith ? " 
 
 "In sooth, my lady," I stammered, " I fear 
 me that I have given the tale but scant con- 
 sideration. But," I continued, "whatever the 
 world may think of him. Captain Rolfe, I pre- 
 sume, was satisfied ? " 
 
 " Chut ! " she admonished, though laughing 
 
270 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 despite herself at my unromantic inference. 
 "You take but small delight then, Captain 
 Vivian, in these tales of the past ? " 
 
 " On the contrary, my lady," I answered 
 with eager sincerity, " if you will pardon my 
 seeming not to appear so, I do indeed set 
 great store by such history." 
 
 "Ah," she answered, her face lighting all 
 over like a child's on discovering some sym- 
 pathy with her own fancies, " and what ones 
 do you especially enjoy, sir — say above all 
 the rest?" 
 
 Resting on my oars a space, and allowing 
 the boat to drift with the stream under the 
 shade of the southward bank, after a moment's 
 reflection I answered, " I love best, my lady, 
 those romaunts of the Rhine, and, better than 
 all the rest, the one having for its monument 
 the lofty rock known as Roland's Eck." 
 
 " Roland's Eck ? " she repeated in slow won- 
 derment, the lids closing slightly over the gray 
 eyes as they pried within for a space. " Nay, 
 sir," she said finally ; " I do not recall it." 
 
 She had removed her hat, absently, and the 
 light breeze was playing with the wavy brown 
 hair as I answered, "If it please you, my 
 lady, Roland, or Rolando — " 
 
 " Stay ! " she cried. " Is it of Charlemagne's 
 doughty knight you speak ? " 
 
 "The same," I answered, smiling at the 
 sparkle in her eyes. 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 271 
 
 " Then, sir, I have read of him in the work 
 of Pulci, the Florentine, in my uncle's collec- 
 tion. And yet," she continued perplextly, " I 
 know naught of Roland's Eck, Pray tell me 
 the tale." 
 
 " It runs in this manner," I replied ; " though, 
 like most of the romaunts of the feudal Rhine, 
 I have never seen it in print, this one hav- 
 ing come to my ears round the camp-fire when, 
 after a hard day's battle under Turenne, we 
 pitched our encampment one night at a little 
 village in the gloomy shade of the majestic 
 Drachenfels. 
 
 "And this is the way I heard it. Whilst 
 Roland was one day hunting the boar in a 
 near-by forest, being greatly fatigued with the 
 chase and his failance to come up with the 
 beast, he threw himself down at the edge of 
 the forest beside a path leading to a distant 
 castle. Here he purposed to await the return 
 of his servants, who were still in pursuit of the 
 boar. And as he waited, whilst the sun dropped 
 low in the forest with the waning day, he heard 
 the blare of a horn and beheld riding towards 
 him a lady of passing loveliness, attended only 
 by two maids and a lackey." 
 
 " H ow strange, sir," murmured my lady archly, 
 " that she should have been so ill attended when 
 servants were so well to hand at that day," 
 
 " Nay, if it please you," said I, " it is a good 
 servant that knows his right place. And those 
 
272 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 of romaunts, I have observed, do ever display 
 a nice tact in such matters." 
 
 " Go on, sir," she continued ; with a laugh 
 aside at my seriousness over the tale, even as 
 I had smiled at her own feeling for Pocahon- 
 tas. 
 
 "And so it happened," I continued, "that 
 just as she had approached to within a few 
 paces from him, the blast of a second horn 
 pierced the ear, and the boar came crashing 
 through the thicket directly into the path. 
 For an instant he stood at bay, with the hounds 
 tearing furiously at him. Then, turning sud- 
 denly, he charged savagely at the lady, whose 
 horse was foundering on his knees in fright. 
 
 "Then it was that Roland sprang forward, 
 and did wage fierce battle with the boar ; cir- 
 cling round and round, and receiving a vicious 
 wound from the boar's tusk ere ever he suc- 
 ceeded in despatching the beast with a blow 
 of his famous Durandal — the same that after- 
 wards cleft the Pyrenees. Whence it followed 
 that, when he had recovered from the swoon 
 of the fight and the loss of blood, he found 
 himself lying in the castle, whither he had been 
 fetched by his servants at the command of the 
 lady." 
 
 "Tut, tut ! a paltry tale, sir," cried my com- 
 panion as I paused for an instant as though 
 finished. " And now you would tell me," she 
 added indignantly, " that Roland married the 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 273 
 
 lady, and that ever after the castle was known 
 as Roland's Eck ? " 
 
 " Wherefore not ? " I asked with raillery. 
 " Were such not a beautiful legend to march 
 romantic down the centuries ? " 
 
 "Nay, sir!" she exclaimed scornfully. "Not 
 for Orlando Furioso, nor yet Orlando Inna- 
 morato ; though for some — " 
 
 " But, my lady," I protested, " if you would, 
 peradventure, only hear the end of it ? " 
 
 " What ! " she cried impatiently ; " have you 
 been playing me a trick, sir ? " 
 
 " I merely paused," said I, " if you will par- 
 don me, to see that the tale was not tiring you." 
 
 " And it was, sir," she laughed in merry dis- 
 dain. "You divined truly, for it was tiring 
 me greatly." Whereupon I took up the oars 
 and fell to, pulling steadily for a space, and 
 coming near to the opposite shore. 
 
 But there is that in a woman's nature which 
 does not allow a good story to spoil for its 
 keeping. For, whether it be naught but an 
 airy trifle, or some melancholy tragedy in which 
 some sister has played her noble and deathless 
 role, a woman loves to take the tale to her 
 heart and there ponder it almost until it be- 
 comes a part of her being, — until it emerges 
 the better for the innocence it has met. It is 
 to this curious sense, and to their beginning 
 participation in the pleasures of reading, let us 
 trust, that much is to be hoped for tending to 
 
274 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the refinement of our present English litera- 
 ture. 
 
 Hence, as I once more rested on my oars 
 and allowed the boat to drift, my lady looked 
 up from the water where she had been trailing 
 her hand. " Well, sir," she demanded, as though 
 she had all along been waiting me to resume, 
 " when am I to hear the end of this tale ? " 
 
 And so, glad to regain her favour, I went 
 on to tell her that tale of a thousand years as 
 it has come down the ages, tremulous with the 
 grandeur and the pathos and the gloom of the 
 Drachenfels, and murmuring on into eternity 
 with the song of the beautiful Rhine. How 
 that, Roland being betrothed to the beautiful 
 daughter of the castle's lord, he dallies there 
 for many a happy day ; until a courier arrives 
 from Charlemagne, demanding the presence of 
 his good knight in Spain, where they are to 
 fight against the Saracens. And so, with the 
 fondest of farewells, he takes his departure. 
 
 " And of his return, sir ? " asked my lady, 
 gazing down into the water as we drifted on. 
 
 "After many days," I continued, "word 
 comes that the entire rear guard of Charle- 
 magne's army has been cut off in front of Sara- 
 gossa and that Roland has fallen among the 
 number. At this news his betrothed enters the 
 convent of Nonnenwerth and takes the irrevo- 
 cable veil. Yet Roland does return, having 
 been delayed merely by founderous roads over 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 275 
 
 a roundabout course. Again he approaches the 
 castle, with such a blast of his horn, born of 
 gladness and hope, that the doors of the castle 
 fall in and the rocks tremble. 
 
 " Whereupon, being told that his betrothed has 
 become the bride of Heaven, he builds a castle 
 on a lofty rock overlooking the nunnery. And 
 from this point of vantage, he one day catches 
 a glimpse of her and she likewise of him, as 
 she walks in the cloister below. But, waving 
 him a farewell, though he watches for days and 
 years, he sees her again no more." 
 
 As I Came to a finish, the boat had drifted 
 on to where a gravelly bluff rose sheer from 
 the river's marge. Above, in the far-reaching 
 pine forest, the wind sighed mournfully through 
 the trees ; and low down, grazing the sides of 
 the boat as we passed, the willows drooping 
 sombrously, carried me swiftly back in memory 
 to the little isle of Nonnenwerth nestling beside 
 the Rhine. 
 
 "Well ? " I asked finally, breaking the silence 
 as my lady still said naught. 
 
 Looking up with a start, she said : " A pretty 
 tale. Captain Vivian. I thank you, for it has 
 carried me out of Virginia for a space." 
 
 " But," I made bold to ask, " do you fain to 
 be elsewhere, then — in England, mayhap ? " 
 
 " Nay, sir," she answered with a smile that 
 was half sad in its passing sweetness. " I was 
 born here ; this is my country. And some 
 
276 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 day — " and breaking off suddenly into her 
 former manner she continued, " Now let us go 
 ashore, Captain Vivian." 
 
 Brave little heart, I thought, that could en- 
 dure the turbulence of state and the separation 
 from kin, whilst it peered unfalteringly into the 
 future and hoped — when many had ceased to 
 do so — for that time when the sun was to 
 shine once more upon Virginia, prospering and 
 contented ! 
 
 And so it was, feeling in this mood per- 
 chance, that, after fastening the boat to the 
 shore, I took the hand she held out and forgot 
 to release it for a space after assisting her to 
 my side. Then, conscious only that I loved 
 her, and recking little at that moment of rank 
 or circumstance, I was about to bespeak her 
 favour, when, as though divining my intent, 
 the crimson mantling swiftly to her cheeks, she 
 said : " Please do not speak, sir. Wait ! " 
 
 And yet she did not withdraw her hand 
 directly ; nor, as I bowed over it a moment, 
 do I believe she took exception to my trans- 
 gression. 
 
 When nigh half-way back, we came up with 
 Master Bacon and young Master Evelyn, each 
 with his gun under his arm and with his game- 
 bag swelled widely. 
 
 "Well, Mistress Langdon," cried Master 
 
A Romance of the Rhine 277 
 
 Evelyn ; " and what found you upon the water 
 this morning ? " 
 
 " Found ? " she echoed, and then with a 
 quick, laugh she added, " Oh, sir, I found 
 naught save a castle — a castle on the Rhine." 
 
 " How so ? " he asked, not catching her mean- 
 ing at first. Then, with a glance at me, he 
 added, " So ; one of Captain Vivian's tales, 
 belike. But it was in graceless compliment, 
 sir, to descant of the Rhine when boating on 
 the James." 
 
 " Yet why not ? " Master Bacon interposed. 
 " What manner of affinity can one observe 
 between the two ? America was born too late 
 for legend. Her mighty streams are for naught 
 save commerce." 
 
 " That I shall never grant. Master Bacon," 
 cried my lady with loyal pertinacy ; " not when 
 so much has happed in the past." 
 
 " And where so much might have happed 
 beside," I urged, coming to her support, " had 
 Master John Smith but returned hitherward 
 with his errant fancy." 
 
Chapter XVI 
 The Scene at Middle Plantation 
 
 I SHALL not detail our return to Jamestown 
 on the following morning, save that, being 
 up betimes, after a farewell to the house- 
 hold — the which more than one of us trusted 
 might be only for a brief space — we were 
 once more into the saddle and away. With 
 Mistress Langdon I had exchanged few words 
 since the previous morning; but, bethinking 
 me just before our departure of her ring, which 
 I had left with Mistress Bacon, I regained its 
 possession and presented it to her with many a 
 humble and profuse apology. 
 
 She coloured swiftly, yet accepted it with 
 scarce a word ; so that the matter had shortly 
 escaped my mind. But as we were riding 
 slowly down the road leading from the house, 
 I was engaged in adjusting my stirrup and 
 had so dropped somewhat to the rear of the 
 party, when a boy came running after me, yell- 
 ing, " Hi ! hi ! " at the top of his voice. 
 
 Something he was extending in his hand 
 towards me, whereat, turning my horse side- 
 wise, I reached down, and, glancing hastily at 
 it, thrust it quickly in my holster. 
 278 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 279 
 
 " Go on ! " I cried to the men ahead, who 
 had drawn rein at the lad's voice and were 
 watching me. " It is naught save a buckle I 
 had dropped." 
 
 And in truth that was all ; there being but 
 little difference betwixt a buckle and a ring to 
 a trooper. Yet as I drew it forth upon our 
 horses breaking into a gallop, and glanced again 
 at the little satin bow tied intricately about the 
 ring, I placed it this time within my doublet, 
 where it would be secure from the vulgar gaze 
 of the passer-by. 
 
 As expected, our party was greatly swelled ere 
 we arrived at Jamestown that evening, by reason 
 of other parties joining us on every hand, all 
 purposing to attend the convention at Middle 
 Plantation set for the following day. So that 
 our welcome from Master Lawrence on behold- 
 ing us alight at his door partook of all his 
 wonted hospitality, in which he was ably backed 
 up by his wife now that Sir William Berkeley 
 was no longer in the vicinity to despoil her 
 house with search parties. 
 
 That night the ordinary was in an uproar, 
 being boisterous with the dissent of opposing 
 factions from every shire. For the alarm had 
 gone forth, and whilst Master Drummond, 
 mounted on a stool, went on speaking fearlessly 
 in one corner to a group of loyal souls from the 
 middle and up country, another party from 
 Gloucester and New Kent was being addressed 
 
2 8o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 in quite different tones by no less a personage 
 than Sir Henry Chicheley. And during it all 
 Master Lawrence and his excellent wife con- 
 tinued to dispense their sack to the intent that 
 naught save right good feeling should prevail 
 at such a time ; not forgetting, however, to 
 look close after the price, albeit to no purpose 
 save that of being able to give more substan- 
 tially afterwards to the cause of. Master Bacon. 
 
 But it was on the following day when at 
 Middle Plantation that matters came to a crisis. 
 From every road and by-path that led to this 
 perchance the most accessible and central point 
 in all Virginia, the people had been coming 
 steadily since an early hour in the morn. So 
 that for numbers, as we met on the village 
 green, was there no lack. But the conten- 
 tion, the petty jealousy, yea, even the fear that 
 obtained ! It was so pitiful and maddening to 
 behold that I still remember the anger of 
 Master Bacon as he approached late in the 
 afternoon to the spot where Captain Evelyn 
 and I were at that moment standing. 
 
 " Damn it ! " he cried, snatching his bonnet 
 aside whilst the breeze scattered the dark curls 
 over his hot forehead. " The crowd's palsied 
 with fear since that rascally scoundrel, Berkeley, 
 left our shores. They'd scarce dare draw a 
 bead on a savage now to save their souls from 
 hell ! " 
 
 "They need disciplining, sir," cried Master 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 281 
 
 Evelyn. " Put them in harness again and 
 apply the lash ! " 
 
 " Zounds, lad ! " he retorted impatiently, 
 " and what have I been doing the past five 
 weeks save disciplining them ? Aye, and they 
 waded into the fight nobly, too, — that I will 
 say ! But how is the half of them returned 
 after a three days' halt ? Look, Vivian," he 
 continued, shooting his eyes over my head to 
 where a small party stood talking, " look at 
 yon great hulk with his six feet of splendid 
 manhood, as he stands there digging the toe 
 of his boot into the sod whilst his heart flutters 
 and wavers like that of a slender miss who has 
 been caught dallying with her first lover. 
 Bah ! and the man addressing them — Lieu- 
 tenant Arnold. Observe how slyly he glances 
 this way to see if he is being watched ! " 
 
 " Yet that is the same party. General Bacon, 
 almost to a man, that led the van on the 
 second day's skirmish on the Pamunkey," said 
 Captain Evelyn. 
 
 " And don't I tell you, lad,"- cried the gen- 
 eral, " that that's wherein the pity of it lies. 
 These men are no poltroons at heart. But 
 the fear of the king, of some unknown and 
 invisible power about to encompass them, 
 makes cowards of them all. It is such a 
 menace," he continued, his eyes shooting 
 scornfully, " as even the shadow of should not 
 be permitted to rest darkly over a free land 
 
282 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 for a moment. But a few years more of its 
 darksome influence and we shall be Helots 
 all." 
 
 " Pardon me, general," said I after a mo- 
 ment's pause, " but is it not still your inten- 
 tion to administer the oath to them ? " 
 
 "Such was my plan, Vivian, as you will 
 recall," he answered. " But," he added with 
 a bitter laugh, " how many think you, sir, 
 would subscribe at this moment ? " 
 
 " In sooth, sir, I doubt that few," said I. 
 " And yet I recall. Master Bacon, a tale of my 
 father's when Englishmen were fighting for 
 their liberties, that is somewhat german to our 
 present exigency." 
 
 He gazed at me a second, doubtfully ; then, 
 as though he would cast the day and his 
 burdens from his mind, he repeated : " A tale, 
 is it ? By the Lord, my friend, I like your 
 coolness. But come along, let us go fill our 
 stomachs and digest the tale at the same 
 time." 
 
 Fetching our haversacks, therefore, we sought 
 the shade of a convenient tree, and after spread- 
 ing our lunch. Master Bacon said : " Now let us 
 hear the story, Vivian. Though Heaven grant 
 that it be soporific to my jaded soul, as " — he 
 added with a wink of his eye at Captain Eve- 
 lyn — " no doubt it will ! " 
 
 " It is scarce necessary to remind you, gen- 
 tlemen," I began, nothing daunted, "that the 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 283 
 
 first year of our late civil war was naught but 
 a series of victories for the royalists. So that 
 when Bristol, too, fell into their hands, a great 
 many of the Roundheads were sore dismayed. 
 It was in this wise, then, that a party of them 
 in command of my father came to lie one night 
 at a convenient tavern; and, no news of reas- 
 surance having come, they had lifted up their 
 voices in prayer, kneeling together before their 
 chairs circled about the tap-room. 
 
 " These observances being perforrried, their 
 captain retired to an adjoining room ; but he 
 had been absent only a few moments when a 
 fierce muttering, followed by a crash as of 
 chairs being thrown about, rose out of the 
 tap-room. 
 
 " Fearing that his party had been surrounded 
 and attacked, my father quickly threw open 
 the door, but at first sight he beheld only his 
 own men madly tearing at bits of paper and 
 grinding particles of plaster beneath their boot- 
 heels. 
 
 " ' How now, men ? ' cried he austerely. 
 ' What foolish riot is this ? ' 
 
 " ' Zis ! monsieur le capitaine,' cried a wiry, 
 dark-visaged Frenchman, rising from the floor 
 and shaking himself loose from the grasp 
 of a couple of burly Roundheads. 'Zat is 
 what I cry. Sanctus, monsieur ! see ! ' he con- 
 tinued, whilst he danced excitedly round a 
 heap of torn papers lying on the floor. ' Ze 
 
284 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 holy Pope and ze Virgin Mary both gone to ze 
 devil ! Satisfaction, monsieur ! Satisfaction ! ' 
 
 " ' Peace, you knave ! ' commanded the cap- 
 tain sternly. ' What would you with this 
 trumpery ? ' 
 
 " ' Trumpery, monsieur ! ' he echoed. ' Sa- 
 cre ! ' and his eyes flashed wickedly. But see- 
 ing the set look on my parent's countenance,, 
 he suddenly desisted and began wringing his 
 hands and whining piteously : ' A fortune, mon- 
 sieur, gone to ze devil ! Ten zousand Irish 
 troops and good Catholics, monsieur, have 
 come to fight for ze king. Peste ! ten zou- 
 sand devils, monsieur, were the same to me 
 now.' And so, between curses and solicitations 
 for satisfaction of the damage done him by the 
 soldiers breaking his crucifixes and destroying 
 his prints, he went on to tell how, hearing of the 
 landing of the Irish and the prevalence of popery 
 in the king's army, he had gathered up his 
 stock and hastily set out to reach their quarters. 
 
 " But this piece of news my father used to 
 say. General Bacon," I continued, "being the 
 first the Roundheads had heard of the landing 
 of the Irish, did more to nerve their arms and 
 band them together than any other circum- 
 stance at the time. The Irish being odious 
 and barbarous savages, and Parliament having 
 voted that no quarter should be shown them 
 in any action, the Roundheads turned about 
 and went into the next battle, fighting as they 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 285 
 
 never fought before for the preservation of 
 themselves and families against the atrocities 
 of the heathen." 
 
 " Thank God for the Roundheads, sir ! " 
 cried young Master Evelyn with a sudden 
 fervency of spirit; for though his fathers be- 
 fore him had been arrayed on the cavalier side, 
 the favour of the present generation was being 
 steadily estranged by the course of the second 
 Charles, and it would be scarcely a matter to 
 marvel at if this feeling should culminate in a 
 second civil war at some early period. 
 
 " And for the Irish likewise ! " rejoined the 
 general. Then after a second's thought, he 
 added, " Zounds ! had I foreseen this desertion, 
 the savages might have gone on scalping to 
 their heart's content ere ever I had lifted a 
 finger to drive them out." 
 
 "Yet, sir," urged Captain Evelyn, catching 
 the intent of my remarks, " a sudden Indian 
 outbreak, as Captain Vivian suggests, would 
 bring the men to your back again." 
 
 " But what of that, lad ? " cried the general 
 impatiently, "what of that? Are we to go 
 out and drive the savages back into the low 
 country in order to rouse the waning courage 
 of Virginia ? Bah ! this is childish." 
 
 " If you will pardon me, general," persisted 
 Evelyn, " I heard at Jamestown early this morn- 
 ing that the Susquehannocks were gathering to 
 the northward." 
 
286 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 "Impossible, sir! Yet tell me," he con- 
 tinued eagerly, " how heard you that ? " 
 
 " From a planter, sir, who came in with 
 Brent's men from the north of Gloucester." 
 
 "And had Brent heard the rumour, think 
 you r 
 
 "He must," answered Wright; "for the mat- 
 ter was being bruited freely among them when 
 I heard it." 
 
 " Then it is good news, gentlemen," cried 
 the general, with rising excitement. " Good 
 news ; yet, by the gods ! is it not pitiful that 
 men of Virginia should have to first wait to hear 
 the tale of a fresh massacre ere they dare take 
 oath to stand together, let come what may ? " 
 
 Bethinking himself, he exclaimed with a 
 sparkle of the eye : " A ruse de guerre ? Excel- 
 lent, my friend, and Heaven knows the rascals 
 deserve naught else for their desertion of me at 
 this crisis. But do you two arrange it between 
 yourselves," he continued, rising to his feet with 
 his wonted sprightliness ; " I shall harangue the 
 men a couple of hours hence." 
 
 It would be now nigh the hour of sunset. 
 Deciding quickly on a plan of action, we sepa- 
 rated and made our way from the midst with- 
 out attracting attention. As I mounted my 
 horse and rode slowly out to the northward, I 
 could see the men, the former army of Virginia, 
 still scattered in little groups here and there, 
 and each one intent only on the safety of him- 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 287 
 
 self the while he left the ranks deserted and 
 open for the devil to come take the hindmost. 
 So that I wondered for a moment, considering 
 the pass at which things had arrived, that Mas- 
 ter Bacon did not abandon them then and 
 there to their fate whilst he betook himself to 
 cover in some less dangerous land. 
 
 Spurring my horse into a gallop, I held on to 
 the northward, — Captain Evelyn having taken 
 a road leading somewhat more to the east, — 
 and as dusk was falling I sighted the York 
 River. Thence following the turn in the road 
 as it approached the water, I went on for about 
 a quarter-mile farther till I came to a path run- 
 ning off to a plantation, the buildings of which 
 I could discern through the gloom. 
 
 At this point, having turned out of the road 
 into the path, I was so unfortunate as to get 
 mired in a small creek as I followed the path 
 across a small ravine. This delayed me greatly, 
 although as my horse emerged panting and be- 
 smirched, it rather facilitated than otherwise the 
 success of the plan I was then engaged in, giv- 
 ing us the appearance of having ridden in great 
 haste over founderous roads. 
 
 Riding swiftly up to the house, I reined my 
 nag up at the door with a loud cry. And after 
 knocking sharply at the door with my riding- 
 switch, I had waited but a few moments ere 
 it was opened to me, and a boy of about six- 
 teen stood before me. 
 
288 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " Go call your father, my lad," I cried 
 hastily, "and be pleased to step lively." 
 
 " He's not here, sir," he answered shortly, 
 but after a manner so suspicious as to make 
 me believe he must be somewhere about the 
 place. 
 
 " Then go find him," I cried, exasperated at 
 his delay. " Quick ! before I put my switch 
 about your legs." 
 
 " But I tell you, sir, he's not at home," he 
 answered stubbornly, making as though he 
 would close the door in my face. 
 
 "Chut!" said I. "If not at home, then 
 where else can he be ? " 
 
 " He's doing service, sir," he replied, but in 
 a manner that displayed his fear of making 
 such an admission. 
 
 " Ah ! " said I in a different tone, seeing the 
 lad watching me furtively, as though I had, 
 perchance, come to call his father to an account- 
 ing. "And is he doing service for General 
 Bacon, or for the governor ? " 
 
 For a space he would not reply, at which I 
 commanded sharply, " Come, my lad, speak 
 up and have no fear ! " 
 
 "Well, sir," he answered at length, "my 
 father is at Middle Plantation with the army 
 of Virginia." 
 
 " That is well, my lad," I cried quickly, 
 " for I, too, am riding towards Middle Plan- 
 tation. The Indians have broken out to the 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 289 
 
 north of Gloucester, and I've ridden till my 
 horse is well-nigh foundered. Have you not 
 a nag you can loan me ? " 
 
 " Certainly, sir," he replied heartily, and 
 was for starting to fetch it when I called after 
 him, — 
 
 " Stay, my lad ! Do you mount yourself 
 and ride on ahead as swiftly as possible. 
 When you arrive at Middle Plantation, go 
 straight to your parent and say to him a 
 messenger from Gloucester sent you to give 
 warning of the Indians. Let him inform Cap- 
 tain Brent and his men." 
 
 With a ready assent, the boy was quickly 
 mounted and oflf" at a gallop towards Middle 
 Plantation, whilst I continued after him at a 
 leisurely pace. Coming to a cross-road, how- 
 ever, when about half-way back, I caught the 
 sound of galloping hoofs to my left and pres- 
 ently a horseman shot past me, riding at a 
 furious clip and shouting out, — 
 
 " The savages are murdering Gloucester ! 
 Fall in with us, sir ! To the army ! " 
 
 The words roared in my ears for an instant, 
 so that — there being never an occasion to alarm 
 the country for sport, and such a cry being ever 
 too fraught with remembrance of awful hap- 
 penings to admit of its being heard without 
 terror — I was almost on the point of spurring 
 my horse and dashing after him. But reflect- 
 ing quickly that this might only be some of 
 
290 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Captain Evelyn's work, I contented myself to 
 let the messenger carry his own news, whether 
 true or false ; albeit I quickened my pace some- 
 what in order to be in on time to witness its 
 effect. 
 
 Yet I remember that my thoughts travelled 
 that night faster than ray good nag's hoofs, 
 and they were thoughts that I would fain be 
 rid of to this day; for, being a lover of my 
 fellow-man, it does depress me greatly to recall 
 how many of our men had at that day to be 
 driven by a trick to take the oath that would 
 insure their own liberty. And it is bitter to 
 reflect that to some this word is naught save 
 an abstraction, the which they love to hearken 
 unto while some glib-tongued orator draws 
 the curtain and reveals the glorious vista for 
 a second's space, before their eyes again close 
 into their normal blindness. 
 
 Passing strange it is, too, that from all time 
 and among the least enlightened of races, whilst 
 liberty has been an abstraction, their religion 
 was never such. So that they have fought — 
 zounds, how have they not fought ! — for 
 this latter with such ardour and persistency 
 as naught else could inspire. And the worse 
 the religion, the harder they strike ; so that 
 I remember my father used to say that he 
 could always tell such of his men as were 
 true Christians at heart, by the way they 
 cracked their broadswords over the skulls of 
 
' Upon this platform I now recognized General Bacon. ' ' 
 — Page 29 1 . 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 291 
 
 the unchosen in the ranks of Charles the 
 First. 
 
 The night had fallen ere I arrived back at 
 Middle Plantation. Riding on to the scene 
 of the meeting, the young moon peeped its 
 crescent above the tops of the forest, shedding 
 but a vague light before me, till, coming out 
 upon the green, where huge bonfires had been 
 kindled, it was like stepping suddenly from 
 night into broad daylight. Yet the silence of 
 night hung over the scene as I entered, giving 
 a weird aspect to the dark figures standing in 
 a motionless mass before a platform that stood 
 level with their heads. 
 
 Upon this platform I now recognized Gen- 
 eral Bacon ; he having come to a pause in his 
 speech about the time of my arrival. But 
 now as I drew nigh, he began : " Men of Vir- 
 ginia, yours it is to declare whether you will 
 henceforth govern yourselves or continue to be 
 tricked by Sir William Berkeley. Consider 
 for a moment the homes for which you have 
 toiled and fought. Has Berkeley ever done 
 aught in their defence ? Or has he not, rather, 
 taking advantage of your struggles, deUberately 
 absented himself from your midst under the 
 pretext of his life being jeopardized by you ? 
 And with this paltry excuse will he seek your 
 undoing before the crown. What say you to 
 this, my men ? That you will meekly disperse 
 to your homes, duped, routed, and there await 
 
292 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the coming of English troops to drag you before 
 the governor with a halter round your necks ? " 
 
 A murmur beginning to ascend from the 
 crowd, which, taking it only for one of disaffec- 
 tion, he continued : " Think not that I speak 
 for my own ends. Heaven forfend that I 
 should be the one to lead you into peril, when 
 I seek naught at your hands save your own 
 good. Choose some other general if you mis- 
 doubt me. Go to him as you came to me when 
 your homes were being put to the torch and 
 your families massacred, and say, ' We name you 
 for our leader.' But this thing I charge you to 
 do : Take oath ! Take oath that shall solemnly 
 bind you together before God, maintaining your 
 rights like men — not like slaves — until they 
 are known and in justice granted by the king ! " 
 
 There was no mistaking now the commotion 
 in the crowd as it swayed and murmured con- 
 fusedly. Standing in its midst, I quickly caught 
 the key of its excite«ient, which was caused as 
 much by the bruiting of the report of the Indian 
 outbreak as by the general's speech. Yet each 
 exerted its own particular effect, and certain it 
 is that they did not extinguish each other in 
 passing. For, gathering force now as the speech 
 came to a pause, the murmur of the crowd rose 
 swiftly into a roar, and then broke out in a 
 wild cry of " The savages ! the savages ! " 
 
 But the general either heard not the cry 
 or dissembled mightily. For, not until the 
 
The Scene at Middle Plantation 293 
 
 Gloucester men drew up to the platform under 
 their leader, Captain Brent, and began to urge 
 the general to take quick action in their behalf, 
 did he reply. 
 
 " You damned cowards ! " he cried. " You 
 dare come to me with your troubles after 
 refusing to take oath like men ? Look ! " he 
 continued, spreading a roll of paper before 
 Brent's face, " you see here the names of all 
 composing the army of Virginia save your own 
 and that of your men. Have I not been urging 
 you since early morn to sign this roll ? And 
 now, 'fore God, sir ! I doubt not this be his 
 vengeance upon you for such cravenness ! " 
 
 " But our homes, general — our families ! " 
 I heard Brent urge. " What signifies the oath 
 now r 
 
 " And are your homes, your families, more 
 to you than our own ? By Heaven, man ! if 
 such be the feeling you have for us, in Glouces- 
 ter, then away with you and your men ! Begone ! 
 I say. We want none on this roll save such 
 as stand for Virginia ! " 
 
 At this plain talk some of Brent's men began 
 to murmur, and Brent himself flushed mightily 
 as the words struck him in the teeth. The 
 general's party, moreover, such as had already 
 subscribed to the oath, rallied quickly to his 
 support, so that Brent's men were forced to 
 give way, although with a bad grace. Yet the 
 force of the Indians who had descended into 
 
294 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Gloucester being greatly exaggerated, — as is 
 the tendency of such reports, albeit this one, as 
 may be inferred, lost little in my repeating, — 
 the men from that shire, numbering less than 
 three hundred, were sore put to it whither to 
 turn. But, after a hasty conference together, 
 the general all the time preserving a lofty dis- 
 dain. Captain Brent marched up to the plat- 
 form and signed his name, and was followed in 
 turn by all of his command. And so the ruse 
 was effected. 
 
Chapter XVII 
 In Accomack 
 
 WE made ready, then, to march into 
 Gloucester that very night. All hav- 
 ing taken the oath save Sir Henry 
 Chicheley, who persisted upon deporting him- 
 self like a balky mule, and so was placed under 
 arrest. And at this, I remember, he was greatly 
 incensed ; being left behind with a corporal and 
 two men to escort him backward into James- 
 town, to the shame of himself and in disgrace 
 with all right-minded people. 
 
 And now a strange thing occurred. We 
 had travelled steadily onward throughout the 
 night, with the ostensible intent of doing battle 
 with the Indians when we should come up with 
 them. But this, I conjectured, might not occur 
 for many a mile, the report of their presence 
 having been started — as I have stated — by 
 Captain Evelyn and myself But shortly be- 
 fore sunrise we were startled by a man's riding 
 swiftly towards us, and, as he came up, recog- 
 nizing our leader, he gave a great shout. Upon 
 this the general, seeing he had news for us, 
 brought the column to a halt. 
 
 Doffing his cap respectfully as he came up, 
 
 295 
 
296 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 he cried out, addressing the general : " I beg 
 you, sir, quicken your march ! The savages 
 have surrounded the home of Master Pierson 
 ten miles to the northward." 
 
 And so it is ofttimes with prophecy, for out 
 of our necessities had come this substance. 
 And whilst Captain Evelyn gave me a knowing 
 look as we both glanced furtively at the general, 
 I smiled to think how easy the first step, and 
 how slight the transition from a liar to a prophet, 
 so that — as in most sins, it is said — one may 
 descend from one to the other with scarce a 
 twinge of the conscience. 
 
 " Forward, march ! " came the sharp com- 
 mand, and we were off at a quick pace down 
 the road. 
 
 But I will chronicle no more Indian affairs. 
 Albeit, so sore beset were we in those days that 
 one could scarce turn round, even as I now 
 can hardly take up my pen, without running 
 full tilt into the midst of some horrible butchery 
 that one would fain avoid. Therefore shall 
 I take leave of this matter by stating that the 
 army arrived at Master Pierson's in time to 
 put the savages to flight, and that in a manner 
 so thoroughly as to render further outbreaks 
 of this band highly improbable. 
 
 A few days later the army was again quar- 
 tered in Jamestown. The colony now being 
 without a governor, the duties of the office 
 devolved upon the general of the army until 
 
In Accomack 297 
 
 such a time as the burgesses could meet and 
 appoint one to act in his stead. For the gen- 
 eral's time was occupied with the affairs of the 
 army. Appreciating as he did the importance 
 of keeping his men thoroughly disciplined and 
 occupied in order to keep down the spirit of 
 disaffection, a campaign was planned, soon to 
 be put into effect, against the Indians infesting 
 the shores of the Appomattox. 
 
 Matters were in this wise, then, as I sat one 
 evening in Master Lawrence's ordinary, chat- 
 ting with my friend and host, when General 
 Bacon entered. No word had come from 
 Accomack, whither the governor had gone, 
 and, hearing us speak of this subject, the gen- 
 eral said, — 
 
 " It gives me great concern, my friends, that 
 Berkeley should be left to pout and plot to the 
 comfort of his tricky heart over on the penin- 
 sula. Can you not devise some way to thwart 
 him .'' " 
 
 " We might sink his ships and cut off his 
 base of supplies, your Excellency," suggested 
 Master Lawrence, in mock seriousness. 
 
 " Tut, man ! " said the general ; " too much 
 has been done already to cut him off rather 
 than hold him with us. No more of that, 
 I pray you ! " 
 
 After a moment's thought. Master Lawrence 
 said, " Then why not, general, send after the 
 old rascal, and fetch him back ? " 
 
298 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " In sooth, gentlemen, such has occurred to 
 me," replied the general ; " yet I can hit on no 
 way to effect it." 
 
 " Why, my friend," replied Master Lawrence, 
 who was never at a loss in such service, " when 
 the burgesses convene on the morrow pass a res- 
 olution that whereas Sir William Berkeley has 
 deliberately removed himself from his divine 
 office as the king's vicegerent, and whereas his 
 present vacation and residence in Accomack be- 
 ing inimical to ourselves, we do beseech his 
 return, &c., &c." 
 
 "Ah, very pretty, my friend," said the general 
 incredulously. "And if he would be so ungra- 
 cious as to decline this invitation of the burgesses, 
 — and it is more than likely, — then what ? " 
 
 " Why, then, sir," answered Lawrence with 
 courteous facility, " you are the general of the 
 army and have supreme jurisdiction." 
 
 " I know, I know, my good friend," answered 
 the general. " I am to say ' come ' and they 
 come, or ' go ' and they go. Yet am I in doubt 
 what to propose in this matter." Then after a 
 pause he went on : " Troops will be here from 
 England in a few months, until which time 
 Berkeley may well be left with his followers in 
 Accomack. Come, say you not so ? " 
 
 "Belike, sir," replied Lawrence, seeing the 
 general's perplexity. "Yet I should propiti- 
 ate his Majesty by at least inviting his agent's 
 return." 
 
In Accomack 299 
 
 "Well, then, Vivian," he cried with some 
 impatience, turning to me, " will you carry a 
 message to Berkeley ? " 
 
 Though it was a commission I would gladly 
 have avoided, I could do naught save reply, 
 " Certainly, sir, if such be your pleasure." 
 
 Whence it was that on the following day, the 
 resolution having been passed by the burgesses 
 to the effect of Master Lawrence's suggestion, 
 I was formally commissioned to bear it to his 
 Excellency. In taking leave of the general, 
 however, I was touched at his solicitude for 
 me. Handing me a letter, he said, "You will 
 see, Vivian, that I have addressed this to 
 Colonel Ludwell, of whom I know you have 
 the right to expect naught save a courteous 
 reception in view of the timely service you 
 rendered him at Curies." 
 
 Thanking him for his thoughtfulness in my 
 behalf, I bowed, as he continued, — 
 
 " But should he or his Excellency so far for- 
 get himself as to take advantage of the truce 
 you carry, or cause any harm to befall you, by 
 Heaven! my, friend, I'll hang the first officer 
 of theirs that we catch, though it be Colonel 
 Ludwell himself! " And with a warm clasp 
 of the hand he bade me God-speed. 
 
 There being no vessel lying ready at hand 
 in the river, arrangements were made for me 
 to cross over with a party of fishermen who 
 were returning to Accomack that very night. 
 
300 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Leaving shortly before sunset, we ran rapidly 
 down the James with the wind astern ; and 
 though it was naught but a clumsy craft and 
 my companions men ignorant of all save their 
 calling, yet I did greatly enjoy the prospect of 
 the green banks on either side, and the dancing 
 motion of the boat as it careened to each fitful 
 gust and buried its nose in the tide. For to one 
 to whom motion in any of its varied forms is 
 a sensuous delight, there can be little, to my 
 mind, at all comparable to the joy of sailing. 
 Nor is such delight a whit the less, if it be your 
 privilege to sail between sunset and darkness 
 with a straining sheet upon the bosom of a lake 
 or river whose green shores are in easy view. 
 
 Darkness fell, with no sound to break the 
 silence save the murmuring water rushing past 
 the boat. Turning to the skipper, whose pipe 
 glowed in fitful meditation, I asked if he could 
 name the hour of our arrival. 
 
 " By nine o'clock, sir, belike," he replied. 
 
 " And the governor's quarters, my man, can 
 you set me ashore near there ? " 
 
 " Within an arrow's flight, sir," said he ; 
 " leastways I could have done so three days 
 back. But he's a restless body, and peevish 
 as an old hen without her chicks, so the Lord 
 only knows where he be at this minute." 
 
 Whereat, apprehensive at his words, I asked 
 quickly if he thought the governor intended 
 leaving Accomack. 
 
In Accomack 301 
 
 "He would that, sir," he replied ; " only he 
 dare not trust himself in the crazy old hulk 
 he came over in. But he keeps a signal flying 
 at the point, where he hopes to hail some 
 passing English craft." 
 
 I conjectured, therefore, that I should arrive 
 in good season ; and, curling myself up in the 
 stern-sheets, I was soon cradled into a sound 
 sleep, from which I was scarcely aroused till 
 after sunrise. But the wind had fallen during 
 the night, and the Chesapeake lay calm and 
 sparkling in the morning light. Only at inter- 
 vals the vagrant breeze filled the sail for a 
 moment and then died away, leaving it flap- 
 ping in indolent protest. So it was somewhat 
 later than the hour named by the skipper ere 
 we finally hove in sight of the sandy beach, 
 and discerned the banners flaffing above the 
 quarters of this bastard stem of the regular 
 army of Virginia. 
 
 Running ashore at a point half a mile below, 
 where our landing was concealed by a sandy 
 bluff, I paid the skipper the amount agreed 
 upon, and was leaving him, when he called after 
 me, " Should you want our service again, sir, 
 you can usually find some of us round the 
 cabin over yonder," pointing to a log hut a 
 little distance back from the shore. 
 
 Not knowing what contingency might arise, 
 I thanked him and passed on. But, coming 
 shortly to an out-sentry, I answered carelessly 
 
302 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 when challenged that I had come to speak 
 with Colonel Ludwell. The man gaped at 
 me a moment in surprise ; there being none in 
 Accomack save fishermen outside their lines, he 
 may have misdoubted that I was the van of 
 General Bacon's army which was about to 
 encompass them. 
 
 "Colonel Ludwell, did you say, sir?" he 
 asked presently. 
 
 "Surely, guard," said I. "Come, show me 
 to him." 
 
 At this moment an orderly, stepping out of 
 a cabin below and seeing the guard holding 
 converse with me, approached and asked 
 sharply what my business was. Whereat, re- 
 peating that I wished to see Colonel Ludwell, 
 after a short deliberation he said, " Very well, 
 sir ; be so good as to come with me." 
 
 Thereupon I was conducted through the 
 encampment to a building of fair size stand- 
 ing somewhat remote from the other quarters. 
 Entering the doorway, the orderly knocked on 
 a door opening to the right of the hall, and, 
 receiving a response to enter, he held the door 
 open for me to pass in, calling out, " A gentle- 
 man who wishes to see you. Colonel Ludwell." 
 
 The colonel was seated at a table writing, 
 with his back towards me as I entered. Turn- 
 ing carelessly round in his chair, he suddenly 
 recognized me and sprang to his feet, crying : 
 " Good heavens. Master Vivian ! what brings 
 
In Accomack 303 
 
 you here ? You of all men ! " Then, with- 
 out giving me time to reply, he added : " Tell 
 me, my friend, is it about Mistress Langdon 
 you have come ? Has harm befallen her ? " 
 
 I remember that it pleased me greatly to 
 reply, "No, Colonel Ludwell, it is not on 
 her account I am come." 
 
 " Ah !" said he, " it joys me to hear you say 
 so, for I now infer that she is safe at Curies. 
 But what the devil, sir," he continued, step- 
 ping across to the door and fastening it, " do 
 you mean by thrusting your neck into danger 
 in this manner ? " 
 
 We were alone, the orderly having gone 
 out as I entered. " I am come, sir," I began, 
 " with a letter to his Excellency from the wor- 
 shipful burgesses and general of the army." 
 
 " Humph ! " said he, " and to what pur- 
 port ? " 
 
 " To solicit his return to Jamestown, sir, 
 with all his following," I replied, " and promis- 
 ing protection and dutiful allegiance to him- 
 self" 
 
 " Go on," he said ; " and what more ? " 
 
 " That is all, sir," I replied in some wonder- 
 ment at his manner. 
 
 " But you say nothing," he continued, 
 " about Masters Bacon, Lawrence, and Drum- 
 mond. Come ! tell me, what do they say ? " 
 
 "Why, sir," I replied, "they say naught 
 especially, albeit it was chiefly to their solici- 
 
304 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 tation that I was sent with this truce to his 
 Excellency." 
 
 " Truce, man ! " he cried contemptuously ; 
 " his Excellency recognizes no truce from 
 rebels ! " 
 
 "What's that, sir?" I retorted, in swift 
 anger at his discourtesy as I heard the word 
 thrown at me in reproach for the first time. 
 
 " Nay, my friend," said the colonel quietly, 
 " I meant no reproach to you, though, were the 
 messenger any one save yourself, I should say 
 you were as soaked in rebellion as Dick's hat- 
 band." 
 
 " And therein. Colonel Ludwell," said I 
 after his own manner, " greater men than 
 you or I may perchance differ. However," 
 I continued, seeing him bite his lip in anger 
 at my words, " I wish you to deliver, if it so 
 please you, this despatch to his Excellency the . 
 while I await his reply." 
 
 " Impossible, sir ! " said he curtly. 
 
 " What ! " I cried, thinking I had not heard 
 aright ; " you refuse to be a mediator at a time 
 like this?" 
 
 " I do, sir," he answered. 
 
 " Then, sir," I replied, my voice raucous 
 with feeling, " may Virginia's woes henceforth 
 lie on your own head ! I have the honour. 
 Colonel Ludwell, to wish you good-morning." 
 
 He bowed as I turned to the door ; then, 
 bethinking himself swiftly, he said, " One mo- 
 
In Accomack 305 
 
 ment, sir, till I call my orderly to conduct you 
 outside of the lines." 
 
 " I am obliged to you," said I coldly, " but 
 there is no occasion to trouble yourself, as I 
 must first see his Excellency." 
 
 " Ah," he sneered, " do by all means see his 
 Excellency, and be honoured by being the first 
 man hanged in this rebellion. He will no 
 doubt be pleased to see you, sir, — the third 
 door down the hall to your left." So, whilst 
 he held the door open and smiled at me in a 
 vafrous way that I little liked, — and for which 
 supercilious punctilio I hoped some day to 
 have back at him, — I inclined my head slightly 
 and passed out. 
 
 But I had taken perhaps only a dozen strides 
 down the hall when he cried after me, " Stay ! 
 Captain Vivian, one moment." Turning slightly 
 about on my heel, I waited for him as he 
 started to come towards me. " Sir," he said, 
 " as you are bound to stick your neck in the 
 noose, you may as well give me the message. 
 Come ! hand it me and I will place it before his 
 Excellency." 
 
 Bowing slightly, and without a word, I placed 
 
 > the scroll in his hands. He looked at it for 
 
 a moment, picked at the seal, and frowned. 
 
 " Humph ! " he said ; " and where may you be 
 
 found. Captain Vivian ? " 
 
 " If it please you, sir, I will await his reply 
 here," I answered. 
 
3o6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " No, it does not please me," he said hastily, 
 "and I greatly distrust it being to your advan- 
 tage to do so." 
 
 Having no key to his meaning, I could do 
 naught but stare at him, upon which he hesi- 
 tated and made out as though he half repented 
 of his intention to assist me. So that I an- 
 swered : " My advantage, sir, has naught to 
 do with the matter. Pray be so kind as to 
 place the scroll you now hold before his Ex- 
 cellency the while I await his answer." 
 
 " Very well," he replied, " it shall be done, 
 Captain Vivian. But as his Excellency is now 
 busily occupied, it may be several hours ere he 
 can consider this matter. I beg you, therefore, 
 to wait outside the lines, and let my orderly 
 bring you the reply at the spot where he found 
 you this morning." 
 
 And so, though I little liked the delay, I 
 could only bow my assent and pass out until 
 the time set, the third hour after noon. 
 
 Returning to the hut which the fishermen 
 had pointed out to me, I was fain to put up 
 with the hospitality they generously extended, 
 until the time would come for my departure. 
 But it was with great impatience and much in- 
 dignation, as I thought of how the message had 
 fared thus far, that I made out to wait. For 
 what manner of business, forsooth, could his 
 Excellency be so absorbed in as to make his 
 possible reconciliation with the army of but 
 
In Accomack 307 
 
 slight import ? And what meant that specific 
 inquiry of Colonel Ludwell's relative to General 
 Bacon and Masters Lawrence and Drummond ? 
 Nothing good, I conjectured; nor were my 
 misgivings appeased by the low tones of the 
 fishermen round me, who, knowing naught of 
 the purpose of my mission, were muttering in 
 disaffection at the governor's residence among 
 them. 
 
 " His Excellency be that peevish," one of 
 them was saying, " that when I took the morn- 
 ing's catch to his cook he came strutting round 
 the cabin with his staiF swung straight out and 
 his back bent backwards like a chief's bow. 
 Appearing to know me, — seeing as how I've 
 been going there twice a day, — he came straight 
 up to where I stood talking with the cook." 
 
 " ' Fish ? ' says he, sniffing the air hke a fine 
 lady. 
 
 " ' Yes, your Excellency,' says I, ducking my 
 head, ' if it so please you.' 
 
 " ' Please me ! ' says he, ' please me, you 
 rascal ! Have I not been faring on this dis- 
 gustful refuse for a fortnight past ? Begone ! 
 you son of Masaniello ! ' — that's what he called 
 me, mates — ' I doubt not you're in league 
 with the rebels to undo me ! ' 
 
 " So I ups with my basket and steers for home. 
 Howbeit," he continued, puffing soberly at his 
 pipe, " if that old turkey-cock chooses famine 
 to good fish, it be his own doings." 
 
3o8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 After a brief pause my friend, the skipper, 
 said, "It's a great pity, though ; for the gov- 
 ernor and his soldiers do eat a sight of fish, and 
 pay good money." 
 
 " Drat their money, I say, and the fish, 
 too ! " retorted a youth. " With them out of 
 the way, we could go on with our trading." 
 
 " Sh ! " and they glanced over to where I 
 was sitting, and then went on talking, but in 
 tones so low I could not catch their significancy. 
 So that, seeing they distrusted me, and that 
 they were honest fellows enough, from whom I 
 could suffer no inconveniences by taking them 
 into my confidence, I walked over to where 
 they were engaged in mending their nets. 
 
 " Give no heed to me, men," said I reassur- 
 ingly. " I came not on your affairs, but would 
 have you tell me what you have learned of the 
 governor's intentions ? " 
 
 At this the young knave who had spoken 
 so inhospitably of Sir William's presence, re- 
 plied, "In good sooth, sir, we know little — 
 the more's the pity! — save that an officer said 
 to me only yesternight that they would belike 
 remain till Christmas." 
 
 " Till Christmas ! " I exclaimed in dismay. 
 " But will not their supplies run out ? " 
 
 " They would, sir," he answered ; " but their 
 ship ventured on a forage last night, across to 
 Yorktown. If it makes port before sinking, 
 they will likely be well supplied for a space." 
 
In Accomack 309 
 
 " And the Adam and Eve ? " I asked, seeing 
 that he was well informed of the happenings 
 round about, and wondering where his Majesty's 
 ship might be in this exigent. "You know, 
 •mayhap, where she has gone ? " 
 
 " Surely, sir," he replied readily enough ; 
 " she is standing off the Carolinas watching 
 for traders, but is liable to call here at any 
 moment." 
 
 Bethinking myself quickly that the present 
 time, when his Excellency was both short of 
 rations and a serviceable ship, was of a nice 
 propitiousness for the attainment of my mis- 
 sion, I thanked the men heartily and took my 
 leave. As I went on to the rendezvous, it was 
 with a hopeful tread, I remember, and the 
 reflection that the turbulency of Virginia was 
 shortly to cease. With the savages routed 
 and driven out, there would be no more taxes 
 imposed for the maintenance of worthless 
 forts, so that the disbandment of the army 
 might safely follow upon his Excellency's 
 return. For my heart sought peace ; and why, 
 forsooth, should aught but peace obtain in so 
 resourceful a land ? Even Sir William Berke- 
 ley, treacherous as he had shown himself to 
 be in the past, must retain some vestige of 
 honour intact; or, if not, he might surely 
 delight in the novelty of such acquisition ere 
 the blare of the trumpet summoned him to a 
 long parade-rest in review to posterity. 
 
3IO Vivian of Virginia 
 
 " A message for you, Captain Vivian," said 
 the orderly, as he saluted and handed me a 
 missive. 
 
 " Ah ! and what's this ? " said I uneasily, as 
 he handed me back the scroll as well. 
 
 " I do not know, sir," he answered cour- 
 teously ; " Colonel Ludwell ordered me to give 
 it you." 
 
 Thanking him for his attendance, I turned 
 back in the direction I had just come. But it 
 was with grave misgivings that I glanced at 
 the scroll, and as I examined it closer I saw 
 that the seal had not been broken. Where- 
 upon I looked at the address of the missive 
 handed me, which I thought was intended for 
 General Bacon, and read my own name 
 instead ! 
 
 Breaking the seal, I read, — 
 
 " Sir, — On second thoughts I must refuse to 
 present this scroll to his Excellency, governor 
 of Virginia. Believe me, sir, it would avail 
 nothing and cause only mishap to yourself, 
 whom I am under some obligation to protect. 
 Having informed my men to arrest you on 
 sight if you again venture within our lines, I 
 remain, sir," — and with a glance at the sig- 
 nature I stood fixed in mingled anger and 
 amazement. 
 
Chapter XVIII 
 A Truce to His Excellency 
 
 IT is galling to taste defeat, and it is scarcely- 
 less so to record ; yet I hold that failure is 
 no proof of unfitness, there being ofttimes 
 counter circumstances impossible to surmount. 
 And despite the fact that I have tasted my 
 share of the bitterness of failure, I am proud 
 to say that I have ever felt in debt to the world, 
 which gives so much and receives but a scant 
 return at the hands of most of us. Wherefore 
 it is that a gentleman should ever speak with 
 equal frankness of his success or defeat ; seeing 
 that by one's failures and half-successes he 
 derives much valuable experience that is inval- 
 uable to such as come after him; the which, I 
 hold, is a thing that all generous and high- 
 minded souls should never cease rendering up 
 prayers for to Him who is the supreme instru- 
 ment of it all. For what avail the curses ? 
 Albeit there can be no harm done if one, even 
 whilst praying, grasps his hilt the tighter and 
 takes solemn oath that henceforth no man shall 
 foil him in the accomphshment of any worthy 
 object lest he would feel the prick of your point. 
 It was in this mood, then, that I once more 
 
 3" 
 
312 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 spread out the crumpled paper and read those 
 words with their strange mixture of gratitude 
 and treachery, so that I found myself cursing 
 him roundly one moment and thanking him 
 for naught the next. And it was in this wise 
 that I learned when on the king's business, or 
 that of other high functionary, to waste no time 
 and place no reliance on the intervention of 
 courtiers, but to carry my petition straight up 
 to the presence and there await my fate. 
 
 To this intent I again sought refuge among 
 the fishermen until night, believing that then 
 I might easily find my way within their lines 
 and so place my petition directly before his Ex- 
 cellency. But in this I was deceived. There 
 being no work of consequence for the governor's 
 guard. Colonel Ludwell improved the occasion 
 to keep his men thoroughly drilled, until they 
 became — as I repeatedly saw from a safe dis- 
 tance — as nicely disciplined a lot of men as any 
 oflicer would care to inspect. So that I prowled 
 round the camp all that evening without dis- 
 covering any point where I might safely run the 
 guard. And the next night my success was no 
 better ; so, after vainly endeavouring for several 
 days to succeed alone, I perforce saw fit to ask 
 one of the fishermen to give me his assistance. 
 
 Beckoning Master Thomas, the free-trader, 
 aside, I briefly explained what I required. 
 
 " An easy matter, sir," he replied, " seeing 
 that their ship has not returned from York- 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 313 
 
 town. A bit of tobacco will open the way, 
 whilst you slip through in the dark." 
 
 Going to a point nearest his Excellency's 
 quarters, I waited at a safe distance behind and 
 watched my chance whilst the smuggler hailed 
 the sentry and held him in a moment's con- 
 verse. Then, when the latter's back was turned, 
 I passed swiftly by them without being chal- 
 lenged, and went on towards the house. The 
 hour being past ten o'clock, I apprehended 
 little difficulty now in gaining an audience ; and, 
 knowing the door of his Excellency's room 
 that had been pointed out to me by Colonel 
 Ludwell, I hoped that I should have merely 
 to knock and it would be opened to me. 
 
 In this surmise, however, I was quickly dis- 
 turbed. For as soon as I entered the hallway, 
 — which was only after a swift glance adown 
 its darksome confines, — I observed a guard, 
 as he passed beneath a flare, pacing slowly tow- 
 ards me. Turning cautiously, I stepped softly 
 back out of the doorway and waited a second 
 in the shadow of the house. He came to the 
 door and looked out, perchance only as a relief 
 from his duty, or fancying he had seen some 
 one, then turned, and I heard his footsteps 
 slowly receding down the hall. 
 
 For several moments I stood there, whilst 
 the guard came and went, vainly bethinking 
 myself of some means to evade him. Finally, 
 time being precious to me, — fearing that his 
 
314 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Excellency might soon be on the point of re- 
 tiring if he had not already done so, — the next 
 time the guard approached and turned to re- 
 trace his beat, risking everything to chance, I 
 entered and followed after him. 
 
 Keeping about a dozen paces in the rear, I 
 stepped with infinite caution in time to his own 
 drowsy footfalls, but questioning, as I went on, 
 if it were not a safer plan to pass swiftly to him 
 and muffle my cloak over his head. Having 
 no means of securing him, however, even if I 
 succeeded in preventing an outcry, he would 
 likely create such a disturbance as would expose 
 me. So I put this idea quickly aside. Step by 
 step, and I was within half a dozen paces of the 
 door ; the guard being about the same distance 
 from the end of his beat down the hall. Reach- 
 ing the door just as he was about to turn, I 
 lifted the latch softly and, by good luck, the 
 door yielded and I passed cautiously within. 
 
 An old man, his snowy locks falling in 
 scholarly disorder over his head and shoulders, 
 was sitting at a table on which candles were 
 flaring, engaged in writing as I entered. Pages 
 of manuscript, on which the ink was yet pale, 
 lay scattered before him, and a pile of tomes, 
 reaching level to his chair, stood by him on the 
 floor. It was with no difficulty then, although 
 his back was towards me, that I made out to 
 recognize Sir William Berkeley, and to infer 
 that, even in Accomack and the thick of his 
 
"I caused him to turn and look up at me in surprise." 
 — Page 315. 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 315 
 
 troubles, he had not failed to bring his house- 
 hold gods along with him. 
 
 So absorbed in his work was he — mayhap 
 an essay or some bitter sophistry addressed to 
 the king in denunciation of his enemies — that 
 he failed to hear me enter. Whereupon, clear- 
 ing my voice and stepping somewhat heavily 
 towards him, I caused him to turn and look 
 up at me in surprise as I came into the light. 
 
 " Well, sir ! " he exclaimed in a voice be- 
 tween wonder and anger, "and who granted 
 you permission to intrude ? " 
 
 Bowing courteously, I answered, " Pardon 
 me, your Excellency ; I am come on an occa- 
 sion too weighty to delay in seeking permis- 
 sion." And, whilst he gasped in astonishment 
 at my audacity, I placed the scroll gently be- 
 fore him. 
 
 To my own surprise, he glanced at it, but with 
 an ill-favoured expression in which he vainly 
 endeavoured to hide, withal, a peevish inquisi- 
 tiveness. " Humph ! " he sniffed, glancing at 
 the seal, " some precious document, 'fore God." 
 But upon the gad, and with much arrogant 
 bluster as though he would fain be quit of it 
 all, he snatched it up and spread it open before 
 him. Howbeit, as I watched him in the act, see- 
 ing the shaggy brows descend and knit together 
 in a frown, whilst the thin lips grew tightly com- 
 pressed after the manner I had observed at 
 Master Bacon's trial before the Council, I 
 
3i6 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 greatly feared me that his Excellency's temper 
 was unheavenly and portentous. 
 
 " You are Master Vivian, I believe," he said 
 without looking up. 
 
 " Yes, your Excellency," I answered, inclin- 
 ing my head respectfully, though he did not 
 look at me. 
 
 " And do you know aught of my niece ? " 
 he asked in the same manner. 
 
 "Yes, your Excellency, she is well and 
 safe at Curies," I answered, wondering why 
 Colonel Ludwell had failed to advise him to 
 that extent, even though he were obliged to 
 make known his encounter with me. 
 
 " Ah," he answered deliberately, ignoring the 
 petition whilst he waited a space. Then, look- 
 ing up at me and his eyes snapping angrily, 
 he continued, " Well, Master Vivian, I am ex- 
 tremely glad to see you." 
 
 I bowed, muttering thickly, " You honour 
 me, your Excellency." Albeit, I liked not 
 his hard ironical tone. 
 
 " Twice you have foiled me, sir," he con- 
 tinued passionately, " and now that you have 
 come with this insufferable petition, I shall let 
 affairs take their rightful course." 
 
 " You do not accept the worshipful burgesses' 
 petition, your Excellency ? " I asked, though my 
 heart sank at the futile question. 
 
 " Accept it ! " he retorted fiercely. " I accept 
 naught from rebels, sirrah ; and, to prove to 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 317 
 
 you and your crew that such ye are, you shall 
 be hanged to-morrow morning ! " 
 
 Whereupon he sprang to his feet and made 
 as though he would go to the door to call the 
 guard. But, seeing that I was in for it, I 
 quickly chose that if I were to hang it should 
 not be without reason. 
 
 " Stop, your Excellency ! " I said firmly. 
 " I prythee stand where you are ! " 
 
 He obeyed, but out of astonishment, I 
 opine, whilst he gasped out : " You fool ! You 
 adventurous knave ! You shall be hanged 
 within the hour ! " 
 
 " Not without violating the truce I came 
 under, your Excellency," I answered stoutly, 
 though in a voice so pitched that if the guard 
 heard aught, it should only be the voice of Sir 
 William Berkeley, perchance, spouting the lines 
 of his favourite play. 
 
 Despite his age, however, he was quick as 
 a cat ; and, ere I understood the movement, 
 maddened by my defiance of his supremacy, 
 he had picked up his sword lying on the 
 table ; so that I perforce drew in hasty de- 
 fence. Whereupon he struck at me in good 
 earnest ; but, though he was quick and skilled, 
 his wrist was weak from age and slack training, 
 and I sent his rapier flying to the ceiling in scant 
 space. And there was no halting now. Ere 
 he had time to cry out, I had caught him in 
 my arms, and, with one hand clapped tightly 
 
3i8 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 over his mouth, and forced to forget the rever- 
 ence due his silver age, I deposited him in his 
 chair somewhat more sudden than was his habit, 
 I trust — but it was an ill occasion for courtesy. 
 Then, with his own delicately scented kerchief, 
 picked off the table, I proceeded to gag him 
 and secure him to his chair, yet not without 
 felicitating myself whilst doing so, I remember, 
 on that which hitherto had proved an obstacle 
 to my mission, namely, his Excellency's ex- 
 clusiveness and the strict orders he was wont 
 to give against interruption ; for so far no alarm 
 had been sounded. 
 
 Zounds ! how he glowered at me ! For this 
 I should hang, and that speedily, unless I could 
 effect my escape. To this end I quickly tried the 
 outer door. But it was locked, and the key was 
 not in its hole. I searched the table, scatter- 
 ing the manuscript lying there into greater dis- 
 order than before, but to no advantage. Again 
 I sprang to the door and tried my strength 
 upon it ; but as it swung inwards I could not 
 force it, and, thick-battened affair that it was, 
 I saw no vulnerable point in it at any place. 
 
 Above the door, however, was a transom 
 with iron bars set vertically and somewhat wide 
 apart. By removing one of these bars, I con- 
 jectured that I might squeeze through. Bring- 
 ing the table up to the door, I quickly mounted 
 upon it and began wrenching at the centrempst 
 bar. And finally, with the leverage of my sword 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 319 
 
 hilt, I freed the lower end and swung it up out 
 of the way, and was now ready to pass through. 
 
 Unbuckling my sword, I passed it through 
 the transom, and had grasped the bars pre- 
 paratory to swinging myself up. But at this 
 moment I heard a sound in the room, — first 
 a gasp, then a sputter, and then a loud, angry 
 cry of " Help ! guard ! " and I knew at once 
 that his Excellency's kerchief had been of too 
 delicate a texture to last. 
 
 In another moment I should have been 
 through the transom ; but this time my luck 
 turned against me. I had squeezed one shoul- 
 der safely through, when the bar that I had 
 sprung upwards fell down and held me as in a 
 trap. At the same moment, the guard sprang 
 into the room with a loud cry, and ere I could 
 extricate myself from my position, he had caught 
 me by the legs and dragged me to the floor 
 with a violence that stunned me. 
 
 When I came to, two burly fellows were 
 mounted on my chest, and my hands and feet 
 were secured. His Excellency, his face white 
 with anger at the indignity I had put upon 
 him, was walking the floor excitedly, and cry- 
 ing out : " A rope ! a rope, guards ! Let the 
 damned rascal be hanged this minute ! " 
 
 The room was filling now, and everything 
 swam before me dizzily as I gazed dimly round 
 and realized my danger. I have only the con- 
 sciousness remaining of rough handHng, and a 
 
320 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 string of ultra-modern oaths from the ultra- 
 classic tongue of Sir William Berkeley as he 
 continued to cry his wants to the guard. Yet 
 it came as a brief respite to me when one of 
 them answered, "We have no rope, your 
 Excellency ! " 
 
 "Then bring chains," he cried; "he deserves 
 to be hanged in chains if ever a rascal did ! " 
 
 " Nor chains either, your Excellency," an- 
 swered the same voice in the same tone. 
 
 " How so ? you knaves ! How so ? When 
 we have a rebellion to quell, you have neither 
 rope nor chains ? " 
 
 " We have them, your Excellency, but they 
 are aboard the ship," answered the guard again. 
 
 " Zounds ! you fools ! you call that having 
 them ? " he cried. " The next we shall hear 
 will be that our ship is taken by the rebels, 
 whilst I wait here and eat fish till some mur- 
 derous knave is the death of me ! Where's 
 Colonel Ludwell ? " 
 
 "At your service, your Excellency," answered 
 the colonel respectfully, whose voice I heard, 
 but whom I could not see. 
 
 " How did this scoundrel run the guard, sir ? " 
 
 " It shall be investigated, your Excellency," 
 replied the colonel. 
 
 " Do so, sir ; I command you to do so ! " 
 continued his Excellency passionately. " And, 
 hark ye ! Colonel Ludwell — " 
 
 "Yes, your Excellency." 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 321 
 
 " Buy a rope, sir, — a league of it ! and keep 
 it convenient to hang every rebel in Virginia 
 higher than Haman ! Away with the knave, 
 guard ! See that he is hanged an hour after 
 sunrise, if you have to fetch a rope from the 
 fishermen ! " 
 
 Following these instructions, I was dragged 
 to a room opening off of the same hall-way, 
 hurriedly thrown in without my hands or feet 
 being freed, and the door slammed and secured 
 behind me. For a space I lay there on the 
 floor, too dazed to stir, the darkness ponderous 
 round me. There was no window, no chink in 
 the walls nor crack in the door, to admit so 
 much as the dim light of a star or of the flare 
 burning in the hall-way. Had not the thongs 
 begun cutting my wrists, I might have lain 
 there, too overcome to feel the desire of resist- 
 ance. But as I slowly began to loosen them, 
 the effort of doing so restored me to myself 
 and dulled the sense of my impending fate. 
 So that, after freeing my feet as well, I made 
 search for the door, which I shortly found, and, 
 by placing my ear to it, could hear the guard 
 as he paced slowly to and fro. From this 
 point I groped my way along the walls, count- 
 ing the angles as I felt them until they num- 
 bered four; whence, assuming the room to be 
 square, I knew when I had completed the 
 round, and need make no further vain search 
 for doors or windows. 
 
322 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Then for a space I stood at the door again, 
 leaning against it and hearkening to the guard's 
 footsteps, which in themselves formed a relief 
 to the black silence of the room. And as 
 he came and went, the idea grew fixed in my 
 mind that here was my only hope of escape. 
 Rolling my cloak into a pillow, therefore, I lay 
 down on the floor close beside the door, and 
 thought and schemed, but never quite de- 
 spaired, until I at length lost myself in a weary 
 sleep. 
 
 How long I slept, I had no means of telling ; 
 but I was awakened by a hurrying of feet and 
 the sound of voices in the hall. I even de- 
 tected the voice of his Excellency, which was 
 not one whit modified from the angry tones I 
 had lately excited. Then I heard the drums 
 beat, and the officers crying out in loud tones 
 as they passed in and out of the building. 
 Bethinking myself that these preparations were 
 mayhap intended for me, I arose and stood on 
 my guard a little to one side of the door. 
 
 And I had not long to wait. The noise 
 and hurry of feet had ceased, when I heard a 
 key turn in the lock, and the door was pushed 
 widely open. The bright daylight streaming 
 into the room blinded me for an instant, so that 
 I could see naught distinctly; then as I looked 
 and was about to make a rush for the door, in- 
 stead of a guard there stood Colonel Ludwell 
 with his sword sheathed and hanging at his side. 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 323 
 
 " Captain Vivian ? " he cried in courteous 
 tones. 
 
 "Aye, Colonel Ludwell, at your service," 
 I answered, stepping into the light. 
 
 " My God, sir ! " he said rapidly, " I know 
 not whether you be so much of a fool as I 
 thought you last night, or a man of more 
 courage than discretion. But look ! " he cried, 
 " look out there and you will see why it is I 
 come to your assistance," and as I stepped 
 gladly out into the hall, I looked out over the 
 water in the direction that he pointed. 
 
 And lo ! as I gazed, there rode four ships 
 at anchor. They were lying close to the shore, 
 their guns ranged so as to rake the encamp- 
 ment at a single fire. I was numbering the 
 guns, and had made out over a dozen, when 
 the colonel said, " You may thank your friend. 
 General Bacon, for this deliverance, sir." 
 
 " What ! " I cried in amazement, " do you 
 mean to tell me that these ships belong to the 
 army of Virginia ? " 
 
 " To the rebel army, yes," he answered 
 dryly. " His Excellency and the guard have 
 fled to the rear, out of range." 
 
 A great joy filled my heart at these words, 
 so that I paid little heed to the epithet Colonel 
 Ludwell chose to apply to us. Sufficient to 
 me it was, that from being a prisoner but a few 
 short moments before, I was now in a position 
 to command even the man at my side, whom 
 
324 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 I well knew I had nothing to thank for my 
 release. And yet, as the long-boat was now 
 lowered from the largest vessel and, filling with 
 men, began pulling steadily for the shore, I 
 turned to the colonel with a smile that I could 
 ill suppress, and, bowing courteously, I re- 
 marked, — 
 
 " The fortunes of war, you perceive, Colonel 
 Ludwell ; and rebels or not, the gods fight 
 with us at present. But come, sir, I bear no 
 grudge ; and though I cannot call my orderly 
 to show you beyond our lines, I trust you can 
 find your own way out to your friends." 
 
 He bit angrily at his mustache, as he re- 
 plied, " I prythee, sir, do not concern yourself. 
 Belike they come with a truce." 
 
 "Ah, of a surety, sir," I answered sarcasti- 
 cally ; " and if there be aught under heavens 
 that his Excellency and his followers do take 
 delight in honouring, — when compelled to, — 
 it is a truce ! " 
 
 " Nay, my friend," he protested ; " be not 
 so bitter. Did I not give you fair warning 
 what to expect ? " 
 
 " Then let me repay the debt, sir," I cried 
 in hot indignity at the recollection ; " for what 
 the devil cares a man for a truce after he's 
 hanged ? And I say to you now. Colonel 
 Ludwell, lest I should bear an obligation for 
 your warning, to begone ! Begone at once, 
 else I will surely give you up to these men ! " 
 
A Truce to His Excellency 325 
 
 He started suddenly at my words. But, 
 though his face paled slightly, his eyes only 
 flashed the harder, as he answered : " As you 
 please. Captain Vivian. Howbeit, I shall re- 
 main ; for the end is not yet." 
 
 Of Colonel Philip Ludwell's courage there 
 was never a doubt in my mind ; albeit his 
 sword was ever enlisted on the side of royal 
 oppression rather than that of patriotism. Yet 
 it was with him, I trust, the fault of his tem- 
 perament and the taint of blood that had long 
 been accustomed to flow only in sympathy with 
 the pulse of royalty ; impelling the handsome 
 courtier to bend the knee and bow the head 
 with an instinctive " Yes, sire," however per- 
 verted the royal prerogative had become. A 
 fine thing, no doubt, and there still be such in 
 Virginia who hug themselves with this vanity ; 
 but to my mind — holding as I do that the 
 monopoly of divine wisdom has become sadly 
 run out through a long strain of kings since 
 the days of Solomon — the possession of such 
 a temperament is an inconvenient if not a sin- 
 ful obstacle to the march of civility in a virgin 
 country. For of men like Berkeley — and, I 
 fear me, of Colonel Ludwell and his brother 
 — Virginia has ever had a surfeit, and history 
 even now records only a black mark to their 
 shame. Yet others there were whose blood 
 flowed every whit as blue, who, casting aside 
 their yoke of bigotry, were proud to bear the 
 
326 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 part of noble and fearless patriots. And of all 
 such in general, and of Robert Beverly in par- 
 ticular, — who, strangely enough, was at this 
 time a great favourite of his Excellency's, — it 
 does greatly delight me to make mention and 
 record my grateful homage. 
 
Chapter XIX 
 His Excellency up Again 
 
 WHILST I waited there with Colonel 
 Ludwell, the boat had made a landing 
 and was now being drawn up on the 
 beach. Thence, as the party of some half-score 
 men came towards us, I recognized the faces of 
 some whom I knew in the army, and among 
 others that of Captain Evelyn. He halloaed 
 gayly on seeing me, and with scant respect to 
 his superior. Colonel Bland, he ran up and em- 
 braced me with a fervour that a few days' ab- 
 sence could alone scarcely warrant. 
 
 Stepping to one side with him, whilst Colonel 
 Bland and Colonel Ludwell were parleying, he 
 began : " We became alarmed. Captain Vivian, 
 -at your prolonged stay. And when the second 
 day went by without hearing from you. Gen- 
 eral Bacon commissioned Colonel Bland to get 
 a fleet together and bring every dweller on 
 Accomack back with him." 
 
 " Well, my friend," said I cordially, " the 
 army of Virginia would have been short a loyal 
 officer if you had come an hour later." 
 
 " The devil ! " he cried. "Was the old scoun- 
 327 
 
328 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 drel reckless enough to attempt that ? Tell 
 me of it, please ! " 
 
 Whereupon I described as briefly as possible, 
 and in a low voice, the experiences that had be- 
 set me, my companion alternately laying his 
 hand fiercely on his hilt and again laughing in 
 pure boyish deviltry at the figure I must have 
 cut fencing with his Excellency and binding 
 him in his chair. But it was ever like witness- 
 ing a play to tell a story to Captain Evelyn ; 
 for, with his quick, sensitive nature, he would 
 grasp the words ere they were spoken, and en- 
 act in a manner, more French than English, 
 the fearful course he would have pursued had 
 the adventure been his own. 
 
 "And now tell me, my lad," said I, as I 
 came to a close, " who is that man with gray 
 locks speaking with Colonel Bland ? " 
 
 " Why," he answered, as though every one 
 were acquainted with him, "that is Captain 
 Carver. A good, jolly old tar as ever lived. 
 He has just returned from a voyage and was 
 put in command of the ship." 
 
 " Ah, then this is not his own ship ? " I 
 asked in surprise. 
 
 " Bless you, sir ; scarcely," he replied. 
 " You see, we had no ship ; so Colonel Bland 
 boarded a vessel of ten guns lying in York 
 River under the pretence of searching for 
 contraband goods. The captain of the ves- 
 sel, Larramore, was highly incensed and the 
 
His Excellency up Again 329 
 
 colonel was compelled to lock him in his cabin 
 to cool off, whilst he made ready to put to 
 sea. 
 
 "Very thoughtful of him, in sooth. And 
 is he still confined ? " I asked. 
 
 " Oh, no," said he ; " he joined our party, 
 and stands there now speaking with Colonel 
 Ludwell." 
 
 I looked, but paid no attention, particularly, 
 as we were starting to return to the boat. 
 However, as I walked on ahead with Colonel 
 Bland, telling him briefly of my experiences, 
 I urged with great pertinacy that he hold 
 Colonel Ludwell as a hostage and trust him no 
 further than the length of his sword. This I 
 did, not out of any disrespect to that gentle- 
 man, but because I had learned that the only 
 way to treat successfully with Berkeley's party 
 was to hold every advantage and trust naught 
 to honour or word of mouth. 
 
 " Pooh, pooh," replied the colonel, waving 
 his hand at me from within the circle of his 
 conceit. And this was all. Albeit it was as 
 if he had said : " Look on me, my friend, and 
 fear not. I have the destiny of all Virginia 
 within my arms and his Excellency himself 
 sleeps peacefully in the hollow of my right 
 hand." 
 
 Colonel Ludwell and Larramore brought up 
 the rear, and Captain Evelyn was telling me as 
 we approached the boat, how, after getting the 
 
33 o Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ship, they had picked up three other vessels 
 so that they now mustered twenty guns 
 altogether. 
 
 "A fine fleet, truly, for an exigent," I re- 
 plied. Then, bethinking myself just as we 
 were coming to the boat that I had left my 
 pistols at the fishermen's hut, and that I ought 
 not to leave without tendering thanks to the 
 men for their rough entertainment, I stopped 
 short in my tracks with an impatient exclama- 
 tion. 
 
 " But you have plenty of time, Vivian," my 
 companion assured me on learning my diffi- 
 culty. " Pending the negotiations with the 
 governor, do you go back and settle with your 
 friends, and I will call with a boat and pick you 
 up in the course of an hour." 
 
 Whereupon I bade him farewell ; but some 
 sudden feeling, I know not what it was, caused 
 me to embrace him as I had done on his arrival. 
 For the heart is soft when coming suddenly out 
 from the gloom of impending danger and meet- 
 ing again with friends. And he was naught 
 but a light-hearted youth rushing headlong 
 into the wars ; and, although I had known him 
 but a short time, I could not have felt more 
 warmly towards him had he been my own 
 younger brother. 
 
 " Good-by, my friend," he cried cheerily. 
 " A half mile down the coast you say. Keep 
 an eye out for me." 
 
His Excellency up Again 331 
 
 Without waiting to see them shove ofF, I 
 returned first directly to the governor's quarters. 
 Passing on to the side of the building, I came 
 to the door through which I had so vainly 
 struggled to escape the night before. But I 
 was on the right side of it now, as I recalled, 
 with a grim chuckle, the adventure ; and, stamp- 
 ing among the rank weeds that grew close up 
 to the walls, I was presently rewarded by 
 stumbling upon my sword which I hung once 
 more at my side. 
 
 As I turned to depart, I observed Colonel 
 Ludwell walking rapidly back from the coast, 
 and keeping on to the eastward, whither the 
 governor and his guard had fled. Having 
 ample time in which to perform my errand, I 
 stood there watching him till he was met by 
 a number of the guard about a quarter of a 
 mile inland. For several moments they con- 
 tinued to stand there, grouped as though in 
 consultation. But, fearing that some of them 
 might be returning shortly to my own incon- 
 venience, I retraced my steps to the coast 
 and followed along under cover of the sandy 
 embankment in the direction of the fisher- 
 men's lodgings. 
 
 I had covered about half the distance, may- 
 hap, when I was met by Master Thomas, the 
 trader. " Well, sir," he cried out as he greeted 
 me, " you slipped through all right, I reckon. 
 But look, sir," he continued, pointing back- 
 
332 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ward in the way I had come ; " what are all 
 these craft doing here ? " 
 
 "That, Master Thomas," I answered, look- 
 ing back, " is the fleet of the army of Virginia 
 come to convey his Excellency back to James- 
 town." 
 
 "And that party of men by the shore, sir, 
 are they from the army ? " he asked. 
 
 " Where ? " said I, seeing no party there 
 when I last looked. But now, a little below 
 the spot where the ship had landed, I observed 
 a party of full a score of men about to embark 
 in a boat. 
 
 " This is strange," said I, as I thought that 
 I distinguished the uniform of the governor's 
 guard ; " who take you them to be. Master 
 Thomas ? " 
 
 The boat had now been launched and was 
 pulling rapidly towards the ship, as he replied, 
 "It is the guard, sir, and the officer standing 
 up in the stern appears like their colonel." 
 
 At this sight I was greatly astonished, think- 
 ing it a very irregular procedure for Colonel 
 Ludwell to be visiting the ship with so many 
 of the guard. I therefore walked back a piece, 
 until I could command the ship in easy view. 
 The boat had now come alongside, and, with- 
 out waiting an instant, Colonel Ludwell sprang 
 up the ship's side, and on to the deck, with 
 the guard following close at his heels. Point- 
 ing his pistols at the head of the officer meeting 
 
His Excellency up Again ^33 
 
 him, it was all as plain to me now as though I 
 had heard his words, " Captain Carver, you are 
 my prisoner," whilst the guard swarmed over 
 the deck and took, possession without a shot 
 being fired. 
 
 Zounds ! what a sight ! what a thing for a 
 soldier to witness standing there helpless on 
 the shore, whilst a score of men boarded and 
 captured the ship of his party, with one hun- 
 dred and fifty men — as Master Evelyn had 
 informed me — below the hatches ! But there 
 had been treachery here, of that I felt assured. 
 And I at first blamed Colonel Bland, whom I 
 had known as a man of haughty bearing, but 
 talented and brave to a fault, so that it was 
 hard to suspect him of this dishonour. Yet 
 why, I wondered, had General Bacon, who was 
 ever the tactful leader, entrusted this afiair to 
 any one save himself? For he alone, of all 
 the men of the day, was able to fence success- 
 fully with his Excellency, Sir William Berkeley. 
 
 But there was naught to satisfy my impatient 
 queries as I stood there between cursing and 
 wonderment, blaming every one for a space, or 
 all save Captain Evelyn. Alas ! he was inno- 
 cent enough of harm to any one. Yet I greatly 
 feared me, unless his Excellency's temper had 
 undergone some radical purification since the 
 night before, that there was no safety for any 
 captive who held a commission in the army of 
 Virginia. 
 
334 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 On the ship's deck all seemed so quiet and 
 orderly, that I could scarce realize the sudden 
 change in command that had so recently swept 
 it ; yet below the decks, I repeat, were six 
 times the number of their conqueror, madly 
 struggling and cursing, no doubt, on finding 
 themselves duped and betrayed. 
 
 The following events of that day it is need- 
 less to detail ; save that, at a later hour. Colonel 
 Bland and Captain Carver were brought before 
 his Excellency. There was no semblance of a 
 trial even, and poor old Carver was made the 
 first victim of Berkeley's hatred by being hanged 
 in chains there on the Accomack shore. Whilst 
 Colonel Bland, being a gentleman of distinction, 
 was belike reserved for a similar fate on some 
 later occasion. 
 
 About the third hour of the afternoon the 
 Adam and Eve arrived, conv.eying a fleet of 
 ten sloops. Whereupon I became greatly 
 concerned at the necessity of my getting away 
 from, Accomack and carrying the alarm to 
 Jamestown ere the governor's party should set 
 sail. I engaged the smack, therefore; and, 
 starting under cover of the twilight and sailing 
 a good piece to the northward, we tacked safely 
 round the fleet without being hailed. Then 
 with a favouring breeze that freshened with 
 every mile, we flew along on our course. 
 
 But all through the night I was restless and 
 apprehensive, I remember, fancying that I could 
 
His Excellency up Again 235 
 
 hear the sound of the ships' bells behind us 
 striking the hours, and seeing ever in my 
 mind's eye the form of Carver dangling from 
 its rude gibbet, with the reverend locks blowing 
 wildly over the once merry face as though in 
 impotent protest and rebuke to his pitiless 
 slayer. Sir WilHam Berkeley. For it was 
 murder, as foul and contemptible a murder as 
 ever was done ; Captain Carver having been 
 employed, as Master Evelyn had told me, sim- 
 ply as sailing-master under Colonel Bland, who 
 held a commission in the regular army signed 
 by Berkeley himself. " But rebellion, sir ? " 
 methinks I hear it urged. " The man was a 
 dangerous and guilty rebel — " Faugh! say I. 
 Out upon you for an emasculate stickler ! For 
 who made this army of necessity recoil into an 
 army of rebellion, save Sir William Berkeley 
 himself? And although I am running ahead of 
 my tale, I cannot forbear to repeat right here 
 the substance of a letter addressed to Secretary 
 Ludwell by Lord Francis Morryson : " I fear 
 that when the part of the narrative comes 
 to be read that mentions the Gloucester peti- 
 tion, your brother" — meaning Colonel Philip 
 Ludwell — " may be prejudiced, for at first 
 sight all the lords agreed that this was the 
 unhappy incident which made the war recoil 
 into a civil strife, for the reason you allege 
 that bond and oath were proffered the governor 
 not against Bacon, but the Indians, confirmed 
 
22^ Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the people that Bacon's commission was good, 
 it never being before disavowed by proclama- 
 tion but by letters writ to his Majesty in com- 
 mendation of Bacon's acting." 
 
 When day broke, my fears of the immediate 
 return of the governor to Jamestown were fully 
 realized ; for, far down the river, I could see the 
 tall masts with their sweep of white canvas 
 gradually approaching and gaining on us at 
 every mile. But we were now nearly up with 
 the island, and I hoped still that I should have 
 time to give warning that would suffice tlie 
 army to prepare. So, coming presently to the 
 landing, I hastily settled with the fishermen, 
 and hurried on to Master Lawrence's ordi- 
 nary. 
 
 No one was stirring about the place as I 
 approached, it being a good hour before sun- 
 rise. Going on to the door I knocked loudly 
 with my hilt, but at first roused no one but the 
 village watchman ; who, being of that serene 
 age scarce likely to lie awake a-nights with his 
 mind distraught of the times, was stealing 
 the early hour for an innocent nap on the 
 porch. 
 
 " Up, watchman ! " I cried, as he opened 
 his eyes and looked at me in a dazed manner. 
 " Be off, and arouse the town. The governor 
 is returning with Colonel Bland and all his men 
 prisoners ! " 
 
 " O lordy, lordy, sir ! " he cried, rising as 
 
His Excellency up Again 337 
 
 quickly as his years would permit and seizing 
 his pike, on the end of which his lanthorn still 
 flared. " How far from Jamestown did you 
 say they be, sir ? " 
 
 " Far ? " I cried. " Nay, man ; belike a 
 mile — a half mile, a quarter ! Run, I say ; 
 run for your life, and warn the people ! " And 
 again I knocked vigorously with my hilt. 
 
 Then followed two noises in rapid succession. 
 The first proceeded from the raising of a win- 
 dow above the porch and the voice of my good 
 friend Lawrence crying out, and the second 
 from the watchman's stumbling headlong down 
 the stairs and sprawling at full length on the 
 ground. " O lordy, O lordy," he kept crying 
 in sheer distraction as I raised him helpless to 
 his feet. Whereupon I cried out upon him in 
 good earnest. 
 
 " The devil ! " said I, shaking him slightly. 
 " Where are your wits, man ? Find them, sir ; 
 find them, I say, ere the governor gets you and 
 hangs you higher than Captain Carver ! " 
 
 " Ha, Vivian ! " cried Master Lawrence, lean- 
 ing out of the window in his night-robe. " How 
 it joys me to welcome you back ! But what's 
 that you said about Captain Carver ? " 
 
 "I said, sir," I answered rapidly, "that he 
 is hanged, and that Bland and his men are all 
 prisoners. I beg you, sir, hasten ; for the gov- 
 ernor is approaching with the entire fleet scarce 
 a mile away." 
 
338 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 "Ah," he answered, stroking his chin in 
 meditation, " 'tis bad, sir ; very bad." 
 
 " And is General Bacon stopping with you, 
 sir ? " I asked, impatient at his slowness. 
 
 "Nay, my friend," he answered, "he is gone; 
 marched away day before yesterday." 
 
 "Alas ! Master Lawrence — " but, ere I could 
 finish, another night-gowned figure came and 
 leaned out of the window, and I was obliged to 
 repeat to Mistress Lawrence all that I had just 
 said to her excellent spouse. 
 
 " Oh, god-'a-mercy. Master Lawrence ! " she 
 cried, in quick gasps of scornful impatience ; 
 "by my faith, sir, you have — you have ruined 
 us now with your eternal politicks ! Everlast- 
 ingly talking politicks, I say, sir," — catching 
 her breath, — "until — " 
 
 " Chut ! my dear," he expostulated; " softly, 
 softly. Why, I've not spoken politicks since 
 last night." 
 
 " Insolence ! " she retorted, her breast heav- 
 ing ; and she was off again into another tirade 
 ere, betwixt my alarm and impatient amuse- 
 ment, I could find words to halt her. 
 
 " But madame, madame," I cried finally ; 
 "see, the fleet is even now coming up the 
 river." 
 
 At this, glancing towards the James and 
 seeing the ships standing up the river, she 
 withdrew her head with a scream, dragging her 
 husband after. He reappeared directly, how- 
 
His Excellency up Again 339 
 
 ever, crying out to me, " Kindly order my 
 horses for us, my friend, and tell the boy to 
 prepare the roan for yourself." 
 
 " What ! " I cried in astonishment ; " do you 
 intend flight, Master Lawrence ? " 
 
 " Perforce, sir," he answered. " We can 
 make no defence and must be off till the army 
 returns." 
 
 By this time the town was wide awake and 
 the people beginning to scatter in every direc- 
 tion. The Adam and Eve had come to anchor, 
 and a boat was putting out for the shore when 
 our horses were at length made ready and 
 brought to the door. It was high time that 
 we were off, if we contemplated flight, me- 
 thought, when Master Lawrence and his 
 mistress emerged from the ordinary. But, 
 as he held her stirrup for her to mount, she 
 suddenly bethought herself and cried out : 
 " Oh, the plate. Master Lawrence ! God-'a- 
 mercy, we have forgotten to fetch it ! " 
 
 "Ah, my dear," he replied gently, continu- 
 ing to stoop as he held her stirrup, "it was 
 very thoughtless in me, I declare ; upon my 
 faith it was." 
 
 " Thoughtless, sir ! " she exclaimed in tones 
 of frantic disgust. "And all that beautiful 
 plate that my first husband bought, and 
 brought over from London for me, is to be 
 left behind ? By my faith. Master Lawrence, 
 as I'm a Christian, you would fret a saint ! 
 
34° Vivian of Virginia 
 
 But go fetch it, sir. Quick ! whilst we 
 wait." 
 
 Well, well ; Heaven knows I pitied the 
 good dame, and it is far from my intention 
 to make light of her distemper. For I well 
 remember the extent and costliness of her 
 plate, than which his Excellency himself could 
 display no handsomer ; and it must have 
 pricked her mightily to think of it being left 
 behind as a temptation to his arrogant rapacity. 
 Feeling this, I was on the point of dashing 
 into the ordinary and fetching for her all 
 that my arms could hold, when Master Law- 
 rence spoke out. 
 
 Raising his eyes from the ground, it may be 
 that he saw the guard approaching, — for the 
 boat had landed, — or it mayhap was only the 
 displeasant shade of her first husband putting 
 in an ill-timed appearance ; the which, I opine, 
 must ever be a sore trial to the present incum- 
 bent if he be a gentleman of honour, such as 
 no woman of an affectionate heart would will- 
 ingly inflict save on occasions of grave moment. 
 At any rate, his tones were somewhat chill as 
 he rephed, " Mount, I prythee, my dear ; lest 
 you would see me swing for it ere night." 
 
 Whereupon we mounted without further 
 murmuring, albeit the guard caught sight of us 
 hurrying up the road, and a musquetoon rang 
 out behind us as a bullet cut the branches of a 
 tree to our right. But we sped straight on 
 
His Excellency up Again 341 
 
 over the sandy neck, and were soon caught up 
 with the parties that had fled in advance of us. 
 
 " Where may General Bacon and the army 
 be found, Master Lawrence ? " I asked, as we 
 were approaching Green Springs. 
 
 " They marched to the southward, belike 
 along the Nottoway or the Roanoke," he an- 
 swered. " 'Tis a thousand pities, Vivian, that 
 the old rogue does not unite his forces with 
 the Indians. Then we should not be warring 
 at odds betwixt the two." 
 
 Nodding my assent, I replied, " By your 
 leave, Master Lawrence, I shall now hurry on 
 to join the army, — if I may ask the loan of 
 your nag ? " 
 
 " Certainly," he answered. " He is yours, 
 my friend ; keep him as long as you choose. 
 We shall pay a visit to Shirley." 
 
 So, with his voice that was joyous still in the 
 midst of adversity ringing its God-speed in my 
 ears, I galloped ahead, and turned in once more 
 at Green Springs. And ah, the sight of it 
 again, — and the memory ! Small wonder that 
 it was sweet to me, my life hitherto knowing 
 naught of such sensation for which a soldier 
 following the wars has but scant space. So 
 that, if I halted a moment at the porch and 
 fancied that again I saw my lady standing there 
 in the starlight, misdoubting her right to enter 
 and turning wistfully to me for counsel and 
 protection, I trust there may be some who will 
 
34^ Vivian of Virginia 
 
 understand that a soldier may sometimes taste 
 such sentiment without his arm being charged 
 with effeminacy. 
 
 I could not go by the house without being 
 forced to dismount by the clamour that beset 
 me; and, whilst the good souls fetched me of 
 the governor's choicest cuts and his finest old 
 Madeira, they plied me with queries of Mistress 
 Langdon, and crammed my haversack at the 
 same moment. So that, with such finesse is 
 hospitality dispensed in Virginia even by the 
 servants, in the combined fulness of my heart 
 and the gratefulness of my appetite, I began to 
 misdoubt whether the estate was still the prop- 
 erty of his Excellency, or had become mag- 
 nanimously transferred by him to myself 
 
 Nor did it require any persuasion to again 
 engage Moses to ferry me over the river; 
 whence I pushed steadily on to the southward. 
 Coming to the Blackwater, I crossed at the 
 first convenient point, then followed down its 
 course for a way, as it flowed in beautiful falls 
 and gathered its forces anon into limpid pools 
 betwixt rocky embankments, silver in the sun- 
 shine, but silent and sombrous when shadowed 
 beneath the cypress. 
 
 But it was night and morning again ere I 
 came up with the army along the shores of the 
 Roanoke. And at the news I brought, — albeit 
 I at first could not make him comprehend its 
 truth, — Master Bacon swore a great oath in 
 
His Excellency up Again 343 
 
 sounding picturesqueness of Colonel Bland and 
 the nether regions in one and the same breath. 
 
 "And Carver hanged, did you say, sir ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 " Yes, Master Bacon," I replied quietly. 
 
 " And the lad. Captain Vivian ; did you see 
 aught of him ? " 
 
 " Sir," I answered, " I conversed with him 
 a scant hour before the ship's capture. But 
 he is now biding his chance with the rest." 
 
 " Then by the eternal, my friend, there's 
 naught but a fight will save us now." And so 
 saying, with a ringing speech to his men, many 
 of whom were reduced to such straits as to be 
 without shoes or a sufficiency of clothing, and 
 with a hundred or more Indian captives in the 
 van, the army of Virginia took up its home- 
 ward march. 
 
Chapter XX 
 The Passing of Master Bacon 
 
 TO detail the difficulties that confronted us 
 upon our return would be to no purpose, 
 the facts being trite enough now. How, 
 finding the peninsula obstructed by a palisade, 
 we constructed a circumvallation round the 
 governor's outworks, working mostly by moon- 
 light and making our camp in the deathsome 
 marsh, till we were able to mount our cannon 
 where they commanded the shipping. Strange, 
 in sooth, it may seem, and even stranger to me 
 as I mention it now, that all the while our work 
 was progressing we had but one sortie to repel. 
 And this we did, causing the motley of fisher- 
 men, guards, and indents to fly in confusion, 
 leaving their drum and their dead behind 
 them. 
 
 The second night thereafter the governor 
 and his party took flight without our being 
 apprised, embarking on board their ships with 
 their families, captives, and all their belongings 
 — including Dame Lawrence's plate — and re- 
 turning again to Accomack. Learning of this 
 nigh daybreak, we entered the town and at the 
 general's order — he being determined that the 
 
 344 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 345 
 
 good town should shelter no more traitors — 
 we applied the torch that razed it to the 
 ground. And there, as the smoke arose and 
 blended into the morning's gray, it appeared 
 but a melancholy end of that which had been 
 the very cradle of life and liberty in America 
 — a land that some day, methinks, shall sym- 
 bolize freedom to all the world. "So much," 
 quoth Master Lawrence with his torch in his 
 hand, " for liberty in Virginia, whilst Nero 
 goes fishing in Accomack." 
 
 Not many days after the occurrences just 
 narrated, a courier arrived from Gloucester 
 bringing word that Colonel Brent had organ- 
 ized his forces and was preparing to attack the 
 army. Whereupon we were once more com- 
 manded to march, and, crossing the York at 
 Ferry Point, advanced into Gloucester. But 
 scarcely had we made good our entrance ere 
 the great body of Brent's men deserted and 
 joined our forces, whilst their colonel and a few 
 supporters retreated to their homes, mightily 
 chagrined. 
 
 But the days of our encampment in the 
 marsh surrounding Jamestown had begun to 
 tell with direful expression on our general's 
 health. He became seized with a low fever, 
 but of such slight significancy, it at first seemed, 
 as not to warrant even a temporary retirement 
 from command. As the days went by, how- 
 ever, he grew changed and irritable ; his self- 
 
346 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 command being wont to flow from him even 
 whilst he spoke, and, should any controversy 
 arise over some trivial event, the aifair was 
 now likely in his mind to assume the propor- 
 tions of some gigantic conspiracy to efFront his 
 authority. 
 
 One night as I was sitting with him in his 
 tent whilst encamped near Middle Plantation, 
 our conversation by chance reverted to the gov- 
 ernor and affairs at Accomack, whence we were 
 expecting a courier to arrive with news at any 
 moment. " Of all the work that has been 
 done by the army, Vivian," said the general, 
 " that affair at Accomack alone remains as a 
 foul blot." 
 
 "Yes, Master Bacon," I answered quietly; 
 " a great pity it was, to be sure." 
 
 " Pity, sir ! " he retorted impatiently. " Pity ! 
 why, man, where were your eyes when Ludwell 
 was plotting with Larramore ? " 
 
 " Where were my eyes, sir ? " I cried in 
 amazement betwixt his tone and manner 
 of holding me responsible for that disaster. 
 "Why, General Bacon, you do forget — " 
 
 " Forget, forget ! " he exclaimed angrily. 
 " Nay, sir, I can forget naught ; and surely 
 not that two hundred and fifty stout men made 
 a cowardly surrender to Ludwell's two dozen. 
 'Fore Heaven, sir, when I gave out my com- 
 missions, methought I was granting them to 
 men who'd not betray me. Yet how was I 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 347 
 
 befooled ! Come, tell me, Master Vivian, how 
 much were my officers paid by his Excellency 
 on that occasion ? " 
 
 " Sir," I cried out, stung to the quick by 
 the implication, " if you mean to couple my 
 name in this charge — " 
 
 " Well, sir, and if I do ? " he exclaimed 
 passionately, springing to his feet, and laying 
 his hand on his hilt. 
 
 And so suddenly had our altercation flared 
 up that the next moment we stood confront- 
 ing each other with drawn swords. But as 
 I looked upon the man standing before me, 
 noting his flushed face and matted locks, with 
 the consuming fire smouldering in his dark 
 and melancholy eyes, my heart smote me as 
 I recalled the fine and vigorous poise of my 
 commander and generous friend of a few weeks 
 back, changed, alas, into this shattered form. 
 So that, flinging my sword far from me, — and 
 I yet remember watching it fall upon a mean 
 and rumpled pallet upon which the general 
 had been tossing at intervals through the day, 
 — I repHed, — 
 
 " Nay, sir, what need I to say the charge is 
 false ? Have I not done your will on all occa- 
 sions ? And as for pay, sir, let my own purse 
 bear witness to my villainy. For naught has 
 it received, and somewhat has it freely dis- 
 bursed for service in the cause of Virginia. 
 And would you still what price your officers 
 
348 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 received, then bethink yourself, sir, of the 
 fate of Carver, and judge how many now await 
 their pay in Hke coin for the risk they ran." 
 
 " Oh, stay ! spare me, my friend," he pro- 
 tested wildly ; but ere he could add another 
 word a bugle sounded close by the tent, and 
 the courier from Accomack entered. Turning 
 to him, the general asked hopefully, "What 
 news, my lad ; what of our friends ? " 
 
 " Nothing but ill, your Excellency," replied 
 the courier grimly. "Captain Evelyn and 
 two of our men have been hanged, and Colonel 
 Bland is now standing trial before the same 
 court." 
 
 Following upon the excitement of our dis- 
 pute, and in the hour of his ebbing vitality, 
 these words seemed to crush him as a blow 
 unguarded. And whilst he stood there a 
 moment, dazed and lax, I observed him totter, 
 and he would have fallen had I not caught him 
 in my arms. 
 
 " Go," said I to the courier. " Return in 
 an hour's space for your orders." This I 
 commanded, knowing that to expose the weak- 
 ness of our general to common eyes would 
 tend shortly to deplete our ranks. Then, as 
 the courier saluted and withdrew, I continued : 
 " I beg you. General Bacon, to rest yourself 
 for a space, and he quit of these cares. Let 
 me assist you to lie down." 
 
 He complied like a child, lying quietly 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 349 
 
 on his pallet for several minutes without a 
 word, but gazing out open-eyed, and thinking, 
 I knew not whether of the past or future, 
 until he finally spoke. 
 
 " My friend," said he hoarsely, " I entreat 
 you to forget this scene. Be so kind as to 
 recall it only as a vagary of the illness that is 
 destroying me. What think you, Vivian ; 
 should I resign command ? " 
 
 " O sir," I replied, touched at the pathos of 
 his tone, " do not think in such wise. In a 
 few days you will be able to resume your 
 duties ; but until then, I prythee, rest your- 
 self, sir." 
 
 For an instant he turned and looked at me, 
 — a yearning, anxious look, followed swiftly 
 by one of peaceful repose. Such as, methinks, 
 for its passing sadness, only the face of a youth 
 can know who finds himself with his battles 
 unwon and still trembling in the balance, his 
 body fallen hopelessly ill, and his very soul 
 crying out for respite and release from its 
 weight of worldly cares, that it may prepare 
 to stand surrendered to the Great Commander. 
 For there was no concealing the fact any 
 longer of the gravity of his illness ; and though 
 I sought to chide him of his apprehensions 
 for a space, whilst I sat there with him await- 
 ing the courier's return, I fear me that my 
 words were of but scant avail. 
 
 " Promise me, Vivian," said he quietly, " that 
 
350 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 should aught happen to me, you will see my 
 dear mistress safely to her home in England. 
 Tell her that such is my wish ; for not even a 
 woman is free in Virginia from the vindictive- 
 ness of Berkeley." 
 
 " Your slightest wish. Master Bacon," I re- 
 plied, " shall be as a command to me at all 
 times." 
 
 " No, no, not that, my friend," he answered. 
 " Heaven knows I should not willingly de- 
 tail a man from our little army, were there any 
 other whom I could trust. But of Mistress 
 Langdon," he continued with a smile at me, 
 " what of her, Vivian ? Might she not be want- 
 ing to quit Virginia ? " 
 
 " Perchance, sir," I answered, perceiving now 
 why he had so put the matter, making it the 
 easier for me to quit the army without scrupling, 
 should my own interests so prompt me, by re- 
 questing me to attend upon his mistress. " But 
 she is one who best knows her own mind. 
 Master Bacon." 
 
 " Surely," he assented; "and yet, if need be, 
 I should have you urge it upon her to leave 
 Virginia until her uncle's rule is ended. And 
 it were well that she place her property interests 
 in the hands of my solicitors until our present 
 troubles are adjusted." 
 
 In this wise we chatted, although with many 
 an exchange of kindly, heartfelt words, that 
 does now greatly joy me to recall, but which 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 351 
 
 there can be little credit or sincerity in record- 
 ing. For to jot down a word or more were an 
 easy matter, yet who shall express those subtle 
 meanings by which we oft converse — a com- 
 mon thought, a glance, a clasp of the hand — 
 in the gloaming of love or life, by a series of 
 letters and grouping of halting sentences, with- 
 out doing an injury to its memory and sincerity ? 
 The poet, perchance ; but not a plain Virginia 
 planter. 
 
 And so the hour slipped by, and my friend 
 had fallen into a quiet nap when the courier 
 returned to seek his orders. Then, having 
 persuaded the general to keep to his tent for a 
 space, and bearing a message to Colonel Ingram 
 to assume command, I took my leave. The 
 hour was still early, however, the young moon 
 just dropping its crescent into the westward 
 forest, as I was returning slowly to my own 
 quarters past the general's tent. Mayhap it 
 was the hour I had just spent, the message I 
 had borne, or the clear cognizance of the sudden 
 danger now confronting us in the loss of our 
 commander, that seemed to send my thoughts 
 whirling vividly back over the past few months. 
 And, though I have but scant patience with a 
 gypsy's idle jargon, — howbeit the lass was pretty, 
 — in some manner her words returned to me 
 with ominous significancy : "When the October 
 crescent seeks rest in the westward forest — " 
 and I would that I had not silenced her. 
 
^^2 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 I had gone but a few paces beyond the gen- 
 eral's tent when I met Master Lawrence face 
 to face, he having been with the army since the 
 burning of Jamestown. For a time we stood 
 there conversing together on various matters of 
 import, and I was about replying to his query 
 of how I had left the general, when we were 
 startled by the report of a pistol coming from 
 the direction of the tent, followed by a sharp 
 cry and then a sudden hush. 
 
 " My God ! " cried Master Lawrence, as we 
 started to run back, " what can this mean ? " 
 
 Coming to the tent, we were about to enter, 
 when we stumbled over a silent form lying just 
 without the entrance. Hastily kneeling, I 
 turned the body as it lay there face downwards, 
 until the features were revealed by the light 
 shining through the tent. 
 
 " The courier from Accomack ! Go in," I 
 cried out to Lawrence. 
 
 When we entered, we found him sitting there 
 on the edge of his pallet, pale, and gasping for 
 breath, with the pistol still clutched in his hand. 
 He was muttering confusedly to himself, and 
 seemed not to recognize us as we gently dis- 
 posed him upon his pallet in a comfortable and 
 orderly manner. By this time others had ap- 
 proached, and, on examining the body of the 
 courier, they found a bullet-hole in his side, 
 where the ball had sped straight to the heart. 
 In his hand he still grasped a slender poniard, 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 353 
 
 and there was a slight cut on his face which 
 may have been done by it as he fell forward 
 with his arms thrown upwards. 
 
 These, then, are all the facts of this strange 
 occurrence, on which speculation is yet rife. 
 You may hear, perchance, that the man was 
 hired by his Excellency to assassinate General 
 Bacon, and certain it is that none of the Roy- 
 alists ever took occasion to allay such suspi- 
 cion. Neither would such an act, as some 
 affirm, be wholly impossible to a man of Sir 
 William Berkeley's temperament, as witness his 
 vindictive and ferocious spirit in the days that 
 followed. Albeit I neither charge nor defend ; 
 and, that gentlemen of honour may make their 
 own deductions, I should in all fairness add 
 that there was no sign of a wound on the body 
 of our general, and that this affair — however 
 unlikely it may seem to his friends — may have 
 been naught save a private quarrel between him- 
 self and the courier. 
 
 But there can be no doubt that it hastened 
 his end ; for from this excitement he passed into 
 a delirium and swift decline wherein all our ef- 
 forts to rouse him were of no avail. Ere two 
 short days had passed, the generous soul, the 
 fiery, unquenchable spirit of our friend and 
 leader, had taken its flight, and the army of 
 Virginia, fighting its first battles against Old 
 World oppression and tyrannical misrule in 
 America, was as though it never had been. 
 
356 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 it was only by the merest chance that we 
 avoided being cut in two by the prow of a 
 large vessel that we met standing up the river. 
 As the fog lifted a second I discerned the name, 
 Adam and Eve, and the next moment we were 
 hailed. 
 
 " What is it. Captain Vivian ? " asked my 
 lady, as the fog settled down again in a gray 
 wave. 
 
 " Hush ! " said I in a low voice, jamming 
 the tiller hard a-port, and causing the sail to 
 fill out and speed us silently away. 
 
 Not a moment too soon, however ; for, hail- 
 ing us again and getting no response, there came 
 a quick flash and a roar as a ball went ricochet- 
 ting athwart our bows. But they were firing at 
 random in the fog, and I had little apprehension 
 that they would risk another shot at us, for we 
 were now dodging in and out amidst the con- 
 sorts of the fleet. By this I saw that his 
 Excellency was again returning to Jamestown ; 
 and, though I had feared that we might be 
 forced to run a blockade at the mouth of the 
 river, I had planned to arrive there under cover 
 of the night. Meeting the fleet at this point, 
 however, there was naught but the rack to save 
 us from discovery ; and as it rolled up from 
 the sea in sudden fitful gusts that opened and 
 closed alarmingly as the morning sun flashed 
 through and was again obscured, it may well be 
 opined that I could scarce keep my seat for 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 357 
 
 nervousness until we had rounded a curve, and 
 a high embankment hid us from view of the 
 fleet. 
 
 But from here on to the Chesapeake was open 
 sailing. Our hope had been to hail some pass- 
 ing ship bound for England, but as all com- 
 merce and trade had come to an end during the 
 war, we sighted no vessel on which we could 
 take passage. Hence heading the sloop up the 
 bay, and not wanting to rislc a landing or an 
 indefinite stay in Virginia, we continued on to 
 the town of Baltimore. Here we were received 
 with such kindly hospitality that, after finding 
 the ladies comfortably housed, though being 
 informed that many weeks might pass ere a 
 vessel would arrive from England, I could no 
 longer excuse my absence from the army. For 
 three whole days I wandered about the town 
 and sat idling on the quays, wondering vaguely 
 if my promise to Master Bacon, now that his 
 mistress' safety was assured, could not in all 
 honour be forgotten for a space whilst I rejoined 
 the army and helped to fight our battles to a 
 finish. 
 
 As I sat late one afternoon watching the 
 November twilight deepening over the bay, I 
 was so intent on this thought that I failed to 
 hear the approach of any one coming up behind 
 me, until a voice greeted me with, " How now. 
 Master Vivian, are you still watching for a ship 
 to arrive this day ? " 
 
356 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 it was only by the merest chance that we 
 avoided being cut in two by the prow of a 
 large vessel that we met standing up the river. 
 As the fog lifted a second I discerned the name, 
 Adam and Eve, and the next moment we were 
 hailed. 
 
 " What is it. Captain Vivian ? " asked my 
 lady, as the fog settled down again in a gray 
 wave. 
 
 " Hush ! " said I in a low voice, jamming 
 the tiller hard a-port, and causing the sail to 
 fill out and speed us silently away. 
 
 Not a moment too soon, however ; for, hail- 
 ing us again and getting no response, there came 
 a quick flash and a roar as a ball went ricochet- 
 ting athwart our bows. But they were firing at 
 random in the fog, and I had little apprehension 
 that they would risk another shot at us, for we 
 were now dodging in and out amidst the con- 
 sorts of the fleet. By this I saw that his 
 Excellency was again returning to Jamestown ; 
 and, though I had feared that we might be 
 forced to run a blockade at the mouth of the 
 river, I had planned to arrive there under cover 
 of the night. Meeting the fleet at this point, 
 however, there was naught but the rack to save 
 us from discovery ; and as it rolled up from 
 the sea in sudden fitful gusts that opened and 
 closed alarmingly as the morning sun flashed 
 through and was again obscured, it may well be 
 opined that I could scarce keep my seat for 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 357 
 
 nervousness until we had rounded a curve, and 
 a high embankment hid us from view of the 
 fleet. 
 
 But from here on to the Chesapeake was open 
 sailing. Our hope had been to hail some pass- 
 ing ship bound for England, but as all com- 
 merce and trade had come to an end during the 
 war, we sighted no vessel on which we could 
 take passage. Hence heading the sloop up the 
 bay, and not wanting to risk a landing or an 
 indefinite stay in Virginia, we continued on to 
 the town of Baltimore. Here we were received 
 with such kindly hospitality that, after finding 
 the ladies comfortably housed, though being 
 informed that many weeks might pass ere a 
 vessel would arrive from England, I could no 
 longer excuse my absence from the army. For 
 three whole days I wandered about the town 
 and sat idling on the quays, wondering vaguely 
 if my promise to Master Bacon, now that his 
 mistress' safety was assured, could not in all 
 honour be forgotten for a space whilst I rejoined 
 the army and helped to fight our battles to a 
 finish. 
 
 As I sat late one afternoon watching the 
 November twilight deepening over the bay, I 
 was so intent on this thought that I failed to 
 hear the approach of any one coming up behind 
 me, until a voice greeted me with, " How now. 
 Master Vivian, are you still watching for a ship 
 to arrive this day ? " 
 
358 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Recognizing the voice, I arose hastily and 
 bowed. " Nay, my lady ; nor for many a day, 
 I fear." 
 
 "Ah," she answered, "you speak as though 
 you would fain be quit of your charge. Yet 
 by my faith, sir," she continued, in a sudden 
 independency of manner such as was wont to 
 become her mightily, methought, "I'd have 
 you know that, whilst you sit moping by your- 
 self, we are well able to take care of ourselves. 
 Master Vivian." 
 
 "'Fore Heaven," I replied, with a smile at 
 her cool assurance, "mayhap you will then be 
 pleased to relieve me of my sword. Mistress 
 Langdon, the while I return to less fearsome 
 pursuits in the army ? " 
 
 To me her manner of late had lacked the 
 frankness of a few weeks back ; and now, 
 scanning me sharply an instant, she asked, 
 " Do you mean it, sir ? " 
 
 " O, my love ! " I exclaimed, in swift impa- 
 tience at her misdoubt of me and the vain con- 
 straint I was under, " how can I mean else when 
 it means so much ? " 
 
 Placing her hand in mine, the gray eyes 
 glinted with a pleasure that was almost fierce in 
 its intensity, as she answered, " In that case. 
 Captain Vivian, do you keep your sword, and 
 I would it knew no sheath till every Royal 
 traitor be driven out, or our cause go down in 
 darkness." 
 
The Passing of Master Bacon 359 
 
 And again, ere I could reply, she added, — 
 
 " It is what I hoped for, but could not ask." 
 
 " Brave little heart," I answered, and I sealed 
 
 my promise to her with a kiss. " God grant 
 
 a speedy end to this conflict, and that I may 
 
 shortly return." 
 
 "And if not, sir," she added fervently, 
 though I felt a tremble against my arm, " or, 
 hearing the end, the days pass on without your 
 returning, may I have grace to remember that 
 others have done no less." 
 
Chapter XXI 
 Terms of Surrender 
 
 ON the following day, with the sloop gener- 
 ously placed at my disposal, I set sail 
 for Virginia. Landing at a convenient 
 point off the Gloucester coast, I bade the ser- 
 vants return with the craft to Baltimore, and 
 made the best of my way cross country to the 
 army. Here matters were faring but ill since 
 the death of the general, defeat following defeat 
 in spiritless alternation. Yet it is not my pur- 
 pose to detail here the trials that beset us from 
 now on, until the arrival of his Majesty's fleet 
 late in January. Suffice it to say, therefore, 
 that our cause gradually crumbled and fell to 
 pieces, as much from want of concert as from 
 the fear inspired in our ranks by the ferocious 
 treatment accorded our men when captured. 
 
 "Your Excellency," pleaded the wife of 
 Major Cheeseman, as she knelt before him, 
 " it being because of my urging that my hus- 
 band joined the army, I pry thee let the pun- 
 ishment fall upon me." 
 
 " Strumpet ! " he cried out upon her, for- 
 getting that he had ever been a gentleman, " I 
 360 
 
Terms of Surrender 361 
 
 promise you the vile knave you name 'hus- 
 band ' shall be well rewarded ! " 
 
 Master Lawrence had already fled into Caro- 
 lina, when his friend Drummond was captured 
 in the Chickahominy swamp. " You are very 
 welcome, Master Drummond," said Berkeley ; 
 "we shall be quite ready to hang you in half 
 an hour." But afterwards, when their property 
 was confiscated by his Malevolency, and Mis- 
 tress Drummond and her wee children turned 
 helplessly adrift in the world, a cry went up 
 from that noble dame that echoed across the 
 Atlantic, even unto the ears of the Lord Chan- 
 cellor, whilst he said, "I know not whether it 
 be sinful to wish any person alive, otherwise I 
 could wish Sir WilHam Berkeley so, to see what 
 could be answered to such barbarity : but he has 
 answered it before this." 
 
 Whilst gibbets were groaning in every shire. 
 General Ingram finally accepted terms of sur- 
 render for the army. Yet there were few of 
 us who cared to trust ourselves in Berkeley's 
 power, even under the truce of these articles. 
 In company with a few comrades, therefore, I 
 turned my back upon Virginia for what I 
 thought would be the last time, and made my 
 way with great stress over the queachy fens of 
 the tide-water country, to the less inhospitable 
 shores of Maryland. 
 
 Early in the spring of '77, I finally reached 
 Baltimore, having been absent well-nigh five 
 
362 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 months without hearing a word from the little 
 party I had left behind. Neither had there 
 been any opportunity to advise them of my 
 welfare ; so that, whilst I proceeded first to 
 mend my appearance by making such purchases 
 as the state of my purse would permit, I did 
 not neglect to include one or two little knick- 
 knacks of pleasing femininity, such as a woman 
 loves to deck herself with upon a lover's return. 
 
 It was shortly past the hour of seven, me- 
 thinks, and the little town lay peaceful and 
 serene in the veiling twilight, as I took my way 
 adown a pretty street, where the trees fringing 
 the walk were just bursting into leaf. An errant 
 robin, I remember, belated in home-seeking, 
 or of an adventurous habit, chirped doubtingly 
 at me in the branches above ; but withal there 
 was a sympathetic courage in his note as I 
 stopped for a moment in front of a great brick 
 house, which I at last made out to be the place I 
 sought. Mounting the steps of polished stone, 
 I stood waiting a moment at the door to catch 
 my breath — that was strangely lost all at once 
 in the laborious task of climbing those stairs, 
 belike — ere I let fall the knocker. 
 
 The door being presently opened to me, 
 even whilst I entered I discerned a woman's 
 figure in a soft trailing gown beginning to 
 descend the gliding stairway. But the hall was 
 dimly lighted, and though I glanced as closely 
 at her as I well could without rudeness, it was 
 
Terms of Surrender 363 
 
 not till she had arrived at the last stair but one 
 that my heart gave a glad leap, and, stepping 
 swiftly forward, I seized both her hands and 
 knelt on the stair at her feet. 
 
 " Hush ! " she said softly, her voice waver- 
 ing between pleasure at my coming and sorrow 
 at the news I brought, as she bade me rise and 
 kiss her lips. "You need not tell me of the 
 cause that's lost. For never, sir, until the 
 king declares it to my face, will I confess it 
 such — a mere rebellion fought without avail ! " 
 
 And though my return brought the smiles 
 back to her face for an idle hour, whilst we 
 talked in lighter vein, and, I fear me, in words 
 of such slight significancy as were but futile to 
 record, I yet misdoubted that my little rebel 
 was not appeased. For, however hopeless the 
 cause seemed to me, her woman's spirit was 
 still unconquered. 
 
 " Methinks you set less store than I, sir, at 
 the news you bring." 
 
 " May Heaven pardon me if, indeed, your 
 words be true, my love," I protested. " Re- 
 member, I prythee, that when a man has fought 
 for months against almost daily defeat, the end, 
 perchance, does less overwhelm him than were 
 the blow to fall all at once." 
 
 " Forgive me, sir," she replied quickly ; " I 
 know 'tis true as you say. But it means so 
 much to me that mayhap I shall never return 
 to Virginia." 
 
364 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 And may God forgive me if, in the fervency 
 of that moment, I took her in my arms and 
 promised passionately, as only a lover may, to 
 do for her more than is possible for man ever 
 to do for woman short of a miracle. Yet spoke 
 I not in a mere improvidency of words ; for 
 news had come to my ears with the coming of 
 the king's ships from England, by which I con- 
 jectured that events were so shaping themselves 
 whereby even a soldier of fortune who drew a 
 good sword could yet win for himself a fair 
 name, and a goodly share of the world's largesses. 
 
 Thus it was that when Mistress Bacon came 
 into the room, and after greeting me cordially, 
 said, " Mayhap, Master Vivian, had you not 
 come this night, you might have found your 
 charges grown weary of waiting, and even now 
 sailing for England." 
 
 " Nor is it yet too late, sir," added my lady 
 in sudden raillery ; " for did not Master Barton 
 say to us that his brig would sail with the tide 
 this very night ? " 
 
 " Master Barton ? " I repeated, in surprise at 
 hearing a name mentioned for almost the first 
 time since my landing at Jamestown. 
 
 " The owner of the ship, sir ; you may know 
 him perchance ? " asked Mistress Bacon eagerly. 
 
 " That I do, madame," I replied heartily ; 
 " and if it be truly the Master Barton of my 
 acquaintance, you would yet do well to sail with 
 him." 
 
Terms of Surrender 365 
 
 So, taking my leave shortly, — far sooner, I 
 fear me, than I should else have done had I 
 not learned this news, — I proceeded straight 
 to the quays. Nor was I disappointed on find- 
 ing the rumour true, and being embraced most 
 cordially by my friend Barton on the decks of 
 that same brig whose possession I had helped 
 to fight for scant a year ago. So that, when I 
 spoke of sailing with him that very night, he 
 did manifest so much delight at my proposal 
 that I could scarce say which one of us was 
 asking or which granting a favour. Howbeit, 
 when I made mention of the ladies that would 
 accompany us, then, indeed, did he protest — 
 whilst giving me the brig — that I was forever 
 heaping favours upon him that he would never 
 be able to properly repay. 
 
 " First you pick me up in London, my 
 friend," said he, " save my throat from being 
 cut, then find me a vessel with which I proceed 
 at that time to lay the foundation for a very 
 comfortable fortune, — very comfortable, sir, by 
 my troth ! " he repeated, expanding his chest 
 and slapping his doublet. " And now, not 
 content with that, you must needs honour me 
 by fetching aboard my brig yourself, your lady- 
 love, and her friend — a widow, too, as I'm a 
 Christian ! said you not so, my friend ? " 
 
 Suchwise, then, did we come to sail that 
 very night, after a most kindly and unwilling 
 farewell from the hospitable Baltimore family, 
 
266 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 whose name I shall not mention lest I should 
 embarrass their modest, generous hearts. And 
 though our hearts were sore, these friendly 
 scenes did make to mightily balm their wounds. 
 And throughout the voyage. Master Barton 
 continued to favour us with such little atten- 
 tions as served to make the passage seem but 
 like one long holiday. Insisting, also, that I 
 should recount to him my adventures in Vir- 
 ginia, and learning that I was without any 
 regular commission assured me, he offered me 
 an interest with him in his trading enterprise. 
 But though I thanked him warmly for his 
 good will, I had no intent to embarrass him 
 with my inexperience by accepting his good 
 offices. 
 
 " Remember, my friend," he urged, as we 
 were quitting the ship on arrival in London, 
 " whenever I can serve you, I shall be joyed 
 that you command me." And, with many a 
 courtly leave-taking of the ladies, he cried after 
 us a joyous God-speed. 
 
 Now after being in London a matter of some 
 three weeks, a strange thing occurred that I 
 still recall with much wonderment. Nor is 
 such unmixed to-day with a little shame, when 
 I reflect on how near I came to never return- 
 ing to Virginia. But to explain. I have stated 
 that I had heard hopeful reports — to a soldier 
 — before quitting Virginia. Early in February, 
 Louis had taken the field and laid siege to 
 
Terms of Surrender 367 
 
 Valenciennes, which promptly fell. At this 
 the Prince of Orange hastened to the relief of 
 St. Omer, but was himself soon forced to give 
 way ; both Cambray and St. Omer falling into 
 possession of the French king. 
 
 Upon the news of these events, Parliament 
 at once became aroused and urged that the king 
 form such alliances as would assure the protec- 
 tion of their own possessions and the Spanish 
 Netherlands. But the king had little intent to 
 do aught that would offend his good friend 
 Louis. So, whilst he answered Parliament 
 that Flanders should be fully protected, he 
 next invited the Prince of Orange to London 
 and tempted him with the offer of the hand of 
 Lady Mary. 
 
 Suchwise, then, did matters stand upon our 
 return to England. The French king craftily 
 encroaching ; the English king embracing the 
 Prince and making airy speeches of no moment; 
 the Lady Mary smiling seductively upon him 
 at any moment ; and the Prince himself stand- 
 ing like a perdu and in glum silence at it all. 
 Whilst ever and anon, Parliament would give 
 a great bark that would go resounding through 
 the land. A very pretty mess, in sooth, as 
 every one doubtless recalls. 
 
 And yet the days dwindled by without any- 
 thing being done ; so that, save for a frequent 
 visit with my sweetheart, I was in despair 
 half the time. One evening, however, chanc- 
 
368 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 ing to be upon the street after the play was 
 over, I observed a gentleman in company with 
 two ladies dash past me and turn in at Man's. 
 And, what though he wore a vizard as did the 
 ladies, I should have known him anywhere 
 for " the handsome Englishman," — as Colonel 
 Churchill was ever styled by Turenne. 
 
 Waiting a moment in uncertainty, I presently 
 followed after him, and was fortunate in being 
 seen by him almost as I entered. Giving a 
 sudden start, he excused himself from his com- 
 panions and stepped over to where I stood 
 eying him. 
 
 " Of all men, my dear sergeant," he said, 
 clasping my hand heartily. " I have been 
 seeking you for weeks." 
 
 " I have been absent, sir," I replied, bow- 
 ing, "and am but recently returned from the 
 colonies." 
 
 " Tut, man ! you've not been concerned in 
 that rebellion ? " he asked sharply. 
 
 " I have fought with the Virginians, Colonel 
 Churchill," said I frankly ; " mayhap it is now 
 called a rebellion." 
 
 " Well, well, 'tis no matter," he assured me. 
 " Berkeley has been recalled, sergeant ; you 
 may not have heard. He has been a month 
 in London." 
 
 At this news I smiled with so much pleasure 
 that the colonel could not fail to note it. 
 Speaking sternly, he continued : " But it is 
 
Terms of Surrender ^Gg 
 
 with England you are concerned. Would you 
 accept a commission, sir, if I can effect it ? " 
 
 Without a thought, I exclaimed eagerly, " Sir, 
 to again see service with you would please me 
 above all things." 
 
 " Then listen, sergeant," he went on rapidly. 
 " Affairs have come to a crisis between the king 
 and the Prince of Orange. The latter positively 
 stated to Temple to-day, that he regretted hav- 
 ing ever come to England. He seeks to leave 
 in a few days ; but, before going, he says that 
 the king must say how they are henceforth to 
 live, for he is certain it must be either as the 
 greatest friends or the greatest enemies." 
 
 So saying, he dismissed me ; telling me where 
 to find him on the following night, when I was 
 to call and receive his orders. I returned di- 
 rectly to my lodgings, but so full was my mind 
 of this good fortune that I could scarce com- 
 pose myself to sleep. I thought constantly of 
 the morrow, when, as soon as ever I could see 
 her, I was to carry the good news to Mistress 
 Langdon and receive her congratulations. And 
 then, — though between her smiles and tears, 
 alas ! — make such farewells as are ever incident 
 to the uncertain life of a soldier. Yet this 
 commission, I doubted not, would please her 
 mightily, insuring such rapid rise and promotion 
 as would soon give us a firm footing in life. 
 
 The following morning, then, I called at the 
 residence of Sir William Duke, Mistress Bacon's 
 
370 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 father, where the ladies were staying ; but they 
 had gone out, it seemed, and would not return 
 till noon. The hour was past two, therefore, 
 when I again called and was admitted. Whence, 
 with little hesitancy, I went on to speak of my 
 meeting with Colonel Churchill, of the threat- 
 ened breach between the ^ kings, the by-play 
 between the Prince and Lady Mary, and my 
 promised commission. She heard me out ; 
 never interrupting by so much as a look or a 
 word. But when I had done, she said coolly, — 
 
 "And what. Master Vivian, has this royal 
 mix-up to do with your aifairs, or with mine ? " 
 
 " Why, my love ! " I began to urge, marvel- 
 ling greatly at her unwonted dulness, " it is 
 everything, everything to — " 
 
 "To a Virginian, would you say, sir?" she 
 asked proudly. " Nay, sir, bethink yourself of 
 our position." 
 
 " And so I do," I cried in some impatience. 
 "That is why I tell you of this new fortune. 
 Bethink yourself, dear, I prythee ; how can we 
 return to Virginia ? " 
 
 " Chut ! " she exclaimed at this protest, ris- 
 ing from her chair. " There is still a way, sir. 
 Go see the king." 
 
 " What ? " I asked in amazement. " Know- 
 ing the punishment he has dealt our followers, 
 would you have me stand openly before the 
 king ? " 
 
 "Aye, sir, that I would!" she declared 
 
Terms of Surrender 371 
 
 fearlessly. " Methinks that he has been de- 
 ceived. Come, I shall go with you." 
 
 " Now, my lady ? " I faltered, yet inflamed 
 at her spirited courage. 
 
 " Yes, now. Master Vivian," she assured me, 
 with a smile. " Let us have done with this 
 hide-and-seek. Wait here, sir, whilst I order 
 the carriage." 
 
 And I waited. For some little time it was, 
 too, I remember, that could not have been 
 wholly on account of delay in preparing the 
 carriage. Yet did I not begrudge the moments 
 when she next appeared ; and whilst I stood 
 gazing at her in new wonderment at her own 
 loveliness and the richness of her attire, she 
 blushed prettily, and said, "Well, Master 
 Vivian, you see I am waiting for you." 
 
 Ah, what a tender, softened smile it brings 
 back to me yet, when I recall that day of our 
 going to see the king ! Attired, forsooth, like 
 two personages of royalty; for, whilst I had 
 made no preparation for this departure, yet was 
 I in attire to see my sweetheart, which, I hold, 
 is fit to see a king in any day. And all this at 
 a time when both our fortunes — equal, they 
 were, in sooth — were at the lowest. 
 
 In the antechamber there stood only one 
 person before us, waiting for an audience. He 
 was walking the floor impatiently when we en- 
 tered, but seeing us, he gave a great start of 
 surprise, and, turning his back upon us, strutted 
 
372 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 pompously across to a window, where he stood 
 leaning out. There the breeze toyed with the 
 white locks, blowing them in scant respect 
 about the face, for which I might have felt, save 
 for its hard frown, a moment's reverence or 
 pity. But the past swept vividly over me — 
 over us ; and if Sir WilHam Berkeley flattered 
 himself that his back was being noticed beyond 
 a moment's contemptuous curiosity, then such 
 was only another instance of his inordinate con- 
 ceit and self-love. 
 
 A door now being opened, a curtain was 
 drawn aside, whilst a voice asked, "Who is 
 waiting ? " 
 
 "A lady, sire," came the reply, "accom- 
 panied by a gentleman." 
 
 " Ha ! a pretty baggage, eh ? " and I knew 
 it now for the king's voice. " And who else is 
 waiting ? " 
 
 "That is all, sire, save Sir William Berke — " 
 
 " Sh ! " admonished the king. " Show them 
 before me ! " 
 
 In another moment we were kneeling before 
 King Charles. Commanding us to rise, I 
 noticed that his eyes sparkled pleasurably whilst 
 he gazed upon my lady, and that a kindly look 
 rested upon his features as he repeated after her : 
 
 " A daughter of Lady Mary Berkeley ? By 
 my troth, my dear ! " he added graciously, kiss- 
 ing her cheek, " a charming relative of one 
 whom I oft admired." 
 
Terms of Surrender 373 
 
 And again he looked at her, till, as though 
 reminded by the footsteps beginning to walk 
 up and down again in the antechamber, he 
 frowned in sudden petulancy. 
 
 " Tell me, my dear," he said quickly, " how 
 can I serve you ? " 
 
 " O sire," she answered steadily, "it is because 
 of the uprising in Virginia that I am forced to 
 appeal to you for justice. Because of this, sire, 
 because my sympathy, and the little help that 
 I could give, were given to the people in their 
 distress, my inheritance has been confiscated. 
 Of all that has late befallen Virginia, your gra- 
 cious Majesty is well acquaint." 
 
 " Tut, tut ! a sad affair, yet by no command 
 of mine, I swear ! " Pausing a moment, as 
 though hearkening for the footsteps, that had 
 now ceased, he continued, his voice rising bit- 
 terly, " Ods-fish ! that old fool has hanged 
 more men in that naked country than I have 
 for the murder of my father." 
 
 "Your Majesty," cried the attendant, who 
 had shown us in, " Sir William Berkeley still 
 awaits." 
 
 " Well, sirrah, has he not waited and gone 
 a month already ? Ods-fish ! let him keep 
 whirling, like Ixion, to the tune of his own 
 murderous fancy ! " 
 
 Then, continuing to question my lady about 
 the uprising — as much, I opine, because it 
 pleased him to watch her eyes kindle and hear 
 
374 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 the tale fresh from her own Ups, as because of 
 any real lack of information — and promising 
 that her possessions should be restored, he next 
 turned to me. 
 
 "And this gentleman," he asked; "have his 
 estates likewise been confiscated ? " 
 
 And whilst I bowed and knelt before him, 
 ere I could stammer out a word my lady 
 answered, — 
 
 " No, sire, not his estates, but his rights." 
 
 " Ho, ho ! his rights ? " laughed the king. 
 " Be sure you have not stolen them, my pretty 
 thief! " 
 
 Commanding me to rise, he continued : " I, 
 too, once fought for my own rights, and lost 
 them. But I've not forgotten." Then calling 
 to his secretary to make a note, he said : " See 
 that a grant is made out to Master John 
 Vivian, Esquire, of Middle Plantation, Virginia, 
 for twenty thousand acres adjoining those of 
 Mistress Langdon." 
 
 I could scarce believe my ears, I remember. 
 But gathering my wits quickly, I made out in 
 halting sentences to express some measure of 
 my gratitude. Then, following out after my 
 lady, he dismissed us with a kindly smile, say- 
 ing, " Love should be equal ; you merely go 
 forth as you came ! " 
 
 Such a kindly, generous soul was the second 
 Charles, despite his faults^ which may Heaven 
 forgive ! 
 
Terms of Surrender 375 
 
 Passing out through the anteroom, we no- 
 ticed Sir William still waiting restlessly to get 
 speech, and by his expression we conjectured 
 that his ears had been audient to all that had 
 passed. Yet once again we saw him, and that 
 chanced in this wise. Being too happy to 
 ride, we dismissed the carriage and went on 
 a-foot. Coming shortly to a grand house in 
 Piccadilly, built in the Italian style, we saw a 
 carriage draw up at the curb, and Sir William 
 Berkeley alight. Walking with steps that 
 tottered, and seeming to have greatly aged 
 since we had seen him first, scarce an hour 
 ago, he crossed the walk in front of us and 
 went on up the stone staircase and into the 
 house. That was the last we saw of him, or 
 that the world saw either ; for two days later 
 it was rumoured that Sir William Berkeley had 
 died of a broken heart. 
 
 The which, methinks, was a very kindly 
 and Christianly assumption on the part of that 
 old jade. Dame Rumour. 
 
 "This house," said my lady in passing, "be- 
 longs to my Uncle John, Baron Berkeley. Is 
 it not beautiful ? " 
 
 " Yes, my love," I admitted, " albeit not so 
 beautiful as forty thousand broad acres in 
 Virginia." And as we passed on into the 
 shadow of the wall, I kissed her in pure glee- 
 fulness of spirit. 
 
376 Vivian of Virginia 
 
 Some fifteen years have passed swiftly, 
 joyously by since these events happed whose 
 chronicling I am now closing. During which 
 time Virginia has greatly changed for the better, 
 nor can any one say that these struggles were 
 of no avail. In sooth, methinks God has an 
 appointed way for us, and that, though men 
 like our worst governor who contemn every- 
 thing savouring of equality may again appear, 
 and disappear, yet shall we not for long con- 
 tinue to follow after the kings or wars or other 
 joyless superstitions of the Old World, but 
 must be ever marching onwards, upwards, 
 towards that which is common to the many 
 and the All, not that which is exclusive to the 
 selfish few. 
 
 Laying aside my quill whilst the day is 
 waning, I swing wide open the casement to my 
 left. And this is Williamsburg, once Middle 
 Plantation ! Looking down the noble avenue, 
 my eyes rest for a moment on the beautiful 
 college buildings designed by Sir Christopher 
 Wren, then pass on a mile away to where the 
 sun sets on the capitol, flanked by the palace of 
 the governor. Thus convenient to hand, have 
 I been proud to serve my shire as a worshipful 
 burgess for several years. Nor do I aspire to 
 any nobler or higher office if such there be. 
 
 " Evelyn, my lad ! " I cry out as a bright- 
 faced boy hurries past my window, on some 
 mischief bent, I trow. 
 
Terms of Surrender 377 
 
 "Yes, sir ? " He stops and salutes me. 
 
 " "Where is your sister, lad, and your 
 mother ? " 
 
 " There they stand, father," he answers, 
 pointing to a bed of deep-red dahlias that they 
 are training to hold up their heads. 
 
 "Then wait a moment, my lad," say I. 
 Returning to my desk, I seek out a token that 
 is never far away. Giving this to Master 
 Evelyn, I tell him to go hand it to his mother, 
 and say that I picked it up beside the path. 
 
 Running swiftly at my command, I watch 
 him hand it her and cry out the words. 
 
 " What do you say ? " she asks. And again 
 I hear him repeat the words. 
 
 " This is very strange. Master Evelyn," she 
 says. But, looking up perplextly, she all at 
 once catches a glimpse of me as I stand lean- 
 ing out of the window laughing at her. 
 
 "You are wondrously honest. Master 
 Vivian," she cries, shaking her head at me in 
 arch command, " to send it back to me after all 
 these days." 
 
 And again I am thrilled with the dream of 
 fifteen years ago, and the memory of some of 
 the greatest rebels that were ever in all Virginia. 
 
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