My first care was for my boy Sam, and after he had been properly cared for, he was carried aboard the small boat and made comfortable.

While we were changing our clothes, Will and I had a chance to discuss matters privately and decide what had best be done.

Knowing my sister's fondness for Berkley Harrison, I conceived the idea very readily that she had consented to go with him and marry him at the first convenient opportunity. Will declared that he would soon hear this consent expressed from her own lips, and that he would feel more relieved after hearing it. God alone knows what the poor fellow's thoughts were, and what hope still lingered within his breast. As for myself, my duty appeared now to lay first with my poor mother—and Miss Carter. My sister was off with the man she apparently loved, and nothing worse could happen to her than what had already occurred. I believed Harrison to be a gentleman and honorable in his dealings, although I did not agree with him in his political ideas and views.

Barron decided, positively, to accompany me and openly hinted that Williamsburg was the place he hoped to reach as soon as he helped me straighten out matters at the Hall.

"I will join you there also, as soon as I find my services are not needed at Norfolk," said Will.

"Then we will leave you here with Mr. Johnson," I said. "As soon as he gets tired of waiting for Barron and myself, you can go with him and join Dunmore, and meet us later with the forces under Colonel Henry."

While we were discussing our affairs, we were changing our shooting clothes for more suitable garments, and we were quite alone.

I took two silver mounted, Paris made pistols from a case, and concealed them carefully by sticking them in my belt under my outer coat. I may say here that these weapons were remarkable for their fine finish, and were the same I had used on one or two well known occasions before. They were the ones from which I had fired six bullets in succession, one day, upon the edge of a knife blade set twenty paces distant, and they could be relied upon. They had the advantage over most, for they exploded almost instantly from the flash of the flint.

After seeing to these, Barron and I then buckled on our swords; mine a fragile rapier which had formerly been part of the dress of a man of fashion, and his a more serviceable weapon, but still very light for field use.

"You will certainly allow me the privilege of escorting my own mother," I said to the Lieutenant, when we had finished our preparations and had come down stairs.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"At Pendleton's Inn, a few miles back in the country," I answered. "But, as I understand we are not exactly prisoners, you will have no objection to my going to her, and telling her of the arrival of his excellency, the Governor."

"Not only that, but you may take two men with you. There may be some of Mr. Henry's bush-fighters who might not be to your way of thinking, and who might dispute the way with you. Carry your sword if you wish. Is Captain Barron to accompany you? He may do so if you wish it, for, of course, I have your word that you will not stay any longer than necessary or go anywhere my men cannot go also without making trouble." Saying this he beckoned two stout soldiers aside and gave them some orders I did not quite hear.

I said nothing in reply to his remark about not staying, or leading his men into hostilities, for I wished to gain time, and I led the way quickly to the stables where saddles and bridles were procured.

The horses were at large, but in sight, grazing quietly in the pasture to the eastward of the quarters. My two field hands soon had four of them ready. Giving a nod to Barron, I leaped into the saddle, and he instantly followed my example. The soldiers started to mount in a more leisurely manner.

"Mr. Johnson," I said, turning quickly, "I have not given my word as to not leaving you and your men. Mark that, sir. Therefore I bid you farewell."

The next instant I was loping gracefully down the carriage drive with that peculiar ease which you may have, perhaps, noticed as belonging to a Virginia country gentleman.

Barron's knee was rubbing against mine with each rise and fall, and the old soldier was smiling happily at the scenery lit up by the last rays of the setting sun.

I half expected to hear a warning bullet, and turned my head with my chin to my shoulder to see what was taking place behind.

Mr. Johnson waved his sword nervously and shouted out something I could not understand, and then the two soldiers came galloping after us.

"We better avoid their company, for they are rough looking men," said Barron. "A soldier is good enough when properly commanded, but most unpleasant when in command. As for me, I intend to command some as soon as I can join the Major and the rest at Williamsburg."

"We must shake clear of these men before we get to the Inn," I said. "It would never do to have a dispute there before the ladies, although the advantage would lie with us. Suppose we slack up at the turn a mile above here and tell these fellows to go back. Perhaps Will will find himself kept pretty close when Dunmore knows we are not exactly in sympathy with the king."

"He will have tact enough to keep out of limbo, but I reckon Dunmore will try to make him take up arms against us," said Barron. "You spoke of a bend in the road; is that it ahead there?"

"Yes, but suppose these fools show fight?" I asked.

"That little side ornament of yours will do little good in that case, but I reckon I can hold them both in play. There was a time, if I remember rightly, when I knew something about the use of a sword—even a light one like this I have with me. When Braddock was down in the swamps I was a fair hand at pinning frogs. I reckon there isn't anything much better to eat than the reptile's legs, but I tired of them after the boys got me to eat the half raw legs of a skunk, by mistake, in the way of a joke. Most uncommon joke it was, but I certainly am right when I say I can taste those legs yet. Whoa! Steady, boys?" And we slowed our horses down to a walk.

The soldiers came galloping up, and the one who appeared to be a corporal, by the cheverons on the sleeves of his tunic, drew alongside of me and saluted.

"Sorry, sir, but orders are to accompany you to your party at the Inn and bring whatever luggage you wish to send back with me," said he.

"But I'm not coming back to the Hall for some time," I answered. "Do you wish to go with me to the militia camp? It's doubtful if they would receive you well, or allow you to return to the frigate after seeing your uniform."

"We only go three miles," said the man, "and if your party is not with us after traveling that distance, we will postpone meeting them this evening and shall return together."

"Shall is a big word," said Barron, laughing. "Don't you know any better than to use it to a gentleman? I reckon your discipline or early family training has been neglected."

"Our discipline aboard the Fowey is fair," answered the soldier, coolly, "and as for my family training, I don't think such things count for much. Family is nothing to me, for the only ones I ever knew of mine were cowardly and bad."

"Does that apply to your mother and father?" asked Barron, much amused.

"Most certainly. My mother was a woman on the streets, and my father was probably some chance acquaintance of a day or two, though I never heard his name, or have I ever met him; but if you think my ancestry makes me an inferior being to your self, I shall take pleasure in proving that a man's worth depends entirely on the education or training he gives himself, mentally or physically."

"You speak with great precision," laughed Barron, "and I am sorry not to have time to discuss your theory to a better advantage. That tall pine tree ahead, with the eagle's nest in its top, is a trifle over three miles from Judkins' Hall, so I regret to have to bid you good evening."

"If that really be so we shall all turn about here and go back to the boat. We shall proceed no further in this direction. I suppose you know I am master of arms on the frigate and quite capable of enforcing my words with this." And he whipped out a long shining sword and his silent mate did likewise.

"Of course you gentlemen will not resort to anything so vulgar and absurd as resistance. Therefore turn your horses and we may discuss other matters."

My temper had been steadily rising for some minutes past, and now it burst beyond my control.

I snatched out my rapier and dug my heels into my horse's ribs. The animal sprang forward twenty paces. Then I drew up and wheeled suddenly, and then bore down on that Corporal with all speed, my sword point aimed at his breast.

There was a crash as the animals and weapons met, and the next thing I knew I was lying on my back by the roadside, grasping the hilt of my puny, broken sword tightly in my right hand.

Barron sat quietly in his saddle and laughed immoderately at me, while the soldier seized my horse by the bridle and bade me remount.

I sat up in the roadway a little dazed, but, collecting myself, I felt under my coat to see if my pistols were all right. They were there, so I arose, and, taking my horse from the Corporal, climbed painfully back into the saddle again. Barron then drew his weapon and slowly placed himself on guard.

"You may or may not be right in your theory, Mr. Soldier," said he, "but we are not to accompany you back to Dunmore. Mr. Judkins is a very young and inexperienced swordsman compared to yourself, but his mishap was due more to the worthlessness of his weapon than lack of skill."

"Tut! tut! I shall be forced to secure both of you with cords, if this nonsense proceeds any further," said the Corporal. "Put up your sword and waste no more time. Jim!" he called to his mate, "pass a line about Mr. Judkin's wrists, lest he continue this nonsense past supper time."

The soldier approached and bade me hold forth my hands that he might secure them with a line he produced from under his belt. I saw there was no use of putting off the crisis any longer, so I held out one of them—my right—and in it was gripped the butt of the straightest shooting pistol on the Virginia peninsula.

"Give me your sword hilt," I said, as I raised the barrel level with his eyes. But the fool had seen me unhorsed so grossly, that he laughed in my face, and made a pass at my weapon with his blade. I held fire while his point cut my cheek open, and I ordered him back, hoping I could spare his life. But he cursed me and pressed on, aiming a blow at my head to knock me from my horse, so I could wait no longer. Then, to save my life, I pulled down the flint. The next instant he lay dead in the road with a bullet hole in the center of his forehead.

It was all done so quickly that the Corporal and Barron sat looking on, hardly realizing what had happened. This gave me the moment I needed, so I pulled out my left hand weapon.

"Surrender your sword, sir," I cried to the Corporal, for the excitement of the fight was hot within me and my patience was at an end.

"Not to such a swordsman as you; it would disgrace me," replied the Corporal contemptuously, and he began the fight by making a pass at Barron, which the old Captain parried. Round and round and past each other went the horses, guided by trained hands, and the sword blades slipped with a ringing sound from lunge to parry. So fast did they fight that I found myself sitting there quietly in my saddle looking on, never thinking for an instant that one snap shot from my pistol would put an end to the affair. It was rapidly growing dark, but at that distance I could have broken the soldier's sword blade while it was in play, had I so wished.

The man was certainly a master of fence and I soon saw that Barron had no chance whatever with him. Still I never thought to fire upon a man engaged with another in a fair fight. The cut in my cheek bled freely, but I felt no pain or dizziness and was cool enough to think calmly. Once the thought came to me to get the dead man's sword and take part in the unequal affray, but I put it aside and made up my mind to shoot only at the last minute to save Barron's life. Suddenly a new idea flashed through my head and I instantly raised the pistol. The corporal's horse turned his nose in my direction and I marked the white blaze between his eyes.

"Crack!" And down both horse and rider went, just as Barron whirled a wicked cut at the soldier's head. The old Captain's weapon went wide and the Corporal jumped to his feet as lightly as a cat and was on guard again before Barron fully realized what had happened.

"Come!" I cried. "Let him go!" And I galloped away down the road before I finished speaking. Barron wheeled his horse to follow just as the soldier started for him. In an instant the animals were together, running neck and neck, with that Corporal within six feet of Barron's saddle, running as I had never seen a man run before.

Away we went, and for a second or two I was afraid Barron would be run through the back, but the pace proved a trifle too strong for our enemy.

Seeing this, the rascal made a vicious cut at Barron's mount and almost hamstrung him, and then he dropped back while the poor animal hobbled ahead desperately for several minutes, and finally brought up dead lame.

"That man will certainly prove he is equal to both of us," said Barron, "and put at variance all laws of heredity, if we don't do something to stop him."

"It's a pity I didn't shoot him, for that was my last shot," I said. "Here he comes, and unless you can hold him in check until I get a charge into this pistol, we will indeed see Dunmore or the devil to-night."

As I spoke the figure of the Corporal showed through the gathering darkness, coming along the edge of the road at a smart walk with his long sword in front of him.

"You ride on ahead and let me settle with him," said Barron, quietly.

"It is uncommon shameful to have to run from this vermin," I said, "but I had him at my mercy once and let him go."

"So had he you, my boy," laughed Barron.

It did seem hard to have to get away from this creature, the acknowledged offspring of a prostitute, but it was apparently certain death to face him. I strove to get a charge into one of my pistols, but by the time I had the powder in the barrel he was up with us. He saw what I was about and instantly started for me. And then, yes, I shall have to confess it, then I put spurs to my mount and went down that dark road as though thirty devils were at my heels. The corporal's long sword could not reach me, so he soon gave up the chase and turned his attention to Barron.

In another minute my pistol was loaded and I was riding back again as fast as I could.

Barron had dismounted and they had just begun a passage as I rode up.

I was almost beside myself with rage and I rode close to the soldier to be certain of my aim. I meant to end matters and would run no risk at night, so I shot quick and sure for the centre of the man's body and had the satisfaction of seeing him double up and drop in the roadway.

Barron stooped over him and picked up his long straight sword. He looked at it for a moment and then passed it to me. It was a very heavy weapon and as sharp as a razor.

"Come," said Barron, "let us carry him into the bushes and go ahead."

The form of the soldier moved slightly as he spoke.

"I thought you killed him," he continued, and he sprang forward with his sword drawn back for a final thrust.

"Hold on!" I cried, "he's dead unless made of iron," and I jumped down from my horse and bent over the fallen man just as he started to raise himself.

"His belt! Quick!" I cried, and I grasped him around the body with all my strength.

Before he fully realized what was taking place, we had his elbows lashed fast behind him and I had a chance to find out why he not was dead.

My bullet had struck him just below the breast bone and over the heart, but between him and it was the cross belt buckle-plate of his uniform. The lead had flattened on this, but the stroke of the ball had sent him to the ground unable to move for over a minute.

"You are a most disputatious man, Mr. Soldier," said Barron, good humoredly, "and at one time you had nearly all the facts necessary to establish the truthfulness of your side of the argument. I hope you are now convinced of the value of good breeding, and will not, in the future, thrust yourself into company uncongenial to your taste. However, you shall now accompany us to the Inn, for I would hardly trust you to return to Mr. Johnson alone to-night."

"Had I believed you were not too scared to return," said the soldier, looking straight at me, "I would have followed you and killed you. Your horse is a good runner."

"And for such an absurd mistake, I very nearly killed you," I answered. "Had I known you were so bent upon mischief, I would have sent your soul to the devil some twenty minutes ago. We will now go back and get your mate's horse and you will walk between us the rest of the way."

In a few minutes we were back to where the dead soldier lay and Barron was soon mounted upon his animal—which, by the way, was mine, as were also the other three, and it caused me some little regret to lose two of them on account of this hard headed soldier.

We carried the dead man to the roadside and laid him in bushes. Then we proceeded quietly upon our way, and the moon rose like a huge ball of silver to light up the dark road.