"Has the champion come to cry forfeit1?" he asked. "It is a long, sore road to the hills, Mr. Garvald."
"I've come to make confession," I said, and I plunged2 into my story of the work of the last months.
He heard me with lowering brows, "Who the devil made you Governor of this dominion3, sir? You have been levying5 troops without His Majesty's permission. Your offence is no less than high treason. I've a pretty mind to send you to the guard-house."
"I implore6 you to hear me patiently," I cried. Then I told him what I had learned in the Carolinas and at the outland farms. "You yourself told me it was hopeless to look for a guinea from the Council. I was but carrying out your desires. Can you blame me if I've toiled7 for the public weal and neglected my own fortunes?"
He was scarcely appeased9. "You're a damnable kind of busybody, sir, the breed of fellow that plunges10 states into revolutions. Why, in Heaven's name, did you not consult me?"
"Because it was wiser not to," I said stoutly11. "Half my recruits are old soldiers of Bacon. If the trouble blows past, they go back to their steadings and nothing more is heard of it. If trouble comes, who are such natural defenders12 of the dominion as the frontier dwellers13? All I have done is to give them the sinews of war. But if Governor Nicholson had taken up the business, and it were known that he had leaned on old rebels, what would the Council say? What would have been the view of my lord Howard and the wiseacres in London?"
He said nothing, but knit his brows. My words were too much in tune8 with his declared opinions for him to gainsay14 them.
"It comes to this, then," he said at length. "You have raised a body of men who are waiting marching orders. What next, Mr. Garvald?"
"The next thing is to march. After what befell on the Rapidan, we cannot sit still."
He started. "I have heard nothing of it."
Then I told him the horrid15 tale. He got to his feet and strode up and down the room, with his dark face working.
"God's mercy, what a calamity16! I knew the folk. They came here with letters from his Grace of Shrewsbury. Are you certain your news is true?"
"Alas17! there is no doubt. Stafford county is in a ferment18, and the next post from the York will bring you word."
"Then, by God, it is for me to move. No Council or Assembly will dare gainsay me. I can order a levy4 by virtue19 of His Majesty's commission."
"I have come to pray you to hold your hand till I send you better intelligence," I said.
His brows knit again. "But this is too much. Am I to refrain from doing my duty till I get your gracious consent, sir?"
"Nay20, nay," I cried. "Do not misunderstand me. This thing is far graver than you think, sir. If you send your levies21 to the Rapidan, you leave the Tidewater defenceless, and while you are hunting a Cherokee party in the north, the enemy will be hammering at your gates."
"What enemy?" he asked.
"I do not know, and that is what I go to find out." Then I told him all I had gathered about the unknown force in the hills, and the apparent strategy of a campaign which was beyond an Indian's wits. "There is a white man at the back of it," I said, "a white man who talks in Bible words and is mad for devastation22."
His face had grown very solemn. He went to a bureau, unlocked it, and took from a drawer a bit of paper, which he tossed to me.
"I had that a week past to-morrow. My servant got it from an Indian in the woods."
It was a dirty scrap23, folded like a letter, and bearing the superscription, "To the man Francis Nicholson, presently Governor in Virginia." I opened it and read:—
"Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."
"There," I cried, "there is proof of my fears. What kind of Indian sends a message like that? Trust me, sir, there is a far more hellish mischief24 brewing25 than any man wots of."
"It looks not unlike it," he said grimly. "Now let's hear what you propose."
"I can have my men at their posts by the week end. We will string them out along the frontier, and hold especially the river valleys. If invasion comes, then at any rate the Tidewater will get early news of it. Meantime I and my friends, looking for Studd's powder-horn, with a mind to confirm your birthday gift to Miss Elspeth Blair, will push on to the hills and learn what is to be learned there."
"You will never come back," he said tartly26. "An Indian stake and a bloody27 head will be the end of all of you."
"Maybe," I said, "though I have men with me that can play the Indian game. But if in ten days' time from now you get no word, then you can fear the worst, and set your militia28 going. I have a service of posts which will carry news to you as quick as a carrier pigeon. Whatever we learn you shall hear of without delay, and you can make your dispositions29 accordingly. If the devils find us first, then get in touch with my men at Frew's homestead on the South Fork River, for that will be the headquarters of the frontier army."
"Who will be in command there when you are gallivanting in the hills?" he asked.
"One whose name had better not be spoken. He lies under sentence of death by Virginian law; but, believe me, he is an honest soul and a good patriot31, and he is the one man born to lead these outland troops."
He smiled, "His Christian32 name is Richard, maybe? I think I know your outlaw33. But let it pass. I ask no names. In these bad times we cannot afford to despise any man's aid."
He pulled out a chart of Virginia, and I marked for him our posts, and indicated the line of my own journey.
"Have you ever been in the wars, Mr. Garvald?" he asked.
I told him no.
"Well, you have a very pretty natural gift for the military art. Your men will screen the frontier line, and behind that screen I will get our militia force in order, while meantime you are reconnoitring the enemy. It's a very fair piece of strategy. But I am mortally certain you yourself will never come back."
The odd thing was that at that moment I did not fear for myself. I had lived so long with my scheme that I had come to look upon it almost like a trading venture, in which one calculates risks and gains on paper, and thinks no more of it. I had none of the black fright which I had suffered before my meeting with Grey. Happily, though a young man's thoughts may be long, his fancy takes short views. I was far more concerned with what might happen in my absence in the Tidewater than with our fate in the hills.
"It is a gamble," I said, "but the stakes are noble, and I have a private pride in its success."
"Also the goad34 of certain bright eyes," he said, smiling. "Little I thought, when I made that offer last night, I was setting so desperate a business in train. There was a good Providence35 in that. For now we can give out that you are gone on a madcap ploy36, and there will be no sleepless37 nights in the Tidewater. I must keep their souls easy, for once they are scared there will be such a spate38 of letters to New York as will weaken the courage of our Northern brethren. For the militia I will give the excuse of the French menace. The good folk will laugh at me for it, but they will not take fright. God's truth, but it is a devilish tangle39. I could wish I had your part, sir, and be free to ride out on a gallant40 venture. Here I have none of the zest41 of war, but only a thousand cares and the carking task of soothing42 fools."
We spoke30 of many things, and I gave him a full account of the composition and strength of our levies. When I left he paid me a compliment, which, coming from so sardonic43 a soul, gave me peculiar44 comfort.
"I have seen something of men and cities, sir," he said, "and I know well the foibles and the strength of my countrymen; but I have never met your equal for cold persistence45. You are a trader, and have turned war into a trading venture. I do believe that when you are at your last gasp46 you will be found calmly casting up your accounts with life. And I think you will find a balance on the right side. God speed you, Mr. Garvald. I love your sober folly47."
I had scarcely left him when I met a servant of the Blairs, who handed me a letter. 'Twas from Elspeth—the first she had ever written me. I tore it open, and found a very disquieting48 epistle. Clearly she had written it in a white heat of feeling. "You spoke finely of reverence," she wrote, "and how you had never named my name to a mortal soul. But to-night you have put me to open shame. You have offered yourself for a service which I did not seek. What care I for his Excellency's gifts? Shall it be said that I was the means of sending a man into deadly danger to secure me a foolish estate? You have offended me grossly, and I pray you spare me further offence, I command you to give up this journey. I will not have my name bandied about in this land as a wanton who sets silly youth by the ears to gratify her pride. If you desire to retain a shred49 of my friendship, go to his Excellency and tell him that by my orders you withdraw from the wager50."
This letter did not cloud my spirits as it should. For one thing, she signed it "Elspeth," and for another, I had the conceited51 notion that what moved her most was the thought that I was running into danger. I longed to have speech with her, but I found from the servant that Doctor Blair had left that morning on a journey of pastoral visitation, and had taken her with him. The man did not know their destination, but believed it to be somewhere in the north. The thought vaguely52 disquieted53 me. In these perilous54 times I wished to think of her as safe in the coastlands, where a ship would give a sure refuge.
I met Grey that afternoon at the Half-way Tavern55. In the last week he seemed to have aged56 and grown graver. There was now no hint of the light arrogance57 of old. He regarded me curiously58, but without hostility59.
"We have been enemies," I said, "and now, though there may be no friendship, at any rate there is a truce60 to strife61. Last night I begged of you to come with me on this matter of the Governor's wager, but 'twas not the wager I thought of."
Then I told him the whole tale. "The stake is the safety of this land, of which you are a notable citizen. I ask you, because I know you are a brave man. Will you leave your comfort and your games for a season, and play for higher stakes at a more desperate hazard?"
I told him everything, even down to my talk with the Governor. I did not lessen62 the risks and hardships, and I gave him to know that his companions would be rough folk, whom he may well have despised. He heard me out with his eyes fixed63 on the ground. Then suddenly he raised a shining face.
"You are a generous enemy, Mr. Garvald. I behaved to you like a peevish64 child, and you retaliate65 by offering me the bravest venture that man ever conceived. I am with you with all my heart. By God, sir, I am sick of my cushioned life. This is what I have been longing66 for in my soul since I was born…."
That night I spent making ready. I took no servant, and in my saddle-bags was stored the little I needed. Of powder and shot I had plenty, and my two pistols and my hunting musket67. I gave Faulkner instructions, and wrote a letter to my uncle to be sent if I did not return. Next morning at daybreak we took the road.
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1
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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2
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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levy
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| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
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levying
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| 征（兵）( levy的现在分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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6
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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8
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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9
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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10
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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11
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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12
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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13
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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14
gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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15
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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20
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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21
levies
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| （部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队 | |
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22
devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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25
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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26
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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27
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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30
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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36
ploy
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| n.花招，手段 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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spate
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| n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵 | |
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39
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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40
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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41
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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42
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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43
sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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44
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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45
persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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46
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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47
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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48
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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49
shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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50
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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51
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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52
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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53
disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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55
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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56
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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57
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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58
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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59
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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60
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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61
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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62
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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63
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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64
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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65
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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66
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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67
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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