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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/35645-8.txt b/35645-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4310838 --- /dev/null +++ b/35645-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5756 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2, by +William A. Caruthers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2 + or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion + +Author: William A. Caruthers + +Release Date: March 21, 2011 [EBook #35645] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA V.1 *** + + + + +Produced by Roberta Staehlin, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA, + + OR, THE RECLUSE OF JAMESTOWN. + + AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF THE OLD DOMINION. + + BY WILLIAM A. CARUTHERS + + THE AUTHOR OF "THE KENTUCKIAN IN NEW-YORK." + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + VOL. I. + + NEW-YORK: + PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, + NO. 82 CLIFF-STREET, + AND SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT + THE UNITED STATES. + 1834. + + +Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1834, by HARPER & +BROTHERS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern +District of New-York. + + + + +THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The romance of history pertains to no human annals more strikingly than +to the early settlement of Virginia. The mind of the reader at once +reverts to the names of Raleigh, Smith, and Pocahontas. The traveller's +memory pictures in a moment the ivy-mantled ruin of old Jamestown. + +About the year 16--, the city of Jamestown, then the capital of +Virginia, was by no means an unapt representation of the British +metropolis; both being torn by contending factions, and alternately +subjected to the sway of the Roundheads and Royalists. + +First came the Cavaliers who fled hither after the decapitation of their +royal master and the dispersion of his army, many of whom became +permanent settlers in the town or colony, and ever afterwards influenced +the character of the state. + +These were the first founders of the aristocracy which prevails in +Virginia to this day; these were the immediate ancestors of that +generous, fox-hunting, wine-drinking, duelling and reckless race of men, +which gives so distinct a character to Virginians wherever they may be +found. + +A whole generation of these Cavaliers had grown up in the colony during +the interregnum, and, throughout that long period, were tolerated by +those in authority as a class of probationers. The Restoration was no +sooner announced, however, than they changed places with their late +superiors in authority. That stout old Cavalier and former governor, Sir +William Berkley (who had retired to the shades of Accomack,) was now +called by the unanimous voice of the people, to reascend the vice-regal +chair. + +Soon after his second installation came another class of refugees, in +the persons of Cromwell's veteran soldiers themselves, a few of whom +fled hither on account of the distance from the court and the magnitude +of their offences against the reigning powers. It will readily be +perceived even by those not conversant with the primitive history of the +Ancient Dominion, that these heterogeneous materials of Roundheads and +Cavaliers were not the best calculated in the world to amalgamate in the +social circles. + +Our story commences a short time after the death of Cromwell and his +son, and the restoration of Charles the Second to the throne of his +fathers. + +The city of Jamestown was situated upon an island in the Powhatan, about +twenty leagues from where that noble river empties its waters into those +of the Chesapeake Bay. + +This island is long, flat on its surface, and presents a semicircular +margin to the view of one approaching from the southeast; indeed it can +scarcely be seen that it is an island from the side facing the +river--the little branch which separates it from the main land having +doubtless worn its way around by a long and gradual process. + +At the period of which we write, the city presented a very imposing and +romantic appearance, the landscape on that side of the river being +shaded in the back ground by the deep green foliage of impenetrable +forests standing in bold relief for many a mile against the sky. Near +the centre of the stream, and nearly opposite the one just mentioned, +stands another piece of land surrounded by water, known to this day by +the very unromantic name of Hog Island, and looking for all the world +like a nest for pirates, so impenetrable are the trees, undergrowth, and +shrubbery with which it is thickly covered. + +To prevent the sudden incursions of the treacherous savage, the city was +surrounded with a wall or palisade, from the outside of which, at the +northwestern end, was thrown a wooden bridge, so as to connect the first +mentioned island with the main land. A single street ran nearly parallel +with the river, extending over the upper half of the island and divided +in the centre by the public square. On this were situated the Governor's +mansion, state house, church, and other public buildings. Near where the +line was broken by the space just mentioned, stood two spacious +tenements, facing each other from opposite sides of the street. These +were the rival hotels of the ancient city; and, after the fashion of +that day, both had towering signposts erected before their respective +doors, shaped something like a gibbet, upon which swung monotonously in +the wind two huge painted sign-boards. These stood confronting each +other like two angry rivals--one bearing the insignia of the Berkley +arms, by which name it was designated,--and the other the Cross Keys, +from which it also received its cognomen. The Berkley Arms was the +rendezvous of all the Cavaliers of the colony, both old and young, and +but a short time preceding the date of our story, was honoured as the +place of assembly for the House of Burgesses. + +The opposite and rival establishment received its patronage from the +independent or republican faction. + +It was late in the month of May, and towards the hour of twilight; the +sun was just sinking behind the long line of blue hills which form the +southwestern bank of the Powhatan, and the red horizontal rays fell +along the rich volume of swelling waters dividing the city of Jamestown +from the hills beyond with a line of dazzling yet not oppressive +brilliance. + +As the rich tints upon the water gradually faded away, their place was +supplied in some small degree from large lanterns which now might be +seen running half way up the signposts of the two hotels before +mentioned, together with many lights of less magnitude visible in the +windows of the same establishments and the various other houses within +reflecting distance of the scene. The melancholy monotony of the +rippling and murmuring waters against the long graduated beach now also +began to give place to louder and more turbulent sounds, as the negroes +collected from their work to gossip in the streets--Indians put off from +the shore in their canoes, or the young Cavaliers collected in the +Berkley Arms to discuss the news of the day or perhaps a few bottles of +the landlord's best. On this occasion the long, well-scrubbed oaken +table in the centre of the "News Room" was graced by the presence of +some half dozen of the principal youths of the city. In the centre of +the table stood the half-emptied bottle, and by each guest a full bumper +of wine, and all were eager to be heard as the wine brightened their +ideas and the company received fresh accessions from without. + +"Oh, here comes one who can give us some news from the Governor's," said +the speaker _pro tempore_, as a handsome and high-born youth of +twenty-one entered the room with a proud step and haughty mien, and +seated himself at the table as a matter of course, calling for and +filling up a wine glass, and leisurely and carelessly throwing his cap +upon the seat and his arm over the back of the next vacant chair, as he +replied--"No, I bring no news from the Governor's, but I mistake the +signs of the times if we do not soon hear news in this quarter." + +All eyes were now turned upon the youth as he tossed off his wine. He +was generally known among his companions by the familiar name of Frank +Beverly, and was a distant kinsman and adopted son of the Governor, Sir +William Berkley. News was no sooner mentioned than our host, turning a +chair upon its balance, and resting his chin upon his hand, was all +attention. + +"What is it, Frank?" inquired Philip Ludwell, his most intimate friend +and companion. + +"Some mischief is brewing at the Cross Keys to-night," replied Frank, as +the landlord moved up his chair nearer to the table, more than ever on +the _qui vive_, when the Cross Keys became the subject of discussion. + +"There is no one in the Tap of the Keys, as I can see from here," said +another of the party, "and there is no light in any other portion of the +house except the apartments of the family." + +"They hide their lights under a bushel," continued Frank, with an +affected nasal twang and a smile of contempt. Taking his nearest +companion by the lappel of his doublet, and drawing him gently to where +the rival establishment was visible through the door--"Do you not see a +line of light just perceptible along the margin of the upper window? and +if you will observe steadily for a moment, you will see numerous dim +shadows of moving figures upon the almost impenetrable curtain which is +drawn over it." + +"Master Beverly is right, by old Noll's nose," said the landlord, as +they all grouped together to catch a glimpse of the objects mentioned. + +"You may well swear by Noll's nose in this case," returned Frank, "for +unless I am much mistaken, those motions and gestures proceed from some +of his late followers; indeed I know it. I was accidentally coming up +the alley-way between the Keys and the next house, when I saw four or +five of them cross the fence into the yard, and from thence enter the +house by the back door." + +"That's true, I'll swear," said the host, "for there they are, some +dozen of them at least, and I'm a Rumper if a soul has darkened his +front door this night. But couldn't you, Master Beverly, or one of the +other young gentry, just step to the stout Sir William's, and make an +affidavy to the facts? My word for it, he'd soon be down upon 'em with a +fiery facias or a capias, or some such or another invention of the law." + +The youths all burst into a loud cachinnation at the zeal of the +landlord to unmask his rival, and reseating themselves, called for +another bottle, which our friend of the Arms was not slow to produce, by +way of covering his retreat and hiding his disinterested zeal. As they +all refilled their glasses, Frank waved his hand for silence. "Has any +gentleman here seen Mr. Nathaniel Bacon very lately?" + +"I have not--I have not," replied each of the party, and the +interrogator then continued, "I would give the best pair of spurs that +ever graced a Cavalier's heels to know whether his long absence has had +any thing to do with the getting up of yonder dark conclave?" + +Whether any of the party were Bacon's immediate friends, or whether they +suspected Frank's motives in the case, we shall not undertake to +determine at present; but certain it is they were all silent on the +point except his intimate friend Ludwell, who replied--"By St. George, +Beverly, I believe you are jealous of Bacon on account of the favourable +light in which he is said to stand in the eyes of your fair little +mistress." + +"If I thought that Virginia Fairfax would entertain a moment's +consideration for a person of such doubtful parentage and more doubtful +principles as Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, the ill-advised protegé of her +father, I would forswear her for ever, and dash this glass against the +floor, with which I now invite you all to join me in pledging her,--What +say you? Will you join me, one and all?" All rose at the invitation, and +while standing with glasses suspended midway to their lips, Ludwell +added the name of "the pretty Harriet Harrison." It was drunk with three +times three, and then the landlord was brought up by the collar of his +jerken between two of the liveliest of the party, and made to tell the +reckoning upon the table with his well-worn chalk. Having settled the +score, they proceeded to decant full half the remaining bottle into one +of his own pint flagons, seized from his shelves for that purpose. "Mine +host" made sundry equivocal contortions of the countenance, and +practised by anticipation several downward motions of the muscles of +deglutition, and then swallowed the enormous potation without a groan. + +"There now," said Ludwell, "bear it always in your remembrance that a +like fate awaits you, whenever your wine bears evidence of having passed +rather far into the state of acetous fermentation." As the party were +now leaving the room in pairs, linked arm in arm, "Stop! stop!" cried +Beverly; "I have one proposition to make before we separate. It is this. +You know that there is to be a grand celebration the day after +to-morrow, which is the anniversary of the restoration. The whole to +conclude with a ball at the Governor's, to which I feel myself +authorized to say that you will all be invited. Now I propose that we +all go at different hours to-morrow and engage the hand of the fair +Virginia for the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sets. So +that when Mr. Nathaniel Bacon returns, as he assuredly will, to claim +her hand, to which he seems to think he has a prescriptive right, he +will find no less than six different successful competitors. What say +you, gentlemen?" + +The proposition was instantly acceded to by all the party, and then the +landlord of the Arms was left to digest the pint of his own sour wine in +solitude, as he leaned his overgrown person against the casings of the +door and watched the youths as they departed one by one in different +directions to their respective places of abode. + +"Natty Bacon is a goodly youth, however," he muttered in soliloquy; "ha, +ha, ha; but he shall know of the plot if I can only clap eyes on him +before they see the young lady. Let me see; can it be possible that +Natty can have any thing to do with yonder dark meeting of Noll's men? +I'll not believe it; he is too good a youth to meddle with such a +canting, snivelling set as are congregated there. He always pays his +reckoning like any gentleman's son of them all; and a gentleman's son +I'll warrant he is, for all that no one knows his father but Mr. Gideon +Fairfax." + +The Cromwellians alluded to, who were supposed by the youths to be +assembled at the Cross Keys, were a few of the late Protector's veteran +soldiers, and were the most desperate, reckless and restless of the +republicans who, as has been already mentioned, had fled to Jamestown +after the restoration. These soldiers were unfitted for any kind of +business, and generally lived upon the precarious hospitality of those +of their own party who had settled themselves as industrious citizens of +the new community. + +The names of the leaders of these veteran soldiers and furious bigots +were Berkinhead, Worley, Goodenough and Proudfit; and of these the +reader will hear more anon. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Late in the afternoon of the day succeeding the one designated in the +last chapter, towards the southwestern extremity of the beach and +outside of the palisade, a young and gentle creature, of most surpassing +loveliness, moved thoughtfully along the sandy shore, every now and then +casting a wistful glance over the water, and as often heaving a gentle +sigh, as a shade of girlish disappointment settled upon her blooming +face. Her dress was simple, tasteful, and exquisitely appropriate to her +style of beauty. She had apparently scarce passed her sixteenth +birthday; and of course her figure was not yet rounded out to its full +perfection of female loveliness. So much of her neck as was visible +above a rather high and close cut dress, was of that pure, chaste and +lovely white which gives such an air of heavenly innocence to the +budding girl of that delightful age. The face although exceeding the +neck in the height, variety and richness of its colouring, was not +disfigured by a single freckle, scar or blemish. The features were +generally well proportioned and suited to each other, the lips full and +gently pouting, with a margin of as luxurious tinting as that with which +nature ever adorned the first budding rose of spring, and when parted, +as they often were, by the most gentle and _naïve_ laughter, displayed +a set of teeth beautifully white and regular. Yet one could scarcely +fasten the eye upon them for the admiration excited by the exquisite +expression of the dimpled mouth, ever varying, and as it seemed, more +lovely with each succeeding change. The motion of her eyes was so rapid +that it was difficult to ascertain their colour; but certain it is they +were soft and brilliant, the latter effect produced in no small degree +by long fair dewy lashes which rose and fell over the picture, as lights +and shadows fall from the pencil of an inspired painter. + +The fair flaxen ringlets fell beneath the small gipsey hat in short +thick curls, and were clustered around her brow, so as to form the most +natural and appropriate shade imaginable to a forehead of polished +ivory. She was about the medium height, symmetrically proportioned, with +an exquisitely turned ankle and little foot, which _now_ bounded over +the beach with an impatience only surpassed by her own impetuous +thoughts, as her eyes became intently riveted upon a moving speck upon +the distant waters. The wild and startled expression, excited in the +first moment of surprise, might now be seen merging into one of perfect +satisfaction, as the distant object began to grow into distinct outlines +at every plunge of the buoyant waves; her heart heaving its own little +current to her face in perfect unison with their boisterous movements. + +A beautifully painted canoe soon ran its curled and fantastic head right +under the bank upon which she stood, and in the next moment a gallant +and manly youth leaped upon the shore by her side, and taking her +unresisting hand, gently removed the gipsey hat so as to bring into view +a certain crimsoning of the neck and half averted face. Nathaniel Bacon, +the youth just landed, was about twenty-one, and altogether presented an +appearance of the most attractive and commanding character. He wore a +green hunting jerken, buttoned close up to his throat so as to show off +to the best advantage a broad and manly chest. Upon his head was a broad +brimmed unstiffened castor, falling over his shoulders behind, and +looped up in front by a curiously wrought broach. + +A small brass hunting horn swung beneath one shoulder, while to the +other was suspended a short cut and thrust sword. In his hand he bore a +fishing rod and tackle. + +Few as evidently were his years, much painful thought had already +shadowed his handsome and commanding features with a somewhat precocious +maturity. It was obviously, however, not the natural temperament of the +man which now shone out in his features, after the subsiding of the +first glow of delighted feeling visible for an instant as he watched the +heightened bloom on the countenance of the maiden. + +"You were not irreconcilably offended then at my rash and disrespectful +behaviour to your father at our last meeting?" + +"Certainly not irreconcilably so, Nathaniel, if offended at all; but I +will confess to you candidly, that I was hurt and mortified, as much on +your own, as on my father's account." + +"You are always kind, considerate and forgiving, Virginia, and it +behooves me in presence of so much gentleness, to ease my conscience in +some measure by a confession. You have sometimes, but I have never, +forgotten that I was thrown upon your father's hospitality an orphan and +an outcast. This fact constantly dwells upon my mind, and sometimes +harrows up my feelings to such a degree that I am scarcely conscious of +my words or actions. It was so on the occasion alluded to. I forgot your +presence, the respect due to your father and my benefactor, as well as +what was due to myself. I had been endeavouring to revive some of the +drunken reminiscences of that eccentric fellow who sits in the canoe +there, but they tended only to inflame my ardent desire to know +something more of myself. Certainly some allowances must be made for me, +Virginia, under the mortifying circumstances in which I am placed. I +thought your father could and ought to relieve this cruel suspense!" + +"He will if he can, Nathaniel; and that he does not do so immediately, +is the best evidence to my mind either that he knows nothing on the +subject, or that some powerful reason exists why he should not disclose +his knowledge at present. Come, then, return with me to our house; my +father will take no notice of your absence or its cause, unless to jest +with you upon your want of success in your fishing expedition, which it +seems was the ostensible motive of your absence." + +"It was my purpose to return, but I had not so amiably settled the how +and the when; indeed the objects I had in view were so urgent that I +determined to brave even your father's continued anger in order to +obtain an interview with you." + +"With me, Nathaniel!" + +"Ay, with you, Virginia! You know that there are on the island some +restless and turbulent spirits--late soldiers of the Protector. They +have some dangerous project brewing I am well satisfied, from +circumstances which accidentally fell under my own observation. You know +too that the Recluse is said to have unbounded influence with these +desperate men, and to be familiar with all their designs and movements. +And notwithstanding your childish dread of him, you know that he loves +you more than any living creature." + +"I know all the things you speak of, except the last, and for that I +suspect I am indebted to your imagination; but to what does all this +lead?" + +"I have just returned from a visit to that strange and mysterious old +man, and as I have already hinted, hastened hither for the purpose of +seeking an interview with you, which fortune has so opportunely thrown +in my way." + +"But I am yet in the dark. Why did you hasten from the Recluse to me, +after discovering the things you speak of?" + +"I will tell you; but you must be cool, calm and considerate while I do +so, because I have that to tell and that to propose which will astound +you!" + +"Oh do tell it at once then, and not play upon my feelings thus." + +"Your father's and your uncle's life is in danger, Virginia! Heaven, +what have I done?" he continued, as he saw his companion turn deadly +pale and lean against the palisade for support. But instantly recovering +herself she asked-- + +"Whence does this danger come?" + +"That I do not know exactly; but the Recluse knows, and I have been +vainly endeavouring to learn it from him; and this brings me to the +proposition which I have to make. You must visit him this night! 'Ay, +Virginia! start not, you must do it for your father's and your uncle's +sake!" + +"Visit the Recluse, and at night! What will my parents say to it, think +you?" + +"They must not know one word of it." + +"Then it is absolutely out of the question." + +"Do not say so, Virginia, till you hear me out. As I have already said, +the Recluse loves you better than he does any creature in the colony. He +knows all the plots and counterplots that are going on, and if you will +surprise him with a visit to-night, he will divulge the whole affair to +you." + +"Why must it be to-night?" + +"Because there is no time to be lost. To-morrow is the anniversary of +the Restoration. There is to be a grand celebration during the day, and +a ball at night; this opportunity is to be taken advantage of in some +way or other by the desperate men alluded to. If we wait till to-morrow, +and make our visit publicly, these men will all know of it, and its very +object be counteracted by that circumstance." + +"Your reasons are plausible I confess, Nathaniel, and secret enemies are +at all times dreadful, but your alternative is scarcely less so." + +"I will pledge my life for your safety. You have the keys of your +father's house at command, you can go and return through the servants' +hall when they are all asleep. No sentinels are placed on the walls +since the general peace with the confederated tribes of Indians. My +canoe lies under the first abutment of the bridge. I will watch you from +your father's door till you arrive there. We can then cross the creek in +the canoe, so that no one will see us at the bridge. Brian O'Reily shall +wait on the opposite shore with my horse and pillion for you, and +another for himself. What then is there so much to be dreaded in this +simple nocturnal excursion to a retired old man, who, to say the worst +of him, is nothing more than fanatical on religious subjects, and +certainly he is very wise and learned upon all others." + +"It is the clandestine nature of the expedition that I object to, +Nathaniel; it is so hurried--at such a strange hour too. At all events I +must have a little time to consider of the propriety of the step." + +"Certainly, you shall have as much time as the nature of the case will +admit of. But see, the long shadows of the trees are already extending +across the river and the birds are seeking their resting places for the +night." + +"Oh, happy little songsters! would to Heaven that my rest could be as +sweet and tranquil as theirs this night? But Nathaniel, at what hour +shall I meet you at the bridge, provided I determine upon the step you +propose?" + +"As the clock from the tower of the church strikes eleven I will be at +my post." And as he stepped into his canoe, he continued, "Remember, +Virginia, that it is your own peace and your father's safety that I am +endeavouring to secure in the course I urge you to adopt." + +As the little vessel rose and sunk over the swelling waves in its +passage round the town, Virginia stood on the brink of the river and +gazed upon the scene in a deeply meditative mood, very new to her young +and hitherto careless heart. At length when her late companion had long +disappeared from her sight, and the sombre shadows of evening were fast +closing around the ancient city, she slowly passed into the gates of the +palisade and sought her father's dwelling. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Violent was the struggle of contending emotions within the bosom of +Virginia Fairfax, when she had gained her own apartment, and strove to +form her determination in the matter proposed by Nathaniel Bacon. On +such occasions feeling usurps the place of reason, and the longer we +deliberate, the more perplexing seem to grow our doubts and +difficulties. If, however, there were powerful feelings contending +against the enterprise, there were equally if not more powerful ones +operating in its favour. Not the least among these was the estimation in +which she held both him who proposed the nocturnal expedition and him +whose advice and aid were expected to be gained. Bacon himself, it was +generally believed, had acquired most of his knowledge of books from the +mysterious personage alluded to, and he in his turn had been the +instructer of his fair young associate and playmate. It is true that +these relations of the several parties had somewhat changed of late +years, as the two younger ones approached the age at which their +continuance might be deemed improper, to say nothing of any little +misgivings of which, they might themselves be conscious, as to the +nature of many strange and novel impressions, the growth of years and +intimacy, perhaps, but not suspected until with advancing years came +change of relative situation and prospect for the future. + +All the various relations of our heroine to the other parties presented +themselves in successive aspects to her view, as she endeavoured +honestly to decide the matter according to the dictates of duty. While +she was thus deliberating, the usual evening meal was announced. As she +entered the apartment, and beheld her father and mother waiting for her +to assume the head of the table, which on account of the latter's +delicate health had been her custom of late, all the contending emotions +which had so lately occupied her mind were renewed with increasing force +by the sight of the beloved objects in whose behalf she was solicited to +undertake the strange adventure. + +Gideon Fairfax, the father of Virginia, was one of the Cavaliers, before +alluded to, who fled to Jamestown during the interregnum. He was +brother-in-law to the Governor of the colony, and was, at the time of +which we write, a member of the council. He was one of that remarkable +race of men which has so powerfully influenced the destinies of the +Ancient Dominion from that day to the present. He was rather above the +medium height, with light hair and eyes, and although he had +considerably passed the prime of life, there was a sparkling of boyish +vivacity in his eyes, and a cheerful expression always hovering about +his mouth, which instantly dispelled any thing like formality in his +intercourse with others. Yet withal there was a bold, reckless daring +in his look, together with an open-hearted sincerity which served to +give a manly dignity to the lighter expressions already mentioned. To +his only daughter he was most devotedly attached. + +Mrs. Emily Fairfax seemed about the same age as her husband, and though +she still preserved some evidence of former beauty, her countenance was +now mostly indebted for any charm that it possessed to a mild, lady-like +and placid serenity, which was occasionally shadowed by an air of +melancholy so profound, that more than once her friends were alarmed for +her reason. As Virginia assumed her place at the board, the conflict in +her mind was in nowise subdued by observing that one of these melancholy +visitations was just settling upon her mother's countenance; indeed +there seemed to be a mutual discovery on the part of mother and +daughter, that each had some secret cause of uneasiness; but the effect +was by far the most painful to the mother's heart, as it was the first +time that she had ever seen her daughter's gay and happy temperament +seriously disturbed. The parting hour for the night arrived, without +making either of them wiser as to the cause of the other's +pre-occupation and evident anxiety; the mother having sought an +explanation in vain, and the daughter being too much accustomed to her +present state of mind to intrude farther upon her sorrows, whatever +might be their cause or nature. Bacon's arguments prevailed, and long +before the hour appointed, Virginia was sitting at the window, her light +extinguished, mantle drawn close around her to exclude the damp air from +the river, and her hat tied on in readiness for the expedition. + +At length the town clock began to send its slow and solemn sounds across +the water. The house was still and dark, and the inmates apparently +wrapped in profound slumber. Her own clandestine movements, so new to +her, seemed like the trampling of armed heels rather than the footfalls +of her own slight figure. More than once she was on the point of +retracing her steps, so tumultuous and painful were her emotions in +prosecuting an adventure which still appeared to her of such +questionable propriety. The servants' hall, garden, and postern gate +were all passed without the slightest interruption, save an occasional +start at her own shadow, or the impetuous beating of her agitated heart. +The moon was at her zenith, and the clouds coursing high in the heavens, +so as every now and then to obscure her reflected beams, and present +alternate and fantastic contrasts of light and shade upon the +surrounding objects. The river for one moment looked like a dark abyss, +and the next a mirror of light as the silver rays fell sparkling upon +the rippling waters beneath the bridge. The interminable forest beyond +was at one moment dark as Erebus, and the next as light as fairy land. +There is no appearance of the heavens, perhaps, which produces a +greater tendency in the mind to undefined and superstitious terror than +that which we have attempted to describe. Our own shadow, visible as it +is only for an instant, will startle us; and the ill-omened birds of +night acquire huge and unnatural proportions as they flit swiftly by on +noiseless wings in this rapid alternation of light and gloom. The wolves +and other beasts of prey might be heard at long intervals, as their wild +and savage howls broke upon the ear, reverberating from cliff to cliff +as they fell upon and were borne across the water. Under these +circumstances it may be readily imagined that our heroine was not a +little relieved at the sight of Bacon leaning against the nearest +abutment of the bridge, anxiously watching for her approach. In a few +moments he had seated his companion in the boat, upon a cushion formed +of his cloak, and was rapidly approaching the opposite shore. When they +arrived at the appointed rendezvous, a very unexpected source of +uneasiness was speedily discovered. As has been already intimated, Bacon +had early in the evening despatched his usual attendant, Brian O'Reily, +across the bridge to wait their arrival. The horses were indeed +there--and O'Reily was there, but so intoxicated as to be apparently in +no condition to guide the motions of a horse, even should he be able to +keep the saddle. Bacon lost all patience at this discovery, and would +perhaps have taken summary and not very agreeable means to sober his +attendant, had he not been reminded by his gentle companion of the +peculiar and privileged position which Brian had from time immemorial +enjoyed in his service, as well as that of their own family. "How comes +it, sir," said the young man, "that I find you in this predicament when +I gave you such strict injunctions to keep yourself sober? Now of all +other times!--when I had taken so much trouble to instruct you whom you +were to guard, and upon what expedition?" + +"By the five crasses, but you've hit the very nail upon the head. By the +contints of the book but that's the very rason I took a dhrop of the +crathur!" + +"What is the reason, you drunken old fool?" + +"The business were an to be sure! you wouldn't be after axing a sinner +like Brian O'Reily to ixpose himself to sich a temptation widout taking +a dhrop, and may be your haner would do that same for all your spaking +aginst it so intirely." + +"And what may the nature of the temptation be of which you speak?" + +"And is it Brian you're after axin? O begorra, but that's runnin away +wid the story intirely, so it is; sure it's me should be axin your haner +after that same!" + +"None of your subterfuges, sir! I am determined to know your ideas of +this dreadful temptation." + +"By my purty an is it Brian's idaas you're axin after, divil a miny o' +them he's got any way, barrin a small bit of a smotherin about the +heart whenever I think of the business we're on, and the gintleman +we're goin to see, savin your prisence and the beauty o' the world by +your side." + +"What gentleman--speak out and I will forgive your drunkenness, provided +you give me up that bottle I see peeping from the pouch of your jerkin." + +"An is'nt it the man widout the shadow you're after making a tay party +wid?" + +"And who is the man without a shadow, Brian?" inquired Virginia, willing +to forget her own misgivings in the more ludicrous superstition of the +son of the Emerald Isle, whose countrymen, it may be remarked, formed no +inconsiderable part of the inferior population of the city at that day. + +"Oh bad cess to me, but I'm as glad to see you as two tin pinnies, you +beauty o' the world; but it bates all the love I had for you and ever +had these ten years past to see where you'r going." + +"Well, where is it, Brian?" + +"Hav'nt I tould your ladyship it was to a tay party wid the inimy +himself." + +"Come, see if you can assist Virginia to the pillion," said Bacon, as he +sprang into the saddle. + +"By my purty and I'll do that same;" kneeling upon one knee and taking +one foot in his hand, and then seating her as easily and gracefully as +if he had been a stranger to the bottle for a month. + +"I had no idea that you were such a coward, Brian," continued his +master. + +"Sorra a dhrop o' coward's blood runs in Brian O'Reily's heart, iny way. +It's one thing to trate the grate inimy with dacent respect, and its +another to fight the yellow nagres that go dodgin from tree to tree like +so many frogs; the devil fly away wid the one and the t'other o' them +for me, I say." + +"And who is the great enemy?" + +"Sure hav'nt I tould your haner and the beauty o' the world by your +side, it was the man widout a shadow what lives in the stone house +widout windows, as well he may, seein the light o' his own counthenance +may be seen across the river the darkest night any day." + +"Sit your horse straight, you drunken piece of stupidity, or you will +break your neck." + +"Oh! an if Brian never breaks his neck till he falls from a horse, sure +he'll live to take many a dhrop of the crathur yet before he dies. Sure +I was only crassin myself, divil a word o' lie's in that, iny way." + +"There, I have broken one of your necks at least," said Bacon, as with +the butt of his riding whip he struck the neck from a bottle which every +now and then peeped from Brian's pocket as the motions of the horse +raised him in the saddle. + +"Oh! murther all out, but you'll come to want yet before you die. Oh +sure, but the crathur's safe after all. Wo, ye divil of a baste, don't +you hear the crathur all runnin down the wrang side o' me. Wo, I say! Oh +but the bottle sticks as tight to the pouch as if it growed there. Oh +murther all out, I'm ruined, I'm ruined intirely." + +"Draw your arm from your jerken, Brian, and then you can drink out of +your pocket," said Virginia, suppressing a laugh. + +"Oh you beauty o' the world, see what it is to have the larnin," replied +the Irishman, immediately adopting the expedient; but here a new +difficulty presented itself. "Oh murther, but the gable end's all +knocked off and fax the chimney went along with it. Oh, but the crokery +sticks up all round like pike staffs. Wo you murthur'n baste; Now I've +got it, now I've got it, you beauty; sorra one of the lane cows at +Jamestown gives sich milk as that, fax if they did, I'd be head dairyman +to the Governor any way." + +Thus our adventurers beguiled the way through a dreary and trackless +forest of some miles, until they approached a spot where Bacon signified +to the party that they had accomplished so much of their journey as was +to be performed on horseback. What farther befell them will be described +in the ensuing chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Bacon and his companion having left O'Reily with the horses, now +commenced descending an immense hill which formed one side of a dark and +dismal looking glen. The tall pine trees with which the higher grounds +were covered seemed to reach half way to the clouds. A cold midnight +breeze swept through the damp and dewy foliage of the trees and +shrubbery. The birds of night chimed mournfully and dismally in unison +with the monotonous rustling of the leaves, and the rippling of a little +brook just before them. When they had stepped across the stream, and +cast their eyes up the face of the opposite hill, the rays of the moon +suddenly broke through a fissure of the clouds, revealing to them rather +the darkness around than any distinct traces of the path which they were +to pursue. Bacon stood for an instant, and gazed intently upon a little +spot of partially cleared ground half way to the summit, then gently +drawing his companion to the same place where he stood, and pointing +upwards, he said "Do you not perceive something moving yonder? It is he! +you must now proceed alone!" + +"Alone, Nathaniel? Impossible!" + +"You must, Virginia; he will not admit more than one person at a time +within his cell. Fear not there is no earthly danger; I will be within +call. Rouse your drooping courage! the worst half of your undertaking is +now accomplished." + +"By far the worst half is yet to come, Nathaniel; you can form no +conception of the awe with which I look upon that being! You forget that +I have never seen more of him than I see now, notwithstanding you say +that he is so much attached to me." + +"It is strange, I confess Virginia, but it is nevertheless true." + +"His affection, if it exists, must be the fruit of your representations +as to some imaginary proficiency in my studies." + +"Not at all; he seems to know every one in Jamestown, and all the +circumstances connected with their history: but come, Virginia, we are +losing precious time. Move on and fear nothing." + +Clasping her hands, and internally summoning up all her resolution, she +advanced with a sort of desperate determination. Having arrived within +some forty yards of the spot before alluded to, the outlines of a +gigantic figure could easily be discerned as his footfalls were +distinctly heard moving restlessly to and fro on a sort of platform or +level space, left by nature or formed by art, in the side of the hill. +His head towered far above the stunted undergrowth, interspersed among +the rugged outlines of the scene. And as he impatiently measured the +narrow limits of this outer court to his castle, he seemed not unlike a +chafed and hungry monarch of the forest when making the narrow rounds of +his iron bound limits. Having gone thus far, she was sensible that it +was nearly as bad to recede as go forward, and that if she retreated now +upon the very eve of the fulfilment of all that Bacon had promised, her +past anxieties would have been endured for nothing: she braced her +nerves therefore, and endeavoured to subdue the overpowering terror +which the distant view of this strange and mysterious man had excited. +Summoning all her resolution for one desperate effort, she threw herself +forward and fell at the feet of the huge mortal, who stood apparently +astounded at the abrupt appearance of his unwonted and untimely visiter. +When Virginia found courage enough to raise her lately closed eyes, she +was not a little astonished to see him leaning against the stone walls +of his cell, no less agitated than herself. He was apparently about +sixty years of age, his hair slightly silvered, and his features worn +and weatherbeaten, yet eminently handsome. His person was very +remarkable, being about six feet and a half in height and perfectly +proportioned. His dress conformed in some degree to the military +fashions of the day, having however rather the appearance of undress +than full uniform. The expression of his countenance was decidedly +intellectual; and about the lower part of his face there were some +indications of a disposition to sensuality, but tempered and controlled +in no ordinary degree by some other fierce and controlling passion. His +eye was wild and unsettled at times, and again assumed the mild serenity +of the profound student. Altogether, his presence was intellectual and +commanding in the highest degree. + +As he stood against the wall of his cell quaking like an aspen, an +indifferent observer would have been at a loss to determine which was +the most agitated, he or his gentle visiter. Virginia noted with more +than one furtive glance his strange and unexpected embarrassment, still +however, preserving her humble and supplicating posture. At length, +struggling with the emotions which unmanned him, muttering all the while +broken sentences which fell strangely upon her ear, and among which she +could distinguish repeated allusions to herself, and to events of long +passed years, recalled as it appeared by some fancied resemblance traced +by his excited imagination in her form and features. He approached the +kneeling maiden, and taking her hand, he raised her from the ground, and +said in a tone of kindness, "My wayward fancies frighten thee, my child; +be not alarmed, however--there is nothing here to harm thee. My house is +poor and cheerless, but such as it is, thou art welcome to its shelter, +and to any services which I can render to thee. Come, my daughter, let +us in from the damps of the night." + +The cell of the Recluse was formed on three sides by stone walls without +windows, as O'Reily had described them, the fourth being furnished by +the side of the hill, and the roof an arch of masonry overgrown with +moss, grass and weeds.[1] + +[Footnote 1: A house very similar to that we have described stands to +this day near the Ancient City. Its former objects and uses are entirely +unknown.] + +Pressing open the rude door, he entered, followed by Virginia. Near one +corner of the room stood a common deal table, on which was placed a +small iron lamp, and near to it a three legged stool of the rudest +construction. These were the only articles of furniture of which the +apartment could boast. The floor, which consisted of the earth, as +nature had made it, was overgrown with weeds and bushes. "This," said +he, with a bitter smile upon his countenance, "is my hall of audience! +Here I receive my guests, with one solitary exception; thou shalt be +another." Having thus spoken, he took the lamp from the table, and +drawing aside some dried bushes which were piled against the side formed +by the hill in apparent carelessness, he exhibited to her view the mouth +of a cavern, not sufficient in height by several feet to admit his +person in the erect position. "This," said he as he stooped to enter, +"is not a house made with hands, and it is built upon a rock of ages. +The rains may descend, floods may come, winds blow and beat upon it, but +it falleth not. It is proper that thou shouldst see it, and such has +long been my intention. I have much to say to thee, and doubtless thou +hast something to communicate to me, or thou wouldst not have made this +visit. But not a whisper of what thou mayst see or hear must ever pass +thy lips, save to those I shall authorize thee to make partakers of thy +knowledge. This is a condition which thou must impress upon thy mind." +Stepping in a bent position within the mouth of the cavern, he moved +forward and downward, motioning her to follow. They descended many rude +and natural steps, which were imperfectly seen by the light of the lamp +borne by her singular guide, the rays being often obscured by the bulk +and great height of his person in the narrow passages of the cave, so +that she was more than once compelled to grope her way by sliding her +hand along the cold damp and dripping walls, and by slipping her feet +over the uneven ground, without raising them in the act of stepping. +Having completed the descent, she found herself in a long natural +vestibule to the inner apartments. Her guide had gained rapidly upon +her, so that when once more upon level ground, some thirty feet below +the outer surface of the earth, he was almost out of sight. She would +have cried out, had she not been restrained by a counteracting feeling, +which placed her in a grievous dilemma between horror at the dismal +place, and fear of the singular being who had undertaken to guide her +through its recesses. Commending herself however to her Maker in mental +prayer, and trusting in his protection the more confidently on account +of the motive for her undertaking, she hastened forward so as with great +exertions to keep within sight of the rising and sinking light of the +lamp, and the devious windings of the cavern. The footfalls of her +Herculean guide reëchoed along the damp and gloomy tunnels with an awful +and dismal effect, amidst the grave-like stillness of the place. +Occasionally flickering shadows were reflected against the walls, when +the light turned suddenly round a projecting rock, affording to her +imagination the most startling and frightful images. While her mind was +combatting these unreal terrors, she was surprised by the tone of a deep +hoarse voice abruptly rumbling through the high dark arches far above +her head, with that reverberating sound peculiar to these secret places +of the earth. But her amazement was still greater, when lifting her eyes +in the direction of the lamp she beheld the Recluse standing upon a +lofty but narrow ledge of rock, the lamp flickering and sinking every +now and then so as to threaten total darkness. He was pointing with his +finger, and directing her to a projecting and winding pathway by which +she must ascend to the platform upon which he stood. This once gained, +she had a complete view of the resting place of her mysterious guide. + +Immediately fronting the platform was a natural doorway, about as high +as her own head, leading into the inner chamber. From the high and +vaulted arches hung thousands of the fantastic creations of hoary time, +and from the centre of these a cord swung into the middle of the area, +to which was suspended a burning lamp, the rays of which were +brilliantly reflected from a thousand shining mirrors of nature's +forming. In one corner she discovered, as they entered, several pieces +of firearms, and against the wall on one side hung huge swords, long +enough for two-handed weapons to ordinary mortals, together with Indian +war clubs, moccasins, wampum, pipes, tomahawks, spears, arrows, and +other implements of savage warfare. In another corner stood a rude +bedstead, evidently constructed by the hands of its nightly occupant, a +small table, two or three chairs, and a few culinary articles,--some the +manufacture of the savages, and others the product of civilized +ingenuity. By far the largest part of one side of the room was occupied +by coarsely constructed shelves, bearing many volumes of the most +venerable appearance. One of these was lying open upon the table, a pair +of horn spectacles upon the page to mark the place where the owner had +last been engaged. The very letters in which it was printed were entire +strangers to the eyes of our heroine. Some thirty yards distant, in the +remotest part of the room, a little furnace diffused a narrow circle of +glowing light through its otherwise gloomy precincts. These completed +the establishment, so far as the eye could discover its arrangement. + +When he had led Virginia into the habitable part of this area, he placed +a chair, and motioned for her to be seated, drawing a stool near the +table at the same time for himself, and resting his head upon the palm +of his hand. "I will not affect ignorance of thy name and person, my +daughter, nor yet of thy errand here. The first I should most certainly +have known, if I had not surmised the last. Alas! my child, thou wilt +think no doubt that I speak in riddles when I tell thee that those +features have been engraven upon the heart of one who has forsworn the +world for many a long and irksome year. Thou mayest well look amazed, my +poor bewildered child, but it is true! I cannot explain it to thee now, +however; some day perhaps thou mayest know all. Oh, if thou couldst +imagine what events must take place in this little isolated world around +Jamestown, before the mysteries of which I speak can rightfully be made +clear to thee, thou wouldst fall upon thy knees and pray that such +disastrous knowledge might never come to thy understanding!" + +As his eye rested from time to time, while he spoke, upon the features +of the beautiful girl, he covered his face with his hands, and seemed +for an instant to give way to an agitation similar to that which +unnerved him at her first appearance on the platform. Occasionally too, +when not speaking himself, he became profoundly abstracted for a moment, +and his eye was wild and restless, and not a little alarming to his +gentle visiter, as it ever and anon fell upon herself, and seemed to +gather in her face the solution of some subtle doubt of his troubled +mind. But observing that his glances, wild as they were, always became +humanized and softened as they rested upon her face, she seized the +first opportunity to complete the object of her journey, not well +knowing how it might terminate, being herself ignorant of its especial +object, and indeed of the very nature of the threatened danger. + +"Father, I came here to seek your aid and protection for those who are +near and dear to me; My honoured parents--my mother"--she would have +proceeded, but at the mention of her mother's name he was seized with +such a convulsive shudder that she paused in astonishment. It seemed as +if the hand of death was already laying its cold grasp upon his vitals. +His eye gleamed wildly--his lips trembled, and his hands shook as one +stricken with the palsy, or overwhelmed by some sudden stroke of +calamity. By a desperate effort of resolution, he speedily resumed his +attention to the discourse, and she proceeded: "I have been advised and +urged in my resort to this step by one not unknown to you, under the +vain hope, I fear, that you were cognizant of some threatened danger to +my dear parents and kindred, and that you would communicate the +knowledge to me rather than to him." + +"As I have already said, my daughter, I surmised that something of this +nature was the object of thy visit, and I will now confess to thee that +this appeal places me in an embarrassing position between some friends +of former and better days and my desire to grant thy request." Pausing +and apparently soliloquizing, he continued: "But have they not acted +against my advice? Did I not tell them, that we had had enough of that +already? Did I not warn them against this very result? I cannot betray +them, however; no, no, my old comrades, I will give you another warning, +and then your blood, if it must flow, be upon your own heads." He was +about to resume his discourse to his visiter, but stopping suddenly and +raising his finger in the attitude of one listening in the profoundest +attention, he seized the small lamp, rushed past the little furnace in +the direction of the cave through the hill opposite the entrance, at one +time rising and anon descending, until Virginia (who had followed, +fearing to be left alone) supposed they must be again near the surface +of the earth. He paused once more to listen, motioning her at the same +time to be silent. He had scarcely done so, when the distant sound of +running water struck upon her ear,--sometimes distinct, and again as if +buried in the bowels of the earth. Then came the noise as of a stone +splashing in the water. The eye of the Recluse sparkled as he turned +with a quick and expressive glance towards his companion. He hastily +applied his ear to the rocky side of the cavern and listened for a +second, then hurried back, taking Virginia by the hand in his return, +and leading her to her former seat. He then busied himself for a few +moments in exchanging the short cutlass by his side for one of the huge +weapons hanging on the wall, and placed a pair of large and richly +inlaid petronels in his belt, as if about to march on some secret and +desperate expedition. + +Whether these were really for such a purpose, or were his usual +preparations for repose, Virginia was entirely at a loss to determine. +Meantime she had an opportunity to survey the features and expression of +his countenance, as he from time to time faced towards her, intently +engaged with his occupation, and muttering all the while words to her +altogether inexplicable at the time. + +His large and light blue eye had an expression of forced resignation and +calmness, drops of cold perspiration stood upon his brow, lip, and bald +head, which was now uncovered. His features were large and striking, but +well proportioned, the lips protuberant, the teeth large, white, and +regular, and as a smile, indicative more of wretchedness than mirth, +played upon his face, the impression was irresistible that the wrinkles +which marked his features were the impress of suffering rather than of +age. In his personal as well as mental attributes he was eminently +gifted, though there seemed to be a settled design, as much to clothe +the one in the garb of age, as to exhibit the other, if at all, in +meekness and humility. + +"It is not consistent with my duty to all parties in this business, my +daughter, to enlighten thee as to the nature of the danger which +threatens thy friends, or as to the means of preventing it. I owe it to +myself, first to warn those from whom it comes, yet once more against +their undertaking, as I have already done--but thus far in vain. If they +are still deaf to my admonition and entreaties, rest assured that I will +leave no power or influence within my control unexerted to thwart their +purposes. Thou mayest therefore direct him who must have conducted thee +hither, to see me early on the morrow, and I will inform him as to the +result of my endeavours and the best means to pursue in case they are +unsuccessful. Rest thou contented yet a little while; I see thou art +impatient, but I have some things to say to thee concerning other +matters than those which brought thee hither. I see thou art studying +these evidences of years in my features as the forester examines the +rings in the fallen tree to estimate its age, but these (pointing to the +wrinkles) are records which years alone could not have wrought. Few of +us, my daughter, can read these marks of time and destiny, and trace +through them one by one, the disappointed hopes, the cruel mishaps, the +hair-breadth adventures, their failure, sealed perhaps in the blood of +those who had basked together with us in the sunshine of youth and hope, +without a sinking of the heart within us, and a deep sense of the utter +worthlessness of all those gay illusions which beam so brightly on thy +own youthful features. + +"I allude to this subject now, my daughter, because there seems to be +some connexion between it and the one upon which I have been so anxious +to commune with thee. Although we have never met before, it is not the +first time I have seen thee, nor is this, which thou hast given me, the +first information I have received concerning thee and thine. I have +taken some pains to learn even the minutest circumstances connected with +thy past history, present occupation and future prospects. I see thy +surprise, but it was not done in idle gossip thou mayest be well +assured. My motives will all be made plain enough to thee some day. In +the mean time I must approach a subject which I fear will give thee +pain, but my duty is imperative, I mean the state of thy mind and +feelings." + +"Alas, father, I fear you will find them but too deeply engrossed with +the cares and pleasures of this world." + +"Thy mistake is a natural one," said he, (one of those smiles of +wretchedness passing over his pale countenance, as a flash of +electricity darting along the horizon sometimes shows us the extent and +depth of the darkness beyond) "my situation and past misfortunes would +indeed seem to fit me for a teacher of holy things, but my present +business is with thy worldly affections. Start not, my daughter; I have +the most urgent reasons which a mortal can have for thus endeavouring to +intrude myself into thy feminine secrets; believe me, no trifling cause +could impel me thus to startle thy maidenly delicacy, nor indeed needest +thou be startled on one account which I see agitates thee. Thou very +naturally supposest me to have some charge to bring against thee for +want of proper spirit and maidenly reserve; I see it by thy blushes; but +there is no such thought within my breast; thou mayest have been even +more guarded than is customary with females of thy age. My business is +with facts, and facts of such a nature that however stubborn they may +be, I fear that thou art unconscious of them, though they relate to +thyself and one other person only. However, without bringing thee to +confessional, I think I can sufficiently put thee upon thy guard without +wounding thy delicacy. The only question in my own mind is, whether the +time to speak has not already passed." + +"I am at a loss to comprehend you, father." + +"I will speak more plainly then. Thou hast been associating for some +years with a youth of little more than thine own age. He is noble and +gifted with every manly and generous attribute; well instructed too for +his time and country. To thee I will give credit for corresponding +qualities suitable to thy own sex, and I have no doubt that thou +possessest them. Thinkest thou then that two such persons could grow up +together constantly within the influence of each other's expanding +personal attractions, besides the nobler ones of mind and heart, without +feeling more towards each other than two ordinary mortals of the same +sex? Oh, I see the crimson tell-tale mounting in thy cheeks; thou +hangest thy head too in tacit acknowledgement, that I have surmised no +more than the truth." His visiter for some time made a vain effort to +speak, and at length overcoming her confusion and surprise, in broken +sentences exclaimed, "Indeed" indeed, father, you wrong me! indeed you +wrong us both! such a subject was never mentioned between us to this +hour! Nay more, it never entered our"--as she looked up and perceived +his searching glance riveted upon her countenance, her head again sunk +in embarrassment, and the words died upon her lips. + +"Cease, cease, my daughter, to punish thyself. I will give thee credit +for all thou wouldst say. I am willing to believe that neither of you +has ever mentioned this subject, and perhaps that neither has ever been +conscious of more than a brotherly affection towards the other. +Nevertheless, the last half hour has fully convinced me that +self-examination, some sudden prospect of separation, or some untoward +circumstance in the ordinary current of your intercourse was only +necessary to awaken both to the perception of the truth. But my business +now is of a far more painful nature than the mere finding of the facts. +I am bound in duty to warn thee! solemnly warn thee that this passion +must be subdued in its inception. I beg of thee not to suppose for one +moment, that my warning has reference merely to obstacles which commonly +obstruct the current of young and mutual affection! They are absolutely +insurmountable,--far more so than any that could arise from difference +of rank, or faith, or country! Nay, if death itself had put its seal +upon one or both, the gulf could not have been more impassable!" His +language began gradually to grow more impassioned, his eye shot forth a +continued instead of occasional gleam of wildness--he rose upon his +feet, and as he pronounced the barrier to be impassable, he took down a +large and ancient manuscript volume, bound in leather, threw it open +upon the table, and to her astonishment a bloody hand was all that was +visible upon the page which seemed to have been accidentally turned up. +He pointed to this singular sign-manual--his finger trembling with +emotion--"See there," said he--"see what it is to neglect a solemn +warning. There is the diary of my eventful life--the transactions of +every day for more than twenty-seven years are there written, save one! +There is the only record of that day! Its history is written in blood! +The seal of Cain is stamped upon all the events of the succeeding pages. +Since that bloody token was placed there, its author has been a wanderer +and an outcast. I was born among the haughty and the proud of a proud +land--there is my coat of arms," said he, with a horrid laugh which sent +the blood coursing back to the heart of our heroine chilled and +horrified. "These are not or should not be uninteresting records to +thee!--had that crimson attestation never been imprinted there, thou +wouldst never have been born! but this will suffice for the first +lesson," (and he closed the book and replaced it upon the shelf;) "at +some more convenient season I will reveal another page of the history of +one with whom henceforth thou wilt be more connected than thou now +imaginest. Now, my daughter, before thou takest leave, let me entreat +thee to remember and ponder well upon what I have said to thee. Shouldst +thou ever be in any sudden strait of danger or difficulty send to me a +memento of the bloody seal and I will come to thee, if within the +compass of mortal means; and remember likewise, should I ever send such +an emblem to thee--pause well upon what thou art about to do. Now thou +mayest depart in peace, but say nothing of what thou hast seen or heard +farther than I have directed thee to do." And thus speaking he took the +lamp and conducted her out by the same opening at which they had +entered. + +They stood upon the platform overlooking the shadowy mazes of moonlit +foliage down the glen; all nature was as silent as when it first came +from the hands of its Creator. Looking towards heaven, and placing his +hand upon her flaxen ringlets, now wafted about in the richest +reflections and deepest contrasts of light and shadow, as a cold breeze +from the valley beneath sought an opening to the plains beyond, he said, +"May God Almighty bless and preserve thee, my daughter!" And then led +her some distance down the hill--bade her adieu, and left her to seek +her more youthful guide, and to ponder upon some novel and not very +pleasing passages in the diary of her own experience. + +Her ideas were any thing but clear and definite. The whole scene of her +late interview was so new--the subject so startling to her young and +innate delicacy. Taking it for granted, however, that all the surmises +of the Recluse were true with regard to herself, that person has studied +human nature to little purpose, who supposes that she, after all that +had been so solemnly announced, admitted the undefined obstacles +mentioned to be as insuperable as the person who suggested them seemed +to imagine. Nevertheless an injunction so grave and authoritative had +its minor effects--the first of which were visited upon the head of our +hero, who impatiently awaited her approach at the foot of the hill. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +When Virginia arrived at the foot of the hill, and looked back, she +could see the Herculean figure of the Recluse, throwing its tall shadow +far down the face of the cliff, as he paced his narrow court exactly as +she had found him doing. + +The surrounding scenery now looked doubly brilliant to her confused +senses, after the gloomy contrasts of her late subterranean journey. The +fleeting clouds were entirely dispersed, and the moonbeams shone clearly +forth in undimmed splendour, tipping with silver light each tree and +shrub, on the hill side and in the dale, and sparkling like gems along +the rippling current of the purling brook on the banks of which Bacon +waited her approach. + +Although the language of the Recluse was somewhat dark and oracular, it +was sufficiently explicit to produce a very sensible effect upon the +mind of Virginia, which our hero was not long in discovering; for as he +extended his hand to assist her across the brook, she tacitly declined +the proffered aid, as if unobservant of his intention, and leaped the +streamlet unassisted. He was the more astonished, that in the whole of +their long intercourse he could not recollect such a whim or freak +occurring towards himself. She seemed reserved and formal too, as they +moved up the opposite hill; but without remarking on her altered mood, +he sought to draw from her the result of her expedition. Barely +communicating so much as she had been directed to do, however, she +remained to him inexplicably silent. + +While he was revolving these things in his mind his companion, silently +and moodily walking at his side, without availing herself of his offered +arm, they met Brian O'Reily somewhat farther down the hill than the spot +where they had left him--the bridle of a horse slung upon each arm--a +handkerchief tied round his waist, into which were stuck two pertronels +from his own saddlebow; and in his hand his master's ready for use. + +"In the name of all the saints in Ireland, what is the matter, Brian?" +exclaimed Bacon. + +"Oh! an be the Holy Father at Rome, is it there'ye are? Sure as death, +but I'm the boy that thought ye were clane murthered iny'way." + +"Murdered! why who was to murder us?" + +"Faix, an there's enough iv them to do that same in _this_ bloody place. +Barrin the tay party wid the great inimy in the side iv the hill +yonther, a'int there enough iv the bloody nagurs (the savages,) ranting +about like so many wild bastes, ready to peale the tap iv your heads +like a pair of onions or murpheys--divil a word a lie's in that iny +way." + +"Are there any of the savages abroad to-night?" + +"Be the contints iv the book, but there is five yallow rascals gone +over the hill towards the city half an hour since. Oh, by my purty, but +I was as near putting a key note to one of their whistles, as two tin +pinnies, only, that I was jalous iv your own safety, and the beauty by +your side at that same reckning." + +"I commend your discretion in not shooting--and I wonder at your +sobriety, considering the condition in which we left you." + +"Oh, is it Brian O'Reily's discretion your haner's after namin?--an +is'nt it me that's a pathern o' sobriety? Oh, by the five crasses, but +it all comes iv the dhrap o' the crathur I got by the larnin iv you, ye +beauty; divil a word a lie's in that." + +"Gone towards the town have they?" said Bacon, musing--and then +examining the priming of his petronels, he took them--placed them in +their holsters, and mounted his horse, motioning to his attendant at the +same time, to assist Virginia to the pillion. She being mounted, he +continued his discourse to her. "Keep up your courage my brave pupil; no +danger shall molest you unencountered." + +"Strange as it may appear," replied she, for the first time uttering +something more than a monosyllable. "The real danger in which we seem +placed, has few terrors, after my late subterranean visit." This last +part of the sentence was said in an under tone, as they cantered over +the hill. + +"You have done bravely, Virginia, and now Brian it is our turn. Do you +ride foremost--but on no account pull trigger, or draw your sword, +without my orders. We are at peace with the confederated tribes of the +peninsula:--should the party therefore prove to be any of these, +bloodshed will be, unnecessary. Remember, and be watchful!" + +"Oh! be the powers iv mud and darkness, but there's no more profit in +watchin these skulking nagurs, than there is in spakin to the fish to +make them take the bate; both the one and the tother o' them bites when +you laste expect it. Oh! would'nt it be a fine thing to have a praste to +walk along afore ye wid the contints of the book spread out before him?" + +"Get along O'Reily with your nonsense; one would suppose, to hear you +talk, that you were the greatest coward in Christendom." + +The conversation of the Hibernian was at all times amusing to our +adventurers, and was enjoyed with more zest, doubtless, on account of +the many excellent qualities which they knew him to possess, being as +they knew, brave, devotedly attached to them both, and of unvarying good +humour. On the present occasion, Bacon encouraged his volubility in +order to divert his companion's attention from dwelling upon the danger +which he but too clearly saw might await them on their passage to the +city; and thus was the time beguiled, until they arrived at the top of +the hill commanding the town and river, without encountering a single +foe, or meeting with any adventure worth recording. As they descended +towards the river, and O'Reily was just felicitating himself "that there +was a clane path intirely across the stream." A sudden exclamation of +surprise from Bacon, induced him to rein up his steed, in order to +ascertain the cause. This however was clearly seen before the retrograde +movement was completed. + +"Oh! the murtherin thaves iv the world," said O'Reily, "there they are +in our boat too, as sure as my name's Brian O'Reily. Your haner's a good +shot across that same little river, any way, and by these pair o' +beauties that never lie nor chate" he continued, unslinging his arms, +"but I'll be bound for a couple or three more iv them. By the vestments +but we'll put some o' them to slape, wid a tune that'll ring in their +ears to the day o' their deaths." + +"Softly! softly, O'Reily" said Bacon, "you are as far on the one extreme +now as I thought you on the other a while ago. Don't you see that two +watch on this side, besides the three in the boat? And as I live, they +are preparing to push off. Quick, Brian, dismount and follow me behind +these bushes! we must despatch these two, at least, without the use of +firearms. And you, my gentle pupil, must remain with the horses. If we +fall, remain quiet until they have carried off whatever it is they are +endeavouring to steal, and then leave the horses, and seek a passage by +the bridge. I know your situation is a trying one, but it is the best +we can do under the circumstances." + +"Oh! no, no, Nathaniel!" said Virginia, suddenly recovering her feelings +as well as her voice. "It is not the best we can do. Stay here yourself, +and I can slip round, unperceived, to the gate of the bridge, and from +thence alarm the city. Do, Nathaniel, suffer me to go." + +"Not for worlds!" answered Bacon; "do you not perceive that it would be +impossible for you to pass the two on this side unnoticed? Besides, were +you even to gain the gate, they would tomahawk you before you could +arouse one person in the town. No, no, you must remain. Seat yourself on +the sward and hide your eyes, if you will, until we despatch these two, +and then we can hold the others at bay." + +"But what is the necessity of attacking them at all, Nathaniel?" + +"Do you not see that they have been committing some +depredation?--perhaps worse, and would be sure to make fight were we to +show ourselves in so small force. But come, O'Reily, we are losing +precious time; follow me, and for your life do not shoot." + +This short and earnest dialogue was held in whispers, and in much less +time than we have taken to record it. + +The precaution against using firearms was doubtless given for fear of +betraying to the inhabitants of the town the delicate and apparently +equivocal position in which Virginia was placed. "We must be upon these +two with our good swords, O'Reily," said Bacon, "before the others can +join them, and if possible before they perceive us." + +"Devil burn me but my hand itches to get acquainted wid the taste o' +their skulls any way. Oh! if we can only smash these two but we'll keep +the others to see their own funerals iny way." + +In a few moments, Bacon and his trusty follower were silently gliding +through the bushes on the banks of the river, and advanced to within a +few rods of the savages, unperceived either by the party on the beach or +those loading the boat on the opposite shore. But as they were just +emerging from the last bush which protected their movements, a +characteristic and startling exclamation "hugh!" from the watch +stationed in the boat, at once precipitated their movements, and put the +two on their guard whom they were about to attack. + +There was at that day no male inhabitant of Jamestown or the surrounding +Colony, arrived at the years and vigour of manhood, who was entirely +unacquainted with the mode and usual end of Indian warfare. Of course, +on such occasions as the present, the contest was for life or death. + +Bacon, notwithstanding his youth, had already acquired some renown as a +warrior in these desperate single-handed conflicts, which doubtless gave +him and his companion more assurance of success on this occasion, +notwithstanding the fearful odds which it was possible might be brought +against them. Springing upon their adversaries, who, as has been seen, +were on their guard, the conflict at once became desperate, while those +in the boat made the utmost efforts to join their companions and +overpower their unexpected enemies. No sooner were the two good swords +of Bacon and O'Reily flashing in the moonbeams, than corresponding +motions of the savage war clubs gave evidence that they also were ready +for battle. Many and hard were the blows which were given on both sides +in the struggle, a mere protraction of which Bacon perceived was +destruction. Accordingly bracing up his own nerves, and cheering +O'Reily, he made a vigorous and successful lunge at his immediate +antagonist, but not before the reinforcement of the enemy was on the +ground to take his place. A contest of this kind, when the parties were +any thing like equal in number, was generally not long doubtful--victory +in most instances being upon the side of superior skill and weapons. But +O'Reily, although a veteran soldier, had met his match in this instance, +his antagonist being a tall and brawny warrior of most fearful +proportions. Yet he laid about him stoutly, while Bacon, merely having +time to catch his breath, renewed the unequal contest with two of the +new assailants, the third at the same time joining his already too +powerful chief against the Irishman. The conflict was now desperate and +bloody; our adventurers fought well and skilfully, every blow was +followed by a crimson stream, and they too in their turn were more than +once beaten to their knees by the terrific sweep of the war clubs. At +one time Bacon was entirely prostrated, but instantly recovering and +rising to his knees he continued to defend himself until he had once +more regained his feet. + +This warfare had now lasted for some minutes, which seemed an age to the +trembling maiden who stood an unwilling yet enchained spectator on the +side of the hill above them. But victory appeared at length about to +crown the desperate efforts of her friends, whose assailants were now +reduced to exactly their own number, and one; the tall old chief opposed +to Brian, covered with his own blood and just ready to fall, when a +sudden and terrific yell immediately behind them announced a +reinforcement; and Virginia sank upon the earth in terror and despair. + +"Plunge into the stream and swim for your life," shouted Brian--"Oh! but +I'll keep their hands busy till ye go clear, even wid a stack of the +yellow devils afore me!" + +Six horrid and painted human monsters, (so they seemed to our +adventurers) now leaped into the midst of the conflict, relieving their +own brethren and thundering their blows upon the heads of their already +exhausted adversaries. In vain they made furious lunges, forgetting the +cunning of fence in the perfect desperation of the hopeless conflict. +At length they both fell under the weapons of their new enemies and two +of the savages, flashing their knives from their sheaths, prepared to +complete the sacrifice; indeed a despairing yell from O'Reily announced +that the butchery had already commenced; when in an instant the head of +the old Chief stooping over him was severed from the trunk, and in the +next a second blow from the same gigantic arm prostrated the one about +to tear the bloody trophy from the fallen Cavalier. + +Virginia had by this time ventured another despairing look upon the fate +of him who was the cherished companion of her childhood. In that moment, +doubtless, all the warnings and injunctions of the Recluse were +forgotten, or if remembered, instantly set aside as the over prudential +suggestions of pride in rank, or wealth, or power, governing the +feelings of her friends, or of him who undertook to give her counsel in +their stead. + +But there were still enemies left besides the two who had flourished the +scalping knife over our prostrate adventurers. With these the Recluse +(for he it was who had come so opportunely to the rescue) at once +renewed the conflict. Placing his back against a tree, and throwing away +his castor and scabbard, he joined in the strife with a zest like that +of an epicure who bares his arm to the exercise of the carving +knive--whirling his enormous weapon amidst the falling clubs with the +precision, ease and coolness of a professor exhibiting his skill with +the harmless foils. His first exertions were, of course, on the +defensive, among so many assailants, but if his blows were rare they +were sure and fatal. He was evidently but putting in practice a sort of +exercise in which he must have both delighted and excelled in days long +past. + +At every blow or thrust a savage went down to rise no more, Bacon, too, +now rallied his scattered senses and exhausted strength, and resumed his +part in the conflict, with enough of both to render him a valuable +auxiliary in the way of defence, which the Recluse perceiving, sprang +into the midst of the enemy and speedily put to flight, or the sword, +the exhausted and disheartened remnant. When Virginia saw this +devoutly-prayed-for termination to the battle, she sank upon the ground +as powerless and exhausted as if she too had been actively engaged. The +Recluse stooping over O'Reily and feeling his head and wrist, hastened +to the boat, and seizing the wooden vessel with which the water was +usually bailed out, returned and bathed his face and temples. Not so +swift were his motions however as to prevent his stopping for a moment +at the boat and gazing with astonishment at Something which it +contained; but there was little time for wonder, and he hastened on his +errand. When Brian's face was cleansed from blood it was found that the +scalping knife of the old warrior had probably been struck from its +intended destination so that the point had caught in one corner of his +mouth and inflicted a wound of some magnitude across his face. While he +was thus attended, Bacon hastened, with what speed he was able to exert, +toward the spot where he had left his helpless companion. He found her +just recovering from the listless stupor in which we left her. "Oh, +Nathaniel!" was all that she was enabled to articulate as she fell into +his arms, forgetting in the deep excitement of the moment every feeling +save the strong and innocent affection which had so long existed between +them. + +Bacon placed her upon his horse, and taking the bridle in one hand, and +holding her steady in her seat with the other, proceeded to the scene of +the late mortal struggle. They found O'Reily sitting up, with his mouth +already bandaged, and his late assistant and protector gone, having +first, as Brian indistinctly muttered, pointed to the boat, as if there +were something there which craved attention. Their own perceptions were +now startled from the same quarter, by the sound of groans. Bacon ran to +the spot, and found a female bound, and lying upon her face in the +bottom of the boat. Having cut the cords and bathed her swollen face and +temples, he speedily restored her to something like consciousness, and +then bore her to the shore and laid her upon the ground. O'Reily now +recognised her as Mrs. Jamieson, wife of Jamie Jamieson, principal +fisherman to the town, whose hut, for convenient purposes in his +avocation, was situated without the protection of the fort. This +statement also accounted to Bacon for the presence of a quantity of fish +netting in the boat, which doubtless excited the cupidity of the poor +ignorant savages, who lay cold and lifeless at his feet. + +New embarrassments seemed to stare our wanderers in the face at every +step on this eventful night. Scarcely was O'Reily restored to his +senses, and Mrs. Jamieson to such a state as to give hopes of recovery, +when it occurred to our hero that something must be done with the dead +bodies. But when he came to reflect upon the appearance which the battle +ground itself would present, he determined to leave the rest to chance, +and to say nothing himself or through his follower, and thus leave the +gossips of the town to account for the slaughter of the Indians as they +might. Mrs. Jamieson was now carefully replaced in the boat, and O'Reily +assisted to his post at the _tiller_, while Bacon, having seated +Virginia, occupied Brian's usual place at the oar, being the least +injured of the two. + +The former was for once in his life perfectly silent, perhaps owing to +the awkward accident which had happened to his mouth, thereby rendering +it difficult for him to enunciate with the true Hibernian pathos. + +The females having been landed, Bacon desiring Virginia to sit by the +still benumbed Mrs. Jamieson, returned for his horses, which were led by +the side of the boat without any difficulty. + +The whole party now proceeded to the fisherman's hut, Bacon supporting +the feeble steps of its exhausted mistress. Here a new disaster awaited +them. A few yards from the house towards the river, they discovered the +body of the fisherman himself, cold, stiff, and lifeless. O'Reily was +directed to remain with the woman of the house until she should +completely recover her senses, but on no account to stay longer, or +enter into any explanations. + +Bacon and Virginia entered the gate of the fort unchallenged, and +proceeded to the house of Mr. Fairfax, when the latter entered as +quietly and as unperceived as she had sallied forth; while he officiated +as ostler to his own steed, which service being finished to his +satisfaction he sought his apartment; the morning being far advanced +towards the dawn of day. His slumbers, it may be readily imagined, were +not profound and undisturbed,--the restless nervousness of over exertion +in mind and body, being very similar in its effects to that of too much +repose. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +On the morning of the Anniversary of the Restoration, the sun was just +emerging above the eastern horizon, the sky was unclouded and serene, +the air balmy and elastic, and the volumes of misty drapery from the +river were fast rolling away over the hills, as the Recluse stood upon +one of the highest points of the river cliffs, with folded arms, +surveying the scene around him. + +Far back as the eye could reach to the west, all was interminable +forest--the foreground exhibiting occasional specks of cleared land, +where some planter, more adventurous than his fellows, had boldly +trusted his fortunes to the mercy of the savage. + +He looked upon the little city beneath, as the weary mariner on a long +voyage may be supposed to look upon a green island in the midst of a +desert of waters. His chest heaved as the swelling emotions of pent up +years burst from his over-loaded heart. Bacon, the manly and ingenuous +youth, whom the reader will remember as having been appointed to visit +him on this morning, had just sprung upon a mettled and pawing charger, +which was now throwing the fire and pebbles from his heels in thick +volleys, as his master with a fire and impetuosity scarcely inferior to +his own, bent over his uncurbed neck as he descended into the plain. +Several pieces of light artillery, together with volleys of musketry in +quick succession, thundered over the smooth waters of the Powhatan, and +reverberated in multiplied peals under the feet of the Recluse. There +was something connected with this day, and its celebration, which seemed +powerfully to have stirred up the still waters within him. Thick coming +fancies connected with by-gone days were rolling over his soul in an +uncontrolled torrent. But we must leave him for a time to his own +reflections, amidst the solitary grandeur of the scene, while we pursue +the road of the flying Cavalier towards the city. + +The bells from the Church and State House were now also heard in the +intervals of the cannonade, and as we approach nearer to the scene, a +strange confusion of many sounds greet the ear. Drums and fifes, violins +and banjoes, and even jews-harps, all lent their aid to swell the burst +of joy and gratulation. Smiling and happy faces were grouped along the +streets, while gay damsels, in their holyday finery, adorned the doors +and windows of the busy citizens. A perfect Babel of commingled noises +issued from the spacious area of a tobacco warehouse, which, after the +usual fashion, consisted of an extensive roof, supported by colonnades +to every front. Here was congregated the rising generation--boisterous +and happy in the midst of their games and sports. No schoolmaster was +abroad on that day, to rush in upon the unwary urchins, and wreak upon +them the vengeance of Samson upon the Philistines. + +Our forefathers suffered their children to follow very much their own +humours in the selection of those amusements suited to their age and +condition. We see not but the result was as happy as that of the systems +of our day, when every thing is regulated by system, even to the games +and amusements of our children. The time is certainly not far distant +when Geography will be taught by a game at cards; Chemistry by set +_conversations_ upon the constituents of our edibles, and Natural +Philosophy developed in nursery rhymes, that we may imbibe it with our +lullabies. + +On the morning in question, as merry a set of boisterous lads kicked up +the dust in the old warehouse, as ever fought over a game of marbles, or +laughed through one of leap-frog. And while the merry urchins, whom we +have taken under our special protection, were thus enjoying a glorious +holyday, their elders and superiors were moved by the same impulses. The +mansion of the Governor itself was in visible commotion; servants +swelling with importance, aped the grandeur of their masters' looks, +while they ran from room to room on their various duties. A provincial +band of music was stationed under the windows, uniting their sweet +sounds to the Babel-like uproar, in the well known tune of "Over the +waters to Charley." + +There was one little green spot upon the common inviting the +contemplative mind to pleasing reveries. Here a few of the humbler +maidens of the city were adorning the overhanging bushes with gay +garlands of flowers, preparatory to the evening dance, which they +contemplated celebrating in imitation of their superiors, who were to +move in more stately measures at the mansion of the Governor. + +The household of Gideon Fairfax was likewise earlier than usual on the +alert, and he being one of the council of the Colony, came in also for a +share of the honours noised forth under the windows of the most +distinguished Cavaliers. + +Breakfast had been some time waiting at the table, and the fondly +indulged daughter had been repeatedly summoned, but still she came not. +This excited the more surprise in the minds of her parents, as they +supposed, that on this eventful morning, of all others in the year, she +would be up with the lark. The truth was, that after retiring at such an +unusual hour of the night, or rather morning--her slumbers were +disturbed between sleeping and waking, by shadowy dreams of yelling +savages, chivalrous youths, and mighty giants. + +At length, however, she appeared, but instead of bounding into the room +with gay and elastic steps, and more buoyant spirits, in happy +anticipation of the promised enjoyments of the day, her movements were +slow and heavy--her eyes red and swollen, and her whole appearance +indicative of languor and dejection. Her fond parents were instantly at +her side--each taking a hand as she walked into the room, and striving +to learn from the fancied invalid the nature of her sufferings. She +assured them that she had nothing to complain of but want of rest, and +with this they were the more readily satisfied, as towards morning there +had indeed been much firing of guns, and other demonstrations of +loyalty. Her parents being thus satisfied, that her account of the +matter was the true one, Virginia was suffered to assume her place at +the head of the table--a place she had for some time occupied on account +of the delicate state of her mother's health. Meanwhile the anxious +parents assumed their own places, and endeavoured to beguile their +daughter's languor by allusions to the merry sounds, and gay group +without, not forgetting the assembly at the Governor's; and it is more +than probable that they would have succeeded, as few spirited and +blooming beauties of sixteen can long listen unmoved to such details, +had not Virginia, raising her half cheerful face at that moment to a +large mirror which hung opposite, caught the reflection of a person in +whose welfare she took a lively interest, standing in one corner of the +room, and partly behind her chair, with a countenance and attitude which +expressed the deepest misery. This was no other that Wyanokee, her own +little Indian attendant, who officiated near the person of her +mistress, in a medium capacity between friend and servant; the mistress +only requiring the companion, and the maid spontaneously offering the +services due both from affection and gratitude. + +The figure of Wyanokee was diminutive, but like most of the aboriginal +females, exquisitely proportioned, and graceful, after the fashion of +nature's finest schooling. Her face was oval and between a brown and +yellow colour, yet there was a vital tinge occasionally illuminating +this predominant dark ground, which bespoke the refined female, in +language intelligible to all, and far more eloquently than the tongue. +Her hair was jet black, and folded upon her small round head after the +fashion of the Europeans; and her brilliant teeth exhibited a striking +contrast to the dark shades of her skin, and darker sparkling eyes. The +delicately penciled brows, arched beautifully over a countenance +strikingly feminine and lady-like; and the general expression was that +calm sadness which has been remarked as characteristic of the +domesticated aborigines from that day to the present. Her dress was +essentially after the fashion of the whites of that day, just retaining +sufficient of the Indian costume, however, to set off her slight but +graceful figure to the best advantage. The exquisite proportions of her +finely shaped foot and ankle were displayed in a closely fitting deer +skin moccasin, studded around the eyelet holes, and wrought in curious, +but not unpleasing figures, with party-coloured beads and porcupine +quills. Around her neck, and falling upon her gently swelling bosom, +were many ingeniously wrought ornaments of wampum and silver--and around +her wrists, bracelets of the same materials. Wyanokee was of the +Chickahominy tribe, and had been taken prisoner after the murder of her +parents by one of the neighbouring tribes, who at the time were at war +with the Chickahominies. Nathaniel Bacon saw her in one of his hunting +excursions, and struck with her native beauty, and pleading countenance, +redeemed her from captivity at the expense of a string of blue beads. +From thence he brought her to Jamestown, to remain until some +opportunity should occur of restoring her to her tribe. Her parents +having been slain, however, as we have already said, and much time +necessarily having elapsed before such opportunity occurred, Virginia +took advantage of it, and by mild and affectionate treatment, +endeavoured to win her to herself. A mutual and peculiar attachment was +the consequence, so that when the opportunity actually occurred, +Wyanokee refused to return to the almost extinct tribe of her fathers. +Two years had now elapsed since her introduction into the Fairfax +family, during which time Virginia, an assiduous pupil herself, became +in her turn instructress to her little protegée. Already had she learned +many of the little feminine arts and accomplishments of civilized life, +and made considerable proficiency in the English language--which, +however, she never employed except in private to her instructress, or +on some urgent occasion. Half the young Cavaliers in Jamestown would +have been willing devotees at the shrine of Wyanokee's beauty, after the +corrupt fashions of the parent court and country. But such celebrity was +not suited to the taste or ambition of the Indian maiden. Whenever the +little errands of her patroness led her to the shops of the city, +instead of encouraging the forward and impudent gallantries of the young +profligates, she would trip along like a frightened partridge--always +turning a deaf ear to their flatteries, and keeping her eyes fixed upon +the earth, in the most modest, natural and simple guise. Notwithstanding +her habitual indifference to the flatteries of her many admirers, there +was one youth whose very step upon the door sill her practised ear could +detect. Not that her deliverer had ever taken advantage of her gratitude +to him--her ignorance of civilized refinements, or her dependent +situation, to poison her mind with the deceitful flatteries too common +with his comrades of that day. The passion was perhaps the growth of +time and reflection and the effect of gratitude, as the little Indian +maiden became capable of instituting comparisons between his conduct +towards herself and that of the young Cavaliers, whose assiduities have +been already mentioned. Certain it is, that if it had been from some +sudden impulse in their earlier intercourse, the customs of her race +would have fully borne her out in declaring her passion to its object +at once. At the time of which we write, however, this feeling was a +profound secret within her own bosom, as she hoped and believed; and the +more Virginia impressed upon her mind the necessity of reserve and +modesty in her intercourse with the other sex, the more jealous she +became in concealing the passion that possessed her heart. Nevertheless, +it influenced all her after life, and gave a touching interest to the +progress of her moral and intellectual development. + +Some few of her Indian peculiarities were still retained by Wyanokee; +her gesticulation was far more powerful and expressive than her small +compass of language, and the ordinary indifference of her race to +passing and exciting themes, was yet preserved by her. Her gentle +mistress could indeed work upon her sensibilities through the medium of +her affection and gratitude, like a skilful musician upon a finely toned +instrument, but the master key was still wanting even to her. There was +one peculiarity of her race not quite so agreeable or inoffensive as +those already mentioned--namely, the silence and celerity of her +movements; sometimes she would appear to Virginia in the middle of the +night with the imagined abruptness of an unearthly spirit. Often would +the fair maiden awake from her slumbers and find her stooping over her +couch--with the saddest and most intense interest expressed in her +countenance--and again she would glide through the silent apartments of +the spacious mansion with a movement so shadowy and noiseless, that it +seemed almost impossible to be effected by a substantial being. + +When Virginia raised her eyes from the breakfast-table, and beheld +Wyanokee's mute despair, as exhibited in the opposite mirror, her former +nervous alarm and agitation instantly returned. + +She was entirely at a loss to account for the unusual feeling exhibited +by her attendant, except by connecting it in some way with her late +nocturnal adventures. And it was a fearful supposition which flashed +through her mind, that Wyanokee was acquainted with her last night's +undertaking; yet at the same time ignorant of her motives. Hurrying +mechanically through the meal, she rose, and taking the hand of the +young Indian, was about to retire; but at that moment Nathaniel Bacon +rode up to the door, his charger covered with dust and foam; leaping +from his back and throwing the rein to an attendant, he entered the room +at the very moment when the two maidens were about to make their exit. +Under the peculiar circumstances of the case perhaps no one could have +entered more mal-appropos. Mr. Fairfax himself and Bacon had parted, at +the termination of their last interview, with excited and unpleasant +feelings, both having lost command of temper. Virginia had last seen him +under circumstances also which in themselves were calculated to excite +no very pleasing reminiscences; but considering the precise attitude in +which she stood at that moment with regard to Wyanokee, the interview +promised to be still more embarrassing. Nor was the promise +falsified--the salutations of the gentlemen were cold, formal, and +embarrassing to both parties, while the two maidens stood on the eve of +departure, each labouring under her own peculiar difficulties. Virginia +felt as if all the adventures of the preceding night stood revealed to +her parents, without any of the justificatory motives which had +satisfied her own mind for embarking in them--while her attendant looked +to her as if she too was labouring under a weight of surreptitious +knowledge. Mrs. Fairfax was the only one of the party who preserved +self-possession enough to welcome their young friend, after so long an +absence, in intelligible language. + +With the peculiar tact of the cultivated female mind she judiciously led +the conversation to such subjects of universal interest at the time, as +to induce her husband and the young Cavalier to forget their late +unpleasant difference, and Virginia to resume her seat at the table, +where she busied herself in helping the visiter to his breakfast. It was +singular enough too, as Virginia no doubt thought, that one of these +subjects should have direct reference to some personages who had so +lately and so intently occupied her own thoughts--namely the Roundheads +and Independents. Frank Beverly it seems had already blown abroad the +meeting of these persons in secret conclave, as mentioned in the first +chapter. The meal being concluded, Bacon again sprang upon his horse and +hurried forward to the portico of the Berkley Arms, in which were now +displayed no very equivocal evidences of loyalty, from the master of the +house and his numerous guests, who thronged its area upon his approach. +All the _elite_ of the Cavalier youth were there in a perfect throng. + +No sooner had Bacon alighted and made his way into the throng, than the +tumultuous discussion of the youths was hushed into silence. This was +not so much owing to any sternness in the dignity of the youth as to the +peculiar nature of the discussion which was going on between Dudley and +Beverly, and their several partizans, at the very moment of his +entrance. The tumblers of julip were held in suspense, while heavy bets +were offered, and about to be taken, upon the disputed question whether +the very person who so suddenly appeared among them would be present at +the celebration. No sooner had he set foot on the premises, however, +than the fat landlord came waddling up, grasping the hand of our hero in +one of his own, while in the other he presented him with a goblet of the +national beverage. + +"A pledge! a pledge!" now resounded from several quarters of the well +filled Tap. It may well be supposed that the suspected one had no very +great relish for julip after breakfast, but knowing the importance of +such trifles on an occasion like the present, and under all the peculiar +circumstances in which he was placed he took the cup, and elevating it, +said--"Here's to the merry king Charles, who shall be king but Charley." + +"Bravely done," shouted the host--and "huzzah for Bacon," shouted his +own immediate partisans, many of whom belonged to a volunteer military +company of which he was the commander, and whom to see was the very +object of his visit to the Arms. Taking Dudley therefore by the arm, and +calling to others of the corps, he invited them to a private interview +in another apartment. As Bacon passed Frank Beverly a mutual but cold +salutation was exchanged--dignified and polite on the part of the +former, and cold, haughty and sneering on that of the latter--the +ungracious feeling not at all lessened, it is probable, by the pointed +exclusion of Beverly and his partisans from the private meeting just +alluded to. + +Although this was Bacon's first appearance in public, since his abrupt +departure from the house of his friend and patron, it was not the first +visit he had paid to the hotel, where he and his partisans now held +their meeting. He had privately visited the landlord on the preceding +evening, previous to the adventures related in the last chapter, for +some purposes connected with the present meeting of his friends, but +which he was by no means willing should be generally known. At that +visit he was informed by the landlord of the mischievous plot laid by +his rival to deprive him of the pleasure of Virginia's hand during the +approaching festivities at the Mansion of the Governor, and his first +intention was to counteract their machinations. But so intensely had his +mind been engaged with the adventures of the preceding evening, that all +minor interests escaped his recollection. It was the object of his visit +on this morning, to remedy that oversight; but so cold and formal was +his reception by Mr. Fairfax, and so embarrassed was that of his +daughter, that he gave up the scheme for the present, leaving the house +with any thing but pleasant emotions. Indeed, from the various +combinations of parties and factions, he saw his own position becoming +hourly more embarrassing and difficult, and still more so from the +neutral position in which he was thrown--partly from the mystery +connected with his origin, and partly from his connexion with the +Recluse. But let the Independents on the one hand, and the Cavaliers on +the other, plot and counterplot as they might, his course was clearly +taken in his own mind. None of the doubts as to what cause he should +espouse, which had been hinted at by some of the personages of our +narrative, really existed in his mind. His course was plain, manly, +upright, and straight forward. Nevertheless, as has been seen, he had +not thus far entirely escaped suspicion. But trusting to the uprightness +of his intentions, he took his measures on this eventful morning with a +single eye to the public peace and the cause of truth, justice and +humanity. It was to promote these great ends, that he now assembled the +members of the military company of which he was the commander. Upon what +service they were to be engaged, will appear in the succeeding +chapters. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +While Bacon and his partisans were deliberating in one of the upper +rooms of the Berkley Arms, and Beverly, Ludwell and their friends, still +kept up their potations in the Tap below, all of a sudden the bells +ceased to chime, and the cannons to roar, and the various other +demonstrations of noisy mirth that pervaded the city, were hushed into +silence. A corresponding stillness instantly prevailed throughout both +the assembled parties, for a moment, in order to ascertain if possible +the cause of this interruption to the public rejoicings. No one in +either being able to explain the matter, both parties at the same moment +rushed tumultuously into the street. They beheld men, women, and +children, thronging in the direction of the public square, and naturally +fell into the current, and were borne on its tide into the very centre +of attraction. Here they found several oxcarts standing in the street, +in the beds of which were stretched the dead bodies of eight +Indians--fearfully mangled, and one with his head entirely severed from +the body. Twenty voices at once were interrogating the gaping negroes +who bestrode the cattle, but no other satisfaction could be gained from +them than a mute reference to their master; a little busy important +man, who resided on the main land, and was now holding forth with great +energy and amplitude of expression, touching his various adventures of +the morning, to a crowd of eager loungers gathered around him, as if to +appropriate his wonderful disclosure entirely to themselves. + +He stated that he had found the dead bodies upon the banks of the river, +where there were still many evidences of a desperate conflict of both +horse and foot. That the ground was covered with blood, and that one +party must have been driven into the river, and drowned, as he had been +enabled to trace them by their footmarks to the very edge of the water. + +It will be readily imagined by the reader that Nathaniel Bacon was no +unmoved spectator of this scene, or of the various conjectural +explanations that were now given in his hearing, of a transaction in +which he had been such a principal actor, and of which he could have +given such an authentic history. He was rather rejoiced than otherwise, +that the little planter of the main seemed so much disposed to indulge +his imagination, as a discovery of his own part in the matter, and of +Virginia's delicate position on the occasion, was thereby rendered less +probable. But his self congratulations were too hasty; for scarcely had +he revolved these things in his mind, before a sudden rush of the crowd +towards some new object of surprise arrested his attention. This was no +other than Brian O'Reily, bearing into the crowd upon his back the dead +body of Jamie Jamieson, and followed by his wife, who to her bruises and +misfortunes had applied the comfort of whiskey in great profusion. +O'Reily, it seemed, had fully sympathised with the widowed lady, for his +motions were anything but accordant with the solemnity of the occasion. +Bacon could scarce suppress a smile as he caught a glimpse of this group +through the crowd. His first object; however, was to catch O'Reily's +eye, and make him understand, if possible by a look, that he was to +volunteer no evidence in the case. He had no sooner succeeded in gaining +the notice of his attendant, than the latter applied his finger slyly to +his lip, looking another way at the same time, and thus indicating that +he understood the policy to be pursued, and that he was not so much +intoxicated as he thought proper to seem. With this doubtful assurance +Bacon was compelled to rest satisfied, walking about the square all the +while in visible agitation. + +The corpse of the fisherman being laid out in the market-place, the +officer, whose duty it was, proceeded to summon an inquest to inquire +into the manner and cause of his death. The first witness summoned +before this tribunal, was, of course, the wife of the deceased. She +testified that a party of savages had on the preceding night entered +their house, and after having cruelly murdered her husband, beaten +herself, and bound her limbs with cords, had carried away all their +fishing nets. That having placed these in a canoe, they laid her in it +also, and paddled across the river--where they were met by another party +of savages, about fifty in number, as she supposed, and while they were +busily engaged in dividing the spoil, a gigantic man, with a face +flaming like fire, and a sword as long as a fishing pole, had suddenly +fallen upon the murderers, and quickly put them to flight, or the sword. +That having thus conquered the whole horde, he had placed her in the +boat again, and brought her to her own house, where he left her, and +where she remained alone until morning, when she was found by Mr. Brian +O'Reily, who happened to be coming that way. + +Improbable as some parts of this story were, it met with a ready +credence from nearly the whole of the multitude; no tale, having any +relation to the Recluse, being so marvellous that they would not readily +believe it. But in no one of the assembled listeners did it excite +greater surprise than in Bacon himself. It is true, that he readily +recognised in the whole invention the joint influence of whiskey, and +O'Reily's ingenuity, but even to these he had not supposed that he +should be indebted for such downright falsehoods in his behalf. Mrs. +Jamieson, too, seemed firmly to believe all that she had testified. +Under these circumstances he did not feel himself called upon to set the +matter right at the expense of Virginia's feelings, and the inevitable +defeat of the measures in which he was that very morning deeply +engaged. How the Irishman was to manage his part of the narrative when +called upon, as he certainly would be, and that so speedily that no time +would be allowed to exchange a word with his master, Bacon could not +divine. He knew right well that O'Reily was gifted with a strong +tendency to the most outrageous and even ridiculous exaggeration, and +that he would carry through whatever he should undertake to say, with +wonderful shrewdness and imperturbable confidence; but how he was to +make his story agree with that which he had put into the mouth of Mrs. +Jamieson, and at the same time explain the wound upon his own face, and +the contusion upon his head, without being guilty of some direct and +palpable falsehood, was more than his master could imagine. At length +Brian O'Reily was called to state what he knew touching the death of the +fisherman. The first question propounded by the officer was, "Well, +O'Reily, tell the jury how, and when you came to the house of the +deceased." + +"Oh! thin, and I'm bothered to know whether I got there by land or +wather, and faix, I'm after b'leiven it was naither uv them." + +"How then did you get there, if you went neither by land nor water?" + +"An by the vestments, may be I wouldn't be far wrang, if I said it was +the crathur that took me there, seein I can't deny it iny way, your +haner." + +"You saw no one strike or maltreat the deceased.". + +"It would be but ill manners in me to be conthradictin your haner." + +"You are sure you did not strike him yourself." + +"As sure as two tin-pinnies--Divil burn the man that Brian O'Reily ever +ill used when he was down--much less when he was dead, your haner." +(crossing himself.) + +"How then came that cut upon the corner of your mouth?" + +"Oh! murther, and is it these your haner's axing after?" and he +ingeniously placed his finger upon a smaller wound made by his bottle on +the previous night. "Yes, O'Reily, we wish you to state how you came by +those wounds." + +"Oh! but I'm bowld to show your haner, seein its you that axed me--sure +here's the wapon that kilt me all out!" and as he spoke, he pulled out +his broken necked bottle and handed it to his catechist. + +"I see it has blood upon it, O'Reily, and this may explain the cut on +your mouth, but how came that contusion on your temple?" + +"Be dad but I run aginst a good big shelaleigh, an it broke me head so +it did--sorra much head I had left at that same recknin, for the +crather." + +"You ran against a club, O'Reily? Was it growing in the ground or was it +in the hands of an enemy?" + +"It might be growin, your haner, or it might be in the hands of the +great inimy himself, for all that Brian O'Reily knows--sure your haner +isn't very particular in examinin the tixture of the timber that knocks +you down. It might be a door-post--or may be the gate of the foort--as +the thimber grows as thick here as paraties, and this gate was always +too small for me when I had a dhrap of the whiskey." + +"You ran against the gate-post, or the facings of Jamieson's door, +then?" + +"By the five crasses, an I've done that same many's the time--barrin +always that it would be ill manners in me to conthradict your haner if I +hadn't." + +"You saw nothing then of the treacherous and thieving savages on the +night of Jamieson's murder?" + +"Oh then but I'm puzzled now intirely. By the holy father, I saw a power +of sights on that same night. The whiskey was clane too strong for me. I +saw all sorts of yeller nagres and men widout shadows, and flamin +counthenances, and the fire sparklin from the very eyes of me, by the +same token. Divil a word of a lie's in that iny way." + +"But you saw no person strike or maltreat this man who lies dead here?" + +"Divil the one, your haner! Brian O'Reily's the boy that wouldn't see +foul-play to man nor baste. I never saw Jamie, till I saw him stretched +all out as you see him there." + +"You do not know then but that you may have encountered the murderers in +your own drunken travels?" + +"Faix and you may say that, your haner, widout a word of a lie in it; it +bothers me intirely to tell what I did see. And, by the five crasses, if +it wasn't for the wapon you've got in your hand--and poor Jamie that I +brought here on my back--and this thump upon my head, I should, say it +was all a dhrame clane out." + +"Well, you may go, O'Reily. I believe you know little of what happened +to yourself or any one else last night." + +"An that's thrue for you iny way; many thanks to your haner for your +kindness and civility," said O'Reily, as he left the crowd, slily +tipping a wink of triumph to his master. + +Bacon certainly began to breathe more freely towards the conclusion, as +having edged in with the crowd, he heard O'Reily's ingenious parries of +the official's thrusts. But his trials were not yet over, for scarcely +had he followed his attendant with his eye out of the crowd, before Mr. +Fairfax stepped up to the officer and whispered something in his ear. In +a few moments after a deputy was seen leading Wyanokee into the +market-place--a look of the most profound dejection, still visible +through her fright, at being brought into the presence of such a +multitude. + +She testified, that two of the Indians slain were her nearest kinsmen. +That the one with his head severed from the body, was old King Fisher; +and, upon examination, the blue feathers of his patronymic bird were +found still sticking in the matted tuft of hair upon his crown. She +farther stated that he was her father's only brother, and that another +of the slain was his son--the only two remaining male relatives she had +in the world. That all these savages were of the Chickahominy tribe; and +that there were not more than two hundred warriors, left of all that, +brave and powerful nation which had once thronged the banks of the +Chickahominy river. And here the little Indian maiden seemed almost +suffocated with overpowering emotions, as the memory of former days came +gushing over her heart. No tear relieved her swelling emotions, but ever +and anon she cast her eyes over the mangled bodies of her kinsmen, and +once or twice turned with looks more rapid and of darker meaning towards +Bacon. The general expression of her countenance; however, was one of +profound and overwhelming sadness. Her soul seemed fully capable of +realizing the melancholy destiny which awaited all the nations of the +aborigines then inhabiting the country, from the sea board to the blue +mountains,[2] and whose fiat was fast bearing her race from the loved +places which had known them so long. It was doubtless in her mind a poor +compensation for the destruction of her native tribe and their +contemporaries, that she herself had been reclaimed from the happy +ignorance of savage, to the more painful knowledge of civilized life. + +[Footnote 2: The Indians possessed no knowledge of any of the tribes +beyond.] + +She was asked if she knew of the visit of these unfortunate men on the +preceding night. Her eye furtively ran over the eager faces gathered +around, until it fell upon that of Bacon, when a momentary flash of some +internal impulse illumined her countenance. It might be vengeance, or +the hatred of unrequited passion--but let the cause be what it might, it +glimmered with a demoniacal fire but for an instant, and then, like the +expiring taper in the socket after its last flash, sunk for ever. The +sadness of past and coming years seemed concentrated in the despair of +are moment. She waived her hand and shook her head in silence, thus +indicating, that she could say no more--that human endurance had been +stretched to its utmost verge. Walking deliberately out of the crowd +until she came to the trunkless head of the last of the Chickahominy +chiefs, she bent over the mutilated remains for a moment in unutterable +sorrow, and then throwing her eyes to heaven, dark in despair, she +stooped to pluck one of the blue feathers from the scalp, and then with +sad and lingering steps, proceeded to her home. + +All were impressed with involuntary respect for the bereaved maiden, and +even the hardened officer suffered her to depart without having finished +his examination. Sufficient, however, had been gleaned for the jury to +bring in a verdict of murder by the hands of some of the Chickahominy +tribe of savages. This tribe of Indians inhabited a small town called +Orapacks, on the banks of the river which gave its name to the nation. +They formed a part of the grand confederation which had first been +united under Powhatan, and afterwards his successor, Opechancanough; the +latter of whom so unfortunately fell, while a prisoner at Jamestown, by +the hands of a dastardly soldier, who took his life in revenge for some +petty wrong, real or imaginary. The depredation related in the foregoing +pages, and the unfortunate result to so many of its perpetrators, was +the first interruption to the general peace which Sir William Berkley +had been enabled to secure for the colony, after various sanguinary +massacres and conflicts, with the numerous tribes composing the empire +of Virginia, as it was sometimes called, and reaching from the Peninsula +to the present seat of Richmond. + +It may be well, perhaps, to state that a process had been despatched, +for form's sake, to summon the Recluse, but it was returned as similar +messages had always been before--he was _non est inventus_. + +The dead bodies were now removed,--that of Jamieson to the more +consecrated ground around the church, and those of the Indians to a sort +of Potter's-field or general burying ground, such as every city has +possessed from the time of Judas Iscariot to the present day. + +The necessary and justifiable sacrifice of some half a dozen savages +was, at that time, too common a circumstance in Jamestown, long to +affect the gayeties-of-the day. Accordingly the afternoon found the +daughters and wives of the hardy citizens gayly tripping it over the +green common, to which we have already introduced the reader, inspired +by the music of two sable musicians, who rattled and scraped defiance to +all untoward interruptions whatsoever. The town was full of strangers +from the neighbouring plantations, together with many members of the +House of Burgesses from surrounding counties, who had arrived in +preparation for the meeting of that body, summoned to be held on the +third succeeding day. Many of these dignified personages had collected +on the green, to witness the enjoyment of the humbler citizens and their +wives and daughters. + +A merry set of joyful lads and lasses were whirling through the giddy +dance; when all at once a savage yell abruptly struck upon the ear; the +music ceased, the youths stood still in the circle, while some of the +maidens fled toward the public square, and others sought the protection +of their fathers, husbands, or lovers. Consternation was visible in the +boldest countenances. The transactions of the morning had unstrung the +nerves of the females, and urged the sterner sex to thoughts of war, +which had lain dormant since the general peace and the death of +Opechancanough. But soon a jingle of little bells was heard, and the +next moment the multitude burst into a loud laugh, and simultaneously +cast their eyes up to a tall tree which overhung the green, and upon +which was seen a painted savage, descending with great agility, he soon +leaped into the middle of the area, where the dance had been in +progress, and commenced shuffling away at a most indefatigable rate, the +fiddlers striking at the same moment into the humour of this strange +visiter, and he himself dexterously rattling a number of little bones +which he held between his fingers--the bells all the while continuing to +jingle, and producing the strangest effect upon the ear. His face was +painted in the ordinary warrior guise, his head shaved close to the +cranium, save a lock upon the crown, to which hung a tuft of scarlet +feathers--his person was grotesquely ornamented with beads, bells and +buttons in great profusion, interspersed with hundreds of red feathers, +from which he took his name. He was called Red Feather Jack, and was +remarkably fond of the music and all the ordinary diversions of the +whites. In this respect he was the most remarkable Indian of his +day--that race having been peculiar for the haughty and dignified +contempt with which they looked upon the amusements of their civilized +neighbours. He was known to be as desperate in battle as he was light +hearted and merry at the sports of the white man, and had never been +known guilty of any kind of treachery, and was a universal favourite at +Jamestown among all the young people of both sexes. It may be readily +imagined, therefore, that a shout of "Red Feather Jack," which was +instantly raised by the assembled throng, brought no slight accession to +their numbers. The amusement thus afforded was kept up, intermingled +with dances of their own, to which Jack beat time with his loudest +bells, until the hour had arrived for the commencement of the more +imposing and aristocratic ceremonies and amusements at the gubernatorial +mansion. + +Red Feather Jack was believed by many to be an admirer of Wyanokee's, +though of a different tribe. He had once, on an occasion nearly similar +to the one just related, offered to lead her to the dance, but the more +refined maiden looked upon him with ineffable scorn and contempt, +produced as much, doubtless, by his undignified and unnational habits, +as by what she considered his inferior rank and understanding. After the +cessation of the various sports upon the green--in the warehouse, and +throughout the town, Jack was taken to the Berkley Arms, where his merry +performances were kept up until a late hour of the night, to the great +amusement of the loungers and the disappointed youths who had vainly +aspired to a participation in the celebration of the Cavaliers. + +There was one peculiar circumstance attending this day's celebration +which became generally the subject of after remark. Not a sign of +festivity or rejoicing was visible at the Cross Keys. Its master sat a +solitary spectator in his own door, apparently regarding the passing +levities with sovereign contempt. This of course did not escape without +many comments from the more jovial landlord of "the Arms." It was +likewise remarkable that none of the Independents were visible on this +general holyday, and this was the more singular as many of the humbler +followers of the late Lord Protector had been sold into temporary +bondage, and of course might be supposed eager to enjoy one day's +cessation from labour, even if they did not care to join the humbler +citizens in their demonstrations of loyalty. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +As the sun went down upon the boisterous revellers in the ancient city, +and closed the festivities of the day among the plebeians, the +aristocracy of the vice-regal court began to roll along the streets in +their carriages, and surround the door of the stout old knight who +represented the person of his royal master in the colony. The members of +the Council and of the house of Burgesses, with their wives and +daughters, and all other citizens and sojourners of distinction were +among the number. Now came the crash of Carriages--swearing of +footmen--cracking of whips rattling of wheels--clattering of steps, and +the pompous announcement of the man in office, as each party was +marshalled into the long suite of apartments brilliantly lighted for the +occasion. At the head of the largest room stood Sir William and Lady +Berkley. The old knight was dressed in a blue velvet doublet, which +being sashed below the belt or waistband, protruded out all round so as +to show the yellow silk linings of the aforesaid garment, fringing and +ornamenting the waist. His breeches were of pink satin, and were cut in +what was called at that day[3] "the petticoats;" they were tied to the +large mouthed silk hose with gay ribands, and the lining of the breeches +being longer than the garment itself, formed a sort of ornament for the +overhanging hose; immediately over this row of knotted ribands +ornamenting the knee, his breeches hung in ample folds. The sleeves of +his doublet reached nearly to the elbow; and from the end of these the +shirt was so fashioned as to bulge out in large flowing plaits to his +ruffled wrists. His stockings were of white silk, and shoes ornamented +with a profusion of ribands, knotted and bound into the shape of +flowers. On one shoulder hung a short mantle, reaching to the haunches +and falling in rich folds over one side of his person. Lady Berkley +appeared For the first time without her farthingale, but still retained +its contemporary, the French hood. In place of the starched ruff, she +wore the graceful and flowing collar, falling in folds and terminated in +rich pointed lace round the upper half of the bust; she wore a stomacher +indeed, but greatly modified from the long strait jacket fashion of the +preceding reign. + +[Footnote 3: See Holmes.] + +A slight degree of pomp and formality characterized the profound +inclination of the knight's magisterial person, as some guest of +distinction was from time to time announced, while his lady performed +her part of the ceremony in exact accordance with the stately habits of +her lord, but softened by a native blandness of manner and sweetness of +disposition. She was a lady in the most refined and polished acceptation +of the term. They were both just sufficiently advanced in years to add +the dignity, of age to that resulting from their station, and command, +respect from those who moved within their sphere. The ladies began now +to re-appear, after the momentary retouch of the toilet, and arrange +themselves round the apartment apparently appropriated to the dance, +from a band of musicians stationed some six feet above the floor in a +temporary orchestra. The first touch upon the string of the leader's kit +was magical--the chords of every young female heart in the room vibrated +in unison. No letting down of one string and raising of another was +required to bring them to concert pitch; like the blooded charger in the +field, in whose veins, the first clang of the trumpet sends the vital +stream glistening to the very eye-balls, their gayly decorated persons +were at once glowing with animation; their eyes sparkling and their +bosoms heaving with impatience, joy, and anticipated triumph. But when +the bow of an evident master was drawn over the strings of his rusty +cremona in a long single sweep, every heart palpitated in eagerness. The +eyes of the gentlemen wandered over the multitude of youthful and lovely +faces beaming with a delighted expression, and all were keenly alive to +the coming pleasures of the dance. But there was a precedence in the +arrangement of the first set which, we must by no means neglect. +Virginia Fairfax, by right of birth and consanguinity to the governor, +invariably assumed her aunt's place at the head of the set. The +blooming Hebe issued forth from the impenetrable ranks of her compeers +with the blushing grace and beauty of a nymph--her hand was slightly +extended as though its owner were conscious that scores of the opposite +ranks would have perilled life and fortune for its possession. She was +clad in simple white; not a colour marring the chaste and perfect purity +of her attire, save the transparent shadow of a crimson tint which rose +and fell in vivid flashes over her complexion with the rapidity of +thought. Near her stood a youth, his finely formed person set off to the +best advantage by the gay and tasteful fashion of his time, and his dark +hazel eye, brilliant with the momentary fire of excitement. +Instinctively he moved forward to receive the outstretched and now +trembling little hand, but scarcely had he gained it before a competitor +appeared upon the field, of not less personal and far more aristocratic +pretension. "With your leave, sir," said Frank Beverly, with a profound +inclination of his finely dressed person, as he took the hand which +Bacon, in the abstraction of the moment, was about to usurp. The latter +retired in the most undisguised mortification; his rival moving to the +head of the set with all the grace and ease of self-possession, rank, +and consciousness of right in the present instance. + +Sir William himself bent his dignity to enjoy this scene, the most +evident satisfaction beaming upon his countenance as he cast an +intelligent glance toward his lady. + +Our heroine had been too finely schooled in the etiquette and manners of +the ball-room, to allow the most penetrating observer any means of +ascertaining whether the incident just related was as pleasing to her as +to her partner. Bacon's mortification was not long visible, for with a +desperate sort of boldness, quite foreign to his general demeanour, he +crossed the room and approached a young lady whose beauty shone +conspicuous amid all the gay throng by which she was surrounded. Harriet +Harrison was the daughter of one of the proudest and most wealthy +families in the colony. They moved in the front ranks of those who +radiated around the fashionable orbit of which the Governor and his +family were the principal luminaries, and were esteemed by them as among +their most honoured friends and supporters. Harriet was the intimate +friend of Virginia Fairfax, and, after her mother, the most esteemed +repository of her confidence. Though an idea of rivalry in any shape or +form had never entered their young and guileless hearts, the youthful +Cavaliers who floated upon the same fashionable tide, had frequently +placed them in this attitude in their private discussions of the various +personal and mental attractions of the maidens, each in her turn proving +the reigning favourite, as their respective admirers happened to possess +the supremacy over the minds of their companions. She was near the same +age with Virginia, and undoubtedly possessed attractions of the most +captivating quality, both in mind and person, yet they were finely +contrasted with those of her friend. Harriet's complexion was +brunette--her hair dark and shining as the raven's plumage--her eye +black, keen and sparkling, her finely pencilled brows beautifully +overshadowing the native archness of her countenance, and her mouth +always expressive of amiable feelings, just sufficiently characterized +perhaps by a dash of innocent humour and coquetry; or rather that +coquetry which is the result of archness and humour as distinguished +from premeditated design. Her figure was slight but finely proportioned. +As Bacon approached this laughing little belle, his boldness visibly +diminished beneath her sparkling eye, and his petition for her hand was +uttered with the most courtly and deferential humility. The brunette +cast a significant glance toward her friend at the head of the set, and +then with promptitude accepted the offered partner, her intelligent and +sparkling countenance turning towards Charles Dudley, who stood near, +with a speaking archness, which conveyed as plainly as it could have +been in words, her perfect understanding of the byplay which was going +on at the expense of his friend. The set being completed, the music now +struck up its enlivening notes, and the various contending passions and +emotions of those engaged were soon lost for the time in the giddy whirl +of excitement which succeeded. Every countenance was clad in joy and +hilarity--Bacon himself seeming to forget, in the secret pleasure +created by the occasional touch of Virginia's hand, that he himself was +not the honoured partner. Nor was the exhilirating effect of the dance +confined to those who partook in the exercise--the young enjoyed it +present, the old by retrospection. The latter lived over again the gay +and brilliant dreams of their own youth, and were what they beheld. The +music perhaps touched upon some long forgotten associations of other +days and other friends, when and with whom they had mingled in the merry +dance under circumstances like the present. These hallowed and blessed +associations were not unmixed with melancholy, but it was of the softest +and most soothing kind; the tide of feeling flowed over the heart to the +cadences of the music, rising and swelling like the waves of the +subsiding storm, and irresistibly inviting to mental calm and repose. +The elder matrons sat under its influence--their eyes half closed in a +sort of pleasing abstraction--while a gentle and subdued smile of mixed +emotions played upon their lips. They lived again in the persons of +their gay and happy daughters, and with no more selfish wish than to see +their offspring following quietly in their own footsteps. + +The formality which had somewhat characterized the opening ceremonies +was entirely banished--it could not live in the atmosphere of music and +the dance. Sir William and his compeers in dignity seemed early to be +sensible of this, for no sooner had the motion of "hands round" +commenced, than he collected his forces, and retreated to the card room, +where, from the excitement of the game and wine, they endeavoured to +compensate themselves for their want of the more sentimental retrospects +of their ladies. + +Conversation, which till now had flagged under the withering influence +of etiquette, burst forth in all the vivacity of unrestrained and +unsophisticated nature. The eyes of Harriet Harrison sparkled like gems, +as she and Virginia laughed and chatted together, when they occasionally +met in the figures of the dance. But with all Virginia's hilarity, an +acute observer might have perceived a shade more than once passing over +the sunshine of her countenance; whether owing to some vague +presentiment of coming evil--to better defined apprehensions from those +events which had so lately passed under her eyes--to the mysterious +injunctions of the Recluse, or to some not altogether satisfactory +arrangements of the dance, we shall leave the sagacity of the reader to +determine. Certain it is, however, that she underwent no little badinage +from her lively friend and confidant. + +A certain emphatic declination in the notes of the leader, which all the +initiated will understand, warned those in possession of the floor, that +there is an order of rotation in happiness on these joyful occasions, a +cadence, any thing but musical to those happily and mutually suited in +partners, while to those not so fortunately coupled, it was a joyful +relief. Each gentleman led his partner to her seat, which she had +scarcely taken, perhaps, if one of the favoured few, before new +applications for the honour of her hand were laid at her feet. Bacon had +no sooner escorted Harriet to her place, than turning to her friend he +again put in his claim in more formal parlance than his former +instinctive aspirations, but again he was doomed to disappointment; +Philip Ludwell on this occasion, with a smirking smile upon his +countenance, claiming a prior engagement. Bacon scowled upon him with +mingled scorn and rage, as he turned upon his heel and besought the +honour of the first hand within his reach. But if he was disappointed, +his friend Dudley seemed more fortunate, for at the same moment that the +former led out his partner, he encountered the latter escorting the +pretty Harriet--and certainly no one in the room claimed a larger +portion of his sympathy. But he was struck with the change in the +countenance of the lively brunette in the very short time which had +elapsed between the two sets. During the first, there was a free, +untramelled, mischievous expression in her countenance, which was now +merged in one of partial embarrassment. The guileless and confiding air +with which she had looked into the face of her former partner, was now +exchanged for one of consciousness, as if the lively little belle +expected retributive justice from her friends for her own previous +badinage. The unpractised Dudley interpreted these appearances any thing +but favourably to his own ardent hopes. + +Bacon was more deeply studied in the workings of the "human face +divine," especially when feeling no personal interest in their meaning, +and he therefore amused himself in his ungrateful situation, by watching +the changes of his friend's arch little mistress. He doubtless +considered it a beautiful and interesting development of character, to +see this lively little romp--so lately overflowing with vivacity and +animal spirits--all at once transformed into the sensitive, sedate, and +downcast maiden. He was certainly not less amused to perceive that these +two interesting young personages were unconsciously playing at cross +purposes. First the gentleman became cold and moody at the reserve +exhibited by his mistress, which did undoubtedly exist, but from which +his jealous anxiety made him draw a most erroneous conclusion; while +she, on the other hand, resented this apparently ungrateful return for a +partiality which her own consciousness induced her to believe was +perceptible to its object; indeed this very fear of his knowledge was +perhaps the moving impulse of her own wayward conduct. The resentment +occasioned by his apparent coldness, and assumed indifference, produced +a corresponding feeling in her bosom, and thus they mutually acted and +reacted upon each other, departing farther and farther from a mutual +understanding at every renewed attempt, until at the close of the set, +Dudley retired, as he imagined, irreconcilably offended, folding his +arms upon his breast, and looking the very picture of love in despair. +While in this mood Bacon approached him, and tapped him on the shoulder, +saying, "Hah, Charles, would'st drown thyself? Thou dost not set thy +life at a pin's fee I'll warrant me. Why, what would'st thou have, man? +Thou would'st not have her forward and pert enough to run unbidden into +thy arms?" + +"Run into my arms, forsooth! I think she was nearer running into thine +own." + +"Tut man, does thy knowledge of the sex extend no farther? Dost not know +thou art quarrelling with the light of thine own eyes? Art thou not yet +acquainted with the windings and apparent inconsistencies of the female +heart? I say apparent, because when the _primum mobile_ is once +understood, all these little perversities of lovers' quarrels are +beautifully consistent, and always traceable to the one great original +cause. Once gain an insight of this leading motive, and you will admire +where you now condemn--you will attribute to maidenly modesty and proper +reserve, what you now censure as perverse and whimsical." + +"I understand you not, Sir Professor." + +"No, because you are interested in the matter. You cannot truly place +the small end of the telescope to your eye, and see yourself at the +other. You cannot stand, for instance, as I stand, and see yourself as +I see you. But study the subject a little before you give way to the +identical petulant humours with which you would quarrel in your +mistress." + +"And how long is it, pray, Sir Sage, since you took the beam from your +own eye. If mine deceived me not, I saw you but a little while since +swelling with all the offended dignity of majesty itself--merely because +some more fortunate swain had previously secured the hand of the +Governor's fair niece." + +"You are as far wrong in my affairs, Charles, as you were just now in +your own. You seem peculiarly predisposed to-night, to see only the +surface of things. Suppose that some half a dozen of those butterflies +who are now congregating round Lady Berkley, were to form a plot by +which you were to be deprived of the hand of that lady whom you most +desired to lead to the dance? Nay, more, suppose that you considered it +all important to your interests that you should possess the hand on this +particular night, and that you should be thwarted by such a contrivance +of _sub vice-royalty_! What would you do? Would you content yourself +with spending your rage upon your own lips between your teeth?" + +"No, by heavens, I would tweak the nose of a small sprig of royalty +itself." + +"What, under the circumstances and responsibilities that environ us +to-night?" + +"No! not to-night certainly; there is no hurry in the business--his +nasal organ will be as tangible a week hence as now, I suppose; but who +is it that has done this deed? I see you have many rivals." + +"Frank Beverly, to be sure." + +"I supposed as much." + +"You see," continued Bacon, "that I have now removed the mote from my +own eye, and that you did in my case exactly what you did in your +own--you looked only at the surface. But really, Charles, between +ourselves, I begin to entertain some fears that they will at last affect +Virginia with their own aristocratic notions and pretensions, for the +absence of which we have so often praised her. I have seen a strange +unusual something stealing over her countenance whenever I have +approached her of late, which I do not like. She evidently struggles +with it herself, but it has obtained the mastery in every instance, so +far. Think you they will succeed at last?" + +"I know not, my friend! but step with me into the entry--a word in your +ear." The parties stepped just behind the casings to the door of the +room in which they had been dancing, so as to occupy a small entry-way +between the two largest apartments of the mansion, and there Dudley +continued in an under tone.-- + +"Do you think they will dare _the deed_ to-night?" + +"As sure as there is truth in that strange old man--and he has never yet +deceived me!" + +"Tis well! and are all things prepared for their reception?" + +"They are! As for myself, never did such occasion come more opportunely. +I will raise a bloody monument to perpetuate the events of this night +upon more than one memory in yonder gay assembly! And since the thought +strikes me, Dudley, tis pity I disturbed the savage moroseness which was +just stealing over you; however I shall retain a _quantum sufficit_ for +us both!" + +At that moment they were about to return to the party which they had +left, when Dudley elevating his finger, said, "Hist!"--and Bacon heard +his own name pronounced, just on the other side of the partition against +which they were leaning. The voice was Ludwells. "Can you tell me +Beverly," said he, "the reason why Bacon does not wear the love lock!" + +"Yes, I can, nature stamped him for a Roundhead and Crop-ear at his +birth. Have you not observed how obstinately his curling locks are +matted to his head? I'll warrant me if the truth could be known, his +father was as pestilent a Rumper as ever sung a psalm on horseback." + +Bacon heard no more; he was seized with the most ungovernable rage, and +the utmost endeavours and remonstrances of his friend could scarcely +prevent him from bursting in upon the speakers. In his endeavours to +effect this object he forced his person partly in front of the doorway, +just sufficiently to perceive that Virginia sat near, for whom, he +doubted not these observations were intended. Again he became nearly +unmanageable, until Dudley said to him in a harsh tone. "Rash man, would +you sacrifice the whole colony for the purpose of chastising a piece of +unmannerly insolence upon the spur of the moment, when you can as well +do it to-morrow? Nay, it is the more manly course of the two." + +Bacon by a powerful effort seemed to master his feelings, and +compressing his lips, and folding his arms so as entirely to deceive his +companion, he marched deliberately into the room, as if he intended to +cross to the opposite side. But when not more than three paces from the +door, he wheeled suddenly round and addressed Beverly. "This is no place +for a personal reencounter, Sir Slanderer, and I will no farther break +through the rules of good breeding than to hurl defiance in your teeth, +and even this much I would not do, only that the defiance may go abroad +with the calumny;" and with these words he flung his glove in the face +of him to whom they were addressed. Beverly was taken entirely by +surprise; and for some moments did not seem to realize the extent of the +insult, and the greater personal indignity which had been offered to +him. He was not long, however, in comprehending the nature of the case, +and deliberately stooping to pick up the glove he answered, "This, as +you have better said than acted, is no place to quarrel, but I accept +your gage, and dearly shall it be redeemed on your part." + +During this short but pertinent dialogue, Virginia screamed and ran to +the protection of her father and uncle, followed by the other ladies in +that part of the room. A crowd instantly collected round each of the +parties to hear their statements of the case. But Sir William, always +prompt and energetic, ordered the orchestra to strike up and the dance +to be resumed, which had ceased for the purpose of affording +refreshment. "A mere boy's quarrel," said the old Knight with smiling +visage, and the dance was resumed, as if nothing unusual had occurred. + +General joy and hilarity were soon restored, for though the serenity and +happiness of several important personages of our narrative might have +been disturbed, there were still plenty of those left who were both +light of heart and nimble of foot. The dance was again going round, wine +circulating, wit sparkling, and merry faces and loud voices in all +quarters, when a sudden explosion like the discharge of a broadside from +a line of battle ship, seemed to shake the very foundations of the +earth; windows rattled and fell--plastering came tumbling down--and +ladies screamed and leaped from the casements, while others were borne +off fainting to their friends. Bacon seized Virginia and Harriet, one +under each arm, and bore them to a carriage, while Mr. Fairfax and +Governor Berkley forced their ladies into the same vehicle, ordering the +driver to speed for his life to the residence of the former. A bright +red light in the midst of a dark column of smoke was now seen to ascend +from behind the Governor's house. The powder magazine had been fired by +the Cromwellians who were now in open revolt against the government. The +schemes which they had been so long meditating, and which Bacon so truly +anticipated, had now arrived at the crisis--the struggle was commenced +which was to test whether a few scores of misguided but brave zealots +were to triumph over the constituted authorities of the land, as they +had before done in England. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The night was dark and lowering, and masses of heavy clouds enveloped +the city, a bright red column of fire ever and anon shot fitfully up +from the smouldering ruins of the magazine, tipping the clouds with a +crimson tinge, and illuminating the city to the light of noonday, and +again suddenly giving place to volumes of thick sulphureous smoke which +involved the surrounding objects in tenfold darkness. Drums were heard +beating to arms--trumpets sounding the charge--fifes piercing the +air--bells ringing the alarm--muskets and petronels discharged in quick +succession, swords clashing, women shrieking, and men were seen running +hither and thither in all the tumult of popular commotion. Bacon had no +sooner lifted his frightened protegées into the carriage, than rushing +into the back court, he found Dudley at the head of their youthful corps +already desperately engaged with the Roundheads. He immediately threw +himself into the thickest of the fight. With all their desperate valour, +however, the two young officers were quickly sensible that they had +entirely miscalculated the number and appointments of their enemies. In +vain they endeavoured to repulse the hardy veterans who forced their way +to the doors and windows of the gubernatorial mansion. The assailants +moved to their work in a solid phalanx, that veteran soldier Worley, +conspicuous at their head, and literally hewing down all opposition. One +line after another of the valiant and high born youths fell before the +murderous weapons of the insurgents. In vain did Bacon and Dudley, and +Beverly and Ludwell, all now united in a common cause, enact prodigies +of valour; their impetuous lunges fell powerless upon the iron frames of +their opponents. Crowds of citizens now rushed against the insurgents +some armed with swords, others with scythe blades, others again with +bludgeons, and the rest with such means of destruction as they could +seize in the street as they hurried to the contest. The accession of +strength to the cause of the government was as yet of little avail, +Bacon and his followers being driven to the walls, while the insurgents +were protected on each side by a high wooden fence or barricade. Tables, +chairs and bedsteads were hurled upon the heads of the besiegers, and +the lower windows were thronged with eager citizens throwing their +hastily seized weapons upon the heads of the foe in a vain effort to +come within reach. The Cromwellians were now likewise receiving +momentary reinforcements of those who leapt the high fences, and filled +up the vacancies in the rear, as the front ranks fell in the desperate +encounter with the youths and citizens. To whom the victory would fall +could not long prove doubtful, situated as they now were; this Sir +William Berkley and his kinsman Fairfax had no doubt perceived early in +the engagement, for a shout from a multitude without the enclosure, in +the midst of which might be heard the voice of Brian O'Reily, now +announced the presence of the Governor. The welcome sound was speedily +and cheerily answered by the sinking youths within, who took courage at +the approach of succour, and fought with renewed spirit. The wooden +barricade, was now seen to heave and shake, with every motion and creak +of which O'Reily shouted in chorus, until at length the whole yielded +and fell with aloud crash. A rush of citizens quickly filled up the +breach, and poured their blows into the flank of the Roundheads, who now +changing their front charged upon their new assailants at the head of +whom were the Governor and Gideon Fairfax. The two old Cavaliers laid +about them in a style worthy of their best and most chivalrous days, and +the citizens as stoutly supported them although but poorly armed and +equipped for such a rencounter. By this change of front the gallant +little corps which had so long maintained its ground, was now in some +measure relieved, and no longer subject to the murderous strokes of the +iron-handed Cromwellians. By the order of Bacon they now poured their +fire into the flank of the enemy, and by this double annoyance to their +phalanx, would doubtless have speedily terminated the conflict, but the +friends of the Insurgents without, taking example by the manoeuvre of +the governor and his party, now broke down the barricade on the other +side, and rushed in their turn to the scene of conflict. As this new +reinforcement were pushing through the court to join their friends, in +storming the first breach, a loud explosion from Sir William's quarter +was heard, followed by the groans and shrieks of a whole phalanx of the +old and new assailants, in whose ranks a perfect lane was cut by this +discharge of grape shot through the very centre of their column. A rush +was now instantly made for the possession of the cannon, and as the +citizens poured through the governor's house and the Roundheads through +the new breach in the party-wall, a deadly scuffle ensued, which became +more and more ferocious and sanguinary as each party received fresh +accessions from their friends without. And though the Cavaliers and +their supporters outnumbered their enemies, the latter had decidedly the +advantage in equipment, strength and discipline; more especially in the +hand-to-hand mode of warfare which now became necessary from the numbers +crowded into so small a space. But there was another advantage which +they possessed--they had but one commander, the veteran Worley, while +the Cavaliers and citizens of the town were at one time commanded by +Bacon, and at another by Sir William Berkley. + +Bacon perceiving the effect of this circumstance, singled out and +attacked the opposite leader in person, determined, if he lost his life +in the unequal conflict, to make the attempt at least to place the two +parties on a more equal footing. But Worley quickly detected his aim, +and being a not less expert swordsman than his antagonist, took +advantage of an impetuous thrust, and quickly brought him to the grapple +of close quarters. One excelled in strength, and the other in activity, +but notwithstanding the latter, superior powers of endurance would soon +have ended the duel unfavourably for our hero, had not a blow from +behind brought his powerful enemy to the ground. Before Bacon discovered +O'Reily, he was well convinced that the bludgeon which had interfered so +opportunely in his behalf, was wielded by no tyro at the weapon. +However, he lost but few seconds, either upon his assailant or +deliverer, but quickly directed his attention to matters of more +absorbing importance in the direction of cannon. Meantime O'Reily seized +the opportunity afforded by the engrossing nature of the conflict, in +the quarter just mentioned, and stooping down he took one of Worley's +feet under each arm, using his legs as shafts, and dragged him off to a +horse stall hard by, where having deposited the insensible veteran upon +the straw, he turned the key and consigned it to his pouch. + +The battle now consisted almost entirely of numerous desperate +individual conflicts, each citizen as he arrived singling out some hated +Roundhead neighbour, and he in his turn as anxious to vent the party and +personal hatred which had been so long festering within his bosom. Sir +William Berkley perceiving that their veteran foes had a decided +advantage in the position now occupied by the parties respectively, +quickly devised a scheme, in concert with Mr. Fairfax, by which, while +the Governor kept the enemy engaged over the cannon, the latter should +take a score of sturdy citizens, and rushing in, regardless of +consequences, drag this sole apparent cause of contention into the +public square, and thus change the scene of action to a more open +position, where the superior bodily strength of the insurgents could no +longer avail them. The measure was executed with great spirit and +promptitude, and succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations; for +no sooner had the citizens commenced dragging the piece at a brisk trot, +than both parties tumultuously pressed round its wheels, and thus +unconsciously were brought into a fair field of action. Bacon, as soon +as he saw the design of the movement, wheeled his hardy youths through +the Governor's house, and formed a line at the critical moment when the +confused combatants arrived fighting over the gun: thus affording a +rallying point for the friends of order and the government. The +governmental troops immediately formed upon the line already partly +established by Bacon and his corps, and thus the gun was at length +brought to bear for a time upon the opposing ranks. The light which had +hitherto fitfully gleamed upon the strife, was now sinking after long +intervals, and emitting that unsteady and wavering flame which announces +rapidly approaching extinction. A few rounds of musketry and one or two +discharges from the small fieldpiece, and the arena of conflict was +shrouded in impenetrable darkness, save from the momentary glare which +preceded the explosions. The Cromwellians, locking their column more +compactly together, rushed in a solid body upon the newly formed line of +the citizens. So sudden and so impetuous was this movement, and so +skilfully executed, that the brave but ill disciplined combatants, +against whom it was directed, gave way before the solid phalanx of the +enemy, leaving the long disputed fieldpiece surrounded by the +Insurgents. They immediately turned its muzzle upon its late owners, and +were about charging it with the usual silence and promptitude of their +movements, when a bright light from a burning torch was seen forcing its +way almost undisputed through their ranks. The Cromwellians stood aside +for its passage with an irresolute sort of tardiness, produced by a +doubt whether the bearer were a friend or an enemy. But they were not +left long in suspense, for he had no sooner arrived at this point, now +forming the line between the contending parties, than he sprang upon the +carriage of the gun, holding his torch aloft, so as to shed a glaring +light upon the assembled multitude of both parties, who stood now for a +moment of truce, in wonder at the strange and gigantic figure before +them. + +"Hold!" said he in a loud authoritative voice, and waving his hand with +a commanding gesture over the ranks of the Roundheads who crowded round +him. "Where is your commander, Worley?" + +"He is slain," answered twenty voices. + +"His blood be upon his own head. Where is he who commandeth in his +stead?" + +"Here am I," said a short black visaged thick-set man. "Here am I, +Ananias Proudfit, whom the Lord hath commissioned this night to take +away the wicked from the land, and to root out the Amalekite, and the +Jebusite, and the Perizzite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite and the +Amorite. And are not this council and this wicked Governor justly +comparable to the five Kings who took shelter in the cave of Makkeda, +who were"-- + +"Peace, brawler, peace," thundered the gigantic umpire, "and cease to +pervert the word of God to thy murderous and unholy purposes. Take +warning by the fate of thy predecessor. Thou would'st not listen to a +more safe and peaceable admonition, administered in humility and good +faith. Now I tell thee that if thou art still deaf, this good sword +shall cleave thy hardened skull," and he drew his formidable weapon and +brandished it over the torch. "Hah! sayest thou so," said the enraged +Proudfit, aiming a deadly blow at the gigantic figure towering above +him, but which the stranger struck aside with the ease of a wary and +practised swordsman, and in the next moment as he had promised, drove +his ponderous weapon into the skull of his assailant. Then hurling his +torch into the advancing throng of the Independents, he brandished the +huge glittering blade in fearful circles around the besieged gun, and +quickly cleared a space for its more dexterous and effectual employment. + +The fight was now renewed in all quarters, but evidently to greater +disadvantage on the part of the Insurgents, than they yet had to contend +with. The loss of their commander a second time, even in the ordinary +course of warfare, would doubtless have disheartened them, but the +circumstances under which the last had fallen--the superstitious +reverence in which they were accustomed to hold the Recluse--all +contributed to damp their ardour, to say nothing of the bloody barricade +he had already piled around his person. They were now, too, in a +comparatively open field, where the greater numbers of their enemies +could avail much, and where no opportunity was afforded for the fatal +grapple which had so well served the rebels in the earlier stages of the +conflict. They were assailed from all points of the square at the same +moment, while the Recluse, in the very heart of their ranks, was +literally hewing them down like weeds and cumberers of the ground. No +quarter was asked or given--they had staked their all upon the success +of their enterprise, and seemed determined, long after all hope of +success in their first project must have failed, to leave a bloody +monument to their foolhardy courage, if not to their wisdom and +fore-thought. Nathaniel Bacon, exhausted by the loss of blood from +wounds received in the desperate repulse of the insurgents during the +early part of the engagement, and feeling his tremendous responsibility +for his inadequate preparations, no longer so onerous or so urgent upon +himself, fell upon the field, and was borne to the house of his early +friend and patron. + +With the powerful aid of the Recluse, and the accumulating +reinforcements from the loyal citizens of the town, the remainder of the +gallant but misguided zealots were soon either cut down, captured, or +put to flight. The slain of the Cavalier party were laid out in the +State House, while those of the opposite faction were deposited in the +tobacco warehouse, so lately the scene of youthful revels. + +The wounded were removed to the houses of their friends and relations +throughout the city, and in a short time as profound silence reigned +along its deserted streets as if no one had arisen to disturb its peace. +Not an individual could be found who had seen the Recluse after the +termination of the struggle. The slain were carefully examined, but no +such huge proportions as his lay stretched in death, among the gory +trophies of his prowess. + +The veteran soldiers, so many of whom had fallen, while others were +confined within the jail of the colony, were a remnant of Cromwell's +soldiers who had been sent from the parent country, on account of their +restless and dangerous propensities, some of them had been sold into +temporary bondage, while others established themselves in business or +planting on their own account. They had formed the desperate resolution +of rising upon the governor and his guests while seated over their wine, +supposing that, in the promiscuous massacre which they had intended to +perpetrate, all the councillors, and leading men of the colony would be +swept away, and themselves thereby enabled to revolutionize the +government. + +The Recluse had doubtless been vainly urged to join their desperate +faction, and it would appear that they had either depended upon their +threats of vengeance as a sufficient warrant for his fidelity, or +trusted to his supposed predilection for their cause, and hatred against +the authorities then at the head of colonial affairs. Nor does it appear +that he did openly and boldly betray them. Bacon had by some means or +other of his own, pryed so far into the secret of the incipient +rebellion as to learn who were the prominent leaders--by the suggestion +of the Recluse, obtained through the agency of Virginia, he had found +access to the ear of one Berkenhead, an influential man among them, who, +influenced by gold and liberal promises, betrayed so much of the +conspirators' designs as enabled Bacon to adopt the preparations of +which we have just seen the result. And though they were of themselves +totally inadequate, yet they served the purpose of keeping the murderers +at bay, until time was afforded for the intervention of the citizens, +and thus had preserved the lives of the Governor and his Council, +together with those of many members of the House of Burgesses. The +Assembly, which convened three days afterward, unanimously voted three +thousand weight of tobacco to the traitor Berkenhead, and passed sundry +pious resolutions of thanks to the Almighty for their deliverance, +besides setting the day apart as one of thanksgiving for ever after. + +The ancient city presented a strange and desolate appearance on the +succeeding morning, in the neighbourhood of the public square. Houses +were deserted by their tenants, windows shattered, palings pulled down, +the ground stained with blood; guns, petronels, swords, hats, and +missiles of various descriptions lay scattered about in strange +confusion. + +At length the drowsy citizens were awakened to the importance of the +day. A court of inquiry was assembled for the purpose of investigating +the conspiracy which had so nearly proved fatal to the existing order of +things on the previous night. The prisoners were brought from the jail +to the Court House in irons, and all the witnesses supposed to know any +thing of the matter, were in readiness. Nathaniel Bacon was the first +called, but Mr. Fairfax came forward and stated that his wounds were so +much more dangerous than had previously been supposed, that the surgeon +strictly enjoined quiet and repose, and recommended if possible to +postpone taking his deposition for the present. As the testimony was +ample and satisfactory without his attendance, the examination of course +proceeded. Berkenhead's deposition was essentially what we have already +more succinctly stated in explanation of the insurrection, and most of +the other witnesses testified only to what the reader has already seen +or surmised. There was one witness, however, whose testimony was so +novel and amusing, amidst the general scene of confusion and bloodshed, +that we must by no means neglect it. Brian O'Reily was called in his +turn to give evidence on behalf of the crown on a charge of treason +against the prisoners at the bar. + +"Well, O'Reily," said the examining officer, "please to tell the court +what you know of the treasonable practices of any of the prisoners at +the bar." + +"Be the twelve Apostles and St. Patrick into the bargain, I caught one +iv them in the very act." + +"What act did you see, O'Reily, and which of these men was the +perpetrator?" + +"Faix it was just trason itself I caught him at; sure if I hadn't +brought his head acquainted wid my shelaleigh, he'd iv murthered one of +the king's officers iny way--young master Bacon." + +"Well, tell us which of these men it was, and any thing you know +concerning the getting up of this rebellion." + +"The man's not there at all at all--he's at another bar, and has been +this ten hours gone." + +"He's at the bar of God, you mean?" + +"I mane no sich thing, axing your honour's pardon for conthradictin you. +Here's the key that's turned an 'im; besides, didn't I slape by the +door all night wid nobody for company but a small dhrop iv whiskey, and +didn't I spake to him this morning through the key hole, and didn't he +coax and palaver wid me to let him out, and didn't he come over me wid +his wife and nine childre, one at the breast, barrin that I knew it was +a d--d lie at that same recknin, savin your presence, an didn't he fret +about bein cooped up in sich a place all night wid nothin to ate an the +same, to dhrink, barrin the hay that was in the rack, an didn't I answer +him from the contints iv the book, sayin that many a betther man than +him had been born and brought up in a manger, (crossing himself) an +didn't he call me all sorts iv hathen names; indeed an he did--the best +iv them was cut-throat and horse-thaif, only they were in the Habrew +language, an didn't I tell him he was a Judaite, an a wolf in sheep's +clothin, an that he hated the very name iv Bacon. And may be he didn't +call me a dam'd papist? An didn't I tell him he'd live to see his own +funeral iny way? an didn't he answer me all about popes and bulls and +papists? Oh! get away wid your blarney, says I, you're safe now as the +Governor's old bull wid the short tail and the shambles on two of his +legs, only I tould him he'd perhaps be likein the darbies on his hands +instead of his trotters." + +"And who was this, Brian, that you held this long discourse with through +a key hole? You're giving us another of your drunken dreams I fear?" + +"Divil a word iv a lie's in it, your haner, hav'nt I just come from the +stable door, and didn't I set ould growler, the bull dog to watch by him +till I came back--sure he cant come over him wid his blarney about the +wife and the nine childer--O be gorra I'm so tender hearted, it was a +clane temptation to me." + +"Who was it had the nine children?" + +"Auld Nick fly away wid the nine he's got iv them; didn't I tell your +haner it was all blarney to move the tinder feelings of Brian O'Reily?" + +"Who was it then, you were talking to through the key hole?" + +"An 'is it his name your haner's axing after all this time? couldn't you +just say so at wanst, an not throw me out wid the story all thegither? +It's the Divil's own aid-the-camp I'm thinkin. It's the man that makes +swords all the time he's makin horse shoes, they call him Worley I'm +thinkin." + +"Worley! is it possible? have you seen him this morning?" + +"Be the contints iv the book but I saw him not an hour gone, through the +key hole; he was stanin up to hay like the Governor's horse, but his +appetite seemed to uv left him intirely." + +"Can you show the officers where he is?" + +"I can do that same, I'm bould to say; didn't I tell your haner it's the +key I had was turned an im?" + +"And what is it the key of, O'Reily?" + +"Faix it's the key to the Governor's stable." (This answer produced a +loud laugh from the spectators.) "Divel a word o lie's in it." + +"Well, O'Reily, the officers are waiting on you; only prove to us that +this is not another of your drunken reveries, and it shall turn out +better for you than you now expect. Since it has been ascertained that +this man Worley was not to be found among the slain, the Governor has +issued his proclamation, offering two hundred pounds for his +apprehension, dead or alive." + +"Oh!" said O'Reily, as he was going out of the door, "but I'm afeard +you'll find him rather in a state iv thribulation, I did some killen an +im myself: Oh wasn't that a beauty iv a shelaleigh? Only to think of two +hundred pounds; faix if I get it but I'll have it set in brass." + +The officers in attendance, with Brian at their head, soon emerged from +the Governor's stable amidst the shouts and cheers of the multitude. The +unfortunate Roundhead commander was brought into courts suffering +severely from thirst, and the effects of the contusion, produced by the +violence of O'Reily's blow. + +We will not detain the reader over revolting portions of the trial +either now or hereafter; suffice it to say, therefore, in brief, that +O'Reily received the interest of two hundred pounds ever afterwards for +his capture of the Rebel Chief. Four of the ringleaders at the second, +and final trial were condemned and speedily executed, and the others +recommended to mercy. Thus was terminated this sanguinary conflict, the +last convulsive throe of the Independent faction in the British +dominions of North America. + +As our tale is no farther directly connected with this ill-advised and +hopeless insurrection, we proceed in the next chapter with the direct +thread of our narrative, the principal personages of which were so +directly concerned in the bloody affair just related, that we could not +pass it over with any kind of regard to historical accuracy. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +During the whole of the day succeeding the insurrection, our hero lay in +the most precarious and dangerous state; and the violent inflammatory +action produced by several large sabre wounds so much unsettled his +reason, that the surgeon was compelled still farther to deplete his +already exhausted frame. Towards night his mind recovered its powers, +but his strength was still gone, and he lay upon his couch in all the +helplessness of infantile impotency; and toward evening, exhausted by +the previous night of turmoil and strife, succeeded by a day of feverish +restlessness, he at length fell asleep. + +There was one never-wearying eye that watched the fitful slumbers of the +invalid. Conscious, perhaps, that Bacon could never be more to her than +a friend and protector, Wyanokee delighted in rendering him those quiet, +but constant and indispensable services which his situation required. +Not a change of his ever-varying countenance, as the workings of a +diseased and excited imagination, were from time to time portrayed upon +his pale and already attenuated features, escaped her, while her own +beautiful and expressive countenance, vividly displayed, in rapid and +corresponding changes, her sympathy with the sleeping sufferer. If any +one approached the door, her keen glance immediately arrested the +intruder, her finger upon her lip, and a frown upon her brow, in her +powerful and national pantomimic token of silence. If the eye of the +sleeper opened for an instant in bewildered amazement at the difference +between the real scene before him, and the one from which in sleeping +fancy he had just escaped, her wild and imaginative susceptibilities +were instantly on the alert. + +The mind of the aboriginal, even when partially cultivated, is overcome +with superstitious reverence and awe, in the presence of one under the +excitement of a diseased imagination. Such had been the state of feeling +with Wyanokee during the whole of Bacon's mental hallucinations +throughout the day, and now as she watched at his bed-side, during his +uneasy slumbers, her keen perceptions were tremendously alive to each +successive demonstration. There was one member of the family, however, +who entered and departed from the room unchallenged--Virginia! At this +moment she entered--her own tender sympathies wrought upon by all the +late harassing events; although differing in their developments and +cause in some respects, they were in no wise inferior in degree to those +of her protegée. She moved with noiseless step and suppressed +respiration until she stood over the couch of the wounded youth. Long +and feelingly she gazed upon the sharp and pallid features; there was +naught of passion in that gaze--it was pure and heavenly in its origin, +as in its motive. Her moistened eye, with a movement almost peculiar to +the sick room, or the funeral chamber, turned slowly upon her attendant. +No melting and sympathizing tear softened the brilliant and penetrating +eye which met her gaze; there was excitement, deep excitement, but not +the mellowed emotion of regulated sympathy; in Wyanokee, the imagination +controlled the heart--in Virginia, the heart subdued and softened the +imagination. + +There was something touchingly beautiful in the moral development of +these two young and innocent hearts. There was a mutual instinctive +understanding of each, with regard to the position of the other, in +relation to the wounded youth before them; yet it had never been +admitted even to their own consciousness, because they had never +analyzed their own feelings, and circumstances as yet had never openly +betrayed them to each other. As they mutually exchanged glances, +something like an electric thrill passed chilly through their veins, but +it was only for an instant; the reasoning faculties of the mind examined +it not--they were not in a situation to examine it--imagination +controlled the whole mental organization of the one, and the tenderest +and purest emotions of the heart that of the other. Virginia came to +relieve the faithful and indefatigable Indian maiden, and as the only +practicable means, sent her under some pretext to her mother. She now +occupied a seat near the foot of the couch, in full view of the +sleeper's countenance, faintly illuminated by the subdued rays of a +shaded lamp. She had watched the varying and magnetic vibration of +muscle and nerve for nearly an hour, when the eyes of the sleeping youth +slowly and wildly opened upon her in a bewildered stare, and at length +he spoke. + +"The senses are not the only vehicles for communicating passing events +to the mind," said he, his voice already hollow and sepulchral from the +previous excitement of the brain. Virginia understood him not, but +supposed that his mind was again wandering, but it was not so; his +mental perceptions were preternaturally clear, as they sometimes are +after painful cerebral excitements. + +She made him no answer, hoping that he would again close his eyes to +repose. But he continued, "How else can we gain knowledge of things +which have transpired when all the senses are shut up in profound +slumber? Just now I slept deeply, but not soothingly, and I thought I +was on the brink of destruction, from which none but you could save me; +and that Wyanokee persisted in attempting the rescue, and the more she +struggled the more irremediable became my difficulties. At length you +appeared upon the scene, leaning upon your mother's arm; and she carried +away Wyanokee while you redeemed me from destruction. This is indeed no +farther true than that you have taken the place of your attendant, and +that your mild sympathizing countenance is far more genial to my present +weakened state, than her wild and startling glances. But does it not +seem as if my mental perceptions had caught a glimpse of passing events +without the intervention of the animal senses?" + +Virginia put her finger upon her lip and shook her head, to remind her +charge that strict silence was enjoined. For this there were other +motives acting upon her perturbed feelings besides the injunction of the +surgeon, had they been wanting. + +The invalid closed his eyes, and in a short time seemed to sleep more +calmly and soundly than he had yet done. It being the portion of the +night through which Virginia had insisted upon watching, she moved +quietly to a couch by the window looking upon the river, and the blue +hills beyond, and threw herself upon it and gazed out at the enchanting +scene. Her own flower garden lay beneath the window, stretching away +towards the river, and ornamented midway with a tasteful little +summer-house designed by herself, and decorated by the hands of the +ingenious youth who now lay so helpless before her. The air was balmy +and serene; and redolent of the richest perfumes of fruits and flowers +just bursting into maturity with the advancing summer. Millions of stars +twinkled in the high cerulean arch of heaven, and were reflected back +from the broad expanse of waters beneath, with an enchanting +brilliancy. The murmuring waters of the Powhatan rippled along the sandy +shore with a melancholy monotony, indescribably soothing to her harassed +and troubled mind. The various noises of the busy world around were one +by one sinking into silence. Occasionally the profound stillness which +succeeded, disturbed by the distant bark of a watch-dog, or the more +rural cackling of geese, faded away in the distance so imperceptibly as +to leave the mind at a loss to know whether they were real sounds, or +those associations with the scene which the imagination often conjures +up to bewilder us on such occasions. Her eyes were half closed for a +moment under these soothing and seducing influences, and the next, +quickly opened to catch the fiery track of some darting meteor as it +winged its way through the starry heavens, or to follow the humbler +lights borne through the air by myriads of fire flies which brilliantly +floated upon the transparent atmosphere. A wild and startling note from +some beast of prey, as it roamed through the trackless and unsubdued +forests beyond the river, occasionally struck upon her ear, and ever and +anon she turned her eyes toward her sleeping charge, and all the painful +and harassing feelings of the last few days returned. It was like +awaking from a delicious dream, to the stern reality of some pressing +and constantly obtrusive misfortune. Her previous life had been tranquil +and unruffled; until now her spirits buoyant and elastic. Suddenly the +scene had changed, and all the unmarked and unrecorded pleasures of her +youthful years were lost in the cares and troubles of the present. She +imagined herself the most irremediably wretched being in existence. So +new was unhappiness to her, that the slight cloud which now hung between +her and the happiness she had enjoyed seemed fearfully dark and +lowering. + +But again the soothing influences of the scene without imperceptibly +stole upon her senses, and she fell into a slumber. Her imagination, now +uncontrolled by the sterner qualities of mind, mingled the images +retained from the stirring events of the last few days in the most +fantastic forms. She saw her mother enter the garden with a slow and +solemn step, clad in the habiliments of the grave. + +Her form was aerial and graceful, and her features supernaturally +beautiful and glorious. Presently this figure was met by another of +colossal proportions, approaching the summer house from the opposite end +of the garden; his step was grand and majestic, and his countenance +stern and warlike. He was clad in complete armour, and his mailed heel +as it struck the gravel, sent the blood cold to her heart, and at once +convinced her of the reality of the scene. As the figures met they +paused and seemed to hold communion for a time, and then pursued their +way together; but when they returned to view, the relations of the +parties were changed, the colossal figure was using the most violent +gesticulation, to which his companion seemed to bow her head in meekness +and submission, but not in conviction. At this the other suddenly sprang +forward, seized his victim, and was about to leap the garden walls when +an attempt to scream dispelled the illusion. Virginia opened her eyes +and glanced around the room to assure herself of the reality of the +scene before her. The wounded youth still slept soundly, and the lamp +still threw its flickering shadows on the wall. By a slower and more +cautious movement of the eyes she next examined the garden without; all +was still and quiet as the grave, and gazing long and abstractedly upon +the little arbour she again gave way to the exhaustion of her physical +powers, and again the same figures rose upon her fancy. Now all doubt of +their reality was discarded from the very circumstance of the former's +having proved a delusion. She knew the other was a dream, but this she +felt was truth, and she even went so far as to reason in her mind upon +the strange coincidence of the dream, and the present real scene. The +gigantic figure was now clad in the gray garb of the Recluse, his limbs +manacled with chains, while her mother knelt apart in the attitude of +deep and unutterable wo. A crowd was gathered round as if to witness a +public execution; soldiers and citizens, knights and nobles mingled in +the confused throng. The criminal was kneeling upon his coffin, the cap +was drawn over his face, and the fatal word was given! She awoke with +the sound of firearms still ringing in her ears, and the piercing +shrieks of the female figure thrilling through her veins. + +It may be readily imagined that her startled perceptions were by no +means tranquillized on perceiving, as she opened her eyes, the shadows +of moving figures upon the wall before her. In order to see from whom +these reflections came she must turn her head and look in the direction +of the opposite wall, but for her life she dared not move! Terror +chained her to the couch. At length the shadows moved towards the door! +By a desperate effort she turned her head in that direction, and to her +amazement beheld her mother dressed in white, exactly as she had seen +her in her dream, slowly and steadily leaving the apartment. She clasped +her hand to her forehead and endeavoured to recall her bewildered +senses. The confused images of her slumbering and waking perceptions +were so inextricably mingled together that for a time she was utterly at +a loss to know whether the whole was real or a dream. Certainly the +actors were the same, and the impressions continuous. She had not long +lain in this bewilderment when she heard the door leading into the +garden, just beneath her window, softly opened, and her mother in a few +moments walked down the avenue in the very direction she had before seen +her take. + +Her eyes were intently riveted upon the movements of her parent, until +they were hid from her view by the intervening trees and shrubbery. + +But she removed them not--they were still fixed upon the spot where she +had last seen her, until her white robes emerged here and there from the +foliage, when her eyes instinctively followed her, straining her already +weakened organs to catch the slightest change of position, and seemingly +desirous to penetrate the sombre shadows of the night, whenever the +figure upon which she gazed was lost to view. At length the door again +softly opened beneath her window; and she saw the figure no more. But a +very few moments elapsed, however, before another appeared upon the +scene, of far more gigantic proportions and questionable business at +that place and hour. It was the same figure which she had before seen +associated with the one which had just departed; and now that she really +saw them in flesh and blood, she was more than ever at a loss to know +which and how many of her visions of the night were real and which +illusory. + +The one now before her eyes was clad in his usual, half puritanical, +half military tunic, and as usual he was fully armed, but the weapons +hung quietly by his side; his arms were folded upon his breast, and his +whole carriage and demeanour was subdued, sad, and melancholy. He stood +leaning against the vine-clad column of the arbour, with his eyes +intently fixed upon the spot where the preoccupant of the scene had +disappeared. His chest heaved with emotion, which ever and anon found +vent in laboured respirations of unspeakable misery. + +At this moment a fierce watch-dog sprung at the intruder with savage +ferocity, and to one less accustomed to danger in all its shapes, would +doubtless have proved a formidable foe; but in an instant a heavy blow +from his iron sheathed sabre laid the animal struggling at his feet. He +stood leaning upon his weapon for an instant, and then moved slowly away +until he came near the river, when he laid his hand upon the palisade +running along the foot of the garden, and leapt upon the beach like a +youth of twenty. In a short time Virginia saw his boat upon the water, +his gigantic form rising and bending to his work with desperate and +reckless efforts, the frail bark gliding over the smooth waters, "like a +thing of life," until it faded away in the distance to a mere speck. + +Her eye followed the receding object as it became more and more +indistinct, until a mere undefined point was left upon the retina, her +own voluntary powers sinking more deeply in repose from the intentness +with which she pursued the single object. + +How long she slept she knew not, but when she awoke the horizontal rays +of the rising sun were beaming through the parted curtains, and the +misty drapery from the river was rolling over the hills, and pouring +through the intervening valleys in thousands of fantastic forms, +weaving, here a rich festoon round the summit of one blue hill, and +there spreading out a curtain of mellow tints before another. + +The cool and invigorating morning breeze from the river, joined to the +effects of her last refreshing and uninterrupted sleep, completely +dispelled the shadowy illusions of the night, and she arose +comparatively cheerful and happy. She was frightened when she cast her +eyes upon the couch of the sufferer and found him awake, to think how +much and how long she had neglected him. There was one indefatigable and +untiring nurse watching by the bed-side, however! She had stolen in +unperceived during the night, and now sat upon an humble seat at the +foot of the couch; her eye as brilliant as if it was not subject to the +ordinary fatigues of humanity. The invalid too had slept soundly, and +awakened this morning refreshed and invigorated, and with all his +inflammatory symptoms much abated. + +With all these cheering influences around her, Virginia's countenance +would have been soon clad in her wonted smiles, had it not been for an +unbidden scene which every now and then was conjured up before her +imagination, in which those near and dear to her were principal actors. +But these, painful and inexplicable as they seemed to her, were far from +being well defined in her own mind. For her life, she could not separate +the real evidences of her drowsy senses from the vivid images of her +imagination. She was firmly impressed, however, with the belief, that +some parts of them were true and real transactions! She firmly believed +that she had seen her mother and the Recluse during the night--not +together certainly, but near the same spot and in quick succession; and +she as firmly believed that she had seen the latter disable the +watch-dog, mount over the palisade, and hurry away in his boat. So much +was indeed true; her mother had actually visited the wounded youth +during the night, and she had actually walked in the garden, and the +Recluse was actually there, but no meeting took place, except in the +imagination of the worn-out maiden. + +She entered the breakfast room with these various impressions, real and +imaginary, curiously mingled and confused, and bearing upon her own +countenance an expression of embarrassment not less surprising to her +mother, who was the first person she encountered. Twenty times she was +on the point of asking her mother whether she had walked in the garden +during the night, but as often a strange embarrassment came over her, +resulting partly from what she thought she had seen, and partly from +words dropped by the Recluse in her hearing--the whole confused, +unarranged and undigested--the latter perhaps being entirely +unrecognised by her consciousness, but still operating imperceptibly +upon her conduct. She was not a little astonished, therefore, when her +mother came directly to the point occupying her own thoughts at the +moment, saying, as she approached her, and affectionately smoothed down +the clustering ringlets upon her brow. "You slept upon your post last +night, my dear daughter? Nay--no excuses--there needs none. You wanted +rest, little less than he whom you watched." + +"I did not sleep so soundly as you imagine, my dear mother; I saw you, +methought, either sleeping or waking, and to speak truly, I scarcely +know which state I was in;" and as she spoke she cast a searching glance +at her mother, but her countenance was calm and unruffled as she +replied, "You must have been sleeping, my dear Virginia, I stooped over +you and kissed your cheek as you slept." + +"And did you not walk in the garden?" + +"Yes I did! is it possible you saw me and spoke not?" + +"I did see you, dear mother, but I was afraid to speak." + +"Afraid to speak! Oh! you were afraid of waking Nathaniel?" + +"No! no! I was frightened at the appearance of your companion in the +garden." + +"My companion in the garden! my poor child, you must indeed have +dreamed; I had no companion in the garden." + +Mr. Fairfax coming in at this moment, Virginia hastily took her chair at +the head of the table, and busily commenced her duties at the table, her +thoughts all the while occupied upon any thing else. + +"What a strange being is that Recluse," said Mr. Fairfax, with apparent +_non chalance_, "have you ever seen him, my dear?" addressing his wife. + +Virginia dropped the plate she was in the act of handing to her father +and was seized with, to her parents, the most unaccountable +embarrassment. She endeavoured to make some excuse in order, as she +supposed, to hide her mother's inevitable confusion. But the latter +calmly replied, "No, my dear, I have never seen him. I have always had +some curiosity to behold him, but now that he has proved himself such a +public benefactor, I shall not be satisfied till the wish is gratified. +Nathaniel had before excited us much by his account of him, but now I +suppose the whole city will be eager to pay him their respects." + +Virginia stared at her mother during this speech in the most undisguised +astonishment, until she saw the calm serenity of her countenance--the +expression of truth and sincerity, which had never deceived her, so +strongly portrayed there, when she was again lost in bewilderment, which +lasted throughout the meal. Her parents, however, were too much engaged +with their own subject of discourse to observe her unusual abstraction, +and the meal therefore and the dialogue came to a close without any +farther development pertaining to our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + "The eager pack from couples freed, + Dash through the bush, the briar, the brake, + While answering hound, and horn, and steed, + The mountain echoes startling wake." + _The Wild Huntsman_. + + +A few days after the events recorded in the last chapter, the denizens +of the ancient city were roused betimes by the sounds of the hunter's +horn, the echoing chorus of the eager hounds, and the neighing of the +fiery steeds, as they were led forth to the gallant pastime of the +chase. The river and overhanging hills were enveloped in an impenetrable +veil of mist, and the dew settled in a snowy cloud, upon the hair and +castors of the Cavaliers as they issued from their doors, rubbing their +eyes and preparing to mount the mettled coursers which pawed the earth +and blew thick volumes of smoke from their expanded nostrils. These +preparations for the enlivening sports of the field were not confined to +a small number of the civic youth, or to the keener sportsmen among +their elders--all the gentry of the town and colony, with few +exceptions, were assembled on the occasion. + +Sir William Berkley with his numerous guests, Gideon Fairfax, with his +fellows of the Council, the members of the House of Burgesses, now +principally occupying the hotel of the "Berkley Arms," Frank Beverly, +Philip Ludwell, Charles Dudley, with the Harrisons, the Powells, &c. all +now came curvetting into the public square, dressed in their gay hunting +jerkens and neat foraging caps, some with bugles swinging from their +shoulders, and others with firearms suspended at their backs. + +A stately gray-headed old negro, known by the cognomen of Congo, was in +command of some half score of more youthful footmen of his own colour, +in the livery of the Governor, each of whom held the leashes of a pair +of hounds. + +These, from time to time as old Congo wound a skilful blast upon his +bugle, opened a deafening chorus, which echoed through the surrounding +forests, and awakened from their slumbers the drowsy citizens of the +town. Many a damsel peeped from her lattice to catch a glimpse of the +gay Cavaliers as they wheeled into the place of rendezvous in parties of +tens and twenties, all noisy and boisterous; some with the anticipation +of the promised sports, and others from the more artificial stimulus of +a morning julep. The sound of Congo's bugle had reverberated through the +silent streets in signal blasts to the grooms of the gentry at a much +earlier hour of the morning, so that many of the high-born damsels +inhabiting the purlieus of this little court, were also on the alert. +Among these our heroine, awakened by the echoing chorus of the "hunter's +horn," was already dressed and smiling from her window, like one of her +own sweet flowers, upon the gay young Cavaliers, as they passed in +review before her. + +In an adjoining window was another inhabitant of the same mansion, +roused by the same cheering notes, but he smiled not upon the joyous +throng as they gathered around the spot occupied by Congo and his canine +favourites, nor yet upon those of the gay youths who rode up and touched +their beavers respectfully to the smiling maiden as they singly or in +pairs cantered away over the bridge in pursuit of their day's sport. It +was Bacon! his head bandaged and his countenance pale and wan from his +late illness and loss of blood. + +Nevertheless he was dressed, and as eager for the sport as any youth +among them, but exhausted nature negatived his feeble efforts and +longing aspirations, and he had seated himself at the window in sullen +disappointment. This latter feeling was in nowise subdued by the sight +of Frank Beverly, already recovered from his slight wounds, dressed in a +scarlet jerken and hunting cap, a bugle over his shoulder, and mounted +upon a noble animal apparently as eager to display his fine proportions +as his master. The thundering clatter of the chargers' heels as this +numerous cavalcade now passed in long succession over the bridge before +the gazing citizens, thus untimely awakened from their slumbers, at +length began to die away in silence, broken at intervals by the measured +tramp of an occasional party of the more staid, older and less eager +Cavaliers, pursuing the main body at a pace more suited to their age; or +by the gallop of some slumbering sluggard hastening to overtake his more +punctual comrades of the chase. Now and then a note from the bugle of +some overjoyous youth, as he entered the forest, brought a frown upon +the brow of old Congo, whose look was turned in silent appeal against +these irregular proceedings, to his master, who rode apart in earnest +conversation with Mr. Fairfax. While our sportsmen are thus joyously +moving on their way to the appointed spot, we will pursue the thread of +the dialogue between the two dignitaries just alluded to, as it had +reference to the leading personages of our story. + +"Nay, treat not my apprehensions lightly, Fairfax; is not that youth who +leans so disconsolately out of your window this morning, a proper knight +to catch the errant fancies of a girl of sixteen?" said Sir William. + +"He is indeed a right well-favoured boy," replied Mr. Fairfax, "and one +calculated to win his way to a colder heart than that of a maiden near +his own age. Was he not the means of your own preservation, Sir William, +from the knives of yonder murderous fanatics cooped up in the jail of +the city?" + +"Ay!" said his companion, drily, "I grant him to be all that you say he +is, but does not that enforce more powerfully what I have been saying? +Ought you not under such circumstances, to acquaint him with the +necessity of his finding another house than your's for his home, where +your daughter is constantly before his eyes, and what is more important, +where he is constantly before her's, not only with the attractions of +his own well-favoured person, but in the interesting character of her +father's and her uncle's preserver?" + +"If the poor youth had ever presumed upon his position in my family, to +make advances to my daughter, then indeed there might be some propriety +in the course you recommend, Sir William. But I have observed him +closely since our last conversation on this subject, and I am satisfied +that there is nothing more than fraternal affection between them." + +"It is very difficult, Fairfax, for the parties themselves to draw an +exact line, where the one kind of affection ends, and the other begins; +the gradation from mere brotherly regard to love is so very +imperceptible, that the very persons in whom it takes place are often +unconscious of it, until accident or warning from others forces it upon +their apprehension." + +"But where is the necessity of examining into these fine distinctions +now, Sir William? Where is the point of the matter." + +"To that it was my purpose to come presently, but you are always so +impetuous and sanguine, if you will permit me to say so, that I have +found it difficult to discuss this matter in your presence, with all the +coolness and deliberation which ought to attend the negotiation of an +alliance between the kinsman of his majesty's representative in the +Colony, and the daughter of his nearest relative--the heiress probably +of both their fortunes." + +"But has not the match between Virginia and Frank been a settled matter +for years?" + +"Ay, truly, Fairfax, and I am rejoiced that you remember it; but was it +not also agreed, for wise purposes, that the parties themselves should +know nothing of the contract until Frank became of age?" + +"True, and what then?" + +"That time has been passed some months." + +"Indeed!" + +"Ay, and what is more important to the happiness of the young pair, +Frank himself has moved in the business without any prompting from me. +This, you know, was what we desired, and the very end for which the +matter was kept from their knowledge." + +"He has then proposed himself to Virginia, and she has doubtless +accepted him! All right, all right, Sir William. I always told you it +would turn out just in this way. Every thing turns out for the best. You +see the advantage of leaving the young people to themselves." + +"Yes, yes, it has all turned out very happily in your sanguine +imagination; but you run away with the matter without hearing me out." + +"Did you not say it was all settled? I certainly understood you so!" + +"No, I said nothing like it. I said that my young kinsman had moved in +the business without my prompting; and I intended to say, if you had +permitted me, that he had authorized me, this day, to make a formal +tender of his hand and fortune to your daughter, through you; which I +now do." + +"Well, why did you not say so at first, Sir William, and there could +have been no trouble about the matter. Instead of that, you read me a +long lecture about the danger of harbouring handsome young fellows in my +house generally, concluding in particular, with a recapitulation of the +various debts of gratitude due from me and my family, and yourself, to +poor Bacon. But as far as I am concerned, I give my hearty consent to +the proposed union, and you may so assure Frank from me, and tell him +that he has nothing more to do, but to appear as every way worthy in the +eyes of Virginia as he does in mine." + +"There, you see, you are coming in your own immethodical and precipitate +way, to the very point with which I set out. I was merely hazarding a +few observations upon the various prepossessing qualities of your +protegée, and expressing some fears of the intercourse subsisting +between him and your daughter, with a view to put you on your guard at +once. This was not done with a view to read you a lecture, as you are +pleased to say, but from the best grounded apprehensions that things +were not proceeding well for our scheme." + +"Is there any ground for the fears you mention?" + +"There is, Fairfax! Lady Berkley has often of late mentioned her +apprehensions to me, that there is a growing and mutual attachment +between your ward and your daughter. Frank has observed the same thing, +and indeed the very proposals I have just had the honour of making to +you, have probably resulted from a desire on his part to bring the +matter to an eclaircissement at once." + +"I will speak to Virginia and her mother on the subject, and my word for +it, my daughter will show you that she knows what is due to her birth +and standing in society. But as to turning Nathaniel out of my house! I +could as soon turn Virginia herself out. Poor boy, he has a farm of his +own, it is true, but my house has always been a home to him, and it +always shall be, as long as he continues worthy, and I continue the head +of it." + +"Ay, that farm! There was another ill-advised piece of generosity; not +content with bringing up a foundling like your own son, you must +purchase him a farm and stock it." + +"Indeed, Governor, you give me credit for much more generosity than I +have exercised. _I_ purchased him no farm, or if I did, it was merely +as his agent and guardian. He furnished the means himself." + +"That was very strange! Very strange indeed, that a youth without +occupation, and without any visible fortune, should purchase and stock +one of the most valuable plantations in the colony." + +As they arrived at this point in their discourse, they had ascended to +the top of one of the highest hills within many miles of the city. Here +they found the sportsmen who had preceded them, closely grouped +together, and all talking at once, while Old Cong, (as he was familiarly +called by the youths,) was engaged in slipping the leashes. One pair +after another of the fleet animals snuffed the air for a moment, and +then bounded down the slope of the hill, carrying their noses close to +the earth, and eagerly questing backward and forward through the +shrubbery; sometimes retracing their steps to the very point from which +they started. + +At length one of the foremost of the pack opened a shrill note as he +ran, indicative to the uninitiated, only of eagerness and impatience in +the pursuit of the game, but Old Congo's experienced eye instantly +brightened up, as with head erect, he uttered a sharp shrill whoop, and +mounting his fleet courser, he shot down the hill with the fleetness of +the wind, making the woods echo with his merry _hip halloo_, as he +cheered them on. By this time the pack were following the leader in the +devious trail on which he was now warm; the whole chorus sometimes +opening in joyous and eager concert as they came upon the scent, just +from the impress of sly Reynard's feet, and then again relapsing into +silence. These intervals in the cheerful cry announced the doubt which +as yet existed, whether the trail upon which they had struck was any +thing more than the devious windings made by the game on emerging from +his den, for the purpose, as the negroes stoutly affirmed, of throwing +his pursuers out. It seemed indeed as if such had been the intention of +the cunning animal, for a plan of the intricate mazes which the pack +were threading, if laid down upon paper, would very much resemble a +complicated problem in Euclid, or the track of a ship upon a voyage of +discovery in unknown seas. Meanwhile Old Congo was in the thickest of +them; now cursing one refractory member, and again cheering a favourite. +The Cavaliers stood in groups--one foot in the stirrup and a hand on the +pummel of the saddle, or smoothing down the curling mane of their +impatient chargers. At length the problem was solved, and the hounds +were seen coursing in a circle round the brow of the hill, a continuous +yelp from the leader, and an answering chorus from the pack, announcing +to the waiting gentry, that the game was up. They instantly mounted, and +were presently flying over the uneven ground at a speed and with a +reckless, yet skilful horsemanship, which bade defiance to all the +perils of the chase. Here one lost his cap by the limb of a tree; there +another measured his length upon the ground by the stumble of his +charger; the main party speeding apace, regardless of all, save the fox +and his pursuers. + +The chase, like misfortune, is a wonderful leveller of distinctions. +Foremost in the field were the proud Sir William and the keener Fairfax; +one upon either side of Congo, whooping and yelling in unison, and all +distinctions forgotten for the moment, but the speed and bottom of their +coursers; the countenances of the three alike expressive of concentrated +eagerness in the sport. To a spectator on the summit of the hill, the +scene was not wanting in picturesque and striking features. The sun was +just peeping over the blue hills, and lifting the vapours from the +valleys beneath, in all the variegated and beauteous tints of the +rainbow, as they arose in majestic masses and encircled the summits of +the cliffs. The cool and invigorating breeze of a young summer morn, as +it was wafted through the romantic dales and glens, came loaded with the +richest sweets of forest and of flower. And when the music of the hounds +was softened in the distance to a faint harmonious swell upon the air, +the feathered tribes, luxuriant in beauty, warbled forth their richest +strains of nature's melody as they hopped from twig to twig, flashing +their brilliant colours in dazzling contrast to the pendant dew-drops +glittering in the sunbeams. On the other hand the rays fell in broad +sheets of light upon the tranquil waters of the noble Powhatan, as seen +through the deep green foliage of the woodland vista. The city too was +dimly visible in the distance, its towering columns of smoke shooting +high up towards heaven through the clear calm air, and expanding into +fleecy waves as they were lost or scattered in the higher regions of the +atmosphere. These morning glories of a southern sunrise were, however, +lost upon our sportsmen, who now came sweeping round the base of the +hill from the opposite side, the horses covered with foam, and riders +making the welkin ring again with their shouts of gladness and +excitement. The dignity of station and of birth, affairs of state, and +all other considerations foreign to the business of the time, were +utterly forgotten and abandoned, while their late proud possessors vied +with the youngest and the humblest in seizing the pleasures of the +chase. The horses seemed in the distance as if their bodies were moving +through the air, a foot and a half nearer the ground than they were +wont, their legs nearly invisible; while their riders bent over their +necks as if impatient even of this headlong speed. + +Hitherto the hounds as usual, when in pursuit of the fox, had moved in +the figure of a rude circle, never departing to any great distance from +the point whence they had started, but moving round and round the hill; +and there was every appearance that the chase would be thus continued +until the game was either fairly run down, or had gained the shelter of +his hole. + +In the present instance, however, an unexpected reprieve was granted to +the hard pressed animal. The dogs, as they came round the brow of the +hill for the third or fourth time, struck off abruptly from their +regular circuit; the foremost chargers were reined up and in a short +time the whole cavalcade was brought to a stand at the point where the +dogs had quitted the track. + +The cause of this interruption to the sport was readily understood by +the experienced Cavaliers. A buck had crossed between the dogs and the +fox, and the former, contrary to their usual discipline and stanchness, +broke off to follow the newest scent. Many were the imprecations hurled +at the head of Old Congo and his deputies for this misconduct of their +charge, the consequence, as was affirmed, of their having been set upon +the trail of a buck on the previous Sabbath. It was now, however, too +late to remedy the evil, as Congo's bugle itself was not sufficient to +recall the eager pack. + +Firearms were immediately unslung from the shoulders of such as bore +them, and Mr. Fairfax, as the keenest sportsman, leading the way, nearly +half of the youths were quickly seen following him up the opposite hill. +Sir William Berkley and such of the company as had already been worn +out, retraced their steps to the picturesque point from which they had +set out, and which has already been described. + +Here some of the footmen, retained for the purpose, speedily +constructed a rude table under an umbrageous tree, upon which was laid +out a tempting display of cold viands, wines and strong waters. Horses +were now tied to the surrounding trees, and their riders threw +themselves upon the sward to repose their wearied limbs, and regale +their longing eyes upon the good things which only awaited the return of +their comrades. This delay seemed likely, however, to prove rather +tedious to the longing appetites of the former, who had not as yet +broken their fast. + +Full two hours had elapsed, and yet no token came of hounds or huntsmen. +The patience even of the formal and ceremonious Sir William began to +flag, and he forthwith ordered the bugles to sound a recall from the +highest spot in the neighbourhood. In vain the reverberating blasts +reëchoed from hill to hill, and from river to cliff; in vain they, +paused to listen for the music of the hounds or an answering signal from +the keener sportsmen. After repeated trials the patience of the Governor +gave way, and having set apart a share of the provision for their +comrades, they fell upon the tempting display with knife and dagger. +Cups of horn, and silver flagons were speedily, produced, and in a short +time their absent compeers were almost forgotten in the general +destruction of cold capons, tongue and ham. + +Towards the conclusion of the repast, the absent sportsmen began to drop +in singly and at intervals. The bridles of their foaming horses were +thrown to the grooms, and they fell upon the wine and fowls like +famished soldiers, after a long day's march. Then came a panting hound, +crouching beneath the legs of a horse, with his tongue hanging from his +mouth; then another, and another, until they had all obeyed the summons +of the bugle. + +None of the huntsmen who had returned as yet, had been in at the death; +but it was supposed that Mr. Fairfax, the only one now missing, had been +more fortunate, as the hounds that came in last were covered with blood. +He was momentarily expected, but they listened in vain for the sound of +his horn. Old Congo was despatched over the hills to summon him with his +bugle, but he likewise returned without any tidings of the absent +Cavalier, and without having heard any answering notes to those of his +own horn. Hours were spent in waiting for him, at first occupied by the +younger Cavaliers in various games and athletic sports, but as the day +waned apace, and still no news of him arrived, uneasiness began to +engross the minds of his associates. + +By the orders of the Governor, the whole Cavalcade spread themselves, +and scoured the forests for miles in the direction he had been seen to +take, but no answer was returned to their shouts and bugles, and no +token of his presence and safety was discovered. Occasionally two +parties were brought together by a supposed answer from his bugle, but +it was found to be only the reply of one scouring party to another. + +After a long and fruitless search, they resolved to hasten to the city, +in hopes that he had reached his home by some other route, and in case +this supposition should prove fallacious it was resolved that the whole +male population should be called out to the search. The distance was +accomplished with a speed and recklessness quite equal to that with +which they had performed it in the morning, but with feelings very +different. A general and gloomy silence pervaded their ranks. Gideon +Fairfax was one of the most universally popular Cavaliers in the Colony; +he was generous, hospitable, and sincere, with his equals, and humane +and affable to his inferiors. His own slaves idolized him, and would +have readily perilled life and limb in defence either of his person or +his reputation. + +When, the cavalcade arrived at the bridge, their painful suspense and +anxiety were little relieved by perceiving an immense crowd assembled +round the house of Mr. Fairfax. That some accident must have befallen +him they had too good reason now to apprehend, else what could have +drawn the multitude together? The arrival of a successful huntsman, was +an affair of too frequent occurrence at Jamestown to excite the present +visible commotion. The returning and anxious Cavaliers were soon met by +the eager throng, who pressed around them in crowds, each party +demanding of the other news respecting their absent fellow-citizen. + +The assemblage of the crowd around the house was soon explained by the +appearance of his favourite charger, upon which he had set out in the +morning, so full of health, vigour and animation. He was held in the +midst of the assemblage, his head-gear broken, the saddle bloody, and +his sides dripping with mud and water, as if he had just crossed through +the river. In this condition he had presented himself at the stable door +where he was usually kept, without his rider, and this was all they knew +in the city concerning the fate of the missing horseman. This was enough +to excite the most distracting fears in the minds of his own family, and +the worst apprehensions, in those of his immediate friends and more +humble admirers. + +Horses and men were speedily volunteered for the purpose of scouring the +whole forest in the direction of the chase. Many of the Cavaliers barely +dismounted from one horse to mount another; and in a very few minutes, +hundreds of citizens, some on horseback and others on foot, had +assembled. While they were thus speedily collecting their forces, a +scream from some washerwomen on the bank of the river, quickly drew the +crowd in that direction. Men, women and children rushed to the spot with +feelings of anxiety and alarm, wrought to the highest pitch. They were +not left long in doubt, for a boat was just nearing the shore, in which +were two men rowing, while another supported upon his lap the head of +the still living but wounded Cavalier. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Mr. Fairfax was borne to his own dwelling upon a litter, amidst the +universal regrets and lamentations of the people. The condition of his +own immediate family may be more easily imagined than described. The +most heart-rending shrieks pierced the air when it was announced to the +female part of it that the amiable and generous head of their house had +been basely shot,--by whom he knew not, nor could he form a conjecture. +The deed was perpetrated a few moments after he had himself shot the +buck. He immediately fell from his horse and was for a time perfectly +unconscious of his condition. When he revived he found his horse gone +and himself so weakened from loss of blood that he was unable to stand. +His only resource was his trumpet, upon which he made repeated efforts +to summon his companions, but even the sound of his horn was so feeble +that it could not have been heard more than a few rods from the spot. +While he was in this helpless condition he chanced to discover three men +fishing at the base of the river bank, whom he attempted to summon to +his aid, but the sound of the water prevented them from hearing him. +With great difficulty and suffering he was at length enabled to crawl +down the hill to such a distance that he might be heard, and was thence +borne to the city in their boat, as the reader has already been +informed. + +The surgeon, after examining his wound, pronounced it to be of the most +alarming character, and assured Bacon, apart from the family that he had +little hopes for the life of his patron, who after the exhaustion of his +painful journey and the succeeding intense pain caused by the probing of +his wounds had fallen into a deep sleep. + +Sometime during the morning which has been described in the preceding +chapter, and while the hunting party were yet enjoying themselves +undisturbed by any untoward accident, Bacon had invited Virginia to +accompany him in his first stroll through the garden since his illness. +She complied with more alacrity than had been usual with her of late, +hoping that the refreshing sweets of a summer morning and the cheering +sight of birds and flowers, would dispel the gloomy misanthropy which +had settled upon his countenance since his disappointment at not being +able to join the chase. + +After a silent promenade through the shady walks, they seated themselves +in the little summer house already mentioned, and Bacon thus broke the +embarrassing silence. + +"Virginia, the current of events seems to be hurrying us on to a painful +crisis! It is impossible for me to shut my eyes to such of them at +least, as relate more particularly to myself. My position in the +society in which I now move, is daily becoming more painful to me. I am +constantly subjected to the impertinence of those who imagine that they +have, or perhaps really have, some reason to complain of the protection +and countenance afforded to me by your noble father." + +"Trust then, Nathaniel, to his and our continued confidence and esteem, +and less to the morbid sensibility which disturbs you, and all will soon +be well again." + +"Not so, Virginia. If we were in a little community by ourselves, I +could indeed give my whole mind and soul to such enjoyments as the +society of your family has already afforded to me, forgetting all the +world besides, and never listening for a moment to ambitious hopes and +aspiring thoughts. But in this proud and aristocratic circle, I must +soon be either more or less than I am at present." + +"Why must you be more or less than you are, Nathaniel?" said Virginia, +with unaffected and bewitching _naivete_. + +"Is it possible, Virginia, that you do not see the reason why? Have you +witnessed the fierce struggles contending at my heart and never formed a +surmise as to the real cause?" + +"Except the morbid sensitiveness to which I have already alluded, and +its very insufficient cause, I declare that I know of none." + +"Is it possible. Good Heavens! and must I at last break through the +restraints which I had imposed upon myself? Must I trample upon the +generous hospitality of the father to lay my heart open before his +daughter?" Her countenance underwent an instantaneous change, and while +he continued, her eyes fell beneath his ardent gaze, and her head sank +upon her bosom in confusion. + +"I will indeed trust to the flattering delusion which hope whispers in +my ear, that perhaps your father himself knows enough of me and of my +origin to absolve me from these restraints. It must be so, +Virginia--else he had never trusted a heart, young and susceptible like +mine, to the constant influence of beauty like yours," and he took her +unresisting hand, "joined with such perfect innocence and such childlike +simplicity as never till this moment to be conscious of its power. Oh, +Virginia, I would fain believe, that he foresaw and approved of the +result which he could not but anticipate. What he approves will his +daughter's voice confirm?--No answer! Will you not vouchsafe one little +word to keep my sinking hopes alive!--You are offended; your countenance +speaks the language which your tongue is unaccustomed to utter!" + +"What should I say?" answered Virginia; "would you have me promise a +return of love whose indulgence is dependent on contingency? Is it kind, +is it proper to urge me upon this subject under existing circumstances?" + +"By heavens, Virginia, there shall be no contingency of my making! I +have crossed the Rubicon, and you shall have the knowledge as you have +had possession of my whole soul from the days of our infancy. 'Tis +yours, Virginia, wholly yours; soul, mind and heart, all yours. Mould +them as you will, reject me if you must, they are still yours. I swear +never to profane the shrine of this first and only love by offering them +up on any other. They are offered now, because my destiny so wills it. +We are the creatures of circumstances. I have vainly struggled against +the overwhelming tide which has borne me to this point. I am goaded +onward by insult--beset with menaces, and torn by the storms of such a +passion as never man before encountered. Can you, dear Virginia, +vouchsafe to me some measure of relief from these distracting emotions? +Say that you would have been mine under other circumstances! Say that +you will never wed that proud and imperious Beverly! Say any thing, +Virginia, which shall calm the tumults of my bosom, and feed my hopes +for the future." While he thus spoke, the blushing maiden was evidently +labouring under emotions little less powerful than his own. Her previous +air of offended feminine dignity was fast melting into sympathy, with +the impassioned feelings of the excited youth. She felt for his peculiar +griefs and cares, and shared his warmer sentiments. The youth perceived +the softening mood, and continued. + +"Speak, I pray you, Virginia, I am in your hands. Speak me into +existence, or banish me from your presence!" + +"I do not know, Nathaniel," said Virginia, after many attempts to give +utterance to her thoughts, "whether it is proper at all times to speak +the truth, but I will not deceive you now. There does indeed seem to be +a peculiar concurrence of circumstances around us, and more perhaps than +you are yourself aware of. I did not intend to deceive you, or lead you +astray; when I told you a few moments since that I knew nothing of any +other struggle than that arising from your own excited feelings, I spoke +the truth, but perhaps not the entire truth;" and as she spoke, a lovely +blush suffused her neck and downcast face; "I knew of other struggles +indeed, but not your's, Nathaniel." + +"Were they yours, Virginia, and of the same nature? say they were, and +heaven bless for ever the tongue that utters it." + +"That you have to ask, does more honour to my discretion, than I have +ascribed to it myself of late. I have had painful fears that I should +have little to tell on an occasion like the present, should it ever +come, with my father's approbation. And if I have now overstepped the +bounds of that proviso, it was in the hope of calming your troubled +spirits, and preventing a catastrophe upon which I have looked with +dreadful anticipation, since the night of the insurrection." + +"And will you indeed be mine?" + +"I will, Nathaniel, whenever you gain my father's approbation; but +without it, never." + +At this moment the garden gate was heard to creak upon its hinges, (most +unmusically to Bacon's ears,) and Harriet Harrison came tripping over +beds and flowers, all out of breath, her cheeks glowing with the +heightened colour of exercise, and her eyes sparkling with mischief just +ready to explode. + +"Oh, Virginia! Virginia! such news!" was her first exclamation; "But +shall I tell it before Mr. Bacon?" + +"Yes, if it is of the usual kind." + +"Well, upon your own head be the consequences. I have accidentally +overheard such a secret! You must know that your Aunt Berkley has been +at our house this morning, and I overheard her tell my mother that there +was to be a great wedding immediately, and that I was to be one of the +brides-maids. What! no tell-tale guilty blush? Well, who do you think is +to be the bride-groom, and who the bride?" + +"Indeed, Harriet, I cannot even guess." + +"The blissful man, then is Beverly--but can you name his bride?" + +"I should not go far hence for an answer, if you had not announced your +nomination for a secondary office." + +"O fie, fie, Virginia, I did not think you could play the hypocrite so +well. I will tell you who it is then, but you must not breathe it even +to the winds, nor you, Mr. Bacon. It is a sly arch little damsel, about +your age and figure; by name Virginia Fairfax!" And with, these words, +she burst into a loud laugh, pointing to her companion with her finger, +and then tripped away again towards the gate without waiting to see the +effect of her communication; but stopping with the gate in her hand, she +cried--"But remember, Virginia, Charles Dudley is not to stand up with +me; we don't speak now." And then she flew away, her hat hanging by the +riband round her neck, and her raven ringlets flying loose around her +temples. Virginia sat as one without life or motion, her face deadly +pale, and her eye preternaturally clear and glassy, but without a tear. +Her respiration was hurried and oppressed, and her countenance +expressive of high and noble resolves in the midst of the keenest mental +suffering. She knew whence her aunt obtained her information, and in its +communication to others in the confidence of the Governor, before she +had been consulted, she saw the tyrannical determination of that +arbitrary old man to consummate this hated union without the least +regard to her wishes or her feelings. + +As these convictions flashed upon her mind, they called up firm and +resolute determinations, even in her gentle bosom! she was stung into +resistance by the tyrannical and high handed measures of her uncle, and +resolved to resist upon the threshold. Bacon's physical frame was not so +steady, or his nerves in his present mood so well strung by high +resolves of independent action. He too saw by whom the blow was aimed, +and upon whose head it would principally fall, and he trembled for the +consequences to his gentle companion. He did not know the strength of +her independent mind, and the endurance and fortitude with which she +would carry her purposes into execution. He knew her to be gentle and +kind and superlatively lovely, but as yet she had endured no +trials,--her courage and fortitude had been put to no test. The very +amiable qualities which had won his affections, served only to increase +his doubts as to her capacity to resist and endure what he too plainly +saw awaited her. He had yet to learn that these are almost always found +united in the female bosom with a signal power of steady and calm +resistance to oppression. To this resolution had Virginia arrived, when +his more turbulent and masculine emotions burst from his tongue as he +seized her hand, "Swear to me, Virginia, before high Heaven, that you +will never marry this proud heir of wealth, and worldly honours." + +"Upon one Condition." + +"Name it! if it is possible, it is done!" + +"That you from this moment give up all idea of a meeting with Frank +Beverly, which I know has only thus long been delayed by your wounds and +illness." He dropped her hand and writhed upon his seat in agony--the +cold perspiration bursting from his pale forehead, as he covered it +with his hands. But presently standing up he exclaimed, "Great God! and +can you ask this of me, Virginia? Is my honour of so little value to +you, that you can ask me to betray it? You heard the insult! You saw the +dagger aimed in the dark! Ay, and saw it strike upon a bare and wounded +nerve! Shall I not resist? Is an assassin to thrust the point of his +steel into the very apple of my eye, and meet with no resistance? +Instinct itself would strike back the cowardly blow. Another might +forego the measure of his revenge for an ordinary insult, but placed as +I am, an elevated mark for impertinence and malignity to shoot at, with +nothing but my single arm to defend me; no line of noble and heroic +ancestors to support my pretensions, and my rank in the community; no +living relations to give the lie to his calumnies! Standing alone amidst +a host of powerful enemies, shall I be stricken down by a cowardly +maligner, and never turn to strike one blow for my good name, my +mother's honour, my father's memory, and my own standing in society? No, +no, Virginia; you cannot, you will not, require me to promise this. One +evidence I must and will give to the calumniator, that I come of no +churl's blood." + +"But, Nathaniel, did you not resent and thus return his injury upon the +spot?" + +"Ay, truly, I did hurl defiance in the craven's teeth, but that only +throws the demand for satisfaction upon his shoulders, so that when it +is made, I may at once atone for his, and take ample reparation for my +own deep wrongs." + +"Promise me, then, that you will but act with Frank henceforth on the +defensive? Remember he is my kinsman." + +"I do promise; and now promise me in your turn never to marry this +kinsman, unless I give my consent, or you should be absolved from your +obligation by my death, or some other irremediable barrier." + +"I promise, Nathaniel." + +Scarcely had the words issued from her lips, when the clanking of +stirrups and clattering of a horse's hoofs at full speed, were heard +outside the garden wall. + +Into what a state of consternation and dismay the family was thrown by +the appearance of the bloody and panting charger at his stable door +without his master, the reader may already have imagined. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It was the hour of midnight; the softened rays of a shaded lamp threw a +flickering and uncertain light upon the paraphernalia of the sick +chamber, as our hero sat a solitary watcher at the side of the wounded +Cavalier. The long and apparently profound sleep into which the invalid +had fallen, completely deceived the females of the family, so that they +were more easily persuaded by Nathaniel to leave the charge, during the +first half of the night, to his sole care. He had for a long time sat a +sad and silent beholder of the unconscious sleeper, watching with +breathless eagerness every change of muscle, as some sharp and inward +pain vibrated in horrible contortions upon the countenance of the +wounded Cavalier. In one of these he started suddenly up in the bed, his +eyes glaring wildly upon his unrecognised attendant in utter amazement. +First looking into his face and then to the bandages around his own +person, he fell back on his couch--a grim and frightful smile of +remembrance and recognition playing for a moment upon his features, as +he placed his cold hand within that of Bacon, which had been softly laid +upon his breast to soothe his startled perceptions. + +"Nathaniel," said he, his voice already hollow and thrilling, "My hour +is come! It is useless to disguise it. I feel and know it to be so, +whatever the surgeon may pretend. You need not place your finger upon +your lip; I owe to you a duty which I must perform while yet I may. You +have often importuned me, and sometimes impatiently, which I did not +enough, perhaps, consider to be natural to your situation, but you must +forgive me--you have often importuned me upon the subject of your +origin. If I had possessed any full or satisfactory knowledge on the +subject, you may be sure I would not long have detained it from you. +Indeed, I was little less anxious than yourself to place you upon an +equal footing in every respect with your associates." Here a smile of +inward satisfaction beamed upon his auditor's countenance, unobserved, +however, by the speaker, as he continued: "There were some reasons too, +connected with the history of my own family, which prevented me from +divulging what little I did know of your's. If I have erred, for this +too you must forgive me. The wrong shall now be repaired. You have now +been a member of my household for fifteen or sixteen years. + +"One cold and rainy day our sympathies were excited, by seeing an +athletic young Irishman in the street, near our door, carrying upon his +back a well dressed boy, apparently six or seven years of age. The child +was crying most piteously with cold and hunger. We called in the +Irishman, and after furnishing him and his little charge with food, +inquired whose child it was, and whither he was taking it. He answered, +in his own expressive language, that he did not know to whom the child +belonged, nor whither he was taking it. That it had been a fellow +passenger with him across the ocean, until they were shipwrecked at the +mouth of the river, outside of the Capes. That a woman who had two boys +near the same age, either of her own, or under her protection, he did +not know which, had most earnestly prayed him to take one of them upon +his back, as he was preparing to swim to the beach. He did so, and +succeeded in landing with his charge in perfect safety. What became of +the woman and the other child he never knew, as shortly after the waves +broke over the vessel, and she went to pieces. Many of the passengers +and crew, however, had been saved and were scattered about through the +neighbouring plantations, driven to seek employment by the urgency of +their immediate wants. Whether the woman and the child were among the +number he could not learn, as those who were saved had necessarily +landed at distant points upon the shore. He brought the child to +Jamestown in hopes that it would be recognised, and if not, that some +humane person would take charge of it. His hopes had thus far proved +fruitless, as to the first expectation, but we undertook cheerfully the +latter task, and likewise gave employment to the kind-hearted Hibernian. +I caused it to be made as generally known through the Colony, as our +limited means of communication would permit, that such a child was in +our possession, particularly describing his person and clothes, but all +in vain. I also caused search to be made for the woman with the other +child, through the southern plantations, but no tidings of them were +ever heard, and we naturally concluded that they had gone down with the +vessel. + +"Some months after the little stranger had been thus domiciliated among +us, I one day received an anonymous letter, which stated that the writer +knew who were the parents of the child, but for important reasons of a +political nature, he could not then divulge their names or history. He +stated so many circumstances connected with the shipwreck, and described +so exactly the child, that we were compelled to believe him. This letter +was followed by others at various intervals, from that time to the +present, often enclosing drafts for large sums to be drawn for in +England, for the benefit of the child. I need scarcely tell you that the +child was yourself--and your preserver, Brian O'Reily. The name by which +you are called is the nearest that we could come to that by which, both +yourself and Brian stated, you were known on board the vessel. The money +enclosed for your benefit, has been suffered to accumulate until the +late purchase of the plantation at the falls, of which you are now in +possession. Around your neck, at the time of your arrival, was a small +trinket, enclosing the hair of two individuals, curiously interwoven, +and on its outside were some initials corresponding with your own name, +and the date of a marriage. This, together with the letters I have +mentioned, you will find in the left hand drawer of the secretary which +stands in the corner of my library. After opening the outside door, you +will perceive the key hanging beside the drawer. These letters were +never shown, nor the contents mentioned to my wife, for a reason which I +am now about to explain to you, if my strength will permit, and which +will also unfold to you the cause of my reluctance to communicate with +you on this subject. + +"When I first saw Emily in England, she was a young and beautiful widow. +Early in life a mutual attachment was formed between her and the son of +a neighbouring gentleman, in rather more humble circumstances than the +father of my Emily. In consequence of this disparity in the fortunes and +standing of the two families, their attachment was kept a profound +secret between themselves, until the youth having joined the army of the +Commonwealth, they eloped. This was their last and only resort, because +her father was as determined a Loyalist as his was indefatigable in the +cause of the Independents and Roundheads. For two whole years she +followed the perilous fortunes of her husband, now become a +distinguished officer, during which time she gave birth to a son. For a +season she resided with her infant at a retired farm-house, in a distant +part of the country from the scene of strife; but her husband becoming +impatient of her absence, directed her to procure a nurse for her boy +and again partake of his hazardous fortunes. Her child was accordingly +left in the charge of the nurse, and she set out to join her husband. On +the eve of meeting him, as she supposed, she was met by the news of a +desperate engagement, in which the party opposed to her husband had been +victorious, and very shortly afterward, she was herself, with her +attendants, overtaken in the highway, and captured by a party commanded +by one of her own brothers. He immediately sent her under a strong +escort to her father's house, not however before she had time to learn +from some of the prisoners taken in the engagement, the heart-rending +news of the death of her husband. She gained these sad tidings from one +of his comrades, who saw him receive the wound and fall at his side. + +"She found her father so exasperated against her that she dared not even +mention to him or her brothers the existence of her child, lest they +should take some desperate means to separate them for ever. For a time, +therefore, she contented herself with such clandestine communications +with her nurse as the perilous nature of the times permitted. At length, +the sum of her afflictions was consummated by the death of her infant, +the account of which was brought to her by the nurse in person. + +"When I first saw her, these many and severe misfortunes had been +somewhat softened down in the lapse of years. She was still a melancholy +being, however, but I belonging to her father's party, and being of a +gay and volatile turn of mind, and much pleased with her beauty and +amiable temperament, offered to bring her out to America as my wife, +whither the success of the Protector's arms was then driving so many of +the Nobles and Cavaliers of England, and where I already had a sister +married to the then late, and now present Governor of Virginia. After +candidly stating all the foregoing circumstances, she agreed to accept +my hand. And we were accordingly married and sailed for the Capes of +Virginia. You will perceive, upon a perusal of the anonymous letters, +that the writer displays a most intimate knowledge of all the foregoing +particulars of our family history. The design, as you will doubtless +perceive, was to operate upon our superstitious feelings, by this +mysterious display of knowledge, in matters so carefully guarded from +the world. This was not at all necessary, because we had already +adopted, and treated you as one of our own family. Nevertheless he +partially succeeded with me. I confess to you that it has always +appeared to me one of the strangest circumstances that ever came under +my knowledge, that any living person should be acquainted with the facts +contained in those letters. I have made the most strenuous and unceasing +efforts to discover their author, by means of the European drafts, but +all to no purpose. You will now readily comprehend the reason, why I did +not communicate with Emily on this subject. It would only have been +opening old wounds afresh, and would probably have excited her more +sensitive feelings to a painful state of anxiety and, suspense. The same +reasons which influenced my conduct in this respect, will doubtless +operate upon your own judgment when I am gone. In the same drawer is a +will, by which you will perceive, when it is properly authenticated, +that I have left to you, in conjunction with others, the most sacred of +all human trusts. You will find yourself associated in the management of +my affairs, with persons whom I knew at the time to be uncongenial with +you in your general feelings, but upon this one subject you will all be +influenced by one desire. Governor Berkley and Mr. Harrison will never +thwart you in the active management, which I have left principally in +trust to you. + +"I have now rapidly sketched what you will better understand from the +papers themselves, and I have finished none too soon, as I am admonished +by the return of these cutting pains." + +After another agonizing paroxysm, he fell again into one of those +death-like slumbers, which often fill up the intervals of suffering +after a mortal wound. + +When Bacon perceived that he slept profoundly, he at once gave way to +the restless anxiety to see the papers, by which he was consumed. +Eagerly, but softly, he sought the library, opened the doors of the high +old fashioned black walnut secretary, with its Lion's claws for feet, +and his grisly beard and shining teeth, conspicuous from every brass +ornament with which it was adorned.[4] + +[Footnote 4: Some idea of the rude state of the mechanic arts of the +period may be formed by those who have seen the antiquated chair, in +which the speaker of the Virginia house of delegates sits to this day. +There are many specimens too of ancient furniture still preserved in the +older Counties of Virginia.] + +He returned to his post and opened the package of papers with a +trembling anxiety, and intense interest, similar to what one might be +supposed to feel who was about to unseal the book of fate. + +He had no sooner cast his eye upon the handwriting, than the package +fell from his grasp in the most evident disappointment. Until this +moment he had indulged a vague undefined hope that from a single glance +at the characters, he should at once possess a clue to unravel the whole +mystery. His mind had instantly settled upon one peculiar and remarkable +individual in the Colony, as the only one likely to possess such +knowledge, and from the interest which that person had always manifested +in his fate, he had almost persuaded himself that he would prove to be +the writer. With his handwriting and the peculiarly dignified and +stately character of his language, he had long been familiar. The first +few lines over which his eye glanced rapidly and eagerly, convinced him +of his error; neither the characters nor the language were his. +Nevertheless they possessed sufficient interest, after the momentary +disappointment had passed away, to induce him to grasp them again and +once more commence their perusal. In this occupation he was soon so +completely absorbed as to be unconscious of the time which elapsed, the +situation and circumstances in which he was placed as regarded himself, +as well as the wounded Cavalier, who lay in the same apartment. In +unfolding one of the papers he came upon the gold trinket mentioned by +his benefactor. Here again was a new subject of intense interest. +"This," said he to himself, "was worn by my mother and was placed around +my neck at our last parting." Here was a fragment of her tresses +precisely similar in character and colour to his own, interwoven with +the darker shades of those of his father. Here too was the date of their +marriage and the initials of their names agreeing sufficiently well with +his own supposed age. These were all subjects of earnest contemplation +to the excited imagination of a youth rendered morbidly sensitive on the +subject of his birth and parentage, by many painful occurrences with his +aristocratic young associates, and still more by recent developments +with the idol of his affections. The trinket was laid down and the +manuscript resumed, of whose contents as much as is important to our +narrative has already been communicated to the reader. The characters in +which it was written, were successively compared in his mind to those of +every person in the Colony who handled the pen. In that day it was not +hard to remember who they were from their great number, chirography +having been an art with which the Cavaliers were less familiar than with +the use of the small and broad sword. Not a scribe in the country wrote +in characters similar to the one he held in his hand, so far as he could +recollect. He thought they resembled those of Governor Berkley more than +of any other, yet that sturdy old knight had invariably frowned so much +on his attempts to assume the place and standing in society to which his +education and intelligence entitled him, that he could not believe him +concerned in benefiting him, even as an agent. + +The Recluse was the only individual upon whom his mind could rest as the +probable author, notwithstanding the variance of the writing. Yet +against this conclusion there were many powerful arguments. The first +that suggested itself to his mind was the money. Could he command such +large sums? And if he could, was it possible with his known habits and +peculiarities, not to mention his occasional aberration, to arrange +complicated pecuniary affairs in Europe? Then again, if he was the +writer, why were these communications continued after he had himself +arrived at years of discretion? Every reason seemed to favour the idea +that he himself would have been chosen as the depository of these +communications, had the Recluse been the man, especially when he +reflected that he was at that very time possessed of more of his +confidence than any other person in the Colony. The papers were perused +and re-perused, and the locket turned over and over listlessly in his +fingers, while a shade of deep sadness and disappointment settled upon +his countenance. + +From this unpleasing revery he was suddenly aroused by the groans of the +wounded sufferer, who now awoke in the greatest agony. When Bacon came +to his bed-side a melancholy change was visible in his countenance. He +was making his last struggle with the grim monster. He was however +enabled to express a desire that his family should be called, but when +they arrived, he could not give utterance to his ideas. He took first +the hand of his wife, and next that of his daughter, and successively +resigned them into those of his young executor. This, under the existing +circumstances of the moment, attracted no particular attention, but was +the subject of many an after-thought and remark. A few convulsive +struggles followed, and then the generous and noble spirit of the +Cavalier deserted its prison house. + +We will not attempt to describe the heart-rending scene which ensued. +Suffice it to say, that after a decent and respectful delay, (far more +than is allowed in our day,) the much loved and much lamented Mr. +Fairfax was borne to the grave, amidst the lamentations and regrets of +the whole assembled gentry of the Colony. The long line of mournful +pageantry moved in slow and melancholy steps to the sound of a solemn +dirge through the streets of the ancient city, and after the usual sad, +but appropriate rites of the established church, the corpse was +deposited in the burying ground, which to this day preserves the +crumbling ruins of many monuments of the ancient Cavaliers. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +It was some weeks after the funeral of Gideon Fairfax, that Bacon, +attracted by the genial warmth of a summer day, sauntered out for the +first time, in company with his friend Dudley, to seek the usual +_rendezvous_ of the young Cavaliers. Scarcely were they seated in the +Tap of the "Arms," before Philip Ludwell hastily entered, touched his +castor formally to Bacon and Dudley, and handed to the former a note, +fastened with a silken cord, and sealed with the arms of the House of +Berkley. Bacon cut the cord and read the note, without changing +countenance, and then handed it to Dudley, who had no sooner perused its +contents, than they both arose, retired to a private room, and called +for pen, ink and paper. The latter soon returned with an answer, sealed +in like manner, and handed it to Ludwell, who again formally bowing +retired. The first ran thus: + + Jamestown, June --, 16--. + To Nathaniel Bacon, Esq. + + SIR--I seize the first moment of your appearance in public, + restored to health, to demand the satisfaction due for the + grievous insult put upon me, on the night of the Anniversary + Celebration, in presence of the assembled gentry of the + Colony. All proper arrangements will be made by my friend + Ludwell, who will also await your answer. I have the honour to + be your most obedient servant, + + FRANCIS BEVERLY. + +Bacon's answer was no less courteous and explicit. + + + Berkley Arms, June --, 16--. + To Francis Beverly, Esq. + + SIR--Your note by the hands of Mr. Ludwell was this moment + received. Your challenge is accepted. To-morrow morning at + sunrise I will meet you. The length of my weapon will be + furnished by my friend Dudley, who will convey this to Mr. + Ludwell, as well as make all other arrangements on my behalf. I + have the honour to be, yours, &c. + + NATHANIEL BACON. + +The following morning at sunrise, two parties of Cavaliers landed from +their boats at a secluded inlet, on the southern extremity of Hog +Island, immediately opposite the city, but screened from view by the +depth of the overshadowing forest. A surgeon with his assistant soon +followed. + +The two parties exchanged formal but courtly salutations, and +immediately proceeded to the business of their meeting. A level +grass-plot, firm under the pressure of the foot, and sufficiently +cleared for the purpose, had long been set apart as the battle ground on +similar occasions, and was now easily found. + +When all the parties were arrived at this spot, the seconds proceeded to +measure the swords in presence of their principals. This of course was a +mere formality required by the usages of the times, as the length of the +weapons was already known and settled between themselves. + +The two young Cavaliers about to engage in deadly strife, were perhaps +as nearly matched in skill and courage as any that could be found in the +Colony. Both were in the daily practice of the foils, as a matter of +education no less than of amusement. Both were impetuous by nature, and +rash in their actions, and both came upon the field longing for +vengeance in requital of wrongs which each supposed he had received at +the hands of the other. + +Beverly was in the enjoyment of ruddy health, and buoyant animal +impulses, but his antagonist was pale, thin, and evidently labouring +under depression of spirits, as well as feebleness of body. To a hasty, +and superficial observer, this state of the parties would have seemed +decidedly unfavourable to the latter; but it is very questionable +whether the high health and robust strength of Beverly were not more +than counterbalanced by the subdued but steady composure evinced by his +antagonist, the result of long confinement and depletion. + +With a slight inclination of the head in formal salutation, each +advanced a foot and crossed his blade with that of his antagonist. The +eyes of each were instantly riveted upon his enemy, with the steady and +deadly ferocity of two wild beasts of prey. The pause continued a few +moments, as if each were striving to measure the hatred of the other; a +few rapid and skilful thrusts and parries were exchanged, and then +another interval of suspense and inactivity ensued. The next effort was +longer and more fiercely contested, and the intentions of each in this +uncomplicated warfare were more readily distinguished. Beverly was at +each successive trial becoming more and more ferocious, while his +antagonist was as evidently acting on the defensive, if not attempting +to disarm him. This now apparent intention of the latter, might be the +necessary result of his present comparative debility, of policy--aiming +to take advantage of his opponent's impetuosity, or of his promise to +Virginia. But from whatever cause it sprung, Dudley thought it a most +hazardous experiment to depend upon disarming so skilful a swordsman, +and was accordingly under the most lively apprehensions for the fate of +his friend. These were not however of long continuance, for at the next +onset, Beverly, forgetting himself for a moment, as he impetuously +flashed his weapon in deadly and rapid thrusts, cried, "Ha, Sir Bastard, +have at your coward's heart." In the next instant Bacon's sword pierced +his body--his eyes glared wildly for an instant, his sword fell from +his powerless hand, and as Bacon withdrew the weapon, Beverly uttered a +groan and fell prostrate upon the earth. + +Bacon stood listlessly wiping his sword-blade upon his handkerchief, his +eyes abstractedly fixed upon the fallen youth, like one without thought +or reason, or rather so deeply buried in thought as to be almost +unconscious of the scene before him. His thoughts were upon his promise +to Virginia, to act only upon the defensive. This he had interpreted far +more literally than the fair girl herself had designed, and it was his +intention so to act throughout the struggle, had not his patience and +forbearance been overcome by the taunting exclamation of his adversary, +just preceding the last fatal onset. + +All the circumstances passed rapidly through his mind, until his +meditations settled into the most poignant regret; not a little +aggravated when Beverly opened his eyes, and held up his hand to Bacon, +feebly exclaiming, "Bacon, forgive me; I wronged you both first and +last. I see it now when it is too late, but it is never too late to ask +forgiveness for an injury." Bacon grasped his hand, and flung himself +prostrate at his side in an instant. "Before God, Beverly, it was not my +intention, when I came to the field, to do this deed; my whole effort at +first was to disarm you. Forgiveness lies with you, not with me. I have +done you an irreparable injury, yours was but the result of thoughtless +impetuosity, for which I as freely forgive you, as it was hastily and +heedlessly offered. May God forgive us both." + +The surgeon and his assistant now interfered in the prosecution of their +professional duties. While these were in progress, all parties were +silent in breathless attention; not a change of the doctor's countenance +escaped them. At length he arose, and deliberately wiping and replacing +his instruments in their case, walked thoughtfully some paces from the +wounded youth. + +Bacon dared not follow to ask the fate of his patient, but Dudley, with +breathless eagerness pursued his footsteps, and demanded to know in few +words his fate. "Life or death, Doctor?" he hastily exclaimed, as if he +expected an answer in like short and expressive terms. + +"Ours is not one of the exact sciences as to prognostication," said Dr. +Roland. "The wound extends from the anterior part of the thorax." + +"Don't tell me about the thorax, doctor, tell me whether there is life +or death?" + +"The pleura and the right lobe of the lungs have been wounded, +consequently there will be great inflammation succeeding, both from the +pleuretic and pulmonary excitement. These are the unchangeable laws of +the animal economy, and will not yield were the son of Charles himself +lying before us." + +"O damn the animal economy. Can't you say in one word, life or death?" + +"No, I cannot, Master Dudley. All I can say at present is, that it is my +hope and belief, if properly managed, that he will not die from the +hemorrhage, and that his chance of life depends upon his weathering out +the inflammation mentioned." + +"There is a reasonable hope then! Thank you, doctor, thank you; may God +send that his life be spared." Uttering this fervent ejaculation he +joined his companions, who now held a consultation as to the most +judicious plan of removing the wounded youth. One proposed that he +should remain at a cottage upon the island; but the surgeon decided that +he might be removed in a boat to the city as easily as he could be +carried to the cottage. He was accordingly extended upon a rude litter, +and deposited in the most convenient boat, upon such a bed as they could +hastily construct of cloaks and bushes. + +They had scarcely emerged from the shrubbery overhanging the margin of +the river, when a rustling noise was heard, similar to that made by the +flight of a large flock of birds, and in the next instant a shower of +Indian arrows fell harmless in the water, succeeded by an astounding +yell of twenty or more savages, indistinctly seen through the dense fog +rising from the stream. Their light bark canoes, of variegated colours, +could scarcely be distinguished as they rode upon the waves like huge +aquatic birds. The savage warriors were standing perfectly erect, +notwithstanding the motion of the waves and the vigorous exertions of +those squaws who officiated at the oar and helm. Bows were already +strung in their hands, and they were again in the act of leveling them +upon the party, when Bacon, seizing a duck gun from the bottom of the +boat, fired into the midst of the foremost canoe. Three huge painted +warriors leaped into the water and yelled and struggled for an instant +before they sunk to rise no more. Another discharge of arrows, and +another shot from Bacon's weapon, with like success, considerably damped +the ardour of the pursuit. Bacon and his party had in the mean time +urged the boat containing Beverly and the surgeon far ahead and out of +reach of their missiles, while they protected their retreat. Having +suffered the enemy to come within striking distance, he was now enabled +to see that they were Chickahominies, and readily comprehended their +motives. He was himself the object of their pursuit. They had watched +his movements for the purpose of avenging the death of their chief and +his followers. So prompt and efficient, however, was the defence of the +party sought, that after a few harmless flights of arrows, and a few +returns from the firearms of the white party, they hastily retreated, +and in a short time their canoes were only seen like distant specks on +the circumscribed horizon, as they scudded away before the rising +volumes of vapour for fear the dawning day should betray them and their +hostile attitude to the notice of the citizens. + +As Bacon and Dudley stepped upon the shore in front of the palisade, the +other party having landed and disappeared before their arrival, they +stood to gaze over the water for an instant to ascertain whether any of +the savages yet lingered upon the scene. The fog was rapidly rising from +the water, so that their line of vision was uninterrupted for some +distance over the bay between the islands. + +They could just perceive their late enemies doubling the southern point +of the island upon which they stood, and were about to retire, supposing +all further apprehension from that quarter at an end, when they +discovered the dim outlines of some one upon the southern end of the +island, making signals with a white handkerchief. They immediately and +silently moved along the shore, under cover of the palisade, until they +came within such a distance of the object which had attracted their +attention, that they could discern who it was themselves, at the same +time remaining undiscovered. It was Wyanokee! Her appearance at this +early hour and solitary place, and her equivocal employment, produced +the greatest astonishment and mortification in the mind of Bacon. Until +this moment he would have pledged his life for her truth and fidelity. +Ever since the encounter with the Indians, he had been wondering in his +own mind, how they had pursued him so exactly to the secret place of +their rendezvous. Now he recollected that Wyanokee had passed through +the gallery of the State House on the preceding evening, where Dudley +and himself were practising. She might have overheard some of their +conversation. Her presence at such a place had excited a momentary +surprise at the time, but it all passed over, under the usual idea that +Wyanokee was every where. She often glided about like a spirit, yet no +one knew whither she was going, or the purpose of her movements. "Can it +be possible," said Bacon to himself, "that Wyanokee has been +treacherous?" + +All these corroborating circumstances, together with her present +attitude, answered in the affirmative. Notwithstanding the strong +conviction of this unwelcome fact which now settled on his mind, he +could not believe her deliberately bent on his destruction. He had seen +her exhibit many noble traits of character in trying situations. +Besides, she was somewhat under his protection, and we are always +inclined to love those whom we have served. She was also Virginia's +pupil, and the latter was proud of her as such, and he himself had felt +a sort of complacency at the progress of the maiden under her tuition. +His imagination had often dwelt upon her imaginary perfections, as so +many reflected beauties from Virginia's guileless heart and cultivated +mind. No, he could not believe her thus meanly treacherous. Some native +impulse must have been roused, some secret spring of her long hidden and +dormant nature, must have been touched. Her savage ideas of patriotism +had fired her to revenge the death of her nation's chief. + +Notwithstanding these palliating suggestions which rose in his mind on +the doubtful attitude in which he had detected her, his reflections were +by no means pleasing, as he locked his arm in Dudley's, and retired +from the shore. Every thing seemed to him to conspire against his +happiness. First, there was the old and ever present cause of solicitude +in relation to his own origin, the doubtful nature of which had been the +remote cause of the unhappy rencounter of the morning. Then there was +the new attitude in which he was placed towards Virginia, by the death +of her father, together with the tantalizing, partial revelations of the +anonymous letters and gold locket, which that event had thrown into his +possession, with the thousand surmises, half formed hopes, and +resolutions resulting from them. Upon the whole, however, he could not +but feel, in the midst of these various depressing circumstances, that +his chance for success in an application for the hand of Virginia was +greater with the widowed lady of the murdered Fairfax than it would have +been were he alive. He knew the high position in which he stood in that +lady's favour. He knew her contempt for worldly show, pomp and +circumstance--he had always known it, but now he knew something of the +cause in the revelations of her own history. He knew that she had boldly +indulged the first predilections of her own young heart at the expense +of her father's and her brother's favour; and his hopes were strong, +that when he should present himself before her in something of a like +attitude, as an applicant for the hand of her fair daughter, her own +recollections would rise up before her in his favour. That there would +be difficulties to surmount, and prejudices to subdue, he knew full +well. That Sir William Berkley would exert his power to the utmost, to +prevent such a consummation he also knew; but the consent of Mrs. +Fairfax once gained, he resolved to brave the opposition if he could not +subdue the prejudices of the Governor. + +The unhappy business of the morning would in all probability hasten the +contending elements to a crisis. The Governor would soon know of the +meeting and its result; he would in all probability inquire into the +cause of the quarrel, and his shrewd insight into the motives of human +action would very soon discover that there were hidden impulses +operating, which caused the insult to be given, and kindred ones in the +opposite party which rendered the offence so much the more heinous and +unpardonable. In short, he would discover that there was a lady at the +bottom of the whole affair; and that this lady was his own fair niece; +and that the two gentlemen who had just contended in deadly strife, were +rivals for the possession of her favour. Such being the process of +reasoning in the Governor's mind, Bacon knew him too well to suppose +that he would delay the matter long before he endeavoured to bring it to +a conclusion. Indeed he believed (and the reader knows how truly) that +his excellency already saw the advantages of the connexion as vividly as +his nephew apprehended the sterling qualities of the lady. Such being +the case, the result of the morning's meeting, if it did not prove +fatal to his rival's life, would in all probability precipitate the +matter at once to an issue. The Governor would no sooner ascertain that +Beverly was out of danger than he would take the business in his own +hands, and how he would manage it, and what means he would take to +accomplish his ends, Bacon's personal experience in other matters fully +taught him. He resolved therefore to be beforehand with him, to present +his own claims first, to attempt to conciliate the lady of his late +patron, before her ear had been poisoned by the violent abuse which he +knew would be heaped upon him, as well as by contempt for his origin. +But could he imbrue his hand in the blood of his rival and then present +it for acceptance? Could he precipitate his claims before the family in +their present melancholy state? + +These were the subjects of his reflection, as the two youths entered the +gates of the city,--and here another difficulty arose; if he should +immediately present himself before the family, the news of the meeting +having preceded him, even without broaching the subject before alluded +to, would not the feelings excited in the mind of Virginia and her +mother be unfavourable to his claims? Then again, should he leave rumour +with her hundred tongues to explain to the maiden the reasons which had +induced him to accept the challenge from her kinsman, would not his +cause be still more prejudiced? Finally, therefore, after taking all +these things into consideration, he came to the conclusion that it was +best to wait some favourable news from his wounded rival before +presenting himself, or in case of the worst result, to absent himself +from the city altogether for a time. + +Accordingly the youths bent their footsteps to Dudley's lodgings, there +to await intelligence concerning Beverly. It is hardly necessary to +remind the reader that duelling in that day, so far from being +considered criminal, was the sole test to which all differences between +gentlemen were submitted. The influence of the custom has been handed +down, variously modified by the circumstances of the times, from one +generation to another, until it has reached our own. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +For more than a week Frank Beverly lay in the most precarious state, and +more than once during that period his friends were summoned to his +bed-side, expecting every moment to be his last. Bacon, torn and racked +with suspense, moved about the house of his late patron like one +distracted. He had already made his peace with Virginia, by explaining +to her the unequivocal and unconditional demand for satisfaction made +upon him by Beverly, as well as the unjustifiable taunt upon the field, +by which he had been driven from his defensive attitude. But even her +society failed in its usual attractions, while Beverly remained in +danger. Doctor Roland, with all his technical formality, was as +indefatigable in his attentions as he was oracular and mysterious in his +announcements from hour to hour, and day to day, concerning the state of +his patient. These, reported to his master from the lips of Brien +O'Reily, would form no unamusing subject for the reader, were not our +attention called to the more important personages and graver incidents +of our narrative. + +As Bacon had surmised, Sir William Berkley was not long in understanding +the real cause of the quarrel; he had himself heard partial reports of +the affront and its cause on the night of its occurrence. As Bacon had +also expected, he seemed to await the fate of his young kinsman, before +he took any farther steps towards promoting the alliance between him and +Virginia. This however did not prevent him from giving way to the most +ungovernable rage at Frank's condescension in meeting an adventurer, +"the son of no one knew whom." + +At length the invalid was unequivocally pronounced to be out of danger, +by Dr. Roland himself. The Governor had no sooner received the +information, than he despatched a footman with his most respectful +compliments to Mrs. Fairfax, and requested the pleasure of an hour's +conversation with her, on the most important business; in answer to +which, a message was returned to the Governor, that she would be pleased +to see him, at any moment which might suit his convenience. That time +soon arrived, and the formal old gentleman, after many apologies for the +untimely intrusion upon the privacy of her sorrows, and condolence for +their cause, thus introduced the subject to which he solicited her +attention. + +"It was perhaps not known to you, Madam, that your late lamented husband +and myself had long since formed a prospective arrangement, by which we +hoped to dispose of our fortunes in such a manner as to add honour and +dignity to our families, at the same time that we should preserve them +united, and confer happiness upon our nearest relatives and presumptive +heirs. His will, as I understand, has not yet been authenticated, but +doubtless when it is so you will find that he has provided for the +fulfilment of this design." + +"I do not fully comprehend your Excellency." + +"I mean, madam, that we contemplated uniting in marriage, your fair +daughter and my young kinsman, Beverly; by this means I will be enabled +to entail my fortune on their male descendants, which will meet all my +desires concerning my niece, at the same time that it will be doing no +injustice to my young relative." + +"The plan seems ingeniously contrived, Sir William, to prevent future +heart-burnings concerning the disposal of your estate; but were the +young people to know nothing of the arrangement?" + +"The knowledge of it was kept from them, at the suggestion of your late +lamented husband, in order that they might imbibe no prejudices against +the scheme as they grew up, but rather be thrown into each other's way, +as the time for its consummation approached, and thus perhaps discover +its propriety themselves. This has in part proved true, for on the very +day of the unfortunate accident which deprived your house of its +inestimable head, I had the honour to lay Frank's proposals before him." + +"Sir William--I do not know my daughter's sentiments on the +subject,--the fulfilment of the scheme will depend entirely on her +feelings." + +"With due deference, madam, would it not be more politic to treat the +matter as already, and long since settled, between her father and +myself, and sacredly sealed by his death?" + +"I must be plain and candid with your Excellency--I have no desire to +use policy in the affair; if my daughter gives her free and hearty +consent, you have mine; but if the match is repugnant to her feelings we +will drop the subject, with many thanks to your Excellency for your kind +purposes, and to Mr. Beverly for the intended honour." + +Virginia was now called in; but while the servant performed that duty, +Sir William replied, "I am exceedingly mortified, madam, that you seem +to place the fulfilment of this long-treasured scheme upon a contingency +so light." + +"Do you then consider a young lady's being permitted to have a voice in +choosing her partner for life, a light contingency, Sir William?" + +"I think, madam, that her parents are more capable of making a selection +which will confer honour upon them and her, than she can possibly be. +Our best families would soon arrive at a very plebeian level, were every +female descendant to be permitted to indulge her love-sick fancies, +instead of consulting the interest and honour of her house. But it may +be that this discussion is useless in the present instance. Here, madam, +comes your daughter, who will decide." + +Virginia entered, pale and trembling with alarm and vague presentiments +of evil; her hands were crossed upon her breast, and her eyes downcast. +After making a reverential courtesy to the Governor, she instinctively +stood before him, awaiting his commands as one upon trial. However harsh +the Governor's opinions to the mother, policy dictated a very different +course toward the daughter; he accordingly led her to a seat beside +himself, and with the most bland and courteous manner, thus addressed +her, + +"I come, my niece, as an ambassador from poor Frank, with full powers to +ask of your mother this fair hand in marriage; and I must take the same +opportunity to declare the happiness it would give Lady Berkley and +myself, to receive you into our mansion as the wife of our kinsman, and +the daughter of our affections." + +The mildness and the unusual condescension of her formal uncle +completely threw Virginia from the stately and unequivocal answer which +she had meditated when first summoned; for it will be recollected that +she had already had an intimation of his intentions. She could do no +less than feel grateful for his own undoubted affection, and she felt it +extremely difficult properly to express this feeling, connected as it +must be with the overthrow of his dearest hopes. After the most painful +embarrassment, she was enabled to answer: "To you, my dear uncle, I have +always felt grateful for the more than paternal affection which you have +shown to me, and I must feel not less so for the motives which prompted +you to undertake the present mission; but with all my affection for +yourself and desire to please you, and all my gratitude to Mr. Beverly +for the honour which he intended me, I must beg leave to decline his +offer." + +"Wherefore must you decline it, Virginia?" asked Sir William, with the +most evident chagrin and surprise. + +"Simply because I cannot reciprocate the affection which I am informed +Mr. Beverly entertains for me." + +"You have never made the trial, niece; you have not taken five minutes +to consider the importance of the proposition which I have had the +honour to lay before you. Reconsider your hasty answer; take time to +form a mature opinion of the many advantages which the connexion holds +out. See Frank himself when he recovers, and my word for it, he will +make as many love-sick speeches as would woo a lady from Charles' +court." + +"It is not necessary, my dear uncle; I have long meditated upon the +subject, having by accident heard of the proposed union before you were +pleased to communicate it in person." + +"What is your objection to Frank? It is certainly no satisfactory +answer, to say you cannot reciprocate his affection, when you have never +yet given him an opportunity to plead his cause in person. He is +unquestionably as well favoured a youth in regard to personal +attributes, as any in the Colony, and I flatter myself as well born and +of as bright expectations?" + +"I have no objections to urge, Sir William; Mr. Beverly is undoubtedly +all that you say he is, but he never can be more to me than he is at +present; for this determination I have many reasons satisfactory to my +own sense of propriety, but which it is neither necessary nor proper for +me to urge. One I will however give you, with the hope of for ever +setting the question at rest. My affections are already engaged!" + +Had a thunderbolt hurled the old Cavalier from his seat, he could not +have been more astounded. Mrs. Fairfax was scarcely less so. Sir William +glanced from her countenance to that of her daughter, as if he expected +the former to overwhelm her daughter with reproaches, his own anger all +the while displaying itself in the contortions of his inflamed and +glowing countenance. But seeing her astonishment subsiding into +complacency instead of anger, his own broke forth-- + +"What! bestow your affections unasked? and upon whom pray!" + +"I have not bestowed them unasked, Sir." + +"Has any gentleman asked and obtained permission of you, to address your +daughter?" he inquired, turning to Mrs. Fairfax. + +"None, Sir." + +"Who then is the favoured swain? Who has dared to interfere in this +matter unauthorized by the consent of your only surviving parent or +myself?" + +"For him I have neither the right nor the will to speak. At the proper +time he will doubtless do it for himself," said Virginia, as she arose +with offended dignity to leave the room. + +"Hear me yet a moment," cried Sir William, with the most ill disguised +efforts to appear calm. "If the person, who has thus intruded into your +family, is of proper birth, connexions, and expectations, and his suit +should meet with your mother's approbation, I of course have no right to +interfere. But remember, should you attempt to form an alliance with an +individual who would disgrace my family, to which you are nearly +connected, I will, if there be none other to perform the office, with +mine own hands tear him from the very foot of the altar, and mete to him +such a reward as his temerity demands." + +At this moment the door opened, and Nathaniel Bacon entered, with an +expression of unalloyed delight upon his countenance. He had just heard +the joyful tidings from the medical attendant of his rival. He met +Virginia face to face, just within the sweep of the door, and perceiving +no other object at the moment, attempted gayly to seize her hand, but no +corresponding movement being perceptible, he paused to examine her +countenance, at the same time glancing at the offended visiter, whose +scowling eyes were fixed upon him. Virginia's countenance was like a +mirror to reflect her feelings, and had there been no intelligible +expression upon the face of the Governor, Bacon would readily have +comprehended the attitude of the various parties. These observations, +however, were the work of an instant, for Sir William no sooner +perceived his presence, than he sprung to his feet, his brow growing +darker every moment. He had entirely misinterpreted Bacon's appearance +at that critical juncture. His suspicions had all along pointed to him, +and he now imagined that his presence was the result of preconcerted +design. "To what motive, Sir," he cried, "am I indebted for this +intrusion? Have you come to congratulate me upon the recovery of my +young kinsman, of whom your murderous hand had well nigh deprived me?" + +Bacon wheeled partly upon his heel, as if endeavouring to force himself +out of the room, without answering the choleric old Cavalier, but seeing +Virginia turn her head and cast an indignant glance at the offender, his +own hard schooled feelings broke forth also. "To no particular motive, +Sir, are you indebted for this visit: it was the result of the purest +accident. I knew not that your Excellency was in the house, and came +into this room in the ordinary free and unchallenged mode of +intercourse, to which the inmates of this most hospitable and generous +family are accustomed." + +"Ay, Sir Stripling, and unless I am grossly deceived, your intercourse +has not gone unchallenged for nothing." + +"To what is your Excellency pleased to allude." + +"Have you not studiously endeavoured to undermine the most important +family arrangements of those who cherished and protected your infancy? +Have you not stung the bosom that warmed you into existence? Have you +not been callous to the claims of gratitude, due alike to the living and +the dead? Have you not attempted to beguile the only daughter of your +patron into a disgraceful alliance?" + +Bacon resisted the mild and persuasive endeavours of Mrs. Fairfax to +lead him from the room, whence Virginia had already departed, while he +replied, drawing himself up to an erect and perfectly composed and +dignified attitude, + +"If your Excellency chooses so far to forget, what is alike due to your +station--to yourself, to the present company, and to me, as to permit +yourself to ask such questions, you cannot expect me so far to forget +myself as to answer them!" and with this reply he left the room. + +The Governor, after indulging in the most vehement bursts of passion, +and threats of vengeance against Bacon, should he dare to connect +himself with his family, and in vain endeavours to extort a promise from +Mrs. Fairfax, never to give her consent, left the house in the most +towering and ungovernable rage. + +He had scarcely crossed the threshold, before Bacon returned to the same +room, leading Virginia by the hand, having held a very interesting +conversation with her in another apartment. Mrs. Fairfax was sitting +apparently absorbed in the most painful reflections. As the youthful +pair entered, a slight clearing away of the clouds which had gathered +upon her countenance might be perceived. They walked deliberately up to +where she sat, and seated themselves one on each side of her: when Bacon +thus spoke-- + +"It was not my intention, dear madam, thus to intrude upon your sorrows, +but I may be pardoned for presenting myself as a petitioner at your +feet, when another, high in station and dignity, has thought proper to +forget those claims. Had he confined himself to the legitimate object of +his mission, I had perhaps still forborne, but when he has stepped out +of his way rudely to thrust me before you as the disorganizer of your +family arrangements, and as the serpent who has stolen into your house +in order to poison your brightest hopes and fondest anticipations, I +have thought it became me at once to state to you how far I have +offended. + +"It is true, dear madam, that I have not been insensible to the many +charms of your daughter's person and disposition. You have witnessed, I +would fain hope, not unobservantly, the dear delights of our first +childish intercourse, when our minds and hearts were drawn together by +an affection and a congeniality of taste and sentiment which we +supposed, if we thought of it at all, was purely fraternal; and then +when our minds began to expand, and our affections to assume and to +display their real character, and finally when we came thoroughly to +understand each other and ourselves, you were not a heedless spectator +of these progressive changes and developments; and having seen, I cannot +believe that you would have permitted this mutual affection to grow to +its present maturity and strength, intending to deny its sanction at the +last, when the cure might so easily have been made by nipping the tender +flower in the bud. Speak, I pray you madam! Our fate hangs upon your +words!" + +"I will not pretend to you, my children, that I have not observed the +mutual affection which has grown up between you from its earliest dawn. +Nor will I disguise from you that it gave me pleasure mingled with much +pain. Many long and dreary nights have I lain upon my pillow, +anticipating what I then supposed would be the fierce struggles of this +moment. I calculated with the usual short sightedness of mortals, that +he who will ne'er partake in our councils more, would have been here to +decide upon your wishes. + +"I supposed that his own family pride would first have been to conquer, +then I thought of the fierce resistance which the greater pride of his +kinsman, Sir William, would offer--the interview of this morning shows +how truly. After all these painful misgivings, however, and the maturest +judgment that I could bestow upon the subject, I came to the resolution +to suffer what seemed the predestined current of events to run its +course. Providence has by a most painful process removed the only +obstacle you had to fear, my children, and he, had he been alive, would +doubtless have finally given his consent rather than attempt to tear up +forcibly by its roots a passion like yours, the growth of years and +intimate knowledge of each other. I therefore give you my consent, my +children, that you be united in marriage, and the sooner the better, as +the first storm upon its announcement once over, all these contending +passions which drive you into broils and strife will cease." + +As she concluded speaking, Virginia, down whose cheeks the tears had +been rapidly coursing each other, sunk upon her knees, in which position +she was instantly joined by her now acknowledged and betrothed lover. +Mrs. Fairfax placed her hands upon their heads, tears bedimming her own +eyes, and blessed them, and then kissed her daughter as she was about to +leave the room. When she was gone, Bacon resumed the subject of their +discourse. "O say, dear Madam, how soon will you consent to the +completion of our happiness? I address myself to you in the first +instance, in order that I may use your name in my appeal to your +daughter for an early day." + +"As soon as you can persuade Virginia to consent. I would seriously and +earnestly recommend two things with regard to your nuptials, the rest I +leave to yourselves, namely, that they take place as privately as +possible, for fear of Sir William's violence; and secondly, as soon as +possible, in order that you may anticipate the complete recovery of +young Mr. Beverly." + +"Oh, madam, may Heaven bless your wisdom and benevolence. I am now +doubly armed, and will seek your daughter, and I hope soon return with a +favourable answer." + +Accordingly he flew out of the room, and in a few moments she heard him +loudly calling her daughter's name through all the portals of the house, +and rapping at every door, but no Virginia was to be found. At length, +however, he sallied forth into the garden, when he found her in her +summer-house, apparently in profound study of some favourite Author's +new publication, perhaps Milton's "Paradise Regained." His arguments +fell apparently upon a deaf ear. She continued to read, regardless of +his passionate gesticulations and burning words. Her cheeks glowed +vividly enough, but she gave no other evidence that she was conscious of +his presence. At length he seized her hand, and forcibly but gently led +her before her mother, like a culprit, as she doubtless felt herself, +for her eyes were downcast, and a crimson blush suffused her neck and +temples. Mrs. Fairfax attempted in vain to assume a grave and judicial +expression. She succeeded, however, in convincing the young pair that +the safety and the peace of many of their family circle depended upon +their speedy nuptials. It was doubtless for these reasons alone, that +they soon agreed amicably upon an early day, until which time we will +leave the imagination of the reader to follow the young pair through +flowery beds of roses and tulips, and the more flowery anticipations of +"Love's young dream." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The appointed day at length arrived--it was ushered in by no cheering +omens from without or within the mansion of Mrs. Fairfax. No warbling +songsters from the feathered tribes perched upon the window of our +heroine, or hopped from flower to flower through the garden beneath, to +woo her from her slumbers; and the heavens themselves gave lowering and +sultry evidence of an approaching storm. In the east it was misty and +unsettled; while a long curtain of dark frowning clouds, heavily charged +with electric fire, hung in portentous masses along the whole line of +the western horizon. The atmosphere was hot and oppressive, the whole +aspect of the weather such as invariably casts a damp upon the spirits. + +Virginia required no sweet serenade to call her from her slumbers. She +was already awake, as indeed she had been through most of the night. A +feverish dread of undefined approaching evil, had dimly floated through +her excited brain during her waking hours, and yet more shadowy horrors +disturbed her partial and unrefreshing sleep. Her morning habiliments +were donned earlier than usual, without the assistance of her Indian +attendant; yet she marvelled at her unwonted absence. She usually slept +in an adjoining apartment, and hither Virginia bent her steps to chide +the tardy maiden for her strange neglect on so important an occasion. No +little surprise was visible in her countenance, when she found not only +the apartment untenanted, but that the bed upon which Wyanokee usually +slept, was undisturbed, or that if used at all, it had been slightly +disarranged, only as if with a deceptive purpose. She repeated her name +throughout the house and garden, but no answer was returned. Her voice +soon aroused her mother, who was no less surprised at the circumstances +related by her daughter. Together they went to the apartment, and again +examined the bed, which had evidently not been slept in. And now other +appearances struck them, which had not before attracted their attention. +The dress she had worn on the previous day, hung in a closet answering +the purposes of a wardrobe, together with the whole of her apparel, the +gift of Virginia or her mother. Not an article could be recollected of +these, which was not there. They seemed, moreover, to have been +studiously arranged so as to attract attention in this particular. On +the other hand, every garment of Indian fabric which she had preserved +through her captivity, was gone. The moccasins she had worn on the +previous day--the Indian beads, wampum, and other ornaments of native +origin, were nowhere to be seen. + +All the gifts of Bacon and Mr. Fairfax, some of which were of gold and +silver, were conspicuously arranged upon a shelf in the same apartment. +Many of these she had hitherto constantly worn in her ears, and upon her +wrists and ankles. + +As they were pursuing their researches Virginia discovered the window of +the room in which her attendant had always slept, shut down upon the end +of an Indian arrow. She raised the sash and drew in the missile, in the +end of which, inserted in a split and bound with a strip of the fibre of +a sinew, was the identical blue feather Wyanokee had plucked from the +gory locks of the slain King Fisher, the last of the Chickahominy +chiefs. The arrow was pointed in the direction of the nation's hunting +ground. The language of these symbols Virginia understood but too well; +she had too long made Wyanokee a subject of study, as well as of +instruction, not to understand that the feather indicated her flight to +the dwellings of her tribe. She also thought she saw many collateral +indications in the time chosen for her elopement--the arrangements of +her English garments, and more especially of the gifts she had received +from Bacon. She doubted not in her own mind that the resolution of +Wyanokee was in some way connected with the approaching ceremony, but +she did not communicate her suspicions to her mother, because they were +as yet not clearly defined in her own thoughts. They received momentary +corroboration however, as many circumstances recurred to her mind, +which were trivial in themselves, but important in connexion with the +present discovery, and which have been from time to time hinted at in +the progress of our narrative. + +The impression left upon the mind of our Heroine by these incidents +produced any thing but the joyous, elastic and happy mood, her young +dreams had always anticipated for her wedding day. There were many other +subjects of apprehension to mar the pleasures of the time. Governor +Berkley had left her mother's house overflowing with wrath, and +threatening speedy vengeance against her betrothed. + +Few persons ever became indebted to Sir William Berkley in a matter of +personal hatred or ill will, who did not sooner or later find him a hard +and exacting creditor. With all her love for her uncle she knew his +harsh and unyielding nature, and dreaded his power. + +The natural apprehensions of a modest, gentle, and tenderly educated +maiden on her wedding day, are at all times sufficiently powerful of +themselves; but joined to the unfavourable omens and sources of anxiety +by which Virginia was surrounded, they were overpowering. Her breakfast +remained before her untouched, notwithstanding her mother's endeavours +to cheer her drooping spirits. + +A short and animated conversation with her lover, as the day began to +wane, partially recalled her wonted cheerfulness, but when he was gone +she relapsed into her former mood. The aspect of the heavens seemed to +her to grow momentarily more portentous. Already the thunder was heard +rolling in the west, and black masses of threatening clouds were +gradually closing in from every point of the horizon. The wrath of +Heaven itself seemed to our heroine gathering over the city. This +nervous excitement of mind will not be wondered at when it is remembered +that a short time only had intervened since dark and mysterious +injunctions had been urged against the marriage, of which the appointed +time was now so near at hand; and to this must be added the state of +alarm and agitation in which she had since been kept by insurrections, +outrages, personal strifes and deadly feuds between her friends; and +above all, by the violent and sudden death of her father. In the short +space of a few weeks her once tranquil and happy existence had been +changed into one of painful trials and vicissitudes. The night was +rapidly closing in. There hung the bridal garments, and there stood the +tire woman waiting her commands. At this juncture a carriage drove up to +the door, steps were let down, the knocker sounded, and in the next +moment the gay brides-maid bounded into the room, arrayed for the +occasion. Her countenance was radiant with smiles as she entered, but +perceiving her friend's sombre mood she walked round her sundry times +and then raised her hands and eyes in pretended astonishment, as she +exclaimed, "Do I mistake! Was it indeed to your wedding that I was +invited? For shame, Virginia! shake off these sickly fancies. Come, +rouse yourself, and I will be your tire woman. Our family will soon be +here, the carriage has gone back for them. Will that not move you? Then +your lawful lord and"-- + +Here Virginia rose and placed her hand upon the lips of the lively girl, +yet with a look which seemed at the same time to intimate no +unwillingness to be cajoled or rallied from her present serious humour. + +The wedding was to be kept a profound secret from all but the invited +guests, and those who were to officiate at the ceremony. The former +consisted only of Mr. Harrison's family, and the latter of the clergyman +of the Established Church, who officiated at Jamestown--Charles Dudley +who was to give away the bride, and Harriet as brides-maid. + +The appointed hour of nine at length arrived. Assembled in the parlour +below, the various parties awaited the appearance of the bride. +Carriages were already at the door; the chapel lighted, and the priest +habited in the robes of his sacred office. + +Bacon, after sundry movements towards the door at which she was expected +to enter, could subdue his impatience no longer, and at once mounted the +staircase. He met the two maidens on their way down; Virginia apparently +having imbibed some of her friend's spirit and vivacity, which she so +much needed. She placed her hand timidly but confidingly in that of +Bacon as they entered the room. Both she, and her attendant, were +robed in virgin white--and certainly never were dresses more +appropriate;--they were both young, innocent, beautiful, and intensely +interesting, in the position which they now occupied. + +Bacon and Dudley were dressed exactly alike, and rather in the costume +of the preceding, than of the present reign; the latter not yet having +made its way to Jamestown. They wore doublets of scarlet velvet, with +large loose sleeves slashed up the front; the collar covered by a +falling band of the richest point lace, with a vandyke edging. Their +breeches were of white silk, and fringed at the bottom, where they +united with their silk stockings, amidst a profusion of ribands and +ornaments of lace. Their shoes were ornamented over the buckle straps, +with white bridal roses wrought in silk. Hanging gallantly upon one +shoulder, they wore the short and graceful blue cloak of the period: not +in such a manner, however, as to conceal in any degree the gay +appearance of the costume which it completed, but so as to be thrown +aside and resumed at a moment's notice. This latter article being light +and graceful, and worn more for ornament than use, was always thrown +aside for the military buff coat on warlike occasions. + +The party, preceded by the priest, entered the waiting vehicles. Just as +they were seated according to the order of previous arrangement, a +vivid flash of lightning shot athwart the horizon, succeeded by a crash +of thunder loud and fearful, as if the eternal hills themselves had +again been shattered into chaos. The females drew themselves into the +corners of the carriage, covering their eyes, and the gentlemen were +silent, while the God of the Universe, spoke through his thunders. + +The drive to the church was as short as it was silent. The priest +entered his desk and laid open the sacred volume, while the various +parties arranged according to order in a semicircle round the altar, +waited upon his words. + +The chapel was dimly lighted, except immediately around the parties, in +accordance with the strict privacy of the celebration. Mrs. Fairfax was +as calm and benignant as was consistent with her usual settled +melancholy. Virginia was pale as a marble statue, her head just +sufficiently inclined forward to suspend her bridal veil in graceful and +flowing folds before her exquisitely formed figure. Harriet's vivacity +was subdued to respectful and mute attention. The sound of the +clergyman's voice could just be heard at intervals between the awful +peals of thunder, while the lurid flashes contrasting with the feeble +rays of the lamps, rendered the surrounding gloom more impressive. The +words which fell from the lips of the sacred functionary were something +like the following: + +"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and +in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in +holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate instituted of God in the +time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is +betwixt Christ and his church; which holy estate Christ adorned and +beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana +of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all +men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised or taken in hand +unadvisedly--lightly, or wantonly--to satisfy men's carnal lusts and +appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, +discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in fear of God, duly considering the +causes for which matrimony was ordained. + +"First, it was ordained for the procreation of children to be brought up +in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name. + +"Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid +fornication, that such persons as have not the gift of continency might +marry and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body. + +"Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that +the one ought to have of the other--both in prosperity and adversity. + +"Into which holy estate, these two persons present come now to be +joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not +lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for +ever hold his peace." + +A solemn silence prevailed through the dimly lighted aisles, as the +usual pause was allowed for the answer. At this juncture, and while the +small party around the altar held their breath in mute astonishment and +wonder, the door was rudely thrust open, and a gigantic figure strode +down the hollow sounding aisle. His heavy footfalls rung upon Virginia's +sensitive organs like the funeral knell of departed peace. He walked +directly towards the altar, until he stood immediately behind the +youthful pair about to plight their faith, his tall figure towering far +above their heads.[5] Over his face he held a black mask, as he thus +spoke, in answer to the general challenge of the priest. + +[Footnote 5: The reader will perceive when the proper time comes for +disclosing from what authentic annals this character is taken--that we +have but described his person, as the grave words of History portrayed +him.] + +"Well mayest thou say that now or never is the time to speak the just +cause which interposes to prevent the consummation of this union. That +cause know I. But its revelation, now rendered imperative, will be like +unto tearing up with irreverent hands the mysterious secrets of the +charnel house beneath our feet. Oh God, why could not this duty have +been spared to me!" + +His huge frame shuddered with convulsive emotion as he paused and seemed +to view from beneath his mask his astounded and breathless auditors. The +clergyman seized the opportunity to repeat with solemnity the challenge. +"If any man can show any just cause why this youthful pair may not +lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for +ever hold his peace!" + +"They cannot lawfully be joined together because they are the children +of the same mother!" + +The silence of death prevailed throughout the chapel. Respiration and +reflection itself seemed suspended upon the awful announcement of the +Recluse, while he fell back upon one of the seats of the aisle and +covered his face with his hands in unutterable anguish. + +Mrs. Fairfax had been visibly agitated from the first moment of this +startling interruption, by some more dreadful emotion than the surprise +and vague alarm of those about her, but now desperation itself nerved +her sinking powers, as she stepped a pace forward and uttered in a +distinct voice. "It is false! proceed with the ceremony." Harrison and +Dudley instinctively felt for their arms, the former exclaiming, "He is +mad--staring mad! be it our business to prevent this irreverent +interruption!" + +But the Recluse immediately sprung upon his feet, throwing his mask upon +the floor as he stood full in front of Mrs. Fairfax, and exclaimed, +pointing with his index finger to his time-worn countenance; "Look thou +upon these long forgotten lineaments, and then upon these (laying his +hand upon Bacon's head) and testify before Heaven and earth whether I +have not spoken truth! a fearful truth!" + +The person appealed to stood for some moments like a statue, her eyes +protruding from their sockets, as if a tenant of the grave indeed stood +before her--her hand at length slowly rose from her side and wandered +through the vacant air as if she would have submitted the spectre to the +test of feeling--imperfectly measuring the distance however between her +own person and the object sought, it fell again powerless by her side. +Her lips moved as if she were in the act of holding a conversation with +the being who had addressed her, but no sound issued from them. The +pupils of her eyes were painfully distended, and their whole expression +wild and bewildered. At length her chest began to heave convulsively, +when she made a wild and desperate effort to rush upon the object of her +gaze, but fell prostrate on the floor before she had attained half the +distance between them. As she fell she cried in the most piteous +accents, "Charles! Charles!" and then swooned away. + +Charles Dudley, who had till now assisted Bacon in supporting his +fainting bride, resigned his charge to Mr. Harrison and ran to Mrs. +Fairfax, supposing himself to be the person thus piteously +apostrophized. He took the fallen lady in his arms and raised her partly +from the floor, but no symptoms of returning animation were visible. +While he thus supported her head upon one knee, kneeling upon the other, +assisted by the clergyman and friends, and Bacon and Mr. Harrison +supporting Virginia, who was in little better condition, a tumultuous +crowd rushed in at the door, headed by Sir William Berkley himself, +exclaiming to his minions, "Tear him from the altar! tear the upstart +from the altar." + +But as he ran with his drawn sword towards the pulpit, something in the +attitude and expression of the various parties at once arrested his hand +and voice. + +There is a power of expression in deep and irremediable sorrow which +cannot be looked upon without emotion. Boisterous and outrageous as Sir +William Berkley had entered the chapel, his fierce nature was instantly +subdued by the appearance of his sister-in-law and her daughter. The +crowd which followed were instinctively awed into silence by the same +powerful and speaking appeals. + +When the announcement of the lawful cause which prevented the +consummation of the union first fell upon Bacon's ear, his head sank +upon his breast, and although he mechanically clasped Virginia round the +waist, as he felt her clinging to him, and sinking at his side; he stood +stupefied with horror, holding up his lifeless burden, entirely enable +to think or act. His habitual and superstitious reverence for every +thing uttered by the Recluse, induced him to receive the first +impression of his words unchallenged even in his own mind. + +By the time that Sir William Berkley and his party arrived, the Recluse +had disappeared; every one was so much absorbed by the instant and +pressing calls for assistance and sympathy from the suffering females, +that the time of his departure was entirely unnoticed. + +The Governor had no sooner recovered from his first shock and surprise, +than he made his way to one of the young Harrisons to learn the cause of +the present appearance of the parties, so different from what he had +been taught to expect. Although he did not believe that there was one +word of truth in the cause assigned for the interruption of the +ceremony, he was well enough satisfied that the parties themselves, and +Mrs. Fairfax should believe it. No matter to him what horrors they +suffered, he considered it all but a just punishment for their attempted +mesalliance. As for Bacon, and his horror-stricken feelings, Sir William +did not deign to bestow a thought or word upon them, after the first +hasty exclamation with which he had entered the door. By his orders, the +female sufferers were placed in a carriage, and removed to his own +house. Bacon resigned his charge with a listless apathy, bordering on +stupefaction, and to a superficial observer, such would doubtless have +been the impression; but his was the deadly deceitful calm which +precedes the coming storm. The most horrible of all human sufferings is +that where no tear is or can be shed--where no enemy presents himself +for vengeance--no hope for the future, all having been perilled and +lost upon a single throw. Bacon felt himself thus situated--the +cherished hopes of a lifetime were blasted in an instant, not only for +the present, but under such circumstances as to cut off all hope for the +future. The object of his passion could not henceforth be enshrined in a +holy secret worship of the soul, such as is sometimes kept up through a +long life of celibacy for the lost one. + +No mortified pride arose to his relief! he could not hate--he dared not +love the object around which his whole heart and soul were entwined. The +very light of his eyes--the sun of his existence--his delights of the +present--hopes of the future--all, all were blotted from existence in a +moment. The very retrospects of the past were poisoned. Could he bear to +dwell upon the enrapturing delights of their young loves, when the +object and participator was now discovered to be his own sister? To +whichever aspect of the case he turned, he as speedily revolted in +horror. It was while these things were tearing and racking his soul, +that he appeared to feel externally less than might have been expected. +His mind and feelings were precipitately rolled back upon their own +resources, and the suddenly dammed up waters of bitterness sought vent +at every avenue. Virginia was no sooner taken from him, however, than +his perceptions seemed roused at once to the full horror and +hopelessness of his fate. Without his castor, and still decked in his +gay bridal attire, he burst from the crowd, prostrating the Governor's +minions to the right and left, as he felled a passage to the door. His +eye had lost its abstracted expression; it was deadly fierce and +terrifically wild as he rushed forth into the kindred storm without--no +one knew whither. + +END OF VOLUME FIRST. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2, by +William A. 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Caruthers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2 + or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion + +Author: William A. Caruthers + +Release Date: March 21, 2011 [EBook #35645] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA V.1 *** + + + + +Produced by Roberta Staehlin, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA,</h1> + +<h2>OR, THE RECLUSE OF JAMESTOWN.</h2> + +<h3>AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF THE OLD DOMINION.</h3> + +<h2>BY WILLIAM A. CARUTHERS</h2> + +<h3>THE AUTHOR OF "THE KENTUCKIAN IN NEW-YORK."</h3> + + +<h3>IN TWO VOLUMES.<br /> +VOL. I.</h3> + +<h3>NEW-YORK:<br /> +PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS,<br /> +NO. 82 CLIFF-STREET,<br /> +AND SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT<br /> +THE UNITED STATES.<br /> +1834.</h3> + + +<h3>Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1834, by <span class="smcap">Harper & +Brothers</span>, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern +District of New-York.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>The romance of history pertains to no human annals more strikingly than +to the early settlement of Virginia. The mind of the reader at once +reverts to the names of Raleigh, Smith, and Pocahontas. The traveller's +memory pictures in a moment the ivy-mantled ruin of old Jamestown.</p> + +<p>About the year 16—, the city of Jamestown, then the capital of +Virginia, was by no means an unapt representation of the British +metropolis; both being torn by contending factions, and alternately +subjected to the sway of the Roundheads and Royalists.</p> + +<p>First came the Cavaliers who fled hither after the decapitation of their +royal master and the dispersion of his army, many of whom became +permanent settlers in the town or colony, and ever afterwards influenced +the character of the state.</p> + +<p>These were the first founders of the aristocracy which prevails in +Virginia to this day; these were the immediate ancestors of that +generous, fox-hunting, wine-drinking, duelling and reckless race of men, +which gives so distinct a character to Virginians wherever they may be +found.</p> + +<p>A whole generation of these Cavaliers had grown up in the colony during +the interregnum, and, throughout that long period, were tolerated by +those in authority as a class of probationers. The Restoration was no +sooner announced, however, than they changed places with their late +superiors in authority. That stout old Cavalier and former governor, Sir +William Berkley (who had retired to the shades of Accomack,) was now +called by the unanimous voice of the people, to reascend the vice-regal +chair.</p> + +<p>Soon after his second installation came another class of refugees, in +the persons of Cromwell's veteran soldiers themselves, a few of whom +fled hither on account of the distance from the court and the magnitude +of their offences against the reigning powers. It will readily be +perceived even by those not conversant with the primitive history of the +Ancient Dominion, that these heterogeneous materials of Roundheads and +Cavaliers were not the best calculated in the world to amalgamate in the +social circles.</p> + +<p>Our story commences a short time after the death of Cromwell and his +son, and the restoration of Charles the Second to the throne of his +fathers.</p> + +<p>The city of Jamestown was situated upon an island in the Powhatan, about +twenty leagues from where that noble river empties its waters into those +of the Chesapeake Bay.</p> + +<p>This island is long, flat on its surface, and presents a semicircular +margin to the view of one approaching from the southeast; indeed it can +scarcely be seen that it is an island from the side facing the +river—the little branch which separates it from the main land having +doubtless worn its way around by a long and gradual process.</p> + +<p>At the period of which we write, the city presented a very imposing and +romantic appearance, the landscape on that side of the river being +shaded in the back ground by the deep green foliage of impenetrable +forests standing in bold relief for many a mile against the sky. Near +the centre of the stream, and nearly opposite the one just mentioned, +stands another piece of land surrounded by water, known to this day by +the very unromantic name of Hog Island, and looking for all the world +like a nest for pirates, so impenetrable are the trees, undergrowth, and +shrubbery with which it is thickly covered.</p> + +<p>To prevent the sudden incursions of the treacherous savage, the city was +surrounded with a wall or palisade, from the outside of which, at the +northwestern end, was thrown a wooden bridge, so as to connect the first +mentioned island with the main land. A single street ran nearly parallel +with the river, extending over the upper half of the island and divided +in the centre by the public square. On this were situated the Governor's +mansion, state house, church, and other public buildings. Near where the +line was broken by the space just mentioned, stood two spacious +tenements, facing each other from opposite sides of the street. These +were the rival hotels of the ancient city; and, after the fashion of +that day, both had towering signposts erected before their respective +doors, shaped something like a gibbet, upon which swung monotonously in +the wind two huge painted sign-boards. These stood confronting each +other like two angry rivals—one bearing the insignia of the Berkley +arms, by which name it was designated,—and the other the Cross Keys, +from which it also received its cognomen. The Berkley Arms was the +rendezvous of all the Cavaliers of the colony, both old and young, and +but a short time preceding the date of our story, was honoured as the +place of assembly for the House of Burgesses.</p> + +<p>The opposite and rival establishment received its patronage from the +independent or republican faction.</p> + +<p>It was late in the month of May, and towards the hour of twilight; the +sun was just sinking behind the long line of blue hills which form the +southwestern bank of the Powhatan, and the red horizontal rays fell +along the rich volume of swelling waters dividing the city of Jamestown +from the hills beyond with a line of dazzling yet not oppressive +brilliance.</p> + +<p>As the rich tints upon the water gradually faded away, their place was +supplied in some small degree from large lanterns which now might be +seen running half way up the signposts of the two hotels before +mentioned, together with many lights of less magnitude visible in the +windows of the same establishments and the various other houses within +reflecting distance of the scene. The melancholy monotony of the +rippling and murmuring waters against the long graduated beach now also +began to give place to louder and more turbulent sounds, as the negroes +collected from their work to gossip in the streets—Indians put off from +the shore in their canoes, or the young Cavaliers collected in the +Berkley Arms to discuss the news of the day or perhaps a few bottles of +the landlord's best. On this occasion the long, well-scrubbed oaken +table in the centre of the "News Room" was graced by the presence of +some half dozen of the principal youths of the city. In the centre of +the table stood the half-emptied bottle, and by each guest a full bumper +of wine, and all were eager to be heard as the wine brightened their +ideas and the company received fresh accessions from without.</p> + +<p>"Oh, here comes one who can give us some news from the Governor's," said +the speaker <i>pro tempore</i>, as a handsome and high-born youth of +twenty-one entered the room with a proud step and haughty mien, and +seated himself at the table as a matter of course, calling for and +filling up a wine glass, and leisurely and carelessly throwing his cap +upon the seat and his arm over the back of the next vacant chair, as he +replied—"No, I bring no news from the Governor's, but I mistake the +signs of the times if we do not soon hear news in this quarter."</p> + +<p>All eyes were now turned upon the youth as he tossed off his wine. He +was generally known among his companions by the familiar name of Frank +Beverly, and was a distant kinsman and adopted son of the Governor, Sir +William Berkley. News was no sooner mentioned than our host, turning a +chair upon its balance, and resting his chin upon his hand, was all +attention.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Frank?" inquired Philip Ludwell, his most intimate friend +and companion.</p> + +<p>"Some mischief is brewing at the Cross Keys to-night," replied Frank, as +the landlord moved up his chair nearer to the table, more than ever on +the <i>qui vive</i>, when the Cross Keys became the subject of discussion.</p> + +<p>"There is no one in the Tap of the Keys, as I can see from here," said +another of the party, "and there is no light in any other portion of the +house except the apartments of the family."</p> + +<p>"They hide their lights under a bushel," continued Frank, with an +affected nasal twang and a smile of contempt. Taking his nearest +companion by the lappel of his doublet, and drawing him gently to where +the rival establishment was visible through the door—"Do you not see a +line of light just perceptible along the margin of the upper window? and +if you will observe steadily for a moment, you will see numerous dim +shadows of moving figures upon the almost impenetrable curtain which is +drawn over it."</p> + +<p>"Master Beverly is right, by old Noll's nose," said the landlord, as +they all grouped together to catch a glimpse of the objects mentioned.</p> + +<p>"You may well swear by Noll's nose in this case," returned Frank, "for +unless I am much mistaken, those motions and gestures proceed from some +of his late followers; indeed I know it. I was accidentally coming up +the alley-way between the Keys and the next house, when I saw four or +five of them cross the fence into the yard, and from thence enter the +house by the back door."</p> + +<p>"That's true, I'll swear," said the host, "for there they are, some +dozen of them at least, and I'm a Rumper if a soul has darkened his +front door this night. But couldn't you, Master Beverly, or one of the +other young gentry, just step to the stout Sir William's, and make an +affidavy to the facts? My word for it, he'd soon be down upon 'em with a +fiery facias or a capias, or some such or another invention of the law."</p> + +<p>The youths all burst into a loud cachinnation at the zeal of the +landlord to unmask his rival, and reseating themselves, called for +another bottle, which our friend of the Arms was not slow to produce, by +way of covering his retreat and hiding his disinterested zeal. As they +all refilled their glasses, Frank waved his hand for silence. "Has any +gentleman here seen Mr. Nathaniel Bacon very lately?"</p> + +<p>"I have not—I have not," replied each of the party, and the +interrogator then continued, "I would give the best pair of spurs that +ever graced a Cavalier's heels to know whether his long absence has had +any thing to do with the getting up of yonder dark conclave?"</p> + +<p>Whether any of the party were Bacon's immediate friends, or whether they +suspected Frank's motives in the case, we shall not undertake to +determine at present; but certain it is they were all silent on the +point except his intimate friend Ludwell, who replied—"By St. George, +Beverly, I believe you are jealous of Bacon on account of the favourable +light in which he is said to stand in the eyes of your fair little +mistress."</p> + +<p>"If I thought that Virginia Fairfax would entertain a moment's +consideration for a person of such doubtful parentage and more doubtful +principles as Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, the ill-advised protegé of her +father, I would forswear her for ever, and dash this glass against the +floor, with which I now invite you all to join me in pledging her,—What +say you? Will you join me, one and all?" All rose at the invitation, and +while standing with glasses suspended midway to their lips, Ludwell +added the name of "the pretty Harriet Harrison." It was drunk with three +times three, and then the landlord was brought up by the collar of his +jerken between two of the liveliest of the party, and made to tell the +reckoning upon the table with his well-worn chalk. Having settled the +score, they proceeded to decant full half the remaining bottle into one +of his own pint flagons, seized from his shelves for that purpose. "Mine +host" made sundry equivocal contortions of the countenance, and +practised by anticipation several downward motions of the muscles of +deglutition, and then swallowed the enormous potation without a groan.</p> + +<p>"There now," said Ludwell, "bear it always in your remembrance that a +like fate awaits you, whenever your wine bears evidence of having passed +rather far into the state of acetous fermentation." As the party were +now leaving the room in pairs, linked arm in arm, "Stop! stop!" cried +Beverly; "I have one proposition to make before we separate. It is this. +You know that there is to be a grand celebration the day after +to-morrow, which is the anniversary of the restoration. The whole to +conclude with a ball at the Governor's, to which I feel myself +authorized to say that you will all be invited. Now I propose that we +all go at different hours to-morrow and engage the hand of the fair +Virginia for the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sets. So +that when Mr. Nathaniel Bacon returns, as he assuredly will, to claim +her hand, to which he seems to think he has a prescriptive right, he +will find no less than six different successful competitors. What say +you, gentlemen?"</p> + +<p>The proposition was instantly acceded to by all the party, and then the +landlord of the Arms was left to digest the pint of his own sour wine in +solitude, as he leaned his overgrown person against the casings of the +door and watched the youths as they departed one by one in different +directions to their respective places of abode.</p> + +<p>"Natty Bacon is a goodly youth, however," he muttered in soliloquy; "ha, +ha, ha; but he shall know of the plot if I can only clap eyes on him +before they see the young lady. Let me see; can it be possible that +Natty can have any thing to do with yonder dark meeting of Noll's men? +I'll not believe it; he is too good a youth to meddle with such a +canting, snivelling set as are congregated there. He always pays his +reckoning like any gentleman's son of them all; and a gentleman's son +I'll warrant he is, for all that no one knows his father but Mr. Gideon +Fairfax."</p> + +<p>The Cromwellians alluded to, who were supposed by the youths to be +assembled at the Cross Keys, were a few of the late Protector's veteran +soldiers, and were the most desperate, reckless and restless of the +republicans who, as has been already mentioned, had fled to Jamestown +after the restoration. These soldiers were unfitted for any kind of +business, and generally lived upon the precarious hospitality of those +of their own party who had settled themselves as industrious citizens of +the new community.</p> + +<p>The names of the leaders of these veteran soldiers and furious bigots +were Berkinhead, Worley, Goodenough and Proudfit; and of these the +reader will hear more anon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>Late in the afternoon of the day succeeding the one designated in the +last chapter, towards the southwestern extremity of the beach and +outside of the palisade, a young and gentle creature, of most surpassing +loveliness, moved thoughtfully along the sandy shore, every now and then +casting a wistful glance over the water, and as often heaving a gentle +sigh, as a shade of girlish disappointment settled upon her blooming +face. Her dress was simple, tasteful, and exquisitely appropriate to her +style of beauty. She had apparently scarce passed her sixteenth +birthday; and of course her figure was not yet rounded out to its full +perfection of female loveliness. So much of her neck as was visible +above a rather high and close cut dress, was of that pure, chaste and +lovely white which gives such an air of heavenly innocence to the +budding girl of that delightful age. The face although exceeding the +neck in the height, variety and richness of its colouring, was not +disfigured by a single freckle, scar or blemish. The features were +generally well proportioned and suited to each other, the lips full and +gently pouting, with a margin of as luxurious tinting as that with which +nature ever adorned the first budding rose of spring, and when parted, +as they often were, by the most gentle and <i>naïve</i> laughter, displayed +a set of teeth beautifully white and regular. Yet one could scarcely +fasten the eye upon them for the admiration excited by the exquisite +expression of the dimpled mouth, ever varying, and as it seemed, more +lovely with each succeeding change. The motion of her eyes was so rapid +that it was difficult to ascertain their colour; but certain it is they +were soft and brilliant, the latter effect produced in no small degree +by long fair dewy lashes which rose and fell over the picture, as lights +and shadows fall from the pencil of an inspired painter.</p> + +<p>The fair flaxen ringlets fell beneath the small gipsey hat in short +thick curls, and were clustered around her brow, so as to form the most +natural and appropriate shade imaginable to a forehead of polished +ivory. She was about the medium height, symmetrically proportioned, with +an exquisitely turned ankle and little foot, which <i>now</i> bounded over +the beach with an impatience only surpassed by her own impetuous +thoughts, as her eyes became intently riveted upon a moving speck upon +the distant waters. The wild and startled expression, excited in the +first moment of surprise, might now be seen merging into one of perfect +satisfaction, as the distant object began to grow into distinct outlines +at every plunge of the buoyant waves; her heart heaving its own little +current to her face in perfect unison with their boisterous movements.</p> + +<p>A beautifully painted canoe soon ran its curled and fantastic head right +under the bank upon which she stood, and in the next moment a gallant +and manly youth leaped upon the shore by her side, and taking her +unresisting hand, gently removed the gipsey hat so as to bring into view +a certain crimsoning of the neck and half averted face. Nathaniel Bacon, +the youth just landed, was about twenty-one, and altogether presented an +appearance of the most attractive and commanding character. He wore a +green hunting jerken, buttoned close up to his throat so as to show off +to the best advantage a broad and manly chest. Upon his head was a broad +brimmed unstiffened castor, falling over his shoulders behind, and +looped up in front by a curiously wrought broach.</p> + +<p>A small brass hunting horn swung beneath one shoulder, while to the +other was suspended a short cut and thrust sword. In his hand he bore a +fishing rod and tackle.</p> + +<p>Few as evidently were his years, much painful thought had already +shadowed his handsome and commanding features with a somewhat precocious +maturity. It was obviously, however, not the natural temperament of the +man which now shone out in his features, after the subsiding of the +first glow of delighted feeling visible for an instant as he watched the +heightened bloom on the countenance of the maiden.</p> + +<p>"You were not irreconcilably offended then at my rash and disrespectful +behaviour to your father at our last meeting?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not irreconcilably so, Nathaniel, if offended at all; but I +will confess to you candidly, that I was hurt and mortified, as much on +your own, as on my father's account."</p> + +<p>"You are always kind, considerate and forgiving, Virginia, and it +behooves me in presence of so much gentleness, to ease my conscience in +some measure by a confession. You have sometimes, but I have never, +forgotten that I was thrown upon your father's hospitality an orphan and +an outcast. This fact constantly dwells upon my mind, and sometimes +harrows up my feelings to such a degree that I am scarcely conscious of +my words or actions. It was so on the occasion alluded to. I forgot your +presence, the respect due to your father and my benefactor, as well as +what was due to myself. I had been endeavouring to revive some of the +drunken reminiscences of that eccentric fellow who sits in the canoe +there, but they tended only to inflame my ardent desire to know +something more of myself. Certainly some allowances must be made for me, +Virginia, under the mortifying circumstances in which I am placed. I +thought your father could and ought to relieve this cruel suspense!"</p> + +<p>"He will if he can, Nathaniel; and that he does not do so immediately, +is the best evidence to my mind either that he knows nothing on the +subject, or that some powerful reason exists why he should not disclose +his knowledge at present. Come, then, return with me to our house; my +father will take no notice of your absence or its cause, unless to jest +with you upon your want of success in your fishing expedition, which it +seems was the ostensible motive of your absence."</p> + +<p>"It was my purpose to return, but I had not so amiably settled the how +and the when; indeed the objects I had in view were so urgent that I +determined to brave even your father's continued anger in order to +obtain an interview with you."</p> + +<p>"With me, Nathaniel!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, with you, Virginia! You know that there are on the island some +restless and turbulent spirits—late soldiers of the Protector. They +have some dangerous project brewing I am well satisfied, from +circumstances which accidentally fell under my own observation. You know +too that the Recluse is said to have unbounded influence with these +desperate men, and to be familiar with all their designs and movements. +And notwithstanding your childish dread of him, you know that he loves +you more than any living creature."</p> + +<p>"I know all the things you speak of, except the last, and for that I +suspect I am indebted to your imagination; but to what does all this +lead?"</p> + +<p>"I have just returned from a visit to that strange and mysterious old +man, and as I have already hinted, hastened hither for the purpose of +seeking an interview with you, which fortune has so opportunely thrown +in my way."</p> + +<p>"But I am yet in the dark. Why did you hasten from the Recluse to me, +after discovering the things you speak of?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you; but you must be cool, calm and considerate while I do +so, because I have that to tell and that to propose which will astound +you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh do tell it at once then, and not play upon my feelings thus."</p> + +<p>"Your father's and your uncle's life is in danger, Virginia! Heaven, +what have I done?" he continued, as he saw his companion turn deadly +pale and lean against the palisade for support. But instantly recovering +herself she asked—</p> + +<p>"Whence does this danger come?"</p> + +<p>"That I do not know exactly; but the Recluse knows, and I have been +vainly endeavouring to learn it from him; and this brings me to the +proposition which I have to make. You must visit him this night! 'Ay, +Virginia! start not, you must do it for your father's and your uncle's +sake!"</p> + +<p>"Visit the Recluse, and at night! What will my parents say to it, think +you?"</p> + +<p>"They must not know one word of it."</p> + +<p>"Then it is absolutely out of the question."</p> + +<p>"Do not say so, Virginia, till you hear me out. As I have already said, +the Recluse loves you better than he does any creature in the colony. He +knows all the plots and counterplots that are going on, and if you will +surprise him with a visit to-night, he will divulge the whole affair to +you."</p> + +<p>"Why must it be to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Because there is no time to be lost. To-morrow is the anniversary of +the Restoration. There is to be a grand celebration during the day, and +a ball at night; this opportunity is to be taken advantage of in some +way or other by the desperate men alluded to. If we wait till to-morrow, +and make our visit publicly, these men will all know of it, and its very +object be counteracted by that circumstance."</p> + +<p>"Your reasons are plausible I confess, Nathaniel, and secret enemies are +at all times dreadful, but your alternative is scarcely less so."</p> + +<p>"I will pledge my life for your safety. You have the keys of your +father's house at command, you can go and return through the servants' +hall when they are all asleep. No sentinels are placed on the walls +since the general peace with the confederated tribes of Indians. My +canoe lies under the first abutment of the bridge. I will watch you from +your father's door till you arrive there. We can then cross the creek in +the canoe, so that no one will see us at the bridge. Brian O'Reily shall +wait on the opposite shore with my horse and pillion for you, and +another for himself. What then is there so much to be dreaded in this +simple nocturnal excursion to a retired old man, who, to say the worst +of him, is nothing more than fanatical on religious subjects, and +certainly he is very wise and learned upon all others."</p> + +<p>"It is the clandestine nature of the expedition that I object to, +Nathaniel; it is so hurried—at such a strange hour too. At all events I +must have a little time to consider of the propriety of the step."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, you shall have as much time as the nature of the case will +admit of. But see, the long shadows of the trees are already extending +across the river and the birds are seeking their resting places for the +night."</p> + +<p>"Oh, happy little songsters! would to Heaven that my rest could be as +sweet and tranquil as theirs this night? But Nathaniel, at what hour +shall I meet you at the bridge, provided I determine upon the step you +propose?"</p> + +<p>"As the clock from the tower of the church strikes eleven I will be at +my post." And as he stepped into his canoe, he continued, "Remember, +Virginia, that it is your own peace and your father's safety that I am +endeavouring to secure in the course I urge you to adopt."</p> + +<p>As the little vessel rose and sunk over the swelling waves in its +passage round the town, Virginia stood on the brink of the river and +gazed upon the scene in a deeply meditative mood, very new to her young +and hitherto careless heart. At length when her late companion had long +disappeared from her sight, and the sombre shadows of evening were fast +closing around the ancient city, she slowly passed into the gates of the +palisade and sought her father's dwelling.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>Violent was the struggle of contending emotions within the bosom of +Virginia Fairfax, when she had gained her own apartment, and strove to +form her determination in the matter proposed by Nathaniel Bacon. On +such occasions feeling usurps the place of reason, and the longer we +deliberate, the more perplexing seem to grow our doubts and +difficulties. If, however, there were powerful feelings contending +against the enterprise, there were equally if not more powerful ones +operating in its favour. Not the least among these was the estimation in +which she held both him who proposed the nocturnal expedition and him +whose advice and aid were expected to be gained. Bacon himself, it was +generally believed, had acquired most of his knowledge of books from the +mysterious personage alluded to, and he in his turn had been the +instructer of his fair young associate and playmate. It is true that +these relations of the several parties had somewhat changed of late +years, as the two younger ones approached the age at which their +continuance might be deemed improper, to say nothing of any little +misgivings of which, they might themselves be conscious, as to the +nature of many strange and novel impressions, the growth of years and +intimacy, perhaps, but not suspected until with advancing years came +change of relative situation and prospect for the future.</p> + +<p>All the various relations of our heroine to the other parties presented +themselves in successive aspects to her view, as she endeavoured +honestly to decide the matter according to the dictates of duty. While +she was thus deliberating, the usual evening meal was announced. As she +entered the apartment, and beheld her father and mother waiting for her +to assume the head of the table, which on account of the latter's +delicate health had been her custom of late, all the contending emotions +which had so lately occupied her mind were renewed with increasing force +by the sight of the beloved objects in whose behalf she was solicited to +undertake the strange adventure.</p> + +<p>Gideon Fairfax, the father of Virginia, was one of the Cavaliers, before +alluded to, who fled to Jamestown during the interregnum. He was +brother-in-law to the Governor of the colony, and was, at the time of +which we write, a member of the council. He was one of that remarkable +race of men which has so powerfully influenced the destinies of the +Ancient Dominion from that day to the present. He was rather above the +medium height, with light hair and eyes, and although he had +considerably passed the prime of life, there was a sparkling of boyish +vivacity in his eyes, and a cheerful expression always hovering about +his mouth, which instantly dispelled any thing like formality in his +intercourse with others. Yet withal there was a bold, reckless daring +in his look, together with an open-hearted sincerity which served to +give a manly dignity to the lighter expressions already mentioned. To +his only daughter he was most devotedly attached.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Emily Fairfax seemed about the same age as her husband, and though +she still preserved some evidence of former beauty, her countenance was +now mostly indebted for any charm that it possessed to a mild, lady-like +and placid serenity, which was occasionally shadowed by an air of +melancholy so profound, that more than once her friends were alarmed for +her reason. As Virginia assumed her place at the board, the conflict in +her mind was in nowise subdued by observing that one of these melancholy +visitations was just settling upon her mother's countenance; indeed +there seemed to be a mutual discovery on the part of mother and +daughter, that each had some secret cause of uneasiness; but the effect +was by far the most painful to the mother's heart, as it was the first +time that she had ever seen her daughter's gay and happy temperament +seriously disturbed. The parting hour for the night arrived, without +making either of them wiser as to the cause of the other's +pre-occupation and evident anxiety; the mother having sought an +explanation in vain, and the daughter being too much accustomed to her +present state of mind to intrude farther upon her sorrows, whatever +might be their cause or nature. Bacon's arguments prevailed, and long +before the hour appointed, Virginia was sitting at the window, her light +extinguished, mantle drawn close around her to exclude the damp air from +the river, and her hat tied on in readiness for the expedition.</p> + +<p>At length the town clock began to send its slow and solemn sounds across +the water. The house was still and dark, and the inmates apparently +wrapped in profound slumber. Her own clandestine movements, so new to +her, seemed like the trampling of armed heels rather than the footfalls +of her own slight figure. More than once she was on the point of +retracing her steps, so tumultuous and painful were her emotions in +prosecuting an adventure which still appeared to her of such +questionable propriety. The servants' hall, garden, and postern gate +were all passed without the slightest interruption, save an occasional +start at her own shadow, or the impetuous beating of her agitated heart. +The moon was at her zenith, and the clouds coursing high in the heavens, +so as every now and then to obscure her reflected beams, and present +alternate and fantastic contrasts of light and shade upon the +surrounding objects. The river for one moment looked like a dark abyss, +and the next a mirror of light as the silver rays fell sparkling upon +the rippling waters beneath the bridge. The interminable forest beyond +was at one moment dark as Erebus, and the next as light as fairy land. +There is no appearance of the heavens, perhaps, which produces a +greater tendency in the mind to undefined and superstitious terror than +that which we have attempted to describe. Our own shadow, visible as it +is only for an instant, will startle us; and the ill-omened birds of +night acquire huge and unnatural proportions as they flit swiftly by on +noiseless wings in this rapid alternation of light and gloom. The wolves +and other beasts of prey might be heard at long intervals, as their wild +and savage howls broke upon the ear, reverberating from cliff to cliff +as they fell upon and were borne across the water. Under these +circumstances it may be readily imagined that our heroine was not a +little relieved at the sight of Bacon leaning against the nearest +abutment of the bridge, anxiously watching for her approach. In a few +moments he had seated his companion in the boat, upon a cushion formed +of his cloak, and was rapidly approaching the opposite shore. When they +arrived at the appointed rendezvous, a very unexpected source of +uneasiness was speedily discovered. As has been already intimated, Bacon +had early in the evening despatched his usual attendant, Brian O'Reily, +across the bridge to wait their arrival. The horses were indeed +there—and O'Reily was there, but so intoxicated as to be apparently in +no condition to guide the motions of a horse, even should he be able to +keep the saddle. Bacon lost all patience at this discovery, and would +perhaps have taken summary and not very agreeable means to sober his +attendant, had he not been reminded by his gentle companion of the +peculiar and privileged position which Brian had from time immemorial +enjoyed in his service, as well as that of their own family. "How comes +it, sir," said the young man, "that I find you in this predicament when +I gave you such strict injunctions to keep yourself sober? Now of all +other times!—when I had taken so much trouble to instruct you whom you +were to guard, and upon what expedition?"</p> + +<p>"By the five crasses, but you've hit the very nail upon the head. By the +contints of the book but that's the very rason I took a dhrop of the +crathur!"</p> + +<p>"What is the reason, you drunken old fool?"</p> + +<p>"The business were an to be sure! you wouldn't be after axing a sinner +like Brian O'Reily to ixpose himself to sich a temptation widout taking +a dhrop, and may be your haner would do that same for all your spaking +aginst it so intirely."</p> + +<p>"And what may the nature of the temptation be of which you speak?"</p> + +<p>"And is it Brian you're after axin? O begorra, but that's runnin away +wid the story intirely, so it is; sure it's me should be axin your haner +after that same!"</p> + +<p>"None of your subterfuges, sir! I am determined to know your ideas of +this dreadful temptation."</p> + +<p>"By my purty an is it Brian's idaas you're axin after, divil a miny o' +them he's got any way, barrin a small bit of a smotherin about the +heart whenever I think of the business we're on, and the gintleman +we're goin to see, savin your prisence and the beauty o' the world by +your side."</p> + +<p>"What gentleman—speak out and I will forgive your drunkenness, provided +you give me up that bottle I see peeping from the pouch of your jerkin."</p> + +<p>"An is'nt it the man widout the shadow you're after making a tay party +wid?"</p> + +<p>"And who is the man without a shadow, Brian?" inquired Virginia, willing +to forget her own misgivings in the more ludicrous superstition of the +son of the Emerald Isle, whose countrymen, it may be remarked, formed no +inconsiderable part of the inferior population of the city at that day.</p> + +<p>"Oh bad cess to me, but I'm as glad to see you as two tin pinnies, you +beauty o' the world; but it bates all the love I had for you and ever +had these ten years past to see where you'r going."</p> + +<p>"Well, where is it, Brian?"</p> + +<p>"Hav'nt I tould your ladyship it was to a tay party wid the inimy +himself."</p> + +<p>"Come, see if you can assist Virginia to the pillion," said Bacon, as he +sprang into the saddle.</p> + +<p>"By my purty and I'll do that same;" kneeling upon one knee and taking +one foot in his hand, and then seating her as easily and gracefully as +if he had been a stranger to the bottle for a month.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea that you were such a coward, Brian," continued his +master.</p> + +<p>"Sorra a dhrop o' coward's blood runs in Brian O'Reily's heart, iny way. +It's one thing to trate the grate inimy with dacent respect, and its +another to fight the yellow nagres that go dodgin from tree to tree like +so many frogs; the devil fly away wid the one and the t'other o' them +for me, I say."</p> + +<p>"And who is the great enemy?"</p> + +<p>"Sure hav'nt I tould your haner and the beauty o' the world by your +side, it was the man widout a shadow what lives in the stone house +widout windows, as well he may, seein the light o' his own counthenance +may be seen across the river the darkest night any day."</p> + +<p>"Sit your horse straight, you drunken piece of stupidity, or you will +break your neck."</p> + +<p>"Oh! an if Brian never breaks his neck till he falls from a horse, sure +he'll live to take many a dhrop of the crathur yet before he dies. Sure +I was only crassin myself, divil a word o' lie's in that, iny way."</p> + +<p>"There, I have broken one of your necks at least," said Bacon, as with +the butt of his riding whip he struck the neck from a bottle which every +now and then peeped from Brian's pocket as the motions of the horse +raised him in the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Oh! murther all out, but you'll come to want yet before you die. Oh +sure, but the crathur's safe after all. Wo, ye divil of a baste, don't +you hear the crathur all runnin down the wrang side o' me. Wo, I say! Oh +but the bottle sticks as tight to the pouch as if it growed there. Oh +murther all out, I'm ruined, I'm ruined intirely."</p> + +<p>"Draw your arm from your jerken, Brian, and then you can drink out of +your pocket," said Virginia, suppressing a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Oh you beauty o' the world, see what it is to have the larnin," replied +the Irishman, immediately adopting the expedient; but here a new +difficulty presented itself. "Oh murther, but the gable end's all +knocked off and fax the chimney went along with it. Oh, but the crokery +sticks up all round like pike staffs. Wo you murthur'n baste; Now I've +got it, now I've got it, you beauty; sorra one of the lane cows at +Jamestown gives sich milk as that, fax if they did, I'd be head dairyman +to the Governor any way."</p> + +<p>Thus our adventurers beguiled the way through a dreary and trackless +forest of some miles, until they approached a spot where Bacon signified +to the party that they had accomplished so much of their journey as was +to be performed on horseback. What farther befell them will be described +in the ensuing chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>Bacon and his companion having left O'Reily with the horses, now +commenced descending an immense hill which formed one side of a dark and +dismal looking glen. The tall pine trees with which the higher grounds +were covered seemed to reach half way to the clouds. A cold midnight +breeze swept through the damp and dewy foliage of the trees and +shrubbery. The birds of night chimed mournfully and dismally in unison +with the monotonous rustling of the leaves, and the rippling of a little +brook just before them. When they had stepped across the stream, and +cast their eyes up the face of the opposite hill, the rays of the moon +suddenly broke through a fissure of the clouds, revealing to them rather +the darkness around than any distinct traces of the path which they were +to pursue. Bacon stood for an instant, and gazed intently upon a little +spot of partially cleared ground half way to the summit, then gently +drawing his companion to the same place where he stood, and pointing +upwards, he said "Do you not perceive something moving yonder? It is he! +you must now proceed alone!"</p> + +<p>"Alone, Nathaniel? Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"You must, Virginia; he will not admit more than one person at a time +within his cell. Fear not there is no earthly danger; I will be within +call. Rouse your drooping courage! the worst half of your undertaking is +now accomplished."</p> + +<p>"By far the worst half is yet to come, Nathaniel; you can form no +conception of the awe with which I look upon that being! You forget that +I have never seen more of him than I see now, notwithstanding you say +that he is so much attached to me."</p> + +<p>"It is strange, I confess Virginia, but it is nevertheless true."</p> + +<p>"His affection, if it exists, must be the fruit of your representations +as to some imaginary proficiency in my studies."</p> + +<p>"Not at all; he seems to know every one in Jamestown, and all the +circumstances connected with their history: but come, Virginia, we are +losing precious time. Move on and fear nothing."</p> + +<p>Clasping her hands, and internally summoning up all her resolution, she +advanced with a sort of desperate determination. Having arrived within +some forty yards of the spot before alluded to, the outlines of a +gigantic figure could easily be discerned as his footfalls were +distinctly heard moving restlessly to and fro on a sort of platform or +level space, left by nature or formed by art, in the side of the hill. +His head towered far above the stunted undergrowth, interspersed among +the rugged outlines of the scene. And as he impatiently measured the +narrow limits of this outer court to his castle, he seemed not unlike a +chafed and hungry monarch of the forest when making the narrow rounds of +his iron bound limits. Having gone thus far, she was sensible that it +was nearly as bad to recede as go forward, and that if she retreated now +upon the very eve of the fulfilment of all that Bacon had promised, her +past anxieties would have been endured for nothing: she braced her +nerves therefore, and endeavoured to subdue the overpowering terror +which the distant view of this strange and mysterious man had excited. +Summoning all her resolution for one desperate effort, she threw herself +forward and fell at the feet of the huge mortal, who stood apparently +astounded at the abrupt appearance of his unwonted and untimely visiter. +When Virginia found courage enough to raise her lately closed eyes, she +was not a little astonished to see him leaning against the stone walls +of his cell, no less agitated than herself. He was apparently about +sixty years of age, his hair slightly silvered, and his features worn +and weatherbeaten, yet eminently handsome. His person was very +remarkable, being about six feet and a half in height and perfectly +proportioned. His dress conformed in some degree to the military +fashions of the day, having however rather the appearance of undress +than full uniform. The expression of his countenance was decidedly +intellectual; and about the lower part of his face there were some +indications of a disposition to sensuality, but tempered and controlled +in no ordinary degree by some other fierce and controlling passion. His +eye was wild and unsettled at times, and again assumed the mild serenity +of the profound student. Altogether, his presence was intellectual and +commanding in the highest degree.</p> + +<p>As he stood against the wall of his cell quaking like an aspen, an +indifferent observer would have been at a loss to determine which was +the most agitated, he or his gentle visiter. Virginia noted with more +than one furtive glance his strange and unexpected embarrassment, still +however, preserving her humble and supplicating posture. At length, +struggling with the emotions which unmanned him, muttering all the while +broken sentences which fell strangely upon her ear, and among which she +could distinguish repeated allusions to herself, and to events of long +passed years, recalled as it appeared by some fancied resemblance traced +by his excited imagination in her form and features. He approached the +kneeling maiden, and taking her hand, he raised her from the ground, and +said in a tone of kindness, "My wayward fancies frighten thee, my child; +be not alarmed, however—there is nothing here to harm thee. My house is +poor and cheerless, but such as it is, thou art welcome to its shelter, +and to any services which I can render to thee. Come, my daughter, let +us in from the damps of the night."</p> + +<p>The cell of the Recluse was formed on three sides by stone walls without +windows, as O'Reily had described them, the fourth being furnished by +the side of the hill, and the roof an arch of masonry overgrown with +moss, grass and weeds.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>Pressing open the rude door, he entered, followed by Virginia. Near one +corner of the room stood a common deal table, on which was placed a +small iron lamp, and near to it a three legged stool of the rudest +construction. These were the only articles of furniture of which the +apartment could boast. The floor, which consisted of the earth, as +nature had made it, was overgrown with weeds and bushes. "This," said +he, with a bitter smile upon his countenance, "is my hall of audience! +Here I receive my guests, with one solitary exception; thou shalt be +another." Having thus spoken, he took the lamp from the table, and +drawing aside some dried bushes which were piled against the side formed +by the hill in apparent carelessness, he exhibited to her view the mouth +of a cavern, not sufficient in height by several feet to admit his +person in the erect position. "This," said he as he stooped to enter, +"is not a house made with hands, and it is built upon a rock of ages. +The rains may descend, floods may come, winds blow and beat upon it, but +it falleth not. It is proper that thou shouldst see it, and such has +long been my intention. I have much to say to thee, and doubtless thou +hast something to communicate to me, or thou wouldst not have made this +visit. But not a whisper of what thou mayst see or hear must ever pass +thy lips, save to those I shall authorize thee to make partakers of thy +knowledge. This is a condition which thou must impress upon thy mind." +Stepping in a bent position within the mouth of the cavern, he moved +forward and downward, motioning her to follow. They descended many rude +and natural steps, which were imperfectly seen by the light of the lamp +borne by her singular guide, the rays being often obscured by the bulk +and great height of his person in the narrow passages of the cave, so +that she was more than once compelled to grope her way by sliding her +hand along the cold damp and dripping walls, and by slipping her feet +over the uneven ground, without raising them in the act of stepping. +Having completed the descent, she found herself in a long natural +vestibule to the inner apartments. Her guide had gained rapidly upon +her, so that when once more upon level ground, some thirty feet below +the outer surface of the earth, he was almost out of sight. She would +have cried out, had she not been restrained by a counteracting feeling, +which placed her in a grievous dilemma between horror at the dismal +place, and fear of the singular being who had undertaken to guide her +through its recesses. Commending herself however to her Maker in mental +prayer, and trusting in his protection the more confidently on account +of the motive for her undertaking, she hastened forward so as with great +exertions to keep within sight of the rising and sinking light of the +lamp, and the devious windings of the cavern. The footfalls of her +Herculean guide reëchoed along the damp and gloomy tunnels with an awful +and dismal effect, amidst the grave-like stillness of the place. +Occasionally flickering shadows were reflected against the walls, when +the light turned suddenly round a projecting rock, affording to her +imagination the most startling and frightful images. While her mind was +combatting these unreal terrors, she was surprised by the tone of a deep +hoarse voice abruptly rumbling through the high dark arches far above +her head, with that reverberating sound peculiar to these secret places +of the earth. But her amazement was still greater, when lifting her eyes +in the direction of the lamp she beheld the Recluse standing upon a +lofty but narrow ledge of rock, the lamp flickering and sinking every +now and then so as to threaten total darkness. He was pointing with his +finger, and directing her to a projecting and winding pathway by which +she must ascend to the platform upon which he stood. This once gained, +she had a complete view of the resting place of her mysterious guide.</p> + +<p>Immediately fronting the platform was a natural doorway, about as high +as her own head, leading into the inner chamber. From the high and +vaulted arches hung thousands of the fantastic creations of hoary time, +and from the centre of these a cord swung into the middle of the area, +to which was suspended a burning lamp, the rays of which were +brilliantly reflected from a thousand shining mirrors of nature's +forming. In one corner she discovered, as they entered, several pieces +of firearms, and against the wall on one side hung huge swords, long +enough for two-handed weapons to ordinary mortals, together with Indian +war clubs, moccasins, wampum, pipes, tomahawks, spears, arrows, and +other implements of savage warfare. In another corner stood a rude +bedstead, evidently constructed by the hands of its nightly occupant, a +small table, two or three chairs, and a few culinary articles,—some the +manufacture of the savages, and others the product of civilized +ingenuity. By far the largest part of one side of the room was occupied +by coarsely constructed shelves, bearing many volumes of the most +venerable appearance. One of these was lying open upon the table, a pair +of horn spectacles upon the page to mark the place where the owner had +last been engaged. The very letters in which it was printed were entire +strangers to the eyes of our heroine. Some thirty yards distant, in the +remotest part of the room, a little furnace diffused a narrow circle of +glowing light through its otherwise gloomy precincts. These completed +the establishment, so far as the eye could discover its arrangement.</p> + +<p>When he had led Virginia into the habitable part of this area, he placed +a chair, and motioned for her to be seated, drawing a stool near the +table at the same time for himself, and resting his head upon the palm +of his hand. "I will not affect ignorance of thy name and person, my +daughter, nor yet of thy errand here. The first I should most certainly +have known, if I had not surmised the last. Alas! my child, thou wilt +think no doubt that I speak in riddles when I tell thee that those +features have been engraven upon the heart of one who has forsworn the +world for many a long and irksome year. Thou mayest well look amazed, my +poor bewildered child, but it is true! I cannot explain it to thee now, +however; some day perhaps thou mayest know all. Oh, if thou couldst +imagine what events must take place in this little isolated world around +Jamestown, before the mysteries of which I speak can rightfully be made +clear to thee, thou wouldst fall upon thy knees and pray that such +disastrous knowledge might never come to thy understanding!"</p> + +<p>As his eye rested from time to time, while he spoke, upon the features +of the beautiful girl, he covered his face with his hands, and seemed +for an instant to give way to an agitation similar to that which +unnerved him at her first appearance on the platform. Occasionally too, +when not speaking himself, he became profoundly abstracted for a moment, +and his eye was wild and restless, and not a little alarming to his +gentle visiter, as it ever and anon fell upon herself, and seemed to +gather in her face the solution of some subtle doubt of his troubled +mind. But observing that his glances, wild as they were, always became +humanized and softened as they rested upon her face, she seized the +first opportunity to complete the object of her journey, not well +knowing how it might terminate, being herself ignorant of its especial +object, and indeed of the very nature of the threatened danger.</p> + +<p>"Father, I came here to seek your aid and protection for those who are +near and dear to me; My honoured parents—my mother"—she would have +proceeded, but at the mention of her mother's name he was seized with +such a convulsive shudder that she paused in astonishment. It seemed as +if the hand of death was already laying its cold grasp upon his vitals. +His eye gleamed wildly—his lips trembled, and his hands shook as one +stricken with the palsy, or overwhelmed by some sudden stroke of +calamity. By a desperate effort of resolution, he speedily resumed his +attention to the discourse, and she proceeded: "I have been advised and +urged in my resort to this step by one not unknown to you, under the +vain hope, I fear, that you were cognizant of some threatened danger to +my dear parents and kindred, and that you would communicate the +knowledge to me rather than to him."</p> + +<p>"As I have already said, my daughter, I surmised that something of this +nature was the object of thy visit, and I will now confess to thee that +this appeal places me in an embarrassing position between some friends +of former and better days and my desire to grant thy request." Pausing +and apparently soliloquizing, he continued: "But have they not acted +against my advice? Did I not tell them, that we had had enough of that +already? Did I not warn them against this very result? I cannot betray +them, however; no, no, my old comrades, I will give you another warning, +and then your blood, if it must flow, be upon your own heads." He was +about to resume his discourse to his visiter, but stopping suddenly and +raising his finger in the attitude of one listening in the profoundest +attention, he seized the small lamp, rushed past the little furnace in +the direction of the cave through the hill opposite the entrance, at one +time rising and anon descending, until Virginia (who had followed, +fearing to be left alone) supposed they must be again near the surface +of the earth. He paused once more to listen, motioning her at the same +time to be silent. He had scarcely done so, when the distant sound of +running water struck upon her ear,—sometimes distinct, and again as if +buried in the bowels of the earth. Then came the noise as of a stone +splashing in the water. The eye of the Recluse sparkled as he turned +with a quick and expressive glance towards his companion. He hastily +applied his ear to the rocky side of the cavern and listened for a +second, then hurried back, taking Virginia by the hand in his return, +and leading her to her former seat. He then busied himself for a few +moments in exchanging the short cutlass by his side for one of the huge +weapons hanging on the wall, and placed a pair of large and richly +inlaid petronels in his belt, as if about to march on some secret and +desperate expedition.</p> + +<p>Whether these were really for such a purpose, or were his usual +preparations for repose, Virginia was entirely at a loss to determine. +Meantime she had an opportunity to survey the features and expression of +his countenance, as he from time to time faced towards her, intently +engaged with his occupation, and muttering all the while words to her +altogether inexplicable at the time.</p> + +<p>His large and light blue eye had an expression of forced resignation and +calmness, drops of cold perspiration stood upon his brow, lip, and bald +head, which was now uncovered. His features were large and striking, but +well proportioned, the lips protuberant, the teeth large, white, and +regular, and as a smile, indicative more of wretchedness than mirth, +played upon his face, the impression was irresistible that the wrinkles +which marked his features were the impress of suffering rather than of +age. In his personal as well as mental attributes he was eminently +gifted, though there seemed to be a settled design, as much to clothe +the one in the garb of age, as to exhibit the other, if at all, in +meekness and humility.</p> + +<p>"It is not consistent with my duty to all parties in this business, my +daughter, to enlighten thee as to the nature of the danger which +threatens thy friends, or as to the means of preventing it. I owe it to +myself, first to warn those from whom it comes, yet once more against +their undertaking, as I have already done—but thus far in vain. If they +are still deaf to my admonition and entreaties, rest assured that I will +leave no power or influence within my control unexerted to thwart their +purposes. Thou mayest therefore direct him who must have conducted thee +hither, to see me early on the morrow, and I will inform him as to the +result of my endeavours and the best means to pursue in case they are +unsuccessful. Rest thou contented yet a little while; I see thou art +impatient, but I have some things to say to thee concerning other +matters than those which brought thee hither. I see thou art studying +these evidences of years in my features as the forester examines the +rings in the fallen tree to estimate its age, but these (pointing to the +wrinkles) are records which years alone could not have wrought. Few of +us, my daughter, can read these marks of time and destiny, and trace +through them one by one, the disappointed hopes, the cruel mishaps, the +hair-breadth adventures, their failure, sealed perhaps in the blood of +those who had basked together with us in the sunshine of youth and hope, +without a sinking of the heart within us, and a deep sense of the utter +worthlessness of all those gay illusions which beam so brightly on thy +own youthful features.</p> + +<p>"I allude to this subject now, my daughter, because there seems to be +some connexion between it and the one upon which I have been so anxious +to commune with thee. Although we have never met before, it is not the +first time I have seen thee, nor is this, which thou hast given me, the +first information I have received concerning thee and thine. I have +taken some pains to learn even the minutest circumstances connected with +thy past history, present occupation and future prospects. I see thy +surprise, but it was not done in idle gossip thou mayest be well +assured. My motives will all be made plain enough to thee some day. In +the mean time I must approach a subject which I fear will give thee +pain, but my duty is imperative, I mean the state of thy mind and +feelings."</p> + +<p>"Alas, father, I fear you will find them but too deeply engrossed with +the cares and pleasures of this world."</p> + +<p>"Thy mistake is a natural one," said he, (one of those smiles of +wretchedness passing over his pale countenance, as a flash of +electricity darting along the horizon sometimes shows us the extent and +depth of the darkness beyond) "my situation and past misfortunes would +indeed seem to fit me for a teacher of holy things, but my present +business is with thy worldly affections. Start not, my daughter; I have +the most urgent reasons which a mortal can have for thus endeavouring to +intrude myself into thy feminine secrets; believe me, no trifling cause +could impel me thus to startle thy maidenly delicacy, nor indeed needest +thou be startled on one account which I see agitates thee. Thou very +naturally supposest me to have some charge to bring against thee for +want of proper spirit and maidenly reserve; I see it by thy blushes; but +there is no such thought within my breast; thou mayest have been even +more guarded than is customary with females of thy age. My business is +with facts, and facts of such a nature that however stubborn they may +be, I fear that thou art unconscious of them, though they relate to +thyself and one other person only. However, without bringing thee to +confessional, I think I can sufficiently put thee upon thy guard without +wounding thy delicacy. The only question in my own mind is, whether the +time to speak has not already passed."</p> + +<p>"I am at a loss to comprehend you, father."</p> + +<p>"I will speak more plainly then. Thou hast been associating for some +years with a youth of little more than thine own age. He is noble and +gifted with every manly and generous attribute; well instructed too for +his time and country. To thee I will give credit for corresponding +qualities suitable to thy own sex, and I have no doubt that thou +possessest them. Thinkest thou then that two such persons could grow up +together constantly within the influence of each other's expanding +personal attractions, besides the nobler ones of mind and heart, without +feeling more towards each other than two ordinary mortals of the same +sex? Oh, I see the crimson tell-tale mounting in thy cheeks; thou +hangest thy head too in tacit acknowledgement, that I have surmised no +more than the truth." His visiter for some time made a vain effort to +speak, and at length overcoming her confusion and surprise, in broken +sentences exclaimed, "Indeed" indeed, father, you wrong me! indeed you +wrong us both! such a subject was never mentioned between us to this +hour! Nay more, it never entered our"—as she looked up and perceived +his searching glance riveted upon her countenance, her head again sunk +in embarrassment, and the words died upon her lips.</p> + +<p>"Cease, cease, my daughter, to punish thyself. I will give thee credit +for all thou wouldst say. I am willing to believe that neither of you +has ever mentioned this subject, and perhaps that neither has ever been +conscious of more than a brotherly affection towards the other. +Nevertheless, the last half hour has fully convinced me that +self-examination, some sudden prospect of separation, or some untoward +circumstance in the ordinary current of your intercourse was only +necessary to awaken both to the perception of the truth. But my business +now is of a far more painful nature than the mere finding of the facts. +I am bound in duty to warn thee! solemnly warn thee that this passion +must be subdued in its inception. I beg of thee not to suppose for one +moment, that my warning has reference merely to obstacles which commonly +obstruct the current of young and mutual affection! They are absolutely +insurmountable,—far more so than any that could arise from difference +of rank, or faith, or country! Nay, if death itself had put its seal +upon one or both, the gulf could not have been more impassable!" His +language began gradually to grow more impassioned, his eye shot forth a +continued instead of occasional gleam of wildness—he rose upon his +feet, and as he pronounced the barrier to be impassable, he took down a +large and ancient manuscript volume, bound in leather, threw it open +upon the table, and to her astonishment a bloody hand was all that was +visible upon the page which seemed to have been accidentally turned up. +He pointed to this singular sign-manual—his finger trembling with +emotion—"See there," said he—"see what it is to neglect a solemn +warning. There is the diary of my eventful life—the transactions of +every day for more than twenty-seven years are there written, save one! +There is the only record of that day! Its history is written in blood! +The seal of Cain is stamped upon all the events of the succeeding pages. +Since that bloody token was placed there, its author has been a wanderer +and an outcast. I was born among the haughty and the proud of a proud +land—there is my coat of arms," said he, with a horrid laugh which sent +the blood coursing back to the heart of our heroine chilled and +horrified. "These are not or should not be uninteresting records to +thee!—had that crimson attestation never been imprinted there, thou +wouldst never have been born! but this will suffice for the first +lesson," (and he closed the book and replaced it upon the shelf;) "at +some more convenient season I will reveal another page of the history of +one with whom henceforth thou wilt be more connected than thou now +imaginest. Now, my daughter, before thou takest leave, let me entreat +thee to remember and ponder well upon what I have said to thee. Shouldst +thou ever be in any sudden strait of danger or difficulty send to me a +memento of the bloody seal and I will come to thee, if within the +compass of mortal means; and remember likewise, should I ever send such +an emblem to thee—pause well upon what thou art about to do. Now thou +mayest depart in peace, but say nothing of what thou hast seen or heard +farther than I have directed thee to do." And thus speaking he took the +lamp and conducted her out by the same opening at which they had +entered.</p> + +<p>They stood upon the platform overlooking the shadowy mazes of moonlit +foliage down the glen; all nature was as silent as when it first came +from the hands of its Creator. Looking towards heaven, and placing his +hand upon her flaxen ringlets, now wafted about in the richest +reflections and deepest contrasts of light and shadow, as a cold breeze +from the valley beneath sought an opening to the plains beyond, he said, +"May God Almighty bless and preserve thee, my daughter!" And then led +her some distance down the hill—bade her adieu, and left her to seek +her more youthful guide, and to ponder upon some novel and not very +pleasing passages in the diary of her own experience.</p> + +<p>Her ideas were any thing but clear and definite. The whole scene of her +late interview was so new—the subject so startling to her young and +innate delicacy. Taking it for granted, however, that all the surmises +of the Recluse were true with regard to herself, that person has studied +human nature to little purpose, who supposes that she, after all that +had been so solemnly announced, admitted the undefined obstacles +mentioned to be as insuperable as the person who suggested them seemed +to imagine. Nevertheless an injunction so grave and authoritative had +its minor effects—the first of which were visited upon the head of our +hero, who impatiently awaited her approach at the foot of the hill.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>When Virginia arrived at the foot of the hill, and looked back, she +could see the Herculean figure of the Recluse, throwing its tall shadow +far down the face of the cliff, as he paced his narrow court exactly as +she had found him doing.</p> + +<p>The surrounding scenery now looked doubly brilliant to her confused +senses, after the gloomy contrasts of her late subterranean journey. The +fleeting clouds were entirely dispersed, and the moonbeams shone clearly +forth in undimmed splendour, tipping with silver light each tree and +shrub, on the hill side and in the dale, and sparkling like gems along +the rippling current of the purling brook on the banks of which Bacon +waited her approach.</p> + +<p>Although the language of the Recluse was somewhat dark and oracular, it +was sufficiently explicit to produce a very sensible effect upon the +mind of Virginia, which our hero was not long in discovering; for as he +extended his hand to assist her across the brook, she tacitly declined +the proffered aid, as if unobservant of his intention, and leaped the +streamlet unassisted. He was the more astonished, that in the whole of +their long intercourse he could not recollect such a whim or freak +occurring towards himself. She seemed reserved and formal too, as they +moved up the opposite hill; but without remarking on her altered mood, +he sought to draw from her the result of her expedition. Barely +communicating so much as she had been directed to do, however, she +remained to him inexplicably silent.</p> + +<p>While he was revolving these things in his mind his companion, silently +and moodily walking at his side, without availing herself of his offered +arm, they met Brian O'Reily somewhat farther down the hill than the spot +where they had left him—the bridle of a horse slung upon each arm—a +handkerchief tied round his waist, into which were stuck two pertronels +from his own saddlebow; and in his hand his master's ready for use.</p> + +<p>"In the name of all the saints in Ireland, what is the matter, Brian?" +exclaimed Bacon.</p> + +<p>"Oh! an be the Holy Father at Rome, is it there'ye are? Sure as death, +but I'm the boy that thought ye were clane murthered iny'way."</p> + +<p>"Murdered! why who was to murder us?"</p> + +<p>"Faix, an there's enough iv them to do that same in <i>this</i> bloody place. +Barrin the tay party wid the great inimy in the side iv the hill +yonther, a'int there enough iv the bloody nagurs (the savages,) ranting +about like so many wild bastes, ready to peale the tap iv your heads +like a pair of onions or murpheys—divil a word a lie's in that iny +way."</p> + +<p>"Are there any of the savages abroad to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Be the contints iv the book, but there is five yallow rascals gone +over the hill towards the city half an hour since. Oh, by my purty, but +I was as near putting a key note to one of their whistles, as two tin +pinnies, only, that I was jalous iv your own safety, and the beauty by +your side at that same reckning."</p> + +<p>"I commend your discretion in not shooting—and I wonder at your +sobriety, considering the condition in which we left you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it Brian O'Reily's discretion your haner's after namin?—an +is'nt it me that's a pathern o' sobriety? Oh, by the five crasses, but +it all comes iv the dhrap o' the crathur I got by the larnin iv you, ye +beauty; divil a word a lie's in that."</p> + +<p>"Gone towards the town have they?" said Bacon, musing—and then +examining the priming of his petronels, he took them—placed them in +their holsters, and mounted his horse, motioning to his attendant at the +same time, to assist Virginia to the pillion. She being mounted, he +continued his discourse to her. "Keep up your courage my brave pupil; no +danger shall molest you unencountered."</p> + +<p>"Strange as it may appear," replied she, for the first time uttering +something more than a monosyllable. "The real danger in which we seem +placed, has few terrors, after my late subterranean visit." This last +part of the sentence was said in an under tone, as they cantered over +the hill.</p> + +<p>"You have done bravely, Virginia, and now Brian it is our turn. Do you +ride foremost—but on no account pull trigger, or draw your sword, +without my orders. We are at peace with the confederated tribes of the +peninsula:—should the party therefore prove to be any of these, +bloodshed will be, unnecessary. Remember, and be watchful!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! be the powers iv mud and darkness, but there's no more profit in +watchin these skulking nagurs, than there is in spakin to the fish to +make them take the bate; both the one and the tother o' them bites when +you laste expect it. Oh! would'nt it be a fine thing to have a praste to +walk along afore ye wid the contints of the book spread out before him?"</p> + +<p>"Get along O'Reily with your nonsense; one would suppose, to hear you +talk, that you were the greatest coward in Christendom."</p> + +<p>The conversation of the Hibernian was at all times amusing to our +adventurers, and was enjoyed with more zest, doubtless, on account of +the many excellent qualities which they knew him to possess, being as +they knew, brave, devotedly attached to them both, and of unvarying good +humour. On the present occasion, Bacon encouraged his volubility in +order to divert his companion's attention from dwelling upon the danger +which he but too clearly saw might await them on their passage to the +city; and thus was the time beguiled, until they arrived at the top of +the hill commanding the town and river, without encountering a single +foe, or meeting with any adventure worth recording. As they descended +towards the river, and O'Reily was just felicitating himself "that there +was a clane path intirely across the stream." A sudden exclamation of +surprise from Bacon, induced him to rein up his steed, in order to +ascertain the cause. This however was clearly seen before the retrograde +movement was completed.</p> + +<p>"Oh! the murtherin thaves iv the world," said O'Reily, "there they are +in our boat too, as sure as my name's Brian O'Reily. Your haner's a good +shot across that same little river, any way, and by these pair o' +beauties that never lie nor chate" he continued, unslinging his arms, +"but I'll be bound for a couple or three more iv them. By the vestments +but we'll put some o' them to slape, wid a tune that'll ring in their +ears to the day o' their deaths."</p> + +<p>"Softly! softly, O'Reily" said Bacon, "you are as far on the one extreme +now as I thought you on the other a while ago. Don't you see that two +watch on this side, besides the three in the boat? And as I live, they +are preparing to push off. Quick, Brian, dismount and follow me behind +these bushes! we must despatch these two, at least, without the use of +firearms. And you, my gentle pupil, must remain with the horses. If we +fall, remain quiet until they have carried off whatever it is they are +endeavouring to steal, and then leave the horses, and seek a passage by +the bridge. I know your situation is a trying one, but it is the best +we can do under the circumstances."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, no, Nathaniel!" said Virginia, suddenly recovering her feelings +as well as her voice. "It is not the best we can do. Stay here yourself, +and I can slip round, unperceived, to the gate of the bridge, and from +thence alarm the city. Do, Nathaniel, suffer me to go."</p> + +<p>"Not for worlds!" answered Bacon; "do you not perceive that it would be +impossible for you to pass the two on this side unnoticed? Besides, were +you even to gain the gate, they would tomahawk you before you could +arouse one person in the town. No, no, you must remain. Seat yourself on +the sward and hide your eyes, if you will, until we despatch these two, +and then we can hold the others at bay."</p> + +<p>"But what is the necessity of attacking them at all, Nathaniel?"</p> + +<p>"Do you not see that they have been committing some +depredation?—perhaps worse, and would be sure to make fight were we to +show ourselves in so small force. But come, O'Reily, we are losing +precious time; follow me, and for your life do not shoot."</p> + +<p>This short and earnest dialogue was held in whispers, and in much less +time than we have taken to record it.</p> + +<p>The precaution against using firearms was doubtless given for fear of +betraying to the inhabitants of the town the delicate and apparently +equivocal position in which Virginia was placed. "We must be upon these +two with our good swords, O'Reily," said Bacon, "before the others can +join them, and if possible before they perceive us."</p> + +<p>"Devil burn me but my hand itches to get acquainted wid the taste o' +their skulls any way. Oh! if we can only smash these two but we'll keep +the others to see their own funerals iny way."</p> + +<p>In a few moments, Bacon and his trusty follower were silently gliding +through the bushes on the banks of the river, and advanced to within a +few rods of the savages, unperceived either by the party on the beach or +those loading the boat on the opposite shore. But as they were just +emerging from the last bush which protected their movements, a +characteristic and startling exclamation "hugh!" from the watch +stationed in the boat, at once precipitated their movements, and put the +two on their guard whom they were about to attack.</p> + +<p>There was at that day no male inhabitant of Jamestown or the surrounding +Colony, arrived at the years and vigour of manhood, who was entirely +unacquainted with the mode and usual end of Indian warfare. Of course, +on such occasions as the present, the contest was for life or death.</p> + +<p>Bacon, notwithstanding his youth, had already acquired some renown as a +warrior in these desperate single-handed conflicts, which doubtless gave +him and his companion more assurance of success on this occasion, +notwithstanding the fearful odds which it was possible might be brought +against them. Springing upon their adversaries, who, as has been seen, +were on their guard, the conflict at once became desperate, while those +in the boat made the utmost efforts to join their companions and +overpower their unexpected enemies. No sooner were the two good swords +of Bacon and O'Reily flashing in the moonbeams, than corresponding +motions of the savage war clubs gave evidence that they also were ready +for battle. Many and hard were the blows which were given on both sides +in the struggle, a mere protraction of which Bacon perceived was +destruction. Accordingly bracing up his own nerves, and cheering +O'Reily, he made a vigorous and successful lunge at his immediate +antagonist, but not before the reinforcement of the enemy was on the +ground to take his place. A contest of this kind, when the parties were +any thing like equal in number, was generally not long doubtful—victory +in most instances being upon the side of superior skill and weapons. But +O'Reily, although a veteran soldier, had met his match in this instance, +his antagonist being a tall and brawny warrior of most fearful +proportions. Yet he laid about him stoutly, while Bacon, merely having +time to catch his breath, renewed the unequal contest with two of the +new assailants, the third at the same time joining his already too +powerful chief against the Irishman. The conflict was now desperate and +bloody; our adventurers fought well and skilfully, every blow was +followed by a crimson stream, and they too in their turn were more than +once beaten to their knees by the terrific sweep of the war clubs. At +one time Bacon was entirely prostrated, but instantly recovering and +rising to his knees he continued to defend himself until he had once +more regained his feet.</p> + +<p>This warfare had now lasted for some minutes, which seemed an age to the +trembling maiden who stood an unwilling yet enchained spectator on the +side of the hill above them. But victory appeared at length about to +crown the desperate efforts of her friends, whose assailants were now +reduced to exactly their own number, and one; the tall old chief opposed +to Brian, covered with his own blood and just ready to fall, when a +sudden and terrific yell immediately behind them announced a +reinforcement; and Virginia sank upon the earth in terror and despair.</p> + +<p>"Plunge into the stream and swim for your life," shouted Brian—"Oh! but +I'll keep their hands busy till ye go clear, even wid a stack of the +yellow devils afore me!"</p> + +<p>Six horrid and painted human monsters, (so they seemed to our +adventurers) now leaped into the midst of the conflict, relieving their +own brethren and thundering their blows upon the heads of their already +exhausted adversaries. In vain they made furious lunges, forgetting the +cunning of fence in the perfect desperation of the hopeless conflict. +At length they both fell under the weapons of their new enemies and two +of the savages, flashing their knives from their sheaths, prepared to +complete the sacrifice; indeed a despairing yell from O'Reily announced +that the butchery had already commenced; when in an instant the head of +the old Chief stooping over him was severed from the trunk, and in the +next a second blow from the same gigantic arm prostrated the one about +to tear the bloody trophy from the fallen Cavalier.</p> + +<p>Virginia had by this time ventured another despairing look upon the fate +of him who was the cherished companion of her childhood. In that moment, +doubtless, all the warnings and injunctions of the Recluse were +forgotten, or if remembered, instantly set aside as the over prudential +suggestions of pride in rank, or wealth, or power, governing the +feelings of her friends, or of him who undertook to give her counsel in +their stead.</p> + +<p>But there were still enemies left besides the two who had flourished the +scalping knife over our prostrate adventurers. With these the Recluse +(for he it was who had come so opportunely to the rescue) at once +renewed the conflict. Placing his back against a tree, and throwing away +his castor and scabbard, he joined in the strife with a zest like that +of an epicure who bares his arm to the exercise of the carving +knive—whirling his enormous weapon amidst the falling clubs with the +precision, ease and coolness of a professor exhibiting his skill with +the harmless foils. His first exertions were, of course, on the +defensive, among so many assailants, but if his blows were rare they +were sure and fatal. He was evidently but putting in practice a sort of +exercise in which he must have both delighted and excelled in days long +past.</p> + +<p>At every blow or thrust a savage went down to rise no more, Bacon, too, +now rallied his scattered senses and exhausted strength, and resumed his +part in the conflict, with enough of both to render him a valuable +auxiliary in the way of defence, which the Recluse perceiving, sprang +into the midst of the enemy and speedily put to flight, or the sword, +the exhausted and disheartened remnant. When Virginia saw this +devoutly-prayed-for termination to the battle, she sank upon the ground +as powerless and exhausted as if she too had been actively engaged. The +Recluse stooping over O'Reily and feeling his head and wrist, hastened +to the boat, and seizing the wooden vessel with which the water was +usually bailed out, returned and bathed his face and temples. Not so +swift were his motions however as to prevent his stopping for a moment +at the boat and gazing with astonishment at Something which it +contained; but there was little time for wonder, and he hastened on his +errand. When Brian's face was cleansed from blood it was found that the +scalping knife of the old warrior had probably been struck from its +intended destination so that the point had caught in one corner of his +mouth and inflicted a wound of some magnitude across his face. While he +was thus attended, Bacon hastened, with what speed he was able to exert, +toward the spot where he had left his helpless companion. He found her +just recovering from the listless stupor in which we left her. "Oh, +Nathaniel!" was all that she was enabled to articulate as she fell into +his arms, forgetting in the deep excitement of the moment every feeling +save the strong and innocent affection which had so long existed between +them.</p> + +<p>Bacon placed her upon his horse, and taking the bridle in one hand, and +holding her steady in her seat with the other, proceeded to the scene of +the late mortal struggle. They found O'Reily sitting up, with his mouth +already bandaged, and his late assistant and protector gone, having +first, as Brian indistinctly muttered, pointed to the boat, as if there +were something there which craved attention. Their own perceptions were +now startled from the same quarter, by the sound of groans. Bacon ran to +the spot, and found a female bound, and lying upon her face in the +bottom of the boat. Having cut the cords and bathed her swollen face and +temples, he speedily restored her to something like consciousness, and +then bore her to the shore and laid her upon the ground. O'Reily now +recognised her as Mrs. Jamieson, wife of Jamie Jamieson, principal +fisherman to the town, whose hut, for convenient purposes in his +avocation, was situated without the protection of the fort. This +statement also accounted to Bacon for the presence of a quantity of fish +netting in the boat, which doubtless excited the cupidity of the poor +ignorant savages, who lay cold and lifeless at his feet.</p> + +<p>New embarrassments seemed to stare our wanderers in the face at every +step on this eventful night. Scarcely was O'Reily restored to his +senses, and Mrs. Jamieson to such a state as to give hopes of recovery, +when it occurred to our hero that something must be done with the dead +bodies. But when he came to reflect upon the appearance which the battle +ground itself would present, he determined to leave the rest to chance, +and to say nothing himself or through his follower, and thus leave the +gossips of the town to account for the slaughter of the Indians as they +might. Mrs. Jamieson was now carefully replaced in the boat, and O'Reily +assisted to his post at the <i>tiller</i>, while Bacon, having seated +Virginia, occupied Brian's usual place at the oar, being the least +injured of the two.</p> + +<p>The former was for once in his life perfectly silent, perhaps owing to +the awkward accident which had happened to his mouth, thereby rendering +it difficult for him to enunciate with the true Hibernian pathos.</p> + +<p>The females having been landed, Bacon desiring Virginia to sit by the +still benumbed Mrs. Jamieson, returned for his horses, which were led by +the side of the boat without any difficulty.</p> + +<p>The whole party now proceeded to the fisherman's hut, Bacon supporting +the feeble steps of its exhausted mistress. Here a new disaster awaited +them. A few yards from the house towards the river, they discovered the +body of the fisherman himself, cold, stiff, and lifeless. O'Reily was +directed to remain with the woman of the house until she should +completely recover her senses, but on no account to stay longer, or +enter into any explanations.</p> + +<p>Bacon and Virginia entered the gate of the fort unchallenged, and +proceeded to the house of Mr. Fairfax, when the latter entered as +quietly and as unperceived as she had sallied forth; while he officiated +as ostler to his own steed, which service being finished to his +satisfaction he sought his apartment; the morning being far advanced +towards the dawn of day. His slumbers, it may be readily imagined, were +not profound and undisturbed,—the restless nervousness of over exertion +in mind and body, being very similar in its effects to that of too much +repose.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>On the morning of the Anniversary of the Restoration, the sun was just +emerging above the eastern horizon, the sky was unclouded and serene, +the air balmy and elastic, and the volumes of misty drapery from the +river were fast rolling away over the hills, as the Recluse stood upon +one of the highest points of the river cliffs, with folded arms, +surveying the scene around him.</p> + +<p>Far back as the eye could reach to the west, all was interminable +forest—the foreground exhibiting occasional specks of cleared land, +where some planter, more adventurous than his fellows, had boldly +trusted his fortunes to the mercy of the savage.</p> + +<p>He looked upon the little city beneath, as the weary mariner on a long +voyage may be supposed to look upon a green island in the midst of a +desert of waters. His chest heaved as the swelling emotions of pent up +years burst from his over-loaded heart. Bacon, the manly and ingenuous +youth, whom the reader will remember as having been appointed to visit +him on this morning, had just sprung upon a mettled and pawing charger, +which was now throwing the fire and pebbles from his heels in thick +volleys, as his master with a fire and impetuosity scarcely inferior to +his own, bent over his uncurbed neck as he descended into the plain. +Several pieces of light artillery, together with volleys of musketry in +quick succession, thundered over the smooth waters of the Powhatan, and +reverberated in multiplied peals under the feet of the Recluse. There +was something connected with this day, and its celebration, which seemed +powerfully to have stirred up the still waters within him. Thick coming +fancies connected with by-gone days were rolling over his soul in an +uncontrolled torrent. But we must leave him for a time to his own +reflections, amidst the solitary grandeur of the scene, while we pursue +the road of the flying Cavalier towards the city.</p> + +<p>The bells from the Church and State House were now also heard in the +intervals of the cannonade, and as we approach nearer to the scene, a +strange confusion of many sounds greet the ear. Drums and fifes, violins +and banjoes, and even jews-harps, all lent their aid to swell the burst +of joy and gratulation. Smiling and happy faces were grouped along the +streets, while gay damsels, in their holyday finery, adorned the doors +and windows of the busy citizens. A perfect Babel of commingled noises +issued from the spacious area of a tobacco warehouse, which, after the +usual fashion, consisted of an extensive roof, supported by colonnades +to every front. Here was congregated the rising generation—boisterous +and happy in the midst of their games and sports. No schoolmaster was +abroad on that day, to rush in upon the unwary urchins, and wreak upon +them the vengeance of Samson upon the Philistines.</p> + +<p>Our forefathers suffered their children to follow very much their own +humours in the selection of those amusements suited to their age and +condition. We see not but the result was as happy as that of the systems +of our day, when every thing is regulated by system, even to the games +and amusements of our children. The time is certainly not far distant +when Geography will be taught by a game at cards; Chemistry by set +<i>conversations</i> upon the constituents of our edibles, and Natural +Philosophy developed in nursery rhymes, that we may imbibe it with our +lullabies.</p> + +<p>On the morning in question, as merry a set of boisterous lads kicked up +the dust in the old warehouse, as ever fought over a game of marbles, or +laughed through one of leap-frog. And while the merry urchins, whom we +have taken under our special protection, were thus enjoying a glorious +holyday, their elders and superiors were moved by the same impulses. The +mansion of the Governor itself was in visible commotion; servants +swelling with importance, aped the grandeur of their masters' looks, +while they ran from room to room on their various duties. A provincial +band of music was stationed under the windows, uniting their sweet +sounds to the Babel-like uproar, in the well known tune of "Over the +waters to Charley."</p> + +<p>There was one little green spot upon the common inviting the +contemplative mind to pleasing reveries. Here a few of the humbler +maidens of the city were adorning the overhanging bushes with gay +garlands of flowers, preparatory to the evening dance, which they +contemplated celebrating in imitation of their superiors, who were to +move in more stately measures at the mansion of the Governor.</p> + +<p>The household of Gideon Fairfax was likewise earlier than usual on the +alert, and he being one of the council of the Colony, came in also for a +share of the honours noised forth under the windows of the most +distinguished Cavaliers.</p> + +<p>Breakfast had been some time waiting at the table, and the fondly +indulged daughter had been repeatedly summoned, but still she came not. +This excited the more surprise in the minds of her parents, as they +supposed, that on this eventful morning, of all others in the year, she +would be up with the lark. The truth was, that after retiring at such an +unusual hour of the night, or rather morning—her slumbers were +disturbed between sleeping and waking, by shadowy dreams of yelling +savages, chivalrous youths, and mighty giants.</p> + +<p>At length, however, she appeared, but instead of bounding into the room +with gay and elastic steps, and more buoyant spirits, in happy +anticipation of the promised enjoyments of the day, her movements were +slow and heavy—her eyes red and swollen, and her whole appearance +indicative of languor and dejection. Her fond parents were instantly at +her side—each taking a hand as she walked into the room, and striving +to learn from the fancied invalid the nature of her sufferings. She +assured them that she had nothing to complain of but want of rest, and +with this they were the more readily satisfied, as towards morning there +had indeed been much firing of guns, and other demonstrations of +loyalty. Her parents being thus satisfied, that her account of the +matter was the true one, Virginia was suffered to assume her place at +the head of the table—a place she had for some time occupied on account +of the delicate state of her mother's health. Meanwhile the anxious +parents assumed their own places, and endeavoured to beguile their +daughter's languor by allusions to the merry sounds, and gay group +without, not forgetting the assembly at the Governor's; and it is more +than probable that they would have succeeded, as few spirited and +blooming beauties of sixteen can long listen unmoved to such details, +had not Virginia, raising her half cheerful face at that moment to a +large mirror which hung opposite, caught the reflection of a person in +whose welfare she took a lively interest, standing in one corner of the +room, and partly behind her chair, with a countenance and attitude which +expressed the deepest misery. This was no other that Wyanokee, her own +little Indian attendant, who officiated near the person of her +mistress, in a medium capacity between friend and servant; the mistress +only requiring the companion, and the maid spontaneously offering the +services due both from affection and gratitude.</p> + +<p>The figure of Wyanokee was diminutive, but like most of the aboriginal +females, exquisitely proportioned, and graceful, after the fashion of +nature's finest schooling. Her face was oval and between a brown and +yellow colour, yet there was a vital tinge occasionally illuminating +this predominant dark ground, which bespoke the refined female, in +language intelligible to all, and far more eloquently than the tongue. +Her hair was jet black, and folded upon her small round head after the +fashion of the Europeans; and her brilliant teeth exhibited a striking +contrast to the dark shades of her skin, and darker sparkling eyes. The +delicately penciled brows, arched beautifully over a countenance +strikingly feminine and lady-like; and the general expression was that +calm sadness which has been remarked as characteristic of the +domesticated aborigines from that day to the present. Her dress was +essentially after the fashion of the whites of that day, just retaining +sufficient of the Indian costume, however, to set off her slight but +graceful figure to the best advantage. The exquisite proportions of her +finely shaped foot and ankle were displayed in a closely fitting deer +skin moccasin, studded around the eyelet holes, and wrought in curious, +but not unpleasing figures, with party-coloured beads and porcupine +quills. Around her neck, and falling upon her gently swelling bosom, +were many ingeniously wrought ornaments of wampum and silver—and around +her wrists, bracelets of the same materials. Wyanokee was of the +Chickahominy tribe, and had been taken prisoner after the murder of her +parents by one of the neighbouring tribes, who at the time were at war +with the Chickahominies. Nathaniel Bacon saw her in one of his hunting +excursions, and struck with her native beauty, and pleading countenance, +redeemed her from captivity at the expense of a string of blue beads. +From thence he brought her to Jamestown, to remain until some +opportunity should occur of restoring her to her tribe. Her parents +having been slain, however, as we have already said, and much time +necessarily having elapsed before such opportunity occurred, Virginia +took advantage of it, and by mild and affectionate treatment, +endeavoured to win her to herself. A mutual and peculiar attachment was +the consequence, so that when the opportunity actually occurred, +Wyanokee refused to return to the almost extinct tribe of her fathers. +Two years had now elapsed since her introduction into the Fairfax +family, during which time Virginia, an assiduous pupil herself, became +in her turn instructress to her little protegée. Already had she learned +many of the little feminine arts and accomplishments of civilized life, +and made considerable proficiency in the English language—which, +however, she never employed except in private to her instructress, or +on some urgent occasion. Half the young Cavaliers in Jamestown would +have been willing devotees at the shrine of Wyanokee's beauty, after the +corrupt fashions of the parent court and country. But such celebrity was +not suited to the taste or ambition of the Indian maiden. Whenever the +little errands of her patroness led her to the shops of the city, +instead of encouraging the forward and impudent gallantries of the young +profligates, she would trip along like a frightened partridge—always +turning a deaf ear to their flatteries, and keeping her eyes fixed upon +the earth, in the most modest, natural and simple guise. Notwithstanding +her habitual indifference to the flatteries of her many admirers, there +was one youth whose very step upon the door sill her practised ear could +detect. Not that her deliverer had ever taken advantage of her gratitude +to him—her ignorance of civilized refinements, or her dependent +situation, to poison her mind with the deceitful flatteries too common +with his comrades of that day. The passion was perhaps the growth of +time and reflection and the effect of gratitude, as the little Indian +maiden became capable of instituting comparisons between his conduct +towards herself and that of the young Cavaliers, whose assiduities have +been already mentioned. Certain it is, that if it had been from some +sudden impulse in their earlier intercourse, the customs of her race +would have fully borne her out in declaring her passion to its object +at once. At the time of which we write, however, this feeling was a +profound secret within her own bosom, as she hoped and believed; and the +more Virginia impressed upon her mind the necessity of reserve and +modesty in her intercourse with the other sex, the more jealous she +became in concealing the passion that possessed her heart. Nevertheless, +it influenced all her after life, and gave a touching interest to the +progress of her moral and intellectual development.</p> + +<p>Some few of her Indian peculiarities were still retained by Wyanokee; +her gesticulation was far more powerful and expressive than her small +compass of language, and the ordinary indifference of her race to +passing and exciting themes, was yet preserved by her. Her gentle +mistress could indeed work upon her sensibilities through the medium of +her affection and gratitude, like a skilful musician upon a finely toned +instrument, but the master key was still wanting even to her. There was +one peculiarity of her race not quite so agreeable or inoffensive as +those already mentioned—namely, the silence and celerity of her +movements; sometimes she would appear to Virginia in the middle of the +night with the imagined abruptness of an unearthly spirit. Often would +the fair maiden awake from her slumbers and find her stooping over her +couch—with the saddest and most intense interest expressed in her +countenance—and again she would glide through the silent apartments of +the spacious mansion with a movement so shadowy and noiseless, that it +seemed almost impossible to be effected by a substantial being.</p> + +<p>When Virginia raised her eyes from the breakfast-table, and beheld +Wyanokee's mute despair, as exhibited in the opposite mirror, her former +nervous alarm and agitation instantly returned.</p> + +<p>She was entirely at a loss to account for the unusual feeling exhibited +by her attendant, except by connecting it in some way with her late +nocturnal adventures. And it was a fearful supposition which flashed +through her mind, that Wyanokee was acquainted with her last night's +undertaking; yet at the same time ignorant of her motives. Hurrying +mechanically through the meal, she rose, and taking the hand of the +young Indian, was about to retire; but at that moment Nathaniel Bacon +rode up to the door, his charger covered with dust and foam; leaping +from his back and throwing the rein to an attendant, he entered the room +at the very moment when the two maidens were about to make their exit. +Under the peculiar circumstances of the case perhaps no one could have +entered more mal-appropos. Mr. Fairfax himself and Bacon had parted, at +the termination of their last interview, with excited and unpleasant +feelings, both having lost command of temper. Virginia had last seen him +under circumstances also which in themselves were calculated to excite +no very pleasing reminiscences; but considering the precise attitude in +which she stood at that moment with regard to Wyanokee, the interview +promised to be still more embarrassing. Nor was the promise +falsified—the salutations of the gentlemen were cold, formal, and +embarrassing to both parties, while the two maidens stood on the eve of +departure, each labouring under her own peculiar difficulties. Virginia +felt as if all the adventures of the preceding night stood revealed to +her parents, without any of the justificatory motives which had +satisfied her own mind for embarking in them—while her attendant looked +to her as if she too was labouring under a weight of surreptitious +knowledge. Mrs. Fairfax was the only one of the party who preserved +self-possession enough to welcome their young friend, after so long an +absence, in intelligible language.</p> + +<p>With the peculiar tact of the cultivated female mind she judiciously led +the conversation to such subjects of universal interest at the time, as +to induce her husband and the young Cavalier to forget their late +unpleasant difference, and Virginia to resume her seat at the table, +where she busied herself in helping the visiter to his breakfast. It was +singular enough too, as Virginia no doubt thought, that one of these +subjects should have direct reference to some personages who had so +lately and so intently occupied her own thoughts—namely the Roundheads +and Independents. Frank Beverly it seems had already blown abroad the +meeting of these persons in secret conclave, as mentioned in the first +chapter. The meal being concluded, Bacon again sprang upon his horse and +hurried forward to the portico of the Berkley Arms, in which were now +displayed no very equivocal evidences of loyalty, from the master of the +house and his numerous guests, who thronged its area upon his approach. +All the <i>elite</i> of the Cavalier youth were there in a perfect throng.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Bacon alighted and made his way into the throng, than the +tumultuous discussion of the youths was hushed into silence. This was +not so much owing to any sternness in the dignity of the youth as to the +peculiar nature of the discussion which was going on between Dudley and +Beverly, and their several partizans, at the very moment of his +entrance. The tumblers of julip were held in suspense, while heavy bets +were offered, and about to be taken, upon the disputed question whether +the very person who so suddenly appeared among them would be present at +the celebration. No sooner had he set foot on the premises, however, +than the fat landlord came waddling up, grasping the hand of our hero in +one of his own, while in the other he presented him with a goblet of the +national beverage.</p> + +<p>"A pledge! a pledge!" now resounded from several quarters of the well +filled Tap. It may well be supposed that the suspected one had no very +great relish for julip after breakfast, but knowing the importance of +such trifles on an occasion like the present, and under all the peculiar +circumstances in which he was placed he took the cup, and elevating it, +said—"Here's to the merry king Charles, who shall be king but Charley."</p> + +<p>"Bravely done," shouted the host—and "huzzah for Bacon," shouted his +own immediate partisans, many of whom belonged to a volunteer military +company of which he was the commander, and whom to see was the very +object of his visit to the Arms. Taking Dudley therefore by the arm, and +calling to others of the corps, he invited them to a private interview +in another apartment. As Bacon passed Frank Beverly a mutual but cold +salutation was exchanged—dignified and polite on the part of the +former, and cold, haughty and sneering on that of the latter—the +ungracious feeling not at all lessened, it is probable, by the pointed +exclusion of Beverly and his partisans from the private meeting just +alluded to.</p> + +<p>Although this was Bacon's first appearance in public, since his abrupt +departure from the house of his friend and patron, it was not the first +visit he had paid to the hotel, where he and his partisans now held +their meeting. He had privately visited the landlord on the preceding +evening, previous to the adventures related in the last chapter, for +some purposes connected with the present meeting of his friends, but +which he was by no means willing should be generally known. At that +visit he was informed by the landlord of the mischievous plot laid by +his rival to deprive him of the pleasure of Virginia's hand during the +approaching festivities at the Mansion of the Governor, and his first +intention was to counteract their machinations. But so intensely had his +mind been engaged with the adventures of the preceding evening, that all +minor interests escaped his recollection. It was the object of his visit +on this morning, to remedy that oversight; but so cold and formal was +his reception by Mr. Fairfax, and so embarrassed was that of his +daughter, that he gave up the scheme for the present, leaving the house +with any thing but pleasant emotions. Indeed, from the various +combinations of parties and factions, he saw his own position becoming +hourly more embarrassing and difficult, and still more so from the +neutral position in which he was thrown—partly from the mystery +connected with his origin, and partly from his connexion with the +Recluse. But let the Independents on the one hand, and the Cavaliers on +the other, plot and counterplot as they might, his course was clearly +taken in his own mind. None of the doubts as to what cause he should +espouse, which had been hinted at by some of the personages of our +narrative, really existed in his mind. His course was plain, manly, +upright, and straight forward. Nevertheless, as has been seen, he had +not thus far entirely escaped suspicion. But trusting to the uprightness +of his intentions, he took his measures on this eventful morning with a +single eye to the public peace and the cause of truth, justice and +humanity. It was to promote these great ends, that he now assembled the +members of the military company of which he was the commander. Upon what +service they were to be engaged, will appear in the succeeding +chapters.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>While Bacon and his partisans were deliberating in one of the upper +rooms of the Berkley Arms, and Beverly, Ludwell and their friends, still +kept up their potations in the Tap below, all of a sudden the bells +ceased to chime, and the cannons to roar, and the various other +demonstrations of noisy mirth that pervaded the city, were hushed into +silence. A corresponding stillness instantly prevailed throughout both +the assembled parties, for a moment, in order to ascertain if possible +the cause of this interruption to the public rejoicings. No one in +either being able to explain the matter, both parties at the same moment +rushed tumultuously into the street. They beheld men, women, and +children, thronging in the direction of the public square, and naturally +fell into the current, and were borne on its tide into the very centre +of attraction. Here they found several oxcarts standing in the street, +in the beds of which were stretched the dead bodies of eight +Indians—fearfully mangled, and one with his head entirely severed from +the body. Twenty voices at once were interrogating the gaping negroes +who bestrode the cattle, but no other satisfaction could be gained from +them than a mute reference to their master; a little busy important +man, who resided on the main land, and was now holding forth with great +energy and amplitude of expression, touching his various adventures of +the morning, to a crowd of eager loungers gathered around him, as if to +appropriate his wonderful disclosure entirely to themselves.</p> + +<p>He stated that he had found the dead bodies upon the banks of the river, +where there were still many evidences of a desperate conflict of both +horse and foot. That the ground was covered with blood, and that one +party must have been driven into the river, and drowned, as he had been +enabled to trace them by their footmarks to the very edge of the water.</p> + +<p>It will be readily imagined by the reader that Nathaniel Bacon was no +unmoved spectator of this scene, or of the various conjectural +explanations that were now given in his hearing, of a transaction in +which he had been such a principal actor, and of which he could have +given such an authentic history. He was rather rejoiced than otherwise, +that the little planter of the main seemed so much disposed to indulge +his imagination, as a discovery of his own part in the matter, and of +Virginia's delicate position on the occasion, was thereby rendered less +probable. But his self congratulations were too hasty; for scarcely had +he revolved these things in his mind, before a sudden rush of the crowd +towards some new object of surprise arrested his attention. This was no +other than Brian O'Reily, bearing into the crowd upon his back the dead +body of Jamie Jamieson, and followed by his wife, who to her bruises and +misfortunes had applied the comfort of whiskey in great profusion. +O'Reily, it seemed, had fully sympathised with the widowed lady, for his +motions were anything but accordant with the solemnity of the occasion. +Bacon could scarce suppress a smile as he caught a glimpse of this group +through the crowd. His first object; however, was to catch O'Reily's +eye, and make him understand, if possible by a look, that he was to +volunteer no evidence in the case. He had no sooner succeeded in gaining +the notice of his attendant, than the latter applied his finger slyly to +his lip, looking another way at the same time, and thus indicating that +he understood the policy to be pursued, and that he was not so much +intoxicated as he thought proper to seem. With this doubtful assurance +Bacon was compelled to rest satisfied, walking about the square all the +while in visible agitation.</p> + +<p>The corpse of the fisherman being laid out in the market-place, the +officer, whose duty it was, proceeded to summon an inquest to inquire +into the manner and cause of his death. The first witness summoned +before this tribunal, was, of course, the wife of the deceased. She +testified that a party of savages had on the preceding night entered +their house, and after having cruelly murdered her husband, beaten +herself, and bound her limbs with cords, had carried away all their +fishing nets. That having placed these in a canoe, they laid her in it +also, and paddled across the river—where they were met by another party +of savages, about fifty in number, as she supposed, and while they were +busily engaged in dividing the spoil, a gigantic man, with a face +flaming like fire, and a sword as long as a fishing pole, had suddenly +fallen upon the murderers, and quickly put them to flight, or the sword. +That having thus conquered the whole horde, he had placed her in the +boat again, and brought her to her own house, where he left her, and +where she remained alone until morning, when she was found by Mr. Brian +O'Reily, who happened to be coming that way.</p> + +<p>Improbable as some parts of this story were, it met with a ready +credence from nearly the whole of the multitude; no tale, having any +relation to the Recluse, being so marvellous that they would not readily +believe it. But in no one of the assembled listeners did it excite +greater surprise than in Bacon himself. It is true, that he readily +recognised in the whole invention the joint influence of whiskey, and +O'Reily's ingenuity, but even to these he had not supposed that he +should be indebted for such downright falsehoods in his behalf. Mrs. +Jamieson, too, seemed firmly to believe all that she had testified. +Under these circumstances he did not feel himself called upon to set the +matter right at the expense of Virginia's feelings, and the inevitable +defeat of the measures in which he was that very morning deeply +engaged. How the Irishman was to manage his part of the narrative when +called upon, as he certainly would be, and that so speedily that no time +would be allowed to exchange a word with his master, Bacon could not +divine. He knew right well that O'Reily was gifted with a strong +tendency to the most outrageous and even ridiculous exaggeration, and +that he would carry through whatever he should undertake to say, with +wonderful shrewdness and imperturbable confidence; but how he was to +make his story agree with that which he had put into the mouth of Mrs. +Jamieson, and at the same time explain the wound upon his own face, and +the contusion upon his head, without being guilty of some direct and +palpable falsehood, was more than his master could imagine. At length +Brian O'Reily was called to state what he knew touching the death of the +fisherman. The first question propounded by the officer was, "Well, +O'Reily, tell the jury how, and when you came to the house of the +deceased."</p> + +<p>"Oh! thin, and I'm bothered to know whether I got there by land or +wather, and faix, I'm after b'leiven it was naither uv them."</p> + +<p>"How then did you get there, if you went neither by land nor water?"</p> + +<p>"An by the vestments, may be I wouldn't be far wrang, if I said it was +the crathur that took me there, seein I can't deny it iny way, your +haner."</p> + +<p>"You saw no one strike or maltreat the deceased.".</p> + +<p>"It would be but ill manners in me to be conthradictin your haner."</p> + +<p>"You are sure you did not strike him yourself."</p> + +<p>"As sure as two tin-pinnies—Divil burn the man that Brian O'Reily ever +ill used when he was down—much less when he was dead, your haner." +(crossing himself.)</p> + +<p>"How then came that cut upon the corner of your mouth?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! murther, and is it these your haner's axing after?" and he +ingeniously placed his finger upon a smaller wound made by his bottle on +the previous night. "Yes, O'Reily, we wish you to state how you came by +those wounds."</p> + +<p>"Oh! but I'm bowld to show your haner, seein its you that axed me—sure +here's the wapon that kilt me all out!" and as he spoke, he pulled out +his broken necked bottle and handed it to his catechist.</p> + +<p>"I see it has blood upon it, O'Reily, and this may explain the cut on +your mouth, but how came that contusion on your temple?"</p> + +<p>"Be dad but I run aginst a good big shelaleigh, an it broke me head so +it did—sorra much head I had left at that same recknin, for the +crather."</p> + +<p>"You ran against a club, O'Reily? Was it growing in the ground or was it +in the hands of an enemy?"</p> + +<p>"It might be growin, your haner, or it might be in the hands of the +great inimy himself, for all that Brian O'Reily knows—sure your haner +isn't very particular in examinin the tixture of the timber that knocks +you down. It might be a door-post—or may be the gate of the foort—as +the thimber grows as thick here as paraties, and this gate was always +too small for me when I had a dhrap of the whiskey."</p> + +<p>"You ran against the gate-post, or the facings of Jamieson's door, +then?"</p> + +<p>"By the five crasses, an I've done that same many's the time—barrin +always that it would be ill manners in me to conthradict your haner if I +hadn't."</p> + +<p>"You saw nothing then of the treacherous and thieving savages on the +night of Jamieson's murder?"</p> + +<p>"Oh then but I'm puzzled now intirely. By the holy father, I saw a power +of sights on that same night. The whiskey was clane too strong for me. I +saw all sorts of yeller nagres and men widout shadows, and flamin +counthenances, and the fire sparklin from the very eyes of me, by the +same token. Divil a word of a lie's in that iny way."</p> + +<p>"But you saw no person strike or maltreat this man who lies dead here?"</p> + +<p>"Divil the one, your haner! Brian O'Reily's the boy that wouldn't see +foul-play to man nor baste. I never saw Jamie, till I saw him stretched +all out as you see him there."</p> + +<p>"You do not know then but that you may have encountered the murderers in +your own drunken travels?"</p> + +<p>"Faix and you may say that, your haner, widout a word of a lie in it; it +bothers me intirely to tell what I did see. And, by the five crasses, if +it wasn't for the wapon you've got in your hand—and poor Jamie that I +brought here on my back—and this thump upon my head, I should, say it +was all a dhrame clane out."</p> + +<p>"Well, you may go, O'Reily. I believe you know little of what happened +to yourself or any one else last night."</p> + +<p>"An that's thrue for you iny way; many thanks to your haner for your +kindness and civility," said O'Reily, as he left the crowd, slily +tipping a wink of triumph to his master.</p> + +<p>Bacon certainly began to breathe more freely towards the conclusion, as +having edged in with the crowd, he heard O'Reily's ingenious parries of +the official's thrusts. But his trials were not yet over, for scarcely +had he followed his attendant with his eye out of the crowd, before Mr. +Fairfax stepped up to the officer and whispered something in his ear. In +a few moments after a deputy was seen leading Wyanokee into the +market-place—a look of the most profound dejection, still visible +through her fright, at being brought into the presence of such a +multitude.</p> + +<p>She testified, that two of the Indians slain were her nearest kinsmen. +That the one with his head severed from the body, was old King Fisher; +and, upon examination, the blue feathers of his patronymic bird were +found still sticking in the matted tuft of hair upon his crown. She +farther stated that he was her father's only brother, and that another +of the slain was his son—the only two remaining male relatives she had +in the world. That all these savages were of the Chickahominy tribe; and +that there were not more than two hundred warriors, left of all that, +brave and powerful nation which had once thronged the banks of the +Chickahominy river. And here the little Indian maiden seemed almost +suffocated with overpowering emotions, as the memory of former days came +gushing over her heart. No tear relieved her swelling emotions, but ever +and anon she cast her eyes over the mangled bodies of her kinsmen, and +once or twice turned with looks more rapid and of darker meaning towards +Bacon. The general expression of her countenance; however, was one of +profound and overwhelming sadness. Her soul seemed fully capable of +realizing the melancholy destiny which awaited all the nations of the +aborigines then inhabiting the country, from the sea board to the blue +mountains,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> and whose fiat was fast bearing her race from the loved +places which had known them so long. It was doubtless in her mind a poor +compensation for the destruction of her native tribe and their +contemporaries, that she herself had been reclaimed from the happy +ignorance of savage, to the more painful knowledge of civilized life.</p> + +<p>She was asked if she knew of the visit of these unfortunate men on the +preceding night. Her eye furtively ran over the eager faces gathered +around, until it fell upon that of Bacon, when a momentary flash of some +internal impulse illumined her countenance. It might be vengeance, or +the hatred of unrequited passion—but let the cause be what it might, it +glimmered with a demoniacal fire but for an instant, and then, like the +expiring taper in the socket after its last flash, sunk for ever. The +sadness of past and coming years seemed concentrated in the despair of +are moment. She waived her hand and shook her head in silence, thus +indicating, that she could say no more—that human endurance had been +stretched to its utmost verge. Walking deliberately out of the crowd +until she came to the trunkless head of the last of the Chickahominy +chiefs, she bent over the mutilated remains for a moment in unutterable +sorrow, and then throwing her eyes to heaven, dark in despair, she +stooped to pluck one of the blue feathers from the scalp, and then with +sad and lingering steps, proceeded to her home.</p> + +<p>All were impressed with involuntary respect for the bereaved maiden, and +even the hardened officer suffered her to depart without having finished +his examination. Sufficient, however, had been gleaned for the jury to +bring in a verdict of murder by the hands of some of the Chickahominy +tribe of savages. This tribe of Indians inhabited a small town called +Orapacks, on the banks of the river which gave its name to the nation. +They formed a part of the grand confederation which had first been +united under Powhatan, and afterwards his successor, Opechancanough; the +latter of whom so unfortunately fell, while a prisoner at Jamestown, by +the hands of a dastardly soldier, who took his life in revenge for some +petty wrong, real or imaginary. The depredation related in the foregoing +pages, and the unfortunate result to so many of its perpetrators, was +the first interruption to the general peace which Sir William Berkley +had been enabled to secure for the colony, after various sanguinary +massacres and conflicts, with the numerous tribes composing the empire +of Virginia, as it was sometimes called, and reaching from the Peninsula +to the present seat of Richmond.</p> + +<p>It may be well, perhaps, to state that a process had been despatched, +for form's sake, to summon the Recluse, but it was returned as similar +messages had always been before—he was <i>non est inventus</i>.</p> + +<p>The dead bodies were now removed,—that of Jamieson to the more +consecrated ground around the church, and those of the Indians to a sort +of Potter's-field or general burying ground, such as every city has +possessed from the time of Judas Iscariot to the present day.</p> + +<p>The necessary and justifiable sacrifice of some half a dozen savages +was, at that time, too common a circumstance in Jamestown, long to +affect the gayeties-of-the day. Accordingly the afternoon found the +daughters and wives of the hardy citizens gayly tripping it over the +green common, to which we have already introduced the reader, inspired +by the music of two sable musicians, who rattled and scraped defiance to +all untoward interruptions whatsoever. The town was full of strangers +from the neighbouring plantations, together with many members of the +House of Burgesses from surrounding counties, who had arrived in +preparation for the meeting of that body, summoned to be held on the +third succeeding day. Many of these dignified personages had collected +on the green, to witness the enjoyment of the humbler citizens and their +wives and daughters.</p> + +<p>A merry set of joyful lads and lasses were whirling through the giddy +dance; when all at once a savage yell abruptly struck upon the ear; the +music ceased, the youths stood still in the circle, while some of the +maidens fled toward the public square, and others sought the protection +of their fathers, husbands, or lovers. Consternation was visible in the +boldest countenances. The transactions of the morning had unstrung the +nerves of the females, and urged the sterner sex to thoughts of war, +which had lain dormant since the general peace and the death of +Opechancanough. But soon a jingle of little bells was heard, and the +next moment the multitude burst into a loud laugh, and simultaneously +cast their eyes up to a tall tree which overhung the green, and upon +which was seen a painted savage, descending with great agility, he soon +leaped into the middle of the area, where the dance had been in +progress, and commenced shuffling away at a most indefatigable rate, the +fiddlers striking at the same moment into the humour of this strange +visiter, and he himself dexterously rattling a number of little bones +which he held between his fingers—the bells all the while continuing to +jingle, and producing the strangest effect upon the ear. His face was +painted in the ordinary warrior guise, his head shaved close to the +cranium, save a lock upon the crown, to which hung a tuft of scarlet +feathers—his person was grotesquely ornamented with beads, bells and +buttons in great profusion, interspersed with hundreds of red feathers, +from which he took his name. He was called Red Feather Jack, and was +remarkably fond of the music and all the ordinary diversions of the +whites. In this respect he was the most remarkable Indian of his +day—that race having been peculiar for the haughty and dignified +contempt with which they looked upon the amusements of their civilized +neighbours. He was known to be as desperate in battle as he was light +hearted and merry at the sports of the white man, and had never been +known guilty of any kind of treachery, and was a universal favourite at +Jamestown among all the young people of both sexes. It may be readily +imagined, therefore, that a shout of "Red Feather Jack," which was +instantly raised by the assembled throng, brought no slight accession to +their numbers. The amusement thus afforded was kept up, intermingled +with dances of their own, to which Jack beat time with his loudest +bells, until the hour had arrived for the commencement of the more +imposing and aristocratic ceremonies and amusements at the gubernatorial +mansion.</p> + +<p>Red Feather Jack was believed by many to be an admirer of Wyanokee's, +though of a different tribe. He had once, on an occasion nearly similar +to the one just related, offered to lead her to the dance, but the more +refined maiden looked upon him with ineffable scorn and contempt, +produced as much, doubtless, by his undignified and unnational habits, +as by what she considered his inferior rank and understanding. After the +cessation of the various sports upon the green—in the warehouse, and +throughout the town, Jack was taken to the Berkley Arms, where his merry +performances were kept up until a late hour of the night, to the great +amusement of the loungers and the disappointed youths who had vainly +aspired to a participation in the celebration of the Cavaliers.</p> + +<p>There was one peculiar circumstance attending this day's celebration +which became generally the subject of after remark. Not a sign of +festivity or rejoicing was visible at the Cross Keys. Its master sat a +solitary spectator in his own door, apparently regarding the passing +levities with sovereign contempt. This of course did not escape without +many comments from the more jovial landlord of "the Arms." It was +likewise remarkable that none of the Independents were visible on this +general holyday, and this was the more singular as many of the humbler +followers of the late Lord Protector had been sold into temporary +bondage, and of course might be supposed eager to enjoy one day's +cessation from labour, even if they did not care to join the humbler +citizens in their demonstrations of loyalty.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>As the sun went down upon the boisterous revellers in the ancient city, +and closed the festivities of the day among the plebeians, the +aristocracy of the vice-regal court began to roll along the streets in +their carriages, and surround the door of the stout old knight who +represented the person of his royal master in the colony. The members of +the Council and of the house of Burgesses, with their wives and +daughters, and all other citizens and sojourners of distinction were +among the number. Now came the crash of Carriages—swearing of +footmen—cracking of whips rattling of wheels—clattering of steps, and +the pompous announcement of the man in office, as each party was +marshalled into the long suite of apartments brilliantly lighted for the +occasion. At the head of the largest room stood Sir William and Lady +Berkley. The old knight was dressed in a blue velvet doublet, which +being sashed below the belt or waistband, protruded out all round so as +to show the yellow silk linings of the aforesaid garment, fringing and +ornamenting the waist. His breeches were of pink satin, and were cut in +what was called at that day<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> "the petticoats;" they were tied to the +large mouthed silk hose with gay ribands, and the lining of the breeches +being longer than the garment itself, formed a sort of ornament for the +overhanging hose; immediately over this row of knotted ribands +ornamenting the knee, his breeches hung in ample folds. The sleeves of +his doublet reached nearly to the elbow; and from the end of these the +shirt was so fashioned as to bulge out in large flowing plaits to his +ruffled wrists. His stockings were of white silk, and shoes ornamented +with a profusion of ribands, knotted and bound into the shape of +flowers. On one shoulder hung a short mantle, reaching to the haunches +and falling in rich folds over one side of his person. Lady Berkley +appeared For the first time without her farthingale, but still retained +its contemporary, the French hood. In place of the starched ruff, she +wore the graceful and flowing collar, falling in folds and terminated in +rich pointed lace round the upper half of the bust; she wore a stomacher +indeed, but greatly modified from the long strait jacket fashion of the +preceding reign.</p> + +<p>A slight degree of pomp and formality characterized the profound +inclination of the knight's magisterial person, as some guest of +distinction was from time to time announced, while his lady performed +her part of the ceremony in exact accordance with the stately habits of +her lord, but softened by a native blandness of manner and sweetness of +disposition. She was a lady in the most refined and polished acceptation +of the term. They were both just sufficiently advanced in years to add +the dignity, of age to that resulting from their station, and command, +respect from those who moved within their sphere. The ladies began now +to re-appear, after the momentary retouch of the toilet, and arrange +themselves round the apartment apparently appropriated to the dance, +from a band of musicians stationed some six feet above the floor in a +temporary orchestra. The first touch upon the string of the leader's kit +was magical—the chords of every young female heart in the room vibrated +in unison. No letting down of one string and raising of another was +required to bring them to concert pitch; like the blooded charger in the +field, in whose veins, the first clang of the trumpet sends the vital +stream glistening to the very eye-balls, their gayly decorated persons +were at once glowing with animation; their eyes sparkling and their +bosoms heaving with impatience, joy, and anticipated triumph. But when +the bow of an evident master was drawn over the strings of his rusty +cremona in a long single sweep, every heart palpitated in eagerness. The +eyes of the gentlemen wandered over the multitude of youthful and lovely +faces beaming with a delighted expression, and all were keenly alive to +the coming pleasures of the dance. But there was a precedence in the +arrangement of the first set which, we must by no means neglect. +Virginia Fairfax, by right of birth and consanguinity to the governor, +invariably assumed her aunt's place at the head of the set. The +blooming Hebe issued forth from the impenetrable ranks of her compeers +with the blushing grace and beauty of a nymph—her hand was slightly +extended as though its owner were conscious that scores of the opposite +ranks would have perilled life and fortune for its possession. She was +clad in simple white; not a colour marring the chaste and perfect purity +of her attire, save the transparent shadow of a crimson tint which rose +and fell in vivid flashes over her complexion with the rapidity of +thought. Near her stood a youth, his finely formed person set off to the +best advantage by the gay and tasteful fashion of his time, and his dark +hazel eye, brilliant with the momentary fire of excitement. +Instinctively he moved forward to receive the outstretched and now +trembling little hand, but scarcely had he gained it before a competitor +appeared upon the field, of not less personal and far more aristocratic +pretension. "With your leave, sir," said Frank Beverly, with a profound +inclination of his finely dressed person, as he took the hand which +Bacon, in the abstraction of the moment, was about to usurp. The latter +retired in the most undisguised mortification; his rival moving to the +head of the set with all the grace and ease of self-possession, rank, +and consciousness of right in the present instance.</p> + +<p>Sir William himself bent his dignity to enjoy this scene, the most +evident satisfaction beaming upon his countenance as he cast an +intelligent glance toward his lady.</p> + +<p>Our heroine had been too finely schooled in the etiquette and manners of +the ball-room, to allow the most penetrating observer any means of +ascertaining whether the incident just related was as pleasing to her as +to her partner. Bacon's mortification was not long visible, for with a +desperate sort of boldness, quite foreign to his general demeanour, he +crossed the room and approached a young lady whose beauty shone +conspicuous amid all the gay throng by which she was surrounded. Harriet +Harrison was the daughter of one of the proudest and most wealthy +families in the colony. They moved in the front ranks of those who +radiated around the fashionable orbit of which the Governor and his +family were the principal luminaries, and were esteemed by them as among +their most honoured friends and supporters. Harriet was the intimate +friend of Virginia Fairfax, and, after her mother, the most esteemed +repository of her confidence. Though an idea of rivalry in any shape or +form had never entered their young and guileless hearts, the youthful +Cavaliers who floated upon the same fashionable tide, had frequently +placed them in this attitude in their private discussions of the various +personal and mental attractions of the maidens, each in her turn proving +the reigning favourite, as their respective admirers happened to possess +the supremacy over the minds of their companions. She was near the same +age with Virginia, and undoubtedly possessed attractions of the most +captivating quality, both in mind and person, yet they were finely +contrasted with those of her friend. Harriet's complexion was +brunette—her hair dark and shining as the raven's plumage—her eye +black, keen and sparkling, her finely pencilled brows beautifully +overshadowing the native archness of her countenance, and her mouth +always expressive of amiable feelings, just sufficiently characterized +perhaps by a dash of innocent humour and coquetry; or rather that +coquetry which is the result of archness and humour as distinguished +from premeditated design. Her figure was slight but finely proportioned. +As Bacon approached this laughing little belle, his boldness visibly +diminished beneath her sparkling eye, and his petition for her hand was +uttered with the most courtly and deferential humility. The brunette +cast a significant glance toward her friend at the head of the set, and +then with promptitude accepted the offered partner, her intelligent and +sparkling countenance turning towards Charles Dudley, who stood near, +with a speaking archness, which conveyed as plainly as it could have +been in words, her perfect understanding of the byplay which was going +on at the expense of his friend. The set being completed, the music now +struck up its enlivening notes, and the various contending passions and +emotions of those engaged were soon lost for the time in the giddy whirl +of excitement which succeeded. Every countenance was clad in joy and +hilarity—Bacon himself seeming to forget, in the secret pleasure +created by the occasional touch of Virginia's hand, that he himself was +not the honoured partner. Nor was the exhilirating effect of the dance +confined to those who partook in the exercise—the young enjoyed it +present, the old by retrospection. The latter lived over again the gay +and brilliant dreams of their own youth, and were what they beheld. The +music perhaps touched upon some long forgotten associations of other +days and other friends, when and with whom they had mingled in the merry +dance under circumstances like the present. These hallowed and blessed +associations were not unmixed with melancholy, but it was of the softest +and most soothing kind; the tide of feeling flowed over the heart to the +cadences of the music, rising and swelling like the waves of the +subsiding storm, and irresistibly inviting to mental calm and repose. +The elder matrons sat under its influence—their eyes half closed in a +sort of pleasing abstraction—while a gentle and subdued smile of mixed +emotions played upon their lips. They lived again in the persons of +their gay and happy daughters, and with no more selfish wish than to see +their offspring following quietly in their own footsteps.</p> + +<p>The formality which had somewhat characterized the opening ceremonies +was entirely banished—it could not live in the atmosphere of music and +the dance. Sir William and his compeers in dignity seemed early to be +sensible of this, for no sooner had the motion of "hands round" +commenced, than he collected his forces, and retreated to the card room, +where, from the excitement of the game and wine, they endeavoured to +compensate themselves for their want of the more sentimental retrospects +of their ladies.</p> + +<p>Conversation, which till now had flagged under the withering influence +of etiquette, burst forth in all the vivacity of unrestrained and +unsophisticated nature. The eyes of Harriet Harrison sparkled like gems, +as she and Virginia laughed and chatted together, when they occasionally +met in the figures of the dance. But with all Virginia's hilarity, an +acute observer might have perceived a shade more than once passing over +the sunshine of her countenance; whether owing to some vague +presentiment of coming evil—to better defined apprehensions from those +events which had so lately passed under her eyes—to the mysterious +injunctions of the Recluse, or to some not altogether satisfactory +arrangements of the dance, we shall leave the sagacity of the reader to +determine. Certain it is, however, that she underwent no little badinage +from her lively friend and confidant.</p> + +<p>A certain emphatic declination in the notes of the leader, which all the +initiated will understand, warned those in possession of the floor, that +there is an order of rotation in happiness on these joyful occasions, a +cadence, any thing but musical to those happily and mutually suited in +partners, while to those not so fortunately coupled, it was a joyful +relief. Each gentleman led his partner to her seat, which she had +scarcely taken, perhaps, if one of the favoured few, before new +applications for the honour of her hand were laid at her feet. Bacon had +no sooner escorted Harriet to her place, than turning to her friend he +again put in his claim in more formal parlance than his former +instinctive aspirations, but again he was doomed to disappointment; +Philip Ludwell on this occasion, with a smirking smile upon his +countenance, claiming a prior engagement. Bacon scowled upon him with +mingled scorn and rage, as he turned upon his heel and besought the +honour of the first hand within his reach. But if he was disappointed, +his friend Dudley seemed more fortunate, for at the same moment that the +former led out his partner, he encountered the latter escorting the +pretty Harriet—and certainly no one in the room claimed a larger +portion of his sympathy. But he was struck with the change in the +countenance of the lively brunette in the very short time which had +elapsed between the two sets. During the first, there was a free, +untramelled, mischievous expression in her countenance, which was now +merged in one of partial embarrassment. The guileless and confiding air +with which she had looked into the face of her former partner, was now +exchanged for one of consciousness, as if the lively little belle +expected retributive justice from her friends for her own previous +badinage. The unpractised Dudley interpreted these appearances any thing +but favourably to his own ardent hopes.</p> + +<p>Bacon was more deeply studied in the workings of the "human face +divine," especially when feeling no personal interest in their meaning, +and he therefore amused himself in his ungrateful situation, by watching +the changes of his friend's arch little mistress. He doubtless +considered it a beautiful and interesting development of character, to +see this lively little romp—so lately overflowing with vivacity and +animal spirits—all at once transformed into the sensitive, sedate, and +downcast maiden. He was certainly not less amused to perceive that these +two interesting young personages were unconsciously playing at cross +purposes. First the gentleman became cold and moody at the reserve +exhibited by his mistress, which did undoubtedly exist, but from which +his jealous anxiety made him draw a most erroneous conclusion; while +she, on the other hand, resented this apparently ungrateful return for a +partiality which her own consciousness induced her to believe was +perceptible to its object; indeed this very fear of his knowledge was +perhaps the moving impulse of her own wayward conduct. The resentment +occasioned by his apparent coldness, and assumed indifference, produced +a corresponding feeling in her bosom, and thus they mutually acted and +reacted upon each other, departing farther and farther from a mutual +understanding at every renewed attempt, until at the close of the set, +Dudley retired, as he imagined, irreconcilably offended, folding his +arms upon his breast, and looking the very picture of love in despair. +While in this mood Bacon approached him, and tapped him on the shoulder, +saying, "Hah, Charles, would'st drown thyself? Thou dost not set thy +life at a pin's fee I'll warrant me. Why, what would'st thou have, man? +Thou would'st not have her forward and pert enough to run unbidden into +thy arms?"</p> + +<p>"Run into my arms, forsooth! I think she was nearer running into thine +own."</p> + +<p>"Tut man, does thy knowledge of the sex extend no farther? Dost not know +thou art quarrelling with the light of thine own eyes? Art thou not yet +acquainted with the windings and apparent inconsistencies of the female +heart? I say apparent, because when the <i>primum mobile</i> is once +understood, all these little perversities of lovers' quarrels are +beautifully consistent, and always traceable to the one great original +cause. Once gain an insight of this leading motive, and you will admire +where you now condemn—you will attribute to maidenly modesty and proper +reserve, what you now censure as perverse and whimsical."</p> + +<p>"I understand you not, Sir Professor."</p> + +<p>"No, because you are interested in the matter. You cannot truly place +the small end of the telescope to your eye, and see yourself at the +other. You cannot stand, for instance, as I stand, and see yourself as +I see you. But study the subject a little before you give way to the +identical petulant humours with which you would quarrel in your +mistress."</p> + +<p>"And how long is it, pray, Sir Sage, since you took the beam from your +own eye. If mine deceived me not, I saw you but a little while since +swelling with all the offended dignity of majesty itself—merely because +some more fortunate swain had previously secured the hand of the +Governor's fair niece."</p> + +<p>"You are as far wrong in my affairs, Charles, as you were just now in +your own. You seem peculiarly predisposed to-night, to see only the +surface of things. Suppose that some half a dozen of those butterflies +who are now congregating round Lady Berkley, were to form a plot by +which you were to be deprived of the hand of that lady whom you most +desired to lead to the dance? Nay, more, suppose that you considered it +all important to your interests that you should possess the hand on this +particular night, and that you should be thwarted by such a contrivance +of <i>sub vice-royalty</i>! What would you do? Would you content yourself +with spending your rage upon your own lips between your teeth?"</p> + +<p>"No, by heavens, I would tweak the nose of a small sprig of royalty +itself."</p> + +<p>"What, under the circumstances and responsibilities that environ us +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"No! not to-night certainly; there is no hurry in the business—his +nasal organ will be as tangible a week hence as now, I suppose; but who +is it that has done this deed? I see you have many rivals."</p> + +<p>"Frank Beverly, to be sure."</p> + +<p>"I supposed as much."</p> + +<p>"You see," continued Bacon, "that I have now removed the mote from my +own eye, and that you did in my case exactly what you did in your +own—you looked only at the surface. But really, Charles, between +ourselves, I begin to entertain some fears that they will at last affect +Virginia with their own aristocratic notions and pretensions, for the +absence of which we have so often praised her. I have seen a strange +unusual something stealing over her countenance whenever I have +approached her of late, which I do not like. She evidently struggles +with it herself, but it has obtained the mastery in every instance, so +far. Think you they will succeed at last?"</p> + +<p>"I know not, my friend! but step with me into the entry—a word in your +ear." The parties stepped just behind the casings to the door of the +room in which they had been dancing, so as to occupy a small entry-way +between the two largest apartments of the mansion, and there Dudley +continued in an under tone.—</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will dare <i>the deed</i> to-night?"</p> + +<p>"As sure as there is truth in that strange old man—and he has never yet +deceived me!"</p> + +<p>"Tis well! and are all things prepared for their reception?"</p> + +<p>"They are! As for myself, never did such occasion come more opportunely. +I will raise a bloody monument to perpetuate the events of this night +upon more than one memory in yonder gay assembly! And since the thought +strikes me, Dudley, tis pity I disturbed the savage moroseness which was +just stealing over you; however I shall retain a <i>quantum sufficit</i> for +us both!"</p> + +<p>At that moment they were about to return to the party which they had +left, when Dudley elevating his finger, said, "Hist!"—and Bacon heard +his own name pronounced, just on the other side of the partition against +which they were leaning. The voice was Ludwells. "Can you tell me +Beverly," said he, "the reason why Bacon does not wear the love lock!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can, nature stamped him for a Roundhead and Crop-ear at his +birth. Have you not observed how obstinately his curling locks are +matted to his head? I'll warrant me if the truth could be known, his +father was as pestilent a Rumper as ever sung a psalm on horseback."</p> + +<p>Bacon heard no more; he was seized with the most ungovernable rage, and +the utmost endeavours and remonstrances of his friend could scarcely +prevent him from bursting in upon the speakers. In his endeavours to +effect this object he forced his person partly in front of the doorway, +just sufficiently to perceive that Virginia sat near, for whom, he +doubted not these observations were intended. Again he became nearly +unmanageable, until Dudley said to him in a harsh tone. "Rash man, would +you sacrifice the whole colony for the purpose of chastising a piece of +unmannerly insolence upon the spur of the moment, when you can as well +do it to-morrow? Nay, it is the more manly course of the two."</p> + +<p>Bacon by a powerful effort seemed to master his feelings, and +compressing his lips, and folding his arms so as entirely to deceive his +companion, he marched deliberately into the room, as if he intended to +cross to the opposite side. But when not more than three paces from the +door, he wheeled suddenly round and addressed Beverly. "This is no place +for a personal reencounter, Sir Slanderer, and I will no farther break +through the rules of good breeding than to hurl defiance in your teeth, +and even this much I would not do, only that the defiance may go abroad +with the calumny;" and with these words he flung his glove in the face +of him to whom they were addressed. Beverly was taken entirely by +surprise; and for some moments did not seem to realize the extent of the +insult, and the greater personal indignity which had been offered to +him. He was not long, however, in comprehending the nature of the case, +and deliberately stooping to pick up the glove he answered, "This, as +you have better said than acted, is no place to quarrel, but I accept +your gage, and dearly shall it be redeemed on your part."</p> + +<p>During this short but pertinent dialogue, Virginia screamed and ran to +the protection of her father and uncle, followed by the other ladies in +that part of the room. A crowd instantly collected round each of the +parties to hear their statements of the case. But Sir William, always +prompt and energetic, ordered the orchestra to strike up and the dance +to be resumed, which had ceased for the purpose of affording +refreshment. "A mere boy's quarrel," said the old Knight with smiling +visage, and the dance was resumed, as if nothing unusual had occurred.</p> + +<p>General joy and hilarity were soon restored, for though the serenity and +happiness of several important personages of our narrative might have +been disturbed, there were still plenty of those left who were both +light of heart and nimble of foot. The dance was again going round, wine +circulating, wit sparkling, and merry faces and loud voices in all +quarters, when a sudden explosion like the discharge of a broadside from +a line of battle ship, seemed to shake the very foundations of the +earth; windows rattled and fell—plastering came tumbling down—and +ladies screamed and leaped from the casements, while others were borne +off fainting to their friends. Bacon seized Virginia and Harriet, one +under each arm, and bore them to a carriage, while Mr. Fairfax and +Governor Berkley forced their ladies into the same vehicle, ordering the +driver to speed for his life to the residence of the former. A bright +red light in the midst of a dark column of smoke was now seen to ascend +from behind the Governor's house. The powder magazine had been fired by +the Cromwellians who were now in open revolt against the government. The +schemes which they had been so long meditating, and which Bacon so truly +anticipated, had now arrived at the crisis—the struggle was commenced +which was to test whether a few scores of misguided but brave zealots +were to triumph over the constituted authorities of the land, as they +had before done in England.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>The night was dark and lowering, and masses of heavy clouds enveloped +the city, a bright red column of fire ever and anon shot fitfully up +from the smouldering ruins of the magazine, tipping the clouds with a +crimson tinge, and illuminating the city to the light of noonday, and +again suddenly giving place to volumes of thick sulphureous smoke which +involved the surrounding objects in tenfold darkness. Drums were heard +beating to arms—trumpets sounding the charge—fifes piercing the +air—bells ringing the alarm—muskets and petronels discharged in quick +succession, swords clashing, women shrieking, and men were seen running +hither and thither in all the tumult of popular commotion. Bacon had no +sooner lifted his frightened protegées into the carriage, than rushing +into the back court, he found Dudley at the head of their youthful corps +already desperately engaged with the Roundheads. He immediately threw +himself into the thickest of the fight. With all their desperate valour, +however, the two young officers were quickly sensible that they had +entirely miscalculated the number and appointments of their enemies. In +vain they endeavoured to repulse the hardy veterans who forced their way +to the doors and windows of the gubernatorial mansion. The assailants +moved to their work in a solid phalanx, that veteran soldier Worley, +conspicuous at their head, and literally hewing down all opposition. One +line after another of the valiant and high born youths fell before the +murderous weapons of the insurgents. In vain did Bacon and Dudley, and +Beverly and Ludwell, all now united in a common cause, enact prodigies +of valour; their impetuous lunges fell powerless upon the iron frames of +their opponents. Crowds of citizens now rushed against the insurgents +some armed with swords, others with scythe blades, others again with +bludgeons, and the rest with such means of destruction as they could +seize in the street as they hurried to the contest. The accession of +strength to the cause of the government was as yet of little avail, +Bacon and his followers being driven to the walls, while the insurgents +were protected on each side by a high wooden fence or barricade. Tables, +chairs and bedsteads were hurled upon the heads of the besiegers, and +the lower windows were thronged with eager citizens throwing their +hastily seized weapons upon the heads of the foe in a vain effort to +come within reach. The Cromwellians were now likewise receiving +momentary reinforcements of those who leapt the high fences, and filled +up the vacancies in the rear, as the front ranks fell in the desperate +encounter with the youths and citizens. To whom the victory would fall +could not long prove doubtful, situated as they now were; this Sir +William Berkley and his kinsman Fairfax had no doubt perceived early in +the engagement, for a shout from a multitude without the enclosure, in +the midst of which might be heard the voice of Brian O'Reily, now +announced the presence of the Governor. The welcome sound was speedily +and cheerily answered by the sinking youths within, who took courage at +the approach of succour, and fought with renewed spirit. The wooden +barricade, was now seen to heave and shake, with every motion and creak +of which O'Reily shouted in chorus, until at length the whole yielded +and fell with aloud crash. A rush of citizens quickly filled up the +breach, and poured their blows into the flank of the Roundheads, who now +changing their front charged upon their new assailants at the head of +whom were the Governor and Gideon Fairfax. The two old Cavaliers laid +about them in a style worthy of their best and most chivalrous days, and +the citizens as stoutly supported them although but poorly armed and +equipped for such a rencounter. By this change of front the gallant +little corps which had so long maintained its ground, was now in some +measure relieved, and no longer subject to the murderous strokes of the +iron-handed Cromwellians. By the order of Bacon they now poured their +fire into the flank of the enemy, and by this double annoyance to their +phalanx, would doubtless have speedily terminated the conflict, but the +friends of the Insurgents without, taking example by the manœuvre of +the governor and his party, now broke down the barricade on the other +side, and rushed in their turn to the scene of conflict. As this new +reinforcement were pushing through the court to join their friends, in +storming the first breach, a loud explosion from Sir William's quarter +was heard, followed by the groans and shrieks of a whole phalanx of the +old and new assailants, in whose ranks a perfect lane was cut by this +discharge of grape shot through the very centre of their column. A rush +was now instantly made for the possession of the cannon, and as the +citizens poured through the governor's house and the Roundheads through +the new breach in the party-wall, a deadly scuffle ensued, which became +more and more ferocious and sanguinary as each party received fresh +accessions from their friends without. And though the Cavaliers and +their supporters outnumbered their enemies, the latter had decidedly the +advantage in equipment, strength and discipline; more especially in the +hand-to-hand mode of warfare which now became necessary from the numbers +crowded into so small a space. But there was another advantage which +they possessed—they had but one commander, the veteran Worley, while +the Cavaliers and citizens of the town were at one time commanded by +Bacon, and at another by Sir William Berkley.</p> + +<p>Bacon perceiving the effect of this circumstance, singled out and +attacked the opposite leader in person, determined, if he lost his life +in the unequal conflict, to make the attempt at least to place the two +parties on a more equal footing. But Worley quickly detected his aim, +and being a not less expert swordsman than his antagonist, took +advantage of an impetuous thrust, and quickly brought him to the grapple +of close quarters. One excelled in strength, and the other in activity, +but notwithstanding the latter, superior powers of endurance would soon +have ended the duel unfavourably for our hero, had not a blow from +behind brought his powerful enemy to the ground. Before Bacon discovered +O'Reily, he was well convinced that the bludgeon which had interfered so +opportunely in his behalf, was wielded by no tyro at the weapon. +However, he lost but few seconds, either upon his assailant or +deliverer, but quickly directed his attention to matters of more +absorbing importance in the direction of cannon. Meantime O'Reily seized +the opportunity afforded by the engrossing nature of the conflict, in +the quarter just mentioned, and stooping down he took one of Worley's +feet under each arm, using his legs as shafts, and dragged him off to a +horse stall hard by, where having deposited the insensible veteran upon +the straw, he turned the key and consigned it to his pouch.</p> + +<p>The battle now consisted almost entirely of numerous desperate +individual conflicts, each citizen as he arrived singling out some hated +Roundhead neighbour, and he in his turn as anxious to vent the party and +personal hatred which had been so long festering within his bosom. Sir +William Berkley perceiving that their veteran foes had a decided +advantage in the position now occupied by the parties respectively, +quickly devised a scheme, in concert with Mr. Fairfax, by which, while +the Governor kept the enemy engaged over the cannon, the latter should +take a score of sturdy citizens, and rushing in, regardless of +consequences, drag this sole apparent cause of contention into the +public square, and thus change the scene of action to a more open +position, where the superior bodily strength of the insurgents could no +longer avail them. The measure was executed with great spirit and +promptitude, and succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations; for +no sooner had the citizens commenced dragging the piece at a brisk trot, +than both parties tumultuously pressed round its wheels, and thus +unconsciously were brought into a fair field of action. Bacon, as soon +as he saw the design of the movement, wheeled his hardy youths through +the Governor's house, and formed a line at the critical moment when the +confused combatants arrived fighting over the gun: thus affording a +rallying point for the friends of order and the government. The +governmental troops immediately formed upon the line already partly +established by Bacon and his corps, and thus the gun was at length +brought to bear for a time upon the opposing ranks. The light which had +hitherto fitfully gleamed upon the strife, was now sinking after long +intervals, and emitting that unsteady and wavering flame which announces +rapidly approaching extinction. A few rounds of musketry and one or two +discharges from the small fieldpiece, and the arena of conflict was +shrouded in impenetrable darkness, save from the momentary glare which +preceded the explosions. The Cromwellians, locking their column more +compactly together, rushed in a solid body upon the newly formed line of +the citizens. So sudden and so impetuous was this movement, and so +skilfully executed, that the brave but ill disciplined combatants, +against whom it was directed, gave way before the solid phalanx of the +enemy, leaving the long disputed fieldpiece surrounded by the +Insurgents. They immediately turned its muzzle upon its late owners, and +were about charging it with the usual silence and promptitude of their +movements, when a bright light from a burning torch was seen forcing its +way almost undisputed through their ranks. The Cromwellians stood aside +for its passage with an irresolute sort of tardiness, produced by a +doubt whether the bearer were a friend or an enemy. But they were not +left long in suspense, for he had no sooner arrived at this point, now +forming the line between the contending parties, than he sprang upon the +carriage of the gun, holding his torch aloft, so as to shed a glaring +light upon the assembled multitude of both parties, who stood now for a +moment of truce, in wonder at the strange and gigantic figure before +them.</p> + +<p>"Hold!" said he in a loud authoritative voice, and waving his hand with +a commanding gesture over the ranks of the Roundheads who crowded round +him. "Where is your commander, Worley?"</p> + +<p>"He is slain," answered twenty voices.</p> + +<p>"His blood be upon his own head. Where is he who commandeth in his +stead?"</p> + +<p>"Here am I," said a short black visaged thick-set man. "Here am I, +Ananias Proudfit, whom the Lord hath commissioned this night to take +away the wicked from the land, and to root out the Amalekite, and the +Jebusite, and the Perizzite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite and the +Amorite. And are not this council and this wicked Governor justly +comparable to the five Kings who took shelter in the cave of Makkeda, +who were"—</p> + +<p>"Peace, brawler, peace," thundered the gigantic umpire, "and cease to +pervert the word of God to thy murderous and unholy purposes. Take +warning by the fate of thy predecessor. Thou would'st not listen to a +more safe and peaceable admonition, administered in humility and good +faith. Now I tell thee that if thou art still deaf, this good sword +shall cleave thy hardened skull," and he drew his formidable weapon and +brandished it over the torch. "Hah! sayest thou so," said the enraged +Proudfit, aiming a deadly blow at the gigantic figure towering above +him, but which the stranger struck aside with the ease of a wary and +practised swordsman, and in the next moment as he had promised, drove +his ponderous weapon into the skull of his assailant. Then hurling his +torch into the advancing throng of the Independents, he brandished the +huge glittering blade in fearful circles around the besieged gun, and +quickly cleared a space for its more dexterous and effectual employment.</p> + +<p>The fight was now renewed in all quarters, but evidently to greater +disadvantage on the part of the Insurgents, than they yet had to contend +with. The loss of their commander a second time, even in the ordinary +course of warfare, would doubtless have disheartened them, but the +circumstances under which the last had fallen—the superstitious +reverence in which they were accustomed to hold the Recluse—all +contributed to damp their ardour, to say nothing of the bloody barricade +he had already piled around his person. They were now, too, in a +comparatively open field, where the greater numbers of their enemies +could avail much, and where no opportunity was afforded for the fatal +grapple which had so well served the rebels in the earlier stages of the +conflict. They were assailed from all points of the square at the same +moment, while the Recluse, in the very heart of their ranks, was +literally hewing them down like weeds and cumberers of the ground. No +quarter was asked or given—they had staked their all upon the success +of their enterprise, and seemed determined, long after all hope of +success in their first project must have failed, to leave a bloody +monument to their foolhardy courage, if not to their wisdom and +fore-thought. Nathaniel Bacon, exhausted by the loss of blood from +wounds received in the desperate repulse of the insurgents during the +early part of the engagement, and feeling his tremendous responsibility +for his inadequate preparations, no longer so onerous or so urgent upon +himself, fell upon the field, and was borne to the house of his early +friend and patron.</p> + +<p>With the powerful aid of the Recluse, and the accumulating +reinforcements from the loyal citizens of the town, the remainder of the +gallant but misguided zealots were soon either cut down, captured, or +put to flight. The slain of the Cavalier party were laid out in the +State House, while those of the opposite faction were deposited in the +tobacco warehouse, so lately the scene of youthful revels.</p> + +<p>The wounded were removed to the houses of their friends and relations +throughout the city, and in a short time as profound silence reigned +along its deserted streets as if no one had arisen to disturb its peace. +Not an individual could be found who had seen the Recluse after the +termination of the struggle. The slain were carefully examined, but no +such huge proportions as his lay stretched in death, among the gory +trophies of his prowess.</p> + +<p>The veteran soldiers, so many of whom had fallen, while others were +confined within the jail of the colony, were a remnant of Cromwell's +soldiers who had been sent from the parent country, on account of their +restless and dangerous propensities, some of them had been sold into +temporary bondage, while others established themselves in business or +planting on their own account. They had formed the desperate resolution +of rising upon the governor and his guests while seated over their wine, +supposing that, in the promiscuous massacre which they had intended to +perpetrate, all the councillors, and leading men of the colony would be +swept away, and themselves thereby enabled to revolutionize the +government.</p> + +<p>The Recluse had doubtless been vainly urged to join their desperate +faction, and it would appear that they had either depended upon their +threats of vengeance as a sufficient warrant for his fidelity, or +trusted to his supposed predilection for their cause, and hatred against +the authorities then at the head of colonial affairs. Nor does it appear +that he did openly and boldly betray them. Bacon had by some means or +other of his own, pryed so far into the secret of the incipient +rebellion as to learn who were the prominent leaders—by the suggestion +of the Recluse, obtained through the agency of Virginia, he had found +access to the ear of one Berkenhead, an influential man among them, who, +influenced by gold and liberal promises, betrayed so much of the +conspirators' designs as enabled Bacon to adopt the preparations of +which we have just seen the result. And though they were of themselves +totally inadequate, yet they served the purpose of keeping the murderers +at bay, until time was afforded for the intervention of the citizens, +and thus had preserved the lives of the Governor and his Council, +together with those of many members of the House of Burgesses. The +Assembly, which convened three days afterward, unanimously voted three +thousand weight of tobacco to the traitor Berkenhead, and passed sundry +pious resolutions of thanks to the Almighty for their deliverance, +besides setting the day apart as one of thanksgiving for ever after.</p> + +<p>The ancient city presented a strange and desolate appearance on the +succeeding morning, in the neighbourhood of the public square. Houses +were deserted by their tenants, windows shattered, palings pulled down, +the ground stained with blood; guns, petronels, swords, hats, and +missiles of various descriptions lay scattered about in strange +confusion.</p> + +<p>At length the drowsy citizens were awakened to the importance of the +day. A court of inquiry was assembled for the purpose of investigating +the conspiracy which had so nearly proved fatal to the existing order of +things on the previous night. The prisoners were brought from the jail +to the Court House in irons, and all the witnesses supposed to know any +thing of the matter, were in readiness. Nathaniel Bacon was the first +called, but Mr. Fairfax came forward and stated that his wounds were so +much more dangerous than had previously been supposed, that the surgeon +strictly enjoined quiet and repose, and recommended if possible to +postpone taking his deposition for the present. As the testimony was +ample and satisfactory without his attendance, the examination of course +proceeded. Berkenhead's deposition was essentially what we have already +more succinctly stated in explanation of the insurrection, and most of +the other witnesses testified only to what the reader has already seen +or surmised. There was one witness, however, whose testimony was so +novel and amusing, amidst the general scene of confusion and bloodshed, +that we must by no means neglect it. Brian O'Reily was called in his +turn to give evidence on behalf of the crown on a charge of treason +against the prisoners at the bar.</p> + +<p>"Well, O'Reily," said the examining officer, "please to tell the court +what you know of the treasonable practices of any of the prisoners at +the bar."</p> + +<p>"Be the twelve Apostles and St. Patrick into the bargain, I caught one +iv them in the very act."</p> + +<p>"What act did you see, O'Reily, and which of these men was the +perpetrator?"</p> + +<p>"Faix it was just trason itself I caught him at; sure if I hadn't +brought his head acquainted wid my shelaleigh, he'd iv murthered one of +the king's officers iny way—young master Bacon."</p> + +<p>"Well, tell us which of these men it was, and any thing you know +concerning the getting up of this rebellion."</p> + +<p>"The man's not there at all at all—he's at another bar, and has been +this ten hours gone."</p> + +<p>"He's at the bar of God, you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mane no sich thing, axing your honour's pardon for conthradictin you. +Here's the key that's turned an 'im; besides, didn't I slape by the +door all night wid nobody for company but a small dhrop iv whiskey, and +didn't I spake to him this morning through the key hole, and didn't he +coax and palaver wid me to let him out, and didn't he come over me wid +his wife and nine childre, one at the breast, barrin that I knew it was +a d—d lie at that same recknin, savin your presence, an didn't he fret +about bein cooped up in sich a place all night wid nothin to ate an the +same, to dhrink, barrin the hay that was in the rack, an didn't I answer +him from the contints iv the book, sayin that many a betther man than +him had been born and brought up in a manger, (crossing himself) an +didn't he call me all sorts iv hathen names; indeed an he did—the best +iv them was cut-throat and horse-thaif, only they were in the Habrew +language, an didn't I tell him he was a Judaite, an a wolf in sheep's +clothin, an that he hated the very name iv Bacon. And may be he didn't +call me a dam'd papist? An didn't I tell him he'd live to see his own +funeral iny way? an didn't he answer me all about popes and bulls and +papists? Oh! get away wid your blarney, says I, you're safe now as the +Governor's old bull wid the short tail and the shambles on two of his +legs, only I tould him he'd perhaps be likein the darbies on his hands +instead of his trotters."</p> + +<p>"And who was this, Brian, that you held this long discourse with through +a key hole? You're giving us another of your drunken dreams I fear?"</p> + +<p>"Divil a word iv a lie's in it, your haner, hav'nt I just come from the +stable door, and didn't I set ould growler, the bull dog to watch by him +till I came back—sure he cant come over him wid his blarney about the +wife and the nine childer—O be gorra I'm so tender hearted, it was a +clane temptation to me."</p> + +<p>"Who was it had the nine children?"</p> + +<p>"Auld Nick fly away wid the nine he's got iv them; didn't I tell your +haner it was all blarney to move the tinder feelings of Brian O'Reily?"</p> + +<p>"Who was it then, you were talking to through the key hole?"</p> + +<p>"An 'is it his name your haner's axing after all this time? couldn't you +just say so at wanst, an not throw me out wid the story all thegither? +It's the Divil's own aid-the-camp I'm thinkin. It's the man that makes +swords all the time he's makin horse shoes, they call him Worley I'm +thinkin."</p> + +<p>"Worley! is it possible? have you seen him this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Be the contints iv the book but I saw him not an hour gone, through the +key hole; he was stanin up to hay like the Governor's horse, but his +appetite seemed to uv left him intirely."</p> + +<p>"Can you show the officers where he is?"</p> + +<p>"I can do that same, I'm bould to say; didn't I tell your haner it's the +key I had was turned an im?"</p> + +<p>"And what is it the key of, O'Reily?"</p> + +<p>"Faix it's the key to the Governor's stable." (This answer produced a +loud laugh from the spectators.) "Divel a word o lie's in it."</p> + +<p>"Well, O'Reily, the officers are waiting on you; only prove to us that +this is not another of your drunken reveries, and it shall turn out +better for you than you now expect. Since it has been ascertained that +this man Worley was not to be found among the slain, the Governor has +issued his proclamation, offering two hundred pounds for his +apprehension, dead or alive."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said O'Reily, as he was going out of the door, "but I'm afeard +you'll find him rather in a state iv thribulation, I did some killen an +im myself: Oh wasn't that a beauty iv a shelaleigh? Only to think of two +hundred pounds; faix if I get it but I'll have it set in brass."</p> + +<p>The officers in attendance, with Brian at their head, soon emerged from +the Governor's stable amidst the shouts and cheers of the multitude. The +unfortunate Roundhead commander was brought into courts suffering +severely from thirst, and the effects of the contusion, produced by the +violence of O'Reily's blow.</p> + +<p>We will not detain the reader over revolting portions of the trial +either now or hereafter; suffice it to say, therefore, in brief, that +O'Reily received the interest of two hundred pounds ever afterwards for +his capture of the Rebel Chief. Four of the ringleaders at the second, +and final trial were condemned and speedily executed, and the others +recommended to mercy. Thus was terminated this sanguinary conflict, the +last convulsive throe of the Independent faction in the British +dominions of North America.</p> + +<p>As our tale is no farther directly connected with this ill-advised and +hopeless insurrection, we proceed in the next chapter with the direct +thread of our narrative, the principal personages of which were so +directly concerned in the bloody affair just related, that we could not +pass it over with any kind of regard to historical accuracy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>During the whole of the day succeeding the insurrection, our hero lay in +the most precarious and dangerous state; and the violent inflammatory +action produced by several large sabre wounds so much unsettled his +reason, that the surgeon was compelled still farther to deplete his +already exhausted frame. Towards night his mind recovered its powers, +but his strength was still gone, and he lay upon his couch in all the +helplessness of infantile impotency; and toward evening, exhausted by +the previous night of turmoil and strife, succeeded by a day of feverish +restlessness, he at length fell asleep.</p> + +<p>There was one never-wearying eye that watched the fitful slumbers of the +invalid. Conscious, perhaps, that Bacon could never be more to her than +a friend and protector, Wyanokee delighted in rendering him those quiet, +but constant and indispensable services which his situation required. +Not a change of his ever-varying countenance, as the workings of a +diseased and excited imagination, were from time to time portrayed upon +his pale and already attenuated features, escaped her, while her own +beautiful and expressive countenance, vividly displayed, in rapid and +corresponding changes, her sympathy with the sleeping sufferer. If any +one approached the door, her keen glance immediately arrested the +intruder, her finger upon her lip, and a frown upon her brow, in her +powerful and national pantomimic token of silence. If the eye of the +sleeper opened for an instant in bewildered amazement at the difference +between the real scene before him, and the one from which in sleeping +fancy he had just escaped, her wild and imaginative susceptibilities +were instantly on the alert.</p> + +<p>The mind of the aboriginal, even when partially cultivated, is overcome +with superstitious reverence and awe, in the presence of one under the +excitement of a diseased imagination. Such had been the state of feeling +with Wyanokee during the whole of Bacon's mental hallucinations +throughout the day, and now as she watched at his bed-side, during his +uneasy slumbers, her keen perceptions were tremendously alive to each +successive demonstration. There was one member of the family, however, +who entered and departed from the room unchallenged—Virginia! At this +moment she entered—her own tender sympathies wrought upon by all the +late harassing events; although differing in their developments and +cause in some respects, they were in no wise inferior in degree to those +of her protegée. She moved with noiseless step and suppressed +respiration until she stood over the couch of the wounded youth. Long +and feelingly she gazed upon the sharp and pallid features; there was +naught of passion in that gaze—it was pure and heavenly in its origin, +as in its motive. Her moistened eye, with a movement almost peculiar to +the sick room, or the funeral chamber, turned slowly upon her attendant. +No melting and sympathizing tear softened the brilliant and penetrating +eye which met her gaze; there was excitement, deep excitement, but not +the mellowed emotion of regulated sympathy; in Wyanokee, the imagination +controlled the heart—in Virginia, the heart subdued and softened the +imagination.</p> + +<p>There was something touchingly beautiful in the moral development of +these two young and innocent hearts. There was a mutual instinctive +understanding of each, with regard to the position of the other, in +relation to the wounded youth before them; yet it had never been +admitted even to their own consciousness, because they had never +analyzed their own feelings, and circumstances as yet had never openly +betrayed them to each other. As they mutually exchanged glances, +something like an electric thrill passed chilly through their veins, but +it was only for an instant; the reasoning faculties of the mind examined +it not—they were not in a situation to examine it—imagination +controlled the whole mental organization of the one, and the tenderest +and purest emotions of the heart that of the other. Virginia came to +relieve the faithful and indefatigable Indian maiden, and as the only +practicable means, sent her under some pretext to her mother. She now +occupied a seat near the foot of the couch, in full view of the +sleeper's countenance, faintly illuminated by the subdued rays of a +shaded lamp. She had watched the varying and magnetic vibration of +muscle and nerve for nearly an hour, when the eyes of the sleeping youth +slowly and wildly opened upon her in a bewildered stare, and at length +he spoke.</p> + +<p>"The senses are not the only vehicles for communicating passing events +to the mind," said he, his voice already hollow and sepulchral from the +previous excitement of the brain. Virginia understood him not, but +supposed that his mind was again wandering, but it was not so; his +mental perceptions were preternaturally clear, as they sometimes are +after painful cerebral excitements.</p> + +<p>She made him no answer, hoping that he would again close his eyes to +repose. But he continued, "How else can we gain knowledge of things +which have transpired when all the senses are shut up in profound +slumber? Just now I slept deeply, but not soothingly, and I thought I +was on the brink of destruction, from which none but you could save me; +and that Wyanokee persisted in attempting the rescue, and the more she +struggled the more irremediable became my difficulties. At length you +appeared upon the scene, leaning upon your mother's arm; and she carried +away Wyanokee while you redeemed me from destruction. This is indeed no +farther true than that you have taken the place of your attendant, and +that your mild sympathizing countenance is far more genial to my present +weakened state, than her wild and startling glances. But does it not +seem as if my mental perceptions had caught a glimpse of passing events +without the intervention of the animal senses?"</p> + +<p>Virginia put her finger upon her lip and shook her head, to remind her +charge that strict silence was enjoined. For this there were other +motives acting upon her perturbed feelings besides the injunction of the +surgeon, had they been wanting.</p> + +<p>The invalid closed his eyes, and in a short time seemed to sleep more +calmly and soundly than he had yet done. It being the portion of the +night through which Virginia had insisted upon watching, she moved +quietly to a couch by the window looking upon the river, and the blue +hills beyond, and threw herself upon it and gazed out at the enchanting +scene. Her own flower garden lay beneath the window, stretching away +towards the river, and ornamented midway with a tasteful little +summer-house designed by herself, and decorated by the hands of the +ingenious youth who now lay so helpless before her. The air was balmy +and serene; and redolent of the richest perfumes of fruits and flowers +just bursting into maturity with the advancing summer. Millions of stars +twinkled in the high cerulean arch of heaven, and were reflected back +from the broad expanse of waters beneath, with an enchanting +brilliancy. The murmuring waters of the Powhatan rippled along the sandy +shore with a melancholy monotony, indescribably soothing to her harassed +and troubled mind. The various noises of the busy world around were one +by one sinking into silence. Occasionally the profound stillness which +succeeded, disturbed by the distant bark of a watch-dog, or the more +rural cackling of geese, faded away in the distance so imperceptibly as +to leave the mind at a loss to know whether they were real sounds, or +those associations with the scene which the imagination often conjures +up to bewilder us on such occasions. Her eyes were half closed for a +moment under these soothing and seducing influences, and the next, +quickly opened to catch the fiery track of some darting meteor as it +winged its way through the starry heavens, or to follow the humbler +lights borne through the air by myriads of fire flies which brilliantly +floated upon the transparent atmosphere. A wild and startling note from +some beast of prey, as it roamed through the trackless and unsubdued +forests beyond the river, occasionally struck upon her ear, and ever and +anon she turned her eyes toward her sleeping charge, and all the painful +and harassing feelings of the last few days returned. It was like +awaking from a delicious dream, to the stern reality of some pressing +and constantly obtrusive misfortune. Her previous life had been tranquil +and unruffled; until now her spirits buoyant and elastic. Suddenly the +scene had changed, and all the unmarked and unrecorded pleasures of her +youthful years were lost in the cares and troubles of the present. She +imagined herself the most irremediably wretched being in existence. So +new was unhappiness to her, that the slight cloud which now hung between +her and the happiness she had enjoyed seemed fearfully dark and +lowering.</p> + +<p>But again the soothing influences of the scene without imperceptibly +stole upon her senses, and she fell into a slumber. Her imagination, now +uncontrolled by the sterner qualities of mind, mingled the images +retained from the stirring events of the last few days in the most +fantastic forms. She saw her mother enter the garden with a slow and +solemn step, clad in the habiliments of the grave.</p> + +<p>Her form was aerial and graceful, and her features supernaturally +beautiful and glorious. Presently this figure was met by another of +colossal proportions, approaching the summer house from the opposite end +of the garden; his step was grand and majestic, and his countenance +stern and warlike. He was clad in complete armour, and his mailed heel +as it struck the gravel, sent the blood cold to her heart, and at once +convinced her of the reality of the scene. As the figures met they +paused and seemed to hold communion for a time, and then pursued their +way together; but when they returned to view, the relations of the +parties were changed, the colossal figure was using the most violent +gesticulation, to which his companion seemed to bow her head in meekness +and submission, but not in conviction. At this the other suddenly sprang +forward, seized his victim, and was about to leap the garden walls when +an attempt to scream dispelled the illusion. Virginia opened her eyes +and glanced around the room to assure herself of the reality of the +scene before her. The wounded youth still slept soundly, and the lamp +still threw its flickering shadows on the wall. By a slower and more +cautious movement of the eyes she next examined the garden without; all +was still and quiet as the grave, and gazing long and abstractedly upon +the little arbour she again gave way to the exhaustion of her physical +powers, and again the same figures rose upon her fancy. Now all doubt of +their reality was discarded from the very circumstance of the former's +having proved a delusion. She knew the other was a dream, but this she +felt was truth, and she even went so far as to reason in her mind upon +the strange coincidence of the dream, and the present real scene. The +gigantic figure was now clad in the gray garb of the Recluse, his limbs +manacled with chains, while her mother knelt apart in the attitude of +deep and unutterable wo. A crowd was gathered round as if to witness a +public execution; soldiers and citizens, knights and nobles mingled in +the confused throng. The criminal was kneeling upon his coffin, the cap +was drawn over his face, and the fatal word was given! She awoke with +the sound of firearms still ringing in her ears, and the piercing +shrieks of the female figure thrilling through her veins.</p> + +<p>It may be readily imagined that her startled perceptions were by no +means tranquillized on perceiving, as she opened her eyes, the shadows +of moving figures upon the wall before her. In order to see from whom +these reflections came she must turn her head and look in the direction +of the opposite wall, but for her life she dared not move! Terror +chained her to the couch. At length the shadows moved towards the door! +By a desperate effort she turned her head in that direction, and to her +amazement beheld her mother dressed in white, exactly as she had seen +her in her dream, slowly and steadily leaving the apartment. She clasped +her hand to her forehead and endeavoured to recall her bewildered +senses. The confused images of her slumbering and waking perceptions +were so inextricably mingled together that for a time she was utterly at +a loss to know whether the whole was real or a dream. Certainly the +actors were the same, and the impressions continuous. She had not long +lain in this bewilderment when she heard the door leading into the +garden, just beneath her window, softly opened, and her mother in a few +moments walked down the avenue in the very direction she had before seen +her take.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were intently riveted upon the movements of her parent, until +they were hid from her view by the intervening trees and shrubbery.</p> + +<p>But she removed them not—they were still fixed upon the spot where she +had last seen her, until her white robes emerged here and there from the +foliage, when her eyes instinctively followed her, straining her already +weakened organs to catch the slightest change of position, and seemingly +desirous to penetrate the sombre shadows of the night, whenever the +figure upon which she gazed was lost to view. At length the door again +softly opened beneath her window; and she saw the figure no more. But a +very few moments elapsed, however, before another appeared upon the +scene, of far more gigantic proportions and questionable business at +that place and hour. It was the same figure which she had before seen +associated with the one which had just departed; and now that she really +saw them in flesh and blood, she was more than ever at a loss to know +which and how many of her visions of the night were real and which +illusory.</p> + +<p>The one now before her eyes was clad in his usual, half puritanical, +half military tunic, and as usual he was fully armed, but the weapons +hung quietly by his side; his arms were folded upon his breast, and his +whole carriage and demeanour was subdued, sad, and melancholy. He stood +leaning against the vine-clad column of the arbour, with his eyes +intently fixed upon the spot where the preoccupant of the scene had +disappeared. His chest heaved with emotion, which ever and anon found +vent in laboured respirations of unspeakable misery.</p> + +<p>At this moment a fierce watch-dog sprung at the intruder with savage +ferocity, and to one less accustomed to danger in all its shapes, would +doubtless have proved a formidable foe; but in an instant a heavy blow +from his iron sheathed sabre laid the animal struggling at his feet. He +stood leaning upon his weapon for an instant, and then moved slowly away +until he came near the river, when he laid his hand upon the palisade +running along the foot of the garden, and leapt upon the beach like a +youth of twenty. In a short time Virginia saw his boat upon the water, +his gigantic form rising and bending to his work with desperate and +reckless efforts, the frail bark gliding over the smooth waters, "like a +thing of life," until it faded away in the distance to a mere speck.</p> + +<p>Her eye followed the receding object as it became more and more +indistinct, until a mere undefined point was left upon the retina, her +own voluntary powers sinking more deeply in repose from the intentness +with which she pursued the single object.</p> + +<p>How long she slept she knew not, but when she awoke the horizontal rays +of the rising sun were beaming through the parted curtains, and the +misty drapery from the river was rolling over the hills, and pouring +through the intervening valleys in thousands of fantastic forms, +weaving, here a rich festoon round the summit of one blue hill, and +there spreading out a curtain of mellow tints before another.</p> + +<p>The cool and invigorating morning breeze from the river, joined to the +effects of her last refreshing and uninterrupted sleep, completely +dispelled the shadowy illusions of the night, and she arose +comparatively cheerful and happy. She was frightened when she cast her +eyes upon the couch of the sufferer and found him awake, to think how +much and how long she had neglected him. There was one indefatigable and +untiring nurse watching by the bed-side, however! She had stolen in +unperceived during the night, and now sat upon an humble seat at the +foot of the couch; her eye as brilliant as if it was not subject to the +ordinary fatigues of humanity. The invalid too had slept soundly, and +awakened this morning refreshed and invigorated, and with all his +inflammatory symptoms much abated.</p> + +<p>With all these cheering influences around her, Virginia's countenance +would have been soon clad in her wonted smiles, had it not been for an +unbidden scene which every now and then was conjured up before her +imagination, in which those near and dear to her were principal actors. +But these, painful and inexplicable as they seemed to her, were far from +being well defined in her own mind. For her life, she could not separate +the real evidences of her drowsy senses from the vivid images of her +imagination. She was firmly impressed, however, with the belief, that +some parts of them were true and real transactions! She firmly believed +that she had seen her mother and the Recluse during the night—not +together certainly, but near the same spot and in quick succession; and +she as firmly believed that she had seen the latter disable the +watch-dog, mount over the palisade, and hurry away in his boat. So much +was indeed true; her mother had actually visited the wounded youth +during the night, and she had actually walked in the garden, and the +Recluse was actually there, but no meeting took place, except in the +imagination of the worn-out maiden.</p> + +<p>She entered the breakfast room with these various impressions, real and +imaginary, curiously mingled and confused, and bearing upon her own +countenance an expression of embarrassment not less surprising to her +mother, who was the first person she encountered. Twenty times she was +on the point of asking her mother whether she had walked in the garden +during the night, but as often a strange embarrassment came over her, +resulting partly from what she thought she had seen, and partly from +words dropped by the Recluse in her hearing—the whole confused, +unarranged and undigested—the latter perhaps being entirely +unrecognised by her consciousness, but still operating imperceptibly +upon her conduct. She was not a little astonished, therefore, when her +mother came directly to the point occupying her own thoughts at the +moment, saying, as she approached her, and affectionately smoothed down +the clustering ringlets upon her brow. "You slept upon your post last +night, my dear daughter? Nay—no excuses—there needs none. You wanted +rest, little less than he whom you watched."</p> + +<p>"I did not sleep so soundly as you imagine, my dear mother; I saw you, +methought, either sleeping or waking, and to speak truly, I scarcely +know which state I was in;" and as she spoke she cast a searching glance +at her mother, but her countenance was calm and unruffled as she +replied, "You must have been sleeping, my dear Virginia, I stooped over +you and kissed your cheek as you slept."</p> + +<p>"And did you not walk in the garden?"</p> + +<p>"Yes I did! is it possible you saw me and spoke not?"</p> + +<p>"I did see you, dear mother, but I was afraid to speak."</p> + +<p>"Afraid to speak! Oh! you were afraid of waking Nathaniel?"</p> + +<p>"No! no! I was frightened at the appearance of your companion in the +garden."</p> + +<p>"My companion in the garden! my poor child, you must indeed have +dreamed; I had no companion in the garden."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fairfax coming in at this moment, Virginia hastily took her chair at +the head of the table, and busily commenced her duties at the table, her +thoughts all the while occupied upon any thing else.</p> + +<p>"What a strange being is that Recluse," said Mr. Fairfax, with apparent +<i>non chalance</i>, "have you ever seen him, my dear?" addressing his wife.</p> + +<p>Virginia dropped the plate she was in the act of handing to her father +and was seized with, to her parents, the most unaccountable +embarrassment. She endeavoured to make some excuse in order, as she +supposed, to hide her mother's inevitable confusion. But the latter +calmly replied, "No, my dear, I have never seen him. I have always had +some curiosity to behold him, but now that he has proved himself such a +public benefactor, I shall not be satisfied till the wish is gratified. +Nathaniel had before excited us much by his account of him, but now I +suppose the whole city will be eager to pay him their respects."</p> + +<p>Virginia stared at her mother during this speech in the most undisguised +astonishment, until she saw the calm serenity of her countenance—the +expression of truth and sincerity, which had never deceived her, so +strongly portrayed there, when she was again lost in bewilderment, which +lasted throughout the meal. Her parents, however, were too much engaged +with their own subject of discourse to observe her unusual abstraction, +and the meal therefore and the dialogue came to a close without any +farther development pertaining to our narrative.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">"The eager pack from couples freed,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">Dash through the bush, the briar, the brake,<br /></span> +<span class="i10">While answering hound, and horn, and steed,<br /></span> +<span class="i12">The mountain echoes startling wake."<br /></span> +<span class="i20"><i>The Wild Huntsman</i>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>A few days after the events recorded in the last chapter, the denizens +of the ancient city were roused betimes by the sounds of the hunter's +horn, the echoing chorus of the eager hounds, and the neighing of the +fiery steeds, as they were led forth to the gallant pastime of the +chase. The river and overhanging hills were enveloped in an impenetrable +veil of mist, and the dew settled in a snowy cloud, upon the hair and +castors of the Cavaliers as they issued from their doors, rubbing their +eyes and preparing to mount the mettled coursers which pawed the earth +and blew thick volumes of smoke from their expanded nostrils. These +preparations for the enlivening sports of the field were not confined to +a small number of the civic youth, or to the keener sportsmen among +their elders—all the gentry of the town and colony, with few +exceptions, were assembled on the occasion.</p> + +<p>Sir William Berkley with his numerous guests, Gideon Fairfax, with his +fellows of the Council, the members of the House of Burgesses, now +principally occupying the hotel of the "Berkley Arms," Frank Beverly, +Philip Ludwell, Charles Dudley, with the Harrisons, the Powells, &c. all +now came curvetting into the public square, dressed in their gay hunting +jerkens and neat foraging caps, some with bugles swinging from their +shoulders, and others with firearms suspended at their backs.</p> + +<p>A stately gray-headed old negro, known by the cognomen of Congo, was in +command of some half score of more youthful footmen of his own colour, +in the livery of the Governor, each of whom held the leashes of a pair +of hounds.</p> + +<p>These, from time to time as old Congo wound a skilful blast upon his +bugle, opened a deafening chorus, which echoed through the surrounding +forests, and awakened from their slumbers the drowsy citizens of the +town. Many a damsel peeped from her lattice to catch a glimpse of the +gay Cavaliers as they wheeled into the place of rendezvous in parties of +tens and twenties, all noisy and boisterous; some with the anticipation +of the promised sports, and others from the more artificial stimulus of +a morning julep. The sound of Congo's bugle had reverberated through the +silent streets in signal blasts to the grooms of the gentry at a much +earlier hour of the morning, so that many of the high-born damsels +inhabiting the purlieus of this little court, were also on the alert. +Among these our heroine, awakened by the echoing chorus of the "hunter's +horn," was already dressed and smiling from her window, like one of her +own sweet flowers, upon the gay young Cavaliers, as they passed in +review before her.</p> + +<p>In an adjoining window was another inhabitant of the same mansion, +roused by the same cheering notes, but he smiled not upon the joyous +throng as they gathered around the spot occupied by Congo and his canine +favourites, nor yet upon those of the gay youths who rode up and touched +their beavers respectfully to the smiling maiden as they singly or in +pairs cantered away over the bridge in pursuit of their day's sport. It +was Bacon! his head bandaged and his countenance pale and wan from his +late illness and loss of blood.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless he was dressed, and as eager for the sport as any youth +among them, but exhausted nature negatived his feeble efforts and +longing aspirations, and he had seated himself at the window in sullen +disappointment. This latter feeling was in nowise subdued by the sight +of Frank Beverly, already recovered from his slight wounds, dressed in a +scarlet jerken and hunting cap, a bugle over his shoulder, and mounted +upon a noble animal apparently as eager to display his fine proportions +as his master. The thundering clatter of the chargers' heels as this +numerous cavalcade now passed in long succession over the bridge before +the gazing citizens, thus untimely awakened from their slumbers, at +length began to die away in silence, broken at intervals by the measured +tramp of an occasional party of the more staid, older and less eager +Cavaliers, pursuing the main body at a pace more suited to their age; or +by the gallop of some slumbering sluggard hastening to overtake his more +punctual comrades of the chase. Now and then a note from the bugle of +some overjoyous youth, as he entered the forest, brought a frown upon +the brow of old Congo, whose look was turned in silent appeal against +these irregular proceedings, to his master, who rode apart in earnest +conversation with Mr. Fairfax. While our sportsmen are thus joyously +moving on their way to the appointed spot, we will pursue the thread of +the dialogue between the two dignitaries just alluded to, as it had +reference to the leading personages of our story.</p> + +<p>"Nay, treat not my apprehensions lightly, Fairfax; is not that youth who +leans so disconsolately out of your window this morning, a proper knight +to catch the errant fancies of a girl of sixteen?" said Sir William.</p> + +<p>"He is indeed a right well-favoured boy," replied Mr. Fairfax, "and one +calculated to win his way to a colder heart than that of a maiden near +his own age. Was he not the means of your own preservation, Sir William, +from the knives of yonder murderous fanatics cooped up in the jail of +the city?"</p> + +<p>"Ay!" said his companion, drily, "I grant him to be all that you say he +is, but does not that enforce more powerfully what I have been saying? +Ought you not under such circumstances, to acquaint him with the +necessity of his finding another house than your's for his home, where +your daughter is constantly before his eyes, and what is more important, +where he is constantly before her's, not only with the attractions of +his own well-favoured person, but in the interesting character of her +father's and her uncle's preserver?"</p> + +<p>"If the poor youth had ever presumed upon his position in my family, to +make advances to my daughter, then indeed there might be some propriety +in the course you recommend, Sir William. But I have observed him +closely since our last conversation on this subject, and I am satisfied +that there is nothing more than fraternal affection between them."</p> + +<p>"It is very difficult, Fairfax, for the parties themselves to draw an +exact line, where the one kind of affection ends, and the other begins; +the gradation from mere brotherly regard to love is so very +imperceptible, that the very persons in whom it takes place are often +unconscious of it, until accident or warning from others forces it upon +their apprehension."</p> + +<p>"But where is the necessity of examining into these fine distinctions +now, Sir William? Where is the point of the matter."</p> + +<p>"To that it was my purpose to come presently, but you are always so +impetuous and sanguine, if you will permit me to say so, that I have +found it difficult to discuss this matter in your presence, with all the +coolness and deliberation which ought to attend the negotiation of an +alliance between the kinsman of his majesty's representative in the +Colony, and the daughter of his nearest relative—the heiress probably +of both their fortunes."</p> + +<p>"But has not the match between Virginia and Frank been a settled matter +for years?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, truly, Fairfax, and I am rejoiced that you remember it; but was it +not also agreed, for wise purposes, that the parties themselves should +know nothing of the contract until Frank became of age?"</p> + +<p>"True, and what then?"</p> + +<p>"That time has been passed some months."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, and what is more important to the happiness of the young pair, +Frank himself has moved in the business without any prompting from me. +This, you know, was what we desired, and the very end for which the +matter was kept from their knowledge."</p> + +<p>"He has then proposed himself to Virginia, and she has doubtless +accepted him! All right, all right, Sir William. I always told you it +would turn out just in this way. Every thing turns out for the best. You +see the advantage of leaving the young people to themselves."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, it has all turned out very happily in your sanguine +imagination; but you run away with the matter without hearing me out."</p> + +<p>"Did you not say it was all settled? I certainly understood you so!"</p> + +<p>"No, I said nothing like it. I said that my young kinsman had moved in +the business without my prompting; and I intended to say, if you had +permitted me, that he had authorized me, this day, to make a formal +tender of his hand and fortune to your daughter, through you; which I +now do."</p> + +<p>"Well, why did you not say so at first, Sir William, and there could +have been no trouble about the matter. Instead of that, you read me a +long lecture about the danger of harbouring handsome young fellows in my +house generally, concluding in particular, with a recapitulation of the +various debts of gratitude due from me and my family, and yourself, to +poor Bacon. But as far as I am concerned, I give my hearty consent to +the proposed union, and you may so assure Frank from me, and tell him +that he has nothing more to do, but to appear as every way worthy in the +eyes of Virginia as he does in mine."</p> + +<p>"There, you see, you are coming in your own immethodical and precipitate +way, to the very point with which I set out. I was merely hazarding a +few observations upon the various prepossessing qualities of your +protegée, and expressing some fears of the intercourse subsisting +between him and your daughter, with a view to put you on your guard at +once. This was not done with a view to read you a lecture, as you are +pleased to say, but from the best grounded apprehensions that things +were not proceeding well for our scheme."</p> + +<p>"Is there any ground for the fears you mention?"</p> + +<p>"There is, Fairfax! Lady Berkley has often of late mentioned her +apprehensions to me, that there is a growing and mutual attachment +between your ward and your daughter. Frank has observed the same thing, +and indeed the very proposals I have just had the honour of making to +you, have probably resulted from a desire on his part to bring the +matter to an eclaircissement at once."</p> + +<p>"I will speak to Virginia and her mother on the subject, and my word for +it, my daughter will show you that she knows what is due to her birth +and standing in society. But as to turning Nathaniel out of my house! I +could as soon turn Virginia herself out. Poor boy, he has a farm of his +own, it is true, but my house has always been a home to him, and it +always shall be, as long as he continues worthy, and I continue the head +of it."</p> + +<p>"Ay, that farm! There was another ill-advised piece of generosity; not +content with bringing up a foundling like your own son, you must +purchase him a farm and stock it."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Governor, you give me credit for much more generosity than I +have exercised. <i>I</i> purchased him no farm, or if I did, it was merely +as his agent and guardian. He furnished the means himself."</p> + +<p>"That was very strange! Very strange indeed, that a youth without +occupation, and without any visible fortune, should purchase and stock +one of the most valuable plantations in the colony."</p> + +<p>As they arrived at this point in their discourse, they had ascended to +the top of one of the highest hills within many miles of the city. Here +they found the sportsmen who had preceded them, closely grouped +together, and all talking at once, while Old Cong, (as he was familiarly +called by the youths,) was engaged in slipping the leashes. One pair +after another of the fleet animals snuffed the air for a moment, and +then bounded down the slope of the hill, carrying their noses close to +the earth, and eagerly questing backward and forward through the +shrubbery; sometimes retracing their steps to the very point from which +they started.</p> + +<p>At length one of the foremost of the pack opened a shrill note as he +ran, indicative to the uninitiated, only of eagerness and impatience in +the pursuit of the game, but Old Congo's experienced eye instantly +brightened up, as with head erect, he uttered a sharp shrill whoop, and +mounting his fleet courser, he shot down the hill with the fleetness of +the wind, making the woods echo with his merry <i>hip halloo</i>, as he +cheered them on. By this time the pack were following the leader in the +devious trail on which he was now warm; the whole chorus sometimes +opening in joyous and eager concert as they came upon the scent, just +from the impress of sly Reynard's feet, and then again relapsing into +silence. These intervals in the cheerful cry announced the doubt which +as yet existed, whether the trail upon which they had struck was any +thing more than the devious windings made by the game on emerging from +his den, for the purpose, as the negroes stoutly affirmed, of throwing +his pursuers out. It seemed indeed as if such had been the intention of +the cunning animal, for a plan of the intricate mazes which the pack +were threading, if laid down upon paper, would very much resemble a +complicated problem in Euclid, or the track of a ship upon a voyage of +discovery in unknown seas. Meanwhile Old Congo was in the thickest of +them; now cursing one refractory member, and again cheering a favourite. +The Cavaliers stood in groups—one foot in the stirrup and a hand on the +pummel of the saddle, or smoothing down the curling mane of their +impatient chargers. At length the problem was solved, and the hounds +were seen coursing in a circle round the brow of the hill, a continuous +yelp from the leader, and an answering chorus from the pack, announcing +to the waiting gentry, that the game was up. They instantly mounted, and +were presently flying over the uneven ground at a speed and with a +reckless, yet skilful horsemanship, which bade defiance to all the +perils of the chase. Here one lost his cap by the limb of a tree; there +another measured his length upon the ground by the stumble of his +charger; the main party speeding apace, regardless of all, save the fox +and his pursuers.</p> + +<p>The chase, like misfortune, is a wonderful leveller of distinctions. +Foremost in the field were the proud Sir William and the keener Fairfax; +one upon either side of Congo, whooping and yelling in unison, and all +distinctions forgotten for the moment, but the speed and bottom of their +coursers; the countenances of the three alike expressive of concentrated +eagerness in the sport. To a spectator on the summit of the hill, the +scene was not wanting in picturesque and striking features. The sun was +just peeping over the blue hills, and lifting the vapours from the +valleys beneath, in all the variegated and beauteous tints of the +rainbow, as they arose in majestic masses and encircled the summits of +the cliffs. The cool and invigorating breeze of a young summer morn, as +it was wafted through the romantic dales and glens, came loaded with the +richest sweets of forest and of flower. And when the music of the hounds +was softened in the distance to a faint harmonious swell upon the air, +the feathered tribes, luxuriant in beauty, warbled forth their richest +strains of nature's melody as they hopped from twig to twig, flashing +their brilliant colours in dazzling contrast to the pendant dew-drops +glittering in the sunbeams. On the other hand the rays fell in broad +sheets of light upon the tranquil waters of the noble Powhatan, as seen +through the deep green foliage of the woodland vista. The city too was +dimly visible in the distance, its towering columns of smoke shooting +high up towards heaven through the clear calm air, and expanding into +fleecy waves as they were lost or scattered in the higher regions of the +atmosphere. These morning glories of a southern sunrise were, however, +lost upon our sportsmen, who now came sweeping round the base of the +hill from the opposite side, the horses covered with foam, and riders +making the welkin ring again with their shouts of gladness and +excitement. The dignity of station and of birth, affairs of state, and +all other considerations foreign to the business of the time, were +utterly forgotten and abandoned, while their late proud possessors vied +with the youngest and the humblest in seizing the pleasures of the +chase. The horses seemed in the distance as if their bodies were moving +through the air, a foot and a half nearer the ground than they were +wont, their legs nearly invisible; while their riders bent over their +necks as if impatient even of this headlong speed.</p> + +<p>Hitherto the hounds as usual, when in pursuit of the fox, had moved in +the figure of a rude circle, never departing to any great distance from +the point whence they had started, but moving round and round the hill; +and there was every appearance that the chase would be thus continued +until the game was either fairly run down, or had gained the shelter of +his hole.</p> + +<p>In the present instance, however, an unexpected reprieve was granted to +the hard pressed animal. The dogs, as they came round the brow of the +hill for the third or fourth time, struck off abruptly from their +regular circuit; the foremost chargers were reined up and in a short +time the whole cavalcade was brought to a stand at the point where the +dogs had quitted the track.</p> + +<p>The cause of this interruption to the sport was readily understood by +the experienced Cavaliers. A buck had crossed between the dogs and the +fox, and the former, contrary to their usual discipline and stanchness, +broke off to follow the newest scent. Many were the imprecations hurled +at the head of Old Congo and his deputies for this misconduct of their +charge, the consequence, as was affirmed, of their having been set upon +the trail of a buck on the previous Sabbath. It was now, however, too +late to remedy the evil, as Congo's bugle itself was not sufficient to +recall the eager pack.</p> + +<p>Firearms were immediately unslung from the shoulders of such as bore +them, and Mr. Fairfax, as the keenest sportsman, leading the way, nearly +half of the youths were quickly seen following him up the opposite hill. +Sir William Berkley and such of the company as had already been worn +out, retraced their steps to the picturesque point from which they had +set out, and which has already been described.</p> + +<p>Here some of the footmen, retained for the purpose, speedily +constructed a rude table under an umbrageous tree, upon which was laid +out a tempting display of cold viands, wines and strong waters. Horses +were now tied to the surrounding trees, and their riders threw +themselves upon the sward to repose their wearied limbs, and regale +their longing eyes upon the good things which only awaited the return of +their comrades. This delay seemed likely, however, to prove rather +tedious to the longing appetites of the former, who had not as yet +broken their fast.</p> + +<p>Full two hours had elapsed, and yet no token came of hounds or huntsmen. +The patience even of the formal and ceremonious Sir William began to +flag, and he forthwith ordered the bugles to sound a recall from the +highest spot in the neighbourhood. In vain the reverberating blasts +reëchoed from hill to hill, and from river to cliff; in vain they, +paused to listen for the music of the hounds or an answering signal from +the keener sportsmen. After repeated trials the patience of the Governor +gave way, and having set apart a share of the provision for their +comrades, they fell upon the tempting display with knife and dagger. +Cups of horn, and silver flagons were speedily, produced, and in a short +time their absent compeers were almost forgotten in the general +destruction of cold capons, tongue and ham.</p> + +<p>Towards the conclusion of the repast, the absent sportsmen began to drop +in singly and at intervals. The bridles of their foaming horses were +thrown to the grooms, and they fell upon the wine and fowls like +famished soldiers, after a long day's march. Then came a panting hound, +crouching beneath the legs of a horse, with his tongue hanging from his +mouth; then another, and another, until they had all obeyed the summons +of the bugle.</p> + +<p>None of the huntsmen who had returned as yet, had been in at the death; +but it was supposed that Mr. Fairfax, the only one now missing, had been +more fortunate, as the hounds that came in last were covered with blood. +He was momentarily expected, but they listened in vain for the sound of +his horn. Old Congo was despatched over the hills to summon him with his +bugle, but he likewise returned without any tidings of the absent +Cavalier, and without having heard any answering notes to those of his +own horn. Hours were spent in waiting for him, at first occupied by the +younger Cavaliers in various games and athletic sports, but as the day +waned apace, and still no news of him arrived, uneasiness began to +engross the minds of his associates.</p> + +<p>By the orders of the Governor, the whole Cavalcade spread themselves, +and scoured the forests for miles in the direction he had been seen to +take, but no answer was returned to their shouts and bugles, and no +token of his presence and safety was discovered. Occasionally two +parties were brought together by a supposed answer from his bugle, but +it was found to be only the reply of one scouring party to another.</p> + +<p>After a long and fruitless search, they resolved to hasten to the city, +in hopes that he had reached his home by some other route, and in case +this supposition should prove fallacious it was resolved that the whole +male population should be called out to the search. The distance was +accomplished with a speed and recklessness quite equal to that with +which they had performed it in the morning, but with feelings very +different. A general and gloomy silence pervaded their ranks. Gideon +Fairfax was one of the most universally popular Cavaliers in the Colony; +he was generous, hospitable, and sincere, with his equals, and humane +and affable to his inferiors. His own slaves idolized him, and would +have readily perilled life and limb in defence either of his person or +his reputation.</p> + +<p>When, the cavalcade arrived at the bridge, their painful suspense and +anxiety were little relieved by perceiving an immense crowd assembled +round the house of Mr. Fairfax. That some accident must have befallen +him they had too good reason now to apprehend, else what could have +drawn the multitude together? The arrival of a successful huntsman, was +an affair of too frequent occurrence at Jamestown to excite the present +visible commotion. The returning and anxious Cavaliers were soon met by +the eager throng, who pressed around them in crowds, each party +demanding of the other news respecting their absent fellow-citizen.</p> + +<p>The assemblage of the crowd around the house was soon explained by the +appearance of his favourite charger, upon which he had set out in the +morning, so full of health, vigour and animation. He was held in the +midst of the assemblage, his head-gear broken, the saddle bloody, and +his sides dripping with mud and water, as if he had just crossed through +the river. In this condition he had presented himself at the stable door +where he was usually kept, without his rider, and this was all they knew +in the city concerning the fate of the missing horseman. This was enough +to excite the most distracting fears in the minds of his own family, and +the worst apprehensions, in those of his immediate friends and more +humble admirers.</p> + +<p>Horses and men were speedily volunteered for the purpose of scouring the +whole forest in the direction of the chase. Many of the Cavaliers barely +dismounted from one horse to mount another; and in a very few minutes, +hundreds of citizens, some on horseback and others on foot, had +assembled. While they were thus speedily collecting their forces, a +scream from some washerwomen on the bank of the river, quickly drew the +crowd in that direction. Men, women and children rushed to the spot with +feelings of anxiety and alarm, wrought to the highest pitch. They were +not left long in doubt, for a boat was just nearing the shore, in which +were two men rowing, while another supported upon his lap the head of +the still living but wounded Cavalier.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Fairfax was borne to his own dwelling upon a litter, amidst the +universal regrets and lamentations of the people. The condition of his +own immediate family may be more easily imagined than described. The +most heart-rending shrieks pierced the air when it was announced to the +female part of it that the amiable and generous head of their house had +been basely shot,—by whom he knew not, nor could he form a conjecture. +The deed was perpetrated a few moments after he had himself shot the +buck. He immediately fell from his horse and was for a time perfectly +unconscious of his condition. When he revived he found his horse gone +and himself so weakened from loss of blood that he was unable to stand. +His only resource was his trumpet, upon which he made repeated efforts +to summon his companions, but even the sound of his horn was so feeble +that it could not have been heard more than a few rods from the spot. +While he was in this helpless condition he chanced to discover three men +fishing at the base of the river bank, whom he attempted to summon to +his aid, but the sound of the water prevented them from hearing him. +With great difficulty and suffering he was at length enabled to crawl +down the hill to such a distance that he might be heard, and was thence +borne to the city in their boat, as the reader has already been +informed.</p> + +<p>The surgeon, after examining his wound, pronounced it to be of the most +alarming character, and assured Bacon, apart from the family that he had +little hopes for the life of his patron, who after the exhaustion of his +painful journey and the succeeding intense pain caused by the probing of +his wounds had fallen into a deep sleep.</p> + +<p>Sometime during the morning which has been described in the preceding +chapter, and while the hunting party were yet enjoying themselves +undisturbed by any untoward accident, Bacon had invited Virginia to +accompany him in his first stroll through the garden since his illness. +She complied with more alacrity than had been usual with her of late, +hoping that the refreshing sweets of a summer morning and the cheering +sight of birds and flowers, would dispel the gloomy misanthropy which +had settled upon his countenance since his disappointment at not being +able to join the chase.</p> + +<p>After a silent promenade through the shady walks, they seated themselves +in the little summer house already mentioned, and Bacon thus broke the +embarrassing silence.</p> + +<p>"Virginia, the current of events seems to be hurrying us on to a painful +crisis! It is impossible for me to shut my eyes to such of them at +least, as relate more particularly to myself. My position in the +society in which I now move, is daily becoming more painful to me. I am +constantly subjected to the impertinence of those who imagine that they +have, or perhaps really have, some reason to complain of the protection +and countenance afforded to me by your noble father."</p> + +<p>"Trust then, Nathaniel, to his and our continued confidence and esteem, +and less to the morbid sensibility which disturbs you, and all will soon +be well again."</p> + +<p>"Not so, Virginia. If we were in a little community by ourselves, I +could indeed give my whole mind and soul to such enjoyments as the +society of your family has already afforded to me, forgetting all the +world besides, and never listening for a moment to ambitious hopes and +aspiring thoughts. But in this proud and aristocratic circle, I must +soon be either more or less than I am at present."</p> + +<p>"Why must you be more or less than you are, Nathaniel?" said Virginia, +with unaffected and bewitching <i>naivete</i>.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible, Virginia, that you do not see the reason why? Have you +witnessed the fierce struggles contending at my heart and never formed a +surmise as to the real cause?"</p> + +<p>"Except the morbid sensitiveness to which I have already alluded, and +its very insufficient cause, I declare that I know of none."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible. Good Heavens! and must I at last break through the +restraints which I had imposed upon myself? Must I trample upon the +generous hospitality of the father to lay my heart open before his +daughter?" Her countenance underwent an instantaneous change, and while +he continued, her eyes fell beneath his ardent gaze, and her head sank +upon her bosom in confusion.</p> + +<p>"I will indeed trust to the flattering delusion which hope whispers in +my ear, that perhaps your father himself knows enough of me and of my +origin to absolve me from these restraints. It must be so, +Virginia—else he had never trusted a heart, young and susceptible like +mine, to the constant influence of beauty like yours," and he took her +unresisting hand, "joined with such perfect innocence and such childlike +simplicity as never till this moment to be conscious of its power. Oh, +Virginia, I would fain believe, that he foresaw and approved of the +result which he could not but anticipate. What he approves will his +daughter's voice confirm?—No answer! Will you not vouchsafe one little +word to keep my sinking hopes alive!—You are offended; your countenance +speaks the language which your tongue is unaccustomed to utter!"</p> + +<p>"What should I say?" answered Virginia; "would you have me promise a +return of love whose indulgence is dependent on contingency? Is it kind, +is it proper to urge me upon this subject under existing circumstances?"</p> + +<p>"By heavens, Virginia, there shall be no contingency of my making! I +have crossed the Rubicon, and you shall have the knowledge as you have +had possession of my whole soul from the days of our infancy. 'Tis +yours, Virginia, wholly yours; soul, mind and heart, all yours. Mould +them as you will, reject me if you must, they are still yours. I swear +never to profane the shrine of this first and only love by offering them +up on any other. They are offered now, because my destiny so wills it. +We are the creatures of circumstances. I have vainly struggled against +the overwhelming tide which has borne me to this point. I am goaded +onward by insult—beset with menaces, and torn by the storms of such a +passion as never man before encountered. Can you, dear Virginia, +vouchsafe to me some measure of relief from these distracting emotions? +Say that you would have been mine under other circumstances! Say that +you will never wed that proud and imperious Beverly! Say any thing, +Virginia, which shall calm the tumults of my bosom, and feed my hopes +for the future." While he thus spoke, the blushing maiden was evidently +labouring under emotions little less powerful than his own. Her previous +air of offended feminine dignity was fast melting into sympathy, with +the impassioned feelings of the excited youth. She felt for his peculiar +griefs and cares, and shared his warmer sentiments. The youth perceived +the softening mood, and continued.</p> + +<p>"Speak, I pray you, Virginia, I am in your hands. Speak me into +existence, or banish me from your presence!"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, Nathaniel," said Virginia, after many attempts to give +utterance to her thoughts, "whether it is proper at all times to speak +the truth, but I will not deceive you now. There does indeed seem to be +a peculiar concurrence of circumstances around us, and more perhaps than +you are yourself aware of. I did not intend to deceive you, or lead you +astray; when I told you a few moments since that I knew nothing of any +other struggle than that arising from your own excited feelings, I spoke +the truth, but perhaps not the entire truth;" and as she spoke, a lovely +blush suffused her neck and downcast face; "I knew of other struggles +indeed, but not your's, Nathaniel."</p> + +<p>"Were they yours, Virginia, and of the same nature? say they were, and +heaven bless for ever the tongue that utters it."</p> + +<p>"That you have to ask, does more honour to my discretion, than I have +ascribed to it myself of late. I have had painful fears that I should +have little to tell on an occasion like the present, should it ever +come, with my father's approbation. And if I have now overstepped the +bounds of that proviso, it was in the hope of calming your troubled +spirits, and preventing a catastrophe upon which I have looked with +dreadful anticipation, since the night of the insurrection."</p> + +<p>"And will you indeed be mine?"</p> + +<p>"I will, Nathaniel, whenever you gain my father's approbation; but +without it, never."</p> + +<p>At this moment the garden gate was heard to creak upon its hinges, (most +unmusically to Bacon's ears,) and Harriet Harrison came tripping over +beds and flowers, all out of breath, her cheeks glowing with the +heightened colour of exercise, and her eyes sparkling with mischief just +ready to explode.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Virginia! Virginia! such news!" was her first exclamation; "But +shall I tell it before Mr. Bacon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if it is of the usual kind."</p> + +<p>"Well, upon your own head be the consequences. I have accidentally +overheard such a secret! You must know that your Aunt Berkley has been +at our house this morning, and I overheard her tell my mother that there +was to be a great wedding immediately, and that I was to be one of the +brides-maids. What! no tell-tale guilty blush? Well, who do you think is +to be the bride-groom, and who the bride?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, Harriet, I cannot even guess."</p> + +<p>"The blissful man, then is Beverly—but can you name his bride?"</p> + +<p>"I should not go far hence for an answer, if you had not announced your +nomination for a secondary office."</p> + +<p>"O fie, fie, Virginia, I did not think you could play the hypocrite so +well. I will tell you who it is then, but you must not breathe it even +to the winds, nor you, Mr. Bacon. It is a sly arch little damsel, about +your age and figure; by name Virginia Fairfax!" And with, these words, +she burst into a loud laugh, pointing to her companion with her finger, +and then tripped away again towards the gate without waiting to see the +effect of her communication; but stopping with the gate in her hand, she +cried—"But remember, Virginia, Charles Dudley is not to stand up with +me; we don't speak now." And then she flew away, her hat hanging by the +riband round her neck, and her raven ringlets flying loose around her +temples. Virginia sat as one without life or motion, her face deadly +pale, and her eye preternaturally clear and glassy, but without a tear. +Her respiration was hurried and oppressed, and her countenance +expressive of high and noble resolves in the midst of the keenest mental +suffering. She knew whence her aunt obtained her information, and in its +communication to others in the confidence of the Governor, before she +had been consulted, she saw the tyrannical determination of that +arbitrary old man to consummate this hated union without the least +regard to her wishes or her feelings.</p> + +<p>As these convictions flashed upon her mind, they called up firm and +resolute determinations, even in her gentle bosom! she was stung into +resistance by the tyrannical and high handed measures of her uncle, and +resolved to resist upon the threshold. Bacon's physical frame was not so +steady, or his nerves in his present mood so well strung by high +resolves of independent action. He too saw by whom the blow was aimed, +and upon whose head it would principally fall, and he trembled for the +consequences to his gentle companion. He did not know the strength of +her independent mind, and the endurance and fortitude with which she +would carry her purposes into execution. He knew her to be gentle and +kind and superlatively lovely, but as yet she had endured no +trials,—her courage and fortitude had been put to no test. The very +amiable qualities which had won his affections, served only to increase +his doubts as to her capacity to resist and endure what he too plainly +saw awaited her. He had yet to learn that these are almost always found +united in the female bosom with a signal power of steady and calm +resistance to oppression. To this resolution had Virginia arrived, when +his more turbulent and masculine emotions burst from his tongue as he +seized her hand, "Swear to me, Virginia, before high Heaven, that you +will never marry this proud heir of wealth, and worldly honours."</p> + +<p>"Upon one Condition."</p> + +<p>"Name it! if it is possible, it is done!"</p> + +<p>"That you from this moment give up all idea of a meeting with Frank +Beverly, which I know has only thus long been delayed by your wounds and +illness." He dropped her hand and writhed upon his seat in agony—the +cold perspiration bursting from his pale forehead, as he covered it +with his hands. But presently standing up he exclaimed, "Great God! and +can you ask this of me, Virginia? Is my honour of so little value to +you, that you can ask me to betray it? You heard the insult! You saw the +dagger aimed in the dark! Ay, and saw it strike upon a bare and wounded +nerve! Shall I not resist? Is an assassin to thrust the point of his +steel into the very apple of my eye, and meet with no resistance? +Instinct itself would strike back the cowardly blow. Another might +forego the measure of his revenge for an ordinary insult, but placed as +I am, an elevated mark for impertinence and malignity to shoot at, with +nothing but my single arm to defend me; no line of noble and heroic +ancestors to support my pretensions, and my rank in the community; no +living relations to give the lie to his calumnies! Standing alone amidst +a host of powerful enemies, shall I be stricken down by a cowardly +maligner, and never turn to strike one blow for my good name, my +mother's honour, my father's memory, and my own standing in society? No, +no, Virginia; you cannot, you will not, require me to promise this. One +evidence I must and will give to the calumniator, that I come of no +churl's blood."</p> + +<p>"But, Nathaniel, did you not resent and thus return his injury upon the +spot?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, truly, I did hurl defiance in the craven's teeth, but that only +throws the demand for satisfaction upon his shoulders, so that when it +is made, I may at once atone for his, and take ample reparation for my +own deep wrongs."</p> + +<p>"Promise me, then, that you will but act with Frank henceforth on the +defensive? Remember he is my kinsman."</p> + +<p>"I do promise; and now promise me in your turn never to marry this +kinsman, unless I give my consent, or you should be absolved from your +obligation by my death, or some other irremediable barrier."</p> + +<p>"I promise, Nathaniel."</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the words issued from her lips, when the clanking of +stirrups and clattering of a horse's hoofs at full speed, were heard +outside the garden wall.</p> + +<p>Into what a state of consternation and dismay the family was thrown by +the appearance of the bloody and panting charger at his stable door +without his master, the reader may already have imagined.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>It was the hour of midnight; the softened rays of a shaded lamp threw a +flickering and uncertain light upon the paraphernalia of the sick +chamber, as our hero sat a solitary watcher at the side of the wounded +Cavalier. The long and apparently profound sleep into which the invalid +had fallen, completely deceived the females of the family, so that they +were more easily persuaded by Nathaniel to leave the charge, during the +first half of the night, to his sole care. He had for a long time sat a +sad and silent beholder of the unconscious sleeper, watching with +breathless eagerness every change of muscle, as some sharp and inward +pain vibrated in horrible contortions upon the countenance of the +wounded Cavalier. In one of these he started suddenly up in the bed, his +eyes glaring wildly upon his unrecognised attendant in utter amazement. +First looking into his face and then to the bandages around his own +person, he fell back on his couch—a grim and frightful smile of +remembrance and recognition playing for a moment upon his features, as +he placed his cold hand within that of Bacon, which had been softly laid +upon his breast to soothe his startled perceptions.</p> + +<p>"Nathaniel," said he, his voice already hollow and thrilling, "My hour +is come! It is useless to disguise it. I feel and know it to be so, +whatever the surgeon may pretend. You need not place your finger upon +your lip; I owe to you a duty which I must perform while yet I may. You +have often importuned me, and sometimes impatiently, which I did not +enough, perhaps, consider to be natural to your situation, but you must +forgive me—you have often importuned me upon the subject of your +origin. If I had possessed any full or satisfactory knowledge on the +subject, you may be sure I would not long have detained it from you. +Indeed, I was little less anxious than yourself to place you upon an +equal footing in every respect with your associates." Here a smile of +inward satisfaction beamed upon his auditor's countenance, unobserved, +however, by the speaker, as he continued: "There were some reasons too, +connected with the history of my own family, which prevented me from +divulging what little I did know of your's. If I have erred, for this +too you must forgive me. The wrong shall now be repaired. You have now +been a member of my household for fifteen or sixteen years.</p> + +<p>"One cold and rainy day our sympathies were excited, by seeing an +athletic young Irishman in the street, near our door, carrying upon his +back a well dressed boy, apparently six or seven years of age. The child +was crying most piteously with cold and hunger. We called in the +Irishman, and after furnishing him and his little charge with food, +inquired whose child it was, and whither he was taking it. He answered, +in his own expressive language, that he did not know to whom the child +belonged, nor whither he was taking it. That it had been a fellow +passenger with him across the ocean, until they were shipwrecked at the +mouth of the river, outside of the Capes. That a woman who had two boys +near the same age, either of her own, or under her protection, he did +not know which, had most earnestly prayed him to take one of them upon +his back, as he was preparing to swim to the beach. He did so, and +succeeded in landing with his charge in perfect safety. What became of +the woman and the other child he never knew, as shortly after the waves +broke over the vessel, and she went to pieces. Many of the passengers +and crew, however, had been saved and were scattered about through the +neighbouring plantations, driven to seek employment by the urgency of +their immediate wants. Whether the woman and the child were among the +number he could not learn, as those who were saved had necessarily +landed at distant points upon the shore. He brought the child to +Jamestown in hopes that it would be recognised, and if not, that some +humane person would take charge of it. His hopes had thus far proved +fruitless, as to the first expectation, but we undertook cheerfully the +latter task, and likewise gave employment to the kind-hearted Hibernian. +I caused it to be made as generally known through the Colony, as our +limited means of communication would permit, that such a child was in +our possession, particularly describing his person and clothes, but all +in vain. I also caused search to be made for the woman with the other +child, through the southern plantations, but no tidings of them were +ever heard, and we naturally concluded that they had gone down with the +vessel.</p> + +<p>"Some months after the little stranger had been thus domiciliated among +us, I one day received an anonymous letter, which stated that the writer +knew who were the parents of the child, but for important reasons of a +political nature, he could not then divulge their names or history. He +stated so many circumstances connected with the shipwreck, and described +so exactly the child, that we were compelled to believe him. This letter +was followed by others at various intervals, from that time to the +present, often enclosing drafts for large sums to be drawn for in +England, for the benefit of the child. I need scarcely tell you that the +child was yourself—and your preserver, Brian O'Reily. The name by which +you are called is the nearest that we could come to that by which, both +yourself and Brian stated, you were known on board the vessel. The money +enclosed for your benefit, has been suffered to accumulate until the +late purchase of the plantation at the falls, of which you are now in +possession. Around your neck, at the time of your arrival, was a small +trinket, enclosing the hair of two individuals, curiously interwoven, +and on its outside were some initials corresponding with your own name, +and the date of a marriage. This, together with the letters I have +mentioned, you will find in the left hand drawer of the secretary which +stands in the corner of my library. After opening the outside door, you +will perceive the key hanging beside the drawer. These letters were +never shown, nor the contents mentioned to my wife, for a reason which I +am now about to explain to you, if my strength will permit, and which +will also unfold to you the cause of my reluctance to communicate with +you on this subject.</p> + +<p>"When I first saw Emily in England, she was a young and beautiful widow. +Early in life a mutual attachment was formed between her and the son of +a neighbouring gentleman, in rather more humble circumstances than the +father of my Emily. In consequence of this disparity in the fortunes and +standing of the two families, their attachment was kept a profound +secret between themselves, until the youth having joined the army of the +Commonwealth, they eloped. This was their last and only resort, because +her father was as determined a Loyalist as his was indefatigable in the +cause of the Independents and Roundheads. For two whole years she +followed the perilous fortunes of her husband, now become a +distinguished officer, during which time she gave birth to a son. For a +season she resided with her infant at a retired farm-house, in a distant +part of the country from the scene of strife; but her husband becoming +impatient of her absence, directed her to procure a nurse for her boy +and again partake of his hazardous fortunes. Her child was accordingly +left in the charge of the nurse, and she set out to join her husband. On +the eve of meeting him, as she supposed, she was met by the news of a +desperate engagement, in which the party opposed to her husband had been +victorious, and very shortly afterward, she was herself, with her +attendants, overtaken in the highway, and captured by a party commanded +by one of her own brothers. He immediately sent her under a strong +escort to her father's house, not however before she had time to learn +from some of the prisoners taken in the engagement, the heart-rending +news of the death of her husband. She gained these sad tidings from one +of his comrades, who saw him receive the wound and fall at his side.</p> + +<p>"She found her father so exasperated against her that she dared not even +mention to him or her brothers the existence of her child, lest they +should take some desperate means to separate them for ever. For a time, +therefore, she contented herself with such clandestine communications +with her nurse as the perilous nature of the times permitted. At length, +the sum of her afflictions was consummated by the death of her infant, +the account of which was brought to her by the nurse in person.</p> + +<p>"When I first saw her, these many and severe misfortunes had been +somewhat softened down in the lapse of years. She was still a melancholy +being, however, but I belonging to her father's party, and being of a +gay and volatile turn of mind, and much pleased with her beauty and +amiable temperament, offered to bring her out to America as my wife, +whither the success of the Protector's arms was then driving so many of +the Nobles and Cavaliers of England, and where I already had a sister +married to the then late, and now present Governor of Virginia. After +candidly stating all the foregoing circumstances, she agreed to accept +my hand. And we were accordingly married and sailed for the Capes of +Virginia. You will perceive, upon a perusal of the anonymous letters, +that the writer displays a most intimate knowledge of all the foregoing +particulars of our family history. The design, as you will doubtless +perceive, was to operate upon our superstitious feelings, by this +mysterious display of knowledge, in matters so carefully guarded from +the world. This was not at all necessary, because we had already +adopted, and treated you as one of our own family. Nevertheless he +partially succeeded with me. I confess to you that it has always +appeared to me one of the strangest circumstances that ever came under +my knowledge, that any living person should be acquainted with the facts +contained in those letters. I have made the most strenuous and unceasing +efforts to discover their author, by means of the European drafts, but +all to no purpose. You will now readily comprehend the reason, why I did +not communicate with Emily on this subject. It would only have been +opening old wounds afresh, and would probably have excited her more +sensitive feelings to a painful state of anxiety and, suspense. The same +reasons which influenced my conduct in this respect, will doubtless +operate upon your own judgment when I am gone. In the same drawer is a +will, by which you will perceive, when it is properly authenticated, +that I have left to you, in conjunction with others, the most sacred of +all human trusts. You will find yourself associated in the management of +my affairs, with persons whom I knew at the time to be uncongenial with +you in your general feelings, but upon this one subject you will all be +influenced by one desire. Governor Berkley and Mr. Harrison will never +thwart you in the active management, which I have left principally in +trust to you.</p> + +<p>"I have now rapidly sketched what you will better understand from the +papers themselves, and I have finished none too soon, as I am admonished +by the return of these cutting pains."</p> + +<p>After another agonizing paroxysm, he fell again into one of those +death-like slumbers, which often fill up the intervals of suffering +after a mortal wound.</p> + +<p>When Bacon perceived that he slept profoundly, he at once gave way to +the restless anxiety to see the papers, by which he was consumed. +Eagerly, but softly, he sought the library, opened the doors of the high +old fashioned black walnut secretary, with its Lion's claws for feet, +and his grisly beard and shining teeth, conspicuous from every brass +ornament with which it was adorned.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>He returned to his post and opened the package of papers with a +trembling anxiety, and intense interest, similar to what one might be +supposed to feel who was about to unseal the book of fate.</p> + +<p>He had no sooner cast his eye upon the handwriting, than the package +fell from his grasp in the most evident disappointment. Until this +moment he had indulged a vague undefined hope that from a single glance +at the characters, he should at once possess a clue to unravel the whole +mystery. His mind had instantly settled upon one peculiar and remarkable +individual in the Colony, as the only one likely to possess such +knowledge, and from the interest which that person had always manifested +in his fate, he had almost persuaded himself that he would prove to be +the writer. With his handwriting and the peculiarly dignified and +stately character of his language, he had long been familiar. The first +few lines over which his eye glanced rapidly and eagerly, convinced him +of his error; neither the characters nor the language were his. +Nevertheless they possessed sufficient interest, after the momentary +disappointment had passed away, to induce him to grasp them again and +once more commence their perusal. In this occupation he was soon so +completely absorbed as to be unconscious of the time which elapsed, the +situation and circumstances in which he was placed as regarded himself, +as well as the wounded Cavalier, who lay in the same apartment. In +unfolding one of the papers he came upon the gold trinket mentioned by +his benefactor. Here again was a new subject of intense interest. +"This," said he to himself, "was worn by my mother and was placed around +my neck at our last parting." Here was a fragment of her tresses +precisely similar in character and colour to his own, interwoven with +the darker shades of those of his father. Here too was the date of their +marriage and the initials of their names agreeing sufficiently well with +his own supposed age. These were all subjects of earnest contemplation +to the excited imagination of a youth rendered morbidly sensitive on the +subject of his birth and parentage, by many painful occurrences with his +aristocratic young associates, and still more by recent developments +with the idol of his affections. The trinket was laid down and the +manuscript resumed, of whose contents as much as is important to our +narrative has already been communicated to the reader. The characters in +which it was written, were successively compared in his mind to those of +every person in the Colony who handled the pen. In that day it was not +hard to remember who they were from their great number, chirography +having been an art with which the Cavaliers were less familiar than with +the use of the small and broad sword. Not a scribe in the country wrote +in characters similar to the one he held in his hand, so far as he could +recollect. He thought they resembled those of Governor Berkley more than +of any other, yet that sturdy old knight had invariably frowned so much +on his attempts to assume the place and standing in society to which his +education and intelligence entitled him, that he could not believe him +concerned in benefiting him, even as an agent.</p> + +<p>The Recluse was the only individual upon whom his mind could rest as the +probable author, notwithstanding the variance of the writing. Yet +against this conclusion there were many powerful arguments. The first +that suggested itself to his mind was the money. Could he command such +large sums? And if he could, was it possible with his known habits and +peculiarities, not to mention his occasional aberration, to arrange +complicated pecuniary affairs in Europe? Then again, if he was the +writer, why were these communications continued after he had himself +arrived at years of discretion? Every reason seemed to favour the idea +that he himself would have been chosen as the depository of these +communications, had the Recluse been the man, especially when he +reflected that he was at that very time possessed of more of his +confidence than any other person in the Colony. The papers were perused +and re-perused, and the locket turned over and over listlessly in his +fingers, while a shade of deep sadness and disappointment settled upon +his countenance.</p> + +<p>From this unpleasing revery he was suddenly aroused by the groans of the +wounded sufferer, who now awoke in the greatest agony. When Bacon came +to his bed-side a melancholy change was visible in his countenance. He +was making his last struggle with the grim monster. He was however +enabled to express a desire that his family should be called, but when +they arrived, he could not give utterance to his ideas. He took first +the hand of his wife, and next that of his daughter, and successively +resigned them into those of his young executor. This, under the existing +circumstances of the moment, attracted no particular attention, but was +the subject of many an after-thought and remark. A few convulsive +struggles followed, and then the generous and noble spirit of the +Cavalier deserted its prison house.</p> + +<p>We will not attempt to describe the heart-rending scene which ensued. +Suffice it to say, that after a decent and respectful delay, (far more +than is allowed in our day,) the much loved and much lamented Mr. +Fairfax was borne to the grave, amidst the lamentations and regrets of +the whole assembled gentry of the Colony. The long line of mournful +pageantry moved in slow and melancholy steps to the sound of a solemn +dirge through the streets of the ancient city, and after the usual sad, +but appropriate rites of the established church, the corpse was +deposited in the burying ground, which to this day preserves the +crumbling ruins of many monuments of the ancient Cavaliers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>It was some weeks after the funeral of Gideon Fairfax, that Bacon, +attracted by the genial warmth of a summer day, sauntered out for the +first time, in company with his friend Dudley, to seek the usual +<i>rendezvous</i> of the young Cavaliers. Scarcely were they seated in the +Tap of the "Arms," before Philip Ludwell hastily entered, touched his +castor formally to Bacon and Dudley, and handed to the former a note, +fastened with a silken cord, and sealed with the arms of the House of +Berkley. Bacon cut the cord and read the note, without changing +countenance, and then handed it to Dudley, who had no sooner perused its +contents, than they both arose, retired to a private room, and called +for pen, ink and paper. The latter soon returned with an answer, sealed +in like manner, and handed it to Ludwell, who again formally bowing +retired. The first ran thus:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Jamestown, June —, 16—.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Nathaniel Bacon, Esq.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>—I seize the first moment of your appearance in public, +restored to health, to demand the satisfaction due for the +grievous insult put upon me, on the night of the Anniversary +Celebration, in presence of the assembled gentry of the +Colony. All proper arrangements will be made by my friend +Ludwell, who will also await your answer. I have the honour to +be your most obedient servant,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Francis Beverly</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Bacon's answer was no less courteous and explicit.</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Berkley Arms, June —, 16—.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Francis Beverly, Esq.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>—Your note by the hands of Mr. Ludwell was this moment +received. Your challenge is accepted. To-morrow morning at +sunrise I will meet you. The length of my weapon will be +furnished by my friend Dudley, who will convey this to Mr. +Ludwell, as well as make all other arrangements on my behalf. I +have the honour to be, yours, &c.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nathaniel Bacon</span>.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The following morning at sunrise, two parties of Cavaliers landed from +their boats at a secluded inlet, on the southern extremity of Hog +Island, immediately opposite the city, but screened from view by the +depth of the overshadowing forest. A surgeon with his assistant soon +followed.</p> + +<p>The two parties exchanged formal but courtly salutations, and +immediately proceeded to the business of their meeting. A level +grass-plot, firm under the pressure of the foot, and sufficiently +cleared for the purpose, had long been set apart as the battle ground on +similar occasions, and was now easily found.</p> + +<p>When all the parties were arrived at this spot, the seconds proceeded to +measure the swords in presence of their principals. This of course was a +mere formality required by the usages of the times, as the length of the +weapons was already known and settled between themselves.</p> + +<p>The two young Cavaliers about to engage in deadly strife, were perhaps +as nearly matched in skill and courage as any that could be found in the +Colony. Both were in the daily practice of the foils, as a matter of +education no less than of amusement. Both were impetuous by nature, and +rash in their actions, and both came upon the field longing for +vengeance in requital of wrongs which each supposed he had received at +the hands of the other.</p> + +<p>Beverly was in the enjoyment of ruddy health, and buoyant animal +impulses, but his antagonist was pale, thin, and evidently labouring +under depression of spirits, as well as feebleness of body. To a hasty, +and superficial observer, this state of the parties would have seemed +decidedly unfavourable to the latter; but it is very questionable +whether the high health and robust strength of Beverly were not more +than counterbalanced by the subdued but steady composure evinced by his +antagonist, the result of long confinement and depletion.</p> + +<p>With a slight inclination of the head in formal salutation, each +advanced a foot and crossed his blade with that of his antagonist. The +eyes of each were instantly riveted upon his enemy, with the steady and +deadly ferocity of two wild beasts of prey. The pause continued a few +moments, as if each were striving to measure the hatred of the other; a +few rapid and skilful thrusts and parries were exchanged, and then +another interval of suspense and inactivity ensued. The next effort was +longer and more fiercely contested, and the intentions of each in this +uncomplicated warfare were more readily distinguished. Beverly was at +each successive trial becoming more and more ferocious, while his +antagonist was as evidently acting on the defensive, if not attempting +to disarm him. This now apparent intention of the latter, might be the +necessary result of his present comparative debility, of policy—aiming +to take advantage of his opponent's impetuosity, or of his promise to +Virginia. But from whatever cause it sprung, Dudley thought it a most +hazardous experiment to depend upon disarming so skilful a swordsman, +and was accordingly under the most lively apprehensions for the fate of +his friend. These were not however of long continuance, for at the next +onset, Beverly, forgetting himself for a moment, as he impetuously +flashed his weapon in deadly and rapid thrusts, cried, "Ha, Sir Bastard, +have at your coward's heart." In the next instant Bacon's sword pierced +his body—his eyes glared wildly for an instant, his sword fell from +his powerless hand, and as Bacon withdrew the weapon, Beverly uttered a +groan and fell prostrate upon the earth.</p> + +<p>Bacon stood listlessly wiping his sword-blade upon his handkerchief, his +eyes abstractedly fixed upon the fallen youth, like one without thought +or reason, or rather so deeply buried in thought as to be almost +unconscious of the scene before him. His thoughts were upon his promise +to Virginia, to act only upon the defensive. This he had interpreted far +more literally than the fair girl herself had designed, and it was his +intention so to act throughout the struggle, had not his patience and +forbearance been overcome by the taunting exclamation of his adversary, +just preceding the last fatal onset.</p> + +<p>All the circumstances passed rapidly through his mind, until his +meditations settled into the most poignant regret; not a little +aggravated when Beverly opened his eyes, and held up his hand to Bacon, +feebly exclaiming, "Bacon, forgive me; I wronged you both first and +last. I see it now when it is too late, but it is never too late to ask +forgiveness for an injury." Bacon grasped his hand, and flung himself +prostrate at his side in an instant. "Before God, Beverly, it was not my +intention, when I came to the field, to do this deed; my whole effort at +first was to disarm you. Forgiveness lies with you, not with me. I have +done you an irreparable injury, yours was but the result of thoughtless +impetuosity, for which I as freely forgive you, as it was hastily and +heedlessly offered. May God forgive us both."</p> + +<p>The surgeon and his assistant now interfered in the prosecution of their +professional duties. While these were in progress, all parties were +silent in breathless attention; not a change of the doctor's countenance +escaped them. At length he arose, and deliberately wiping and replacing +his instruments in their case, walked thoughtfully some paces from the +wounded youth.</p> + +<p>Bacon dared not follow to ask the fate of his patient, but Dudley, with +breathless eagerness pursued his footsteps, and demanded to know in few +words his fate. "Life or death, Doctor?" he hastily exclaimed, as if he +expected an answer in like short and expressive terms.</p> + +<p>"Ours is not one of the exact sciences as to prognostication," said Dr. +Roland. "The wound extends from the anterior part of the thorax."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me about the thorax, doctor, tell me whether there is life +or death?"</p> + +<p>"The pleura and the right lobe of the lungs have been wounded, +consequently there will be great inflammation succeeding, both from the +pleuretic and pulmonary excitement. These are the unchangeable laws of +the animal economy, and will not yield were the son of Charles himself +lying before us."</p> + +<p>"O damn the animal economy. Can't you say in one word, life or death?"</p> + +<p>"No, I cannot, Master Dudley. All I can say at present is, that it is my +hope and belief, if properly managed, that he will not die from the +hemorrhage, and that his chance of life depends upon his weathering out +the inflammation mentioned."</p> + +<p>"There is a reasonable hope then! Thank you, doctor, thank you; may God +send that his life be spared." Uttering this fervent ejaculation he +joined his companions, who now held a consultation as to the most +judicious plan of removing the wounded youth. One proposed that he +should remain at a cottage upon the island; but the surgeon decided that +he might be removed in a boat to the city as easily as he could be +carried to the cottage. He was accordingly extended upon a rude litter, +and deposited in the most convenient boat, upon such a bed as they could +hastily construct of cloaks and bushes.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely emerged from the shrubbery overhanging the margin of +the river, when a rustling noise was heard, similar to that made by the +flight of a large flock of birds, and in the next instant a shower of +Indian arrows fell harmless in the water, succeeded by an astounding +yell of twenty or more savages, indistinctly seen through the dense fog +rising from the stream. Their light bark canoes, of variegated colours, +could scarcely be distinguished as they rode upon the waves like huge +aquatic birds. The savage warriors were standing perfectly erect, +notwithstanding the motion of the waves and the vigorous exertions of +those squaws who officiated at the oar and helm. Bows were already +strung in their hands, and they were again in the act of leveling them +upon the party, when Bacon, seizing a duck gun from the bottom of the +boat, fired into the midst of the foremost canoe. Three huge painted +warriors leaped into the water and yelled and struggled for an instant +before they sunk to rise no more. Another discharge of arrows, and +another shot from Bacon's weapon, with like success, considerably damped +the ardour of the pursuit. Bacon and his party had in the mean time +urged the boat containing Beverly and the surgeon far ahead and out of +reach of their missiles, while they protected their retreat. Having +suffered the enemy to come within striking distance, he was now enabled +to see that they were Chickahominies, and readily comprehended their +motives. He was himself the object of their pursuit. They had watched +his movements for the purpose of avenging the death of their chief and +his followers. So prompt and efficient, however, was the defence of the +party sought, that after a few harmless flights of arrows, and a few +returns from the firearms of the white party, they hastily retreated, +and in a short time their canoes were only seen like distant specks on +the circumscribed horizon, as they scudded away before the rising +volumes of vapour for fear the dawning day should betray them and their +hostile attitude to the notice of the citizens.</p> + +<p>As Bacon and Dudley stepped upon the shore in front of the palisade, the +other party having landed and disappeared before their arrival, they +stood to gaze over the water for an instant to ascertain whether any of +the savages yet lingered upon the scene. The fog was rapidly rising from +the water, so that their line of vision was uninterrupted for some +distance over the bay between the islands.</p> + +<p>They could just perceive their late enemies doubling the southern point +of the island upon which they stood, and were about to retire, supposing +all further apprehension from that quarter at an end, when they +discovered the dim outlines of some one upon the southern end of the +island, making signals with a white handkerchief. They immediately and +silently moved along the shore, under cover of the palisade, until they +came within such a distance of the object which had attracted their +attention, that they could discern who it was themselves, at the same +time remaining undiscovered. It was Wyanokee! Her appearance at this +early hour and solitary place, and her equivocal employment, produced +the greatest astonishment and mortification in the mind of Bacon. Until +this moment he would have pledged his life for her truth and fidelity. +Ever since the encounter with the Indians, he had been wondering in his +own mind, how they had pursued him so exactly to the secret place of +their rendezvous. Now he recollected that Wyanokee had passed through +the gallery of the State House on the preceding evening, where Dudley +and himself were practising. She might have overheard some of their +conversation. Her presence at such a place had excited a momentary +surprise at the time, but it all passed over, under the usual idea that +Wyanokee was every where. She often glided about like a spirit, yet no +one knew whither she was going, or the purpose of her movements. "Can it +be possible," said Bacon to himself, "that Wyanokee has been +treacherous?"</p> + +<p>All these corroborating circumstances, together with her present +attitude, answered in the affirmative. Notwithstanding the strong +conviction of this unwelcome fact which now settled on his mind, he +could not believe her deliberately bent on his destruction. He had seen +her exhibit many noble traits of character in trying situations. +Besides, she was somewhat under his protection, and we are always +inclined to love those whom we have served. She was also Virginia's +pupil, and the latter was proud of her as such, and he himself had felt +a sort of complacency at the progress of the maiden under her tuition. +His imagination had often dwelt upon her imaginary perfections, as so +many reflected beauties from Virginia's guileless heart and cultivated +mind. No, he could not believe her thus meanly treacherous. Some native +impulse must have been roused, some secret spring of her long hidden and +dormant nature, must have been touched. Her savage ideas of patriotism +had fired her to revenge the death of her nation's chief.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding these palliating suggestions which rose in his mind on +the doubtful attitude in which he had detected her, his reflections were +by no means pleasing, as he locked his arm in Dudley's, and retired +from the shore. Every thing seemed to him to conspire against his +happiness. First, there was the old and ever present cause of solicitude +in relation to his own origin, the doubtful nature of which had been the +remote cause of the unhappy rencounter of the morning. Then there was +the new attitude in which he was placed towards Virginia, by the death +of her father, together with the tantalizing, partial revelations of the +anonymous letters and gold locket, which that event had thrown into his +possession, with the thousand surmises, half formed hopes, and +resolutions resulting from them. Upon the whole, however, he could not +but feel, in the midst of these various depressing circumstances, that +his chance for success in an application for the hand of Virginia was +greater with the widowed lady of the murdered Fairfax than it would have +been were he alive. He knew the high position in which he stood in that +lady's favour. He knew her contempt for worldly show, pomp and +circumstance—he had always known it, but now he knew something of the +cause in the revelations of her own history. He knew that she had boldly +indulged the first predilections of her own young heart at the expense +of her father's and her brother's favour; and his hopes were strong, +that when he should present himself before her in something of a like +attitude, as an applicant for the hand of her fair daughter, her own +recollections would rise up before her in his favour. That there would +be difficulties to surmount, and prejudices to subdue, he knew full +well. That Sir William Berkley would exert his power to the utmost, to +prevent such a consummation he also knew; but the consent of Mrs. +Fairfax once gained, he resolved to brave the opposition if he could not +subdue the prejudices of the Governor.</p> + +<p>The unhappy business of the morning would in all probability hasten the +contending elements to a crisis. The Governor would soon know of the +meeting and its result; he would in all probability inquire into the +cause of the quarrel, and his shrewd insight into the motives of human +action would very soon discover that there were hidden impulses +operating, which caused the insult to be given, and kindred ones in the +opposite party which rendered the offence so much the more heinous and +unpardonable. In short, he would discover that there was a lady at the +bottom of the whole affair; and that this lady was his own fair niece; +and that the two gentlemen who had just contended in deadly strife, were +rivals for the possession of her favour. Such being the process of +reasoning in the Governor's mind, Bacon knew him too well to suppose +that he would delay the matter long before he endeavoured to bring it to +a conclusion. Indeed he believed (and the reader knows how truly) that +his excellency already saw the advantages of the connexion as vividly as +his nephew apprehended the sterling qualities of the lady. Such being +the case, the result of the morning's meeting, if it did not prove +fatal to his rival's life, would in all probability precipitate the +matter at once to an issue. The Governor would no sooner ascertain that +Beverly was out of danger than he would take the business in his own +hands, and how he would manage it, and what means he would take to +accomplish his ends, Bacon's personal experience in other matters fully +taught him. He resolved therefore to be beforehand with him, to present +his own claims first, to attempt to conciliate the lady of his late +patron, before her ear had been poisoned by the violent abuse which he +knew would be heaped upon him, as well as by contempt for his origin. +But could he imbrue his hand in the blood of his rival and then present +it for acceptance? Could he precipitate his claims before the family in +their present melancholy state?</p> + +<p>These were the subjects of his reflection, as the two youths entered the +gates of the city,—and here another difficulty arose; if he should +immediately present himself before the family, the news of the meeting +having preceded him, even without broaching the subject before alluded +to, would not the feelings excited in the mind of Virginia and her +mother be unfavourable to his claims? Then again, should he leave rumour +with her hundred tongues to explain to the maiden the reasons which had +induced him to accept the challenge from her kinsman, would not his +cause be still more prejudiced? Finally, therefore, after taking all +these things into consideration, he came to the conclusion that it was +best to wait some favourable news from his wounded rival before +presenting himself, or in case of the worst result, to absent himself +from the city altogether for a time.</p> + +<p>Accordingly the youths bent their footsteps to Dudley's lodgings, there +to await intelligence concerning Beverly. It is hardly necessary to +remind the reader that duelling in that day, so far from being +considered criminal, was the sole test to which all differences between +gentlemen were submitted. The influence of the custom has been handed +down, variously modified by the circumstances of the times, from one +generation to another, until it has reached our own.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>For more than a week Frank Beverly lay in the most precarious state, and +more than once during that period his friends were summoned to his +bed-side, expecting every moment to be his last. Bacon, torn and racked +with suspense, moved about the house of his late patron like one +distracted. He had already made his peace with Virginia, by explaining +to her the unequivocal and unconditional demand for satisfaction made +upon him by Beverly, as well as the unjustifiable taunt upon the field, +by which he had been driven from his defensive attitude. But even her +society failed in its usual attractions, while Beverly remained in +danger. Doctor Roland, with all his technical formality, was as +indefatigable in his attentions as he was oracular and mysterious in his +announcements from hour to hour, and day to day, concerning the state of +his patient. These, reported to his master from the lips of Brien +O'Reily, would form no unamusing subject for the reader, were not our +attention called to the more important personages and graver incidents +of our narrative.</p> + +<p>As Bacon had surmised, Sir William Berkley was not long in understanding +the real cause of the quarrel; he had himself heard partial reports of +the affront and its cause on the night of its occurrence. As Bacon had +also expected, he seemed to await the fate of his young kinsman, before +he took any farther steps towards promoting the alliance between him and +Virginia. This however did not prevent him from giving way to the most +ungovernable rage at Frank's condescension in meeting an adventurer, +"the son of no one knew whom."</p> + +<p>At length the invalid was unequivocally pronounced to be out of danger, +by Dr. Roland himself. The Governor had no sooner received the +information, than he despatched a footman with his most respectful +compliments to Mrs. Fairfax, and requested the pleasure of an hour's +conversation with her, on the most important business; in answer to +which, a message was returned to the Governor, that she would be pleased +to see him, at any moment which might suit his convenience. That time +soon arrived, and the formal old gentleman, after many apologies for the +untimely intrusion upon the privacy of her sorrows, and condolence for +their cause, thus introduced the subject to which he solicited her +attention.</p> + +<p>"It was perhaps not known to you, Madam, that your late lamented husband +and myself had long since formed a prospective arrangement, by which we +hoped to dispose of our fortunes in such a manner as to add honour and +dignity to our families, at the same time that we should preserve them +united, and confer happiness upon our nearest relatives and presumptive +heirs. His will, as I understand, has not yet been authenticated, but +doubtless when it is so you will find that he has provided for the +fulfilment of this design."</p> + +<p>"I do not fully comprehend your Excellency."</p> + +<p>"I mean, madam, that we contemplated uniting in marriage, your fair +daughter and my young kinsman, Beverly; by this means I will be enabled +to entail my fortune on their male descendants, which will meet all my +desires concerning my niece, at the same time that it will be doing no +injustice to my young relative."</p> + +<p>"The plan seems ingeniously contrived, Sir William, to prevent future +heart-burnings concerning the disposal of your estate; but were the +young people to know nothing of the arrangement?"</p> + +<p>"The knowledge of it was kept from them, at the suggestion of your late +lamented husband, in order that they might imbibe no prejudices against +the scheme as they grew up, but rather be thrown into each other's way, +as the time for its consummation approached, and thus perhaps discover +its propriety themselves. This has in part proved true, for on the very +day of the unfortunate accident which deprived your house of its +inestimable head, I had the honour to lay Frank's proposals before him."</p> + +<p>"Sir William—I do not know my daughter's sentiments on the +subject,—the fulfilment of the scheme will depend entirely on her +feelings."</p> + +<p>"With due deference, madam, would it not be more politic to treat the +matter as already, and long since settled, between her father and +myself, and sacredly sealed by his death?"</p> + +<p>"I must be plain and candid with your Excellency—I have no desire to +use policy in the affair; if my daughter gives her free and hearty +consent, you have mine; but if the match is repugnant to her feelings we +will drop the subject, with many thanks to your Excellency for your kind +purposes, and to Mr. Beverly for the intended honour."</p> + +<p>Virginia was now called in; but while the servant performed that duty, +Sir William replied, "I am exceedingly mortified, madam, that you seem +to place the fulfilment of this long-treasured scheme upon a contingency +so light."</p> + +<p>"Do you then consider a young lady's being permitted to have a voice in +choosing her partner for life, a light contingency, Sir William?"</p> + +<p>"I think, madam, that her parents are more capable of making a selection +which will confer honour upon them and her, than she can possibly be. +Our best families would soon arrive at a very plebeian level, were every +female descendant to be permitted to indulge her love-sick fancies, +instead of consulting the interest and honour of her house. But it may +be that this discussion is useless in the present instance. Here, madam, +comes your daughter, who will decide."</p> + +<p>Virginia entered, pale and trembling with alarm and vague presentiments +of evil; her hands were crossed upon her breast, and her eyes downcast. +After making a reverential courtesy to the Governor, she instinctively +stood before him, awaiting his commands as one upon trial. However harsh +the Governor's opinions to the mother, policy dictated a very different +course toward the daughter; he accordingly led her to a seat beside +himself, and with the most bland and courteous manner, thus addressed +her,</p> + +<p>"I come, my niece, as an ambassador from poor Frank, with full powers to +ask of your mother this fair hand in marriage; and I must take the same +opportunity to declare the happiness it would give Lady Berkley and +myself, to receive you into our mansion as the wife of our kinsman, and +the daughter of our affections."</p> + +<p>The mildness and the unusual condescension of her formal uncle +completely threw Virginia from the stately and unequivocal answer which +she had meditated when first summoned; for it will be recollected that +she had already had an intimation of his intentions. She could do no +less than feel grateful for his own undoubted affection, and she felt it +extremely difficult properly to express this feeling, connected as it +must be with the overthrow of his dearest hopes. After the most painful +embarrassment, she was enabled to answer: "To you, my dear uncle, I have +always felt grateful for the more than paternal affection which you have +shown to me, and I must feel not less so for the motives which prompted +you to undertake the present mission; but with all my affection for +yourself and desire to please you, and all my gratitude to Mr. Beverly +for the honour which he intended me, I must beg leave to decline his +offer."</p> + +<p>"Wherefore must you decline it, Virginia?" asked Sir William, with the +most evident chagrin and surprise.</p> + +<p>"Simply because I cannot reciprocate the affection which I am informed +Mr. Beverly entertains for me."</p> + +<p>"You have never made the trial, niece; you have not taken five minutes +to consider the importance of the proposition which I have had the +honour to lay before you. Reconsider your hasty answer; take time to +form a mature opinion of the many advantages which the connexion holds +out. See Frank himself when he recovers, and my word for it, he will +make as many love-sick speeches as would woo a lady from Charles' +court."</p> + +<p>"It is not necessary, my dear uncle; I have long meditated upon the +subject, having by accident heard of the proposed union before you were +pleased to communicate it in person."</p> + +<p>"What is your objection to Frank? It is certainly no satisfactory +answer, to say you cannot reciprocate his affection, when you have never +yet given him an opportunity to plead his cause in person. He is +unquestionably as well favoured a youth in regard to personal +attributes, as any in the Colony, and I flatter myself as well born and +of as bright expectations?"</p> + +<p>"I have no objections to urge, Sir William; Mr. Beverly is undoubtedly +all that you say he is, but he never can be more to me than he is at +present; for this determination I have many reasons satisfactory to my +own sense of propriety, but which it is neither necessary nor proper for +me to urge. One I will however give you, with the hope of for ever +setting the question at rest. My affections are already engaged!"</p> + +<p>Had a thunderbolt hurled the old Cavalier from his seat, he could not +have been more astounded. Mrs. Fairfax was scarcely less so. Sir William +glanced from her countenance to that of her daughter, as if he expected +the former to overwhelm her daughter with reproaches, his own anger all +the while displaying itself in the contortions of his inflamed and +glowing countenance. But seeing her astonishment subsiding into +complacency instead of anger, his own broke forth—</p> + +<p>"What! bestow your affections unasked? and upon whom pray!"</p> + +<p>"I have not bestowed them unasked, Sir."</p> + +<p>"Has any gentleman asked and obtained permission of you, to address your +daughter?" he inquired, turning to Mrs. Fairfax.</p> + +<p>"None, Sir."</p> + +<p>"Who then is the favoured swain? Who has dared to interfere in this +matter unauthorized by the consent of your only surviving parent or +myself?"</p> + +<p>"For him I have neither the right nor the will to speak. At the proper +time he will doubtless do it for himself," said Virginia, as she arose +with offended dignity to leave the room.</p> + +<p>"Hear me yet a moment," cried Sir William, with the most ill disguised +efforts to appear calm. "If the person, who has thus intruded into your +family, is of proper birth, connexions, and expectations, and his suit +should meet with your mother's approbation, I of course have no right to +interfere. But remember, should you attempt to form an alliance with an +individual who would disgrace my family, to which you are nearly +connected, I will, if there be none other to perform the office, with +mine own hands tear him from the very foot of the altar, and mete to him +such a reward as his temerity demands."</p> + +<p>At this moment the door opened, and Nathaniel Bacon entered, with an +expression of unalloyed delight upon his countenance. He had just heard +the joyful tidings from the medical attendant of his rival. He met +Virginia face to face, just within the sweep of the door, and perceiving +no other object at the moment, attempted gayly to seize her hand, but no +corresponding movement being perceptible, he paused to examine her +countenance, at the same time glancing at the offended visiter, whose +scowling eyes were fixed upon him. Virginia's countenance was like a +mirror to reflect her feelings, and had there been no intelligible +expression upon the face of the Governor, Bacon would readily have +comprehended the attitude of the various parties. These observations, +however, were the work of an instant, for Sir William no sooner +perceived his presence, than he sprung to his feet, his brow growing +darker every moment. He had entirely misinterpreted Bacon's appearance +at that critical juncture. His suspicions had all along pointed to him, +and he now imagined that his presence was the result of preconcerted +design. "To what motive, Sir," he cried, "am I indebted for this +intrusion? Have you come to congratulate me upon the recovery of my +young kinsman, of whom your murderous hand had well nigh deprived me?"</p> + +<p>Bacon wheeled partly upon his heel, as if endeavouring to force himself +out of the room, without answering the choleric old Cavalier, but seeing +Virginia turn her head and cast an indignant glance at the offender, his +own hard schooled feelings broke forth also. "To no particular motive, +Sir, are you indebted for this visit: it was the result of the purest +accident. I knew not that your Excellency was in the house, and came +into this room in the ordinary free and unchallenged mode of +intercourse, to which the inmates of this most hospitable and generous +family are accustomed."</p> + +<p>"Ay, Sir Stripling, and unless I am grossly deceived, your intercourse +has not gone unchallenged for nothing."</p> + +<p>"To what is your Excellency pleased to allude."</p> + +<p>"Have you not studiously endeavoured to undermine the most important +family arrangements of those who cherished and protected your infancy? +Have you not stung the bosom that warmed you into existence? Have you +not been callous to the claims of gratitude, due alike to the living and +the dead? Have you not attempted to beguile the only daughter of your +patron into a disgraceful alliance?"</p> + +<p>Bacon resisted the mild and persuasive endeavours of Mrs. Fairfax to +lead him from the room, whence Virginia had already departed, while he +replied, drawing himself up to an erect and perfectly composed and +dignified attitude,</p> + +<p>"If your Excellency chooses so far to forget, what is alike due to your +station—to yourself, to the present company, and to me, as to permit +yourself to ask such questions, you cannot expect me so far to forget +myself as to answer them!" and with this reply he left the room.</p> + +<p>The Governor, after indulging in the most vehement bursts of passion, +and threats of vengeance against Bacon, should he dare to connect +himself with his family, and in vain endeavours to extort a promise from +Mrs. Fairfax, never to give her consent, left the house in the most +towering and ungovernable rage.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely crossed the threshold, before Bacon returned to the same +room, leading Virginia by the hand, having held a very interesting +conversation with her in another apartment. Mrs. Fairfax was sitting +apparently absorbed in the most painful reflections. As the youthful +pair entered, a slight clearing away of the clouds which had gathered +upon her countenance might be perceived. They walked deliberately up to +where she sat, and seated themselves one on each side of her: when Bacon +thus spoke—</p> + +<p>"It was not my intention, dear madam, thus to intrude upon your sorrows, +but I may be pardoned for presenting myself as a petitioner at your +feet, when another, high in station and dignity, has thought proper to +forget those claims. Had he confined himself to the legitimate object of +his mission, I had perhaps still forborne, but when he has stepped out +of his way rudely to thrust me before you as the disorganizer of your +family arrangements, and as the serpent who has stolen into your house +in order to poison your brightest hopes and fondest anticipations, I +have thought it became me at once to state to you how far I have +offended.</p> + +<p>"It is true, dear madam, that I have not been insensible to the many +charms of your daughter's person and disposition. You have witnessed, I +would fain hope, not unobservantly, the dear delights of our first +childish intercourse, when our minds and hearts were drawn together by +an affection and a congeniality of taste and sentiment which we +supposed, if we thought of it at all, was purely fraternal; and then +when our minds began to expand, and our affections to assume and to +display their real character, and finally when we came thoroughly to +understand each other and ourselves, you were not a heedless spectator +of these progressive changes and developments; and having seen, I cannot +believe that you would have permitted this mutual affection to grow to +its present maturity and strength, intending to deny its sanction at the +last, when the cure might so easily have been made by nipping the tender +flower in the bud. Speak, I pray you madam! Our fate hangs upon your +words!"</p> + +<p>"I will not pretend to you, my children, that I have not observed the +mutual affection which has grown up between you from its earliest dawn. +Nor will I disguise from you that it gave me pleasure mingled with much +pain. Many long and dreary nights have I lain upon my pillow, +anticipating what I then supposed would be the fierce struggles of this +moment. I calculated with the usual short sightedness of mortals, that +he who will ne'er partake in our councils more, would have been here to +decide upon your wishes.</p> + +<p>"I supposed that his own family pride would first have been to conquer, +then I thought of the fierce resistance which the greater pride of his +kinsman, Sir William, would offer—the interview of this morning shows +how truly. After all these painful misgivings, however, and the maturest +judgment that I could bestow upon the subject, I came to the resolution +to suffer what seemed the predestined current of events to run its +course. Providence has by a most painful process removed the only +obstacle you had to fear, my children, and he, had he been alive, would +doubtless have finally given his consent rather than attempt to tear up +forcibly by its roots a passion like yours, the growth of years and +intimate knowledge of each other. I therefore give you my consent, my +children, that you be united in marriage, and the sooner the better, as +the first storm upon its announcement once over, all these contending +passions which drive you into broils and strife will cease."</p> + +<p>As she concluded speaking, Virginia, down whose cheeks the tears had +been rapidly coursing each other, sunk upon her knees, in which position +she was instantly joined by her now acknowledged and betrothed lover. +Mrs. Fairfax placed her hands upon their heads, tears bedimming her own +eyes, and blessed them, and then kissed her daughter as she was about to +leave the room. When she was gone, Bacon resumed the subject of their +discourse. "O say, dear Madam, how soon will you consent to the +completion of our happiness? I address myself to you in the first +instance, in order that I may use your name in my appeal to your +daughter for an early day."</p> + +<p>"As soon as you can persuade Virginia to consent. I would seriously and +earnestly recommend two things with regard to your nuptials, the rest I +leave to yourselves, namely, that they take place as privately as +possible, for fear of Sir William's violence; and secondly, as soon as +possible, in order that you may anticipate the complete recovery of +young Mr. Beverly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, madam, may Heaven bless your wisdom and benevolence. I am now +doubly armed, and will seek your daughter, and I hope soon return with a +favourable answer."</p> + +<p>Accordingly he flew out of the room, and in a few moments she heard him +loudly calling her daughter's name through all the portals of the house, +and rapping at every door, but no Virginia was to be found. At length, +however, he sallied forth into the garden, when he found her in her +summer-house, apparently in profound study of some favourite Author's +new publication, perhaps Milton's "Paradise Regained." His arguments +fell apparently upon a deaf ear. She continued to read, regardless of +his passionate gesticulations and burning words. Her cheeks glowed +vividly enough, but she gave no other evidence that she was conscious of +his presence. At length he seized her hand, and forcibly but gently led +her before her mother, like a culprit, as she doubtless felt herself, +for her eyes were downcast, and a crimson blush suffused her neck and +temples. Mrs. Fairfax attempted in vain to assume a grave and judicial +expression. She succeeded, however, in convincing the young pair that +the safety and the peace of many of their family circle depended upon +their speedy nuptials. It was doubtless for these reasons alone, that +they soon agreed amicably upon an early day, until which time we will +leave the imagination of the reader to follow the young pair through +flowery beds of roses and tulips, and the more flowery anticipations of +"Love's young dream."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>The appointed day at length arrived—it was ushered in by no cheering +omens from without or within the mansion of Mrs. Fairfax. No warbling +songsters from the feathered tribes perched upon the window of our +heroine, or hopped from flower to flower through the garden beneath, to +woo her from her slumbers; and the heavens themselves gave lowering and +sultry evidence of an approaching storm. In the east it was misty and +unsettled; while a long curtain of dark frowning clouds, heavily charged +with electric fire, hung in portentous masses along the whole line of +the western horizon. The atmosphere was hot and oppressive, the whole +aspect of the weather such as invariably casts a damp upon the spirits.</p> + +<p>Virginia required no sweet serenade to call her from her slumbers. She +was already awake, as indeed she had been through most of the night. A +feverish dread of undefined approaching evil, had dimly floated through +her excited brain during her waking hours, and yet more shadowy horrors +disturbed her partial and unrefreshing sleep. Her morning habiliments +were donned earlier than usual, without the assistance of her Indian +attendant; yet she marvelled at her unwonted absence. She usually slept +in an adjoining apartment, and hither Virginia bent her steps to chide +the tardy maiden for her strange neglect on so important an occasion. No +little surprise was visible in her countenance, when she found not only +the apartment untenanted, but that the bed upon which Wyanokee usually +slept, was undisturbed, or that if used at all, it had been slightly +disarranged, only as if with a deceptive purpose. She repeated her name +throughout the house and garden, but no answer was returned. Her voice +soon aroused her mother, who was no less surprised at the circumstances +related by her daughter. Together they went to the apartment, and again +examined the bed, which had evidently not been slept in. And now other +appearances struck them, which had not before attracted their attention. +The dress she had worn on the previous day, hung in a closet answering +the purposes of a wardrobe, together with the whole of her apparel, the +gift of Virginia or her mother. Not an article could be recollected of +these, which was not there. They seemed, moreover, to have been +studiously arranged so as to attract attention in this particular. On +the other hand, every garment of Indian fabric which she had preserved +through her captivity, was gone. The moccasins she had worn on the +previous day—the Indian beads, wampum, and other ornaments of native +origin, were nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>All the gifts of Bacon and Mr. Fairfax, some of which were of gold and +silver, were conspicuously arranged upon a shelf in the same apartment. +Many of these she had hitherto constantly worn in her ears, and upon her +wrists and ankles.</p> + +<p>As they were pursuing their researches Virginia discovered the window of +the room in which her attendant had always slept, shut down upon the end +of an Indian arrow. She raised the sash and drew in the missile, in the +end of which, inserted in a split and bound with a strip of the fibre of +a sinew, was the identical blue feather Wyanokee had plucked from the +gory locks of the slain King Fisher, the last of the Chickahominy +chiefs. The arrow was pointed in the direction of the nation's hunting +ground. The language of these symbols Virginia understood but too well; +she had too long made Wyanokee a subject of study, as well as of +instruction, not to understand that the feather indicated her flight to +the dwellings of her tribe. She also thought she saw many collateral +indications in the time chosen for her elopement—the arrangements of +her English garments, and more especially of the gifts she had received +from Bacon. She doubted not in her own mind that the resolution of +Wyanokee was in some way connected with the approaching ceremony, but +she did not communicate her suspicions to her mother, because they were +as yet not clearly defined in her own thoughts. They received momentary +corroboration however, as many circumstances recurred to her mind, +which were trivial in themselves, but important in connexion with the +present discovery, and which have been from time to time hinted at in +the progress of our narrative.</p> + +<p>The impression left upon the mind of our Heroine by these incidents +produced any thing but the joyous, elastic and happy mood, her young +dreams had always anticipated for her wedding day. There were many other +subjects of apprehension to mar the pleasures of the time. Governor +Berkley had left her mother's house overflowing with wrath, and +threatening speedy vengeance against her betrothed.</p> + +<p>Few persons ever became indebted to Sir William Berkley in a matter of +personal hatred or ill will, who did not sooner or later find him a hard +and exacting creditor. With all her love for her uncle she knew his +harsh and unyielding nature, and dreaded his power.</p> + +<p>The natural apprehensions of a modest, gentle, and tenderly educated +maiden on her wedding day, are at all times sufficiently powerful of +themselves; but joined to the unfavourable omens and sources of anxiety +by which Virginia was surrounded, they were overpowering. Her breakfast +remained before her untouched, notwithstanding her mother's endeavours +to cheer her drooping spirits.</p> + +<p>A short and animated conversation with her lover, as the day began to +wane, partially recalled her wonted cheerfulness, but when he was gone +she relapsed into her former mood. The aspect of the heavens seemed to +her to grow momentarily more portentous. Already the thunder was heard +rolling in the west, and black masses of threatening clouds were +gradually closing in from every point of the horizon. The wrath of +Heaven itself seemed to our heroine gathering over the city. This +nervous excitement of mind will not be wondered at when it is remembered +that a short time only had intervened since dark and mysterious +injunctions had been urged against the marriage, of which the appointed +time was now so near at hand; and to this must be added the state of +alarm and agitation in which she had since been kept by insurrections, +outrages, personal strifes and deadly feuds between her friends; and +above all, by the violent and sudden death of her father. In the short +space of a few weeks her once tranquil and happy existence had been +changed into one of painful trials and vicissitudes. The night was +rapidly closing in. There hung the bridal garments, and there stood the +tire woman waiting her commands. At this juncture a carriage drove up to +the door, steps were let down, the knocker sounded, and in the next +moment the gay brides-maid bounded into the room, arrayed for the +occasion. Her countenance was radiant with smiles as she entered, but +perceiving her friend's sombre mood she walked round her sundry times +and then raised her hands and eyes in pretended astonishment, as she +exclaimed, "Do I mistake! Was it indeed to your wedding that I was +invited? For shame, Virginia! shake off these sickly fancies. Come, +rouse yourself, and I will be your tire woman. Our family will soon be +here, the carriage has gone back for them. Will that not move you? Then +your lawful lord and"—</p> + +<p>Here Virginia rose and placed her hand upon the lips of the lively girl, +yet with a look which seemed at the same time to intimate no +unwillingness to be cajoled or rallied from her present serious humour.</p> + +<p>The wedding was to be kept a profound secret from all but the invited +guests, and those who were to officiate at the ceremony. The former +consisted only of Mr. Harrison's family, and the latter of the clergyman +of the Established Church, who officiated at Jamestown—Charles Dudley +who was to give away the bride, and Harriet as brides-maid.</p> + +<p>The appointed hour of nine at length arrived. Assembled in the parlour +below, the various parties awaited the appearance of the bride. +Carriages were already at the door; the chapel lighted, and the priest +habited in the robes of his sacred office.</p> + +<p>Bacon, after sundry movements towards the door at which she was expected +to enter, could subdue his impatience no longer, and at once mounted the +staircase. He met the two maidens on their way down; Virginia apparently +having imbibed some of her friend's spirit and vivacity, which she so +much needed. She placed her hand timidly but confidingly in that of +Bacon as they entered the room. Both she, and her attendant, were +robed in virgin white—and certainly never were dresses more +appropriate;—they were both young, innocent, beautiful, and intensely +interesting, in the position which they now occupied.</p> + +<p>Bacon and Dudley were dressed exactly alike, and rather in the costume +of the preceding, than of the present reign; the latter not yet having +made its way to Jamestown. They wore doublets of scarlet velvet, with +large loose sleeves slashed up the front; the collar covered by a +falling band of the richest point lace, with a vandyke edging. Their +breeches were of white silk, and fringed at the bottom, where they +united with their silk stockings, amidst a profusion of ribands and +ornaments of lace. Their shoes were ornamented over the buckle straps, +with white bridal roses wrought in silk. Hanging gallantly upon one +shoulder, they wore the short and graceful blue cloak of the period: not +in such a manner, however, as to conceal in any degree the gay +appearance of the costume which it completed, but so as to be thrown +aside and resumed at a moment's notice. This latter article being light +and graceful, and worn more for ornament than use, was always thrown +aside for the military buff coat on warlike occasions.</p> + +<p>The party, preceded by the priest, entered the waiting vehicles. Just as +they were seated according to the order of previous arrangement, a +vivid flash of lightning shot athwart the horizon, succeeded by a crash +of thunder loud and fearful, as if the eternal hills themselves had +again been shattered into chaos. The females drew themselves into the +corners of the carriage, covering their eyes, and the gentlemen were +silent, while the God of the Universe, spoke through his thunders.</p> + +<p>The drive to the church was as short as it was silent. The priest +entered his desk and laid open the sacred volume, while the various +parties arranged according to order in a semicircle round the altar, +waited upon his words.</p> + +<p>The chapel was dimly lighted, except immediately around the parties, in +accordance with the strict privacy of the celebration. Mrs. Fairfax was +as calm and benignant as was consistent with her usual settled +melancholy. Virginia was pale as a marble statue, her head just +sufficiently inclined forward to suspend her bridal veil in graceful and +flowing folds before her exquisitely formed figure. Harriet's vivacity +was subdued to respectful and mute attention. The sound of the +clergyman's voice could just be heard at intervals between the awful +peals of thunder, while the lurid flashes contrasting with the feeble +rays of the lamps, rendered the surrounding gloom more impressive. The +words which fell from the lips of the sacred functionary were something +like the following:</p> + +<p>"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and +in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in +holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate instituted of God in the +time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is +betwixt Christ and his church; which holy estate Christ adorned and +beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana +of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all +men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised or taken in hand +unadvisedly—lightly, or wantonly—to satisfy men's carnal lusts and +appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, +discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in fear of God, duly considering the +causes for which matrimony was ordained.</p> + +<p>"First, it was ordained for the procreation of children to be brought up +in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.</p> + +<p>"Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid +fornication, that such persons as have not the gift of continency might +marry and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.</p> + +<p>"Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that +the one ought to have of the other—both in prosperity and adversity.</p> + +<p>"Into which holy estate, these two persons present come now to be +joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not +lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for +ever hold his peace."</p> + +<p>A solemn silence prevailed through the dimly lighted aisles, as the +usual pause was allowed for the answer. At this juncture, and while the +small party around the altar held their breath in mute astonishment and +wonder, the door was rudely thrust open, and a gigantic figure strode +down the hollow sounding aisle. His heavy footfalls rung upon Virginia's +sensitive organs like the funeral knell of departed peace. He walked +directly towards the altar, until he stood immediately behind the +youthful pair about to plight their faith, his tall figure towering far +above their heads.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> Over his face he held a black mask, as he thus +spoke, in answer to the general challenge of the priest.</p> + +<p>"Well mayest thou say that now or never is the time to speak the just +cause which interposes to prevent the consummation of this union. That +cause know I. But its revelation, now rendered imperative, will be like +unto tearing up with irreverent hands the mysterious secrets of the +charnel house beneath our feet. Oh God, why could not this duty have +been spared to me!"</p> + +<p>His huge frame shuddered with convulsive emotion as he paused and seemed +to view from beneath his mask his astounded and breathless auditors. The +clergyman seized the opportunity to repeat with solemnity the challenge. +"If any man can show any just cause why this youthful pair may not +lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for +ever hold his peace!"</p> + +<p>"They cannot lawfully be joined together because they are the children +of the same mother!"</p> + +<p>The silence of death prevailed throughout the chapel. Respiration and +reflection itself seemed suspended upon the awful announcement of the +Recluse, while he fell back upon one of the seats of the aisle and +covered his face with his hands in unutterable anguish.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Fairfax had been visibly agitated from the first moment of this +startling interruption, by some more dreadful emotion than the surprise +and vague alarm of those about her, but now desperation itself nerved +her sinking powers, as she stepped a pace forward and uttered in a +distinct voice. "It is false! proceed with the ceremony." Harrison and +Dudley instinctively felt for their arms, the former exclaiming, "He is +mad—staring mad! be it our business to prevent this irreverent +interruption!"</p> + +<p>But the Recluse immediately sprung upon his feet, throwing his mask upon +the floor as he stood full in front of Mrs. Fairfax, and exclaimed, +pointing with his index finger to his time-worn countenance; "Look thou +upon these long forgotten lineaments, and then upon these (laying his +hand upon Bacon's head) and testify before Heaven and earth whether I +have not spoken truth! a fearful truth!"</p> + +<p>The person appealed to stood for some moments like a statue, her eyes +protruding from their sockets, as if a tenant of the grave indeed stood +before her—her hand at length slowly rose from her side and wandered +through the vacant air as if she would have submitted the spectre to the +test of feeling—imperfectly measuring the distance however between her +own person and the object sought, it fell again powerless by her side. +Her lips moved as if she were in the act of holding a conversation with +the being who had addressed her, but no sound issued from them. The +pupils of her eyes were painfully distended, and their whole expression +wild and bewildered. At length her chest began to heave convulsively, +when she made a wild and desperate effort to rush upon the object of her +gaze, but fell prostrate on the floor before she had attained half the +distance between them. As she fell she cried in the most piteous +accents, "Charles! Charles!" and then swooned away.</p> + +<p>Charles Dudley, who had till now assisted Bacon in supporting his +fainting bride, resigned his charge to Mr. Harrison and ran to Mrs. +Fairfax, supposing himself to be the person thus piteously +apostrophized. He took the fallen lady in his arms and raised her partly +from the floor, but no symptoms of returning animation were visible. +While he thus supported her head upon one knee, kneeling upon the other, +assisted by the clergyman and friends, and Bacon and Mr. Harrison +supporting Virginia, who was in little better condition, a tumultuous +crowd rushed in at the door, headed by Sir William Berkley himself, +exclaiming to his minions, "Tear him from the altar! tear the upstart +from the altar."</p> + +<p>But as he ran with his drawn sword towards the pulpit, something in the +attitude and expression of the various parties at once arrested his hand +and voice.</p> + +<p>There is a power of expression in deep and irremediable sorrow which +cannot be looked upon without emotion. Boisterous and outrageous as Sir +William Berkley had entered the chapel, his fierce nature was instantly +subdued by the appearance of his sister-in-law and her daughter. The +crowd which followed were instinctively awed into silence by the same +powerful and speaking appeals.</p> + +<p>When the announcement of the lawful cause which prevented the +consummation of the union first fell upon Bacon's ear, his head sank +upon his breast, and although he mechanically clasped Virginia round the +waist, as he felt her clinging to him, and sinking at his side; he stood +stupefied with horror, holding up his lifeless burden, entirely enable +to think or act. His habitual and superstitious reverence for every +thing uttered by the Recluse, induced him to receive the first +impression of his words unchallenged even in his own mind.</p> + +<p>By the time that Sir William Berkley and his party arrived, the Recluse +had disappeared; every one was so much absorbed by the instant and +pressing calls for assistance and sympathy from the suffering females, +that the time of his departure was entirely unnoticed.</p> + +<p>The Governor had no sooner recovered from his first shock and surprise, +than he made his way to one of the young Harrisons to learn the cause of +the present appearance of the parties, so different from what he had +been taught to expect. Although he did not believe that there was one +word of truth in the cause assigned for the interruption of the +ceremony, he was well enough satisfied that the parties themselves, and +Mrs. Fairfax should believe it. No matter to him what horrors they +suffered, he considered it all but a just punishment for their attempted +mesalliance. As for Bacon, and his horror-stricken feelings, Sir William +did not deign to bestow a thought or word upon them, after the first +hasty exclamation with which he had entered the door. By his orders, the +female sufferers were placed in a carriage, and removed to his own +house. Bacon resigned his charge with a listless apathy, bordering on +stupefaction, and to a superficial observer, such would doubtless have +been the impression; but his was the deadly deceitful calm which +precedes the coming storm. The most horrible of all human sufferings is +that where no tear is or can be shed—where no enemy presents himself +for vengeance—no hope for the future, all having been perilled and +lost upon a single throw. Bacon felt himself thus situated—the +cherished hopes of a lifetime were blasted in an instant, not only for +the present, but under such circumstances as to cut off all hope for the +future. The object of his passion could not henceforth be enshrined in a +holy secret worship of the soul, such as is sometimes kept up through a +long life of celibacy for the lost one.</p> + +<p>No mortified pride arose to his relief! he could not hate—he dared not +love the object around which his whole heart and soul were entwined. The +very light of his eyes—the sun of his existence—his delights of the +present—hopes of the future—all, all were blotted from existence in a +moment. The very retrospects of the past were poisoned. Could he bear to +dwell upon the enrapturing delights of their young loves, when the +object and participator was now discovered to be his own sister? To +whichever aspect of the case he turned, he as speedily revolted in +horror. It was while these things were tearing and racking his soul, +that he appeared to feel externally less than might have been expected. +His mind and feelings were precipitately rolled back upon their own +resources, and the suddenly dammed up waters of bitterness sought vent +at every avenue. Virginia was no sooner taken from him, however, than +his perceptions seemed roused at once to the full horror and +hopelessness of his fate. Without his castor, and still decked in his +gay bridal attire, he burst from the crowd, prostrating the Governor's +minions to the right and left, as he felled a passage to the door. His +eye had lost its abstracted expression; it was deadly fierce and +terrifically wild as he rushed forth into the kindred storm without—no +one knew whither.</p> + +<h3>END OF VOLUME FIRST.</h3> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> A house very similar to that we have described stands to +this day near the Ancient City. Its former objects and uses are entirely +unknown.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The Indians possessed no knowledge of any of the tribes +beyond.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> See Holmes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Some idea of the rude state of the mechanic arts of the +period may be formed by those who have seen the antiquated chair, in +which the speaker of the Virginia house of delegates sits to this day. +There are many specimens too of ancient furniture still preserved in the +older Counties of Virginia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The reader will perceive when the proper time comes for +disclosing from what authentic annals this character is taken—that we +have but described his person, as the grave words of History portrayed +him.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2, by +William A. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2 + or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion + +Author: William A. Caruthers + +Release Date: March 21, 2011 [EBook #35645] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA V.1 *** + + + + +Produced by Roberta Staehlin, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA, + + OR, THE RECLUSE OF JAMESTOWN. + + AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF THE OLD DOMINION. + + BY WILLIAM A. CARUTHERS + + THE AUTHOR OF "THE KENTUCKIAN IN NEW-YORK." + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + VOL. I. + + NEW-YORK: + PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, + NO. 82 CLIFF-STREET, + AND SOLD BY THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS THROUGHOUT + THE UNITED STATES. + 1834. + + +Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1834, by HARPER & +BROTHERS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern +District of New-York. + + + + +THE CAVALIERS OF VIRGINIA. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The romance of history pertains to no human annals more strikingly than +to the early settlement of Virginia. The mind of the reader at once +reverts to the names of Raleigh, Smith, and Pocahontas. The traveller's +memory pictures in a moment the ivy-mantled ruin of old Jamestown. + +About the year 16--, the city of Jamestown, then the capital of +Virginia, was by no means an unapt representation of the British +metropolis; both being torn by contending factions, and alternately +subjected to the sway of the Roundheads and Royalists. + +First came the Cavaliers who fled hither after the decapitation of their +royal master and the dispersion of his army, many of whom became +permanent settlers in the town or colony, and ever afterwards influenced +the character of the state. + +These were the first founders of the aristocracy which prevails in +Virginia to this day; these were the immediate ancestors of that +generous, fox-hunting, wine-drinking, duelling and reckless race of men, +which gives so distinct a character to Virginians wherever they may be +found. + +A whole generation of these Cavaliers had grown up in the colony during +the interregnum, and, throughout that long period, were tolerated by +those in authority as a class of probationers. The Restoration was no +sooner announced, however, than they changed places with their late +superiors in authority. That stout old Cavalier and former governor, Sir +William Berkley (who had retired to the shades of Accomack,) was now +called by the unanimous voice of the people, to reascend the vice-regal +chair. + +Soon after his second installation came another class of refugees, in +the persons of Cromwell's veteran soldiers themselves, a few of whom +fled hither on account of the distance from the court and the magnitude +of their offences against the reigning powers. It will readily be +perceived even by those not conversant with the primitive history of the +Ancient Dominion, that these heterogeneous materials of Roundheads and +Cavaliers were not the best calculated in the world to amalgamate in the +social circles. + +Our story commences a short time after the death of Cromwell and his +son, and the restoration of Charles the Second to the throne of his +fathers. + +The city of Jamestown was situated upon an island in the Powhatan, about +twenty leagues from where that noble river empties its waters into those +of the Chesapeake Bay. + +This island is long, flat on its surface, and presents a semicircular +margin to the view of one approaching from the southeast; indeed it can +scarcely be seen that it is an island from the side facing the +river--the little branch which separates it from the main land having +doubtless worn its way around by a long and gradual process. + +At the period of which we write, the city presented a very imposing and +romantic appearance, the landscape on that side of the river being +shaded in the back ground by the deep green foliage of impenetrable +forests standing in bold relief for many a mile against the sky. Near +the centre of the stream, and nearly opposite the one just mentioned, +stands another piece of land surrounded by water, known to this day by +the very unromantic name of Hog Island, and looking for all the world +like a nest for pirates, so impenetrable are the trees, undergrowth, and +shrubbery with which it is thickly covered. + +To prevent the sudden incursions of the treacherous savage, the city was +surrounded with a wall or palisade, from the outside of which, at the +northwestern end, was thrown a wooden bridge, so as to connect the first +mentioned island with the main land. A single street ran nearly parallel +with the river, extending over the upper half of the island and divided +in the centre by the public square. On this were situated the Governor's +mansion, state house, church, and other public buildings. Near where the +line was broken by the space just mentioned, stood two spacious +tenements, facing each other from opposite sides of the street. These +were the rival hotels of the ancient city; and, after the fashion of +that day, both had towering signposts erected before their respective +doors, shaped something like a gibbet, upon which swung monotonously in +the wind two huge painted sign-boards. These stood confronting each +other like two angry rivals--one bearing the insignia of the Berkley +arms, by which name it was designated,--and the other the Cross Keys, +from which it also received its cognomen. The Berkley Arms was the +rendezvous of all the Cavaliers of the colony, both old and young, and +but a short time preceding the date of our story, was honoured as the +place of assembly for the House of Burgesses. + +The opposite and rival establishment received its patronage from the +independent or republican faction. + +It was late in the month of May, and towards the hour of twilight; the +sun was just sinking behind the long line of blue hills which form the +southwestern bank of the Powhatan, and the red horizontal rays fell +along the rich volume of swelling waters dividing the city of Jamestown +from the hills beyond with a line of dazzling yet not oppressive +brilliance. + +As the rich tints upon the water gradually faded away, their place was +supplied in some small degree from large lanterns which now might be +seen running half way up the signposts of the two hotels before +mentioned, together with many lights of less magnitude visible in the +windows of the same establishments and the various other houses within +reflecting distance of the scene. The melancholy monotony of the +rippling and murmuring waters against the long graduated beach now also +began to give place to louder and more turbulent sounds, as the negroes +collected from their work to gossip in the streets--Indians put off from +the shore in their canoes, or the young Cavaliers collected in the +Berkley Arms to discuss the news of the day or perhaps a few bottles of +the landlord's best. On this occasion the long, well-scrubbed oaken +table in the centre of the "News Room" was graced by the presence of +some half dozen of the principal youths of the city. In the centre of +the table stood the half-emptied bottle, and by each guest a full bumper +of wine, and all were eager to be heard as the wine brightened their +ideas and the company received fresh accessions from without. + +"Oh, here comes one who can give us some news from the Governor's," said +the speaker _pro tempore_, as a handsome and high-born youth of +twenty-one entered the room with a proud step and haughty mien, and +seated himself at the table as a matter of course, calling for and +filling up a wine glass, and leisurely and carelessly throwing his cap +upon the seat and his arm over the back of the next vacant chair, as he +replied--"No, I bring no news from the Governor's, but I mistake the +signs of the times if we do not soon hear news in this quarter." + +All eyes were now turned upon the youth as he tossed off his wine. He +was generally known among his companions by the familiar name of Frank +Beverly, and was a distant kinsman and adopted son of the Governor, Sir +William Berkley. News was no sooner mentioned than our host, turning a +chair upon its balance, and resting his chin upon his hand, was all +attention. + +"What is it, Frank?" inquired Philip Ludwell, his most intimate friend +and companion. + +"Some mischief is brewing at the Cross Keys to-night," replied Frank, as +the landlord moved up his chair nearer to the table, more than ever on +the _qui vive_, when the Cross Keys became the subject of discussion. + +"There is no one in the Tap of the Keys, as I can see from here," said +another of the party, "and there is no light in any other portion of the +house except the apartments of the family." + +"They hide their lights under a bushel," continued Frank, with an +affected nasal twang and a smile of contempt. Taking his nearest +companion by the lappel of his doublet, and drawing him gently to where +the rival establishment was visible through the door--"Do you not see a +line of light just perceptible along the margin of the upper window? and +if you will observe steadily for a moment, you will see numerous dim +shadows of moving figures upon the almost impenetrable curtain which is +drawn over it." + +"Master Beverly is right, by old Noll's nose," said the landlord, as +they all grouped together to catch a glimpse of the objects mentioned. + +"You may well swear by Noll's nose in this case," returned Frank, "for +unless I am much mistaken, those motions and gestures proceed from some +of his late followers; indeed I know it. I was accidentally coming up +the alley-way between the Keys and the next house, when I saw four or +five of them cross the fence into the yard, and from thence enter the +house by the back door." + +"That's true, I'll swear," said the host, "for there they are, some +dozen of them at least, and I'm a Rumper if a soul has darkened his +front door this night. But couldn't you, Master Beverly, or one of the +other young gentry, just step to the stout Sir William's, and make an +affidavy to the facts? My word for it, he'd soon be down upon 'em with a +fiery facias or a capias, or some such or another invention of the law." + +The youths all burst into a loud cachinnation at the zeal of the +landlord to unmask his rival, and reseating themselves, called for +another bottle, which our friend of the Arms was not slow to produce, by +way of covering his retreat and hiding his disinterested zeal. As they +all refilled their glasses, Frank waved his hand for silence. "Has any +gentleman here seen Mr. Nathaniel Bacon very lately?" + +"I have not--I have not," replied each of the party, and the +interrogator then continued, "I would give the best pair of spurs that +ever graced a Cavalier's heels to know whether his long absence has had +any thing to do with the getting up of yonder dark conclave?" + +Whether any of the party were Bacon's immediate friends, or whether they +suspected Frank's motives in the case, we shall not undertake to +determine at present; but certain it is they were all silent on the +point except his intimate friend Ludwell, who replied--"By St. George, +Beverly, I believe you are jealous of Bacon on account of the favourable +light in which he is said to stand in the eyes of your fair little +mistress." + +"If I thought that Virginia Fairfax would entertain a moment's +consideration for a person of such doubtful parentage and more doubtful +principles as Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, the ill-advised protege of her +father, I would forswear her for ever, and dash this glass against the +floor, with which I now invite you all to join me in pledging her,--What +say you? Will you join me, one and all?" All rose at the invitation, and +while standing with glasses suspended midway to their lips, Ludwell +added the name of "the pretty Harriet Harrison." It was drunk with three +times three, and then the landlord was brought up by the collar of his +jerken between two of the liveliest of the party, and made to tell the +reckoning upon the table with his well-worn chalk. Having settled the +score, they proceeded to decant full half the remaining bottle into one +of his own pint flagons, seized from his shelves for that purpose. "Mine +host" made sundry equivocal contortions of the countenance, and +practised by anticipation several downward motions of the muscles of +deglutition, and then swallowed the enormous potation without a groan. + +"There now," said Ludwell, "bear it always in your remembrance that a +like fate awaits you, whenever your wine bears evidence of having passed +rather far into the state of acetous fermentation." As the party were +now leaving the room in pairs, linked arm in arm, "Stop! stop!" cried +Beverly; "I have one proposition to make before we separate. It is this. +You know that there is to be a grand celebration the day after +to-morrow, which is the anniversary of the restoration. The whole to +conclude with a ball at the Governor's, to which I feel myself +authorized to say that you will all be invited. Now I propose that we +all go at different hours to-morrow and engage the hand of the fair +Virginia for the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sets. So +that when Mr. Nathaniel Bacon returns, as he assuredly will, to claim +her hand, to which he seems to think he has a prescriptive right, he +will find no less than six different successful competitors. What say +you, gentlemen?" + +The proposition was instantly acceded to by all the party, and then the +landlord of the Arms was left to digest the pint of his own sour wine in +solitude, as he leaned his overgrown person against the casings of the +door and watched the youths as they departed one by one in different +directions to their respective places of abode. + +"Natty Bacon is a goodly youth, however," he muttered in soliloquy; "ha, +ha, ha; but he shall know of the plot if I can only clap eyes on him +before they see the young lady. Let me see; can it be possible that +Natty can have any thing to do with yonder dark meeting of Noll's men? +I'll not believe it; he is too good a youth to meddle with such a +canting, snivelling set as are congregated there. He always pays his +reckoning like any gentleman's son of them all; and a gentleman's son +I'll warrant he is, for all that no one knows his father but Mr. Gideon +Fairfax." + +The Cromwellians alluded to, who were supposed by the youths to be +assembled at the Cross Keys, were a few of the late Protector's veteran +soldiers, and were the most desperate, reckless and restless of the +republicans who, as has been already mentioned, had fled to Jamestown +after the restoration. These soldiers were unfitted for any kind of +business, and generally lived upon the precarious hospitality of those +of their own party who had settled themselves as industrious citizens of +the new community. + +The names of the leaders of these veteran soldiers and furious bigots +were Berkinhead, Worley, Goodenough and Proudfit; and of these the +reader will hear more anon. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +Late in the afternoon of the day succeeding the one designated in the +last chapter, towards the southwestern extremity of the beach and +outside of the palisade, a young and gentle creature, of most surpassing +loveliness, moved thoughtfully along the sandy shore, every now and then +casting a wistful glance over the water, and as often heaving a gentle +sigh, as a shade of girlish disappointment settled upon her blooming +face. Her dress was simple, tasteful, and exquisitely appropriate to her +style of beauty. She had apparently scarce passed her sixteenth +birthday; and of course her figure was not yet rounded out to its full +perfection of female loveliness. So much of her neck as was visible +above a rather high and close cut dress, was of that pure, chaste and +lovely white which gives such an air of heavenly innocence to the +budding girl of that delightful age. The face although exceeding the +neck in the height, variety and richness of its colouring, was not +disfigured by a single freckle, scar or blemish. The features were +generally well proportioned and suited to each other, the lips full and +gently pouting, with a margin of as luxurious tinting as that with which +nature ever adorned the first budding rose of spring, and when parted, +as they often were, by the most gentle and _naive_ laughter, displayed +a set of teeth beautifully white and regular. Yet one could scarcely +fasten the eye upon them for the admiration excited by the exquisite +expression of the dimpled mouth, ever varying, and as it seemed, more +lovely with each succeeding change. The motion of her eyes was so rapid +that it was difficult to ascertain their colour; but certain it is they +were soft and brilliant, the latter effect produced in no small degree +by long fair dewy lashes which rose and fell over the picture, as lights +and shadows fall from the pencil of an inspired painter. + +The fair flaxen ringlets fell beneath the small gipsey hat in short +thick curls, and were clustered around her brow, so as to form the most +natural and appropriate shade imaginable to a forehead of polished +ivory. She was about the medium height, symmetrically proportioned, with +an exquisitely turned ankle and little foot, which _now_ bounded over +the beach with an impatience only surpassed by her own impetuous +thoughts, as her eyes became intently riveted upon a moving speck upon +the distant waters. The wild and startled expression, excited in the +first moment of surprise, might now be seen merging into one of perfect +satisfaction, as the distant object began to grow into distinct outlines +at every plunge of the buoyant waves; her heart heaving its own little +current to her face in perfect unison with their boisterous movements. + +A beautifully painted canoe soon ran its curled and fantastic head right +under the bank upon which she stood, and in the next moment a gallant +and manly youth leaped upon the shore by her side, and taking her +unresisting hand, gently removed the gipsey hat so as to bring into view +a certain crimsoning of the neck and half averted face. Nathaniel Bacon, +the youth just landed, was about twenty-one, and altogether presented an +appearance of the most attractive and commanding character. He wore a +green hunting jerken, buttoned close up to his throat so as to show off +to the best advantage a broad and manly chest. Upon his head was a broad +brimmed unstiffened castor, falling over his shoulders behind, and +looped up in front by a curiously wrought broach. + +A small brass hunting horn swung beneath one shoulder, while to the +other was suspended a short cut and thrust sword. In his hand he bore a +fishing rod and tackle. + +Few as evidently were his years, much painful thought had already +shadowed his handsome and commanding features with a somewhat precocious +maturity. It was obviously, however, not the natural temperament of the +man which now shone out in his features, after the subsiding of the +first glow of delighted feeling visible for an instant as he watched the +heightened bloom on the countenance of the maiden. + +"You were not irreconcilably offended then at my rash and disrespectful +behaviour to your father at our last meeting?" + +"Certainly not irreconcilably so, Nathaniel, if offended at all; but I +will confess to you candidly, that I was hurt and mortified, as much on +your own, as on my father's account." + +"You are always kind, considerate and forgiving, Virginia, and it +behooves me in presence of so much gentleness, to ease my conscience in +some measure by a confession. You have sometimes, but I have never, +forgotten that I was thrown upon your father's hospitality an orphan and +an outcast. This fact constantly dwells upon my mind, and sometimes +harrows up my feelings to such a degree that I am scarcely conscious of +my words or actions. It was so on the occasion alluded to. I forgot your +presence, the respect due to your father and my benefactor, as well as +what was due to myself. I had been endeavouring to revive some of the +drunken reminiscences of that eccentric fellow who sits in the canoe +there, but they tended only to inflame my ardent desire to know +something more of myself. Certainly some allowances must be made for me, +Virginia, under the mortifying circumstances in which I am placed. I +thought your father could and ought to relieve this cruel suspense!" + +"He will if he can, Nathaniel; and that he does not do so immediately, +is the best evidence to my mind either that he knows nothing on the +subject, or that some powerful reason exists why he should not disclose +his knowledge at present. Come, then, return with me to our house; my +father will take no notice of your absence or its cause, unless to jest +with you upon your want of success in your fishing expedition, which it +seems was the ostensible motive of your absence." + +"It was my purpose to return, but I had not so amiably settled the how +and the when; indeed the objects I had in view were so urgent that I +determined to brave even your father's continued anger in order to +obtain an interview with you." + +"With me, Nathaniel!" + +"Ay, with you, Virginia! You know that there are on the island some +restless and turbulent spirits--late soldiers of the Protector. They +have some dangerous project brewing I am well satisfied, from +circumstances which accidentally fell under my own observation. You know +too that the Recluse is said to have unbounded influence with these +desperate men, and to be familiar with all their designs and movements. +And notwithstanding your childish dread of him, you know that he loves +you more than any living creature." + +"I know all the things you speak of, except the last, and for that I +suspect I am indebted to your imagination; but to what does all this +lead?" + +"I have just returned from a visit to that strange and mysterious old +man, and as I have already hinted, hastened hither for the purpose of +seeking an interview with you, which fortune has so opportunely thrown +in my way." + +"But I am yet in the dark. Why did you hasten from the Recluse to me, +after discovering the things you speak of?" + +"I will tell you; but you must be cool, calm and considerate while I do +so, because I have that to tell and that to propose which will astound +you!" + +"Oh do tell it at once then, and not play upon my feelings thus." + +"Your father's and your uncle's life is in danger, Virginia! Heaven, +what have I done?" he continued, as he saw his companion turn deadly +pale and lean against the palisade for support. But instantly recovering +herself she asked-- + +"Whence does this danger come?" + +"That I do not know exactly; but the Recluse knows, and I have been +vainly endeavouring to learn it from him; and this brings me to the +proposition which I have to make. You must visit him this night! 'Ay, +Virginia! start not, you must do it for your father's and your uncle's +sake!" + +"Visit the Recluse, and at night! What will my parents say to it, think +you?" + +"They must not know one word of it." + +"Then it is absolutely out of the question." + +"Do not say so, Virginia, till you hear me out. As I have already said, +the Recluse loves you better than he does any creature in the colony. He +knows all the plots and counterplots that are going on, and if you will +surprise him with a visit to-night, he will divulge the whole affair to +you." + +"Why must it be to-night?" + +"Because there is no time to be lost. To-morrow is the anniversary of +the Restoration. There is to be a grand celebration during the day, and +a ball at night; this opportunity is to be taken advantage of in some +way or other by the desperate men alluded to. If we wait till to-morrow, +and make our visit publicly, these men will all know of it, and its very +object be counteracted by that circumstance." + +"Your reasons are plausible I confess, Nathaniel, and secret enemies are +at all times dreadful, but your alternative is scarcely less so." + +"I will pledge my life for your safety. You have the keys of your +father's house at command, you can go and return through the servants' +hall when they are all asleep. No sentinels are placed on the walls +since the general peace with the confederated tribes of Indians. My +canoe lies under the first abutment of the bridge. I will watch you from +your father's door till you arrive there. We can then cross the creek in +the canoe, so that no one will see us at the bridge. Brian O'Reily shall +wait on the opposite shore with my horse and pillion for you, and +another for himself. What then is there so much to be dreaded in this +simple nocturnal excursion to a retired old man, who, to say the worst +of him, is nothing more than fanatical on religious subjects, and +certainly he is very wise and learned upon all others." + +"It is the clandestine nature of the expedition that I object to, +Nathaniel; it is so hurried--at such a strange hour too. At all events I +must have a little time to consider of the propriety of the step." + +"Certainly, you shall have as much time as the nature of the case will +admit of. But see, the long shadows of the trees are already extending +across the river and the birds are seeking their resting places for the +night." + +"Oh, happy little songsters! would to Heaven that my rest could be as +sweet and tranquil as theirs this night? But Nathaniel, at what hour +shall I meet you at the bridge, provided I determine upon the step you +propose?" + +"As the clock from the tower of the church strikes eleven I will be at +my post." And as he stepped into his canoe, he continued, "Remember, +Virginia, that it is your own peace and your father's safety that I am +endeavouring to secure in the course I urge you to adopt." + +As the little vessel rose and sunk over the swelling waves in its +passage round the town, Virginia stood on the brink of the river and +gazed upon the scene in a deeply meditative mood, very new to her young +and hitherto careless heart. At length when her late companion had long +disappeared from her sight, and the sombre shadows of evening were fast +closing around the ancient city, she slowly passed into the gates of the +palisade and sought her father's dwelling. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Violent was the struggle of contending emotions within the bosom of +Virginia Fairfax, when she had gained her own apartment, and strove to +form her determination in the matter proposed by Nathaniel Bacon. On +such occasions feeling usurps the place of reason, and the longer we +deliberate, the more perplexing seem to grow our doubts and +difficulties. If, however, there were powerful feelings contending +against the enterprise, there were equally if not more powerful ones +operating in its favour. Not the least among these was the estimation in +which she held both him who proposed the nocturnal expedition and him +whose advice and aid were expected to be gained. Bacon himself, it was +generally believed, had acquired most of his knowledge of books from the +mysterious personage alluded to, and he in his turn had been the +instructer of his fair young associate and playmate. It is true that +these relations of the several parties had somewhat changed of late +years, as the two younger ones approached the age at which their +continuance might be deemed improper, to say nothing of any little +misgivings of which, they might themselves be conscious, as to the +nature of many strange and novel impressions, the growth of years and +intimacy, perhaps, but not suspected until with advancing years came +change of relative situation and prospect for the future. + +All the various relations of our heroine to the other parties presented +themselves in successive aspects to her view, as she endeavoured +honestly to decide the matter according to the dictates of duty. While +she was thus deliberating, the usual evening meal was announced. As she +entered the apartment, and beheld her father and mother waiting for her +to assume the head of the table, which on account of the latter's +delicate health had been her custom of late, all the contending emotions +which had so lately occupied her mind were renewed with increasing force +by the sight of the beloved objects in whose behalf she was solicited to +undertake the strange adventure. + +Gideon Fairfax, the father of Virginia, was one of the Cavaliers, before +alluded to, who fled to Jamestown during the interregnum. He was +brother-in-law to the Governor of the colony, and was, at the time of +which we write, a member of the council. He was one of that remarkable +race of men which has so powerfully influenced the destinies of the +Ancient Dominion from that day to the present. He was rather above the +medium height, with light hair and eyes, and although he had +considerably passed the prime of life, there was a sparkling of boyish +vivacity in his eyes, and a cheerful expression always hovering about +his mouth, which instantly dispelled any thing like formality in his +intercourse with others. Yet withal there was a bold, reckless daring +in his look, together with an open-hearted sincerity which served to +give a manly dignity to the lighter expressions already mentioned. To +his only daughter he was most devotedly attached. + +Mrs. Emily Fairfax seemed about the same age as her husband, and though +she still preserved some evidence of former beauty, her countenance was +now mostly indebted for any charm that it possessed to a mild, lady-like +and placid serenity, which was occasionally shadowed by an air of +melancholy so profound, that more than once her friends were alarmed for +her reason. As Virginia assumed her place at the board, the conflict in +her mind was in nowise subdued by observing that one of these melancholy +visitations was just settling upon her mother's countenance; indeed +there seemed to be a mutual discovery on the part of mother and +daughter, that each had some secret cause of uneasiness; but the effect +was by far the most painful to the mother's heart, as it was the first +time that she had ever seen her daughter's gay and happy temperament +seriously disturbed. The parting hour for the night arrived, without +making either of them wiser as to the cause of the other's +pre-occupation and evident anxiety; the mother having sought an +explanation in vain, and the daughter being too much accustomed to her +present state of mind to intrude farther upon her sorrows, whatever +might be their cause or nature. Bacon's arguments prevailed, and long +before the hour appointed, Virginia was sitting at the window, her light +extinguished, mantle drawn close around her to exclude the damp air from +the river, and her hat tied on in readiness for the expedition. + +At length the town clock began to send its slow and solemn sounds across +the water. The house was still and dark, and the inmates apparently +wrapped in profound slumber. Her own clandestine movements, so new to +her, seemed like the trampling of armed heels rather than the footfalls +of her own slight figure. More than once she was on the point of +retracing her steps, so tumultuous and painful were her emotions in +prosecuting an adventure which still appeared to her of such +questionable propriety. The servants' hall, garden, and postern gate +were all passed without the slightest interruption, save an occasional +start at her own shadow, or the impetuous beating of her agitated heart. +The moon was at her zenith, and the clouds coursing high in the heavens, +so as every now and then to obscure her reflected beams, and present +alternate and fantastic contrasts of light and shade upon the +surrounding objects. The river for one moment looked like a dark abyss, +and the next a mirror of light as the silver rays fell sparkling upon +the rippling waters beneath the bridge. The interminable forest beyond +was at one moment dark as Erebus, and the next as light as fairy land. +There is no appearance of the heavens, perhaps, which produces a +greater tendency in the mind to undefined and superstitious terror than +that which we have attempted to describe. Our own shadow, visible as it +is only for an instant, will startle us; and the ill-omened birds of +night acquire huge and unnatural proportions as they flit swiftly by on +noiseless wings in this rapid alternation of light and gloom. The wolves +and other beasts of prey might be heard at long intervals, as their wild +and savage howls broke upon the ear, reverberating from cliff to cliff +as they fell upon and were borne across the water. Under these +circumstances it may be readily imagined that our heroine was not a +little relieved at the sight of Bacon leaning against the nearest +abutment of the bridge, anxiously watching for her approach. In a few +moments he had seated his companion in the boat, upon a cushion formed +of his cloak, and was rapidly approaching the opposite shore. When they +arrived at the appointed rendezvous, a very unexpected source of +uneasiness was speedily discovered. As has been already intimated, Bacon +had early in the evening despatched his usual attendant, Brian O'Reily, +across the bridge to wait their arrival. The horses were indeed +there--and O'Reily was there, but so intoxicated as to be apparently in +no condition to guide the motions of a horse, even should he be able to +keep the saddle. Bacon lost all patience at this discovery, and would +perhaps have taken summary and not very agreeable means to sober his +attendant, had he not been reminded by his gentle companion of the +peculiar and privileged position which Brian had from time immemorial +enjoyed in his service, as well as that of their own family. "How comes +it, sir," said the young man, "that I find you in this predicament when +I gave you such strict injunctions to keep yourself sober? Now of all +other times!--when I had taken so much trouble to instruct you whom you +were to guard, and upon what expedition?" + +"By the five crasses, but you've hit the very nail upon the head. By the +contints of the book but that's the very rason I took a dhrop of the +crathur!" + +"What is the reason, you drunken old fool?" + +"The business were an to be sure! you wouldn't be after axing a sinner +like Brian O'Reily to ixpose himself to sich a temptation widout taking +a dhrop, and may be your haner would do that same for all your spaking +aginst it so intirely." + +"And what may the nature of the temptation be of which you speak?" + +"And is it Brian you're after axin? O begorra, but that's runnin away +wid the story intirely, so it is; sure it's me should be axin your haner +after that same!" + +"None of your subterfuges, sir! I am determined to know your ideas of +this dreadful temptation." + +"By my purty an is it Brian's idaas you're axin after, divil a miny o' +them he's got any way, barrin a small bit of a smotherin about the +heart whenever I think of the business we're on, and the gintleman +we're goin to see, savin your prisence and the beauty o' the world by +your side." + +"What gentleman--speak out and I will forgive your drunkenness, provided +you give me up that bottle I see peeping from the pouch of your jerkin." + +"An is'nt it the man widout the shadow you're after making a tay party +wid?" + +"And who is the man without a shadow, Brian?" inquired Virginia, willing +to forget her own misgivings in the more ludicrous superstition of the +son of the Emerald Isle, whose countrymen, it may be remarked, formed no +inconsiderable part of the inferior population of the city at that day. + +"Oh bad cess to me, but I'm as glad to see you as two tin pinnies, you +beauty o' the world; but it bates all the love I had for you and ever +had these ten years past to see where you'r going." + +"Well, where is it, Brian?" + +"Hav'nt I tould your ladyship it was to a tay party wid the inimy +himself." + +"Come, see if you can assist Virginia to the pillion," said Bacon, as he +sprang into the saddle. + +"By my purty and I'll do that same;" kneeling upon one knee and taking +one foot in his hand, and then seating her as easily and gracefully as +if he had been a stranger to the bottle for a month. + +"I had no idea that you were such a coward, Brian," continued his +master. + +"Sorra a dhrop o' coward's blood runs in Brian O'Reily's heart, iny way. +It's one thing to trate the grate inimy with dacent respect, and its +another to fight the yellow nagres that go dodgin from tree to tree like +so many frogs; the devil fly away wid the one and the t'other o' them +for me, I say." + +"And who is the great enemy?" + +"Sure hav'nt I tould your haner and the beauty o' the world by your +side, it was the man widout a shadow what lives in the stone house +widout windows, as well he may, seein the light o' his own counthenance +may be seen across the river the darkest night any day." + +"Sit your horse straight, you drunken piece of stupidity, or you will +break your neck." + +"Oh! an if Brian never breaks his neck till he falls from a horse, sure +he'll live to take many a dhrop of the crathur yet before he dies. Sure +I was only crassin myself, divil a word o' lie's in that, iny way." + +"There, I have broken one of your necks at least," said Bacon, as with +the butt of his riding whip he struck the neck from a bottle which every +now and then peeped from Brian's pocket as the motions of the horse +raised him in the saddle. + +"Oh! murther all out, but you'll come to want yet before you die. Oh +sure, but the crathur's safe after all. Wo, ye divil of a baste, don't +you hear the crathur all runnin down the wrang side o' me. Wo, I say! Oh +but the bottle sticks as tight to the pouch as if it growed there. Oh +murther all out, I'm ruined, I'm ruined intirely." + +"Draw your arm from your jerken, Brian, and then you can drink out of +your pocket," said Virginia, suppressing a laugh. + +"Oh you beauty o' the world, see what it is to have the larnin," replied +the Irishman, immediately adopting the expedient; but here a new +difficulty presented itself. "Oh murther, but the gable end's all +knocked off and fax the chimney went along with it. Oh, but the crokery +sticks up all round like pike staffs. Wo you murthur'n baste; Now I've +got it, now I've got it, you beauty; sorra one of the lane cows at +Jamestown gives sich milk as that, fax if they did, I'd be head dairyman +to the Governor any way." + +Thus our adventurers beguiled the way through a dreary and trackless +forest of some miles, until they approached a spot where Bacon signified +to the party that they had accomplished so much of their journey as was +to be performed on horseback. What farther befell them will be described +in the ensuing chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Bacon and his companion having left O'Reily with the horses, now +commenced descending an immense hill which formed one side of a dark and +dismal looking glen. The tall pine trees with which the higher grounds +were covered seemed to reach half way to the clouds. A cold midnight +breeze swept through the damp and dewy foliage of the trees and +shrubbery. The birds of night chimed mournfully and dismally in unison +with the monotonous rustling of the leaves, and the rippling of a little +brook just before them. When they had stepped across the stream, and +cast their eyes up the face of the opposite hill, the rays of the moon +suddenly broke through a fissure of the clouds, revealing to them rather +the darkness around than any distinct traces of the path which they were +to pursue. Bacon stood for an instant, and gazed intently upon a little +spot of partially cleared ground half way to the summit, then gently +drawing his companion to the same place where he stood, and pointing +upwards, he said "Do you not perceive something moving yonder? It is he! +you must now proceed alone!" + +"Alone, Nathaniel? Impossible!" + +"You must, Virginia; he will not admit more than one person at a time +within his cell. Fear not there is no earthly danger; I will be within +call. Rouse your drooping courage! the worst half of your undertaking is +now accomplished." + +"By far the worst half is yet to come, Nathaniel; you can form no +conception of the awe with which I look upon that being! You forget that +I have never seen more of him than I see now, notwithstanding you say +that he is so much attached to me." + +"It is strange, I confess Virginia, but it is nevertheless true." + +"His affection, if it exists, must be the fruit of your representations +as to some imaginary proficiency in my studies." + +"Not at all; he seems to know every one in Jamestown, and all the +circumstances connected with their history: but come, Virginia, we are +losing precious time. Move on and fear nothing." + +Clasping her hands, and internally summoning up all her resolution, she +advanced with a sort of desperate determination. Having arrived within +some forty yards of the spot before alluded to, the outlines of a +gigantic figure could easily be discerned as his footfalls were +distinctly heard moving restlessly to and fro on a sort of platform or +level space, left by nature or formed by art, in the side of the hill. +His head towered far above the stunted undergrowth, interspersed among +the rugged outlines of the scene. And as he impatiently measured the +narrow limits of this outer court to his castle, he seemed not unlike a +chafed and hungry monarch of the forest when making the narrow rounds of +his iron bound limits. Having gone thus far, she was sensible that it +was nearly as bad to recede as go forward, and that if she retreated now +upon the very eve of the fulfilment of all that Bacon had promised, her +past anxieties would have been endured for nothing: she braced her +nerves therefore, and endeavoured to subdue the overpowering terror +which the distant view of this strange and mysterious man had excited. +Summoning all her resolution for one desperate effort, she threw herself +forward and fell at the feet of the huge mortal, who stood apparently +astounded at the abrupt appearance of his unwonted and untimely visiter. +When Virginia found courage enough to raise her lately closed eyes, she +was not a little astonished to see him leaning against the stone walls +of his cell, no less agitated than herself. He was apparently about +sixty years of age, his hair slightly silvered, and his features worn +and weatherbeaten, yet eminently handsome. His person was very +remarkable, being about six feet and a half in height and perfectly +proportioned. His dress conformed in some degree to the military +fashions of the day, having however rather the appearance of undress +than full uniform. The expression of his countenance was decidedly +intellectual; and about the lower part of his face there were some +indications of a disposition to sensuality, but tempered and controlled +in no ordinary degree by some other fierce and controlling passion. His +eye was wild and unsettled at times, and again assumed the mild serenity +of the profound student. Altogether, his presence was intellectual and +commanding in the highest degree. + +As he stood against the wall of his cell quaking like an aspen, an +indifferent observer would have been at a loss to determine which was +the most agitated, he or his gentle visiter. Virginia noted with more +than one furtive glance his strange and unexpected embarrassment, still +however, preserving her humble and supplicating posture. At length, +struggling with the emotions which unmanned him, muttering all the while +broken sentences which fell strangely upon her ear, and among which she +could distinguish repeated allusions to herself, and to events of long +passed years, recalled as it appeared by some fancied resemblance traced +by his excited imagination in her form and features. He approached the +kneeling maiden, and taking her hand, he raised her from the ground, and +said in a tone of kindness, "My wayward fancies frighten thee, my child; +be not alarmed, however--there is nothing here to harm thee. My house is +poor and cheerless, but such as it is, thou art welcome to its shelter, +and to any services which I can render to thee. Come, my daughter, let +us in from the damps of the night." + +The cell of the Recluse was formed on three sides by stone walls without +windows, as O'Reily had described them, the fourth being furnished by +the side of the hill, and the roof an arch of masonry overgrown with +moss, grass and weeds.[1] + +[Footnote 1: A house very similar to that we have described stands to +this day near the Ancient City. Its former objects and uses are entirely +unknown.] + +Pressing open the rude door, he entered, followed by Virginia. Near one +corner of the room stood a common deal table, on which was placed a +small iron lamp, and near to it a three legged stool of the rudest +construction. These were the only articles of furniture of which the +apartment could boast. The floor, which consisted of the earth, as +nature had made it, was overgrown with weeds and bushes. "This," said +he, with a bitter smile upon his countenance, "is my hall of audience! +Here I receive my guests, with one solitary exception; thou shalt be +another." Having thus spoken, he took the lamp from the table, and +drawing aside some dried bushes which were piled against the side formed +by the hill in apparent carelessness, he exhibited to her view the mouth +of a cavern, not sufficient in height by several feet to admit his +person in the erect position. "This," said he as he stooped to enter, +"is not a house made with hands, and it is built upon a rock of ages. +The rains may descend, floods may come, winds blow and beat upon it, but +it falleth not. It is proper that thou shouldst see it, and such has +long been my intention. I have much to say to thee, and doubtless thou +hast something to communicate to me, or thou wouldst not have made this +visit. But not a whisper of what thou mayst see or hear must ever pass +thy lips, save to those I shall authorize thee to make partakers of thy +knowledge. This is a condition which thou must impress upon thy mind." +Stepping in a bent position within the mouth of the cavern, he moved +forward and downward, motioning her to follow. They descended many rude +and natural steps, which were imperfectly seen by the light of the lamp +borne by her singular guide, the rays being often obscured by the bulk +and great height of his person in the narrow passages of the cave, so +that she was more than once compelled to grope her way by sliding her +hand along the cold damp and dripping walls, and by slipping her feet +over the uneven ground, without raising them in the act of stepping. +Having completed the descent, she found herself in a long natural +vestibule to the inner apartments. Her guide had gained rapidly upon +her, so that when once more upon level ground, some thirty feet below +the outer surface of the earth, he was almost out of sight. She would +have cried out, had she not been restrained by a counteracting feeling, +which placed her in a grievous dilemma between horror at the dismal +place, and fear of the singular being who had undertaken to guide her +through its recesses. Commending herself however to her Maker in mental +prayer, and trusting in his protection the more confidently on account +of the motive for her undertaking, she hastened forward so as with great +exertions to keep within sight of the rising and sinking light of the +lamp, and the devious windings of the cavern. The footfalls of her +Herculean guide reechoed along the damp and gloomy tunnels with an awful +and dismal effect, amidst the grave-like stillness of the place. +Occasionally flickering shadows were reflected against the walls, when +the light turned suddenly round a projecting rock, affording to her +imagination the most startling and frightful images. While her mind was +combatting these unreal terrors, she was surprised by the tone of a deep +hoarse voice abruptly rumbling through the high dark arches far above +her head, with that reverberating sound peculiar to these secret places +of the earth. But her amazement was still greater, when lifting her eyes +in the direction of the lamp she beheld the Recluse standing upon a +lofty but narrow ledge of rock, the lamp flickering and sinking every +now and then so as to threaten total darkness. He was pointing with his +finger, and directing her to a projecting and winding pathway by which +she must ascend to the platform upon which he stood. This once gained, +she had a complete view of the resting place of her mysterious guide. + +Immediately fronting the platform was a natural doorway, about as high +as her own head, leading into the inner chamber. From the high and +vaulted arches hung thousands of the fantastic creations of hoary time, +and from the centre of these a cord swung into the middle of the area, +to which was suspended a burning lamp, the rays of which were +brilliantly reflected from a thousand shining mirrors of nature's +forming. In one corner she discovered, as they entered, several pieces +of firearms, and against the wall on one side hung huge swords, long +enough for two-handed weapons to ordinary mortals, together with Indian +war clubs, moccasins, wampum, pipes, tomahawks, spears, arrows, and +other implements of savage warfare. In another corner stood a rude +bedstead, evidently constructed by the hands of its nightly occupant, a +small table, two or three chairs, and a few culinary articles,--some the +manufacture of the savages, and others the product of civilized +ingenuity. By far the largest part of one side of the room was occupied +by coarsely constructed shelves, bearing many volumes of the most +venerable appearance. One of these was lying open upon the table, a pair +of horn spectacles upon the page to mark the place where the owner had +last been engaged. The very letters in which it was printed were entire +strangers to the eyes of our heroine. Some thirty yards distant, in the +remotest part of the room, a little furnace diffused a narrow circle of +glowing light through its otherwise gloomy precincts. These completed +the establishment, so far as the eye could discover its arrangement. + +When he had led Virginia into the habitable part of this area, he placed +a chair, and motioned for her to be seated, drawing a stool near the +table at the same time for himself, and resting his head upon the palm +of his hand. "I will not affect ignorance of thy name and person, my +daughter, nor yet of thy errand here. The first I should most certainly +have known, if I had not surmised the last. Alas! my child, thou wilt +think no doubt that I speak in riddles when I tell thee that those +features have been engraven upon the heart of one who has forsworn the +world for many a long and irksome year. Thou mayest well look amazed, my +poor bewildered child, but it is true! I cannot explain it to thee now, +however; some day perhaps thou mayest know all. Oh, if thou couldst +imagine what events must take place in this little isolated world around +Jamestown, before the mysteries of which I speak can rightfully be made +clear to thee, thou wouldst fall upon thy knees and pray that such +disastrous knowledge might never come to thy understanding!" + +As his eye rested from time to time, while he spoke, upon the features +of the beautiful girl, he covered his face with his hands, and seemed +for an instant to give way to an agitation similar to that which +unnerved him at her first appearance on the platform. Occasionally too, +when not speaking himself, he became profoundly abstracted for a moment, +and his eye was wild and restless, and not a little alarming to his +gentle visiter, as it ever and anon fell upon herself, and seemed to +gather in her face the solution of some subtle doubt of his troubled +mind. But observing that his glances, wild as they were, always became +humanized and softened as they rested upon her face, she seized the +first opportunity to complete the object of her journey, not well +knowing how it might terminate, being herself ignorant of its especial +object, and indeed of the very nature of the threatened danger. + +"Father, I came here to seek your aid and protection for those who are +near and dear to me; My honoured parents--my mother"--she would have +proceeded, but at the mention of her mother's name he was seized with +such a convulsive shudder that she paused in astonishment. It seemed as +if the hand of death was already laying its cold grasp upon his vitals. +His eye gleamed wildly--his lips trembled, and his hands shook as one +stricken with the palsy, or overwhelmed by some sudden stroke of +calamity. By a desperate effort of resolution, he speedily resumed his +attention to the discourse, and she proceeded: "I have been advised and +urged in my resort to this step by one not unknown to you, under the +vain hope, I fear, that you were cognizant of some threatened danger to +my dear parents and kindred, and that you would communicate the +knowledge to me rather than to him." + +"As I have already said, my daughter, I surmised that something of this +nature was the object of thy visit, and I will now confess to thee that +this appeal places me in an embarrassing position between some friends +of former and better days and my desire to grant thy request." Pausing +and apparently soliloquizing, he continued: "But have they not acted +against my advice? Did I not tell them, that we had had enough of that +already? Did I not warn them against this very result? I cannot betray +them, however; no, no, my old comrades, I will give you another warning, +and then your blood, if it must flow, be upon your own heads." He was +about to resume his discourse to his visiter, but stopping suddenly and +raising his finger in the attitude of one listening in the profoundest +attention, he seized the small lamp, rushed past the little furnace in +the direction of the cave through the hill opposite the entrance, at one +time rising and anon descending, until Virginia (who had followed, +fearing to be left alone) supposed they must be again near the surface +of the earth. He paused once more to listen, motioning her at the same +time to be silent. He had scarcely done so, when the distant sound of +running water struck upon her ear,--sometimes distinct, and again as if +buried in the bowels of the earth. Then came the noise as of a stone +splashing in the water. The eye of the Recluse sparkled as he turned +with a quick and expressive glance towards his companion. He hastily +applied his ear to the rocky side of the cavern and listened for a +second, then hurried back, taking Virginia by the hand in his return, +and leading her to her former seat. He then busied himself for a few +moments in exchanging the short cutlass by his side for one of the huge +weapons hanging on the wall, and placed a pair of large and richly +inlaid petronels in his belt, as if about to march on some secret and +desperate expedition. + +Whether these were really for such a purpose, or were his usual +preparations for repose, Virginia was entirely at a loss to determine. +Meantime she had an opportunity to survey the features and expression of +his countenance, as he from time to time faced towards her, intently +engaged with his occupation, and muttering all the while words to her +altogether inexplicable at the time. + +His large and light blue eye had an expression of forced resignation and +calmness, drops of cold perspiration stood upon his brow, lip, and bald +head, which was now uncovered. His features were large and striking, but +well proportioned, the lips protuberant, the teeth large, white, and +regular, and as a smile, indicative more of wretchedness than mirth, +played upon his face, the impression was irresistible that the wrinkles +which marked his features were the impress of suffering rather than of +age. In his personal as well as mental attributes he was eminently +gifted, though there seemed to be a settled design, as much to clothe +the one in the garb of age, as to exhibit the other, if at all, in +meekness and humility. + +"It is not consistent with my duty to all parties in this business, my +daughter, to enlighten thee as to the nature of the danger which +threatens thy friends, or as to the means of preventing it. I owe it to +myself, first to warn those from whom it comes, yet once more against +their undertaking, as I have already done--but thus far in vain. If they +are still deaf to my admonition and entreaties, rest assured that I will +leave no power or influence within my control unexerted to thwart their +purposes. Thou mayest therefore direct him who must have conducted thee +hither, to see me early on the morrow, and I will inform him as to the +result of my endeavours and the best means to pursue in case they are +unsuccessful. Rest thou contented yet a little while; I see thou art +impatient, but I have some things to say to thee concerning other +matters than those which brought thee hither. I see thou art studying +these evidences of years in my features as the forester examines the +rings in the fallen tree to estimate its age, but these (pointing to the +wrinkles) are records which years alone could not have wrought. Few of +us, my daughter, can read these marks of time and destiny, and trace +through them one by one, the disappointed hopes, the cruel mishaps, the +hair-breadth adventures, their failure, sealed perhaps in the blood of +those who had basked together with us in the sunshine of youth and hope, +without a sinking of the heart within us, and a deep sense of the utter +worthlessness of all those gay illusions which beam so brightly on thy +own youthful features. + +"I allude to this subject now, my daughter, because there seems to be +some connexion between it and the one upon which I have been so anxious +to commune with thee. Although we have never met before, it is not the +first time I have seen thee, nor is this, which thou hast given me, the +first information I have received concerning thee and thine. I have +taken some pains to learn even the minutest circumstances connected with +thy past history, present occupation and future prospects. I see thy +surprise, but it was not done in idle gossip thou mayest be well +assured. My motives will all be made plain enough to thee some day. In +the mean time I must approach a subject which I fear will give thee +pain, but my duty is imperative, I mean the state of thy mind and +feelings." + +"Alas, father, I fear you will find them but too deeply engrossed with +the cares and pleasures of this world." + +"Thy mistake is a natural one," said he, (one of those smiles of +wretchedness passing over his pale countenance, as a flash of +electricity darting along the horizon sometimes shows us the extent and +depth of the darkness beyond) "my situation and past misfortunes would +indeed seem to fit me for a teacher of holy things, but my present +business is with thy worldly affections. Start not, my daughter; I have +the most urgent reasons which a mortal can have for thus endeavouring to +intrude myself into thy feminine secrets; believe me, no trifling cause +could impel me thus to startle thy maidenly delicacy, nor indeed needest +thou be startled on one account which I see agitates thee. Thou very +naturally supposest me to have some charge to bring against thee for +want of proper spirit and maidenly reserve; I see it by thy blushes; but +there is no such thought within my breast; thou mayest have been even +more guarded than is customary with females of thy age. My business is +with facts, and facts of such a nature that however stubborn they may +be, I fear that thou art unconscious of them, though they relate to +thyself and one other person only. However, without bringing thee to +confessional, I think I can sufficiently put thee upon thy guard without +wounding thy delicacy. The only question in my own mind is, whether the +time to speak has not already passed." + +"I am at a loss to comprehend you, father." + +"I will speak more plainly then. Thou hast been associating for some +years with a youth of little more than thine own age. He is noble and +gifted with every manly and generous attribute; well instructed too for +his time and country. To thee I will give credit for corresponding +qualities suitable to thy own sex, and I have no doubt that thou +possessest them. Thinkest thou then that two such persons could grow up +together constantly within the influence of each other's expanding +personal attractions, besides the nobler ones of mind and heart, without +feeling more towards each other than two ordinary mortals of the same +sex? Oh, I see the crimson tell-tale mounting in thy cheeks; thou +hangest thy head too in tacit acknowledgement, that I have surmised no +more than the truth." His visiter for some time made a vain effort to +speak, and at length overcoming her confusion and surprise, in broken +sentences exclaimed, "Indeed" indeed, father, you wrong me! indeed you +wrong us both! such a subject was never mentioned between us to this +hour! Nay more, it never entered our"--as she looked up and perceived +his searching glance riveted upon her countenance, her head again sunk +in embarrassment, and the words died upon her lips. + +"Cease, cease, my daughter, to punish thyself. I will give thee credit +for all thou wouldst say. I am willing to believe that neither of you +has ever mentioned this subject, and perhaps that neither has ever been +conscious of more than a brotherly affection towards the other. +Nevertheless, the last half hour has fully convinced me that +self-examination, some sudden prospect of separation, or some untoward +circumstance in the ordinary current of your intercourse was only +necessary to awaken both to the perception of the truth. But my business +now is of a far more painful nature than the mere finding of the facts. +I am bound in duty to warn thee! solemnly warn thee that this passion +must be subdued in its inception. I beg of thee not to suppose for one +moment, that my warning has reference merely to obstacles which commonly +obstruct the current of young and mutual affection! They are absolutely +insurmountable,--far more so than any that could arise from difference +of rank, or faith, or country! Nay, if death itself had put its seal +upon one or both, the gulf could not have been more impassable!" His +language began gradually to grow more impassioned, his eye shot forth a +continued instead of occasional gleam of wildness--he rose upon his +feet, and as he pronounced the barrier to be impassable, he took down a +large and ancient manuscript volume, bound in leather, threw it open +upon the table, and to her astonishment a bloody hand was all that was +visible upon the page which seemed to have been accidentally turned up. +He pointed to this singular sign-manual--his finger trembling with +emotion--"See there," said he--"see what it is to neglect a solemn +warning. There is the diary of my eventful life--the transactions of +every day for more than twenty-seven years are there written, save one! +There is the only record of that day! Its history is written in blood! +The seal of Cain is stamped upon all the events of the succeeding pages. +Since that bloody token was placed there, its author has been a wanderer +and an outcast. I was born among the haughty and the proud of a proud +land--there is my coat of arms," said he, with a horrid laugh which sent +the blood coursing back to the heart of our heroine chilled and +horrified. "These are not or should not be uninteresting records to +thee!--had that crimson attestation never been imprinted there, thou +wouldst never have been born! but this will suffice for the first +lesson," (and he closed the book and replaced it upon the shelf;) "at +some more convenient season I will reveal another page of the history of +one with whom henceforth thou wilt be more connected than thou now +imaginest. Now, my daughter, before thou takest leave, let me entreat +thee to remember and ponder well upon what I have said to thee. Shouldst +thou ever be in any sudden strait of danger or difficulty send to me a +memento of the bloody seal and I will come to thee, if within the +compass of mortal means; and remember likewise, should I ever send such +an emblem to thee--pause well upon what thou art about to do. Now thou +mayest depart in peace, but say nothing of what thou hast seen or heard +farther than I have directed thee to do." And thus speaking he took the +lamp and conducted her out by the same opening at which they had +entered. + +They stood upon the platform overlooking the shadowy mazes of moonlit +foliage down the glen; all nature was as silent as when it first came +from the hands of its Creator. Looking towards heaven, and placing his +hand upon her flaxen ringlets, now wafted about in the richest +reflections and deepest contrasts of light and shadow, as a cold breeze +from the valley beneath sought an opening to the plains beyond, he said, +"May God Almighty bless and preserve thee, my daughter!" And then led +her some distance down the hill--bade her adieu, and left her to seek +her more youthful guide, and to ponder upon some novel and not very +pleasing passages in the diary of her own experience. + +Her ideas were any thing but clear and definite. The whole scene of her +late interview was so new--the subject so startling to her young and +innate delicacy. Taking it for granted, however, that all the surmises +of the Recluse were true with regard to herself, that person has studied +human nature to little purpose, who supposes that she, after all that +had been so solemnly announced, admitted the undefined obstacles +mentioned to be as insuperable as the person who suggested them seemed +to imagine. Nevertheless an injunction so grave and authoritative had +its minor effects--the first of which were visited upon the head of our +hero, who impatiently awaited her approach at the foot of the hill. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +When Virginia arrived at the foot of the hill, and looked back, she +could see the Herculean figure of the Recluse, throwing its tall shadow +far down the face of the cliff, as he paced his narrow court exactly as +she had found him doing. + +The surrounding scenery now looked doubly brilliant to her confused +senses, after the gloomy contrasts of her late subterranean journey. The +fleeting clouds were entirely dispersed, and the moonbeams shone clearly +forth in undimmed splendour, tipping with silver light each tree and +shrub, on the hill side and in the dale, and sparkling like gems along +the rippling current of the purling brook on the banks of which Bacon +waited her approach. + +Although the language of the Recluse was somewhat dark and oracular, it +was sufficiently explicit to produce a very sensible effect upon the +mind of Virginia, which our hero was not long in discovering; for as he +extended his hand to assist her across the brook, she tacitly declined +the proffered aid, as if unobservant of his intention, and leaped the +streamlet unassisted. He was the more astonished, that in the whole of +their long intercourse he could not recollect such a whim or freak +occurring towards himself. She seemed reserved and formal too, as they +moved up the opposite hill; but without remarking on her altered mood, +he sought to draw from her the result of her expedition. Barely +communicating so much as she had been directed to do, however, she +remained to him inexplicably silent. + +While he was revolving these things in his mind his companion, silently +and moodily walking at his side, without availing herself of his offered +arm, they met Brian O'Reily somewhat farther down the hill than the spot +where they had left him--the bridle of a horse slung upon each arm--a +handkerchief tied round his waist, into which were stuck two pertronels +from his own saddlebow; and in his hand his master's ready for use. + +"In the name of all the saints in Ireland, what is the matter, Brian?" +exclaimed Bacon. + +"Oh! an be the Holy Father at Rome, is it there'ye are? Sure as death, +but I'm the boy that thought ye were clane murthered iny'way." + +"Murdered! why who was to murder us?" + +"Faix, an there's enough iv them to do that same in _this_ bloody place. +Barrin the tay party wid the great inimy in the side iv the hill +yonther, a'int there enough iv the bloody nagurs (the savages,) ranting +about like so many wild bastes, ready to peale the tap iv your heads +like a pair of onions or murpheys--divil a word a lie's in that iny +way." + +"Are there any of the savages abroad to-night?" + +"Be the contints iv the book, but there is five yallow rascals gone +over the hill towards the city half an hour since. Oh, by my purty, but +I was as near putting a key note to one of their whistles, as two tin +pinnies, only, that I was jalous iv your own safety, and the beauty by +your side at that same reckning." + +"I commend your discretion in not shooting--and I wonder at your +sobriety, considering the condition in which we left you." + +"Oh, is it Brian O'Reily's discretion your haner's after namin?--an +is'nt it me that's a pathern o' sobriety? Oh, by the five crasses, but +it all comes iv the dhrap o' the crathur I got by the larnin iv you, ye +beauty; divil a word a lie's in that." + +"Gone towards the town have they?" said Bacon, musing--and then +examining the priming of his petronels, he took them--placed them in +their holsters, and mounted his horse, motioning to his attendant at the +same time, to assist Virginia to the pillion. She being mounted, he +continued his discourse to her. "Keep up your courage my brave pupil; no +danger shall molest you unencountered." + +"Strange as it may appear," replied she, for the first time uttering +something more than a monosyllable. "The real danger in which we seem +placed, has few terrors, after my late subterranean visit." This last +part of the sentence was said in an under tone, as they cantered over +the hill. + +"You have done bravely, Virginia, and now Brian it is our turn. Do you +ride foremost--but on no account pull trigger, or draw your sword, +without my orders. We are at peace with the confederated tribes of the +peninsula:--should the party therefore prove to be any of these, +bloodshed will be, unnecessary. Remember, and be watchful!" + +"Oh! be the powers iv mud and darkness, but there's no more profit in +watchin these skulking nagurs, than there is in spakin to the fish to +make them take the bate; both the one and the tother o' them bites when +you laste expect it. Oh! would'nt it be a fine thing to have a praste to +walk along afore ye wid the contints of the book spread out before him?" + +"Get along O'Reily with your nonsense; one would suppose, to hear you +talk, that you were the greatest coward in Christendom." + +The conversation of the Hibernian was at all times amusing to our +adventurers, and was enjoyed with more zest, doubtless, on account of +the many excellent qualities which they knew him to possess, being as +they knew, brave, devotedly attached to them both, and of unvarying good +humour. On the present occasion, Bacon encouraged his volubility in +order to divert his companion's attention from dwelling upon the danger +which he but too clearly saw might await them on their passage to the +city; and thus was the time beguiled, until they arrived at the top of +the hill commanding the town and river, without encountering a single +foe, or meeting with any adventure worth recording. As they descended +towards the river, and O'Reily was just felicitating himself "that there +was a clane path intirely across the stream." A sudden exclamation of +surprise from Bacon, induced him to rein up his steed, in order to +ascertain the cause. This however was clearly seen before the retrograde +movement was completed. + +"Oh! the murtherin thaves iv the world," said O'Reily, "there they are +in our boat too, as sure as my name's Brian O'Reily. Your haner's a good +shot across that same little river, any way, and by these pair o' +beauties that never lie nor chate" he continued, unslinging his arms, +"but I'll be bound for a couple or three more iv them. By the vestments +but we'll put some o' them to slape, wid a tune that'll ring in their +ears to the day o' their deaths." + +"Softly! softly, O'Reily" said Bacon, "you are as far on the one extreme +now as I thought you on the other a while ago. Don't you see that two +watch on this side, besides the three in the boat? And as I live, they +are preparing to push off. Quick, Brian, dismount and follow me behind +these bushes! we must despatch these two, at least, without the use of +firearms. And you, my gentle pupil, must remain with the horses. If we +fall, remain quiet until they have carried off whatever it is they are +endeavouring to steal, and then leave the horses, and seek a passage by +the bridge. I know your situation is a trying one, but it is the best +we can do under the circumstances." + +"Oh! no, no, Nathaniel!" said Virginia, suddenly recovering her feelings +as well as her voice. "It is not the best we can do. Stay here yourself, +and I can slip round, unperceived, to the gate of the bridge, and from +thence alarm the city. Do, Nathaniel, suffer me to go." + +"Not for worlds!" answered Bacon; "do you not perceive that it would be +impossible for you to pass the two on this side unnoticed? Besides, were +you even to gain the gate, they would tomahawk you before you could +arouse one person in the town. No, no, you must remain. Seat yourself on +the sward and hide your eyes, if you will, until we despatch these two, +and then we can hold the others at bay." + +"But what is the necessity of attacking them at all, Nathaniel?" + +"Do you not see that they have been committing some +depredation?--perhaps worse, and would be sure to make fight were we to +show ourselves in so small force. But come, O'Reily, we are losing +precious time; follow me, and for your life do not shoot." + +This short and earnest dialogue was held in whispers, and in much less +time than we have taken to record it. + +The precaution against using firearms was doubtless given for fear of +betraying to the inhabitants of the town the delicate and apparently +equivocal position in which Virginia was placed. "We must be upon these +two with our good swords, O'Reily," said Bacon, "before the others can +join them, and if possible before they perceive us." + +"Devil burn me but my hand itches to get acquainted wid the taste o' +their skulls any way. Oh! if we can only smash these two but we'll keep +the others to see their own funerals iny way." + +In a few moments, Bacon and his trusty follower were silently gliding +through the bushes on the banks of the river, and advanced to within a +few rods of the savages, unperceived either by the party on the beach or +those loading the boat on the opposite shore. But as they were just +emerging from the last bush which protected their movements, a +characteristic and startling exclamation "hugh!" from the watch +stationed in the boat, at once precipitated their movements, and put the +two on their guard whom they were about to attack. + +There was at that day no male inhabitant of Jamestown or the surrounding +Colony, arrived at the years and vigour of manhood, who was entirely +unacquainted with the mode and usual end of Indian warfare. Of course, +on such occasions as the present, the contest was for life or death. + +Bacon, notwithstanding his youth, had already acquired some renown as a +warrior in these desperate single-handed conflicts, which doubtless gave +him and his companion more assurance of success on this occasion, +notwithstanding the fearful odds which it was possible might be brought +against them. Springing upon their adversaries, who, as has been seen, +were on their guard, the conflict at once became desperate, while those +in the boat made the utmost efforts to join their companions and +overpower their unexpected enemies. No sooner were the two good swords +of Bacon and O'Reily flashing in the moonbeams, than corresponding +motions of the savage war clubs gave evidence that they also were ready +for battle. Many and hard were the blows which were given on both sides +in the struggle, a mere protraction of which Bacon perceived was +destruction. Accordingly bracing up his own nerves, and cheering +O'Reily, he made a vigorous and successful lunge at his immediate +antagonist, but not before the reinforcement of the enemy was on the +ground to take his place. A contest of this kind, when the parties were +any thing like equal in number, was generally not long doubtful--victory +in most instances being upon the side of superior skill and weapons. But +O'Reily, although a veteran soldier, had met his match in this instance, +his antagonist being a tall and brawny warrior of most fearful +proportions. Yet he laid about him stoutly, while Bacon, merely having +time to catch his breath, renewed the unequal contest with two of the +new assailants, the third at the same time joining his already too +powerful chief against the Irishman. The conflict was now desperate and +bloody; our adventurers fought well and skilfully, every blow was +followed by a crimson stream, and they too in their turn were more than +once beaten to their knees by the terrific sweep of the war clubs. At +one time Bacon was entirely prostrated, but instantly recovering and +rising to his knees he continued to defend himself until he had once +more regained his feet. + +This warfare had now lasted for some minutes, which seemed an age to the +trembling maiden who stood an unwilling yet enchained spectator on the +side of the hill above them. But victory appeared at length about to +crown the desperate efforts of her friends, whose assailants were now +reduced to exactly their own number, and one; the tall old chief opposed +to Brian, covered with his own blood and just ready to fall, when a +sudden and terrific yell immediately behind them announced a +reinforcement; and Virginia sank upon the earth in terror and despair. + +"Plunge into the stream and swim for your life," shouted Brian--"Oh! but +I'll keep their hands busy till ye go clear, even wid a stack of the +yellow devils afore me!" + +Six horrid and painted human monsters, (so they seemed to our +adventurers) now leaped into the midst of the conflict, relieving their +own brethren and thundering their blows upon the heads of their already +exhausted adversaries. In vain they made furious lunges, forgetting the +cunning of fence in the perfect desperation of the hopeless conflict. +At length they both fell under the weapons of their new enemies and two +of the savages, flashing their knives from their sheaths, prepared to +complete the sacrifice; indeed a despairing yell from O'Reily announced +that the butchery had already commenced; when in an instant the head of +the old Chief stooping over him was severed from the trunk, and in the +next a second blow from the same gigantic arm prostrated the one about +to tear the bloody trophy from the fallen Cavalier. + +Virginia had by this time ventured another despairing look upon the fate +of him who was the cherished companion of her childhood. In that moment, +doubtless, all the warnings and injunctions of the Recluse were +forgotten, or if remembered, instantly set aside as the over prudential +suggestions of pride in rank, or wealth, or power, governing the +feelings of her friends, or of him who undertook to give her counsel in +their stead. + +But there were still enemies left besides the two who had flourished the +scalping knife over our prostrate adventurers. With these the Recluse +(for he it was who had come so opportunely to the rescue) at once +renewed the conflict. Placing his back against a tree, and throwing away +his castor and scabbard, he joined in the strife with a zest like that +of an epicure who bares his arm to the exercise of the carving +knive--whirling his enormous weapon amidst the falling clubs with the +precision, ease and coolness of a professor exhibiting his skill with +the harmless foils. His first exertions were, of course, on the +defensive, among so many assailants, but if his blows were rare they +were sure and fatal. He was evidently but putting in practice a sort of +exercise in which he must have both delighted and excelled in days long +past. + +At every blow or thrust a savage went down to rise no more, Bacon, too, +now rallied his scattered senses and exhausted strength, and resumed his +part in the conflict, with enough of both to render him a valuable +auxiliary in the way of defence, which the Recluse perceiving, sprang +into the midst of the enemy and speedily put to flight, or the sword, +the exhausted and disheartened remnant. When Virginia saw this +devoutly-prayed-for termination to the battle, she sank upon the ground +as powerless and exhausted as if she too had been actively engaged. The +Recluse stooping over O'Reily and feeling his head and wrist, hastened +to the boat, and seizing the wooden vessel with which the water was +usually bailed out, returned and bathed his face and temples. Not so +swift were his motions however as to prevent his stopping for a moment +at the boat and gazing with astonishment at Something which it +contained; but there was little time for wonder, and he hastened on his +errand. When Brian's face was cleansed from blood it was found that the +scalping knife of the old warrior had probably been struck from its +intended destination so that the point had caught in one corner of his +mouth and inflicted a wound of some magnitude across his face. While he +was thus attended, Bacon hastened, with what speed he was able to exert, +toward the spot where he had left his helpless companion. He found her +just recovering from the listless stupor in which we left her. "Oh, +Nathaniel!" was all that she was enabled to articulate as she fell into +his arms, forgetting in the deep excitement of the moment every feeling +save the strong and innocent affection which had so long existed between +them. + +Bacon placed her upon his horse, and taking the bridle in one hand, and +holding her steady in her seat with the other, proceeded to the scene of +the late mortal struggle. They found O'Reily sitting up, with his mouth +already bandaged, and his late assistant and protector gone, having +first, as Brian indistinctly muttered, pointed to the boat, as if there +were something there which craved attention. Their own perceptions were +now startled from the same quarter, by the sound of groans. Bacon ran to +the spot, and found a female bound, and lying upon her face in the +bottom of the boat. Having cut the cords and bathed her swollen face and +temples, he speedily restored her to something like consciousness, and +then bore her to the shore and laid her upon the ground. O'Reily now +recognised her as Mrs. Jamieson, wife of Jamie Jamieson, principal +fisherman to the town, whose hut, for convenient purposes in his +avocation, was situated without the protection of the fort. This +statement also accounted to Bacon for the presence of a quantity of fish +netting in the boat, which doubtless excited the cupidity of the poor +ignorant savages, who lay cold and lifeless at his feet. + +New embarrassments seemed to stare our wanderers in the face at every +step on this eventful night. Scarcely was O'Reily restored to his +senses, and Mrs. Jamieson to such a state as to give hopes of recovery, +when it occurred to our hero that something must be done with the dead +bodies. But when he came to reflect upon the appearance which the battle +ground itself would present, he determined to leave the rest to chance, +and to say nothing himself or through his follower, and thus leave the +gossips of the town to account for the slaughter of the Indians as they +might. Mrs. Jamieson was now carefully replaced in the boat, and O'Reily +assisted to his post at the _tiller_, while Bacon, having seated +Virginia, occupied Brian's usual place at the oar, being the least +injured of the two. + +The former was for once in his life perfectly silent, perhaps owing to +the awkward accident which had happened to his mouth, thereby rendering +it difficult for him to enunciate with the true Hibernian pathos. + +The females having been landed, Bacon desiring Virginia to sit by the +still benumbed Mrs. Jamieson, returned for his horses, which were led by +the side of the boat without any difficulty. + +The whole party now proceeded to the fisherman's hut, Bacon supporting +the feeble steps of its exhausted mistress. Here a new disaster awaited +them. A few yards from the house towards the river, they discovered the +body of the fisherman himself, cold, stiff, and lifeless. O'Reily was +directed to remain with the woman of the house until she should +completely recover her senses, but on no account to stay longer, or +enter into any explanations. + +Bacon and Virginia entered the gate of the fort unchallenged, and +proceeded to the house of Mr. Fairfax, when the latter entered as +quietly and as unperceived as she had sallied forth; while he officiated +as ostler to his own steed, which service being finished to his +satisfaction he sought his apartment; the morning being far advanced +towards the dawn of day. His slumbers, it may be readily imagined, were +not profound and undisturbed,--the restless nervousness of over exertion +in mind and body, being very similar in its effects to that of too much +repose. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +On the morning of the Anniversary of the Restoration, the sun was just +emerging above the eastern horizon, the sky was unclouded and serene, +the air balmy and elastic, and the volumes of misty drapery from the +river were fast rolling away over the hills, as the Recluse stood upon +one of the highest points of the river cliffs, with folded arms, +surveying the scene around him. + +Far back as the eye could reach to the west, all was interminable +forest--the foreground exhibiting occasional specks of cleared land, +where some planter, more adventurous than his fellows, had boldly +trusted his fortunes to the mercy of the savage. + +He looked upon the little city beneath, as the weary mariner on a long +voyage may be supposed to look upon a green island in the midst of a +desert of waters. His chest heaved as the swelling emotions of pent up +years burst from his over-loaded heart. Bacon, the manly and ingenuous +youth, whom the reader will remember as having been appointed to visit +him on this morning, had just sprung upon a mettled and pawing charger, +which was now throwing the fire and pebbles from his heels in thick +volleys, as his master with a fire and impetuosity scarcely inferior to +his own, bent over his uncurbed neck as he descended into the plain. +Several pieces of light artillery, together with volleys of musketry in +quick succession, thundered over the smooth waters of the Powhatan, and +reverberated in multiplied peals under the feet of the Recluse. There +was something connected with this day, and its celebration, which seemed +powerfully to have stirred up the still waters within him. Thick coming +fancies connected with by-gone days were rolling over his soul in an +uncontrolled torrent. But we must leave him for a time to his own +reflections, amidst the solitary grandeur of the scene, while we pursue +the road of the flying Cavalier towards the city. + +The bells from the Church and State House were now also heard in the +intervals of the cannonade, and as we approach nearer to the scene, a +strange confusion of many sounds greet the ear. Drums and fifes, violins +and banjoes, and even jews-harps, all lent their aid to swell the burst +of joy and gratulation. Smiling and happy faces were grouped along the +streets, while gay damsels, in their holyday finery, adorned the doors +and windows of the busy citizens. A perfect Babel of commingled noises +issued from the spacious area of a tobacco warehouse, which, after the +usual fashion, consisted of an extensive roof, supported by colonnades +to every front. Here was congregated the rising generation--boisterous +and happy in the midst of their games and sports. No schoolmaster was +abroad on that day, to rush in upon the unwary urchins, and wreak upon +them the vengeance of Samson upon the Philistines. + +Our forefathers suffered their children to follow very much their own +humours in the selection of those amusements suited to their age and +condition. We see not but the result was as happy as that of the systems +of our day, when every thing is regulated by system, even to the games +and amusements of our children. The time is certainly not far distant +when Geography will be taught by a game at cards; Chemistry by set +_conversations_ upon the constituents of our edibles, and Natural +Philosophy developed in nursery rhymes, that we may imbibe it with our +lullabies. + +On the morning in question, as merry a set of boisterous lads kicked up +the dust in the old warehouse, as ever fought over a game of marbles, or +laughed through one of leap-frog. And while the merry urchins, whom we +have taken under our special protection, were thus enjoying a glorious +holyday, their elders and superiors were moved by the same impulses. The +mansion of the Governor itself was in visible commotion; servants +swelling with importance, aped the grandeur of their masters' looks, +while they ran from room to room on their various duties. A provincial +band of music was stationed under the windows, uniting their sweet +sounds to the Babel-like uproar, in the well known tune of "Over the +waters to Charley." + +There was one little green spot upon the common inviting the +contemplative mind to pleasing reveries. Here a few of the humbler +maidens of the city were adorning the overhanging bushes with gay +garlands of flowers, preparatory to the evening dance, which they +contemplated celebrating in imitation of their superiors, who were to +move in more stately measures at the mansion of the Governor. + +The household of Gideon Fairfax was likewise earlier than usual on the +alert, and he being one of the council of the Colony, came in also for a +share of the honours noised forth under the windows of the most +distinguished Cavaliers. + +Breakfast had been some time waiting at the table, and the fondly +indulged daughter had been repeatedly summoned, but still she came not. +This excited the more surprise in the minds of her parents, as they +supposed, that on this eventful morning, of all others in the year, she +would be up with the lark. The truth was, that after retiring at such an +unusual hour of the night, or rather morning--her slumbers were +disturbed between sleeping and waking, by shadowy dreams of yelling +savages, chivalrous youths, and mighty giants. + +At length, however, she appeared, but instead of bounding into the room +with gay and elastic steps, and more buoyant spirits, in happy +anticipation of the promised enjoyments of the day, her movements were +slow and heavy--her eyes red and swollen, and her whole appearance +indicative of languor and dejection. Her fond parents were instantly at +her side--each taking a hand as she walked into the room, and striving +to learn from the fancied invalid the nature of her sufferings. She +assured them that she had nothing to complain of but want of rest, and +with this they were the more readily satisfied, as towards morning there +had indeed been much firing of guns, and other demonstrations of +loyalty. Her parents being thus satisfied, that her account of the +matter was the true one, Virginia was suffered to assume her place at +the head of the table--a place she had for some time occupied on account +of the delicate state of her mother's health. Meanwhile the anxious +parents assumed their own places, and endeavoured to beguile their +daughter's languor by allusions to the merry sounds, and gay group +without, not forgetting the assembly at the Governor's; and it is more +than probable that they would have succeeded, as few spirited and +blooming beauties of sixteen can long listen unmoved to such details, +had not Virginia, raising her half cheerful face at that moment to a +large mirror which hung opposite, caught the reflection of a person in +whose welfare she took a lively interest, standing in one corner of the +room, and partly behind her chair, with a countenance and attitude which +expressed the deepest misery. This was no other that Wyanokee, her own +little Indian attendant, who officiated near the person of her +mistress, in a medium capacity between friend and servant; the mistress +only requiring the companion, and the maid spontaneously offering the +services due both from affection and gratitude. + +The figure of Wyanokee was diminutive, but like most of the aboriginal +females, exquisitely proportioned, and graceful, after the fashion of +nature's finest schooling. Her face was oval and between a brown and +yellow colour, yet there was a vital tinge occasionally illuminating +this predominant dark ground, which bespoke the refined female, in +language intelligible to all, and far more eloquently than the tongue. +Her hair was jet black, and folded upon her small round head after the +fashion of the Europeans; and her brilliant teeth exhibited a striking +contrast to the dark shades of her skin, and darker sparkling eyes. The +delicately penciled brows, arched beautifully over a countenance +strikingly feminine and lady-like; and the general expression was that +calm sadness which has been remarked as characteristic of the +domesticated aborigines from that day to the present. Her dress was +essentially after the fashion of the whites of that day, just retaining +sufficient of the Indian costume, however, to set off her slight but +graceful figure to the best advantage. The exquisite proportions of her +finely shaped foot and ankle were displayed in a closely fitting deer +skin moccasin, studded around the eyelet holes, and wrought in curious, +but not unpleasing figures, with party-coloured beads and porcupine +quills. Around her neck, and falling upon her gently swelling bosom, +were many ingeniously wrought ornaments of wampum and silver--and around +her wrists, bracelets of the same materials. Wyanokee was of the +Chickahominy tribe, and had been taken prisoner after the murder of her +parents by one of the neighbouring tribes, who at the time were at war +with the Chickahominies. Nathaniel Bacon saw her in one of his hunting +excursions, and struck with her native beauty, and pleading countenance, +redeemed her from captivity at the expense of a string of blue beads. +From thence he brought her to Jamestown, to remain until some +opportunity should occur of restoring her to her tribe. Her parents +having been slain, however, as we have already said, and much time +necessarily having elapsed before such opportunity occurred, Virginia +took advantage of it, and by mild and affectionate treatment, +endeavoured to win her to herself. A mutual and peculiar attachment was +the consequence, so that when the opportunity actually occurred, +Wyanokee refused to return to the almost extinct tribe of her fathers. +Two years had now elapsed since her introduction into the Fairfax +family, during which time Virginia, an assiduous pupil herself, became +in her turn instructress to her little protegee. Already had she learned +many of the little feminine arts and accomplishments of civilized life, +and made considerable proficiency in the English language--which, +however, she never employed except in private to her instructress, or +on some urgent occasion. Half the young Cavaliers in Jamestown would +have been willing devotees at the shrine of Wyanokee's beauty, after the +corrupt fashions of the parent court and country. But such celebrity was +not suited to the taste or ambition of the Indian maiden. Whenever the +little errands of her patroness led her to the shops of the city, +instead of encouraging the forward and impudent gallantries of the young +profligates, she would trip along like a frightened partridge--always +turning a deaf ear to their flatteries, and keeping her eyes fixed upon +the earth, in the most modest, natural and simple guise. Notwithstanding +her habitual indifference to the flatteries of her many admirers, there +was one youth whose very step upon the door sill her practised ear could +detect. Not that her deliverer had ever taken advantage of her gratitude +to him--her ignorance of civilized refinements, or her dependent +situation, to poison her mind with the deceitful flatteries too common +with his comrades of that day. The passion was perhaps the growth of +time and reflection and the effect of gratitude, as the little Indian +maiden became capable of instituting comparisons between his conduct +towards herself and that of the young Cavaliers, whose assiduities have +been already mentioned. Certain it is, that if it had been from some +sudden impulse in their earlier intercourse, the customs of her race +would have fully borne her out in declaring her passion to its object +at once. At the time of which we write, however, this feeling was a +profound secret within her own bosom, as she hoped and believed; and the +more Virginia impressed upon her mind the necessity of reserve and +modesty in her intercourse with the other sex, the more jealous she +became in concealing the passion that possessed her heart. Nevertheless, +it influenced all her after life, and gave a touching interest to the +progress of her moral and intellectual development. + +Some few of her Indian peculiarities were still retained by Wyanokee; +her gesticulation was far more powerful and expressive than her small +compass of language, and the ordinary indifference of her race to +passing and exciting themes, was yet preserved by her. Her gentle +mistress could indeed work upon her sensibilities through the medium of +her affection and gratitude, like a skilful musician upon a finely toned +instrument, but the master key was still wanting even to her. There was +one peculiarity of her race not quite so agreeable or inoffensive as +those already mentioned--namely, the silence and celerity of her +movements; sometimes she would appear to Virginia in the middle of the +night with the imagined abruptness of an unearthly spirit. Often would +the fair maiden awake from her slumbers and find her stooping over her +couch--with the saddest and most intense interest expressed in her +countenance--and again she would glide through the silent apartments of +the spacious mansion with a movement so shadowy and noiseless, that it +seemed almost impossible to be effected by a substantial being. + +When Virginia raised her eyes from the breakfast-table, and beheld +Wyanokee's mute despair, as exhibited in the opposite mirror, her former +nervous alarm and agitation instantly returned. + +She was entirely at a loss to account for the unusual feeling exhibited +by her attendant, except by connecting it in some way with her late +nocturnal adventures. And it was a fearful supposition which flashed +through her mind, that Wyanokee was acquainted with her last night's +undertaking; yet at the same time ignorant of her motives. Hurrying +mechanically through the meal, she rose, and taking the hand of the +young Indian, was about to retire; but at that moment Nathaniel Bacon +rode up to the door, his charger covered with dust and foam; leaping +from his back and throwing the rein to an attendant, he entered the room +at the very moment when the two maidens were about to make their exit. +Under the peculiar circumstances of the case perhaps no one could have +entered more mal-appropos. Mr. Fairfax himself and Bacon had parted, at +the termination of their last interview, with excited and unpleasant +feelings, both having lost command of temper. Virginia had last seen him +under circumstances also which in themselves were calculated to excite +no very pleasing reminiscences; but considering the precise attitude in +which she stood at that moment with regard to Wyanokee, the interview +promised to be still more embarrassing. Nor was the promise +falsified--the salutations of the gentlemen were cold, formal, and +embarrassing to both parties, while the two maidens stood on the eve of +departure, each labouring under her own peculiar difficulties. Virginia +felt as if all the adventures of the preceding night stood revealed to +her parents, without any of the justificatory motives which had +satisfied her own mind for embarking in them--while her attendant looked +to her as if she too was labouring under a weight of surreptitious +knowledge. Mrs. Fairfax was the only one of the party who preserved +self-possession enough to welcome their young friend, after so long an +absence, in intelligible language. + +With the peculiar tact of the cultivated female mind she judiciously led +the conversation to such subjects of universal interest at the time, as +to induce her husband and the young Cavalier to forget their late +unpleasant difference, and Virginia to resume her seat at the table, +where she busied herself in helping the visiter to his breakfast. It was +singular enough too, as Virginia no doubt thought, that one of these +subjects should have direct reference to some personages who had so +lately and so intently occupied her own thoughts--namely the Roundheads +and Independents. Frank Beverly it seems had already blown abroad the +meeting of these persons in secret conclave, as mentioned in the first +chapter. The meal being concluded, Bacon again sprang upon his horse and +hurried forward to the portico of the Berkley Arms, in which were now +displayed no very equivocal evidences of loyalty, from the master of the +house and his numerous guests, who thronged its area upon his approach. +All the _elite_ of the Cavalier youth were there in a perfect throng. + +No sooner had Bacon alighted and made his way into the throng, than the +tumultuous discussion of the youths was hushed into silence. This was +not so much owing to any sternness in the dignity of the youth as to the +peculiar nature of the discussion which was going on between Dudley and +Beverly, and their several partizans, at the very moment of his +entrance. The tumblers of julip were held in suspense, while heavy bets +were offered, and about to be taken, upon the disputed question whether +the very person who so suddenly appeared among them would be present at +the celebration. No sooner had he set foot on the premises, however, +than the fat landlord came waddling up, grasping the hand of our hero in +one of his own, while in the other he presented him with a goblet of the +national beverage. + +"A pledge! a pledge!" now resounded from several quarters of the well +filled Tap. It may well be supposed that the suspected one had no very +great relish for julip after breakfast, but knowing the importance of +such trifles on an occasion like the present, and under all the peculiar +circumstances in which he was placed he took the cup, and elevating it, +said--"Here's to the merry king Charles, who shall be king but Charley." + +"Bravely done," shouted the host--and "huzzah for Bacon," shouted his +own immediate partisans, many of whom belonged to a volunteer military +company of which he was the commander, and whom to see was the very +object of his visit to the Arms. Taking Dudley therefore by the arm, and +calling to others of the corps, he invited them to a private interview +in another apartment. As Bacon passed Frank Beverly a mutual but cold +salutation was exchanged--dignified and polite on the part of the +former, and cold, haughty and sneering on that of the latter--the +ungracious feeling not at all lessened, it is probable, by the pointed +exclusion of Beverly and his partisans from the private meeting just +alluded to. + +Although this was Bacon's first appearance in public, since his abrupt +departure from the house of his friend and patron, it was not the first +visit he had paid to the hotel, where he and his partisans now held +their meeting. He had privately visited the landlord on the preceding +evening, previous to the adventures related in the last chapter, for +some purposes connected with the present meeting of his friends, but +which he was by no means willing should be generally known. At that +visit he was informed by the landlord of the mischievous plot laid by +his rival to deprive him of the pleasure of Virginia's hand during the +approaching festivities at the Mansion of the Governor, and his first +intention was to counteract their machinations. But so intensely had his +mind been engaged with the adventures of the preceding evening, that all +minor interests escaped his recollection. It was the object of his visit +on this morning, to remedy that oversight; but so cold and formal was +his reception by Mr. Fairfax, and so embarrassed was that of his +daughter, that he gave up the scheme for the present, leaving the house +with any thing but pleasant emotions. Indeed, from the various +combinations of parties and factions, he saw his own position becoming +hourly more embarrassing and difficult, and still more so from the +neutral position in which he was thrown--partly from the mystery +connected with his origin, and partly from his connexion with the +Recluse. But let the Independents on the one hand, and the Cavaliers on +the other, plot and counterplot as they might, his course was clearly +taken in his own mind. None of the doubts as to what cause he should +espouse, which had been hinted at by some of the personages of our +narrative, really existed in his mind. His course was plain, manly, +upright, and straight forward. Nevertheless, as has been seen, he had +not thus far entirely escaped suspicion. But trusting to the uprightness +of his intentions, he took his measures on this eventful morning with a +single eye to the public peace and the cause of truth, justice and +humanity. It was to promote these great ends, that he now assembled the +members of the military company of which he was the commander. Upon what +service they were to be engaged, will appear in the succeeding +chapters. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +While Bacon and his partisans were deliberating in one of the upper +rooms of the Berkley Arms, and Beverly, Ludwell and their friends, still +kept up their potations in the Tap below, all of a sudden the bells +ceased to chime, and the cannons to roar, and the various other +demonstrations of noisy mirth that pervaded the city, were hushed into +silence. A corresponding stillness instantly prevailed throughout both +the assembled parties, for a moment, in order to ascertain if possible +the cause of this interruption to the public rejoicings. No one in +either being able to explain the matter, both parties at the same moment +rushed tumultuously into the street. They beheld men, women, and +children, thronging in the direction of the public square, and naturally +fell into the current, and were borne on its tide into the very centre +of attraction. Here they found several oxcarts standing in the street, +in the beds of which were stretched the dead bodies of eight +Indians--fearfully mangled, and one with his head entirely severed from +the body. Twenty voices at once were interrogating the gaping negroes +who bestrode the cattle, but no other satisfaction could be gained from +them than a mute reference to their master; a little busy important +man, who resided on the main land, and was now holding forth with great +energy and amplitude of expression, touching his various adventures of +the morning, to a crowd of eager loungers gathered around him, as if to +appropriate his wonderful disclosure entirely to themselves. + +He stated that he had found the dead bodies upon the banks of the river, +where there were still many evidences of a desperate conflict of both +horse and foot. That the ground was covered with blood, and that one +party must have been driven into the river, and drowned, as he had been +enabled to trace them by their footmarks to the very edge of the water. + +It will be readily imagined by the reader that Nathaniel Bacon was no +unmoved spectator of this scene, or of the various conjectural +explanations that were now given in his hearing, of a transaction in +which he had been such a principal actor, and of which he could have +given such an authentic history. He was rather rejoiced than otherwise, +that the little planter of the main seemed so much disposed to indulge +his imagination, as a discovery of his own part in the matter, and of +Virginia's delicate position on the occasion, was thereby rendered less +probable. But his self congratulations were too hasty; for scarcely had +he revolved these things in his mind, before a sudden rush of the crowd +towards some new object of surprise arrested his attention. This was no +other than Brian O'Reily, bearing into the crowd upon his back the dead +body of Jamie Jamieson, and followed by his wife, who to her bruises and +misfortunes had applied the comfort of whiskey in great profusion. +O'Reily, it seemed, had fully sympathised with the widowed lady, for his +motions were anything but accordant with the solemnity of the occasion. +Bacon could scarce suppress a smile as he caught a glimpse of this group +through the crowd. His first object; however, was to catch O'Reily's +eye, and make him understand, if possible by a look, that he was to +volunteer no evidence in the case. He had no sooner succeeded in gaining +the notice of his attendant, than the latter applied his finger slyly to +his lip, looking another way at the same time, and thus indicating that +he understood the policy to be pursued, and that he was not so much +intoxicated as he thought proper to seem. With this doubtful assurance +Bacon was compelled to rest satisfied, walking about the square all the +while in visible agitation. + +The corpse of the fisherman being laid out in the market-place, the +officer, whose duty it was, proceeded to summon an inquest to inquire +into the manner and cause of his death. The first witness summoned +before this tribunal, was, of course, the wife of the deceased. She +testified that a party of savages had on the preceding night entered +their house, and after having cruelly murdered her husband, beaten +herself, and bound her limbs with cords, had carried away all their +fishing nets. That having placed these in a canoe, they laid her in it +also, and paddled across the river--where they were met by another party +of savages, about fifty in number, as she supposed, and while they were +busily engaged in dividing the spoil, a gigantic man, with a face +flaming like fire, and a sword as long as a fishing pole, had suddenly +fallen upon the murderers, and quickly put them to flight, or the sword. +That having thus conquered the whole horde, he had placed her in the +boat again, and brought her to her own house, where he left her, and +where she remained alone until morning, when she was found by Mr. Brian +O'Reily, who happened to be coming that way. + +Improbable as some parts of this story were, it met with a ready +credence from nearly the whole of the multitude; no tale, having any +relation to the Recluse, being so marvellous that they would not readily +believe it. But in no one of the assembled listeners did it excite +greater surprise than in Bacon himself. It is true, that he readily +recognised in the whole invention the joint influence of whiskey, and +O'Reily's ingenuity, but even to these he had not supposed that he +should be indebted for such downright falsehoods in his behalf. Mrs. +Jamieson, too, seemed firmly to believe all that she had testified. +Under these circumstances he did not feel himself called upon to set the +matter right at the expense of Virginia's feelings, and the inevitable +defeat of the measures in which he was that very morning deeply +engaged. How the Irishman was to manage his part of the narrative when +called upon, as he certainly would be, and that so speedily that no time +would be allowed to exchange a word with his master, Bacon could not +divine. He knew right well that O'Reily was gifted with a strong +tendency to the most outrageous and even ridiculous exaggeration, and +that he would carry through whatever he should undertake to say, with +wonderful shrewdness and imperturbable confidence; but how he was to +make his story agree with that which he had put into the mouth of Mrs. +Jamieson, and at the same time explain the wound upon his own face, and +the contusion upon his head, without being guilty of some direct and +palpable falsehood, was more than his master could imagine. At length +Brian O'Reily was called to state what he knew touching the death of the +fisherman. The first question propounded by the officer was, "Well, +O'Reily, tell the jury how, and when you came to the house of the +deceased." + +"Oh! thin, and I'm bothered to know whether I got there by land or +wather, and faix, I'm after b'leiven it was naither uv them." + +"How then did you get there, if you went neither by land nor water?" + +"An by the vestments, may be I wouldn't be far wrang, if I said it was +the crathur that took me there, seein I can't deny it iny way, your +haner." + +"You saw no one strike or maltreat the deceased.". + +"It would be but ill manners in me to be conthradictin your haner." + +"You are sure you did not strike him yourself." + +"As sure as two tin-pinnies--Divil burn the man that Brian O'Reily ever +ill used when he was down--much less when he was dead, your haner." +(crossing himself.) + +"How then came that cut upon the corner of your mouth?" + +"Oh! murther, and is it these your haner's axing after?" and he +ingeniously placed his finger upon a smaller wound made by his bottle on +the previous night. "Yes, O'Reily, we wish you to state how you came by +those wounds." + +"Oh! but I'm bowld to show your haner, seein its you that axed me--sure +here's the wapon that kilt me all out!" and as he spoke, he pulled out +his broken necked bottle and handed it to his catechist. + +"I see it has blood upon it, O'Reily, and this may explain the cut on +your mouth, but how came that contusion on your temple?" + +"Be dad but I run aginst a good big shelaleigh, an it broke me head so +it did--sorra much head I had left at that same recknin, for the +crather." + +"You ran against a club, O'Reily? Was it growing in the ground or was it +in the hands of an enemy?" + +"It might be growin, your haner, or it might be in the hands of the +great inimy himself, for all that Brian O'Reily knows--sure your haner +isn't very particular in examinin the tixture of the timber that knocks +you down. It might be a door-post--or may be the gate of the foort--as +the thimber grows as thick here as paraties, and this gate was always +too small for me when I had a dhrap of the whiskey." + +"You ran against the gate-post, or the facings of Jamieson's door, +then?" + +"By the five crasses, an I've done that same many's the time--barrin +always that it would be ill manners in me to conthradict your haner if I +hadn't." + +"You saw nothing then of the treacherous and thieving savages on the +night of Jamieson's murder?" + +"Oh then but I'm puzzled now intirely. By the holy father, I saw a power +of sights on that same night. The whiskey was clane too strong for me. I +saw all sorts of yeller nagres and men widout shadows, and flamin +counthenances, and the fire sparklin from the very eyes of me, by the +same token. Divil a word of a lie's in that iny way." + +"But you saw no person strike or maltreat this man who lies dead here?" + +"Divil the one, your haner! Brian O'Reily's the boy that wouldn't see +foul-play to man nor baste. I never saw Jamie, till I saw him stretched +all out as you see him there." + +"You do not know then but that you may have encountered the murderers in +your own drunken travels?" + +"Faix and you may say that, your haner, widout a word of a lie in it; it +bothers me intirely to tell what I did see. And, by the five crasses, if +it wasn't for the wapon you've got in your hand--and poor Jamie that I +brought here on my back--and this thump upon my head, I should, say it +was all a dhrame clane out." + +"Well, you may go, O'Reily. I believe you know little of what happened +to yourself or any one else last night." + +"An that's thrue for you iny way; many thanks to your haner for your +kindness and civility," said O'Reily, as he left the crowd, slily +tipping a wink of triumph to his master. + +Bacon certainly began to breathe more freely towards the conclusion, as +having edged in with the crowd, he heard O'Reily's ingenious parries of +the official's thrusts. But his trials were not yet over, for scarcely +had he followed his attendant with his eye out of the crowd, before Mr. +Fairfax stepped up to the officer and whispered something in his ear. In +a few moments after a deputy was seen leading Wyanokee into the +market-place--a look of the most profound dejection, still visible +through her fright, at being brought into the presence of such a +multitude. + +She testified, that two of the Indians slain were her nearest kinsmen. +That the one with his head severed from the body, was old King Fisher; +and, upon examination, the blue feathers of his patronymic bird were +found still sticking in the matted tuft of hair upon his crown. She +farther stated that he was her father's only brother, and that another +of the slain was his son--the only two remaining male relatives she had +in the world. That all these savages were of the Chickahominy tribe; and +that there were not more than two hundred warriors, left of all that, +brave and powerful nation which had once thronged the banks of the +Chickahominy river. And here the little Indian maiden seemed almost +suffocated with overpowering emotions, as the memory of former days came +gushing over her heart. No tear relieved her swelling emotions, but ever +and anon she cast her eyes over the mangled bodies of her kinsmen, and +once or twice turned with looks more rapid and of darker meaning towards +Bacon. The general expression of her countenance; however, was one of +profound and overwhelming sadness. Her soul seemed fully capable of +realizing the melancholy destiny which awaited all the nations of the +aborigines then inhabiting the country, from the sea board to the blue +mountains,[2] and whose fiat was fast bearing her race from the loved +places which had known them so long. It was doubtless in her mind a poor +compensation for the destruction of her native tribe and their +contemporaries, that she herself had been reclaimed from the happy +ignorance of savage, to the more painful knowledge of civilized life. + +[Footnote 2: The Indians possessed no knowledge of any of the tribes +beyond.] + +She was asked if she knew of the visit of these unfortunate men on the +preceding night. Her eye furtively ran over the eager faces gathered +around, until it fell upon that of Bacon, when a momentary flash of some +internal impulse illumined her countenance. It might be vengeance, or +the hatred of unrequited passion--but let the cause be what it might, it +glimmered with a demoniacal fire but for an instant, and then, like the +expiring taper in the socket after its last flash, sunk for ever. The +sadness of past and coming years seemed concentrated in the despair of +are moment. She waived her hand and shook her head in silence, thus +indicating, that she could say no more--that human endurance had been +stretched to its utmost verge. Walking deliberately out of the crowd +until she came to the trunkless head of the last of the Chickahominy +chiefs, she bent over the mutilated remains for a moment in unutterable +sorrow, and then throwing her eyes to heaven, dark in despair, she +stooped to pluck one of the blue feathers from the scalp, and then with +sad and lingering steps, proceeded to her home. + +All were impressed with involuntary respect for the bereaved maiden, and +even the hardened officer suffered her to depart without having finished +his examination. Sufficient, however, had been gleaned for the jury to +bring in a verdict of murder by the hands of some of the Chickahominy +tribe of savages. This tribe of Indians inhabited a small town called +Orapacks, on the banks of the river which gave its name to the nation. +They formed a part of the grand confederation which had first been +united under Powhatan, and afterwards his successor, Opechancanough; the +latter of whom so unfortunately fell, while a prisoner at Jamestown, by +the hands of a dastardly soldier, who took his life in revenge for some +petty wrong, real or imaginary. The depredation related in the foregoing +pages, and the unfortunate result to so many of its perpetrators, was +the first interruption to the general peace which Sir William Berkley +had been enabled to secure for the colony, after various sanguinary +massacres and conflicts, with the numerous tribes composing the empire +of Virginia, as it was sometimes called, and reaching from the Peninsula +to the present seat of Richmond. + +It may be well, perhaps, to state that a process had been despatched, +for form's sake, to summon the Recluse, but it was returned as similar +messages had always been before--he was _non est inventus_. + +The dead bodies were now removed,--that of Jamieson to the more +consecrated ground around the church, and those of the Indians to a sort +of Potter's-field or general burying ground, such as every city has +possessed from the time of Judas Iscariot to the present day. + +The necessary and justifiable sacrifice of some half a dozen savages +was, at that time, too common a circumstance in Jamestown, long to +affect the gayeties-of-the day. Accordingly the afternoon found the +daughters and wives of the hardy citizens gayly tripping it over the +green common, to which we have already introduced the reader, inspired +by the music of two sable musicians, who rattled and scraped defiance to +all untoward interruptions whatsoever. The town was full of strangers +from the neighbouring plantations, together with many members of the +House of Burgesses from surrounding counties, who had arrived in +preparation for the meeting of that body, summoned to be held on the +third succeeding day. Many of these dignified personages had collected +on the green, to witness the enjoyment of the humbler citizens and their +wives and daughters. + +A merry set of joyful lads and lasses were whirling through the giddy +dance; when all at once a savage yell abruptly struck upon the ear; the +music ceased, the youths stood still in the circle, while some of the +maidens fled toward the public square, and others sought the protection +of their fathers, husbands, or lovers. Consternation was visible in the +boldest countenances. The transactions of the morning had unstrung the +nerves of the females, and urged the sterner sex to thoughts of war, +which had lain dormant since the general peace and the death of +Opechancanough. But soon a jingle of little bells was heard, and the +next moment the multitude burst into a loud laugh, and simultaneously +cast their eyes up to a tall tree which overhung the green, and upon +which was seen a painted savage, descending with great agility, he soon +leaped into the middle of the area, where the dance had been in +progress, and commenced shuffling away at a most indefatigable rate, the +fiddlers striking at the same moment into the humour of this strange +visiter, and he himself dexterously rattling a number of little bones +which he held between his fingers--the bells all the while continuing to +jingle, and producing the strangest effect upon the ear. His face was +painted in the ordinary warrior guise, his head shaved close to the +cranium, save a lock upon the crown, to which hung a tuft of scarlet +feathers--his person was grotesquely ornamented with beads, bells and +buttons in great profusion, interspersed with hundreds of red feathers, +from which he took his name. He was called Red Feather Jack, and was +remarkably fond of the music and all the ordinary diversions of the +whites. In this respect he was the most remarkable Indian of his +day--that race having been peculiar for the haughty and dignified +contempt with which they looked upon the amusements of their civilized +neighbours. He was known to be as desperate in battle as he was light +hearted and merry at the sports of the white man, and had never been +known guilty of any kind of treachery, and was a universal favourite at +Jamestown among all the young people of both sexes. It may be readily +imagined, therefore, that a shout of "Red Feather Jack," which was +instantly raised by the assembled throng, brought no slight accession to +their numbers. The amusement thus afforded was kept up, intermingled +with dances of their own, to which Jack beat time with his loudest +bells, until the hour had arrived for the commencement of the more +imposing and aristocratic ceremonies and amusements at the gubernatorial +mansion. + +Red Feather Jack was believed by many to be an admirer of Wyanokee's, +though of a different tribe. He had once, on an occasion nearly similar +to the one just related, offered to lead her to the dance, but the more +refined maiden looked upon him with ineffable scorn and contempt, +produced as much, doubtless, by his undignified and unnational habits, +as by what she considered his inferior rank and understanding. After the +cessation of the various sports upon the green--in the warehouse, and +throughout the town, Jack was taken to the Berkley Arms, where his merry +performances were kept up until a late hour of the night, to the great +amusement of the loungers and the disappointed youths who had vainly +aspired to a participation in the celebration of the Cavaliers. + +There was one peculiar circumstance attending this day's celebration +which became generally the subject of after remark. Not a sign of +festivity or rejoicing was visible at the Cross Keys. Its master sat a +solitary spectator in his own door, apparently regarding the passing +levities with sovereign contempt. This of course did not escape without +many comments from the more jovial landlord of "the Arms." It was +likewise remarkable that none of the Independents were visible on this +general holyday, and this was the more singular as many of the humbler +followers of the late Lord Protector had been sold into temporary +bondage, and of course might be supposed eager to enjoy one day's +cessation from labour, even if they did not care to join the humbler +citizens in their demonstrations of loyalty. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +As the sun went down upon the boisterous revellers in the ancient city, +and closed the festivities of the day among the plebeians, the +aristocracy of the vice-regal court began to roll along the streets in +their carriages, and surround the door of the stout old knight who +represented the person of his royal master in the colony. The members of +the Council and of the house of Burgesses, with their wives and +daughters, and all other citizens and sojourners of distinction were +among the number. Now came the crash of Carriages--swearing of +footmen--cracking of whips rattling of wheels--clattering of steps, and +the pompous announcement of the man in office, as each party was +marshalled into the long suite of apartments brilliantly lighted for the +occasion. At the head of the largest room stood Sir William and Lady +Berkley. The old knight was dressed in a blue velvet doublet, which +being sashed below the belt or waistband, protruded out all round so as +to show the yellow silk linings of the aforesaid garment, fringing and +ornamenting the waist. His breeches were of pink satin, and were cut in +what was called at that day[3] "the petticoats;" they were tied to the +large mouthed silk hose with gay ribands, and the lining of the breeches +being longer than the garment itself, formed a sort of ornament for the +overhanging hose; immediately over this row of knotted ribands +ornamenting the knee, his breeches hung in ample folds. The sleeves of +his doublet reached nearly to the elbow; and from the end of these the +shirt was so fashioned as to bulge out in large flowing plaits to his +ruffled wrists. His stockings were of white silk, and shoes ornamented +with a profusion of ribands, knotted and bound into the shape of +flowers. On one shoulder hung a short mantle, reaching to the haunches +and falling in rich folds over one side of his person. Lady Berkley +appeared For the first time without her farthingale, but still retained +its contemporary, the French hood. In place of the starched ruff, she +wore the graceful and flowing collar, falling in folds and terminated in +rich pointed lace round the upper half of the bust; she wore a stomacher +indeed, but greatly modified from the long strait jacket fashion of the +preceding reign. + +[Footnote 3: See Holmes.] + +A slight degree of pomp and formality characterized the profound +inclination of the knight's magisterial person, as some guest of +distinction was from time to time announced, while his lady performed +her part of the ceremony in exact accordance with the stately habits of +her lord, but softened by a native blandness of manner and sweetness of +disposition. She was a lady in the most refined and polished acceptation +of the term. They were both just sufficiently advanced in years to add +the dignity, of age to that resulting from their station, and command, +respect from those who moved within their sphere. The ladies began now +to re-appear, after the momentary retouch of the toilet, and arrange +themselves round the apartment apparently appropriated to the dance, +from a band of musicians stationed some six feet above the floor in a +temporary orchestra. The first touch upon the string of the leader's kit +was magical--the chords of every young female heart in the room vibrated +in unison. No letting down of one string and raising of another was +required to bring them to concert pitch; like the blooded charger in the +field, in whose veins, the first clang of the trumpet sends the vital +stream glistening to the very eye-balls, their gayly decorated persons +were at once glowing with animation; their eyes sparkling and their +bosoms heaving with impatience, joy, and anticipated triumph. But when +the bow of an evident master was drawn over the strings of his rusty +cremona in a long single sweep, every heart palpitated in eagerness. The +eyes of the gentlemen wandered over the multitude of youthful and lovely +faces beaming with a delighted expression, and all were keenly alive to +the coming pleasures of the dance. But there was a precedence in the +arrangement of the first set which, we must by no means neglect. +Virginia Fairfax, by right of birth and consanguinity to the governor, +invariably assumed her aunt's place at the head of the set. The +blooming Hebe issued forth from the impenetrable ranks of her compeers +with the blushing grace and beauty of a nymph--her hand was slightly +extended as though its owner were conscious that scores of the opposite +ranks would have perilled life and fortune for its possession. She was +clad in simple white; not a colour marring the chaste and perfect purity +of her attire, save the transparent shadow of a crimson tint which rose +and fell in vivid flashes over her complexion with the rapidity of +thought. Near her stood a youth, his finely formed person set off to the +best advantage by the gay and tasteful fashion of his time, and his dark +hazel eye, brilliant with the momentary fire of excitement. +Instinctively he moved forward to receive the outstretched and now +trembling little hand, but scarcely had he gained it before a competitor +appeared upon the field, of not less personal and far more aristocratic +pretension. "With your leave, sir," said Frank Beverly, with a profound +inclination of his finely dressed person, as he took the hand which +Bacon, in the abstraction of the moment, was about to usurp. The latter +retired in the most undisguised mortification; his rival moving to the +head of the set with all the grace and ease of self-possession, rank, +and consciousness of right in the present instance. + +Sir William himself bent his dignity to enjoy this scene, the most +evident satisfaction beaming upon his countenance as he cast an +intelligent glance toward his lady. + +Our heroine had been too finely schooled in the etiquette and manners of +the ball-room, to allow the most penetrating observer any means of +ascertaining whether the incident just related was as pleasing to her as +to her partner. Bacon's mortification was not long visible, for with a +desperate sort of boldness, quite foreign to his general demeanour, he +crossed the room and approached a young lady whose beauty shone +conspicuous amid all the gay throng by which she was surrounded. Harriet +Harrison was the daughter of one of the proudest and most wealthy +families in the colony. They moved in the front ranks of those who +radiated around the fashionable orbit of which the Governor and his +family were the principal luminaries, and were esteemed by them as among +their most honoured friends and supporters. Harriet was the intimate +friend of Virginia Fairfax, and, after her mother, the most esteemed +repository of her confidence. Though an idea of rivalry in any shape or +form had never entered their young and guileless hearts, the youthful +Cavaliers who floated upon the same fashionable tide, had frequently +placed them in this attitude in their private discussions of the various +personal and mental attractions of the maidens, each in her turn proving +the reigning favourite, as their respective admirers happened to possess +the supremacy over the minds of their companions. She was near the same +age with Virginia, and undoubtedly possessed attractions of the most +captivating quality, both in mind and person, yet they were finely +contrasted with those of her friend. Harriet's complexion was +brunette--her hair dark and shining as the raven's plumage--her eye +black, keen and sparkling, her finely pencilled brows beautifully +overshadowing the native archness of her countenance, and her mouth +always expressive of amiable feelings, just sufficiently characterized +perhaps by a dash of innocent humour and coquetry; or rather that +coquetry which is the result of archness and humour as distinguished +from premeditated design. Her figure was slight but finely proportioned. +As Bacon approached this laughing little belle, his boldness visibly +diminished beneath her sparkling eye, and his petition for her hand was +uttered with the most courtly and deferential humility. The brunette +cast a significant glance toward her friend at the head of the set, and +then with promptitude accepted the offered partner, her intelligent and +sparkling countenance turning towards Charles Dudley, who stood near, +with a speaking archness, which conveyed as plainly as it could have +been in words, her perfect understanding of the byplay which was going +on at the expense of his friend. The set being completed, the music now +struck up its enlivening notes, and the various contending passions and +emotions of those engaged were soon lost for the time in the giddy whirl +of excitement which succeeded. Every countenance was clad in joy and +hilarity--Bacon himself seeming to forget, in the secret pleasure +created by the occasional touch of Virginia's hand, that he himself was +not the honoured partner. Nor was the exhilirating effect of the dance +confined to those who partook in the exercise--the young enjoyed it +present, the old by retrospection. The latter lived over again the gay +and brilliant dreams of their own youth, and were what they beheld. The +music perhaps touched upon some long forgotten associations of other +days and other friends, when and with whom they had mingled in the merry +dance under circumstances like the present. These hallowed and blessed +associations were not unmixed with melancholy, but it was of the softest +and most soothing kind; the tide of feeling flowed over the heart to the +cadences of the music, rising and swelling like the waves of the +subsiding storm, and irresistibly inviting to mental calm and repose. +The elder matrons sat under its influence--their eyes half closed in a +sort of pleasing abstraction--while a gentle and subdued smile of mixed +emotions played upon their lips. They lived again in the persons of +their gay and happy daughters, and with no more selfish wish than to see +their offspring following quietly in their own footsteps. + +The formality which had somewhat characterized the opening ceremonies +was entirely banished--it could not live in the atmosphere of music and +the dance. Sir William and his compeers in dignity seemed early to be +sensible of this, for no sooner had the motion of "hands round" +commenced, than he collected his forces, and retreated to the card room, +where, from the excitement of the game and wine, they endeavoured to +compensate themselves for their want of the more sentimental retrospects +of their ladies. + +Conversation, which till now had flagged under the withering influence +of etiquette, burst forth in all the vivacity of unrestrained and +unsophisticated nature. The eyes of Harriet Harrison sparkled like gems, +as she and Virginia laughed and chatted together, when they occasionally +met in the figures of the dance. But with all Virginia's hilarity, an +acute observer might have perceived a shade more than once passing over +the sunshine of her countenance; whether owing to some vague +presentiment of coming evil--to better defined apprehensions from those +events which had so lately passed under her eyes--to the mysterious +injunctions of the Recluse, or to some not altogether satisfactory +arrangements of the dance, we shall leave the sagacity of the reader to +determine. Certain it is, however, that she underwent no little badinage +from her lively friend and confidant. + +A certain emphatic declination in the notes of the leader, which all the +initiated will understand, warned those in possession of the floor, that +there is an order of rotation in happiness on these joyful occasions, a +cadence, any thing but musical to those happily and mutually suited in +partners, while to those not so fortunately coupled, it was a joyful +relief. Each gentleman led his partner to her seat, which she had +scarcely taken, perhaps, if one of the favoured few, before new +applications for the honour of her hand were laid at her feet. Bacon had +no sooner escorted Harriet to her place, than turning to her friend he +again put in his claim in more formal parlance than his former +instinctive aspirations, but again he was doomed to disappointment; +Philip Ludwell on this occasion, with a smirking smile upon his +countenance, claiming a prior engagement. Bacon scowled upon him with +mingled scorn and rage, as he turned upon his heel and besought the +honour of the first hand within his reach. But if he was disappointed, +his friend Dudley seemed more fortunate, for at the same moment that the +former led out his partner, he encountered the latter escorting the +pretty Harriet--and certainly no one in the room claimed a larger +portion of his sympathy. But he was struck with the change in the +countenance of the lively brunette in the very short time which had +elapsed between the two sets. During the first, there was a free, +untramelled, mischievous expression in her countenance, which was now +merged in one of partial embarrassment. The guileless and confiding air +with which she had looked into the face of her former partner, was now +exchanged for one of consciousness, as if the lively little belle +expected retributive justice from her friends for her own previous +badinage. The unpractised Dudley interpreted these appearances any thing +but favourably to his own ardent hopes. + +Bacon was more deeply studied in the workings of the "human face +divine," especially when feeling no personal interest in their meaning, +and he therefore amused himself in his ungrateful situation, by watching +the changes of his friend's arch little mistress. He doubtless +considered it a beautiful and interesting development of character, to +see this lively little romp--so lately overflowing with vivacity and +animal spirits--all at once transformed into the sensitive, sedate, and +downcast maiden. He was certainly not less amused to perceive that these +two interesting young personages were unconsciously playing at cross +purposes. First the gentleman became cold and moody at the reserve +exhibited by his mistress, which did undoubtedly exist, but from which +his jealous anxiety made him draw a most erroneous conclusion; while +she, on the other hand, resented this apparently ungrateful return for a +partiality which her own consciousness induced her to believe was +perceptible to its object; indeed this very fear of his knowledge was +perhaps the moving impulse of her own wayward conduct. The resentment +occasioned by his apparent coldness, and assumed indifference, produced +a corresponding feeling in her bosom, and thus they mutually acted and +reacted upon each other, departing farther and farther from a mutual +understanding at every renewed attempt, until at the close of the set, +Dudley retired, as he imagined, irreconcilably offended, folding his +arms upon his breast, and looking the very picture of love in despair. +While in this mood Bacon approached him, and tapped him on the shoulder, +saying, "Hah, Charles, would'st drown thyself? Thou dost not set thy +life at a pin's fee I'll warrant me. Why, what would'st thou have, man? +Thou would'st not have her forward and pert enough to run unbidden into +thy arms?" + +"Run into my arms, forsooth! I think she was nearer running into thine +own." + +"Tut man, does thy knowledge of the sex extend no farther? Dost not know +thou art quarrelling with the light of thine own eyes? Art thou not yet +acquainted with the windings and apparent inconsistencies of the female +heart? I say apparent, because when the _primum mobile_ is once +understood, all these little perversities of lovers' quarrels are +beautifully consistent, and always traceable to the one great original +cause. Once gain an insight of this leading motive, and you will admire +where you now condemn--you will attribute to maidenly modesty and proper +reserve, what you now censure as perverse and whimsical." + +"I understand you not, Sir Professor." + +"No, because you are interested in the matter. You cannot truly place +the small end of the telescope to your eye, and see yourself at the +other. You cannot stand, for instance, as I stand, and see yourself as +I see you. But study the subject a little before you give way to the +identical petulant humours with which you would quarrel in your +mistress." + +"And how long is it, pray, Sir Sage, since you took the beam from your +own eye. If mine deceived me not, I saw you but a little while since +swelling with all the offended dignity of majesty itself--merely because +some more fortunate swain had previously secured the hand of the +Governor's fair niece." + +"You are as far wrong in my affairs, Charles, as you were just now in +your own. You seem peculiarly predisposed to-night, to see only the +surface of things. Suppose that some half a dozen of those butterflies +who are now congregating round Lady Berkley, were to form a plot by +which you were to be deprived of the hand of that lady whom you most +desired to lead to the dance? Nay, more, suppose that you considered it +all important to your interests that you should possess the hand on this +particular night, and that you should be thwarted by such a contrivance +of _sub vice-royalty_! What would you do? Would you content yourself +with spending your rage upon your own lips between your teeth?" + +"No, by heavens, I would tweak the nose of a small sprig of royalty +itself." + +"What, under the circumstances and responsibilities that environ us +to-night?" + +"No! not to-night certainly; there is no hurry in the business--his +nasal organ will be as tangible a week hence as now, I suppose; but who +is it that has done this deed? I see you have many rivals." + +"Frank Beverly, to be sure." + +"I supposed as much." + +"You see," continued Bacon, "that I have now removed the mote from my +own eye, and that you did in my case exactly what you did in your +own--you looked only at the surface. But really, Charles, between +ourselves, I begin to entertain some fears that they will at last affect +Virginia with their own aristocratic notions and pretensions, for the +absence of which we have so often praised her. I have seen a strange +unusual something stealing over her countenance whenever I have +approached her of late, which I do not like. She evidently struggles +with it herself, but it has obtained the mastery in every instance, so +far. Think you they will succeed at last?" + +"I know not, my friend! but step with me into the entry--a word in your +ear." The parties stepped just behind the casings to the door of the +room in which they had been dancing, so as to occupy a small entry-way +between the two largest apartments of the mansion, and there Dudley +continued in an under tone.-- + +"Do you think they will dare _the deed_ to-night?" + +"As sure as there is truth in that strange old man--and he has never yet +deceived me!" + +"Tis well! and are all things prepared for their reception?" + +"They are! As for myself, never did such occasion come more opportunely. +I will raise a bloody monument to perpetuate the events of this night +upon more than one memory in yonder gay assembly! And since the thought +strikes me, Dudley, tis pity I disturbed the savage moroseness which was +just stealing over you; however I shall retain a _quantum sufficit_ for +us both!" + +At that moment they were about to return to the party which they had +left, when Dudley elevating his finger, said, "Hist!"--and Bacon heard +his own name pronounced, just on the other side of the partition against +which they were leaning. The voice was Ludwells. "Can you tell me +Beverly," said he, "the reason why Bacon does not wear the love lock!" + +"Yes, I can, nature stamped him for a Roundhead and Crop-ear at his +birth. Have you not observed how obstinately his curling locks are +matted to his head? I'll warrant me if the truth could be known, his +father was as pestilent a Rumper as ever sung a psalm on horseback." + +Bacon heard no more; he was seized with the most ungovernable rage, and +the utmost endeavours and remonstrances of his friend could scarcely +prevent him from bursting in upon the speakers. In his endeavours to +effect this object he forced his person partly in front of the doorway, +just sufficiently to perceive that Virginia sat near, for whom, he +doubted not these observations were intended. Again he became nearly +unmanageable, until Dudley said to him in a harsh tone. "Rash man, would +you sacrifice the whole colony for the purpose of chastising a piece of +unmannerly insolence upon the spur of the moment, when you can as well +do it to-morrow? Nay, it is the more manly course of the two." + +Bacon by a powerful effort seemed to master his feelings, and +compressing his lips, and folding his arms so as entirely to deceive his +companion, he marched deliberately into the room, as if he intended to +cross to the opposite side. But when not more than three paces from the +door, he wheeled suddenly round and addressed Beverly. "This is no place +for a personal reencounter, Sir Slanderer, and I will no farther break +through the rules of good breeding than to hurl defiance in your teeth, +and even this much I would not do, only that the defiance may go abroad +with the calumny;" and with these words he flung his glove in the face +of him to whom they were addressed. Beverly was taken entirely by +surprise; and for some moments did not seem to realize the extent of the +insult, and the greater personal indignity which had been offered to +him. He was not long, however, in comprehending the nature of the case, +and deliberately stooping to pick up the glove he answered, "This, as +you have better said than acted, is no place to quarrel, but I accept +your gage, and dearly shall it be redeemed on your part." + +During this short but pertinent dialogue, Virginia screamed and ran to +the protection of her father and uncle, followed by the other ladies in +that part of the room. A crowd instantly collected round each of the +parties to hear their statements of the case. But Sir William, always +prompt and energetic, ordered the orchestra to strike up and the dance +to be resumed, which had ceased for the purpose of affording +refreshment. "A mere boy's quarrel," said the old Knight with smiling +visage, and the dance was resumed, as if nothing unusual had occurred. + +General joy and hilarity were soon restored, for though the serenity and +happiness of several important personages of our narrative might have +been disturbed, there were still plenty of those left who were both +light of heart and nimble of foot. The dance was again going round, wine +circulating, wit sparkling, and merry faces and loud voices in all +quarters, when a sudden explosion like the discharge of a broadside from +a line of battle ship, seemed to shake the very foundations of the +earth; windows rattled and fell--plastering came tumbling down--and +ladies screamed and leaped from the casements, while others were borne +off fainting to their friends. Bacon seized Virginia and Harriet, one +under each arm, and bore them to a carriage, while Mr. Fairfax and +Governor Berkley forced their ladies into the same vehicle, ordering the +driver to speed for his life to the residence of the former. A bright +red light in the midst of a dark column of smoke was now seen to ascend +from behind the Governor's house. The powder magazine had been fired by +the Cromwellians who were now in open revolt against the government. The +schemes which they had been so long meditating, and which Bacon so truly +anticipated, had now arrived at the crisis--the struggle was commenced +which was to test whether a few scores of misguided but brave zealots +were to triumph over the constituted authorities of the land, as they +had before done in England. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The night was dark and lowering, and masses of heavy clouds enveloped +the city, a bright red column of fire ever and anon shot fitfully up +from the smouldering ruins of the magazine, tipping the clouds with a +crimson tinge, and illuminating the city to the light of noonday, and +again suddenly giving place to volumes of thick sulphureous smoke which +involved the surrounding objects in tenfold darkness. Drums were heard +beating to arms--trumpets sounding the charge--fifes piercing the +air--bells ringing the alarm--muskets and petronels discharged in quick +succession, swords clashing, women shrieking, and men were seen running +hither and thither in all the tumult of popular commotion. Bacon had no +sooner lifted his frightened protegees into the carriage, than rushing +into the back court, he found Dudley at the head of their youthful corps +already desperately engaged with the Roundheads. He immediately threw +himself into the thickest of the fight. With all their desperate valour, +however, the two young officers were quickly sensible that they had +entirely miscalculated the number and appointments of their enemies. In +vain they endeavoured to repulse the hardy veterans who forced their way +to the doors and windows of the gubernatorial mansion. The assailants +moved to their work in a solid phalanx, that veteran soldier Worley, +conspicuous at their head, and literally hewing down all opposition. One +line after another of the valiant and high born youths fell before the +murderous weapons of the insurgents. In vain did Bacon and Dudley, and +Beverly and Ludwell, all now united in a common cause, enact prodigies +of valour; their impetuous lunges fell powerless upon the iron frames of +their opponents. Crowds of citizens now rushed against the insurgents +some armed with swords, others with scythe blades, others again with +bludgeons, and the rest with such means of destruction as they could +seize in the street as they hurried to the contest. The accession of +strength to the cause of the government was as yet of little avail, +Bacon and his followers being driven to the walls, while the insurgents +were protected on each side by a high wooden fence or barricade. Tables, +chairs and bedsteads were hurled upon the heads of the besiegers, and +the lower windows were thronged with eager citizens throwing their +hastily seized weapons upon the heads of the foe in a vain effort to +come within reach. The Cromwellians were now likewise receiving +momentary reinforcements of those who leapt the high fences, and filled +up the vacancies in the rear, as the front ranks fell in the desperate +encounter with the youths and citizens. To whom the victory would fall +could not long prove doubtful, situated as they now were; this Sir +William Berkley and his kinsman Fairfax had no doubt perceived early in +the engagement, for a shout from a multitude without the enclosure, in +the midst of which might be heard the voice of Brian O'Reily, now +announced the presence of the Governor. The welcome sound was speedily +and cheerily answered by the sinking youths within, who took courage at +the approach of succour, and fought with renewed spirit. The wooden +barricade, was now seen to heave and shake, with every motion and creak +of which O'Reily shouted in chorus, until at length the whole yielded +and fell with aloud crash. A rush of citizens quickly filled up the +breach, and poured their blows into the flank of the Roundheads, who now +changing their front charged upon their new assailants at the head of +whom were the Governor and Gideon Fairfax. The two old Cavaliers laid +about them in a style worthy of their best and most chivalrous days, and +the citizens as stoutly supported them although but poorly armed and +equipped for such a rencounter. By this change of front the gallant +little corps which had so long maintained its ground, was now in some +measure relieved, and no longer subject to the murderous strokes of the +iron-handed Cromwellians. By the order of Bacon they now poured their +fire into the flank of the enemy, and by this double annoyance to their +phalanx, would doubtless have speedily terminated the conflict, but the +friends of the Insurgents without, taking example by the manoeuvre of +the governor and his party, now broke down the barricade on the other +side, and rushed in their turn to the scene of conflict. As this new +reinforcement were pushing through the court to join their friends, in +storming the first breach, a loud explosion from Sir William's quarter +was heard, followed by the groans and shrieks of a whole phalanx of the +old and new assailants, in whose ranks a perfect lane was cut by this +discharge of grape shot through the very centre of their column. A rush +was now instantly made for the possession of the cannon, and as the +citizens poured through the governor's house and the Roundheads through +the new breach in the party-wall, a deadly scuffle ensued, which became +more and more ferocious and sanguinary as each party received fresh +accessions from their friends without. And though the Cavaliers and +their supporters outnumbered their enemies, the latter had decidedly the +advantage in equipment, strength and discipline; more especially in the +hand-to-hand mode of warfare which now became necessary from the numbers +crowded into so small a space. But there was another advantage which +they possessed--they had but one commander, the veteran Worley, while +the Cavaliers and citizens of the town were at one time commanded by +Bacon, and at another by Sir William Berkley. + +Bacon perceiving the effect of this circumstance, singled out and +attacked the opposite leader in person, determined, if he lost his life +in the unequal conflict, to make the attempt at least to place the two +parties on a more equal footing. But Worley quickly detected his aim, +and being a not less expert swordsman than his antagonist, took +advantage of an impetuous thrust, and quickly brought him to the grapple +of close quarters. One excelled in strength, and the other in activity, +but notwithstanding the latter, superior powers of endurance would soon +have ended the duel unfavourably for our hero, had not a blow from +behind brought his powerful enemy to the ground. Before Bacon discovered +O'Reily, he was well convinced that the bludgeon which had interfered so +opportunely in his behalf, was wielded by no tyro at the weapon. +However, he lost but few seconds, either upon his assailant or +deliverer, but quickly directed his attention to matters of more +absorbing importance in the direction of cannon. Meantime O'Reily seized +the opportunity afforded by the engrossing nature of the conflict, in +the quarter just mentioned, and stooping down he took one of Worley's +feet under each arm, using his legs as shafts, and dragged him off to a +horse stall hard by, where having deposited the insensible veteran upon +the straw, he turned the key and consigned it to his pouch. + +The battle now consisted almost entirely of numerous desperate +individual conflicts, each citizen as he arrived singling out some hated +Roundhead neighbour, and he in his turn as anxious to vent the party and +personal hatred which had been so long festering within his bosom. Sir +William Berkley perceiving that their veteran foes had a decided +advantage in the position now occupied by the parties respectively, +quickly devised a scheme, in concert with Mr. Fairfax, by which, while +the Governor kept the enemy engaged over the cannon, the latter should +take a score of sturdy citizens, and rushing in, regardless of +consequences, drag this sole apparent cause of contention into the +public square, and thus change the scene of action to a more open +position, where the superior bodily strength of the insurgents could no +longer avail them. The measure was executed with great spirit and +promptitude, and succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations; for +no sooner had the citizens commenced dragging the piece at a brisk trot, +than both parties tumultuously pressed round its wheels, and thus +unconsciously were brought into a fair field of action. Bacon, as soon +as he saw the design of the movement, wheeled his hardy youths through +the Governor's house, and formed a line at the critical moment when the +confused combatants arrived fighting over the gun: thus affording a +rallying point for the friends of order and the government. The +governmental troops immediately formed upon the line already partly +established by Bacon and his corps, and thus the gun was at length +brought to bear for a time upon the opposing ranks. The light which had +hitherto fitfully gleamed upon the strife, was now sinking after long +intervals, and emitting that unsteady and wavering flame which announces +rapidly approaching extinction. A few rounds of musketry and one or two +discharges from the small fieldpiece, and the arena of conflict was +shrouded in impenetrable darkness, save from the momentary glare which +preceded the explosions. The Cromwellians, locking their column more +compactly together, rushed in a solid body upon the newly formed line of +the citizens. So sudden and so impetuous was this movement, and so +skilfully executed, that the brave but ill disciplined combatants, +against whom it was directed, gave way before the solid phalanx of the +enemy, leaving the long disputed fieldpiece surrounded by the +Insurgents. They immediately turned its muzzle upon its late owners, and +were about charging it with the usual silence and promptitude of their +movements, when a bright light from a burning torch was seen forcing its +way almost undisputed through their ranks. The Cromwellians stood aside +for its passage with an irresolute sort of tardiness, produced by a +doubt whether the bearer were a friend or an enemy. But they were not +left long in suspense, for he had no sooner arrived at this point, now +forming the line between the contending parties, than he sprang upon the +carriage of the gun, holding his torch aloft, so as to shed a glaring +light upon the assembled multitude of both parties, who stood now for a +moment of truce, in wonder at the strange and gigantic figure before +them. + +"Hold!" said he in a loud authoritative voice, and waving his hand with +a commanding gesture over the ranks of the Roundheads who crowded round +him. "Where is your commander, Worley?" + +"He is slain," answered twenty voices. + +"His blood be upon his own head. Where is he who commandeth in his +stead?" + +"Here am I," said a short black visaged thick-set man. "Here am I, +Ananias Proudfit, whom the Lord hath commissioned this night to take +away the wicked from the land, and to root out the Amalekite, and the +Jebusite, and the Perizzite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite and the +Amorite. And are not this council and this wicked Governor justly +comparable to the five Kings who took shelter in the cave of Makkeda, +who were"-- + +"Peace, brawler, peace," thundered the gigantic umpire, "and cease to +pervert the word of God to thy murderous and unholy purposes. Take +warning by the fate of thy predecessor. Thou would'st not listen to a +more safe and peaceable admonition, administered in humility and good +faith. Now I tell thee that if thou art still deaf, this good sword +shall cleave thy hardened skull," and he drew his formidable weapon and +brandished it over the torch. "Hah! sayest thou so," said the enraged +Proudfit, aiming a deadly blow at the gigantic figure towering above +him, but which the stranger struck aside with the ease of a wary and +practised swordsman, and in the next moment as he had promised, drove +his ponderous weapon into the skull of his assailant. Then hurling his +torch into the advancing throng of the Independents, he brandished the +huge glittering blade in fearful circles around the besieged gun, and +quickly cleared a space for its more dexterous and effectual employment. + +The fight was now renewed in all quarters, but evidently to greater +disadvantage on the part of the Insurgents, than they yet had to contend +with. The loss of their commander a second time, even in the ordinary +course of warfare, would doubtless have disheartened them, but the +circumstances under which the last had fallen--the superstitious +reverence in which they were accustomed to hold the Recluse--all +contributed to damp their ardour, to say nothing of the bloody barricade +he had already piled around his person. They were now, too, in a +comparatively open field, where the greater numbers of their enemies +could avail much, and where no opportunity was afforded for the fatal +grapple which had so well served the rebels in the earlier stages of the +conflict. They were assailed from all points of the square at the same +moment, while the Recluse, in the very heart of their ranks, was +literally hewing them down like weeds and cumberers of the ground. No +quarter was asked or given--they had staked their all upon the success +of their enterprise, and seemed determined, long after all hope of +success in their first project must have failed, to leave a bloody +monument to their foolhardy courage, if not to their wisdom and +fore-thought. Nathaniel Bacon, exhausted by the loss of blood from +wounds received in the desperate repulse of the insurgents during the +early part of the engagement, and feeling his tremendous responsibility +for his inadequate preparations, no longer so onerous or so urgent upon +himself, fell upon the field, and was borne to the house of his early +friend and patron. + +With the powerful aid of the Recluse, and the accumulating +reinforcements from the loyal citizens of the town, the remainder of the +gallant but misguided zealots were soon either cut down, captured, or +put to flight. The slain of the Cavalier party were laid out in the +State House, while those of the opposite faction were deposited in the +tobacco warehouse, so lately the scene of youthful revels. + +The wounded were removed to the houses of their friends and relations +throughout the city, and in a short time as profound silence reigned +along its deserted streets as if no one had arisen to disturb its peace. +Not an individual could be found who had seen the Recluse after the +termination of the struggle. The slain were carefully examined, but no +such huge proportions as his lay stretched in death, among the gory +trophies of his prowess. + +The veteran soldiers, so many of whom had fallen, while others were +confined within the jail of the colony, were a remnant of Cromwell's +soldiers who had been sent from the parent country, on account of their +restless and dangerous propensities, some of them had been sold into +temporary bondage, while others established themselves in business or +planting on their own account. They had formed the desperate resolution +of rising upon the governor and his guests while seated over their wine, +supposing that, in the promiscuous massacre which they had intended to +perpetrate, all the councillors, and leading men of the colony would be +swept away, and themselves thereby enabled to revolutionize the +government. + +The Recluse had doubtless been vainly urged to join their desperate +faction, and it would appear that they had either depended upon their +threats of vengeance as a sufficient warrant for his fidelity, or +trusted to his supposed predilection for their cause, and hatred against +the authorities then at the head of colonial affairs. Nor does it appear +that he did openly and boldly betray them. Bacon had by some means or +other of his own, pryed so far into the secret of the incipient +rebellion as to learn who were the prominent leaders--by the suggestion +of the Recluse, obtained through the agency of Virginia, he had found +access to the ear of one Berkenhead, an influential man among them, who, +influenced by gold and liberal promises, betrayed so much of the +conspirators' designs as enabled Bacon to adopt the preparations of +which we have just seen the result. And though they were of themselves +totally inadequate, yet they served the purpose of keeping the murderers +at bay, until time was afforded for the intervention of the citizens, +and thus had preserved the lives of the Governor and his Council, +together with those of many members of the House of Burgesses. The +Assembly, which convened three days afterward, unanimously voted three +thousand weight of tobacco to the traitor Berkenhead, and passed sundry +pious resolutions of thanks to the Almighty for their deliverance, +besides setting the day apart as one of thanksgiving for ever after. + +The ancient city presented a strange and desolate appearance on the +succeeding morning, in the neighbourhood of the public square. Houses +were deserted by their tenants, windows shattered, palings pulled down, +the ground stained with blood; guns, petronels, swords, hats, and +missiles of various descriptions lay scattered about in strange +confusion. + +At length the drowsy citizens were awakened to the importance of the +day. A court of inquiry was assembled for the purpose of investigating +the conspiracy which had so nearly proved fatal to the existing order of +things on the previous night. The prisoners were brought from the jail +to the Court House in irons, and all the witnesses supposed to know any +thing of the matter, were in readiness. Nathaniel Bacon was the first +called, but Mr. Fairfax came forward and stated that his wounds were so +much more dangerous than had previously been supposed, that the surgeon +strictly enjoined quiet and repose, and recommended if possible to +postpone taking his deposition for the present. As the testimony was +ample and satisfactory without his attendance, the examination of course +proceeded. Berkenhead's deposition was essentially what we have already +more succinctly stated in explanation of the insurrection, and most of +the other witnesses testified only to what the reader has already seen +or surmised. There was one witness, however, whose testimony was so +novel and amusing, amidst the general scene of confusion and bloodshed, +that we must by no means neglect it. Brian O'Reily was called in his +turn to give evidence on behalf of the crown on a charge of treason +against the prisoners at the bar. + +"Well, O'Reily," said the examining officer, "please to tell the court +what you know of the treasonable practices of any of the prisoners at +the bar." + +"Be the twelve Apostles and St. Patrick into the bargain, I caught one +iv them in the very act." + +"What act did you see, O'Reily, and which of these men was the +perpetrator?" + +"Faix it was just trason itself I caught him at; sure if I hadn't +brought his head acquainted wid my shelaleigh, he'd iv murthered one of +the king's officers iny way--young master Bacon." + +"Well, tell us which of these men it was, and any thing you know +concerning the getting up of this rebellion." + +"The man's not there at all at all--he's at another bar, and has been +this ten hours gone." + +"He's at the bar of God, you mean?" + +"I mane no sich thing, axing your honour's pardon for conthradictin you. +Here's the key that's turned an 'im; besides, didn't I slape by the +door all night wid nobody for company but a small dhrop iv whiskey, and +didn't I spake to him this morning through the key hole, and didn't he +coax and palaver wid me to let him out, and didn't he come over me wid +his wife and nine childre, one at the breast, barrin that I knew it was +a d--d lie at that same recknin, savin your presence, an didn't he fret +about bein cooped up in sich a place all night wid nothin to ate an the +same, to dhrink, barrin the hay that was in the rack, an didn't I answer +him from the contints iv the book, sayin that many a betther man than +him had been born and brought up in a manger, (crossing himself) an +didn't he call me all sorts iv hathen names; indeed an he did--the best +iv them was cut-throat and horse-thaif, only they were in the Habrew +language, an didn't I tell him he was a Judaite, an a wolf in sheep's +clothin, an that he hated the very name iv Bacon. And may be he didn't +call me a dam'd papist? An didn't I tell him he'd live to see his own +funeral iny way? an didn't he answer me all about popes and bulls and +papists? Oh! get away wid your blarney, says I, you're safe now as the +Governor's old bull wid the short tail and the shambles on two of his +legs, only I tould him he'd perhaps be likein the darbies on his hands +instead of his trotters." + +"And who was this, Brian, that you held this long discourse with through +a key hole? You're giving us another of your drunken dreams I fear?" + +"Divil a word iv a lie's in it, your haner, hav'nt I just come from the +stable door, and didn't I set ould growler, the bull dog to watch by him +till I came back--sure he cant come over him wid his blarney about the +wife and the nine childer--O be gorra I'm so tender hearted, it was a +clane temptation to me." + +"Who was it had the nine children?" + +"Auld Nick fly away wid the nine he's got iv them; didn't I tell your +haner it was all blarney to move the tinder feelings of Brian O'Reily?" + +"Who was it then, you were talking to through the key hole?" + +"An 'is it his name your haner's axing after all this time? couldn't you +just say so at wanst, an not throw me out wid the story all thegither? +It's the Divil's own aid-the-camp I'm thinkin. It's the man that makes +swords all the time he's makin horse shoes, they call him Worley I'm +thinkin." + +"Worley! is it possible? have you seen him this morning?" + +"Be the contints iv the book but I saw him not an hour gone, through the +key hole; he was stanin up to hay like the Governor's horse, but his +appetite seemed to uv left him intirely." + +"Can you show the officers where he is?" + +"I can do that same, I'm bould to say; didn't I tell your haner it's the +key I had was turned an im?" + +"And what is it the key of, O'Reily?" + +"Faix it's the key to the Governor's stable." (This answer produced a +loud laugh from the spectators.) "Divel a word o lie's in it." + +"Well, O'Reily, the officers are waiting on you; only prove to us that +this is not another of your drunken reveries, and it shall turn out +better for you than you now expect. Since it has been ascertained that +this man Worley was not to be found among the slain, the Governor has +issued his proclamation, offering two hundred pounds for his +apprehension, dead or alive." + +"Oh!" said O'Reily, as he was going out of the door, "but I'm afeard +you'll find him rather in a state iv thribulation, I did some killen an +im myself: Oh wasn't that a beauty iv a shelaleigh? Only to think of two +hundred pounds; faix if I get it but I'll have it set in brass." + +The officers in attendance, with Brian at their head, soon emerged from +the Governor's stable amidst the shouts and cheers of the multitude. The +unfortunate Roundhead commander was brought into courts suffering +severely from thirst, and the effects of the contusion, produced by the +violence of O'Reily's blow. + +We will not detain the reader over revolting portions of the trial +either now or hereafter; suffice it to say, therefore, in brief, that +O'Reily received the interest of two hundred pounds ever afterwards for +his capture of the Rebel Chief. Four of the ringleaders at the second, +and final trial were condemned and speedily executed, and the others +recommended to mercy. Thus was terminated this sanguinary conflict, the +last convulsive throe of the Independent faction in the British +dominions of North America. + +As our tale is no farther directly connected with this ill-advised and +hopeless insurrection, we proceed in the next chapter with the direct +thread of our narrative, the principal personages of which were so +directly concerned in the bloody affair just related, that we could not +pass it over with any kind of regard to historical accuracy. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +During the whole of the day succeeding the insurrection, our hero lay in +the most precarious and dangerous state; and the violent inflammatory +action produced by several large sabre wounds so much unsettled his +reason, that the surgeon was compelled still farther to deplete his +already exhausted frame. Towards night his mind recovered its powers, +but his strength was still gone, and he lay upon his couch in all the +helplessness of infantile impotency; and toward evening, exhausted by +the previous night of turmoil and strife, succeeded by a day of feverish +restlessness, he at length fell asleep. + +There was one never-wearying eye that watched the fitful slumbers of the +invalid. Conscious, perhaps, that Bacon could never be more to her than +a friend and protector, Wyanokee delighted in rendering him those quiet, +but constant and indispensable services which his situation required. +Not a change of his ever-varying countenance, as the workings of a +diseased and excited imagination, were from time to time portrayed upon +his pale and already attenuated features, escaped her, while her own +beautiful and expressive countenance, vividly displayed, in rapid and +corresponding changes, her sympathy with the sleeping sufferer. If any +one approached the door, her keen glance immediately arrested the +intruder, her finger upon her lip, and a frown upon her brow, in her +powerful and national pantomimic token of silence. If the eye of the +sleeper opened for an instant in bewildered amazement at the difference +between the real scene before him, and the one from which in sleeping +fancy he had just escaped, her wild and imaginative susceptibilities +were instantly on the alert. + +The mind of the aboriginal, even when partially cultivated, is overcome +with superstitious reverence and awe, in the presence of one under the +excitement of a diseased imagination. Such had been the state of feeling +with Wyanokee during the whole of Bacon's mental hallucinations +throughout the day, and now as she watched at his bed-side, during his +uneasy slumbers, her keen perceptions were tremendously alive to each +successive demonstration. There was one member of the family, however, +who entered and departed from the room unchallenged--Virginia! At this +moment she entered--her own tender sympathies wrought upon by all the +late harassing events; although differing in their developments and +cause in some respects, they were in no wise inferior in degree to those +of her protegee. She moved with noiseless step and suppressed +respiration until she stood over the couch of the wounded youth. Long +and feelingly she gazed upon the sharp and pallid features; there was +naught of passion in that gaze--it was pure and heavenly in its origin, +as in its motive. Her moistened eye, with a movement almost peculiar to +the sick room, or the funeral chamber, turned slowly upon her attendant. +No melting and sympathizing tear softened the brilliant and penetrating +eye which met her gaze; there was excitement, deep excitement, but not +the mellowed emotion of regulated sympathy; in Wyanokee, the imagination +controlled the heart--in Virginia, the heart subdued and softened the +imagination. + +There was something touchingly beautiful in the moral development of +these two young and innocent hearts. There was a mutual instinctive +understanding of each, with regard to the position of the other, in +relation to the wounded youth before them; yet it had never been +admitted even to their own consciousness, because they had never +analyzed their own feelings, and circumstances as yet had never openly +betrayed them to each other. As they mutually exchanged glances, +something like an electric thrill passed chilly through their veins, but +it was only for an instant; the reasoning faculties of the mind examined +it not--they were not in a situation to examine it--imagination +controlled the whole mental organization of the one, and the tenderest +and purest emotions of the heart that of the other. Virginia came to +relieve the faithful and indefatigable Indian maiden, and as the only +practicable means, sent her under some pretext to her mother. She now +occupied a seat near the foot of the couch, in full view of the +sleeper's countenance, faintly illuminated by the subdued rays of a +shaded lamp. She had watched the varying and magnetic vibration of +muscle and nerve for nearly an hour, when the eyes of the sleeping youth +slowly and wildly opened upon her in a bewildered stare, and at length +he spoke. + +"The senses are not the only vehicles for communicating passing events +to the mind," said he, his voice already hollow and sepulchral from the +previous excitement of the brain. Virginia understood him not, but +supposed that his mind was again wandering, but it was not so; his +mental perceptions were preternaturally clear, as they sometimes are +after painful cerebral excitements. + +She made him no answer, hoping that he would again close his eyes to +repose. But he continued, "How else can we gain knowledge of things +which have transpired when all the senses are shut up in profound +slumber? Just now I slept deeply, but not soothingly, and I thought I +was on the brink of destruction, from which none but you could save me; +and that Wyanokee persisted in attempting the rescue, and the more she +struggled the more irremediable became my difficulties. At length you +appeared upon the scene, leaning upon your mother's arm; and she carried +away Wyanokee while you redeemed me from destruction. This is indeed no +farther true than that you have taken the place of your attendant, and +that your mild sympathizing countenance is far more genial to my present +weakened state, than her wild and startling glances. But does it not +seem as if my mental perceptions had caught a glimpse of passing events +without the intervention of the animal senses?" + +Virginia put her finger upon her lip and shook her head, to remind her +charge that strict silence was enjoined. For this there were other +motives acting upon her perturbed feelings besides the injunction of the +surgeon, had they been wanting. + +The invalid closed his eyes, and in a short time seemed to sleep more +calmly and soundly than he had yet done. It being the portion of the +night through which Virginia had insisted upon watching, she moved +quietly to a couch by the window looking upon the river, and the blue +hills beyond, and threw herself upon it and gazed out at the enchanting +scene. Her own flower garden lay beneath the window, stretching away +towards the river, and ornamented midway with a tasteful little +summer-house designed by herself, and decorated by the hands of the +ingenious youth who now lay so helpless before her. The air was balmy +and serene; and redolent of the richest perfumes of fruits and flowers +just bursting into maturity with the advancing summer. Millions of stars +twinkled in the high cerulean arch of heaven, and were reflected back +from the broad expanse of waters beneath, with an enchanting +brilliancy. The murmuring waters of the Powhatan rippled along the sandy +shore with a melancholy monotony, indescribably soothing to her harassed +and troubled mind. The various noises of the busy world around were one +by one sinking into silence. Occasionally the profound stillness which +succeeded, disturbed by the distant bark of a watch-dog, or the more +rural cackling of geese, faded away in the distance so imperceptibly as +to leave the mind at a loss to know whether they were real sounds, or +those associations with the scene which the imagination often conjures +up to bewilder us on such occasions. Her eyes were half closed for a +moment under these soothing and seducing influences, and the next, +quickly opened to catch the fiery track of some darting meteor as it +winged its way through the starry heavens, or to follow the humbler +lights borne through the air by myriads of fire flies which brilliantly +floated upon the transparent atmosphere. A wild and startling note from +some beast of prey, as it roamed through the trackless and unsubdued +forests beyond the river, occasionally struck upon her ear, and ever and +anon she turned her eyes toward her sleeping charge, and all the painful +and harassing feelings of the last few days returned. It was like +awaking from a delicious dream, to the stern reality of some pressing +and constantly obtrusive misfortune. Her previous life had been tranquil +and unruffled; until now her spirits buoyant and elastic. Suddenly the +scene had changed, and all the unmarked and unrecorded pleasures of her +youthful years were lost in the cares and troubles of the present. She +imagined herself the most irremediably wretched being in existence. So +new was unhappiness to her, that the slight cloud which now hung between +her and the happiness she had enjoyed seemed fearfully dark and +lowering. + +But again the soothing influences of the scene without imperceptibly +stole upon her senses, and she fell into a slumber. Her imagination, now +uncontrolled by the sterner qualities of mind, mingled the images +retained from the stirring events of the last few days in the most +fantastic forms. She saw her mother enter the garden with a slow and +solemn step, clad in the habiliments of the grave. + +Her form was aerial and graceful, and her features supernaturally +beautiful and glorious. Presently this figure was met by another of +colossal proportions, approaching the summer house from the opposite end +of the garden; his step was grand and majestic, and his countenance +stern and warlike. He was clad in complete armour, and his mailed heel +as it struck the gravel, sent the blood cold to her heart, and at once +convinced her of the reality of the scene. As the figures met they +paused and seemed to hold communion for a time, and then pursued their +way together; but when they returned to view, the relations of the +parties were changed, the colossal figure was using the most violent +gesticulation, to which his companion seemed to bow her head in meekness +and submission, but not in conviction. At this the other suddenly sprang +forward, seized his victim, and was about to leap the garden walls when +an attempt to scream dispelled the illusion. Virginia opened her eyes +and glanced around the room to assure herself of the reality of the +scene before her. The wounded youth still slept soundly, and the lamp +still threw its flickering shadows on the wall. By a slower and more +cautious movement of the eyes she next examined the garden without; all +was still and quiet as the grave, and gazing long and abstractedly upon +the little arbour she again gave way to the exhaustion of her physical +powers, and again the same figures rose upon her fancy. Now all doubt of +their reality was discarded from the very circumstance of the former's +having proved a delusion. She knew the other was a dream, but this she +felt was truth, and she even went so far as to reason in her mind upon +the strange coincidence of the dream, and the present real scene. The +gigantic figure was now clad in the gray garb of the Recluse, his limbs +manacled with chains, while her mother knelt apart in the attitude of +deep and unutterable wo. A crowd was gathered round as if to witness a +public execution; soldiers and citizens, knights and nobles mingled in +the confused throng. The criminal was kneeling upon his coffin, the cap +was drawn over his face, and the fatal word was given! She awoke with +the sound of firearms still ringing in her ears, and the piercing +shrieks of the female figure thrilling through her veins. + +It may be readily imagined that her startled perceptions were by no +means tranquillized on perceiving, as she opened her eyes, the shadows +of moving figures upon the wall before her. In order to see from whom +these reflections came she must turn her head and look in the direction +of the opposite wall, but for her life she dared not move! Terror +chained her to the couch. At length the shadows moved towards the door! +By a desperate effort she turned her head in that direction, and to her +amazement beheld her mother dressed in white, exactly as she had seen +her in her dream, slowly and steadily leaving the apartment. She clasped +her hand to her forehead and endeavoured to recall her bewildered +senses. The confused images of her slumbering and waking perceptions +were so inextricably mingled together that for a time she was utterly at +a loss to know whether the whole was real or a dream. Certainly the +actors were the same, and the impressions continuous. She had not long +lain in this bewilderment when she heard the door leading into the +garden, just beneath her window, softly opened, and her mother in a few +moments walked down the avenue in the very direction she had before seen +her take. + +Her eyes were intently riveted upon the movements of her parent, until +they were hid from her view by the intervening trees and shrubbery. + +But she removed them not--they were still fixed upon the spot where she +had last seen her, until her white robes emerged here and there from the +foliage, when her eyes instinctively followed her, straining her already +weakened organs to catch the slightest change of position, and seemingly +desirous to penetrate the sombre shadows of the night, whenever the +figure upon which she gazed was lost to view. At length the door again +softly opened beneath her window; and she saw the figure no more. But a +very few moments elapsed, however, before another appeared upon the +scene, of far more gigantic proportions and questionable business at +that place and hour. It was the same figure which she had before seen +associated with the one which had just departed; and now that she really +saw them in flesh and blood, she was more than ever at a loss to know +which and how many of her visions of the night were real and which +illusory. + +The one now before her eyes was clad in his usual, half puritanical, +half military tunic, and as usual he was fully armed, but the weapons +hung quietly by his side; his arms were folded upon his breast, and his +whole carriage and demeanour was subdued, sad, and melancholy. He stood +leaning against the vine-clad column of the arbour, with his eyes +intently fixed upon the spot where the preoccupant of the scene had +disappeared. His chest heaved with emotion, which ever and anon found +vent in laboured respirations of unspeakable misery. + +At this moment a fierce watch-dog sprung at the intruder with savage +ferocity, and to one less accustomed to danger in all its shapes, would +doubtless have proved a formidable foe; but in an instant a heavy blow +from his iron sheathed sabre laid the animal struggling at his feet. He +stood leaning upon his weapon for an instant, and then moved slowly away +until he came near the river, when he laid his hand upon the palisade +running along the foot of the garden, and leapt upon the beach like a +youth of twenty. In a short time Virginia saw his boat upon the water, +his gigantic form rising and bending to his work with desperate and +reckless efforts, the frail bark gliding over the smooth waters, "like a +thing of life," until it faded away in the distance to a mere speck. + +Her eye followed the receding object as it became more and more +indistinct, until a mere undefined point was left upon the retina, her +own voluntary powers sinking more deeply in repose from the intentness +with which she pursued the single object. + +How long she slept she knew not, but when she awoke the horizontal rays +of the rising sun were beaming through the parted curtains, and the +misty drapery from the river was rolling over the hills, and pouring +through the intervening valleys in thousands of fantastic forms, +weaving, here a rich festoon round the summit of one blue hill, and +there spreading out a curtain of mellow tints before another. + +The cool and invigorating morning breeze from the river, joined to the +effects of her last refreshing and uninterrupted sleep, completely +dispelled the shadowy illusions of the night, and she arose +comparatively cheerful and happy. She was frightened when she cast her +eyes upon the couch of the sufferer and found him awake, to think how +much and how long she had neglected him. There was one indefatigable and +untiring nurse watching by the bed-side, however! She had stolen in +unperceived during the night, and now sat upon an humble seat at the +foot of the couch; her eye as brilliant as if it was not subject to the +ordinary fatigues of humanity. The invalid too had slept soundly, and +awakened this morning refreshed and invigorated, and with all his +inflammatory symptoms much abated. + +With all these cheering influences around her, Virginia's countenance +would have been soon clad in her wonted smiles, had it not been for an +unbidden scene which every now and then was conjured up before her +imagination, in which those near and dear to her were principal actors. +But these, painful and inexplicable as they seemed to her, were far from +being well defined in her own mind. For her life, she could not separate +the real evidences of her drowsy senses from the vivid images of her +imagination. She was firmly impressed, however, with the belief, that +some parts of them were true and real transactions! She firmly believed +that she had seen her mother and the Recluse during the night--not +together certainly, but near the same spot and in quick succession; and +she as firmly believed that she had seen the latter disable the +watch-dog, mount over the palisade, and hurry away in his boat. So much +was indeed true; her mother had actually visited the wounded youth +during the night, and she had actually walked in the garden, and the +Recluse was actually there, but no meeting took place, except in the +imagination of the worn-out maiden. + +She entered the breakfast room with these various impressions, real and +imaginary, curiously mingled and confused, and bearing upon her own +countenance an expression of embarrassment not less surprising to her +mother, who was the first person she encountered. Twenty times she was +on the point of asking her mother whether she had walked in the garden +during the night, but as often a strange embarrassment came over her, +resulting partly from what she thought she had seen, and partly from +words dropped by the Recluse in her hearing--the whole confused, +unarranged and undigested--the latter perhaps being entirely +unrecognised by her consciousness, but still operating imperceptibly +upon her conduct. She was not a little astonished, therefore, when her +mother came directly to the point occupying her own thoughts at the +moment, saying, as she approached her, and affectionately smoothed down +the clustering ringlets upon her brow. "You slept upon your post last +night, my dear daughter? Nay--no excuses--there needs none. You wanted +rest, little less than he whom you watched." + +"I did not sleep so soundly as you imagine, my dear mother; I saw you, +methought, either sleeping or waking, and to speak truly, I scarcely +know which state I was in;" and as she spoke she cast a searching glance +at her mother, but her countenance was calm and unruffled as she +replied, "You must have been sleeping, my dear Virginia, I stooped over +you and kissed your cheek as you slept." + +"And did you not walk in the garden?" + +"Yes I did! is it possible you saw me and spoke not?" + +"I did see you, dear mother, but I was afraid to speak." + +"Afraid to speak! Oh! you were afraid of waking Nathaniel?" + +"No! no! I was frightened at the appearance of your companion in the +garden." + +"My companion in the garden! my poor child, you must indeed have +dreamed; I had no companion in the garden." + +Mr. Fairfax coming in at this moment, Virginia hastily took her chair at +the head of the table, and busily commenced her duties at the table, her +thoughts all the while occupied upon any thing else. + +"What a strange being is that Recluse," said Mr. Fairfax, with apparent +_non chalance_, "have you ever seen him, my dear?" addressing his wife. + +Virginia dropped the plate she was in the act of handing to her father +and was seized with, to her parents, the most unaccountable +embarrassment. She endeavoured to make some excuse in order, as she +supposed, to hide her mother's inevitable confusion. But the latter +calmly replied, "No, my dear, I have never seen him. I have always had +some curiosity to behold him, but now that he has proved himself such a +public benefactor, I shall not be satisfied till the wish is gratified. +Nathaniel had before excited us much by his account of him, but now I +suppose the whole city will be eager to pay him their respects." + +Virginia stared at her mother during this speech in the most undisguised +astonishment, until she saw the calm serenity of her countenance--the +expression of truth and sincerity, which had never deceived her, so +strongly portrayed there, when she was again lost in bewilderment, which +lasted throughout the meal. Her parents, however, were too much engaged +with their own subject of discourse to observe her unusual abstraction, +and the meal therefore and the dialogue came to a close without any +farther development pertaining to our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + "The eager pack from couples freed, + Dash through the bush, the briar, the brake, + While answering hound, and horn, and steed, + The mountain echoes startling wake." + _The Wild Huntsman_. + + +A few days after the events recorded in the last chapter, the denizens +of the ancient city were roused betimes by the sounds of the hunter's +horn, the echoing chorus of the eager hounds, and the neighing of the +fiery steeds, as they were led forth to the gallant pastime of the +chase. The river and overhanging hills were enveloped in an impenetrable +veil of mist, and the dew settled in a snowy cloud, upon the hair and +castors of the Cavaliers as they issued from their doors, rubbing their +eyes and preparing to mount the mettled coursers which pawed the earth +and blew thick volumes of smoke from their expanded nostrils. These +preparations for the enlivening sports of the field were not confined to +a small number of the civic youth, or to the keener sportsmen among +their elders--all the gentry of the town and colony, with few +exceptions, were assembled on the occasion. + +Sir William Berkley with his numerous guests, Gideon Fairfax, with his +fellows of the Council, the members of the House of Burgesses, now +principally occupying the hotel of the "Berkley Arms," Frank Beverly, +Philip Ludwell, Charles Dudley, with the Harrisons, the Powells, &c. all +now came curvetting into the public square, dressed in their gay hunting +jerkens and neat foraging caps, some with bugles swinging from their +shoulders, and others with firearms suspended at their backs. + +A stately gray-headed old negro, known by the cognomen of Congo, was in +command of some half score of more youthful footmen of his own colour, +in the livery of the Governor, each of whom held the leashes of a pair +of hounds. + +These, from time to time as old Congo wound a skilful blast upon his +bugle, opened a deafening chorus, which echoed through the surrounding +forests, and awakened from their slumbers the drowsy citizens of the +town. Many a damsel peeped from her lattice to catch a glimpse of the +gay Cavaliers as they wheeled into the place of rendezvous in parties of +tens and twenties, all noisy and boisterous; some with the anticipation +of the promised sports, and others from the more artificial stimulus of +a morning julep. The sound of Congo's bugle had reverberated through the +silent streets in signal blasts to the grooms of the gentry at a much +earlier hour of the morning, so that many of the high-born damsels +inhabiting the purlieus of this little court, were also on the alert. +Among these our heroine, awakened by the echoing chorus of the "hunter's +horn," was already dressed and smiling from her window, like one of her +own sweet flowers, upon the gay young Cavaliers, as they passed in +review before her. + +In an adjoining window was another inhabitant of the same mansion, +roused by the same cheering notes, but he smiled not upon the joyous +throng as they gathered around the spot occupied by Congo and his canine +favourites, nor yet upon those of the gay youths who rode up and touched +their beavers respectfully to the smiling maiden as they singly or in +pairs cantered away over the bridge in pursuit of their day's sport. It +was Bacon! his head bandaged and his countenance pale and wan from his +late illness and loss of blood. + +Nevertheless he was dressed, and as eager for the sport as any youth +among them, but exhausted nature negatived his feeble efforts and +longing aspirations, and he had seated himself at the window in sullen +disappointment. This latter feeling was in nowise subdued by the sight +of Frank Beverly, already recovered from his slight wounds, dressed in a +scarlet jerken and hunting cap, a bugle over his shoulder, and mounted +upon a noble animal apparently as eager to display his fine proportions +as his master. The thundering clatter of the chargers' heels as this +numerous cavalcade now passed in long succession over the bridge before +the gazing citizens, thus untimely awakened from their slumbers, at +length began to die away in silence, broken at intervals by the measured +tramp of an occasional party of the more staid, older and less eager +Cavaliers, pursuing the main body at a pace more suited to their age; or +by the gallop of some slumbering sluggard hastening to overtake his more +punctual comrades of the chase. Now and then a note from the bugle of +some overjoyous youth, as he entered the forest, brought a frown upon +the brow of old Congo, whose look was turned in silent appeal against +these irregular proceedings, to his master, who rode apart in earnest +conversation with Mr. Fairfax. While our sportsmen are thus joyously +moving on their way to the appointed spot, we will pursue the thread of +the dialogue between the two dignitaries just alluded to, as it had +reference to the leading personages of our story. + +"Nay, treat not my apprehensions lightly, Fairfax; is not that youth who +leans so disconsolately out of your window this morning, a proper knight +to catch the errant fancies of a girl of sixteen?" said Sir William. + +"He is indeed a right well-favoured boy," replied Mr. Fairfax, "and one +calculated to win his way to a colder heart than that of a maiden near +his own age. Was he not the means of your own preservation, Sir William, +from the knives of yonder murderous fanatics cooped up in the jail of +the city?" + +"Ay!" said his companion, drily, "I grant him to be all that you say he +is, but does not that enforce more powerfully what I have been saying? +Ought you not under such circumstances, to acquaint him with the +necessity of his finding another house than your's for his home, where +your daughter is constantly before his eyes, and what is more important, +where he is constantly before her's, not only with the attractions of +his own well-favoured person, but in the interesting character of her +father's and her uncle's preserver?" + +"If the poor youth had ever presumed upon his position in my family, to +make advances to my daughter, then indeed there might be some propriety +in the course you recommend, Sir William. But I have observed him +closely since our last conversation on this subject, and I am satisfied +that there is nothing more than fraternal affection between them." + +"It is very difficult, Fairfax, for the parties themselves to draw an +exact line, where the one kind of affection ends, and the other begins; +the gradation from mere brotherly regard to love is so very +imperceptible, that the very persons in whom it takes place are often +unconscious of it, until accident or warning from others forces it upon +their apprehension." + +"But where is the necessity of examining into these fine distinctions +now, Sir William? Where is the point of the matter." + +"To that it was my purpose to come presently, but you are always so +impetuous and sanguine, if you will permit me to say so, that I have +found it difficult to discuss this matter in your presence, with all the +coolness and deliberation which ought to attend the negotiation of an +alliance between the kinsman of his majesty's representative in the +Colony, and the daughter of his nearest relative--the heiress probably +of both their fortunes." + +"But has not the match between Virginia and Frank been a settled matter +for years?" + +"Ay, truly, Fairfax, and I am rejoiced that you remember it; but was it +not also agreed, for wise purposes, that the parties themselves should +know nothing of the contract until Frank became of age?" + +"True, and what then?" + +"That time has been passed some months." + +"Indeed!" + +"Ay, and what is more important to the happiness of the young pair, +Frank himself has moved in the business without any prompting from me. +This, you know, was what we desired, and the very end for which the +matter was kept from their knowledge." + +"He has then proposed himself to Virginia, and she has doubtless +accepted him! All right, all right, Sir William. I always told you it +would turn out just in this way. Every thing turns out for the best. You +see the advantage of leaving the young people to themselves." + +"Yes, yes, it has all turned out very happily in your sanguine +imagination; but you run away with the matter without hearing me out." + +"Did you not say it was all settled? I certainly understood you so!" + +"No, I said nothing like it. I said that my young kinsman had moved in +the business without my prompting; and I intended to say, if you had +permitted me, that he had authorized me, this day, to make a formal +tender of his hand and fortune to your daughter, through you; which I +now do." + +"Well, why did you not say so at first, Sir William, and there could +have been no trouble about the matter. Instead of that, you read me a +long lecture about the danger of harbouring handsome young fellows in my +house generally, concluding in particular, with a recapitulation of the +various debts of gratitude due from me and my family, and yourself, to +poor Bacon. But as far as I am concerned, I give my hearty consent to +the proposed union, and you may so assure Frank from me, and tell him +that he has nothing more to do, but to appear as every way worthy in the +eyes of Virginia as he does in mine." + +"There, you see, you are coming in your own immethodical and precipitate +way, to the very point with which I set out. I was merely hazarding a +few observations upon the various prepossessing qualities of your +protegee, and expressing some fears of the intercourse subsisting +between him and your daughter, with a view to put you on your guard at +once. This was not done with a view to read you a lecture, as you are +pleased to say, but from the best grounded apprehensions that things +were not proceeding well for our scheme." + +"Is there any ground for the fears you mention?" + +"There is, Fairfax! Lady Berkley has often of late mentioned her +apprehensions to me, that there is a growing and mutual attachment +between your ward and your daughter. Frank has observed the same thing, +and indeed the very proposals I have just had the honour of making to +you, have probably resulted from a desire on his part to bring the +matter to an eclaircissement at once." + +"I will speak to Virginia and her mother on the subject, and my word for +it, my daughter will show you that she knows what is due to her birth +and standing in society. But as to turning Nathaniel out of my house! I +could as soon turn Virginia herself out. Poor boy, he has a farm of his +own, it is true, but my house has always been a home to him, and it +always shall be, as long as he continues worthy, and I continue the head +of it." + +"Ay, that farm! There was another ill-advised piece of generosity; not +content with bringing up a foundling like your own son, you must +purchase him a farm and stock it." + +"Indeed, Governor, you give me credit for much more generosity than I +have exercised. _I_ purchased him no farm, or if I did, it was merely +as his agent and guardian. He furnished the means himself." + +"That was very strange! Very strange indeed, that a youth without +occupation, and without any visible fortune, should purchase and stock +one of the most valuable plantations in the colony." + +As they arrived at this point in their discourse, they had ascended to +the top of one of the highest hills within many miles of the city. Here +they found the sportsmen who had preceded them, closely grouped +together, and all talking at once, while Old Cong, (as he was familiarly +called by the youths,) was engaged in slipping the leashes. One pair +after another of the fleet animals snuffed the air for a moment, and +then bounded down the slope of the hill, carrying their noses close to +the earth, and eagerly questing backward and forward through the +shrubbery; sometimes retracing their steps to the very point from which +they started. + +At length one of the foremost of the pack opened a shrill note as he +ran, indicative to the uninitiated, only of eagerness and impatience in +the pursuit of the game, but Old Congo's experienced eye instantly +brightened up, as with head erect, he uttered a sharp shrill whoop, and +mounting his fleet courser, he shot down the hill with the fleetness of +the wind, making the woods echo with his merry _hip halloo_, as he +cheered them on. By this time the pack were following the leader in the +devious trail on which he was now warm; the whole chorus sometimes +opening in joyous and eager concert as they came upon the scent, just +from the impress of sly Reynard's feet, and then again relapsing into +silence. These intervals in the cheerful cry announced the doubt which +as yet existed, whether the trail upon which they had struck was any +thing more than the devious windings made by the game on emerging from +his den, for the purpose, as the negroes stoutly affirmed, of throwing +his pursuers out. It seemed indeed as if such had been the intention of +the cunning animal, for a plan of the intricate mazes which the pack +were threading, if laid down upon paper, would very much resemble a +complicated problem in Euclid, or the track of a ship upon a voyage of +discovery in unknown seas. Meanwhile Old Congo was in the thickest of +them; now cursing one refractory member, and again cheering a favourite. +The Cavaliers stood in groups--one foot in the stirrup and a hand on the +pummel of the saddle, or smoothing down the curling mane of their +impatient chargers. At length the problem was solved, and the hounds +were seen coursing in a circle round the brow of the hill, a continuous +yelp from the leader, and an answering chorus from the pack, announcing +to the waiting gentry, that the game was up. They instantly mounted, and +were presently flying over the uneven ground at a speed and with a +reckless, yet skilful horsemanship, which bade defiance to all the +perils of the chase. Here one lost his cap by the limb of a tree; there +another measured his length upon the ground by the stumble of his +charger; the main party speeding apace, regardless of all, save the fox +and his pursuers. + +The chase, like misfortune, is a wonderful leveller of distinctions. +Foremost in the field were the proud Sir William and the keener Fairfax; +one upon either side of Congo, whooping and yelling in unison, and all +distinctions forgotten for the moment, but the speed and bottom of their +coursers; the countenances of the three alike expressive of concentrated +eagerness in the sport. To a spectator on the summit of the hill, the +scene was not wanting in picturesque and striking features. The sun was +just peeping over the blue hills, and lifting the vapours from the +valleys beneath, in all the variegated and beauteous tints of the +rainbow, as they arose in majestic masses and encircled the summits of +the cliffs. The cool and invigorating breeze of a young summer morn, as +it was wafted through the romantic dales and glens, came loaded with the +richest sweets of forest and of flower. And when the music of the hounds +was softened in the distance to a faint harmonious swell upon the air, +the feathered tribes, luxuriant in beauty, warbled forth their richest +strains of nature's melody as they hopped from twig to twig, flashing +their brilliant colours in dazzling contrast to the pendant dew-drops +glittering in the sunbeams. On the other hand the rays fell in broad +sheets of light upon the tranquil waters of the noble Powhatan, as seen +through the deep green foliage of the woodland vista. The city too was +dimly visible in the distance, its towering columns of smoke shooting +high up towards heaven through the clear calm air, and expanding into +fleecy waves as they were lost or scattered in the higher regions of the +atmosphere. These morning glories of a southern sunrise were, however, +lost upon our sportsmen, who now came sweeping round the base of the +hill from the opposite side, the horses covered with foam, and riders +making the welkin ring again with their shouts of gladness and +excitement. The dignity of station and of birth, affairs of state, and +all other considerations foreign to the business of the time, were +utterly forgotten and abandoned, while their late proud possessors vied +with the youngest and the humblest in seizing the pleasures of the +chase. The horses seemed in the distance as if their bodies were moving +through the air, a foot and a half nearer the ground than they were +wont, their legs nearly invisible; while their riders bent over their +necks as if impatient even of this headlong speed. + +Hitherto the hounds as usual, when in pursuit of the fox, had moved in +the figure of a rude circle, never departing to any great distance from +the point whence they had started, but moving round and round the hill; +and there was every appearance that the chase would be thus continued +until the game was either fairly run down, or had gained the shelter of +his hole. + +In the present instance, however, an unexpected reprieve was granted to +the hard pressed animal. The dogs, as they came round the brow of the +hill for the third or fourth time, struck off abruptly from their +regular circuit; the foremost chargers were reined up and in a short +time the whole cavalcade was brought to a stand at the point where the +dogs had quitted the track. + +The cause of this interruption to the sport was readily understood by +the experienced Cavaliers. A buck had crossed between the dogs and the +fox, and the former, contrary to their usual discipline and stanchness, +broke off to follow the newest scent. Many were the imprecations hurled +at the head of Old Congo and his deputies for this misconduct of their +charge, the consequence, as was affirmed, of their having been set upon +the trail of a buck on the previous Sabbath. It was now, however, too +late to remedy the evil, as Congo's bugle itself was not sufficient to +recall the eager pack. + +Firearms were immediately unslung from the shoulders of such as bore +them, and Mr. Fairfax, as the keenest sportsman, leading the way, nearly +half of the youths were quickly seen following him up the opposite hill. +Sir William Berkley and such of the company as had already been worn +out, retraced their steps to the picturesque point from which they had +set out, and which has already been described. + +Here some of the footmen, retained for the purpose, speedily +constructed a rude table under an umbrageous tree, upon which was laid +out a tempting display of cold viands, wines and strong waters. Horses +were now tied to the surrounding trees, and their riders threw +themselves upon the sward to repose their wearied limbs, and regale +their longing eyes upon the good things which only awaited the return of +their comrades. This delay seemed likely, however, to prove rather +tedious to the longing appetites of the former, who had not as yet +broken their fast. + +Full two hours had elapsed, and yet no token came of hounds or huntsmen. +The patience even of the formal and ceremonious Sir William began to +flag, and he forthwith ordered the bugles to sound a recall from the +highest spot in the neighbourhood. In vain the reverberating blasts +reechoed from hill to hill, and from river to cliff; in vain they, +paused to listen for the music of the hounds or an answering signal from +the keener sportsmen. After repeated trials the patience of the Governor +gave way, and having set apart a share of the provision for their +comrades, they fell upon the tempting display with knife and dagger. +Cups of horn, and silver flagons were speedily, produced, and in a short +time their absent compeers were almost forgotten in the general +destruction of cold capons, tongue and ham. + +Towards the conclusion of the repast, the absent sportsmen began to drop +in singly and at intervals. The bridles of their foaming horses were +thrown to the grooms, and they fell upon the wine and fowls like +famished soldiers, after a long day's march. Then came a panting hound, +crouching beneath the legs of a horse, with his tongue hanging from his +mouth; then another, and another, until they had all obeyed the summons +of the bugle. + +None of the huntsmen who had returned as yet, had been in at the death; +but it was supposed that Mr. Fairfax, the only one now missing, had been +more fortunate, as the hounds that came in last were covered with blood. +He was momentarily expected, but they listened in vain for the sound of +his horn. Old Congo was despatched over the hills to summon him with his +bugle, but he likewise returned without any tidings of the absent +Cavalier, and without having heard any answering notes to those of his +own horn. Hours were spent in waiting for him, at first occupied by the +younger Cavaliers in various games and athletic sports, but as the day +waned apace, and still no news of him arrived, uneasiness began to +engross the minds of his associates. + +By the orders of the Governor, the whole Cavalcade spread themselves, +and scoured the forests for miles in the direction he had been seen to +take, but no answer was returned to their shouts and bugles, and no +token of his presence and safety was discovered. Occasionally two +parties were brought together by a supposed answer from his bugle, but +it was found to be only the reply of one scouring party to another. + +After a long and fruitless search, they resolved to hasten to the city, +in hopes that he had reached his home by some other route, and in case +this supposition should prove fallacious it was resolved that the whole +male population should be called out to the search. The distance was +accomplished with a speed and recklessness quite equal to that with +which they had performed it in the morning, but with feelings very +different. A general and gloomy silence pervaded their ranks. Gideon +Fairfax was one of the most universally popular Cavaliers in the Colony; +he was generous, hospitable, and sincere, with his equals, and humane +and affable to his inferiors. His own slaves idolized him, and would +have readily perilled life and limb in defence either of his person or +his reputation. + +When, the cavalcade arrived at the bridge, their painful suspense and +anxiety were little relieved by perceiving an immense crowd assembled +round the house of Mr. Fairfax. That some accident must have befallen +him they had too good reason now to apprehend, else what could have +drawn the multitude together? The arrival of a successful huntsman, was +an affair of too frequent occurrence at Jamestown to excite the present +visible commotion. The returning and anxious Cavaliers were soon met by +the eager throng, who pressed around them in crowds, each party +demanding of the other news respecting their absent fellow-citizen. + +The assemblage of the crowd around the house was soon explained by the +appearance of his favourite charger, upon which he had set out in the +morning, so full of health, vigour and animation. He was held in the +midst of the assemblage, his head-gear broken, the saddle bloody, and +his sides dripping with mud and water, as if he had just crossed through +the river. In this condition he had presented himself at the stable door +where he was usually kept, without his rider, and this was all they knew +in the city concerning the fate of the missing horseman. This was enough +to excite the most distracting fears in the minds of his own family, and +the worst apprehensions, in those of his immediate friends and more +humble admirers. + +Horses and men were speedily volunteered for the purpose of scouring the +whole forest in the direction of the chase. Many of the Cavaliers barely +dismounted from one horse to mount another; and in a very few minutes, +hundreds of citizens, some on horseback and others on foot, had +assembled. While they were thus speedily collecting their forces, a +scream from some washerwomen on the bank of the river, quickly drew the +crowd in that direction. Men, women and children rushed to the spot with +feelings of anxiety and alarm, wrought to the highest pitch. They were +not left long in doubt, for a boat was just nearing the shore, in which +were two men rowing, while another supported upon his lap the head of +the still living but wounded Cavalier. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Mr. Fairfax was borne to his own dwelling upon a litter, amidst the +universal regrets and lamentations of the people. The condition of his +own immediate family may be more easily imagined than described. The +most heart-rending shrieks pierced the air when it was announced to the +female part of it that the amiable and generous head of their house had +been basely shot,--by whom he knew not, nor could he form a conjecture. +The deed was perpetrated a few moments after he had himself shot the +buck. He immediately fell from his horse and was for a time perfectly +unconscious of his condition. When he revived he found his horse gone +and himself so weakened from loss of blood that he was unable to stand. +His only resource was his trumpet, upon which he made repeated efforts +to summon his companions, but even the sound of his horn was so feeble +that it could not have been heard more than a few rods from the spot. +While he was in this helpless condition he chanced to discover three men +fishing at the base of the river bank, whom he attempted to summon to +his aid, but the sound of the water prevented them from hearing him. +With great difficulty and suffering he was at length enabled to crawl +down the hill to such a distance that he might be heard, and was thence +borne to the city in their boat, as the reader has already been +informed. + +The surgeon, after examining his wound, pronounced it to be of the most +alarming character, and assured Bacon, apart from the family that he had +little hopes for the life of his patron, who after the exhaustion of his +painful journey and the succeeding intense pain caused by the probing of +his wounds had fallen into a deep sleep. + +Sometime during the morning which has been described in the preceding +chapter, and while the hunting party were yet enjoying themselves +undisturbed by any untoward accident, Bacon had invited Virginia to +accompany him in his first stroll through the garden since his illness. +She complied with more alacrity than had been usual with her of late, +hoping that the refreshing sweets of a summer morning and the cheering +sight of birds and flowers, would dispel the gloomy misanthropy which +had settled upon his countenance since his disappointment at not being +able to join the chase. + +After a silent promenade through the shady walks, they seated themselves +in the little summer house already mentioned, and Bacon thus broke the +embarrassing silence. + +"Virginia, the current of events seems to be hurrying us on to a painful +crisis! It is impossible for me to shut my eyes to such of them at +least, as relate more particularly to myself. My position in the +society in which I now move, is daily becoming more painful to me. I am +constantly subjected to the impertinence of those who imagine that they +have, or perhaps really have, some reason to complain of the protection +and countenance afforded to me by your noble father." + +"Trust then, Nathaniel, to his and our continued confidence and esteem, +and less to the morbid sensibility which disturbs you, and all will soon +be well again." + +"Not so, Virginia. If we were in a little community by ourselves, I +could indeed give my whole mind and soul to such enjoyments as the +society of your family has already afforded to me, forgetting all the +world besides, and never listening for a moment to ambitious hopes and +aspiring thoughts. But in this proud and aristocratic circle, I must +soon be either more or less than I am at present." + +"Why must you be more or less than you are, Nathaniel?" said Virginia, +with unaffected and bewitching _naivete_. + +"Is it possible, Virginia, that you do not see the reason why? Have you +witnessed the fierce struggles contending at my heart and never formed a +surmise as to the real cause?" + +"Except the morbid sensitiveness to which I have already alluded, and +its very insufficient cause, I declare that I know of none." + +"Is it possible. Good Heavens! and must I at last break through the +restraints which I had imposed upon myself? Must I trample upon the +generous hospitality of the father to lay my heart open before his +daughter?" Her countenance underwent an instantaneous change, and while +he continued, her eyes fell beneath his ardent gaze, and her head sank +upon her bosom in confusion. + +"I will indeed trust to the flattering delusion which hope whispers in +my ear, that perhaps your father himself knows enough of me and of my +origin to absolve me from these restraints. It must be so, +Virginia--else he had never trusted a heart, young and susceptible like +mine, to the constant influence of beauty like yours," and he took her +unresisting hand, "joined with such perfect innocence and such childlike +simplicity as never till this moment to be conscious of its power. Oh, +Virginia, I would fain believe, that he foresaw and approved of the +result which he could not but anticipate. What he approves will his +daughter's voice confirm?--No answer! Will you not vouchsafe one little +word to keep my sinking hopes alive!--You are offended; your countenance +speaks the language which your tongue is unaccustomed to utter!" + +"What should I say?" answered Virginia; "would you have me promise a +return of love whose indulgence is dependent on contingency? Is it kind, +is it proper to urge me upon this subject under existing circumstances?" + +"By heavens, Virginia, there shall be no contingency of my making! I +have crossed the Rubicon, and you shall have the knowledge as you have +had possession of my whole soul from the days of our infancy. 'Tis +yours, Virginia, wholly yours; soul, mind and heart, all yours. Mould +them as you will, reject me if you must, they are still yours. I swear +never to profane the shrine of this first and only love by offering them +up on any other. They are offered now, because my destiny so wills it. +We are the creatures of circumstances. I have vainly struggled against +the overwhelming tide which has borne me to this point. I am goaded +onward by insult--beset with menaces, and torn by the storms of such a +passion as never man before encountered. Can you, dear Virginia, +vouchsafe to me some measure of relief from these distracting emotions? +Say that you would have been mine under other circumstances! Say that +you will never wed that proud and imperious Beverly! Say any thing, +Virginia, which shall calm the tumults of my bosom, and feed my hopes +for the future." While he thus spoke, the blushing maiden was evidently +labouring under emotions little less powerful than his own. Her previous +air of offended feminine dignity was fast melting into sympathy, with +the impassioned feelings of the excited youth. She felt for his peculiar +griefs and cares, and shared his warmer sentiments. The youth perceived +the softening mood, and continued. + +"Speak, I pray you, Virginia, I am in your hands. Speak me into +existence, or banish me from your presence!" + +"I do not know, Nathaniel," said Virginia, after many attempts to give +utterance to her thoughts, "whether it is proper at all times to speak +the truth, but I will not deceive you now. There does indeed seem to be +a peculiar concurrence of circumstances around us, and more perhaps than +you are yourself aware of. I did not intend to deceive you, or lead you +astray; when I told you a few moments since that I knew nothing of any +other struggle than that arising from your own excited feelings, I spoke +the truth, but perhaps not the entire truth;" and as she spoke, a lovely +blush suffused her neck and downcast face; "I knew of other struggles +indeed, but not your's, Nathaniel." + +"Were they yours, Virginia, and of the same nature? say they were, and +heaven bless for ever the tongue that utters it." + +"That you have to ask, does more honour to my discretion, than I have +ascribed to it myself of late. I have had painful fears that I should +have little to tell on an occasion like the present, should it ever +come, with my father's approbation. And if I have now overstepped the +bounds of that proviso, it was in the hope of calming your troubled +spirits, and preventing a catastrophe upon which I have looked with +dreadful anticipation, since the night of the insurrection." + +"And will you indeed be mine?" + +"I will, Nathaniel, whenever you gain my father's approbation; but +without it, never." + +At this moment the garden gate was heard to creak upon its hinges, (most +unmusically to Bacon's ears,) and Harriet Harrison came tripping over +beds and flowers, all out of breath, her cheeks glowing with the +heightened colour of exercise, and her eyes sparkling with mischief just +ready to explode. + +"Oh, Virginia! Virginia! such news!" was her first exclamation; "But +shall I tell it before Mr. Bacon?" + +"Yes, if it is of the usual kind." + +"Well, upon your own head be the consequences. I have accidentally +overheard such a secret! You must know that your Aunt Berkley has been +at our house this morning, and I overheard her tell my mother that there +was to be a great wedding immediately, and that I was to be one of the +brides-maids. What! no tell-tale guilty blush? Well, who do you think is +to be the bride-groom, and who the bride?" + +"Indeed, Harriet, I cannot even guess." + +"The blissful man, then is Beverly--but can you name his bride?" + +"I should not go far hence for an answer, if you had not announced your +nomination for a secondary office." + +"O fie, fie, Virginia, I did not think you could play the hypocrite so +well. I will tell you who it is then, but you must not breathe it even +to the winds, nor you, Mr. Bacon. It is a sly arch little damsel, about +your age and figure; by name Virginia Fairfax!" And with, these words, +she burst into a loud laugh, pointing to her companion with her finger, +and then tripped away again towards the gate without waiting to see the +effect of her communication; but stopping with the gate in her hand, she +cried--"But remember, Virginia, Charles Dudley is not to stand up with +me; we don't speak now." And then she flew away, her hat hanging by the +riband round her neck, and her raven ringlets flying loose around her +temples. Virginia sat as one without life or motion, her face deadly +pale, and her eye preternaturally clear and glassy, but without a tear. +Her respiration was hurried and oppressed, and her countenance +expressive of high and noble resolves in the midst of the keenest mental +suffering. She knew whence her aunt obtained her information, and in its +communication to others in the confidence of the Governor, before she +had been consulted, she saw the tyrannical determination of that +arbitrary old man to consummate this hated union without the least +regard to her wishes or her feelings. + +As these convictions flashed upon her mind, they called up firm and +resolute determinations, even in her gentle bosom! she was stung into +resistance by the tyrannical and high handed measures of her uncle, and +resolved to resist upon the threshold. Bacon's physical frame was not so +steady, or his nerves in his present mood so well strung by high +resolves of independent action. He too saw by whom the blow was aimed, +and upon whose head it would principally fall, and he trembled for the +consequences to his gentle companion. He did not know the strength of +her independent mind, and the endurance and fortitude with which she +would carry her purposes into execution. He knew her to be gentle and +kind and superlatively lovely, but as yet she had endured no +trials,--her courage and fortitude had been put to no test. The very +amiable qualities which had won his affections, served only to increase +his doubts as to her capacity to resist and endure what he too plainly +saw awaited her. He had yet to learn that these are almost always found +united in the female bosom with a signal power of steady and calm +resistance to oppression. To this resolution had Virginia arrived, when +his more turbulent and masculine emotions burst from his tongue as he +seized her hand, "Swear to me, Virginia, before high Heaven, that you +will never marry this proud heir of wealth, and worldly honours." + +"Upon one Condition." + +"Name it! if it is possible, it is done!" + +"That you from this moment give up all idea of a meeting with Frank +Beverly, which I know has only thus long been delayed by your wounds and +illness." He dropped her hand and writhed upon his seat in agony--the +cold perspiration bursting from his pale forehead, as he covered it +with his hands. But presently standing up he exclaimed, "Great God! and +can you ask this of me, Virginia? Is my honour of so little value to +you, that you can ask me to betray it? You heard the insult! You saw the +dagger aimed in the dark! Ay, and saw it strike upon a bare and wounded +nerve! Shall I not resist? Is an assassin to thrust the point of his +steel into the very apple of my eye, and meet with no resistance? +Instinct itself would strike back the cowardly blow. Another might +forego the measure of his revenge for an ordinary insult, but placed as +I am, an elevated mark for impertinence and malignity to shoot at, with +nothing but my single arm to defend me; no line of noble and heroic +ancestors to support my pretensions, and my rank in the community; no +living relations to give the lie to his calumnies! Standing alone amidst +a host of powerful enemies, shall I be stricken down by a cowardly +maligner, and never turn to strike one blow for my good name, my +mother's honour, my father's memory, and my own standing in society? No, +no, Virginia; you cannot, you will not, require me to promise this. One +evidence I must and will give to the calumniator, that I come of no +churl's blood." + +"But, Nathaniel, did you not resent and thus return his injury upon the +spot?" + +"Ay, truly, I did hurl defiance in the craven's teeth, but that only +throws the demand for satisfaction upon his shoulders, so that when it +is made, I may at once atone for his, and take ample reparation for my +own deep wrongs." + +"Promise me, then, that you will but act with Frank henceforth on the +defensive? Remember he is my kinsman." + +"I do promise; and now promise me in your turn never to marry this +kinsman, unless I give my consent, or you should be absolved from your +obligation by my death, or some other irremediable barrier." + +"I promise, Nathaniel." + +Scarcely had the words issued from her lips, when the clanking of +stirrups and clattering of a horse's hoofs at full speed, were heard +outside the garden wall. + +Into what a state of consternation and dismay the family was thrown by +the appearance of the bloody and panting charger at his stable door +without his master, the reader may already have imagined. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +It was the hour of midnight; the softened rays of a shaded lamp threw a +flickering and uncertain light upon the paraphernalia of the sick +chamber, as our hero sat a solitary watcher at the side of the wounded +Cavalier. The long and apparently profound sleep into which the invalid +had fallen, completely deceived the females of the family, so that they +were more easily persuaded by Nathaniel to leave the charge, during the +first half of the night, to his sole care. He had for a long time sat a +sad and silent beholder of the unconscious sleeper, watching with +breathless eagerness every change of muscle, as some sharp and inward +pain vibrated in horrible contortions upon the countenance of the +wounded Cavalier. In one of these he started suddenly up in the bed, his +eyes glaring wildly upon his unrecognised attendant in utter amazement. +First looking into his face and then to the bandages around his own +person, he fell back on his couch--a grim and frightful smile of +remembrance and recognition playing for a moment upon his features, as +he placed his cold hand within that of Bacon, which had been softly laid +upon his breast to soothe his startled perceptions. + +"Nathaniel," said he, his voice already hollow and thrilling, "My hour +is come! It is useless to disguise it. I feel and know it to be so, +whatever the surgeon may pretend. You need not place your finger upon +your lip; I owe to you a duty which I must perform while yet I may. You +have often importuned me, and sometimes impatiently, which I did not +enough, perhaps, consider to be natural to your situation, but you must +forgive me--you have often importuned me upon the subject of your +origin. If I had possessed any full or satisfactory knowledge on the +subject, you may be sure I would not long have detained it from you. +Indeed, I was little less anxious than yourself to place you upon an +equal footing in every respect with your associates." Here a smile of +inward satisfaction beamed upon his auditor's countenance, unobserved, +however, by the speaker, as he continued: "There were some reasons too, +connected with the history of my own family, which prevented me from +divulging what little I did know of your's. If I have erred, for this +too you must forgive me. The wrong shall now be repaired. You have now +been a member of my household for fifteen or sixteen years. + +"One cold and rainy day our sympathies were excited, by seeing an +athletic young Irishman in the street, near our door, carrying upon his +back a well dressed boy, apparently six or seven years of age. The child +was crying most piteously with cold and hunger. We called in the +Irishman, and after furnishing him and his little charge with food, +inquired whose child it was, and whither he was taking it. He answered, +in his own expressive language, that he did not know to whom the child +belonged, nor whither he was taking it. That it had been a fellow +passenger with him across the ocean, until they were shipwrecked at the +mouth of the river, outside of the Capes. That a woman who had two boys +near the same age, either of her own, or under her protection, he did +not know which, had most earnestly prayed him to take one of them upon +his back, as he was preparing to swim to the beach. He did so, and +succeeded in landing with his charge in perfect safety. What became of +the woman and the other child he never knew, as shortly after the waves +broke over the vessel, and she went to pieces. Many of the passengers +and crew, however, had been saved and were scattered about through the +neighbouring plantations, driven to seek employment by the urgency of +their immediate wants. Whether the woman and the child were among the +number he could not learn, as those who were saved had necessarily +landed at distant points upon the shore. He brought the child to +Jamestown in hopes that it would be recognised, and if not, that some +humane person would take charge of it. His hopes had thus far proved +fruitless, as to the first expectation, but we undertook cheerfully the +latter task, and likewise gave employment to the kind-hearted Hibernian. +I caused it to be made as generally known through the Colony, as our +limited means of communication would permit, that such a child was in +our possession, particularly describing his person and clothes, but all +in vain. I also caused search to be made for the woman with the other +child, through the southern plantations, but no tidings of them were +ever heard, and we naturally concluded that they had gone down with the +vessel. + +"Some months after the little stranger had been thus domiciliated among +us, I one day received an anonymous letter, which stated that the writer +knew who were the parents of the child, but for important reasons of a +political nature, he could not then divulge their names or history. He +stated so many circumstances connected with the shipwreck, and described +so exactly the child, that we were compelled to believe him. This letter +was followed by others at various intervals, from that time to the +present, often enclosing drafts for large sums to be drawn for in +England, for the benefit of the child. I need scarcely tell you that the +child was yourself--and your preserver, Brian O'Reily. The name by which +you are called is the nearest that we could come to that by which, both +yourself and Brian stated, you were known on board the vessel. The money +enclosed for your benefit, has been suffered to accumulate until the +late purchase of the plantation at the falls, of which you are now in +possession. Around your neck, at the time of your arrival, was a small +trinket, enclosing the hair of two individuals, curiously interwoven, +and on its outside were some initials corresponding with your own name, +and the date of a marriage. This, together with the letters I have +mentioned, you will find in the left hand drawer of the secretary which +stands in the corner of my library. After opening the outside door, you +will perceive the key hanging beside the drawer. These letters were +never shown, nor the contents mentioned to my wife, for a reason which I +am now about to explain to you, if my strength will permit, and which +will also unfold to you the cause of my reluctance to communicate with +you on this subject. + +"When I first saw Emily in England, she was a young and beautiful widow. +Early in life a mutual attachment was formed between her and the son of +a neighbouring gentleman, in rather more humble circumstances than the +father of my Emily. In consequence of this disparity in the fortunes and +standing of the two families, their attachment was kept a profound +secret between themselves, until the youth having joined the army of the +Commonwealth, they eloped. This was their last and only resort, because +her father was as determined a Loyalist as his was indefatigable in the +cause of the Independents and Roundheads. For two whole years she +followed the perilous fortunes of her husband, now become a +distinguished officer, during which time she gave birth to a son. For a +season she resided with her infant at a retired farm-house, in a distant +part of the country from the scene of strife; but her husband becoming +impatient of her absence, directed her to procure a nurse for her boy +and again partake of his hazardous fortunes. Her child was accordingly +left in the charge of the nurse, and she set out to join her husband. On +the eve of meeting him, as she supposed, she was met by the news of a +desperate engagement, in which the party opposed to her husband had been +victorious, and very shortly afterward, she was herself, with her +attendants, overtaken in the highway, and captured by a party commanded +by one of her own brothers. He immediately sent her under a strong +escort to her father's house, not however before she had time to learn +from some of the prisoners taken in the engagement, the heart-rending +news of the death of her husband. She gained these sad tidings from one +of his comrades, who saw him receive the wound and fall at his side. + +"She found her father so exasperated against her that she dared not even +mention to him or her brothers the existence of her child, lest they +should take some desperate means to separate them for ever. For a time, +therefore, she contented herself with such clandestine communications +with her nurse as the perilous nature of the times permitted. At length, +the sum of her afflictions was consummated by the death of her infant, +the account of which was brought to her by the nurse in person. + +"When I first saw her, these many and severe misfortunes had been +somewhat softened down in the lapse of years. She was still a melancholy +being, however, but I belonging to her father's party, and being of a +gay and volatile turn of mind, and much pleased with her beauty and +amiable temperament, offered to bring her out to America as my wife, +whither the success of the Protector's arms was then driving so many of +the Nobles and Cavaliers of England, and where I already had a sister +married to the then late, and now present Governor of Virginia. After +candidly stating all the foregoing circumstances, she agreed to accept +my hand. And we were accordingly married and sailed for the Capes of +Virginia. You will perceive, upon a perusal of the anonymous letters, +that the writer displays a most intimate knowledge of all the foregoing +particulars of our family history. The design, as you will doubtless +perceive, was to operate upon our superstitious feelings, by this +mysterious display of knowledge, in matters so carefully guarded from +the world. This was not at all necessary, because we had already +adopted, and treated you as one of our own family. Nevertheless he +partially succeeded with me. I confess to you that it has always +appeared to me one of the strangest circumstances that ever came under +my knowledge, that any living person should be acquainted with the facts +contained in those letters. I have made the most strenuous and unceasing +efforts to discover their author, by means of the European drafts, but +all to no purpose. You will now readily comprehend the reason, why I did +not communicate with Emily on this subject. It would only have been +opening old wounds afresh, and would probably have excited her more +sensitive feelings to a painful state of anxiety and, suspense. The same +reasons which influenced my conduct in this respect, will doubtless +operate upon your own judgment when I am gone. In the same drawer is a +will, by which you will perceive, when it is properly authenticated, +that I have left to you, in conjunction with others, the most sacred of +all human trusts. You will find yourself associated in the management of +my affairs, with persons whom I knew at the time to be uncongenial with +you in your general feelings, but upon this one subject you will all be +influenced by one desire. Governor Berkley and Mr. Harrison will never +thwart you in the active management, which I have left principally in +trust to you. + +"I have now rapidly sketched what you will better understand from the +papers themselves, and I have finished none too soon, as I am admonished +by the return of these cutting pains." + +After another agonizing paroxysm, he fell again into one of those +death-like slumbers, which often fill up the intervals of suffering +after a mortal wound. + +When Bacon perceived that he slept profoundly, he at once gave way to +the restless anxiety to see the papers, by which he was consumed. +Eagerly, but softly, he sought the library, opened the doors of the high +old fashioned black walnut secretary, with its Lion's claws for feet, +and his grisly beard and shining teeth, conspicuous from every brass +ornament with which it was adorned.[4] + +[Footnote 4: Some idea of the rude state of the mechanic arts of the +period may be formed by those who have seen the antiquated chair, in +which the speaker of the Virginia house of delegates sits to this day. +There are many specimens too of ancient furniture still preserved in the +older Counties of Virginia.] + +He returned to his post and opened the package of papers with a +trembling anxiety, and intense interest, similar to what one might be +supposed to feel who was about to unseal the book of fate. + +He had no sooner cast his eye upon the handwriting, than the package +fell from his grasp in the most evident disappointment. Until this +moment he had indulged a vague undefined hope that from a single glance +at the characters, he should at once possess a clue to unravel the whole +mystery. His mind had instantly settled upon one peculiar and remarkable +individual in the Colony, as the only one likely to possess such +knowledge, and from the interest which that person had always manifested +in his fate, he had almost persuaded himself that he would prove to be +the writer. With his handwriting and the peculiarly dignified and +stately character of his language, he had long been familiar. The first +few lines over which his eye glanced rapidly and eagerly, convinced him +of his error; neither the characters nor the language were his. +Nevertheless they possessed sufficient interest, after the momentary +disappointment had passed away, to induce him to grasp them again and +once more commence their perusal. In this occupation he was soon so +completely absorbed as to be unconscious of the time which elapsed, the +situation and circumstances in which he was placed as regarded himself, +as well as the wounded Cavalier, who lay in the same apartment. In +unfolding one of the papers he came upon the gold trinket mentioned by +his benefactor. Here again was a new subject of intense interest. +"This," said he to himself, "was worn by my mother and was placed around +my neck at our last parting." Here was a fragment of her tresses +precisely similar in character and colour to his own, interwoven with +the darker shades of those of his father. Here too was the date of their +marriage and the initials of their names agreeing sufficiently well with +his own supposed age. These were all subjects of earnest contemplation +to the excited imagination of a youth rendered morbidly sensitive on the +subject of his birth and parentage, by many painful occurrences with his +aristocratic young associates, and still more by recent developments +with the idol of his affections. The trinket was laid down and the +manuscript resumed, of whose contents as much as is important to our +narrative has already been communicated to the reader. The characters in +which it was written, were successively compared in his mind to those of +every person in the Colony who handled the pen. In that day it was not +hard to remember who they were from their great number, chirography +having been an art with which the Cavaliers were less familiar than with +the use of the small and broad sword. Not a scribe in the country wrote +in characters similar to the one he held in his hand, so far as he could +recollect. He thought they resembled those of Governor Berkley more than +of any other, yet that sturdy old knight had invariably frowned so much +on his attempts to assume the place and standing in society to which his +education and intelligence entitled him, that he could not believe him +concerned in benefiting him, even as an agent. + +The Recluse was the only individual upon whom his mind could rest as the +probable author, notwithstanding the variance of the writing. Yet +against this conclusion there were many powerful arguments. The first +that suggested itself to his mind was the money. Could he command such +large sums? And if he could, was it possible with his known habits and +peculiarities, not to mention his occasional aberration, to arrange +complicated pecuniary affairs in Europe? Then again, if he was the +writer, why were these communications continued after he had himself +arrived at years of discretion? Every reason seemed to favour the idea +that he himself would have been chosen as the depository of these +communications, had the Recluse been the man, especially when he +reflected that he was at that very time possessed of more of his +confidence than any other person in the Colony. The papers were perused +and re-perused, and the locket turned over and over listlessly in his +fingers, while a shade of deep sadness and disappointment settled upon +his countenance. + +From this unpleasing revery he was suddenly aroused by the groans of the +wounded sufferer, who now awoke in the greatest agony. When Bacon came +to his bed-side a melancholy change was visible in his countenance. He +was making his last struggle with the grim monster. He was however +enabled to express a desire that his family should be called, but when +they arrived, he could not give utterance to his ideas. He took first +the hand of his wife, and next that of his daughter, and successively +resigned them into those of his young executor. This, under the existing +circumstances of the moment, attracted no particular attention, but was +the subject of many an after-thought and remark. A few convulsive +struggles followed, and then the generous and noble spirit of the +Cavalier deserted its prison house. + +We will not attempt to describe the heart-rending scene which ensued. +Suffice it to say, that after a decent and respectful delay, (far more +than is allowed in our day,) the much loved and much lamented Mr. +Fairfax was borne to the grave, amidst the lamentations and regrets of +the whole assembled gentry of the Colony. The long line of mournful +pageantry moved in slow and melancholy steps to the sound of a solemn +dirge through the streets of the ancient city, and after the usual sad, +but appropriate rites of the established church, the corpse was +deposited in the burying ground, which to this day preserves the +crumbling ruins of many monuments of the ancient Cavaliers. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +It was some weeks after the funeral of Gideon Fairfax, that Bacon, +attracted by the genial warmth of a summer day, sauntered out for the +first time, in company with his friend Dudley, to seek the usual +_rendezvous_ of the young Cavaliers. Scarcely were they seated in the +Tap of the "Arms," before Philip Ludwell hastily entered, touched his +castor formally to Bacon and Dudley, and handed to the former a note, +fastened with a silken cord, and sealed with the arms of the House of +Berkley. Bacon cut the cord and read the note, without changing +countenance, and then handed it to Dudley, who had no sooner perused its +contents, than they both arose, retired to a private room, and called +for pen, ink and paper. The latter soon returned with an answer, sealed +in like manner, and handed it to Ludwell, who again formally bowing +retired. The first ran thus: + + Jamestown, June --, 16--. + To Nathaniel Bacon, Esq. + + SIR--I seize the first moment of your appearance in public, + restored to health, to demand the satisfaction due for the + grievous insult put upon me, on the night of the Anniversary + Celebration, in presence of the assembled gentry of the + Colony. All proper arrangements will be made by my friend + Ludwell, who will also await your answer. I have the honour to + be your most obedient servant, + + FRANCIS BEVERLY. + +Bacon's answer was no less courteous and explicit. + + + Berkley Arms, June --, 16--. + To Francis Beverly, Esq. + + SIR--Your note by the hands of Mr. Ludwell was this moment + received. Your challenge is accepted. To-morrow morning at + sunrise I will meet you. The length of my weapon will be + furnished by my friend Dudley, who will convey this to Mr. + Ludwell, as well as make all other arrangements on my behalf. I + have the honour to be, yours, &c. + + NATHANIEL BACON. + +The following morning at sunrise, two parties of Cavaliers landed from +their boats at a secluded inlet, on the southern extremity of Hog +Island, immediately opposite the city, but screened from view by the +depth of the overshadowing forest. A surgeon with his assistant soon +followed. + +The two parties exchanged formal but courtly salutations, and +immediately proceeded to the business of their meeting. A level +grass-plot, firm under the pressure of the foot, and sufficiently +cleared for the purpose, had long been set apart as the battle ground on +similar occasions, and was now easily found. + +When all the parties were arrived at this spot, the seconds proceeded to +measure the swords in presence of their principals. This of course was a +mere formality required by the usages of the times, as the length of the +weapons was already known and settled between themselves. + +The two young Cavaliers about to engage in deadly strife, were perhaps +as nearly matched in skill and courage as any that could be found in the +Colony. Both were in the daily practice of the foils, as a matter of +education no less than of amusement. Both were impetuous by nature, and +rash in their actions, and both came upon the field longing for +vengeance in requital of wrongs which each supposed he had received at +the hands of the other. + +Beverly was in the enjoyment of ruddy health, and buoyant animal +impulses, but his antagonist was pale, thin, and evidently labouring +under depression of spirits, as well as feebleness of body. To a hasty, +and superficial observer, this state of the parties would have seemed +decidedly unfavourable to the latter; but it is very questionable +whether the high health and robust strength of Beverly were not more +than counterbalanced by the subdued but steady composure evinced by his +antagonist, the result of long confinement and depletion. + +With a slight inclination of the head in formal salutation, each +advanced a foot and crossed his blade with that of his antagonist. The +eyes of each were instantly riveted upon his enemy, with the steady and +deadly ferocity of two wild beasts of prey. The pause continued a few +moments, as if each were striving to measure the hatred of the other; a +few rapid and skilful thrusts and parries were exchanged, and then +another interval of suspense and inactivity ensued. The next effort was +longer and more fiercely contested, and the intentions of each in this +uncomplicated warfare were more readily distinguished. Beverly was at +each successive trial becoming more and more ferocious, while his +antagonist was as evidently acting on the defensive, if not attempting +to disarm him. This now apparent intention of the latter, might be the +necessary result of his present comparative debility, of policy--aiming +to take advantage of his opponent's impetuosity, or of his promise to +Virginia. But from whatever cause it sprung, Dudley thought it a most +hazardous experiment to depend upon disarming so skilful a swordsman, +and was accordingly under the most lively apprehensions for the fate of +his friend. These were not however of long continuance, for at the next +onset, Beverly, forgetting himself for a moment, as he impetuously +flashed his weapon in deadly and rapid thrusts, cried, "Ha, Sir Bastard, +have at your coward's heart." In the next instant Bacon's sword pierced +his body--his eyes glared wildly for an instant, his sword fell from +his powerless hand, and as Bacon withdrew the weapon, Beverly uttered a +groan and fell prostrate upon the earth. + +Bacon stood listlessly wiping his sword-blade upon his handkerchief, his +eyes abstractedly fixed upon the fallen youth, like one without thought +or reason, or rather so deeply buried in thought as to be almost +unconscious of the scene before him. His thoughts were upon his promise +to Virginia, to act only upon the defensive. This he had interpreted far +more literally than the fair girl herself had designed, and it was his +intention so to act throughout the struggle, had not his patience and +forbearance been overcome by the taunting exclamation of his adversary, +just preceding the last fatal onset. + +All the circumstances passed rapidly through his mind, until his +meditations settled into the most poignant regret; not a little +aggravated when Beverly opened his eyes, and held up his hand to Bacon, +feebly exclaiming, "Bacon, forgive me; I wronged you both first and +last. I see it now when it is too late, but it is never too late to ask +forgiveness for an injury." Bacon grasped his hand, and flung himself +prostrate at his side in an instant. "Before God, Beverly, it was not my +intention, when I came to the field, to do this deed; my whole effort at +first was to disarm you. Forgiveness lies with you, not with me. I have +done you an irreparable injury, yours was but the result of thoughtless +impetuosity, for which I as freely forgive you, as it was hastily and +heedlessly offered. May God forgive us both." + +The surgeon and his assistant now interfered in the prosecution of their +professional duties. While these were in progress, all parties were +silent in breathless attention; not a change of the doctor's countenance +escaped them. At length he arose, and deliberately wiping and replacing +his instruments in their case, walked thoughtfully some paces from the +wounded youth. + +Bacon dared not follow to ask the fate of his patient, but Dudley, with +breathless eagerness pursued his footsteps, and demanded to know in few +words his fate. "Life or death, Doctor?" he hastily exclaimed, as if he +expected an answer in like short and expressive terms. + +"Ours is not one of the exact sciences as to prognostication," said Dr. +Roland. "The wound extends from the anterior part of the thorax." + +"Don't tell me about the thorax, doctor, tell me whether there is life +or death?" + +"The pleura and the right lobe of the lungs have been wounded, +consequently there will be great inflammation succeeding, both from the +pleuretic and pulmonary excitement. These are the unchangeable laws of +the animal economy, and will not yield were the son of Charles himself +lying before us." + +"O damn the animal economy. Can't you say in one word, life or death?" + +"No, I cannot, Master Dudley. All I can say at present is, that it is my +hope and belief, if properly managed, that he will not die from the +hemorrhage, and that his chance of life depends upon his weathering out +the inflammation mentioned." + +"There is a reasonable hope then! Thank you, doctor, thank you; may God +send that his life be spared." Uttering this fervent ejaculation he +joined his companions, who now held a consultation as to the most +judicious plan of removing the wounded youth. One proposed that he +should remain at a cottage upon the island; but the surgeon decided that +he might be removed in a boat to the city as easily as he could be +carried to the cottage. He was accordingly extended upon a rude litter, +and deposited in the most convenient boat, upon such a bed as they could +hastily construct of cloaks and bushes. + +They had scarcely emerged from the shrubbery overhanging the margin of +the river, when a rustling noise was heard, similar to that made by the +flight of a large flock of birds, and in the next instant a shower of +Indian arrows fell harmless in the water, succeeded by an astounding +yell of twenty or more savages, indistinctly seen through the dense fog +rising from the stream. Their light bark canoes, of variegated colours, +could scarcely be distinguished as they rode upon the waves like huge +aquatic birds. The savage warriors were standing perfectly erect, +notwithstanding the motion of the waves and the vigorous exertions of +those squaws who officiated at the oar and helm. Bows were already +strung in their hands, and they were again in the act of leveling them +upon the party, when Bacon, seizing a duck gun from the bottom of the +boat, fired into the midst of the foremost canoe. Three huge painted +warriors leaped into the water and yelled and struggled for an instant +before they sunk to rise no more. Another discharge of arrows, and +another shot from Bacon's weapon, with like success, considerably damped +the ardour of the pursuit. Bacon and his party had in the mean time +urged the boat containing Beverly and the surgeon far ahead and out of +reach of their missiles, while they protected their retreat. Having +suffered the enemy to come within striking distance, he was now enabled +to see that they were Chickahominies, and readily comprehended their +motives. He was himself the object of their pursuit. They had watched +his movements for the purpose of avenging the death of their chief and +his followers. So prompt and efficient, however, was the defence of the +party sought, that after a few harmless flights of arrows, and a few +returns from the firearms of the white party, they hastily retreated, +and in a short time their canoes were only seen like distant specks on +the circumscribed horizon, as they scudded away before the rising +volumes of vapour for fear the dawning day should betray them and their +hostile attitude to the notice of the citizens. + +As Bacon and Dudley stepped upon the shore in front of the palisade, the +other party having landed and disappeared before their arrival, they +stood to gaze over the water for an instant to ascertain whether any of +the savages yet lingered upon the scene. The fog was rapidly rising from +the water, so that their line of vision was uninterrupted for some +distance over the bay between the islands. + +They could just perceive their late enemies doubling the southern point +of the island upon which they stood, and were about to retire, supposing +all further apprehension from that quarter at an end, when they +discovered the dim outlines of some one upon the southern end of the +island, making signals with a white handkerchief. They immediately and +silently moved along the shore, under cover of the palisade, until they +came within such a distance of the object which had attracted their +attention, that they could discern who it was themselves, at the same +time remaining undiscovered. It was Wyanokee! Her appearance at this +early hour and solitary place, and her equivocal employment, produced +the greatest astonishment and mortification in the mind of Bacon. Until +this moment he would have pledged his life for her truth and fidelity. +Ever since the encounter with the Indians, he had been wondering in his +own mind, how they had pursued him so exactly to the secret place of +their rendezvous. Now he recollected that Wyanokee had passed through +the gallery of the State House on the preceding evening, where Dudley +and himself were practising. She might have overheard some of their +conversation. Her presence at such a place had excited a momentary +surprise at the time, but it all passed over, under the usual idea that +Wyanokee was every where. She often glided about like a spirit, yet no +one knew whither she was going, or the purpose of her movements. "Can it +be possible," said Bacon to himself, "that Wyanokee has been +treacherous?" + +All these corroborating circumstances, together with her present +attitude, answered in the affirmative. Notwithstanding the strong +conviction of this unwelcome fact which now settled on his mind, he +could not believe her deliberately bent on his destruction. He had seen +her exhibit many noble traits of character in trying situations. +Besides, she was somewhat under his protection, and we are always +inclined to love those whom we have served. She was also Virginia's +pupil, and the latter was proud of her as such, and he himself had felt +a sort of complacency at the progress of the maiden under her tuition. +His imagination had often dwelt upon her imaginary perfections, as so +many reflected beauties from Virginia's guileless heart and cultivated +mind. No, he could not believe her thus meanly treacherous. Some native +impulse must have been roused, some secret spring of her long hidden and +dormant nature, must have been touched. Her savage ideas of patriotism +had fired her to revenge the death of her nation's chief. + +Notwithstanding these palliating suggestions which rose in his mind on +the doubtful attitude in which he had detected her, his reflections were +by no means pleasing, as he locked his arm in Dudley's, and retired +from the shore. Every thing seemed to him to conspire against his +happiness. First, there was the old and ever present cause of solicitude +in relation to his own origin, the doubtful nature of which had been the +remote cause of the unhappy rencounter of the morning. Then there was +the new attitude in which he was placed towards Virginia, by the death +of her father, together with the tantalizing, partial revelations of the +anonymous letters and gold locket, which that event had thrown into his +possession, with the thousand surmises, half formed hopes, and +resolutions resulting from them. Upon the whole, however, he could not +but feel, in the midst of these various depressing circumstances, that +his chance for success in an application for the hand of Virginia was +greater with the widowed lady of the murdered Fairfax than it would have +been were he alive. He knew the high position in which he stood in that +lady's favour. He knew her contempt for worldly show, pomp and +circumstance--he had always known it, but now he knew something of the +cause in the revelations of her own history. He knew that she had boldly +indulged the first predilections of her own young heart at the expense +of her father's and her brother's favour; and his hopes were strong, +that when he should present himself before her in something of a like +attitude, as an applicant for the hand of her fair daughter, her own +recollections would rise up before her in his favour. That there would +be difficulties to surmount, and prejudices to subdue, he knew full +well. That Sir William Berkley would exert his power to the utmost, to +prevent such a consummation he also knew; but the consent of Mrs. +Fairfax once gained, he resolved to brave the opposition if he could not +subdue the prejudices of the Governor. + +The unhappy business of the morning would in all probability hasten the +contending elements to a crisis. The Governor would soon know of the +meeting and its result; he would in all probability inquire into the +cause of the quarrel, and his shrewd insight into the motives of human +action would very soon discover that there were hidden impulses +operating, which caused the insult to be given, and kindred ones in the +opposite party which rendered the offence so much the more heinous and +unpardonable. In short, he would discover that there was a lady at the +bottom of the whole affair; and that this lady was his own fair niece; +and that the two gentlemen who had just contended in deadly strife, were +rivals for the possession of her favour. Such being the process of +reasoning in the Governor's mind, Bacon knew him too well to suppose +that he would delay the matter long before he endeavoured to bring it to +a conclusion. Indeed he believed (and the reader knows how truly) that +his excellency already saw the advantages of the connexion as vividly as +his nephew apprehended the sterling qualities of the lady. Such being +the case, the result of the morning's meeting, if it did not prove +fatal to his rival's life, would in all probability precipitate the +matter at once to an issue. The Governor would no sooner ascertain that +Beverly was out of danger than he would take the business in his own +hands, and how he would manage it, and what means he would take to +accomplish his ends, Bacon's personal experience in other matters fully +taught him. He resolved therefore to be beforehand with him, to present +his own claims first, to attempt to conciliate the lady of his late +patron, before her ear had been poisoned by the violent abuse which he +knew would be heaped upon him, as well as by contempt for his origin. +But could he imbrue his hand in the blood of his rival and then present +it for acceptance? Could he precipitate his claims before the family in +their present melancholy state? + +These were the subjects of his reflection, as the two youths entered the +gates of the city,--and here another difficulty arose; if he should +immediately present himself before the family, the news of the meeting +having preceded him, even without broaching the subject before alluded +to, would not the feelings excited in the mind of Virginia and her +mother be unfavourable to his claims? Then again, should he leave rumour +with her hundred tongues to explain to the maiden the reasons which had +induced him to accept the challenge from her kinsman, would not his +cause be still more prejudiced? Finally, therefore, after taking all +these things into consideration, he came to the conclusion that it was +best to wait some favourable news from his wounded rival before +presenting himself, or in case of the worst result, to absent himself +from the city altogether for a time. + +Accordingly the youths bent their footsteps to Dudley's lodgings, there +to await intelligence concerning Beverly. It is hardly necessary to +remind the reader that duelling in that day, so far from being +considered criminal, was the sole test to which all differences between +gentlemen were submitted. The influence of the custom has been handed +down, variously modified by the circumstances of the times, from one +generation to another, until it has reached our own. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +For more than a week Frank Beverly lay in the most precarious state, and +more than once during that period his friends were summoned to his +bed-side, expecting every moment to be his last. Bacon, torn and racked +with suspense, moved about the house of his late patron like one +distracted. He had already made his peace with Virginia, by explaining +to her the unequivocal and unconditional demand for satisfaction made +upon him by Beverly, as well as the unjustifiable taunt upon the field, +by which he had been driven from his defensive attitude. But even her +society failed in its usual attractions, while Beverly remained in +danger. Doctor Roland, with all his technical formality, was as +indefatigable in his attentions as he was oracular and mysterious in his +announcements from hour to hour, and day to day, concerning the state of +his patient. These, reported to his master from the lips of Brien +O'Reily, would form no unamusing subject for the reader, were not our +attention called to the more important personages and graver incidents +of our narrative. + +As Bacon had surmised, Sir William Berkley was not long in understanding +the real cause of the quarrel; he had himself heard partial reports of +the affront and its cause on the night of its occurrence. As Bacon had +also expected, he seemed to await the fate of his young kinsman, before +he took any farther steps towards promoting the alliance between him and +Virginia. This however did not prevent him from giving way to the most +ungovernable rage at Frank's condescension in meeting an adventurer, +"the son of no one knew whom." + +At length the invalid was unequivocally pronounced to be out of danger, +by Dr. Roland himself. The Governor had no sooner received the +information, than he despatched a footman with his most respectful +compliments to Mrs. Fairfax, and requested the pleasure of an hour's +conversation with her, on the most important business; in answer to +which, a message was returned to the Governor, that she would be pleased +to see him, at any moment which might suit his convenience. That time +soon arrived, and the formal old gentleman, after many apologies for the +untimely intrusion upon the privacy of her sorrows, and condolence for +their cause, thus introduced the subject to which he solicited her +attention. + +"It was perhaps not known to you, Madam, that your late lamented husband +and myself had long since formed a prospective arrangement, by which we +hoped to dispose of our fortunes in such a manner as to add honour and +dignity to our families, at the same time that we should preserve them +united, and confer happiness upon our nearest relatives and presumptive +heirs. His will, as I understand, has not yet been authenticated, but +doubtless when it is so you will find that he has provided for the +fulfilment of this design." + +"I do not fully comprehend your Excellency." + +"I mean, madam, that we contemplated uniting in marriage, your fair +daughter and my young kinsman, Beverly; by this means I will be enabled +to entail my fortune on their male descendants, which will meet all my +desires concerning my niece, at the same time that it will be doing no +injustice to my young relative." + +"The plan seems ingeniously contrived, Sir William, to prevent future +heart-burnings concerning the disposal of your estate; but were the +young people to know nothing of the arrangement?" + +"The knowledge of it was kept from them, at the suggestion of your late +lamented husband, in order that they might imbibe no prejudices against +the scheme as they grew up, but rather be thrown into each other's way, +as the time for its consummation approached, and thus perhaps discover +its propriety themselves. This has in part proved true, for on the very +day of the unfortunate accident which deprived your house of its +inestimable head, I had the honour to lay Frank's proposals before him." + +"Sir William--I do not know my daughter's sentiments on the +subject,--the fulfilment of the scheme will depend entirely on her +feelings." + +"With due deference, madam, would it not be more politic to treat the +matter as already, and long since settled, between her father and +myself, and sacredly sealed by his death?" + +"I must be plain and candid with your Excellency--I have no desire to +use policy in the affair; if my daughter gives her free and hearty +consent, you have mine; but if the match is repugnant to her feelings we +will drop the subject, with many thanks to your Excellency for your kind +purposes, and to Mr. Beverly for the intended honour." + +Virginia was now called in; but while the servant performed that duty, +Sir William replied, "I am exceedingly mortified, madam, that you seem +to place the fulfilment of this long-treasured scheme upon a contingency +so light." + +"Do you then consider a young lady's being permitted to have a voice in +choosing her partner for life, a light contingency, Sir William?" + +"I think, madam, that her parents are more capable of making a selection +which will confer honour upon them and her, than she can possibly be. +Our best families would soon arrive at a very plebeian level, were every +female descendant to be permitted to indulge her love-sick fancies, +instead of consulting the interest and honour of her house. But it may +be that this discussion is useless in the present instance. Here, madam, +comes your daughter, who will decide." + +Virginia entered, pale and trembling with alarm and vague presentiments +of evil; her hands were crossed upon her breast, and her eyes downcast. +After making a reverential courtesy to the Governor, she instinctively +stood before him, awaiting his commands as one upon trial. However harsh +the Governor's opinions to the mother, policy dictated a very different +course toward the daughter; he accordingly led her to a seat beside +himself, and with the most bland and courteous manner, thus addressed +her, + +"I come, my niece, as an ambassador from poor Frank, with full powers to +ask of your mother this fair hand in marriage; and I must take the same +opportunity to declare the happiness it would give Lady Berkley and +myself, to receive you into our mansion as the wife of our kinsman, and +the daughter of our affections." + +The mildness and the unusual condescension of her formal uncle +completely threw Virginia from the stately and unequivocal answer which +she had meditated when first summoned; for it will be recollected that +she had already had an intimation of his intentions. She could do no +less than feel grateful for his own undoubted affection, and she felt it +extremely difficult properly to express this feeling, connected as it +must be with the overthrow of his dearest hopes. After the most painful +embarrassment, she was enabled to answer: "To you, my dear uncle, I have +always felt grateful for the more than paternal affection which you have +shown to me, and I must feel not less so for the motives which prompted +you to undertake the present mission; but with all my affection for +yourself and desire to please you, and all my gratitude to Mr. Beverly +for the honour which he intended me, I must beg leave to decline his +offer." + +"Wherefore must you decline it, Virginia?" asked Sir William, with the +most evident chagrin and surprise. + +"Simply because I cannot reciprocate the affection which I am informed +Mr. Beverly entertains for me." + +"You have never made the trial, niece; you have not taken five minutes +to consider the importance of the proposition which I have had the +honour to lay before you. Reconsider your hasty answer; take time to +form a mature opinion of the many advantages which the connexion holds +out. See Frank himself when he recovers, and my word for it, he will +make as many love-sick speeches as would woo a lady from Charles' +court." + +"It is not necessary, my dear uncle; I have long meditated upon the +subject, having by accident heard of the proposed union before you were +pleased to communicate it in person." + +"What is your objection to Frank? It is certainly no satisfactory +answer, to say you cannot reciprocate his affection, when you have never +yet given him an opportunity to plead his cause in person. He is +unquestionably as well favoured a youth in regard to personal +attributes, as any in the Colony, and I flatter myself as well born and +of as bright expectations?" + +"I have no objections to urge, Sir William; Mr. Beverly is undoubtedly +all that you say he is, but he never can be more to me than he is at +present; for this determination I have many reasons satisfactory to my +own sense of propriety, but which it is neither necessary nor proper for +me to urge. One I will however give you, with the hope of for ever +setting the question at rest. My affections are already engaged!" + +Had a thunderbolt hurled the old Cavalier from his seat, he could not +have been more astounded. Mrs. Fairfax was scarcely less so. Sir William +glanced from her countenance to that of her daughter, as if he expected +the former to overwhelm her daughter with reproaches, his own anger all +the while displaying itself in the contortions of his inflamed and +glowing countenance. But seeing her astonishment subsiding into +complacency instead of anger, his own broke forth-- + +"What! bestow your affections unasked? and upon whom pray!" + +"I have not bestowed them unasked, Sir." + +"Has any gentleman asked and obtained permission of you, to address your +daughter?" he inquired, turning to Mrs. Fairfax. + +"None, Sir." + +"Who then is the favoured swain? Who has dared to interfere in this +matter unauthorized by the consent of your only surviving parent or +myself?" + +"For him I have neither the right nor the will to speak. At the proper +time he will doubtless do it for himself," said Virginia, as she arose +with offended dignity to leave the room. + +"Hear me yet a moment," cried Sir William, with the most ill disguised +efforts to appear calm. "If the person, who has thus intruded into your +family, is of proper birth, connexions, and expectations, and his suit +should meet with your mother's approbation, I of course have no right to +interfere. But remember, should you attempt to form an alliance with an +individual who would disgrace my family, to which you are nearly +connected, I will, if there be none other to perform the office, with +mine own hands tear him from the very foot of the altar, and mete to him +such a reward as his temerity demands." + +At this moment the door opened, and Nathaniel Bacon entered, with an +expression of unalloyed delight upon his countenance. He had just heard +the joyful tidings from the medical attendant of his rival. He met +Virginia face to face, just within the sweep of the door, and perceiving +no other object at the moment, attempted gayly to seize her hand, but no +corresponding movement being perceptible, he paused to examine her +countenance, at the same time glancing at the offended visiter, whose +scowling eyes were fixed upon him. Virginia's countenance was like a +mirror to reflect her feelings, and had there been no intelligible +expression upon the face of the Governor, Bacon would readily have +comprehended the attitude of the various parties. These observations, +however, were the work of an instant, for Sir William no sooner +perceived his presence, than he sprung to his feet, his brow growing +darker every moment. He had entirely misinterpreted Bacon's appearance +at that critical juncture. His suspicions had all along pointed to him, +and he now imagined that his presence was the result of preconcerted +design. "To what motive, Sir," he cried, "am I indebted for this +intrusion? Have you come to congratulate me upon the recovery of my +young kinsman, of whom your murderous hand had well nigh deprived me?" + +Bacon wheeled partly upon his heel, as if endeavouring to force himself +out of the room, without answering the choleric old Cavalier, but seeing +Virginia turn her head and cast an indignant glance at the offender, his +own hard schooled feelings broke forth also. "To no particular motive, +Sir, are you indebted for this visit: it was the result of the purest +accident. I knew not that your Excellency was in the house, and came +into this room in the ordinary free and unchallenged mode of +intercourse, to which the inmates of this most hospitable and generous +family are accustomed." + +"Ay, Sir Stripling, and unless I am grossly deceived, your intercourse +has not gone unchallenged for nothing." + +"To what is your Excellency pleased to allude." + +"Have you not studiously endeavoured to undermine the most important +family arrangements of those who cherished and protected your infancy? +Have you not stung the bosom that warmed you into existence? Have you +not been callous to the claims of gratitude, due alike to the living and +the dead? Have you not attempted to beguile the only daughter of your +patron into a disgraceful alliance?" + +Bacon resisted the mild and persuasive endeavours of Mrs. Fairfax to +lead him from the room, whence Virginia had already departed, while he +replied, drawing himself up to an erect and perfectly composed and +dignified attitude, + +"If your Excellency chooses so far to forget, what is alike due to your +station--to yourself, to the present company, and to me, as to permit +yourself to ask such questions, you cannot expect me so far to forget +myself as to answer them!" and with this reply he left the room. + +The Governor, after indulging in the most vehement bursts of passion, +and threats of vengeance against Bacon, should he dare to connect +himself with his family, and in vain endeavours to extort a promise from +Mrs. Fairfax, never to give her consent, left the house in the most +towering and ungovernable rage. + +He had scarcely crossed the threshold, before Bacon returned to the same +room, leading Virginia by the hand, having held a very interesting +conversation with her in another apartment. Mrs. Fairfax was sitting +apparently absorbed in the most painful reflections. As the youthful +pair entered, a slight clearing away of the clouds which had gathered +upon her countenance might be perceived. They walked deliberately up to +where she sat, and seated themselves one on each side of her: when Bacon +thus spoke-- + +"It was not my intention, dear madam, thus to intrude upon your sorrows, +but I may be pardoned for presenting myself as a petitioner at your +feet, when another, high in station and dignity, has thought proper to +forget those claims. Had he confined himself to the legitimate object of +his mission, I had perhaps still forborne, but when he has stepped out +of his way rudely to thrust me before you as the disorganizer of your +family arrangements, and as the serpent who has stolen into your house +in order to poison your brightest hopes and fondest anticipations, I +have thought it became me at once to state to you how far I have +offended. + +"It is true, dear madam, that I have not been insensible to the many +charms of your daughter's person and disposition. You have witnessed, I +would fain hope, not unobservantly, the dear delights of our first +childish intercourse, when our minds and hearts were drawn together by +an affection and a congeniality of taste and sentiment which we +supposed, if we thought of it at all, was purely fraternal; and then +when our minds began to expand, and our affections to assume and to +display their real character, and finally when we came thoroughly to +understand each other and ourselves, you were not a heedless spectator +of these progressive changes and developments; and having seen, I cannot +believe that you would have permitted this mutual affection to grow to +its present maturity and strength, intending to deny its sanction at the +last, when the cure might so easily have been made by nipping the tender +flower in the bud. Speak, I pray you madam! Our fate hangs upon your +words!" + +"I will not pretend to you, my children, that I have not observed the +mutual affection which has grown up between you from its earliest dawn. +Nor will I disguise from you that it gave me pleasure mingled with much +pain. Many long and dreary nights have I lain upon my pillow, +anticipating what I then supposed would be the fierce struggles of this +moment. I calculated with the usual short sightedness of mortals, that +he who will ne'er partake in our councils more, would have been here to +decide upon your wishes. + +"I supposed that his own family pride would first have been to conquer, +then I thought of the fierce resistance which the greater pride of his +kinsman, Sir William, would offer--the interview of this morning shows +how truly. After all these painful misgivings, however, and the maturest +judgment that I could bestow upon the subject, I came to the resolution +to suffer what seemed the predestined current of events to run its +course. Providence has by a most painful process removed the only +obstacle you had to fear, my children, and he, had he been alive, would +doubtless have finally given his consent rather than attempt to tear up +forcibly by its roots a passion like yours, the growth of years and +intimate knowledge of each other. I therefore give you my consent, my +children, that you be united in marriage, and the sooner the better, as +the first storm upon its announcement once over, all these contending +passions which drive you into broils and strife will cease." + +As she concluded speaking, Virginia, down whose cheeks the tears had +been rapidly coursing each other, sunk upon her knees, in which position +she was instantly joined by her now acknowledged and betrothed lover. +Mrs. Fairfax placed her hands upon their heads, tears bedimming her own +eyes, and blessed them, and then kissed her daughter as she was about to +leave the room. When she was gone, Bacon resumed the subject of their +discourse. "O say, dear Madam, how soon will you consent to the +completion of our happiness? I address myself to you in the first +instance, in order that I may use your name in my appeal to your +daughter for an early day." + +"As soon as you can persuade Virginia to consent. I would seriously and +earnestly recommend two things with regard to your nuptials, the rest I +leave to yourselves, namely, that they take place as privately as +possible, for fear of Sir William's violence; and secondly, as soon as +possible, in order that you may anticipate the complete recovery of +young Mr. Beverly." + +"Oh, madam, may Heaven bless your wisdom and benevolence. I am now +doubly armed, and will seek your daughter, and I hope soon return with a +favourable answer." + +Accordingly he flew out of the room, and in a few moments she heard him +loudly calling her daughter's name through all the portals of the house, +and rapping at every door, but no Virginia was to be found. At length, +however, he sallied forth into the garden, when he found her in her +summer-house, apparently in profound study of some favourite Author's +new publication, perhaps Milton's "Paradise Regained." His arguments +fell apparently upon a deaf ear. She continued to read, regardless of +his passionate gesticulations and burning words. Her cheeks glowed +vividly enough, but she gave no other evidence that she was conscious of +his presence. At length he seized her hand, and forcibly but gently led +her before her mother, like a culprit, as she doubtless felt herself, +for her eyes were downcast, and a crimson blush suffused her neck and +temples. Mrs. Fairfax attempted in vain to assume a grave and judicial +expression. She succeeded, however, in convincing the young pair that +the safety and the peace of many of their family circle depended upon +their speedy nuptials. It was doubtless for these reasons alone, that +they soon agreed amicably upon an early day, until which time we will +leave the imagination of the reader to follow the young pair through +flowery beds of roses and tulips, and the more flowery anticipations of +"Love's young dream." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +The appointed day at length arrived--it was ushered in by no cheering +omens from without or within the mansion of Mrs. Fairfax. No warbling +songsters from the feathered tribes perched upon the window of our +heroine, or hopped from flower to flower through the garden beneath, to +woo her from her slumbers; and the heavens themselves gave lowering and +sultry evidence of an approaching storm. In the east it was misty and +unsettled; while a long curtain of dark frowning clouds, heavily charged +with electric fire, hung in portentous masses along the whole line of +the western horizon. The atmosphere was hot and oppressive, the whole +aspect of the weather such as invariably casts a damp upon the spirits. + +Virginia required no sweet serenade to call her from her slumbers. She +was already awake, as indeed she had been through most of the night. A +feverish dread of undefined approaching evil, had dimly floated through +her excited brain during her waking hours, and yet more shadowy horrors +disturbed her partial and unrefreshing sleep. Her morning habiliments +were donned earlier than usual, without the assistance of her Indian +attendant; yet she marvelled at her unwonted absence. She usually slept +in an adjoining apartment, and hither Virginia bent her steps to chide +the tardy maiden for her strange neglect on so important an occasion. No +little surprise was visible in her countenance, when she found not only +the apartment untenanted, but that the bed upon which Wyanokee usually +slept, was undisturbed, or that if used at all, it had been slightly +disarranged, only as if with a deceptive purpose. She repeated her name +throughout the house and garden, but no answer was returned. Her voice +soon aroused her mother, who was no less surprised at the circumstances +related by her daughter. Together they went to the apartment, and again +examined the bed, which had evidently not been slept in. And now other +appearances struck them, which had not before attracted their attention. +The dress she had worn on the previous day, hung in a closet answering +the purposes of a wardrobe, together with the whole of her apparel, the +gift of Virginia or her mother. Not an article could be recollected of +these, which was not there. They seemed, moreover, to have been +studiously arranged so as to attract attention in this particular. On +the other hand, every garment of Indian fabric which she had preserved +through her captivity, was gone. The moccasins she had worn on the +previous day--the Indian beads, wampum, and other ornaments of native +origin, were nowhere to be seen. + +All the gifts of Bacon and Mr. Fairfax, some of which were of gold and +silver, were conspicuously arranged upon a shelf in the same apartment. +Many of these she had hitherto constantly worn in her ears, and upon her +wrists and ankles. + +As they were pursuing their researches Virginia discovered the window of +the room in which her attendant had always slept, shut down upon the end +of an Indian arrow. She raised the sash and drew in the missile, in the +end of which, inserted in a split and bound with a strip of the fibre of +a sinew, was the identical blue feather Wyanokee had plucked from the +gory locks of the slain King Fisher, the last of the Chickahominy +chiefs. The arrow was pointed in the direction of the nation's hunting +ground. The language of these symbols Virginia understood but too well; +she had too long made Wyanokee a subject of study, as well as of +instruction, not to understand that the feather indicated her flight to +the dwellings of her tribe. She also thought she saw many collateral +indications in the time chosen for her elopement--the arrangements of +her English garments, and more especially of the gifts she had received +from Bacon. She doubted not in her own mind that the resolution of +Wyanokee was in some way connected with the approaching ceremony, but +she did not communicate her suspicions to her mother, because they were +as yet not clearly defined in her own thoughts. They received momentary +corroboration however, as many circumstances recurred to her mind, +which were trivial in themselves, but important in connexion with the +present discovery, and which have been from time to time hinted at in +the progress of our narrative. + +The impression left upon the mind of our Heroine by these incidents +produced any thing but the joyous, elastic and happy mood, her young +dreams had always anticipated for her wedding day. There were many other +subjects of apprehension to mar the pleasures of the time. Governor +Berkley had left her mother's house overflowing with wrath, and +threatening speedy vengeance against her betrothed. + +Few persons ever became indebted to Sir William Berkley in a matter of +personal hatred or ill will, who did not sooner or later find him a hard +and exacting creditor. With all her love for her uncle she knew his +harsh and unyielding nature, and dreaded his power. + +The natural apprehensions of a modest, gentle, and tenderly educated +maiden on her wedding day, are at all times sufficiently powerful of +themselves; but joined to the unfavourable omens and sources of anxiety +by which Virginia was surrounded, they were overpowering. Her breakfast +remained before her untouched, notwithstanding her mother's endeavours +to cheer her drooping spirits. + +A short and animated conversation with her lover, as the day began to +wane, partially recalled her wonted cheerfulness, but when he was gone +she relapsed into her former mood. The aspect of the heavens seemed to +her to grow momentarily more portentous. Already the thunder was heard +rolling in the west, and black masses of threatening clouds were +gradually closing in from every point of the horizon. The wrath of +Heaven itself seemed to our heroine gathering over the city. This +nervous excitement of mind will not be wondered at when it is remembered +that a short time only had intervened since dark and mysterious +injunctions had been urged against the marriage, of which the appointed +time was now so near at hand; and to this must be added the state of +alarm and agitation in which she had since been kept by insurrections, +outrages, personal strifes and deadly feuds between her friends; and +above all, by the violent and sudden death of her father. In the short +space of a few weeks her once tranquil and happy existence had been +changed into one of painful trials and vicissitudes. The night was +rapidly closing in. There hung the bridal garments, and there stood the +tire woman waiting her commands. At this juncture a carriage drove up to +the door, steps were let down, the knocker sounded, and in the next +moment the gay brides-maid bounded into the room, arrayed for the +occasion. Her countenance was radiant with smiles as she entered, but +perceiving her friend's sombre mood she walked round her sundry times +and then raised her hands and eyes in pretended astonishment, as she +exclaimed, "Do I mistake! Was it indeed to your wedding that I was +invited? For shame, Virginia! shake off these sickly fancies. Come, +rouse yourself, and I will be your tire woman. Our family will soon be +here, the carriage has gone back for them. Will that not move you? Then +your lawful lord and"-- + +Here Virginia rose and placed her hand upon the lips of the lively girl, +yet with a look which seemed at the same time to intimate no +unwillingness to be cajoled or rallied from her present serious humour. + +The wedding was to be kept a profound secret from all but the invited +guests, and those who were to officiate at the ceremony. The former +consisted only of Mr. Harrison's family, and the latter of the clergyman +of the Established Church, who officiated at Jamestown--Charles Dudley +who was to give away the bride, and Harriet as brides-maid. + +The appointed hour of nine at length arrived. Assembled in the parlour +below, the various parties awaited the appearance of the bride. +Carriages were already at the door; the chapel lighted, and the priest +habited in the robes of his sacred office. + +Bacon, after sundry movements towards the door at which she was expected +to enter, could subdue his impatience no longer, and at once mounted the +staircase. He met the two maidens on their way down; Virginia apparently +having imbibed some of her friend's spirit and vivacity, which she so +much needed. She placed her hand timidly but confidingly in that of +Bacon as they entered the room. Both she, and her attendant, were +robed in virgin white--and certainly never were dresses more +appropriate;--they were both young, innocent, beautiful, and intensely +interesting, in the position which they now occupied. + +Bacon and Dudley were dressed exactly alike, and rather in the costume +of the preceding, than of the present reign; the latter not yet having +made its way to Jamestown. They wore doublets of scarlet velvet, with +large loose sleeves slashed up the front; the collar covered by a +falling band of the richest point lace, with a vandyke edging. Their +breeches were of white silk, and fringed at the bottom, where they +united with their silk stockings, amidst a profusion of ribands and +ornaments of lace. Their shoes were ornamented over the buckle straps, +with white bridal roses wrought in silk. Hanging gallantly upon one +shoulder, they wore the short and graceful blue cloak of the period: not +in such a manner, however, as to conceal in any degree the gay +appearance of the costume which it completed, but so as to be thrown +aside and resumed at a moment's notice. This latter article being light +and graceful, and worn more for ornament than use, was always thrown +aside for the military buff coat on warlike occasions. + +The party, preceded by the priest, entered the waiting vehicles. Just as +they were seated according to the order of previous arrangement, a +vivid flash of lightning shot athwart the horizon, succeeded by a crash +of thunder loud and fearful, as if the eternal hills themselves had +again been shattered into chaos. The females drew themselves into the +corners of the carriage, covering their eyes, and the gentlemen were +silent, while the God of the Universe, spoke through his thunders. + +The drive to the church was as short as it was silent. The priest +entered his desk and laid open the sacred volume, while the various +parties arranged according to order in a semicircle round the altar, +waited upon his words. + +The chapel was dimly lighted, except immediately around the parties, in +accordance with the strict privacy of the celebration. Mrs. Fairfax was +as calm and benignant as was consistent with her usual settled +melancholy. Virginia was pale as a marble statue, her head just +sufficiently inclined forward to suspend her bridal veil in graceful and +flowing folds before her exquisitely formed figure. Harriet's vivacity +was subdued to respectful and mute attention. The sound of the +clergyman's voice could just be heard at intervals between the awful +peals of thunder, while the lurid flashes contrasting with the feeble +rays of the lamps, rendered the surrounding gloom more impressive. The +words which fell from the lips of the sacred functionary were something +like the following: + +"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and +in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in +holy matrimony; which is an honourable estate instituted of God in the +time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is +betwixt Christ and his church; which holy estate Christ adorned and +beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana +of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all +men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised or taken in hand +unadvisedly--lightly, or wantonly--to satisfy men's carnal lusts and +appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, +discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in fear of God, duly considering the +causes for which matrimony was ordained. + +"First, it was ordained for the procreation of children to be brought up +in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name. + +"Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid +fornication, that such persons as have not the gift of continency might +marry and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body. + +"Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort that +the one ought to have of the other--both in prosperity and adversity. + +"Into which holy estate, these two persons present come now to be +joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not +lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for +ever hold his peace." + +A solemn silence prevailed through the dimly lighted aisles, as the +usual pause was allowed for the answer. At this juncture, and while the +small party around the altar held their breath in mute astonishment and +wonder, the door was rudely thrust open, and a gigantic figure strode +down the hollow sounding aisle. His heavy footfalls rung upon Virginia's +sensitive organs like the funeral knell of departed peace. He walked +directly towards the altar, until he stood immediately behind the +youthful pair about to plight their faith, his tall figure towering far +above their heads.[5] Over his face he held a black mask, as he thus +spoke, in answer to the general challenge of the priest. + +[Footnote 5: The reader will perceive when the proper time comes for +disclosing from what authentic annals this character is taken--that we +have but described his person, as the grave words of History portrayed +him.] + +"Well mayest thou say that now or never is the time to speak the just +cause which interposes to prevent the consummation of this union. That +cause know I. But its revelation, now rendered imperative, will be like +unto tearing up with irreverent hands the mysterious secrets of the +charnel house beneath our feet. Oh God, why could not this duty have +been spared to me!" + +His huge frame shuddered with convulsive emotion as he paused and seemed +to view from beneath his mask his astounded and breathless auditors. The +clergyman seized the opportunity to repeat with solemnity the challenge. +"If any man can show any just cause why this youthful pair may not +lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for +ever hold his peace!" + +"They cannot lawfully be joined together because they are the children +of the same mother!" + +The silence of death prevailed throughout the chapel. Respiration and +reflection itself seemed suspended upon the awful announcement of the +Recluse, while he fell back upon one of the seats of the aisle and +covered his face with his hands in unutterable anguish. + +Mrs. Fairfax had been visibly agitated from the first moment of this +startling interruption, by some more dreadful emotion than the surprise +and vague alarm of those about her, but now desperation itself nerved +her sinking powers, as she stepped a pace forward and uttered in a +distinct voice. "It is false! proceed with the ceremony." Harrison and +Dudley instinctively felt for their arms, the former exclaiming, "He is +mad--staring mad! be it our business to prevent this irreverent +interruption!" + +But the Recluse immediately sprung upon his feet, throwing his mask upon +the floor as he stood full in front of Mrs. Fairfax, and exclaimed, +pointing with his index finger to his time-worn countenance; "Look thou +upon these long forgotten lineaments, and then upon these (laying his +hand upon Bacon's head) and testify before Heaven and earth whether I +have not spoken truth! a fearful truth!" + +The person appealed to stood for some moments like a statue, her eyes +protruding from their sockets, as if a tenant of the grave indeed stood +before her--her hand at length slowly rose from her side and wandered +through the vacant air as if she would have submitted the spectre to the +test of feeling--imperfectly measuring the distance however between her +own person and the object sought, it fell again powerless by her side. +Her lips moved as if she were in the act of holding a conversation with +the being who had addressed her, but no sound issued from them. The +pupils of her eyes were painfully distended, and their whole expression +wild and bewildered. At length her chest began to heave convulsively, +when she made a wild and desperate effort to rush upon the object of her +gaze, but fell prostrate on the floor before she had attained half the +distance between them. As she fell she cried in the most piteous +accents, "Charles! Charles!" and then swooned away. + +Charles Dudley, who had till now assisted Bacon in supporting his +fainting bride, resigned his charge to Mr. Harrison and ran to Mrs. +Fairfax, supposing himself to be the person thus piteously +apostrophized. He took the fallen lady in his arms and raised her partly +from the floor, but no symptoms of returning animation were visible. +While he thus supported her head upon one knee, kneeling upon the other, +assisted by the clergyman and friends, and Bacon and Mr. Harrison +supporting Virginia, who was in little better condition, a tumultuous +crowd rushed in at the door, headed by Sir William Berkley himself, +exclaiming to his minions, "Tear him from the altar! tear the upstart +from the altar." + +But as he ran with his drawn sword towards the pulpit, something in the +attitude and expression of the various parties at once arrested his hand +and voice. + +There is a power of expression in deep and irremediable sorrow which +cannot be looked upon without emotion. Boisterous and outrageous as Sir +William Berkley had entered the chapel, his fierce nature was instantly +subdued by the appearance of his sister-in-law and her daughter. The +crowd which followed were instinctively awed into silence by the same +powerful and speaking appeals. + +When the announcement of the lawful cause which prevented the +consummation of the union first fell upon Bacon's ear, his head sank +upon his breast, and although he mechanically clasped Virginia round the +waist, as he felt her clinging to him, and sinking at his side; he stood +stupefied with horror, holding up his lifeless burden, entirely enable +to think or act. His habitual and superstitious reverence for every +thing uttered by the Recluse, induced him to receive the first +impression of his words unchallenged even in his own mind. + +By the time that Sir William Berkley and his party arrived, the Recluse +had disappeared; every one was so much absorbed by the instant and +pressing calls for assistance and sympathy from the suffering females, +that the time of his departure was entirely unnoticed. + +The Governor had no sooner recovered from his first shock and surprise, +than he made his way to one of the young Harrisons to learn the cause of +the present appearance of the parties, so different from what he had +been taught to expect. Although he did not believe that there was one +word of truth in the cause assigned for the interruption of the +ceremony, he was well enough satisfied that the parties themselves, and +Mrs. Fairfax should believe it. No matter to him what horrors they +suffered, he considered it all but a just punishment for their attempted +mesalliance. As for Bacon, and his horror-stricken feelings, Sir William +did not deign to bestow a thought or word upon them, after the first +hasty exclamation with which he had entered the door. By his orders, the +female sufferers were placed in a carriage, and removed to his own +house. Bacon resigned his charge with a listless apathy, bordering on +stupefaction, and to a superficial observer, such would doubtless have +been the impression; but his was the deadly deceitful calm which +precedes the coming storm. The most horrible of all human sufferings is +that where no tear is or can be shed--where no enemy presents himself +for vengeance--no hope for the future, all having been perilled and +lost upon a single throw. Bacon felt himself thus situated--the +cherished hopes of a lifetime were blasted in an instant, not only for +the present, but under such circumstances as to cut off all hope for the +future. The object of his passion could not henceforth be enshrined in a +holy secret worship of the soul, such as is sometimes kept up through a +long life of celibacy for the lost one. + +No mortified pride arose to his relief! he could not hate--he dared not +love the object around which his whole heart and soul were entwined. The +very light of his eyes--the sun of his existence--his delights of the +present--hopes of the future--all, all were blotted from existence in a +moment. The very retrospects of the past were poisoned. Could he bear to +dwell upon the enrapturing delights of their young loves, when the +object and participator was now discovered to be his own sister? To +whichever aspect of the case he turned, he as speedily revolted in +horror. It was while these things were tearing and racking his soul, +that he appeared to feel externally less than might have been expected. +His mind and feelings were precipitately rolled back upon their own +resources, and the suddenly dammed up waters of bitterness sought vent +at every avenue. Virginia was no sooner taken from him, however, than +his perceptions seemed roused at once to the full horror and +hopelessness of his fate. Without his castor, and still decked in his +gay bridal attire, he burst from the crowd, prostrating the Governor's +minions to the right and left, as he felled a passage to the door. His +eye had lost its abstracted expression; it was deadly fierce and +terrifically wild as he rushed forth into the kindred storm without--no +one knew whither. + +END OF VOLUME FIRST. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 1 of 2, by +William A. 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