Part 22 (1/2)

Rodney's visits to Charlottesville were brief and it seemed that his absence worried his mother. The latter part of October he was sent to Norfolk, where Dunmore proposed to establish his headquarters. As it happened, he fell in with the troops which Colonel Woodford had been ordered to lead to the relief of the village of Hampton, and was present at the attack on the place and took part in the defence.

In this encounter the marksmans.h.i.+p of the Virginians decided the matter, for, when the s.h.i.+ps approached the town and commenced to bombard it, the riflemen picked off the gunners and drove them from their cannon and then, when they tried to work their sails so as to escape, the Virginians shot them out of the rigging. Although the town was damaged by the bombardment, the defenders escaped serious injury, though the sensations of being under fire afforded many of the defenders their first taste of war.

On leaving Lawrence Enderwood, the previous summer, Rodney had promised to pay him a visit at the first opportunity. Indeed, mutual liking had resulted from their journey from Philadelphia. Here was the opportunity, and young Allison accepted it.

He found Lawrence at home, managing the plantation in the absence of his father in England. It was a delightful old place, having been in the Enderwood family for four generations. The house reminded him of ”The Hall” and, being a privileged guest, he enjoyed all the luxuries which the old Virginia plantation could afford. He rode after the hounds, Nat acquitting himself so well that Lawrence offered a round sum for him.

”I'd sell my s.h.i.+rt from my back before I would that horse,” Rodney replied.

There was good shooting, and Allison excelled his host. His training with the Indians stood him in good stead. He made a bow and arrows for Lawrence's younger brother, such as Ahneota, himself, would have approved, and when it came time for him to depart he was sorry to leave.

”There'll be ructions over Norfolk way and I'm going to ride over with you,” said Lawrence, the morning Rodney was making preparations for leaving.

”That's good news and makes it less hard for me to go away.”

They set out about eight in the morning. The suns.h.i.+ne was brilliant and the air cool and invigorating. Here and there in the landscape were faint bits of green untouched by the frost. As they rode along they learned that the people were almost in a panic, fearing Dunmore's marauders, who had been pillaging and burning in the county below.

”That man is only arousing the people and accomplis.h.i.+ng no good,” said Lawrence. ”He declares he will rule the colony and at the same time induces the negroes to revolt. That very act drives every Virginian, not under British protection, into the ranks of the so-called rebels.

They realize that, while the negroes won't do any effective fighting, they may, in a fury of resentment, cause great damage and imperil the lives of hundreds of families.”

”I think the poor governors England has sent over here have had much to do with the colonies' rebelling. Hark! I hear horses at the gallop.”

As he spoke, nearly a dozen mounted men, several of them in British uniforms, came around the corner about sixty rods behind them.

”Dunmore's marauders!” exclaimed Lawrence. ”Let's get out of here.”

Their horses had both speed and ”bottom” and besides were fresh, so that the chances were in favour of the young Virginians. The troopers behind spurred after them, however, and evidently were determined on their capture.

As Lawrence and Rodney approached a plantation near the road, they saw flames leap up from the hay ricks, and the next instant two mounted men rode out on the main highway.

”Those are Britishers, sent ahead,” exclaimed Lawrence.

”There's nothing for us but to go ahead,” said Rodney, pa.s.sing one of his two pistols over to Lawrence.

”I'm with you to the finish,” replied the latter, his face very grim and determined.

”Halt!” cried one of the marauders, who waved a sword as if to enforce his authority.

”Get out of the way. We are on our own business!” cried Rodney.

The second marauder lifted his pistol, but Rodney antic.i.p.ated him with a quick shot which brought the man's arm down, while the pistol clattered to the road.

”That's a lucky shot,” thought the boy.

His companion was not so lucky; he had fired and missed his opponent, who rode forward with drawn sword evidently resolved on cutting him down.

Rodney seized his pistol by the barrel and hurled it straight for the trooper's head and hit the mark squarely, the man pitching out of his saddle like a log! Not in vain had been those hours the boy had spent with Conrad learning to throw the tomahawk.

”I'll buy you the finest pistols in Norfolk if we ever get there,”

said Lawrence, thus expressing the grat.i.tude he felt.