29. CHAPTER XXIX.
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS.
Two delightful weeks were spent in the valley of Virginia by the Governor
and his followers, during which time the magnificent forests of that region
underwent a daily transmutation. At first, the leaves began to wither,
and then fade to a sickly green—before they assumed their gorgeous autumnal
dress. The tenderest and earliest of their kind had already fallen and
strewed the ground with a carpet little less rich than the canopy over head.
The migratory birds were already on their passage southward, sometimes
making their encampments in the near and dangerous neighborhood of their
human contemporaries. The tops of the highest mountains were already
covered with snow, and though the days were of a delightful temperature, the
nights were bitter cold to our thinly clad adventurers. All these signs and
changes admonished the Governor that it was time to turn his face homeward.
He was reluctant to leave the country which he had discovered and conquered.[10]
Gladly would he have pitched his tent there for life, but his responsible
position at the head of his Majesty's Colony, required that he should be elsewhere,
and orders were accordingly issued for striking the tents and recrossing
the mountains. Nearly all his followers obeyed the summons with alacrity.
The wounded and the sick (many suffering with cold) were sufficiently
recovered to travel on horseback. Lee, looked pale and wan, but his eye was
bright, his countenance cheerful, and his spirits elastic as ever. A sort of
side-saddle had benn constructed out of one of the dragoon saddles for Eugenia,
and she professed herself fully able to undertake the journey. The Governor
had her carried across the mountain in a litter, over his new military road,
which, by the by, was nothing but an enlargement and widening of the Indian
and buffalo paths. Even in its improved state, it would have made McAdam
laugh. Wingina professed herself desirous of returning to her civilized
friends. Whether this determination, so different from the instincts of the
native savage—was produced by fear of her now liberated brother, or by delicate
considerations of another nature, it is not for us to determine. She was
also mounted on horse-back, and formed one of the Governor's own immediate
party. Though there was this general willingness and alacrity to commence
the return march, there was one exception to it. The Governor had
his foot in the stirrup, when the Scout approached with his coon skin in
hand, and unusually polite.
“Well Jarvis,” said the Governor, casting his eye to the Indian girl at the
same time, “what's your will now? Do you wish to form one of our escort?”
The Scout saw the direction of the Governor's eye and readily understood
his meaning, and he replied accordingly, “Not I, your Excellency, a woodpecker
would make but a sorry show a flying along side of an eagle;” and
he chuckled as he looked up at the scornful Indian beauty, seated upon her
high horse in more senses of the word than one.
“What, then, is it, Jarvis?—you have but to ask any thing reasonable, at
our hands, to have it granted forthwith.”
“I'm mighty glad to hear your Honor say so, 'case I am come to ask a whoppin'
big thing—It's a plantation!”
“A plantation, Jarvis? why, are you going to retire to the shades of private
life?”
“Jist exactly the very words Governor, only they wer'nt no where in
my dictionary. You've struck the very trail. I want to retire to the shades
of private life, and I guess you'll call this private life, and them shades enough
down here in this valley.”
The Governor, laughed at the conceits of the woodsman ere he replied:
“Certainly, Jarvis, you have fully earned your plantation, and I think I may
guarantee that a grant[11]
will be made out for you in due time, but you have
no idea of remaining here at present.”
“Yes, but I have though, got that very idea in my head, and if your Excellency
will just let me collect about fifty recruits from these hunting shirt boys,
we'll fall to work out of hand, and by the time you come back, you will see
log cabins a plenty sprinkled about these woods.”
The Governor meditated upon this strange proposition a few moments, and
then replied; “Not now, Jarvis—not now—I want you to return with us to the
Capital. It will be time enough next spring. Then your fifty shall be increased
to a thousand.'[12]
Jarvis knew that it was useless to talk farther on the subject, when the
Governor had once made up his mind. He was, nevertheless, disappointed
for the moment. No one would have found it out, however, two hours after,
when his merry voice was heard on the mountain side. His unsuccessful
love-making soon became bruited about among his boon companions, and it
may readily be imagined with what avidity they showered their jeers and jibes
upon one so ready to crack his jokes upon others. He bore it all patiently
for a while, but his naturally pugnacious temperament, broke forth at last,
and as he said, “when they gave him mustard he sent them back pepper.”
Poor Wingina came in for not a few of his sallies. Not that he durst offer
her any indignity in the Governor's presence, but as she would appear occasionally,
in windings of the mountain defile, he would let fly a few shafts at the
eagle in her lofty flights.
It is not our intention to follow the party step by step on its return, over
the same ground which we have once already conducted it. Suffice it then
to say, that in due time the Governor and his followers encamped within a
day's march of the Capital, and the same night a courier was despatched to
the senior councillor, Dr. Blair, informing him that he had arrived safe so far
on his return.
Great was the rejoicing next day at Williamsburg—and the expected arrival
of the Governor of the Colony was announced early in the morning by
the discharge of cannon, bon-fires, and ringing of bells. Large parties of
ladies and gentlemen were all day leaving the city to escort the mountain
adventurers home; so that toward evening when they came once more in
sight of the Capital, their numbers were greatly increased.
As Lee rode along side of Ellen Evylin, the old Doctor being on the other,
the Scout came cantering up on his poney, and hailed the former loudly. So
absorbed, however, was that young gentleman with the interesting conversation,
that Jarvis had almost to shout in his car before he could command his attention.
“What is it Jarvis?” said he almost petulantly.
“I didn't know, Squire, that you were so much engaged, but as I was a
ridin' along the ranks jist now I couldn't help a wonderin' what had become
of all the gold lace and ruffles that travelled over this road a few weeks ago.”
This remark of the Scout induced Lee to cast his eye over his own
outward man, and to remove his now slouched (instead of cocked) hat from
his head. The result was a hearty laugh from the whole party, including
the Scout of course.
Seldom had such a way-worn, dusty and ragged army made their appearance
in any city, since the days of Jack Falstaff. It was hard to imagine
the contrast which they presented to their former selves on the day of their
departure, at which time they literally glittered with finery. But if their
outward man was shabby and ragged—their inward man was in a corresponing
ratio, bright and joyous.
Ellen at first looked with apprehension at the pale and emaciated features
of her lover, but when she heard once more that joyous laugh which had
made her father's house merry in the days of their infancy, she was satisfied.
Her heart was full, she did little as she rode by Frank's side but to listen to
the narration of their tramontane adventures.
Eugenia Elliot was seized upon and monopolized by Kate and Dorothea,
her cousins, much to the discomfiture of poor Moore. He might well have
been called the Knight of the rueful countenance. He ought, however, to
have been satisfied, for Kate was doing nothing but her duty, and besides, if
lovers were not the most unreasonable creatures in the world, he would have
been fully compensated by the glances of pride and affection which the now
subdued beauty cast upon him. If he had had more reason and less passion
about him, he would have seen a visible improvement in Kate at a single
glance. The very shake of her hand was more hearty, frank and confidential
than, it had ever been before, and even her countenance had undergone
a change. There was before almost a boldness in her free and easy
carriage, but now this was softened down into the most winning grace—
a little arch, sometimes, perhaps, as she could not resist the really absurd
and ludicruous deportment of Moore.
There was one keen and close observer of all these things, not far off, and
he was abundantly gratified. It was Carter. He was not enough behind
the curtain to understand all this by-play, but he saw enough to know that his
rival was discomfited and morfied. The Governor rode into the city in the
highest spirits imaginable. The sun was just sinking behind the western
horizon as the troops defiled own Gloucester street, and arrived in front of
the Church. There stood the same platform which had been erected a few
weeks ago, and upon it the good old Doctor in his canonicals, and his prayer-book
in his hand. The Governor took the hint, and the troops were formed
as before, and the adventurous band kneeled down to return thanks to Al
mighty God for their safe return. Thus did our chivalrous ancestors; let
their children go and do likewise.
