Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-29

Major Beverly reading
the names of those present
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hle, not afraid, for Things that under
stand not, and that seem 10 SAVIOR of
something outside the flesh, have al
ways rather aroused Inc to rage as Of
one who was approached by other than
the given rules Of warfare rather than
fear. l have always argued that an
apparition should attack only his own
kind and hath no right to leave bis
own battlefield for ours when we be
at disadvantage by our lack of un-
derstanding as to weapons. So If l
had time would have ridden after
that corpse candle and got, If l
could. a sight of the bearer, had he
been fiend or spook. but l knew that
had none to lose. So l rode on hard
to Barry Upper Branch.
There was an air Of mystery about
the whole place that night, though 1t
were hard to see the use of it. Where
as, generally speaking, there was a
broad blazon of light from all the win
dOws, often to the revealing of strange
sights within, the shutters were clos
ell. and only by the lines of gold
at top and bottom would one have
known the house was lit at all. And
whereas there were always to be seen
horses standing openly before the
porch, this night one knew there were
any about only by the sound of their
distant stamping. And yet this was
the night when all mystery Of plotting
was to be resolved into the wind OF
action.
entered and found great company
assembled in the hail. and all equipped
with knives for the cutting Of the to-
bacco plants and arms, for the militia,
as was afterward proved, was an un-,
certain quantity. One minute the SOL
diers were for the government, when
the promises as to their pay were spe-
cious. and the next, when the pay was
not forthcoming, for the rioters, and
there was no stability either for the
one cause or the other in them.
There was hushed greeting from
one or two who stood nearest-Sir
Humphrey Hyde among them-as ell
| tered then the work went on. Major
| Robert Beverly it was who was tax
ing the lead of matters, though it was
not fully known then or afterward,
| but sure it can do no harm at this late
date to divulge the truth, for 1t was
a glorious cause and to the credit OF
mans honor if not TO his purse and his
standing with the government.
Major Beverly stood ut the head Of
the hall with roll of parchment In
J his hand, wherefrom he read the
names of those present, whom he was
dividing into parties for the purpose
of the plant cutting esteeming that the
best plan TO pursue rather than to
march out openly in a great mob. Thus
the whole company there assembled
was divided into small parties and each
put under q leader. who was to give
directions as to the commencement or
the work of destruction.
My party was headed by Captain
Noel Jaynes something to my discon-
tent, for the hardest luck of choosing
in the world to my mind is that OF
choosing a leader. for the leader is In
himself a very gladstone. Never had
| 1t pleased me to follow any mans bid
ding. and in one way only could l
comfort myself and retain my respect
of self, and that was by the consider
alton that I followed by my own will
and so in one sense led myself.
When Mt last we set forth, some OF
us riding and some on foot, with that
old pirate captain to the front. hunched
to his saddle. for he never could sit
horse like landsman, but clung to
him as If he were swaying mast and
worked his bride like wheel, with the
result of heavy lunges to right or left,
felt for the first time since l had
come to Virginia like my old self.
We hurried along the moonlit road,
then struck into bride path, being
bound for Major Robert Beverly's
plantation, he being supposed to know
naught of it. and indeed after his Is
suing of orders he had ridden to James
town to see Sir Henry Chichely and
keep him quiet with game at piquet,
which he much affected.
As we rode along in silence, If any
man spoke Captain Jaynes quieted
him with great oath smothered In his
chest as II by a bed of feathers, and
presently became aware there were
more of us than when we started. we
swarmed through the woods, our COM
pany being swelled invisibly from
every side, and not only men. but wom-
en-, were there. Both Mistress Allgood
and Mistress Longman were pressing
on with their petticOats tucked up. and
to my great surprise both Of the black
women who lived at Barry Upper
Branch. They skunk along far to the
rear, with knives cleaning like white
fire at their girdles. keeping well out
Of sight Of the Barry brothers, who
were both Of our party, and looking for
all the world like two female tigers Of
some savage jungle in search Of prey,
since each moved with a curious power
ful crouch of secrecy as to her back
and hips and wary roll Of fierce eyes.