The Washington herald., 1912-05-19

tneir gallant ffctOry.
So, bending to their paddles, the two
voyagers soon had the canoe shooting
toward the bank, As they neared it a
puff of smoke rose from the fortihca-
tons on the beach and a bullet Clipped
the water near the Prov At this the
trapper rose 20 his feet and held up
both hands in token of surrender
BE easy, thar" he yelled Were
Vaginians an friends come tew give
you people our hearty congratulations.
So go wide on your firm irons
This seemed to stop any further
shots, and in a few moments the two
had sprung out upon the beach, and
had passed through the rough fortihca-
tons near the edge of the town Here
they saw the leader Of the rihemen-
Gen. Misunderstanding broadly, as
he watched the feet sailing down the
river-and partaking of glass of
a drink peculiar to that part of the
compromising Of mint leaves,
crushed in a glass of whisky and water.
Il want tew congratulate you, gen
eral." said old Flintlock, walking up
to him and clasping him warmly by the
hand you boys sartainly did well,
and | wonder, now. as I and my part
ner, here, hev tew catch this here Cow
ernor. whether you could lend US a
boat! Well be sure tew return It,
an will guarantee its safe delivery"
The commander of the American
forces seemed to be most willing to
oblige the two dispatch bearers, for he
called to one of the men who owned
some boats on the water front, which
were undamaged by the British FIRE,
and requested one of them to allow
Jack and the trspper to make use Of
his vessel A consent was readily OBJ
tanned. and, as the way seemed now
clear for the proper delivery of the pa
pers, old Flintlock seated himself upon
log and asked the Virginian rifeman
what had brought on the present sit
uation
"Why, it is simply the breaking
point between our country and Eng
land" replied Woodford. Lord Dun
Vnore first enraged our people by seiz-
ing all the powder in the magazine at
Williamsburg. Then he armed all of
his servants and some Shawnee host
ages that were with him, and. when
the people sent deputation to demand
an immediate restitution of the powder,
as it was the property of the colony,
and also a return of some guns which
belonged to the Virginia militia, he
swore that he had moved the powder
because he feared an resurrection of
the slaves, and at night, because he
feared to alarm the inhabitants. This
answer was everywhere considered as
a scandalous evasion of the point, for,
the Virginians justly cOntended that
il an Instruction were apprehended the
arms and ammunition ought to be put
in the hands of the people, and a guard
placed at the magazine. Finally he
promised to restore the powder, but
stated that he would FIRE on the town
of York If the least interruption were
offered to the detachment of soldiers
who were to transport II. This threat.
absurd and inhuman as It was, put the
people in a rage, and all through this
portion of our State meetings took
place, and unanimous resolutions were
adopted to repel force by force, and to
retaliate to the utmost if any violence
were offered the towns of York and
Williamsburg by the ships or troops OF
his majesty, the King of England
Il see," Jack interrupted. Things
have gradually broken out into open
hostilities, while vein the quiet val
ley-have heard little beyond the fact
that trouble was brewing"
Finally, Lord Dunmore hied himself
to Wonder warship," Woodford con-
tinued, disappearing down the river,
and refused to treat with the members
of the assembly, unless they came on
z.II.-.aI 80
check the progress of our insurrectlon
until an army should arrive from Eu-
rope, and also issued a proclamation
commanding all loyal British subjects
to repair to his standard, and offering
freedom to all slaves who would join
him. These measures only heightened
the contempt and indignation of our
people. so volunteer companies poured
into Williamsburg, willing to fight and
die for Virginia. In the meanwhile
Dunmore threatened this little town Of
Hampton with his feet, and /. being
sent here with troops by the Virginia
committee of safety, have, | am happy
to say. driven him of from the shore
And what, pray is the force at
Lord Dunmore's commando" asked
Jack
Woodford's face looked grave as he
replied: The Mercury. of twenty-four
guns: the Otter. of fourteen, and the
Kinghsher, of sixteen: two companies
of the Fourteenth Regiment. just ar
rived from the West Indies, where
they have been hunting the Cards,
about 100 negroes. and from twenty
to thirty Tory volunteers. He has, IN
addition to this, fitted out two large
ships. which he has seized. belonging
to. Virginia merchants. and in which
he has embarked his servants and et-
fects. The men-of-war have fitted out
seven tenders, mounted with cannon.
This is a formidable force and. thank
heaven. that we have driven them
swayl But ! have great fear that the
Town of Norfolk will now suffer the
very fate that has here been averted."
The old trspper had been nervously
moving about during this recital, and
low that the VirginIan commander
seemed to be finished with his tale. he
pulled Jack BY the arm and told him
hat they must be away, or else the
British Governor might escape them
So, walking to the beach. they soon
climbed into little jolly-boat. with |
Jars and a Sprit-sail. and before long
we're gliding over the roughened water |
If the river. propelled by spanking |
,reeze
Before many hours they drew near
o the feet. which. lying at anchor in
Norfolk Harbor, presented a formid- |
lble appearance indeed. and, singing |
tut the vessel which they took to be 1
he COrer,,orfs from the a1siUu which 4