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Updated: June 10, 2025
"Is it not the pity," he cried, "that such talents as yours should rust in a dark room in the Candleriggs? Believe me, Mr. Garvald, I have seen some pretty shots, but I have never seen your better." Then I told him that I was sailing within a month for Virginia, and he suddenly grew solemn. "It looks like Providence," he said, "that we two should come together.
"The Cherokees are on us," I said, and I told them of the army we had followed. "How many?" they asked. "Three hundred for a vanguard, but more follow." One man laughed, as if well pleased. "I'm in the humour for Cherokees just now. There's a score of scalps hanging outside, if you could see them, Mr. Garvald." "What scalps?" I asked, dumbfoundered. "The Rapidan murderers.
"Of Auchencairn?" he asked, when I had assented. "Of Auchencairn, or what is left of it," I said. "Then, gentlemen," he said, addressing the company, "I can settle the dispute on the facts, without questioning his Excellency's dogma. Mr. Garvald is of as good blood as any in Scotland.
There's time to draw back, if ye want; but you've brought me the master word, and I'm bound to set you on the road. Just one word to ye, Mr. Garvald. Keep a stout face whatever you see, for Ringan has a weakness for a bold man. Be here the morn at sunrise, and if ye're wise bring no weapon. I'll see to the boat and the provisioning."
"All you say is true, but I want a different kind of service from you. You may have noticed in your travels, Mr. Garvald for they tell me you are not often out of the saddle that up and down the land there's a good few folk that are not very easy in their minds.
Large branching candelabra had meantime been placed on the table, and in a glow of light we stood to our feet and honoured the toast. As I stood up and looked to the table's end, I saw the dark, restless eyes and the heavy blue jowl of Governor Nicholson. He saw me, for I was alone at the bottom end, and when we were seated, he cried out to me, "What news of trade, Mr. Garvald?
He was a Seneca Indian, and I wondered what one of that house was doing in the Tidewater. Mercer told me his name. "Shalah will take you to the man you ken. Do whatever he tells you, Mr. Garvald, for this is a job in which you're nothing but a bairn." We pushed off, the Indian taking the oars, and in five minutes James Town was lost in the haze.
In those days the star of the great Marlborough had not risen; but John Churchill, the victor of Blenheim, did not esteem himself a wiser strategist than the raw lad Andrew Garvald, now sailing north in the long wash of the Atlantic seas.
He warned me, I remember, to be on my guard against some of the young bloods, who might visit me to make mischief. "It's not that they know anything of our affairs," he said, "but that they have got a prejudice against yourself, Mr. Garvald. They are foolish, hot-headed lads, very puffed up by their pride of gentrice, and I do not like the notion of their playing pranks in that tobacco-shed."
"It is a long, sore road to the hills, Mr. Garvald." "I've come to make confession," I said, and I plunged into my story of the work of the last months. He heard me with lowering brows, "Who the devil made you Governor of this dominion, sir? You have been levying troops without His Majesty's permission. Your offence is no less than high treason. I've a pretty mind to send you to the guard-house."
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