Audrey

"I'll lay my life that you are not in extremis now," retorted the

doctor. "If ever I saw a man with a sprained ankle keep his color so

marvelously, or heard him speak in so composed a tone! The pain must be of

a very unusual degree indeed!"

"It is," answered Mr. Haward calmly. "I cannot possibly go on in this

condition, your Excellency, nor can I dream of allowing my unlucky

accident to delay this worshipful company in their ascent of the

mountains. I will therefore take my servant and ride slowly back to the

cabin which we left this afternoon. Doubtless the worthy pioneer will give

me shelter until my foot is healed, and I will rejoin your Excellency upon

your return through the valley."

As he spoke, for the greater ease of the injured member, he leaned against

a towering lock. He was a handsome youth, with a trick of keeping an

unmoved countenance under even such a fire of laughter and exclamation as

greeted his announcement.

"And for this you would lose the passing of the Appalachian Mountains!"

cried Spotswood. "Why, man! from those heights we may almost see Lake

Erie; may find out how near we are to the French, how easily the mountains

may be traversed, what promise of success should his Majesty determine to

plant settlements beyond them or to hold the mountain passes! There is

service to be done and honor to be gained, and you would lag behind

because of a wrenched ankle! Zoons, sir! at Blenheim I charged a whole

regiment of Frenchmen, with a wound in my breast into which you might have

thrust your hand!"

The younger man shrugged his shoulders. "Beggars may not be choosers," he

said coolly. "The sunlight is fast fading, and if we would be out of this

gorge before nightfall we must make no further tarrying. I have your

Excellency's permission to depart?"

One of the gentlemen made a low-voiced but audible remark to his neighbor,

and another hummed a line from a love song. The horses moved impatiently

amongst the loose stones, and the rangers began to mutter that night

would be upon them before they reached a safer footing.

"Mr. Haward! Mr. Haward!" said the Governor sternly. "It is in my mind

that you meditate inflicting a greater harm than you have received. Let me

tell you, sir, if you think to so repay a simple-minded hospitality"-Mr. Haward's eyes narrowed. "I own Colonel Spotswood for Governor of

Virginia," he said, speaking slowly, as was his wont when he was angry.

"His office does not, I think, extend farther than that. As for these

pleasant-minded gentlemen who are not protected by their rank I beg to

inform them that in my fall my sword arm suffered no whit."

Turning, he beckoned to a negro who had worked his way from the servants

in the rear, along the line of rangers, to the outskirts of the group of

gentlemen gathered around the Governor and the injured man. "Juba," he

ordered, "draw your horse and mine to one side. Your Excellency, may I

again remind you that it draws toward nightfall, and that this road will

be no pleasant one to travel in the dark?"