Audrey

Audrey made no answer, for just then the trumpet blew for the mount, and

the fisherman must needs draw in and pocket his hook and line. Clear,

high, and sweet, the triumphant notes pierced the air, and were answered

from the hills by a thousand fairy horns. The martial-minded Governor

would play the soldier in the wilderness; his little troop of gentlemen

and rangers and ebony servants had come out well drilled for their tilt

against the mountains. The echoes were still ringing, when, with laughter,

some expenditure of wit, and much cheerful swearing, the camp was struck.

The packhorses were again laden, the rangers swung themselves into their

saddles, and the gentlemen beneath the sugar-tree rose from the grass, and

tendered their farewells to the oreads.

Alce roundly hoped that their Honors would pass that way again upon their

return from the high mountains, and the deepening rose of Molly's cheeks

and her wistful eyes added weight to her mother's importunity. The

Governor swore that in no great time they would dine again in the valley,

and his companions confirmed the oath. His Excellency, turning to mount

his horse, found the pioneer at the animal's head.

"So, honest fellow," he exclaimed good-naturedly, "you will not with us to

grave your name upon the mountain tops? Let me tell you that you are

giving Fame the go-by. To march against the mountains and overcome them as

though they were so many Frenchmen, and then to gaze into the promised

land beyond--Odso, man, we are as great as were Cortez and Pizarro and

their crew! We are heroes and paladins! We are the Knights of"-His horse, impatient to be gone, struck with a ringing sound an iron-shod

hoof against a bit of rock. "The Knights of the Horseshoe," said the

gentleman nearest the Governor.

Spotswood uttered a delighted exclamation: "'Gad, Mr. Haward, you've hit

it! Well-nigh the first horseshoes used in Virginia--the number we were

forced to bring along--the sound of the iron against the rocks--the

Knights of the Horseshoe! 'Gad, I'll send to London and have little

horseshoes--little gold horseshoes--made, and every man of us shall wear

one. The Knights of the Golden Horseshoe! It hath an odd, charming sound,

eh, gentlemen?"

None of the gentlemen were prepared to deny that it was a quaint and

pleasing title. Instead, out of very lightness of heart and fantastic

humor, they must needs have the Burgundy again unpacked, that they might

pledge at once all valorous discoverers, his Excellency the Governor of

Virginia, and their new-named order. And when the wine was drunk, the

rangers were drawn up, the muskets were loaded, and a volley was fired

that brought the echoes crashing about their heads. The Governor mounted,

the trumpet sounded once more, and the joyous company swept down the

narrow valley toward the long, blue, distant ranges.