The Heart

There was a hushed greeting from one or two who stood

nearest--Sir Humphrey Hyde among them--as I entered, then

the work went on. Major Robert Beverly it was who was taking 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 it was a glorious cause, and to the credit of a man's honour, if

not to his purse, and his standing with the government.

Major Beverly stood at the head of the hall with a roll of parchment

in 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 a leader, who was to

give directions as to the commencement of the work of destruction.

My party was headed by Capt. Noel Jaynes, something to my

discontent, 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

gall-stone. Never had it pleased me to follow any man's bidding, and

in one way only could I comfort myself and retain my respect of

self, and that was by the consideration that I followed by my own

will, and so in one sense led myself.

When at 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 a horse like a landsman, but clung to him as if he

were a swaying mast, and worked his bridle like a wheel with the

result of heavy lunges to right or left, I felt for the first time

since I had come to Virginia like my old self.

We hurried along the moonlit road, then struck into a bridle-path,

being bound for Major Robert Beverly's plantation, he being supposed

to know naught of it, and indeed after his issuing of orders he had

ridden to Jamestown, to see Sir Henry Chichely, and keep him quiet

with a game at piquet, which he much affected.

As we rode along in silence, if any man spoke, Captain Jaynes

quieted him with a great oath smothered in his chest, as if by a bed

of feathers, and presently I became aware that there were more of us

than when we started. We swarmed through the woods, our company

being swelled invisibly from every side, and not only men but women

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 slunk along

far to the rear, with knives gleaming 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 both moved

with a curious powerful crouch of secrecy as to her back and hips,

and wary roll of fierce eyes.