RODNEY RIDES WITH DISPATCHES
Rodney had been at home but a short time when he realized that
important events had occurred in his absence.
"Mother," he said one day, "it looks as though the king will have to
send over a new governor in place of Lord Dunmore, or there'll be
trouble. You know, Colonel Lewis and his men were mad enough to fight
both him and the Indians because, instead of punishing the Indians, he
made peace with 'em. I hear he had trouble before he left Virginia on
the expedition over the mountains, and is having it now."
"Yes, he dissolved the Assembly because, out of sympathy with Boston,
it appointed a fast day. England, you know, closed the port of Boston.
The year before Governor Dunmore dissolved the Assembly because it
expressed sympathy with Massachusetts. I fear he is too arbitrary."
"Well, they do as they have a mind to after all. Last year, I
understand, Mr. Jefferson and Colonel Washington and others met at the
old Raleigh Tavern and arranged to have correspondence with all the
colonies so they could all act together if necessary."
"Yes, they also met there five years ago and resolved not to import
goods from England, and, before they went home last June, they met at
the same place and planned for the Colonial Congress they held in
Philadelphia last September. I believe these meetings were in what is
called the Apollo room. I remember dancing there when I was a girl. It
is a large room with a big fireplace at one end. I expect the king's
ears would tingle if he could hear all the angry words that have been
spoken against tyranny in that room. Oh, I don't know what it all will
come to. There must be faults on both sides. I think Patrick Henry is
too impetuous for a safe leader. I've been told that he believes the
colonies should declare themselves independent of England. That would
mean a terrible war. I do hope we may escape such a calamity."
The king had heard of the words spoken in the Apollo room of the old
tavern. Governor Dunmore, an irritable, haughty Scotch nobleman, with
little respect for the people, also had heard enough to fill his heart
with rage. He sent the legislators, many of whom had ridden many miles
to the capital at Williamsburg, back home with his disapproval. He
would teach them submission!
On their part, the people had no thought of submission. Wherever they
met there was a sound as of angry bees.
"I think our people must have much of right on their side, or such men
as Colonel Washington, who is an aristocrat with much to lose and very
conservative, 'tis said, would not favour what is being done in
opposition to the British ministry," said Mrs. Allison. Rodney, while
seeing the matter largely through his mother's eyes, nevertheless
recalled the words he had heard fall from the lips of the rough
frontiersmen. He knew that they were ready to fight, indeed many of
them eager for a conflict, confident that they, who could clear the
land, build homes in the wilderness and defend them against the
Indians, could likewise defy the tyranny of King George. The boy
became restless. He wanted to participate in the agitation which was
noticeable on all sides, indeed the air seemed charged with it.
There was little work to be done on the farm during the winter.
Hearing that Mr. Jefferson was then at his home, Rodney decided to
visit Monticello. There he met with a warm greeting, though a shade of
disappointment was in his face when he learned that the great man had
been so busy he had not followed the fortunes of the Allison family,
and did not even know that Mr. Allison had fallen at the battle of
Point Pleasant. For the first time Rodney now doubted whether after
all the man who had paid off the mortgage, and thwarted Denham, was
really an agent of Mr. Jefferson. Finally, an opportunity came for
assuring himself. His host was admiring Nat when Rodney said: "The
colt is in fine condition, handsomer than ever. I nearly lost him.
Denham wanted him and, when he started to foreclose, he took
possession of Nat."
"Denham foreclosed? Have you then lost the home? I wish I had known of
it, I might have prevented that."
"Some kind friend learned of it and paid the mortgage; neither mother
nor I know who it was. I thought he might have been your agent."
"I am glad you think I would have assisted had I known, but this is
the first I have heard of the matter. You see I have been very busy
and away from home much, and not in a way to hear. I'm very glad you
were rescued from the clutches of Denham."
"He seemed determined to have both the place and the horse. Both
Thello and Mam offered to sell themselves, even suggested that to
Denham, but he told them he didn't want any old, worn out niggers on
his hands. I'm glad I wasn't there," and the lad's eyes blazed with
indignation as he thought of the old miser's greed.
"Denham is said to be as ardent a Tory as he dares to be," remarked
Mr. Jefferson, as though to himself. Then, turning to the boy, he
looked into his face, and Rodney felt as though his inmost thoughts
were being read.
That he stood the test well appeared in the next words of Jefferson.
"I believe your experience with the Indians has greatly matured you.
How old are you?"
"I am well on to sixteen, sir."
"In other words," replied his host with a smile, "you are fifteen with
ardent hope of soon being sixteen, and I'll warrant extremely desirous
of active and honourable employment. The colt, too, looks as though he
wanted to exercise his faculties as well."
"Sir, I am very anxious for employment. There is not much I can do at
home this winter. Indeed, the little place will barely afford
existence and I need to earn money."
"What I have in mind will demand discretion and judgment beyond your
years, as well as fidelity to a trust. Of your fidelity I have no
question, and am inclined to believe that, with your intelligence
and the experience you have had, you will be able to meet the
requirements."
"Won't you give me a chance, Mr. Jefferson?" There was pleading in the
boy's eyes and in the tone of his voice.
"Rodney, I will, with your mother's permission. You explain to her,
but tell no one else, that the work will consist in carrying messages
to different parts of the colony. Supervision of the work being done
by the various committees of safety, and quick and reliable
communication between the men taking the lead in this business,
require such service as you will be expected to perform. Nat looks as
though he might be depended on for the quickness, and to you must be
left the discretion. You must have eyes as well as ears and use both
more than the tongue. The employment will not be without slight
danger, for, after a time, our opponents will inevitably discover
what you are doing. Then, in the present unsettled state of things,
the long rides, some of the time at night, will demand courage and
prudence."
"I'm sure mother will consent. There certainly won't be the danger
there was living among the Indians."
The man smiled. "I doubt if your mother would consent to expose you to
those conditions again. I will write to her and you may be the bearer
of the message and plead your cause."
With the letter finally in his pocket, and Nat making use of a free
rein to gallop like the wind, Rodney Allison felt as though he were
entering upon a new world with much more of sunshine and hope than for
a long time he had known. The following week he began his duties by
setting out for Mount Vernon with a message for Colonel Washington,
and another for Richard Henry Lee, who, also, had been a delegate to
the first Colonial Congress.
Angus saw that something was afoot and was displeased at Rodney for
not taking him into his confidence. "Where now, Rodney?" he said, as
he sauntered into the Allison yard, where his friend was bidding his
mother good-bye.
"I've got to take quite a long ride on one of Mr. Jefferson's business
matters; I don't quite know how far it will take me."
"You go prepared for trouble," replied Angus with a nod at the butts
of two horse-pistols which could be seen under the flaps of the
holsters.
"Those are some father had with the saddle," replied Rodney.
Angus winked and said no more, though it was evident he would like to
have done so.
"Well, good-bye, Angus, and good-bye, mother. Don't expect me back
till I get here," said Rodney, vaulting into the saddle and riding
away at a furious gallop, his head up and shoulders thrown back and as
full of a sense of his own importance as is permitted to a modest lad,
such as Rodney Allison really was.
Before him lay long stretches of miserable roads, clogged with snow or
mud, a bleak landscape, not to mention many inconveniences which the
travellers through that region were then obliged to endure. But all
things come to an end and so, one crisp morning, the lad reined Ned
into the road leading to Mount Vernon.
Now, those of us who visit the place feel that we approach the shrine
of our country. To Rodney it was a visit to one of the finest
plantations in all the Old Dominion, and its owner was one of the most
influential citizens as well as one of the wealthiest. The general
appearance of the place that morning was much as one now finds it,
save for the evidences then seen of the little army of negroes who
worked on the plantation. The smoke curled lazily up into the frosty
air; the majestic Potomac flowed past between bleak banks on which the
first green of spring had not shown itself. A kinky haired coloured
boy was promptly on hand to hold the horse, and another met him at the
door.
"Talk as little as possible and see everything," was his mother's
parting advice, and he thought of it as he looked about him. On all
sides were evidences of thrift and he felt the atmosphere of home.
How Washington loomed before the lad's eyes on entering the room! Not
that he was unduly long of limb, for, though a giant in stature, he
was perfectly proportioned; but he seemed to fill the room with his
presence. Rodney had wondered how he would compare with the man he so
ardently admired, but he could find no point of resemblance between
the man who greeted him and the host of Monticello, save in the
courteous, kindly manner of both. The boy's first thought was of the
masterful manner of the man before him, yet those calm, blue-gray
eyes, looking out from under the heavy brows, did not embarrass him.
This is the man who Ahneota believed was guarded by the Great Spirit,
was the thought which flashed through his mind as Washington extended
his hand in greeting, the man who had dared take Governor Dinwiddie's
message into the enemy's country, who had saved the remnants of
Braddock's panic-stricken troops amid a hail of bullets. How could
such a massive figure have escaped, with men falling all around him?
Rodney delivered his message and received a reply, was introduced
to Mrs. Washington and given refreshments and departed rejoicing
that his new work was affording him such pleasant experiences. What
satisfaction it must be, he thought, to be so rich, have such a
fine home and be respected by all one's neighbours. If he had such a
plantation as this he would hunt and fish to his heart's content,
and Lisbeth Danesford would be proud to introduce him to her
cousins from London, and he would not condescend to notice them
either, unless they were different from Mogridge, the insolent
fellow! What had become of him? Anyhow, though the "Chevalier"
finally had gotten the money, there was the satisfaction of winning
it from Mogridge. Ah! Rodney, you were not experienced in the
tricks of gambling or you would have known that, but for the
"Chevalier" watching them, Mogridge and his "pal" would have stripped
you of every farthing.
Rodney had read the letter Lisbeth had written from London. He was
glad she was finding the nobility, the lords and dukes, not to mention
duchesses, such uninteresting people, and that she longed for
Virginia. Had she come home? It would be but little out of his way to
ride around past "The Hall." No, he would not call, for he would not
wish to meet the squire after the shabby manner in which he had
treated them. Possibly he might meet Lisbeth on the road. She was a
mighty fine girl, and, if she did get him into that scrape with
Roscome's bull, she had gotten him out. From the girl his thoughts
reverted to the man he had just left.
The boy recalled that firm mouth, the grave dignity, and the something
about his personality which had said to the lad as to others: "You can
trust me." Rodney Allison was never afterward to doubt George
Washington. The next year, when it was said Washington had declared
that if necessary he would raise a thousand men at his own expense and
march them to Boston, Rodney exclaimed, "He'll do it, too!" When
Boston was evacuated he said, "I knew it." When Washington, in the
face of all sorts of difficulties, led his scattering forces in
masterly retreat before the victorious British, Rodney was to say,
"He's doing all that man can do." But this is getting ahead of the
story, for young Allison is now on his way to the home of Richard
Henry Lee, who later was to propose independence in the Continental
Congress, when to do so might mean loss of not only his property but
his life as well, for King George would have liked to make an example
of at least a few prominent "traitors," could he have got them in his
clutches.
The meeting with Mr. Lee was for Rodney another pleasant experience; a
fine man, and what an agreeable voice he had! Then the lad turned
Nat's head toward home, well pleased with the success that so far had
attended his journey.
Two days of travelling brought him to the neighbourhood of his old
home. He was aware of a dull ache in his throat as he rode by the
school house. It seemed as if he saw his father bowed over the rude
bench within. In the distance he caught a glimpse of "The Hall." There
was a feeling of homesickness with it all, and he would have given all
that his scant purse contained to see Lisbeth and have her know that
he had become a person of some importance. Wouldn't the squire rave if
he knew the errands he had in charge. Ah, but those stiff-necked
Tories would have to yield!
As he rode past "The Hall" he looked long at the house. The squire
galloped up behind and passed him with a stare and a salute, not
recognizing him.
"I wonder he didn't remember Nat," thought Rodney, and it was
surprising because the squire was a great admirer of a good horse and
knew the "points" of all the best in the county.
A little farther along lived the Roscomes. There he was sure of
finding a place to spend the night. It was then about four in the
afternoon. He would have time to get his supper and then ride up on
the hill for one more look at the familiar view.
The Roscomes, father and son, owned but a small plantation, but their
hospitality was princely and it was with difficulty he got away for
the hill.
Hitching Nat in a grove at the foot, he climbed to the top just in
season to see the sunset and the extended view, which had been so
familiar to him, so that he felt well repaid. On his way back, and as
he was unhitching the horse, he heard voices in the road which ran
near the grove.
"I say, me 'earty, I've about enough o' this dirty country. I'd like
to put me two legs across the back of a fine 'orse, an' I'd ask no
questions of the owner."
"Right ye are, Bill. At the speed we're walkin' we'll git to Occoquan
about midsummer, I'm thinkin'."
"They've 'orses in plenty 'ereabout to go with their muddy roads.
They'd not miss a couple, though they think more of a 'orse than they
do of a nigger, I'm told."
"We'd have two an' ask no questions, but they've both dogs and
niggers, an' one or both always sleeps in the stable."
"I tell ye wot, d'ye mind the lad and girl go riding by when we was
eatin' a bite beside the road, along back?"
"I did an' thought ridin' would do me a sight more good than them."
"They wouldn't 'ave no guns an' would be easy to scare. Suppose if we
meet 'em we give 'em the 'int an' not wait for an answer?"
"We'd have the whole country at our heels."
"An' there wouldn't be a 'orse in the lot could overtake us or me eye
knows not a good one."
Rodney looked to the priming of his pistols, then mounted Nat and
followed slowly after the men.