The month which followed was one scene of excitement to me. We went
into lodgings in Bristol, and my father seemed to be always busy making
purchases, or seeing the different gentlemen who were going out with us
in the same ship.
I recollect many of their faces. There was the General, a firm,
kindly-looking man, who always seemed to me as if he could not possibly
be a soldier, he was too quiet. Then there was Colonel Preston, a
handsome, florid gentleman, ten years older than my father, and I heard
that his wife, two sons and daughter were to be of the party.
In a misty kind of way, too, I can recollect that the gentlemen who came
and had long talks with my father, used to chat about the plantations in
Virginia and Carolina, and about a charter from the King, and that the
place we were going to was to be called Georgia, because the King's name
was the same as mine.
Then, too, there was a great deal of talk about the enemy; and as I used
to sit and listen, I understood that the Spaniards were the enemy, and
that they lived in Florida. But every one laughed; and my father, I
remember, said gravely--
"I do not fear anything that the Spaniards can do to hinder us,
gentlemen, I am more disposed to dread the climate."
A great deal that followed has now, at this time of writing, become
confused and mixed up; but I can remember the cheering from the wharves
as our ship floated away with the tide, people talking about us as
adventurers, and that soon after it came on to blow, and my next
recollections are of being in a dark cabin lit by a lantern, which swung
to and fro, threatening sometimes to hit the smoky ceiling. I did not
pay much heed to it though, for I was too ill, and the only consolation
I had was that of seeing Sarah's motherly face by the dim light, and
hearing her kindly, comforting words.
Then, after a very stormy voyage, we seemed, as I recollect it, to have
glided slowly out of winter into summer, and we were off a land of
glorious sunshine at the mouth of a river, up which we sailed.
I know there was a great deal done afterwards in the way of formal
taking possession in the name of the King, and I can recollect being
delighted with the show that was made, and at seeing my father and the
other gentlemen wearing gay clothes and sashes and plumes, and with
swords buckled on. Even Morgan partook of the change, and I well recall
how he came to me just before he landed, in a kind of grenadier uniform,
with sword and musket and belts, drawing himself up very stiff and
proud-looking as he let down the butt-end of his firelock with a loud
bang upon the deck.
"Do I look all right and soldierly, Master George?" he whispered, after
a glance round to see that he was not overheard.
"Yes," I said, "you look fine. Is your gun loaded?"
"Not yet, my lad."
"Pull out your sword and let's look at it."
"By and by, my lad," he said; "but tell me; I do look all right, don't
I?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because Sarah's got a nasty fit on this mornin'. Don't tell her I told
you; but she said I looked fit to be laughed at, and that there'd be no
fighting for me: Indians would all run away."
"Oh, never mind what she says," I cried. "I wish I was big enough for a
soldier."
"Wait a bit, boy, you'll grow," he said, as he busily tightened a
well-whitened belt. "You see it's so long since I've been soldiering,
that I'm a bit out of practice."
There was no enemy, Indian or Spaniard, to oppose us, and before long
the land had been roughly surveyed and portioned out, my father, as an
officer of good standing, being one of the earliest to choose; and in a
very short time we were preparing to go out on the beautiful little
estate that had become his, for the most part forest-land, with a patch
or two of rich, easily-drained marsh on both sides of a little stream
which ran, not far away, into the great river up which we had sailed,
and upon which, just below us, was to be formed the new city.
Then time glided on, and as I recall everything I can, I have
recollections of the gentlemen of the expedition, and common men,
soldiers and others, coming with their swords and guns to our place, and
all working hard together, after setting sentries and scouts to give
warning of danger, and cutting down trees, and using saws, and helping
to roughly build a little wooden house, and put up a fence for us.
Then, after getting our things in shelter, my father and Morgan joined
in helping to build and clear for some one else; and so on, week after
week, all working together to begin the settlement, till we were all
provided with rough huts and shelters for the valuable stores and
ammunition brought out. After which people began to shift for
themselves, to try and improve the rough places first built.