Shortly after the battle of Great Bridge the British evacuated Norfolk,
and we followed hard upon their heels. Will and I happened to be
together in the company that first entered the town, and we had some hot
skirmishing before we got well into the streets.
He had told me little in regard to Harrison and my sister, but his sad
face and silent manner spoke plainer than words the thoughts which were
uppermost in his mind. Since the morning he crawled into my tent I had
refrained from asking any more questions.
We had become separated from our men in a smart rally about a tory
house, whose inhabitants had fired upon us and then fled, but Will
continued to lead the way rapidly through the main streets toward that
portion of the city where resided the most prominent followers of Lord
Dunmore.
Even as we appeared in the streets people fled towards the water front,
where the boats of the men of war were plying back and forth, taking the
fugitives aboard in great numbers. Suddenly Will stopped at a corner and
looked sharply across the street at a house whose closed blinds gave it
a deserted appearance.
Almost instantly the front door opened and Berkley Harrison walked out.
He saw us and turned towards us for an instant; then bowing politely he
made his way down the street.
"Stop! Hold on!" I cried, and I ran across to intercept him. "Wait a
moment, you have something to tell me," I continued as I caught up with
him.
For answer he drew his sword and stood on guard. Will stood silently
watching us.
"Hold on!" I cried. "Where is Mary? What do you mean by that?" and I
pointed to his drawn weapon.
"Miss Judkins is upstairs," he said coldly, and he drew himself up to
his full height, while that scornful smile I knew so well curled his
lips. "If you wish to see her," he continued, "you will probably find
her at home."
"But, Berk," I cried, "tell me, are you married, and is she going with
you? It's but a step to the frigate's boat and our men will not come
much closer. Tell me all about it, and how you intend to care for my
sister?"
"You will have to excuse me, Mr. Judkins," said he. "I am not afraid of
your men, but every loyal man has left this town, and I must catch the
last boat to the frigate, where I have business of importance to attend
to."
Then I realized the horrible truth that had begun to gain upon me since
I noticed Will's suspicious lack of knowledge of Harrison's affairs. I
was satisfied that Will had heard the true rumor of the affair, while he
was confined in prison, and now my wrath swelled beyond my control and
burst forth.
"You damned villain," I said, almost in a whisper, and I had my sword
before me.
We went at it; I with my blood afire, he with the coolness of a born
villain, who neither feared nor cared for anything.
The rasping ring of sliding steel and the noise of our shuffling feet
were heard in the room above us, for in a moment a shutter clanged open
against the wall, and I heard my sister's voice shriek in dismay.
I turned my head partially to try and see her face and slipped on the
wet pavement. Then I felt something like a bar of hot iron passing
through me and Harrison's cold, villainous face was close to mine.
There was a sickening catching of the breath, but I sat my teeth hard
as the scoundrel withdrew his weapon. Then I reeled and fell to the
pavement.
But I would not go, quite. Everything seemed to whirl around me, but I
drew my right hand pistol and cocked back the flint with fast weakening
fingers. Harrison appeared in a fog, and to be going up a steep hill
close to me, and then suddenly to be descending a frightful declivity as
I raised my weapon slowly. The pavement seemed to heave upward again,
and I marked the look on his craven features--for he knew what he was
facing--and I pulled the trigger with the sight on his heart.
At that instant something struck the weapon from my hand, and I was
aware of Will Byrd standing over me with his sword outstretched.
I was going fast, but I drew my left pistol. Harrison was still standing
near me, but appeared to be double. I fired into him but an object
seemed to pass between us and something fell heavily to the pavement.
Then I thought I saw the villain sheath his sword and bow to me, with
that same sneering smile on his face, and pass away out of sight down
the long street. I tried to raise myself to follow him and got to my
knees, then I pitched forward--
It was late in the evening when I regained consciousness, and found
myself lying on a cot in a house which appeared to be an improvised
hospital, as there were many wounded men about me. A wet compress lay
upon my chest and each breath I took caused me sharp pain. I looked at
the cot next to mine and noticed a familiar figure reclining there, and
as I did so it sat up. Then I recognized Will Byrd, but could not tell
how either he or I came to be where we were.
He saw my eyes open, and gazed sadly and thoughtfully at me; then he
spoke.
"How is it Dick, do you feel better?" he asked.
"Yes," I whispered, "are you hurt too?"
"No, why?"
"What are you lying there for?" Then I suddenly remembered. "Where's
Harrison?" I asked faintly, as the affair came back to me.
Will looked thoughtfully at me without speaking, and the expression of
deep sadness came over his face again.
"Where is he?" I whispered.
"His body was thrown into a trench with some others outside the town,"
answered Will.
"Then you killed him? Or was it a dream, what?" I gasped.
"Don't try to talk, Dick. You remember you shot him, don't you? Hit him
through the body. I knocked your first pistol away, for your sister's
sake, but you fired again before I could stop you. Don't talk any more
and you will come out all right.
"There's not much dream about the whole business, I only wish there
was."