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