wn in Jersey. Will you go with me?"

"Certain sure I'll go. I reckon thar be no good o' my hangin' round
any longer to-day."

As they walked down Chestnut Street Rodney saw a familiar figure
approaching.

"Zeb, there comes one of the greatest men in the country, Thomas
Jefferson. Wonder if he'll remember me."

He was not left long in doubt. Mr. Jefferson's face was careworn and
noticeably older than when Rodney had last seen him, and the lad was
but a shadow of his former self, yet the man recognized him the moment
they met.

"How is my young friend this morning? You've had an illness."

"I am just up from a fever. Mr. Jefferson, I want you to know my
friend, one of Morgan's Rangers, Mr. Campbell, or Zeb, as we call him.
He's been to me almost as good a friend as you."

"I'm always glad to meet your friends, Rodney. What are you doing
here?"

"I'm waiting till I get strength enough to go back to Charlottesville.
I was taken prisoner and am on parole and I think home is the best
place for me."

"Charlottesville is a good place at all times, especially now that
Burgoyne's troops are imprisoned there. I should think you might also
find it profitable to return, for the prisoners kept there have put
money in circulation and made work. By the way, I haven't seen you
since you sold your horse to my overseer. I felt badly about that
because I knew you didn't let him go without a sacrifice. I will give
you a letter and when you get back you take it to Monticello and get
the colt. You can pay me at your convenience."

This was unexpected good fortune, and Rodney felt very grateful. "I
wish I had Nat here. I would start to-morrow," he remarked to Zeb as
they walked on.

"Thar seems to be no such thing as complete satisfaction in this
world. Now, if I had a home fer Melicite an' me to go to, well, I
reckon I'd be a little easier in mind."

"Come to Charlottesville with me. You heard what Mr. Jefferson said
about business being brisk there. It's only a little village, but
we'll find some way to turn a dollar. You've got to come, unless you
can find something better."

And so it happened that Rodney and his friend and Melicite, who
arrived in due time, all found their way to Charlottesville, and also
found home and opportunity.

Rodney was surprised on his first visit to the quarters of the
"Convention troops," as they were called. On Colonel Harvey's estate,
about five miles distant from the Court House at Charlo