ir to the end. Sir John had done
better by me than he thought, and I thanked him over and over again for
his good gifts.

"Presently I got a letter from my father's old partner to say that my
dear mother was ill. I got back to Glasgow only in time--but how glad I
was of that!--to hear her last words. When my mother was gone I turned
towards Virginia with longing, for I could not so soon go against her
wishes and join the King's army on the Continent, and less desire had
I to be a Glasgow merchant. Gentlemen merchants had better times in
Virginia. So there was a winding-up of the estate, not greatly to my
pleasure; for it was found that by unwise ventures my father's partner
had perilled the whole, and lost part of the property. But as it was,
I had a competence and several houses in Glasgow, and I set forth to
Virginia with a goodly sum of money and a shipload of merchandise, which
I should sell to merchants, if it chanced I should become a planter
only. I was warmly welcomed by old friends and by the Governor and his
family, and I soon set up an establishment of my own in Williamsburg,
joining with a merchant there in business, while my land was worked by a
neighbouring planter.

"Those were hearty days, wherein I made little money, but had much
pleasure in the giving and taking of civilities, in throwing my doors
open to acquaintances, and with my young friend, Mr. Washington, laying
the foundation for a Virginian army, by drill and yearly duty in camp,
with occasional excursions against the Indians. I saw very well what the
end of our troubles with the French would be, and I waited for the time
when I should put to keen use the sword Sir John Godric had given me.
Life beat high then, for I was in the first flush of manhood, and the
spirit of a rich new land was waking in us all, while in our vanity we
held to and cherished forms and customs that one would have thought to
see left behind in London streets and drawing-rooms. These things, these
functions in a small place, kept us a little vain and proud, but, I also
hope it gave us some sense of civic duty.

"And now I come to that which will, comrade of my heart, bring home to
your understanding what lies behind the charges against me:

"Trouble came between Canada and Virginia. Major Washington, one Captain
Mackaye, and myself marched out to the Great Meadows, where at Fort
Necessity we surrendered, after hard fighting, to a force three times
our number. I, with