nts which fed my strongest personal
attachments poisoned, by this accursed spirit of revolution. I would
hide my head from the storm and die in these shades in peace."

"It is not for Mr. Philip Lindsay, nor such as he," replied Tyrrel, "to
desert his sovereign in his hour of need."

"God forgive me for the thought, Mr. Tyrrel, but it remains yet to be
proved who most faithfully serve their sovereign; they who counsel
peace, or they who push war to its fatal extremes. There lives not a man
within the realm of England, to whom I would yield in devotion to the
glory of our country. Once make it clear to my judgment that we may hope
to regain the lost allegiance of this province by the sacrifice of life
and fortune, and, dearly as I cherish the welfare of those around me, I
will obey the first summons to the field, and peril this worthless
existence of mine in bloody fight. Yea, if need be, I will, with my own
hand, apply the torch to this peaceful abode, and give it over a smoking
ruin to the cause."

"I know you too well," replied Tyrrel, "to doubt the sincerity of your
words. But is it not obvious that the war must inevitably tend to this
field? Having gained the Carolinas, should we turn our backs as soon as
we have reached the confines of Virginia? On the contrary, does not
every obligation of honor impel us to maintain and protect our friends
here? The conquest of Virginia is an easier enterprise than you deem it.
If the continentals can muster ten thousand men, we, assuredly, may
double that number, counting our provincials levied in the south. We
have money and all the means of war, whilst this crippled Congress has
drained from the people their last groat; their wretched troops will
disband from mere want of supplies. They may expect no aid from the
north; for there Sir Henry will furnish them sufficient motive to stay
at home! We come animated by victories, full of mettle and vigor, they
meet us broken by defeats, dejected and torn to pieces by mutiny. Never
did treason or rebellion array itself with more certainty of punishment
than this!"

"I have read," said Lindsay, "how John Hampden resisted the exaction of
twenty shillings of ship money, and for that pittance dared the
displeasure of Charles and his Star Chamber: how he voted the
impeachment of the judges who were supple enough to warrant the
imposition: how, in this cause, he drew the sword and threw away the
scabbard: how he brought Strafford to the b