ancied the marquis himself must have understood
somewhat of that which was in my mind, for he took me by the hand
kindly, asking what it was I would say to him, and but for the
difference in the faces I might have said it was little Frenchie with
whom I was speaking.

I contrived to gather my wits, however, in time to prevent myself from
acting like a veritable simple, and on the instant I announced that I
had come from a Jerseyman by the name of Morgan, who could not get out
of the town of York without deserting from the British lines, not only
General Lafayette himself, but all others in the tent were eager to
hear what I had to say.

Then it was, and feeling by this time much more at ease, I repeated all
that lesson I had learned from Pierre, until having described the
fortifications as they then existed, and told of those which were
evidently intended to be thrown up.

I would I might say that the young French general praised me for my
bravery in bringing the information; that I was complimented by all the
officers for having shown so much of courage as to walk that short
distance from the town of York to Williamsburg, and that my father
clasped me in his arms calling me a hero; but I cannot tell such a story
because nothing of the kind happened.

It was as if all those men who were serving the colonies looked upon
that which I had done as a simple and a natural act; as if it required
no more courage to set out from York than if I was to have gone from one
end of the plantation to another.

True it is the General thanked me for that which I told him; but
straightway the words were out of his mouth he turned to the officers
nearabout and began discussing the news while one of them sat down at a
table and attempted to draw the fortifications as I had told him they
existed, or were about to be built, and no one gave any heed to me
whatsoever save my father.

And I must also confess that even he whom I loved so dearly did not
spend overly much time in caressing me, nor did he utter one word of
praise. It was to him that I had simply done what any lad of Virginia
should have done, and he was satisfied, rather than proud, that I had
acted the part.

"It is well you should return at once, my lad, and since I see no good
reason why you should not do so, I advise that you make your way around
by our home, so you may tell your mother what you have seen. I sent a
messenger to her yesterday; but she will be pleased to