t at once,--taking first to their horses,
and then to the woods; and that, breaking up into small parties of
fugitives, they thus made their several ways, as best they could,
through the passes of the mountains leading to the much-desired
seclusion of Staunton. One of these parties consisted of Benjamin
Harrison, Colonel William Christian, John Tyler, and Patrick Henry.
Late in the day, tired and hungry, they stopped their horses at the
door of a small hut, in a gorge of the hills, and asked for food. An
old woman, who came to the door, and who was alone in the house,
demanded of them who they were, and where they were from. Patrick
Henry, who acted as spokesman of the party, answered: "We are members
of the legislature, and have just been compelled to leave
Charlottesville on account of the approach of the enemy." "Ride on,
then, ye cowardly knaves," replied she, in great wrath; "here have my
husband and sons just gone to Charlottesville to fight for ye, and you
running away with all your might. Clear out--ye shall have nothing
here." "But," rejoined Mr. Henry, in an expostulating tone, "we were
obliged to fly. It would not do for the legislature to be broken up by
the enemy. Here is Mr. Speaker Harrison; you don't think he would have
fled had it not been necessary?" "I always thought a great deal of Mr.
Harrison till now," answered the old woman; "but he'd no business to
run from the enemy," and she was about to shut the door in their
faces. "Wait a moment, my good woman," urged Mr. Henry; "you would
hardly believe that Mr. Tyler or Colonel Christian would take to
flight if there were not good cause for so doing?" "No, indeed, that I
wouldn't," she replied. "But," exclaimed he, "Mr. Tyler and Colonel
Christian are here." "They here? Well, I never would have thought it;"
and she stood for a moment in doubt, but at once added, "No matter. We
love these gentlemen, and I didn't suppose they would ever run away
from the British; but since they have, they shall have nothing to eat
in my house. You may ride along." In this desperate situation Mr.
Tyler then stepped forward and said, "What would you say, my good
woman, if I were to tell you that Patrick Henry fled with the rest of
us?" "Patrick Henry! I should tell you there wasn't a word of truth in
it," she answered angrily; "Patrick Henry would never do such a
cowardly thing." "But this is Patrick Henry," said Mr. Tyler, pointing
to him. The old woman was amazed; but after