o a company of Minute Boys at once,
even though there were but three of us, claiming even as little Frenchie
had claimed days and days before, that it might be possible even for so
small a number to accomplish considerable of good, and promising that as
the time went by we would be able to add to our numbers.

And thus it was that Saul and I, two Virginia lads, joined with Pierre,
a Frenchie, to form a company of Minute Boys in aid of the Cause of
Liberty, and even went so far, after agreeing among ourselves that we
were to stand by each other so long as life should last, to write a
letter to Master Patrick Henry telling him of what we had done and
offering our services, much the same as if they might be of great value.

The strangest part of all, as it seemed to me, was that Master Henry did
actually answer the letter which Saul wrote; did really speak of us as
if it might be possible that we do somewhat of good to the Cause, and
commending us for coming together in such a fashion. It was much as if
he believed he was writing to three men of importance in Virginia, who
could do this, or do that, according to their will, instead of three
lads who had hardly ever, with the exception of Pierre, ventured off the
Hamilton plantation.

I questioned seriously whether Master Henry really understood Saul's
letter; if he was aware of the fact that we were lads only just turned
fifteen, and argued that he must have read the missive so hurriedly that
he thought three influential planters, if you please, who may formerly
have been luke-warm to the Cause, were now turned about ready to do
whatsoever they might.

Had Saul and I been alone I could have convinced my cousin that I was in
the right; but little Frenchie must needs start up, insisting that
Master Henry knew to whom he was writing; that a great man like Master
Patrick Henry would not read a letter which, if it had come from men,
was of importance, so hurriedly as not to understand who had written it.
He argued from all this, that our calling ourselves Minute Boys, even
though we might not succeed in doing much that would advantage the
colony, was of moment even in the eyes of so able a man as he who had
been governor of Virginia.

I must say this for Pierre, that when he starts out to convince you of a
matter there is in his manner and his voice such winning qualities, that
even though at the outset you were positive he was in the wrong, before
many minutes had passed