ze how much of folly there
was in our words; but our hearts were nigh to bursting with the desire
to do something toward ridding our colony of Virginia of those
swaggering, insolent, red-coated men, all of whom we believed to be
quite as brutal as Colonel Tarleton and his followers.

The result of that afternoon's conversation with Uncle 'Rasmus, if such
it can be called, was that we three lads decided to go over to York
Town, and see for ourselves how the Britishers were disposed there, and
what they had done in the way of throwing up fortifications, for word
had come through the negroes that not only the town of York, but
Gloucester also, was being fortified thoroughly well.

It is not above eight miles from our plantation to the town of York, and
we counted to ride there and back before the next noon, until Uncle
'Rasmus, as if terrified by such a proposition, insisted that we ought
never even think of trusting the horses so near the British encampment.
He told us what we very speedily came to know was true, that these
servants of the king would not hesitate to despoil us Virginians who
might be accused of what they were pleased to term disloyalty, even to
the extent of taking from us our lives.

I could not then believe the old negro was talking other than veriest
nonsense; but before another week had passed I came to understand all
too well that we of Virginia who were called rebels, had no rights which
these red-coated gentry were bound to respect.

It seemed fortunate that Uncle 'Rasmus succeeded in convincing us it
would be in the highest degree dangerous to ride good saddle horses, and
there were none other on the Hamilton plantation, within the British
lines at York Town, and finally we agreed among ourselves, so eager had
we grown to know what was being done by my Lord Cornwallis, to walk
there and back. It would not be a severe journey, for we might count on
going and returning between sunrise and sunset, and yet not exert
ourselves overly much.

It is not necessary I should set down anything concerning our movements
from the time we parted with Uncle 'Rasmus, until next morning, an hour
after sunrise, when we were come within view of York Town, having walked
at a rapid pace, for even though it was yet early in September, there
was a bit of frost in the air which induced one to move rapidly lest he
become chilled.

It was when we were come so near the end of our journey, that we saw
ahead of us, less