ke rolling
up from the village telling of burned powder.

"What can it mean?" I cried, fancying like a simple for the moment that
this cannonading had somewhat to do with us, and Pierre, quick-witted as
ever, cried joyously as he turned his face shoreward once more:

"Our people are advancing upon York, and the king's soldiers are warning
them to keep back."

He ran at racing speed through the brush, I following as best I might at
his heels, and all the while came that dull roar of cannon, intermingled
now and then with sharp, crackling noises, which I understood to be the
rattle of musketry.

Before we had gained the river bank it was positive our forces had come
within touch of the enemy, and I who, as has already been seen, was
wholly ignorant of military matters, believed the Americans were forcing
the Britishers to a battle.

No sooner had we arrived where an uninterrupted view of the river could
be had, than we saw half a dozen vessels with as many barges coming down
the stream as if from the direction of Williamsburg, and, favored by the
wind, were shaping their course directly toward the Gloucester shore on
that side the point opposite where we were.

Then it was that the guns of Gloucester joined with those of York, and
as these heavy pieces were discharged it seemed to me that the very
ground trembled, while over all hung smoke from the burning powder until
it was as if a heavy cloud had suddenly gathered, shutting out the light
of the sun.

This fleet which was coming down the river apparently giving no heed to
the king's ships that lay in the stream, was hardly more than two miles
away, and as we lads gazed at the vessels breathlessly, trembling with
excitement, I fancied I could see the uniform of our Virginia militia.
Then my heart sank within me, for both the _Guadaloupe_ and the _Charon_
were slipping their cables that they might swing around in such position
as to deliver broadsides upon those who were advancing so boldly.

There is no good reason why I should not set down now the facts instead
of waiting until we came to learn of them later.

This fleet which was coming down the York river was manned by a French
Legion, by French marines, and by a brigade of Virginia militia under
General Weeden, the whole under command of a French officer. They had
been sent to lay siege to the British encampment at Gloucester, for our
General Washington was not minded any of the soldiers under command of
L