of America
that it was to Saul and me as if he was some great traveler, while we
were only two country louts, never having strayed a dozen miles from
home.

It is not of Pierre whom I have set myself down to tell; but it was
necessary I should refer to him in order that you might understand how
we two lads of James Town, who seldom went away from the plantation save
to ride into the settlement, and whose longest journey had been from the
James to the York river across that neck where one may best arrive at
York Town, came to know that we might serve the Cause as Minute Boys.

It was little Frenchie who took it upon himself to tell us what he
knew, he having met several lads in Boston who called themselves Minute
Boys. He held up before Saul and me pictures of the duty we owed our
homes, as if we Virginians needed to be taught our duty, and painted in
glowing colors the honor and glory which was to be won by those lads who
stood ever ready to perform the work of Minute Boys, until we were quite
aflame with the idea.

I doubt much, however, whether anything would have come of it had it not
been for that same engagement at Spencer's Ordinary, when
Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, counting to ride over the Pennsylvania men
under Colonel Butler as he had ridden over us Virginians, found much to
his displeasure that it was not always possible for his high mightiness
to do exactly as he wished.

Do not get the idea that I intend to make it appear as if the king's
troops were worsted at Spencer's Tavern; but it was a drawn battle, as I
have heard even those who really loved the king, admit, and it must have
been a startling surprise to the swaggering Simcoe to have received even
a check.

It was only natural that after this engagement Saul and I, egged on by
Pierre, should talk quite seriously of forming a company of Minute Boys;
but no sooner would we begin, and I strive to point out how we might do
this thing or that which would advantage our colony of Virginia, than
Saul would break in with the saying of Uncle 'Rasmus's, that where
"chillun an' women were mixed" matters went awry.

Yet despite my cousin's seeming scorn, Pierre continued to urge that we
enroll ourselves as Minute Boys, and when Saul asked irritably whether
he believed any good would come to the Cause if only three lads were
banded together, agreeing to do whatsoever they might, thereby, as you
can see, throwing cold water on the scheme, Pierre, his hands wa