nd two hundred pounds for
revealing the insurrection of sixty-two?"

"The same, I believe," said Hansford, carelessly; "but what of that?"

"Why simply this," said the honest old cavalier, "that faith is like a
walking-cane. Break it once and you may glue it so that the fracture can
scarcely be seen by the naked eye; but it will break in the same place
if there be a strain upon it."

"I hope you are mistaken," said Hansford; "but I thank you for your
warning, and will not disregard it. I will be on my guard."

"Here, Lawrence," cried Bacon, "what private message are you sending to
the Governor, that you must needs be delaying our ambassador? We have a
sad duty to perform. These brave men, who have fallen in our cause, must
not be suffered to lie a prey to vultures. Let them be buried as becomes
brave soldiers, who have died right bravely with their harness on. I
would there were some one here who could perform the rites of
burial--but their requiem shall be sung with our song of triumph. Peace
to their souls! Comrades, prepare their grave, and pay due honour to
their memory by discharging a volley of musketry over them. I wot they
well loved the sound while living--nor will they sleep less sweetly for
it now."

By such language, and such real or affected interest in the fate of
those who followed his career, Nathaniel Bacon won the affection of his
soldiery. Never was there a leader, even in the larger theatres of
action, more sincerely beloved and worshipped--and to this may be
attributed in a great degree the wonderful power which he possessed over
the minds of his followers--moulding their opinions in strict
conformity with his own; breathing into them something of the ardent
heroism which inspired his own soul, and making them thus the willing
and subservient instruments of his own ambitious designs.

With sad countenances the soldiers proceeded to obey the order of their
general. Scooping with their swords and bayonets a shallow grave in the
soft virgin soil of the forest, they committed the bodies of their
comrades to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to
dust--and as they screened their ashes forever from the light of day,
the "aisles of the dim woods" echoed back the loud roar of the unheard,
unheeded honour which they paid to the memory of the dead.

FOOTNOTES:

[38] He was in truth a rope-dancer in his early life.

CHAPTER XXVI

"But the poor dog, in life the dearest frien