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 PAKTISAN LEADEK: 
 
 A N V E JL 
 
 AND AN APOCALYPSE OF THE ORIGIN AND STRUGGLES 
 
 SOUTHERN > RACY, 
 
 By Judge BEVERLJ 
 
 OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 PRTGLNALI ISHED I 
 
 NOW RE-PUBLISHED: AND EDITED BY 
 
 REV. THOS. A. WARE. 
 
 RICHMOND: 
 
 WEST A JOHNSON, 145 MAIN ST 
 
 1862. 
 
* 
 
/ 71 
 
 frjT; ft 13 
 
 T 1 - 
 
 f 
 
 USTTKOIDXJCTIOlSr. 
 
 It is said of Mr. Burke that he could take a survey of the political 
 sky and tell the destiny of nations for twenty years to come. Judge 
 TUCKER has literally done this, as far as the American people are con- 
 cerned, as will be found strikingly illustrated in the work before us. 
 Written and published in 1836, but bearing in its imprint the date of 
 1856, and intended as a tale of the future, applying to the intervening 
 period, it has substantially foretold the great leading features oS the 
 history of the twenty-five years intervening between the time of its first 
 publication, and this eventful era, at which it is again given to the public. 
 In following the history of the hero through the strange vicissitudes 
 of love, and Avar, and wild adventure — glowing now with the roseate 
 tinge of sentiment, and, anon, with the fiery hue of tragedy, the reader 
 will be amazed to sec the incidental mention of the great historical facts 
 which have, in the last eighteen months, marked the disintegration of 
 a vast republic, and the organization and struggles of a new one. The 
 secession of the more Southern States — the formation of the "South- 
 ern Confederacy" — the hesitation of Virginia — the arguments which 
 fifteen months ago resounded, from the Chesapeake to*the Ohio in fa- 
 vour of her seceding and "accepting the invitation to join the South- 
 ern Confederacy" — the "pretext*' on which the Northern army *m.s- 
 raised; "the apprehension of hostilities from the Southern Confedera- 
 cy" — the Avar — the effects of the blockade, even to its influence upon 
 the article of Odmtnon salt, etc., etc., seem as familiar to the pen of the 
 great political seer, as if he had actually been a participant " in the 
 great struggle" which he writes, " I witnessed and partook." 
 
 The reader Avill realize, perhaps, more amusement, though 1 
 wonder, to see as thorough appreciation'of Yankee character, as well in 
 small things and in great, as the lights and shadows of twenty-five ad- 
 ditional years of peace and war afford. "He surely had read some of 
 McCiollan's reports," was the playful remark of an intelligent friend, 
 as we read the account of Col. Trevor's defeat, and his official report, 
 which "lies like truth, and yet most truly 1 
 
 Indeed, so marvellously does the bonk apply to recent and current 
 events, thai sometimes sketching its striking passages, with those who 
 were n«>t reader-- contemporaneous with its firs! circulation, they have 
 
tioally, 
 
 i ]ikr mi clii 1 ;. by an unpleasant association 
 
 sort of Thomas 
 l . and blaok-lettered, artifi- 
 
 t.i ini] oso "ii i In- literary world. 
 will bail i 4 as an <>\<\ friend, whose ecoentrieitiea "in 1 '' 
 
 •t. hail 
 
 withdi I himself, that when by experience, they dis- 
 
 than tlnir wisdom/' comes not promptfy, 
 •!..ir perplexity they call for him, hut wait-; for the darkest 
 hour,' in the benign ami venerable aspect of a pro] 
 
 of how these things most needs he." ami in 
 dotation speaking words of cheer, and heralding a bright 
 
 a Dumber <>f years unknown who '• Bdwajd "William Sid- 
 i ; id 1, that the public, has remained in donbt t<> ■ very re* 
 I, if hour, will appear from the following quota- 
 
 tion from the South i June 1861. Tho edi- 
 
 tor, in) a ii"tice of the " Partisan Leader/! as recently rc-pub- 
 
 rth, taken from the Baltimore Exchange, Bays: "We 
 • ii credit to the novel in ques- 
 f Judge Upshur, of Virginia, who was killed by the 
 i • ." but we believe the Baltimore Exchange 
 
 ii attributing it t<> Judge Beverley Tucker of Virginia." It 
 will be, th< . itifying to see this question sit fully at rest, as it 
 . in tin- following communication kindly fur- 
 rnor Montague, of Virginia: 
 
 Richmohd, July 6th, i - 
 
 th ult.. asking im> to -/w e j on 
 
 p of a bonk cmllecl •■ The Partisan 
 
 I I W illiamsbuTg. was the author 
 
 It cm I him declare lie- wxote the I >. •< <U 
 
 ! I .l.i Mm now ri'inciii- 
 
 H I. M. Boll iccuseJ the late Judge A. P. I p- 
 
 :t ilisunionist, and n maris; other 
 
 . by Mi l!<.;i- t.. sustain tin - charge, u a well 
 
 that Judge Upshur waa the author of 
 
 I i :i good deal hi' interest in 
 
 W in liml many warm friends and admin I 
 
 . ( :nicl a member "I" 
 
 I 1 1 1 • .- 1 t.i him declare t<> hia olasa 
 
 for w li:iti-\ er sins nr !"•!' 
 
 i -r heard him sefer to the subject. At- 
 
 [ have i rVen heard him 
 
 k nl Richmond. 
 
INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 say that those who worn then deriding him, and denouncing his book as a 
 treasonable production would live to see the day when they would acknow- 
 ledge that his appreciation of the Yankee character was Correct j and lamenl 
 in tears and blood that his views were not Booriet adopted by the South. It 
 
 was written by its great author to open tli*- eyes of Virginia and tin- South to 
 the dangers which lie so cleariy saw just ahead, and which we all have so 
 keenly felt. Well, well, would it have been cduld all have seen as he did. 
 
 I am glad to hear yon design its re-publication. It is a master's work, and 
 I have no doubt, lint that, even now, it< re-publication will be productive 0$ 
 Wishing you success in your enterprise) 
 
 I am hastily, but very truly vmis. 
 
 RO. L. .MONTAGUE. 
 
 Sir Walter Scott was observed by a friend to be noting the kind of 
 grafts, flowers, and moss which grew about a great rock, and a cave, 
 where be proposed to lay the scene of one of his novels. 
 
 " Why do you that?" said the friend, "will not the daises and litch- 
 en do as well T' 
 
 "No," said the great word-painter, "soon your stock of litchen and 
 daises would be exhausted, and you must become monotonous; but ad- 
 here to nature, and you will have the variety of nature." 
 
 Not less scfupulotfrd} 7 faithful to nature has our author been. Learn- 
 ing that the principal scene of the story was laid in Patrick county, 
 Va., I determined to make a pilgrimage to the.now classic region of 
 "the Devil's Backbone." On arriving at the court-house, I was in- 
 formed that just such a locality as that described, formerly known by 
 that name, but now more familiarly known as "Witt's Spurr," was to 
 be found in that wildest of mountain ranges, which rises in rugged gran- 
 deur six miles west of the village. I also learned, through the cour- 
 tesy of that accomplished gentleman, Hon. W. R. Staples, of the Con- 
 federate ( longress, that in 1820 or 25, Judge Tucker paid a visit to 
 that region, and in company with his father, a soldier friend in the war 
 of 1812, spent a day rambling over the mountains; and further, that 
 "Witt" was a rral character, and was probably now to be found some- 
 win r< in.; distant from the scene where the author first introduces him. 
 Veering southward on the North Carolina road, first of all to search out 
 this old hero, at a distance of about three miles from the Courtdmiw, 
 I rode np to an h arable dwelling' on the left, without thought of*else 
 than enquiring the way, when an old woman, so large, so out-spoken 
 and ha . reported herself in response to the call, and gave the 
 
 i directions, that it occurred at onoe to my mind, this would be 
 ■a worthy help in. . I of that "large; powerful man, of untaught wisdom, 
 Christian Witt." Tin following colloquy occurred : 
 
 " Who lives here, madam ''" 
 
 " Saunders Witt," with an independent air that bespoke pride of the 
 name and place, 
 
IN . , 
 
 '•• •' 
 
 i many kinfolks of his name. II 
 ap tin- lane there, and you can talk with 
 
 I like it." 
 
 When in n spouse to my call he 
 i. with scarcely the Bhade of a doubt, 
 graphic picture; and waa Bure that the "Christian" 
 . tin- author only because he had forgotten his ek 
 . 
 '. introducing myself, after an interchange of enquiries) 
 which fairl) opened the way, said : 
 
 " Arc you relal I Mr. "Witt who onoe lived at !he place 
 
 . I harlea Davis, just at the foot of the 'DeviFa Back- 
 
 •• I • ->." 
 
 •• Do yon remember anything of Judge Beverley Tucker paying a 
 
 le thirty or forty years ago, and going up to look 
 at these mountain- § 
 
 " Wl •• Adjutant Tucker. I knowed him in the war of 
 
 tw< '' iving then at my father's, ;md he come up there 
 
 id look at the mountains; and my father 
 
 went up with him. 1 said to him, 'why Adjutant Tucker, how do yon' 
 
 lid 'what, do you know me?' ' \ 1. 'did'nt 
 
 real the head of the rigiment every evening 
 
 And then he laughed." 
 
 "What kind of looking man was he, Mr. Wif 
 
 "Well, sir, be waa aboul five feel ten inches high, slim and Btraight, 
 
 had lighl hair and Ughl eyes, and looked as keen as a night-hawk, sir." 
 
 • : many familiar with the author, it appears that 
 
 riptioc of the mountaineer, though more elegant, was scarcely 
 
 Heir.- graphic or comprehensive. 
 
 Curious to know whether the latter would recognize his own picture, 
 
 and thai of bis fath< r'a house and it- romantic approaches and surround- 
 
 adorse the sentiments attributed to him twenty-five 
 
 lie would avow in the midst of the Btjrring Boenea 
 
 in which be i | to act no unimportant part, I continued : 
 
 " What v • think, Mr. Witt, if 1 were to tell you that this 
 
 same Adjutant' Tucker, somo ten years after his visit her., ami twenty* 
 
 five years ago, . in which he foretold all the rents 
 
 '" our 1. giving him an .inline of the hook, as I'ur- 
 
 1 in the beginning of this article. 
 
 •• Well, Mr. I should think it relit Btrnnjre. but mi<rlitlv like some of 
 
INTRODUCTION. VII 
 
 our leading men told us; for I heerd Gov. Floyd make a speach once, 
 and tell that these things was gwine to be, and pretty much how they 
 was gwine to conic about." 
 
 " But what would you think if I were to tell you further that he has 
 yaur name in the book? that he thinks Virginia hesitated till she was 
 nearly overrun by the enemy, that we are sustaining a sort of guerilla, 
 'bush-whacking' warfare out here in the mountains, and that you are a 
 kind of lieutenant, exerting a valuable influence among your mountain 
 neighbours?" 
 
 " Well, I'd think that was strange, too, but he know'd me in the war 
 of twelve !" 
 
 "I have the book along, Mr. Witt." 
 
 "I'd be mighty much oblegcd to you if you'd read it to me." . 
 
 I produced the book, and complied with his request by reading the 
 first two or three chapters. The description of the road, the stream, 
 the mountains, and the surroundings of his father's house, were en- 
 dorsed by an occasional "that's so, sir." When his 'name was intro- 
 duced, and the description of his person, he said : 
 
 " He must a meant me, sir." 
 
 I suggested, " He supposes, Mr. Witt, that these things occurred 
 some twelve or fifteen years ago. Could you not have borne, at that 
 time of life, such a part as he attributes to you ?" 
 
 " I reckon I could, sir ; for I ought to be mighty thankful that 
 though I am failin now, I have been a very powerful man." 
 
 When I r«ad to him his remarks, ac the dinner, about the scarcity 
 of " salt," "and the Yankees holding James river," he added, with an 
 air of grave astonishment — 
 
 " 7 nty that to you «ow, sir /" 
 
 I could but regard him with a kind of romantic veneration^ as a 
 mil character in a great prophetic story, whose thrilling events have 
 been essentially fulfilled, and in the realization of which, evincing the 
 same characteristics and endorsing the same sentiments which it was 
 supposed he would maintain. All that I learned from his neighbors 
 tended but to show that precisely such circumstances as those supposed 
 would probably have developed precisely such a character as he is pre- 
 sumed to have sustained. I may add, as.a pleasing little episode, that, 
 though for these forty years "they have wedded been," he has never 
 been known to depart or return, on a few miles trip, without 7cissing his 
 " darting Katie*' 
 
 In company with a friend, I spent a day traversing the mountains. 
 Fanned by the pure air, seven degrees cooler than in the sultry vale 
 beneath, bearing upon its ever waving wings the sweets of a thousand 
 
I all tin >wtb and scenery remarked 
 
 vertebra in the " Devils Back- 
 ■ in the 1 I it required do fertile 
 
 f cover! -■ iitint'l. the stand of the 
 
 "The Partisan Leader" — marked aa 
 th its difficult approa and 
 
 . •• pouring ov< c rugged barriers of yellow sn He." 
 r will observe that I have avoided the mention of the mere 
 '(.litir.il features of the story, such as the person, and tune of 
 lection, by a sectional vote, caused the 
 the date of the occurrences, and such like, which, 
 tot! features that have been so strikingly realized,.are 
 
 to the picture, and have sought Bimply to give him, at a 
 insight into the oharacter of die hunk, ami to actualize some 
 - minor circumstan< lery and oharacter. 
 
 A word of] personal explanation, and I am dune. My attention 
 I the notice aUuded t", in the Literary Met- 
 twelve months sinoe, I bad felt the intensest curiosity to 
 I oompire it with the momentous events of the present erisis, 
 . found my inquiries vain during that period, and had despaired 
 my object A few weeks since, however, in the regular 
 f duty, by a happy accident I blundered upon it. Amazed, 
 and gratified in finding it a greater lib ran curiosity than 1 had even 
 supposed, it immediately occurred t<> me that thousands must realise a 
 similar h th mjself in its perusuaTj and that while its repub- 
 
 lue alike to the fame of its author and to historical! pro- 
 priety, it- general circulation would tend to illlustrate the necessity of 
 oar position, to vindicate the justice of our cause, and to intensify 
 " in rn patriotism. Astonished that it had not been republished, 1 
 determined that if others would m>t undertake the w irk, with theap- 
 ral of those who have the first right to represent the author and his 
 interests, I would myself angaee in the enterprise. Deferring as far 
 aide to tli. se, I wsa assured that they were desirous of its rc- 
 publication, and bad once made arrangements lor it; but owing to the 
 fall of Norfolk the work had been estopped in that direction, ami that 
 I bould feel free to go forward with it 1'leased that I am 
 
 dtti d, iii i' manner conaonani with the proprietjet of the ceuey thus 
 I numbly oonoeive, at once to the public gratification 
 ami tin publi I oommit the great work, in its original form, to 
 
 lioation, trusting to the intelligence of the reader to apply 
 tin coincidi nee.- which mark it.-^ fullilhuent as a political prophecy. 
 
 TIKIS A. WAKK 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 And whomsoever, along the path you meet, 
 Bears in his cap the badge of crimson hue, 
 Which tells you whom to shun and whom to greet. 
 
 Byron. 
 
 Toward the latter end of the month of October, 1849, about the 
 hour of noon, a horseman was seen ascending a narrow valley at the 
 eastern foot of the Blue Ridge. His road nearly followed the course of 
 a small stream, which, issuing from a deep gorge of the mountain, 
 winds its way between lofty hills, and terminates its brief and brawling 
 course in one of the larger tributaries of the Dan. A glance of the eye 
 took in the whole of the little settlement that lined its banks, and mea- 
 sured the resources of its inhabitants. The different tenements were 
 so near to each other as to allow but a small patch of arable land to 
 each. 01 manufactures there was no appearance, save only a rude shed 
 at the entrance of the valley, ou the door of which the oft-repeated 
 brand of the horse shoe gave token of a smithy. There, too, the rivu- 
 let, increased by the innumerable springs which afforded to every habi- 
 tation the unappreciated, but inappreciable luxury of water, cold, clear 
 and sparkling, had gathered strength enough to turn a tiny mill. Of 
 trade there could be none. The bleak and rugged barrier, which 
 closed the scene on the west, and the narrow road, fading to a foot- 
 path, gave assurance to the traveller that he had here reached the nc 
 phi* ultra of social life in that direction. 
 
 Indeed, the appearance of discomfort and poverty in every dwelling 
 well accorded with the scanty territory belonging to each. The walls 
 and chimneys of unhewn lugs, the roofs of loose boards laid on long 
 rib-poles, that projected from the gables, and held down by similar 
 poles placed above them, together with the smoked and sooty appear- 
 ance of the whole, betokened an abundance of timber, but a dearth of 
 
TIIK PARTI8AH LKADKK. 
 
 Contiguous t" each w.i~ i sort of rude garden, Jo- 
 in tin* ruder language of thfl country, a "truck patch." 
 pari of which had produced a OTOp of 
 
 oats, while ob tin- remainder the [ndian corn still hung on the stalk, 
 
 waitii Ldd to this a small meadow, anil the I 
 
 will h. . ; j > t i v c of each of the bttle f.irim 
 
 which, lor the distance of three miles, bordered the Btraam. 
 
 *hu- bore the marks of a crowded popula 
 tion, a deep still) raded it. The visible signs of life were few 
 
 \ solitary youngster, male or female, 
 
 loitering about every door. These, is the traveller 
 passed along, would skulk from observation, and then Bteal out, and, 
 
 . indulge their curiosity, at sife distances, by looking 
 alter him. 
 
 At length he heard a Bound of voices, and then a shrill whistle, and 
 
 .-till. Immediately, some half a dozen men, leaping a fence, 
 
 I themselves across the road and laced him. He observed that 
 
 each, as In- touehed the ground, lai I hold of a rifle that leaned against 
 
 ire, and this circumstance drew his attention to twenty or mure 
 
 e formidable weapons, ranged along in the same position. The 
 
 fir.-t impulse of tin- travel!' r wa- to draw B pistol; but seeing that the 
 
 ;ted their guns upon the ground and 
 
 d them, he quietly withdrew his hand from his holster. It 
 
 was plain that no violence wai intended, and that thi< movement was 
 
 nothing but a 11 I rccaution, such as the unsettled condition oi 
 
 intT lie therefore advanced steadily but slowly, and, 
 
 n ; the party, reim d in his horse and Bilently invited the in- 
 
 i parli y. 
 
 Tb- men, though somewhat variously attired, wero all chiefly clad in balf- 
 
 i bock-skin. Thej seemed to have been engaged in gathering corn 
 
 iii the adjoining Bold. Their companions, who .-till continued the sa 
 
 eroUS enough (including women and boys, of 
 
 both of whieh there was a fuB proportion,) to have secured the 'little 
 crop in i lew hours. Indeed, it would seem that the whole working 
 
 "i> of til rhood, both male and female, was assembled 
 
 ler drew up his horse, one of the men, speaking in a 
 
 low an •• \\ e want a word with you, .stranger, before 
 
 " As man; i plied the other, " tar I am tired and 
 
 ; and I am glad to find some one, at last, of 
 whom I may bops to purchase souiething for both of u.s to eat." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. A 
 
 " That you can have quite handy," said the countryman ; " for we 
 have been gathering corn, and were just going to our dinner. If you 
 will only just 'light, sir, one of the boys can feed your horse, and you 
 can take such as we have got to give you." 
 
 The invitation was accepted ; the horse was taken in charge by a 
 long-legged lad of fifteen, without hat or shoes, and the whole party 
 crossed the fence together. 
 
 At the moment, a man was seen advancing toward them, who, ob- 
 serving their approach, fell back a few steps, and threw himself on the 
 ground at the foot of a large old apple-tree. Around this were clus- 
 tered a motley group of men, women and boys, who opened and made 
 way for the stranger. He advanced, and bowing gracefully, took off 
 his forage cap, from beneath which a quantity of soft, curling flaxen 
 hair fell over his brow and cheeks. Every eye was now fixed on him, 
 with an expression rather of interest than mere curiosity. Every coun- 
 tenance was serious and composed, and all wore an air of business, ex- 
 cept that a slight titter was heard among the girls, who, hovering be- 
 hind the backs of their mothers, peeped through the crowd to get a look 
 at the handsumc stranger. 
 
 lie was indeed a handsome youth, about twenty years of age, whose 
 fair complexion and regular features made him seem yet younger. He 
 wastall, slightly but elegantly formed, with a countenance in which soft- 
 ness and spirit were happily blended. His dress was plain and cheap, 
 though not unfashionable. A short grey coat, waistcoat and pantaloons, 
 that neatly fitted and set off his handsome person, showed by the quality 
 of the cloth that his means were limited, or that he had too much sense 
 to waste in foppery that which might be better expended in the ser- 
 vice of his suffering country. But, even in this plain dress, he was ap- 
 parelled like a king in comparison with the rustics that surrounded 
 him ; and'his whole air would have passed him for a gentleman in any 
 ili ■( £S and any company where the constituents of that character are 
 rightly understood. 
 
 In the present assembly there seemed to be none, indeed, who could 
 be supposed to have had much experience in that line. Bat dignity fa 
 felt, and courtesy appreciated by all, and the expression of frankness 
 and truth is everywhere understood. 
 
 A- die youth approached, the man at the foot of the tree arose and 
 returned the .salutation, which seemed unheeded by the rest. II<* 
 advanced a step or two, and invited the Stranger to be seated. This 
 action, and the looks turned toward him by the others, showed that be 
 was in authority of some sorl among them. With him, therefore, our 
 traveller concluded that the proposed conference wa.s to be held. There 
 
; THK PARTBAS l.KAI'EK. 
 
 wai nothii Inch WOuM have led a Careless ob- 
 
 I _ ' : might have 
 intellectual in his countenance, with 1. 
 and manner than the rest of the company disj laved. 
 In a ii. the negative courtesy of thai quiet and s< rious 
 
 oni iin j art to the rudest and mo.»t frivo- 
 
 thal they had a common purpose, and thai 
 
 • ipaeity entered into their feeling toward the new- 
 
 Whl thl r lif was to 1"- treated B8 I friend or an enemy, obvi- 
 
 high consideration, not yet disclosed. 
 
 Be wa> at length asked from whence he came, and answered from 
 
 the neighborhood of Richmond. From which side of the river? 
 
 From the north tide. ]>id he know anything of Van Courtlandt 1 His 
 
 .-. Bacon's Braaoh, jnst above the town. "What force had 
 
 . 
 
 •■ I cannot aay certainly," he replied, "but common fame made his 
 numbers about four thousand."' 
 
 • I- that all, on both sides of the river?" said his interrogator. 
 
 "0, no ! Col. boyal's regiment is at Petersburg, and Ool. t'oles's at 
 Manchester — each about live hundred strong; and there is a piquet on 
 the bridge island." 
 
 •■ Did you cross there?" 
 
 •• I did not." 
 
 ■■ \\ here then ':" he was asked. 
 
 •• I can hardly tell," he replied; " it was at a private lord, several 
 miles above < larteraville." 
 
 " Was not that mightily out of the way? "What made you come so 
 
 ■ fund ?" 
 •• It was safer travelling on that side of the river." 
 •• Then the people OS that side of the river are your friends?" 
 
 they are not ; but, B8 they are all of a color there, they would 
 let in' pass, and a.-k no qU( BtionS, as lung as 1 travelled due west. On 
 ; are one man's friend, ymi are the next man's enemy; 
 and 1 had DO mind to answer (juestions." 
 
 "1 l em to answer them now mighty freely." 
 
 true I am like a letter that tells all it knows as soon as it 
 
 thfl right hand ; hut it doM not want tODC opened before that." 
 
 •• And bon d" you know that yon have got to the right hand now?" 
 
 •• l'». causa I know where I am." 
 
 '* And where an you '." 
 
 " Just at the foot of the I'' ril's Backbone/' replied the youth. 
 
 ■' Were you ever here befor- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 5 
 
 " Never in my life." 
 
 " How do you know then where you are ?'' asked the mountaineer. 
 
 "Because the right way to avoid questions is to ask none. Sol took 
 care to know all about the road, and the country, and the place, before 
 I left home." 
 
 " And who told you all about it?" 
 
 " Suppose I should tell you," answered the young man, "that Van 
 Courtlandt had a map of the country made, and gave it to me." 
 
 " I should say you were a traitor to him or a spy to us," was the 
 stern reply. 
 
 At the same moment a startled hum was heard from the crowd, and 
 the press moved and swayed for an instant, as if a sort of spasm had 
 pervaded the whole mass. 
 
 " You are a good hand at questioning," said the youth, with a smile ; 
 u but, without asking a single question, I have . found out all I wanted 
 to know." 
 
 " And what was that V a=ked the other. 
 
 " Whether you were friends to the Yorkers and Yankees, or to poor 
 old Virginia." 
 
 " And which are we for ?" added the laconic mountaineer. 
 
 " For Old Virginia forever," replied the youth, in a tone in 
 which exultation rung through a deeper emotion, that half stifled his 
 voice. 
 
 It reached the hearts of his auditors, and was echoed in a shout that 
 pealed along the mountain sides their proud war-cry of " Old Virgi- 
 nia forever!" The speaker looked around in silence, but with a 
 countenance that spoke all that the voices of his comrades had uttered. 
 
 " Quiet, boys," said he, " never shout till the war is ended, unless it 
 be when you see the enemy." Then turning again to the traveller, he 
 said, " And how did you know we were for old Virginia ?" 
 
 " I knew it by the place where I find you. I heard it in your voice ; 
 I saw it in tliflr eyei ; and I felt it in my hart," said the young man, 
 extending his hand. 
 
 1 1 is inquisitor returned the cordial pressure with an iron grasp. 
 strong, but not convulsive, and went on : "You are a sharp youth.' 
 said he, "and if you arc of the right metal that will hold an edge, you 
 will make somebody feel it. But I don't know rightly yet who that i.^- 
 to be, only just I will say, that if you are not ready to live and die by 
 old Virginia, your heart and face are not of the same color, that's all." 
 
 He then resumed his steady look and quiet tone, and added, " You 
 must not make me forget what I am about. How did you learn til 
 way here ?" 
 
T1IL PARTI8AS LBA1 
 
 aid the youth. "I leaned i: from Cap- 
 
 I 
 
 er. " If you a here 
 
 en him since he knew it himself." 
 .- the reply, " hut 1 have heard from him." 
 •• I should lik< ;> letter. 
 
 •• 1 have ii" I •• # 
 
 •• Boa tl 
 
 to my hone ruxl I will Bhow you." 
 The youth, aooompanied byhia interrogator, now returned toward the 
 Many of the <r<>wd were ahout to follow; but the chief (for 
 neh be teemed) waved them hack with a silent motion of bis hand, 
 while ■ glance of meaning at two of the company invited them to pro- 
 as the stranger reached his horse, he drew out, from 
 ; i the padding and seat of his saddle, a paper closely folded, (hi 
 (bond to he a map of his route from Richmond to 
 ■ in the mountains, a few miles west of the spot where the)' stood. 
 ( hi this were traced the roads and streams, with the names of a few 
 . written in a hand which was known to the leader of the moun- 
 taineera to be thai of Captain Douglas. A red line marked the devious 
 
 the traveller had heen directed to pursue. 
 Ei Baid that after crossing the river, between Lynchburg and Car- 
 le, to avoid the parties of the enemy stationed at both places, he 
 had lain by, until dark, at the house of a true Virginian. Then turn- 
 ith, and riding hard all night, he had crossed the Appomattox 
 I'armville, | which he avoided for a like reason,) and, before day, 
 
 :t behind him all the hostile posts and scouting parties. He soon 
 
 i the Staunton river, and having passed it, resumed his westward 
 safety. 
 " You know this hand," said he to the chief, "and now I suppose 
 
 atiefied." 
 
 u I am satisfied," replied the other, "and glad to see you. I have 
 
 loubt ahout you, young man, and you are heartily welcome among 
 
 all we can give you — and that ain't much — and all we can do 
 
 i ; and thai will depend Dpon whether stout hearts, and willing 
 
 I rifles can help you. But you said you were hungry; 
 
 lad en ogb of a part of our sorry dinner." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHATTER It. 
 
 Hens ! etiam Mensas consumimus. — Virgil. 
 
 Returning to the party which they had left, they found the women 
 in the act of placing their meal before them, under the apple-tree. 
 There was a patch of grass there, but no shade ; nor was any needed in 
 that lofty region. The frost had already done its work by stripping 
 the trees of their leaves, and letting in the welcome rays of the sun 
 through the naked branches. The meal consisted of fresh pork and 
 venison, roasted or broiled on the coals, which looked tempting enough, 
 though served up in wooden trays. There were no knives but such as 
 each hunter carries in his belt. Our traveller's dirk supplied the place 
 of one to him. Their plates were truly classical, consisting of cakes of 
 Indian corn, baked in the ashes, so that, like the soldiers of ^Enas, each 
 man ate his platter before his hunger was appeased. 
 
 Our traveller, though sharp-set, could not help perceiving a woful 
 insipidity in his food, for which his entertainer apologized. " We 
 ha'nt got no salt to give you, stranger," said he. " The little that's 
 made on the waters of Ilolston is all used there; and what comes by 
 way of the sound is too dear for the like of us, that fight one half the 
 year and work the other half, and then with our rifles in our hands. 
 As lung as we let the Yankees hold James river, we must make up our 
 minds to eat our hogs when they are fat, and to do without salt to our 
 bread. But it is not worth grumbling about; and bread without salt is 
 more than men deserve that will gave up their country without fighting 
 for it." 
 
 "When the meal was finished, our traveller, expressing a due sense of 
 the courtesy of his entertainers, asked what was to pay, and proposed 
 to continue his journey. 
 
 " As to what you arc to pay, my friend," said the spokesman of tho 
 party, in the same cold, quiet tone, " that is just nothing. If you come 
 here by Captain Douglas's invitation, you are one of us; and if you do 
 not, we are bound to find you as long as we keep you. But, as to your 
 going just yet, it is quite against our rules." 
 
 "How is that?" asked the traveller, with some expression of impa- 
 tience. 
 
 "That is what I cannot tell you;" replied the other. 
 
■ 
 
 8 TU. LBADJ K. 
 
 '. -;li. 11 cheeking himself, lie 
 
 . -" Hut I set ;• n >thing bul wl At and prudent; 
 
 own way to find out all you wish to know 
 
 • I thought you said you did not doubt inc." 
 
 1 d . replied the other; * - 1 • n t that is not the thing. 
 
 II rules ar< -lied, though I am." 
 
 •It . ■ role to tell them," said the mountaineer, drily. "Hut 
 
 make itranger. We mean you bo harm, and 1 will Bee 
 
 thing laid Btraight before sun-rise. Vou are heartily 
 
 Such al ire'Te got we give you; and that ifl better than you 
 
 will fiii'l where \<<u are going. For our parts, except it be for salt, we 
 
 - will off lure as common; because there is little else we 
 
 DMA from foreign parts. I dare say, it will go hard with you 
 
 for a while, sir ; but, if your heart's right, you will not mind it, and 
 
 you v t used to it." 
 
 •• It would be ■ great shame," said the youth, "if I cannot hear for 
 a while what you have borne for life." 
 
 aid the other, u that is the way people talk. But (axing 
 your pardon, sir.) there an't no sense in it. Because the longei a man 
 bears a thing, tin less be minds it; and after a while, it an't do hard- 
 ship at all. And that's the way with the poor negroes that the Yan- 
 |l d !■• be BO BOrry for, and tried to get them to rise against 
 ] here's Pew of them, Btrangor, hut what's happier than 
 I am ; hut 1 should hi mighty unhappy, if you were to catch me now, 
 
 in my old days, and make a slave; of me. So when the Yankees want 
 
 to set thfl Degrees free, and to make me a sla\e. they want to put US 
 
 what we are not tit for. And BO it will be with you for a while, 
 
 these mountains, sleeping on the ground, ami eating you meat 
 
 without salt, or bread either, may he. Hut after a while you will not 
 
 mind it. But U to whether it is to 1"' long or short, yOUOg man, you 
 
 4 think about that. You have BO business here, if you have 
 
 not Btade np your mind to stand the like of that for life; and may be 
 ■ mighty bng neither." 
 
 mi. nt a signal from the road gaYe notice of the approach 
 
 seller; and the leader of the mountaineers, accompanied by 
 
 i. wt n; forward in obedienoe to it. But, before be reached 
 
 1" the party leap it, and run eagerly forward 
 
 A little man now appeared, walking slowly 
 
 and wearily, whom dress differed but little from that of the natives; 
 
 and who bore, like them, a riile, with its proper accompaniments of 
 
 knife, tomahawk, and powder-horn. His arrival awakened a tumult of 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 9 
 
 joy among the younger persons present, while he whom I have designa- 
 ted as the chief stood still, looking toward him with a countenance in 
 which en expression of thoujhtful interest was mingled with a sort of 
 quiet satisfaction, and great kindness ^ind good will. Yet he moved 
 hut a step to meet him, and extending his hand, said, in his usual cold 
 tone, " How is it, Schwartz V to which the other, in a voice somewhat 
 more cherry, replied, " Well; how is it with you, Witt ?" "Well," 
 was the grave answer. 
 
 The two now drew apart to converse privately together. Crossing 
 the road, they seated themselves on the fence in front of the stranger, 
 so that during their conference they could keep an eye on him. 
 
 " Who is this you have got here ?" asked Schwartz. 
 
 " A young fellow who says he wants to go to the camp," replied the 
 other. 
 
 u Has he got the word and signs?" 
 
 " No. He does not know any thing about it. I have a notion he is 
 a friend of the captain's." 
 
 " What makes you think so?" 
 
 " He has got a paper in the captain's hand write to show him the 
 way. But there's no name to it; and if there was, I could not tell 
 that he was the man. Sure and sartin the captain wrote the paper, 
 but then somebody may have stolen it. A man that knows as muc'h 
 about the country as he does, after looking at that paper and travelling 
 by it away here, is the last man we ought to let go any farther, or know 
 any more, unless he is of the right sort." 
 
 " I should like to see that paper," said Schwartz. 
 
 " Here it is," replied his companion. " I don't much mistrust the 
 young fellow; but I did not like to let him have it again till I knew 
 more." 
 
 Schwartz now looked at the paper and enquired the stranger's 
 name. 
 
 " I did not ask his name," said Witt, "because he could just tell 
 me what name he pleased. As there was no name on the paper, it did 
 not make any odds. Besides, I wanted to be civil to him, and your 
 high gentlemen down about Richmond are affronted sometimes if you 
 ask their names. The young fellow is all light, or all wrong, any how . 
 and his name don't make any odds. If the captain knows him, when 
 he sees him, it's all one what his name is." 
 
 " But I know," said Schwartz, "who ought to have that paper; and 
 if he don't answer to that name it's no use troubling the captain with 
 him." 
 
U) THE PARTISAN LEA! 
 
 . harm to him," Baid Win. •• for 1 
 . true Virginian, then he is the gi 
 
 I the road, and Schwartz, addressing th< 
 to ask your nut: 
 .: follow oolored, and, turning t.» Witt, Baid,"] thought 
 asking questions." 
 Witt, "but there is a reason for asking your name 
 now, thai I did nol knowof. 1 owe you nothing but good will, young* 
 i hr with earnest solicitude; '•ami if your name is what I 
 . -ur.' by all means and tell the truth ; for there is hut one 
 rid that will save your neck." 
 ■ I shall t'll you no name at all," rejoined the youth, some- 
 what appalled at this BtaTiling intimation. " Why did not \<m ask me 
 
 r when I was in the humor to keep nothing from you. I was 
 
 willing to answer any eivil question, or Indeed any question you would 
 
 ut to me, hut I will not submit to be examined, over and over, 
 
 banco -com 
 
 " H ere's where you are wrong, young man," replied Witt. "This 
 
 hanoe-OOmer. lie is my head man, ami I am just nobody when 
 
 he is 1" r 
 
 Surprised at this ascription of authority to the diminutive and mean- 
 
 looking Dcw-eomer, our traveller looked at him again, and was >■< nfirmed 
 olntion to resist it. He liad patiently borne to be questioned 
 •;. who had something of an air ol dignity. He was a tall, 
 mbed, ami ] owerful man, of about forty, remarkable For the Bo- 
 or, ami the thoughtful gravity of his countenanoe. 
 
 The Other was a little, did fellow, not leas than sixty years "1 age, in 
 
 manner ami carriage there wa< nothing to supply the want of 
 
 in his diminutive form and features. A sharp, little, black eye 
 
 int about him to attract; attention ; and in that the youth 
 
 t hi an impertinent and knowing twinkle, which n \ 
 
 ■ '.: offensive. 
 
 •I said he to Witt, "that Captain Douglas was your 
 
 in." 
 
 •• Tfat is, ho commands all here. Hut 
 
 I did not tell you this was my raj), 
 tuiii. He is no nor Heutenant, nor ensign neither. Hut all of 
 
 low him ; and, when he is away, the rest follow mc." 
 •• Y..U all follow km .'" said the traveller, looking contemptuously on 
 him. 
 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 11 
 
 " To be sure they do," said Schwartz, with a quizzical smile, and an- 
 swering the stranger's thoughts. " To be sure they do. Don't you see 
 I am the likeliest man here ?" 
 
 "I cannot say I do," said the youth, offended at the impertinent 
 manner of the question. 
 
 " Well, I am the strongest man in the whole company." 
 " I should hardly think that," replied the traveller, scornfully. 
 " Any how, then, I am the biggest," rejoined Schwartz, laughing. 
 " That you must own. What ! do you dispute that, too ? Well, then, 
 look here, stranger ! I ha'nt got no commission, and these men are as 
 free as I am. AY hat do you think makes them obey my orders?" 
 
 " I really cannot Bay," replied the young man. 
 
 •' Well," said Schwartz, ° it is a curious business, and well worth 
 your considering; because, you sec, I have a notion if you could find 
 that out, you would find out a pretty good reason why you ought to tell 
 me your name. But that is your business. Some name you must have, 
 and the right one, too. And you see, stranger, it makes no odds 
 whether it is no name or the wrong one. It is all the same thing ; be- 
 cause, if you are the man that ought to have that paper, you would tell 
 your name in a minute." 
 
 " Do you know who ought to have it ?" asked the youth. 
 
 " May be I do," said Schwartz. 
 
 '• Question for question," said the other. - ( Do you know ?" 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " Well, then, my name is Arthur Trevor. Is th it right ?" 
 
 u That's as it may be," said Schwartz. " But now I want to know 
 how you came by this paper." 
 
 " What need you care about that, if I am the person that ought to 
 have it." 
 
 " Just because I want to know if you are the one that ought to 
 have it." 
 
 " I tell you," replied the youth, " that my name is Arthur Trevor." 
 
 " But I do not know that it is," replied Schwartz, carelessly. 
 
 "Do you doubt my word, then?" exclaimed the youth; his eye 
 flashing, and the blood rushing to his face, as if it would burst through 
 his clear skin. 
 
 "Look hero, stranger," laid Schwartz, in a tone of quiet expostula- 
 tion ; "I don't mau DO offence, and you will think BO too, if yOtt'll 
 just look at it rightly, ; because, you sec, I don't know who you are. I 
 doil'4 doubt Arthur Trevor's word; and, if you arc Arthur Trevor, I 
 don't doubt your word. No\v, if you have any way to show that you 
 
Til. \N I.r.U'ER. 
 
 t to do it. and it will set all as straight 
 
 ■ it Ions." 
 
 a\\- of showing it." said the young man. in some 
 
 k .arc ;■> bring nothing with me to show who 1 am 
 
 : i :• might have brought me into trouble in some parts 
 
 Dough," replied Schwartz, " and so T asked you how 
 by the pa] ise I know how Arthur Trevor should 
 
 i. ii' you got it that way, why then you are th-> 
 
 I'.v th!- ti uth saw the folly of his anger, and answered, 
 
 • from a man he nev fore. 
 
 '• \\ hat K>rt Of a man was he?" asked Schwartz. 
 
 • \ thing uncommon, except that he was lame." 
 
 " Did he give you any thing else at the same time?" 
 
 re me this," said the youth, producing a dirty piece 
 
 iper, on which was scrawled these words: 
 
 has oeoashnn to go of a juruey, carry this with you. 
 of Bum service to you." 
 •11." said Schwartz, "that will do. You arc Arthur Trevor, 
 '.id I reckon, Witt, you would have said so too, if you 
 ; ■ ■ 
 
 Witt looked at the paper, and merely nodded assent. 
 '• We\\" Bai 1 the young man, " now 1 suppose 1 may go to my 
 I." 
 
 •• Not i . I Sohwarti. 
 
 •• Why bo?" asked the youth, again relapsing into petulance. 
 ".In-t becau e you could not get there," was the answer. 
 ■• Why not," said he "after finding my way thtU fax." 
 
 reason that you could not have got any farther if I 
 You would in. it with rougher customers than the a bi 
 
 and the camp. Come, come, my son. You must learn to 
 
 The captain has not go! a better friend than me in 
 
 rid; dot you neither, if you did but know all. And, you see. 
 
 a new trade j and 1 thought I would just give you a 
 
 h»oii. .Now you may «■•, that, when you mean nothing hut what is 
 
 rod //"» always know how that is,) the naked truth 
 
 • friend : and then, the sooner it comes the better. I am 
 
 h of an old fol ; and ] reckon I ha^fl told more lies than 
 
 •. for all that, I have seen the day when the 
 
 truth \ than the cunninccst lie that ever was told. And then 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 13 
 
 again, it an't no use to mind what a man says when he don't know 
 you ; because, you see, it an't you he is talking to, but just a stran- 
 ger" 
 
 "But I have travelled desperate hard to-day, Witt," continued 
 Schwartz, " and I must push on to the camp to-night. 80 just give mc 
 a mouthful, and I'll be off, and pilot Mr. Trevor through among the 
 guards." 
 
 " My horse is at your service, as you are tired," said Arthur, whose 
 feelings towards his new acquaintance were now quite mollified. 
 
 u I have had riding enough for one day," said Schwartz ; " and was 
 glad enough to get to where I could leave my horse. Tt an't much 
 good a horse will do you, or mc either, where we arc going. By the 
 time we climb to the top of the Devil's Back-bone, you'll be more tired 
 than me ; and the horse will be worst off of any." 
 
 He now told one of the boys to make ready Arthur's horse, and, 
 snatching a hasty morsel, seized his rifle. " It will not do," said he, 
 "to starve when a man is on fatigue, and it will not do to cat too 
 much. And see here, Witt," added he, taking him apart, and speak- 
 ing in a low tone, " if a long-legged, red-headed fellow comes along 
 here, and tells you he is from Currituck, and seems to think he knows all 
 the signs, never let him find out but what he does. Only just make 
 an excuse to keep him a while, and send a runner on to me, that \ may 
 have time to get out of the way, because he must not see ire. Then 
 you can start him off again with a couple of fellows to show him the 
 way." 
 
1 \ THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 r 11 A i'TKR III. 
 
 The fbresVa shady scene, 
 
 thai own nol man's dominion iwoll, 
 l ! . : 1 1 h ne'er it rarely been. — Rykux. 
 
 'I'm off togetber, Arthur walking, and lead- 
 
 i reached a point where a .-harp ridge, jutting 
 
 from the .side of the mountain, came down ahniptly 
 
 | , lank of the rivulet. Up this rijdge, not Unaptly railed 
 
 •u<\" the path led. Leaning, as it were, against 
 . in — its position, the narrow ridgy edge along which the tra- 
 veller clam I the rough nodules which interrupted the i 
 like the notches in a hen's ladder, gave it no small resemblance to this 
 rifely contrivance. The steep descent on either hand into deep 
 v and hirsute with stinted trees bristling from the sides, to- 
 
 with the similarity of these same nodules to the joints of the 
 
 spine, had I i a name strictly descriptive of the place The 
 
 pness, and vast height of the ascent, would naturally 
 
 ; in Ful epithet; and were the spot to he named again, 
 a hundred to one it would receive the same name, and no other. 
 
 miuit of this narrow stair, the travellers stopped to take 
 
 breath, back on the scene hi low. Arthur, who was at the 
 
 romantic sge when young men aie taught to affect an enthusiasm for 
 the beauties of nature, and to prate about hues and scents, and light 
 
 and shade, and : in all the variety of the grand, the beautiful, 
 
 and the pictun sque, had been feasting his imagination with the thought 
 Hew to be seen from the pinnacle before him. Like 
 about to feast on turtle, who will Dot taste a bisouit before- 
 hand i'd spoil his dinner, so our young traveller steadily 
 
 ard the hill as he asi i nded it. Ev< n when he si 
 to talc breath, b< ■ ful not to look behind. Schwartz, on the 
 
 y, who 9 . always faced ahoiit on such occasion."., 
 
 filling the ] h conversation, and looking as if unconscious of 
 
 r which his eye glanced unheeding. Arthur was 
 
 I h indiffi r< nee, and wondered whether this was the 
 
 effect absence of a faculty of which poets so 
 
 muclr delight to apeak. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 10 
 
 At length the summit was attained ; and now the youth looted 
 around in anticipated exultation. At first he felt bound to admire, 
 and forgetting the unromantic character .of his matter-of-fact com- 
 panion, exclaimed : " Oh ! how grand ! How beautiful !" 
 
 "For my part," said Schwartz, indifferently, " I cannot say that I 
 see any thing at all rightly, except it be the little branch down there, 
 with its patches of meadow and corn-fields, and its smoky cabins. In 
 the spring of the year, when you cannot sec the cabins for the shaders, 
 and the corn, and oats, and meadow is all of a color, it looks mightily 
 like a little green snake. What it is like just now, I cannot say, as I 
 never saw one of them snakes half-scaled, and with a parcel of warts on 
 his buck : but I have a notion he would look pretty much so. As to any 
 thing else — there is something there, to be sure, but what it is, I am 
 sartain I could never tell, if I did not know. And as to the distance 
 I hear some folks talk about — why the farther you look, the less you 
 see, that's all; until you get away yonder, t'other side of nowhere ; 
 and then you see just nothing at all." 
 
 " But the vastness of the view!" said Arthur. ''The idea of im- 
 mensity !' ? 
 
 "As to that," replied Schwartz, "you have only just to look right 
 up, and you can look a heap farther, and still see nothing. All the 
 difference is, you know it is nothing; and down there, you know there 
 is something, and you cannot see what it is." 
 
 " I am afraid your eyes are bad," said Arthur. 
 
 U I cannot see as well as I could once," replied Schwartz; "but if 
 there was anything to be seen down there, I should be right apt to sec 
 it. I have clomb this hill, Mr. Trevor, when I could sec the head of 
 a nail in a target fifty yards off; and drive it with my rifle; and T don't 
 think I saw any thing more then than I do now; and that is only just 
 because there an't nothing there to see. — It3od! but there is, though! 
 There's that chap a coming along; and T must see the Captain, and 
 tell him all about it before he comes." 
 
 "I !<ce nobody," said Arthur. 
 
 " That is because you don't look in the right place," replied Schwartz 
 "Look along the road." 
 
 u I don't sec the road, except just at the foot of the mountain." 
 
 " "Well ! Look through the sights of my rifle. There ! Don't you 
 see a man on horseback ?" 
 
 "I see something moving," said Arthur; but I cannot tell what 
 
 " Well," said Schwartz, " when he comes, you'll sec it's a man riding 
 
TITT PARTI8AH LBADER. 
 
 : ilicii, may be, you'll think if there was any tiling 
 
 .." 
 
 small whistle, which bung by a leathern throng 
 
 The signal was answered from the point bf a 
 
 which jutted oat from the fare of the clif?. not more 
 
 i BF. At the same moment, a man was seen to rise up 
 
 '.. which hid hitherto concealed him: though, from 
 
 kout ]1 CO, he must have hail a distinct view of OUT travellers 
 
 ! they left the valley. He now approached and ao- 
 
 \artz in a manner which Bhowed that he had already rccog- 
 
 - hwarts returned the salutation, and, pointing out the 
 
 while borse, said: "If that fellow Bhould happen to get 
 
 Beeing him, 1 want you just to fall in with him, like 
 
 as if y a was i hunting, and bo go with him to the piquet Never let 
 
 OB 'nit he klOWl all the signs, and keep with him: and when you get 
 
 him to the piquet, make him believe that is the camp, and that the 
 
 Captaiu will he there after a while; and so keep him there till the 
 
 I 001 
 
 Having said this, he again turned his eye toward the object moving 
 
 below, aiel gaaed intently for a few minutes. Arthur, in the mean 
 
 • i admire the pfOSpeot, and soon began to suspect that 
 
 rtas'a ideas of the picturesque were not so far wrong. Indeed, 
 
 :).< re IS nothing to admire from the spot, but the road that leads to it. 
 
 I' the mountain to the coast, there is an expanse of 
 
 hundred miles, with ho secondary ridges. As seen from 
 
 that elevation, the whole is level to the eye, and presents one sheet of 
 
 rest Arthur found time to correct his pr< conceptions by the 
 
 ay of his own senses, while Schwartz c uitinued to observe the 
 
 taut traveller. At last he said: "That will do. 
 pped him; and he will not get away to-night." 
 
 They now moved on quietly through a forest of lofty chestnuts, and 
 i path which wound its way among the scorched trunks of in- 
 ti.it. d by the fires that annually sweep through 
 such uninhabited tracts. The soil Beem< 1 fertile, and abounding in 
 luxuriant though coarse pasturage; and the high table-land of the 
 mountain wai more level than the peopled district below. Yet all was 
 solitary ami silent ; m.r was a vestige of habitation seen for miles. On 
 inquiring th< Cause of this. Arthur was told that the country, at that 
 
 elevation, was Id t" be inviting, as nothing would prow there but 
 
 .nd oats, and that it wn- all shingled over with conflicting patents. 
 
 iThey thai claim the land," .-aid Schwartz, "will not go to law about 
 
 it with one an they would have to survey it, and that 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 17 
 
 would cost a mint of money ; so they all club to keep it as a summer 
 range for their stock. It belongs to some of them, and that is enough." 
 
 He had not long done speaking, when he suddenly stopped, and, 
 raising his rifle, fired, and began quietly to load again. 
 
 "What did you shoot at?" asked Arthur, looking in the direction of 
 the shot. 
 
 "A monstrous fine buck," replied Schwartz. 
 
 "Where is he ? I did not see him." 
 
 ''You did not look in the right place. He is down and kicking; 
 and I always like to load my gun before I go up to them, because, you 
 see, a deer, when he i.s wounded, is as dangerous as a painter." 
 
 "A., painter I" said Arthur. "What harm is there in a painter, 
 more than another man?" 
 
 "01" said Schwartz, laughing, " it an't no man at all. I don't just 
 rightly know how you high larnt gentlemen call his name, but he is as 
 ugly a varmint as you'd wish to see; most like a big cat. Sometimes 
 the drotted Yankees gets hold of them and puts them in a cage; and 
 then they call them tigers. I God! I catched a } T oung one once and 
 sold him to one of these fellows; and the next time 1 seed him, he was 
 carrying the cretur about with him for a show. And he did not re- 
 member me; and so I axed him what it was; and he said 'twas an 
 Effriean tiger right from Duck river! Lord! how the folks did laugh; 
 'cause you see, sir, Duck river is just a little way down here in Tennes- 
 see, not over five hundred miles off"; and Effrica, they tell me, is away 
 '."other side of the herring-pond, where the negurs come from." 
 
 By this time the rifle was loaded, and they advanced toward the 
 fallen deer. They were quite near before Arthur discovered him ; and, 
 at the moment, the animal (a noble buck of ten branches) recovered 
 himself so far as to rcgaii» his feet. He still staggered, but the sud- 
 den sight of his enemy seemed, at once, to stiffen his limbs with horror, 
 and give them strength to support him. In an instant his formidable 
 antlers were pointed ; and, with eyes glaring and blood-shot, and his 
 hair all turned the wrong way, he was in act to spring forward. At 
 the instant, the report of the rifle was again heard, and, pitching on 
 the points of his horns, he turned fairly heels over head, and lay with 
 his legs in air, and quivering in death. Schwartz now drew his knife 
 across the animal's throat, and proceeded to disembowel him, whin 
 Arthur asked what he would do with the carcass. 
 
 "I'll just hang him up in a sapling," said he, "till I meet one of 
 our men. There ought to be one close by, and I can send him for him. 
 Where there's a hundred mouths to feed, such a buck as this is a ca.sh 
 article." 
 
7IIE PARTISAN' LEADER. 
 
 i* moment the napping of dry sticks caught his oar: 
 Juoki? I man approaching. 
 
 " I don't know tha' f.H-w." t*ni<l ho. looking hard it him. •■ " 
 I .-nil make him know mo." 
 usual salutation now pteeed, and the stranger said: ''If I may 
 !...].). Rtruagi r, Pd 1"' glad to know what )■: 
 • Prom Peasamaqi i 1 Sohwarte. 
 
 D t. II Dm- the price of skins down there away?" 
 "Twcntv-tive r -nts :ni<l R quarter a pound," n j»li. 1 >\hwartz. 
 
 A few more simple questions and out-of-the-way answers were cx- 
 
 . when Schwartz. ft dri rO DBID g tlie other, in an under tone, said: 
 i an one "f the new recruits, I reckon ? The other nodded; an 1 
 w. nt <in to ask their number. Being told they were fifty, 
 sly : •• Now there you are wrong. You are right enough : I 
 pass mi-, after I gave you the word; hut thru that's DO reason you 
 should toll me anything. I just asked you, you see, to give yeu 
 '. mitioii ; cause a fellow might come along here that would give you 
 itraight a< any body, and he a spy all the time, So the 
 • way would he, just to pass him and beep dark, that's the rule: 
 and, by the time he'd find oat how many men we've got, may be he'd 
 find out something else he would not like quite so well. But come, let 
 us take the deer up to the road, and you can walk your post and watch 
 it. till 1 can send somebody for it from the piquet ." 
 
 The sturdy mountaineer at once shouldered the animal; and, strid- 
 fclong to the road, threw him down, and quietly betook him- .: 
 - the oheeteuts that covered the ground. The traveller moved on, 
 and presently came to the piquet. 
 
 lb re was | small party quartered in a rude and ruinous cabin, near 
 wlreh was an enclosure around a beautiful fountain, that welled up 
 from a natural basin of .-tone. In this were confined twenty or thirty 
 
 \ few hones were piqueted at hand, and the sides of 1 1 1 ■ 
 joining hills were covered with a numerous herd of fat cattle, brow* 
 on the fad. d. but still succulent vegetation. The time was come wl 
 they should have !>■ en driven down for the winter, to the farms of their 
 wi.. 1 1 1 . low, but they were left here that the men might have the use 
 •he milk. Should their hunting at anytime prove unsuccessful, 
 then- wtfl always a beef at hand. 
 
 wartz was known, and joyfully welcomed. He stopped 
 
 only to bell of the deer, and moved on. u You have a curious system 
 
 her.,'' -aid Arthur; "I s^e the people here know j'ou, but how did 
 
 . # with that new recruit. I watched you, ami I did not see 
 
 you give him any sign, end he did not ask for a countersign." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 19 
 
 "That is all because you don't know what foolish answers I gave to 
 his questions. You see we ha'nt got no countersign rightly; 'cause 
 you see, when I stop a man, I want to know who he is, but I don't 
 want to tell him any thing about myself. But if I ax a man for the 
 countersign, just so 1 might as well tell him I am on guard at once. 
 So we've just got, may be, twenty simple questions; and when we ask 
 them, our own folks know what answer to give, and the answer is sure 
 to be one that nobody would give unless he was in the secret." 
 " And pray how did you find out that I was Arthur Trevor ?" 
 " ! nothing easier, sir. That man, that gave you the map, was 
 not no more lame than you. But I told him to be sure and not to give 
 it to nobody but you, and then to limp so as you'd be sure to notice it. 
 You sec, it was I that was to try fall in with you, and pilot you; but, 
 after that, I got upon another scheme. As to the other paper, that 
 was to serve you with our folks, because there was a mark there you 
 did not notice, that any of them would know; and then they would be 
 middling sure you were the man you said you were. They would have 
 been civil to you, and let you pass, but then they would have sent a 
 man or two to the camp with you. And now, Mr. Trevor, here is some- 
 thing that I can s«e, and I have a notion it's worth looking at." 
 
 While he was yet speaking, Arthur's ears had been saluted by a 
 brawling sound, which he now recognized as the rush of water. Turn- 
 ing his head toward it, he perceived that it proceeded from a deep and 
 shaggy dell, which the path was now approaching, and along the verge 
 of which it presently wound. Here the plain broke sheer down into 
 a gulph of vast depth, at the bottom of which a considerable stream 
 was seen. It dashed rapidly along, pouring its sparkling waters over 
 successive barriers of yellow rock, that sent up a golden gleam from 
 beneath the crystal sheet that covered them. The mountain-pine, the 
 fir, the kalmia, and numberless other evergreens, which nearly filled 
 the gorge, afforded only occasional glimpses of the water; while they 
 set off the picturesque appearance of so much as tin y j emitted to be 
 seen. As they advanced, they came to a part where the trees had been 
 cut from the brow of the cliff; and, several of those below having been 
 removed, a clearer view was afforded 
 
 Here, at the depth of two hundred feet, figures were soon moving to 
 and fro, while right opposite, under a beetling cliff, that screened them 
 from above, were groups clustered around fires, kindled against 
 rock, behind a rodo breast-work of logs. The whole breadth of the 
 stream was here to view, apparently twenty or thirty yards 
 
 wide. Though shallow, by if its rapidity it seemed to pour a 
 
 vast volume of water. 
 
 i 
 
Tin \N LEADER. 
 
 • die cliff, Schwarti now utte- :\ and 
 
 iaing their rifles, moved up the glen, 
 
 lea under the hank .>n Tv)ii ->i the travoll< 
 
 , and presently readied a point it which the ]ith, 
 
 tur , • to tli«- left, dived into the abyss, leading down :i rng* 
 
 along the face of the cliff, in the direction 
 
 bo thai of tin ir approach. Tt reached the very bottom, nearly 
 
 Under tin' poin! from which the shout of Schwartz had given notice 
 .,f hi* i' Here he stopped; and requesting Arthur to wait a 
 
 tided. Tie had not gone far before his name waa 
 by a docen voices, and immediately he wa-- beard to I 
 Waits; and \ have a friend with me." 
 ing him down," was the answer: upon whfoh Sohwarts, return- 
 I Artliur to follow him, and mind hi! Arthur 
 
 nd descend.'], not without some appearance of danger, BOme- 
 : h :• and sometimes crawling, until he reached the group 
 station, d at the foot of this rude stair-way. Here let us leave hill 
 ■ while, and go back to enquire who and whence he was. 
 
 • 
 
 * 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 21 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Handmaid of Prudence, Fortune comes 
 
 Prompt to her bidding, ready to fulfil 
 
 Her mistress' pleasure ; whether she demand 
 
 The treasures of the South, the applause of n.en, 
 
 Or the calm sunshine of domestic bliss. 
 
 Lo ! they are hers! Anoxykoi;* 
 
 Arthur Trf.vor was the youngest son of a gentleman who resided 
 in the neighborhood of Richmond. He was a man in affluent circum- 
 stances, and had long and honorably filled various important and digni- 
 fied stations in the service of his native State. Endowed with hand- 
 some talents, and amiable disposition, and all the accomplishments that 
 can adorn a gentleman, he added to these the most exemplary virtues. 
 His influence in society had, of course, been great, and though now, at 
 the age of seventy, withdrawn from public life, his opinions were en- 
 quired of, and his counsel sought, by all who had access to him 
 Through life he had been remarkable for firmness, and yet more for 
 prudence. The steadiness of his principles could never be questioned, 
 but, it was thought, he had sometimes deemed it wise to compromise, 
 when men of less cautious temper would have found safety in prudent 
 boldness. 
 
 To this temperament had been attributed his conduct in regard to 
 the politics of the last twenty years. Bred up in the school of State 
 lights, and thoroughly imbued with its doctrines, he had, even before 
 that time, been accustomed to look, with a jealous eye, on the progres- 
 sive usurpations of the Federal Government. In the hope of arresting 
 these, he had exerted more than his usual activity in aiding to put 
 down the younger Adams, and to elevate his successor. Though no 
 candidate for the spoils of victory, no man rejoiced more sincerely in 
 the result of that contest; and, until the emanation of the proclamation 
 of December, 1832, he had given his hearty approbation, and steady, 
 b quiet support, to the administration of 'Andrew Jackson. 
 
 1 "i ■ -in that moment hi seemed to look with fearful bodings on the 
 affairs of his country. Bia disapprobation of that instrument was ex- 
 pressed with as much freedom and force as was consistent with his 
 habitual reserve and moderation. Il<- was, indeed, alarmed into ■ de- 
 gree of excitement unusual with him, and might have gone farther 
 
TBI r«.!.TI--AN T.K.U'ER. 
 
 tha- then were di s lie 
 
 atirely disapproved the nullifying ordinance 
 I, though lir recognised the. right 
 
 rtiiiL: to that remedy. Ele waa ajrarc 
 
 • ha* ' is, thinking that its necessity would he 
 
 t by all, feared that thai oonvictiou might eema too, late. 
 
 :" Federal measures to weaken the 
 intl E ith, and to increase the - of their 
 
 and those of the General Government Beaee 
 that whenever Virginia, or any other of the slave-holding 
 tuld find itself driven t.> seoessioB, the other party, in the 
 superior strength, might he tempted forcibly to resist the 
 • tl : ht. They thus arrived at the conclusion that sepa- 
 ration | whioh they deemed inevitable) to be peaceable, must ho 
 
 ia had been laid before Mr. Trevor, and. in proportion to 
 
 irgency with which they wore pressed, was his alarm and his ui>- 
 
 •i"ii to adhere to the Union, lie. at last, had broughl himself to 
 
 v union, on any terms, better than disunion, under any eirnim- 
 
 les er evil, therefore, he determined to forget the 
 
 itiou, and. striving to reconcile himself to all the aot> of the 
 
 tinistratlbn, he regarded every attempt to unite the Smith, in BUp- 
 
 ' ern president, aa a jo-elude to the formation oi a southeni 
 
 By consequence, he became a partisan of Martin Van 
 
 Buren; and united with Ritchie, and others of the same kidney, in 
 
 ing to Bubdue the spirit, and tame down the State pride of 
 
 inia. These endeavors, aided by the lavish use of federal patron- 
 
 in the State, were bo far successful, thai when, at the end of Van 
 
 Ban -it. 'in, he demanded a third election, she alone, in the 
 
 South, .supported his pretensions. 
 
 loyment of the Baine pernicious influences, the 
 
 aghout the State had been sn regulated, as tn produce 
 
 F a majority <<\' members devoted lo the views of the usurper. 
 
 ! until the Bpring of 1> l v . at which time the results 
 
 • jcntially the same which bad taken place since 
 
 Virginia,at one stroke of the pen i punyed 
 
 of honor, < tpunged the history of all her 
 
 Prom that time the land of Washington, 
 
 ■ I Jefferson, Madison, and Randolph, sunk to 
 
 red and managed by the Rivesea and 
 
 I . the Watkinses and "Wilsons, 
 
 ;ncc to 1" rn history depends, like that of Eros- 
 
THE TARTISAN LEADER. Z6 
 
 tratus, on the glories of that temple of liberty which they first desecra- 
 ted and then destroyed. 
 
 '• Where once the Caesars dwelt, 
 
 " There dwelt, tuneless, the birds of ni^ht." 1 
 
 From some cause, not understood at the time, an unexpected reaction 
 had taken place between the spring elections and the recurrence of that 
 form of presidential election in the fall, the observance of which was 
 still deemed necessary to display, and, by displaying, to perpetuate the 
 usurper's power. This reaction appeared to show itself chiefly in those 
 counties heretofore most distinguished ibr their loyalty. It would have 
 seemed as if the spirit of John Randolph had risen from the sleep oi 
 death, and walked abroad through the scenes where his youthful shoul- 
 ders had received the mantle of his eloquence from the hand of Henry. 
 For the first time, in twelve years, the vote of Virginia was recorded 
 against the re-election of Martin Van Buren to the presidential throne. 
 
 But not the less subservient were the proceedings of the Legislature 
 elected for his use, the spring before. Yet enough had been doue to 
 justify the hope that the ancient spirit of old Virginia would yet show 
 itself in the descendants of the men who had defied Cromwell, in the 
 plenitude of his power, and had cast off the yoke of George the Third, 
 without waiting for the co-operation of the other colonies. At the 
 same time, the power and the will of a fixed majority in the North, to 
 .Live a master to the South, had been made manifest. It was clearly 
 seen, too, that he had determined to use the power thus obtained, and 
 to administer the government solely with a view to the interest of that 
 sectional faction, by which he had been supported. " Vic victis .'" 
 "Woe to the vanquished !" was the word. It had gone forth; and 
 northern cupidity and northern fanaticism were seen to march, hand in 
 hand, to the plunder and desolation of the South. 
 
 Filler these circumstances, the southern States had been, at length, 
 forced to sec that the day for decisive action had arrived. They there- 
 fore determined u longer to abide the obligations of a constitution, the 
 forms of which alone remained, and having, by a movement nearly 
 nmultaneoos, settded from the Union, they hud immediately formed a 
 southern confederacy. The suddenness of these measuics was lesf 
 markable than the prudence with which they had been conducted. 
 The two together left little doubt that there had been a preconcert 
 among the leading men of the several States, arranging provisionally 
 what should be done, whenever circum.-tances should throw power into 
 hands of those whom, at the bidding of the usurper, the people had 
 
THR PAr.TISAN I 
 
 : tl,. ir •• •■unci!- I: is now known that tli.ro I 
 
 •no. In Virginia, 
 
 n iim n who entered into the same viewe. BqI while the 
 
 ! tli.it mi decisive step would l»o taken by the more 
 
 thovt her cooperation, lie had devoted all 1. 
 
 1 indirect, to <• nitrol and influonco her election. Of tuinul- 
 
 I ad no fear. The organised operation of the 
 
 r.rnniont wat what ho dreaded. By this alono cmld the 
 
 .n ho effected ; and this was effectually pn V( nted by 
 
 rating oa the elections of Members of the Legislature. From the 
 
 ■ riil.tr Tote on the presidential election, less evil had been K] ; 
 
 das had been taken to control it. In consequence of 
 
 mora of the real sentiments of the people had boon 
 
 allowed to appear on that, occasion ; and. from this manifestation, the 
 
 thern States wore encouraged to hope for the ultimate accession 
 
 • Virginia to their confederacy. They had therefore determined to 
 
 wait for her DO longer, but to proceed to the execution of their plan, 
 
 li -iviiiL' her to follow. 
 
 The disposition of the usurper, at fir.-t, was to treat them 
 •noes; and to take measures for putting down, by force, their v. 
 to bifl authority. But circumstances, to be mentioned 1 
 it impolitic to resort to this measure; But these did not operate 
 revenl him from using the mast efficacious means to prevent Vir- 
 ginia i'roui following theii example. Though restrained from attacking 
 them, nothing prevented him from affecting to fear an attack from 
 tbn in. This gave a pretext for raising troops; and the position of Yir- 
 the frontier State, afforded an excuse for stationing them 
 ; ,u her border*, [fader these pretences, small corps were establish- 
 ed in many of the disaffected counties. Should the presence of tl, 
 be ineffectual to secure the return of delegatoa devoted to the erown, 
 • cut ity was taken against the aotlOO of the Legislature. 
 
 Richmond, the seat of government, became the head-qnarters of the 
 
 arm] rration, U it was called, and, surrounded by this, the mock 
 
 tlie General Assembly were to be held, 
 money thus thrown into the ooonta d the corrupt, while 
 
 terror subdued the timid. On Mr. Trevor, who was neither, th 
 
 things had I e.iiiirary etlct. Ho now, when it WAS too late, saw and 
 
 of his former Qvenaansion. He now began to ana* 
 that they had been right who had urged him, eighteen y, irs be- 
 fore, to hud oil aid in the work of arousing the people to a sense of 
 their danger, and preparing them to meet it as one man 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 25 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 A =p»r.ge that soaks \iy> the King"? countenance. 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 A mono those who had been most prompt to take this view of flie 
 subject, and most vehement in recommending it, was a younger brother 
 of Mr. Trevor. In all, but the great essentials of moral worth, this 
 gentleman was the very reverse of Iris brother. The difference was, 
 perhaps, mainly attributable to the character of his intellect. Quick 
 in conception, and clear in his views, he was strong in his convictions, 
 and habitually satisfied with his conclusions. This, added to a hasty 
 temper, gave him the appearance and character of a man rash, incon- 
 siderate, and precipitate, always in advance of the progress of public 
 opinion, and too impatient to wait for it. His ill success in life seemed 
 to justify this construction. Though eminently gifted by nature, and 
 possessing all the advantages of education, he had never occupied any 
 of those stations in which distinction is to be gained. In his private 
 affairs," he had been alike unpjosperous. Though his habits were not 
 expensive, his patrimony had been but little increased by his own ex- 
 ertions. He had married a lady of handsome property, but had added 
 little to it. With only two daughters, he had not the means of endow- 
 ing them with more than a decent competency; while his elder brother, 
 with a family of a dozen children, had educated the whole, had provi- 
 ded handsomely for such as had set out io life, and retained the where- 
 withal to give the rest nearly as much as the children of the younger 
 could e.\pc<t. In short, the career of Mr. Hugh Trevor had been one 
 of uninterrupted prosperity. In all his undertakings he had been 
 successful. Wealth had flowed into his coffers, and honors had been 
 showered on his head. " When the eye saw him, then it blessed him." 
 Men pointed him out to their children, and said to them: " Copy his 
 example, and follow in his steps. " 
 
 The life of B-rnard, the younger brother, had been passed in com- 
 parative obscurity Beloved by a few, but misunderstood by many, his 
 existence was unknown to the multitude, and unheeded by most who 
 were aware of it. Tin v, indeed, who knew him well, saw in him qual- 
 ities which, under discreet regulation, might have wen for him distine- 
 tion and affluence. None knew him better, and none saw this more 
 
THE PAETXftAl 1- 
 
 th< r. X" dub • radii fur 
 
 and oonuaoa m aee. A habit of 
 
 ,;ics. 
 
 •i»i< in nf ilio mi ml of Mr. Hugh Trevor; and, as 
 
 Land intuitive Bernard WAS £ ii. tin ml v the fir-' to t MM to a 
 
 . d, the leno I toat created, in the other, a prediapoeition 
 
 ; ni result In proportion ai '1' '. bo 
 
 ibt When toe former was ardent, the latter 
 
 and in all matters in which they had a COOBIOOa intoigflt, 
 
 igat of Hugh tttrex failed to see a lion in the path 
 
 %vh They were the opposil I the 
 
 The clear convictions ul' the latter on the subject of 
 
 . had shaken the faith of the former in his own. and had finally 
 
 driven him t<> the conclusion already intimated, " that union, oh any 
 
 Iter th 1/1 disunion,, wider any circumstance* " 
 
 The same habit of thinking bad retarded the change, which the 
 
 M flf tin- last three years had been working in the mind of Mr. 
 
 Bogh Trevor. His native Candor and modesty made it easy for him to 
 
 believe that he had been wrong; and. being convinced of error, 10 ad- 
 mit it. Bat a Corollary from this admission would be, that the incon- 
 rate and imprudent Bernard had, all the time, been right of the 
 
 BUch an admission Mr. Trevor felt an habitual ditiidence, 
 that made him among the last to avuw a change of opinion which, 
 peri :iHiiced in no mind sooner than in his. But the change 
 
 now oomplete, and it brought to the conaoientious old genth man a 
 
 .ction that on him, above all men, it was incumbent to .-pare no 
 10 in his power to remove the mischiefs of which he felt his own 
 supin arc In en in part tie 
 
 lb Mil now a private man; but he had SOUS. To have given a 
 
 to their political course, might not haw been difficult liut, 
 .a the act of repenting an acknowledged error, how could he presume 
 
 i 00 hifl new eonvictioBS, aS to endeavor to bind them 00 the minds 
 
 sa right to use any portion of his paternal influ- 
 
 ' purpose of giving to tho future course of his children'.-* 
 
 ''■ S tendon Cy sa might lead them into error, to the disap- 
 
 . 'merit of their hopes, and perhaps to crime? The answer to these 
 
 ■ I s determination is leave them to their own thoughts, 
 
 - might throw upon these impor- 
 
 • 
 
 It hap].. ie<l uni" .rtunat.ly, that, about the time of Mr. Van Huron's 
 
 accession to the pr< had just reached that time 
 
 if life wl oee a profession. Without any par- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 27 
 
 tieular purpose of devoting him to the army, he had been educated at 
 West Point. The favor of \ 'resident Jackson had offered this advantage, 
 which, by the father of so large a family, was not to be declined. But 
 the young man acquired a taste for military life, and, as there was no 
 man in Virginia whom the new President was more desirous to bind to 
 his service than Mr. Hugh Trevor, his wishes had been ascertained, 
 and the ready advancement of his son was the consequence. The pro- 
 motion of Owen Trevor had accordingly been hastened by all means 
 '•"nsistent with the rules of the service. Even these were sometimes 
 violated in his favor. In one instance, he had been elevated over the 
 head of a senior officer of acknowledged merit. The impatience of this 
 gentleman, which tempted him to offer his resignation, had been soothed 
 by a staff appointment, accompanied by an understanding that he 
 should not, unnecessarily, be placed under the immediate command of 
 v.iung Trevor. The latter, at the date of which we speak, had risen to 
 the command of a regiment, which was now encamped in the neigh- 
 borhood of Washington, in daily expectation of being ordered on ac- 
 tive duty. 
 
 I 'nlunel Owen Trevor had received his first impressions on political 
 subjects at a time when circumstances made his father anxious to es- 
 tablish in his mind a conviction that union was the one thing needful. 
 To the maintenance of this he had taught him to devote himself, and, 
 overlooking his allegiance to his native State, to consider himself as the 
 -wum soldier of the Federal Government. It was certainly not the 
 wish of Mr. Trevor to teach his son to regard Virginia merely as a mu- 
 nicipal division of a great consolidated empire. Put while he taught 
 him to act on precepts which seemed drawn from such premises, it was 
 natural that the young man should adopt them. 
 
 lie did adopt them. lie had learned to deride the idea of State 
 sovereignty, and his long residence in the North had given him a dis- 
 gust at all that is peculiar in the manners, habits, institutions, 'and 
 character of Virginia. Among his boon companions he 1. id been ac- 
 customed to express these sentiments, and, being repeated at court, they 
 had made him a favorite there. He had been treated by the President 
 with distinguished attention. Tic seemed honored, too. with the pcr- 
 1 friendship of that favorite sun whom he had elevated to the chief 
 command of the army. Him he had consecrated totherpurple : proposing 
 , him the mantle of his authority, so as to unite, in the person 
 of his chosen sua whole military and civil power of the em- 
 
 pire. 
 
 It was impossible that a joung man like Col. Trevor should fail to 
 himself flattered by such notice. He had been thought, when a 
 
1> :.TI.-AN I.KADBB. 
 
 . and his devotion to hk pan 
 
 the account of gratitude by Hi 
 loot, on his port] was anxiously watching for an 
 ■nal zeal, which is so stroii- a re 
 
 n to the favor of tl intimated to Cel. Tn 
 
 nothing was wonting to ensure him speedy promotion to the rank 
 
 v, hii'Ii might be magnified, I 
 too pretext ft* advancing him beyond hit equals in 
 \]j: • ! "i' this, he burned for active employment; and earn' 
 
 1 to 1"- inarched to the theatre of war. 
 
 - in Virginia. Bat lie had long since ceased to at- 
 
 tri! reonality to the State, and it was a matter of 00 
 
 i lun. that the en< tniee, against whom he was t<> art, had 
 
 a born or resided there. Personally, they were atmngers to him ; 
 
 ;ily knew tin in as men denying the supremacy of the Federal 
 
 iment and hostile to the President and his intended Buoeet 
 
 :i. indeed, he might possibly meet in arms whom he would 
 gladly avoid. Bis younger brother, Donglas Trevor, had been, like 
 
 him at \\\ .~t Point, had entered the army, and served 
 
 rs. Having spent a winter at home, it was suspected that he 
 
 had become infected with the treasonable heresies of Southern poli- 
 had resigned his commissioo and travelled into South 
 
 I * of this journey on his mind was not a matter of 
 
 i had 1 a receive/] from him by his brother and i 
 
 ial -. if his own regiment, avowing a total change of senti- 
 
 m. nt. These letters left no doubt that should Virginia declare for sa- 
 
 ollision between the Southern League and 
 the old I ttCS, he would be found fighting against the latter. 
 
 The avowal of such sentiments and purposes had so exeited the dis- 
 
 I mel, that l.o had cut sliort the correspondence by 
 that be might never again be reminded that he was the .bro- 
 •!' a traitor. Hi.- litter, to this effect, being laid before the com- 
 mand, r in-ehief, had given the ini-l dcei.MVe proof of the zeal of mi • 
 r an 1 tli,- ,\, |, B tion of the <.thcl\ 
 
 rthia had been brought ahoutj CoL Trevor knew not. II 
 
 any alteration i» blS father's sentiment.-; and, indeed, 
 
 i 1 nut been so, at the time when he was awakened to 
 
 and his OWn duty. The change in his 
 
 mind h r mght by other means ; for his father was, at that 
 
 with him, to doubt was to be profoundly silent. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 29 
 
 CHATTER VI 
 
 The boy is grown 
 
 So like your brothel 1 that he seems his own. — CrtAEFi:. 
 
 Difference of political opinion had produced no estrangement be- 
 tween Mr. Hugh Trevor and his brother, though it had interrupted 
 their intercourse by rendering it less agreeable. Men cannot take 
 much pleasure in each other's society when the subject on which both 
 think and feel most deeply is one on which they widely differ. They 
 accordingly saw little of each other, though an occasional letter passed 
 between them in token of unabated affection. 
 
 I believe I have mentioned that the children of Mr. Bernard Trevor 
 were both daughters. The eldest, then seventeen years of age, had 
 been invited to spend with her uncle, in the vicinity of Richmond, the 
 winter of Douglas's furlough. He was at that time about five-and^ 
 twenty. His long residence in the Xorth had not weaned him from 
 his native State. He had not been flattered into a contempt of every- 
 thing Virginian. Neither his age nor rank gave him consequence 
 enough to be the object of that sort of attention. Perhaps, too, it had 
 been seen that he was a less fit subject for it than his elder brother. 
 Though much the younger, he had a range, originality, and indepen- 
 dence of thought, of which the other was incapable. Resting in the 
 esteem of his friends and the approbation of his own conscience, the 
 applause of the multitude, the flattery of sycophants, and the seducing 
 attentions of superiors, had small charms for him. His heart had never 
 ceased to glow at the name of Virginia, and he returned to her as the 
 wanderer should return to the bosom of his home — to his friends — to 
 his native land. In appearance, manners, and intelligence, he was 
 much improved ; in feeling, the same warm-hearted, generous, unso- 
 phisticated youth, as formerly. 
 
 In the meantime, his cousin Delia had already reached his father's 
 house, and was domesticated in the family. There she found the 
 younger brothers and sixers of Douglas Impatiently expecting his ar- 
 rival, and so much occupied with the thought of him, that, had she 
 been of a jealous disposition, she might have deemed her w< Icome 
 somewhat careless. Rut she already knew her cousins, her uncle, and 
 her aunt. This was not the first time that their houec wa? her tempo- 
 
H THE PARTISAK L 
 
 I leaned ( If as one of the fan 
 
 •cd to eater into all their feeling*. Dong! 
 ytx& ■ Daring his long . hie heart had 
 
 . th( in. In tliis he differed widely from Owen, in 
 - of an idle life and the Bah* mes of ambition had 
 • of tli<' simple joys of his childhood's home. The 
 u him and Douglas, in this ratpeet, rendered the latter 
 popular with the singlcdiearted beings who were impatiently 
 iin. 
 remember brother DooglasZ" Mid Virginia Trevor, 
 .. younger than Delia* '•Mamma say* you were a great 
 
 with him when a child, and qadd to call him your Douglas." 
 
 " I could i i Lave been more than three years old at the time you 
 i Delia ; "but 1 have heard of it so often, that 1 
 Bomber it. ]>ut, of course, I do net remember him." 
 '• And, of course, he docs aot remember you," said Mrs. T' 
 •• At I< :.-t, he would not know you. lint I doubt if he ere? has for- 
 ked you, as you were then. lie was to be your husband, you km>w : 
 and your father gave him a set of rules to walk by. lb- was to d 
 .and mi, and to be so and so; and Harry Banfbrd was to be his model 
 lie said nothing about it; but " Sanford and Morton " was hardly ever 
 fit Of bis bands, and We could see that he was always trying to s<^uar* 
 iet bv your father's maxims. I believe in my heart it made i 
 difference in the boy; and that is the reason why he is less like hi.- 
 and more like yours, than any of the rest of my 1" 
 
 •■ 1 shall certainly love him, then," said Delia, her eyes filling as she 
 
 spoke, •' If he is like my dear old father." 
 
 "Indeed, and you may," said Mrs. Trevor; "but for all that. 
 tld rather have him like his own Father. But you must not be af- 
 fronted, Delia; you know I claim the right t" bra.: about my old i: 
 ' him up over everybody — even the President himself." 
 •• 1 the President," said Delia, "'but I should be sorry t • 
 
 my father with him." 
 •■ 1 can assure you," replied the aunt, " there are very few men that 
 • ; arison. ! he is the most elegant, agreeabh 
 til loan, tint ever I -aw." 
 
 • my nnoli ." said Delia, smiling, 
 "rahaw! Y ire, I always except him." 
 
 " / will i' ■ 'ny fatfar," said Delia, gravely. " I should apt 
 
 like to hear him and Martin Van Buren praised in the .sime breath." 
 " Well, my dear," said the gouddiuniured old lady, " wc must not 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER, 31 
 
 quarrel about it ; but you must take care not to talk so before Dough.-, 
 because he is tbe President's soldier." 
 
 '• I thought," said Delia, " be was in tbc service of tbe United States." 
 " Well I and is not tbat all the same thing ? /do not pretend to 
 know anything about it ; but my husband says so, and that is enough 
 for me." 
 
 Mr. Trevor, who bad sat by the while, listening, with grave compla- 
 cency, now said : " I am afraid you don't report me truly, my dear." 
 Then, extending his hand to Delia, he drew her gently to him, and 
 placing her on his knee, kissed her. " You are a good girl," said he. 
 '• and shall love and honor your father as much as you please. He is a 
 noble, generous man, and a wise man, too. I would to God," %i 
 be, sighing heavily, " that I bad bad half his wisdom." 
 
 "Why, bless my soul, Mr. Trevor!" exclaimed his wife, " what does 
 this mean ?" 
 
 " Nothing," replied be, "but a just compliment to the self-renoun- 
 cing generosity and far-sighted sagacity of my brother." 
 
 Saying this, he rose and left the room, while his wife gazed after him 
 in amazement. She had never heard him say so much before, and now 
 perceived that he had thoughts that she was not apprised of. Believ- 
 ing him faultless and incapable of error, even when he differed from 
 himslf, she at once concluded that she had lost her cue, and deter- 
 mined to say no more about politics until she recovered it; but he 
 never adverted to the subject again, in her presence, during tbe whole 
 winter, and her niece, consequently; heard no farther allusion' to it from 
 her. 
 
 This was no unwelcome relief to Delia. She was no politician, but 
 she was not incapable of understanding what passed in her presence 
 on the subject, except when the interlocutors ehose to mystify their 
 meaning. Her father, a man of no reserves, never spoke but with a 
 purpose of expressing his thoughts clearly and fully; and no man bet- 
 tor knew how to express them than he. Though deficient, as I have 
 said, in that cold prudence which takes advantage of circumstance.-, 
 was eminently trifled with that more vigorous faculty which mnk's :,, 
 In the piping times of peace, he was a man of no mark ; but wlu • 
 ciety was breaking up from its foundations, he was the man with whom 
 the timid and doubting would seek safety and counsel. Infirmity 
 now overtaken him, and he could do little more than think and speak 
 Consulted by all the bold spirits who sought to lift Up, from the du •'. 
 the soiled and tattered banner of his native State, and spread it I 
 wind, lie nc\ diverse freely with such, and often in I 
 
 presence of his daughters. 
 
Til: 
 
 he bad net imbued them with hi:- opiaioi 
 minds with the arguments hy which Im v. 
 i, h< had made them lull partaken of hit It 
 
 if lu- had a porpOM in this. What that pur- 
 
 waf . One end, at least, it answered. Et inert 
 
 uion of lii- powera, their confidence in his wisdom, and their 
 
 rson. Mrs. Hugh Trevor herself did not hold bet bus- 
 
 than w.i- oharished by Delia for that 
 
 ■ | f:ith« r. 
 
 And aeter did man beta* r des< rv< th< oonfiding affection of a daugh- 
 
 11c had been her principal instrnctor from infancy. He had 
 
 ted her mind; he had trained her tu self-oommand, and taught her 
 
 . happiness in virtue. Educated at heme, her manners were 
 
 in a domestic eirele — characterized by refinement, and deli- 
 . but frank propriety. Her love of reading had been cultivated by 
 throwing books in her way; and, the taste once formed, her attention 
 had been directed to snob as might best qualify her for the dutu 
 woman'.- only appropriate station. Herein she had an example in her 
 mother, a lady of the old Bohool, courteoaa and gentle, but high-spirit- 
 : >us, and full of her husband's enthusiasm iii the cause of his 
 try. Mr. Bernard Trevor was indeed, a man to be loved passion- 
 ately, if loved at all; ami to shed the vivid hue of his mind on those of 
 his ; It was the delight of his wile to witness and to cherish 
 
 the dutiful affection and ardent admiration of her daughters for their 
 father. The consequence was, that his power over their thoughts, Icel- 
 and inclinations was unbounded. 
 It will be readily believed that, in the miml of iKiia Trevor, (bus 
 I n toecupiod, there was no room for any very favorable predispositions 
 td a young man trained from bis boyhood in the scrviee of her 
 Btry'l op] i She had heard his mother speak of him as the 
 
 lier of the arch-enemy of her beloved Virginia, and a scnti- 
 menl of abhorrence arose in her mind at the words ; but .-he reflected 
 that be was her cousin ; the son of her good nncle ; the brother of her 
 dearest friend ; and, trying to remember bis fondness for her when a 
 
 child, IBM i 1.: i' '1 down the feeling Oi disgust, as unnatural and wicked. 
 
 1'ut. alu r all this discipline of her own mind, she found it impossible 
 
 t'. think of him with complacency, or to anticipate his arrival with 
 
 11- r imagination always painted him in the hateful dress 
 
 wh ii taught to regard as the badge of slavery — the liv- 
 
 nt. She would try to love him, as a kinsman, but she 
 
 tld like him or respect him. 
 
 At length lie mud-.- bis appearance, and, to her great relief, in the 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 33 
 
 plain attire of a citizen. He was a handsome youth, whose native 
 . grace had been improved by his military education, and in his man- 
 ners uniting the frankness of a boy with the polish and elegance of an 
 accomplished gentleman. "Whether he had been admonished by his 
 father to respect the feelings of his fair cousin, or had caught his re- 
 serve, on the subject of politics, by contagion, she had no means of 
 knowing. Certain it is, that on that subject he was uniformly silent, 
 and Delia soon learned to converse with him on other topics without 
 dreading an allusion to that. She thus saw him as he was, and, by de- 
 grees, lost the prejudice which, for a time, blinded her to any merit he 
 might po?^ 
 
 And he did possess great merit. A high sense of honor, strict 
 principles, great openness and generosity, were united in him with 
 talents of no common order. Quick, apprehensive, and clear in his 
 perceptions, there was a boldness, vividness, and distinctness in his 
 thoughts and language that continually reminded her of him she most 
 loved and honored. Of her father he frequently spoke with great ven- 
 eration and affection. He remembered, as his mother had conjectured, 
 many of his uncle's precepts. He frequently quoted them as of high 
 authority with him; and it was plain to see that, cherished during four- 
 teen years, they had exercised a decided influence in the formation of 
 his character. Indeed, it might be doubted whether his imagination 
 had ever dismissed the idea which had first disposed him to lend a 
 willing ear to the suggestions of his uncle. That which was sport to 
 the elder mojnbers of the family, had seemed to him, at the time, a se- 
 rious business. The thought that the little girl who loved to hang on 
 his neck and kiss him might one day be his wife, had certarnly taken 
 possession of his boyish mind. How long he had consciously retained 
 it could not be known ; but the traces of it were still there, and were 
 certainly not obliterated by the change which time had wrought in his 
 cousin. 
 
 Of her personal appearance I have said nothing. Were I writing a 
 novel, I should be bound, by all precedent, to give, an exact account of De- 
 lia's whole exterior. Her person, her countenance, her hair, her eyes, 
 her complexion, should all be described, and the whole summed up in 
 ' nsnnhlr of surpassing beauty. But, in this true history, I am 
 unfortunately bound down by facts, and I lament, that to the best of 
 my recollection, T shall not have occasion to speak of a single female, 
 in the progress of my narrative, whose beauty can be made a theme of 
 ju;-t praise. I do sincerely lament this; for euch is the constitution of 
 human nature, that female beauty influences the heart and mind of 
 man, even by report We read, in Oriental talcs, of great princes 
 
M TnK PABTISAH LEADER. 
 
 enamored of descriptions. The grey eyes of Qmen Kli 
 
 . le her unpopular with the youthful reader] ami the 
 | -t latnl, three hundred year- alter the worms had 
 
 ■ r, Mill continues to gild her history mid gloBS over her crimes. 
 i iv nothing so much in favour of the beauty of Delia Trevor, U 
 
 that she was good and intelligent,, reminding the reader of th< 
 
 . Mrs. Dorothy Primrose, to wit: " Handsome is, that han I 
 
 docs." 1 OU only add, that, when I saw her afterwards hanging on 
 
 the arm of Douglas, and looking up in his face with all the deep and 
 
 votion of a woman's love, I saw enough of the constituents 
 
 1'ity to make her an object of love, and enough >i the BOoJ of 
 
 truth and tenderness to make her seem transcendently beautiful in the 
 
 this, to account for the fact that her cousin Douglas soon found 
 himself taking great pleasure in her society, and anxious to please her, 
 not more from duty than inclination. He was, perhaps, chic fly attract- 
 ed by her conversation, which was always cheerful, sprightly, and in- 
 telligent. He may have yielded to a spell of hardly teas magic than 
 that of beauty; the spell of a voice melodious, distinct, articulate, and 
 richly flexible, varying its tone-; unconsciously with every ohang 
 grade of thought or feeling. It may have been the effect of what By- 
 ron would call "blind contact," and tho sage Mrs. Broadhuret "propin- 
 quity/' or it may have been that his hour was come. If one in ten of 
 my married friends can tell exactly how /(<• oame to fall in lovw with 
 his wife, I shall hold myself bound to impure farther intS> this m 
 
 But I do not mean to intimate that Lieutenant Trevor, turning his 
 backon.thc belles of Boston and New fork, and Philadelphia, and 
 Baltimore, and Washington, came home, and tumbled forthwith into love 
 with a plain country girl, just because she was his cousin, and he had 
 loved her when a child. I do not mean to say he was in love with her 
 at all. He had a sincere affection for her; he liked her conversation ; 
 I Imired her talents much, and her virtues more. He liked very 
 h to be with her, and was very much with her. 
 
 • t came of this, the reader shall be told when we have disp 
 
 • matters of higher concernment. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 35 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Nero fiddled while Rome was bunnr.g. 
 
 Douglas Trevor reached his father's house just after the Virginia 
 Legislature had assembled. The presidential election was just over, 
 and the partisans of Van Burcn, exulting in their success, made their 
 leader the more hateful to his opponents by the insolence of their tri- 
 umph. Though he had lost the vote of Virginia, it will be remember- 
 ed that he still commanded a majority in the Legislature, elected be- 
 fore the revolution in public sentiment was complete. The more recent 
 expression of public sentiment showed that the time was come when 
 power must be held by means far different from those by which it had 
 been acquired. Opinion, which at first had been in their favor, was 
 now against them. Corruption had for a time supplied the place; but 
 the fund of corruption was all insufficient to buy off the important in- 
 terests which were now roused to defend themselves. To add to its ef- 
 ficiency by all practicable means, and to bring to its aid the arm of 
 force, was all that remained. 
 
 To organize measures for this purpose, and to enrich themselves from 
 the profuse disbursement of public money, which formed a part of the 
 plan of operation*;, were the great objects which engaged the minds of 
 the majority in the Virginia Legislature. But these, important as they 
 were, could not entirely wean them from those indigencies which, for 
 many years, had made Richmond, during the winter season, the scene 
 of so much revel and debauchery. To these, as well as to personal in- 
 and the great interests of the faction, much time was given. 
 But the necessity of attend i cially to the latter was made daily 
 
 more apparent by the startling intelligence which every mail brought 
 from the South and Southwest. The nearly simultaneous 'secession of 
 the States in that quarter, and the measures to.be taken for the forma- 
 tion of a southern confederacy, were things which had been talked of 
 until they were no longer dreaded. But causes had gradually wrought 
 their ncctssiry effect*) and the ultimate cooperation of Virgiuia, if left 
 to act freely, was now sure. 
 
 I have already spoken of those men, in each of the Mmthi 
 of cool heads, long views, and stout hearts, who, watching the progress 
 
3o* TDE PARTIBAB LE,\I»KR. 
 
 of i on the point to which t 1 I. It is not 
 
 They arc already 
 I blazoned on the tomb of tliat hateful tyranny 
 wh They had been discarded from the e< 
 
 the popularity of the President had blinded the 
 ruuTtitt] : i none of the northern faction, 
 
 inlta of rapacity and fanaticism, hounded on byambi- 
 E nth, had restored them to public favor. 
 Tli saion must come, and that, come when it might, 
 
 their infl dd 1 e proportioned to their past disgraci -. Pn Burn- 
 
 ing "ii this, they had consulted much together. Not only had they 
 ■ fhed provisionally the plan of a southern confederacy, hut they had 
 i measures to regulate their relations with foreign powers. One of 
 r number, travelling abroad, had been instructed to prepare the way 
 for the negotiation of a commercial treaty with great Britain. One of 
 the first acts of the new c ofederacy was to invest him publicly with 
 the diplomatic character, and it wasat once understood that commercial 
 arrangements would be made, the value of which would s< oure to the 
 infant League all the advantages of an alliance with that powerful ca- 
 tion. The designation of a gentleman, as minister, who had so long, 
 without any ostensible motive, resided near the Court of St .lames, left 
 no doubt that all things had been already arranged. The treaty soon 
 
 r j iromulgated, therefore, surprised nobody, except indeed that ft 
 of its details were too obviously beneficial to both parties to have | 
 
 1. Not only in war, but in peace, do nations sc< m to think it 
 important to do good to themselves than to do harm to each other. 
 The s\-tem of free trade now established, which has restored to the 
 lib the full benefit of its natural advantages, and made it once more 
 the most flourishing^ and prosperous country on earth; which has mul- 
 tiplied the manufactories of Great Britain, and increased her revenue 
 by an increase of consumption and resources, even while some bracchet 
 ,ue wore cut oft*'; and which, at the same time, has broken the 
 r of her envious rival in the North, and put an end for ever to 
 that artificial | rosperity engendered by the oppression and plunder of 
 hern States; is such an anomaly in modem diplomacy, that the 
 rulers at Richmond, or even at Washington, might well have been Bur- 
 st it. But the bare nomination of the plenipotentiary waa 
 eSOUgh to 1. avs DO doubt that a treaty was ready for promulgation, and 
 that it- terai must be such as to Becurc the cooperation of Great Bri- 
 tain. 
 
 Bat, while the leaders of the ruling faction thought of these things, 
 aud anxiously consulted for the preservation of their power, there was 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 37 
 
 still found among the members of the LegislatureHhe ordinary propor- 
 tion of men who think of nothing but the enjoyment of the present 
 moment. Such men are often like sailors in a storm, who, becoming 
 desperate, break into the spirit room, and drink the more eagerly be- 
 cause they drink for the last time. When the devil's "time is short, 
 he has great wrath;" and this point in his character he alwa}\s displays, 
 whether he exhibits himself in the form of cruelty, rapacity, or de- 
 bauchery. 
 
 The amusements, therefore, of the legislators assembled at Rich- 
 mond suffered little interruption, and the dinner and the galas, the" ball 
 and the theatre, and the gaming-table, with revel, dissipation, and ex- 
 travagance, consumed the time of the servants of the country, and 
 swallowed up the wasted plunder of the treasury. 
 
 Respected by all, beloved by individuals of both parties, and courted 
 by that to which he was supposed to belong, Mr. Hugh Trevor was an 
 object of the most flattering attention. His house was the favorite 
 resort of such as enjoyed the envied privilege of the entree. His gal- 
 lant and accomplished son was the glass before which aspirant for court 
 favor dressed themselves. The budding youth of his daughter had, 
 for }-ears, been watched with impatient anticipation of the time when 
 her hand might be seized as the passport to present wealth and future 
 honor. 
 
 Her cousin Delia was not recommended to notice by all these con- 
 siderations; but the most prevailing of the whole was one that made 
 her claims to attention fully equal to those of Virginia. Her father, 
 though in comparatively humble circumstances, could give with his 
 daughter a handsomer dowry than the elder and wealthier brother 
 could afford with his. He was notorious for generosity, and his in- 
 firmities made it probable that he was not long for this world. Delia 
 was therefore universally fegarded as an heiress. Add to this, that -in 
 the affection of her uncle she seemed hardly to be postponed to his 
 own daughter, and it was obvious to anticipate that the same influence 
 which had procured office and emolument for himself and his sons, 
 would be readily exerted in favor of her future husband. 
 
 It followed, that, whatever were the amusements of the day, whether 
 ball or theatre, or party of pleasure by land or by water, the presence 
 of Delia and Virginia was eagerly sought. The latter, simple and art- 
 less, saw in all who approached her the friends of her father. If she 
 thought at all of political differences, it was only to recognize in nio*t 
 of them the adherents of the man to whose fortunes he had so long 
 attached himself, and in whose fortunes he had flourished. To all. h< r 
 welcome was alike cordial and her smile always bright 
 
> THE PARTISAN LEADS. 
 
 Witl. Delia, tl ^ lb far different Much more i I than 
 
 .-in with tli.' politics of the day, she W8J aware that her father 
 
 i many that the met On BOme of those who Bought 
 
 her favor, she knew tliat he looked*with detestation and seorn. To 
 
 m as cold ami repulsive as a real lady can i ■■ it her- 
 
 be to one who approaches her as i gentleman in genteel society. 
 
 The height of the modem mode would, indeed, have eounteiiai 
 
 such easel that sort of negative insolence, the practice of which i- re- 
 
 garded as the most decisive indication of high breeding. But she had 
 
 I in a different school. She had been taught that, m i 
 self n sp< d a the Brat duty of woman ; and that the only inviolabl 
 guard f<T that, is a care never to offend the self-respect of others. 
 Thus, while a part of those jvho approached her, who made I 
 that their attentions were not acceptable, she never afforded them oc- 
 casion to complain of any want of courtesy on her part Without 
 being rebuffed, they felt themselves constrained to stand aloof. There 
 was nothing of which they could complain ; no pretext for resentment 
 — no opening for sarcasm — no material for scandal. 
 
 But in proportion to the impotence of malice, so i-; the malignity of 
 it,- hoarded venom. All were aware of the political opinions and con- 
 nexions of Mr. Bernard Trevor; and it wai easy to make remarks in 
 the presence of his daughter, not only offensive, hut painful to her 
 feelings. To this purpose, no allusion to him was necessary. It was 
 enough to speak injuriously of those whom she knew to he his friends, 
 and whose public characters made them legitimate subjects of applause 
 -ure. 13y this, and other means of the like character, she was 
 open to annoyance; and to suoh means the dastard insolence "t' 
 those whom her coldness had repelled, habitually resorted for revenge. 
 On such occasions she frequently found that her cousin Douglas came 
 to her aid. Unrestrained by the consideration that imposed silence on 
 her, he was always ready to speak on behalf of the party attacked. If 
 ho could not directly vindicate, he would palliate or excuse. If even 
 inconsistent with his own opinions, be would take occasion to 
 approvingly of the talents or private worth of thuse who were 
 assailed. Whether she regarded this as a proof of good breeding, or 
 of kit herself, or of an incipient change in his opinions, such 
 
 commanded her gratitude and approbation. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 39 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 He was, in logic, a great eritic, 
 
 Profoundly skilled in analytic. 
 
 He could distinguish and divide 
 
 A hair, "twixt south and southwest side. 
 
 Hudibius. 
 
 Among those who had thus manifested a disposition to win the favor 
 of Delia Trevor, was a young man who had, not long since, entered 
 public life under the auspices of a father, who, fifteen ydars before, had 
 openly bartered his principles for office. Besides some talent, the son 
 possessed the yet higher merit, in the eyes of his superiors, of devotion 
 to his party and its leader. He never permitted himself to be re- 
 strained, by any regard to time or place, from making his zeal con- 
 spicuous. Taught, from his infancy, that the true way to recommend 
 his pretensions was to rate them highly himself, he seemed determined 
 never to exchange his place in the Legislature for any in the gift of 
 the Court, unless some distinguished station should be offered to his 
 acceptance. For any such, in any department, he was understood to 
 be a candidate. 
 
 At first, he supposed that a private intimation to this effect, through 
 his father, would be all sufficient. But he was overlooked, and post 
 after post, that he would gladly have accepted, was conferred on others. 
 Fearful that he might be deemed deficient in zeal, he redoubled his 
 diligence, and with increased eagerness sought every opportunity to 
 display his talents and his ardor in the service of his master. Still" he 
 seemed no nearer to his object. Whether it was thought that he was 
 serviceable in his actual station, or that the wily President deemed 
 it a needless waste of patronage to buy what was his by hereditary title 
 and gratuitous devotion, it is hard to say. The gentleman sometimes 
 seemed on the point of becoming malcontent; but his father, who had 
 trained him in the school of Sir Pertinax McSyeophant, convinced him 
 that more was to be got by "booing," and resolute subserviency and 
 flattery of the great, than in any other way. ■ Under such impressions, 
 he would kindle anew the fervor of his zeal and send up his incense in 
 clouds. Again disappointed, and sickening into the moroseness of hope 
 
♦ THK PARTISAN LKADKR. 
 
 moody and n \a if watc":, 
 
 d< action. 
 
 • -mil a moment, had -seemed to pr 
 lintanoe with Delia Trevor, don with 1. 
 
 Baited to hi* interested and ambi I polioy. A 1«::: 
 
 ami amiabl items in the account <>f Becondar 
 
 Bat her fortune was not to be overlooked. Then, should hi 
 
 like to meet their long deserved reward, she could be 
 
 nt as the niece of Mr. Hugh Trevor, the tried and 
 
 riend of tin President Should the cold ingratitude "!' his 
 
 superior- at length drive him into the opposition for advancement, he 
 
 ire of being well received as the Bon-in-law of a patriot so di 
 
 Bernard Trevor. Utrinque paratxu, could he secure the hand 
 
 of Delia, he Pelt -urc that he must win, let the cards fall as 
 
 Saving taken this view of 'the subject, and examined it in all its 
 bearings, he made ap to Delia with a directness which stai 
 confidence that offended her. Hut the gentleman had little to 
 mend him to the favor of the fair. Bis] rson was awkward, and dis- 
 figured by a mortal stoop. His Features, at once diminutive and i 
 lar, were either shronded with an expression of solemn importan 
 set off by a smile of yet more offens mplacenoy. His manners 
 
 r of OOnoeit, alternately pert and 
 and hi though abortn 
 
 tempts at wit. and a sort of chopt kogio, elaborately employed in prov- 
 ing, bj tible arguments, what nobody ever pretended to deny. 
 . I 1 . en taught, by his learned and astute father, to lay his foun- 
 dations so deep that his arguments and the patience of his hearers were 
 apt to be exhausted by the time he got back to the surface of things. 
 Yet he reasoned with grosil precision, and rarely failed to estahlish, as 
 untjuestionahle, thenfttmtiej from which other men commonly begin, to 
 >n. 
 
 talent, and this use of it, arc more applauded by the world than 
 one would think. Men like to be confirmed in their opinions ; and, 
 tin fewer and more simple these may be, the more grateful are they for 
 any thing that looks like a demonstration at their truth. To a man 
 arithmetic only extends to the profound maxim 
 "that two and two make four," how gratifying to find a distinguished 
 man « ling to prove it by elaborate argument ! 
 
 Bat ladies have little taste for these things, and still less for the 
 harsh dogmatism and fierce denunciations of hostile, but absent politi- 
 cians, with which Mr. P. Baker, the younger, occasionally varied bis 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 41 
 
 discourse. To Delia, therefore, the gentleman, in and of himself, and 
 apcrt from all extrinsic considerations, was absolutely disagreeable. His 
 first advances drove her within the safe defences of female pride and 
 reserve. But when the manifest audacity of his pretensions led her 
 to think of him as the supple slave of power, as one who had prostitu- 
 ted himself to the service of his master, with an eagerness which con- 
 demned his zeal to be its own reward, her disgust increased to loath- 
 ing, and her pride was kindled into resentment. Without showing 
 more of these feelings than became her. she showed enough to make 
 her the object of his insolent and malignant hatred. But she was for- 
 tified by her position in a family which he dared not offend, and his 
 paltry malice found vent in such allusions to the politics of the day as 
 he knew must wound her. 
 
 Things were about coming to this pass*, when Douglas Trevor ar- 
 rived. The first time he met Mr. Baker in company with his cousin, 
 he saw a disposition on his part to pay attentions which were obviously 
 annoying to her. Both duty and inclination impelled him to come to 
 her relief; and, in doing this, he awakened the jealousy and incurred 
 the displeasure of the gentleman. But these were feelings he had no 
 mind to display toward one who wore a sword, and especially toward 
 the son of a man so influential at Washington as Mr. Hugh Trevor. 
 He accordingly drew off, in morose discomfiture, and Delia, relieved 
 from his offensive attentions, felt that she owed her deliverance to her 
 cousin. He was, of course, bound to occupy the place at her side from 
 which he had driven Baker; and she was bound to iequite the service 
 by making the duty he had imposed on himself as little irksome as 
 possible. She exerted herself to be agreeable, and succeeded so well, 
 that Douglas went to bed that night in the firm belief that he had 
 never passed a more pleasant evening, or seen a girl of more charming 
 manners than Delia. 
 
 This circumstance led to a sort of tacit convention, which established 
 him in the character of her special attendant, in all parties where Mr- 
 Baker made his appearance. By an easy progress, this engagement 
 was extended to all societies and all places. He knows little of human 
 nature who needs to be told the natural consequences of these 
 things. 
 
 But, leaving the reader to form his own judgment, and to anticipate 
 . such result as he may, my present business is with the repulsed and 
 irritated Baker. Though it consoled his pride and self-love to impute 
 his discomflturos, not to any absolute dislike of himself, but to a prefer- 
 ence for another, there was nothing in that preference to soothe 1 
 sentracnt. As Douglas had, in the first instance, come somewhat cava- 
 
TBI PART18AM I 
 
 wishes, he, perhaps, had rea- 
 
 . Bpleasure against him. l>ut, as it might be quite 
 
 give vent to hi;* feelings in that direction, they we*a 
 
 careful '" -— i s < - 1 > assaults on those of the lady, 
 
 ►in might m.t observe, or might think it unwise t<> uotioe, did his malice 
 
 jndti 
 
 . 1 1 - - 11 the astounding intelligence reached Rich- 
 that a diplomatic agent from the State of South Carolina had 
 been long secretly entertained at the Court <>l' Bt Janus, and that he 
 tpposed to have negotiated an informal arrangement for acorn- 
 ty between that government and the confederacy then form- 
 ing in the Smith. Something was rumored as to the terms of the con- 
 teniplated treaty, which filled the -whole northern faction in Virginia 
 iiiation. Itwas feared that that State could nut he w ith- 
 
 ■iii joining the Southern League, except hy force, and that, in 
 ■ force, she would be backed, not only by the Southern 
 : by the power of Great Britain 
 
THE FARTISAN LEADER. 43 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " If I had known lie had been so cunning of fence, I'd have seen him 
 damned ere I had fought with liim." — Old Play. 
 
 It was now the month of February, and a pleasant day had tempted 
 our young people to a jaunt of amusement to the head of the falls. 
 Mr. Baker, stealing away from his duties as a legislator, was one of the 
 party. Repulsed by Delia, he was beginning an attempt on the heart 
 of Virginia,, of whose loyalty, as the daughter of Mr. Hugh Trevor, he 
 could entertajn no doubt. 
 
 Here his reception would have been little better than with the other, 
 had not Virginia been held in check- by a respect for the supposed 
 opinions of her father. Born at the very moment when the good old 
 gentleman was in the act of making up his mind to sacrifice the sover- 
 eignty of his native State to the necessity of preserving the Union, he 
 seemed to seize on the opportunity of compensating the impiety to 
 which he felt himself driven, by giving to his infant daughter the 
 name he had so long cherished and honored. It was a moment of one 
 of those relcntings of the heart, in which nature asserts her suprema- 
 cy, and compels its homage to those whom we have been accustomed to 
 reverence and obey. If even the prodigal or the traitor be subject to 
 be so affected, how much stronger must be such an impulse in the mind 
 of a pure and upright man, impelled by ?l sense of duty to his coun- 
 try to dishonor her venerated name. This poor tribute was as the kiss 
 of peace with which the executioner implores the pardon of some illus- 
 trious victim of State policy, who is about to bleed under his hand. 
 Had he yielded to his feelings, he would have taken up the self-accu- 
 sing lamentation of the returning prodigal. But his sense of duty was 
 deep and abiding, and was always most sure to command his exact obe- 
 dience when the duty was most painful. He could not doubt the cor- 
 rectness of a conviction, which even his cherished devotion tohis na- 
 Mtc could not made him shake off entirely. In such a case, to 
 doubt was, with him, to be convinced. 
 
 But the name thus bestowed upon his daughter wae not without an 
 effect on her mind. She knew little of politics, but, from her very 
 infancy, self-love had made her jealous of the honor of the State whose 
 name she bore. The name itself waa a spell of power on the heart of 
 
H Tnn tai.ti.-an LEAD] 
 
 1 her to lore her ( osin before she knew her. 
 [heir lir>t acquaintance, end ha I 
 
 r, ami 
 r in intellectual power, I, on wittingly, 
 
 r the mind <>t* Virginia which inefined her to lis- 
 
 mld be ai -' the oaorper'a claim loa 
 
 1 by the authority 0/ the Stat.'. 
 
 more than a year past, Mr. Tr< ror had himself begun to doubt 
 
 rmer opinions. Doubting, he was silent, but be 
 
 M unwilling to subject bis daughter 60 the action <>f her 
 
 jorous mind. For many years, be would as scon bate 
 
 children t" the contagion <>i the plague, as permit them t<» 
 
 vi>it th< '.r uii.'.,'. During the last summer he bad suffered Arthur and 
 
 Virgii i a month with him ; ami l.e was not Bony to observe 
 
 thai tin former came home with deeper thoughts than lie cbose to ex- 
 
 Of their love and admiration of their uncle neither made any 
 
 He was not only unlike their father, but so unlike an . 
 
 man, that be bad been a curious Btudy to them during their whole visit 
 
 dity of his thoughts, and the vividness with whioh he ex- 
 
 I them, afforded thi ; amusement lie bad that faculty 
 
 of making truth look like truth, in the exhil iti n of which the young 
 
 mind so much delights. Then he was bo frank, so ard< at, and withal 
 
 so kind, that it was im] ossible 1 1 know and not to love him. 
 
 After all this, the reader will nut be like to partake of the surprise 
 
 of .Mr. Philip Baker, when be found, OH shifting bis battery, that be 
 
 : much more in favor with Virginia Trevor than with her cou- 
 
 sin. The consequence was, that whenever he attempted, in company, 
 
 icb himself to the immediate party <>f these young ladies, he was 
 
 apt tu find himself a supernumerary. But, as \ irginia bad Bhown no 
 
 marked dislike to bim, his vaniiy easily adopted the idea that she con- 
 '. bim a-- the property of Delia, lb' took Borne pains to umle- 
 her, and would have been mortified at her unconcern on the oc- 
 easion, bad be not thought some allowance should be made for her in- 
 difference to a man who did but take her as a pit <i!br. lie did not, 
 ire, at once withdraw himself from their coterie, but continued 
 ,' about, and take bis part in conversation, whenever nothing par- 
 ticularly exclusive in the manner of the interlocutors forbade it. He 
 could i/"t come between whispers; but he could answer any observation 
 that 1; as T have said, something between a proser 
 
 and a deelaimer, be thought himself eloquent, and would seize ooca- 
 sions to held forth to the general edification, in a style intended to daz- 
 zle the by8tand.eVs. 
 
 • 
 
• THE PARTISAN LEADER. 45 
 
 On the day of which wc speak, he had heen in close attendance on 
 Virginia, until, rather hy address than by direct repulse, she had con- 
 trived to shake him off. It so happened, that (he rest of the company 
 were all paired off, leaving him in the enviable condition of a half 
 pair of shears, when relief appeared in the person of a gentleman just 
 from Richmond. 
 
 This gentleman, originally one of the devisers of the pic nic, had 
 staid behind for the mail, and now arrived with the news alluded to iu 
 the last chapter. Baker, being disengaged at the moment, was" the 
 first to receive the intelligence, and he lost no time in awakening the 
 attention of the company by volleys of oaths and imprecations. While 
 he continued to exercise himself in calling down the vengeance of 
 " the Eternal," according to the most approved formula of the old 
 court, on those whom he denounced as traitors, the rest listened in 
 amazement, disgust, or alarm, to this boisterous effusion of his rage. 
 At length, as he stopped to take breath, Douglas availed himself of 
 the pause to ask what was the matter. The whole story now came out, 
 and Mr. Baker, having put his audience in possession of the text, went 
 on with his discourse. Unmindful of the presence of the ladies, he 
 vented his wrath in language with which I do not choose to stain my 
 paper. Every man who had held a conspicuous place among the advo- 
 cates of State rights for the last twenty years, was condemned, ex cathe- 
 dra. The dead were especially recommended to the tender mercies of 
 the devil, in whose clutches he supposed them to be; while the living 
 were indiscriminately devoted to the same doom. 
 
 list the person by whom the treaty was said to have been nego- 
 tiated, his wrath burned most fiercely. In the midst of one of his 
 
 vage denunciations of that gentleman, he happened to recollect 
 having heard Delia speak of him as the intimate friend of her father. 
 The thought turned his eye upon her. She was already pale and 
 trembling with emotion, when she caught his insulting glance. In an 
 instant the blood gushed to her face, and tears to her eyes. lie saw 
 it, and went on to comprehend in his denunciations all the aiders, abet- 
 tors, and frii ncU of the traitor, whom in one breath he devoted to the 
 gallows. 
 
 This was more than Delia could bear, and more^than Douglas was 
 
 d to suffr. He had caught the glance which Baker bad cast 
 at hia cousin; he s-iw the effect on her feelings; he witnessed her in- 
 creasing emotion, and felt it iTis duty to come to her relief. He ap- 
 proached Baker, and passing him, as if with no particular design, 
 touched him gently, and fcaid in a low voice — " Such language is im- 
 proper in this company." 
 
THE PARTISAN LXADIR. 
 
 •• Bow f ' ' B 1 " T lio|.o there is no man here 
 
 the part of a trait 
 
 I, and, biting his lip, said in a tone not loud, hut from 
 tod marked emphasis, audible to all pre* n( i •• ! 
 k as t<i lo heard by none bnt yon, and invited yon by a rigs, 
 apart where I might explain my meaning in private. But, as you will 
 e explanation here, 1 say. that you knoiB then is no man here 
 1 to take the j art of a traitor. 11' you had thought there ',\as, 
 .r. I ' ; 'iir denunciations would have been le.-s violent." 
 
 " I don't understand you, sir," said Baker, reddening. 
 " My meaning is as plain as becomes thh» presence," said I* 
 o. -1<11 v. and again walking away. Baker looked around, and read in 
 that he was expected to follow. He did so, and joining 
 they both walked on together. 
 ■ I Bhall be glad to receive a farther explanation, sir," said he in au 
 agitated tone. . 
 
 •• Speak lower, then," replied Douglas, calmly, slipping his arm 
 within that of Baker ;" and u no -'Mure. My meaning is this — 
 That he who is regardless rf the presence and feelings of a lady, is not 
 apt to overlook those of a man. To make my meaning yet plainer, 
 -ir. your language would have been more unaided, bud my uncle been 
 ■ nted here, not by a ilavghter, but by a ton." 
 The quiet tone of Douglas's voice, the equivocal meaning of the first 
 
 he bad Uttered, and the pacific action intended to deceive those 
 who |i hod calmed for a moment the alarm of Baker. He 
 
 bad recovered himself before he was made to perceive what was really 
 
 m> ajit ; and ere be had time to reflect on his situation, the dangerous 
 
 temptation of ;i ri partes assailed him. Glancing back at the company, 
 id — '• If I may judge by appearanoes, sir, you have the right as 
 well as the inclination to assume that character." 
 
 Doughu had turned his head, instinctively, as Baker looked hack, 
 and saw that they had rounded a point of rock, and were out of sight. 
 In an instant, he disengaged hi* arm with a push that nearly threw 
 ..ii the bank, and stepping back, glared upon him with 
 an eye that instantly brought the other to his senses. While he stood 
 blenching and cowering under this fierce glance, Douglas rceo\ ered 
 'f command, and said, with stern calmness — "You had nearly 
 made me forget myself, sir. But we understand each other Siow. 
 Take a turn along the shore to compose yourself. I will wait here for 
 you, and we will return to the company together" 
 
 I himself on a rock, and the other obeyed mechanically. 
 How he succeeded in recovering his composure is another affair. He 
 
the; partisan leader. 47 
 
 walked on, and on, and fain would he have followed the course of the 
 river to the mountain cave from which it issues, there to hide himself 
 from the consequences of hia own folly and impertinence. What 
 would he not have given to recall that last speech ? Until then, he 
 was the party aggrieved. Douglas's offence against him had not been 
 so gross as to admit of no explanation ; and, to all appearance, an ami- 
 cable one had been given. The truth might not have come out until 
 he had had time to escape to his constituents; and before the next ses- 
 sion the affair might have been forgotten. But now, Douglas had been 
 insulted, and how he felt, and how he would resent the insult, was aw- 
 fully certain. 
 
 Baker continued his walk so far, that the girls became uneasy at die 
 absence of the two young men. They begged some of the gentlemen 
 to go in quest of them, but the request was evaded. At last, they rose 
 from their scats on the roeks, and declared <hcy would themselves go. 
 They accordingly set out, followed by the rest, and in a few yards came 
 to where Douglas was quietly seated on a flat stone, and playing checka 
 with pebbles on the smooth sand. 
 
 "Where is Mr. Baker?" exclaimed Virginia, eagerly. 
 
 " Yonder he goes," replied Douglas, calmly. " He has a mind for 
 a longer walk than I like; and I am just waiting for him here. But 
 I must not detain you, girls. His taste for the picturesque will proba- 
 bly be satisfied by the time we get to our horses, and he will soon over- 
 take us." 
 
 He said this with an air so careless as to deceive every person pres- 
 ent but Delia. But the heart will speak from the eye, and a glance at 
 her, as she searched his countenance, unconsciously said : " I have re- 
 dressed you." Coloring deeply, she strove to hide her emotion — taking 
 his arm and busying herself at the same time with the adjustment of 
 her veil. In spite of some undefined apprehensions, she was grateful, 
 relieved, and pleased ; and a slight pressure on the arm she held, spoke 
 her feelings perhaps as distinctly as they were understood by herself. 
 
 Douglas returned the pressure with more energy. The words of 
 Baker yet tingled in his ears ; and while they burned with the insult, 
 the pain was more than soothed by the thoughts they had awakened 
 Were then the day-dreams of his boyhood to become realities ? He 
 was not, as yet, conscious of any but a cousin's love for Delia. He 
 couIcl impute no other feeling to her. But should this mutual affection 
 ripen into a more tender sentiment ! "With whom could a man pass his 
 days more happily, than with a woman so intelligent, so amiable, so 
 prudent, so much a lady? He did not love her. But he felt that to 
 love her, and be beloved by her, would be a happy lot. The slight 
 
Ifj Till i'W.Il.-AN I.i'.l'EH. 
 
 i his arm was sweet to liim. II- wished th< 
 k , ir , | But she walked • ised, and with a light and 
 
 over the ragged ground. Was nut that step more confident, 
 • | that he was there to aid her in case of need F Kwn 
 sufficient G r h< reelf in tl w a of her own mind, 
 
 led and acoepted, snd gratefully, though lilentl; 
 I hi tection. He was happy in having had occasion to 
 I her. Wae a The heart will a*k 
 
 n- Time gives the an 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 49 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 Oh ! speak it not ! 
 
 Lot silence be the tribute of your homage! 
 The mute respect, that gives not woman's name 
 To the rude breath, which, trumpeting her praises, 
 Taints by applauding. ANONYMOUS. 
 
 A few days after, Douglas handed his cousin the following paper : 
 
 u Mr. Baker begs leave to throw himself on the mercy of Miss 
 Delia Trevor. He confesses his offence against her on Saturday last 
 He admits, with shame, that he did intend to wound her feelings, and 
 that he has nothing to offer in extenuation of his offence. He does 
 not even presume to ask a pardon, which he acknowledges to be un. 
 merited, and respectfully tenders the only atonement in his power, by 
 assuring Miss Trevor that he will never again, intentionally, offend her 
 by his presence. 
 
 Signed, Philip Barker." 
 
 Delia read this curious document in silence, and, on looking up, 
 found that Douglas had left the room. She ran after him, but he was 
 gone, and for a day or two avoided any opportunity for farther explana- 
 tion. At length she found one, and asked by what means the paper 
 had been procured. 
 
 " By proper means, my dear cos," said he, " if the paper is a proper 
 one." 
 
 '•Proper!" exclaimed she, " for me to receive, certainly. But for 
 him to give ! Indeed, I pity any poor wretch who can be ?o abject. I 
 am glad, at least, I am to see him no more. I should find it hard to 
 behave to him as becomes myself!" 
 
 u It would he hard," said Douglas, " but as you always will behave 
 as becomes yourself, hard though it be, it was right you should be 
 spared the trial." 
 
 " This u your doing then?" said she. 
 
 " No questions, coz," replied Douglas. " I must behave as becomes 
 me too." 
 
 This put an effectual stop to farther inquiry, and the slight conceal- 
 ment did but deepen Delia's sense of the service Douglas had rendered 
 4 
 
FtQ THE PARTISAN LKADBR. 
 
 i the cfelicacy which, at once, veiled and 
 D | l,i» chivalrous character j he, on his part foH glTHtftT ploMWItl 
 
 at bating redressed her wrong, hecause the affair had taken Mich a turn 
 :il the part that he had acted. The tics thus formed in 
 are douhly sacred and doubly sweet. The heart involuntarily 
 aUmwn them with those chaste mysteries which the vulgar eye must Dot 
 profane. They become the theme of thoughts whioh sometimes rise 
 up. and kindle the cheek, and light the eye, and then sink down again 
 and hi'le themselves deep in the silent breast. 
 
 But this privacy was destined to be invaded by one person, at least; 
 ard that, the very one from whom Douglas would most anxiously have 
 concealed the whole affair. . Yet was there no person to whose tender- 
 ness, delicacy, and affection for both parties, it could have been more 
 nth confided. In short, Mr. Trevor, one day, placed in the hands of 
 ': d a letter, in the President's own hand-writing, of which the fol- 
 lowing is a copy : 
 
 Washington. Karoo 3d, 1849 
 
 Mt DSAB sir: I hasten to lay before you a piece of information 
 which touches you nearly. Though I receive it at tin; hands of one 
 wlm has the highest claims to my confidence, I yet tru-t it will prove to 
 have originated in mistake. 
 
 It \? said that your son, Lieutenant Trevor, on receiving the news of 
 the late treasonable proceedings of some of the southern States, openly 
 •indicated them; and that he spoke freely in defence of the principal 
 sgi-nt in their most wicked attempt to league themselves with the ene- 
 4 their country. It is said, moreover, that, in doing this, he in- 
 sulted and fastened a quarrel on one, whom I have great reason to 
 asjsaai for his uniform devotion to the Union. The regular course for 
 8u eh a charge against an officer, holding a commission in the army of 
 tbv United States, i* one which I would not willingly pursue, in the 
 case of Ihc son of one of my earliest and most cherished friends. As 
 Lieutenant Trevor is now at home, on furlough, I address this letter to 
 yon. to be laid before him. I have no doubt he will readily give the 
 necessary explanations, and, in so doing, afford me a new occasion for 
 displaying that regard for you and yours, with which 1 am. 
 Dear sir, your friend, 
 
 Martin Van Duren. 
 
 " Can you tell me what this means?" said the mild old gentleman to 
 bis son. 
 
 u As I remember," replied Douglas, " the circumstances under which 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 51 
 
 I heard of the events alluded to, I think, I can give a guess at the 
 meaning. It means that my cousin was insulted, in my presence, and 
 that I protected her, as was my duty." 
 
 " And how docs it happen that I never heard of it ? Who was the 
 person, and what has become of the affair?" 
 
 "It has all blown over," said Douglas, "and I had hardly expected 
 it would ever be spoken of again. Delia alone knew of it from me, aa 
 it was right she should. I have never mentioned, nor has my friend. 
 I am sure she has not ; and what the other party can promise himself 
 from the exposure, I am sure I cannot tell." 
 
 "The thing is now made public, at all events; and both as your 
 father and as the friend of the President, it is right that I should know 
 all about it." 
 
 " Certanfly, sir," replied Douglas, "you shall know all ; and when 
 you do, I need not explain why I have never told you before." 
 
 He left the room, and soon returned with a bundle of papers. From 
 this he handed one to his father, which proved to be a challenge, in 
 the most approved form, from him, the said Douglas Trevor, to Philip 
 Baker, Esq. Then came a proposition to discuss from the other party : 
 then a flat demand of apology, or the alternative of, what is called, 
 gentlemanly satisfaction; then an offer to apologize; then the paper we 
 have already seen ; and then tho following : 
 
 " Philip Baker declares, on his honor, that he meant no offence to 
 Lieutenant Trevor by any words addressed to him on Saturday last ; 
 and that he deeply regrets having spoken any which may have sounded 
 offensively in the ears of Lieutenant Trevor." 
 
 "This will do," said Mr. Trevor. "It only shows that you have 
 acted as became a soldier and a gentleman. These papers show clearly 
 that the quarrel began in an insult to your cousin, which you were 
 bound to resent. This will be perfectly satisfactory to the President." 
 
 " Doubtless it would be," said Douglas, promptly ; " but so much oi 
 the affair as implicates my cousin's name must go no father." 
 
 " But it is that," replied Mr. Trevor, " which shows the cause of the 
 quarrel. The other papers only show that you fancied an intention to 
 insult where none existed. This would tally too well with what the 
 President has heard." 
 
 " Be is so," miswered Douglas, calmly. " If the President is never 
 satisfied till I furnish a paper which is to blend my cousin's name with 
 a public discussion, he must remain dissatisfied. I cannot help it. 
 Better to have suffered the insult to pass unnoticed, than to make a 
 lady's name the theme of guard-house wit." 
 
 " Bless you, my noble boy," said the admiring father. " You arc 
 
52 THE PALTISAN LEADER. 
 
 L and there is no help for it. But what shall I say to the Froi- 
 
 •• "\\" li.it too please. The comcfuiiotd you draw from what you know, 
 DM to. The /acts arc with you." 
 
 .id Mr. Trevor, after a musinu pause; "certainly ho 
 will trust in my general a>surancc that We information is, to my <:< ,- 
 tain laumUdgtf erroneous. This will do. It must be sufficient." 
 
 " It must do," said Douglas, "whether it will or no. In the mean 
 time, niv deer sir, let me beg that the affair may go no farther, even in 
 the family. Delia alone knows of it, and she only knows as much as 
 may he gathered from that paper, a duplicate of which is hcr's by 
 light 1 therefore beg that you will say nothing about it, even to her." 
 
 And he did say nothing to her; but Douglas observed, that that 
 Bight) when she held up her lip for his paternal kiss, the kind old gen- 
 tleman gave it with more than his usual tenderness. He held her off, 
 parted the hair from her forehead, gazed earnestly and affectionately 
 u] on her ; and then, kissing her again, bad God bless her, in a voice 
 choked with emotion. From that moment, she was to him as a daugh- 
 ter. * 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 That proud humility — that dignified obedience. — Burke. 
 
 The visit of Delia to her uncle now drew to a close, and she prepar- 
 ed for her return home. It was settled that she should be accompanied 
 by Douglas, Arthur, and Virginia, who were to spend a few weeks with 
 her father. 
 
 On the road, Douglas felt more and more the duty and the privilege 
 of being the protector of his cousin, and, by the time they reached the 
 end of their journey, he had discovered that the latter was as precious 
 as the former was sacred. Some such thought had stolen into his mind 
 while he was yet at home, but that was not the place to mention the 
 subjecMo her; and he had determined to impose upon himself the 
 most scrupulous restraint, until he should have restored her honorably 
 to her father's arms. 
 
 Two days travel brought them to the residence of Mr. Bernard Tre- 
 vor, on the banks of the Roanoke. They found him laid up with a fit 
 of the gout, which, while it confined him to the house, produced its 
 usual salutary effect on his general health. At the sight of his daugh- 
 ter and her companions, his pain was, for the moment, forgotten; and, 
 flinging away his flannels and crutches, he sprung to his feet and caught 
 her in his arms. At the same time, Arthur and Virginia pressed for- 
 ward for their welcome, which they, in their turn, received. 
 
 Unfortunately, Mr. Trevor was not the only one who forgot himself 
 at the sight of Delia. Poor old Carlo, starting from his slumbers on 
 the hearth-rug, had recognized his young mistress, and was manifesting 
 his joy at Jicr return with boisterous fondness, when one of his feet .sa- 
 luted the inflamed toe of his master. In an agony, which none but 
 they who have felt it can conceive, the old gentleman sunk into his 
 chair. Here he remained for some minutes, unconscious of everything 
 but his sufferings, while the soft hand of his daughter replaced and 
 Boothed the tortured limb. 
 
 At length, recovering enough to look around him, his eye fell on 
 Douglas, who stood aloof, waiting to be introduced. Some little tag of 
 military foppery, which always" clings to the undress of an officer, satis- 
 fied Mr. Trevor who he was. Stretching out his hand, he f-aid : "Ah- 
 Dou .las, my dear boy! How glad I am to see you! But I ought not 
 
A 
 
 w 
 
 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 to 1 ' izcd you. tnding back there with your hat 
 
 under your :inn, as if waiting your turn of presentation at a levoc. 
 
 Perhaps you don't remember me. I certainly should not have known 
 
 but for the circumstances under which I see you. But what of 
 
 that? Wan U nut yesterday you were sitting On my knee, and hanging 
 
 at my neck? Fes, it was yesterday; though wc have both dreamed ■ 
 
 it deal since. But dream! mut give way to realities ; so let us \ 
 
 • rday, and meet to-day as wc parted last night." 
 
 This singular accoatt had the desired effect, and Donglaa felt, at once, 
 IS if he had been with his uncle all his life. 
 
 ''You forget, my dear sir," said he, "that T was intercepted by one 
 whose privilege, I am sure, yen would not have nic dispute, though he 
 bai abused it so cruelly'' 
 
 ■ V' nmean the dog?' 1 said Mr. Trevor. "Poor old Carlo! Come 
 to your master, my poor fellow! No; your privilege shall never be in- 
 vaded. We arc both past service now, and must learn to sympathise 
 with each other. If you cannot understand the nature id' a gouty toe, 
 T hope I shall always have heart enough to understand yours, (jive me 
 a, rough l Oat, OT a black skin, for a true friend; one that will Dot gro 
 any superior advantages that I may pOSSCSS. Tom,'' added he, in a 
 
 of marked gentlen.es, 'be Ore u low. No, not yourself, old man,' 1 
 
 In continued, as the negro whom be addressed moved toward the door; 
 
 : yon, my good <>ld friend. Just ring the lull, and let one oi' those 
 
 lazy dogs in the kitchen bring in some wood. Hut why don't you speak 
 
 to jonr master Douglas? 1 am rare yon remember what cronies you 
 when you were teaching him to ride." 
 
 '• I'm mighty proud to BOS yon, BUT," said the old man, taking the of- 
 fered hand of Douglas, with an air of affectionate humility. "But it 
 was not my place, sir." added he, answering his master's words, "to 
 
 k first. I made sure master Douglas would remember me after % 
 
 while."* 
 
 i \ ■■• the forbearance of all eritioa, who have taken their ideas of* Vjr- 
 
 1 -ar Thompson, "r any -mh caricatures, for ^iviii^ 
 I . and liis own pronunciation of thorn. It is not my fault if 
 
 bni little peculiarity in his phraseology. His langnatja was never elc- 
 d. But In- ipoke better than the peasantry 
 though he said -Mine things that a white man would not 
 say; perba] be had Mine feelings to which the white man it a 
 
 stranger. A white man, for example, would have said he was glad to see 
 Douglas, whether he were so or not. Old Tom said In; was proud to see liim, 
 is proud to recognize his former j>ei in the handsome and grace- 
 ful youth before liiin. 
 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 56 
 
 "I do remember you, Tom," said Douglas, cordially, "and many a 
 time, on parade, have I been thankful to you for teaching mc to hold 
 my reins and manage my horse." 
 
 "Ton will find it hard," said Mr. Trevor, gravely, "to convince Tom 
 that you remember him, if you call him by that name. Tom is Delia's 
 daddy, and Lucia's, and Arthur's, and Virginia's daddy, and so will be 
 to the day of his death. If ever he ceases to be your daddy, too, Doug- 
 las, I shall move to reconsider the vote that we just now passed unani- 
 mously." 
 
 " It is a vice the northern air has blown upon me," said Douglas, 
 blushing. "I felt the truth of what you said just now, and am not 
 more sure of being affectionately remembered by any that I used to 
 know, than by my good old daddy." 
 
 Mr. Trevor now requested Tom to see that the horses of the travel- 
 lers were properly attended to; and the negro left the room. 
 
 " What a graceful and gentlemanly old man !" said Douglas, looking 
 after him. 
 
 "His manners," said Mr. Trevor, "are exactly suited to his situation 
 Their characteristic is proud humility. The opposite is servile sulki- 
 ness, of which, I suspect, Douglas, you have seen no little." 
 
 "I have seen nothing else," said Douglas, "among the servants in 
 the North. If the tempers of our negroes were as ferocious, and their 
 feelings as hostile, we should have to cut their throats in self-defence 
 in six months." 
 
 u I a.n glad," said Mr. Trevor, " that you have not learned to sacri- 
 fice your own experience to the fanciful theories of the Amis dc Noirs, 
 at least on this point. The time, I hope, will come when you will see, 
 if you do not already, the fallacy of all 4 their cant and sophistry on the 
 subject of domestic slavery. You will then bless God that your lot has 
 been cast where the freedom of all, who, in the economy of Providence, 
 are capable of freedom, is rendered practicable by the particular form 
 in which the subordination of those who must be slaves is cast." 
 
 "I am not sure," said Douglas, "that I exactly comprehend you." 
 
 '• Perhaps not," replied the uncle. "And that reminds me that I am 
 trespassing on forbidden ground. Just there, the differences of opinion 
 between your father and myself commence; and from that point ifiey 
 diverge so much, that I do not feel at liberty to speak to his son on cer- 
 tain topics." 
 
 "Hut why not, my dear sir? Y<m sun-ly cannot expect me to think 
 with my father on all subjects; and you would not have me do so, whon 
 you thought him wrong. I do not profess to be deeply studied in these 
 
 m 
 
56 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 matter.*; bat, between your lights and his, I might hope to find my way 
 to the truth." 
 
 'Tli. re are some subjects, Douglas," replied Mr. Trevor, with solera- 
 "on which it is better to be in error than to differ, totally and con- 
 tcienttouftly, from a father. Delia is but a girl; but should she have 
 come beak to me changed in her sentiments ^opinions she cannot have) 
 in regard to certain matters, 1 should feel that I had been greviously 
 wronged by any one who had wrought the change. I know year father 
 has not done this; and I must do as I would be done by, and as I am 
 sure I have been done by." 
 
 •• I cannot conceive," said Douglas, "what sort of subjects th ee oao 
 be, concerning which error in opinion is better than truth, under any 
 otreumstan 
 
 "Those, " replied Mr. Trevor, "in which truth would bring duty in 
 conflict with duty." 
 
 ' Nay, then." said Douglas, "there is no danger of my conversion in 
 such cases. I should take that as an infallible proof that doctrines 
 leading to such consequences must be false/' 
 
 " Your proposed test of truth is so specious," observed Mr. Trevor, 
 "that I will go so far as to say one word to convince you of its fallaey. 
 If ever I take you in band, my lad, my first lesson will be to teach you 
 
 to examine plausibilities closely, and to distrust summary and simple 
 
 arguments on topics about which nun differ." 
 
 ■ f> £| any on.-, then, maintain," asked Douglas, "that two opinions 
 whieb impose oonflioting duties can both be right?" 
 
 "I shall not answer that," answered Mr. Trevor. "You shall answer 
 it yourself. You are a soldier of the I'nited States. Suppose an in- 
 surrection. What, in that OSSO. would be your duty?" 
 
 . " To fighl against the rebels," replied Douglas, promptly. 
 
 " And, thinking as you do, so it would be. Now, suppose your father 
 to be one of those same rebels." 
 
 "I see," said Douglas, after a pause, in which he colored to the tips 
 of his ears, " I see that you are right." 
 
 " In what '!" asked Mr. Trevor. 
 
 " In maintaining," he replied, "that two opinions which prescribe 
 conflicting duties, may both be right." 
 
 " Hut 1 have not said so," replied Mr. Trevor, smiling. 
 
 " Uut you have proved it." 
 
 " I am not quite sure of that. Here is another summary and simple 
 looking argument, on a difficult question. My own rule is, 'distrust 
 and r< -esaminc.'" 
 
 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 57 
 
 He stopped short, while Douglas looked at him with a perplexed and 
 wondering eye. He at length went on — " I shall not break faith with 
 your father by teaching you to think. You have the propositions — 
 and you see there is fallacy somewhere. Analyse the subject, and find 
 your own result. But come, my boy — this is poor entertainment for a 
 hungiy traveller. Your aunt has some dinner for you by this time, 
 and here is Tom come to tell us so. Come, give me your arm, and help 
 'me to the dining room." 
 
 " My dear father," said Delia, " that is my office." 
 
 " Both ! both ! my children !" exclaimed the old man, throwing 
 away his other crutch. " Why, now I am better off than a man with 
 sound limbs." • • 
 
 In the dining room Mrs. Trevor awaited them. A hasty greeting 
 was all she bad allowed herself on the first arrival of the party ; after 
 which, she betook herself to the duties of housewifery and hospitality. 
 They found her standing at the back of her chair ; and Douglas, as he 
 entered, thought he had rarely seen a more striking figure. She was 
 matronly in her dress and air ; tall, majestic, and graceful in her per- 
 son ; and with a countenance beaming with frankness, animation and 
 intelligence. She had been a beautiful woman, and, being much 
 younger than her husband, was still handsome. She extended her 
 hand to Douglas as he entered, and placing him near her, so mingled 
 the courtesy due to a stranger with the cordiality of an old acquaint- 
 ance, as to make him feel all the comfort and ease of home, without 
 ever losing a sense of that bland influence, which, while it secures de- 
 corum, imposes no constraint. 
 
 " Would you have known me ?" asked the lady. 
 
 " I cannot say I could have identified you," he replied, " but I should 
 have recognized you as one I ought to know." 
 
 " And your uncle ?" 
 
 " Not by sight, certainly," said Douglas. " I remember him too dis- 
 tinctly for that. He is too much altered. But I know him by his 
 manners and conversation. These I never could forget; and these are 
 the same, and peculiarly his own. I remember how he used to exer- 
 cise my mind, and make me talk, and yet never let me talk without 
 thinking." 
 
 " And has he bce'n at the old game already ?" 
 
 " 0, yes ! lie has set me to revising and doubting what have seemed 
 to mc to be self-evident truths, and proposes to leave me to work out 
 the problem by myself. What conclusion I am to settle in, I cannot 
 gpeMj but, from present appearances, I shall not be surprised if I go 
 
58 Mil PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 away convinced that I have seven fingers on one hand, and hut two on 
 iior — nine in all." 
 
 •• H- hap not touched on politics?" 
 
 •• 0, no ! That subject he has tabooed, and I am truly sorry for it ; 
 fur while 1 new desire to waver in my allegiance to the Dotted States, 
 1 am anxious to understand what may become me as a Virginian. If 
 1 may judge from what my father says, there is no man from whom I 
 could learn more on that subject than my uncle." 
 
 '■ His lesson would not be a short one," ^replied the lady. " II is 
 >•. inni.uidments on behalf of the State are only second in authority 
 with him to the decalogue; and the}* do not lie in as small a compass. 
 Hut he fears he might teach you some things your father would wish 
 you to unlearn." 
 
 " I am not so sure of that," answered Douglas. u I meant to say 
 that there is no man whose judgment my father holds in higher 
 respect." 
 
 " That is something new," said Mrs. Trevor, coloring, and with a 
 countenance to which there was some expression of wounded pride. I 
 should be glad to be convinced of that." 
 
 '• Why should you doubt it ?" added the young man, with surprise. 
 
 u Because it has not always been so; and, as I claim a woman's 
 plirUege to, admire my husband above all men, I have felt hurt at it. 
 Your uncle thinks so highly of his brother's wisdom and prudence, 
 that he has always borne to be thought the reverse of him in these 
 things, and quietly submitted to be condemned as a heretic on account 
 of opinions, of the correctness of which he found it impossible to 
 doubt." 
 
 "There may have been something of tins," said Douglas, earnestly; 
 " but I assure you it il noi SO BOW. 1 do believe one motive with my 
 father for wishing me to make this visit, is his desire that 1 should 
 hear both sides; and have the benefit of the SBgaeitj and manly sense 
 which he imputes to my uncle." 
 
 " He will have to tell him so plainly," replied Mrs. Trevor, u before 
 he will open his mouth to you. Hut I shall be less scrupulous — and I 
 am m daily expectation of a friend whose frankness will have you no 
 cause to regret your uncle's reserve." 
 
 « Who ii that '." asked Doughs. 
 
 " I shall leave you to find out. You will see many here who feel 
 and think with your uncle, and who come to him to compare thoughts 
 and concert messunw, Amoiiir them is the man on whom the desti- 
 nies of his country depend." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 59 
 
 » 
 
 " The only man of whom I should predicate that," replied Douglas, 
 with some quickness, " is one who, I am very sure, never comes here.'* 
 
 u There is a good and an evil principle," said Mrs. Trevor. " Events 
 alike depend on both. You speak of the one of these — / t>f the 
 other." ' 
 
 Douglas felt his cheek burn at this remark. His aunt, observing it, 
 added — " You see, you will run the risk of adopting dangerous here- 
 sies if you encourage us to be too unreserved. But your candor and 
 good sense may be trusted to lead you* right, without our guidance." 
 
 Douglas felt the truth of the lirst part of (his speech. Whether any 
 thing more than a complimentary turn of expression was meant in the 
 closing words, he did not know. But if the lady intended to express 
 a hope that he might become a convert to the disorganizing notions 
 which he feared were prevalent in her circle, he took the liberty to 
 doubt whether h-er anticipations would ever be realized. He now 
 changed the conversation, and determined to take a second thought 
 before he invited discussions which might mislead him. He found he 
 had to do with active and vigorous minds, against which he might, 
 perhaps, vainly strive to defend himself, even with truth on«his side. 
 He resolved, therefore, to yield to the inclination which led him to pass 
 his time with his young friends, and chiefly with Delia. 
 
00 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 My heart, sweet hoy, -hall be thy MpntobrOj 
 I'll beat thee hence, and let ihern li^ht thai will, 
 Foi I have murdered BVhere I wouhl not kill. 
 
 SHAKSPRARK. 
 
 1 SHOULD detain the reader with matters not worthy of a place in 
 this grave history, if I descended to the particulars of the intercourse 
 between Douglas Trevor and his charming cousin. It is enough to 
 that he found himself, daily, more and more happy in her society; 
 and was more and more convinced that it was a necessary ingredient 
 in his happiness. It was not long before he concluded that he would - 
 not live without her; and, having told her so, was referred by her to 
 her father. 
 
 Nothing doubting that his communication would be favorably re- 
 ceived, Douglas was eager to break the matter t«> his nnole, and ask bis 
 approbation of his suit. To his utter amasement, the old gentleman, 
 ming an air at once serious and tender, said : " My dear boy, had I 
 the world to choose from, there is no man t<> whom 1 would sooner trust 
 my daughter's happiness. But circumstances forbid your union. I 
 speak advisedly and sadly. I have seen what was passing. I antici- 
 pated this oommunieation, and deliberately decided en my answer." 
 
 "For <!<>d's sake, sir!" exclaimed Douglas, trembling with im- 
 patience, " what do you mean ; and what is your answer?" 
 
 " I mean," said Mr. Trevor, -'and my answer is, that circumstances 
 forbid it." 
 
 " Surely," said Douglas, "your objection is not to the nearness of 
 blood." 
 
 "lam not addicted to any such exploded superstition," said Mr. 
 Trevor. " But my daughter must never marry one that wears that 
 
 drem 
 
 " I like my profession, sir," said Douglas, but will change it without 
 hesitation." 
 
 •(Ill forbid!" replied the old gentleman. "I would not have you 
 d" s<>; and were you so inclined, it would not be in your choice." 
 
 'J 1 (an resign when 1 will, and my resignation will certainly be ac- 
 cepted." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 61 
 
 u Still you would be a soldior, and you must be a soldier. Peace is 
 not in our choice, and the time is at hand when every man, who can 
 wield a sword, must do so." 
 
 " I do not understand you, sir," said Douglas in amazement. 
 
 " I am aware you do not. It is time you should. You have now a 
 right to understand me ; and I have a right to be understood by you. 
 We arc on the eve of what you will call rebellion. I shall call it a 
 war of right and liberty. I am old and infirm • but I am not al- 
 ways imprisoned by the gout; and nothing but physical inability 
 shall keep me from sustaining, with my sword, a cause that I have 
 always advocated with tongue and pen. It will be bad enough to 
 meet the sons of my brother in arms against my country. That I can- 
 not help. But it is in my choice whether I shall thus meet my 
 daughter's husband. That must never be.' 
 
 He ceased to speak, and the young man, dizzy with mixed thoughts 
 and feelings, sat gazing at him in mute astonishment. At length, start- 
 ing up, he was about to leave the room, when the old gentleman held 
 out his hand. Douglas gave his, and his uncle, pressing it cordially, 
 went on: "My son," said he, "you arc the only male of my race in 
 whom I recognize any thing which tolls me that the same blood flows 
 in our veins. We cannot help the selfishness that disposes us to love 
 those who resemble us even in our faults. It might be better for you 
 not to resemble me, and perhaps I ought to wish that you did not. But 
 I cannot. I find it easier to forget that jou are not my son, and to 
 love you as if you were. The hope that you may yet be so, is hardly 
 less dear to me than to you. That you will be so, if ' you outlive the 
 envy' of those aw T ful events which shall open your eyes, I can hardly 
 doubt. But these things must do their work. The convictions which 
 shall make you throw off the badges of allegiance to him whose 
 sworn foe I am, must come of themselves. While ypu wear them, I 
 am bound to respect your honor by saying nothing to shake your faith 
 in him, and to his cause. In the mean time, I can but hope for the 
 best. I do hope; and I invite you to hope. But for the present, hope 
 must be our all. Things must remain as they are until it pleases God 
 so to order events as to make your sense of duty to your country con- 
 sistent with that which, as my daugh cr's husband, you will owe to her 
 and to her father." 
 
 I leave the reader to imagine the consternation of Douglas at this 
 decisive condemnation of his proposed plan of happiness, and at the 
 astounding intelligence that accompanied it. He saw plainly that his 
 uncle spoke not conjecturally, but from certain knowledge; and ho was 
 sure, that under such circumstances, no attachment could tempt Delia 
 
TriE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 him. He did not therefore attempt to continne the discussion 
 of th«- subject; }<ut left tin' house :iml wandered iota the fields. 
 
 tumult of 1» i^ mind rendered him incapable of reflection. I 
 doI sttem] t to snartas the chaos of liis thoughts. Put light, not 
 Boated on the surface. The hand of Delia was indeed with- 
 mod, but he wm net forbidden to hope that it might one 
 r other be his. Should it even be true that rebellion was awake, 
 ami that civil war VU at hand, he was DOt told that fidelity to his 
 standard would be imputed to him as a erime. The strife must end 
 one way or the other, and that being past, he would no longer be con- 
 demned to the hard alternative of relinquishing the object of hie most 
 ardent wish, or exhibiting the shocking spectacle of a husband warriug 
 I the father of his wife. 
 
 O 
 
 Put what was to be done in the mem time? Should the old geth 
 tinman take the field, he must find some other theatre of action, and 
 his father's influence with the President would readily procure him 
 that indulgence. As, to the idea of renouncing what he had been 
 taught to call his allegiance to the Federal Grorernmeut, ami aiding to 
 maintain the dishonored BOYerejgnty ol his native State, jt did not 
 enter his mind. Vet there was something in its wordings that sud- 
 denly awakened an undefined interest in the late correspondence between 
 his father and the President. He do sooner thought of this, than his 
 reatlem wanderings received a definite direction to the neighboring 
 post-often. 
 
 He there found a letter fmrn his lather. Containing little more than 
 the copy of one from the President Its contents were as follows : 
 
 "WASBnaiOK, March 20, 1849. 
 
 "3Iv DKABBIB: Four letter has been rccciTed, and, to mr, is en- 
 tirely satisfactory. Put T regret to inform you that, to those friends 
 whom 1 i'eel myself bound to consult, it is not BO. Such of them, in- 
 deed, as are acquainted with your high character, do not intimate :» 
 doubt that a full explanation of the affa»7 would entirely justify your 
 tsearanoe that 1 have been misinformed. 
 
 " But they remind me tint my information comes from a source 
 entitled to all respect and confidence, and that, by making thns light 
 of it. I nw7 estrange a friend, whom they regard as hardly less 
 fahmbla and meritorious than him whose feelings I wish to save. They 
 represent, moreover, that the affair is bruited in the army, and that 
 some officers arc malcontent at the thought that a charge so serious 
 should be passed over without enquiry, on the bare assurance of a 
 father's confidence in the innocence of his son. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 63 
 
 "Under these circumstances, should Lieutenant TreTor not demand 
 a court of inquiry, I am fearful I may be constrained, against my wish, 
 to order a court-martial. Need I tell you, my dear sir, how earnestly T 
 deprecate the necessity of a measure, which must so nearly touch one 
 to whose friendship I feel so much indebted, and whose loyalty to the 
 Union and its officers has always been so conspicuous and steady. 
 " I remain, my dear sir, 
 
 " Your assured friend, 
 
 "M. V. B." 
 
 To this copy Mr. Trevor added these words : 
 
 u The discretion, good sense, and proper feeling you have already 
 manifested in this affair, hare been so conspicuous, that I choose rather 
 to trust its future conduct entirely to yourself than to embarrass you 
 by any advice of mine. Yet, there is one person, my dear boy, with 
 whom I would have you to advise. Your uncle has been a soldier in 
 his youth, and is profoundly versed in all matters of military etiquette. 
 He is, moreover, a clear-sighted and sagacious man, who will, at once, 
 see this matter in all its bearings and relations to other subjects. His 
 views aro not only, in general, more comprehensive than mine, but I 
 suspect he is, at tins moment, aware of considerations which might 
 properly influence you, and which are hidden from mc. I know his 
 guarded and delicate reserve, in all his communications with my chil- 
 dren, where he apprehends a difference of opinion between himself and 
 me. Tell him that he has my thanks for it; bat that I shall be yet 
 more obliged, if, in this instance, he will cast it aside entirely, and 
 give you the benefit of all his thoughts, as if you were his own son. I 
 fear my last days may be spent in bitter regrets tiUat I myself have not 
 heretofore made more avail of them.'' 
 
64 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHATTER XIII. 
 
 It it enough 10 grieve the heart 
 
 To think that God's fair world hutli been 
 
 Tha footstool ef B tiling so mean. BtEOM. 
 
 TiiK evening was fur advanced when Douglas again reached his 
 uncle ".- hcu>c. He went immediately to his room, and sent to request 
 ■ private interview with Mr. Trevor. He was accordingly invited into 
 the little study of the old gentleman, where he commonly sat surround- 
 ed by books and papers. On entering the room, he observed an el- 
 derly gentleman, whom he had never seen before, pass out at a door 
 communicating with the drawing-room. 
 
 Douglas now silently handed his lather's letter to his uncle. Mr. 
 Trevor read it attentively, and again am] again looked over it, resting 
 his eye on particular passages, as if to possess himself of the full mean- 
 ing of every expression. The subject was in itself interesting, and 
 quite new to him. But he felt a yet deeper interest in the obscure in* 
 timutii.ns of a change in his brother's mind in regard to those matters 
 abort which they had BO long and so painfully differed. Kven if he i 
 
 mi-taken in this, it was consoling to find himself rising in the esti- 
 mation of Mr. llu.L'h Trevor; do longer regarded by him as rash, reck- 
 . and inconsiderate, but consulted as a u clear-sighted and sagacious 
 man" in an affair of very great importance. He alone, who has been 
 conscious of being thus undervalued by a friend at once beloved and 
 respected, can estimate the satisfaction which Mr. Trevor felt at that 
 moment. If there was any mixture of alloy with this pleasure, it 
 flowed from self-reproach. He had sometimes found it impossible to 
 repress some little risings of resentment at finding his judgment ha* 
 bitually disabled by his elder brother. He bad, indeed, been once a 
 little white-headed hoy, when the other was a highly intelligent and 
 promising youth. Nut at sixty he was not quite content to be still 
 looked on as a child. Yet, when he remarked the candor of his bro- 
 ther's language, and the self-abasing sadness of his tone, he was vexed 
 to think that one unkind thought toward him had ever entered his 
 mind. 
 
 At length, he interrupted this train of thought to ask of Douglas an 
 explanation of the President's letter. In answer, he received a de- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 65 
 
 tailed account of the scene at the falls, and was permitted to read the 
 correspondence which had grown out of it. 
 
 " I have heard something of this before," said Mr. Trevor. " Delia 
 told me all that passed in her presence, and showed me Baker's pali- 
 node, which is rather the most extraordinary document that I ever saw. 
 Why, the dog acknowledges that he actually intended to insult a lady. 
 He might, at least, have had the grace to lie about it. False shame is 
 better than no shame at all." 
 
 " He would have been glad to put the matter on that footing," said 
 Douglas, " could he have got leave to do so. He sent me such a paper 
 as you suppose, but I refused to receive it. .His apolosry to me I knew 
 to be false. It was, therefore, the more satisfactory because the more 
 humiliating. But I sent him word that I would not take anything to 
 my cousin but the truth. Here," continued Douglas, " is his first^;>o/cf 
 of an apology, and of my rejection of it." 
 
 Mr. Trevor read them, nnd then said : "This is well. I knew you 
 had acted handsomely, but hoic handsomely, I had not conceived of. 
 But let me hear, I pray you, how all this has been tortured into an of- 
 fence against majesty." 
 
 Douglas colored slightly at the word, and handed his uncle a copy of 
 the President's first letter to his father. He had but to add an account 
 of his subsequent conversation with his father, and Mr. Trevor was in 
 possession of the whole affair. 
 
 " You see," said Douglas, " that I am referred to you for advice, and 
 that you are invited to say to me, unreservedly, what you will." 
 
 " I do see," replied Mr. Trevor, " that I have carte otanche, as far 
 as depends on your father ; but there are some things I would now say 
 to his son, which it would not be proper to say to a soldier of the United 
 Stolen. T cannot, therefore, discard all reserve, but all that he has 
 ever imposed on me I now shake off. Indeed, I should have done this 
 now, without his 'permission. You are my son as well as his. You 
 have shown that you know how to protect my daughter, and have fairly 
 earned a right to protect her through life. Nay, no raptures, no thank.''. 
 The exercise of this right must b.e postponed until affairs have taken a 
 different shape from that they bear at present. But, revenona " not 
 moutont I The question is, what you are to do to save this despicable, 
 heartless wretch, from the necessity <>f offending a wretch even baser 
 than himself, whom even he d. spisi - 
 
 " Whom do you. mean ?" asked Douglas. 
 
 " I mean," replied the Other, " the President and the older Baker, 
 that tame slave of power, that shameless, mercenary pander, who. hav- 
 5 
 
fir, THE PARTISAN LEADER.' 
 
 li talent and reputation, sold the one and sacrificed the other for 
 ofli, , and infamy." . 
 
 '• And ifl it for such ■ man," exclaimed Douglas, " that I am required 
 tu male disclosure.^ before a court of inquiry, or a court martial, which 
 tCJ and self-respect forbid? Never! lie the alternative what it 
 may, I shall never consent to it." 
 
 " You are right, my son," said Mr. Trevor, " nor can I relieve you 
 from the difficulty by authorizing the profanation of my daughter'* 
 name, to which such an investigation would lead. My duty on that 
 head is peremptory, not discretionary. If your father were anything 
 but the perfect gentleman he is, I might suspect that his reference to 
 me was intended to elicit some such suggestion. But I know him bet- 
 ter. I infer from his letter more than you discover there ; and I am 
 not sure that the advice which I am most disposed to give, is that 
 which he would be best pleased to see you follow/' 
 
 " What would that advice be ?" asked Douglas, anxiously. 
 
 " Naj, ' replied the old gentleman, " when 1 have mad*- np ipy mind, 
 you shall know." 
 
 " But why not give me your thoughts," said the youth, " and let us 
 discuss them ?" 
 
 '• Because, circumstanced as you are, we cannot properly discuss 
 them. I can but give you my judgment, when 1 have formed it, and 
 leave you to find out reasons for it." 
 
 " My own first thought," said Douglas, " is to resign. Let us dis- 
 cuss that." 
 
 " It was mine too," said the uncle, "and there is therefore no occa- 
 sion to discuss it. Though I had not sufficiently matured my opinion 
 to announce it to you, I think 1 may promise that if you come to that 
 conclusion, I shall not dissent from it." 
 
 " The only difficulty that I see in the way," said Douglas, " is th.it 
 an offer to resign is, under such circumstances, gencunlly understood a9 
 :: ikrinking from inquiry." 
 
 " It is so; and the opinion is so far right, that when the charge is 
 infamous, resignation doubles the infamy. It is a tacit consent to be 
 infamous, only on condition that one may be safe." 
 
 '• You state the point with startling force," said the youth ; "and 
 how would you distinguish this case from the one you suppose?" 
 
 "By distmgnishing the accusation from one of falsehood, peculation, 
 or cowardice. Should you plead guilty to such charges ;-.s these, or 
 reck to evade them by resignation, you stand dishonored. But read 
 over the President's bill of indictment. Now suppose it true that you 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER.. 67 
 
 had entertained and avowed the sentiments there imputed to you, 
 would there he any dishonor in that?" 
 
 " Certainly not ; unless my being an officer of the United Stalest 
 would make a difference." 
 
 " Should that prevent you from thinking, or take away a freeman's 
 right to express his thoughts?" 
 
 " It would seem not. But does it not make some difference ?" 
 
 " Certainly. Shall I tell you what it is ? Such sentiments would 
 make it your duty (not to the United States, but to Virginia and to 
 yourself,) to resign. Now, it is because I have no mind to seduce a 
 soldier from his standard, that I have been careful not to infuse such 
 sentiments into you. If once j : ou lay aside the panoply of the uniform, 
 and throw away the amulet of the commission, I would not ensure you 
 against opinions which you may have to maintain at the hazard of your 
 life. But time presses. Your own suggestion disposes me to speak 
 more promptly and decidedly than I should otherwise have done. I 
 therefore say, tender your resignation. But f if you have no objection, 
 I should like to consult a friend, on whose most hasty opinions I rely 
 more than on the coolest judgment of others." 
 
 " If you mean my aunt," said Douglas, " I know few persons on 
 whose instinctive sense of propriety I should place more reliance." 
 
 " She would well deserve your confidence j but I mean the gentle- 
 man who left the room as you entered. He has been her friend for 
 thirty years, and mine for more than half that time." 
 
 " But to me," said Douglas, " he is an utter stranger, and I feel some 
 delicacy in consulting a stranger on such an occasion." 
 
 " You forget," said Mr. Trevor, " that all there is of delicacy in the 
 case touches me as nearly as you. It is not you, a stranger, but I, an 
 intimate friend, who propose to ask his advice. Charge that matter to 
 my account, then, and merely decide for yourself, whether it may not 
 be desirable to have the counsel of one as remarkable for scrupulous 
 delicacy, as for sagacity and resource f" 
 
 "There can be but one answer to that question, " replied Douglas, 
 "and I shall therefore gladly take the benefit of his advice." 
 
 The hand-bell sounded, and the ever ready Tom appeared. " My 
 respects to Mr. 15 — ," said Mr. Trevor. " Ask him, if he pleases, to 
 walk into this mom." 
 
 Tom disappeared, and BOOH returned, marshalling in Mr. V> — . lie 
 man apparently of sixty years of age, or more, slightly formed, 
 but tall, erect, clean-limbed, and Miitwy. His vigor seemed little im- 
 paired by time, though bis high and strong features made him look at 
 lea.-t as old he was. A light blue eye, clear and sparkling, quick in ittt 
 
68 THE TARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 . but h ttl. d tnd Marching in ita gaae, wae. the itriking feature of 
 his face. The sun had burned out all traces of his original complexion, 
 and a silver hue had usurped the color of his hair. His whole a: 
 ■nee was imposing, and while it commanded the respect due to the wisdom 
 of age, seemed to claim no pity for its infirmities. To this sentiment, 
 which enters so largely into the composition of that character which the 
 world calls venerable, he certainly made no pretensions. No one would 
 have called him venerable, though no man was held in higher veneration 
 by those who knew him. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 69 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 I had not loved thee, dear, so much, 
 
 Loved I not honor more. Lovelach. 
 
 The frankness and cordiality of his manner, when introduced to 
 Douglas, gave assurance that he took a great interest in the young man, 
 •who felt, on his part, that he was in the presence of a man of no com- 
 mon mould, and that in that man he had found an efficient; friend. 
 
 'And now, Tom," said Mr. Trevor, "pass the word for coffee and 
 privacy in this room." 
 
 Tom bowed and withdrew, and Mr. Trevor, without preface or 
 apology, proceeded to lay the case before his friend. This he did with 
 great precision of statement, while the other listened with an air which 
 showed that no word was lost on him. Having got through, Mr. Tre- 
 vor added : " AVe now wish you to advise what should be done in this 
 case." 
 
 "Resign, by all means," said Mr. B — . "Resign immediately !" 
 
 " Your reasons?" asked Mr. Trevor. 
 
 " There are plenty of them, of which you are aware," said B — , " and 
 with which our young friend shall be made acopuainted after resig- 
 nation, not before. JJut there are others which may be spoken of now. 
 The alternative is a court of inquiry, a court-martial, or resignation. 
 To the two first the same objection applies. Your nephew cannot ex- 
 pect any satisfactory result from cither, but by the use of means which, 
 I am sure, his delicacy would not permit him to use — I mean the pub- 
 lic use of a lady's name. Some people have a taste for that, and in 
 other parts of the world it is all the rage. I thank Cod that the fash- 
 ion has not reached us. A woman, exposed to notoriety, learns to bear 
 and then to love it. "When she gets to that, she should go N orth ; 
 write books; patronize abolition societies, or keep a boarding-school. 
 She is no longer fit to be the wife of a Virginia gentleman. But there 
 is no need to say this. You, Trevor, were your nephew so inclined, 
 would never permit the name of your daughter to be thus profaned." 
 
 " I could oppose nothing t ■ ■ it,"' said Mr. Trevor, " but my displea- 
 sure. And though 1 might not wish it, could I have a right to la- dis- 
 plca<ed with Douglas for vindicating himself from a charge which 
 grown out of his gallant defence of her ? Think of the favorable stand- 
 
70 THL PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 family ; observe the rapid promotion of his brother; and 
 
 consider whether a punctilio of this sort should bind him to renounce 
 
 90 flattering t" 
 
 •• W. re the prospi ct more flattering than you state it," said B — , " it 
 
 my opinion. Bat what proepeet is there? Colonel 
 
 Trevor is perhaps a favorite at court Bo,donbtli nr brother; 
 
 but he is not a man whose fidelity is either to be bought or rewarded; 
 
 and lie and his will 1"\ at any moment, postponed ami sacrified to the 
 
 mercenary, who mighi desert ami even mutiny fur want of pay. Hen 
 
 is proof of it. 
 
 "Look at the shallow pretext for this proposed court-martial. The 
 lent is pleased to say that he believes your brother; but that 
 there arc. (hone who do not. Who are they ? Who can they be? Who 
 is there, worthy to be accounted among his advisers, that can disbe- 
 uaything that Hugh Trevor shall assert? Don't yon see the 
 cheat? Don't you sec that your brother, whose attachment to th. 
 Union, based as it is on principle, may be safely trusted, is to have bis feel- 
 ings wounded to gratify the mortified pride of the elder Baker, and 
 the skulking malice of his son? Fou, Mr. Trevor, know hitter than 
 I do who are about the President. Is there one among them to whom 
 your father's word would need the rapport of other testimony? Good 
 old man ! So little has, he of pride or jealousy, that this thought never 
 
 occurs to him. He is modestly asking himself what ri^rht lie has to 
 expect credence from those who do not know him. And who are these 
 malcontent officers? Think you there is one of them who would ven- 
 ture to express his dissatisfaction to you ? No. There is no one mal- 
 content. No one dissatisfied but that son of the horse-leech, whose 
 mouth is ever agape, and never can be filled. 
 
 "Do look at this letter," continued ]>— . addressing Mr. Trevor. 
 ■• How perfectly in character. Not one traversable allegation (as the 
 except that of bis friendship for your brother. 'Those 
 friends whom I feel bound to consult!' Who are they? Tress him, 
 and I dare say some fellow below contempt, some scullion of the kitchen 
 political or the kitchen gastronomical, may he found to father what it 
 is alleged that these friends have said. ' His information is from a 
 source entitled to all confidence !' Docs he even say that as id' himself? 
 No. Hi' charges that, too, on his friends, though it might not be easy 
 to find a sponsor for that compliment to old Dakcr. Since the death of 
 his brother pimp Ritchie, 1 think that sort of thing has gone out of 
 fashion. 'Hardly less valuable and meritorious than your brother.' 
 T!i - ime authority. ' On <lit,' ' thnj say ' I think this last On would 
 be as hard to find a« that universal author of mischief, Nubody. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 71 
 
 " But when we come to the dissatisfaction of the army, it is worse 
 still. Here is on dit upon on dit. Somebody says that somebody else 
 is dissatisfied ; and such are the gossamer threads, woven into a veil to 
 hide this insult to your brother, and this indignity to your nephew. 
 Take away these, and' what remains but a wish to soothe Baker? And 
 what must be the force of those favorable dispositions to your young 
 friend, which are to be counteracted by such a motive ? By a reluc- 
 tance to offend an abject wretch too spiritless to resent, and without 
 influence to make his reseKtment at all formidable." 
 
 " Enough I" said Douglas ; u I will send on my resignation by the 
 next mail." 
 
 " No, my dear sir," said B — , " don't yield too readily to mj sug- 
 gestions." 
 
 " It was his own suggestion, and already approved by me," said Mr. 
 Trevor. "Had you dissented, we would have reconsidered the mat- 
 ter. As it is, we are but confirmed in our decision." 
 
 "That being the case," said B — , "I have only to say distinctly 
 that the thing admits of no doubt with me. I am not only sure that, 
 in resigning, your nephew will do w&at best becomes him as a gentle- 
 man, but that he will make a fortunate escape from the services of one 
 whose maxim it is to reward none but the mercenary." 
 
 Then go to work, my boy," said Mr. Trevor ; " the mail goes at 
 daylight. Enclose your letter of resignation, unsealed, in one to your 
 father. I will have them mailed to-night, and you will get an answer 
 in a week. Here are the materials. Write, and we will chat and take 
 our coffee. By the way, Douglas, you have not dined." 
 
 " Thank you, my dear uncle, I am too busy to be hungry," said 
 the youth." 
 
 " Be it so," said the old gentleman. " It is not so long since I was 
 young but that I understand your trim. Starving is better than 
 blood-letting, and a full heart needs the one or the other." 
 
 When Douglas's letters were finished, he would gladly have put them 
 into Delia's hands before he sent them off; but he found, what most 
 men have been surprised to find, that after what had passed in the 
 morning between him and Delia, it was much harder to obtain an in- 
 terview with her than before. When a young gentleman makes a visit 
 of some days to a friend in the country, whose daughter suspects that 
 he has something to saj T to her that she is impatient to hear, it in 
 amusing to sco bow many chances will bring them together. Each of 
 them is always happening to bay< II to go where the other hap- 
 
 pens to be ; and when together, each is apt to be detained in the room 
 by some interesting occupation until the rest of the company have left 
 
72 Tin: PARTISAN leadbr. 
 
 it T ntinually meeting in ptHMgfW ind on staircases ; and, 
 
 weather, they am almost trull into the garden about 
 
 me time. Hut let the deci.-ive word be once spoken, and all is 
 
 Then, bless us, how we blush ! ami how we glide thr ugh 
 
 half-open doors, ami slip away around corners ! 
 
 it will happen, ai love makes people n A both will ri-e 
 
 early, and so meet iii the parlor before others are awake. Ami then 
 
 "the dewy ere end risim: moon," and the quiet walk "by 
 
 wimplingburn and leafy shaw ;" but as to a private word in the bust- 
 ling hours of the day, that is out of the question. 
 
 All this is the result of sheer accident. Sec how innocent and art- 
 
 Aud how light and elastic is her step as she moves 
 
 along; Irr swan like neck outstretched, her face Blightly upturned, 
 
 her eye swimming in light, and looking as if the veil of futurity were 
 
 before her, and all the gay visions of hope stood disci 
 bright reality. Is she not beautiful ? (), the charm of mutual love! 
 Who can wonder that each man's mistress, wearing this Cytherean 
 lone, is, in his eyes, the Queen of Beauty herself'/ 
 
 But I forget myself. What place forthottghte like these in a ehron- 
 icle of wars and revolutions? True, it is Is BUCh • thai the spring 
 
 .t event- is found ; but these belong to the history of man in all 
 in all countries, under all eircuins'.anct •-. It was so "before 
 Hejen" and will be BO while the world stands. But it may not be un- 
 profitable to look into the chain of cause and consequence, and to tr.'.v 
 the deliverance of Virginia from thraldom, and the defeat of the usurp- 
 ll-hud plans, to tin.' impertinent speech of one of his minions to ■ 
 
 country girl, during ipic-liic party at the falls of James riv< r. 
 
 But to return. Douglas took a copy of his letter id' resignation, and, 
 meeting Delia the next morning, put it into her hands. She read it 
 with a grave and thoughtful countenance) and then, looking sadly in 
 , said : " This is what I fear, d 
 
 '• What you feared !" replied he, in amazement. "Tan youthen 
 wish me tO retain my place in the army?" 
 
 " Until you resign it to conviction and a sense of duty, certainly'" 
 1 can you doubt that I have done so?" 
 
 •• How can itjbe so ?" she replied. " But yesterday we spoke en thia 
 Subject. What has since happened? 01 can it be that my noblo 
 father has imposed dishonorable conditions, and that you have been 
 weak enough to comply with them? ! Douglas! Is my love fated 
 to destroy the very qualities that engaged it?" 
 
 "Dear Delia," said Douglas, "I understand you now. Your beau- 
 tiful indignation reminds mc that you do not know what has passed." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 73 
 
 " What can liave passed ?" asked she, with earnest and reproachful 
 sad' ess. "All the eloquence and address of Mr. B — himself could 
 not nave convinced your unhiasscd mind in two hours' cofiversation. I 
 km ,v his power. I know the wonders he has wrought, and I trembled 
 wl: n I heard the watchword, " coffee and privacy." I feared your 
 love for me might be used to sway your judgment, and hoped to have 
 found an opportunity to invoke it for the worthier purpose of guarding 
 your honor. I did not dream that, when I rose so early this morning, 
 I was already too late." 
 
 ''Sweet youth, I pray you chide a year together," 
 
 said Douglas, playfully. "Your indignation is so eloquent, that, cruel 
 as it is, I would not interrupt you to undeceive you. Your father and 
 Mr. B — have made no attack on my opinions or allegiance, and what* 
 was done last night you have had no agency in, since our party at the 
 falls. It all originated there." ' 
 
 He now gave her the full history of the affair, and succeeded in con- 
 vincing her that his standard of honor was even higher than she 
 had imagined. If she requited him for her unjust suspicions with 
 a kiss, he never told of it. Perhaps she did; for although, according 
 to the refinements of the Yankees, kissing was in very bad taste, yet the 
 Northern regime had not reached the banks of the Roanoke. The 
 ladies there continued still to walk in the steps of their chaste mothers, 
 safe in that high sense of honor which protects at once from pollution 
 and suspicion. 
 
 It is true, that when a people become corrupt, they must learn to be 
 fastidious, and* invent safeguards to prevent vice, and blinds to conceal 
 it when it is to be indulged/ Duennas are necessary in Spain. They 
 arc at once the guarantee of a lady's honor, and the safe instruments 
 of her pleasures. Black eunuchs perform the same functions in Tur- 
 key. In the Norther^ factories boys and girls are not permitted to 
 work together. In their churches, the gentlemen and ladies do not 
 sit in the same pew. What a pitch of refinement ! Sterne's story of 
 the Abbe in the theatre at Paris affords the only parallel. 
 
 Thank (Hod! the frame of our society has kept us free from th? 
 cause and its consequences. Whatever corruption there may be among 
 us is restrained to a particular class, instead of diffusing itself by con- 
 tinuous contact through all grades and ranks. If it were true, as the 
 wise anil eloquent, and pious, and liirirvolent, and discreet Dr. Chan- 
 ning had said, some ffftecn years before, that below a certain line all 
 was corrupt, it was equally true that above it all was pure. Nature 
 had marked the line, and established there a boundary which the gan- 
 grene of the social body eould never pass. 
 
74 THE PARTISAN LRA1 
 
 CHAPTBB XV. 
 
 Mammon, the leaat erected spirit, that fell 
 
 . heaven, for e'en in h> av'n lii> looks and thoughts 
 Were alwaya downward bent, ndmiring 
 Tha rtchea of heav'n'i pavement, trodden gold, 
 Than <>n^ li t divine or holy else enjoyed 
 In viMiin beatifie. 
 
 Milt. s. 
 
 OS the evening of the third day from that of which I have just 
 been Bpeaking, the President of the United States was sitting alone in 
 
 B small room in his palace, which, in conformity to the nomenclature of 
 foreign courts, it had become the fashion to call his closet. The fur- 
 niture of this little a]>ur(m< nt was characterized at 00 Ce by neat:. 
 taste, and convenience. Without being splendid, it was rich and 
 costly; and, in its structure and arrangement, adapted to the use of a 
 man, who, devoted to business, yet loved his ease. The weariness ot 
 sedentary application was relieved by the most tasteful and eommodi- 
 our variety of chairs, couches, and sofas, while the utmost ingenuity 
 was displayed in the construction of desks, fables, and other e-nveni- 
 i noefl for reading and writing. In the appearance of the distinguished 
 personage, to whose privacy I have introduced the reader, there was a 
 mixture of thought and carelessnesi veiy much in character with the 
 implement! of husiness and the applianccs*for case and comfort which 
 surrounded him. lie occasionally looked at his watch, and at the door, 
 with the countenance of one who expects a visiter; and then throwing 
 himself sgainst tin arm of his sofa, resumed his disengaged air. That 
 
 something was on his mind was apparent. But, interesting as the sub- 
 might be, it did not seem to touch him nearly. His whole man- 
 ner was that of a man who is somewhat at a loss to know what may In- 
 best for others, but Gnd9 full consolation in knowing precisely what is 
 best for himself 
 
 hi the . \. ni of the last ten years make it probable that none of 
 my younger renders have ever seen the august dignitary of whom I 
 ;. , and a- l.w of us are like to have occasion to sec him in future, 
 a j articular description of his person may not be unacceptable. Though 
 far advanced in life, he was tastily and even daintily dressed, his whole 
 costume being exactly adapted to a diminutive and dapper person, a 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 75 
 
 fair complexion, a light and brilliant blue eye, and a head which might 
 have formed a stu ly for the phrenologist, whether wc consider its ample 
 developments or its egg-like baldness. The place of hair was supplied 
 by powder, which his illustrious example had again made fashionable. 
 The revolution in public sentiment which commenced sixty years ago> 
 had abolished nil the privileges of rank and age; which trained up the 
 young to mock at the infirmities of their fathers, and encouraged the 
 unwashed artificer to elbow the duke from his place of precedence; 
 this revolution had now completed its cycle. While the sovereignty of 
 numbers was acknowledged, the convenience of the multitude had set 
 the fashions. But the reign of an individual had been restored, and 
 the taste of that individual gave law to the general taste. Had he 
 worn a wig, wigs would have been the rage. But as phrenology had 
 taught him to be justly proud of his high and polished forehead, and 
 the intellectual developments of the whole cranium, he eschewed hair 
 in all its fonfis, and barely screened his naked crown from the air with 
 a light covering of powder. He seemed, too, not wholly unconscious 
 of something worthy of admiration in a foot, the beauty of which was 
 displayed to the best advantage by the tight fit and high finish of his 
 delicate slipper. As he lay back on #he sofa, his eye rested compla- 
 cently on this member, which was stretched out before him, its position 
 shifting as if unconsciously, into every variety of grace. Returning 
 from thence, his glance rested on his hand, fair, delicate, small, and 
 richly jewelled. It hung carelessly on the arm of the sofa, and the 
 fingers of this, too, as if rather from instinct than volition, performed 
 sundry evolutions on which the eye of majesty dwelt with gentle com- 
 placency. 
 
 Tills complacent reverie was frequently broken by the sound of the 
 door-bell. At such moments, the President would raise his head with 
 a look of awakened expectation, which subsided instantly; until, by 
 frequent repetition, it called up some expression of displeased im- 
 patience. At last, the sound was echoed by a single stroke, which rung 
 from what looked like a clock within the room. He immediately sat 
 erect, assuming an air of dignified and complacent composure, suited 
 to the reception of a respected visiter. 
 
 The door opened, and the gentleman in waiting bowed into the room 
 a person who well deserves a particular description, and then with- 
 drew. 
 
 The individual thus introduced wu a gentleman whose age could not 
 inuch short of seventy. In person he had probably been once 
 nearly six feet high, but time had at once crushed and bowed him I 
 much shorter stature. Indeed, the itoOp jf his ihoulders, the prntru- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADKK. 
 
 i-i-m of the oeek, and the projecting of the chin, made to- 
 
 ■tiliar complex curvature which brioga the top of the 
 
 caotly against the top of the. head. The expression 
 
 ontenance was, at once, fawning and oonseqnentiaL His t 
 
 tween round and square. It was 1 
 
 short* ned by 1 1 i « ■ Ipsa of hie teeth. The muscular fullness of youth had 
 
 not I" I D n placed DJ any accession of fat. nOT had the skin of his face 
 •:k. as it i . on Cue retiring. flesh. The consequence was, 
 
 thai his cheeks hung down in loose pouches, and all his features, 
 Originally small and mean, seemed involved in the folds of his shrivel- 
 led and puckered skin. His voice wss harsh and grating, and the 
 more so from an attempl at Buavitj in the tones, which produced noth- 
 ing more than a drawling prolongation of each word. Thus, though 
 -lowly, the stream of sound flowed continually from his lips, 
 reminding the hearer of the never-ending chant of the locust. 
 
 be President r full y advanced .to welcome him, he 
 
 shuffled forward as if wishing to \ n rent the honor thus done him, 
 while the increased curve of his hack and the eager humility of his 
 upturned countenance, betokened rtie prostration of his spirit in the 
 nee of the dispenser of hpnor and i it Having 1 wed 
 
 himself on the hand which had been graciously extended to him, he 
 remi riding in the flour bs if unmindful of repeated invitations 
 
 to be seated. The President had not yet bo entirely forgotten the 
 manners which one,- distinguished him a> a most accomplished gentle- 
 man, and WSJ not at first aware of the necessity of seating himself be- 
 fore his deferential guest At length, he resumed his place on the 
 .-■.fa. and th( r, with d new prostration, which seemed to apolo- 
 
 gize for sitting in 1 majesty, ''■ ll< wed his example. He 
 
 did I hare the sofa, though invited to do so, hut 
 
 took his place on a seat equally luxurious on the opposite side of the 
 fire-place. But the luxury ol the chaiu tongue was lost on him. He 
 
 felt that to lean againsl the hack or arm Would he quite unbecoming, 
 
 and arly erect as he could, in that precise posture which indi- 
 
 cates a readiness to spring to the feet and do the bidding of a superior. 
 •• I had begun to despair of >U this evening, my dear sir," 
 
 I ' i. -id-iit. in a tune at once kind and reproachful. " I had 
 given olden that I Bhould he denied to all but you." 
 
 " x*ou do me great and undeserved honor," replied the other, "but 
 I " 
 
 " I wished t" speak to yon in private," continued Mr. Van l?uren, 
 not noticing the interruption, " of a matter which deeply interests us 
 both. Here is a letter which I received this morning, which makes it 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 77 
 
 at least doubtful whether the last step which I took in regard to that 
 young man, Trevor, is quite such as should have been taken." 
 
 He then took from a bundle of papers, one which he read as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "Sir: I have just learned that charges of a serious nature have 
 been made against Lieutenant Trevor, which, it seems, grow out of 
 certain occurrences to which I am privy. I can have little doubt that 
 the affair, to which I allude, has not been truly reported to you. Had 
 it been, you would have seen that Lieutenant T. acted no otherwise 
 than as became a soldier and a gentleman, in whose presence, a lady, under 
 his protection, had been insulted. The enclosed documents, to the au- 
 thenticity of which I beg leave to testify, will place the transaction in 
 its true light. Were Lieutenant T. at Washington, I should not lay 
 these papers before you without authority from him. As it is, I trust 
 I do no more than my duty by him, and by your Excellency, in fur- 
 nishing such evidences of the real facts of the case, as may aid you in 
 deciding on the course to be pursued in regard to it. 
 
 "It maybe proper to add, that, having acted as Lieutenant T.'s 
 friend on the occasion, these documents were left in my possession in 
 that character. It is this same character, in which I feel it especially 
 my duty to step forward as the guardian of his honor and interests. 
 
 " Hoping that your Excellency will excuse the freedom which calls 
 your notice to so humble a name, 
 " I have the honor to be, 
 
 " Your Excellency's most obedient, 
 " Humble servant, 
 
 " Edgar Whiting, 
 "Lieut, \2thhf. U. s. a:' 
 
 Having read this letter aloud, the President, without comment, 
 placed in the hands of his guest a bundle of papers. It is only neces- 
 sary to tell the reader that they were copies of the same documents 
 which Douglas had laid before his father and uncle, each one duly 
 authenticated by the attestation of Lieutenant Whiting. 
 
 Mr. Van ISuren now threw himself back upon the sofa, and fixed his 
 eye on the face of his companion with an expression which betokened 
 some concern, not unmixed with a llight enjoyment of the perplexity 
 with which the purblind old man pored over the papers, [ndeed, his 
 uncasiness could hardly have escaped the observation of a casual spec- 
 tator. He shifted his scat; he read; then wiped his spectacles, and 
 read again ; then wiped his brow; and having gone through all the 
 
7 V THi - \N LEADER. 
 
 k them up in ord( r, and read them all over 
 ■'.. be bad extracted all tli<ir substance, he turned oi 
 rplexed ami anxious look, and remained silent 
 
 length* the latter Bpoke. "I fear «re liavo made an nnlnckj 
 blander ia this business, my dear air," paid he. 
 
 " I fear so too, sir," said the other. "But I beg leave to a.«sur 
 your Excellency that the information T took the liberty bo communi- 
 Ante was a simple and exact statement <>f what I learned from my sou, 
 which, 1 trust, your Excellency will see is in nowise contravened by 
 1. cumenta. I certainly was not apprised "f the provocation 
 . it is b< re said, was "fiend to a lady under Lieutenant Tr. vor*i 
 protection." 
 
 " Make yourself perfectly easy on that head, my d< sar sir," said th' N 
 :.: •• I give myself small concern on Lieutenant I 
 conpt My obligations to his father are more than discharged by the 
 rapid advancement of his elder brother ; and he can have no right to 
 complain that proceedings have been instituted to inquire into a matter 
 which, even thus explained, places his loyalty in DO very favorable 
 light. My concern is. lest the prosecution of this investigation should 
 lead U) results; undesirable to you." 
 
 '•I understand your Excellency," replied the honorab'e Mr. Baker 
 K The object of this communication is to convey a covert intimation 
 that, if proceedings against Lieutenant Trevor are not staid, he will 
 revenge himself by endeavoring t<> dishonor my son. I never brought 
 him up to be the 'butcher of a silk button, ' and don't wonder that his 
 notions of galantry, &o. &c, do not exactly square with those of the* 
 
 ],,-> n.r cht rn/irrs." 
 
 "That view of the subject is- doubtless quite philosophical," said the 
 President; ''and if you regard it in that light, it will remove ull diffi- 
 culty OUt of the way." 
 
 •• 1 cannol exactly say," replied the other, " that 1 should be quite 
 willing to expose my sun to the pain of seeing thi se documents made 
 
 public; COnCOCted, as they manifestly have been, by men who have 
 
 learned to quarrel by the book, and contrived on purpose to shut the 
 door against enquiry. 1 dare say be would hardly have made the com- 
 munication 1 received, could he have anticipated the step which I 
 deemed it my duty to your Excellency to take in consequence of it." 
 
 11 The misfortune is," replied the President, "that 1 have already 
 caused an intimation to be given to Lieutenant Trevor that it maybe 
 i a court martial, unless he thinks proper to demand a 
 court of enquiry. Either way, the whole affair must come out." 
 
 " [s there HO Other alternative?" asked the anxious father. "Could 
 
THE PARTISAN LEAZ>EK. 79 
 
 not these papers be suppressed? There is no other authcnic evidence 
 of the facts." 
 
 " Unfortunately," said the President, to whom habitual intercourse 
 with the base had made the feeling of contempt so familiar that he 
 repressed it without difficulty, " unfortunately these papers aro but 
 copies. The originals are doubtless in the hands of Lieutenant "Whit- 
 ing, whose honor cannot be questioned, and probably they would be 
 farther verified by the handwriting of your son." 
 
 "What then can be done?" asked the honorable Mr. Baker, in a 
 s"tate of unutterable perplexity Receiving no answer, he sat musing, 
 with the restless and fidgeting air of a man who seeks in vain for some 
 starting point for his thoughts. He was at length roused from his 
 reverie by two strokes of the bell, which issued from the clock-case at 
 the President's back. The signal was answered by the touch of a 
 hand-bell, which stood on a table near him. The door opened. The 
 gentleman in waiting entered, advanced to the table, laid a packet of 
 letters before the President, and withdrew in silence. 
 
 He took them up, shuffled them through his hands as a whist player 
 runs over his cards, and having fixed his eye on one, took it out of the 
 parcel, and threw the rest on the table. *His companion having in the 
 mean time relapsed into unconscious reverie, he opened this, and ran 
 his eye over the contents. 
 
 "Here is good news for us, my dear sir," said he. "Lieutenant 
 Trevor here tenders his resignation, which, perhaps, may put an end 
 to the difficulty." 
 
 " Perhaps!" exclaimed the other, eagerly. " There can be no doubt 
 about it, I hope." 
 
 " None at all ; if his accounts are all adjusted, of which I have 
 little doubt. But it is not customary to let go our -hold on an officer 
 by accepting his resignation, until that matter has been enquired into." 
 
 " It will be a great relief to me," faltered out Mr. Baker, looking at 
 the President with an anxious and imploring countenance — 
 
 "To have this explained at once," said Mr. Van Buren, interrupting 
 him. " You shall be gratified, my dear sir." 
 
 The hand-bell was again sounded. The gentleman in waiting re-ap- 
 peared; a few words were spoken to him in a low tone, and he again 
 withdrew. 
 
v <' THi: PARTISAN* DEADER. 
 
 CH AFTER XVI 
 
 His thoughts w 
 
 To vice industrious, but to nohlc deeds 
 TimoroiM and slothful. 
 
 Milton. 
 
 " There is something in this business,"' said the President, after a 
 silence of a few minutes, '• which I uo not well understand. 1 was not 
 prepared to find Lieutenant Trevor so ready to resign, and still less to 
 receive his letter of resignation through the hands of his father, with- 
 out < >iie word of expostulation to bis sun, or to me. lie does not even 
 intimate any the least regret at the avent. What can this mean?" 
 
 "It does not at all surprise me," said Mr. Baker. "Hugh Trevor 
 was always a visionary and uncertain man ; and his intluenee over his 
 sons is Buoh, that I should consider the manifest defection of Lieuten- 
 ant Trevor as a sure proof of the estrangement of the fat I. 
 
 " I thought^" said the President, u thai be had been always remark- 
 
 able for his steadiness and fidelity.*' 
 
 " In one sense "lie is so," replied Baker. "But his steadiness is of 
 the wrong S'irt. He is one "I those men who professes to be governed, 
 and, I dare say. il governed hy principles. But his principles are so 
 numerous, and so hedge him around and beset him on every side, that 
 they have kept him standing still the greater part of his life. When 
 he mores, it would take an expert mathematician to calculate the result 
 
 of all the compound forct s which act upon him, and to decide Certain- 
 ly what course he might take." 
 •• How happens it, then," asked the President, "that I have always 
 
 found him so loyal and faithful in his devotion to roef 
 
 •• Because he Identified your Excellency in his own mind with the 
 Qnion, to which he determined to sacrifice every thing else, lint now 
 thai disunion has come, and the question '■-' whether Virginia shall ad- 
 here to the North or join the South, he has a new problem to work, 
 and how he may work it, no man can anticipate. Hence 1 Boy he is 
 uncertain." 
 
 " But docs he think nothing of the advancement of his family?" 
 "It seems uot, in this instance. That is what I meant when I said 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 81 
 
 that his principles 'were too many. Your Excellency knows," contin- 
 ued the honorable gentleman, with a contortion of the mouth meant for 
 a smile, and which, but for the loss of his teeth, might have produced 
 a grin, " that the cardinal number of standard principles is the only one 
 which can be counted on." 
 
 "Have you then any information," asked the President, "which 
 leads you to suspect him of disaffection ?" 
 
 "None'/' replied Baker; "I do but speak from my knowledge of 
 the man. I do not think him capable of that gratitude for the many 
 favors he and his family have received which should bind hioi indisso- 
 lubly to your Excellency's service." 
 
 " It is well, at least," said the President, " that one of his sons, on 
 whom most of those favors have been lavished, is made of different 
 materials. The principles of Colonel Trevor are exactly of the right 
 sort; or, as you would say, my dear sir, they are of just the right num- 
 ber. Could I obtain any information of the father's movements, which 
 might give me just cause to doubt him, I would take occasion to show 
 the difference I make between the faithful and the unstable. I would 
 refuse to receive this young man's resignation, and order a court-mar- 
 tial immediately. I mistake if the father would not be glad to extri- 
 cate him from the difficulty, by renouncing some of these fantastic no- 
 tions which he dignifies with the name of principles." 
 
 " I beseech your Excellency," said Baker, forgetting his envious 
 spleen against the virtuous and upright friend of his early youth, in his 
 alarm at the mention of the court-martial, " I beseech your Excellency 
 not to understand me as preferring any charge against Mr. Hugh Trevor, 
 lie is an excellent man, who well deserves all the favors he has re- 
 ceived, ai,d will, doubtless, merit many more. I pray that what I have 
 said may not at all influence you to any harsh measures against him or 
 his." 
 
 The tact of the President at once detected the revulsion of Baker's 
 feelings, and the cause. Indeed, he well knew both the nun. Uc was 
 aware that all that had been said of Mr. Trevor was essentially true. 
 He had, therefore, the more highly prized his friendship, as one of the 
 brighte-t jewels in his crown.* lie had taught his advocates and min- 
 ions to point to him as one, whose support it was known would not be 
 given to any man but from a sense of duty. He was himself not so 
 
 .1 to virtue as not to reaped it in another; and his favorui 
 fitions toward Mr. Trevor, and tit*- 1> I on his family, liad 
 
 mora of respect ai le than commonly miogled in ha 
 
 or actions. Of Baker, he had rightly formed a differed! • He 
 
 found him in the shambles, ai.d had bought and u.-td him. ] 
 
 6 
 
THK PARTISAN I.KAHER. 
 
 [r. Tr< ror appeared only ta one, in whose lif. daily 
 
 t Ii.it made his ugly ;" and be had Been, with malignant envy, 
 on and emoluments for which he Jiad toiled through all the 
 i _v of d partisan, freely bestowed on (he unasking and unpre- 
 
 tending merit of a rival. Gladly would he bave improved the distrust, 
 which he saw liad entered into the mind of the President, had !).• not 
 1 that the fir.-t elf. et of it might he to press an enquiry 
 which must eventuate in the irreparable dishonor of his own son. 
 
 While lie sat meditating on these things', and subduing his malice to 
 i its and bis interest, the 'door-bell sourfdedj tl trcki from 
 
 lmed the sound ; the door op< lied, and a new charaoU r 
 
 aj | • an <\ on the stage. 
 
 BTSOB whose name appears in this history better deserve- a par- 
 ticular description than he who now entered. Fortunately, I am saved 
 J ty of going into it, by having it in power to refer the reader 
 
 to a most graphic delineation of his exact prototype in person, mind 
 manners, and principles. 
 
 In Oliver Dain, or Oliver le Diable, as he was called, the favorite 
 instrument of the crimes of that remorseless tyrant Louifl IX.. he had 
 found his great exemplar. The picture of that worthy, as drawn by 
 Sir Walter Scott, in Quentin Hurward, is the most exact likeni u of one 
 man ever taken for another. It is not even worth while to ohange the 
 costume ; for although he did not appear with a barber'.- apron girded 
 around his waist, antl the basin in his hands, it was impossible to look 
 upon him without seeing that his undoubted talents, and the high sta- 
 tions he had filled, still left him fit to bo employed in the most abject 
 and menial services. 
 
 This happy compound of meanness, malignity, treachery, and talent, 
 was welcomed by the President With B nod and smile at once careless 
 racious. At the light of him, Mr. Baker made haste to rise, 
 and bustled forward to meet and salute him with an air, in which, if 
 tl was less of servility, there was more of the cam-mess of adula- 
 
 ti- n than he had displayed toward the President himself. The earnest 
 
 enquiries of Mr. Baker after his health, &o., ,\c, were answered with 
 the fawning air of one who feels himself much obliged by the notice 
 
 iperior, and he then turned to the President as if waiting his 
 commands. These were communicated by putting into his hands the 
 
 of Mr. Qugh Trevor and his son, which ho was requested to 
 
 read. 
 
 While he read, the President, turning to Mr. Baker, said — "While 
 I thought of ordering a court-martial on the cose of -Lieutenant Trevor, 
 
 I deemed it advisable to have all his military transactions looked into, 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. . 83 
 
 intending, if any thing were amiss, to make it tlic subject of a distinct 
 charge." Then, turning to the other, he added — " You have, I pre- 
 sume, acquainted yourself with the state of the young man's ac- 
 counts." 
 
 " I have, sir,". was the reply. " They hive been all settled punctu- 
 ally." 
 
 " Then there is nothing to prevent the acceptance of his resigna- 
 tion ?" 
 
 •• Nothing of that sort, certainly, sir. But has your Excellency ob- 
 served the date of this letter of his ? You may sec that he does not 
 date fiom his father's house. I happen to know this place, Truro, to 
 be the residence of that pestilent traitor, his uncle. Now, if the charge 
 be well founded, I submit to your Excellency whether the offender 
 should be permitted to escape prosecution by resigning. If it be not 
 exactly capable of being. substantiated, yet his readiness to resign on so 
 slight an intimation renders his disaffection at least probable, and his 
 date renders it nearly certain. Might it not be then advisable to re- 
 tain the hold we have upon him ? The court-martial being once or- 
 dered, additional charges might be preferred ; and I much mistake the 
 temper of the country where he is, if he does not furnish matter for 
 additional charges before the month of April passes by." 
 
 u Why the month of April?" asked the President. 
 
 " Because then the elections come on ; and there is little doubt that 
 exertions will be made to obtain a majority in the Legislature of men 
 disposed to secede, and join the Southern Confederacy. In that coun- 
 ty, in particular, I am well advised that such exertions will be made. 
 A hen-hearted fellow has been put forward as the candidate of the 
 malcontents, who can be easily driven from the canvass by his personal 
 fears. Let the affair once take that shape, and immediately the fantas- 
 tic notions of what Southern men call chivalry, wliich infest the brain 
 of this old drawcansir, will push him forward ofl a candidate. I had 
 made some arrangements which, with your Excellency'! approbation, 1 
 had proposed te carry into effect tor accomplishing this result, in the 
 hope of bringing him into collision with the law of sad so 
 
 getting rid at once of a dangcrou- . aemy Now, if the- yooag loan'? 
 lation be rejected, and a court-martial \n the part he mil 
 
 act in the affair can hardly fail to be such as to male bis a ball-cart- 
 ridge case." 
 
 •• Vour plan is exceedingly well aimed/' said the President, "but on 
 farther reflection, mj good friend Mr. Baker il led by feelings of deli- 
 cacy to wish to withdraw bis eh ;_ • I am loth to deny any tbing to 
 one who merits so much at my bands, but still then are difficulties in 
 
THE PABTI8AH L1AMB. 
 
 the WBj which will DOl | that course. Tie nee 
 
 ition will effectually remove them, and indirectly 
 Mr. Baker. Now, what do you ail \ 
 In the act of at th P ideal shifted 'his position 
 
 so suddenly as to call the minion's attention to the motion. Hi- look 
 up ami nw hu • ■! from Mr. Baker, ami thought 
 
 . there an intimation that he should press hi- former objection. 
 This he therefore did, expressing his reluctance to give advice unfavor- 
 able to th'- wishes of one BO much respected as Mr. lkkcr, and highly 
 limeatiog the delicacy of his scruples. 
 
 " Hut. mi '..Itl.' President, "we | age of the 
 
 law authorizing a court to .-it here for the trial, hy a jury of this 1 1 
 trict, of often mitted in Virginia. In that ease, should our 
 
 young eock crow too loud, wc might find means to cut his comb without 
 a court-martial." 
 
 " That Congress will pass mob a law cannot be doubted," said 
 the other, ''were it not vain to do so, when it Beems to he under.-- 
 that none of the judges would be willing to execute it. 1 am tin I 
 
 hearing of constitutional sorq 
 
 '• 1 am bound ' them," replied the President, meekly. " But 
 
 1 really do uol bcc tin- -rounds for them in such a ease as this. I 
 
 Baker. I know it is against rule to ask a judge's opin- 
 ion out ol court. Bui 1 beg you to enlighten me so far ai to explain 
 to me what arc the scruples whiofa the bench are supposed to feci on 
 this Bubject I make the enquiry, because 1 am anxious to accept this 
 young fellow's resignation, if, in doing BO, I shall not lose the means of 
 punishing the offences which there is too muoh reason to think he 
 li, .dilates. Po try him in Virginia would be vain. Indeed, I doubt 
 whether your court could sit there in safety." 
 
 "I fear ij could not," replied the Judge, " and have therefore no 
 difficulty in saying, that the, ncee-ity of the case should overrule all 
 Constitutional scruples. I have no delicacy in answering your Excel- 
 lence's question out of court. It is merely an enquiry, which 1 hope 
 Buous, whether I would do my duty. 1 trust it is not doubted. 
 that 1 would; and should 1 be lion. p. 1 with your Kxccllency's com- 
 mands in that behalf, I should hold mys< If bound te execute them. 
 To sp< ik more precisely — should the court be established, and I ap- 
 pointed to preside in it, 1 should cheerfully do so." 
 
 •• That then removes all difficulty," said the President " The young 
 man's resignation, therefore, will he accepted, and measures must be 
 taken to distribute troupe through the disaffected counties in such num- 
 bers as may either control the display of the malcontent spirit at the 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 85 
 
 polls, or invite it to show itself in such a shape as shall bring it within 
 the scope of your authority, and the compass of a halter." 
 
 Some desultory conversation now arose on various topics, more and 
 more remote from public -affairs. On these Mr. Baker would have been 
 glad to descant, and perhaps to hear the thoughts of the President and 
 his minister. But all his attempts to detain them from talking exclu- 
 sively of lighter matters were effectually baffled by the address of the 
 former. All this was so managed as to wear out the evening, without 
 giving the gentleman the least reason to suspect that he was in the 
 way, or that the great men who had seemed to admit him to their con- 
 fidence, placed themselves under the least constraint in his presence 
 At length he took his leave. 
 
■ sr > THE PABTISAU I.: 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Thai just habitual scorn, wlncli could contemn 
 
 Men and tln-ir thoughts, 'twaa a ByHon. 
 
 A- the door closed behind him, the countenance of tin President r* 
 int. i a Bmiie, indicative of ureat satisfaction and self-applause, 
 along with an uncontrollable disposittoo to merriment. Thesmil 
 I •■ a qmel langh, which increased in violence, without ever be- 
 
 coming loud, until he lay hack against the arm of the sofa, and covered 
 his face with his handkerchief. At length his mirth exhausted it-elf. 
 ami he sat erect, looking at the Minister with the countenance of die 
 about to make some amusing communication. But he waited t<> be 
 spoken to, and remained silent. His million took the hint, M 
 dr. ssing hiii:.- If tn what ho supposed to he passing! in his nia.-t.r'- 
 mind, Bsid : ■• 1 best eeh your Excellency to tell me by what sleight, by 
 what tour <!• main, this bard knot about jurisdiction has been made to 
 
 slip as easily as a hangman's nOOSS ? I (eared we should have had to 
 
 cut it with the Bword, and behold it until ■- itself." 
 
 •• How can you a-k such a question?" said the President, with mock 
 gravity. " Did yon do) hear the elaborate and lucid argument by 
 
 which the Judge ] roved incontestibly that it could not be unconstitu- 
 tional to do his duty ''. The wonder is bow they ever contrived to make a 
 difficulty. Surely none who Bhall ever hear that demonstration can 
 doubt again." 
 
 '' Hut may 1 he permitt. d tn a^k by what means such a Hood of light 
 
 ii poured qpon his mind? But yesterday he was dark as the 
 moon in Its perihelion. Baa the golden ray of additional favors again 
 
 can-, d its face to shine ':" 
 
 " No," .-aid tie- President. 
 " No new emoluments to him or his?" 
 ■■ None at all," was the laughing answer. 
 •■ \ i new bona 
 
 •• None, but the honor of doing additions] duty, for the Grst time in 
 his life, without additional compensation." 
 
 " In the name Of witchcraft, then, what has wrought upon him?" 
 "That 1 shall nol tell you," said the President, still laughing; "that 
 is my secret; that part of my art you shall never know. It is one of 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 87 
 
 ' the jokes that a man enjoys the hetter for having it all to himself. I 
 keep it for my own diversion. It is a sort of royal game. You, I am 
 sure, may be satisfied with your share in the sport, having been ad- 
 mitted to hear that argument. It was a lesson in dialectics worth a 
 course at a German university. But come ! There is a time to laugh, 
 and a time to be serious. What do you propose on the subject of these 
 Virginia elections ?" 
 
 " I propose," said the Minister, " to distribute some five hundred 
 men in certain counties, with the dispositions of which I have made 
 myself acquainted, to preserve order at the elections, as we should say 
 to the unitiated; but in plain English, to control them. They will 
 succeed in this, or provoke violence. Either way, we carry our point. 
 We prevail in the elections, or we involve the members elect in a charge 
 of treason. I think we may trust Judge Baker for the rest. The 
 more dangerous of our enemies will thus fall under the edge of the 
 law, and the less efficient, if not left in a minority, will be powerless for 
 want of leaders." 
 
 "But the scene of action," said the President, " is close to the line. 
 The offenders may escape into North Carolina, and from thence kaep 
 up a communication with their friends. They may even venture to 
 Richmond at a critical moment, and effect their great purpose, or they 
 may adjourn to some place of greater security." 
 
 " It will certainly be necessary," said the Minister, " to guard against 
 that, by increasing the number of troops at the seat of government. 
 Besides, if we can but get one day to ourselves, their chance of legis- 
 lative action may be broken up by adjournment sine die." 
 
 "Then, with so many points in the game in our favor," replied the 
 President, " we have but to play it boldly and we must win. It shall 
 go hard, too, if, in the end, we do not make this superfluous State Le- 
 gislature, this absurd relic of imperium in impcrio, abolish itself. At 
 all events, the course of conduct which they will necessarily pursue, 
 must sink the body in public estimation, and dispose the people to "ac- 
 quiesce in the union of all power in the hands of the Central (lovern- 
 ment. We can then restore them all the benefits of real and efficient 
 local legislation, by erecting these degraded sovereignties into what they 
 
 Jit always fo 1 D — municipal corporations, exercising such 
 
 powers as we clwose to g r ant." 
 
 Some farther conversation ensued, in which detaili were settled. A 
 
 minute was made of tie whieh troops should be Stationed ; the 
 
 number of men to be plticed :ii each : and the corps from whicb thej 
 were to be drawn. It was left to the Minister to fix on proper 1 1 i 
 to command each party, and to devise instructions as to tl be 
 
88 thi: partisan lkadkr. 
 
 '• was p ro p ao o d simply I • 
 
 by the men preaenec of tW military:- itrol then 
 
 ial or threatened i 
 tumnlt tanee proi I dangerous men drawn in to 
 
 ■- whieh might be denounced is criminal. Having the 
 iter's vrill, 
 j for eii sting it. 
 
 "The only truly vise man that I know in the world," said the Presi- 
 I tier him. "' The only one who know- man m he is ; who 
 
 . human virtue, but H one form of human weak" 
 ness. In li is ci. him a power over them whieh he always 
 
 how to use; in his instruments, lie desires Done of it Why 
 oaanot I profit more by his instruction and example? Fool that I am! 
 I will try to practise a lesson." 
 
 He rung the bell, and directed that the Minister should be rtqa 
 to return. 
 
 He had not yet left the palace, and soon re-appeared. As he entered, 
 rh.' President said : "This young Trevor — be has talent, baa he not?" 
 "Talent of every kind," Baid the Minister. 
 
 " Thai he has a raperahundaiee of what finds call honor and gal- 
 lantry, I happen to know. I suppose hi I tj>cr mrruef are in propor- 
 
 " I suspect so, from the example of the father and all I can learn of 
 the sol 
 
 a you then doubt of his ultimate course, r even that <>f his 
 father? Do yon doubt that if th>- standard of rebellion is once raised, 
 the young man will be found fighting under it, with the old man's ap- 
 probation ?" 
 
 "Not at all. I know no man who would raise it sooner than himself, 
 after he has had time to be thoroughly indoctrinated by his uncle." 
 
 " Then the sooner the better; he is but a cockerel yet. What if he 
 can be brought to commit himself before his spurs have acquired their 
 full length T 
 
 '• Nothing could be more judicious, and nothing easier." 
 
 ■• How would you go about it '.'" 
 
 ■ Let him have a letter neither accepting or rejecting ; intimating 
 the neeesaitj of farther investigation of hie accounts, &c, &o., before 
 We let him off, and requiring him, for tho convenience of farther cor- 
 respondence, to remain at the place from whence his letter is dated. 
 Keep him fretted in this way until the election is near at hand, and, a 
 day or two before, let him receive a letter accepting bis resignation. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 89 
 
 My life upon it, he will spring to his destruction like a bow when the 
 strin* is cut, that snaps by its own violence." 
 
 "You arc right," said the President; " that will do. Much will de- 
 pend on the style of that letter. You have your hands too full to be 
 troubled with such things, or I should ask you to do what no man can do 
 so well. Put you have your pupils, who have learned of you to say 
 what is to bo said, so as just to produoe the desired effect, and no 
 other." 
 
 The instrument of the royal pleasure again withdrew. Again tho 
 President 'looked after him, and said, musingly : " Were I not myself, 
 I would be that man. I should even owe him a higher compliment 
 could one be devised ; for, but for him, I had never been what I am. 
 What then ? Is he the creator, and am I his creature ? No. I am 
 wrong. Could he have made himself what I am, he would have done 
 so. He has but fulfilled my destiny, and I his. He has made mo 
 what I alone was capable of becoming, and I, in turn, have made him 
 all that he ever can be. I owe him nothing therefore; and should ho 
 ever be guilty of anything like virtue, there is nothing to hinder me 
 from lopping off any such superfluous excrescence, even if his head 
 should go with it. But he is in no danger on that score. If he held 
 his life by no other tenure, his immortality would be sure." 
 
 While the master thus soliloquized, the minion was wending his way 
 home, to the performance of the various duties assigned him. Our 
 present business is with the letter to Douglas alone. The pen of a 
 ready and skillful writer was employed, the document was prepared, 
 submitted to the inspection of the President, approved by him, signed 
 "by order" by the Secretary of War, committed to the mai 1 , and 
 forwarded to Douglas. Let us accompany it- 
 
00 TIIK PARTISAN LRADBB. 
 
 CHAPTEB Will. 
 
 . 
 
 The broken tools that tyrants oast away 
 
 By myriads. Byron*. 
 
 BEHOLD as then, once more, at the door of Mr. Bernard Trevor's 
 tittle study. The undo had nephew arc together. A servant in: 
 with. letters from the post-office, and we enter with him. Tin- letters 
 arc opened, and Douglas haying read that of the Secretary of War, 
 hands it to his unele. Let us read with him. 
 
 8lB : I have it in command from his Kxe.dloncy the I'r- sidonl to 
 
 Bay, that your letter of resignation has been received with Barprise and 
 regr< t. 
 
 •• Eehas Been with surprise that, at a moment of snch pritioa] im- 
 portance, one who had I I were, the foster-child of the Union, 
 should w '.;.<•. with apparent eagerness, ■ j retezt to desert the banner of 
 ial sovereign. 
 
 " II. not at the less of service, which, rendered by one ca- 
 
 pable even of meditating Bnch a Btep, would, at best, be merely nomi- 
 nal ; but at the thought that that one is the son of a friend so long 
 (In rished and bo mncfa respect* .1 as yonr lather. 
 
 "I am farther charged to remind yon thai resignation, when resorted 
 to for the purpose of evading military prosecution, is always deemed 
 little short of a confession of guilt In mpsl cases, this produces no 
 embarrassment The losi of the commission is generally an adequate 
 punishment ; and it is, in Rueh oa* -. well to leave the conscience and 
 the fears of t':i" accused to inflict that ] unishment, ratifying the sen- 
 tence by prompt acceptance of the proffered resignation, 
 
 " But this does not hold in all cases. The President bids m 
 that l.i- i- not yet prepared how to act in one of so 6crious a character 
 a> this. Bis regard for your father is the source of this perplexity. 
 lie requires time t.> n fleet how far he can reconcile to his public duty 
 that tend, meat t" the feelings <>!' a friend which makes hifti desirous, 
 if j y enquiry by accepting your resignation. Under , 
 
 other circumstanot -. he would not hesitate to reject it, and instantly 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 91 
 
 order a court-martial, as tho proper means of bringing to prompt and 
 merited punishment an offence which, I am charged to say, he con- 
 siders as virtually admitted by your attempt to evade a trial ; when, if 
 innocent, you would certainly wish an investigation, in order to estab- 
 lish your innocence^ 
 
 "In conclusion, I am instructed to say that for the purpose of farther 1 
 communication, if nccessar}', and to facilitate such measures aa it may 
 be deemed proper to take in relation to you, I am required to keep my- 
 self advised of your locality. To save trouble, therefore, I deem it ad- 
 visable to command you to remain at the place from whence your letter 
 of resignation was dated, and to which this is directed, until larther or- 
 ders. ' t 
 
 " Yours, &c., &c. 
 (" By order of the President.") 
 
 This letter Mr. Trevor read with calm and quiet attention, carefully 
 weighing every phrase and word, while Douglas, perceiving the hand- 
 writing of his friend Whiting on the back of another, hastily tore it 
 open, and read as follows : 
 
 "I never performed a more painful duty in my life, my dear Trevor, 
 than in putting the seal and superscription to the accompanying letter 
 from the Secretary. 
 
 " My situation ifi the Department should have given me earlier no- 
 tice of what was passing, but I got no hint of it until yesterday. I im- 
 mediately did what I believed to be my duty as a friend, though I am 
 now fearful that what I did may not meet youy entire approbation. I 
 am sensible you would not have done it for yourself ; but there arc 
 some things which delicacy forbids us to do in our own case, which we 
 are not displeased to have done by others. Indeed, had I known that 
 the matter had gone so far, I should have left it in your own hands. 
 But I had no reason to believe that any intimation of it hail, as yet, 
 been given to you, and I wished to prevent any step whatever from 
 being taken. 
 
 "With this view I ventured to lay the whole correspondence before 
 the President. I know that he received and read it. You will there- 
 fore judge my surprise at being rc|uir."l to-day u> forward the un- 
 precedented document which accompanies this. 
 
 " I am -uilty of no breach of duty wh< n 1 aanre you tint thai ] a- 
 
 sent, as it imports on its race, 'by tho order of die President 
 
 The Secretary is not responsible even fur one word of it. The very 
 
 • 
 
Til : \N LEAD 
 
 department piv- 
 ii, the Bhape in which yon n 
 
 hat I did, I should I .btcd whether it had not 
 
 ptiti usly placed among other papers transwi at the 
 
 I hut there is no room for mistake, It came accom] 
 by the mosi autl that it liad been read and apj roved by 
 
 the 1 hursejf. 
 
 '• I iiii'l mysdf placed in a delicate situation. Here is an avowal of 
 full faith in a char. i 1 by my positive assurance — a i 
 
 that no one can believe, who does not believe me capable of basely fab- 
 ricating the documents, copies of which the President ha.-, atlthcnti- 
 tatcd under my hand. • 
 
 " Your own com- leaves no doubt what you would advise me to do 
 under such circumstances; but my lot in life is different from yuiirs. 
 Impatient as I am of this indignity, I fear lethal) be constrained to 
 bear it. ' My poverty, but not my will consents^ I do not, therefore, 
 ask you to advise me, for I would not do so, unless prepared to give to 
 your advice more weight than I can allow it. It could add nothing 
 to the convictions of my .own mind, and the indignant writhings of 
 my own wounded honor; and even the* . 6od help me, I am foi 
 resist I 
 
 '• This affair has, as yet, made no noise. It is not at all known of in 
 the army; but I think I can assure yon of the sympathy of all whose 
 i you value, and their unabated confidence in your honor and 
 fidelity. 1 shall make it niybu.-iin.--.be the consequence to myself 
 what it may, to do you ample jnstice. Imbed, my indignation makes 
 me so reckless of consequences, that, apart from the necessity of bear- 
 in- insult from one from whom no redress can be demanded, I am not 
 sure that I do not envy your lot. 
 
 " That your resignation will eventually be accepted, cannot he doubt- 
 ed. What is the motive to this letter, it is hard to say; but certainly 
 it does not proceed from such a disposition as would willingly afford 
 you an opportunity of triumphant vindication. 
 
 " God bless you, my dear Trevor. We have indications that stirring 
 times are at hand, which will tempt me to exchange the pen for the 
 -w. id. Where duty may call mc, I cannot anticipate; but it will be 
 Strange if the charms of a life of active service don't bring us together 
 again. Meet when we may, you wilL find still and unalterably, your 
 friend, E. W. M 
 
 Having read this second letter, Douglas passed it also to his uncle, 
 and rising, hastily left the house. It is needless to scan the thoughts 
 
TIIE PARTISAN LEADER. 93 
 
 that accompanied him in his ramble. They wore hitter and fierce 
 enough. But he had learned, in early life, to master his Peelings; and never 
 to venture into the presence of others until the mastery hud been es- 
 tablished. Many a weary mile did he walk that day before his pur- 
 pose was accomplished, but having at last effected it, he returned. 
 
 Mr. Trevor had found leisure, in the meantime, to scrutinize the let- 
 ters in whole and in detail, and had at length arrived at a conclusion 
 not far from the truth. He was prepared, therefore, to welcome the 
 return of Douglas with a cheerful smile; and instead of adding to his 
 excitement by any expression of resentment or disgust, endeavored to 
 calm and soothe him. For such conduct the young man was altogether 
 unprepared. Aware oi" his uncle's wishes in regard to him, he had 
 looked for something different, and had endeavored to fortify his mind 
 against such impressions as he feared he might attempt to make on it. 
 The great principles by which he had been taught to govern himself 
 were not fake because he had been wronged. His duty to the Union 
 was not affected by the injustice of the President. So his father would 
 have reasoned the matter, and like his father, he determined, if possible, 
 to think and act. But he had no idea that in this attempt lie would 
 receive countenance and even aid from his uncle. It may, therefore, 
 be readily believed that the old gentleman rose yet higher in his es- 
 teem and confidence, from the delicacy and forbearance which he so 
 unexpectedly practised. 
 
M THB PABTI8AH I.KADER. 
 
 en after xix. 
 
 Stone walls do not ■ prison nil 
 Noi iron bai in 
 
 L.OVEI.A' K. 
 
 It was settled, on consultation, thai he should abide the final., 
 and that, until then, nothing of what had passed should be made known 
 
 father, to Delia, or to any of the family but Mrs. Trevor. In 
 I,, r he 1 ad learned to leek in adviser, and in her he always found one, 
 sincere, sagacious, and discreet Mr. Trevor, as I have said, was not ;» 
 man from whose opinions his wife would probably dissent, but I 
 
 •■ 1 himself to command her blind, unri osoning acquiescence. 
 lie Lad trained her mind; he had furnished her with materi 
 
 h( ; and he had taught her to tliink. She was in all bis confi- 
 dence; and he consulted with her habitually on plans which in> 
 the welfare of Id.-' country. Prom her, therefore, the bistorj of Doug- 
 las's entanglement with the authorities at Washington was not con- 
 Kiuin tl the family it was a profound secret; and, as 
 
 Mr. Trevor's health was dow muoh restored, it did not interrupt the 
 enjoyments of the genial Besson which invited them to seek amuse- 
 ment oat of doors. By means of this, the impatience of Douglas was 
 diverted, and h^ found it quite easy to accomplish his philosophical de- 
 termination to wait the result of the affair in patience. 
 When, at length, a we< k had been allowed him to fret Ins heart out, 
 
 f< rred acceptance of his resignation was received. Tlii^, too, was 
 couched in phrases of decorous and Btudied insult. But he had learned 
 to think that the dastard blow struck by one who screens himself be- 
 hind the authority <>! offioe, infli<-ts no dishonor; The interval, which 
 had been intended to give his passions time to work tin mselves into a 
 
 t, had subdued them. Reason had taken the ascendant, and, 
 though hi.- reflections had not been much more favorable to the author- 
 ity of his former master, than the promptings of his resentment, they 
 were mueh less Baited to his present purpose. IK' was effectually 
 weaned; divested of all former pre-possessions, and ready to yield 
 to the dictates of calm, unbiassed reason, lie sought his uncle, and 
 with :: quiet and Cheerful smile, handed him the letter. 
 
 A- - M a- Mr. Trevor read it. he exclaimed, "Thank God! you arc 
 now a freeman." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 95 
 
 " I am truly thankful for it," replied Douglas, " though I feel as if 
 I shall never lose the mark of the collar which reminds me that I have 
 been a slave. But, until within a short time past, I have never felt 
 that I was." 
 
 " When the bondage reaches to the mind," said Mr. Trevor, "it is 
 not felt." 
 
 "And was nine enslaved," asked Douglas, "when my thoughts 
 were as free as air ?" 
 
 "Their prison was airy," replied the old'gentlcman, "and roomy, and 
 splendidly fitted up. But look at the President's letters, and sec the 
 penalties you might nave incurred, had your freedom of thought ram- 
 bled into such opinions as many of your best friends entertain." 
 
 " Still," replied .Douglas, "the penalty would have attached, not to 
 the opinion but to the expression of it." 
 
 " And do you think your mind would work without constraint, in 
 deciding between opinions which it might be unsafe to express, and 
 those which would be regarded as meritorious ?" 
 
 " I can, at least, assure you that such a thought as that never oc- 
 curred to me." 
 
 " But it occurred to your friends. It tied my tongue, and, I suspect, 
 your father's too, of late. Now that 1 am free to speak, let me ask, 
 wherein would have been the criminality of expressing the opinions 
 imputed to you?" 
 
 " It would have been inconsistent with my duty of allegiance." 
 
 " Allegiance ! To whom ? You will not say to King Martin, the 
 First ? To what ?" 
 
 " To the constitution of the United States. I was bound by oath to 
 support that." 
 
 " And what if your views of the constitution had shown you that 
 the acts of the Government were violations of the constitution, and 
 that the men denounced by Baker as traitors were its i sup- 
 
 porters. "What duty would your oath have prescribed in that 
 Would you support the constitution by taking part with those who 
 trampled it under foot, against those who uphold it as long as there 
 Was hope ?" 
 
 " I should have distrusted my own judgment Surely, you would 
 not have me sot up that against tl ■ -if the 1' gislature, i 
 
 tivi . and judiciary, all concurrently expressed according to the forma 
 of the constitution." 
 
 " What then must /do?" askrd Mr. TrCTST. "Be the pinions of 
 
 all these men what they may, tho constitution, after all. i^ what it h 
 
 bj I am bound to support it. Now, when I have schooled n ' 
 
THi: PARTISAN LEADER. 
 • 
 
 spcct for tl . and all ; iffidence 
 
 ill think that tl learly in error, <m- 
 
 t opinion <>r my own that T shall sal mi con- 
 
 ■ i which my oath I . that 1 do actual!;. the 
 
 ■ ition '.'" 
 
 •• I :m to your 
 
 own convicti i 
 
 •• Then / may, at last, trust my own judgment when I have no 1 
 any doubl 
 
 •• You most, of it' 
 
 " Aii-1 you," Baid Mr. Trevor, " wlm were not free to do so — who, in 
 th>' matter of an oath, were to 1 e guided* nut by your own <■ Dscience, 
 hut by tl Dcea of other. nun — was your mind frei 
 
 d high, and, after a long pause, Baid : " 1 Bee thai I 
 been swinging in a gilded cage, and mistook its motions fbr those 
 
 of in y own will. 1 see it, and again respond cordially to your ejacula- 
 tion—Thank Cod : I am !':• 
 
 " I rejoice at it, especially," said Mr. Trevor. ' because now all rc- 
 I an end between a . in all •. intercourse with 
 
 you, my tongue has been tied on the Bubjeol oJ wuich I think m 
 and on which I feel mi I find it hard to speak to a sou ol 
 
 finia without Bpeaking of her wrungs, and the means of r< 
 them. I' is harder still, when he to whom I speak is my own son 
 too." 
 
 ■• I have long ago hamed from my father," said Douglas, "that the 
 whole South had been much opprei ed. I know, too, that he attri- 
 bute ion to the exercise of powers not granted by the con- 
 stitution. Hut, with every disposition to resist this oppression, he 
 taught me to hear it sooner than incur the evils of disunion." 
 
 " What are they f" 
 
 " Weakness, dissention, and the danger to liberty from the standing 
 armies of distinct and rival powei 
 
 " Bence you have never permitted yourself to look narrowly into 
 the question/' 
 
 " I never have. IJiave no doubt of our wrongs; but T bavo never 
 
 '• red myself to weigh them disunion. That I have been 
 
 taught to regard as the maximum of evil." 
 
 t disunion has now come. The question now is, whether you 
 
 .'.I continue to bear these wrongs, or seek the remedy offered by an 
 invitat£on*to join the Southern Confederacy. The evils of which you 
 
 lk would certainly not he increased by such a Btep. We might 
 
 iken the North, but not ourselves. \- to landing armies.. here we 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 97 
 
 have one among us. The motive which that danger presented is now 
 reversed in its operation. While we remain as we are, the standing 
 army is fastened upon us. By the proposed change, we shake it off. 
 Then, as to dissention, if there is no cause of war now, there would be 
 none then. Indeed the only cause would be removed, and it would be 
 seen that both parties had cjery inducement to peace. Even in the 
 present unnatural condition, you sec that the separation having once 
 taken place, there remains nothing to quarrel about." 
 
 "What, then," said Douglas, "is the meaning of all this military 
 array that I see ? Arc no hostile movements apprehended from the 
 Southern Confederacy ?" 
 
 " Not at all. Thcv have no such thought. The talk of such things 
 is nothing but a pietext for muzzling Virginia." 
 
 " How do you mean ?" asked Douglas. 
 
 "You will know if you attend the election in this county to-morrow. 
 You will then sec that a detachment of troops has been ordered here ■ 
 on the eve of the election. The ostensible use of it, is to aid in the 
 prevention of smuggling, or, in other words, in the enforcement of the 
 odious tariff, and a participation in the advantages our southern neigh- 
 bors enjoy since they have shaken it off. But you will see this force 
 employed to brow-beat and intimidate the people, and to drive from 
 the polls such as cannot be brought to vote in conformity to the will of 
 our rulers. Go back to. Richmond next winter, and you will sec the 
 force stationed there increased to what will be called an army of ob- 
 servation. In the midst of this, the Legislature will hold its mock de- 
 liberations ; and you will find advanced posts so arranged as to bridle 
 the disaffected counties, and prevent the people from marching to the 
 relief of their representatives. By one or the other, or both of these 
 operations, Virginia will be prevented from expressing her will in (he 
 only legitimate way, and her sons, who take up arms on her behalf, 
 will be stigmatised as traitors, not only to the United States, but to 
 her." 
 
!*r« THE PARTISAN I 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 All. villian! tliou wilt lxtray inc. :i ml gat :i thOtMMld CrOWQS of tin- King 
 for earn in- my bead ttJ him. — SllAKSli 
 
 \- Mr, Trevor hatl intimated, the next day was the day for the I 
 
 tion of meiaben in the State Legislature The old gentleman, in 
 spite of kia iiitinnities, determined to be present He ordered his be* 
 ronohe, and provided with arms both the servant who drove bim, and 
 0B6 who attended on horseback. II** armed himself also With pistols 
 and a dirk, and recommended a like precaution to Douglas. " Xou 
 must go on horseback. '" said he. " It majf enable you to act with more 
 efficiency on an emergency. At all events, were yu to drive me. I 
 should have no excuse for taking one whose services I would not will- 
 ingly dispense with. Give me the world to choose from, and old Tom's 
 son Jack is the man I would wish to have beside me in the hour of 
 danger. As to you, my son, I think your late master would not be 
 son. . >u into a scrape. You should, therefore, be ou^our 
 
 guard. My infirmities will render your personal aid necessary to help 
 ii,. t. the polls. Keep near me, therefore] but keep cool, and le§ve 
 
 me to fight my own battles. PrudenOC and forbearance are necessary 
 for you. As to me, 1 have nothing to hazard. The measure of my 
 offences is full already. I have sinned the unpardonable sin, and 
 though there is no name lor it in the statute book, 1 have no doubt if 
 thi v had me before their new Court of High Commission at Washing- 
 ton, your special friend, Judge Baker, would find one.'' 
 " Why do you call him my special friend," asked Douglas. 
 
 '• Because I have means of being advised of what is doing among 
 our rulers, and know that he was at the bottom of the whole proceed- 
 ing against you. Therefore, 1 warn you to be prudent today. Depend 
 n it, if you can be taken in a fault, he will find means ' to iced fat 
 his grudge' against you." 
 
 On reaching the election ground, the stars and stripes were seen 
 floating above the door of the court-house, which was still closed. A 
 military parade was "being enacted" for the amusement of the boys 
 and cake women, and the uniform showed that the men were regulars 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 99 
 
 * . • 
 
 in the service of the United States. They wore twenty or thirty in 
 d amber, all completely armed and equipped. As soon as Mr. Trevor 
 appeared, they were dismissed from parade, the door was thrown open, 
 and they rushed into* the house. Presently after, it was proclaimed 
 that the polls were opened. 
 
 As Mr. Trevor approached the door, Douglas observed that a multi- 
 tude of persons, who before had been looking on, in silent observance 
 of what was passing, advanced to salute him, and, falling behind him, 
 followed to the courthouse. On reaching the door, they found it ef- 
 fectually blocked up by half a dozen soldiers, who stood in and about, 
 as if by accident and inadvertence. But the unaccommodating stiff- 
 ness with which each maintained his position, left no doubt that they 
 were there by design. They were silent, but their bru'ish counte- 
 nances spoke their purpose and feelings. Mr. Trevor might have en- 
 deavored in vain to force his passage, had not the weight of the crowd 
 behind pressed him through the door. In this process he was exposed 
 to some suffering, but made no complaint. The effect appeared only 
 in the flush of his check, and the twitching of his features. The 
 blood of Douglas began to boil, and, fur the first time in his life, the 
 uniform he had so long worn was hateful in his sight. 
 
 On entering the house, they were nearly deafened with the din. It 
 proceeded from quite a small number, but they made amends for their 
 deficiency in this respect, by clamorously shouting their hurras for the 
 President, and his- favored candidate. Besides the soldiery, there were 
 present the sheriff, who conducted the election, and sqidc twenty or 
 thirty of the lowest rabble. On the bench were two candidates. The 
 countenance of one of those Avas flushed with insolent triumph. The 
 other looked pale and agitated. lie was placed between his competitor 
 and a subaltern officer of the United States army. He Beeffied to have 
 » been saving something, and at the moment when Mr. Trevor and his 
 party entered, was about to withdraw. 
 
 Meeting him at the foot of the stair leading down from the bench, 
 that gentleman asked him the meaning of what he saw; to which he 
 answered that he had been compelled to withdraw. The meeting of 
 these two gentlemen had at)' tention, an 1 curiosity to hear what 
 
 night pass between them, for a moment stilled the many-ton 
 clamor. Mr. Trevor took advantage of tfa ry silence, and »id 
 
 aloud — " You have been compelled to withdraw. Speak pat distinctly, 
 then, and say that you are no longer a eandidat 
 
 " Fellow-citizens," responded the other, in the loodesl toot 
 tremor enabled him to command, " ' am do longer a condi 
 
100 the partisan LIADJ 
 
 \M. I \m \ CANDIDATE," Oried Mr. Trevor, in a vice which 
 
 through tli- house. I am b candidate on behalf of \HniiMA, 
 ]., r Rights, end her Sen 1 bj [qhty/' • 
 
 The shout from behind the bar, at this annunciation, somewhat 
 r]annt( '1 the blue coats, and Mr. Trevor was lifted t.> the bench sp die 
 shoulders of hi.- friends; when the officer was heard to cry out, "CV 
 the i • ' 
 
 •■ place me near that officer/' said Mr. Trevor, in a quiet tone. The 
 ;i. :i worthy, but timid man, looked at him imploringly: li> I 
 .-it down by the side of the officer, and, leaning on the shoulder of 
 Douglas, t hn - addressed bin : 
 
 " 1 shall say nothing, sir," paid he, " to the sheriff about ha duty. 
 He i- the judge of that, and he knows that, without my consent, 
 !i;i~ no right to close the polls hel'ore sunset. Unless compelled by 
 force, he will not do it. lie thall i«<t he compelled by force : and. it' 
 force is used, 1 shall know whence it comes. Now mark me, air; I 
 nni determined that this election thail go on, and thai peaceably. If 
 force i- used, it must be used first on me. Now, sir, my friends an' 
 numerous and brave, and will armed, and I warn you thai my fall will 
 he the sL-nal <>f your doom. Not one of your bayonetted orew would 
 have this house alive. As toyow, sir. 1 keep say eye apon yon. Von 
 -;ir pot from my Bide, till the polls are closed. I hold you as a host 
 for the safety of the. sheriff. It' an attack is made on him, I shall 
 know you tor tin' instigator, And, more than that, sir. 1 know be is 
 to do his; duty, and will not think of closing the ]>i>lls prema* 
 
 turely. A menaoe addressed to him may escape my car. It' he offers 
 to do it, if he does hut open his mouth to declare that the polls are 
 d, 1 blow your brains out on the Bpot 
 Suiting the action to the word, ho, at tin- same moment, showed a 
 
 pistol, the finish of which gave assurance that it would not miss lire 
 The officer Btsrted hack in evident alarm, and made a movement to 
 
 withdraw; hut he fmind him-. I,' hedged in by brawny countrymen, 
 
 v.ho closed around him, while every hand was .seen to gripe the handle 
 of some concealed weapon. 
 
 ' Bi patient, sir," -aid Mr. Trevor, "you had no hnsim-s here ; hut, 
 being lore, you shall remain. No harm shall be done you. I will cn- 
 Bure you against every thing hut the consequences of your own vio- 
 lence. Offer DOnc. For if you do hut lilt your hand, or touch your 
 WCaponS, or utter one Word to your myrmidons, you die." 
 
 These word- w< re uttered in a tone in which, though loud enough to 
 
 be heard hy all, there was as much of mildness as of liru. n< .->. Indeed 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 101 
 
 his last fearful expression was actually spnke'n as in kindness. The 
 officer seemed to take it so, and quietly Mated himself. 
 
 Not so the rival candidate. He rose, with a great parade of indig- 
 nation, saying — " Let me pass, at least. This is no place for inc." 
 
 " Do you mean to leave us, sir," said Mr. Trevor, with great cour- 
 tesy. 
 
 " I do," said the other. "To what purpose should I remain ?" 
 
 " Do you then decline ? Arc you no longer a candidate ?" 
 
 " T am — but I will not remain here beset by armed violence." 
 
 " Will you leave no one to represent you?" 
 
 " No — I leave you to work your will. I have no farther part in the 
 matter. I shall do nothing, and consent to nothing. When the law 
 closes the poll, it will be closed." 
 
 Saykig this, he withdrew, and Mr. Trevor observed that, as he went 
 out, he spoke aside to the sergeant of the company, who followed him 
 from the house. Soon after, the men, one by one, dropped off, and all 
 at length disappeared. 
 
 The election now went on peaceably, and nearly every vote was cast 
 fur Mr. Trevor. But it did not escape his observation that there were 
 persons present whom he knew to be hostile to him, and devoted to the 
 rulers at Washington, who yet did not vote. He saw the motive of this 
 conduct, but determined to make it manifest to others as well as him- 
 self, and to expose the disingenuous and unmanly artifice which he saw 
 his enemies were using against him. Catching the eye of a well 
 dressed man he said, " You h ve not voted, I think, Mr. A——?" 
 
 " I have not," was the answer, " and I don't mean to vote." 
 
 " I bee that you will, sir," said Mr. Trevor. " I know you to be my 
 enemy, personal as well as political; but I sincerely wish the name of 
 every voter in the county to appear on the poll-book, though my defeat 
 should be the consequence." 
 
 "It may be so, sir," replied the other; " but I shall not vote at an 
 election controlled by force, and where those commissioned by the 
 Government to keep order, arc cither driven off or detained in du- 
 rance." 
 
 " I do not understand you, sir," said Mr. Trevor. "Am I to infet 
 that the presence of the military bore is under the uvowed ordei 
 their master ?" 
 
 "I dare say," replied the other, "thai Lieutenant Johnaoo will thou 
 you his orders, if you will condescend to look at them." 
 
 "I will do so, with great pleasure," said Mr. Trevor, "and pi 
 myself great edification frcm the perua 
 
# 
 
 102 TUT. PABTIBAfl LEAD 
 
 thou, sir,'" said the officer, taking a paper from bis 
 •. which be read accordingly in the following words: 
 
 •• \- there is reason to believe thai evil disposed persona design to 
 overawe or disturb the election of members to tl iture from the 
 
 county of , Lieutenant Johns* n will attend at the day and place 
 
 lection with the troops under his command, for the purpose of pro- 
 log order. Should bis authority he opposed, be is, if permitted to 
 do so, to make known that he acts by the command of 'the President, 
 to the and that all who may be disposed to resist him, may bo duly 
 warned that in so doing they resist the authority of the United Sti 
 and take heed list they incur the penalties of the la. v." 
 
 '• Why. this is well," said Mr. Trevor. '• And it is to give color ami 
 countenance to u charge of resistance to the authority of thelnitcd 
 States, that you, Mr. A , refuse to vote." 
 
 '■ .No, >ir," replied A . " it is because I never will rote at an (lec- 
 tion controlled by force." 
 
 " Be i: BO, id Mr. Trevor. "I perceive your drift. 
 
 and tell your master that tl used to vindicate the freedom of 
 
 tion were nsed to control it. Go, sir, and show that you are as much 
 an enemy to truth and honor as to me." 
 
 To this A made no reply, and Boon after withdrew, Indeed, 
 
 hardly any person remained but the friends of Mr. Trevor, and it was 
 obvious that the n suit of the election was not to be changed by any 
 rotes which could bo given. The neccssltj ol keeping open the poll 
 till sunset was, neverthi less, imperious. But the scene became dull 
 and irksome. Douglas, therefore, proposed that his ancle should re- 
 turn home. • 
 
 •■ \'\ no means," said he. "You don'l understand this 
 Should we disband, the sheriff would he required, at the peril of hi* 
 life, to make a false r< turn. But he shall have his will. Mr. Sheriff^ 
 
 shall I withdraw also ?" 
 
 "No! no! For God's sake, stay, sir!" exclaimed the alarmed 
 Sheriff; "and either see me home, or take me home with you. 1 have 
 
 not the influence which makes you safe in the midst of enemies, and 
 am not ashamed to say that I fear my life." 
 
 "1 will prjptecl you, then, sir," said Mr. Trevor, " until you have 
 made out your return, and given your certificate. When these arc 
 done, I hope you will be sale." 
 
 The scene again subsided into its former dullness. The enemy had 
 disappeared, with the c.\ leption of the captive officer, who looked On 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 103 
 
 ruefully, while an occasional vote was given at long intervals. At 
 length, Mr. Trevor observed that some of the voters were about to 
 withdraw. He therefore rose, and begged them to remain. 
 
 "This business is not over," said he. u It is not for nothing that 
 the polls are to be kept open until sunset, when all who have not voted 
 have withdrawn. An attack on the sheriff or myself is certainly in- 
 tended. Perhaps on both. I beseech you, therefore, not to disperse, 
 but to see us both safe to my house. When once among my own peo- 
 ple, I will take .care of him and myself. I am sorry, sir," continued 
 he, addressing the officer, " that the movements of your friends make 
 it necessary to detain you longer than I had intended. You must be 
 a hostage for us all, until this day's work is over. But assure yourself 
 of being treated with all courtesy and kindness. Should I even find 
 it necessary to compel your company to my own house, doubt not that you 
 will receive every attention due to an honored guest. I beg you to ob- 
 serve that I do not even disarm you. The warning you have received 
 is my only security that you will attempt no violence." 
 
 This speech was heard in sullen silence by him to whom it was ad- 
 dressed. But some conversation with others ensued, in which Mr. 
 Trevor took pains to enlighten the minds of his hearers in regard to 
 public affairs. The day wore away somewhat less wearily ; the sua 
 went down, and Bernard Trevor was proclaimed to be duly elected. 
 
 Our party now took up the line of march. The sheriff and officer 
 were placed in Mr. Trevor's barouche ; the former by his side — the 
 latter in front of him, by the side of the driver. A numerous compa- 
 ny on horseback surrounded them. 
 
 They were scarcely in motion, before the drum was heard, and the 
 regulars were seen advancing to meet them in military array. Mr. 
 Trevor immediately commanded the driver to stop, and draw his pistol. 
 Then calling to the servant on horseback, he made him station himself, 
 pistol in hand, close to the officer. Having made this arrangement, 
 he addressed him : 
 
 "You sec your situation, sir. Those fellows would not scruple to 
 shoot your master himself at my bidding ; and my orders to you both, 
 boys, are, that if we arc attacked, you arc both to shoot this gentleman 
 upon the spot. 1 shall do the same thing, sir ; so that between us you 
 cannot csci]' . Now, sir, stand up and show yourself to your in- n. 
 and speak distinctly the words of command that I shall dictat< 
 
 The officer did as he was directed. The advancing platoon was 
 halted, and wheeled backward to the side of the road ; the armi 
 ordered, and the barouche passed on. After paaaiog, a momentary 
 
104 THK PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 irfaile the sergeant was ordered to march the meo back 
 
 to their quartern. This was done, and as soon as the tWO parties Wi re 
 distance Sawder, Lieutenant Johnson was released, and eourte- 
 ©ut-ly di auuao e d . Mr. Trevor and his friends reached home in - 
 and without interruption, and thu^ ended the election day. 
 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 105 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 I tell you, my lord fool, that out of this nettle, Danger, wc plack this flower, 
 Safely. Shakspeaue. 
 
 The domestic party that' we left at the house of Mr. Trevor were va- 
 riously affected by the history of the occurrences detailed in the last 
 chapter. Arthur had been slightly indisposed, and his uncle hud made 
 that a pretext for keeping him out of harm's way. But when he heard 
 what had passed, his spirit was roused, and he felt as a soldier who 
 hears the history of some well-fought battle where he was not permitted 
 to be present. To Virginia the whole story was a subject of wonder- 
 ment and alarm. The idea that her dear uncle, and her dearer broth- 
 er, had been engaged in an affair where "dirk and pistol" was the 
 word, threw her into a flutter of trepidation. She could not refrain 
 from asking the former whether he would have-shot the poor man sure 
 enough; and received his affirmative answer with a shudder. The 
 feelings of Lucia did not much differ from hers, except in intensity. 
 She had heard too much to be wholly unprepared for such things, and 
 her mind was too much accustomed to take its tone from those of hor 
 mother and sister. 
 
 On these ladies the impression made by the events of the day wa3 
 wholly different. If the countenance of Mrs. Trevor was more thought- 
 ful than before, it only spoke of higher thoughts. Her eye was bright- 
 er, her carriage more erect, her step more free, while her smile had 
 less, perhaps, of quiet satisfaction, but more of hope. The flutter of 
 youthful feelings, and the sweeter and more tender thoughts propel 1 to 
 one newly betrothed, made the chief difference between Delia and her 
 mother. But while Douglas saw in the latter all the evidence of those 
 high qualities which fit a woman to be not merely the consolation and 
 joy of her husband, but his sage adviser and useful friend, he saw enough in 
 Delia to show that she, in due time, would be to him all that her moth- 
 er was to his uncle. 
 
 A few days afterwards, Mr. B — arrived, and his appearance was a 
 signal of joy to the whole family. Douglas now, for the first time, dis- m 
 covered that he stood in some interesting, though undefined relation to 
 them, and especially to hi* aunt. That there was no oonnexioa of bl 
 or marriage he knew; yet the feelings of the parties towards • aen other 
 were mutually filial and paternal. The imposing dignity of Mrs. Trc- 
 
T1IK l'Al.TISAX LRADBBh 
 
 urrcndercd in his presence. Her maiden 
 •. whicb ii" otber lip bat that of her husband would 
 have v< atared I i profane, was that by which alon< 
 
 and tli.it generally acct mpanied with Bome endearing epithet The 
 ild wt upon bis knee, and plat familiarly and affectionately 
 with hie grey locks; while the servants, in the proud humility of their 
 ntsandv med hardly to distinguish between 
 
 lii tn and their beloved and honored master. It was not to be beli 
 that the family kept any secrets from him, to that Douj 1 not 
 
 doubt that he was privy to bis little affair of the heart. And bo he 
 was; and bis manner toward th< n was, from the tirst, that of 
 
 I mar kinsman, hardly differing in any thing from that of hie m 
 As far as < . incidi nee of sentiment and similarity of character could ex- 
 plain this close intimacy, it stood explained. Between him and Mr 
 Trevor there were many points of Strong similitude. But to Mrs. Tre- 
 vor the resemblance was more striking. Age and sex seemed to make 
 the only difference between them. 
 
 But, in addition to this domestic relation, which embraced i very 
 member <>T the household down to the scullion and Bhoe-black, there 
 was obviously some und< refunding between the gentlemen in regard to 
 matters of much higher concernment Indeed, no pain.- were taken bo 
 oonceal this fact, though, during Mr. I! — s former visit, Douglas had 
 not been admitted to any of their consultations but thativhieh concern- 
 ed himself 
 
 It was not long before the tv d, iii the little study, 
 
 in close conclave; and soon after, a message was delivered to Douglas 
 requesting his presence. 
 
 "1 ;ini the bearer of important intelligence," said B — , holding out 
 his hand to th< youth as he entered; "and as it particularly concerns 
 you, at well as your uncle, yon must perforce consent to become privy 
 
 • to our council." 
 
 •• I .tin not sorry to hear it," replied Douglas. " If any thing was 
 wanting to banish slf reserve between as, I would he content to Buffer 
 some loss to effect that object." 
 
 " I belii V'- you," Baid B — , "and therefore expect you will the less 
 nt circumstance, which, without your act or consent, 
 
 and even in Bpite of you, hinds you in the same hundle.with us." 
 
 "That was already done/' said Douglas. "What new tie can there 
 •be?" 
 
 "One of the Btrongest. The union of your name with your uncle's 
 in a warrant for high treason from the eourt of high commission at 
 Washington." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 107 
 
 ''You speak riddles," said Douglas. "The only instance in which I 
 ever incurred the displeasure of the President, was one which no hu- 
 man ingenuity could torture into treason; and certainly my made had 
 no hand in that." 
 
 "But, having than incurred the displeasure of the G'overmnenj, what 
 if you should gtnee have been concerned in any matter which might be 
 called treason?" 
 
 "Hut there has been no such matter." 
 
 "My dear boy;" said .Mr. Trevor, "the question is not of what we 
 have done. ITad we actually done any thing culpable, there would be 
 no occasion for this warrant from Washington. Our own courts, and a 
 jury of peers, may be trusted to try the guilty. But when men are to 
 be tried for what they have not done, then resort must be had to this 
 new .court of high commission at Washington, and to a jury of office- 
 holders." 
 
 "But where," asked Douglas, "is the warrant of which you speak?" 
 
 "That I cannot exactly say," said B — . "I am not even sure that 
 it is yet in existence. But that it is, or will be, is certain. I need not 
 explain to you my means of knowledge. Your uncle is acqti 
 with them, and knows that what T tell yoy. is certain. The transac- 
 tions of the election day will be made the subject of a capital charge, 
 and it is intended to Convey you both to Washington to answer it there. 
 1 am come to advise you both of this, that you may determine what 
 course to pursue." 
 
 "My course is plain," said Douglas. "To mqpt the charge and refute 
 it." 
 
 "Are you aware," said B., "who is the Judge of this court of high 
 commission?" 
 
 '• I think 1 have somehow understood that it is Judge Baker." 
 
 '•The lather of your friend* Philip linker, the younger* Now are 
 you aware that, but a few days before the court was constituted, ha and 
 either judges were consulted, and declared it t" he mi grossly unconsti- 
 tutional that no judge would preside in it" 
 
 "I see that so it should he declared, but did not know that such 
 opinion had been given." 
 
 '■ Yet so it was. Now where, do you think, Ihe considerations 
 found by whicb the bouorable gentleman's honorable scruples were 
 
 me? Of course, you cannot conjecture. Sfou would find 
 too late) if you, by placing yoursi it in i,i- power, afforded him an op- 
 portunity of gratifying the malice of his son, t 
 cowardice and ineanm • 1 u duubt my moans "I know 
 
 Your uncle told me nothing of young Whiting's communication to the 
 
the partisan lbadbb. 
 
 ■ • V • I knewpf it. I !. I B — . not regards 
 
 izement of Donglas, " that, but for that l< would 
 
 Dot have been permitted to resign; and that Judge B < ruplcs 
 
 ling in this new court ■ bj hushing an the 
 
 enquiry, which would have dish roored hia Bon, and substituting :i pro- 
 «. - . . « 1 1 1 1 _r which should Dumber you among the victims of his power, 
 without implicating the name of his Bon. As to my means of know 1 
 ledge, when knaves can get honest men to be the instrunx nts of 1 1 1 < ■ i r 
 villainy, they ma) ex peel not to be betrayed. Until then, they must 
 bear the fate of all who work with ^ 1 1 : i r j . tools." 
 
 "There can he no doubt," said Mr. Trevor, "of the fate pre] 
 for us, should we Call into the hands of our enemh ~. To be summoned 
 to trial befoie a court constituted for the sole purpose of entertaining 
 ; itions which cannot be sustained elsewhere, is to be notified of a 
 
 sentence already pa-sod. To obey Buch a summons, is to give the neck 
 to the halter. The question is, then, what is to 1"' done t.> evade it. 
 ( )nr friend 1! — proposes that your broth r and sist< r be Bent boo 
 
 i and I, and my family, withdraw to Carolina. How Bay you? 
 
 ■■ I have the same difficulty that I bad the other day, about tendering 
 my resignation. • But, in this instance, i: appears with more fore* To 
 fly from justice is always tak< n as < videncc of conscious guilt" 
 
 •■ \i nit tliat." said Mr. Tr< ror, 4> I feel small concern on my own ac- 
 count. ;; - I .-, rtainly mean to commit what all who deny the bov< reigoty 
 of Virginia will rail high treason." 
 
 "Then why not take*up arms at once? I have mueh misunderstood 
 appearances, Bioce I have been lore, if the means not of evading, hut 
 resisting this attack, are riot already organist 1 " 
 
 "The time is not yet ripe for action," said Mr. Trevor. "Had it 
 been so, I should not have waited notil my own load was in jeopardy, 
 before Btrikiog the blow. Nor should my own personal danger precipi- 
 tate it." 
 
 " Hut what Cttcr time can there be to call the people to arms, than 
 at this moment, when their minds an heated by the late violent iova- 
 
 ■ion of the elective franchise '.' What mole exciting spectacle could 
 
 he presented than the sight of a citizen seized as a traitor, and dragged 
 
 away in chains, to answer, hei'orc an unconstitutional tribunal, for maiii- 
 tainiiiL' this franchise ?" 
 
 '•'Are i/, m then prepared to resist, at the point of the bayonet, tins 
 unconstitutional warrant, as a thing void and of no authority ." 
 
 "I am" replied Douglas, with energy. "And I will say more," 
 
 said he, speaking with solemn earnestness. " I have seen enough to 
 make my duty plain; and I am prepared to go as- far as you, yourself, 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 109 
 
 in asserting and maintaining the sovereignty of Virginia at every haz- 
 ard." 
 
 "That being the ease," said B — , "as you will not disagree about 
 the end, you must not differ about the moans, nor lose time in discuss- 
 ing them. We arc not thinking of this subject for the first time. We 
 see the whole ground, and act- under the influence of considerations 
 which we have no lime to detail. Arc you then, my young friend, pre- 
 pared to give us f o much of your confidence as this. We say to you, 
 'Go with us where we go, and trust our assurance that when we have 
 leisure to explain all, you will find our plan the best.' Are you con- 
 tent? Are you now ready to carry into execution our matured plan, so 
 far as it has been disclosed to you, trusting all the details to us? llc- 
 member — if you say yes to this, we stop no more to deliberate or ex- 
 plain until we are in a place of safety. Until then, you place yourself 
 under orders; and you have learned how to obey. How say you? 
 Are you content?" 
 
 Douglas paused, reflected a minute or two, and then. extending a 
 hand to Mr. B— t-, ami one to his uncle, said earnestly: "I am; com- 
 mand, and I will obey. But which of you am I to obi y .' " 
 
 "Mr. B — ," siid Mr. Trevor, "under whose command I now place 
 myself." 
 
 "Then to business," said B — . " Warn your brother, at once, of the 
 necessity of returning home with your sister, and Fee that he makes 
 the needful preparations for his departure at an cady hour to morrow. 
 The boy's heart will have some hankerings that will make it necessary 
 for you to look after him, and urge him to exertion. You, Trevor, 
 must expedite the arrangements for the rcjnoval of your family. 1 
 the word to Margaret and Delia. You may trust much to their effi- 
 ciency. I am afraid we cannot expect much more from my poor little 
 Lucia, just now, than from Arthur. Now, Trevor, give me the keys "I' 
 your arm-room; let Douglas join me there, as soon as he baa set Ar- 
 thur to work, and, in the meantime, send Jack to me there. I will 
 play quartermaster, while you make arrangements for the muster of 
 the black watch." 
 
 "The black tcatchl" said Douglas, with an enquiring look. 
 
 " Aye," said B — , "The tidier. <llm — the trusty \,'<dy guard of a Yir- 
 ginio gentleman. His own faithful si.:-. 
 
 "The slave-!" said Douglas, "What use shall we have for thi 
 
 "I have no time to answer now/' Said 1! — . "Ask me that when 
 you come to me in the arm-room. At present yon most Stb tid to Ar- 
 thur. We have m> time to 1" 
 
 Douglas now remembered bis enlistment, and betook himself, with 
 the prompt alacritj of an old so'dier, to the fulfilment of lii.- of 
 
110 T1IK FAP.7I 
 
 CII A PTBB X XII. 
 
 ■ I iir.vc aarsed K ; in ;ii tli> withered breast," paid the olil woman, II 
 hi-r bftada en licr bosom as il pressing an infant in it ; "tuid man can never 
 bat woma the bairn !■. lir^t In Id in her bosom." 
 
 Scott. 
 
 Poob Autiuk! 15 — had predicted too truly that his heart would 
 have some hankerings at tin' thought of > leaving tin' house where he 
 bad, "1 late, spent s<> many pleasant boms. Ji is mi long that I have 
 eajd nothing about him, that the reader may think him forgotten, or 
 imself, have forgotten tfciat there was such a person. Be had; 
 in truth, do pa$ in the transactions of which we have been speaking* 
 
 . - at that Li mo of life when' the mind, chameleon like, taki 
 hue 'from surrounding, objects. Il< young to be advised with, 
 
 or trusted with important seerets. I hare already mentioned tl 
 the da-. I< otion, he bad been detained at home by indisposition. 
 
 l>ut he had beard of the occurrences of that day; and be was, more- 
 over, uncon ■ influences from every member of the 
 
 family, all I • the same point. Least apparent, but not leaai 
 
 efficacious, ■ tin Lueia. They were of that age when 
 
 .- by mi re contact?. With thought 
 ut love, hut without thinking of it, they had 1 ecome deeply enamored 
 of each other. The thing come about bo simply and bo naturally, that 
 the result alone needs to !"• tulJ.. 
 
 They were t>> part, and the thought of parting Brat made them hoth 
 feel that something was the matter. Thej talked of tin- separation, 
 and Lucia shod Mime tears. Arthur kissed them *>ih and tin d she 
 
 smiled ; and then Bhe inept again ; and then they agreed never to for- 
 li Other; and BO on, till the BOCret was out, and 'heir mi 
 
 hearts were fondly plight* d. 
 
 Such things do not pass unmarked by older eyes. The maternal 
 instinct of Mrs. Trevor, and the, sagacity of her husband, had detected 
 that of which the parties themselves were unconscious. And now, in the 
 fi a* hours that they were to remain together, occupied as the old peo- 
 ple were* with important engagements, neither the glowing cheek*, the 
 swimming eye, and the abstracted look of Lucia, n<>r the rapt enthusi- 
 asm of Arthur's countenance, escaped observation. But as no dis- 
 closure was- made vi' what had passed, their fancied privacy was not in- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. Ill 
 
 vadcd by question or insinuation. They were too young to marry, and 
 secret love is so sweet! Why not let the innocent creatures enjoy the 
 idea that their attachment was not suspected ? Their friends smiled 
 indeed, hut tenderly, not significantly. To them, they did but seem 
 kinder than ever ; and that, at a moment when they were most sensi- 
 ble to kindness, and most ready to reciprocate it s In this heart-search- 
 ing sympathy, Arthur found himself indissolubly united to tjic destiny, 
 the opinions, and the feelings, whatever these might be, of those who 
 so loved his dear Lucia. 
 
 But I am not writing a love tale. I am but interested that the 
 reader should understand by what process two principal actors in th« 
 •scenes of which I am about to speak, were diverted from a zealous de- 
 votion to the authority of the United States, in which they had been 
 educated, to a devotion yet more enthusiastic in the cause of Virginia. 
 Enough of them has been seen to show that I must be anxious to vin- 
 dicate them from any charge of inconsistency. I trust the reader 
 enters into this feeling, and deems them worthy of it. If he requires 
 any farther account of the causes which wrought so great a change, I 
 have none to give. It was through their eyes and hearts that convic- 
 tion entered. Outrage to the laws ; outrage to the freedom of elec- 
 tion ; outrage to one respected and beloved ; left nothing for reason to 
 do. Doubtless much had been said to them by their uncle and 31 r. 
 B — , in explanation of the great principles of the American Union, 
 which had been trampled on by the Federal Government. But I am 
 not aware that any ideas were presented to their minds on this subject, 
 with which the reading public had not been familiar for twenty yean 
 before, and I shall not repeat them here. Let us rather accompany 
 Douglas to 3Ir. Trevor's magazine of arms. It was in a garret room, 
 where he found Mr. B — busy in the examination of arms, and | 
 turning out ammunition, with the aid of Jack. 
 
 '• You come in good time," said IJ — . " Here is work that; yon 
 understand. Come help me to examine these arms, and sec that they 
 are all clean, dry, and well flintcd." 
 
 " What do you propose to do with them ?" asked Douglas, lending a 
 hand to the work. 
 
 " Wejwopose," said B — , " to arm the negroes in defence of thiir 
 mast< r, in case of need. - ' 
 
 " But what need can there be, if we Bet out for Carolina in the 
 morning ?" 
 
 "They may be wanted before morning/' said B — , coolly. "Lieu- 
 tenant Johnson left thi county on the night of the election, and ti 
 led express to Washington. His intelligence was anticipated, and, UO 
 
112 the PARTISAN I 
 
 ere :ul readj before be £ot there. 1 dan 
 they bad a ready-made affidavit f> r him to b* plot was 
 
 . thai I was hardly advised of it in time. But I 
 it i- not too late. I have no mind to fire tbe train I 
 
 would rather you should l'< t off peaceably, bat, if we do come to bl 
 I Bhall take care thai the blue-coats have tb< it.'" 
 
 • Y u move in this busini bb," said Douglas, " like a man nol ui 
 to danger. I presume you have taken the precaution to warn in the 
 hardy and resolute neighbors, wbom I bsw Btand by my uncle the other 
 day." 
 
 ■Kyi i means," answered B. "Were we so minded, we could com- 
 mand a force that would demolish any that will be Bent against us., 
 1-5 tit i; is not desirable to show the Btrebgth of our hand. 1 should be 
 glaj], if possible, that the temper of the people were unsuspected. At 
 the same time, there is an exhibition to be made, which will have a 
 good effect on friend and foe, — I mean an exhibition of the staunch 
 loyalty and heart-fell devotion of the .■-lave to his master. We must 
 show that that which our enemies, and some even of ourselves, con- 
 sider as our \\' akn< ss, is, in truth, our Btrength." 
 !' Is such your own clear opinion?" asked Douglas. "I have lived 
 )_ in the North, thai 1 have imbibed too many of the ideas that 
 But) on this point, it appears to me that they must 
 right" 
 
 ■• \. i 1 •.■ 1 there long enough," Baid B — , " to forget your 
 
 earliest ai -t attachments. \ <m had a black nurse, I presume. 
 
 Do ypu love her?" 
 
 '"My mammy!" exclaimed Douglas; "to be Bure I do. 1 should 
 be the m • ful creature on earth, if I did not love one who 
 
 me lik<- a mother." 
 "And your foster-brother?" asked 1! ; "and his brothers and 
 
 I it. n<>t tin -v. t<>". 1"\ e him tin ir mother loves so fondly ':" 
 •• 1 have no doubt they do, cspeciully as 1 have always been kind to 
 them.'' 
 
 "From these, then, I presume, you would (ear nothing. Then 
 your brothers and sisters. They, too, have their mammies and foster- 
 brethren. A.moDg you, you must have a btrong hold on the hearts of 
 many of your latin r's slaves. Would they, think you, taken as a body, 
 i iinsl your family ?" 
 
 •• I have not the least apprehension that they would," replied 
 Douglas. 
 
 •• Y 1 1 they, thus considered, are one integral part of the great black 
 family, which, in all its branches, is united by similar ligaments to the 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 113 
 
 great white family. You have the benefit of the parental feeling of the 
 old who nursed your infancy, and watched your growth. You have 
 the equal friendship of those with whom you ran races, and played at 
 bandy, and wrestled in your boyhood. If sometimes a dry blow passed 
 between you, they love you none the less for that j because, unless you 
 were differently trained from what is common among our boys, you 
 were taught not to claim any privilege, in a fight, over those whom you 
 treated as equals in play. Then you have the grateful and admiring 
 affection of the little urchin whose head you patted when you came 
 home, making him proud by asking his name, and his mammy's name, 
 and his daddy's name. These are the filaments which the heart puts 
 out to lay hold on what it clings to. Great interests, like large 
 branches, are too stiff to twine. These arc the fibres from which the 
 tics that bind man to man are spun. The finer the staple, the stronger 
 the cord. You will probably see its strength exemplified before morn- 
 ing. There are twenty true hearts which will shed their last drop, be- 
 fore one hair of your uncle's head shall fall." 
 
 " You present the matter in a new light," said Douglas. "I wish 
 our northern brethren could be made to take the same view of it." 
 
 "Our northern bretJtren, as you call them," said B — , " never can 
 take this view of it. They have not the qualities which would enable 
 them to comprehend the negro character. Their calculating selfish- 
 ness can never understand his disinterested devotion. Their artificial 
 benevolence is no interpreter of the affections of the unsophisticated 
 heart. Tliuy think our friend Jack here to be even such as themselves, 
 and cannot, therefore, conceive that he is not ready to cut his master's 
 throat, if there is any thing to be got by it. They know no more of 
 the feelings of our slaves, than their fathers could comprehend of the 
 loyalty of the gallant cavaliers from whom we spring; and for the same 
 reason. The generous and self-renouncing must ever be a riddle to 
 the selfish; The only instance in which they have ever seemed to 
 understand us, has been in the estimate they have made of our at- 
 tachment to a Union, the benefits of which have all been their.-, the 
 burthens oura. reverse the case, and they would haw dissolved the 
 partnership thirty yean igo. Hut they have presumed upon the dif- 
 ference 1 1 bween as, and heaped oppression on oppression,, until we can 
 bear no more. But, when we throw off the yoke, they will still not 
 understand as. Thej will impute to as Done bat selfish motiv< 
 take un note of flu- scorn and loathing which their base abase of our 
 feeKngS has awakened. Would tin v but forbear so much M 
 not to force as to bate and despise them, the) might still mx 
 their hewers of wood ind drawen Bnt be who 
 
 8 
 
114 HIE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 where he loves, will give nothing where he detests. But this, too, is a 
 riddle to them." 
 
 "I must own," said Douglas, " that these ideas arc new to me, too." 
 
 "Not the ideas, but the application of them. Three months ago, 
 y«,u wore the devoted soldier of Martin Van Burem Had you then 
 believed him capable of a conspiracy so base as that which has I 
 plotted against your honor and life, could you still have served him '!" 
 
 " I should still have wished to serve my country," replied Dooglttj 
 " but I should, prub.ibly, have doubted whether I could have served 
 her in serving him." 
 
 •• And do you think you would view the matter differently, had an- 
 other been the intended victim, and not yourself?" 
 
 u I trust not. My personal concern in the affair, I think, has done 
 no more than to emancipate mc from my thraldom. But the display of 
 his character is what makes me detest him; and the seems of the 
 election day have opened my eyes to the wrongs and the rights, and 
 the interests of Virginia. The scales have now fallen from them, and 
 I am impatient for the day when I may apply in her service the lessons 
 learned in the school of her oppressors." 
 
 " v "*\ shall have your wish," said B — . "The flint you are now fit- 
 ting may yet be snapped against the myrmidons of the usurper." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 115 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Otric — How is it, Laertes 1 
 
 Laertei — Wliy as a woodcock to my own spring, Osric. 
 
 ShakspkarK. 
 
 While this conversation waa going on, the arms had been all ex- 
 amined, loaded, and ranged against the wall, and due portions of pow- 
 der and ball allotted to each firelock. Their work being nearly com- 
 pleted, Douglas was dispatched with some message to his uncle. As 
 he descended the stairs, he heard, not without a smile, the quick im- 
 patient step of Arthur, pacing to and fro, the length of a passage lead- 
 ing from the front door through the building. Arthur was just turn- 
 ing at the end next to the door, when a rap on the knocker arrested 
 him. The door was instantly opened, and he was heard to ask some 
 one to walk in. It was nigh*, and the passage was dark. Arthur con- 
 ducted the stranger to the door of his uncle's study, which was his 
 common reception room, ushered him in, drew back, and having closed 
 the door behind him, resumed his musing promenade. 
 
 Douglas went on suspecting nothing. He was not aware that the 
 servants had been cautioned against admitting strangers; and poor 
 Arthur was not au fait to what was passing. He entered the room. 
 His uncle had risen from his chair in the corner farthest from the 
 door, and was standing behind a large table, at which he usually wrote. 
 He heard him say: "Please to be seated, sir," in a voice between com- 
 pliment and command, and with a countenance in which courtesy and 
 fierceness were strangely blended. As the stranger, not regarding this 
 stern invitation, continued to advance, the glare of the old man's eye 
 became fearful, and he laid his hand on a pistol which lay on the table 
 before him. "Stand back, sir," said he, in ^l low and resolute tone. 
 " Stand back, on your life." 
 
 The stranger wore a long surtout, in which Douglas, dazzled by com- 
 ing into the light, did not at first discover theAisual characteristics of 
 an officer's undress. It was thrown open in front, and the badges of 
 his rank were displayed to Mr. Trevor, wlm itood before him. He was 
 arrested by Mr. Trevor's startling words and gesture, and wa- 
 ning to speak, when Douglas exclaimed: " What does this mean P" 
 
 The stranger turned, extended both his arms, and Douglas rushed 
 into them. 
 
ll<) THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 •• M\ deu Tnvr!" "Mj dear Whiting I" were the mutual t 
 - of two young niL'ii, who had long been to each other, as 
 brothers. ■ 
 
 "To whet "ii earth," asked Doaglas, "do I owe this ]! asure?" 
 
 •• I i ; the other, with :i melancholy smile, and in the kind- 
 
 est tunc, while he still held the hand of DowglaB) "in make you 
 prisoner.'' 
 
 I violently,. and t ri«<l to disengage his hand ; 1". 
 other held him firmly and wen! on: *'15e calm, my dear fellow. 1 am 
 your friend as ever, but yet I do not jest. You are my prisoner, on 
 surd charge of high breast □ against the United States. My war- 
 rant is against you and your uncle. As it W8I thought a mi itary force 
 might be wanted to support the arrest, ^volunteered myself to receive 
 a <le] uta'iuii from the marshal] that I might shield yon both from any 
 indignity. You, on your part, I am sure, will do nothing to make my 
 
 t.a.>-k more painful than it is. [a not that gentleman bless me! 
 
 where ii hel Was not that Mr. Bernard Trevor who just hit the 
 room'.'" 
 
 " 1 ii.ii Mr. Bernard Trevor," said a voj/e behind. Whiting tinned 
 
 again, and Baw Mr. Trevor standing where he had been before. He 
 
 now observed that there was a door beside him. at which be had Btep- 
 
 : and returned. " I am Mr. Bernard Trevor, sir. and run BOrrj 
 
 that f cannot welcome, as 1 would, the friepd of my nephew. You see 
 
 that I have no mind to have the room, and 1 therefore hope you will 
 
 • yourself to accept my invitation to be seated. You say that 
 
 yon wish to shi( Id me from indignity. Of course, you will not un- 
 
 irily offer what I -hall feel as much. The hand of authority 
 
 must not be laid on tm ." 
 
 '•1 shall gladlj dispense with an unpleasant form, sir," said Whiting) 
 
 •'and I trust 1 shall have tlo' satisfucti f i vioeing you that my 
 
 ad, though painful to all of us, i- an errand i i' friendship." 
 
 '■ I have no doubt of it, sir. I have heard of you from my nephew, 
 and from uml. r your own hand, in terms that give lull assurance of 
 that. 1 .-hall he happy, therefore, to do by you all the duties of hos- 
 pitably. 1 merely ask of you to L_ r i\c your word oi honor, thai, while 
 eharged with your present functions, you \sili be careful not to touch 
 my person." 
 
 "I should be most happy," said the young man, "to take by the 
 band one whom I so highly respect, but 1 find 1 must forego that 
 pleasure; and 1 give the required pledge most cheerfully." 
 
 The courteous "Id gentleman now summoned Tom, and ordered some 
 refreshment for his guest; then throwing into his manner a 11 the frank 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 117 
 
 courtesy of a polished Virginian, he led the way in a desultory con- 
 versation on all sorts of indifferent subjects. Half an hour passed in 
 this way, when Tom appeared and summoned the gentlemen to supper. 
 
 " I fear," said Whiting, " I am abusing my authority over my poor 
 fellows without. I have a sergeant and half a dozen men waiting at the 
 gate, on whose behalf I would fain invoke your hospitality. But it 
 would be much more agreeable to me, if you and my friend Douglat 
 will pass your words that their aid shall not be necessary, and permit 
 me to order them back to the next public house." 
 
 " I am sorry to say," replied Mr. Trevor, " that I cannot do either ; 
 but I pray you to postpone the discussion until after supper." 
 
 " How, sir ?" exclaimed Whiting. " You surely do not mean to try to 
 escape. me." 
 
 "Nothing is farther from my thoughts, sir," said the old man, with a 
 proud smile, " than to try to escape you, or permit you to escape me." 
 
 u To escape you, sir ! What do you mean ?" asked Whiting. 
 
 "I mean not to wound your car with a word I would not have en- 
 dured to have applied to myself. I will not say that you arc my 
 prisoner; but I will say that we will leave this house as free aB you 
 entered it. Come, my dear sir, while I endeavor to requite your 
 courtesy, permit me also to appropriate your words, and say, as you 
 said to Douglas, that I trust you will not render it necessary to avail 
 ourselves of our superior force." 
 
 " I am not sure you possess that superiority," said Whiting ; " I have 
 a strong guard without." 
 
 "But they arc without, and you are within. Besides, you will be 
 readily excused from availing yourself of them, when it is known that 
 they arc prisoners, in close custody." • 
 
 "Prisoners!" exclaimed Whiting. "To whom?" 
 
 " To my negroes," said Mr. Trevor. 
 
 "Regular soldiers prisoners to negroes!" said Whiting, in amaze- 
 ment. " It is not credible; and you manifestly speak by conjecture, 
 as you have had no means of communicating with your friends with- 
 out." 
 
 " I am not in tlie habit, young gentleman," said Mr. Trevor, in a 
 tone of grave rebuke, " of speaking positively, "when I speak by con- 
 jecture. My orders were, that I should not be called to supper until 
 they were secured. As to the itrangeoi m of the affair," continued he. 
 resuming his cheerful and good-humored smile, "think nothing of 
 that. Remember that ni^lit is what the negroes call 'tli<irt ; 
 day.' Tlie eagle i- DO match for the owl in the dark. Tlie thing 
 I tell you ; so make yourself easy, and let me have the pleasure of do- 
 
118 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 ing the duties of hospitality by my nephew's friend. You shall not be 
 
 ly detained. W« must a-k the pleasure of your company 
 
 for a three hours' ride aera«s the line in the morning. 1 will there 
 
 00 a clear acquittance against all the responsibility yen may have 
 iucurred, for what you have done, or left undone: and. as Bbon I 
 retnrn, to restrain your men from acts of license, they shall be 
 
 up to you." 
 
 There was no remonstrating against this arrangement; and Lieuten- 
 ant Whiting, putting the best face he could on the matter, permitted 
 himself to be conducted to .-upper. 
 
 At the head of the supper table stood. as Usual, Mrs. Trevor. She 
 
 1 Borne six inches higher than common, her cheek flushed, her 
 -spread, her eye beaming; yet with all her high feelings sub- 
 dued to the duties of hospitality and courtesy. She met and returned 
 
 dutation of Whiting with the stately grace of a high-bred lady, 
 and then her eye glanced to her husband with a look of irrepressible 
 pride. His glance answered it, and, as they stood for a moment facing 
 each other at the opposite ends of the table, Whiting fell a sense of 
 admiring awe, such as the presence of majesty in full court had never 
 
 inspired. But this feeling, in a moment, passed away, with its <• uise. 
 The urbanity of the gentleman and the suavity of the lady soon re- 
 moved all the painfulness of constraint, and the evening passed as it 
 should pan between persons who in heart were friends. 
 
 .Wither Mr. B — nor Arthur made their appearance. The girls, 
 indeed, were present. The air and meaner of Delia reflected those of 
 
 her mother. Virginia looked a little alarmed, and Lucia blushing, 
 tender, and abstracted. The interest of the realities that surrounded 
 her could not quite dispel thv visions of excited fancy. 
 
 With these exceptions, which a stranger would not observe, every 
 thing passed as in the company of an invited and cherished guest, and 
 Whiting could not be sorry, at heart, that he had been battled in his 
 attempt to disturb so sweet a domestic party. The evening wore away 
 not unpleasantly, and he retired to rest in the same room with Douglas, 
 to guard him, or be guarded by him, according as it suited his fancy 
 to consider himself or Ids friend a.s the other's prisoner. 
 
 A word of explanation is due on the subject of the captive guard x 
 which will be given in the next chapter. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 119 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Massa mighty cunning — watch he nigger like a hawk-, 
 But nigger like a. owl — he watch massa in e dark. 
 
 Jra Crow. 
 
 The first words which passed between Mr. Trevor and Lieuten- 
 ant TVhitiug, had been overheard by Tom, who was in the act of leav- 
 ing the room at the moment. He gave the alarm to his mistress, who, 
 hastening to her husband, met him at the door, and just received from 
 him the instructions already mentioned. She immediately sent for Mr. 
 fi : — , who, with Jack's aid, was in the act of distributing arms and 
 ammunition to the negroes. To him the management of the whole 
 affair was committed. No doubt was entertained that Lieutenant Whit- 
 ing had not oome unattended. The first thing to be done was to ascer- 
 tain the force by which tie was supported, and the place where he had 
 posted his men. 
 
 They, meantime, quietly awaited the return of their officer at the 
 great gate, a quarter of. a mile from the house. Rather as a point of 
 military etiquette than from an idea that any precaution was necessary, 
 they had stacked their arms in form before the gate, and stationed u 
 sentinel, who, with head erect and military step, walked his post in 
 front of them. They had not long been there, before they heard a 
 negro's voice, who, as he approached from the house, sung merrily a 
 a song, of which only the following lines could be distinguished : 
 
 "Peep froo <le winder; see hreak o' day; 
 " Run down to riber ; canoe gone away. 
 • " Put foot in water; water mighty cold ; 
 
 " Hear O'sur call me ; hear Missis scold. 
 " O dear ! my dear ! what shall I do ! 
 '•My Massa whip me, cause I love you." 
 
 The song ceased, and cuffee advanced in silence, but with a heavy 
 swinging step, that rung audibly on the hard ground. As soon as hi? 
 dusky figure began to be distinguishable, which was not until he was 
 f|uite near, he was arrested by the sharp challenge of the sentry. 
 
 " High !" exclaimed the negro, in a tone of amazement and alarm : 
 " Law-Gorramity ! what dis ?" 
 
V2'> THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 ■ \!v,:„> [" said the seatin ideally, " and gire tl e coun- 
 
 '• Whal nch a ting in mj life." 
 
 ■ \l\. Hi.-. I" repeated the sentry, bringing his piece down with a 
 rattling sound against hie rial 
 
 The DMtal glimmered in the light from the windows. The i 
 caught the gleam, and, mlling flat oo )>is face* roared lustily fur inercy 
 
 The Sergeant now went to him. raised him Dp, calmed his fears, and, 
 as soon as he could be made to understand any thing, asked if Lien- 
 tenant Whiting was at the house. 
 
 " 1 heal 'em say, sir, one mighty grand gentleman went there while 
 ago. Old Tom say, he Mass Douglas' old crony, and Mean and Mai 
 Douglass, and all, mighty glad to see him.'' 
 
 '• The devil they are!" said the Sergeant. '• Weil, I hope they'll be 
 mighty glad to sec us, too, I do not care how soon, for this night air 
 is something of the sharpest; and 'I have drawn better rations than w. 
 had at that damned tavern. I say, darker; the old man keepi 
 liquor, and plenty of belly-timb r, d< a't he?" 
 
 "Ah, Lord! Yes, Massa, I reckon he dues. Hut it an't maefe I 
 abonl it. Old Maasa mighty hard man, sir. Poot negur don't 
 see mueh o' he good tin 
 
 '■ But, I suppose, he gives his friends a plenty ?" 
 
 '• ( Ih, to be sure, sir! Massa mighty proud, (ireat gentleman oome 
 aee him, he aint got nothing too good fox him. But poor white folks 
 and pool negur ! — pshaw !" 
 
 '• A bad look, out for us, Roger?," said the Sergeant to one of his 
 men. " Damn the old hunks, 1 hope he don't mean to leave us to 
 bivouaek here all night. Well, ire must wait our hour, as the Lieu- 
 tenant told us, and then he'll come back to us, or we have to march to 
 the house. Damn it! I shall be pretty sharp set by that time, and, if 
 it tonus to that, the old gentleman's kitchen and wine-cellar may look 
 out for a storm." 
 
 '• You talk like you hungry, Maaaa/ 1 said the negro, in a tone of 
 sympathy. " I mighty sorry 1 ant got nothing to give you." 
 
 " Hut could not you get something, coffee? Is there no key to your 
 master's cellar and smoke-house besides the one he keeps?. Don't you 
 think, now, you could get us some of his old apple-brandy ? 1 hear he 
 has it of all agl 
 
 •Ah, Lord, Massa; dat you may be sure of. I hear old Tom say 
 brandy dare older an he; and he must a hundred. 'Sposc I bring you 
 o' dat, Massa, what you gwine give me V* 
 
 " Will R quarter do for a bottle of it V 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 121 
 
 " Law, Maasa ! why he same like gold. Half a dolla, Massa !" 
 . " Well, bring us a bottle of the right old stuff, mind ! — and you shall 
 have half a dollar. And see, darkee; cannot you bring us a little cold 
 bread and meat ?" 
 
 "I don't know, Massa, what de cook say. I try her." 
 
 "Well, go; and, wbi'c your hand is in, help yourself well. If the 
 liquor is good, may be we'll take two or three bottles." 
 
 " Well, Massa, I try old Tom. lie keep de key. Ah, Lord ! Old 
 Massa tink Tom mighty desperate honest; and he tink Tom love him 
 so — better an he own self. He better mind; one o' dese days Tom 
 show him how dat is." 
 
 " I don't think you love him much yourself, Sambo." 
 
 "Who? — I, Massa ? My name Jack, sir. Lord, no sir ! What I 
 love him for? Hard work and little bread, and no meat ? No, Maasa, 
 I love soldier ; cause I hear 'em say soldier come after a while, set poor 
 nigur free." 
 
 " That is true enough. I hope it will not be long before we set you 
 all free from these damned man-stealers. How would you like to go 
 with us?" 
 
 " Lord, Massa, you joking. Go wid you? I reckon the old man 
 find it right hard to get somebody to saddle his horse if all our folks 
 was here." 
 
 " Well, cuffee, the old man's in hockley by this time; and when we 
 march him off in the morning, you will have nobody to stop you. But 
 bring us the brandy, and then we'll talk about it." 
 . "Ees, Massa! tank ye, Massa! But, Massa, I got two boys big as 
 me, and my brother, and my wife, and all; I don't want to leave them. 
 And. Maasa, my boys got some apples. You want some, sir?" 
 
 ' " To be sure I do. Bring them along; but mind and bring the 
 brandy, at all events." 
 
 The negro disappeared, and the soldiers occupied themselves in dis- 
 cussing the means of making a profitable speculation on their dispo- 
 sition to leave their master. They were still on this topic when they 
 heard Jack returning, with several more. One brought a chunk of 
 fire; another a basket of apples; another one of eggs; a fourth came 
 provided with some cold provision! ; .lack himself brandished a cou- 
 ple of bottles of 1 Tandy ; and one of his boys brought a pint of water 
 and a tin cup. The liquor was tasted, approved, paid for, and eagerly 
 swallowed. A torch of lijit-wood being kindled, a chaffering com- 
 menced, interrupted by occasional alltisiooa to the interesting subjects 
 of slavery, hard masters, ami emancipation. The brandy, ho* 
 chiefly engaged the attention of the soldiers. The sentry, whose duty 
 
122 THB PARTISAN LKADBJt. 
 
 was but formal, was permitted to join, as the guns were but ■ few feet 
 <ifT. ju-t without tbe {rate, which stood open. The light of the torch 
 glittered strongly 00 the arms, ami seemed to make all things distinct, 
 while in fact its unsteady flickering did little inure than dazzle their 
 The negro held it aloft, and. as if to brighten the Maine, OOOtr 
 rionallj waved it to and fro. Suddenly it dropped from his hand into 
 the pail of water, and in an instant the blackness of impenetrable dark- 
 ness shrouded every eye. 
 
 At the same moment, a heavy trampling, as from a rush of many 
 feet, was heard without the gate, and a shivering olash from the stack 
 of arms, as if it had fallen down. The soldiers groped their way to- 
 wards it feeling where they supposed it to be. They felt in vain. They 
 winked hard, as if to free flieir eyes from the blinding impression 1< ft 
 by the flaring light, then opened them and looked about. .Indue their 
 astonishment, when, as they begun to recover their sight, they found 
 themselves surrounded by a dusky ring, from which issued a voice, not 
 unlike that of their friend Jack, which informed them, in good English, 
 that tiny were prisoners. The prick of a bayonet on one or two who 
 endeavored to pass through the circle, convinced them that suoh was the 
 fact; and, after a short parley, they permit!) d themselves to be marched 
 off, ami safely stowed away in a strong l Qt-houm. 
 
 I would not have the nadir give the negroes the eredit of this 
 stratagem. It had been devised by H — , who knew that he could de- 
 pend on the address and fjuick wit of -Ink fur drawing the soldiers 
 into the snare. All that part of the business had been left to his own 
 discretion. As soon as he had secured the amicable reception of him- 
 self and a few others, the rest, dividing into two parties, left the house, 
 
 and. Crossing tin- fence at some distance from the gate, and On each 
 side of it, advanced stealthily toward it. Here they met, and having 
 arranged themselves for a sudden rusb on the stack of arms, an agreed 
 signal was given by a negro who ptwi eoso d a faculty of mimicking the 
 voices of all animals. As sunn as tin' light was extinguished, the neces- 
 sary Dumber* rushed forward to the object on which their eyes had been 
 fixed; seised the arms, and, falling back, ranged themselves in a half 
 circle outside of the gate. Those who bad been with the soldiers, and 
 who all wore concealed arms, closed in behind them, and completely 
 hemmed them in. ]} — , in the mean time, who had his reasons for not 
 Wishing to be seen, kept aloof; and, as soon as he knew that the sol- 
 diers wen secured, returned to the house. There, too, he took care 
 not to show himself ; and Arthur was advised that he should not, by 
 making his appearance, at all involve himself in what had been done. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 123 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 • 
 
 And even there. It i s eye being big with tears, 
 Turning his face, lie put his hand behind him, 
 And, with affection wbndrous sensible, 
 
 He wrung Bassanio's hand, and ?o they parted. 
 
 SlIAKSPEARE. 
 
 At daylight all was in motion. Arthur and Virginia, being affec- 
 tionately dismissed by their friends, were first upon the road, before 
 Lieutenant Whiting was awake. Much of the night had been spent 
 in preparations, and long before sunrise Douglas handed his aunt and 
 cousins into their carriage. His uncle mounted the barouche, with 
 Jack for driver, by whose side old Tom was placed ; while the lady's 
 maid took her seat by her single-minded master with a freedom from 
 which an auiulgainationist would have drawn the most pleasing infer- 
 ences. No other white person was seen ; but a body-guard of twenty 
 negroes, well armed, and mounted on plough horses, some saddled, 
 some cushioned, and some bare-backed, surrounded the carriages and 
 baggage-wagon. In the midst rode Douglas and his friend on horse- 
 back. 
 
 " You sec," said Mr. Trevor to Whiting, as he took his place in the 
 barouche, " that the part these faithful creatures took in last night's 
 work, drives them into exile as well as me. I must not leave them be- 
 hind to be the victims of baffled malice. What is to become of my 
 plantation, is a question of less importance. T suppose T may say with 
 Cincinnatus, when honor was forced on him as it is on me, my fields 
 must go unfilled this year ! You see here, sir, my whole male force. 
 Not one proved recreant." 
 
 " This affair is 'altogether unaccountable to me," said Whiting to 
 Douglas, as they moved off together; " and this the ftUttgl >t feature 
 of the whole. Do men, then, not without motives, and against all as- 
 signable motives ?" 
 
 "I asked the same question myself last night/ 1 said Douglas, "and 
 was referred to coming events for the answer. I was partly taught, al 
 the same simo, to aocount for what I was told to ex] •■ 
 
 "And how can it be accounted fijrf 
 
 "I cannot say 1 have my lesson perfect; but something was said 
 about the difference of character produced by peculiar training, and 
 
124 Tin: PARTISAN LBADIR. 
 
 if mind formed by cirouiustan - I 'or n j par il 
 
 re must be something, by nature, in the moral constitu- 
 tion of the negro, intrinsically different from the white man." 
 
 u It would, indeed, seem so," said Whiting, "if w 
 what wi see; I ut, in that case, we ma the authority which 
 
 tells us thai all are of one ra< • 
 
 are all d : "and dogs can no more act with- 
 
 out motive than man. It depends on .temper ami character what -hall 
 be the motives of action. The wolf would be sadly puzzled to judge ol 
 the motiv .s of the Newfoundland dog. May not circumstances, which 
 have made the difference between them, have produoed the much less 
 
 difference between the while man and the negro? I have no tin asur< 
 for the effeet of such causes. If I am put to choose between rejecting 
 tin evidence of my own senses, or the evidence of God's word/or the 
 
 ttphy whidi teaches that man is to be considered as a unit, be- 
 cause all of one race, philosophy must go by the board. It may be. 
 that what is best fur me. is hi.-: tor my friend .lack there, and via 
 
 : hut as 1, u- think.- BO, why Dot have each to 
 
 Besides, there is more room in the world for both of us. 
 than if both always wanted the same things." 
 
 A ride of a few hours carried tin' party across the line into North 
 Carolina. Here they stopped at the (ir.-t public house; and Mr. Tre- 
 vor drew nji a hasty statement of tli ;' Lhe night, which sin, aid 
 have the efiect of acquitting Lieut mint Whiting of all blame, on ac- 
 count of his own escape from the fangs of his enemies. In this he Bel 
 forth that, having been warned of the intended prosecution, he had 
 male his preparations accordingly, and that the officer had but fallen 
 into a snare from which no vigilance could have saved him. This lu 
 
 signed, and uave, moreover, a el, ar acquittance to Lieutenant Whiting 
 for all ho hail dune; and having thus placed him. as far as depended 
 on himself, rectus in atria, he announce. 1 to him that he was now at 
 liberty to go whither he would. 
 
 '' And now, sir," said he, "as the spell which wauld have made your 
 touch degrading 18 broken by the State line, let me have the pleasure 
 of taking you by the hand, not only as my nephew's friend, but as one 
 who, iii the extremes id* victory and defeat, as captor and as pri 
 
 has borne himself as became a gentleman." 
 
 Saying this, he extended bis hand, which Whiting grasped with fer- 
 vor, and they parted as friends cordial and sincere. 
 
 Douglas accompanied his friend a short distance on his return, the 
 1. Iter walking and leading his horse. They convened Of the past and 
 the future. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 12."> 
 
 "I have been a volunteer in this business," said Whiting, u I shall 
 not disguise that my friendship for you led me to offer my service, and 
 I fear tliat no excuse will be received for my failure. There is a spirit 
 somewhere at work, to which I will giye no name, that will be implaca- 
 ble at the thought that any advantage may have been lost by my re- 
 spect for your feelings." ' 
 
 "I am afraid it may prove so," replied Douglas. "The consequence 
 may be Lata] to your advancement in the army, and perhaps you may 
 be driven from it, as I have been. Should it be so, my dear Whiting — 
 but I will not profit so little by the example of delicacy set me while I 
 wore the epaulette, as to say anything to you now. I would content 
 myself with telling you where I shall be found, if I myself knew. But 
 shall I keep you advised of my movements:" 
 
 " By all means," said Whiting. "I shall always wish, to know your 
 fate, whether good or ill." 
 
 "I know that,*' replied Douglas; ''but that. is not my meaning. 
 Shall I let you know where to iind me, in case circumstances should 
 lead you to share my fate ?" 
 
 "Don't ask me that, Trevor. The question implies ideas which I 
 must not entertain. But should such a time as you suppose ever ar- 
 rive, I shall know where to find you, should my opinions make it right' 
 to seek you." 
 
 " Then, God bless you, Whiting ! That we shall meet again, is sure ; 
 that we shall stand shoulder to shoulder in the strife of battle, as, in 
 our day dreams, we have so often thought of doing, I cannot doubt." 
 
 And thus parted these gallant and generous youths — the one into 
 exile from the country that he loved, the other to re! urn to the service 
 of an unthankful master. 
 
 A farther ride of a few miles brought our party to" the village in 
 which Mr. Trevor wi.-hed to take up his temporary residence. Here 
 they found .Mr. B — , who had been engaged in investigating the com- 
 forts and capabilities of the different public houses, (fed having Gxed 
 on that be iiked best, met .Mr. Trevor in the street, and conducted the 
 parly to it. '1 lie- two friends soon drew apart to dtSOOSS with the land- 
 lord the necessary arrangcm< bU 1 ir the e itnforl of the family during 
 their proposed stay. 
 
 Whit they were thus engaged, Don 1 himself, after the 
 
 manri?ifc«p| the country, in the bar-room, in which, 
 
 theie. was a motley assemblage ol the inhabitants of the village, 
 wlio b 1 come in to .-tare at and tark I By 
 
 tin t Douglas had taken care of the ladies and baggage, they 
 
 Were u into the merits of the whole party f and, When be en 
 
Till; PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 the room, they were too busy talking to pay any attention to him. The 
 principal interlocutors were three. First, a well-tin--. 1, nriddl 
 man. whoM dapper air and delicate hands bespoke one aoonatomed to 
 bowiDg across a counter over lace patterns and painted mnalittlj and 
 whose style of eloquence was exactly adapted to the praise of such ar- 
 ticles. Then there was a coarse, strong man, with a bacon-fed look, 
 plainly, cheaply, and untastcfully dressed in clothes which, by their 
 substantial' goodness, indicated at once the wearer's prudence and the 
 length of hi> purse. His voice was loud, Strong, and self-important, 
 entirely devoid of melody, and incapable of inflection or modulation. 
 Hi- whole appearance showed him to be a substantia] planter, ignorant 
 of ( rerything but corn and tobacco. A hnge whip in the hand of the 
 third, together with his dusty and travel. sailed appearance, denot 
 driver of B wagon which stood before the door. 
 Their conversation I reserve for the next chapter. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 127 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 If shejbc not kind to me, 
 
 What care I how kind she be ? Suckling. 
 
 "I cannot say I like it altogether, Squire," said the planter. " It 
 may suit my neighbor Jones, here, well enough "to have one of them 
 high-headed Roanoke planters to come here with his family and spend 
 his money. I dare say he will make a pretty good spec out of them ; 
 but, for my part, I would rather they would stay at home and live un- 
 der their own laws.. I ha'nt got no notion, after they saddled that 
 damned rascal Van Buren upon us so long, that now, the minute we 
 have shook him off and made a good government, and good treaties, 
 and all, they should be wanting to have a sop in our pan. If that's 
 what they are after, in rebelling against their government, I don'f 
 want to give them no countenance. What we haVe done, we have 
 done for ourselves, and wo have a right to all the good of it. They 
 have fixed their market to their liking, and let it stand so. If we can 
 get thirty dollars for our tobacco, and they cannot get ten, I reckon we 
 ha'nt got nobody to thank for it but ourselves. I dare say, now they 
 see how the thing works, they would be glad enough to share with us, 
 but I see plain enough that all they would get by joining us wc would 
 lose, and may be more too." 
 
 " You are right there, Mr. Hobson," said the merchant ; " and that 
 is not all. There's an advantage in buying as well as selling. Now, 
 as to this Mr. Trevor, or whatever his name is, coming over here, and 
 buying things cheaper than he could get them at home — why, that he i3 
 welcome to. Though you may be sure, neighbor, I don't let him have 
 them as cheap as I sell to you. But as to letting in the Norfolk mer- 
 chants to all the advantage of our treaty with England, that is another 
 matter; for though, when we deepen the bar at Ocracock, I have no 
 doubt our town down there will b^c another sort of a place to what Nor- 
 folk ever was, yet if Virginia was to join us now, right away, the most 
 of the trade would go to Norfolk again, and they would put their goods 
 there as cheap as we get them here, and may be a little cheaper. So 
 you see it is against my interest as well as yours; and I don't like the 
 thoughts of putting in a crop, and letting another man gather it, any 
 more than you do." 
 
TBI PABTIBAB LKAHER. 
 
 i In- harder npou me than any of job 
 M for if that waa the case, thai damned rail) ! break up my 
 
 business, atoek and llute. As it is, there never waa such a time fox 
 ning before [nstead of just hauling the little tobacoo that is 
 to the end of the railroad, rtoto 1 hare the hauling of the 
 ad all, down to Conn 
 It is bard to say whether surprise or disgust most prevailed in the 
 mind of Douglas at hearing these remarks. The idea of the ad vantages 
 lobt to Virginia, by her connexion with the North, bad never entered 
 his mind; but still l<s> had he conceived it possil le that a sordid de- 
 sire to monopolize these advantages ceuldT stifle, in the minds of the 
 North Carolineans, every feeling of sympathy with thi d and 
 
 uted assertora of the rights of Virginia, The reply of Mr. 11 1>- 
 Bon to the remark of the wagoner gave him a yet deeper insight into 
 that dark and foul corner of the human heart where self predominates 
 ..v. r all the better affections. 
 
 ■• 1 dpu't think that's right fair in you, wagoner," said he. " Foil 
 haul the Virginia tobacoo down to Commerce, and when i( gt ta there it 
 is all the Bame as mine. Now. if it \ not for that, I am not so 
 mighty sure hut I VI gel forty dollars instead of thirty, and I don't like 
 to lose ten dollars to give to get one." 
 
 " u is all one to me/' said the wagoner. " You may just pay me 
 ,<■ for not hauling that they pay me for hauling, or only half as 
 much, and I will do( haul another hogshead." 
 " 15ut if you won't, another will," said rTobson. 
 
 • Like enough," replied} the wagoner) " for all trades must live j and 
 if them poor devils gel a phanco to sell a hogshead or two, instead of 
 leaving it all to rot. von ought not to grudge them that." 
 
 " Certainly not," s;wd the merchant, •• for I guess that whatever they 
 
 get, they take eare to lay it all out in g Is on this side of the line; so 
 
 the money stays with us alter all, and friend Stubbs's hauling do< 
 
 to more besides him." 
 •• I see," skid Bobson, "how it docs good to you, hut none to me." 
 " But that an't all, .Mr Bobson/' said the landlord, who had in- 
 
 tered while this conversation was going on. "Them hot-beaded fel- 
 Sl 
 
 * Tl ■ II look in vairt on the map for the name of this place. It 
 
 i ii the waters of the Sound, and. doubt lent would have !>'•- 
 come a place of some oonsequenee baa nol the union of Virginia t- ibe South* 
 
 u Confederacy laid t!i<- foundation for a <!cjjr< I prosperity in N 
 
 wbicb bids lair lo make ii the iii«t i-ity on tl ontinent. The town oi 
 
 i down with the necessity which gave rise to it. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 129 
 
 lows over the line there, like this Olfl Squire Trevor, will be getting 
 themselves into hot water every now and then ; and when they run 
 away and come to us, if they did not bring no money, we'd have to 
 feed them free gratis for nothing. Now Stubbs hauls Squire Trevor's 
 tobacco to Commerce, and he gets a good price ; and then he gets into 
 trouble, and comes over here to stay with me, and so he is able to pay 
 me a good price ;" and here it is," added he, showing a roll of notes. 
 
 "Still," said Hobson, "I don't see how that does me any good. If 
 they were to conje here begging, damn the mouthful I'd give them." 
 
 " Then you would leave the whole burden on the poor tavern-keep- 
 ers," said the landlord. 
 
 " No, I would not. I would not let them come; or, if they did, just 
 give them up to their own government. If they had not a chance to 
 be running over here, as soon as they got into trouble, they would keep 
 quiet, and never get a chance to separate, and so ruin our business, 
 whether they joined us or no." 
 
 "Old Rip is wide awake at last," said a voice from behind; "but it 
 is to his interest only." 
 
 Douglas turned to the voice of the speaker, the tone of which ex- 
 pressed a scorn and derision most acceptable to his feelings. He was 
 a tall and fine looking man, powerfully made, and inclined to be fat, 
 but not at all unwieldly. The half laughing expression of his large, 
 blue eyes, and the protrusion of his under lip, spoke his careless con- 
 tempt of those whose conversation had called forth his sarcasm. The 
 attention of the whole company was drawn to him at the same moment, 
 all looking as if they wished to say something, without knowing wbat. 
 At length the wagoner spoke, on the well understood principle that, 
 when men talk of what they understand imperfectly, he who knows 
 least should be always first to show his ignorance. 
 
 "I cannot say I understand rightly what you mean, stranger," said 
 he; " but I guess, by the cut of your jib, that you arc one of them 
 high dons from South Carolina, that always have money to throw away, 
 and think a body ought never to care any more for himself than ano- 
 ther. Bui this bunoea don't ennsarn you, no how, because these peo- 
 ple don't interfere with your cotton crop." 
 
 "Yes, bot they do. though," said Hobson ; u for if thry drive me 
 from tobacco, I shall make cotton. But if I can keep them nut of the 
 tobacco market, 1 shall be will up the making of cUon to 
 
 South Carolina.'' 
 
 " Why, that is true," said the stranger, with a sudden change of 
 . from which he discharged, in a moment, ev< 
 ance of intelligence, but that which seemed to reflect the superior wfa- 
 9 
 
130 THE PARTISAN LEAP 
 
 | f Mr. Hobson. " That is true," said he, lo 
 
 stupid attempt to tliink ; "I had DOt thought of that befoi 
 
 A- lie .said this, lie ,-unk slowly and thoughtfully into a chair, his 
 
 falling far asunder, hid arms dro] ; hi< thighs, bis body 
 
 bent forward, and his face turned np toward Mr. EIohson,with the look 
 
 of ont who desires and expect to receive important information. The 
 
 whole action spoke so eloquently to Mr. Hobs >n'a self-esteem, that lie 
 
 in", with an air of the most gracious complacency. 
 
 •• foil see, stranger, just shutting only a part of the Virginia tobaooo 
 
 the market, makes a difference of ten dollars, at the very Last, 
 
 price "i mine. Now, we used to make a heap of cotton in this 
 
 country, but we are all going t" give it up »|uitc entirely, and then, you 
 
 sec. it stands to reason it will make a difference of five cents a pound, 
 
 or may be ten, in your cotton." 
 
 This interesting proposition was received by the stranger with a 
 
 ish start of dull surprise, from which he .-link again into the sanH 
 
 ince of stolid musing. "To think what a Fool I have 1 
 
 said he, after a long pause. Then. Boratching hi.- head, and twisting in 
 
 hi- chair, he added : " You are right, you are right; and th^ only way 
 
 :iage the matter is I 
 say, to make those fellows stay at homo." 
 
 "To he sure it would," said the gratified Ilobson; "but then there 
 I many conceited fellows in the Legislature, with a fo •!'.- notion in 
 
 beads about taking side- with them that cannot help them 
 that there is no getting anything done." • 
 
 •• \V< 11," said the stranger, " this gentleman guessed right when he 
 Mu I I was from South Carolina. So 1 don't know an) thing about your 
 laws here. Hut I suppo.se you have, no law to hurt a man for taking up 
 one that runs away from the law in Virginia, and carrying him hack. 
 
 I expect old Van would pay well for them." 
 
 Hobson looked hard at the stranger, and only a jswered with that 
 Compound motion of the head, which, partaking at once of a sha' 
 a nod, expressed both assent and caution. 
 
 'I lie landlord and merchant both exclaimed agaiosl this suggestion, the 
 one illustrating his argument by the freedom with which his guest had 
 ordered wine from the bar; the other, by his former exp< riejlCO of his 
 liberality as a purchaser "1' goods while be kept store in Mr. Tl 
 
 • i hood, which be had withdrawn since the revolution. Among 
 the bystanders tin re was no expression of opinion, but that sort of 
 silence which betokens au idea that what has been said is well worth 
 considering. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Sic vos non vobis. — Vmcn . 
 
 In the meantime, Mr. B — had entered the room, and, hearing the 
 stranger's voice, placed himself at the back of his chair, looking on 
 with a playful smile. lie now spoke — 
 
 " Have you played out the play ?" said he. 
 
 The stranger sprung to his feet in a moment, and, facing B — , caught 
 him by the hand, which he shook -with an energy which seemed to 
 threaten dislocation. The two then turned off, and left the room to- 
 gether. 
 
 " This is most fortunate, my dear sir," said the stranger ; " but pray 
 tell me how hapj-ens it that I find you here ?" 
 
 " Do you not perceive," said B — , " that I have a' friend in trouble, 
 and that I am here with him ? Did you not hear the name of Trevor 
 just now ?" 
 
 "Trevor! No — I did not distinguish the name What Trevor? 
 Bernard ? Is he here ? In trouble ? About what ? I came this far 
 to see you both, and not choosing to go into A'irginia, was listening to 
 the conversation of those fellows, in hopes to find some one among 
 them whom I could trust to send with a request that you would both 
 meet me here." 
 
 "Here we both are," said B — , "and here Trevor is like to remain 
 for a while. He has been elected to the Legislature, and they have 
 jH'ttcn up a prosecution against him before that iniquitous court of high 
 commission at Washington, to hang him, if they can, or at least to 
 drive him off." 
 
 " Can you think him safe here," asked the stranger, " among such 
 mercenary wretches as those we have just left ?" 
 
 "0, yc> ! You nmst ii..t judge af this people by those mock-worms 
 The best of the three is a Yankee tin-] edler, turned merchant. 'I ' 
 
 r two are the worst specimens of their I dare 
 
 say there are many more like them, but there are fifty gentlemen of 
 property in this county who would stand by us: and arc ready, in tl 
 individual capacity, to aid us with pOfM and -word, whenever we r 
 our banner." 
 
132 THE PABTK4H I.K.M-KR. 
 
 u But where is Trei ger. "lam impatient I 
 
 iiim." 
 
 "We will lid V> — ; "but first let me introduce you to 
 
 a youn,L r friend of ours, whom you must as a friend. 11«' i.« the 
 
 of man we Bhould ch< rish, ai thai, he has been in trou- 
 
 ble on tout account You must understand that he was an officer in 
 
 the United .<! incurred the mortal displeasun 
 
 his master for not joining one ol' liis minions in abuse of you, when 
 the news f your successful negotiation with the British Gaverpn 
 • d." 
 rlas was ppw called into tlic room, and introduced tu the stranger, 
 the three gentlemen repaired together to tin- parlor of Mr. Trevor. 
 A cordial greeting between the two friends, ami a sprightly oonveraa- 
 tion on various topics, ensued; but at length the ladies left the room, 
 and affairs of moment came under discus 
 
 "I am come," said the stranger, " u> learn your plana, and to consult 
 of the best means of affording such aid as we can. "When, where, and 
 how, do you mean to move f" 
 
 " We have carried the eleotii i — > as to be sure of a 
 
 majority in the Legislature, if they oan be freed from the presence of 
 the federal army. l?nt. unless that can be done, <>ar friends here, and 
 many others, will not 1"' permitted to attend, and the weaker brethren 
 will be ovcraw. 
 
 "Of COUl you wiH attempt that. What measures do you 
 
 t" bake « ' 
 •• None that shall attract observation," said 15 — . "It is impossible, 
 at this time*, to draw together any fbree which might not at once bo 
 overwhelmed by the army at Richmond. We arc therefore, obliged 
 
 to lie quiet, ami Buffer our people t" see for themselves the advant.\ 
 
 i hey are losing. They are beginning to understand this. They per- 
 ceive that your commercial arrangements are making their neighbors 
 
 in this State rich, while they can sell nothing that they make, and are 
 obliged t" give double price for all they buy. The abatement of duty 
 in the English porta on your bobaCOO, ami the corresponding abatement 
 
 of your impost on British manufactures, Is driving trade, money, and 
 even population, to the South; ami. nothing but separation from the 
 Northern Stau - can prevent our whole tobacco country from being de- 
 serted. This, of course, will open the eyes of the people in time, and 
 \tc hope, that when the Legislature meets, it may be practicable to 
 draw together, on the sudden, such a force as may drive the enemy 
 from Richmond, and give time at least to adjourn to a place where 
 they may deliberate in safety. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 138 
 
 " Is there any such place in the State?" asked the stranger. 
 
 " I am not aware that there is at this moment, hut such a one must 
 be provided for the emergency, should it arise." 
 
 " And what means do you propose to use for that purpose ?" 
 
 " There is a section of the State," replied B — , "where circumstances 
 enable me to exert a powerful influence, and where, from its localities, 
 a partisan corps might maintain itself, in spite of the enemy, and might 
 give so decided a disposition to the surrounding population, as to estab* 
 lish perfect security within a pretty extensive district." 
 
 "But is there no danger," said the southron, "that such a corps 
 would induce an increase of the force at Richmond and elsewhere, and 
 so make the first step in your enterprise more difficult ?" 
 
 " It would have that effect," said B — , " were not the scene of action 
 remote from Richmond, and unless the operations of the corps were so 
 conducted as to create no alarm for that place. Of course, there should 
 be no appearance of concert with this lower country ; and, so far from 
 increasing apprehension of our ulterior designs, our failure to rally to 
 the banner of a successful leader might disarm suspicion." 
 
 " Then it seems that all you want is a Marion, a Sumpter, or a 
 Pickens ?" 
 
 " We have such a one," eaid B — , " and it is well that you are here 
 with us to aid in consecrating him to the task. Here he stands." 
 
 As he said this, he laid his hand, solemnly, gently, and respectfully. 
 on the head of the astonished Douglas. 
 
 " What, I !" exclaimed he. " For God's sake, my dear sir, what 
 qualification have I for such service?" 
 
 " Courage, talent, address, and military education," said B — , with a 
 quiet smile. 
 
 "And where should I find men willing to be commanded by mo, in 
 an enterprise which, of course, supposes the absence of all legal au- 
 thority ?" 
 
 " Suppose them provided," said B — . " Is there any other difficul- 
 ty to be provided ?" 
 
 "I should still be bound to enquire," said Douglas, "what good 
 end is proposed, before I could agree to enter on a course of conduct 
 which nothing but the most important considerations could justify." 
 
 "All that you have a right to ask, and ITS bound to understand 
 clearly. You would have understood it long Before this, but thai 
 long as one shred remained of the fie that bound you to the sraj of 
 the i'nitrd States, a delicate respect to y<>u imposed Bilcnce "n your 
 uncle and myself. You now require that we show you some prevailing 
 
134 THE PABTISAH LIWDKR. 
 
 reaa in why Virginia should detach herself from the Northern Confcd- 
 
 ., and cither form a separate State, which we do nut propose, or 
 unite herself to the South, which we do. Is nut that vuur diffi- 
 cult;. 
 
 •It is," replied Douglas. "I have long heen sensible that there 
 w. re \i' ws of the subject which my situation had hidden from me, and 
 have frequently lamented (while I was grateful for) the resolute rc- 
 whioh my friends have maintained." 
 " Yhu must he sensible," said B — , "that the Southern States, in- 
 cluding Virginia, are properly and almost exclusively agricultural. 
 The quality of their soil and climate, and the peculiar character of 
 their laboring population, concur to make agriculture the most profita- 
 ble employment among them. Apart from the influence of artificial 
 
 es, it is not certain that any labor can be judiciously taken from 
 the soil ft > be applied to any other object whatever. When Lord 
 Chatham said that America ought not to manufacture a hub-nail fur 
 herself) he .-puke as a true and judicious friend of the colonies. The 
 labor necessary to make the hob-nail, if applied t>> the cultivation of 
 
 earth, might produce that fur which the British manufacturer 
 would gladly give two hob-nails. By cumin- between the manufacturer 
 and the farmer, ami interrupting this interchange by perverse legisla- 
 tion, the Government bruke the tie which bound the culuiiies to the 
 mother country. 
 
 " When that tie WQS severed and peace established, it was the inter- 
 
 f both parties that this interchange should be restored, and put 
 upon snob o rooting as to enable each, reciprocally, to obtain for the 
 products of his own labor as. much as possible of the products of the 
 labor of the other. 
 
 '• Why was Dot this dune? Because laws are not made for the benc- 
 lit <4' the people, but for that of their rulers. The monopolising spirit 
 of the landed aristocracy in EJngland led tu the exclusion of our bread- 
 stuffs, and the necessities of the British treasury tempted to the levy- 
 in- o\ eie rmous revenue from uiir other agricultural products. The 
 interchange between the farmer and manufacturer was thus interrupted. 
 !n part it was absolutely prevented; the profit being swallowed up by 
 the impost, the inducement was taken away. 
 
 " What did the American Government under these circumstances ? 
 ]>id they say to Great Britain, 'relax your corn-laws ; reduce your 
 duties uu tobacco; make no discrimination between our cotton and that 
 from the East Indie-; and we will refrain f'ruin laying a high duty on 
 your manufactures, i'ou will thus enrich your own people, and it is 
 by no means sure that their increased prosperity may not give you, 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 135 
 
 through the excise and other channels of revenue, more than an 
 equivalent for the taxes we propose to you to withdraw.' 
 
 " Did we say this ? No. And why ? Because, in the Northern 
 States, there was a manufacturing interest to be advanced by the very 
 course of legislation most fatal to the South. With a dense popula- 
 tion, occupying a small extent of barren country, with mountain streams 
 tumbling into deep tide-water, and bringing commerce to the aid of 
 manufactures, they wanted nothing but a monopoly of the Southern 
 market to enable them to enrich themselves. The alternative was be- 
 fore us. To invite the great European manufacturer to reciprocate 
 the benefits of free trade, whereby the South might enjoy all the ad- 
 vantages of its fertile soil and fine climate, or to transfer these advan- 
 tages to the North, by meeting Great Britain on the ground of prohi- 
 bition and exaction. The latter was preferred, because to the interest 
 of that section, which, having the local majority, had the power. 
 
 " Under this system, Great Britain has never wanted a pretext for 
 her corn-laws, and her high duties on all our products. Thus we sell 
 all we make, subject to these deductions, which, in many instances, 
 leave much less to us than what goes into the British treasury. 
 
 " Here, too ; is the pretext to the Government of the United States 
 for their exactions in return. The misfortune is, that the Southern 
 planter had to bear both burdens. One half the price of his product 
 is seized by the British Government, and half the value of what he 
 gets for the other half is seized by the Government of the United 
 States. 
 
 " This they called retaliation and indemnification. It was indemni- 
 fying an interest which had not been injured, by the farther injury of 
 one which had been injured. It was impoverishing the South for ihe 
 benefit of the North, to requite the South for having been already im- 
 poverished for the benefit of Great Britain. Still it was ' indemnifying 
 ourselves.' Much virtue in that word 'ourselves.' It is the tan-' i 
 used 'ant to the dwarf in the fable ; the language of the bra- 
 
 zen pot to the earthern pot; the language of all dangerous or interested 
 friendship. 
 
 "I remember Feeing an illustration of this sort of indemnity in th( 
 case of a woman who was whipped by her husband. She went com- 
 plaining to her father, who whipped her again, and sent her back. 
 1 Tell your husband,' said he, 'that as often as he whips mjy daughUr t I 
 will whip hit wift "' 
 
 "But what remedy has been proposed for these things V I 
 Don- ' 
 
 U A remedy has been proposed and applied," replied B — . "The 
 
I 
 
 136 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 if legislation fur the benefit, not of the rulers, but of the 
 
 ruled." 
 
 •• But in what MOM will you say that >mr legislation has 1 • 
 benefit of the rulers alone ''. Are we not all our own rulen 
 
 '• STes/' replied 15 — . " if you again have recourse t<> the use of that 
 ipreheasive word ' \vk,' which id< most dis 
 
 and binds up, in the Bame bundle, things most discordant [f the 
 South and N"..rth are one; if the Yankee and the Virginian a 
 if light and darkness, b( al and cold, life and death, can all be identi- 
 : then WU arc our own rulers. Just so, if the State will consent to be 
 identified with the Church, then we pay tithes with one hand, and re- 
 ceive them with the other. While the Commons identity themselves 
 with the Crown, ' we' do but pay taxes to owndvet. And if Virgin- 
 tans can be fooled, into identifying themselves with the Yankees — a 
 I tax-paving minority, with a fixed tax-receiving majority — it will 
 Still be the same thing; and they will continue to hold a distinguished 
 place among the innumerable WIS that have been gulled into their 
 own ruin ever since the world began. It is owing to this sort of de- 
 ception, played off on the unthinking multitude] that, in the two fp 
 countries in the world, the most important int. 1 for the 
 
 Bt of lesser interests. In England, a country of manufacturers, 
 they have been starved that agriculture, may thrive. In this, a country 
 of farmers and planters, M-.y haye been taxed that manufacturers may- 
 thrive. Now I will requite Lord Chatham's well-intentioned declara- 
 Mying that England ought ii"t to make a barrel of flour for 
 herself. I say, tOO, that if her rulers ami the rulers of the people of 
 America were true to their trust, both Sayings would he fulfilled. She 
 would be the work-house, and here would be the granary of the world. 
 What would become of the Yankee.-'.' As / don't call them WE, I 
 .leave them to find the answer to that question." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 137 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Such is the aspect of this shore ; 
 : Tis Greece — but living Greece no more. 
 
 Byrom. 
 
 The impression made on Douglas by these observations was so strong 
 and so obvious, that his friend paused and left him to meditate upon 
 them. Some minutes elapsed before he made any reply. When he 
 did speak, he acknowledged the existence and magnitude of the griev- 
 ance, and again enquired, with increased solicitude, what remedy had 
 been found. 
 
 " You heard what passed in the bar-room, just now," said the 
 stranger. 
 
 " I did." replied Douglas, " and I was as much surprised at the facts 
 hinted at, as disgusted at the sentiments of the speakers." 
 
 " Then your surprise must have been extreme," said the other; "for 
 I hardly know which amused me most — their unblushing display of 
 selfish meanness, or the glow of indignation in your countenance, which 
 showed how little you know of this world of philanthropy and benevo- 
 lence that we live in. But bad you no suspicion of the cause of those 
 enviable advantages which these sons of Mammon are so anxious to 
 monopolize?" 
 
 u Not at all, and hence my surprise; for I had supposed heretofore, 
 that, between the two States, all the advantage lay on the side of Vir- 
 ginia." 
 
 "You judged rightly/' replied the other. "In the way of com- 
 merce, nature has done nothing fur the one, and every thing for the 
 other. But the conversation you have heard is a proof that the sand 
 which chokes the waters of the Sound is a trivial obstacle, in 0Ompari« 
 son with the legislative barriers which have shut out prosperity from 
 the noble Chesapeake. Look at your river.- and bay, and you will sec 
 that Virginia ought to be the most prosperous country in the world 
 Look at the ruins which strew the face of your lower country, the re- 
 mains of churches and the fragments of tombstones, and you will see 
 that she once was so. Ask f'nr th< lants of the men wl 
 
 name- arc sculptured on those monuments, and their present 
 
138 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 will rity has passed away. Then a*k all hist 
 
 to the finest countries in the world — to Amu Minor, to <i 
 
 isk what has laid them desolate, and you will receive 'bat one 
 answ< r, ' misgoverament 
 " But may not the fault be in the people themselves?" asked 1 
 
 " The fault of submitting to be misgoverned, certainly. 3?nt no 
 more than that. Lei the country enjoy its natural advantages, and 
 they \\h" arc too ignorant or too Blothful to use them will booh irive 
 place to others of a different character. What has there been to \ 
 vent the Yankee from selling his barren hills at high prices ami com- 
 ing South, where he might buy the fertile shores of the Chesap 
 for a song? No local attachment, certainly — for his home is every 
 where. What i.-> there now to prevent the planter of this neighbor- 
 hood from exchanging his thirsty fields for the rich and long-coveted 
 low grounds of dames River or lxoanoke, in Virginia? Are these 
 people wiser, better, more energetic and industrious than they were 
 twelve' months ago, that their lands have multiplied in value five fold? 
 Is it your uncle's fault, that, were he now at hom< the tame slave of 
 
 power, he could hardly give away his line estate ? The difference is, 
 
 that this country now enjoys its natural advantages, while Virginia re- 
 mains under the crushing weight ol a system devised for the benefit of 
 
 her oppressors." 
 
 "I sec the effect," said Douglas. " lint tell me, I beseech you, the 
 cause of this change in your condition here." 
 
 " The cause is free trade." 
 
 "And how has that been obtained ?" 
 
 " I will answer that." said I! — . " because my friend's modesty might 
 restrain him from giving the true answer. It has been obtained by in- 
 telligence, manly frankness, and fair dealing. It has been obtained by 
 offering to other nations terms most favorable to their peculiar and dis- 
 tinctive interests, in consideration of receiving the like advantage. 
 Instead of nursing artificial interests to rival the iron and cotton fab* 
 . and the shipping of England, the wine of France, the Bilk and 
 
 oil of Italy, and enviously snatching at whatever benefit nature may 
 have vouchsafed to other parts of the world, this people only ask to 
 exchange for these things their own peculiar productions. A trade 
 pel: totally discharged from all duties, would certainly be 
 
 fur all. J5ut revenue must be had, and the imrJbst is the best 
 source of revenue. .No State can be expected to :_ r ive that up. ]5ut it 
 has been found practicable so to regulate that matter as reduce tho 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 139 
 
 charges which have heretofore incumbered exchanges to a mere 
 trifle." 
 
 "How has that been effected?'' asked Douglas. 
 
 ' 
 
 •' If that question were to be answered in detail," said 13 — , " I 
 should leave the answer to him by whom the details have been arranged. 
 I will give you the outline in a few words. These States were first 
 driven to think of separation by a tariff of protection. Their Federal 
 constitution guards against it by express prohibition, and by requiring 
 that the impost, like the tax laws of Virginia, should be annual. 
 
 " They have felt the danger to liberty from excessive revenue. Their 
 constitution requires that the estimates of the expense of the current 
 year shall be made, the measure of revenue to be raised for that year. 
 The imports of the preceding year arc taken as a basis of calculation, 
 and credit being given for any surplus in the treasury, a tariff is laid 
 which, on that basis, would produce the sum required." 
 
 " Then there can never be any surplus for an emergency," said 
 Douglas. 
 
 "Always," replied B — ■; " in the right place, and the only safe 
 plaoc — the pockets of a prosperous people. There is no place in the 
 treasury to keep money. The till of the treasury has a hole in the 
 bottom, and the money always finds its way into the pockets of sharp- 
 ers, parasites, man-worshippers, and pseudo patriots. But let that pass. 
 You sec that a small revenue alone will probably be wanting, and being 
 raised annual]}-, the tariff can be annually adjusted. 
 
 "Now, what says justice, as to the revenue to be raised by two na- 
 tions on the trade between the two, seeing that it is equally levied on 
 the citizens of both ''." 
 
 "On that hypothesis each should receive an equal share of it,'" said 
 Douglas. 
 
 " Precisely so," answered B — , "and let these terms be held out to 
 all nations, and if one will not accept them another will. On this 
 principle a system of commercial arrangements baa been set on* foot 
 which, by restoring to these States the benefit of their natural advan- 
 tages, is at once producing an effect which explains their former pros- 
 perity. It places in Btronger relief the evils of the m to 
 Virginia, and really l< aves her, while she retains her pn ,-cnt connexion 
 with the North, without any resource. I ' • ■ she cannot sell at all. 
 Liritu natura, she will have to rai.-e cotton to supply the beggared 
 manufactories of the North, from which she. will no) iu return 
 the third pari a< much of the manufactured article as the Carolina 
 planter will get for his. Thii if her fal 3 \ and would throw 
 off the yoke. But her Northern it No. She is all thai 
 
140 THE PABTIBAB LKADBR. 
 
 • i then of tl < ir Southern dependencies, which, though not 
 
 they have bo long governed a* colonies. Take hex away. 
 
 and they are in the condition of the wolf when then- are no sheep left. 
 
 v. If eat wolf, and Eenkee cheat "\" :i n k t-t.-. This they will guara against 
 
 by all means lawful and unlawful, for Virginia alone mitigates the 
 ruin that their insatiate rapacity has bronght upon them. They will 
 hold on to her with the gripe of death ; ami she must an.] will straggle 
 to free herself, as from death. 
 
 "And now, how say you? Are you prepared to do your part in 
 furtherance of this objeel 
 
 " 1 :un," replied Douglas promptly, "and I now eagerly ask you to 
 show me the means by which I can advance it." 
 
 " Vnu asked for men," said ]$ — , "and you shall have thctn. They 
 arc already provided, and want but a leader." 
 
 "But what authority can I have to be recognhed as such ?" 
 
 " You have heard your uncle, aunt, or cousins, speak of Jacob 
 Schwartz." 
 
 " I believe I have ; but what can such a fellow have to do with such 
 affairs as we now speak of. Is he nut an ignorant clown ?" 
 
 " lie is all that," said B, " But he writes as good a hand as Mar- 
 shal Saxe, and has probably read as many hooks as Cincinnatus. But 
 to speak seriously, he is no common clown. J picked bim up, nearly 
 forty years DgO, a little, dirty, ragged boy, without money, without 
 friends, without education, and without principles. All these wants I 
 found means to. supply, except that of education, which to him would 
 
 1 a quite superfluous, lint he now has n ey sufficient, and friends 
 
 without number ; and, what is better still, he has become an honest 
 • . and discharges the duties of one none the worse lor having had 
 a pretty largo experience in knavery. Such as he is, he is bound to 
 me by gratitude, such as few men are capable of. More than a dozen 
 years ago, he followed the bent of early habit, and retired to his native 
 mountains, where he has married, and lives after the manner of the 
 country, as if he were worth nothing in the world but his rifle. He 
 has a good deal of money, which 1 manage for him ; and as he has no 
 taste lor extravagance of any sort, and is generous as a king, he always 
 has a dollar to spare a friend. 
 
 " When I tell you that the people of that district see so little money 
 that they always count it by four-penee-hali'pennics, you will readily 
 believe that a little help goes a great way. They don't sec that Schwartz 
 has any property} but their opinion of bis sagac'ty and enterprise 
 takes away all wuiider at the fact, that he is always able, as well as 
 ready, to give aid to a friend at time of need. You will, of course, 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 141 
 
 infer, that his influence among them is very great. Now that, and all 
 his faculties of body, mind, and purse, are at my command. He is 
 aware of the state of public affairs ; adopts all my views, as far as he 
 can understand them, and beyond that point trusts me implicitly. It 
 is through his instrumentality that the minds of the mountaineers of 
 that district arc prepared for action at this moment. No force is actu- 
 ally organized, but every thing is ready for the emergency. The dis- 
 positions of the people, and the strong fastnesses of the country, will 
 make it a secure retreat to a partisan corps. The materials for such a 
 corps may be found in part among the inhabitants. A nucleus is all 
 that is wanting, and to that all the persecuted and distressed, from 
 every quarter, will gather." 
 
 " You show me, then," said Douglas, "that you already have all you 
 want — men and a leader. Your friend Schwartz must be the very man 
 to command those fellows, and might not like to submit to the authority 
 of another." 
 
 " He is not the man to command," said E — , "because. he could not 
 keep up intelligence with other parts of the country, though as a me- 
 dium of intelligence there is none better. Indeed he cannot be spared 
 from that branch of service. Besides, though he might command his 
 neighbors, you will be joined by men who will not submit to be com- 
 manded by any but a gentleman. As to any reluctance on his part, gp 
 to him in my name, or in that of your uncle or aunt, and you command 
 him, body and soul. You will find all his faculties devoted to your 
 service, without envy, jealousy, or grudging; and you will do well to 
 ^use his mind more than his body. In many particulars he is one of 
 the most efficient men in the world ; and as he perfectly understands 
 himself, and knows what he is fit for, you may always leave him to 
 choose his own function, and to execute it in his own way." 
 
14'2 T1IE PARTISAN L1IADER. 
 
 C II A PTER XXIX. 
 
 The heath this night mil-; be my l>ed, 
 The bracken curtain for my head, 
 My lullaby the wai '■ 
 
 I. ■. ••■. Mary ! 
 
 " I THINK," said Donglas, " 1 now und< rstand your general purpose, 
 
 and the means to be placed at my disposal. Let me now know your 
 
 if operations. What, am 1 to do, and when '!" 
 
 u The task 1 propose to myself," replie I B — , " is one which requires 
 
 lyselfout of httrm's way, and free from all suspicion, until 
 
 time shall come; when I propose to act a part which shall make 
 me a conspicuous mark for the malice or policy of our enemies. Hence 
 1 affect to live, and keep myself as much a- possible on this side of the 
 line. What you do there must he done in such a way as to indicate 
 bo connexion with me. I therefore propose that you accompany my 
 friend here to South Carolina, where you may dejrive much benefit from 
 seeing the first men in that State, with whom he will make you ac- 
 quaint' <1. From thence 1 would have yon address letters to your friends 
 
 oiallythi army) so worded a- to lead them to attribute your 
 
 chan | which should be made to seen) progressive I to the in- 
 
 fluence of th( tii as, \ few weeks will he sufficient for 
 
 this purpose, and you may return to Virginia early in the summer." 
 11. r. ." continued 15 — . pointing to a map which hung in the room, "is 
 the joint at which you will enter the State, and here will he the prin- 
 cipal scene of your operations. You will there find Schwartz, to whom 
 you shall he properly accredited, and from whom you will learn the re- 
 Bourcea to he placed at your command, and the capabilities of the coun- 
 try. 
 
 •w observe Our ohject h to organise a small force, under which 
 the district may be protected in declaring for the Independenc of Vir- 
 ginia, and prepared to afford a place of refuge to the Legislature, 
 should they be driven from Richmond before they have time to organ* 
 izetl us of the Government, Of course, they, must have an 
 
 ■ rtunity to assemble there, if hut for a day. This it must be our 
 care to secure, by a sudden movement from the midland counties on 
 the southern boundary, and in this we may need your co-operation. 
 On that point we shall take care to keep you advised. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 143 
 
 Now, our first object being to free Richmond from the presence of 
 the federal army, at the moment the Legislature is to meet, we must be 
 careful to cause no alarm for the safety of that place. Any movement 
 in that direction would produce a concentration of force there, and in- 
 crease our difficulties. You should, therefore, be careful so to shape 
 your operations as rather to call the attention of the enemy to other 
 points; and if you can make them of sufficient importance to draw de- 
 tachments from Richmond, a double purpose will be answered. You 
 will have no cause to fear any force that can be brought against you. 
 Your field of operations affords situations which may defy assault, and, 
 the line of North Carolina being at your back, you may, at any mo- 
 ment, cross it and disband for a time. 
 
 " But I am not sure whether our end may not be answered best by 
 giving to all your operations such a 'character as may exclude the idea 
 of any political object. As none of those who are conspicuous as mal- 
 contents in the lower country will join vou, this deception will not be 
 difficult. In beating up the quarters of the troops near you, you may 
 seem to act but in self-defence; and should you extend your blow so 
 far as Lynchburg, your mountaineers will hardly fail to levy such con- 
 tributions on the camp-followers, and Yankee pedlars there, (who call 
 themselves merchants,) as to give the measure the appearance of a 
 mere marauding expedition." 
 
 "I am not so very sure," replied Douglas, "that I should like to mix 
 my little reputation as a soldier and a gentleman with an affair of that sort.' 
 
 "lam not suggesting anything contrary to the laws of war, 
 B — . "The violation of them would be but in appearance. Care 
 would be taken to indemnify any who might be wronged, whenever it 
 shall be expedient for you to throw off the mask. As to any temporary 
 misconstruction, your name would connect you with your uncle, and, 
 through him, with mc and all our friends; and moreover, would whet 
 the malice of your worthy friends, the Bakers, who would move heaven 
 and earth to circumvent you. Better, therefore, to drop the last na-roe. 
 Archibald Douglas is name enough to satisfy the ambition of any 
 reasonable man, at least until he can cap it with a yet mure honorable 
 addition, if that be possible." 
 
 While this conversation was going on, there was some appearance of 
 embarrassment about Douglas, which did not escape the observation of 
 his uncle. At length he slid to him, in an under tone, that, befon 
 carrying the matter under discussion any farther, he would be glad to 
 have a few words with him in private. 
 
 •' 1 understand your wi.-h," said the old gentleman, aloud; "it shall 
 be indulged. " 
 
144 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 •• I - i mistake me," said Douglas, coloring very high. 
 
 Not at all," replied the other. "You only suppose so because 
 not know that one of my friends here received his wife in man-; 
 
 my hands, and that the other stood father to mine. II. nee I have no 
 such r< ith them as you may suppose. Now do I understand 
 
 you ?" 
 
 •• 1 dare say you do," replied Douglas, blushing yet more deeply. 
 
 "Then, I Bay again, your wish shall he indulged. You shall not 
 as until you arc fully established in all the rights which it is 
 mine to confer. But you must suppress your raptures until you hear 
 the conditions. Our plan requires secresy, and above all, that there 
 should be no appearance of concert between you and us, and no cause 
 pect it. This thing, therefore, must be absolutely private; no 
 witnesses but those here present, and your aunt, and Lucia ; and in the 
 next moment your foot must be in the stirup. Are you content?" 
 
 " Content !" said Douglas. " Indeed I am not ; but I see that you 
 arc acting upon a concerted plan, and that ail expostulation must he 
 ■\ain. Let me at least see Delia now." 
 
 •• 1 suspect she has gone to bed," said Mr. T — . " li-timl .' I be- 
 lieve is the word introduced by our Yankee Bchoobmistresses, whose 
 prurient imaginations are shocked at the name of a bed. Door girl, 
 she was glad to retire, in the plain English BenBe of the word, as soon 
 as we got here, and, I dan! say, has been in hed half an hour. She 
 and your aunt were on active service all last night, while you were 
 keeping a snoring watch over our friend Whiting. Come, my hoy ! 
 You shall not infect her with the fever of your brain to-night. If you 
 cannot sleep, it is no reason why she should not. And now let us turn 
 again to other matter'-." 
 
 " The next question, then," said the southron, " is how we can aid 
 you? By sword, or tongue, or pen, or purs. 
 
 "By purse as much as you please," said 1> — . "Our young friend 
 here Will need a small military chest, which we have no means of fill- 
 ing. As to the rest, keep out of the Bcrape. We wish to join you in 
 and then remain at peace, which will not he, if you strike a blow 
 in our behalf now. As much individual aid as you please to our ren- 
 dezvous just before the first Monday in December. A thousand indc- 
 pendenl volunteers, pour fr coup, would be welcome. In the mean- 
 time, if you can send our young friend here a promising young officer 
 from yur military school, to be his second in command, it is all we 
 would ask. ' Of course, he will come as of his own head, for you must 
 not seem to have anything to do with the matter." 
 
 3Iany other topics connected with our subject were discussed, but I 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 145 
 
 deem it unadvisablc to speak of more than is necessary to explain the 
 subsequent situation of the parties. When they met again at break- 
 fast, the swimming eye and changing cheek of Bblia told that she had 
 been made acquainted with all that had passed. The countenance of 
 Douglas beamed with high excitement, at «once pleasant and painful. 
 A glance of triumphant encouragement to Delia, and her answering 
 tearful smile, showed that they perfectly understood each other. In- 
 deed, it was time they should, for it had been settled that B — , who 
 was a resident and justice of the peace of the county, sljould perform 
 the maniige ceremony, according to the unceremonious law of North 
 Carolina, immediately after breakfast. 
 
 As soon as it was over, they adjourned to the parlor, where B — , 
 drawing Delia to him, seated her on his knee. " I don't half like this 
 business," said he. "I have no mind to take an active part ih giving 
 up my own little girl to this young fellow. I am too old to think of 
 loving and lighting all in a breath, as he does, and I thought to wait 
 till the wars were over, and here he comes and cuts me out. But I 
 am determined to do nothing in prejudice of my claim until I find that 
 I have no Chance. Young man," added he, in a tone gradually chang- 
 ing from playful to serious, " do you love this dear girl with that faith- 
 ful, single-hearted love, which man owes to a woman who gives him all 
 her heart, and entrusts to him all her happiness and all her hopes?" 
 
 As he said this he took the hand of Douglas, and went on : " Do 
 you thus love her, and will you in good faith manifest this love, by be- 
 ing to her a true and devoted husband, in every change and vicissitude 
 of life, so long as life shajl last? Answer me, Douglas," he continued, 
 with a voice approaching to sternness, and & fixed and searching look, 
 while he strongly grasped the young man's hand. 
 
 " Assuredly I will," said Douglas, somewhat hurt. 
 .#' And you dear," said B — , resuming his kind, and playful tone, " do 
 you love this'young fellow in like sort, and will you, on your part, be 
 to him thus faithful as his wife?" 
 
 While B — said this, the blushing Delia tried to disengage herself; 
 but he detained her, and caught the hand with which she endeavored 
 to loosen hi.- from her waist, and held it fast. At length she hid her 
 face on his neck, whispering : 
 
 "You know I do. You know! will." 
 
 "Then God bless you, my children," said B — , bringing their hands 
 together and grasping both firmly in one of his; "for you arc married 
 as fast as the law can tic you." 
 
 In a moment the whole party were on their feet, each expressing k 
 different variety of Burpriae. . Douglas was the first td understand hia 
 
 10 
 
146 ' THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 situation fully, a? appeared by his springing forward and»catching his 
 bride to his bosom, imprinting on her pure check the kiss that holy na- 
 ture prompts, and thtt all the caprices of fashion (thank God! 
 never shame. From him she escaped into the arms of her mother. 
 who, caressing her with murmured tenderness, looked half reproach- 
 fully at B— . Then smiling through Jhe tear that filled her large brae 
 em -he shook her finger at him, .ami said, "Just like you! just like 
 you !" 
 
 " Fairly cheated you of your scene, Margaret. All the matronly 
 airs, and maidenly airs, that you and Delia have been rehearsing this 
 morning, gone for nothing. And there is dear little Lucia crying U if 
 to break her heart, because sister Delia was married before she could 
 fix her pretty little face for the occasion. Never mind, dear I When 
 your turn comes there will be less hurry, and you shall have a ceremony 
 as long as the whole liturgy. Well, Douglas, you will not quarrel with 
 me, I am sure ; and I think Delia will forgive me for the trick I played 
 her. You have but an hour to stay together, and where was tlie sense 
 of giving that up to the flutter and agitation of a deferred ceremony? 
 I.suspect if I were always to manage the matter in this way, 1 Bhould 
 have my hands as full of business as the dentist that used to conjure 
 people's teeth out of their mouths without their knowing it, while he 
 was pretending just to fix his instrument. But go, my children. 
 Empty your full hearts into each other's bosoms, and thauk me for the 
 privilege." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 147 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Gathering tears and tremblings of distress j 
 
 And olieeks all pale, which, but an hour ago, 
 
 Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness. 
 
 And there were sudden partings, such as press 
 
 The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs. 
 
 Which ne'er might he repeated : Who could guess 
 
 If ever mare should meet those mutual eyes? Byron. 
 
 And so it was. I can add nothing to the language of the poet. I 
 ' can supply nothing to the imagination of the reader. Thus Dou.las 
 and Delia parted. He accompanied his new acquaintance to the south- 
 ern capital ; he there met with men whose names live and will live in 
 the history of their country, and whose memories will be honored while 
 virtue is held in reverence among men. From these, and especially 
 from the accomplished gentleman to whose friendship he had been in- 
 troduced by his uncle and Mr. B — , he received such lights as dis- 
 pelled every shadow of doubt from his mind. The wrongs of Virginia, 
 ner rights and her remedies, became the subject of all jhis thoughts, 
 ' and he burned with impatience for the time when he might draw his 
 sword on her behalf, and' turn to her use, as he had expressed it, the 
 lessons learned in the school of her oppressors. 
 
 That time at length arrived. Returning by the upper road which 
 skirts the foot of the mountains, he re-entered Virginia nearly at the 
 spot to which his brother had gone in quest of him. There, as he had 
 been taught to expect, he found Schwartz, whose reception of him fully 
 justified the assurances of 13 — . To that gentleman he showed un- 
 bounded devotion, delighted to speak of favors received at his hands, 
 and of " moving accidents by flood and field," which they had encoun- 
 tered together. Next to 1> — , in his estimation, stood Mrs. Trevor ; 
 then Delia, for whom, when a child, he had formed a passionate at- 
 tachment; and last, Mr. Trevor himself, whom, after the rest, he re- 
 spected and admired above all human beings. A hint from ]i — that 
 Douglas was the husband of Delia placed him at once in the same cata- 
 logue of worthies, and from the first moment he devoted himself not 
 less to his personal service than to the advancement of the common 
 cause. lie had already organised a small corps, the command of which 
 he unrtservedly surrendered, making it his constant study to recom- 
 mend the new commander to the confidence of the men. 
 
148 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 No roan could deserve it better, or was bettor qualified to win it. 
 Frank, affable, generous and kind, bis deportment was marked by that 
 self-n -]■• rti'ul courtesy which lias all the good, effect of dignity, without 
 passing by that name. With nothing repulsive, austere, or cold 
 in his demeanor, he was a man whoso orders no soldier would question, 
 whose displeasure no gentleman would choose to incur, whose feelings 
 no friend, however oar<JeB8, would wound. Liberally supplied with 
 money by his southern i'riends, and instmeted by Schwartz in the judi- 
 cious use of it, he took effectual measures to prevent distress in the 
 families of his followers. A small sum amply satisfied theit simple, 
 wants, ami his men had the satisfaction of knowing that their families 
 suffered nothing by their absence from tiieir little farms. 
 
 Beside the small embodied corps I have mentioned, the whole popu- 
 lation of that warlike district were plaood under a sort of organisation, 
 so that, while they pursued their occupations of hunting or farming, 
 they were prepared, tit any moment, to join an expedition or to resist 
 an attack. 
 
 Schwartz, who knew the country, inch by inch, made Douglas ac- 
 , cjuainted with all its strengths and all its passes, so that.be soon be- 
 came an expert woodsman, and an aetive mountaineer. His Erst pare 
 was to select a place for a stationary Qsmp. for this purpose be ebose 
 a position strong by nature, which be made nearly impregnable. Se 
 next provided horses enough to mount a part of his corps. For these 
 the rich herbage of the mountains afforded abundant subsistence during 
 the summer months. Of ammunition there was no stint. The lead 
 mines were just at Ma back, beyond tin' Alleghany. Powder is made 
 of ^ood quality in all that region, ami the quantity necessary for the 
 rifle is so small, that the rifleman may lie said t.> carry a hundred lives 
 in his powdcrdiorn. Of provisions ho bad plenty, though wanting 
 many things deemed necessary in a regular army. ]»ut the pure air of 
 the mountains, and the exercise of hunting and scouting, preserved the 
 health of the men without tents, or salt, or vinegar, or vegetables of 
 any kind. Venison and beef, dried in the sun, or over the fire by the 
 process called jerking, was prepared in the season of abundance for 
 winter use, and proved the best sort of food for a marauding corps. 
 Light, compact, and nutritious, there is no diet on which a man can 
 travel so far or fight so hard. 
 
 Nothing now remained but to make his enemy feel him. Stooping 
 from his mountain fastness, he soon broke up all the military posts in 
 the adjacent counties ; so that, in a few weeks, not a blue-coat was to 
 be seen on the south side of Staunton river. Freed from the*presence 
 of their enemy, the people were found ready to rise en masse. lie dis- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 149 
 
 suaded them from doing more than to put themselves in readiness for 
 action, to furnish him needed supplies, for which he paid fairly, and to 
 give him notice of the approach of the enemy. For this purpose he es- 
 tablished a sort of half military organization, and had it in his power 
 to increase his little foYce to five times its number in a few days. His 
 strength being thus adapted to any occasion which could be expected 
 to offer, after sweeping away the enemy from the south side of the 
 river, he proceeded to break up the posts in the counties on the north- 
 ern bank. In the end, though the enemy were nominally in posses- 
 sion of all the country between James river and Roanoke, they held no 
 post higher than Lynchburg, nor any farther south than Farmville. 
 Above this last place, their scouts and foraging parties showed them- 
 selves occasionally, but never ventured to leave the banks of James 
 river for more than a single night. 
 
 At Lynchburg, not long before the time at which our story com- 
 mences, two companies had been posted. As Douglas had never shown 
 a force of more than a hundred men, no fear of an attack on that point 
 was entertained. But suddenly collecting a number of auxiliaries, he 
 struck at them, drove them from their post, enriched his men with 
 everything that the laws of war permitted him to seize, and retreated 
 to his stronghold in the mountains. The supplies of arms, ammuni- 
 tion, clothing, and blankets thin procured, put him in a condition to 
 increase his corps, if necessary.. Thus, at the time of which we speak, 
 having little more than a hundred men embodied, he could have 
 marched five times that number to Richmond; and, for any service 
 nearer at hand, could have commanded a yet larger force. Though 
 unprovided with many of the conveniences of military life, they were not 
 deficient in essentials. There was" not a bit of feather in his host," nor 
 drum, nor trumpet, nor banner. But there were stout hearts, and 
 strong hands, and fleet limbs, and good rifles, and knives and toma- 
 hawks; and that system and harmony which spring from a sense of 
 danger, a high purpose, and confidence in a leader. To the listening 
 ear, a whisper speaks louder than a trumpet to the heedless. To the 
 trusting heart, the chieftain's voice supersedes the spirit-stirring drum. 
 
 "While Douglas thus maintained his position among the mountains, 
 it became a sort of Cave of Adullam. His little corps was a neucleua 
 to which the discontented and persecuted gathered continually. Hi* 
 e:i. bodied force was increased, while the organization of the neighbor- 
 ing popplation became more perfect, their confidence firmer, their zeal 
 more ardent. So effectually had he broken the power of the Central 
 Government in that quarter, that it had been deemed expedient to 
 throw a much larger force into Lynchburg, to curb his progress in that 
 
150 THE PARflSAN LBADSR. 
 
 direction, and to restrain the disaffected in the counties along the rn.rtli 
 bank of James river. Could he have co-operated with the Irlendi of 
 Virginia there, it was not clear that the flame might not spread OB aad 
 on. in the direction of Washington, nntil the very scat of empire might 
 be unsafe. Hence a regiment had been detached from the army at 
 Richmond, and another from the North, originally destined for that 
 place, Was turned aside to Lynchburg. Aware of these movements, 
 Douglas had no doubt that the purpose of such an assemblage of force 
 was ftol merely preventive. He saw that attempts wonld be made to 
 recover the groond which the enemy had Inst on the south side of 
 James river; and that, by remaining strictly on the defensive, he 
 might be forced to withdraw his embodied force to tbeir mountain 
 strong hold, and not only lose the aid of his irregulars, but give them 
 up to the vengeance of the enemy. Under these circumstance*, at- 
 tack was the most effectual form of defence, and boldness was true {pru- 
 dence. 
 
 The time, too, was at baud for the decisive movement, in the lower 
 counties, for the relief of lvichmond. The desired diversion had been 
 effected, and Douglas found himself capable of bringing into tin field 
 a force, the presence of which would be no inconsiderable aid to that 
 about to assemble below. To strike at his enemy therefore, to over- 
 whelm him, if possible, and, if not, to elude him and fall down to the 
 assistance of 15 — , seemed to him the surest plan f"r preserving the 
 safety and independence even of the mountain region. If Buceessful, 
 every desirable end would be accomplished. liven should he fail, his 
 duty to the faithful yeomanry and peasantry of that devoted section 
 was rather to draw the enemy away after him toward Richmond, than 
 by falling directly back, or even by remaining where he was, to invite 
 them to overrun the country which had afforded him such zealous and 
 efficient co-operation. 
 
 Influenced by these considerations, Douglas had despatched Schwartz 
 to lay them before U — , and receive his instructions.* He had long 
 ago recognizee him as the person of whom his aunt had said that " the 
 destiny of Virginia depended on him." He had received at his hands 
 the sort of authority which he wielded, now indeed by his own per- 
 sonal influence and character, but originally as the trusted representa- 
 tive of 1J — . He had no mind to shake off that character. He had 
 seen that, by means not exactly understood, that gentleman command- 
 ed resources, both at home and abroad, which enabled him to meditate 
 plans in which all the operations of Douglas's corps, however brilliant, 
 were but circumstance of less importance in themselves than in their 
 relations. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 151 
 
 Schwartz was the sole medium of communication between the two. 
 •With nothing in his appearance to attract attention — nothing in his 
 manners or common style of conversation betokening powers superior 
 to those of any other peasant — his intelligence and fidelity supplied 
 the place of letters. He understood everything, and forgot nothing 
 that was said to him. He therefore carried no papers, and passed un- 
 suspected through the country, amusing, with the most harmless gos- 
 sip, all he chanced to fall in with. He was a man who knew how to 
 have business anywhere and at any moment ; and he passed along more 
 like a spairow hopping from twig to twig, pecking at a berry here and 
 a leaf there, and never seeming to have an ulterior object, than with 
 the strong-winged flight which indicates a distant and important desti- 
 nation. 
 
 In one of Arthur's visits to Lucia, (his betrothal with whom was no 
 longer a secret in her father's family,) he was made acquainted with 
 Douglas's marriage. He was also entrusted with the important infor- 
 mation that the gallant leader, with whose exploits the country rung, 
 and whom his imagination had endued with almost superhuman powers, 
 was his own best beloved brother. He was instantly on fire to join 
 him, and Schwartz was instructed to convey to him the necessary in- 
 telligence; and, if possible, to fall in with him. on the way. But he 
 had been turned aside by objects of higher moment on his return, and 
 Arthur had got ahead of him. Having ascertained this fact in the 
 county of Charlotte, where their roads came together, Schwartz tra- 
 velled hard to overtake him ; left his tired horse at the entrance of the 
 defile, and, following on foot, came up with him as we have seen. 
 
THB PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 It it. tit it t she will rlicri-)i the renown 
 
 * Of noble deeds, achieved ber name ti>t:race; 
 
 Ami prize the lienrl tli;it heal t'>r licr alone, 
 In Glory's triumph, or in Dentil's cm! 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 Let us now return to the deep glen, at the bottom of which we left 
 our friend Arthur, accompanied by bis mountain guide. Schwartz WM 
 welcomed with cordial joy by his comrades, and, having asked for the 
 Captain, was told he was in his tent. Arthur looked around in vain 
 for a tent, but saw none. The beetling Drags on both sides of the dell 
 seemed to be the only shelter that the place afforded. But against tin 
 rock, a hundred yards below, and directly beneath the spot from which 
 Schwartz had given notice of his ]>resence, hung a piece of tent-cloth 
 One edge of this was, tanked to a polo which lay horizont\ y against 
 the rocky wall, the ends being supported by forks about un feet long 
 This proved to be a sort of door to a wide-monthed cavernous recess in 
 the rock, deep enough to afford room for the few Hi tie conveniences 
 which an officer can expect to keep about him in active service. Ap- 
 proaching this, Schwartz lifted a corner, and our travellers stood in the 
 presence of Douglas. 
 
 He was seated at a course table, poting over a rude manuscript map, 
 and did not lift his head until lie heard the word 'brother' uttered by 
 the well-known voice of Arthur. In a moment they were in each 
 other's arms, and, in the next, the new-comer was overwhelmed with 
 questions about his father, mother, and various friends. Some indeed 
 were not named; for, though Schwartz was in the secret of the fact, 
 he was incapable of being let into the deeper mystery of hearts like 
 those of Douglas and Delia. To such tin' utterance of a belfivcd name 
 in the presence of the uninitiated is an unpardonable profanation. But 
 though that of Delia was not spoken, Arthur took care so to emphasize 
 his account of the health of his uncle's family, as to convey to the 
 mind of Douglas an assurance of all lie wished to hear. But if 
 Schwartz was not deep in the tender mysteries of refined and delicate 
 love, no man better understood a hint, or better knew how to improve 
 it. lie accordingly interrupted the conversation, just to say that he 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 153 
 
 brought important intelligence, which must be communicated that 
 night; adding that he would leave them, together for an hour. He 
 now withdrew, and afforded the desired opportunity for unreserved 
 conversation. 
 
 "My Delia," said Douglas; "I understand that she is well, and, I 
 hope, happy." 
 
 " She is happy," said Arthur. " She hears of you, from the im- 
 partial voice of public fame, in terms that fill her heart with pride, and 
 leave no room there for alarm or melancholy. She feels as becomes a 
 soldier's wife, anxious for her husband's fate, but confident in his 
 fortunes. She has caught this notion from Mr. B — , who is her oracle, 
 and who seems to have imparted to her, not only all his sentiments, but 
 all the energy and buoyancy of his self-confident mind." 
 
 " Thank God !" said Douglas. " Just so would I have her to be. I 
 knew it would be so. I saw her noble mother, when danger threatened 
 my uncle ; and I saw her too. But this is the first positive informa- 
 tion on that point, that has reached mo since I have been here. Mr. 
 B — and I can only correspond by messages through Schwartz, and 
 though he is plain and accurate as a printed book in repeating what he 
 understands, yet ideas of this sort are not in his line. And my good 
 and venerable old father — are you here with his permission V 
 
 "I am not; nor does he know where I am. I have no doubt that I 
 should have his approbation if he did. I am sure you have." 
 
 " I !" exclaimed Douglas, with a start of tiolent surprise. " What 
 does he know of me." 
 
 "Nothing at all," said Arthur, smiling. "But he knows of a 
 certain partisan leader, whom the world calls Captain Douglas, and if I 
 can read the old man's eyes, when he hears that name, he would rather 
 call that man his son than any other on earth." 
 
 As Arthur spoke the eyes of Douglas filled, and pressing his hand 
 to his brow, he bowed his head a moment on the table. Then rising, 
 he stood erect, and looking up with a rapt and abstracted air, his rye 
 flashing througn his tears, he folded his arms, and speaking in the 
 measured tone of -one who feels- deeply, but in whose mind t h oa ghl 
 masters feeling, he parodied that noble speech which Shakspeare puts 
 in the mouth of Prince Henry : 
 
 "Then in tho closing of lome glorioUs day, 
 " when I shall wrar a garment all of blood, 
 "And slam my fa Ton with a Moody ma.-k, 
 "I will he bold to tfll him, ' I am your K)B.' " 
 
 And my Delia ! — my virgin bride ! ! for that day, 
 
154 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 When womao'a pun kisS, tweet and l< >nfr, 
 omei ln-r warrior home.' 1 
 
 • I tell you, Arthur, that, id thoughts like these there is a rapture 
 which makes this hole in the rock a palace, and this flinty couoh a \» '1 
 of down. Are you prepared, my dear fellow, to partake with i 
 such feelings? That, I know, depends in part on Lucia. What oi 
 her?" 
 
 " She is to me," said Arthur, " all that Delia is to you ; though she 
 is too young to have the Bame strength oi' mind, and 1 have no right 
 to expect the same confidence in my prowess and fort in 
 
 •• Never fear. It will not be wanting at the pinch. A woman never 
 bars for the safety of him she loves but when she doubts his truth. 
 Let her feel that she is his second self, and self-confidence calms her 
 fears. Let her feel that she lives in his heart, and. strong in love, she 
 defies the dagger which assails it. Calphurnin trembled for CsBBar. 
 "Why? He was the husband of every woman in Koine. Had he 
 been true to her, she would have felt only that prudent fear that he 
 would not have derided. He would, perhaps, have yielded to her dis- 
 creet remonstrance, and her love would have justified the confidence 
 which characterizes the love of woman, by saving his life. Bttt, what 
 a rhapsody 1 am ottering] You say my father does not know where 
 you are ? How is thai ':" 
 
 "I was not at Liberty to acquaint him with your secret. Your ab- 
 sence has drawn on him some displeasure from those in power, and 
 their minions are all around him. It seems that you are BUpposed to 
 lie in the South for no good purpose, and not without an understanding 
 with him. My disappearance will attract farther notice. For that he 
 cares little; but ho is BO scrupulous in his notions of honor and truth, 
 that, were he questioned about OB, hi' could hardly conceal any thing 
 lie might know. Your letters, 1 see, still come from the South, though 
 they say nothing of your whereabout. Of course, he thinks you arc 
 there; and I, without undeceiving him, simply asked leave to go to 
 look for you. That his feelings are with us, I have no doubt. But he 
 is so beset by spies, and so hampered by the position of our brothers in 
 the army and navy, ttfat he even tries to hide the secret of his thoughts 
 from himself." 
 
 Thus the brothers conversed until Schwartz returned and claimed 
 the Captain's car; who began by asking what news he brought from 
 
 •• The Colonel (so he always designated B — ) likes your plan mightily, 
 sir," replied Schwartz, " if you can rub through with it. But he is 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 155 
 
 afraid, from all Tie can learn, that them " fellows at Lynchburg may be 
 too many fur you; so, he say.", you n ust find out exactly how that is, 
 and if you don't think it a pretty good chance, just slip down along 
 the line, toward the middle of November, and join him." 
 
 "If I do so, whpre am I to find him precisely f" asked Douglas-. 
 
 "Just where the Petersburg railroad crosses the line," said Schwartz. 
 " You see the folks there arc all friendly, because as long as things stay 
 .as they are, their railroad an't worth an old flint, and so they are patch- 
 ing up all the old cars, and fixing every thing ier the Colonel, as soon 
 as he can start a regiment or so, to make a dash at Petersburg, find so 
 hold on there till the rest of his men join him. Now, if we were to be 
 the first there, Captain, I have a notion that we'd be the very boys for 
 them chaps at Petersburg." 
 
 " I shoukUlike that well," said Douglas. " But I understand my old 
 acquaintance, Col. Mason, at Lynchburg, has a great desire to see me, 
 and I should hate to disappoint him." 
 
 " I don't think he commands there now," said Schwartz. "There 
 is another regiment come from the North to join him, and they say the 
 other is the oldest colonel." 
 
 "That is of course," said Douglas, "for Mason is the youngest in 
 the army. But I am not sorry for the exchange, for they have hardly 
 sent as good a one. There is not a man among them I would not 
 rather meet than Mason. Have you been able to learn the particulars 
 of their force there ?" 
 
 " As well as I can understand," replied Schwartz, " the whole num- 
 ber is not far from a thousand, and may be a few more." 
 
 "A thousand ! Can we raise men enough to strike at them before 
 they think of it?" 
 
 " I have not a doubt of it, sir, rf we could get at thorn on fair terms. 
 The people along down 'between here and Staunton river don't like the 
 thoughts of what them fellows may do to them, and they are keen to 
 take them before they arc ready. I talked to the head-men among 
 them as you told me, and they all seo that the right way is to try to get 
 the first blow. Because, you see, Captain, when we an't gaining we 
 are losing. If we let the enemy hold Lynchburg, and they find two 
 regiments will not do, they will bring four, and so on, till they get the 
 upper hand, and then they will pay these poor fellpwa about here for 
 old and new. Bu! if we could make out t" give them a real bi 
 and so drive them clean off, why all the country as far as the 1 1 
 bannock would rise that minute, and they'd have enough to do to hold 
 their own at Fredericksburg." 
 
 " I suppose you said all this to Mr. 1! — ?" 
 
TUB PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 •• T. ■ 1 did, sir ; and lie think- ju.-t as we do ahout it. only 
 
 .'• uL attacking a fortified Camp, as they call it. just with 
 riilo.' 
 
 ■• He i> righl about that," n plied Douglas.' " Riflemen arc tl, 
 
 in the world to defend ■ breast work. but they are the wont to 
 
 attaek one. J had hopeej however, that w< might have drawn out the 
 enemy by sonic devite, even when Mason commanded. Be is b> 
 brave to be ashamed to be prudent. 1 wish 1 knew whom they hsvwi 
 sent to supersede him. But whoever he is, it ia a hundred to one. that 
 being set over the head of an abler man, he will be impatient ko show 
 bia superiority Ly reversing his predecessors plans, and shaming tin 
 prudence of Mason by soaic hasty display of valor. If I did hut know 
 who was in command !" 
 
 " I tried to find that out," replied Schwartz; "because F kjicw you 
 were pretty well acquainted with the most of them. You reosembot, 
 sir, you told me from the first almost exactly how this Col. Mason was 
 going to do. But I could not find any body that could tell me the 
 lieu Colonels name. But whoever he is, Mr. B — thinks, and so dol. 
 hut that is nothing,) and I have a notion you do too partly, air, that 
 if we mean to do any thing with them, we must try to catch them some- 
 where between hen- ami Lynchburg/' 
 
 " 1 am afraid that i- all too true." said I>ou-las, " and if no such 
 
 chance i tiers, we shall have to jrive them the slip as B— psoj i see; ami 
 
 I should hate it." 
 
 •And so would I." said Schwartz; "and so you see. sir. I have 
 been trying to fix a sort of a plan to draw them out, and that is what 1 
 want to tell you about." 
 
 What this plan was, the next chapter shall disclose. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 157 
 
 , CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 And yet 1 knew him a notorious liar; 
 
 Think him a great-way fool — solely a caward 
 
 Shakspkare. 
 
 "You must understand, Captain," continued Schwartz, "that I had 
 allotted to fall in with your hrothcr about Little Roanoke bridge, where 
 our roajds conic together. The people there awe friendly, and mighty 
 clever people, and if they don't know all about me, they don't want 
 much of it ; for they are our own sort of folks, and true as steel. So ' 
 I thought I could depend on them to take notice for me when such a 
 man might pass, and let me know. When I got there, by all I could 
 learn, your brother had not gone by; and, as I was pretty tired, and 
 that is one of the places where I commonly lie by to pick up news, I 
 thought I would stop a while. ^ 
 
 •" I had not been there long, before here comes the Captain that 
 commands the company at Farniville* and, if ever I saw a conceited 
 fool, you may be sure he is one." What he was after, the Lord knows. 
 He said he was a rcconnoitering, but I have a notion he was just look- 
 ing for some body to talk to; and as the folks there an't got much chat 
 for any body, he just claps to talking to me. And he run on about 
 one thing and another, and there was nothing I wanted to know but 
 what he told 1113, only just 1 knew it all before. Lut I thought, may 
 be, I might get something out of him, so I let him talk, and I sot and 
 listened. 
 
 '< After a while he gets to talking about you. And, Lord ! how he 
 wished \<>u would conic in his way; and how he would have served 
 you, if you had tried to beat up his quarters, like you' did them fel- 
 lows at Lync; burg. But he was in hopes to have a clip at ypu yet, • 
 only just you were always hiding and skulking in the mountains, like a 
 wolf, and then coming dowq in the night to kill sheep. And he 
 reckoned you kttetc where the dogs, was, and took care to keep out of 
 their way. And then he laughed, and thought he was mighty smart. 
 Bo, thinks I, 'stranger, if you hive a mind to get into hot water, may 
 be you may have a chance.' Bo I speaks up; and, says I, 'after all, that 
 . Captain Douglas an't. half the man he's cracked up for, no how.'" 
 " Do you know him f" says he. 
 ."I guetfe I do," says I; "he is cunning enough, and he has got 
 
158 THE PAl'.TIsAN I.B-iDER. 
 
 trick and countersigns to keep out of harm's way ; 
 
 but," says I, " if ■ man could just get hold of his signs, and so get at 
 him, he an't nothing for a right, real, hard tight." 
 " They tell me/' says he, "there an't no Buch thing as getting in 
 
 twenty miles of him, or mofe, may he; and all the folks through the 
 country tlicre stands guard fox him", arid nobody else knows where he is ' 
 " That's very true/' says I; '• but then, you s< e, stranger, when too 
 many folks has got a secret, then it an't a seen t no more." 
 " Jt's a wonder, says he, "some of them don't tell." 
 "May be they cannot get any thing by telling," says I, ''There's 
 many a poor fellow there, to my knowing, that don't Bee a dollar osjkji 
 a year, and its mighty Jittle the Bight of a lew yellow jackets would not 
 make them tell, only just they never seed any, and don't kjiuw what 
 they are. But they'd be right apt to find out." 
 
 " Vuu talk like you know that part of the country," says he. " May 
 
 ■ i know something about it." 
 '• May be 1 (flight," says I. " I3ut then," says I, "it don't In emu.. 
 a poor fellow, like me, to know any thing that a grand offioer, with his 
 line apperlets. all of Solid gold, don't know. Lord !" Bays 1, " if I had 
 but half the money you give lor your appcrlets, 1 n<k<,n I'd know 
 something then." 
 
 " And with that, he looks right hafd at me, and says he, 'may be 
 ■you'd like to list lor a soldier.' 
 
 " May be I would," says I, " if they pays me well. 'Cause you sec," 
 says I, "sir, as to the Country ami the President, and all that, its what 
 I don't know nothing about'; only I takes their part as takes my part. 
 And that's the reason," sa\s I, " I would not stay up yonder." 
 •• Why," says he, " do you live there, when you arc at home ''." 
 " I cannot say," says I, "that 1 have got a home rightly any where. 
 But I did live there, alter a fashion; and they wanted me to do like 
 the rest of them, and quit my business and keep guard, and stop every 
 man that could not give the BJgDff. And what was *I to get by it? 
 Just nothing at all. If I had any bread of my own to eat, why I 
 might eat it; and if 1 killed a deer, they'd take their share, and 
 thought they did greal things if I hey let me keep the skin ; but as to 
 pay, they don't think of such a thing. But that would not do forme," 
 i ; "and, more than that, it won't do for more, besides me, what- 
 ever Captain Douglas may think of it, I can tell him." 
 
 " Well," says he, " if you'll list with me you shall have pay, and 
 bounty, and clothes, and rations, and all. 'Cause," say* he, "the Presi- 
 dent, he keeps the key of the treasury, and we are his soldiers, and we 
 all live like fighting cocks, 1 can tell you." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 159 
 
 " Well," says I, " I'd like to list well enough', only just I guess if 
 once you had me for a soldier, you'd make me tell all I know, and ax 
 me no odds; and," says I,." I have been a-thinking, if I could meet 
 with any right clever gentleman, that would pay me for telling, I'd tell 
 it all first, and then list afterwards. 
 
 " Well," says he, " do you know Douglas's signs, enough to carry a 
 man to his camp as a friend ?" 
 
 " I guess I do," says I, " and more than that, too." 
 H And what do you know," says he. 
 " That's telling," says I. 
 
 " But," says he, " I rcant to know all about it," says he, "because 
 Col. Mason, there, at Lynchburg, is determined to break Douglas up, 
 if he can get at him; and he is looking every day for more men from 
 the North to help him." 
 
 " Well," says I, " I can put him in a way to get at him, and not go 
 up there into the mountains, neither. 'Cause," sa^s I, "that's ay 
 ugly place. It an't one regiment, nor two neither, hardly, that could 
 do much there. And then, again, if Douglas was to find too many 
 coming against him, he'd be away t'other side 6f Salem before they'd 
 get there." 
 
 " And how is, a body to get at him ?" says he. 
 " Ah !" says I, " that's a long story." 
 
 " Well," says he, " I see what you are after, and if you'll put me in 
 • a way to give Col. Mason a fair clip at him, it will make my fortune, 
 . and then I'll be bound to see you paid handsomely." 
 " That an't what I am after," says I. 
 " Why, don't you want money ?" says he. 
 " To be sure I do," says I; " but that an't money." 
 " Well," says he, " tell me wh t you can do, and I will tell you what 
 I'll do." 
 
 " That's something like," says I. " As to what I can do, I can put 
 you in a way to catch Captain Douglas out of the mountains, with U 
 many men as you please to bring agin him." 
 
 " Well," says he, " if you'll do that, I'll pay you a hundred dollars." 
 " The dear Lord '." says I. u A hundred dollars! I never expected 
 to have that much money iti my life !" 
 
 '• May be it's too niucji," says he. " May be fifty will do?'' 
 " No, no," says I ; "a hundred will do mighty well ; so let DM 
 the cash, and I'll tell you all." 
 
 "That won't do,"' says ho. " How do I know that what you arc 
 going tn tell me will do mc any good f" 
 
 " Well," says I, " I reckon if one won't another will." 
 
100 Tin; tartisan i.kader. # 
 
 arith dint, he studied a white, and says, he: " Well. I'll give yoq 
 
 tin ii"!'- for a hundred dollar-, to be paid directly after Col Masoi 
 a lick at Douglas in the toW Country, by my help/' 
 
 ■• ("aim.'t JOU L'ivr DM an order on Mr. Morton, here, in the sann 
 way f" Baya I. 
 
 •• You are mighty tight," Bays he; " but may be I ran.'' 
 
 Bo with that he speak.- to Mr. Morton, and he agreed to accept the 
 order. You sec, sir, Mr. Morton, as 1 told you, is a true hearted Yir- 
 giniaD ; and he knows me; and I just sorter winked at him, t-i let him 
 know all was sale. For as to that fellow paying him again* after In 
 paid me, Mr. Morton had'nt no thought of it, nor I neither. But he 
 
 • 1 what I was after, and says he to the Captain : "To he sure, sir, 
 its nothing I would not do to serve the country." And with that thjey 
 fixed the eider all light, and _L r ivcs it to me, and 1 slips it hack again 
 into Mr. Morton's .hand. And then I takes the Captain out again, and 
 fells him the way up here; and, says I, " Now, if you can get to sec 
 I 'aptain Douglas, yon must fix a g 1 story to tell him." 
 
 •• And what must that be V sa_\ s he. 
 
 ■• Whv, you have only just to tell him that you have raised a pared 
 
 in Bedford county, or somewhere thereaway, sorter toward 
 
 Lynchburg, and ycu want to ku m where to join him Then he'll be 
 
 8ure to tell you when he is coining down out of Ul6 mountains, and he'll 
 
 name a plaoc for you to meet him at, ami then if you*don't fix him 
 
 about right, it an't my fault." 
 
 " 1 Jut how am 1 to L '< t to him ':" pays he. 
 
 '• That's it." says I, " an 1 that's what you never could do without 
 
 help. You sec/' Bays I, "sir, every man in that country lives hy wont- 
 ing, more or less ; and every man has a rifle lor hiuftelf, and one for 
 
 cvery'one of his boys,;md may he more. And when a fellow is going 
 any where, he never knows when he may Bee a deer; 9t you ncv< r can 
 • eatch them without their rifles. Hut then you may travel all through 
 (be country, and you won't see a man that look- any ways like a soldier. 
 And when they want to stop a man, they don't bawl at. him and ask 
 for the Countersign. That sort of thing may do in BO army, but it 
 won't do with folks that have no! got an army to hack them. So you 
 may fall in With ever so many of them, and they'll file' you out; but 
 if they (lnx.se to let you pass, you'll never iind them out, nor know 
 what tiny ar<- after." 
 
 "Bui how are they to find me out,'' says he, "if they an't got no 
 countersign V 
 
 "They an't got no countersign, rightty" says I; "hut it is pretty 
 mucii the same thing, if a man asks a civil question, and you don't 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 161 
 
 know what answer to give him. Now suppose you were travelling along 
 there, and you meets one of them fellows, and he was to ask you, 
 mighty innocent like, what parts you were from. What would you 
 say?" 
 
 "I don't know," says he. P May be I'd tell him I was from down 
 about Halifax court-house." 
 
 " And that minute," says I, ''he'd know all about you." 
 
 " How's that," says he. 
 
 " Why, that's the way they ax for the countersign," says I. 
 
 u What is the countersign ?" says he. 
 
 " Currituck," says I ; " when they ax you that you must say you 
 oome from Currituck." 
 
 "And is that all?" says he. ''Why that is a countersign, sure 
 enough. Dut don't they never change it?" 
 
 "No," says I; "the men arc too much scattered all through the 
 country, for that; but it answers mighty well, the way they fix it. 
 They don't let you off with one question, just so, but they'll ask you 
 a heap more; and they'll say a heap of simple things to you, just to 
 hear what you'll say ; and just about the time you think you have 
 fooled them, they'll find you out. There's a parcel of sharp fellows 
 up thereaway, mind, I tell you; and you'll have to get your lesson 
 mighty well before you go there. You see, some will ask you one 
 question and some another. You don't know what its going to be; so 
 I must tell you all the straight of it, and you must practise before we 
 part; and then," says I, "you can write it all down, and all the way 
 you go you can be saying it over." So, with that, sir, I tells him the 
 biggest part of our questions: but you may be sure I give him wrong 
 answers to every one of them. But'thcn I told our people at the dif- 
 ferent stations along about him, and told them to pass him, and never 
 let him know but what his answers were all right. So then I tells him 
 that when he got to you, you would want to know, may be, how he 
 came by flic signs ; and, says I, " when he axes you that, you mutt till 
 him you got them from Job Dixon," says I. " That's a fellow the 
 Captain keeps busy recruiting away down the country, and when he 
 hears that, he won't suspicion you the least in the world ; Van 
 
 ays I, "the man they call Job Dixon has got another name 
 besides that, and that nam an't nothing but a sort of count n 
 for the Captain to know the men by that be sends in." Y< 
 Captain. I fixed all this way, thai I might Ict.y.u know exactly, so thai 
 if the fellow should come when I was out of the way, you might know 
 what to think of him, just as if I was here. And it won't do to lei 
 ee me, no how. 
 11 
 
TiJi ':i. 
 
 d Douglas. " Well, let me nuke a memorandum 
 it Bame." 
 
 Saving this, he took a letter from Ins pocket, and endorsing the 
 Bame of .Tub Dixon on the back of it, as that of the writer, threw it 
 a table. 
 
 •That will do," suid Schwartz. '• Se will be here bright ami early 
 in the morning, and when he sees thai, he will feel as aafe aa a rat in a 
 mill." 
 
 "Hero in the morning!" said D nglaa, "HoweanyoiibeeBTeofthat?" 
 
 "I seed him from the t« >p of the mountain," replied Sckwarts, 
 " when Witt stopped him. I told Witt to keep him all night, and 
 1 him on in the morning, with a couple of fellows to show him the 
 way. and guard him." 
 
 -• li' that is the case/' Baid Douglas, '• 1 can meet him at the p is /wet, 
 and stop him there; for I would rather he should not sec this place. 
 Hut what arrangement would yen advi.'C me to make with him'.'" 
 
 •• "Why the Colonel says," replied Behwarts, "that lie wants you t«> 
 join him at his rendezvous about the last of November, or may be a 
 little earlier; so whatever you do ought to be dune time enough to fall 
 back, if we get worsted, and slip aloBg down the Hue, according to 
 
 year aid plan. So I am a thinking H would be well to fix the time for 
 
 ;ing this fellow about the tenth of the month, and then, if we can 
 h them in their rwn-trap, W6 shall have time to follow up the blow 
 und break up their whole establishment there at Lynchburg, and then 
 Blanch boldly down the straight road.*' 
 
 •• Do you know of any crossing place on Staunton river, in the di- 
 rection of Lynchburg," asked Dougjas, "that would answer for an am- 
 buscade '!'' 
 
 " I have a notion," said Sohwarts, " that Jones's Ford would suit bb 
 well as any other; because tin r»'s a deep hollow comes down on both 
 sides of it, and thick woods on the hills." 
 
 •'That will do then," said Douglas. "So now let us take our sup- 
 per and go to rest; for I must he at the piquet in time to meet your 
 man. Before you go to sleep, Buppose you Bend one of our hoys to tell 
 ahem to stop him if be gets there before me." 
 
 The BUppi i was produced, and fully justified what 'W itt had told 
 Arthur of the fare he might expect. As to lodging, bear-skin.- were 
 plenty, and BO were blankets, wh\oh had been collected during the 
 
 .lin.-t Lynchburg. But a rock is a hard bed, put OB it 
 what you will. Yet youth, and health, and high excitement, gave 
 Arthur a most luxurious supper, and a night of such sleep as the BfBt 
 lodged prince in Europe might envy. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 160 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 The sunless glen, whose sunken shrubs most weep. 
 
 • 
 When Arthur awoke, he found himself alone. The sun was higfl 
 
 in the heavens, but a deep shadow hung over the dark silcn, into which 
 his- rays never looked, except at noon-day. Arthur now walked out. 
 and amused himself with gazing around on the singular spot which hi> 
 brother had chosen as a place of refuge. It was, indeed, a place of 
 ftrength, which seemed calculated to bid defiance to any thing but 
 famine. 
 
 The glen, at this point, might be some two hundred feet deep. Above 
 and below, the little stream filled the whole chasm, pouring furious! 
 along between overhanging pliffs. The tops of these, except in the 
 immediate vicinity, were crowned with lofty trees, which, nodding to 
 each other across the gu'lph, in some places nearly intermingled their 
 branches. The va-lley, just where Douglas had pitched his camp, was 
 somewhat wider. Just above, the stream seemed to gush from the verj 
 bowels of the mountain, dashing, as it tumbled over a fall of twenty 
 r thirty feet, against the dark evergreens which clustered both Bides 
 of the gulph. From thence, flowing through a wider space, it still 
 confined itself to a narrow and deep channel, scooped into an aim 
 
 rnous bed, under the western cliff. Thence, turning abruptly to 
 the southeast, it swept across the dell to the opposite hill, from which 
 it again recoiled in like manner. There was thus, on each side, between 
 the hill and the receding stream, a spot of dry ground, or rather ro 
 It was indeed nothing but a rocky shelf, a little above inundation, jut- 
 ting in a half moon from the base of the cliff. About the middle of 
 
 gefrom hill to hill, the stream turn' . the higl 
 
 points of which, rising above th< ami 
 
 !. but neither commodious, 
 ., r. to the eye of a Strang 
 The sort of stair which afforded tie- only approach to tl 
 . hung directly over the stream', at the poiirt where, having 
 from the western Bide of the glen, it again whirled back, leai 
 have said, a dry spot on it- -in. At the upper corn I 
 
1<'.4 THK PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 this shelf, where it touched the cliff, the path reached the bottom; 
 and ri 1 1 hundred yards below, at the lower extremity of the same 
 platform, hung tlic tent-cloth that indicated the quarters of the 
 
 chief. 
 
 The sort of cave, the mouth of which was concealed by this, was but 
 n deepening of th< derthe cliff, which every where afforded ■ 
 
 partial shelter from the weather, and b complete defence against r<»cks 
 tumbled from ab ive. Under this were the rude beds and camp-fires of 
 the men. and in front of them i breast-work of 1 I high enough 
 
 to afford protection from any Bhot tired from the opposite hill. Between 
 the upper log and that next below it, was a sort of loop-hole, made 
 by cutting corresponding notches in each ; and as the edges of 
 the cliffs had been shorn of all their growth, a man could not 
 show himself on either, without being exposed to the fatal fire of 
 men directing their aim with a rest, and in all the coolness of perfect 
 safety. 
 
 The most curious part of the whole establishment was a sort of mill. 
 At tin point where the stream, breaking over the rocky ledge of which 
 I have Bpoken, swept away around the shoulder of the platform, WS8 
 placed a small log pen. The end of a shaft, projecting from it. over- 
 hung the water. Into this wen; driven stakes, fitted at ore- end into 
 large auger-holes, and, at the (Jther, spread out like d broad oar. These 
 fan-like extremities dipped in the water, and, yielding to its force, kept 
 the b1 ift revolving night and day. Maohinery equally rude connected 
 its movements with those of a pair of light mill-stones, which found no 
 rest, and required m> attention. Though grinding less than a bushel 
 in the hour, it still ground tin and on, affording coarse bread for the 
 whole company, and showing how true the old adage, that " fair and 
 softly tro far in B day." One man was seen to replenish the hopper. 
 Others were passing and re-possing, each with his share of meal. The 
 whole was covered with rude boards. Exposed to the fire of each 
 cliff, it was, of course, capable Of being made to command both, ami 
 -ome of it> features showed that it was intended to he occupied a- a 
 towi r of Btrength in ease of attaek. 
 
 In short, to the nnpraetieed eye of Arthur, the whole presented the 
 
 appearance of impregnable security and well arranged preparation. 
 
 There wa- indeed no present danger, hut the place had been ch> 
 and fitted with a view to the last extremity. The course of tip- stream, 
 tending to the South, led in a few miles into the State of North 
 Carolina, and in that direction there was an outlet practicable, 
 though difficult Between the camp and the State line there was 
 no point at which the '-leu could be entered; and Douglas, if 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 165 
 
 driven to retreat in that direction, had none but natural obstacles to 
 overcome. 
 
 Cold weather was now approaching, and there was no station where 
 the troops of Douglas were so little exposed to the severity of the sea- 
 son as this. The soft air from the waterfall, though never warm, was 
 never intensely cold, and no other wind but that from the South ever 
 entered the glen. Hence as many men as were not engaged on active 
 duty were assembled here. Still the number present was but small. 
 Some were at the piquet, some on the scout. Besides, it was now the 
 hunting season, and many were abroad in the woods, as the car- 
 casses brought in during the course of the morning plainly showed. 
 
 Arthur now looked around for Schwartz, and hearing his voice be- 
 hind one of the breast-works, passed around the end of it, and sflently 
 joining the circle, listened to his discourse, which seemed to be a sort 
 of military lecture. 
 
 u You see, boys," said he, " as to (ictam, or whatever they call it. 
 that sort of thing an't made for the like of us. When a parcel of 
 fellows lists for soldiers, just because they an't got nothing else to d<>. 
 and may be one half of them is cowards, and the other half not much 
 better, they are obliged to have rules to go by. Because, if once yon 
 can beat it into a fellow's head that after he has got into danger it is 
 safer for him to stand still than to run away, why then the worse scared 
 he is the surer he will be to stay there. But it an't so with us, be- 
 cause if any of us was any way scary, he would not be here no how. 
 The only rule for us is the Indian rule. 
 
 "In the first place, i4 is our business always to know where the 
 inimy is before he knows where we arc, and then, if we don't want to 
 fight him, keep out of his way. Now the right wa} T to do that, is just 
 to squander, like a flock of partridges. 
 
 " Then if you are jroing to fight, the only rule is to give the word, 
 and let every man kill all he can, and take care of himself the best be 
 can. Now that way the riglars fight — if one man in ten kills a man, 
 they call it desperate bloody work. But I reckon if there was an 
 inimy now coming up the valley to the foot of the Devil's Back-bone, 
 and the word was to kill all we could before he got, there, juty of us 
 here would feel mighty cheap if he did not kill moi body. 
 
 '• And mind, boys, whether we fight Ot run, whether re k 
 gethet, qr squander, 'two and two' is tie word. You most all n 
 yourselves two and two, to stand togi thcr and run together, t.. 
 together and die t igether. One of you nttsl '•,,',] himself Dumber 
 and the other number two, and then, if there's a hundred together and 
 
Til' !!R. 
 
 . number two d till number one has fin 
 
 . again. Y.<:i sec, men, a fellow I I aim when he knowi 
 
 another i liit ii' he mis in that way 
 
 in a hundred when every one knows that's 1 
 Fifty rifles will stop a troop of horse, and a hundred cannot 
 morje. But if the puns are all empty, then 1 • whala 
 
 left of them slashing away with the broad-awards like devils. But let 
 "herb be ■ lew more guns to pepper away at them. while the first are 
 loading, and they will go to the right-about mighty quiek. 
 
 •• Now mind what L tell you, boys, and the first titm it oomes to the 
 pinch, you'll say old ScUwarti did'nt fight Indians bo long for nothing. 
 \nd as to running, any man that's afraid to run when he vets cause, 
 is half a coward, any how. Do you run just when you pleat 
 I'd hate to depend 00 a man to fight that 1 Could not trust to run. 
 There is no harm in running, if yctfi know where you are running to, 
 and your friends know it too; and the right way is to fix a place, every 
 morning, to meet at night, and let every man get there as he can, and 
 do what mischief he can. Bat, mind, if it comes t<i that, always run 
 two and two, and then one can help another) and if one oomes up 
 missing, the ether can tell v. hat's become <>f him. 
 
 •• I'm telling our boys," i tinned Schwartz, who now observed Ar- 
 thur^ " some of the lessons 1 learned among the Shawnees. X< 
 Mr. Arthur, (yon must not think strange of my Bailing yoa so, sir. for 
 
 all your family seem like my own flesh and h! I to ni< — for all you 
 
 don't know how thai i sir, the Captain is a regular officer, 
 
 huilt plum from the ground op; but for all that, he knows that all this 
 is tni'' : and, before now, when he and I have been setting Over the 
 lire, m night, he has told me about one Gineral Braddook, T think they 
 Called him, that got his men Bhot all to piece.-, and himself, too, just be- 
 cause he would not believe that there was any other way to fight but just 
 his way. Now, yen Bee, sir. the reason why be was taken at an onpUuh 
 
 .:. -. that be Wasfighting agin Indians. Well, suppose WC fight Indian 
 
 fashion — will not that be pretty much the same thing ? May be we 
 an't exactly op to that, but we must do the Best we ean ; (or as n 
 
 fighting the riglan just in their own way, why they'll beat US as long 
 as the sun .-hi; 
 
 "Do you mind that night," continued Sohwarts, laughing, " when 
 
 at nant and his men came there to your unele's to take him and 
 laptain? That was Indian play for you. I God! if I had BOf 
 
 lieardtHht the Colonel was there, I Bhould have knowed be was at the 
 fixing of that busim as. STou see, sir, that is what a man learns by liv- 
 ing in places where a body is never safe; and the upshot of it is, that 
 
THE PARTISAN 'LEADER. 167 
 
 after a while he gels so that he never can he in any danger. It's like 
 learning to sleep with one eye always open." 
 
 Schwartz now rose from the ground, where he had been sitting, and 
 brushing the allies from his leathers, joined Arthur, and they repaired 
 to the tent where their simple meal awaited them. From him the 
 youth learned that his brother had repaired to the piquet at an early 
 hour; and to the piquet, gentle reader, toe will now follow. 
 
M s THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHAPTER X \ XIV. 
 
 -He- hn> 
 
 Sufficient for itself \\< own reward. 
 
 Why tliiuk of liim! .An honorable f 
 
 He seeks no other guerd Ax8ntk*3> 
 
 was at tlie piquet long cnoiagh before the arrival of hi.* 
 guest, to make such arrangements as should prevent the !Vom 
 
 Buspeeting that this was net the camp he was desirous t see. He had 
 no mind that his enemy should know the real nature and precise posi- 
 tion of his main stronghold. Hence he 'had determined to give hina 
 the meeting at the piquet, and took pains to provide, aa if for hia own 
 ordinary accommodating, such a breakfast 16 he would have been con- 
 tent to furnish ut his own quarters for the most honored nailer. 
 
 The spy, who had learned little of hi : indul- 
 
 ge ut art which is technically called u playing old soldier/' had been it: 
 bo baste ais teat, and Witt, who nndentood Schwarta's game, 
 
 did not hurry him. The breakfast hour, therefore, had fully arrived 
 before he made his appearance. He came accompanied by Witt and 
 another of bis party; and, in appearance and manners, fully answ< 
 the description of him given by Schwartz. He was a tall, red-haired 
 man, vain, pert, and full of Belf-complaeencj. Indeed, bo much did 
 he display of a satisfaction, at once chuckling and childish, that Dou- 
 glas, even though unwarned, must I sted treachery. Besides, b 
 
 never could hav believed a being, manifestly so frivolous and fooKsb 
 capable of the high purpose of devoting himself to a life of toil, hard 
 •hip, and danger. The vain and s< If-indulgen1 may receive moment 
 impulses, under the influence of which brilliant achievements may be 
 suddenly accomplished ; but fr/ym Buch tb i tasks of study, virtue, and 
 enduring courage, must never be expected. 
 
 I!' ?( ted, at first, more intent upon his breakfast than anything 
 else, and when it appeared, made faces at his coarse fere which ill ac- 
 corded with his professed isdiflference to all personal inconvenience 
 But, bad as it was, he contrived to BwaHow enough to show that M was 
 not prepared to play the ascetic any more in regard to the quantity 
 than the quality of his food. 
 
 "You at*/' said Douglas, " the life we lead. If you are not pre- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 169 
 
 pared to submit cheerfully to privations, compared to wnich what yoa 
 see here is luxury, you should not join us." 
 
 "Damn luxury," said the other. " What do I care about luxury ? 
 To be sure, I have been used to it all my life; coffee or tea, one, every 
 morning for breakfast; and good lighf bread, and potatoes and pics; and 
 then, for dinner, pork or fresh meat, or eod&h at least every day in the week, 
 and all sortsof .<oss ; and then pies again, and cheese, and all that. But I am 
 ready to give it all up to serve my country, and live as hard as anybody." 
 
 " I am glad to hear it," said Douglas, drawing some papers from his 
 pocket. Among these he affected to search in vain for a particular pa- 
 per, and in doing so, carelessly threw on the table the letter endorsed 
 with the name Job Dixon. He saw that it caught the other's eyes. 
 and, expressing some dissatisfaction at his own carelessness, said : "You 
 have a right to know, before you join us, all about our force, and I 
 ought to show you my last return ; but I have it not at hand, though I 
 believe I know pretty well the number of my men. But stay," con- 
 tinued he, interrupting himself with a start, and looking at the gallant 
 Captain with a kceaness that made his very back ache, " How came 
 you by my pass-words, sir ?" 
 
 " I got them from a man they call Job Dixon," replied the trembling 
 Captain. 
 
 " Job Dixon !" replied Douglas, immediately resuming his compla- 
 cency, " then all is right." 
 
 " yes, all is right," said the other, recovering from his alarm, but 
 more fluttered and confused than ever. " He told me that wa'nt his 
 name, sure enough, and he said that name was only a sort of a counter- 
 sign to you." 
 
 It cost Douglas sdhie effort to suppress a smile at seeing the delicate 
 and dangerous office of a spy undertaken by one so destitute of all the 
 qualities necessary to it; but he commanded himself, and asked whether 
 the other was now content to join him. 
 
 " To be sure I am," said he; " and not only I, but fifty more a- 
 fellows as ever stepped shoe-leather. You Bee, thai vaswbei 1 doubted 
 about. I thought may be as I had such a compaay, I had a riglr 
 set up for myself; but after I heard all about yoa from that men, Job 
 Dixon, or whatever else his name is, 1 made up my mind to join you." 
 
 " Where are your men '.'" asked Douglas. 
 
 "Tliej are all about homo yet," Bftid the Captain, "but T can bring 
 them together any day, and any place you I name. T suppose 
 
 you don't mean to stay up here in the mountains all tin 1 time, and may 
 be it might suit as well f'r me to- fall in with you Bomewhi 
 
 " That is true," said Douglas " We are not so well off here for ra- 
 
 <* 
 
Tin: partisan ; 
 
 here we lire Btrong enough. A regimenl of men eould not (.-limb 
 the I Bui I proposi t-> move >\>< 
 
 li uld 1m in nt <>n the way. What <• only are 
 
 men in '.'" 
 
 ■ In Bedford count; • I the other, r< peu;in:_ r his lesson exactly. 
 
 "That will do, then," said Douglas. •• I ■ to march against 
 
 m, al Lynchburg, early in November, and on the fifth day of the 
 :nontb I will meet yon :it Jones's F rd, on Staunton river." 
 
 " I cannot say that 1 know exactly wh< r< thai Is," Baid the B] 
 
 •• it is Uttle out of your way into any pari of Bedford county," said 
 Douglas; ""and as I want to see some of oar friends down in thai <)uar- 
 tcr, 1 will ride tliero vritb you. I am told Mason is pretty Btrong, and 
 i want to gel all hue force 1 can, and that is not so much but what I 
 shall be glad of your help." 
 
 " Bow many men have yon.'" asked the ^*:ulk^.•c Captain. 
 
 ■•I have but a handful Aire, jusl nowj bul 1 am sending out orden 
 lor more to join on the route, and I ana in hopes to reach the river 
 with lour hundred at least. I Bhall Btay there, a( sllevents, till more 
 come in : because it would be foolish to attack Mas< a's regiment with 
 less than five or six hundred!" 
 
 "'I'll.' will do," said the other j "for Mason i- than four 
 
 hundred Btroi 
 
 "Indeed!" nepli las,affi (ting surprise and pleasure. "Then] 
 
 tin pretty sure of him. 1 had heard as much before, bul 1 don't trust 
 
 afraid there was a trap Bet for moj but now I am 
 
 satiated, and if I can leave Staunton river withusix hundred men, I 
 
 hall gather ' [gel to Lynchburg to drive Ma 
 
 and his regimenl before me like ohaff." 
 
 Having said this, Douglas Bet about the necessary arrangements rbi 
 mpanying his new acquaintance to Jones's Ford. As the distance 
 was too great for one day. In proposed to pass the nigh! al thehousi 
 u trusty friend, from whence the Yankee officer would have it in his 
 pewes t<> reaoli o tavern, two miles beyond the river, the aext day. II- 
 now despatched a note to Arthur, saying that he wished to examine tin 
 .round :;t the river, in company with him and Schwartz. He there- 
 fore din Bti 1 thi tc to fbHow at a cautious distance, so as nut to.be seen 
 by the spy j topi them in the night, and take up their quartered a 
 .house in advan I, and the next day proceed to the dwelling of Mr. 
 (lordoii, near the river, and wait for him there. 
 
 Meantime a hofsej thai stood piqueted hard by, was saddled, and 1'ou- 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 171 
 
 das set out, accompanied by the treacherous Captain and the faithful 
 Witt. 
 
 The journey was made without any occurrence worth toting. In 
 the conversation of the stranger there was nothing to beguile Douglas 
 from his own thoughts. The vain babble of the prating* coxcomb was 
 all wasted on the impenetrable Witt ; and, after a few fruitless attempts 
 to overcome the taciturnity of his companions, he followed their exam- 
 ple, and the greater part of the journey was made in silence. Late on 
 the second evening they reached the river. The spy was directed 
 the public house on the other side, and Douglas and Witt returned to 
 Mr. Gordon's, where they found Arthur and Schwartz. 
 
 As they were now in a land of civilization and comfort, Douglas was 
 not sorry to obtain, once more, a good night's lodging, which his 
 pitablc friend was delighted to afford. l>ut this rare enjoyment did 
 not make him forgetful of the necessity of watching the motion 
 his euemy. lie accordingly despatched a scout to the house to whi 1 
 the Yankee had been directed, to make sore that he had gone on. 
 
 At a late hour the man returned, and mused Douglas to inform him 
 t|iat the « spy had indeed gone as far as he had intended, and that he 
 had there fallen in with a party of a dozen dragoons, commanded by a 
 subaltern, who were on a scout through the country. With this officer 
 lie had been seen to be engaged in private and earnest conversation, 
 and orders had been issued to the men to look well to the condition ol 
 their arms, and to be in readiness to move at daylight. 
 
 It at once occurred to Douglas that a new scheme had entered tin' 
 head of the vain and frivolous being who had thrust himself into an 
 affair requiring ojialities so different, It was probable that h 
 to avail himself of the presence of this little party to endeavor to sur- 
 prise his enemy, whom he had reason to believe to be still near 
 
 •1. The folly of risking the defeat of his favorite enterprise by 
 joining in the attempt, and thas throwing off his mask, bely 
 
 to occur to him. The question with Douglas was, whether by abiding 
 the attack he should afford the bungling fa 1. whom he had ! 
 ing into his own trap, a chance to escape from it by his own blunder. In 
 . lie diil i i( worthy due Owd 
 
 his discretion. He had indoi I as hb proper ] 
 and though he had 1" en unable to restrain his disposition to babbl 
 
 aorely repented his indiscretion when he round the other officer dn> 
 
 poqpd to anticipate him. II arncstly dissuaded 
 
 anything ; ng in this, bad d< I 
 on • lone, and 1 
 might 
 
172 TlIK PABTISAS LEADER. 
 
 Hut ih >Ugb uncertain what might be the conduct of the spy, I>ou- 
 
 old not resist bis inclination to throw himself in the way of the 
 expected attack. It was necessary that he should examine the ground 
 carefully, and he had not time to wait until the Bcoutiag party Bhould 
 Ft the neighborhood Besides, he was anxious to inform him- 
 self precisely of the force and position of the enemy, and the name of 
 their new commander. For tliis purpose he i to make at lead 
 
 one prisoner. And, after all, perhaps not the least moving considera- 
 tion m ire to taste once more the stormy joy of battle. 
 
 (Jpon the whole, he determined to turn the tables on his enemy, 
 if possible j and, instead of returning to .bed, prepared immediate!] 
 for action. All things were soon ready The master of the house, his 
 two sons, and three of the neighbors, who, hearing that he was there, 
 had called to Bee him, added to his own party, made a force often nun, 
 with which he was not afraid to abide the attack of thirteen. At 
 the hi ad of these he took the road, and by daylight had occupied the 
 ground where he wished to meet the enemy. 
 
 At the point of which we speak, the mad, after passing fur aomo 
 
 miles over a broad and level ridge, at the distance of a quarter of^a 
 uiilc from the river, dives suddenly int p defile between two 
 
 hills. The descent is rapid, and in less than a hundred yards, tin 
 hills pome down abruptly on either hand, leaving between them barely 
 space enough for the road, which is quite narrow. They are steep. 
 1, with projecting rocks, and alto-ether impracticable to cavalry; 
 and are moreover covered with a heavy growth of timber and brush- 
 wood. At the distance of about two hundred yards from the plain 
 above, the road turns Bbarp to the right. It then* pursues a course 
 nearly direct, for a like distance ; and (lien, tinning short to the left, 
 the river, ford, and the oppOSlti lauding, aie at on 06 in full view. 
 
 A point a little below the fust mentioned bend W8C selected by Dou- 
 glas for his position. lie posted Witt and three others on one side of 
 the road, behind rocks and trees, while he, Arthur, and one more, dis- 
 themsclves,in like manner, on the other. 3chwartz,with the rest, 
 I through the defile, with Orders to hide themselves near the 
 bank, and let the enemy pass without interruption. A pole had been 
 thrown across the road, some twenty yards in front of Douglas and his^ 
 party. The crossing of this, by the enemy, was to be the signal for 
 firing. The officer was designated to be the mark of Witt. The right 
 and lefl hand man of the leading hie had each his appropriate execu- 
 tioner appointed ; then the two next, and then two more, were in like 
 uiauner foredoomed, so that no shot should be thrown away. While 
 these arrangements were making, Arthur bethought him of Schwartz'* 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 173 
 
 lecture on tactics, and was at once sensible of the vast superiority of 
 untaught courage and sagacity, on occasions like this, over the sort of 
 discipline on which the martinet is so apt to pride himself. 
 
 About sunrise the enemy appeared, consisting, as the scout had said, 
 of a doj^n men, undcrthc command of a single officer. To the great 
 relief of Douglas, the redoubtable Yankee Captain was not with them. 
 As the hill was steep, they advanced in a walk, while the officer, who 
 was in the rear, occasionally turned his horse's head to the hill, sccm- 
 ing.to examine for some recess in which his party might draw aside, 
 and form a sort of ambuscade ; but there was no such spot. The 
 ground was everywhere too steep for cavalry; and, disappointed, be 
 put spurs to his horse, and pushed forward to resume his place at the 
 head of the party. They were now near the fatal point; every rifle 
 was in rest, and duly levelled at its mark, and in the moment that the 
 leading file were crossing the pole, six saddles were empty, and six 
 horses ran mastcrlcss. The aim of Witt at the officer, who was much 
 more distant, and moving rapidly, was less fatal. I>ul his ball took ef- 
 fect, as was plainly shown by the sword arm, which, at the moment, 
 fell powerless. The men went to the right about in a moment, and a 
 shout, which the echoes of the steep gorge multiplied into a hundred 
 voices, sent them down the hill at full speed. 
 
 The officer, though wounded, was not quite so ready to take to his 
 heels, and eaHcd to his men to halt. Willi all but one, he succeeded; 
 but that one, wild with terror, dashed on. In the meantime, Schwartz 
 and his little party bad planted themselves in the road, near the river, 
 and their array was the first object that met the eye of the affrighted 
 soldier as he turned the angle of the mad. But panic is as apt to 
 hurry a man into danger as away from it, and the > i ^ 1 1 1 of this mu 
 enemy only urged the poor wretch to a more desperate efforl toes 
 by breaking by them. In vain did the men throw up their arms, and 
 call to him to stop. He rushed on, right upon Schwartz, who stood in 
 the middle of the road, and who, as a dernier rcsort f Btqpped hU 
 ■with a bullet Tli.' report of his rifle, and a glimpse <>(' Douglas's 
 advancing along the Bide <>f the bill t<> get within s-h >t. decided t!<" of- 
 ficer thai it was time to look to hi* safety. Tumi agio of tin' 
 read, lie saw the fate of his fallen soldier, and th< it. Imme- 
 diately .calling on hia men to follow, he ''.--I'd on with an imp' I 
 which Bnowcd a determination to force a pass rish. 
 
 Tl result was in< ■■ Schwarti was in the act of load i 
 
 rile The other three levelled th< sirs. They had not 1" n trained in 
 Schwartz's school of tactics, and all three, attra< I 
 and plume and Bash of the officer, fired at him. He fell d< ad, and the 
 
174 THE PARTISAN LEA] 
 
 rceiring their .■■. rushed <>n the mount 
 
 and let them pass. One of them 
 nimble but tliat,ns ho clambered np the rocky face of the hill, a sweet) 
 tag back-handed inflicted* a deep gash in tho back part of his 
 
 thigh. This was the only injury received by the party of Douglas in 
 the affair, and dearly did it cost the man who gave it. Schwarta 
 marked him, and coolly wcntTon loading his rifle. By tlio time he hui 
 effected this, the soldier was half way across the river, and tl,. 
 moment tumbled from his horse, and went floating down the Btreaaa. 
 The other five gained the Bhore before another rifle could be leaded 
 and, doubling a which the road turned, disappi 
 
TIIE PARTISAN LEADSR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 This victory, though on a small scale, was complete in itself It 
 was a favorable omen, too, and might serve as a sort of rehearsal of 
 the more important battle to be fought on the same ground. In one 
 thing only Douglas had been disappointed, by the eagerness of" 
 Schwartz's men. He had made no prisoners, and the fallen enemy 
 were all either dead, or no* in condition to be harassed by such qi 
 tions as he wished to ask. They were necessarily committed to tin 
 care of such of the party as lived in the neighborhood; and thi 
 horses and arms being secured, were placed in the same hands for safe 
 keeping. 
 
 The feelings of Arthur, as he looked on this fearful scene of slaugh- 
 ter, were such as might be expected to possess the mind of a youth, 
 who, as yet, had never seen the blood of man shed in strife. But 
 these arc nothing to the purpose of my tale. It is enough to say, tha - 
 the contemplation of it wrought the usual change in his character. II»- 
 now felt that to kill or be killed was the order of. the day; and, thou 
 his next sleep was haunted by visions of the ghastly objects that lay 
 before him, he awoke from it with a mind prepared for the stern dutic • 
 of war. 
 
 Requesting the company ar>d advice of his nost, Douglas now pf 
 cecded to examine the ground. He found the river hills every when 
 tcrsected, on both sides of the river, by ravines such as that I han 
 scribed. The ford was shallow, but just above was dec]' water, which, on 
 the north side, came down quite near to the gravel bar, which served M 
 dam. Here a steep and high rock bounded the river, and along thi 
 base of it. the water eddied in a deep pool, and then swept away in a 
 strong, but Bhallow current. At a Bhort di the moutl 
 
 of a ravine, i v< rgrown with lofty I 
 
 l distance of fifty yards from the landing-place. The read, issuing 
 from the river at the fool of the rock, holds a straigl 
 ty yards, or thereabouts, and then turning short to *' 
 'in sight of the river. From thence, a short, bat si 
 a deep cleft in the hills, brings the traveller to the top, wl 
 
THE PARTTSAB I.KAKER. 
 
 the right, and resumes the direction t nchburg. 
 
 r .-i thon mination of the whole, the ; irned to 
 
 breakfast at the boose of Mr. Gordon. 
 
 lunulas rode slowly and thoughtfully. At length he said apart to 
 
 Sohwa 
 
 •• Four plot is admirable ; but I am afraid it will fail." 
 •• Wli.it chance of thai '.'" asked Schwartz. "They will be ashamed 
 to briiiLr more than a thousand men against yon, even if they had 
 
 them. Wc can rai-o BS many a^ they can. and wo shall be on the 
 
 eround, and have the Bame advantage we had ju>t now." 
 
 "Hut suppose they come and take possession Bret," said Douglas. 
 
 "Oh! in> danger of that. They'll be in no hurry to leave their 
 sting quarters any sooner than they can help 3 and we can be here a 
 day or two before the time." » 
 
 " It may be BO," said Douglas, ''but I don't think Col. Mason takes 
 me for an absolute fool; and if he does, he has reason to know that 1 
 have sharp-witted men about me. ]>ut nny man's wits may fail him 
 sometimes. For example, it has never occurred to eitl , that 
 
 Mason will certainly not believe that we have been fooled by such a 
 fellow as this Yankee of yours. Will he not, therefore, at onoe 
 •no truth, and conclude that we arc crying to catch him In his 
 awn tr-'.p r" 
 
 •• I God!" said Schwartz, "that is true. 1 had not thought of that. 
 The fellow is tcn> silly to be made bait of, sure enough. But then, you 
 see, Captain, we can fix them any how. Mr. Gordon here can raise 
 •nc n enough, in th to keep the n from , '.. riv< r, until 
 
 we arc ready for them, and 'hen, you know, we can push across a part 
 of our men, and toll them over, [f once we get them into a right 
 sharp fight, they'll follow us aoross the river fast enough." 
 
 "I have no doubt of their coming to look for US," said DoDglaS, 
 
 " and no d,oub< of fight ; but we must be pn pared to mc< t more men 
 # tban we have bargained for. Depend upon it, they will bring every 
 
 man they can raise. Why, Would you bellOVe it, the fellow talked t.> 
 
 me about living at home on codfish, and potatoes, and cider, and pies, 
 and nil am is of satsf Such a simpleton could not impose on a child. 
 Col. Mason has talents worthy of a better cause, and he will sec through 
 the whole affair. I suppose he is superseded ; but he is an honorable 
 man, and will frankly give the benefit of his suspicions to his superior, 
 who can hardly be such a fool as to disregard hi ons. We 
 
 must bestir ourselves, tl jive up the game and escape from 
 
 our own plot 
 
r" 
 
 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 177 
 
 " Gentlemen,'' continued Douglas, speaking aloud, and in a sustained 
 and decisive tone, " this is our place of rendezvous; the time mid-day 
 on the third of November. Every man must come prepared for action, 
 and such as mean to accompany me to the lower country, must bring 
 with them all their necessaries. Mr. Gordon, I must depend oil yott^ 
 to hold this pass, and keep the enemy from crossing the river. 1 shall 
 send n force to support you, if necessary. You, Schwartz, know what 
 to do better than I can tell you. You* Witt, will return with me, and 
 we will talk, as we ride, of what is to be done. Mr. Gordon, tee could 
 travel without food, but our horses cannot. We must trouble you for 
 something for all, and then wc part until the day of rendezvous. Until 
 that time, ' Vigilance and Activity' is the word — but then ' Freedom, 
 Independence, and Glory.'"- 
 
 As Douglas said this they arrived at Mr. Gordon's door. The ready 
 meal was hastily swallowed, the horses fed, and they departed for the 
 camp. On the way Schwartz, turning to the left, kept a southward 
 course through the district, along the foot of the mountains, to rouse 
 the inhabitants in that quarter, and to collect a party to support Mr. 
 Gordon. The rest returned to the camp, from whence runners were 
 despatched throughout all the adjacent country, and even beyond the 
 mountain to the headwaters of the Holston. Leaving them thus cm- 
 ployed, let us repair to the head-quarters of the enemy. 
 
 , In the handsome parlor of a handsome house, in the suburbs tfi 
 Lynchburg, wc find two officers seated at a game of piquet. The hour 
 is nine at night. The room is richly furnished. A bright fire burns 
 on the hearth, and the blaze of sconce and astral lamps sheds its 
 soft, luxurious, moonlight beams into every corner. Wincf cordials, 
 fruits, and cigars arc placed on a table, and every thing betokens com- 
 fort and luxury, case and indolence. The dress of thes* cor- 
 responds with the scene. Both glitter with gold and flutd r in lace, 
 and their richly mounted swords and highly finished pistols, whieb lie 
 on the table, show that (he owners abound in the means of display and 
 Bclf-indulgcncc. 
 
 Buch was indeed the fact. The pay of the army, gradually in- 
 creased by law during thirt* had grown I inc. The 
 emoluments, as they are called, under as; ind and connivi 
 had advtnccd (vcillwut law) yet more rapidly; so that to be a Colt 
 in the army of the United States was to be ■ rich man. Such was 
 the rank of both these officers. It was true 'hat the treasury had 
 already begun to feci the drain of th< under an 
 iniq nploycd to fortify the tyranny that l.j<i 
 
 12 
 
178 THE PAXT2SA1T LEAI>1R 
 
 that the supply now on hand, if once exhausted, would 
 not be speedily renewed. But the rulers felt bat the more sensibly 
 •hat the energetic employment both of force and corruption wai nc 
 tary to retain the little that remained, by holding Virginia in subjec- 
 tion. With Hii view, the same system of wasteful expenditure, com- 
 menced twenty years l»efore, was kept up: and all who served the 
 erown with becoming zeal were encouraged to bold open their mouths 
 that they night be filled. 
 
 In another part of the room a company cf subalterns fluttered around 
 a bevy of fair damsels. To these young ladies the mistress of this 
 mansion had of late become an object of much increased regard. Nft 
 friend was so dear, no society so desirable, nor house so pleasant to 
 tjsit at as hers. Many an extra visit did she receive, since the abound- 
 ing loyalty of her husband had invited the commandant of the post to 
 make it his head-quarters. Many a wistful glance had been east during 
 the evening, from the assiduous subalterns, toward the In ndsome and 
 unheeding wearer of two epaulettes, to whose authority all who ap- 
 proached him were bound to bow. Hut it wus ali in vain. Sufficient 
 to himself, he valued not the admiring eyes which were Deal upon 
 him ; or if they occupied any thing of hii attention, it was to be made 
 the subject of invidious comparison with the ladies of the highest 
 fashion hi the northern eifcies, whose lavish attentions had rendered 
 him totally heedless of the vulgar admiration of a parcel of half bred 
 Virginia girls. 
 
 These remarks, however, apply to only one of the officer.'- in qtfes- 
 tion. The other manifested bo such insensibility, though his attentions 
 to the fair were only marked by ■ staid courtesy, hardly more flattering 
 than the perfect indifference af bia companion. Still he paid such 
 attention as it becomes a gentleman to pay to every thing that wears 
 the exterior of a lady. But the day when he was himself an object 
 of court to them was past, [ndecd, the ladies bad already begun to 
 despair of thawing the coldness of his temperament, when, being su- 
 perseded by a younger and handsomer commander, he was laid on the 
 shelf and condemned as quite paste. 
 
 Hut it is high time to make the reader acquainted with the two mili- 
 tary gentlemen, to whose presence he has been introduced. 
 
 The reader, without doubt, already understands that, of the two pffi- 
 cers before us the elder in years, though theyouuger in commission, is 
 Col. Mason, late commandant of the post. His companion is Col. 
 Owen Trevor, whose impatience for distinction has been indulged by 
 sending him to Lynchburg with his regiment. Here, taking rank of 
 Mason, he has been in fact placed in command of a brigade, with an 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 179 
 
 understanding that time and opportunity will be afforded him to show 
 himself qualified for the rank, by discharging the functions of a briga- 
 dier. This post has been assigned him because in this direction is the 
 only enemy actually in arms. 
 
 Although the force under the command of Douglas bad been origi- 
 nally but a handful, Mason had seen that it possessed, in a marvellous 
 degree, the faculty of occasional expansion. His intelligence had 
 taught him to expect that it would ere long be greatly increased, if not 
 crushed by a vigorous movement on his part. Hence he was desirous 
 of acting on the otfensive, especially as he had no doubt, from the 
 past, that Lynchburg was the object of Douglas. Dut he had seen 
 enough of the character and resources of his enemy to know that a 
 small force would be unavailing, and had therelbre earnestly desired to 
 be reinforced. In answer to this request he had received, not the 
 moderate aid that he had desired, but an order to surrender his com- 
 mand to Col. Trevor, whose well-appointed regiment was ordered to the 
 post. 
 
 Col. Mason was a man of honor and talent. He was one. of the 
 many subjects of that strong delusion which had so extensively pre- 
 vailed ; and, under the influence of which, Virginia, for thirty years, 
 had been sacrificing the substance of liberty and prosperity to the 
 forms of a constitution devised to secure, but perverted to destroy 
 them. He belonged, moreover, to that unfortunate class of partisans 
 whom it is safe to neglect. Acting on principles, however erroneous, 
 it was clearly seen that these alone were sufficient to bind him to the 
 service to which .he had devoted himself. It was at the same time 
 little doubted that a change of opinions would be followed by a renun- 
 ciation of all the advantages of his situation, whatever they might be. 
 To waste on such a man the means of corrupting the Corruptible, and 
 securing the faithless, would indeed have been " ridiculous exc 
 He liad won his way to his present rank by the strict performance of 
 every duty of the subordinate offices, through which he had risen by 
 
 jular gradation. In the shuffling and catting of the military pack, 
 he had seen junior officers, placed above nini by that sort of legerde- 
 main which had bo long before procured his master the name of the 
 magician, lie had not indeed acquiesced tamely in this, hut means 
 had been always found so soothe him, and he had been retained in the 
 service by dextrous appeals to that magnanimity which they who knew 
 not bow to appr< ciate, yet knew well how to play upon. 
 he had not gel forgotten how, ten years befoi 
 had been found for reversing the relative rank • 
 • Trevor, whin both v ere vcrj young and both n that 
 
 
TIIK PARTISAN T.KADBK. 
 
 :nc complimentary though temporary arrangement 
 
 had been devised to reconcile him to that which gave the rank of 
 in to one, whom he. still a Lieutenant, had once commanded. 
 Having repressed his di-^atisfuctioq at that time, he rjow felt hound to 
 acquiesce in |he circumstanccfl which placed his former subordinate 
 immediately in authority over him. If thi< occurrence made him 
 repent his former' tameness, now when it was .too late to remonstrate, 
 he did not say so, but addressed himself wfra' grave precision to the 
 fulfilment of all his commander's orders. 
 
 # 
 
THE PARTISAN LBADBR. 181 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Fortuna riimium quern fovet, sttiltutn tacit. 
 
 Colonel Trevor was the spoiled child of fortune and patronage. 
 He was old enough to remember his father's rise in life. Hence, in 
 estimating his consequence in society, he had formed a habit of com- 
 paring him with the class from which he sprang, and not with that 
 more intellectual order of men, in which he bad at last found hk 
 proper place, and where he had long remained stationary in well ascer- 
 tained equality. This circumstance alone made an important difference 
 between him and his younger brothers. The sort of retrospect with 
 which he was most familiar teaches any thing but humility, however it 
 may imprest that lesson on the mind that has already learned it. 
 
 In the commencement of Col. Trevor's military career, the approba- 
 tion of his father had been of more consequence to the usurper than 
 now, when his throne stood strong on its foundations. The character 
 of that worthy gentleman, too, had been less understood. The Presi- 
 dent had not been aware how absolutely the convictions of his own 
 mind and high sense of duty supplied the place of those douceurs, the 
 frequent repetition and continued expectation of which is necessary to 
 bind the faith of the unprincipled. Before this discover} - was made. 
 Col. Trevor had been already advanced to a rank, and invested with an 
 .adventitious consequence, which made it important to cultivate him on 
 his own account. II is early training had taught him the grand maxim 
 of the court — u Nothing ask, nothing have." lie had discovered that 
 any display of fixed principle, however favorable to the usurper's plans, 
 • passport to advancement; that rewards were only for the mer- 
 cenary, and that they were always dispi di sd with a freedom duly pro- 
 portioned to the eagerness with which they were sought. The caustic 
 wit of John Randolph had unintentionally and almost with fa 
 breath supplied the faction with a countersign not to be mistaken. If 
 any man talked about his principles, (as all men d<> and must at times,) 
 there was always at hand some dextrous pimp, whoM I 
 ascertain their number. If they were found tc*be either more or less 
 yen, th< discovery was fatal to hi I advancement. 
 
 The character of Douglas Trevor had been formed under circum- 
 stances directly the reverse of those which had operated "n his elder 
 
 - 
 
] v '2 THE PARTISAN LBABIB. 
 
 lie "iily remembered his father in the Bame cirol< - and tlie 
 lace in society in which his latter days bad b L No 
 
 change of condition hod 1 id the youth to turn his hack on the companions 
 of his boyhood ; no rapid promotion had filled him with a fond i 
 
 < f hi- own osnsequencc, or an o?erweening eagerness for rank and 
 emolument; and his unbought fidelity had shown thai of the 
 
 number of those on whom rewards would be wasted. Thus it hap] 
 
 jo often does,) that two young men, sons of the same parents, 
 educated in the same school, and trained to the same profession, were 
 ju>t the reverse of each other, in particulars wherein nature had prob- 
 ably made little difference between them. Bo it was, that while the 
 one was indifferent to duty, frivolous, self-indulgent, and mercenary, 
 the other was assiduous, discreet, temperate, and disinterested. 
 
 It may be inferred from what I have said, that the rank of Col. 
 Trevor was already above his merit. The consequence was, that hav- 
 ing reached his present elevation by the force of causes not within him- 
 self, his own consciousness afforded no standard for his farther preten- 
 sions. He could see no reason why he should not he a field-marshal 
 as well as a colonel. And so it was ; for he had no just claims to cither 
 rank on the score of service or qualification. A stone thrown up, were 
 it endued with consciousness and thought, could see no reason, as long 
 as it was ascending, why it might not fly to the moon! If my experi- 
 ence in life ha-- taught me any thing, it is, that a man who sets no 
 bounds to his aspirations, unless his daily intercourse with the world 
 affords daily proofs of an intrinsic superiority over all he meets, is al- 
 ready raised above his merit, 
 
 The gentlemen, of whom I have been Bpeaking, were busily engaged 
 in their game, when the Orderly in waiting entered and announced an 
 officer who wished to report himself to the commandant of the post 
 
 " Let him call in the morning, and be damned to him," said Colonel 
 Trevor. " Is this an how to disturb a gentleman?'' 
 
 The Orderly saluted and withdrew, hut presently returned to say that 
 the officer had particular husiness with Colonel Mason, and wished to 
 see him immediately. Mason accordingly left the room, and was gone 
 but a few minutes, when he too came back. 
 
 ; ' This officer, sir," said he, "asked to see me, supposing me still in 
 command here. His intelligence is for you ; and, from what I heard 
 before I discovered his mistake, it may be important that you should 
 receive it to-night." 
 
 " "Well," said Trevor, in a tone at once lazy and peevish, " T suppose 
 I must see him. But it is damned hard that I cannot have a moment's 
 leisure. Let him come in." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. I8S 
 
 He was summoned accordingly, and proved to be no other than our 
 acquaintance, the Yankee spy, whom I now introduce to the reader, as 
 he announced himself. He is Captain Amos Cottle, of the 20th regi- 
 ment of infantry, in the army of the United States. His name, I 
 presume, (like that of the fourteen James Thomsons, in Don Juan,) had 
 been bestowed in honor ef the illustrious bard immortalized by Lord 
 Byron. He was invited to take a glass of wine, and, having seated 
 himself, requested a private conference with the commanding officer. 
 This was a signal for the dispersion of the ladies, and their assiduous 
 attendants, who adjourned to another room. Mason was about to fol- 
 low, but the Cokniel carelessly requested him to remain. 
 
 Captain Cottle was then invited to open Ins budget, which he did by 
 telling what the reader already knows. Not a sentence did he utter., 
 in which some indication of folly, vanity, or .indiscretion did not escape 
 him. All this, however, passed unmarked of Col. Trevor, whose eyes, 
 sparkled at the welcome intelligence. Nothing could be more apropos 
 to his wishes, or to the plan of the President. "VeRi, vidi, viei." 
 The exploit of Crcsar was the only parallel to that which he proposed 
 to achieve, ticcasionalhy he looked to Mason for sympathy and con- 
 currence with his unexpressed thoughts. As often he withdrew his 
 eye, chilled and perplexed by the cold, steady, thoughtful look ef his 
 companion. What could this mean ? Could Mason be insensible to 
 the advantage of the plot, or indifferent to its issue '( Could envy so 
 far prevail with a man heretofore distinguished by his disinterested 
 xeal for the service, as to damp his ardor in an enterprise of so much 
 promise ? He was at first indignant at this idea, but a little reflection 
 made him judge his brother-officer with more candor. 
 
 "Poor Mason," said he to himself. " I don't wonder that ho is a 
 little mortified at my good fortune. It is something hard that he should 
 have held this post so long, without a chance to do any thing, and that 
 I should have come just in time to rob him Gf this. But then, damn 
 it J it is his own fault. What did he want with a reinforcement against 
 a parcel of ragged militia ? It was right to supersede an officer who 
 would ask more than one regiment to meet any number of such raga- 
 muffins that could come against him. Besides, he ought to have bro 
 ken up their den long ago. If Dooglafl escapee me this 'iim, it shall 
 not be lonjr before I smoke him out of his hole, or there is no virtue in 
 gun -powder." 
 
 Having thus reasoned himself into a state of erquisil mpla- 
 
 ceney, he heard the story of Captain Cottle to the end, and then asked 
 the opinion of Mason. 
 
18* THE [8AM LEAI' 
 
 • [ ." replied that gentleman, " that 1 am prepared I 
 
 an opinion/' 
 
 " 1 hope," -aid Trevor, " that you don't mean to deny me the benefit 
 ur thoughts " 
 
 - far from it, that T mnlco it a point of conscience not to 
 without having first thought. When I have done so, I will tell you 
 what 1 think. To speak now would be hut to give you the crude sug- 
 ns of unreflecting and impertinent presumption." 
 " T cannot understand," said Trevor, " how you can require time to 
 think in so plain a case." 
 
 " 1 might say. in reply," answered Mason, " that as the ease is so 
 clear to you, you can hardly need my advice. Indeed, I understand 
 your request <>f it hut as a compliment to which I am not insensible, 
 and which T shall not decline. When 1 am prepared to speak, there- 
 fore. ] ' k as plainly as if the ease were as full of difficulty to 
 you as i' i.^ to me." 
 
 ing said this. Mason drew Cottle into conversation ; enquired the 
 particulars of his visit to the mountain : encouraged him t<> recite his 
 Conversations with Douglas; and, filling him full of vanity and conceit 
 by hifl deferential deportment, made the light shine through him, so as 
 
 to expose hi- folly to the mosl careless observer. At length !i" was 
 dismissed for the night, and Mason, addressing Trevor, said : "I am 
 now ready to give 1 yon toy thoughts. 1 could in Captain Cot- 
 
 lie's presence; and, indeed, my mind wis not clear until I had some 
 more conversation with him. 1 am now sat; 
 
 "Let's hear, then, the result of your cogitations," asked Trevor, with 
 something of a sneer. 
 
 Mason colored Blightly,but said, in a calm tone : "I have had some 
 experience of this Captain Douglas, and am morally sure he has not been 
 deceived by tliis man, as he supposes." 
 
 '• What 1" exclaimed Trevor. " Do you forget that Captain Cottle is. 
 an officer whose rank is a pledge for his honor, and who would forfeit 
 Ms commission and his life by bringing false intelligence to his com- 
 mander?" 
 
 ■• ! don't doubt his truth," said Mason, "hut his sagacity I do doubt 
 The man is palpably a Yankee — " 
 
 " And the cunning of the Yankee is proverbial," interrupted Trevoir 
 
 u It is, indeed," replied Mason j "but as he is not only a Yankee, 
 but obviously BO, he could nOt have made Douglas believe that he wat 
 an influential inhabitant of Bedford, a native -of the county, and a 
 sealous stickler for the sovereignty of Virginia." 
 
 '' You give your Captain Douglas credit for a great deal of sagacity " 
 
9 
 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 185 
 
 ** And not without reason," said Mason. " His plans, and his man- 
 ner* of conducting them, all show it. His intelligence appears to be 
 always correct and ready, and his devices for the concealment of his 
 own schemes arc commonly impenetrable. It is clear, from many cir- 
 cumstances, that he has agents who pass throtigh the country unsus- 
 pected ; and I should not be surprised if Cottle had fallen in with one 
 of them. I have no doubt that Douglas will be found at Jo.ies's Ford 
 on the day appointed ; but my life upon it, instead of coming there to 
 be surprised, he proposes to come there to surprise you." 
 
 " Surprise me !" said Trevor, scornfully. 
 
 " ~b have no apprehension that he will surprise you," said Mason, 
 " because I am sure you will take all proper precaution. I merely 
 mean to say that he will attempt it." 
 
 "And be punished for his presumption," said Trevor. "As to pre- 
 caution, I must use it, to be sure, supcrflous as it may be against a set 
 of inexperienced militia." 
 
 "Of one sort of experience," said Mason, "and that not the 
 important, they have bad more than we. They have tasted danger 
 more than once; and their skill in the use of the rifle is such as meli 
 who live with the weapon in their bands, and they alone, can be expect- 
 ed to acquire." 
 
 u I hope to bring in some of them as prisoners," said Trevor, "and 
 then we shall see how that is. I will pit a dozen of our sharp-shooters 
 against .a dozen of them, my horse to yours." 
 
 " T am not in the habit of betting," replied Mason, smiling quietly ; 
 " but, in this case, I dare say I may do it innocently, as the offence will 
 hardly reach beyond intention ; so I take your bet." 
 
 " How do you mean ?" asked Trevor, sharply. 
 
 " T mean," said Mason, " that I am not very sure that you will take 
 a dozen of them." . 
 
 "Not sure !" exclaimed Trevor; "how can they escape me ?" 
 
 " I don't profess to understand their craft," .-aid MaiOD ; " but they 
 arc hard to catch. Tn short, Colonel Trevor, my instructions rcquiro 
 me to afford you all the information I have acquired here. Tt is there- 
 fore my duty, even without question from you, to assure you that you 
 arc in the midst of a disaffected country, and that you are going against 
 an enemy not to be despised, and auion 
 
 Knowing thesi things, and invited by you to advise whit is to I 
 in this affair, my advice is to march your whole disposable force to the 
 appointed place, using i v. ry ] n caution t • guard against surpri 
 might be as well to anticipate Donglas, bo far at least as to und 
 the ground, and to occupy it before the day." 
 
I s '*. Til. 
 
 •• And - • li- 
 no means. Cottfi will have been made avail. il 
 to draw him down from the mountains You neither 
 
 : advantage. B ii it 1 cannot cosily make my 
 
 self in. ur minds arc occupied with different I 
 
 iuI the trap set for Douglas, and I am thinking 
 In- snare lie has laid For you. Depend upon it. Colonel ! 
 that tl. . of eatohing a Tartar, may be illustrated by catching 
 
 the river lulls. He may be caught ; ami yet, neither 
 conic away urn- 1 t you come. ' itinued Mason, ••when 1 
 
 in<[uiroil of this Captain Cottle about the nature of the greaad #t the 
 Fiord, behold, he had not taken notice of it! hut, on cm-.- examination, 
 by finding what lie did not .see, I am satisfied that there is no low 
 ground, nor chared land at the place ; that the bilk conic sheer down 
 
 to the river, and, by almost necessary oonseqaeaee, that the road leads 
 
 through a deep defile. The choice of such a place confirms my su-pi- 
 don o[ Douglas's plan, and affords the means to counterwork, it. If we 
 occupy the strong points of the ground, ami he'coiues with only such a 
 body of men a.s Cottle expects, we take him without effusion of blood. 
 
 ■ii.es in force, our position will give as all tin advantage he 
 
 : and, trust me, in that case we -hall ha\e need of them.*' 
 •• X< 1 ./ of./-// nut h/, i against irregular* .'" drawled Tr< i ingly, 
 
 and emphasizing .very word. 
 
 "Our discipline and exj are of little consequence," Bind Ma- 
 
 son, u if we do not use tin in. One use of them is to know how to take 
 advantages. '* 
 
 u Be it 00," said Trevor j lt I shall seek none. A fair field and a 
 -ky are all I a.-k ; and 1 shall he careful to take no measure which 
 may alarm this mountain wolf, and drive him hack to his den before I 
 can come up with him." 
 
 These words were hardly spoken when the Orderly announced that 
 
 .u.t of dragOOM had ju-t returned from a BOOUtiog party with 
 
 important intelligence, and had come to make his report to the Colonel. 
 
 What this WOS the reader will inf. r, when told that he was the uon- 
 
 eommissioned officer on whom had d. rolved tin' command of the four 
 
 men who had escaped with him from Jones's Ford. His information 
 confirmed M uspioions, and might have served as a damper to 
 
 the flattering anticipations Of a man less sanguine than Colonel Trevor. 
 Its only effect on him was to sharpen his eagerness for the expected ren- 
 contre. Vet the 8< rgeant, when (puestioned, frankly admitted that his 
 party had not heen out-numbered. Hut it was clear that their design 
 had been, by some means, disclosed to Douglas; and his advantage had 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 187 
 
 been the result of judicious dispositions, and the skill of his men in 
 the use of that most terrible of all weapons. 
 
 But all this abated nothing of Colonel Trevor's contempt for a foe 
 unskilled in the manual exercise, ignorant of the grand manoeuvres, 
 and dressed in buckskin. Every attempt on the part of Col. Mason to 
 bring him to listen to reason proved fruitless. Indeed the conversation 
 occasionally took such a turn as to crcnto a doubt in the mind of that 
 gentleman, whether to press his advice any farther might not make it 
 difficult to reconcile with his own self-respect the deference which he 
 knew to be due to his commander. He therefore determined to receive 
 and execute in silence all orders which might be given, and leave the 
 event to Providence. 
 
Tin: PARTI !'ER. 
 
 CHAPTER X XX VII. 
 
 dreadful far ilieir ire 
 Than theirs, who, scorning danger's i 
 In i iger niood to battle ca tne ; 
 
 Their valor, like litflii .niii', 
 
 A fierce, but fading lire ! 
 
 if length from his trpul adviser, Col. Trevor was 
 
 the uninterrupted enjoyment of hia anticipated triumph: He 
 
 i to tread on air, and, with ;i Bashing eye, and Bpread nostrils, to 
 
 look forward to the glories, and snuff uji the carnage of th< i \\ ected 
 
 fight. Such was hi.> impatience for the adventure, that, in the ■ 
 
 !' upticipation, he gave.n hi to the necc ssary preparations. 
 
 li c for th< bo in readi- 
 
 . h, with a supply of cartridg itions suitable to 
 
 tion. 
 
 mher at length arrived, and the troops took 
 uji the line of march. As they issued in glittering rank fn m ;! 
 
 . tri Colonel, proudly mounted on his stately 
 charg . him If in the gateway o^the house, where he had 
 
 taken up his quarters, and received their passing salute. The portico 
 house \\:: ' with female figures; tin- win re clus- 
 
 tered with fair faces; Ihe noble oak-trees in the yard were hung with 
 garlands, in toki loyalty of tin 1 household, and of anticipated 
 
 triumph in his assured victory. Hut tin 1 Colonel bow nothing of this. 
 His eye saw not the waving of handkerchiefs, liis car heard not the 
 uing in (inn.-, of music from rosy lij>s. He heard 
 only :'■ iid clanging bugle j he saw nothing but 
 
 ti pings of his well-drained troops as they marched by; 
 
 an- 1 then, hie eye, 1" llowing them, dwelt with delight upon their pio- 
 
 WOUnd along the slope, of the hill, and 
 
 I I idge. Ueyond this, imagination presented ob- 
 
 F rest — the tattle field, the tumult of the strife, 
 
 !i. the pursuit, the carnage, the vanquished leader led in chains 
 loot of tin- throne, the gracious smile of approving majesty, and 
 the rich rewards of successful valor. These things he saw; but saw 
 i. ! the gaunt figure of his host, who stood mar, his strong features 
 
TIIE FARTISAN LEADER. 189 
 
 and manly person illy sorting with the abject part he condemned him- 
 self to act. He sought in vain to catch the eye of the excited com- 
 mander, desirous, in his parting words, to convey some expression of 
 loyalty and zeal. Colonel Trevor marked him not, and, as the rear of 
 the column was about to pass, put spurs to his horse, and galloped t<> 
 the front. 
 
 At this point of my story, I must crave the indulgence of the 
 reader, while I introduce my humble self to his notice. A native of 
 South Carolina, and the heir of a goodly inheritance, which, during a 
 long minority, had been at nurse in the nanus of an honest and pru- 
 dent guardian, T was just of age, the master of a handsome income, 
 and of a large sum of money in hand. Having a taste for military 
 life, my guardian had procured me. a situation in the military academy, 
 which had been established by the State, as a counterpoise to that in- 
 stitution at which the Federal Government had taught so many of our 
 southern youths to whet their swords against the only sovereignty to 
 which they owed allegiance. My proficiency had been seen, and gave 
 entire satisfaction to my teachers. I had imbibed political opin- 
 ions which made me a zealous advocate for the rights of the 
 States, and a strenuous asscrter of the unalienable independence of 
 South Carolina. "When, in compliance with the request of Mr. 1> — , 
 enquiry had been made for a young man qualified and disposed to aid 
 3'oung Trevor in his enterprise, I had been selected for that purpose. 
 I was invited to Columbia, made acquainted with the plans of the in- 
 surgents in Virginia, ami provided with letters to my future com- 
 mander. Journeying to A r irginia by the route that he had purai 
 on the evening of the first day of November I entered the valley de- 
 scribed in the first chapter. I soon encountered a crowd of men, 
 filled the road and the yard of a house contiguous to it. There were 
 wagons, horses, and arms ; and the men, moving quietly but bu 
 seemed all earnestly engaged in some important preparation, 
 
 I was presently stopped, courteously though peremptorily : and hav- 
 ing expressed a wish to sec Captain Douglas, w is conducted to the 
 house. There, pen in hand, and busily engaged in writing, sat a young 
 man of small stature and slight figure. Though quite htndsoo 
 was nothing remarkable in his features, but a bright gray eye, of calm, 
 thoughtful and searching expression, strongly contrasted «with the dark 
 brown, curling hair that clustered over his brow. 
 
 Ueing accosted by my conductor, he raised his head — when I si 
 forward, and ' in) my led' i ''• glanced hastily to the signa- 
 
 ture of the first h^ Oj I read it leisurely, and looking at me 
 
 With A beaming countc anc hand. "You arc welcome, 
 
1C»0 TH: \n LBADBBi 
 
 sir/' said he, u welcome to danger's hour. In the morning pre march 
 on an expedition which may decide the fate of the campaign. My 
 
 ementfl must excuse my seeming neglect of you this eveni 
 But lit me make yon known to your future comradi 
 
 Then taming to :i lair haired youth, already known to the reader as 
 Arthur Trevor, he introduced him as his mother's son. I was then 
 made acquainted with Schwartz and Witt, and several others. Among 
 the number were a Jew young men from the lower counties, of irood 
 families and education, who, in this crisis, had left their hnines to en- 
 in this expedition. These, like their leader, had all learned to 
 
 mmodate themselves to the fashions of tliat wild country, and it* 
 wilder climate, and especially to their own wild life. Each individual 
 was dn BSi d. from top to toe, in leather, no otherwise differing from the 
 
 - of tin rudest mountaineer, than in neatness, and a certain easy 
 grace, and air of fashion, which no dress can entirely eonceal. Tn any 
 i!i' ss, in any company, under any circumstances, Douglas Tr< vor would 
 have been recognised as a gentleman. 
 
 I hardly remember how T fared, or how I passed the night 
 
 ! •,<• somewhat better than most others j but 1 took 
 
 to Bhow that 1 was content to eat wh.it I could g< t, and U) lodge 
 
 as I might. 
 
 At 'daylight wc were on the road. Hut little attention was paid to 
 order. No enemy was near, and nobody was inclined to desert. There 
 was theretoic no necessity for harassing men and hoi-,.-, by forcing 
 tlieiu m keep in rank.-. Bach man rode where, and with whom lie 
 pleaeed, except thai a few were directed to keep near the wagons, not 
 so much to -uard as to aasial in ease of need It is impossible to con- 
 ceive a military array with less of the •< pomp and circumstance id' 
 tVir." The horses wire, for the DXOSl part, substantial, and in suhstan- 
 tial order. Their equipments were of the rudest Bort. Hough-bridles . 
 and pack-saddles wera most ooinmoas The only arms were the rifle, 
 knife, and tomahawk, with their appropriate accompaniments of pow- 
 der horn, charger, and pouch. Doaglas, indeed, had a Bword, and the 
 
 i,w Babrcs taken from the dragoons had hcen distributed anion- the 
 
 principal men. But they were all too wise to encumber their persons 
 with these weapons, which might have been troublesome in their mode 
 of warfare. A Btrong loop of thick leather, stitched to the .skirt of 
 the saddle, in front of the left knee, received the sword, the hilt of 
 which stood up above the pummel. Two or three of the saddles were 
 of the Spanish fashion, the horn of which served to BUpport any trifle 
 the rider might wUh to hang on it. Douglas, in particular, curried, 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 191 
 
 in this way, a leather case, containing his writing materials, and serv- 
 ing as a tablet for writing on horseback. 
 
 But rude as these equipments were, yet to one acquainted with the 
 object of the expedition, there was an appearance of efficiency in the 
 whole which gave the corps a truly formidable aspect. The perfect 
 order of the arms, the strong, though rude dress of the men, their 
 sinewy frames, their sunburnt faces; and, above all, the serious and 
 resolved expression of countenance which generally prevailed, were 
 tokens which none but a martinet would overlook. 
 
 As yet no duty had been assigned to nic, so that I was perfectly 
 disengaged. It was not until we had rode several miles, that Douglas « 
 found leisure to converse with me. He then joined me, accompanied 
 by Schwartz, to whom, in my presence, he explained my situation. 
 Schwartz heard him with thoughtful attention, and then said — " It is 
 all mighty well, sir, if Mr. Sidney will only just take it right. You 
 sec, sir," continued he, addressing me, " there an't no officers among 
 us, and we only just call the Captain so for short. If he was a Cap- 
 tain or a Gineral it would not make much odds, because these fellows 
 just go for what is right and hard fighting; and him they believe in, 
 him they mind. But as to who is first and who is second, that's neither 
 here nor there. I have not a doubt that you are the sort of a man 
 we want ; but all that we can do, is to give you a fair chance to let the 
 men sec it. The Captain can be asking your advice, now and then, 
 and I and Witt will do the same, and when they see that, they will 
 begin to find out what yo^are. And then, you see, sir, when once we 
 get to fighting, a man is never in such a flurry himself, but what he 
 can see who knows what he is about, and who does not. So, by the 
 time we have had a Bkrimmage or two, the men will know all about 
 you ; and whenever the Captain is out of the way, they will all be look- 
 ing to you to know what to do; just in the way of giving \nur 
 opinion, mind ; but, a/ler n while, it will get to bo orders. And then, 
 if any thing happens to the Captain, and Wilt and I don't sec cans.- 
 to change oar mind, why, we only just have to follow you, and the 
 men they follow us, and all will go straight. So you must just make 
 yourself easy and keep quiet. We'll tell you when to speak, and 
 after ;: while you'll find yourself second in command h'Torc you know 
 
 I had no difficulty in acknowledging the reasonableness of these 
 ideas, though i' reemed a new thing, to find a man possessing the influ- 
 ence and authority of Schwactz, dc vising means to transfer them to 
 another. Bui he knew, and the cvenl showed that I J;t, that 
 
 thore wore some duties of a commander for which he was not fit; and 
 
Tin: PARTISAN i 
 
 ■ there were other tl hieh ;■• cl 
 
 tlior. 
 third of N 
 Gordon! On the way wo had received frequent 
 . and h< n I larger n inforccn < 
 
 whole Dumber could not hi much, if at all, short of a thou- 
 
 sand nun. 
 
 Meantimi ime in, from whom wc learned that the saim day 
 
 had been fix 1 for the march of the troops from Lynchl urg. It fol- 
 lowed thai we had abundance of time for our preparations. It >o hap- 
 » pened, that they had not learned the name of. the new commander • 
 but it wm understood that a reinforcement had arrived, and that nearlj 
 the whole disposable force was on the maroh. This included a troop 
 nf dragoons and a company bf artillery, with two pieces of cannon, in 
 addition to a full regiment of infantry, am' one battalion of another. 
 
 Having ascertained his force, and fixed on those on whom he could 
 rely to understand and i xecute his plans, Douglas proceeded to n 
 temporary organisation, suited to the occasion. The men were dh 
 into corps, to each of which a post was provisionally assigned, I 
 ooeui i< 1 aa soon as the approach of the enemy should be annoui 
 
 near the bead of the defile, and just above tl first 
 angle next the top of tl"' asci nt, « n i barricadi 
 
 similar I Iready described. ] on each side, to the 
 
 foot of the hills, at steep, rocky, and impracticable points. It was 
 
 I Bg enongh for t\v< nty men to man its flrc-nty loop holes, and as it 
 
 rsached above their heads, they wen quite concealed. An lnu 
 men were allotted to this post, who were ranged five deep behind the 
 barricade, and instructed to fire in turn, each man falling back to the 
 rear to n ' he had < ] his piece. 
 
 Others were distributed along tl of the hills over- 
 
 looking the road, and directed to seek out hiding-places behind r< 
 tret i, and bushes. These men wen ander the immediate orders of in- 
 dividuals selected for the occasion, but a( ached to the command of 
 Witt, who was stationed at the l'.irii- r. 
 
 About a hundred were placed in ambush in the month of the ravine, 
 jm-t below the road, on the north rid ■ ol the river, under Sch warts. 
 Th< '1 picked men— our stead i b( and harp-shooters — 
 
 who w< I there for the purpose of attacking and carrying the 
 
 guns of the enemy at the* water's edge. 
 
 Douglas himself, at the head of the res' of bis corps, prepared to 
 occupy the road On the north side of the river, to bring 00 the action. 
 These were divided into two equal bodies, and the whole ranged in 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 198 
 
 platoons, at open order, across the road. Of the two battalions, as they 
 may he called, the foremost was placed under my command. The 
 other Douglas commanded in person. My orders were to post my 
 headmost platoon just at the bend of the road, on the top of the hill 
 where it turns to the right. They were instructed to fire ad limitum, 
 each man choosing and making sure of his mark, and then to file away 
 by the right, and, taking to their heels, to run down to the river, cross 
 it, and dispose themselves on the other bank, so as most effectually to 
 gall the enemy, should he attempt to cross. Each platoon, in succes- 
 sion, was to march up to the same ground, and, having fired, to execute 
 the same manoeuvre. The remaining column, under Douglas, were to 
 stand their ground until the enemy should come in view on the top of 
 the hill, and then to fall back fighting, and cross under cover of those 
 who should have passed before. But the best account of what waf 
 ordered will be gathered from what was done. 
 
 dl 
 
 el bv ■ 
 
 13 
 
114 THE PARTISAN LBAD1V 
 
 CHAPTER XX XV III 
 
 The triumph ami the vanity, 
 
 The rapture of the Mrife ; 
 The earthquake vo >ry. 
 
 To thee the breath of life ; 
 All quelled : — Dark spirit, what must be 
 Xne madness "i thy memory? 
 
 WHILE these arrangements were in progress, scouts were hourly 
 arriving. The country being altogether friendly, they were readily 
 provided with fresh horses ; and, before the enemy were half way 
 from Lynchburg, we were fully apprised of their number, equipments, 
 and order of march, l'irst earns a Bquadroo of dragoons ; then a light 
 •ompacTj then Treyor's regiment, about five hundred strong j then a 
 company of artillery ; then one battalion of Mason's regiment, oon- 
 iisting of aon> thing more than two hundred nun ; the whole followed 
 by a lew light troops, by way of rear-iruurd. The whole might amount 
 to a thousand men, well appointed and prepared at all points for effi- 
 cient action. 
 
 On the morning of the fifth of November the men were ordered to 
 betake themselves to their allotted posts; and Douglas, having visited 
 each, and seen that all was right, and rightly understood, addressed 
 himself to his particular command, When every man is an officer, 
 each must be told individually beforehand what is expected from him 
 Panic apart, they will be apt to fulfil such instructions, and will light 
 with the terrible efficiency of individual animosity. Hence the formida- 
 ble character of partisan warfare. 
 
 At IcngjJi the enemy made their appearance. Clinging to the idea 
 ' niglas, Col. Trevor sent forward no advance, but deter- 
 mined cs>h< .mg the whole strength of his corps to bear upon him at 
 once. If he employed any scouts, they were either unfaithful, or were 
 not permitted to approach near enough to learn any thing of the posi 
 tion or movements of Douglas. The consequence was, that Col. Trevor 
 received the first intimation of his presence from a sharp firing in 
 front, which sent his horse to the right-about and back to the rear. 
 Pressing forward, he immediately ordered his sharp-shooters to disperse 
 am? *ike positions to gall us, while he pushed on his solid column of 
 
TIIE PARTISAN LEADEE. 195 
 
 heavy infantry. The reception prepared for thera was such as he had 
 not dreamed of.. His men fell like leaves in autumn — and, as fast a> 
 one platoon of the mountaineers discharged their pieces, another was 
 on the same ground to pour in again that terrible fire, of which the 
 martinets of the regular service have so inadequate an idea. Instead 
 of the deep-mouthed peal of muskets, discharged simultaneously, there 
 is the sharp, short crack of rifle after rifle, fired by men no one of 
 whom touches the trigger until he sees precisely where his ball is to 
 go. The effect was suitable to the cause; but yet the steady infantry 
 pressed on', 
 
 ' : Each stepping where his comrade stood," 
 
 to form an unbroken front, in order to charge with the bayonet. 
 
 Suddenly the firing ceased, and, behold, their enemy seemed to 
 have fled from the expected charge. The fact was, that my last pla- 
 toon, having fired, had withdrawn like their predecessors, and wen- 
 running at full speed after their companions, down the hill and aero?- 
 the river. At the water's edge, I stopped and joined Schwartz in his 
 ambush. It had been arranged that I should do this ; because, in case 
 wc should be so fortunate as to seize the cannon, my skill as an artil- 
 lerist might be of great use. Meantime, my men having crossed over, 
 dispersed themselves along the bank, the face of the hills, and ae: 
 the road, to cover the retreat of those who remained. 
 
 The regulars had necessarily spent a few moments in repairing the 
 wreck of their shattered column before they advanced. They then 
 moved forward, but, before they turned the angle of the road, most of 
 my men were across the river. At the same time, the column under 
 the immediate command of Douglas was seen drawn up in the road, 
 near the foot of the hill, with the rear resting on the water's edge. As 
 the enemy advanced the front platoon fired, faced to the right, and 
 filing along the flank of the column, entered the river, and crossed just 
 below the ford. They next filed to the left in the same way, and 
 crossed above the ford. In this manner the whole column disappeared, 
 one platoon ,after another, while their fire was answered by a roar of 
 musketry, which, being discharged from the higher ground, did more 
 harm to those on the farther bank of the river than to the nearer ene- 
 my. At length the last platoon was withdrawn, and the regular* 
 rushed down toward the river 0>r the purpose pf annoying them ii 
 cross.ng. In this attempt they were again checked and driven back 
 by the terrible fire of my men, who, having already crossed, v. 
 drawn up, as I have said, on the other bank. 
 
Tin: 
 
 w.saw tlio necessity of advancing his artillery, which 
 cordinghj harried down t<> the wen to 'liar a paean] 
 
 ■;. By the time toe cannon were untimbered, nbt a man of 
 
 antaim < rs was U) be seen. As soon as their companid 
 
 I, they dispersed with every appearance of confusion and alarm; 
 ng tin- road, and sonic clambering np ilic hills on 
 both Bides of it- 
 
 The way was dow open, and the infantry advan. - the river. 
 
 pel Mason, riding np to Colonel Trevor, pointed 
 
 out the advantageous position of the artiller cr to' his rear, if 
 
 oed to retreat u Give me leave to su id he, 
 
 •' that it may be well to leave the cannon where they are. The cavalry, 
 • -with effect among those hills, and the two together, 
 fortune of the day be unpropitions, may be of more use 
 here than on the other side." 
 
 •.true," said Trevor. " Tt shall)' | idvise, and yon, 
 
 ''olonel, will remain in command of this reserve." 
 
 •' I earnestly beg, sir," said Mason, "that you will not deny mc a 
 share in the work of the day. The Captains of artillery and .!:. 
 ..re all-sufficient to the command of their respective corps." 
 
 " 1'ardon me, sir." said Trevor. •■ \ B< m be BO proper to execute 
 
 vour prudent and cautioua device as yon, its author. You will be 
 
 |, therefoD r to the rear, rally the .and bring 
 
 them down to tie wan r*s edge. Li t them be ready to cross at a mo- 
 
 MientV warning, '■< the pursuit at I have driven the 
 
 . neiny into die plain." 
 
 ing this, Colonel Trevor turned off, and giving tlie word to march. 
 dashed into the river. Poor Mason, insulted and mortified, neverthe- 
 less patiently addressed himself to the duty assigned him. Tims was 
 his able and brave man denied all participation in an affair which his 
 arrogant and sanguine commander believed to be an abounding source 
 ,f honor to all who might be engaged in it. 
 1 have omitted to mention that, as - - n as the plan of endeavoring 
 
 to surprise the artillery had been adopted, Schwartz had requested me 
 
 to draw the outline of a piece of mounted ordnance in the sand, and 
 to mark the proper positions of the artillerists employed about it. 
 
 While 1 did tins, some t^n or fifteen of our lust marksmen • 1 by, 
 
 looking on attentively. When my sketch was done, he turned to one 
 ,f ti,, | i, and ; lintii .: to one of the marks made to stand for an artil- 
 lerist said coolly: "Now, this i< your man;" and to another, "this 
 irs." Thus be went on till he had doomed every victim. 
 While we are supplying this omission in our narrative, the reader will 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 107 
 
 please suppose that Col. Trevor's regiment have forded the river, and 
 have passed up the road and out of sight. It will be remembered that 
 the hills on both sides of the defile had been lined with concealed 
 marksmen, and that the greater part of the advance had, on recrossine 
 the river, thrown themselves into the same places of concealment. But 
 the idea that they had done so for any purpose but that of safety. 
 entered not into Col. Trevor's mind. Indeed, if he had had any doubt, 
 it must have been removed when he found, that as his column wound 
 through the deep defile,, not a shot molested their march. At tlic first 
 angle of the road he halted and let the column march past him. He 
 could see, from this point, both the head of it, as it advanced, and the 
 rear as it came #p. As the later passed the spot where he stood,_the 
 leading platoon was in the act of turning the next angle of the road. 
 At that moment he heard the startling report of a volley of rifles. He 
 set spurs to his horse to gallop to the front, when every rock and every 
 tree of the surrounding hills burst into flame, and the deep ravine 
 echoed to the report of a hundred rifles. A shot struck his horse, and 
 another piercing his hat, grazed the top of his head deep enough to lay 
 bare the skull, and stun him as he fell under his slaughtered horse. 
 He was thus placed hors de combat, owing the preservation of his life 
 to the iusigna of his rank which had endangered it. 
 
 The sound of this firing was the signal for us. Each of the selected 
 marksmen fixed his aim on his appropriate victim ; and, at a 
 from Schwartz, the artillerymen at the guns fell as if swept away 
 breath of a tempest. Rushing from" our hiding-place, the cannon were 
 instantly in our possession. The company of artillery were not slow to 
 disappear behind the angle of the rock, and one or two who ; 
 out, being instantly picked off, wc saw no more of them. 
 
 Presently we heard the heavy tramp of the squadron- slowly descend- 
 ing the hill, accompanied with the peculiar sound of dragoons, dr< 
 the front in preparation for a sudden and overwhelming charge. While 
 this was passing, our guns were all reloaded. "Mind, boys. 
 Schwartz; "all of number one." The word was understood, and 
 every alternate man stood ready, with rifle cocked and trigger set, te 
 receive the enemy. The charge was sounded, and the Lading horse- 
 men, wheeling around the rock, were rushing on at full speed, when 
 • and riders were seen to go d< wn.in one promiscuous heap. The 
 r number of the squadron Men- slill out of sight; and, bad the 
 way been open, might have followed to share the fate of their com- 
 panions, and finally to ride us down when our guns should have been 
 all discharged. But the work had been done too effectually. The 
 dead and wounded (both horse'and ridn Dearly flMed the road; and 
 
198 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 ons to pick their way among such appalling obstacles, in the 
 of fifty loaded rifles, at a distance of twenty paces, was qnt i f the 
 
 question. A few who made the attempt found this to their co.^t. The 
 charge was not renewed, and some of our men advancing to the ai 
 of the rock, and occupying inaccessible but commanding points on the 
 hills, soon made them draw off to a sale distance. 
 
 "While this was doing, I, with the few men selected for the service 
 of the artillery, gave my attention to that. Glancing my eye along 
 both pieces, I saw that both had been accurately pointed into the road 
 on the ether side. I had nothing, therefore to do bttt to apply the 
 port-fire, which was fctill burning in the clenched hand of a dead artil- 
 lerist. By this time the column had fallen back, an* the road below 
 the first angle was fast filling with the retreating mass. I had never 
 before witnessed the effusion of blood; and, heated as mine now was, 
 it ran cold as I applied the match. As the smoke cleared off, I saw 
 the enemy throwing away their anus, and stretching out their hands, 
 some toward me, and some aloft to the unseen foe that galled them 
 from the hills. The fire instantly slackened, and cravats and handker- 
 chiefs being raised on the points of swords and bayonets, it ceased alto- 
 gether. The mountaineers now poured down from the hills into the 
 ravine, securing the arms of the enemy, mixing among them and hem- 
 ming them in on every side. Douglas, whose place since he had re- 
 crossed the river, had been among these concealed marksmen, was one 
 of the first to approach the enemy. Advancing to those whose rank 
 was most conspicuous, he made known his authority, and received their 
 swords. 
 
 Meantime Col. Trevor had recovered his senses, and found himself 
 fastened to the ground by the weight of his horse, which lay upon his 
 leg. He was presently discovered, relieved, and helped to rise. At 
 this moment he caught the eye of Douglas, who hastened to him, less 
 from impatience to demand his sword than to offer assistance to one 
 who seemed to be an officer of high rank, and .badly wounded. In the 
 figure before him, all smeared with blood and dirt, he .saw nothing by 
 which he could recognize his brother. To the Colonel, the disguise of 
 Douglas was hardly less complete. lie had seen him receiving the 
 surrender of others, and stood prepared to go through the same humili- 
 ating ceremony. He felt that his own disgrace was complete, and the 
 form of surrender was thought of with indifference. He had already 
 reached the lowest depth of abasement. 
 
 " But in that lowest depth a lower deep" seemed to open, when, as 
 he extended his hand to deliver his sword to the victor, he discovered 
 that the hand put forth to receive it Was that of Douglas. IJe flung 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER- 199 
 
 down his sword, stamping with rage, and immediately after called to 
 his men to resume their arms. The voice struck the ear of Douglas, 
 though dissonant with passion. The figure, too, confirmed his suspicion 
 of the truth ; and he immediately rushed to screen his brother with 
 his own body from the rifles pointed against him. Calling for aid to 
 those around, he presently succeeded in securing the Colonel, and after 
 one or two fruitless attempts to soothe him, ordered him away to the 
 house of Mr. Gordon. To that gentleman he spoke aside, and ex- 
 plaining in confidence the strange scene that he had just witnessed, 
 besought him to take command of the escort, and to pay all imaginable 
 attention to the health, comfort, and feelings of the Colonel. He was 
 accordingly led away, raging and foaming at the mouth like a spoiled 
 child who has been deprived of his toy, or baulked in his amusement 
 The mortification of Douglas was extreme; but he had the satisfaction 
 to find that Arthur was not present; and to no other person but 
 Schwartz and myself did the name of Colonel Trevor afford, a hint of 
 the connexion. 
 
1Mb TITE TARTISAN* LEADER. 
 
 CHATTER XXXIX 
 
 Ii ili, .11 didst but consent 
 
 To this most cruel act, do but despair ; 
 
 And if thou want'st a cord, tin iread 
 
 Th:i- lei t w i t te d from her w 
 
 Will serve tn Mranple thee : a rush will be 
 
 A beam to hang thee on! Or, v/ouldst thorn drown thyself. 
 
 Put but a little water in a spoon, 
 
 And it shall be, as all the ocean, 
 
 Enough to sliile such a villain ! 
 
 I shall not detain the reader with a detail of the farther particulars 
 of this skirmish. Indeed we hardly staid to acquaint owselrea w i 1 1 
 its exact results. As at least half the men who had fought* undei 
 Douglas on that day had no intention to follow him any farther, we left, 
 U) them the care of the killed, wounded, and prisoners. The hody 
 of Col. Mason alone was selected for a more honorable burial than the 
 rude hands of the mountaineers could bestow. It was dragged from 
 beneath the incumbent mass of men and horses, placed on a suitable 
 carriage, covered with tbe colors of his regiment, and taken to Lynch- 
 burg, to be there restored to his companions in arms. The band of 
 hi.- ngiment were also marched bo that place to assist in rendering tin 
 la.-t huuors to their late conlmander. 
 
 Having given the necessary orders, Douglas snatched a moment to 
 ride to Mr. Gordon's, where he hoped to find his brother in a more 
 reasonable mood. The Colonel had been confined in a private room ; 
 and being treated with great courtesy and respect, had lost nothing oi 
 his arrogance. Such is always the effect of delicate attention to the 
 undeserving. A man of merit would have been softened and melted 
 by the deference with which Colonel Trevor was treated. To him ii 
 seemed but that sort of spontaneous homage to greatness which tin 
 hear) pays unconsciously. The effect of it was, that being told by Mr. 
 Gordon that his brother had come to visit him in his room, he sent 
 him the following magnanimous note, pencilled on the back of a letter: 
 
 " I am your prisoner. Do with me as you please. Inflict on me 
 any death, however cruel; but spare me the sight of one whose treasons 
 have dishonored our common name, and who has deprived me of my 
 only chance to restore its former splendor." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 201 
 
 # 
 
 Douglas was inexpressibly shocked at this manifestation of a temper 
 at once savage and coldly selfish. Rut he had no time to waste in 
 parleying with the ungoverned passions of his brother, and wrote an 
 answer tn these words : 
 
 "You are my prisoner, and mine only, and 'shall be treated with all 
 tenderness and respect. I am responsible to no one for your custody, 
 and you shall soon be at liberty. Go home. Go to our venerable 
 father, and comfort his declining years. If the instincts of your heart 
 do not restrain you from fighting against your brothers, (for Arthur is 
 with me,) let a sense of honor make you regard yourself as a prisoner 
 on parole, not at liberty to fight again against Virginia. Meantime 
 your sword shall be restored, and you shall be treated in all things as 
 the brother of D. T." 
 
 While Douglas was engaged in this painful duty, Arthur was em- 
 ployed in preparing a formal report of the events of the day. This 
 was signed by the Chief on his return, and with it the young man was 
 despatched to B — , with instructions to ask his orders, and return with 
 them, unless another messenger should be preferred. In the mean- 
 time all things had been made ready for the march to Lynchburg. I 
 shall not give the history of this. It was triumphal, as far as complete 
 success and the applauding gratulations of the people could make it so. 
 We had no difficulty in adding to our numbers as many men as the 
 fruits of our victory enabled us to supply with arms. Some joined us 
 instantly, and others engaged to rendezvous at Lynchburg in a few 
 days. 
 
 There was nothing to damp the^pleasure of Douglas, but the conduci 
 of his perverse brother, and the presence of the dead body of his old 
 friend, Colonel Mason. On our arrival before the camp at Lynchburg, 
 I received orders to present myself with a flag before the gate, at the 
 head of a detachment which escorted the body, accompanied by the 
 music of his band, and all the sad and imposing insignia of a military 
 funeral. 
 
 An officer came out to meet us, and thus received the first authentic 
 history of the fate of the expedition. I was instructed to deliver over 
 .the body of Colonel Mason with every circumstance of respect and 
 courtesy. I was also charged to demand the surrender of the en- 
 trenched camp, and of the garrison as prisoners of war. 
 
 A negotiation ensued, which ended in a suspension of arms for five 
 days, and an agreement to surrender if, in that time, no reinforcement 
 arrived. 
 
 This arrangen cnt was by no mean,,'? unwelcome to Douglas.' It gave 
 him time to receive and organize the new recruits that were pouring 
 
202 THE FARTISAK LEADER. 
 
 » 
 
 wait the return of Arthur. In the meantime much of that 
 
 sort of intercourse which is common on sueh occasions took • 
 
 few things in life more pleasant than it is. There most be 
 malignity in human nature than is generally su * or men 
 
 would not seise, with so much i i, on opportunities to lose the 
 
 i<)< -a of public hostility in the kindly interchange of courtesy and 
 offices. Friendships are never formed mure suddenly and cordially than 
 under such circumstances. So we found it on this occasion. Major 
 Wood, the officer in command, was a gentleman and soldier, honorable, 
 frank, gen'mm-, and accomplished. 1 was brought much into contact 
 with him, and found him enthusiastic in his acknowledgments of the 
 of Douglas, and eager to become acquainted with him. But the 
 time had not come when he was willing to be known by his true name; 
 and besides that he was acquainted with the Major, there were many 
 in the camp who would have recognized him. He therefore 
 confined himself to his (juartcrs, on various pleas of business; and, to 
 make his seclusion effectual, took lodgings in a house in the suburbs of 
 the town. ■ By his advice, I mixed much with the men ; and, a* I had 
 acquitted myself to their entire satisfaction in the late affair, I found 
 that I was in a fair way to be recognized as second in command. 
 Schwartz and Witt made a point of consulting me publicly on all oc- 
 casions; and this circumstance, together with my daily attention to the 
 organization of the troops, obtained me full credit for all my military 
 skill, and a great deal more. 
 
 The five days passed away quite pleasantly. The regulars, finding 
 that they were not like to fall into the hands of savages, were becom- 
 ing reconciled to the fate which DOW seemed inevitable; and we parted 
 OH the last night pf the truce, with no unpleasant anticipations of the 
 surrender which was to take place the next day at noon. 
 
 The morning came, and our, men paraded in high spirits, and with 
 considerable show of order and discipline. This was particularly the 
 ease with a small company which had been detailed for the service of 
 the artillery, who took their stand at the guns with the air of men 
 proud of their new acquirements. I had indeed taken great pains to 
 train and exercise them, and, by universal consent, was recognized as 
 the immediate commander of this corps, which was drawn up with the 
 cannon planted directly against the gate of the camp. 
 
 All this time Douglas did not make hie appearance. At length the 
 hour approached for the garrison to march out, and lay down their 
 arms, when Schwartz went to his quarters to receive his orders. He 
 soon returned, and taking me aside, told me that Douglas was not at 
 his quarters, and was nowhere to be seen. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 203 
 
 We had already observed appearances in the camp not at all answer- 
 able to the expected surrender, and I was now startled at this intelli- 
 gence. The character of Major Wood forbade indeed any suspicion of 
 foul play. But the time was near* at hand when the enemy should 
 march out, and we heard nothing of their drums, calling the men to 
 parade. We determined, therefore, to send a flag to the camp on some 
 pretest. The officer who carried it was immediately warned off, and 
 having said that he had a communication for Major Wood, was told 
 that that officer was no longer in command, and that Col. Trkvor 
 would receive no communication from rebels and traitors. 
 
 This was decisive. The quarters of Douglas were not very distant 
 from the enemy, and such had been the appearance of perfect, good 
 faith in all their proceedings, that our camp had been guarded even 
 more negligently than is common with militia. It seemed, indeed, al- 
 most incredible that Col. Trevor could have been guilty of an act of 
 base treachery against the life or liberty of his generous brother; but 
 to Schwartz and myself, who knew the connexion, even this seemed 
 hardly less extravagant than his former conduct. That he had escaped, 
 joined the troops, and disclaimed the capitulation entered into by Ma- 
 jor Wood, was certain. To have surprised and carried off Douglas 
 could not be much worse. 
 
 We now consulted with Witt, to wdiom we communicated our suspi- 
 cions, at the same time disclosing the true mine of our young com- 
 mander, and his relation to Col. Trevor. What was suspicion with us, 
 was at once absolute certainty with him. I do not think I ever wit- 
 nessed such a change as our communication made in the whole appear- 
 ance, and demeanor of the man. Heretofore, I had always seen him 
 cool, cautious, deliberate, and thoughtful. There was, besides, a pre- 
 vailing tone of benevolence in all he said, which, added to his sobriety 
 and strong sense, gave him some claim to the title of philosopher. But 
 now the expression of his countenance was terrible and awful. He 
 had made no show of regard for Douglas; but his attachment was deep 
 and abiding, and his alarm for his safety was in the same degree. He 
 was impatient of a moment's dela} - , sternly protc>tcd against wasting 
 time in discussion, and insisted on immediately storming the camp. 
 
 Schwartz was nothing behind him in zeal, though less disturbed by 
 passion ; and we presently determined to bring matters to extremities. 
 As soon, therefore, as the hour appointed for surrender arrived, < or 
 captive drummed was ordered to beat a parley. To this the only :■ 
 was a general fire of musketry from the whole line of the cam]' <*n that 
 side, by which a few men were hurt. Bat the distance wa 
 for any serious mischief. Enough, however, was done to excite the 
 
2<">4 THE PARTISAN [.KADIS. 
 
 men to fury ; and without waiting fur the word, they rushed to the as- 
 sault. Tin ir movement determined inc. To rush up to the piqueted 
 entrenchment, behind which Hie enemy were in comparatita 
 was to expose themselves to destruction. It was indispensable to open 
 
 a way for them. This I effected hy a diseharge of both pieces of ar- 
 tillery, which tore the ^ratc away, and pointed their attack to this acces- 
 sible point, The moment after, Colonel Treror, with his untraceable 
 rashness, appeared in the gateway, shouting, and calling to his men to 
 -ally foril us. He was instantly recognized by the incensed 
 
 Witt, whose fatal aim brought him to the ground. His men fell back; 
 and in a moment after, a white flag was raised. 
 
 It was no easy matter to prevail on our men to pa)' any regard to this 
 lalj but wc succeeded in restraining them before it was tco late. 
 Of course we demanded the instant surrender of the pluce, which was 
 unhesitatingly given up. Major Wood now came forward to apologist 
 and explain. Col. Trevor, having made his escape, had returned to the 
 camp soon after tattoo. His whole behavior was that of a man beside 
 himself, and actuated by some inscrutable motive to some inscrutable 
 purpose. Of these he said nothing to his officers, but peremptorily 
 disclaiming the capitulation, gave orders that all things should be pre- 
 pared for a renewal of hostilities the next morning. Nothing more 
 was known but that he had summoned to his quarters a favorite Bergeant 
 of his own regiment, who had been left sick in oampwhea he marched 
 
 las. This sergeant and four soldiers, as it seemed from 
 the morning report, had disappeared in the night. 
 
 Major Wood assun d us, that all that had been since done had taken 
 under the immediate orders and superintendence of Colonel Tre- 
 vor, and in spite of his own most earnest remonstrances. In proof of 
 his sincerity, he appealed to the fact of his unconditional surrender the 
 moment he was apprised of the fall pf the Colonel. With all this I 
 was perfectly satisfied, and gladly returned him his sword, with apr. 
 acknowledgment of his gentlemanly conduct. 
 
 '•An! now, Major," said Sehwartz, " there is another matter wo 
 want to talk to yen about. Do you know any thing of OUT Captain ?" 
 
 "Of Captain; Douglas?" said the .Major. " Certainly not But I 
 
 hope I may now have the pleasure of seeing him." 
 
 '• I k here, Major," said Witt, whose eye still glared with ferocity 
 
 not at all abated by the fall of Trevor ; " that a'nt the thing; and we 
 want a, straight answer. Captain Douglas is missing* and wc want to 
 know what's become of him." 
 
 "Mi :id the Major, with unfeigned amazement. " I assure 
 
 you ; upon my honor, I know nothing of him." 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 205 
 
 " Is there any body here that knows, or is likely to know ?" said 
 Schwartz. 
 
 " None that I can imagine," was the reply. 
 
 " Is there not a Captain here," asked Schwartz ; " a red-headed fel- 
 low, that commands the company at Farmvillc ?*' 
 
 « Captain Cottle ? Yes." 
 
 " Well, I want to see him." 
 
 He was immediately summoned, and presently made his reluctant 
 appearance. His alarm increased on seeing Schwartz and Witt. 
 
 11 See here, Mister," said the former ; " here is a piece of villainy 
 that we want to know about; and there is nobody, I reckon, so apt to 
 tell us as you." 
 
 " Indeed, sir/' said Cottle, " I declare, sir, I don't know a word 
 about it." 
 
 " You don't, eh !" said Schwartz. " Well, any how, you arc mighty 
 quick to find out that you don't know ; that I must say for you." 
 
 " Did you ever see me before ?" said Witt, fixing his terrible eye on 
 the alarmed Captain. " Did you ever see mc before?" repeated he. 
 u Do you remember where it was ? Do you remember your business 
 there ; and did you ever hear of such a thing as a man being hung for 
 a spy ?" 
 
 The collapse of deadly terror came over Cottle at these dreadful 
 words. His face, already pale, became livid ; hisoyc no longer blench- 
 ed under the fearful glance of Witt ; but the lids opened as if by mu- 
 tual repulsion, while his lip and under jaw fell powerless. He was 
 roused from this state by Schwarlz, who asked him* what had become of 
 Captain Douglas. 
 
 He was now effectually scared out of all thought of concealment, 
 and answered without prevarication that Captain Douglas had been sur- 
 prised, during the night, by the order of Col. Trevor, and sent away 
 immediately under the guard of a sergeant and four men, across tht 
 river. He could not say, certainly, where he was gone - but he sus- 
 pected to Washington, as Col. Trevor appeared to have been writing 
 busily all the time the party were engaged in the capture of Douglas. 
 It was vain to attempt concealing that he had a hand in this, though 
 the disclosure was made with great r< luctance. It appeared, mo 
 •that he had been anxious to acoompany the prisoner, Mtpposing him to 
 be ordered for Washington ; but Col. Trevor had refu 1 him. 
 
 Tndeed, he * nl noi e but those who had not been engaged in the action 
 at the ford, and was certainly right not to trust the vain bal 
 
 irrulity could hardly have failed to rnb off any might 
 
 have thought fit to spread over the affair. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 ■• How did they get across the river ':" asked Schwartz. " We havi 
 a strong guard on the other side, and they had orders to keep ■ Btriot 
 watch." 
 
 " Col. Trevor told the sergeant," replied Cottle, ''just to float quietly 
 down the river and land away below ; and a handkerchief was tied 
 over the Captain's mouth to keep him from making a noise, and if he 
 did, they were ordered to Bhoot him." 
 
 I have no words to express the horror with which I heard this last 
 circumstance. I, trusted, and indeed Major Wood wemed to be of that 
 opinion, that Col. Trevor had really been beside himself; but regarding 
 his conduct even as the effect of frenzy, it was hardly less shocking. 
 From Schwartz the communication only called forth some pithy expres- 
 sions of detestation, without seeming to interrupt the working of hLs 
 thoughts, which were at once busy to devise some remedy for the evil. 
 
 Witt was differently affected. His whole frame aud countenance 
 ncd an appearance of stony rigidity, betokening fixed and fearful 
 purpose, lie turned his glaring eye to the spot where Col. Trevor hed 
 fallen, with an expression that showed his vengeance quite unsatisfied. 
 A glance of fierce scorn fell for a moment on Cottle; and then, with a 
 searching look, he addressed himself to Major Wood. 
 
 Major Wood," said he, with a voice whose deep, stern tones, de- 
 manded the truth and the whole truth, " did you know any thing of 
 this busii' 
 
 " Cpon my honor, I did not; and Captain Cottle, who did know, will 
 tell you so." 
 
 " I would hardly take Jlis word against himsrlf" said Witt, with cold 
 contempt, and not even turning his eye on Cottle. Then pausing a 
 mom< i,t, he added, with the same look of severe scrutiny, " Major 
 Wood, do you know who Captain Douglas is? Do you know that he 
 is Col. Trevor's own brother ?" 
 
 "Gveat God !" exclaimed the Major. " Douglas Trevor! That fine, 
 intelligent, accomplished, noble young man ! — ',' 
 
 •• Did you know him ?" asked the other. 
 
 • I did," said Wood, " and loved him well. Poor fellow ! Poor fel- 
 low ! His doom is sealed." 
 
 " That's enough/' said Witt. " T see now that you had no hand in 
 it. But is it not your duty, Major Wood, to bring back Captain Doug- 
 las and set him at liberty?" 
 
 "Would to God that 1 could," said the Major; "but he is quite Ijc- 
 vond my reach before this." 
 
 here, Major," said Schwartz ; " write an order to that sergeant 
 to bring him back, and give me a pass to follow him without being 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 207 
 
 stopped, and I will have him back in no time. Them fellows lost 
 ground here crossing the river, and I can catch them." 
 
 " That might do," said the Major, hesitatingly; "and I am bound 
 in honor to do it, because his capture was a breach of my truce. But 
 I shall never be forgiven. No matter; it shall be done if* they break 
 me for it."" 
 
 " You may thank the Major," said Witt, turning his implacable eye 
 on Cottle, " for that word ; for it has given you a chance for your life. 
 But for that, you would have been hanging like a dog in half an hour. 
 Now, Major, I don't want you to come to any harm ; and so you shall 
 have a fair excuse. Bring Captain Douglas back to us, and we will let 
 this fellow go. But if the Captain is not here before the week is out, 
 then, as sure as there is a God in Heaven, he shall be hanged for a spy, 
 as he is." 
 
 There is a difference between the certainty of being hanged in half 
 an hour, and a chance of escape, however unpromising. To Captain 
 Cottle, who had not ventured nearer to Jones's Ford than the rear of 
 the dragoons, and who was now in greater peril than he had ever wil- 
 lingly encountered, the difference was of great importance. Yet his 
 hopes were faint, for he had heard the orders of Trevor, which enjoined 
 despatch ; and he was equally earnest in hurrying the Major and 
 Schwartz. His impertinence was cut short by ordering him to close 
 custody in jail ; and the credentials of Schwartz being soon prepared, 
 he set out on his journey. 
 
208 THE PARTI 'BR. 
 
 CHATTER XL. 
 
 Thnt lies like truth, and yet most truly In - 
 
 U again intrude into the sanctuary of The President 
 
 is alone, as before. He has the saiue air of somewhat impatient ex- 
 pectation. A shade of anxious thought is on his brow, and his cheek 
 bed with some little excitement. Vet these elements are all so 
 , as to he scarcely perceptible ; and were he conscious that we arc 
 looking at him, they would be completely concealed. On the table lie 
 a number of letters recently received. Two of them are separated 
 from the rest. He takes up one and reads it a second time. Let us 
 look over him. It runs thus : 
 
 '•'The wisest may be deceived; the most vigilant may be betrayed : 
 for the most trusted are often the most treacherous. CaI th-n." 
 
 '• What means this ?" said the President, musingly. " Who is it that 
 [ am wanted against ? The word 'most' is underscored. Who does 
 that point at? Whom do I tru-t most t I trust nobody. But I seem 
 to trust; and whom most* Surely, it cannot be he. I should, in- 
 de< d, be. wrong to trust to hig fidelity. Put he is too wise to be false 
 to li is own interest. Put may he not have an interest that I am not 
 aware of? It must be considered." 
 
 1 1 ■• then took up the other letter, which I beg leave to lay before the 
 , as a specimen of the art with which the truth may be so told as 
 to make others believe what is false. I recommend it particularly to 
 military gentlemen, reporting the results of a battle. 
 
 Headquarters, Camp near Lynchburg, \ 
 November 12, 1849. J 
 Siu : I have the honor to lay before your Excellency an account of 
 | 'rations of the troops under my command, since the date of my 
 last despatch. 
 
 iu pursuance of the information I had received, of which your Ex- 
 cellency has been already advised, I marched on the 3d instant, at the 
 head of my own regiment, one battalion of the 15th, a company of ar- 
 tillery and of dragoons, to meet Douglas" on .his descent from the 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 209 
 
 mountains. At Jones's Ford, on Staunton river, I encountered him, 
 when about half his force had crossed over. I attacked him immedi- 
 ately, and, after a sharp conflict, drove him across the river. By the 
 advice of Col. Mason, I left the artillery and dragoons on the north 
 bank, to protect our rear, placing them under the command of that 
 distinguished officer. 
 
 Pressing hard upon the rear of the enemy, we came up with him 
 just as he had fallen back on the reserve. Here he rallied, and the 
 fight was renewed. I regret to say that, at the first fire, my horse fell 
 under me, imprisoning my leg by his fall. At the same moment a 
 ball struck my head, and I came to tho ground insensible. 
 
 You will judge of my astonishment, when, on recovering my senses, 
 I found that all my men near me had thrown down their arms, and 
 that I was in the hands of the enemy, who assisted me tp rise. I im- 
 mediately called to my men to resume their arms, but am sorry to in- 
 form you that I was not obeyed. As I had not surrendered, I was 
 seized and hurried away to the house of a ringleader of these rebels, 
 where I was confined. From that time I had no means of receiving 
 any information on which I could rely concerning the events of the 
 day, as I had no intercourse with any but the rebels. 
 
 Two days ago I was so fortunate as to make my escape. Returning 
 to this place, I find my camp, which had been left under the command 
 of Major Wood, beleaguered by the rebels, and a treaty for surrender 
 in full progress. I rejoice that I have returned in time to prevent a 
 consummation so disgraceful. 
 
 It is now midnight, and a small party has been sent out to endeavor 
 to surprise the leader of this banditti. In the meantime all things are 
 put in readiness for a sortie in the morning. I shall not close my let- 
 ter until I can give some farther account of the success of these ope- 
 rations. 
 
 Two o'clock, A. M — My scouts have come in, and brought in the 
 hostile chief, who proves to be the last man in the world whom I could 
 have wished to find in arms against the generous master who so well 
 deserved his grateful devotion. I speak of that unfortunate youth, 
 whose fault, (I must not use a harsher term,) nearly twelve months I 
 dishonored our common name and parent Y >ur Excellency will 
 
 appreciate the struggle in my bosom between a sense of duty and the 
 foolish but Inextinguishable relcntings of nature. I ha've dctermiqed 
 to put an end to this painful strife, and to take security against my own 
 weakness, by* sending him on immcdiat< 1\ to you, Without awaiting the 
 result of the meditated sortie in the morning. He therefore travels in 
 14 
 
210 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 custody of the bearer of this letter, under guard of a sergeant and 
 four men. 
 
 Having returned to the camp this night, after tattoo, I am unpre- 
 pared to give any account of our loss, or that of the enemy. I have 
 nothing authentic but the lamented death of CoL Mason, who fell 
 fighting bravely. 
 
 I beg leave to express an humble hope that your Excellency will be 
 pleased to attribute the partial failure of my enterprise to the unfortu- 
 nate wound which put me hors du combat, at a moment, up to which 
 we had successfully driven the enemy before us for nearly half a mile 
 and across the river. 
 
 I remain, sir, with the most profound respect, your Excellency's 
 most humble and faithful servant, 
 
 Owen Trev»r, Col. 18th Inf. 
 " A worthy gentleman," said the President, folding up the letter. 
 " A most worthy gentleman ! Let any man doubt henceforth, if he 
 can, that the only way to judge in advance of what a man will do, is 
 to ascertain his interest. See how readily it settled this nice point of 
 casuistry — this delicate question of conflicting duties Trust ! Yes, I 
 will trust; but not as fools do. I will trust no man's honor, but every 
 man's interest. The experience of my whole life has taught the les- 
 son, and every day confirms it. Here comes a new example," added 
 he, as the door-bell sounded, and was echoed by the single stroke in 
 the room. 
 
 The door opened, and the- honorable Mr. Baker appeared. His 
 figure had lost nothing of its deferential bend ; his step nothing of its 
 creeping, cautious tread; his countenance nothing of its abject ser- 
 vility. But there was more of anxiety and less of hope, with a slight 
 appearance of peevish dissatisfaction. 
 
 " You are very good, my dear sir," said the President. " You arc 
 lways almost present to my wish. Government would be an easy task, 
 ere all officers like you." 
 
 "I humbly thank your Excellency," replied the Judge. "Were 
 not your approbation precious to me, I might be tempted, perhaps, to 
 look more than I ought to public opinion. Perhaps I do so, as it is; 
 for though my duties are clearly necessary to the good of the State, 
 I find it hard to bear the loud reproaches of a misjudging multitude, 
 that reach me through a factious press." 
 
 11 Let it not Teach you,' my dear sir. The storm does but rage with- 
 out. Why need you hear it when it touches you not? Shut your ears 
 and sleep soundly; or open them only to the more pleasant tones that 
 issue from loyal lips. I take care not to know what is said of me by 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 211 
 
 malcontent scribblers ; but I hardly flatter myself that I should pre- 
 serve my equanimity if I read all that is written." 
 
 "It is sometimes impossible not to hear," said the Judge; "and 
 there are words which convey reproach, which, though uttered in a 
 single breath, reach the heart. I can never, I fear, make myself proof 
 against 'such a phrase as 'judicial murder." 
 
 " But you must find consolation in your own enlightcd conscience, 
 my dear sir. Some feeling must be expected when the edge of the . 
 law falls on victims whose offences demand punishment, and yet are 
 such as those the world calls honorable and upright are most likely to 
 commit." 
 
 " The misfortune is," replied the other, " that it is only for such of- 
 fences, and on such victims, that my office seems to be made to act ; 
 and when the curse rises up against me, loud as well as deep, and ut- 
 tered and echoed on every side, I pray your Excellency to pardon me 
 when I say that I find its honors and emoluments a poor compensa- 
 tion." 
 
 " It will be some relief to you, then," replied the President, " that 
 you are like to have a subject of a different sort to act upon. One ■ 
 whose crimes offend against the laws of God as well as man ; and who 
 is not more obnoxious to State policy than to tbe detestation of all good 
 men, and of none more than yourself." 
 
 " Of whom is your Excellency pleased to speak V* asked Mr. Baker. 
 " Of no other than that young fellow, Trevor, whose ill luck snatched 
 him away from our hands, when perhaps he was not quite ripe for 
 punishment. But he has since made himself perfect in crime, by be- 
 coming the leader of a desperate banditti. In short, he is no other 
 than the famous Captain Douglas, and is now in my power. I think 
 you will find in his case a fair set-off against some of the mortifications 
 of which you complain ; and think no more of denying your service? 
 to the public, at least until he has fulfilled his destiny." 
 
 The effect of this communication on the mind of the honorable 
 gentleman was such as the President had anticipated. To every bejng 
 of the name of Trevor he bore a mortal antipathy. Jn the case of 
 Douglas, this was rendered more intense by the sympathy of a father 
 with a favorite son. An envious malignity was a striking feature in 
 the characters both of father and son ; and this had bc.cn provoked to 
 the utmost by that unfortunate young man. Beth were Bensible thai 
 the younger Baker had been in bad » »<]. »r with the public ever sinc<; 
 tlic affair at the falls; and hence, it was not only grateful to theil 
 malice, but to their pride, to fasten on Douglas a stigma bo d 
 blc as to have "relation back, and to excuse his adversary with tl 
 
212 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 who did not know all the circumstances, for not seeking such redress 
 U [/■ utlcmm demand Of <j< ntk tin it only. 
 
 The good humor of the Judge was now manifestly restored, and the 
 President went on to give him some particulars of the late military oc- 
 currences. Dougla*, he said, was on the road, and would reach Wash- 
 ington the next day. The letter, it seems, had been brought by a sol- 
 dier who had orders to outgo the rest of the party, and ride express to 
 Washington. 
 
 " It is well," said the President, " that I have this timely intimation 
 of his approach. The custody of State prisoners cannot be safely en- 
 trusted to any but the military; and that of this young man must be 
 committed to no corps in which he had any acquaintance. It seems 
 that he was a universal favorite among men and officers. I am about 
 to take measures to guard against any such blunder." 
 
 In such conversation half an hour was passed, when the Minister 
 made his appearance. He had been sent for, and to him the President 
 communicated the history of the capture of Douglas. Had he turned 
 an eye of close scrutiny on the favorite, at the moment when he ut- 
 tered the name, and announced the fate of his victim, he might have 
 seen a slight expression of countenance which it would not have been 
 easy to interpret. But this escaped him ; and he went on to direct 
 that the true name of the prisoner should be kept secret; tha.t his ar- 
 rival sbonJd l,c watched lor; and that he should be at once conducted 
 to a place provided for the sep :irate confinement of State prisoners. 
 It was, moreover, ordered that a detail of officers and men for that 
 prison should be carefully made, so as to exclude any persons whose 
 loyalty was at all doubtful; and especially all who, from former associa- 
 tions, could be rappeeed to feel any kindness for Douglas. 
 
 Finally, it was agreed that, should he arrive iu the course of that 
 night, or the next day, he should be brought, on the following nij;ht, 
 before the triumvirate, in the room where they then were. 
 
 " You were right," continued the President, addressing his Minister, 
 " when you said that this young man had talent. The discovery of his 
 identity explains the marvellous organization and efficiency of that 
 wild banditti that he commanded. II is rapture must be fatal to their 
 future success. They must be powerless now that they have lost their 
 leader, and must soon disband. That is well. The two regiments may 
 now be marched from Lynchburg to Richmond, and save us the neces- 
 sity of sending a reinforcement from .this quarter. The troops there, 
 with this aid, will certainly be sufficient to check the insurrectionary 
 movements that we hear of in the southern counties, and to cover the 
 meeting of the Legislature. Col. Trevor has certainjy deserved well. 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 213 
 
 I am afraid his unfortunate wound may have occasioned the loss of 
 more men than we could well spare, who seem to have surrendered 
 while he was insensible. But the disabling of Douglas's corps will, of 
 course, set them at liberty to return to their duty. But this takes noth- 
 ing from Col. Trevor's merit. He must be brevetted. As to Major 
 Wood, in the regular course he should succeed Mason ; but I must 
 hear more of this negotiation for a surrender of his post, before he is 
 promoted. That affair must be satisfactorily explained, or he will 
 hardly escape a court-martial." 
 
 The President now went on to give some farther orders, and then dis- 
 missed his guests. 
 
214 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 CHAPTER LXI. 
 
 Treason can never take a form so hideous, 
 But it will find a glass, that *hall reflect 
 A comely semblance, on which self may look 
 With a complacent .-mile. 
 
 Om his departure from Lynchburg, Schwartz had been provided 
 with a suit of clothes half military, to prevent the notice •which his 
 rude mountain attire would have attracted. The day was half spent 
 before he was on the road, and the sergeant and his party were already 
 far in advance of him. 
 
 Col. Trevor had been desirous, for obvious reasons, that his letter 
 and prisoner should reach Washington as soon as possible, and had or- 
 dered the party to proceed with all practicable despatch. But, as they 
 might be somewhat retarded by the necessary care of their prisoner, 
 he had directed that the letter should be sent on, as we have seen, by a 
 single soldier, who had reached Washington on the second night But 
 the sergeant was not far behind, and had used such diligence that he 
 crossed the bridge the next morning at an early hour, just as poor 
 Schwartz came in sight. 
 
 He recognized the party by the peculiar dress of Douglas, with 
 which he was so familiar; but it was too late. He followed, however, 
 disconcerted by his failure, but not desponding. At the farther end of 
 the bridge he was struck with the countenance and manner of a fine 
 looking young man, of genteel but plain appearance, who stood gazing 
 earnestly after the prisoner and his guard. 
 
 Observing Schwartz, he asked eagerly who the prisoner was, and 
 was told it was Captain Douglas. 
 
 "Good God I" exclaimed he, in a tone of deep concern; "is itpos- 
 aible ? But thank God ! it is no worse." 
 
 " Did you think it was anybody you knew ?" asked the quick-witted 
 Schwartz. 
 
 "Yes," replied the other. " I was almost sure it was a friend of my 
 own." 
 
 " And what was your friend's name, stranger? if I may be'so bold." 
 
 " You are bold enough," said the youth. " I am not in the habit 
 <jf answering questions unless I know who asks them, and why." 
 
 " I don't mean no harm, young man," replied Schwartz ; " and if 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 215 
 
 you tell me your friend's name and your own too, may be you won't be 
 sorry for it." 
 
 The stranger looked hard at Schwartz, and in his serious, earnest, 
 and sagacious countenance, saw enough to make him curious to know 
 what this meant. He therefore replied that his friend was Lieutenant 
 Trevor, late of the United States Dragoons. 
 
 "Then I have a notion," replied Schwartz, "that your name is 
 Whiting." 
 
 "My name is Whiting," replied the other, in great surprise ; " but 
 how should you know it ?" # 
 
 " I have heard the Captain talk about you many a time." 
 
 " The Captain ! What Captain ?" 
 
 " IJim," replied Schwartz, pointing toward the distant party. 
 
 " Him ! And how was he to know anything about me ?" 
 
 u Just because he is the very man you thought he was." 
 
 "Douglas!" exclaimed Whiting. "Trevor! Douglas Trevor ! Good 
 God, what an ass I have been ! Trevor, my friend ! how earnestly 
 have I wished to know where to find you ! Had I been with you, this 
 might have been prevented." 
 
 . "May be it is best as it is," said Schwartz. "The Captain did not 
 want for friends where he was. May be one friend here will do him 
 more good than a hundred anywhere else. That is what I am here for 
 now." 
 
 " You ire a friend to Trevor, then," replied Whiting ; " perhaps one 
 of his followers." 
 
 "You may say that," said Schwartz. "Anyhow, I'm his friend." 
 
 " Then come with me to my lodgings. You can tell me everything, 
 and wc will see what is to be done. Trevor has friends enough here. 
 Thank God ! I saw him. But for that we might not have found out 
 who he was till it was too late." 
 
 Whiting now showed Schwartz where to bestow his horse, and after- 
 wards 'conducted him to his lodgings. These were in an obscure sub- 
 urb, humble, plain, and poorly fitted up. Appearances showed that 
 the occupant spent most of his time with the pen, although many of 
 the relics of his former military equipments were to be seen about the 
 room. But the dust on his cap, which hung against the wall, and the 
 mould on the belt and scabbard of his sword, showed that these had 
 been long unused. In truth, the escape of Douglas and his uncle had 
 been fatal to him as a soldier. He had been dismissed the army; and 
 now, as it seemed, earned a poor livelihood by doing for small wagefl 
 the manual labor of those offices, the salaries of which arc received by 
 men who do nothing at all. 
 
216 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 During their long •walk through the streets of that city "so magnifi- 
 cent in distances," as Monsieur Serruricr said of it, and while a hasty 
 breakfast was preparing for Schwartz, he gave Whiting the particulars 
 of the late battle at Jones's Ford ; of Douglas's capture, and of hia 
 brother's death, and the surrender of the camp. As soon as he had 
 seen his guest provided for, the young man left him alone. Going out, 
 he proceeded to the first stand of coaches, and stepping into one was 
 driven to the Minister's. Here he alighted, showed a ticket to the 
 porter, entered, threaded several passages, descended a dark stair, and, 
 going into a small room in the basement, touched the spring of a bell. 
 No answering sound was heard ; but, in half an hour the Minister ap- 
 peared. 
 
 " I am glad to see you," said he. n Have you hoard that your friend 
 Trevor is in the power of his enemies, and is expected here to-day ?" 
 
 " I had not heard it," said Whiting; " but I have seen him. He is 
 here." 
 
 " Indeed ! That is well. We have the more time." 
 
 " Where will he be lodged, and under what custody ?" 
 
 " In the state prison. I am instructed to select his guards from 
 among those who are strangers to his person, and well-affected to the 
 Government." 
 
 " That will be no easy task, as it seems that all the troops of that 
 description have been marched into Virginia, and that, except raw re- 
 cruits, there are none here that it was thought safe to trust on that 
 service." 
 
 "That is true," said the Minister; "and therefore I must select 
 those same raw recruits. Think you there are many here who could be 
 relied on to peril every thing on behalf of your friend ?" 
 
 " No doubt of it. I was long enough in the army after his disgrace 
 to know that his whole regiment were indignant at it. A hundred can 
 be found ready to wipe it out with the blood of the President, or their 
 own." 
 
 " It is well. He will b'e taken to the palace this night, wider the 
 cloud of darkness. Have all things in readiness, and watch for hi» 
 return. You will know what to do. Did you know those who had him 
 in custody?" 
 
 " I knew the sergeant, and he knew roe." 
 
 " All right. You then must be charged with the disappearance of 
 Douglas; you must therefore make your escape with him. I shall, of 
 course, see you no more. We have no time for compliment ; but you 
 will have my best wishes; and the time may come when you may have 
 it in your power to do me justice. ' My country is to me, Mr. Whiting, 
 
THE PARTISAN LEADER. 217 
 
 what yours is to you. When New England was permitted to join in 
 what you will call the plunder of the South, I was not very scrupulous 
 about the means of securing her share. But nearly all that was worth 
 having is irretrievably lost. What remains can only be retained by 
 means which will but make it an instrument of power in the hands of 
 this man, and so enable him to perpetuate his reign according to the 
 forms of the constitution. Take that away, and leave the matter alto- 
 gether to the votes of the northern States, and I shall not long have to 
 play second to him. In order to preserve his power, he would be com- 
 pelled to break up the system of monopoly contrived for the exclusive 
 benefit of his favorite Empire State ; or perhaps to concur with me in 
 severing a Union, the benefits of which are now lost, by the escape of 
 our common prey, and of which we bear all the inconveniences. Of 
 course, I do not pretend that the place to which the favor of my 
 countrymen may advance me in either event, has no charms for me. 
 But you will see that I am actuated by no low and sordid ambition. I 
 am desirous you should see it in this light. It is not my fortune to 
 command the services of many whose esteem is eminently desirable. I 
 am, therefore, the more ambitious of yours. Should I succeed, my 
 acts will vindicate my motives. Should I fail, (and if Virginia disen- 
 thrals herself I shall not fail,) you will do me this justice. What 
 news have you of the movements of B — ?" 
 
 " He is about to take up arms, with the probability of assembling a 
 force which, with the concurrence of the corps of Douglas, will secure 
 his object." 
 
 " But is not the band of Douglas dispersed ?" 
 
 "By no means; but much increased. They have still their moun- 
 tain leaders, and a young man from the South Carolina military school, 
 who seems well qualified to act, for the time, as the locum tenens of the 
 Chief." 
 
 "Then farewell, sir," said the Minister. " You carry with you my 
 good wishes for yourself and your cause, and I pray you to commend 
 them to Mr. B — " 
 
 About the time that these gentlemen thus separated, the President 
 was informed that a gentleman and lady craved the favor of a private 
 audience. He directed that they should be shown into the room, the 
 privacy of which we have so often violated, rnd soon after he entered it. 
 
 A lady, whose figure and dress denoted youth, was seated on the 
 sofa. She was in deep mourning, and a black veil completely hid her 
 face. By her side sat a gentleman far advanced in life, and of a most 
 venerable as"pect. His fair complexion had blanched by time into the 
 cold dead whiteness of age. The color had, in like manner, faded 
 
218 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 from bifl pale blue eye; and the quivering of his livid lip, and the 
 trembling of his eyelids, betokened deep and anxious distress ///> 
 dress also was of black, mournfully contrasting with the almost un- 
 earthly whiteness of his face. 
 
 At the entrance of the President both rose; and the trembling and 
 agitated old gentleman mjght be seen to give way for a moment, as if 
 about to throw himself on his knees before " the dreaded prince whose 
 will was fate." But he recovered himself, and with an air of suppliant 
 dignity, stood as erect as the weakness and infirmity of age permitted. 
 The President approached him with a look of perplexity and doubt; 
 and, gazing earnestly at him, said : " I beg to know, sir, who it is. 
 Bless me! Mr. Trevor, is it possible that I see you here, at this 
 moment ?" 
 
 "I am here, sir," replied the old gentleman, "a broken-hearted, be- 
 reaved father, lamenting the loss of one son, and suppliant for the life 
 of another; and this is my niece, who is come to join her prayers to 
 mine, on behalf of her betrothed husband." 
 
 There was enough in these words to add to the maiden confusion of 
 poor Delia, but not enough to prevent her from lifting a timid gjanee, 
 in which there was as much of entreaty as her proud spirit could de- 
 scend to. She met the eye of the President, as with an air of quick 
 and eager surprise he turned towards her ; and in his eye she read a 
 meaning which, in the moment, blasted her hopes and confirmed her 
 in all her detestation of the cold, selfish, and crafty politician, whom 
 she qow beheld for the first time. She saw, instantly, that she was the 
 object of some subtle purpose ; and felt, that by putting herself in his 
 power, she had but prepared for her husband a deeper distress than all 
 the severities of the law could inflict. But she cpuailedwnot at the 
 thought. Her proud and bold spirit came in aid of her weakness; her 
 pale cheek burnt with an indignant glow, and the tears were dissipated 
 from her eyes in the bright and almost fierce glance that flashed from 
 them. Even through her veil too much of this appeared to escape the 
 notice of the President. 
 
 lie instantly turned away; and, with an air and tone of the most can- 
 died courtesy, addressed Mr. Trevor: "You speak in riddles, my dear 
 sir," said he; " I beg you to explain." 
 
 " My task is more painful than I had anticipated," said the poor old 
 man. " Have I, then, to be the herald of my poor Owen's death, and 
 of the yet more disastrous fate of my other noble boy?" 
 
 "Col. Trevor dead, sir!" exclaimed the President. "Impossible! 
 I have just received a letter from him, written on the 12th." 
 
 " That day was the last of his life," said the afflicted father. " He 
 
TIIE PARTISAN LEADER. ' 219 
 
 fell next morning. I received the news yesterday by the railroad ; and 
 by travelling all night by the same conveyance, I am here to entreat 
 that the axe may not glean what the sword has left me. My poor 
 boy Douglas, I am told, is in your power, and perhaps here." 
 
 "I had heard of this; but I assure you your son.is not here. I will 
 not deny that I expect him; and regret that it is under circumstances 
 which will not allow mc the pleasure of extending to him the same 
 courtesy I shall be happy to render to you. Compose yourself, my 
 dear sir; let me beg you and your niece to retire to rooms which are 
 always ready to receive you where I am master; and let me send for 
 your baggage." 
 
 Delia, who thought there was something of hesitancy in her uncle's 
 mind, instantly exclaimed: "No, my uncle! No, my* father! The 
 palace of a tyrant is a prison. There is no mercy here. No hope for 
 my noble husband. Save yourself. Return home while you may, and 
 leave me here to sbare his fate. Our friends may rescue us. They 
 WILL avenge us. But in that cold eye there is no relenting." 
 
 "You are harsh, lady," said the President; "I will not add, unjust. 
 T will prove that, by permitting your instant departure, without even 
 enquiring where you lodge." 
 
 He now bowed them out, and immediately summoning a servant, 
 said: Take the number of that coach, and let the driver attend mc 
 this evening " Then, as the servant left the room, he went on : "Why, 
 this is better and better. I think I have holds enough now on Baker 
 to bind him to his task, however his heart may yearn after his beggarly 
 estate in Virginia. It seems, forsooth, that, after all that has passed, 
 his son yet has a hankering after this girl; the only woman, as he says, 
 (hat he ever truly loved. It may be but spite against his favored 
 rival ; or it may be, in truth, that every thing that bears the shape of 
 man is susceptible of love, or what passes for it. Be it so. He may 
 be gratified; but his father shall fulfil conditions." 
 
 In the evening of the same day the following letter was put into the 
 hands of the President: * 
 
 "Your captive has arrived. Beware how you remand him to his 
 prison, when you dismiss him to-night. Order him to be confined 
 within the palace ; and when you give the order mark well its effect 
 on him you most trust. Caution." 
 
 "Why, here is proof as well as accusation," said the President. 
 " Here u treason. How else is it known that Trevor was to be bn dghl 
 here to-night ? I will improve this hint. A rescue is to be attain] 
 Is that it? Then the guard will be attacked <>n their return without 
 the prisoner. Wo to the traitor if it prove so!" 
 
220 THE PARTISAN LEADER. 
 
 Jf; 3fC !fC X 3p , » 3ft Sp 3|C 
 
 I have been interrupted in my narrative. I have hesitated whether 
 to give tli is fragment to the public, until I have leisure to complete my 
 history. On farther reflection, I have determined to do so. 'Let it go 
 forth as the first Jhdlctln of that gallant contest, in which Virginia 
 achieved her independence; lifted the soiled banner of her sover- 
 eignty from the dust, and once more vindicated her proud motto, which 
 graces my title page, — sic semper tyrannis! Amkn. So mote it 
 be. 
 
 TIIE END. 
 
A BOOK OF GREAT INTEREST. 
 
 THE FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR. 
 
 Bv EDWARD A. POLLARD. 
 
 WEST & JOHNSTON, Publishers. 
 
 UNPARALLELED SUCCESS! 
 
 Two Thousand Copies Disposed of During the First Week of its 
 Publication. 
 
 It is a Southern Book by a Southern author! 
 It is called for by old and young, male and female! 
 Its authenticity cannot be doubted, and should be read by all. 
 PRICE— TWO DOLLARS. By Mail, $2 r>0. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. 
 
 From the Richmond Dispatch : 
 
 "Mr. Pollard is already well known to the public as the author of 'Black 
 Diamonds,' etc. The present work is written in the peculiarly animated and 
 racy style of the author, and will command an extensive sale. Mr. P. has 
 enjoyed unusual facilities for collecting information, and has made the best 
 use of it. The book is written with candor and impartiality, and as far as we 
 can judge, strictly truthful and very interesting." 
 
 The Richmond Examiner says: 
 
 "It is the most elaborate and valuable literary contribution that has yet 
 been made to the interests of the South ; that it will not only entice, but repay. 
 the curiosity of all readers." 
 
 From the Richmond Whig : 
 
 " The well known ability and diligence of Mr. Pollard arc guarantees of 
 the value and merit of his book. We anticipate much gratification from its 
 perusal, which we will notice at length. Messrf. West & Johnston, the pub- 
 lishers, deserve much credit for their enterprise." 
 
 From the Richmond Christian Observer: 
 
 '"The History of the First Year of the War for Southern Independence' 
 prepared by so sprightly and vigorous a writer as Mr. Pollard, makes a 
 vo'umc that will bo read with eager interest by tens of thousands. It gives 
 an intelligent, connected sketch of the past eventful year, prefaced by a clear 
 account of soim of the causes of the war. * * The book is an instructive, 
 entertaining and reliable account of the great events of the Revolution of '61, 
 anil should be very largely read." 
 
 IMPORTANT PUBLICATION. 
 
 A NEW MAP OF THE 
 
 STATE OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 Containing all the Counties, principal Town-, Railroads, 1 elegraph Lines. 
 
 Rivers, Canals, and all other internal improvements. This is thi* best Map 
 
 Of die State ever published. We have spared no I make it per- 
 
 It is gotten Up nil beautiful map paper, ro -ly h>i Ul to print 
 
 this map upon. Size, 26 by 3fl inches, bound in pocket form, in beautifully 
 illuminated covers. Price | Sent t<> any part of the I 
 
 upon the receipt of the price. 
 
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 145 Main Street, Richmond. 
 
A SPLENDID BOOK. 
 
 CAUSE AND" CONTRAST; 
 
 AN ESSAY OX 
 
 THE AMERICAN CRISIS. 
 
 By T. W. MAC MA HON. 
 Price $1 00. By Mail $1 25. 
 
 Of this racy, eloquent, and beautifully written work, we have now ready 
 an edition of TEN THOUSAND; a work wliinh we do not hesitat# to pro- 
 nounce charming ;is a poem, and possessing the interest of fiction, while its 
 logic and facts are irrefutable. 
 
 It is the first original book of a miscellaneous character published in tin- 
 Confederate States since the organization of our independent Government, 
 and it is no less gracefully than appropriately dedicated to our first President. 
 
 For such a publication, in exposition of the crisis and of Southern political 
 philosophy, it would be supererogation to bespeak public favor, especially as 
 its contents will warrant general patronage and approbation. 
 
 The following are commendations by gentlemen who read portions of the 
 manuscript : 
 
 From the Richmond Whig- 
 
 "It discusses, with rare ability and learning, the institution of slavery in ill 
 its aspects, as well as the social and political distinctions between the people 
 of the Confederate States and those of the U. S. The style is ornate, glowing. 
 and eloquent We predict that it will produce a sensation; take its pi 
 
 among standard literature; and have the effect of banishing from our midst 
 the hurtful offspring of the morbid and prolific, press of the North."' 
 
 From the Dispatch. 
 
 ■■ We have read portions of the MSS., and we pronounce it beautiful, excel- 
 lent, and conclusive. We hope that it will obtain the circulation that it 
 merits, not only in America, but in Europe.'" 
 
 From the Examiner. 
 "It is impossible for us to convey to the reader any correct idea of thin 
 splendid essay. To form a correct idea of so genial ami complete a produc- 
 tion, it must be perused; audits perusal will repay the reader, as much a* 
 one of Maoauley's papers, for the Edinburgh were wont to charm the English 
 public. Its style is lofty ; its logic ii refutable ; its illustrations pure and ele- 
 gant, and it- treatment of the theme complete from Alpha to Omega. It will 
 be one of {he first — if not. really the first — publication of si miscellaneous 
 character issued in our new Confederacy. The publishers will bring it out in 
 excellent Style, and we bespeak for it a warm reception, such as should 
 encourage every enterprise calculated to add to the lustre of the South." 
 
 We might continue similar extracts from the Charleston Mercury and other 
 journals, if space permitted. .The work is now ready for delivery; one 
 octavo volume, pica type, thick paper cover. 
 Address Orders to 
 
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 Letters on the Policy and Inauguration of the Lincoln War, written anony- 
 mously in Waslringtow and elsewhere, by EDWARD A. POLLARD, of Vir- 
 ginia, author of " Black Diamonds*" "First Year of rhe War," &c, &c. 
 
 1. Letter to President Lincoln, written at Washington. 
 
 2. " President Lincoln, " " 
 
 3. " President Lincoln. " " 
 
 4. " President Lincoln, " near the Government. 
 C>. " Editor of , " in Maryland. 
 
 6. " Secretary Seward, " " 
 
 7. " President Lincoln, " " 
 
 5. " Doctor Tyog, " in Baltimore. 
 9. " General Scott, " in Maryland. 
 
 10. " Mr. Everett, 
 
 11. " Mr. Seward. " in Richmond. 
 
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 ent of the Richmond Dispatch, .... 1 00 
 
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 PRESCIENCE. A Speech delivered by Hon. Beverly Tucker, of Vir- 
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 13th, L8B0, . . . . . ... 
 
 A NEW AND CORRECT MAP OF VIRGINIA, put up in pocket form. 2 5 ) 
 
 THE VOLUNTEER'S CAMP AND FIELD BOOK, containing useful 
 and general information on the Art and Science of War, for the 
 leisure moments of the Soldier. By John P. CtJRRY. 
 Part 1. — Field Fortifications and Entrenched Positions — Attack and 
 
 Defence. 
 Part 2.— Artillery and Artillery Practice — Munitions of War and 
 
 • Explosive Substances. 
 Part 3. — Hints on Surgery — Antidotes for Poisons, &c. 
 Part 4. — Cavalry and Cavalry Movements. 
 Part 5. — Order of encampment for Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry, 
 
 and general details of camp duty, cooking, Sfcc. 
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PROFESSOR CHISOLM'S 
 MILITARY SURGERY. 
 
 A Manual of Military Surgery, for the use of Surgeons in the 
 Confederaite'States Army ; with an Appendix of the Rules 
 and Regulations of the Medical Department of the Con- 
 federate States Army. By J. Julian Chisolm, M.D., Pro- 
 fessor of Surgery in the Medical College of South Carolina, 
 Surgeon in the C. S. Army. Second Edition, revised and 
 improved. 
 
 Price $3 00. By Mail, $3 50. 
 
 u We arc indebted to the publishers, Messrs. West & Johnston, for a copy of 
 the above'vahrcible work, the appearance of which, in a new and improved 
 edition, we hail with peculiar pleasure, as it affords gratifying evidence that 
 tin.' author's labors have received their merited appreciation. The first edition 
 of Dr. Chisnlm's Manual filled a void in our medical literature, which, though 
 unfelt in the 'piping times of peace,' became urgently manifest tit the out- 
 break of hostilities. Many excellent Physicians, who sought and obtained 
 positions in the Medical Staff of the army, felt the need of some convenient 
 and comprehensive work, which should instruct them in the peculiar duties 
 of the Army Surgeon, and serve them as a companion and guide in the most 
 important emergencies of military practice. Dr Chisolm's book met the 
 necessities of the case in a very satisfactory manner, as i.> fully attested by the 
 rapid exhaustion of the first edition. We take it for granted, that those 
 Medical officers who have not already supplied themselves with it, will not 
 lose the present Opportunity of making it their vade tncann. 
 
 " Probably the most valuable portion of the work is contained in the first 
 four chapters, which relate to the hygieina of troops on the march and in 
 cum p — i] ie organization and management of hospitals — ^the duties of the 
 Surgeon in camp and on the field of battle, &c. In the remaining chapters, 
 will be found a very full and excellent account of the treatment of gun-shot 
 and other wounds and injuries, and their various complications, constituting 
 an admirable guide to the Military Surgeon in most of the emergencies which 
 he may be called, upon to encounter. The regulations of the Medical Depart- 
 ment of the army, contained in the appendix, are of course a sine qua non to 
 evciy medical officer. 
 
 "Messrs. West & Johnston, the enterprising publishers of tlys city and 
 Southern Confederacy, deserve much credit for their enterprising spirit and 
 liberality in publishing so many very valuable books; anil all of which are 
 published in the very best style — ecptal to the New York, Philadelphia, or 
 Boston Publishing Houses." 
 
 The above notice is from the able pen of Professor Joynes, of the Virginia 
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 HI •. V ARTILLERY, with \ , 
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