A Soldier of Virginia | Page 4

find you
thus engaged, else had I thought twice before placing a sword in your
hand."
"The insult was one which could not be passed over, Colonel
Washington," I answered, as I saluted him. "It was not to myself only,
but to all the Virginia troops who serve his Majesty."
"So," sneered Allen, "'t is the hero of Fort Necessity! I can well believe
him averse to fighting."
My cheeks were hot with anger and I saw Washington flush darkly, but
he gazed at Allen coldly, and his voice was calm as ever when he
spoke.
"It shall be my privilege at some future time," he said, "to call the
gentleman to account for his words. At present, my sword is pledged to
the king and may be drawn in no other service, more especially not in
my own. I trust, Lieutenant Stewart, you will have the courage to
sheathe your blade."
I hesitated. It was a hard thing to ask a man to do.
"Yes, put up your sword!" cried Allen scornfully. "Allow yourself to be
reproved like a naughty boy by this hero who knows only how to
retreat. On my soul, 't was well he arrived when he did. I should have
finished with you long ere this."

Washington looked at me steadily, without showing by the movement
of a muscle that he had heard.
"And I promise you, Lieutenant Stewart," he continued, as though there
had been no interruption, "that I shall be happy to act as your second,
once this campaign is closed."
My cheeks flushed again, this time with pleasure, and I picked up my
scabbard and sent my blade home.
"I must beg you to excuse me, Lieutenant Allen," I said. "Colonel
Washington says right. My sword is not my own until we have met the
French. Then I shall be only too pleased to conclude the argument."
Allen's lips curved in a disdainful smile.
"I thought you would be somewhat less eager to vindicate the courage
of Virginia once you had pause for reflection," he sneered. "Provincials
are all of a kind, and the breed is not a choice one."
I bit my lips to keep back the angry retort which leaped to them, and I
saw Washington's hand trembling on his sword. It did me good to see
that even he maintained his calmness only by an effort.
"Oh, come, Allen," cried Pennington, "you go too far. There can be no
question of Lieutenant Stewart's courage. He was ready enough to meet
you, God knows! Colonel Washington is right, our swords belong to
the king while he has work for them," and the young fellow, with
flushed face, held out his hand to Washington, who grasped it warmly.
"I thank you," he said simply. "I should be sorry to believe that all the
king's officers could so far forget their duty. Come, lieutenant," he
added to me, and taking me by the arm, he walked me out of the group,
which opened before us, and I ventured to think that not all of the faces
were unfriendly. "I have a message for Sir Peter Halket," he said, when
we were out of earshot. "Show me his quarters, Tom, and so soon as I
have finished my business, we will talk over this unhappy affair."

I led the way toward the building where the commander of the
Forty-Fourth was quartered, too angry with myself and with the world
to trust myself to speak. Why should I, who came of as good family as
any in Virginia, be compelled to swallow insults as I had to-night? I
almost regretted for the moment that I was in the service.
"But the time will come," I said, speaking aloud before I thought.
"Yes, the time will come, Tom," and Washington looked at me with a
grim smile. "The time will come sooner than you think, perhaps, when
these braggarts will be taught a lesson which they greatly need. Pray
heaven the lesson be not so severe that it shake the king's empire on
this continent."
"Shake the king's empire?" I repeated, looking at him in amazement. "I
do not understand."
"No matter," he said shortly. "Here we are at headquarters. Do you wait
for me. I will be but a moment;" and he ran up the steps, spoke a word
to the sentry, and disappeared within.
CHAPTER II
THE STORY OF FONTENOY
My heart was thick with wrath as I walked up and down before Sir
Peter Halket's quarters and waited for Colonel Washington to reappear.
I asked myself again why I should be compelled to take the insults of
any man. I clenched my hands together behind me, and swore that
Allen should yet pay dearly. I recalled with bitterness the joy I had felt
a