When they reached New Castle, late the next day, they found Mr. Henry busy assembling the volunteers for a march on Williamsburg to demand return of the powder, also to see to it that Dunmore did not take the money in the colonial treasury. These men were called "gentlemen independents of Hanover," and they were manly looking, resolute men, and well armed. By the time they had reached Doncaster's, within sixteen miles of Williamsburg, their number was increased to one hundred and fifty. "Dunmore will wish he hadn't when he's seen 'em," remarked Angus. Dunmore was frightened before he saw them and sent Corbin, the receiver general, to meet them and make terms with them, which he did, paying three hundred and thirty pounds for the powder, surely all it was worth. "I've concluded, Angus," said Rodney, "from what I can see and hear, that Mr. Henry hasn't cared so much about the powder as he does for an excuse to rouse the country, get the men together and encourage them by backing Lord Dunmore down," all of which indicated that the lad had become a shrewd observer. After the powder was paid for, Patrick Henry, who was a delegate to the Colonial Congress, set out for Philadelphia. Lord Dunmore, however, had been badly frightened, and he issued a proclamation against him, and declared that if the people didn't behave he would offer freedom to the negroes and burn the town; he also had cannon placed around his house, proceedings which, it is easy to understand, made the citizens very angry. The boys returned to Charlottesville and Angus immediately joined a company of volunteers, declaring if there was to be a war he was going. By this time they had heard the news of the battle of Lexington, brought all the way from Boston by mounted messengers riding by relays. "That means war," Rodney remarked to his mother. How he wanted to go, to do as Angus had done and join the volunteers! But he hadn't the heart to propose it after seeing the look which came into his mother's face. It sometimes happens, however, that war comes to those who do not go to war, and so it happened to Rodney Allison. CHAPTER XXI VIRGINIANS LEARNING TO SHOOT BRITISH TROOPS