The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 2 of 2: or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old DominionCaruthers, William Alexander
History
The Cavaliers of Virginia, vol. 2 of 2: or, The Recluse of Jamestown; An historical romance of the Old Dominion
Caruthers, William Alexander
Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
scarcely convened on the next morning before couriers from every
direction arrived with the dreadful tidings. Among others, there came
one who announced to the Governor that his own country seat had been
consumed by the fires of the savage incendiaries, and that Mrs. Fairfax,
who had been removed thither for change of scene by the advice of her
physician, was either buried in its ruins or carried away captive by the
Indians. Public indignation was roused to its highest pitch, but it was
confidently expected, now that his excellency himself was a sufferer
both in property and feelings, that he would recede from his obstinate
refusal to afford relief. But strange to say, in defiance of enemies,
and regardless of the remonstrances of his friends, he still persisted.
The result ensued which might have been expected; meetings of the
people, which had before been called from the impulse of the moment, and
without concert, were now regularly organized, and immediate steps
taken to produce uniformity of action throughout the different counties.
While these elements of civil discord are fermenting, we will pursue the
adventures of our hero, whom we left just rescued from the hands of the
relentless savages. The new queen of the Chickahominies, after having
conducted Bacon to her own rude palace, retired for a short period in
order to allow him just time to prepare himself for her reception. An
Indian doctor was immediately summoned and directed to extract the
splinters and dress the wounds. The departure of this wild and
fantastical practitioner of the healing art was the signal for her own
entrance. Slowly and doubtfully she approached her visiter, who was
reclining almost exhausted upon a mat. Upon her entrance he attempted to
rise and profess his gratitude, but overcome with pain, sorrow, and
weakness, he fell back upon his rude couch, a grim smile and wild
expression crossing his features. She gracefully and benignantly
motioned him to desist, and at once waived all ceremony by seating
herself on a mat beside him. Both remained in a profound and painful
silence for some moments. Bacon's mind could dwell upon nothing but the
horrid images of the preceding hours of the night. Regardless of her
presence and her ignorance of those circumstances which dwelt so
painfully upon his memory, he remained in a wild abstraction, now and
then casting a glance of startled recognition and surprise at his royal
hostess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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