The Seats Of The Mighty, Complete

plain why I am charged with this that puts my life in danger, which would make you blush that you ever knew me if it were tru

e sky arching over all. There, sprawling in a garden, a child pulled at long blades of grass, as he watched the birds flitting about the rocks, and heard a low voice coming down the wind. Here in my

hite cloud in the

w and the eye

ed bloom at the

e in the cheek

gay lilt o' the

ce of my bairn

wild scent in the

ath o' my ain,

a' hame, to the

ere I lie wi'

mother's home. There I was born one day in June, though I was reared in the busy streets

strong brow, under which shone grave gray eyes, and a manner so distinguished that none might dispute her kinship to the renowned Montrose, who was lifted so high in dying, though his gallows was but thirty feet, that all the world has seen him there.

ht. I recall how my mother said, 'I doubt that I shall ever bring him up,' and how he replied (the words seem to come through great distances to me), 'He'll live to be Montrose the second, rascal laddie! Four

rrow they le

a gallo

im high abo

so trim

and then forced her to give me chase, as I pushed open a little gate and posted away into that wide world of green, coming quickly to the river, where I paused and stood at bay. I can see my mother's anxious face now,

comes to me all on a sudden in this silence, as if another self of me were speaking from far places. At first all is in patches and confused, and then it folds out-if not clearly, sti

was so busy I did not hear them till I was caught by the legs and swung to a shoulder, where I sat kicking. 'You see his tastes, William,' said my grandfather to my father; 'he's white o' face and slim o' body, but he'll no carry on your hopes.' And more

f. It kicked my shoulder roughly in firing, but I know I did not wink as I pulled the trigger. Then I got a wild hunger to fire it at all times; so much so, indeed, that powder and shot were locked up, and the musket was put away in my grandfather's chest. But now and again it was taken out, and I made war upon the unresisting hillside, to the dismay of our neighbo

and watch me as I played there. I loved to fancy myself a miller, and my little mill-wheel, made by my own hands, did duty here and there on the stream, and many drives of logs did I, in fancy, saw into piles of lumber, and loads of flour sent away to the City of De

t, but made believe to be bitterly afraid when I surrounded them and drove them, shackled, to my fort by the river. Little by little the fort grew, until it was a goodly pile; for now and then a village youth help

of the village, as in my own life. You must know that people living in secluded places are mostly superstitious. Well, when my f

warning ever, calling even the ministers of the Lord sharply to account. One day this Man came past my fort, folk with him, looking for preaching or prophesy from him. Suddenly turn

and some soul among us goeth forth. Flee ye to the Fort of Refuge.' I can see him now, his pale face shining, his eyes burning, his beard blowing in the wind, his grizzled hair shaking on his forehead. I had stood within the fort watching him. At last he turned, and, seeing me intent, stooped, caught me by the arms, and lifted me upon the wall. 'See

ike an old song in Balmore and Glasgow. He set me down, and then walked away, wav

fort, at the foot of the wall. Henceforth the spot was sacred, and I am sure it st

ild forts here shall lie in darksome prisons'; for always she had

the thing came

ic, and he would have my mother tell the whole story of The Man. That being done, he said that The Man was his brother, who had been bad

more of me. And so he did, for in the years that followed he would visit at ou

earned Latin and other accomplishments, together with fencing from an excellent master, Sergeant Dowie of the One Hundredth Foot. They found me with my regiment at drill; for I had got full thirty of my scho

r paused in their good friendship. When Sir John saw me with my thirty lads marching in fine order, all fired with the little sport of battle-for to me it was all real, and our sham fights often saw broken heads and bruised

t alack, alack! there needs some blood and flesh here, R

ad I been a girl and not a proud lad. And Sir John kept his word, liking me better from that day forth, and coming now and again to see me at the school,-though he was much abroad in France-giving many a pound to m

y, where at least fifteen of my Lightfoots went also; and there I formed a new battalion of them, though we were watched at first, and even held in suspicion, because of the known friends

moiety of my fortune, Robert, but little that's free is left for giving. Yet thou hast something from thy father, and down in Virginia, where my friend Dinwiddie is Governor, there's a plantation for thee, and a purse of gold, which was for me in case I should have cause to flee this troubled realm. But I need it not; I go for refuge to my Father's house. The little vineyard and the purse of gold are for thee, Robert. If

it so hard to untie the knot?' Then a twinge of agony crossed over hi

was released. But my pride had got a setback, and I listened with patience to my mother's prayers that I would not join the King's men. With the anger of a youth, I now blamed his Majesty for the acts of Sir John Godric's enemies. And though I was a good soldier of the King at heart, I would not serve him henceforth. We threshed matter

urtesy in Williamsburg, and the Governor gave me welcome to his home for the sake of his old friend; and yet a little for my own, I think, for we were o

om of the life charmed me, and with rumours of war with the French there seemed enough to do, whether with the sword or in the House of Burgesses, where Governor Dinwiddie said his say with more force than complaisance. So taken was I with the life-my first excursion into the wide working

a Glasgow merchant. Gentlemen merchants had better times in Virginia. So there was a winding-up of the estate, not greatly to my pleasure; for it was found that by unwise ventures my father's partner had perilled the whole, and lost part of the property. But as it was, I had a competence and several houses in Glasgow, and I set forth to Virginia with a go

cursions against the Indians. I saw very well what the end of our troubles with the French would be, and I waited for the time when I should put to keen use the sword Sir John Godric had given me. Life beat high then, for I was in the first flush of manhood, and the spirit of a rich new land was w

of my heart, bring home to your understand

prisoners with us, should be sent on. It was a choice between Mr. Mackaye of the Regulars and Mr. Washington, or Mr. Van Braam and myself. I thought of what would be best for the country; and besides, Monsieur Coulon Villiers pitched upon my name at once, and held to it. So I gave up my sword to Charles Bedford, my lieutenant, with more regret than I can tell, for it was sheathed in memories, charging h

once she returned to the subject, begging me to tell her more; and so I did, still, however, saying nothing of certain papers Sir John had placed in my care. A few weeks after the first occasion of my speaking, there was a new arrival at the fort. It was-

harles, and these letters to Sir John, who had been with the Pretender at Versailles, must prove her ruin if produced. I had promised Sir John most solemnly that no one should ever have them while I lived, except the great lady herself, and that I would give them to her some time, or destroy them.

uld be paid, and adding my liberty as a pleasant gift. I instantly refused, and told him I would not be the weapon

be a war between England and France as you shall dispose.' When I asked him how that was, he said, 'First, will you swear that yo

Pompadour would be enraged, and fretful and hesitating now, would join Austria against England, since in this provincial war was convenient c

t. At last I turned on him, and told him I would not give up the letters, and if a war must hang on a whim of m

rising, fingering his lace, and viewing

nge it now or ev

and space for reverie. For if you do not grant this trifle you shall no more see your dear Virginia; and

apitulation!' I bro

dy the English offer in exchange for you. Indeed, why should we be content with less than a royal duke? For you are worth more to us just now tha

. 'I will not part

'the gain of territory to Virgini

case. You turn a small intrigue into a game of nati

an ass,' he mused, an

have no name

e in two ways or I should not have said it. I had not me

ning for their distinction, and others win their names with proper weapons. I am not here to quarrel with you. I am acting in a

fort is all mine: I act for France. Will you care to free yourself? You shall have escort to your own people. You see I am most serious,' he added, laughing lightly. 'It is not my way to sweat or worry. You and I hold war and peace in our ha

e in greater hands than yours or mine. The Go

watchers, that when you seem safe you will be in most danger, that in the end we will have those letters or your life; that meanwhile the war will go on, that you shall have no share in it, and that the whole

nd, later, as we travelled up to Quebec, I found my journey one long feast of interest. He was never dull, and his cynicism had an admirable grace and cordiality. A born intriguer, he still was above intrigue, justifying it on the basis that life was all sport. In logic a leveller, praising the moles, as he called them, the champion of the peasant, the apologist for the bourgeois-who always, he said, had civic virtues-he nevertheless held that what was was best, that it cou

my soul out, eager to be fighting in our cause, yet tied hand and foot, wasting time and losing heart, idle in an enemy's country. As Doltaire said, war was declared, but not till he had made here in Quebec last efforts to get those letters. I do not complain so bitterly of these lost years, since they have brought me the best gift of my lif

as risking my life by so doing, but that did not deter me. By my promise to Doltaire, I could not tell of the matter between us, and whatever he has done in other ways, he has preserved my life; for it would have been easy to have me dropped off by a stray bullet, or to have accidentally drowned me in the St. Lawrence. I

al cause of my long detention; I can only urge that they had not kept to their articles, and that I, therefore, was free from the obligations of parole. I am sure they have no intention of giving me the benefit of any doubt. My real hope lies in escape and the interven

ome these strange twistings of my life, and I can date this dismal fortune of

wish to be understood, and to set forth a story of which the letter should be as true as the spirit. Friend beyond all price to me, some day this ta