CHAPTER XXII.
THE BATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE
It would seem that the knowledge Maid Sally now carried under theburning gold of her thick tresses was making a woman of her.
Very gay and glad at heart was she, for, had not the dearest dream ofher life come true? She was a high-born damsel, and--could it betrue?--the blood of her Fairy Prince was also in her veins.
But instead of being filled with foolish pride because of these things,she said wisely to herself:
"Now must I study yet more, for I would not shame in any way the peoplewho are my people although they know me not. Some day they may know mewell."
And so the maiden plunged into her books anew, and also grew skilled inembroidery, even copying the pattern on her mother's dainty cape, andcopying it well too, on a skirt of fine India muslin that had lain inMistress Brace's trunk.
A few weeks after the young Virginians had started for Boston there hadcome a hard battle, even the battle of Bunker Hill.
And Hotspur had borne his young master to the distant colony barely intime to take part in it, after first meeting his friends at theturnpike.
In July, Sir Percival Grandison received from his son an account of thehard contest. He told how all night he and his comrades, delicatelynurtured young men all, with soft hands and lions' hearts, had workedwith pick and shovel, and with the rank and file, in throwing upbreastworks. And so quietly was the work done that neither a sailor inthe near harbor, nor the British sentry but a little away, had heard asound.
"Although not a great victory for us," Lionel wrote, "we yet showed whatkind of men the British have to fight, and our untrained men put toflight soldiers of long experience and training. We feel sure of victoryin the end."
One balmy night in August, Sally saw Mammy Leezer trundling up the road,her red and yellow rabbit's ears, or points of her bandanna turban,cocked high and important, her white cotton skirt stiff as starch couldmake it, and her pipe no doubt in a deep pocket.
Mammy was the only person at Ingleside who had known anything aboutSally at Slipside Row. But it will be remembered she also knew somethingof her father, and always declared she "nebber b'long'd in dat Row,nohow."
Sally answered Mammy's cheerful greeting, and then asked, gaily:
"Going to war, Mammy?"
"Goin' to war?" cried Mammy, with a fearful rolling of eyes. "Now whatyou take me fo', honey? But I spect you heer'd de news. Dat Mars' Lion,he comin' home soon. Mars' Perc'val, he talkin' o' goin' to Inglan''fore long, and Mars' Lion, he hev to come back to Virginny and lookaffer de plantation and we at de cabins."
Then Mammy lowered her voice, and asked, with a mysterious air:
"Hev you done heer'd 'bout dat Hotspur helpin' Mars' Lion get away toBosting town?"
"How was that?" asked Sally, for indeed not a word of gossip had sheheard about the affair.
Mammy went on:
"Ob course Mars' Perc'val won't hev a word said to him on de subjec',and I doan't b'leeve he know what to tink ob tings. But shor's yoreborn, honey, I b'leeve de folks up at de house tried in some way to keepMars' Lion from goin' to Bosting with dose odder boys he done go with.
"And, honey,"--Mammy Leezer held up a dark finger to make more dreadfulher solemn air,--"one night las' May, dat Hotspur, he done gone from hisoutside box, and needer hoof, head, or tail ob him lef'. And dar warn'tno _man_ come for dat hoss! Bill, he wor awake all night, and lil Jule,she hev a mis'ry in her lil stummick, so I'se up 'bout all night, and noone come round dat stable we knows dat night, yet, in de mornin', datHotspur, he clean gone."
Mammy put her hand, edgewise, side of her mouth, and whispered, loudly:
"Sperrits, honey! Sperrits!"
Sally laughed and shook her shining head.
"Oh, no, Mammy," she said, her voice full and bubbling, "no, no! spiritsdon't come with strong hands and feet and take a horse away. Bill had anap, little Jule got easy, and you dozed, then some person led Hotspuraway."
Mammy looked carefully around, then said, with a twinkle in her eye:
"Ennyway, I'se glad dat boy get away. Dis yere war won't help de Inglishany. De ole king needn't tink he can put his big foot on de people'sneck, and dey not kick back.
"Let Mars' Perc'val and Mistis Gran'son go back to Inglan' ef dey wantsto. Dey soon come totin' back 'gain. And Mars' Lion, ef he is a youngman, can run de place all it want to be run while dese times is goin'on."
So he was coming back! her Fairy Prince!--
"I must learn yet more," said Maid Sally.
And so, while the dragon-fly buzzed in the hot summer sun, and the lazybreeze scarcely stirred the cobwebs strung from bush to bush, while theflaming poppies were seen through mists of heat, and the cattle stoodknee-deep in the streams, Maid Sally studied, recited, sewed, pickedover fruits, baked, and grew skilled both in pantry and in parlor.
Truly a little woman of the olden time.
Not often did the old-time parson freely praise any one. But ParsonKendall one day said to Sally:
"I deem it but just, Maid Sally Duquesne, to say that very nobly hastthou done with thy lessons. Many a fine lady might well be proud couldshe stand by thy side, equal with thee in learning."
And Sally could have hugged herself from very happiness.
Then came the cooler days of autumn. The cotton had burst its bolls, thesugar-cane given up its sweets, the tobacco was stored, the fruitspreserved.
One fine day in November, Sally saw Hotspur go dashing by, her FairyPrince holding the rein.
It was like a waft of new, sweet air thus to behold him. Too much achild of nature was Maid Sally to lose or cast aside the dearest fancyof her life as she grew older, and the Fairy Prince of poorer days wasthe Fairy Prince still in her deep young heart.
He was also her hero now. She had helped him do battle for his countryand hers. He was her relation. What a secret to hug within her breast!
But now, hotter and hotter grew the news from all directions. LordDunmore, gone from Williamsburg, yet made mischief in other parts ofVirginia.
And soon came reports of trouble from near Norfolk, south ofWilliamsburg.
Sir Percival Grandison, who yet lingered in his Virginia home, nolonger tried to keep his young son from fighting with the "rebels."There was in very truth something he kept very quiet about, inconnection with the Boston affair.
And he was not surprised when, with young Spottswood, Norris, Byrd, andothers, Lionel again mounted Hotspur and went clattering off towardNorfolk to see what trouble the British were making in that quarter.
One morning, when December was in its second week, Sally was in the widekitchen plucking a goose, that she might learn how, when Parson Kendallcame to the door, his wig somewhat awry, his face flushed withexcitement, his manner hurried.
"Good Matilda," he said to his wife, "I would that a hamper of foodmight be quickly prepared, a roll of linen be made ready, and severalflasks of your most strengthening tonics be got out. I go with our horseRupert, and saddle-bags, a long day's journey and nearly a night's, togive such comfort as I can to certain of our men that lie wounded atGreat Bridge, near Norfolk.
THE BATTLE AT GREAT BRIDGE.]
"News hath been brought that on the seventh, a battle was fought, andgreat victory was given to the colonists. But young Lionel Grandison andHugh Spottswood of our township are among the wounded, and help incaring for the injured is called for.
"Doctor Hancocke goes in his wagon with drugs and potions, and so loud alament made Mammy Leezer, the old colored nurse at Ingleside, begging togo and care for her 'chile,'--for so she calleth young Lionel,--thatDoctor Hancocke will take her along with his medicines and bandages.
"Sir Percival also hopes she will soon be able to return with the youngman in charge. He scarcely dareth to go himself to the scene ofconflict, for feeling is bitter against the Tories. Lady Gabrielle hathtaken to her room with cries of anger and sorrow at the news, and as forRosamond Earlscourt, she hath servants, smelling-bottles, hot drinks
,and all she can muster about the place attending on her, so loud is hergrief.
"Beshrew me! but I would like to see were it only an ounce of commonsense poured into her from some bottle or other!
"Now I go to get my camlet ready,"--a great cape like a cloak,--"and toroll up a blanket."
"Oh, _please_!"
Parson Kendall and his wife Matilda turned about to see Maid Sallystanding with out-stretched hands, cheeks burning, eyes full ofentreaty.
"Oh, please let me go! I will squeeze into Doctor Hancocke's wagon withMammy Leezer, taking but little room. Very, oh, very sorely I havelonged to do something that would help in these days. Let me wait on thewounded. I am strong and full of health, and almost a woman grown. I cantwist a bandage, make a posset, mix a medicine, feed the sick. Iprithee, let me go!"
The parson looked puzzled, Goodwife Kendall looked surprised.
"Dear maid," she said, "it is no easy thing to tend on wounded men. Onemust be strong of nerve and firm of hand to deal with the injured."
"Have I asked for smelling-salts or shown weakness in any way when badnews came?" asked Sally. "Try me, but try me! I think I could go throughfire or through flood to help our men. Pray let me go!"
But never a word said Maid Sally about its being her kinsman that layamong the wounded.
And Parson Kendall said:
"I like well thy high spirit, maiden, and as a woman goeth in ourcompany,"--he turned toward his wife,--"what think you, good Matilda, ofletting the wench come with us?"
"I think," said Goodwife Kendall, "that since she so much desireth it,we might let her go."
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