and rangers and ebony servants had come out well drilled for their tilt
against the mountains. The echoes were still ringing, when, with laughter,
some expenditure of wit, and much cheerful swearing, the camp was struck.
The packhorses were again laden, the rangers swung themselves into their
saddles, and the gentlemen beneath the sugar-tree rose from the grass, and
tendered their farewells to the oreads.

Alce roundly hoped that their Honors would pass that way again upon their
return from the high mountains, and the deepening rose of Molly's cheeks
and her wistful eyes added weight to her mother's importunity. The
Governor swore that in no great time they would dine again in the valley,
and his companions confirmed the oath. His Excellency, turning to mount
his horse, found the pioneer at the animal's head.

"So, honest fellow," he exclaimed good-naturedly, "you will not with us to
grave your name upon the mountain tops? Let me tell you that you are
giving Fame the go-by. To march against the mountains and overcome them as
though they were so many Frenchmen, and then to gaze into the promised
land beyond--Odso, man, we are as great as were Cortez and Pizarro and
their crew! We are heroes and paladins! We are the Knights of"--

His horse, impatient to be gone, struck with a ringing sound an iron-shod
hoof against a bit of rock. "The Knights of the Horseshoe," said the
gentleman nearest the Governor.

Spotswood uttered a delighted exclamation: "'Gad, Mr. Haward, you've hit
it! Well-nigh the first horseshoes used in Virginia--the number we were
forced to bring along--the sound of the iron against the rocks--the
Knights of the Horseshoe! 'Gad, I'll send to London and have little
horseshoes--little gold horseshoes--made, and every man of us shall wear