ernor Spotswood very popular. He was a determined ruler, and had more than one quarrel with the House of Burgesses, who were as hard-headed as himself. But he was very much respected, for the Virginians saw plainly that he was resolved to put down evil-doers and have the laws obeyed; as he showed, among other things, by his treatment of a bloody marauder named Blackbeard.

Blackbeard was a pirate who sailed along the shores of the Carolinas and Virginia, attacking any ships he met, and killing all who were on board of them; after which

BLACKBEARD, THE PIRATE.

the goods in them were seized and the ships were burned. This had gone on for some time, and at last Spotswood grew tired of it. He therefore sent a ship-of-war to attack Blackbeard, or John Theach, as his real name was, and the two vessels came in sight of each other off the coast. Blackbeard now saw what was before him. He knew he

must fight, and that if he was captured he would be hung in chains to a gallows; he therefore determined to die. first. He ordered one of his men to stand with a lighted match near the magazine of powder in the ship; and if the Virginians boarded them and got the better in the fight, he was to set fire to the powder and blow up all together. The fight then began. The two vessels came up side by side, and the Virginians leaped on board the pirate ship, armed with their cutlasses. Blackbeard and his men met them and fought desperately, but in vain. He himself was in front, but his foot slipped in the blood on the deck, and as he staggered, one of his enemies cut him down and struck off his head. At this the rest lost heart and surrendered. Blackbeard's head was stuck on the bowsprit of the Virginia vessel, and it returned home in triumph, where the rest of the pirates who had been captured were soon afterward executed.

This is only one instance of Governor Spotswood's way of dealing with people who would not respect the laws and defied his authority. I might tell you other incidents of the same sort, but this must suffice. I will now come to the expedition beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, which conferred on him and his friends the name of "Sir Knights of the Golden Horseshoe."

II.

It may surprise you to hear that at that time people thought that the Mississippi River rose in the Blue Ridge. In fact, nothing was known certainly about the great country beyond the mountains. They called it “Orange County;" and it was a very large county indeed, you see, as it extended from the Blue Ridge to the Pacific Ocean.

There were only vague rumors about it-that it was filled with great forests and lofty mountains; that the

valleys were green and fertile, and traversed by beautiful rivers; and perhaps the ignorant still believed that the famous "Fountain of Youth" might be found somewhere there. Now and then some hunter would wander off into this unknown country, and when he returned would tell his friends that nothing was like it. It was filled, these men declared, with Indians and wild animals, and altogether was the most remarkable country that the sun ever shone upon.

All this highly excited Alexander Spotswood. He was a man, as I have told you, of adventurous character, and he longed to explore this splendid land. It was his duty, he felt, as Governor of Virginia, to discover whether the land was so rich, in order to settle it; and at last he resolved that he would set out and visit it himself, and find whether the reports about it were true.

He might easily have sent a party, with some intelligent man at the head of it, to report to him all about it. But this did not suit him. He resolved to go in person, as I have said, and to make a holiday excursion of the expedition. He was well acquainted with the planters, old and young, and he now sent them word that he was going to march to the mountains: if any one wished to go with him he would be welcome, and the governor would be glad to have the pleasure of his company.

This excited the young Virginians and filled them with delight. They were fond of horseback exercise and hunting, and a number sent word that they would be ready at the time appointed. A day in August (1714) was fixed by Spotswood, and the party assembled at Williamsburg, prepared for their long ride. Every arrangement had been made. Mules were ready, with pack-saddles strapped upon their backs, in which were baskets of provisions and bottles of wine and other liquors. These were to follow

them in charge of servants; and all was now ready, when they suddenly discovered that they had forgotten a very important matter.

This was to shoe the horses. You may think it somewhat strange that such a thing had been lost sight of, but at that time it was the fashion generally to ride horses barefooted, as it is called. One reason for this was probably the scarcity and high price of iron, which people could not afford to use for shoeing horses; and there was another reason still. The roads of Lower Virginia were soft and sandy at that time, as they are now, and often you might ride for miles without seeing a single stone. There was nothing, therefore, to make shoeing really necessary, as the soft sand did not hurt the horses' feet: but now, when Spotswood and his friends intended to cross the mountains by pathways full of rocks, it became necessary to have their riding-horses shod. This was at once done; and the little incident was the explanation, as you will see, of the name of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.

We can imagine what an interesting sight the party of horsemen presented as they rode along "Duke of Gloucester Street," as the main street of Williamsburg was called, with men, women, and children flocking to the doors and windows, and waving handkerchiefs as they passed by. They were all mounted on spirited horses, and carried their guns, as they expected to hunt on the way; and behind followed the mules with their packs, in charge of the

servants.

Spotswood rode at the head of the party, with his erect military bearing, learned in the wars, and clad, like the rest, in the fine costume of that time, when people dressed far more picturesquely than now; and there is very little doubt that he was in as high spirits as the rest of the party. He was in the bloom of life, for he was only about

thirty-eight, enjoyed excellent health, and saw the prospect before him of an adventurous march into an unexplored wilderness, which just suited him. We need not be surprised, therefore, to be told by one of the party, who afterward wrote an account of the expedition, that Spots

wood was bright, and pleased with everything from first to last, on the whole long ride.

As the little band rode on, they were joined here and there by others, who had also determined to go on the expedition. The party thus increased in numbers as it moved on, like a snowball rolled in the snow, and they at last came to a place called Germanna, on the Rapid Ann