I am Assigned New Duties

My fears were speedily set at rest, once I was come into the great room where he was sitting to hold court, for, speaking in the kindliest fashion, as if I had been fully his equal in rank, he told me it was his desire to make sure the Indian runners did not play him false, as might be the case if they had listened overly long to William Claiborne.

As a guard against this, he called upon me to take one of the shallops, summoning two or more of the men to work the oars, and skirt along the shores of the island to make certain all the people had notice that the governor was come to settle forever the question of loyalty to our Province of Maryland.

I was to perform the task in whatsoever manner I thought best, so that it was done properly, and to set off without delay, sleeping wherever night overtook me, for it would not be possible to make the voyage completely around the island in less than two, perhaps three, days.

You may well fancy that I was exceeding proud at being selected for what seemed like a most important mission, and I made no further delay in setting out than to find my father, that I might acquaint him with my purpose.

It can also be understood that I chose John as one of the men to bear me company, and he proposed that I take his cousin Jacob as the second oarsman.

My father did not burden me with advice when I was come to take leave of him. He simply cautioned me not to run needlessly into danger, nor to shirk when it could not be avoided.

"Do not refuse to take advice from John," he said, as we walked toward that point on the shore where lay the shallop. "That lad, or man, who neglects to learn from others when he may, is little less than a fool."

With these words ringing in my ears I set off, the two men rowing lustily while I held the steering oar, and it was in my mind that now indeed might I with good reason be called Calvert of Maryland, since I was doing a man's work in the protection of the province.