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 one.

The Knights of the Golden Horseshoe! It hath an odd, charming sound, eh, gentlemen ?" None of the gentlemen were prepared to deny that it was a quaint and pleasing title.