When the Virginians assembled, they were without a leader.
It was on this occasion that Robert was awakened at night, as we have seen, and asked to arm himself and prepare for a journey.

That midnight journey was to Curies where the planters were assembled preparatory to making a descent on the enemy, which they were long to remember.

When Robert was informed of the plan, he asked for a moment's time to confer with his sister, that he might notify her of his departure.
He knew the room in which Rebecca slept, and going to her door, tapped lightly until he heard her stirring, and the voice within asked: "Who are you ?" "It is your brother," he whispered.

A moment later the pretty face of the sleepy girl, surrounded by the neat border of a night-cap, appeared, and he hastily informed her that the Indians, in ravaging the frontier, had carried away their relatives, and he was going to set out to recover them.

She knew the political situation of the country and the danger of the governor's wrath; but she could not detain her brother from such a mission.
Having explained to her that he was going to recover the captives and knew not when he would return, he went hurriedly away to join his companions.