Strange to say, this feeling was almost fatal to his prospects. We say strange, because ambition generally carves its own road, and moulds its own fortune.
Rody, however, had commenced an active career too late to arrive at much importance in the political world—that grand arena for attaining distinction.
He therefore cast about him for another field of ambitious strife, and speedily found it.
At this time throughout the state of Georgia were many planters, who, without capital to purchase additional property, found themselves daily growing poorer as their land became worn out with exhausting crops.
These men were naturally enough the grumblers and discontented spirits of the community.
Another class were those with little save a restless disposition, ever ready for any venture that may arise.
Rody, shrewd and plausible, saw in these men the very instruments for a purpose he had long thought of, and had well matured.
“If I cannot attain the object of my wishes here,” said he, to himself, “perhaps I may be successful elsewhere, if I can only persuade others to join me. These are men ready to my hand; I will take them with me, they shall be my followers; and whilst contributing their means to my end, they will look upon me as a benefactor.”
Rody, it will be seen, was a thorough egotist.
This idea becoming fixed in his mind, the rest was easy. He spoke to them of their present condition; drew a brilliant picture of what might be achieved in a new land; painted with masterly eloquence the increase of wealth and happiness his plan presented, and finely gathered around him a large number of families, with whom he started from Georgia, and settled in that section of Florida we have described.