Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-11-24
CHAPTER XVII.
a COUNCIL OF WAR.

CHAPTER XVII.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
Shockv, whose feeJ had flown as
soon as he saw the final fall of Pete
Jones, told the whole story to the won
] dering and almiring cars of Miss
Hawkins, who uuhappiIy could not
remember anything aJ the East just
like it; to the frightened ears of the
rheumatic old lady who felt sure her
ole mans talk and stubbornness
would be the ruin of him. and to the
indignant ears of the old soldier who
was hobbling up and down, sentinel
wise, in front of his cabin, standing
guard over himself
No, / won't leave" he said to
Ralph and Bud. " You see [ Jest
won't. What would General Win
field Scott say ef he knew that one OF
them as fit at Lundy's Lane backed
| out, retreated, rum fer fear of q passel
of thieves? No, sir; me and the old
flint-locil will live al Il die together
I'll pat thanderin' charge of buck
shot into tlie first one of them scoun-
drels as comes up the h0llel. It'Il be
another LundA'S Lane And you,
Mr.. HartsoOk, may send Scott word
that old Pearson, as fit at Lundy'S
Lane under him, died lightin
thieves on Rocky Branch in HOopole
KyOuuty, State of Irjeanny."
And the Old man hntibied faster and
faster, taxing his Wonden leg to the
very utmost, as if his victory depend
ed on the veheWence with which ne
walked his beat.
Mrs. Pearson sat wringing her
hands and looking appealiugly az
Martha Hawkins, who stood in the
door, in ue-pair, looking appealingly
at Bud. Bud was stupeficd by the old
man 5 stubborrneoS ami his own pain,
and in his turn appealed mutely TO the
master, in whose resources he had
bOundiess confidence. Ralph, seeing
that all depended on him, was taxing
his wits To think of some way to get
round the old mans stuithornneSs. -
ShOcky hung on to the old mans coat
and pulled away at him with many en-
treating words, but the venerable.
bareheaded sentinel strode up and
down fdriously, with his fiint-lock on
his shoulder and his basket-knile in
his belt.
Just at this point somebody could
be seen indistihctly through the
bushes coming up the hollow.
Haiti" cried the old hero. " Who
goes thereof
E" It's me, Mr.. Pearson. Don'tshoot
me, please"
1t was the voice of Hannah Thorn
son. Hearing that the whole neigh
bOrhOod was rising against the bene-
factor of ShOcky and of her family,
she had slipped away from the eyes of
her mistress, and ran with breathlCss
haste to give warming in the cabiL on
Rocky Branch. Seeing Ralph, she
bIushed, and went into the cabin.
"Wcll," ," said Ralph, 1.-The enemy is
not coming yet. Let us hold coun-
ell of war"
This thought came to Ralph like an
inspiration. 1t pleased the old mans
whim, and he sat down on the door
step.
Now, [ suppose" said Ralph,
"that General Winfield Scott always
looked into things a little before he
went INTO fight. Didn't hep"
"Well." said Ralph. "What is tile
condition of the enemy? | supupse
the whole neighborhood's against Us.
''TO be sure" said the old man.
The rest were silent, but all felt the
statement to be about true.
Next" said Rulph, II suppose
Gen. Winfield Scott would always in
quire in the condition Of his own
troops. Now let us see. Captain Pear
son has Bud, who is the right wing,
badly crippled by having his arm
broken in the frs battle" Miss
Hawkins looked pale.l
- To he sure" said the old man.
"And | am the left wing, pretty
good at giving advice, but very slen-
der in fight"
" To be sure" said the old man.
"And Shocky and Miss Martha
and Hannah good aids, but nothing in
a battle"
TO be sure" said the basket-maker,
a little dOubtfully.
Now, let's look at the arms and ac-
couterments. l think you call them.
Well, this old musket has been load
ed"
This ten year" said the old lady.
"Aud the lock is so rusty that you
could not cock II when wanted 10 take
aim at Hannah"
The old man looked foolish, and
muttered /" To be sure"
And there isn't another round OF
ammunition in the house"
The old man WAS silent.
q Now let us look at the incumbran-
ccs. Here's the old lady and Shocky.
Ifyou fight. the enemy will be pleased.
Ii wIil .iVe them 4 chance 10 kill YOU.
And then the old lady viii die, and
;hey Will 40 with 'Shocky as they
please"
& TO be sure" said the old man re-
nrctIveiy.
Now" said Ralph, General Win
field Scott, under such circumstances,
would retreat in good order Then,
when he could muster his forces right
ly, he would drive the enemy from
his ground
TO tie sure" said the old man.
'What ort 10 do"
Have you any iricnds?"
"WeIl, yes; theirs my trother over
i'm Jackson kyounty. L mout go
there
"WelI, "said Bud, "do YOU just go
down 10 Spr ng-in-rock aS q stay there.
Them folks wont be here tell mid
night I'll come fer you at nine with
my roam colt, and I'll set you down
over on the big road on Buckeye Run.
Then you can git on the maiI-wagon
that passes there about five O'clock in
the nornin, aud go over To jackson
County and keep shady till we, want
you TO face the enemy and to swear
agin some folks. And then we'll
send for you.
ITO be sure" said the old man in a
broken voice. - reckon General
Winfield Scott wouldn't disapprove of
such maneuver rs that thar"
Miss Martha beamel on Bud to his
evident delight, for he carried his
painful arm part of the way homo
with her Ralph noticed that Ham