difficulties that might
have arisen in communicating with Charlestown, he sought to avert the
dangers of a siege and a possible ultimate disaster such as had
befallen Fort Loudon. But although he spoke with force and readiness it
was very guardedly.

"If the great Cherokee kings would please to consider the experience
which I have had in the management of cannon, I should like to represent
that such an attack on Fort Prince George can but be a duel with
artillery. I am not well acquainted with the armament of Fort Prince
George," he declared, "but it may well chance that the cannon, captured
by the Cherokees at so great a cost, may be disabled under a heavy fire
and lost to Fort Loudon, which would then become mere intrenchments, to
be leveled by a single brisk cannonade."

Atta-Kulla-Kulla, his quick, keen, fiery face aglow, informed him that
they would leave a reserve of cannon at Fort Loudon, his advice having
been to take with them only six of the great guns and two coehorns.

Stuart was baffled for a moment by the definiteness and the military
coherence of these plans. He rallied, however, to say that the gunners
of Fort Prince George were trained men, doubtless, and drilled with
frequent target practice. And a commander of skill, such as theirs, was
essential to the effectiveness of an aggressive demonstration.

A flicker of triumph illuminated Atta-Kulla-Kulla's spirited face. They
were provided in this emergency also. He, the great Captain Stuart,
would command the artillery of the expedition, the guns to be served by
Indians as cannoneers under his direction; nicety of aim was not
essential; a few days' practice would suffice, and at short range Fort
Prince George was a large target.

For his life Stuart could not control his countenance; the color flared
to the roots of his hair; his eyes flashed; his hand trembled; he could
not find his voice; and yet angry as he was, he was both amazed and
daunted.

Oconostota broke in upon his speechless agitation in a smooth, soothing
voice to remind him of the clemency he enjoyed in that his life had been
spared, and only yesterday, even at the supreme moment of the discovery
of the treachery of his garrison in the concealment of the powder. They
had not acquainted Willinawaugh with their designs, for Oconostota
himself would lead the expedition. (Stuart as a military man realized a
necessity, that sometimes supervenes in more sophisticated
organizations, which th