for two miles. When I passed a
house I would walk my horse, and sing and seem to be wholly
unconcerned; but when I was out of sight I put my horse on the
keen jump, and was soon out of Marshall County. Finding an out-
of-the-way place, with good blue grass and plenty of shade, I
swung down from my horse and returned thanks to my Father in
heaven for my deliverance.

In the afternoon I arrived at the house of Capt. Redd, where,
when in that county, I generally made my home. The brethren all
came to welcome me back, and I related to them my experience and
deliverance. A short time after this James K. Polk and Col.
Jones, both candidates for the office of Governor of Tennessee,
and the candidates for the Legislature, including my friend
Walls, met at Murfreesborough and held a political meeting. Walls
gave me the sequel of what happened with Col. Tucker.

When Justice Walls' nephew went for the law books he permitted
his horse to run away, and it was nearly ruined in the brush and
grapevines. Col. Tucker did not blame the Justice at all, but
rather sympathized with him in his misfortune. Mrs. Tucker to the
end remained firm in her faith.

The kindness of Justice Walls in my hour of peril was not
forgotten. I spoke of it in all my meetings, and to my friends in
private. And to this act of justice and humanity he owed his
election, as he was elected by a majority of only five votes.

Next I visited the branch on Stone River and made arrangements to
return to my family at Nauvoo, the City of Joseph. The two
branches now numbered about sixty members. I organized a branch
west of Murfreesborough, and ordained Brother John Holt to the
office of Elder. I baptized a young girl at Readysville, by the
name of Sarah C. Williams, of rich parentage. I lectured at
Murfreesborough for ten days, and about the beginning of October,
1843, I took the steamer at Nashville for my home in Nauvoo,
arriving there on the 14th of October.

CHAPTER XII - OF PECULIAR INTEREST IN NAUVOO

Upon my return home I found my family well. Work on the Temple
was progressing finely, every effort being made to push it ahead.
About this time a man named Bennett came on a visit to the
Prophet, and soon after joined the Church. At that time he
wielded quite an influence in government affairs. He grew in the
graces of the Prophet and became his right-hand man. He
endeavored in connection with Stephen A. Douglass to obtain a
charter for the city of Nau