, I
wouldn't tell you. But I will get Nollichucky Jack if I have to burn
Morganton and rake the General out of the cinders!"

Five hundred hands flew up, five hundred voices cried, "I'm with ye,
Major Cozby!" But the Major only shook his head and smiled. What he said
was lost in the roar. Fighting my way forward, I saw him get down from
the stump, put his hand kindly on Nick's shoulder, and lead him into the
court-house. They were followed by a score of others, and the door was
shut behind them.

It was then I bethought myself of the letter to Mr. Wright, and I sought
for some one who would listen to my questions as to his whereabouts.
At length the man himself was pointed out to me, haranguing an excited
crowd of partisans in front of his own gate. Some twenty minutes must
have passed before I could get any word with him. He was a vigorous
little man, with black eyes like buttons, he wore brown homespun and
white stockings, and his hair was clubbed. When he had yielded the
ground to another orator, I handed him the letter. He drew me aside,
read it on the spot, and became all hospitality at once. The town was
full, and though he had several friends staying in his house I should
join them. Was my horse fed? Dinner had been forgotten that day, but
would I enter and partake? In short, I found myself suddenly provided
for, and I lost no time in getting my weary mount into Mr. Wright's
little stable. And then I sat down, with several other gentlemen, at Mr.
Wright's board, where there was much guessing as to Major Cozby's plan.

"No other man west of the mountains could have calmed that crowd after
that young daredevil Temple had stirred them up," declared Mr. Wright.

I ventured to say that I had business with Mr. Temple.

"Faith, then, I will invite him here," said my host. "But I warn you,
Mr. Ritchie, that he is a trigger set on the hair. If he does not fancy
you, he may quarrel with you and shoot you. And he is in no temper to be
trifled with to-day."

"I am not an easy person to quarrel with," I answered.

"To look at you, I shouldn't say that you were," said he. "We are going
to the court-house, and I will see if I can get a word with the young
Hotspur and send him to you. Do you wait here."

I waited on the porch as the day waned. The tumult of the place had died
down, for men were gathering in the houses to discuss and conjecture.
And presently, sauntering along the street in a careless fashion, his
spurs