The clergy were called in and the situation explained, when
both volunteered for service. Mr. Perrowne had a very good gun at his
lodgings; and his landlady, whose father had been in the army, possessed
a relic of him in the shape of an ancient carbine, which he was sure she
would lend to Mr. Errol, with bayonet complete. He went for them, under
escort of Rufus and Ben. When Mr. Terry was told, he begged for his son
in law's "swate-lukin' roifle," and was as cheerful as if a wedding was
in progress. Finally, Timotheus got the fowling piece and the Squire
looked to the priming of his pistols. Mr. Nash, of course, had both
revolver and dirk knife concealed somewhere about his person. Then Mr.
Errol conducted family prayers, the children were sent to bed, the
ladies briefly informed of the situation, and the garrison bidden a more
than usually affectionate good-night.
CHAPTER IX.
The Squire Posts Sentries--Sylvanus Arrests Tryphosa--Change of
Watchword--Nash Leads an Advance--The Cheek of Grinstuns--The
Hound--Guard-room Conversation--Incipient Fires Extinguished--The
Idiot Boy--Grinstun's Awful Cheek--The Lawyer and the Parson
Theologize--Coristine's Hands--Doctor and Miss Halbert.
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