Perhaps a quarter of them had muskets, the
others carried stout cudgels.
All sorts of rumors were flying about. One story was that the militia
had been ordered out with a dozen rounds of cartridges, to defend the
court and jail. Some even had heard that a cannon had been placed in
front of the court house, and trained on the Stockbridge road. On the
other hand, it was asserted that the court would not try to sit at
all. As now one, and now another, of these contradictory reports
prevailed, ebullitions of courage and symptoms of panic alternated
among the people. It was easy to see that they contemplated the
undertaking, on which they were embarking, not without a good deal of
nervousness. Abner was going from group to group, trying to keep up
their spirits.
"Hello," he exclaimed, coming across Jabez Flint. "Look a here, boys.
Derned ef Jabez ain't a comin long with the res' on us. Wal, Jabez, I
swow, I never callated ez I sh'd be a fightin long side o' ye. Misry
makes strange bedfellers, though."
"It's you ez hez changed sides, not me," responded the Tory. "I wuz
allers agin the state, an naow ye've come over tew my side."
Abner scratched his head.
"I swan, it doos look so.
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