“Right!” said he in a voice filled with sudden deep strength. “To prepare quickly is the only way.”
“And you will accept?” asked another of the committee, eagerly.
“My wound is bad,” said Jackson, “and I shall be of less service than I should be otherwise. But, still, I will march. And if the general government will only keep hands off,” grimly, “we shall in the end have peace in Israel.”
After the committee, much elated by their success, had departed, Jack and Frank were brought to the notice of the general.
“Oh, yes,” said he, holding out one gaunt hand to Jack, “I recall you. How is your father?”
“Quite well.” Then presenting Frank, he added: “This is my friend from Virginia, Frank Lawrence.”
The general shook the boy by the hand and had his black servant bring chairs. When they were seated, he looked at them smilingly.
“You both look as though you’d been through some hard service,” said he.
“We have,” replied Jack. “A full year of it. And we’ve just returned.”
They then related to Jackson, in as few words as possible, the story of their expedition to locate the land grant. The general listened to the harrowing tale of the assault upon Fort Mims with frowning brows.