“That seems to be the sensible thing to do, Timothy,” assented the chairman.
Timothy’s suggestion was received with favor by the meeting and the session was closed.
That night Captain Jared Higgins sat up late. The gallant skipper was busy, but any person observing the task he was engaged in would find it hard to reconcile it with his prominence as an advocate of peace. His family had retired for the night before his labors commenced. The man of peace took an old firelock from the hooks where it had rested untouched for many a year and laid it gently on the table. Then he reached for the ancient cutlass which hung beside the chimney and placed it alongside the gun. From the drawer of an immense cupboard he brought forth two large horse pistols and added them to the weapons on the table. After this, he lighted an extra candle and stood back, grimly surveying the array of warlike gear.
A knock at the door caused Captain Jared to start. Who could be around at this time of night? A second knock and the sound of a friendly voice asking if he were in, brought him to the door which he opened to admit his adversary of the tavern, Obed Sparrow.
“I hope I haven’t put you out any, Captain Jared? The fact is, I felt so much ashamed of that evening at Crosby’s that I thought it right to come and tell you so. I have been down at Peter’s and on my way home I saw your light. I hope there are no hard feelings left, Captain Jared?”
The worthy captain felt his position rather uncomfortable just at that moment. Obed could not fail to notice the lethal weapons on the table and would surely wonder why the man of peace, Jared Higgins, had brought them forth for inspection.
“Don’t talk about it, Obed; no hard feelings at all, my lad. These are ticklish times, Obed, and the slowest of us is apt to feel the strain on his temper. Sit down and smoke a pipe.”
Obed’s eye settled on the table. He certainly was surprised and showed it.
“By George, Captain Jared, but that’s a queer sight to see on the table of a man who hates fighting as you do!” he exclaimed.
“Well, Obed,” said the captain confusedly, “I just thought I’d have a look at the old kit of fighting tools which I used during the Revolution. Kind o’ seemed to me that they wanted cleaning.”