“I reckoned you wah'nt from these parts,” said he. “Wright's—out o' town.”
“What is the excitement?” I demanded.
He stared at me.
“Nollichucky Jack's been heah, in Jonesboro, young man,” said he.
“What,” I exclaimed, “Colonel Sevier?”
“Ay, Sevier,” he repeated. “With Martin and Tipton and all the Caroliny men right heah, having a council of mility officers in the court-house, in rides Jack with his frontier boys like a whirlwind. He bean't afeard of 'em, and a bench warrant out ag'in him for high treason. Never seed sech a recklessness. Never had sech a jamboree sence I kept the tavern. They was in this here room most of the day, and they was five fights before they set down to dinner.”
“And Colonel Tipton?” I said.
“Oh, Tipton,” said he, “he hain't afeard neither, but he hain't got men enough.”
“And where is Sevier now?” I demanded.
“How long hev you ben in town?” was his answer.