Captain Pearson has Bud, who is the right wing, badly crippled by having his arm broken in the first battle." (Miss Hawkins looked pale.) "_To_ be sure," said the old man.
"And I am the left wing, pretty good at giving advice, but very slender in a fight." "_To_ be sure," said the old man.
"And Shocky and Miss Martha and Hannah good aids, but nothing in a battle." "_To_ be sure," said the basket-maker, a little doubtfully.
"Now let's look at the arms and accouterments, I think you call them.
Well, this old musket has been loaded--" "This ten year," said the old lady.
"And the lock is so rusty that you could not cock it when you wanted to take aim at Hannah." The old man looked foolish, and muttered "_To_ be sure." "And there isn't another round of ammunition in the house." The old man was silent.
"Now let us look at the incumbrances.

Here's the old lady and Shocky.

If you fight, the enemy will be pleased.

It will give them a chance to kill you.

And then the old lady will die and they will do with Shocky as they please." "_To_ be sure," said the old man reflectively.
"Now," said Ralph, "General Winfield Scott, under such circumstances, would retreat in good order.