sally dows-第12章

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approached　him；　he　made　a　step　forward　and　cried；　〃Halt！〃

The　men　pulled　up　sharply　and　mechanically　at　that　ring　of　military
imperiousness。

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　said　Courtland。

〃We　reckon　that's　OUR　business；　co'nnle。〃

〃It's　mine；　when　you're　on　property　that　I　control。〃

The　man　hesitated　and　looked　interrogatively　towards　his　fellows。
〃I　allow　you've　got　us　there；　co'nnle；〃　he　said　at　last　with　the
lazy　insolence　of　conscious　power；　but　I　don't　mind　telling　you
we're　wanting　a　nigger　about　the　size　of　your　Cato。　　We　hain't　got
anything　agin　YOU；　co'nnle；　we　don't　want　to　interfere　with　YOUR
property；　and　YOUR　ways；　but　we　don't　calculate　to　have　strangers
interfere　with　OUR　ways　and　OUR　customs。　　Trot　out　your　niggeryou
No'th'n　folks　don't　call　HIM　'property；'　you　knowand　we'll　clear
off　your　land。〃

〃And　may　I　ask　what　you　want　of　Cato？〃　said　Courtland　quietly。

〃To　show　him　that　all　the　Federal　law　in　h…ll　won't　protect　him
when　he　strikes　a　white　man！〃　burst　out　one　of　the　masked　figures；
riding　forward。

〃Then　you　compel　me　to　show　YOU；〃　said　Courtland　immovably；　〃what
any　Federal　citizen　may　do　in　the　defense　of　Federal　law。　　For　I'll
kill　the　first　man　that　attempts　to　lay　hands　upon　him　on　my
property。　　Some　of　you；　who　have　already　tried　to　assassinate　him
in　cold　blood；　I　have　met　before　in　less　dishonorable　warfare　than
this；　and　THEY　know　I　am　able　to　keep　my　word。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　the　barrel　of　the　revolver　he　was
holding　at　his　side　glistened　for　an　instant　in　the　moonlight；　but
he　did　not　move。　　The　two　men　rode　up　to　the　first　speaker　and
exchanged　words。　　A　light　laugh　followed；　and　the　first　speaker
turned　again　to　Courtland　with　a　mocking　politeness。

〃Very　well；　co'nnle；　if　that's　your　opinion；　and　you　allow　we　can't
follow　our　game　over　your　property；　why；　we　reckon　we'll　have　to
give　way　TO　THOSE　WHO　CAN。　　Sorry　to　have　troubled　YOU。　　Good…
night。〃

He　lifted　his　hat　ironically；　waved　it　to　his　followers；　and　the
next　moment　the　whole　party　were　galloping　furiously　towards　the
high　road。

For　the　first　time　that　evening　a　nervous　sense　of　apprehension
passed　over　Courtland。　　The　impending　of　some　unknown　danger　is
always　more　terrible　to　a　brave　man　than　the　most　overwhelming　odds
that　he　can　see　and　realize。　　He　felt　instinctively　that　they　had
uttered　no　vague　bravado　to　cover　up　their　defeat；　there　was　still
some　advantage　on　which　they　confidently　reckonedbut　what？　　Was
it　only　a　reference　to　the　other　party　tracking　them　through　the
woods　on　which　their　enemies　now　solely　relied？　　He　regained　Cato
quickly；　the　white　teeth　of　the　foolishly　confident　negro　were
already　flashing　his　imagined　triumph　to　his　employer。　　Courtland's
heart　grew　sick　as　he　saw　it。

〃We're　not　out　of　the　woods　yet；　Cato；〃　he　said　dryly；　〃nor　are
they。　　Keep　your　eyes　and　ears　open；　and　attend　to　me。　　How　long
can　we　keep　in　the　cover　of　these　woods；　and　still　push　on　in　the
direction　of　the　quarters？〃

〃There's　a　way　roun'　de　edge　o'　de　swamp；　sah；　but　we'd　have　to　go
back　a　spell　to　find　it。〃

〃Go　on！〃

〃And　dar's　moccasins　and　copperheads　lying　round　here　in　de　trail！
Dey　don't　go　for　us　ginerallybut；〃　be　hesitated；　〃white　men　don't
stand　much　show。〃

〃Good！　　Then　it　is　as　bad　for　those　who　are　chasing　us　as　for　me。
That　will　do。　　Lead　on。〃

They　retraced　their　steps　cautiously；　until　the　negro　turned　into　a
lighter　by…way。　　A　strange　mephitic　odor　seemed　to　come　from　sodden
leaves　and　mosses　that　began　to　ooze　under　their　feet。　　They　had
picked　their　way　in　silence　for　some　minutes；　the　stunted　willows
and　cypress　standing　farther　and　farther　apart；　and　the　openings
with　clumps　of　sedge　were　frequent。　　Courtland　was　beginning　to
fear　this　exposure　of　his　follower；　and　had　moved　up　beside　him；
when　suddenly　the　negro　caught　his　arm；　and　trembled　violently。
His　lips　were　parted　over　his　teeth；　the　whites　of　his　eyes
glistened；　he　seemed　gasping　and　speechless　with　fear。

〃What's　the　matter；　Cato？〃　said　Courtland　glancing　instinctively　at
the　ground　beneath。　　〃Speak；　man！have　you　been　bitten？〃

The　word　seemed　to　wring　an　agonized　cry　from　the　miserable　man。

〃Bitten！　　No；　but　don't　you　hear　'em　coming；　sah！　　God　Almighty！
don't　you　hear　dat？〃

〃What？〃

〃De　dogs！　de　houns！DE　BLOODHOUNS！　　Dey've　set　'em　loose　on　me！〃

It　was　true！　　A　faint　baying　in　the　distance　was　now　distinctly
audible　to　Courtland。　　He　knew　now　plainly　the　full；　cruel　purport
of　the　leader's　speech；those　who　could　go　anywhere　were　tracking
their　game！

Every　trace　of　manhood　had　vanished　from　the　negro's　cowering
frame。　　Courtland　laid　his　hand　assuringly；　appealingly；　and　then
savagely　on　his　shoulder。

〃Come！　　Enough　of　this！　　I　am　here；　and　will　stand　by　you；　whatever
comes。　　These　dogs　are　no　more　to　be　feared　than　the　others。　　Rouse
yourself；　man；　and　at　least　help　ME　make　a　fight　of　it。〃

〃No！　no！〃　screamed　the　terrified　man。　　〃Lemme　go！　　Lemme　go　back　to
de　Massas！　　Tell　'em　I'll　come！　　Tell　'em　to　call　de　houns　off　me；
and　I'll　go　quiet！　　Lemme　go！〃　　He　struggled　violently　in　his
companion's　grasp。

In　all　Courtland's　self…control；　habits　of　coolness；　and
discipline；　it　is　to　be　feared　there　was　still　something　of　the　old
Berserker　temper。　　His　face　was　white；　his　eyes　blazed　in　the
darkness；　only　his　voice　kept　that　level　distinctness　which　made　it
for　a　moment　more　terrible　than　even　the　baying　of　the　tracking
hounds　to　the　negro's　ear。　　〃Cato；〃　he　said；　〃attempt　to　run　now；
and；　by　God！　I'll　save　the　dogs　the　trouble　of　grappling　your
living　carcass！　　Come　here！　　Up　that　tree　with　you！〃　pointing　to　a
swamp　magnolia。　　〃Don't　move　as　long　as　I　can　stand　here；　and　when
I'm　downbut　not　till　thensave　yourselfthe　best　you　can。〃

He　half　helped；　half　dragged；　the　now　passive　African　to　the
solitary　tree；　as　the　bay　of　a　single　hound　came　nearer；　the　negro
convulsively　scrambled　from　Courtland's　knee　and　shoulder　to　the
fork　of　branches　a　dozen　feet　from　the　ground。　　Courtland　drew　his
revolver；　and；　stepping　back　a　few　yards　into　the　open；　awaited　the
attack。

It　came　unexpectedly　from　behind。　　A　sudden　yelp　of　panting　cruelty
and　frenzied　anticipation　at　Courtland's　back　caused　him　to　change
front　quickly；　and　the　dripping　fangs　and　snaky　boa…like　neck　of　a
gray　weird　shadow　passed　him。　　With　an　awful　supernaturalness　of
instinct；　it　kept　on　in　an　unerring　line　to　the　fateful　tree。　　But
that　dread　directness　of　scent　was　Courtland's　opportunity。　　His
revolver　flashed　out　in　an　aim　as　unerring。　　The　brute；　pierced
through　neck　and　brain；　dashed　on　against　the　tree　in　his　impetus；
and　then　rolled　over　against　it　in　a　quivering　bulk。　　Again　another
bay　coming　from　the　same　direction　told　Courtland　that　his　pursuers
had　outflanked　him；　and　the　whole　pack　were　crossing　the　swamp。
But　he　was　prepared；　again　the　same　weird　shadow；　as　spectral　and
monstrous　as　a　dream；　dashed　out　into　the　brief　light　of　the　open；
but　this　time　it　was　stopped；　and　rolled　over　convulsively　before
it　had　crossed。　　Flushed；　with　the　fire　of　fight　in　his　veins；
Courtland　turned　almost　furiously　from　the　fallen　brutes　at　his
feet　to　meet　the　onset　of　the　more　cowardly　hunters　whom　he　knew
were　at　his　heels。　　At　that　moment　it　would　have　fared　ill　with　the
foremost。　　No　longer　the　calculating　steward　and　diplomatic
manager；　no　longer　the　cool…headed　arbiter　of　conflicting
interests；　he　was　ready　to　meet　them；　not　only　with　the　intrepid
instincts　of　a　soldier；　but　with　an　aroused　partisan　fury　equal　to
their　own。　　To　his　surprise　no　one　followed；　the　baying　of　a　third
hound　seemed　to　be　silenced　and　checked；　the　silence　was　broken
only　by　the　sound　of　distant　disputing　voices　and　the　uneasy
trampling　of　hoofs。　　This　was　followed　by　two　or　three　rifle　shots
in　the　distance；　but　not　either　in　the　direction　of　the　quarters
nor　the　Dows'　dwelling…house。　　There　evidently　was　some　interruption
in　the　pursuit；a　diversion　of　some　kind　had　taken　place；but　what
he　knew　not。　　He　could　think　of　no　one　who　might　have　interfered　on
his　behalf；　and　the　shouting　and　wrangling　seemed　to　be　carried　on
in　the　accents　of　the　one　sectional　party。　　He　called　cautiously　to
Cato。　　The　negro　did　not　reply。　　He　crossed　to　the　tree　and　shook　it
impatiently。　　Its　boughs　were　empty；　Cato　was　gone！　　The　miserable
negro　must　have　taken　advantage　of　the　first　diversion　in　his　favor
to　escape。　　But　where；　and　how；　there　was　nothing　left　to　indicate。

As　Courtland　had　taken　little　note　of　the　trail；　he　had　no　idea　of
his　own　whereabouts。　　He　knew　he　must　return　to　the　fringe　of
cypress　to　be　able　to　cross　the　open　field　and　gain　the　negro
quarters；　where　it　was　still　possible　that　Cato　had　fled。　　Taking　a
general　direction　from　the　few　stars　visible　above　the　opening；　he
began　to　retrace　his　steps。　　But　he　had　no　longer　the　negro's
woodcraft　to　guide　him。　　At　times　his　feet　were　caught　in　trailing
vines　which　seemed　to　coil　around　his　ankles　with　ominous
suggestiveness；　at　times　the　yielding　soil　beneath　his　tread　showed
his　perilous　proximity　to　the　swamp；　as　well　as　the　fact　that　he
was　beginning　to　incline　towards　that　dread　circle　which　is　the
hopeless　instinct　of　all　lost　and　straying　humanity。　　Luckily　the
edge　of　the　swamp　was　more　open；　and　he　would　be　enabled　to　correct
his　changed　course　again　by　the　position　of　the　stars。　　But　he　was
becoming　chilled　and　exhausted　by　these　fruitless　efforts；　and　at
length；　after　a　more　devious　and　prolonged　detour；　which　brought
him　back　to　the　swamp　again；　he　resolved　to　skirt　its　edge　in
search　of　some　other　mode　of　issuance。　　Beyond　him；　the　light
seemed　stronger；　as　of　a　more　extended　opening　or　clearing；　and
there　was　even　a　superficial　gleam　from　the　end　of　the　swamp
itself；　as　if　from　some　ignis　fatuus　or　the　glancing　of　a　pool　of
unbroken　water。　　A　few　rods　farther　brought　him　to　it　and　a　full
view　of　the　unencumbered　expanse。　　Beyond　him；　far　across　the
swamp；　he　could　see　a　hillside　bathed　in　the　moonlight　with
symmetrical　lines　of　small　white　squares　dotting　its　slopes　and
stretching　down　into　a　valley　of　gleaming　shafts；　pyramids；　and
tombs。　　It　was　the　cemetery；　the　white　squares　on　the　hillside　were
the　soldiers'　graves。　　And　among　them　even　at　that　distance；
uplifting　solemnly；　like　a　reproachful　phantom；　was　the　broken
shaft　above　the　dust　of　Chester　Brooks。

With　the　view　of　that　fateful　spot；　which　he　had　not　seen　since　his
last　meeting　there　with　Sally　Dows；　a　flood　of　recollection　rushed
upon　him。　　In　the　white　mist　that　hung　low　along　the　farther　edge
of　the　swamp　he　fancied　he　could　see　again　the　battery　smoke
through　which　the　ghostly　figure　of　the　dead　rider　had　charged　his
gun　three　years　before；　in　the　vapory　white　plumes　of　a　funereal
plant　in　the　long　avenue　he　was　reminded　of　the　light　figure　of
Miss　Sally　as　she　appeared　at　their　last　meeting。　　In　another
moment；　in　his　already　dazed　condition；　he　might　have　succumbed　to
some　sensuous　memory　of　her　former　fascinations；　but　he　threw　it
off　savagely　now；　with　a　quick　and　bitter　recalling　of　her　deceit
and　his　own　weakness。　　Turning　his　back　upon　the　scene　with　a　half…
supersti