sally dows-第13章

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and　his　own　weakness。　　Turning　his　back　upon　the　scene　with　a　half…
superstitious　tremor；　he　plunged　once　more　into　the　trackless
covert。　　But　he　was　conscious　that　his　eyesight　was　gradually
growing　dim　and　his　strength　falling。　　He　was　obliged　from　time　to
time　to　stop　and　rally　his　sluggish　senses；　that　seemed　to　grow
heavier　under　some　deadly　exhalation　that　flowed　around　him。　　He
even　seemed　to　hear　familiar　voices；but　that　must　be　delusion。
At　last　he　stumbled。　　Throwing　out　an　arm　to　protect　himself；　he
came　heavily　down　upon　the　ooze；　striking　a　dull；　half…elastic　root
that　seemedit　must　have　been　another　delusionto　move　beneath
him；　and　evenso　confused　were　his　senses　nowto　strike　back
angrily　upon　his　prostrate　arm。　　A　sharp　pain　ran　from　his　elbow　to
shoulder　and　for　a　moment　stung　him　to　full　consciousness　again。
There　were　voices　surely；the　voices　of　their　former　pursuers！　　If
they　were　seeking　to　revenge　themselves　upon　him　for　Cato's　escape；
he　was　ready　for　them。　　He　cocked　his　revolver　and　stood　erect。　　A
torch　flashed　through　the　wood。　　But　even　at　that　moment　a　film
came　over　his　eyes；　he　staggered　and　fell。

An　interval　of　helpless　semi…consciousness　ensued。　　He　felt　himself
lifted　by　strong　arms　and　carried　forward；　his　arm　hanging
uselessly　at　his　side。　　The　dank　odor　of　the　wood　was　presently
exchanged　for　the　free　air　of　the　open　field；　the　flaming　pine…knot
torches　were　extinguished　in　the　bright　moonlight。　　People　pressed
around　him；　but　so　indistinctly　he　could　not　recognize　them。　　All
his　consciousness　seemed　centred　in　the　burning；　throbbing　pain　of
his　arm。　　He　felt　himself　laid　upon　the　gravel；　the　sleeve　cut　from
his　shoulder；　the　cool　sensation　of　the　hot　and　bursting　skin　bared
to　the　night　air；　and　then　a　soft；　cool；　and　indescribable　pressure
upon　a　wound　he　had　not　felt　before。　　A　voice　followed；high；
lazily　petulant；　and　familiar　to　him；　and　yet　one　he　strove　in　vain
to　recall。

〃De　Lawdy…Gawd　save　us；　Miss　Sally！　　Wot　yo'　doin'　dah？　　Chile！
Chile！　　Yo'　'll　kill　yo'se'f；　shuah！〃

The　pressure　continued；　strange　and　potent　even　through　his　pain；
and　was　then　withdrawn。　　And　a　voice　that　thrilled　him　said：

〃It's　the　only　thing　to　save　him！　　Hush；　ye　chattering　black　crow！
Say　anything　about　this　to　a　living　soul；　and　I'll　have　yo'
flogged！　　Now　trot　out　the　whiskey　bottle　and　pour　it　down　him。〃


CHAPTER　VII。


When　Courtland's　eyes　opened　again；　he　was　in　bed　in　his　own　room
at　Redlands；　with　the　vivid　morning　sun　occasionally　lighting　up
the　wall　whenever　the　closely　drawn　curtains　were　lightly　blown
aside　by　the　freshening　breeze。　　The　whole　events　of　the　night
might　have　been　a　dream　but　for　the　insupportable　languor　which
numbed　his　senses；　and　the　torpor　of　his　arm；　that；　swollen　and
discolored；　lay　outside　the　coverlet　on　a　pillow　before　him。
Cloths　that　had　been　wrung　out　in　iced　water　were　replaced　upon　it
from　time　to　time　by　Sophy；　Miss　Dows'　housekeeper；　who；　seated
near　his　bedhead；　was　lazily　fanning　him。　　Their　eyes　met。

〃Broken？〃　he　said　interrogatively；　with　a　faint　return　of　his　old
deliberate　manner；　glancing　at　his　helpless　arm。

〃Deedy　no；　cunnle！　　Snake　bite；〃　responded　the　negress。

〃Snake　bite！〃　repeated　Courtland　with　languid　interest；　〃what
snake？〃

〃Moccasin　o'　copperheadif　you　doun　know　yo'se'f　which；〃　she
replied。　　〃But　it's　all　right　now；　honey！　　De　pizen's　draw'd　out
and　clean　gone。　　Wot　yer　feels　now　is　de　whiskey。　　De　whiskey
STAYS；　sah。　　It　gets　into　de　lubrications　of　de　skin；　sah；　and　has
to　be　abso'bed。〃

Some　faint　chord　of　memory　was　touched　by　the　girl's　peculiar
vocabulary。

〃Ah；〃　said　Courtland　quickly；　〃you're　Miss　Dows'　Sophy。　　Then　you
can　tell　me〃

〃Nuffin；　sah　absomlutely　nuffin！〃　interrupted　the　girl；　shaking　her
head　with　impressive　official　dignity。　　〃It's　done　gone　fo'bid　by
de　doctor！　　Yo'　're　to　lie　dar　and　shut　yo'r　eye；　honey；〃　she
added；　for　the　moment　reverting　unconsciously　to　the　native
maternal　tenderness　of　her　race；　〃and　yo'　're　not　to　bodder　yo'se'f
ef　school　keeps　o'　not。　　De　medical　man　say　distinctly；　sah；〃　she
concluded；　sternly　recalling　her　duty　again；　〃no　conversation　wid
de　patient。〃

But　Courtland　had　winning　ways　with　all　dependents。　　〃But　you　will
answer　me　ONE　question；　Sophy；　and　I'll　not　ask　another。　　Has〃he
hesitated　in　his　still　uncertainty　as　to　the　actuality　of　his
experience　and　its　probable　extent〃hasCatoescaped？〃

〃If　yo'　mean　dat　sassy；　bull…nigger　oberseer　of　yo'se；　cunnle；　HE'S
safe；　yo'　bet！〃　returned　Sophy　sharply。　　〃Safe　in　his　own　quo'tahs
night　afo'　las'；　after　braggin'　about　the　bloodhaowns　he　killed；
and　safe　ober　the　county　line　yes'day　moan'in；　after　kicking　up　all
dis　rumpus。　　If　dar　is　a　sassy；　highfalutin'　nigger　I　jiss　'spises
its　dat　black　nigger　Cato　o'　yo'se！　　Now；〃relenting〃yo'　jiss
wink　yo'　eye；　honey；　and　don't　excite　yo'se'f　about　sach　black
trash；　drap　off　to　sleep　comfor'ble。　　Fo'　you　do'an　get　annuder
word　out　o'　Sophy；　shuah！〃

As　if　in　obedience；　Courtland　closed　his　eyes。　　But　even　in　his
weak　state　he　was　conscious　of　the　blood　coming　into　his　cheek　at
Sophy's　relentless　criticism　of　the　man　for　whom　he　had　just
periled　his　life　and　position。　　Much　of　it　he　felt　was　true；　but
how　far　had　he　been　a　dupe　in　his　quixotic　defense　of　a　quarrelsome
blusterer　and　cowardly　bully？　　Yet　there　was　the　unmistakable　shot
and　cold…blooded　attempt　at　Cato's　assassination！　　And　there　were
the　bloodhounds　sent　to　track　the　unfortunate　man！　　That　was　no
dreambut　a　brutal　inexcusable　fact！

The　medical　practitioner　of　Redlands　he　remembered　was　conservative；
old…fashioned；　and　diplomatic。　　But　his　sympathies　had　been
broadened　by　some　army　experiences；　and　Courtland　trusted　to　some
soldierly　and　frank　exposition　of　the　matter　from　him。　　Nevertheless；
Dr。　Maynard　was　first　healer；　and；　like　Sophy；　professionally
cautious。　　The　colonel　had　better　not　talk　about　it　now。　　It　was
already　two　days　old；　the　colonel　had　been　nearly　forty…eight　hours
in　bed。　　It　was　a　regrettable　affair；　but　the　natural　climax　of
long…continued　political　and　racial　irritationand　not　without
GREAT　provocation！　　Assassination　was　a　strong　word；　could　Colonel
Courtland　swear　that　Cato　was　actually　AIMED　AT；　or　was　it　not
merely　a　demonstration　to　frighten　a　bullying　negro？　　It　might　have
been　necessary　to　teach　him　a　lessonwhich　the　colonel　by　this　time
ought　to　know　could　only　be　taught　to　these　inferior　races　by　FEAR。
The　bloodhounds！　　Ah；　yes！well；　the　bloodhounds　were；　in　fact；
only　a　part　of　that　wholesome　discipline。　　Surely　Colonel　Courtland
was　not　so　foolish　as　to　believe　that；　even　in　the　old　slave…holding
days；　planters　sent　dogs　after　runaways　to　mangle　and　destroy　THEIR
OWN　PROPERTY？　　They　might　as　well；　at　once；　let　them　escape！　　No；
sir！　　They　were　used　only　to　frighten　and　drive　the　niggers　out　of
swamps；　brakes；　and　hiding…placesas　no　nigger　had　ever　dared　to
face　'em。　　Cato　might　lie　as　much　as　he　liked；　but　everybody　knew
WHO　it　was　that　killed　Major　Reed's　hounds。　　Nobody　blamed　the
colonel　for　it；not　even　Major　Reed；but　if　the　colonel　had　lived
a　little　longer　in　the　South；　he'd　have　known　it　wasn't　necessary　to
do　that　in　self…preservation；　as　the　hounds　would　never　have　gone
for　a　white　man。　But　that　was　not　a　matter　for　the　colonel　to　bother
about　NOW。　　He　was　doing　well；　he　had　slept　nearly　thirty　hours；
there　was　no　fever；　he　must　continue　to　doze　off　the　exhaustion　of
his　powerful　stimulant；　and　he；　the　doctor；　would　return　later　in
the　afternoon。

Perhaps　it　was　his　very　inability　to　grasp　in　that　exhausted　state
the　full　comprehension　of　the　doctor's　meaning；　perhaps　because　the
physical　benumbing　of　his　brain　was　stronger　than　any　mental
excitement；　but　he　slept　again　until　the　doctor　reappeared。
〃You're　doing　well　enough　now；　colonel；〃　said　the　physician；　after
a　brief　examination　of　his　patient；　〃and　I　think　we　can　afford　to
wake　you　up　a　bit；　and　even　let　you　move　your　arm。　　You're　luckier
than　poor　Tom　Higbee；　who　won't　be　able　to　set　his　leg　to　the　floor
for　three　weeks　to　come。　　I　haven't　got　all　the　buckshot　out　of　it
yet　that　Jack　Dumont　put　there　the　other　night。〃

Courtland　started　slightly。　　Jack　Dumont！　　That　was　the　name　of
Sally　Dows　cousin　of　whom　Champney　had　spoken！　　He　had　resolutely
put　aside　from　his　returning　memory　the　hazy　recollection　of　the
young　girl's　voicethe　last　thing　he　had　heard　that　nightand　the
mystery　that　seemed　to　surround　it。　　But　there　was　no　delusion　in
this　cousinhis　rival；　and　that　of　the　equally　deceived　Champney。
He　controlled　himself　and　repeated　coldly：

〃Jack　Dumont！〃

〃Yes。　　But　of　course　you　knew　nothing　of　all　that；　while　you　were
off　in　the　swamp　there。　　Yet；　by　Jingo！　it　was　Dumont's　shooting
Higbee　that　helped　YOU　to　get　off　your　nigger　a　darned　sight　more
than　YOUR　killing　the　dogs。〃

〃I　don't　understand；〃　returned　Courtland　coldly。

〃Well；　you　see；　Dumont；　who　had　taken　up　No'th'n　principles；　I
reckon；　more　to　goad　the　Higbees　and　please　Sally　Dows　than　from
any　conviction；　came　over　here　that　night。　　Whether　he　suspected
anything　was　up；　or　wanted　to　dare　Higbee　for　bedevilment；　or　was
only　dancing　attendance　on　Miss　Sally；　no　one　knows。　　But　he　rode
slap　into　Highee's　party；　called　out；　'If　you're　out　hunting；　Tom；
here's　a　chance　for　your　score！'　meaning　their　old　vendetta　feud；
and　brings　his　shot…gun　up　to　his　shoulder。　　Higbee　wasn't　quick
enough；　Dumont　lets　fly；　drops　Higbee；　and　then　gallops　off　chased
by　the　Reeds　to　avenge　Higbee；　and　followed　by　the　whole　crowd　to
see　the　fun；　which　was　a　little　better　than　nigger…driving。　　And
that　let　you　and　Cato　out；　colonel。〃

〃And　Dumont？〃

〃Got　clean　away　to　Foxboro'　Station；　leaving　another　score　on　his
side　for　the　Reeds　and　Higbees　to　wipe　out　as　best　they　can。　　You
No'th'n　men　don't　believe　in　these　sort　of　things；　colonel；　but
taken　as　a　straight　dash　and　hit　o'　raiding；　that　stroke　of　Sally
Dows'　cousin　was　mighty　fine！〃

Courtland　controlled　himself　with　difficulty。　　The　doctor　had
spoken　truly。　　The　hero　of　this　miserable　affair　was　HER　cousin
HIS　RIVAL！　　And　to　himperhaps　influenced　by　some　pitying　appeal
of　Miss　Sally　for　the　man　she　had　deceivedCourtland　owed　his
life！　　He　instinctively　drew　a　quick；　sharp　breath。

〃Are　you　in　pain？〃

〃Not　at　all。　　When　can　I　get　up？〃

〃Perhaps　to…morrow。〃

〃And　this　arm？〃

〃Better　not　use　it　for　a　week　or　two。〃　　He　stopped；　and；　glancing
paternally　at　the　younger　man；　added　gravely　but　kindly：　〃If　you'll
take　my　unprofessional　advice；　Colonel　Courtland；　you'll　let　this
matter　simmer　down。　　It　won't　hurt　you　and　your　affairs　here　that
folks　have　had　a　taste　of　your　quality；　and　the　nigger　a　lesson
that　his　fellows　won't　forget。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　returned　Courtland　coldly；　〃but　I　think　I　already
understand　my　duty　to　the　company　I　represent　and　the　Government　I
have　served。〃

〃Possibly；　colonel；〃　said　the　doctor　quietly；　〃but　you'll　let　an
older　man　remind　you　and　the　Government　that　you　can't　change　the
habits　or　relations　of　two　distinct　races　in　a　few　years。　　Your
friend；　Miss　Sally　Dowsalthough　not　quite　in　my　way　of　thinking
has　never　attempted