with lee in virginia-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



me　see。　　In　the　first　place　there　are　lemons　for　making　drink　and

linseed　for　poultices；　some　meat　for　making　broth；　and　some　flour；

and　other　things　for　ourselves；　we　may　have　to　stay　here　for　some

time。　　Tell　me　just　what　you　want　and　I　will　get　it。〃



Clilce　made　out　a　list　of　necessaries。



〃I　sha'n't　be　gone　long；〃　the　girl　said。　　〃If　he　asks　after　me　or　Dan；

make　out　we　are　looking　about　the　place　to　see　what　is　useful。　

Don't　let　him　know　I　have　gone　to　Mount　Pleasant；　it　might　worry

him。〃



Dan　at　once　agreed　to　accompany　the　girl　to　Mount　Pleasant　when

he　heard　that　she　was　going　to　get　things　for　his　master。



Looking　about　he　found　an　old　basket　among　the　litter；　and　they

started　without　delay　by　the　one　road　from　the　clearing；　which　led；

they　had　no　doubt；　to　the　town。　　It　was　about　two　miles　distant；　and

was　really　but　a　large　village。　　A　few　Federal　soldiers　from　the

camp　hard　by　were　lounging　about　the　streets　but　these　paid　no

attention　to　them。　　Lucy　soon　made　her　purchases；　and　then　went

to　the　house　that　had　been　pointed　out　to　her　as　being　inhabited　by

the　doctor　who　attended　to　the　needs　of　the　people　of　Mount

Pleasant　and　the　surrounding　district。　Fortunately　he　was　at　home。　

Lucy　looked　at　him　closely　as　he　entered　the　room　and　took　his

seat。　　He　was　a　middle…aged　man　with　a　shrewd　face；　and　she　at

once　felt　that　she　might　have　confidence　in　it。



〃Doctor；〃　she　said；　〃I　want　you　to　come　out　to　see　some　one　who　is

very　ill。〃



〃What　is　the　matter　with　him？　Or　is　it　him　or　her？〃



〃It　is…it's…〃　and　Lucy　hesitated；　〃a　hurt　he　has　got。〃



〃A　wound；　I　suppose？〃　the　doctor　said　quietly。　　〃You　may　as　well

tell　me　at　once；　as　for　me　to　find　out　when　I　get　there；　then　I　can

take　whatever　is　required　with　me。〃



〃Yes；　sir。　　It　is　a　wound；〃　Lucy　said。　　〃His　shoulder　is　broken；　I

believe；　by　a　pistol　bullet。〃



〃Urnph！〃　the　doctor　said。　　〃It　might　have　been　worse。　Do　not

hesitate　to　tell　me　all　about　it；　young　lady。　　I　have　had　a　vast

number　of　cases　on　hand　since　these　troubles　began。　　By　the　way；　I

do　not　know　your　face；　and　I　thought　I　knew　every　one　within

fifteen　miles　around。〃



〃I　come　from　the　other　side　of　the　Duck　river。　　But　at　present　he　is

lying　at　a　place　called　Woodford；　but　two　miles　from　here。〃



〃Oh；　yes！　I　know　it。　　But　I　thought　it　was　empty。　Let　me　see；　a　man

named　Jenkins　lived　there。　　He　was　killed　at　the　beginning　of　the

troubles　in　a　fight　near　Murfreesboro。　　His　widow　moved　in　here；

and　she　has　married　again　and　gone　five　miles　on　the　other　side。　　I

know　she　was　trying　to　sell　the　old　place。〃



〃We　have　not　purchased　it；　sir；　we　have　just　squatted　there。　　My

friend　was　taken　so　had　that　we　could　go　no　further。　　We　were

trying；　doctor；　to　make　our　way　down　south。〃



〃Your　friend；　whoever　he　is；　did　a　very　foolish　thing　to　bring　a

young　lady　like　yourself　on　such　a　long　journey。　You　are　not　a　pair

of　runaway　lovers；　are　you？〃



〃No；　indeed；〃　Lucy　said；　flushing　scarlet；　〃we　have　no　idea　of　such

a　thing。　　I　was　living　alone；　and　the　house　was　attacked　by

bushwhackers；　the　band　of　a　villain　named　Mullens。〃



〃Oh！　I　saw　all　about　that　in　the　Nashville　paper　this　morning。　

They　were　attacked　by　a　band　of　Confederate　plunderers；　it　said。〃



〃They　were　attacked　by　one　man；〃　the　girl　replied。　〃They　were　on

the　point　of　murdering　me　when　he　arrived。　He　shot　Mullens　and

four　of　his　band　and　the　rest　made　off；　but　he　got　this　wound。　　And

as　1　knew　the　villains　would　return　again　and　burn　the　house　and

kill　me；　I　and　my　old　nurse　determined　to　go　southward　to　join　my

friends　in　Georgia。〃



〃Well；　you　can　tell　me　more　about　it　as　we　go；〃　the　doctor　said。　　〃I

will　order　my　buggy　round　to　the　door；　and　drive　you　back。　　I　will

take　my　instruments　and　things　with　me。　　It　is　no　business　of　mine

whether　a　sick　man　is　a　Confederate　or　a　Federal；　all　my　business

is　to　heal　them。〃



〃Thank　you　very　much；　doctor。　　While　the　horse　is　being　put　in　I

will　go　down　and　tell　the　negro　boy　with　me　to　go　straight　on　with

a　basket　of　things　I　have　been　buying。〃



〃Where　is　he　now？〃　the　doctor　asked。



〃I　think　he　is　sitting　down　outside　the　door；　sir。



〃Then　you　needn't　go　down；〃　the　doctor　said。　　〃He　can　jump　up

behind　and　go　with　us。　　He　will　get　there　all　the　quicker。〃



In　five　minutes　they　were　driving　down　the　village；　with　Dan　in　the

back　seat。　　On　the　way　the　doctor　obtained　from　Lucy　a　more

detailed　account　of　their　adventures。



〃So　he　is　one　of　those　Confederate　officers　who　broke　prison　at

Elmira；〃　he　said。　　〃I　saw　yesterday　that　one　of　his　companions　was

captured。〃



〃Was　he；　sir？　How　was　that？〃



〃It　seems　that　he　had　made　his　way　down　to　Washington；　and　was

staying　at　one　of　the　hotels　there　as　a　Mr。　James　of　Baltimore。　　As

he　was　going　through　the　street　he　was　suddenly　attacked　by　a

negro；　who　assaulted　him　with　such　fury　that　he　would　have　killed

him　had　he　not　been　dragged　off　by　passers…by。　　The　black　would

hare　been　very　roughly　treated；　but　he　denounced　the　man　he　had

attacked　as　one　of　the　Confederate　officers　who　had　escaped　from

the　prison。　　It　seems　that　the　negro　had　been　a　slave　of　his　who　had

been　barbarously　treated；　and　finally　succeeded　in　making　his

escape　and　reaching　England；　after　which　he　went　to　Canada；　and

now　that　it　is　safe　for　an　escaped　slave　to　live　in　the　Northern

States　without　fear　of　arrest　or　ill…treatment　he　had　come　down　to

Washington　with　the　intention　of　engaging　as　a　teamster　with　one

of　the　Northern　armies；　in　the　hope　when　he　made　his　way　to

Richmond　of　being　able　to　gain　some　news　of　his　wife；　whom　his

master　had　sold　before　he　ran　away　from　him。〃



〃It　served　the　man　right！〃　Lucy　said　indignantly。　　〃It's　a　good　thing

that　the　slaves　should　turn　the　tables　sometimes　upon　masters　who

ill…treat　them。〃



〃You　don't　think　my　patient　would　ill…treat　his　slaves？〃　the　doctor

asked　with　a　little　smile。



〃I　am　sure　he　wouldn't；〃　the　girl　said　indignantly。　〃Why；　the　boy

behind　you　is　one　of　his　slaves；　and　I　am　sure　be　would　give　his

life　for　his　master。〃



Dan　had　overheard　the　doctor's　story；　and　now　exclaimed：



〃No；　sah。　　Massa　Vincent　do　kindest　of　masters。　　If　all　like　him；　do

slaves　eberywbere　contented　and　happy。



What　was　de　name　of　dat　man；　sah；　you　was　speaking　of？〃



〃His　name　was　Jackson；〃　the　doctor　answered。



〃I　tought　so；〃　Dan　exclaimed　in　excitement。　　〃Massa　never

mentioned　de　names　of　de　two　officers　who　got　out　wid　him；　and　it

war　too　dark　for　me　to　see　their　faces；　but　dat　story　made　me　tink

it　must　be　him。　　Berry　bad　man　that；　he　libs　close　to　us；　and　Massa

Vincent　one　day　pretty　nigh　kill　him　because　he　beat　dat　bery　man

who　has　catched　him　now　on　de　street　of　Washington。　　When　dat

man　sell　him　wife　Massa　Vincent　buy　her　so　as　to　prevent　her

falling　into　bad　hands。　　She　safe　now　wid　his　mother　at　de

Orangery…dat's　the　name　of　her　plantation。〃



〃My　patient　must　be　quite　an　interesting　fellow；　young　lady；〃　the

doctor　said；　with　a　rather　slight　twinkle　of　his　eye。　　〃A　very

knight…errant。　　But　there　is　the　house　now；　we　shall　soon　see　all

about　him。〃



Taking　with　him　the　case　of　instruments　and　medicines　he　had

brought；　the　doctor　entered　Vincent's　room。　　Lucy　entered　first；

and　although　surprised　to　see　a　stranger　with　her；　Vincent　saw　by

her　face　that　there　was　no　cause　for　alarm。



〃I　have　brought　you　a　doctor；〃　she　said。　　〃You　could　not　go　on　as

you　were；　you　know。　　So　Dan　and　I　have　been　to　fetch　one。〃



The　doctor　now　advanced　and　took　Vincent's　hand。



〃Fererish；〃　he　said；　looking　at　his　cheeks；　which　were　now　flushed。　

〃You　have　been　doing　too　much；　I　fancy。　Now　let　us　look　at　this

wound　of　yours。　　Has　your　servant　got　any　warm　water？〃　he　asked

Lucy。



Lucy　left　the　room；　and　returned　in　a　minute　with　a　kettleful　of

warm　water　and　a　basin；　which　was　among　the　purchases　she　had

made　at　Mount　Pleasant。



〃That　is　right；〃　the　doctor　said；　taking　it　from　her。　〃Now　we　will

cut　open　the　shirt　sleeve。　　I　think；　young　lady；　you　had　better　leave

us；　unless　you　are　accustomed　to　the　sight　of　wounds。〃



〃I　am　not　accustomed　to　them；　sir；　but　as　thousands　of　women

have　been　nursing　the　wounded　in　the　hospitals；　I　suppose　I　can　do

so　now。〃



Taking　a　knife　from　the　case；　the　doctor　cut　open　the　shirt　from　the

neck　to　the　elbow。　　The　shoulder　was　terribly　swollen　and

inflamed；　and　a　little　exclamation　of　pain　broke　from　Lucy。



〃That　is　the　effect　of　walking　and　inattention；〃　the　doctor　said。　　〃If

I　could　have　taken　him　in　hand　within　an　hour　of　his　being　hit　the

matter　would　have　been　simple　enough；　but　I　cannot　search　for　the

ball；　or　in　fact　do　anything；　till　we　have　reduced　the　swelling。　　You

must　put　warm　poultices　on　every　half…hour；　and　by　to…morrow　I

hope　the　inflammation　will　have　subsided；　and　I　can　then　see

about　the　ball。　　It　evidently　is　somewhere　there　still；　for　there　is　no

sign　of　its　having　made　its　exit　anywhere。　In　the　meantime　you

must　give　him　two　tablespoonfuls　of　this　cooling　draught　every

two　hours；　and　to…night　give　him　this　sleeping　draught。　　I　will　be

over　to…morrow　morning　to　see　him。　　Do　not　be　uneasy　about　him；

the　wound　itself　is　not　serious；　and　when　we　have　got　rid　of　the

fever　and　inflammation　I　have　no　doubt　we　shall　pull　him　round

before　long。〃



〃I　know　the　wound　is　nothing；〃　Vincent　said；　〃I　have　told　Miss

Kingston　so　all　along。　　It　is　nothing　at　all　to　one　I　got　at　the　first

battle　of　Bull　Run；　where　I　had　three　ribs　badly　broken　by　a　shell。　

I　was　laid　up　a　long　time　over　that　business。　　Now　I　hope　in　a　week

I　shall　he　fit　to　travel。〃



The　doctor　shook　his　head。　　〃Not　as　soon　as　that。　Still　we　will　hope

it　may　not　be　long。　　Now　all　you　have　to　do　is　to　lie　quiet　and　not

worry；　and　to　get　to　sleep　as　quick　as　you　can。　　You　must　not　let

your　patient　talk；　Miss　Kingston。　　It　will　be　satisfactory　to　you；　no

doubt；〃　he　went　on　turning　to　Vincent；　〃to　know　that　there　is　no

fear　whatever　of　your　being　disturbed　here。　　The　road　leads

nowhere；　and　is　entirely　out　of　the　way　of　traffic。　I　should　say　you

might　be　here　six　months　without　even　a　chance　of　a　visitor。　

Every　one　knows　the　house　is　shut　up；　and　as　you　have　no　neighbor

within　half　a　mile　no　one　is　likely　to　call　in。　　Even　if　any　one　did

by　accident　come　here　you　would　be　in　no　danger；　we　are　all　one

way　of　thinking　about　here。〃



〃Shall　we　make　some　broth　for　him？〃　Lucy　asked　after　they　had

left　the　room。



〃No；　he　had　best　take　nothing　whatever　during　the　next

twenty…four　hours　except　his　medicine　and　cooling　drinks。　　The

great　thing　is　to　get　down　the　fever。　　We　can　soon　build　him　up

afterward。〃



By　nightfall　the　exertions　of　Dan；　Lucy；　and　Chloe　had　made　the

house　tidy。　　Beds　of　rushes　and　grass　had　been　made　in　the　room

upstairs　for　the　women；