the red acorn-第13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！


rom　which　fell　a　chill　incessant　rain。

When　the　order　to　prepare　for　the　march　came；　Glen；　following　the　example　of　his　comrades；　packed　three　days'　cooked　rations　in　his　haversack；　made　his　blankets　into　a　roll；　tieing　their　ends　together；　threw　them　scarf…fashion　over　his　shoulder；　and　took　his　accustomed　place　as　file…closer　in　the　rear　of　his　company。　　He　was　conscious　all　the　time；　though　he　suffered　no　outward　sign　to　betray　the　fact；　that　he　was　closely　watched　by　the　boys　who　had　been　with　him　in　Western　Virginia；　and　who　were　eager　to　see　how　he　would　demean　himself　in　this　new　emergency。

He　was　shortly　ordered　to　assist　in　the　inspection　of　cartridge…boxes　and　the　issuing　of　cartridges；　adn　the　grim　nature　of　the　errand　they　were　about　to　start　upon　duly　impressed　itself　upon　his　mind　as　he　walked　down　the　lines　in　the　melancholy　rains；　examined　each　box；　and　gave　the　owner　the　quantity　of　cartridges　required　to　make　up　the　quota　of　forty　rounds　per　man。

Those　who　scrutinized　his　face　as　he　passed　slowly　by；　saw　underneath　the　dripping　eaves　of　his　broad…brimmed　hat　firm…set　lines　about　his　mouth；　and　a　little　more　luminous　light　in　his　eyes。

〃Harry　Glen's　screwing　his　courage　to　the　sticking　point。　　He's　bound　to　go　through　this　time；〃　said　Kent　Edwards。

〃The　more　fool　he；〃　answered　Abe　Bolton；　adjusting　his　poncho　so　as　to　better　protect　his　cartridges　and　rations　from　the　rain。　　〃If　he　wanted　to　play　the　warrior　all　so　bold　why　didn't　he　improve　his　opportunities　in　West　Virginia；　when　it　was　fine　weather　and　he　only　had　three　months　to　do　it　in？　　Now　that　he's　in　for　three　years　it　will　be　almighty　strange　if　he　can't　find　a　pleasanter　time　to　make　his　little　strut　on　the　field　of　battle　than　in　this　infernal　soak。〃

〃I　have　seen　better　days　than　this；　as　the　tramp　remarked　who　had　once　been　a　bank　cashier；〃　murmured　kent；　tightening　the　tompion　in　his　musket…muzzle　with　a　piece　of　paper；　the　better　to　exclude　the　moisture；　and　wrapping　a　part　of　the　poncho　around　the　lock　for　the　same　purpose。　　〃Where　is　that　canteen？〃

〃It's　where　it'll　do　you　no　good　until　you　need　it　much　worse'n　you　do　now。　　O；　I　know　you　of　old；　Mr。　Kent　Edwards；〃　continued　Abe；　with　that　deep　sarcasm；　which　was　his　nearest　approach　to　humor。　〃I　may　say　that　I've　had　the　advantages　of　an　intimate　acquaintance　with　you　for　years；　and　when　I　trust　you　with　a　full　canteen　of　apple…jack　at　the　beginning　of　such　a　march　as　this'll　be；　I'll　be　ready　to　enlist　in　the　permanent　garrison　of　a　lunatic　asylum；　I　will。　　This　canteen　ony　holds　three　pints；　that's　great　deal　less'n　you　do。　　It's　full　now；　and　you're　empty。　　Fill　up　some　place　else；　and　tomorrow　or　next　day；　when　you'd　give　a　farm　for　a　nip；　this'll　come　in　mighty　handy。〃

The　Hospital　Steward　approached；　and　said：

〃Captain；　the　Surgeon　presents　his　compliments　and　requests　that　you　send　four　men　to　convey　your　First　Lieutenant　Alspaugh　to　comfortable　quarters　which　have　been　prepared　for　him　in　the　hospital　barracks。　His　rheumatic　trouble　has　suddenly　assumed　an　acute　formbrought　on　doubtless　by　the　change　in　the　weatherand　he　is　suffering　greatly。　　Please　instruct　the　men　to　be　very　careful　carrying　him；　so　as　to　avoid　all　unnecessary　pain；　and　also　all　exposure　to　the　rain。　　He　will　have　a　good　room　in　the　hospital；　with　a　fire　in　it；　and　every　attention；　so　that　you　need　have　no　fears　concerning　him。〃

〃I　never　had；〃　said　Kent；　loud　enough　to　be　heard　all　over　the　right　wing　of　the　company。

〃I　have；〃　said　Abe。　　〃There's　every　danger　in　the　world　that　he'll　get　well。〃

Away　the　regiment　marched；　through　the　dismal　rain；　giong　as　fast　as　the　heavily　laden　men　could　be　spurred　onward　by　the　knowledge　of　their　comrades'　imminent　need。

It　was　fearful　hard　work　even　so　long　as　the　pike　lasted；　and　they　had　a　firm；　even　foundation　for　their　feet　to　tread　upon。　　But　the　pike　ended　at　Crab　Orchard；　and　then　they　plunged　into　the　worst　roads　that　the　South　at　any　time　offered　to　resist　the　progress　of　the　Union　armies。　　Narrow；　tortuous；　unworked　substitutes　for　highways　wound　around　and　over　steep；　rocky　hills；　through　miry　creek　bottoms；　and　over　bridgeless　streams；　now　so　swollen　as　to　be　absolutely　unfordable　by　less　determined　men；　starting　on　a　less　urgent　errand。

For　three　weary；　discouraging　days　they　pressed　onward　through　the　dispiriting　rain　and　over　all　the　exhausting　obstacles。　　On　the　morning　of　the　fourth　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　range　in　which　Wildcat　Gap　is　situated。　　They　were　marching　slowly　up　the　steep　mountain　side；　their　soaked　garments　clinging　about　their　weary　limbs　and　clogging　their　footsteps。　　Suddenly　a　sullen　boom　rolled　out　of　the　mist　that　hung　over　the　distant　mountain　tops。

Every　one　stopped；　held　their　breaths；　and　tried　to　check　the　beating　of　their　hearts；　that　they　might　hear　more。

They　needed　not。　　There　was　no　difficulty　about　hearing　the　succeeding　reports；　which　became　every　instant　more　distinct。

〃By　God；　that's　cannon！〃　said　the　Colonel。　　〃They're　attacking　our　boys。　　Throw　off　everything；　boys；　and　hurry　forward！〃

Overcoats；　blankets；　haversacks　and　knapsacks　were　hastily　pied；　and　the　two　most　exhausted　men　in　each　company　placed　on　guard　over　them。

Kent　and　Abe　did　not　contribute　their　canteen　to　the　company　pile。　But　then　its　weight　was　much　less　of　an　impediment　than　when　they　left　Camp　Dick　Robinson。

They　employed　the　very　brief　halt　of　the　regiment　in　swabbing　out　the　barrels　of　their　muskets　very　carefully；　and　removing　the　last　traces　of　moisture　from　the　nipples　and　hammers。

〃At　last　I　stand　a　show　of　getting　some　return　from　this　old　piece　of　gas…tube　for　the　trouble　it's　been　to　me；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　as　he　ran　a　pin　into　the　nipple　to　make　assurance　doubly　sure　that　it　was　entirely　free。　　〃Think　of　the　transportation　charges　I　have　against　it；　for　the　time　I　have　lugged　it　around　over　Ohio　and　Kentucky；　to　say　nothing　of　the　manual　labor　and　the　mental　strain　of　learning　and　prectising　'present　arms；'　'carry　arms；'　'support　arms；'　and　such　military　monkey…shines　under　the　hot　sun　of　last　Summer！〃

He　pulled　off　the　woolen　rag　he　had　twisted　around　the　head　of　the　rammer　for　a　swab；　wiped　the　rammer　clean　and　bright　and　dropped　it　into　the　gun。　　It　fell　with　a　clear　ring。　　Another　dextrous　movement　of　the　gun　sent　it　flying　into　the　air。　　Kent　caught　it　as　it　came　down　and　scrutinized　its　bright　head。　　He　found　no　smirch　of　dirt　or　dampness。　　〃Clean　and　clear　as　a　whistle　inside；〃　he　said；　approvingly。　　〃She'll　make　music　that　our　Secession　friends　will　pay　attention　to；　though　it　may　not　be　as　sweet　to　their　ears　as　'The　Bonnie　Blue　Flag。'〃

〃More　likely　kick　the　whole　northwest　quarter　section　of　your　shoulder　off　when　you　try　to　shoot　it；〃　growled　Abe；　who　had　been　paying　similar　close　attention　to　his　gun。　　〃If　we'd　had　anybody　but　a　lot　of　mullet…heads　for　officers　we'd　a'been　sent　up　here　last　week；　when　the　weather　and　the　roads　were　good；　and　when　we　could've　done　something。　　Now　our　boys'll　be　licked　before　we　can　get　where　we　can　help　'em。〃

Glen　leaned　on　his　musket；　and　listening　to　the　deepening　roar　of　battle；　was　shaken　by　the　surge　of　emotions　natural　to　the　occasion。　It　seemed　as　if　no　one　could　live　through　the　incessant　firing　the　sound　of　which　rolled　down　to　them。　　To　go　up　into　it　was　to　deliberately　venture　into　certain　destruction。　　Memory　made　a　vehement　protest。　　He　recalled　all　the　pleasant　things　that　life　had　in　store　for　him；　all　that　he　could　enjoy　and　accomplish；　all　that　he　might　be　to　others；　all　that　others　might　be　to　him。　　Every　enjoyment　of　the　past；　every　happy　possibility　of　the　future　took　on　a　more　entrancing　roseatenesss。

Could　he　give　all　this　up；　and　die　there　on　the　mountain　top；　in　this　dull；　brutal；　unheroic　fashion；　in　the　filthy　mud　and　dreary　rain；　with　no　one　to　note　or　care　whether　he　acted　courageously　or　otherwise？

It　did　not　seem　that　he　was　expected　to　fling　his　life　away　like　a　dumb　brute　entering　the　reeking　shambles。　　His　youth　and　abilities　had　been　given　him　for　some　other　purpose。　　Again　palsying　fear　and　ignoble　selfishness　tugged　at　his　heart…strings；　and　he　felt　all　his　carefully　cultivated　resolutions　weakening。

〃A　Sergeant　must　be　left　in　command　of　the　men　guarding　this　property；〃　said　the　Colonel。　　The　Captain　of　Company　A　will　detail　one　for　that　duty。〃

Captain　Bennett　glanced　from　one　to　another　of　his　five　Sergeants。　Harry's　heart　gave　a　swift　leap；　with　hope　that　he　might　be　ORDERED　to　remain　behind。　　Then　the　blood　crimsoned　his　cheeks；　for　the　first　time　since　the　sound　of　the　firing　struck　his　ears；　he　felt　that　every　eye　in　the　Company　was　upon　him；　and　that　his　ignoble　desire　had　been　read　by　all　in　his　look　of　expectancy。　　Shame　came　to　spur　up　his　faltering　will。　　He　set　his　teeth　firmly；　pulled　the　tompion　out　of　his　gun；　and　flung　it　away　disdainfully　as　if　he　would　never　need　it　again；　blew　into　the　muzzle　to　see　if　the　tube　was　clear；　and　wiped　off　the　lock　with　a　fine　white　handkerchiefone　of　the　relics　of　his　by…gone　elegancewhich　he　drew　from　the　breast　of　his　blouse。

〃Sergeant　GlanSergeant　Glancey　will　remain；〃　said　the　Captain　peremptorily。　　Glancey；　the　Captain　knew；　was　the　only　son　and　support　of　a　widowed　mother。

〃Now；　boys；〃　said　the　Colonel　in　tones　that　rang　like　bugle　notes；　〃the　time　has　come　for　us　to　strike　a　blow　for　the　Union；　and　for　the　fame　of　the　dear　old　Buckeye　State。　　I　need　not　exhort　you　to　do　your　duty　like　men；　I　know　you　too　well　to　think　that　any　such　words　of　mine　are　at　all　necessary。　　Forward！　QUICK　TIME！　MARCH！〃

The　mountain　sides　rang　with　the　answering　cheers　from　a　thousand　throats。

The　noise　of　the　battle　on　the　distant　crest　was　at　first　in　separate　bursts　of　sound；　as　regiment　after　regiment　came　into　position　and　opened　fire。　　The　intervals　between　these　bursts　had　disappeared；　and　it　had　now　become　a　steady　roar。

A　wild　mob　came　rushing　backward　from　the　front。

〃My　God；　our　men　are　whipped！〃　exclaimed　the　young　Adjutant　in　tones　of　Anguish。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Captain　Bennett；　with　cheerful　confidence。　　〃These　are　only　the　camp　riff…raff；　who　run　whenever　so　much　as　a　cap　is　burst　near　them。〃

So　it　proved　to　be。　　There　were　teamsters　upon　their　wheel…mules；　cooks；　officers'　servants；　both　black　and　white；　and　civilian　employees；　mingled　with　many　men　in　uniform；　skulking　from　their　companies。　　Those　were　mounted　who　could　seize　a　mule　anywhere；　and　those　who　could　not　were　endeavoring　to　keep　up　on　foot　with　the　panic…stricken　riders。

All　seemed　wild　with　one　idea：　　To　get　as　far　as　possible　from　the　terrors　raging　around　the　mountain　top。　　They　rushed　through　the　regiment　and　disordered　its　ranks。

〃Who　are　you　a…shovin'；　young　fellowsay？〃　demanded　Abe　Bolton；　roughly　collaring　a　strapping　hulk　of　a　youth；　who；　hatless；　and　with　his　fat　cheeks　white　with　fear　came　plunging　against　him　like　a　frightened　steer。

〃O　boys；　let　me　pass；　and　don't　go　up　there！　　Don't！　　You'll　all　be　killed。　　I　know　it；　I'm　all　the　one　of　my　company　that　got　awayI　am；　really。　　All　the　rest　are　killed。〃

〃Heavens！　what　a　wretched　remnant；　as　the　dry…goods　man　said；　when　the　clerk　brought　him　a　piece　of　selvage　as　all　that　the　burglars　had　left　of　hi