the red acorn-第14章

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〃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　his　stock　of　broadcloth；〃　said　Kent　Edwards。　　〃It's　too　bad　that　you　were　allowed　to　get　away；　either。　　You're　not　a　proper　selection　for　a　relic　at　all；　and　you　give　a　bad　impression　of　your　company。　　You　ought　to　have　thought　of　this；　and　staid　up　there　and　got　killed；　and　let　some　better…looking　man　got　away；　that　would　have　done　the　company　credit。　　Why　didn't　you　think　of　this？〃

〃Git！〃　said　Abe；　sententiously；　with　a　twist　in　the　coward's　collar；　that；　with　the　help　of　an　opportune　kick　by　Kent；　sent　him　sprawling　down　the　bank。

〃Captain　Bennett；〃　shouted　the　Colonel　angrily；　〃Fix　bayonets　there　in　front；　and　drive　these　hounds　off；　or　we'll　never　get　there。〃

A　show　of　savage…looking　steel　sent　the　skulkers　down　a　side…path　through　the　woods。

The　tumult　of　the　battle　heightened　with　every　step　the　regiment　advanced。　　A　turn　in　the　winding　road　brought　them　to　an　opening　in　the　woods　which　extended　clear　to　the　summit。　　Through　this　the　torrent　of　noise　poured　as　when　a　powerful　band　passes　the　head　of　a　street。　　Down　this　avenue　came　rolling　the　crash　of　thousands　of　muskets　fired　with　the　intense　energy　of　men　in　mortal　combat；　the　deeper　pulsations　of　the　artillery；　and　even　the　firece　yells　of　the　fighters；　as　charges　were　made　or　repulsed。

Glen　felt　the　blood　settle　around　his　heart　anew。

〃Get　out　of　the　road　and　let　the　artillery　pass！　　Open　up　for　the　artillery！〃　shouted　voices　from　the　rear。　　Everybody　sprang　to　the　side　of　the　road。

There　came　a　sound　of　blows　rained　upon　horses　bodiesof　shouts　and　oaths　from　exited　drivers　and　eager　officersof　rushing　wheels　and　of　ironed　hoofs　striking　fire　from　the　grindng　stones。　　Six　long…bodied；　strong…limbed　horses；　their　hides　reeking　with　sweat；　and　their　nostrils　distended　with　intense　effort；　tore　past；　snatching　after　them；　as　if　it　were　a　toy；　a　gleaming　brass　cannon；　surrounded　by　galloping　cannoneers；　who　goaded　the　draft　horses　on　with　blows　with　the　flats　of　their　drawn　sabers。　　Another　gun；　with　its　straining　horses　and　galloping　attendants；　and　another；　and　another；　until　six　great；　grim　pieces；　with　their　scres　of　desperately　eager　men　and　horses；　had　rushed　by　toward　the　front。

It　was　a　sight　to　stir　the　coldest　blood。　　The　excited　infantry　boys；　wrought　up　to　the　last　pitch　by　the　spectacle；　sprang　back　into　the　road；　cheered　vociferously；　and　rushed　on　after　the　battery。

Hardly　had　the　echoes　of　their　voices　died　away；　when　they　heard　the　battery　join　its　thunders　to　the　din　of　the　fight。

Then　wounded　men；　powder…stained；　came　straggling　backmen　with　shattered　arms　and　gashed　faces　and　garments　soaked　with　blood　from　bleeding　wounds。

〃Hurrah；　boys！〃　each　shouted　with　weakened　voice；　as　his　eyes　lighted　up　at　sight　of　the　regiment；　〃We're　whipping　them；　but　hurry　forward！　　You're　needed。〃

〃If　you　ain't　pretty　quick；〃　piped　one　girl…faced　boy；　with　a　pensive　smile；　as　he　sat　weakly　down　on　a　stone　and　pressed　a　delicate　hand　over　a　round　red　spot　that　had　just　appeared　on　the　breast　of　his　blouse；　〃you'll　miss　all　the　fun。　　We've　about　licked　'em　already。　Oh！〃

Abe　and　Kent　sprang　forward　to　catch　him；　but　he　was　dead　almost　before　they　could　reach　him。　　They　laid　him　back　tenderly　on　the　brown　dead　leaves；　and　ran　to　regain　their　places　in　the　ranks。

The　regiment　was　now　sweeping　around　the　last　curve　between　it　and　the　line　of　battle。　　The　smell　of　burning　powder　that　filled　the　air；　the　sight　of　flowing　blood；　the　shouts　of　teh　fighting　men；　had　awakened　every　bosom　that　deep…lying　KILLING　instinct　inherited　from　our　savage　ancestry；　which　slumbersgenerally　wholly　unsuspectedin　even　the　gentlest　man's　bosom；　until　some　accident　gives　it　a　terrible　arousing。

Now　the　slaying　fever　burned　in　every　soul。　　They　were　marching　with　long；　quick　strides；　but　well…closed　ranks；　elbow　touching　elbow；　and　every　movement　made　with　the　even　more　than　the　accuracy　of　a　parade。　　Harry　felt　himself　swept　forward　by　a　current　as　resistless　as　that　which　sets　over　Niagara。

They　came　around　the　little　hill；　and　saw　a　bank　of　smoke　indicating　where　the　line　of　battle　was。

〃Let's　finish　the　canteen　now；〃　said　Kent。　　〃It　may　get　bored　by　a　bullet　and　all　run　out；　and　you　know　I　hate　to　waste。〃

〃I　suppose　we　might　as　well　drink　it；〃　assented　Abethe　first　time　in　the　history　of　the　regiment；　that　he　agreed　with　anybody。　　〃We　mayn't　be　able　to　do　it　in　ten　minutes；　and　it　would　be　too　bad　to　've　lugged　that　all　the　way　here；　just　for　some　one　else　to　drink。〃

An　Aide；　powder…grimed；　but　radiant　with　joy；　dashed　up。　　〃Colonel；〃　he　said；　〃you　had　better　go　into　line　over　in　that　vacant　space　there；　and　wait　for　orders；　but　I　don't　think　you　will　have　anything　to　do；　for　the　General　believes　that　the　victory　is　on；　and　the　Rebels　are　in　full　retreat。〃

As　he　spoke；　a　mighty　cheer　rolled　around　the　line　of　battle；　and　a　band　stationed　upon　a　rock　which　formed　the　highest　part　of　the　mountain；　burst　forth　with　the　grand　strains　of　〃Star…spangled　Banner。〃

The　artillery　continued　to　hurl　screaming　shot　and　shell　down　into　the　narrow　gorge；　through　which　the　defeated　Rebels　were　flying　with　mad　haste。





Chapter　X。　　The　Mountaineer's　Revenge。




And　if　we　do　but　watch　the　hour；　There　never　yet　was　human　power　Which　could　evade；　if　unforgiven；　The　patient　search　and　vigil　long　Of　him　who　treasures　up　a　wrong。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Byron。


Harry　Glen's　first　feeling　when　he　found　the　battle　was　really　over；　was　that　of　elation　that　the　crisis　to　which　he　had　looked　forward　with　so　much　apprehension；　had　passed　without　his　receiving　any　bodily　harm。　　This　was　soon　replaced　by　regret　that　the　long…coveted　opportunity　had　been　suffered　to　pass　unimproved；　and　still　another　strong　sentimentthat　keen　sense　of　disappointment　which　comes　when　we　have　braced　ourselves　up　to　encounter　an　emergency；　and　it　vanishes。　　There　is　the　feeling　of　waste　of　valuable　accumulated　energy；　which　is　as　painful　as　that　of　energy　misapplied。

Still　farther；　he　felt　sadly　that　the　day　of　his　vindication　had　been　again　postponed　over　another　weary　period　of　probation。

All　around　was　intense　enthusiasm；　growing　stronger　every　instant。　It　was　the　first　battle　tha　the　victors　had　been　engaged　in；　and　they　felt　the　tumultuous　joy　that　the　first　triumph　brings　to　young　soldiers。　　It　was　the　first　encounter　upon　the　soil　of　Kentucky；　it　was　the　first　victory　between　the　Cumberland　Mountains　and　the　Mississippi　River；　and　the　loss　of　the　victors　was　insignificant；　compared　with　that　of　the　vanquished。

The　cold　drench　from　the　skies；　the　dreary　mudeven　the　dead　and　woundedwere　forgotten　in　the　jubilation　at　the　sight　of　the　lately　insolent　foe　flying　in　confusion　down　the　mountain　side；　recking　for　nothing　so　much　as　for　personal　safety。

The　band　continued　to　play　patriotic　airs；　and　the　cannon　to　thunder　long　after　the　last　Rebel　had　disappeared　in　the　thick　woods　at　the　bottom　of　the　gloomy　gorge。

A　detail　of　men　and　some　wagons　were　sent　back　after　the　regiment's　baggage；　and　the　rest　of　the　boys；　after　a　few　minutes　survey　of　the　battle…field；　were　set　to　work　building　fires；　cooking　rations　and　preparing　from　the　branches　and　brush　such　shelter　as　could　be　made　to　do　substitute　duty　for　the　tents　left　behind。

Little　as　was　Harry's　normal　inclination　to　manual　labor；　it　was　less　than　ever　now；　with　these　emotions　struggling　in　his　mind；　and　leaving　his　comrades　hard　at　work；　he　wandered　off　to　where　Hoosier　Knob；　a　commanding　eminence　on　the　left　of　the　battle…field　seemed　to　offer　the　best　view　of　the　retreat　of　the　forces　of　Zollicoffer。　　Arriving　there；　he　pushed　on　down　the　slope　to　where　the　enemy's　line　had　stood；　and　where　now　were　groups　of　men　in　blue　uniforms；　searching　for　trophies　of　the　fight。　　In　one　place　a　musket　would　be　found；　in　another　a　cap　with　a　silver　star；　or　a　canteen　quaintly　fashioned　from　alternate　staves　of　red　and　white　cedar。　　Each　〃find〃　was　proclaimed　by　the　discoverer；　and　he　was　immediately　surrounded　by　a　group　to　earnestly　inspect　and　discuss　it。　　It　was　still　the　first　year　of　the　war；　the　next　year　〃trophies〃　were　left　to　rot　unnoticed　on　the　battle…fields　they　covered。

Harry　took　no　interest　in　relic…hunting；　but　walked　onward　toward　another　prominence　that　gave　hopes　of　a　good　view　of　the　Rebels。　The　glimpses　he　gained　from　this　of　the　surging　mass　of　fugitives　inflamed　him　with　the　excitement　of　the　chaseof　the　most　exciting　of　chases；　a　man…hunt。　　He　forgot　his　fearsforgot　how　far　behind　he　was　leaving　all　the　others；　and　became　eager　only　to　see　more　of　this　fascinating　sight。　　Before　he　was　aware　of　it；　he　was　three　or　four　miles　from　the　Gap。

Here　a　point　ran　boldly　down　from　the　mountain　into　the　valley；　and　ended　in　a　bare　knob　that　overlooked　the　narrow　creek　bottom；　along　which　the　beaten　host　was　forging　its　way。　　Harry　unhesitatingly　descended　to　this；　and　stood　gazing　at　the　swarming　horde　below。　It　was　a　sight　to　rivet　the　attention。　　The　narrow　level　space　through　which　the　creek　meandered　between　the　two　parrallel　ranges　of　heights　was　crowded　as　far　as　he　could　see　with　an　army　which　defeat　had　degraded　to　a　demoralized　mob。　　All　semblance　of　military　organization　had　well…nigh　disappeared。　　Horsemen　and　footmen；　infantry；　cavalry　and　artillery；　officers　and　privates；　ambulances　creaking　under　their　load　of　wounded　and　dying；　ponderous　artillery　forges；　wagons　loaded　with　food；　wagons　loaded　with　ammunition；　and　wagons　loaded　with　luxuries　for　the　delectation　of　the　higher　officers；all　huddled　and　crowded　together；　and　struggled　forward　with　feverish　haste　over　the　logs；　rocks；　gullies　and　the　deep　waters　of　the　swollen　stream；　and　up　its　slippery　banks；　through　the　quicksands　and　quagmires　which　every　passing　foot　and　wheel　beat　into　a　still　more　grievous　obstacle　for　those　that　followed。　Hopelessly　fagged　horses　fell　for　the　last　time　under　the　merciless　blows　of　their　frightened　masters；　and　added　their　great　bulks　to　the　impediments　of　the　road。

The　men　were　sullen　and　depressedcast　down　by　the　wretchedness　of　earth　and　sky；　and　embittered　against　their　officers　and　each　other　for　the　blood　uselessly　shedoppressed　with　hunger　and　weariness；　and　momentarily　fearful　that　new　misfortunes　were　about　to　descend　upon　them。　　In　brief；　it　was　one　of　the　saddest　spectacles　that　human　history　can　present：　　that　of　a　beaten　and　disorganized　army　in　full　retreat；　and　an　army　so　new　to　soldiership　and　discipline　as　to　be　able　to　make　nothing　but　the　worst　out　of　so　great　a　calamityit　was　a　rout　after　a　repulse。

Nearly　all　of　the　passing　thousands　were　too　much　engrossed　in　the　miseries　of　their　toilsome　progress　to　notice　the　blue…coated　figure　on　the　bare　knob　above　the　road。　　But　the　rear　of　the　fugitives　was　brought　up　by　a　squad　of　men　moving　much　more　leisurely；　and　with　some　show　of　order。　　They　did　not　plunge　into　the　mass　of　men　and　animals　and　vehicles；　and　struggle　with　them　in　the　morass　which　the　road　had　now　become；　but　deliberately　picked　their　way　along　the　sides　of　the　valley　where　the　walking　was　easier。　　They　saw　Harry；