the red acorn-第15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！


ley　where　the　walking　was　easier。　　They　saw　Harry；　and　understood　as　soon　as　they　saw；　who　he　was。　　Two　or　three　responded　to　their　first　impulse；　and　raising　their　guns　to　their　shoulders；　fired　at　him。　　A　bullet　slapped　against　the　rock　upon　which　he　was　partially　leaning；　and　fell　at　his　feet。　　Another　spattered　mud　in　his　face；　and　flew　away；　singing　viciously。

At　the　reports　the　fear…harrassed　mob　shuddered　and　surged　forward　through　its　entire　length。

The　companions　of　those　who　fired　seemed　to　reproach　them　with　angry　gestures；　pointing　to　the　effect　upon　the　panicky　mass。　　Then　the　whole　squad　rushed　forward　toward　the　hill。

Deadly　fear　clutched　Harry　Glen's　heart　as　the　angry　notes　of　the　bullets　jarred　on　his　senses。　　Then　pride　and　the　animal　instinct　of　fighting　for　life　flamed　upward。　　So　swiftly　that　he　was　scarcely　conscious　of　what　he　was　doing　he　snatched　a　cartridge　from　the　box；　tore　its　end　between　his　teeth；　and　rammed　it　home。　　He　replaced　the　ramrod　in　its　thimbles　with　one　quick　thrust；　and　as　he　raised　his　eyes　from　the　nipple　upon　which　he　had　placed　the　cap；　he　saw　that　the　Rebel　squad　had　gained　the　foot　of　the　knoll　and　started　up　its　side。　　He　raised　teh　gun　to　fire；　but　as　he　did　so　he　heard　a　voice　call　out　from　behind　him：

〃Skeet　outen　thar！　　Skeet　outen　thar！　　Come　up　heah；　quick！〃

Harry　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　voice。　　He　saw　a　tall；　slender；　black…haired　man　standing　in　the　woods　at　the　upper　edge　of　the　cleared　space。　　He　was　dressed　in　butternut　jeans；　and　looked　so　much　like　the　Rebels　in　front　that　Harry　thought　he　was　one　of　them。　　The　stranger　noticed　his　indecision；　and　called　out　again　still　more　peremptorily：

〃Skeet　outen　thar；　I　tell　ye！　　Skeet　outen　thar！　　Come　up　heah。　I'm　a　friendI'm　Union。〃

His　rifle　came　to　his　face　at　the　same　instant；　and　Harry　saw　the　flame　and　white　smoke　puff　from　it；　and　the　sickening　thought　flashed　into　his　mind　that　the　shot　was　fired　at　him；　and　that　he　would　feel　the　deadly　ball　pierce　his　body！　　Before　he　could　more　than　formulate　this　he　heard　the　bullet　pass　him　with　a　screech；　and　strike　somewhere　with　a　plainly　sharp　slap。　　Turning　his　head　he　saw　the　leading　Rebel　stagger　and　fall。　　Harry　thre　his　gun　up；　with　the　readiness　acquired　in　old　hunting　days；　and　fired　at　the　next　of　his　foes；　who　also　fell！　　The　other　Rebels；　as　they　came　up；　gathered　around　their　fallen　comrades。

Harry　ran　back　to　where　the　stranger　was；　as　rapidly　as　the　clinging　mud　and　the　steep　hillside　would　permit　him。

〃Purty　fa'r　shot　that；〃　said　the　stranger；　setting　down　the　heavy　rifle　he　was　carefully　reloading；　and　extending　his　hand　cordially　as　Harry　came　panting　up。　　〃That's　what　I　call　mouty　neat　shootingknock　yer　man　over　at　150　yards；　down　hill；　with　that　ole　smooth…bore；　and　without　no　rest。　　The　oldest　han'　at　the　business　couldn't've　done　no　better。〃

Harry　was　too　much　agitated　to　heed　the　compliment　to　his　markmanship。　He　looked　back　anxiously　and　asked：

〃Are　they　coming　on　yet？〃

〃Skacely　they　hain't；〃　said　the　stranger；　with　a　very　obvious　sneer。　〃Skacely　they　hain't　comin'　on　no　more。　　They've　hed　enuff；　they　hev。　　Two　of　their　best　men　dropt　inter　blue　blazes　on　the　first　jump　will　take　all　the　aidge　off　ther　appetite　for　larks。　　I　know　'em。〃

〃But　they　will　come　on。　　They'll　pursue　us。　　They'll　never　let　us　go　now；〃　said　Harry；　reloading　his　gun　with　hands　trembling　from　the　exertion　and　excitement。

He　was　yet　too　young　a　soldier　to　understand　that　his　enemy's　fright　might　be　greater　than　his　own。

〃Nary　a　time　they　won't；〃　said　the　stranger；　derisively。　　〃Them　fellers　are　jest　like　Injuns；　they're　red…hot　till　one　or　two　gits　knocked　over；　an'　then　they　cool　down　mouty　suddent。　　Why；　me　an'　two　others　stopt　the　whole　of　Zollicoffer's　army　for　two　days　by　shootin'　the　officer　in　command　of　the　advance…guard　jest　ez　they　war　a…comin'　up　the　hill　this　side　of　Barboursville。　　Fact！　　They'd　a'　been　at　Wildcat　last　Friday　ef　we　hedn't　skeered　'em　so。　　They　stopt　an'　hunted　the　whole　country　round　for　bushwhackers　afore　they'd　move　ary　other　step。〃

〃But　who　are　you？〃　asked　Harry；　looking　again　at　his　companion's　butternut　garb。

〃I'm　called　Long　Jim　Forner；　an'　I've　the　name　o'　bein'　the　pizenest　Union　man　in　the　Rockassel　Mountains。　　Thar's　a　good　s'tifkit　o'　my　p'litical　principles〃　（pointing　with　his　thumb　to　where　lay　the　men　who　had　felln　under　their　bullets）。　　Harry　looked　again　in　that　direction。　　Part　of　the　squad　were　looking　apprehensively　toward　hiim；　as　if　they　feared　a　volley　from　bushwhackers　concealed　near　him；　and　others　were　taking　from　the　bodies　of　the　dead　the　weapons；　belts；　and　other　articles　which　it　was　not　best　to　leave　for　the　pursuers；　and　still　others　were　pointing　to　the　rapidly　growing　distance　between　them　and　main　body；　apparently　adjuring　haste　in　following。

The　great　mental　and　bodily　strain　Harry　had　undergone　since　he　had　first　heard　the　sound　of　cannon　in　the　morning　at　the　foot　of　Wildcat　should　have　made　him　desperately　weary。　　But　the　sight　of　the　man　falling　before　his　gun　had　fermented　in　his　blood　a　fierce　intoxication；　as　unknown；　as　unsuspected　before　as　the　passion　of　love　had　been　before　its　first　keen　transports　thrilled　his　heart。　Like　that　ecstacy；　this　fever　now　consumed　him。　　All　fear　of　harm　to　himself　vanished　in　its　flame。　　He　had　actually　slain　one　enemy。　Why　not　another？　　He　raised　his　musket。　　The　mountaineer　laid　his　hand　upon　it。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that's　not　the　game　to　hunt。　　They'll　do　when　thar's　nothin'　better　to　be　had；　but　now　powder　an'　lead　kin　be　used　to　more　advantage。　　Besides　they're　outen　range　o'　your　smooth…bore　now。　　Come。〃

As　Fortner　threw　his　rifle　across　his　shoulder　Harry　looked　at　it　curiously。　　It　had　a　long；　heavy；　six　sided　barrel；　with　a　large　bore；　double　triggers；　and　a　gaily　striped　hickory　ramrod　in　its　thimbles。　　The　stock；　of　fine；　curly　rock…maple；　was　ornamented　with　silver　stars　and　crescents；　and　in　the　breech　were　cunning　little　receptacles　for　tow　and　patches；　and　other　rifle　necessaries；　each　closed　by　a　polished　silver　cover　that　shut　with　a　snap。　　It　was　evidently　the　triumph　of　some　renowned　kentucky　gunsmith's　skill。

The　mountaineer's　foot　was　on　the　soil　he　had　trodden　since　childhood；　and　Harry　found　it　quite　difficult　to　keep　pace　with　his　strong；　quick　stride。　　His　step　landed　firm　and　sure　on　the　sloping　surfaces；　where　Harry　slipped　or　shambled。　　Clinging　vines　and　sharp　briers　were　avoided　without　an　apparent　effort；　where　every　one　grasped　Harry；　or　tore　his　face　and　hands。

The　instinct　of　the　wolf　or　the　panther　seemed　to　lead　Fortner　by　the　shortest　courses　through　the　pathless　woods　to　where　he　came　unperceived　close　upon　the　flank　of　the　mass　of　harassed　fugitives。　Then　creeping　behind　a　convenient　tree　with　the　supple　lightness　of　the　leopard　crouching　for　a　spring；　he　scanned　with　eager　eyes　the　mounted　officers　within　range。　　Selecting　his　prey　he　muttered：

〃'Tain't　HIM；　but　he'll　hev　to　do；　THIS　time。〃

The　weapon　rang　out　sharply。　　The　stricken　officer　threw　up　his　sword　arm；　his　bridle　arm　clutched　his　saddle…pommel；　as　if　resisting　the　attempt　of　Death　to　unhorse　him。　　Then　the　muscles　all　relaxed；　and　he　fell　into　he　arms　of　those　who　had　hurried　to　him。

Harry　fired　into　the　mass　the　next　instant；　a　few　random　shots　replied；　and　another　impetus　of　fear　spurred　the　mob　onward。

Fortner　and　Harry　sped　away　to　another　point　of　interception；　where　the　same　scene　was　repeated；　and　then　to　another；　and　then　to　a　third；　Fortner　muttering　after　each　shot　his　disappointment　at　not　finding　the　one　whom　he　anxiously　sought。

When　they　hurried　away　the　third　time　they　were　compelled　to　make　a　wide　circuit；　for　the　little　valley　suddenly　broadened　out　into　a　considerable　plain。　　Upon　this　the　long…drawn…out　line　of　fugitives　gathered　in　a　compact；　turmoiling　mass。

〃That's　Little　Rockassel　Ford；〃　said　Fortner；　pointing　with　his　left　hand　to　the　base　of　the　mountain　that　rose　steeply　above　the　farther　side　of　the　commotion。　　〃That's　Rockassel　Mountain　runnin'　up　thar　inter　the　clouds。　　The　Little　Rockassel　River　runs　round　hits　foot。　　That's　what's　a…stoppin'　'em。　　They'll　hev　a　turrible　time　gittin'　acrost　hit。　　Hit's　mouty　hard　crossin'　at　enny　time；　but　hit's　awful　now；　fur　the　Rockassel's　boomin'。　　The　big　rains　hev　sent　her　up　kitin'；　an'　hit's　now　breast…deep　thar　in　the　Ford。　We'll　git　round　whar　we　kin　see　hit　all。〃

Another　wide　detour　to　keep　themselves　in　the　concealment　of　the　woods　brough　Fortner　and　Harry　out　upon　an　acclivity　that　almost　overhung　the　ford；　and　those　gathered　around　it。　　The　two　Unionists　crawled　cautiously　through　the　cedars　and　laurel　to　the　very　edge　of　the　cliff　and　looked　down　upon　their　enemies。　　They　were　so　near　that　everything　was　plainly　visible；　and　the　hum　of　conversation　reached　their　ears。　　They　could　even　hear　the　commands　of　the　officers　vainly　trying　to　restore　order；　the　curses　of　the　teamsters　upon　their　jaded　animals；　the　ribald　songs　of　the　few　whose　canteens　furnished　them　with　forgetfulness　of　defeat；　and　contempt　for　the　surrounding　misery。

All　the　flooding　showers　which　had　been　falling　upon　hundreds　of　square　miles　of　precipitous　mountin　sides　were　now　gorging　through　the　crooked；　narrow　throat　of　the　Little　Rockcastle。　　The　torrent　filled　the　ragged　banks　to　the　brim；　and　in　their　greedy　swirl　undermined　and　tore　from　there　logs；　great　trees；　and　even　rocks。

This　wasthe　barrier　that　stayed　the　flight　of　the　fugitive　throng；　and　it　was　this　that　they　strove　to　put　between　thm　and　the　presumed　revengeful　victors。

On　the　bank；　field　and　line　officers　labored　to　calm　their　men　and　restore　organization。　　It　was　in　vain　that　they　pointed　out　that　there　had　been　no　pursuit　thus　far；　and　the　unlikelihood　of　there　being　one。　　When　did　Panic　yield　to　Reason？　　In　those　demoralized　ears　the　thunder　of　the　cannon　at　Wildcat；　the　crash　of　the　bursting　shells；　and　the　deadly　whistle　of　bullets　still　rang　louder　than　any　words　officers　could　speak。

The　worst　frightened　crowded　into　the　stream　in　a　frenzy；　and　struggled　wildly　with　the　current　that　swept　their　feet　off　the　slimy　limestone　bottom；　with　the　logs　and　trees　dashing　along　like　so　many　catapult…bolts；　and　with　the　horses　and　teams　urged　on　by　men　more　fear…stricken　still。　　On　the　steep　slope　on　the　other　side　glimmered　numbers　of　little　fires　where　those　who　were　lucky　enough　to　get　across　were　warming　and　drying　themselves。

〃Heavens！〃　said　Harry　with　an　anticipatory　shudder；　〃if　our　men　should　come　up；　the　first　cannon　shot　would　make　half　these　men　drown　themselves　in　trying　to　get　away。〃

Fortner　heeded　him　not。　　The　mountaineer's　eyes　were　fixed　upon　a　tall；　imperious　looking　man；　whose　collar　bore　the　silver　stars　of　a　Colonel。

〃He　has　found　his　man　at　last；〃　said　Harry；　noticing　his　companion's　attitude；　and　picking　up　his　own　gun　in　readiness　for　what　might　come。

Fortner　half…cocked　his　rifle；　took　from　its　nipple　the　cap　that　had　been　tehre　an　hour　and　flung　it　away。　　He　picked　the　powder　out　if　the　tube；　replaced　it　with　fresh　from　his　horn；　selected　another　cap　carefully；　fitted　it　on　the　nipple；　and　let　the　hammer　down　with　the　faintest　snap　to　force　it　to　it