the red acorn-第17章

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The　clamors　of　the　gang　changed　to　little　yelps　of　welcome。

〃Is　that　you；　Jim？〃　inquired　a　high…pitched　but　not　unpleasant　voice；　from　the　door。

〃Yes；　Aunt　Debby；〃　answered　Fortner；　〃an'　I　hev　some　one　with　me。〃

As　the　two　approached；　surrounded　by　the　fawning　dogs；　a　slender；　erect　woman　appeared　in　the　doorway；　holding　above　her　head；　by　its　nail　and　chain；　one　of　the　rude　iron　lamps　common　in　the　houses　of　the　South。

〃Everything　all　right；　Aunt　Debby？〃　asked　Fortner；　as；　after　entering；　he　turned　from　firmly　securing　the　door；　by　placing　across　it　a　strong　wooden　bar　that　rested　in　the　timbers　on　either　side。

〃Yes；　thank　God！〃　she　said　with　quiet　fervor。　　She　stepped　with　graceful　freedom　over　the　floor；　and　hung　the　lamp　up　by　thrusting　the　nail　into　a　crack　in　one　of　the　logs　forming　the　walls　of　the　room。　　〃An'　how　is　hit　with　ye？〃　she　asked；　facing　Fortner；　with　her　large　gray　eyes　eloquent　with　solicitude。

〃O；　ez　fur　me；　I'm　jes　ez　sound　ez　when　I　left　heah　last　week；　'cept　thet　I'm　tireder　'n　a　plow　mule　at　night；　an'　hongrier　nor　a　b'ar　thet's　lived　all　Winter　by　suckin'　hits　paws。〃

〃I　s'pose　y'　air　tired　an'　hongry；　ye　look　hit；〃　said　the　woman；　with　a　compassionate　glance　at　Harry；　who　had　sunk　limpy　into　a　chair　before　the　glowing　wood…fire　that　filled　up　a　large　part　of　the　end　of　the　room。

〃Set　down　by　the　fire；〃　she　continued；　〃an'　I'll　git　ye　some　pone　an'　milk。　　Thar's　nothin'　better　ter　start　in　on　when　yer　rale　empty。〃　　She　went　to　a　rude　cupboard　in　the　farther　part　of　the　room；　whence　the　note　of　colliding　crockery　soon　gave　information　that　she　was　busy。

Fortner　took　a　bunch　of　tow　from　his　pouch；　and　with　it　wiped　off　every　particle　of　dampness　from　the　outside　of　his　rifle；　after　which　he　laid　the　gun　on　two　wooden　hooks　above　the　fireplace；　and　hung　the　accouterments　on　deer　horns　at　its　breech。

〃Pull　off　yer　shoes　an'　toast　yer　feet；〃　he　said　to　Harry。　　〃The　fire'll　draw　the　tiredness　right　out。〃

Harry's　relaxed　fingers　fumbled　vainly　with　the　wet　and　obstinate　shoe…strings。　　Aunt　Debby　came　up　with　a　large　bowl　of　milk　in　each　hand；　and　a　great　circular　loaf　of　corn…bread　under　her　arm。　　She　placed　her　burden　upon　the　floor；　and　with　quick；　deft　fingers　loosened　the　stubborn　knots　without　an　apparent　effort；　drew　off　the　muddy　shoes　and　set　them　in　a　dark　corner　near　the　fireplace　before　Harry　fairly　realized　that　he　had　let　a　woman　do　this　humble　office　for　him。　　The　sight　and　smell　of　food　aroused　him　from　the　torpor　of　intense　fatigue；　and　he　devoured　the　homely　fare　set　before　him　with　a　relish　that　he　had　never　before　felt　for　victuals。　　As　he　ate　his　senses　awakened　so　that　he　studied　his　hostess　with　interest。　　Hair　which　the　advancing　years；　while　bleaching　to　a　snowy　white　had　still　been　unable　to　rob　of　the　curling　waves　of　girlhood；　rippled　over　a　broad　white　brow；　sober　but　scarcely　wrinkled；　large；　serious　but　gentle　gray　eyes；　and　a　small；　firm　mouth；　filled　with　even　white　teeth　were　the　salient　features　of　a　face　at　once　resolute；　refined　and　womanly。　　Long；　slender　hands；　small　feet；　covered　with　coarse　but　well…fitting　shoes；　a　slight；　erect　figure；　suggestive　of　nervous　strength；　and　clad　in　a　shapely　homespun　gown　stamped　her　as　a　superior　specimen　of　the　class　of　mountaineer　woman　to　which　she　belonged。

〃Heah's　'nuther　pone；　honey；〃　she　said　to　Fortner；　as　she　handed　both　of　them　segments　of　another　disk　of　corn…bread；　to　replace　that　which　they　had　ravenously　devoured。　　〃An'　le'　me　fill　yer　bowls　agin。　　Hit　takes　a　powerful　sight　o'　bread　an'　milk　ter　do　when　one's　rale　hongry。　　But　'tain't　like　meat　vittels。　　Ye　can't　eat　'nuff　ter　do　ye　harm。〃

She　took　from　its　place　behind　the　rough　stones　that　formed　the　jam　of　the　fireplace　a　rude　broom；　made　by　shaving　down　to　near　its　end　long　slender　strips　from　a　stick　of　pliant　green　hickory；　then　turning　these　over　the　end　and　confining　them　by　a　band　into　an　exaggerated　mop　or　brush。　　With　this　she　swept　back　from　the　hearth　of　uneven　stones　the　live　coals　flung　out　by　the　fire。

〃Thar's　some　walnut　sticks　amongst　thet　wood；〃　she　said　as　she　replaced　the　hearth…broom；　〃an'　they　pops　awful。〃

From　a　pouch…like　basket；　made　of　skilfully　interwoven　hickory　strips；　and　hanging　against　the　wall；　she　took　a　half…finished　stocking　and　a　ball　of　yarn。　　Drawing　a　low　rocking…chair　up　into　the　light；　she　seated　herself　and　began　knitting。

As　he　neared　the　last　of　his　second　bowl　of　milk　Fortner　bethought　himself；　and　glanced　at　Aunt　Debby。　　Her　work　had　fallen　from　her　nervous　hands　and　lay　idly　in　her　lap；　while　her　great　eyes　were　fixed　hungrily　upon　him。

〃They've　bin　fouten　over　ter　Wildcat　to…day；〃　he　said；　answering　their　inquiry；　without　waiting　to　empty　his　mouth。

〃Yes；　I　heard　the　cannons；〃　she　said　with　such　gentle　voice　as　made　her　dialect　seem　quaint　and　sweet。　　〃I　clim　up　on　Bald　Rock　at　the　top　o'　the　mounting　an'　lissened。　　I　could　see　the　smoke　raisin'；　but　I　couldn't　tell　nothin'。　　Much　uv　a　fout？〃

〃Awful　big'un。　　Biggest　'un　sence　Buner　Vister。　　Ole　Zollicoffer　pitched　his　whole　army　onter　Kunnel　Gerrard's　rijimint。　　Some　other　rijiments　cum　up　ter　help　Kunnel　Garrard；　an'　both　sides　fit　like　devis　fur　three　or　fur　hours；　an'　the　dead　jess　lay　in　winrows；　an'…〃

The　demands　of　Fortner's　unappeased　appetite　here　rose　superior　to　his　desire　to　impart　information。　　He　stopped　to　munch　the　last　bit　of　corn…bread　and　drain　his　bowl　to　the　bottom。

〃Yes；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　inhospitably　disregarding　the　exhaustion　of　the　provender；　and　speaking　a　little　more　quickly　than　her　wont；　〃but　which　side　whipt？〃

〃Our'n；　in　course；〃　said　Fortner；　with　nettled　surprise　at　the　question。　　〃Our'n；　in　course。　　Old　Zollicoffer　got　ez　bad　a　licken　ez　ever　Gineral　Zach　Taylor　gi'n　the　Mexicans。〃

〃Rayally？〃　she　said。　　Gratification　showed　itself　in　little　lines　that　coursed　about　her　mouth；　and　her　eyes　illumined　as　when　a　light　shines　through　a　window。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Fortner。　　〃Like　hounds；　and　run　clean　ter　the　Ford；　whar　they're　now　a…fouten　an'　strugglin　to　git　acrost；　and　drowndin'　like　so　many　stampeded　cattle。〃

〃Glory！　　Thank　God！〃　said　Aunt　Debby。　　Her　earnestness　expressed　itself　more　by　the　intensity　of　the　tone　than　its　rise。

〃Evidently　a　tolerable　regular　attendant　at　Methodist　camp…meetings；〃　thought　Harry；　rousing　a　little　from　the　torpor　into　which　he　was　falling。

Her　faded　check　flushed　with　a　little　confusion　at　having　suffered　this　outburst；　and　picking　up　her　knitting　she　nervously　resumed　work。

Fortner　looked　wistfully　at　the　bottom　of　his　emptied　bowl。　　Aunt　Debby　took　it　away　and　speedily　returned　with　it　filled。　　She　came　back　with　an　air　of　eager　expectancy　that　Fortner　would　continue　his　narrative。　　But　unsatisfied　hunger　still　dominated　him；　and　he　had　thoughts　and　mouth　only　for　food。　　She　sad　down　and　resumed　her　knitting　with　an　apparent　effort　at　composing　herself。

For　a　full　minute　the　needles　clicked　industriously。　　Then　they　stopped；　the　long；　slender　fingers　clenched　themselves　about　the　ball　of　yarn；　she　faced　Fortner；　her　eyes　shining　with　a　less　brilliant　but　intenser　light。

〃Jim　Fortner；〃　she　said　with　low；　measured　distinctness；　〃why　don't　ye　go　on？　　Is　thar　somethin'　that　ye'r　afeered　ter　tell　me？　　What　hez　hapened　ter　our　folks？　　Don't　flinch　from　tellin'　me　the　wust。　I'm　allers　willin'　ter　bow　ter　the　will　o'　the　Lord　without　a　murmur。　　On'y　let　me　know　what　hit　is。〃

〃Why；　Aunt　Debby；　thar　hain't　been　nothin'　happened　ter　'em；〃　said　Fortner；　deeply　surprised。　　〃Thar　ain't　nothin'　ter　tell　ye　'bout　'em。　　They're　all　safe。　　They're　in　Kunnel　Garrard's　rijimint；　ez　ye　know；　an'　hit　fit　behind　breastworks；　and　didn't　lose　nobody；　scacelyleastwise　none　uv　our　kin。〃

She　rose　quickly　from　her　chair。　　The　ball　of　yarn　fell　from　her　lap　and　rolled　unheeded　toward　the　glowing　coals　under　the　forelog。　With　arm　outstretched；　hands　clasped；　and　eyes　directed　upward　in　fervent　appeal；　there　was　much　to　recall　that　Deborah　from　whom　she　took　her　namethat　prophetess　and　priestess　who；　standing　under　the　waving　palm　trees　of　Ball…Tamar；　inspired　her　countrymen　to　go　forth　and　overthrow　and　destroy　their　Canaanitish　oppressors。

〃O；　God！〃　she　said　in　low；　thrilling　tones；　〃Thou's　aforetimes　gi'n　me　much　ter　be　thankful　fur；　as　well　ez　much　ter　dumbly　ba'r　when　Thy　rod　smote　me　fur　reasons　thet　I　couldn't　understand。　　Thou　knows　how　gladly　I'd've　gi'n　not　on'y　my　pore；　nigh…spent　life；　but　also　those　o'　my　kinsmen；　which　I　prize　much　higher；　fur　sech　a　vict'ry　ez　this　over　the　inimies　of　Thee　an'　Thy　people。　　But　Thou'st　gi'n　hit　free　ez　Thy　marcy；　without　axin'　blood　sacrifice　from　any　on　us。　　I　kin　on'y　praise　Thee　an'　Thy　goodness　all　my　days。〃

Fortner　rose　and　listend　with　bowed　head　while　she　spoke。　　When　she　finished　he　snatched　up　the　ball　of　shriveling　yarn　and　quenched　its　smoking　with　his　hand。　　Looking　fixedly　at　this　he　said　softly：　〃Aunt　Debby；　honey；　I　hain't　tole　ye　all　yit。〃

〃No；　Jim？〃

〃No；〃　said　he；　slowly　winding　up　the　yarn；　〃Arter　the　fouten　wuz　thru　with　at　the　Gap　I　slipt　down　the　mounting；　an'　come　in　on　the　r'ar　uv　those　fellers；　an'　me　an'　this　ere　man　drapt　two　on　'em。〃

〃I　kinder　'spected　ye　would　do　something　uv　thet　sort。〃

〃Then　we　tuk　a　short　cut　an'　overtuk　'em　agin；　an'　we　drapt　another。〃

Aunt　Debby's　eyes　expressed　surprise　at　this　continued　good　fortune。

〃An'　then　we　tuk　'nuther　short　cut；　an'　saved　'nuther　one。〃

Aunt　Debby　waited　for　him　to　continue。

〃At　lastjess　ez　they　come　ter　the　FordI　seed　OUR　man。〃

〃Seed　Kunnel　Bill　Pennington？〃　　The　great　gray　eyes　were　blazing　now。

〃Yes。〃　　Fortner's　speech　was　the　spiritless　drawl　of　the　mountains；　and　it　had　now　become　so　languid　that　it　seemed　doubtful　if　after　the　enunciation　of　each　word　whether　vitality　enough　remained　to　evolve　a　successor。　　〃Yes；〃　he　repeated　with　a　yawn；　as　he　stuck　the　ball　of　yarn　upon　the　needles　and　gave　the　whole　a　toss　which　landed　it　in　the　wall…basket；　〃an'　I　GOT　him；　tew。〃

〃O；　just　God！　　Air　ye　shore？〃

〃Jess　ez　shore　ez　in　the　last　great　day　thar'll　be　some　'un　settin'　in　judgement　atween　him　an'　me。　　I　wanted　him　ter　be　jess　ez　shore　about　me。　　I　came　out　in　plain　sight；　and　drawed　his　attention。　He　knowed　me　at　fust　glimpse；　an'　pulled　his　revolver。　　I　kivered　his　heart　with　the　sights　an'　tetcht　the　trigger。　　I'm　sorry　now　thet　I　didn't　shoot　him　thru　the　belly；　so　thet　he'd　been　a　week　a…dyin'　an'　every　minnit　he'd　remembered　what　he　wuz　killed　fur。　But　I　wuz　so　afeered　that　I　would　not　kill　him　ef　I　hit　him　some　place　else'n　the　heartthet's　a　wayall　pizen　varmints　hevthet　I　didn't　da'r　resk　hit。　　I　wuz　detarmined　ter　git　him；　too；　ef　I　had　ter　foller　him　clean　ter　Cumberland　Gap。〃

〃Ye　done　God's　vengence；〃　said　Aunt　Debby　sternly。　　〃An'　yit　hit　wuz　very　soon　ter　expect　hit。〃　　She　clasped　her　hands　upon　her　forehead　and　rocked　back　and　forth；　gazing　fixedly　into　the　mass　of　incandescent　coals。

〃Hit's　gwine　to　cla'r　up　ter…morrow；〃　said　Fortner；　returning　from　an　inspection　of　the　sky　at　the　door。　　〃Le's　potter　off　ter　bed；〃　he　continued　rousing　up　Harry。　　They　removed　their　outer　garments　and　crawled　into　one　of　the　comfortable　beds　in　the　room。

Later　in　the　night　a　sharp　pain　in　one　of　Harry's