the red acorn-第20章

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t　the　kittles　fur　a　minnit　ter　run　down　the　gyardin　walk；　ter　see　how　my　bed　o'　pinks　wuz　comin'　out；　an'　I　sung　ez　I　run。

〃Jest　then　a　passel　o'　men　come　stringin'　up　the　road　ter　the　bars。　　They　looked　like　some　o'　them　that　Kunnel　Pennington　tuck　'way　with　him；　but　they　rid　better　critters　then　any　o'　them　ever　hed；　an'　they　were　dressed　in　a　sorter　soljer…cloze；　an'　all　o'　'em　toted　guns。

〃Something　sent　a　chill　ter　my　very　heart　the　moment　I　laid　eyes　on　'em。　　Hit　a'most　stopped　beatin'　when　I　see　Kunnel　Bill　Pennington　a　little　ways　behind　'em；　with　a　feather　in　his　hat；　an'　sword　an'　pistols　in　his　belt。　　When　they　waited　at　the　bars　fur　him　ter　come　up；　I　knowed　instantly　what　they　were　arter。

〃'Fortner；'　I　said　ter　my　son；　tryin'　ter　speak　ez　low　ez　possible；　'Fortner；　honey；　slip　back　through　the　bushes　ez　quick　ez　the　Lord'll　let　ye；　an　tell　yer　daddy　that　Bill　Pennington　an'　his　gang　air　heah　arter　him。　　Sneak　away；　but　when　ye　air　out　o'　sight；　run　fur　yer　life；　honey。'

〃He　turned　ter　go；　but　tat　that　minnit　Bill　Pennington　shouted　out：

〃'Stop　thar！　　Don't　ye　send　thet　boy　away！　　Ef　he　moves　a　step；　I'll　put　a　bullet　through　his　brain！'　　Fortner　would've　run　in　spite　o'　him；　but　I　wuz　so　skeered　for　him　thet　I　jumped　ter　his　side　an'　ketched　his　arm。

〃'Keep　quiet；　honey；'　I　said。　　'Likely　they　won't　find　yer　daddy　at　all。'

〃Vain　hope！　　Ez　I　spoke；　the　sound　o'　David's　ax　rung　out　clearly　and　steadily。　　The　cannons　at　Wildcat；　yesterday；　didn't　sound　no　louder　ter　me。　　I　could　even　tell　that　he　wuz　choppin'　a　beech　tree。　　The　licks　was　ex　a…sharp　an'　ringin'　ez　ef　the　ax　struck　iron。

〃Bill　Pennington　lit　offen　his　beast；　an'　walked　toward　me；　with　his　sword　a…clatterin'　an'　his　spurs　a…jinglin'。

〃'Whar's　that　Yankeefied　scalawag　of　a　husband　o'　your'n？　　Whar's　Dave　Brill？'　he　said　savagely。

〃Hit　seemed　ter　me　that　every　stroke　from　over　the　hill　said　ez　plainly　ez　tongue　could　utter　words：　　'Heah　I　am。　　Come　over　heah！'　I　tried　ter　gain　time　ter　think　o'　something。

〃'He　started　this　mornin'　on　Roan　Molly　fer　Mt。　Vernon；　to　'tend　court；'　I　said；　knowin'　thet　I　didn't　dare　hesitate　ter　make　up　a　story。

〃'Kunnel；　thet　air's　a　lie；'　said　Jake　Johnson；　who　knowed　us。　'Thar's　Dave　Brill's　Roan　Molly　over　thar；　in　the　pasture。'

〃'An'　this　hain't　court…day　in　Mt。　Vernon；　neither；'　said　another。

〃'I　know　your　husband's　on　the　place；　I　wuz　tole　so　this　mornin'；'　said　Kunnel　Bill。　　'Hit'll　be　much　better　fur　ye；　ef　ye　tell　me　whar　he　is。　　Hit'll　at　least　save　yer　house　from　bein'　sot　afire。'

〃Ring！　ring！　went　David's　ax；　ez　ef　hit　war　a　trumpet；　shoutin'　ter　the　whole　world：　　'Heah　I　am。　　Come　over　heah！'

〃'Ye　kin　burn　our　house　ef　yer　that　big　a　villain；'　I　said；　'but　I　can't　tell　ye　no　different。'

〃'Kunnel；　thet's　him　a…choppin'　over　thar；'　said　Jake　Johnson。　'I　know　he's　cl'ared　some　new　ground　fur　terbacker　on　thet　air　hill…side。'

〃'I　believe　hit　is；'　said　Kunnel　Bill；　listenin'　a　minnit。　　'Parker；　ye　an'　Haygood　go　over　thar　an'　git　him；　while　some　o'　the　rest　o'　ye　look　'bout　the　stable　an'　fodder…stack　thar。　　Mind　my　orders；　an'　see　thet　they　are　carried　out。'

〃His　manner　made　me　fear　everything。　　A　thought　flashed　inter　my　mind。　　Thar　wuz　thet　horn　thar。〃Harry　followed　her　eyes　with　his；　and　saw　hanging　on　hooks　against　the　wall　one　of　the　long　tin　horns；　used　in　the　South　to　call　the　men…folks　of　the　farms　to　their　meals。　　It　was　crushed　and　battered　to　uselessness。〃I　thought　I'd　blow　hit　an'　attract　his　attention。　　He　mout　then　see　them　a…comin'　an'　git　away。　　I　ran　inter　the　house　an'　snatched　the　horn　down；　but　afore　I　could　put　hit　ter　my　lips；　Bill　Pennington　jerked　hit　'way　from　me；　an'　stamped　on　hit。

〃'Deb　Brill；'　said　he；　with　a　mortally　hateful　look；　'yer　peart　an'　sassy　an'　bold；　an'　hev　allers　been　so；　an'　so　's　yer　Yankeefied　husband。　　Ye've　hed　yer　own　way　offentoo　offen。　　Now　I'll　heve　mine；　an'　wipe　out　some　long…standin'　scores。　　Dave　Brill　hez　capped　a　lifetime　o'　plague　an'　disturbance　ter　his　betters；　by　becomin'　a　trator　to　his　country；　an'　inducin'　others　ter　be　traitors。　　He　must　be　quieted。　　come　out　an'　listen。'

〃He　pulled　me　out　inter　the　yard。　　Dave　wuz　still　choppin'　away。　Fur　nearly　every　day　fur　night　thirty　years；　the　sound　o'　his　ax　hed　been　music　in　my　ears。　　I　had　larned　to　know　hit；　even　afore　we　wuz　lovers；　fur　his　father's　land　jined　my　father's；　an'　hit　seems　ter　me　that　I　could　tell　he　note　o'　his　ax　from　thet　o'　everybody　else；　a'most　ez　airly　ez　I　could　tell　a　robin's　song　from　a　blackbird's。　　Girl；　woman；　wife　an'　mother；　I　hed　listened　to　hit　while　I　knit；　wove；　or　spun；　every　stroke　minglin'　with　the　sounds　o'　my　wheel　or　loom　an'　the　song　o'　the　birds；　an'　tellin'　me　whar　he　wuz；　an'　thet　he　wuz　toilin'　cheefully　fur　me　an'　mine。

〃Now；　fur　the　fust　time　in　all　these　years；　hits　steady　strong　beat　brought　mis'ry　ter　my　ears。　　Hit　wuz　ez　the　tollin'　of　bell　fur　some　one　not　yit　dead。　　My　heart　o'ny　beat　ez　fast　ez　he　chopped。　Hit　would　give　a　great　jump　when　the　sound　o'　the　blow　reached　me；　an'　then　stand　still　until　the　next　one　came。

〃At　last　came　a　longO；　so　long　pause。

〃'They've　got　thar；'　said　Bill　Pennington；　cranin'　forward　his　head　ter　ketch　the　fust　sound。　　'He's　seed　'em；　an'　is　tryin'　ter　git　'way。　　But　he　kin　never　do　hit。　　I　know　the　men　I　sent　ter　do　the　job。'

〃Two　rifle　shots　sounded　a'most　together；　an'　then　immediately　arter　wuz　a　couple　o'　boastful　Injun…like　yells。

〃'Thar；　Deb；　heah　thet？　　Ye'r　a　widder　now。　　Be　thankful　thet　I　let　ye　off　so　easy。　　I　ought　by　rights　ter　burn　yer　house；　an'　put　thet　boy　o'　your'n　whar　he'll　do　no　harm。　　but　this'll　do　fur　an　example　ter　these　mounting　traitors。　　They've　lost　their　leader；　an'　ther　hain't　no　one　ter　take　his　place。　　They'll　know　now　thet　we're　in　dead　airnest。　　Boys；　go　inter　the　house　an'　git　all　the　guns　thar　is　thar；　an'　what　vittles　an'　blankets　ye　want；　but　make　haste；　fur　we　must　git　away　from　heah　in　a　hurry。'

〃I　run　ez　fast　ez　my　feet'd　carry　me　to　whar　David　lay　stone　dead。　　Fortner　saddled　his　colt　an'　galloped　off　ter　his　cousin　Jim　Fortner's；　ter　rouse　the　Home　Gyard。　　The　colt　reached　Jim's　house；　bekase　hits　mammy　wuz　thar；　but　my　son　never　did。　　In　takin'　the　shortest　road；　he　hed　ter　cross　the　dangerousest　ford　on　the　Rockassel。　　The　young　beast　wuz　skeered　nigh　ter　death；　an'　hits　rider　wuz　drowned。〃





Chapter　XIII。　　〃An　Apple　Jack　Raid。〃




This　kind　o'　sojerin'　ain't　a　mite　like　our　October　trainin'；　A　chap　could　clear　right　out　from　there；　ef　it　only　looked　like　rainin'；　And　the　Cunnels；　too；　could　kiver　up　their　shappoes　with　bandanners；　An'　send　the　Insines　skootin'　to　the　bar…room；　with　their　banners；　（Fear　o'　gittin'　on　'em　spotted；）　an'　a　feller　could　cry　quarter　Ef　he　fired　away　his　ramrod　arter　tu　much　rum　an'　water。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　James　Russel　Lowell。


The　morning　after　the　battle；　Kent　Edwards　was　strolling　around　the　camp　at　Wildcat。　　〃Shades　of　my　hot…throated　ancestors　who　swallowed　several　fine　farms　by　the　tumblerful；　how　thirsty　I　am！〃　he　said　at　length。　　〃It's　no　wonder　these　Kentuckians　are　such　hard　drinkers。　　There's　something　in　the　atmosphere　that　makes　me　drier　the　farther　we　advance　into　the　State。　　Maybe　the　pursuit　of　glory　has　something　desiccating　in　it。　　At　least；　all　the　warriors　I　ever　heard　of　seemed　composed　of　clay　that　required　as　much　moistening　as　unslaked　lime。　　I　will　hie　me　to　teh　hill　of　frankincense　and　the　mountain　of　myrrh；　in　other　words；　I'll　go　back　where　Abe　is；　and　get　what's　left　in　the　canteen。〃

He　found　his　saturine　comrade　sitting　on　a　log　by　a　comfortable　fire；　restoring　buttons　which；　like　soldiers；　had　become　〃missing　by　reason　of　exigencies　of　the　campaign。〃

The　temptation　to　believe　that　inanimate　matter　can　be　actuated　by　obstinate　malice　is　almost　irresistible　when　one　has　to　do　with　the　long　skeins　of　black　thread　which　the　soldiers　use　for　their　sewing。　　These　skeins　resolve　themselves；　upon　the　pulling　of　the　first　thread；　into　bunches　of　entanglement　more　hopelessly　perverse　than　the　Gordian　knot；　or　the　snarls　in　a　child's　hair。　　To　the　inexperienced　victim；　desirous　of　securing　the　wherewithal　to　sew　a　button　on；　nothing　seems　easier　than　to　pull　a　thread　out　of　the　bunch　of　loose　filament　that　lies　before　him。　　Rash　man！　　That　simple　mesh　hat　a　baffling　power　like　unto　the　Labyrinth　of　Arsino；　and　long　labor　of　fingers　and　teeth　aided　by　heated　and　improper　language；　frequently　fails　to　extract　so　much　as　a　half　foot　of　thread。

Abe　had　stuck　his　needle　down　into　the　log　beside　him。　　Near；　were　the　buttons　he　had　fished　out　of　his　pocket；　and　he　was　laboring　with　clumsy　fingers　and　rising　temper　at　an　obdurate　bunch　of　thread。

〃I've　been　round　looking　over　the　field；〃　said　Kent；　as　he　came　up。

A　contemptuous　snort　answered　him。

〃You　ought　to've　been　along。　　I　saw　a　great　many　interesting　things。〃

〃O；　yes；　I　s'pose。　　Awful　interesting。　　Lot　o'　dead　men　laying　around　in　the　mud。　　'Bout　as　interesting；　I　should　say；　as　a　spell　o'　setting　on　a　Coroner's　jury。　　The　things　you　find　interesting　would　bore　anybody　else　to　death。〃

Abe　gave　the　obstinate　clump　a　savage　twist　which　only　made　its　knots　more　rebellious；　and　he　looked　as　if　strongly　tempted　to　throw　it　into　the　fire。

〃Don't　do　it；　Abe；〃　said　Kent；　with　a　laugh　that　irritated　Abe　worse　still。　　〃Thread's　thread；　out　here；　a　hundred　miles　from　nowhere。　You　don't　know　where　you'll　get　any　more。　　Save　itmy　dear　fellowsave　it。　　Perchance　you　may　yet　sweetly　beguile　many　an　hour　of　your　elegant　leisure　in　unraveling　its　fantastic　convolutions　with　your　taper　fingers；　and…〃

〃Lord！　　Lord！〃　said　Abe　with　an　expression　of　deep　weariness；　but　without　looking　in　Kent's　direction；　〃Who's　pulled　the　string　o'　that　clack…mill　and　set　it　going？　　When　it　gets　started　once　it　rolls　out　big　words　like　punkins　dropping　out　o'　the　tail　of　a　wagon　going　up　hill。　　And　there's　no　way　o'　stopping　it；　either。　You've　just　got　to　wiat　till　it　runs　down。〃

〃The　Proverbs　say　so　fittingly　that　'A　fool　delighteth　not　in　wise　instruction；'〃　said　Kent；　as　he　stepped　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　fire。　　His　foot　fell　upon　a　projecting　twig；　the　other　end　of　which　flew　up　and　landed　a　very　hot　coal　on　the　back　of　Abe's　hand。　　Abe's　action　followed　that　of　the　twig；　in　teh　suddenness　of　his　upspringing。　　He　hurled　an　oath　and　a　firebrand　at　his　comrade。

〃This　is　really　becoming　domestic；〃　said　Kent　as　he　laughingly　dodged。　　〃The　gentle　amenities　could　not　cluster　more　thickly　around　our　fireside；　even　if　we　were　married。〃

When　Abe　resumed　his　seat　he　did　not　come　down　exactly　upon　the　spot　from　which　he　had　arisen。　　It　was　a　little　farther　to　the　right；　where　he　had　stuck　the　needle。　　He　had　forgotten　about　it；　but　he　rose　with　a　howl　when　it　keenly　reminded　him　that　like　the　star…spangled　banner；　it　〃was　still　there。〃

〃Don't　rise　on　my　account；　I　beg；〃　said　Kent　with　a　deprecatory　wave　of　the　hand；　as　he　hurried　off　to　wher　he　could　laugh　with　safety。　A　saucy　drummer…boy；　who　neglected　this　precaution；　received　a　cuff　from　Abe's　heavy　hand　that　thrilled　the　rest　of　the　drum…corps　with　delight。

When　Abe's　wrath　subsided　from　this　ebullient　stage　back　to