the red acorn-第21章

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rest　of　the　drum…corps　with　delight。

When　Abe's　wrath　subsided　from　this　ebullient　stage　back　to　its　customary　one　of　simmer；　Kent　ventured　to　return。

〃Say；〃　said　he；　pulling　over　the　coats　and　blankets　near　the　fire；　〃where's　the　canteen？〃

〃There　it　is　by　the　cups。　　Can't　you　see　it？　　If　it　was　a　snake　it'd　bite　you。〃

〃It's　done　that　already；　several　times；　or　rather　its　contents　have。　You　know　what　the　Bible　says；　'Biteth　liek　a　serpent　and　stingeth　like　an　adder？'　　Ah；　here　it　is。　　But　gloomy　forebodings　seize　me：　it　is　suspiciously　light。　　Paradoxically；　its　lightness　induces　gravity　in　me。　　But　that　pun　is　entirely　too　fine…drawn　for　camp　atmosphere。〃

He　shook　the　canteen　near　his　ear。　　〃Alas！　no　gurgle　responds　to　my　fond　caresses


Canteen；　Mavourneen；　O；　why　art　thou　silent；　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thou　voice　of　my　heart？


It　iswoe　is　meit　is　empty。〃

〃Of　course　it　isyou　were　the　last　one　at　it。〃

〃I　hurl　that　foul　imputation　back　into　thy　teeth　base　knave。　　Thou　thyself　art　a　very　daughter　of　a　horse…leech　with　a　canteen　of　whisky。〃

Abe　looked　at　him　inquiringly。　　〃You　must've　found　some；　some　place；〃　he　said；　〃or　you　wouldn't　be　so　awful　glib。　　It's　taken　'bout　half…a…pint　to　loosen　your　tongue　so　that　it'd　run　this　way。　I　know　you。〃

〃No；　I've　not　found　a　spoonful。　　The　eloquence　of　thirst　is　the　only　inspiration　I　have　at　present。　　I　fain　would　stay　its　cravings　by　quaffing　a　beaker　of　mountain…distilled　hair…curler。　　Mayhap　this　humble　receptacle　contains　yet　a　few　drops　which　escaped　thy　ravenous　thirst。〃

Kent　turned　the　canteen　upside　down　and　placed　its　mouth　upon　his　tongue。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　with　deep　dejection；　〃all　that　delicious　fluid　of　yesterday　is　now　like　the　Father　of　his　Country。〃

〃Eh？〃　asked　Abe；　puzzled。

〃Because　it　is　no　moreit　is　no　more。　　It　belongs　to　the　unreturning　past。〃

〃I　say；〃　he　continued　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃let's　go　out　and　hunt　for　some。　　there　must　be　plenty　in　this　neighborhood。　　Nature　never　makes　a　want　without　providing　something　to　supply　it。　Therefore；　judging　from　my　thirst；　this　country　ought　to　be　full　of　distilleries。〃

They　buckled　on　their　belts；　picked　up　their　guns　and　started　out；　directing　their　steps　to　the　front。

In　spite　of　the　sunshine　the　walk　through　the　battle…field　was　depressing。　　A　chafing　wind　fretted　through　the　naked　limbs　of　the　oaks　and　chestnuts；　and　drew　moans　from　the　pines　and　the　hemlocks。　The　brown；　dead　leaves　rustled　into　little　tawny　hillocks；　behind　protecting　logs　and　rocks。　　Frequently　those　took　on　the　shape　of　long；　narrow　mounds　as　if　they　covered　the　graves　of　some　ill…fated　being；　who　like　themselves；　had　fallen　to　the　earth　to　rot　in　dull　obscurity。　　The　clear　little　streams　that　in　Summer…time　murmured　musically　down　the　slopes；　under　canopies　of　nodding　roses　and　fragrant　sweet…brier；　were　now　turbid　torrents；　brawling　like　churls　drunken　with　much　wine；　and　tearing　out　with　savage　wantonness　their　banks；　matted　with　the　roots　of　the　blue　violets；　and　the　white…flowered　puccoon。

Scattered　over　the　mountain…side　were　fatigue…parties　engaged　in　hunting　up　the　dead；　and　burying　them　in　shallow　graves；　hastily　dug　in　clay　so　red　that　it　seemed　as　if　saturated　with　the　blood　shed　the　day　before。　　The　buriers　thrust　their　hands　into　the　pockets　of　the　dead　with　the　flinching；　nauseated　air　of　men　touching　filth；　and　took　from　the　garments　seeping　with　water　and　blood；　watches；　letters；　ambrotypes；　money　and　trinkets；　some　of　which　they　studied　to　gain　a　clue　to　the　dead　man's　identity；　some　retained　as　souvenirs；　but　threw　the　most　back　into　the　grave　with　an　air　of　loathing。　　The　faces　of　the　dead　with　their　staring　eyes　and　open　mouths　and　long；　lank　hair；　cloyed　with　the　sand　and　mud　thrown　up　by　the　beating　rain；　looked　indescribably　repulsive。

The　buriers　found　it　better　to　begin　their　work　by　covering　the　features　with　a　cap　or　a　broad…brimmed　hat。　　It　was　difficult　for　the　coarsest　of　them　to　fling　a　spadeful　of　dank　clay　directly　upon　the　wide…open　eyes　and　seemingly…speaking　mouth。

〃Those　fellows'　souls；〃　said　Kent；　regarding　the　corpses；　〃seem　to　have　left　their　earthly　houses　in　such　haste　that　they　forgot　to　close　the　doors　and　windows　after　them。　　Somewhere　I　ahve　read　of　a　superstition　that　bodily　tenements　left　in　this　way　were　liable　to　be　entered　and　occupied　by　evil　spirits；　and　from　this　rose　the　custom　of　piously　closing　the　eyes　and　mouths　of　deceased　friends。〃

〃No　worse　spirit's　likely　to　get　into　them　than　was　shot　out　of　'em；〃　growled　Abe。　　〃A　Rebel　with　a　gun　is　as　bad　an　evil　spirit　as　I　ever　expect　to　meet。　　But　let's　go　on。　　It's　another　kind　of　an　evil　spirit　that　we　are　interested　in　just　nowone　that'll　enter　into　and　occupy　our　empty　canteen。〃

〃You're　right。　　It's　the　enemy　that　my　friend　Shakspere　says　we　'put　into　our　mouths　to　steal　away　our　brains。'　　By　the　way；　what　a　weary　hunt　he　must　have　in　your　cranium　for　a　load　worth　stealing。〃

〃Thee　goes　that　clack…mill　again。　　Great　Caesar！　if　the　boys　only　had　legs　as　active　as　your　tongue　what　a　racer　the　regiment　would　be！　　Cavalry'd　be　nowhere。〃

Toward　the　foot　of　the　mountain　their　path　led　them　across　a　noisy；　swollen　little　creek；　whose　overflowing　waters　were　dyed　deeply　red　and　yellow　by　the　load　of　hill　caly　they　were　carrying　away　in　their　headlong　haste。　　A　little　to　the　left　lay　a　corpse　of　more　striking　appearance　than　any　they　had　yet　seen。　　It　was　that　of　a　tall；　slender；　gracefully　formed　young　man；　clad　in　an　officer's　uniform　of　rich　gray　cloth；　lavishly　ornamented　with　gilt　buttons　and　gold　lace。　　The　features　were　strong；　but　delicately　cut；　and　the　dark　skin　smooth　and　fine…textured。　　One　shapely　hand　still　clasped　the　hilt　of　a　richly　ornamented　sword；　with　which　he　had　evidently　been　directing　his　men；　and　his　staring　gray　eyes　seemed　yet　filled　with　the　anger　of　battle。　　A　bullet　had　reached　him　as　he　stood　upon　a　little　knoll；　striving　to　stay　the　headlong　flight。　Falling　backward　his　head　touched　the　edge　of　the　swift　running　water；　which　was　now　filling　his　long；　black　locks　with　slimy　sediment。

〃The　ounce　o'　lead　that　done　that　piece　o'　work；〃　said　Abe；　〃was　better'n　a　horseload　o'　gold。　　A　few　more　used　with　as　good　judgement　would　bring　the　rebellion　to　an　end　in　short　meter。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Kent；　〃he's　one　of　the　Chivalry；　one　of　the　main　props；　one　of　the　fellows　who　are　trying　to　bring　about　Secession　in　the　hopes　of　being　Dukes；　or　Marquises；　or　EarlsHigh　Keepers　of　His　Majesty　Jeff。　Davis's　China　Spittoons；　or　Grand　Custodians　of　the　Prince　of　South　Carolina's　Plug　Tobacco；　when　the　Southern　Confederacy　gains　its　independence。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Abe；　raising　the　Rebel's　hat　on　the　point　of　his　bayonet；　and　laying　it　across　the　corpse's　face；　〃he's　changed　bosses　much　sooner　than　he　expected。　　Jeff。　Davis's　blood…relation；　who　presides　over　the　Sulphur　Confederacy；　will　put　on　his　shoulder…straps　with　a　branding…iron；　and　serve　up　his　rations　for　him　red…hot。　　I　only　wish　he　had　more　going　along　with　him　to　keep　him　company。〃

〃Save　your　feelings　against　the　Secessionists　for　expression　with　your　gun　in　the　next　fight；　and　come　along。　　I'm　getting　thirstier　every　minute。〃

They　walked　on　rapidly　for　a　couple　or　three　hours；　without　finding　much　encouragement　in　their　search。　　The　rugged　mountain　sides　were　but　thinly　peopled；　and　the　few　poor　cabins　they　saw　in　the　distance　they　decided　were　not　promising　enough　of　results　to　justify　clambering　up　to　where　they　were　perched。　　At　last；　almost　wearied　out；　they　halted　for　a　little　while　to　rest　and　scan　the　interminable　waves　of　summits　that　stretched　out　before　them。

〃Ah；〃　said　Kent；　rising　suddenly；　〃let's　go　on。　　Hope　dawns　at　last。　　I　smell　apples。　　That's　a　perfume　my　nose　never　mistakes。　We're　near　an　orchard。　　Where　there's　an　orchard　there's　likely　to　be　a　pretty　good　style　of　house；　and　where　in　Kentucky　there's　a　good　style　of　house　there's　a　likelihood　of　being　plenty　of　good　whisky。　　Now　there's　a　train　of　brilliant　inductive　reasoning　that　shows　that　nature　intended　me　to　be　a　great　natural　philosopher。　Come　on；　Abe。〃

The　smell　of　apples　certainly　did　grow　more　palpable　as　they　proceeded；　and　Abe　muttered　that　even　if　they　did　not　get　any　thing　to　drink　they　would　probably　get　enough　of　the　fruit　to　make　an　agreeable　change　in　their　diet。

They　emerged　from　the　woods　into　a　cleared　space　where　a　number　of　roads　and　paths　focused。　　To　the　right　was　a　little　opening　in　the　mountain…side；　hardly　large　enough　to　be　called　a　valley；　but　designated　in　the　language　of　the　region　as　a　〃hollow。〃　　At　its　mouth　stood　a　couple　of　diminutive　log…cabins；　of　the　rudest　possible　construction；　and　roofed　with　〃clapboards〃　held　in　place　by　stones　and　poles。　　A　long　string　of　wooden　troughs；　supported　upon　props；　conducted　the　water　from　an　elevated　spring　to　the　roof　of　one　of　the　cabins；　and　the　water　could　be　seen　issuing　again　from　underneath　the　logs　at　one　side　of　the　cabin。　　A　very　primitive　cider　milltwo　wooden　rollers　fastened　in　a　frame；　and　moved　by　a　long　sapling　sweep　attached　to　one　of　themstood　near。　　The　ground　was　covered　with　rotting　apple　pomace；　from　which　arose　the　odor　that　had　reached　Kent's　nose。

〃Hello！〃　said　the　latter；　〃here's　luck；　here's　richness！　　We've　succeeded　beyond　our　most　sanguine　expectations；　as　the　boy　said；　who　ran　away　from　school　to　catch　minnows；　and　caught　a　ducking；　a　bad　cold　and　a　licking。　　We've　struck　an　apple…jack　distillery；　and　as　they've　been　at　work　lately；　they've　probably　left　enough　somewhere　to　give　us　all　that　we　can　drink。〃

Abe's　sigh　was　eloquent　of　a　disbelief　that　such　a　consummation　was　possible；　short　of　the　blissful　hereafter。

Inside　of　one　of　the　cabins　they　found　a　still　about　the　size　of　a　tub；　with　a　worm　of　similar　small　proportions；　kept　cook　by　the　flow　from　the　spring。　　Some　tubs　and　barrels；　in　which　the　lees　of　cider　were　rapidly　turning　to　vinegar；　gave　off　a　fuity；　spirituous　odor；　but　for　awhile　their　eager　search　did　not　discover　a　bit　of　the　distilled　product。　　At　last；　Kent；　with　a　cry　of　triumph；　dragged　from　a　place　of　cunning　concealment　a　small　jug；　stopped　with　a　corncob。　　He　smelled　it　hungrily。

〃Yes；　here　is　some。　　It's　apple…jack；　not　a　week　old；　and　as　rank　as　a　Major　General。　　Phew！　　I　can　smell　every　stick　they　burned　to　distil　it。　　Abe；　watch　me　closely　while　I　drink。　　I　magnanimously　take　the　lead；　out　of　consideration　for　you。　　If　I　ain't　dead　in　five　minutes；　you　try　it。〃

〃O；　stop　monkeying；　and　drink；〃　was　the　impatient　answer。

Kent　put　the　jug　to　his　mouth　and　took　a　long　draught。　　〃Shade　of　old　Father　Noah；　the　first　drunkard；〃　he　said　as　he　wiped　the　tears　from　his　eyes；　〃another　swig　like　that　would　pull　out　all　the　rivets　in　my　internal　pipings。　　Heavens！　it　went　down　like　pulling　a　cat　out　of　a　hole　by　the　tail。　　I'm　afraid　to　wipe　my　mouth；　lest　my　breath　burn　a　hole　in　the　sleeve　of　my　blouse。〃

Three…quarters　of　an　hour　later；　the　spirits　in　the　jug　were　lowering　and　those　in　the　men　rising　with　unequal　rapidity。　　Under　the　influence　of　the　fiery　stimulant；　Kent's　sanguine　temperament　boiled　and　bubbled　over。　　Imagination　painted　the　present　and　future　in　hues　of　dazzling　radiance。　　Everything　was　as　deli