the red acorn-第26章

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〃I　have　tried　hard　to　keep　the　news　from　you；〃　answered　Dr。　Denslow；　reluctantly。　　〃I　feat　it　is　too　true。　　Let　us　hope　it　is　only　a　temporary　reverse；　and　that　it　will　soon　be　more　than　overcome。〃

〃Not　in　time　for　me；〃　said　Sanderson；　in　deep　dejection。　　〃I　have　lived　several　days　merely　because　I　wanted　to　see　Richmond　taken　before　I　died。　　I　can　wait　no　longer。〃

The　Doctor　essayed　some　confused　words　of　encouragement；　but　stopped　abruptly；　and　feigning　important　business　in　another　part　of　the　hospital；　hurried　out；　bidding　Rachel　await　his　return。

When　he　was　gone　Sanderson　lifted　Rachel's　hand　to　his　lips；　and　said　with　deep　feeling：

〃I　am　so　glad　you　have　come。　　You　remind　me　of　her。〃

The　ebbing　life　welled　up　for　the　last　time　into　such　ardent　virility　that　Rachel's　first　maidenly　instinct　was　to　withdraw　her　hand　from　his　earnest　pressure　and　kiss。

〃No；　do　not　take　your　hand　away；〃　he　said　eagerly。　　〃There　need　be　no　shame；　for　I　shall　be　clay　almost　before　you　flush　has　had　time　to　fade。　　I　infringe　on　no　other's　rights；　for　I　see　in　you　only　another　whom　you　much　resemble。〃

Rachel　suffered　her　hand　to　remain　within　his　grasp。

〃I　would　that　she　knew　as　you　do；　that　I　died　thinking　of　her；　next　to　my　country。　　You　will　write　and　tell　her　so。　　The　Doctor　will　give　you　her　address；　and　you　can　tell　her；　as　only　a　woman　can　tell　another　what　the　woman…heart　hungers　for；　of　my　last　moments。　It　is　so　much　better　that　you　should　do　it　than　Dr。　Denslow；　even；　grand　as　he　is　in　every　way。　　You　will　tell　her　that　there　was　not　a　thought　of　repiningthat　I　felt　that　giving　my　life　was　only　partial　payment　to　those　who　gave　theirs　to　purchase　for　me　every　good　thing　that　I　have　enjoyed。　　I　had　twenty…five　years　of　as　happy　a　life　as　ever　a　man　lived；　and　she　came　as　its　crowning　joy。　　I　look　forward　almost　eagerly　to　what　that　Power；　which　has　made　every　succeeding　year　of　my　life　happier　than　the　previous　one；　has　in　store　for　me　in　the　awakening　beyond。　　Ah；　see　there！　　It　has　come。　There　goes　my　life。〃

She　looked　in　the　direction　of　his　gaze；　and　saw　a　pool　of　blood　slowly　spreading　out　from　under　the　bed；　banking　itself　against　the　dust　into　miniature　gulfs　and　seas。　　The　hand　that　held　hers　relaxed；　and　looking　around　she　saw　his　eyes　closed　as　if　in　peaceful　sleep。

Dr。　Denslow　entered　while　she　still　gazed　on　the　dead　face；　and　said：

〃I　am　so　sorry　I　left　you　alone。　　I　did　not　expect　this　for　some　hours。〃

〃How　petty　and　selfish　all　my　life　has　been；〃　said　Rachel；　dejectedly；　as　they　left　the　room。

〃Not　a　particle　more　than　his　was；　probably；〃　said　Dr。　Denslow；　〃until　his　opportunity　came。　　It　is　opportunity　that　makes　the　hero；　as　well　as　the　less　reputable　personage；　and　I　haev　no　doubt　that　when　yours　comes；　you　will　redeem　yourself　from　all　blame　of　selfishness　and　pettiness。〃





Chapter　XVI。　　The　Ambuscade。




This　heavy…headed　revel；　east　and　west；　Makes　us　traduced　and　taxed　of　other　nations；　They　clepe　us　drunkards；　and　with　swinish　frase　Soul　our　addition：　　and　indeed　it　takes　From　our　achievements；　though　performed　at　hight；　The　pith　and　marrow　of　our　attribute。Hamlet。


The　day　spent　with　Aunt　Debby　had　been　of　the　greatest　benefit　to　Harry　Glen。　　Since　his　parting　with　Rachel　Bond；　there　had　been　going　on　in　his　spirit　a　fermentation　like　that　with　which　good　wine　discharges　itself　of　its　grossness　and　impurities；　and　becomes　clear　and　fine。　　In　this　process　had　vanished　the　absorbing　selfishness　of　a　much…indulged　only　son；　and　teh　supercilious　egotism　which　came　as　an　almost　necessary　result　of　his　college　curriculum。　　This　spiritual　ripening　received　its　perfecting　color　and　bloom　from　the　serene　exaltation　of　Aunt　Debby's　soul。　　So　filled　was　she　with　lofty　devotion　to　the　cause；　so　complete　her　faith　in　its　holiness；　and　so　unquestioning　her　belief　that　it　was　every　one's　simple　duty　to　brave　all　dangers　for　it；　and　die　if　need　be　without　a　murmur；　that　contact　with　her　would　have　inspired　with　pure　patriotic　ardor　a　nature　much　less　ready　for　such　leavening　than　Harry's。

As　Dr。　Denslow　had　surmised；　his　faults　were　mainly　superficial；　and　underneath　them　was　a　firm　gristle　of　manhood；　which　would　speedily　harden　into　bone。　　With　the　experience　he　had　been　having；　days　would　mature　this　as　rapidly　as　ordinary　years。　　He　was　himself　hardly　aware　of　the　transformation；　but　only　felt；　as　his　physical　exhaustion　disappeared；　a　new　eagerness　to　participate　in　the　great　work　of　the　war。　　He　was　gratified　to　know　a　little　later　that　this　was　no　transient　feeling。　　In　the　course　of　the　evening　Jim　Fortner　came　back　in；　with　Kent　Edwards　and　Abe　Bolton。　　After　they　had　all　satisfied　their　hunger；　Fortner　informed　Harry　and　Aunt　Debby　that　the　enemy　had　fallen　back　to　London；　from　which　point　he　was　sending　out　wagons　into　the　surrounding　country；　to　gather　up　food；　forage；　arms；　clothing；　ammunition；　etc。；　with　the　double　object　of　depriving　the　Union　men　of　them；　and　adding　the　same　to　the　Rebel　resources。　　A　long　train　had　also　been　sent　out　to　the　Goose　Creek　Salt　Workstwenty…five　miles　northeast　of　Londonto　bring　away　a　lot　of　salt　stored　there；　of　which　the　Rebels　had　even　more　need　than　of　food。

Fortner　proposed　to　go　out　in　the　morning；　and　endeavor　to　capture　some　of　these　wagons。　　It　seemed　altogether　probably　that　a　few　might　be　caught　in　such　a　position　that　their　guards　could　be　killed　or　driven　off。

All　readily　agreed　to　this　plan；　Aunt　Debby　leading　off　by　volunteering　to　ride　ahead　on　her　mare；　as　a　scout。

Harry　suddenly　remembered　that　he　was　weaponless。　　〃What　shall　I　do　for　a　gun？〃　he　asked；　anxiously。

〃I　declar；　I　done　forgot　all　'bout　gittin'　ye　a　gun；〃　said　Fortner　with　real　concern。　　〃My　mind　was　disturbed　by　other　things；〃　he　added　with　a　suspicion　of　a　grin　at　Edwards　and　Bolton；　but　they　were　leaning　back　in　their　chairs　fast　asleep。　　Apple　jack；　fatigue　and　a　hearty　supper　together　made　a　narcotic　too　potent　to　resist。

Fortner　rose；　spread　a　few　blankets　on　the　floor；　added　a　sack　of　bran　for　a　pillow；　and　with　some　difficulty　induced　the　two　sleepers　to　lie　down　and　take　their　slumbers　in　a　more　natural　position。

〃I'll　find　ye　a　gun；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　as　this　operation　was　finished；　and　walking　to　a　farther　corner　of　the　room；　she　came　back　bearing　in　her　hand　a　rifle　very　similar　to　the　one　Fortner　carried。

〃Thar；〃　she　said；　setting　the　delicately…curved　brazen　heel　down　upon　the　hearth；　and　holding　the　muzzle　at　arm's　length　while　she　gazed　at　the　gun　with　the　admiration　one　can　not　help　feeling　for　a　magnificent　weapon；　〃is　ez　true　a　rifle　ez　ever　a　man　put　to　his　shoulder。　　Ef　I　didn't　b'lave　ye　ter　be　ez　true　ez　steel　ye　shouldn't　tech　hit；　fur　hit　b'longed　ter　the　truest　man　in　this　livin'　world。〃

〃Hit　wuz　her　husband's；〃　explained　Fortner；　as　her　lips　met　firmly；　as　if　choking　down　bitter　memories。

〃I'm　givin'　hit　ter　ye　ter　use　ez　he'd　a…used　hit　ef　he　war　a…livin'；〃　she　said；　steadying　her　tones　with　a　perceptible　effort。　　〃I'm　glad　thet　my　hands　can　put　inter　yours　the　means　ter　avenge　him。〃

Harry　tried　in　vain　to　make　an　appropriate　response。

〃I'll　clean　hit　up　for　ye；〃　she　said　to　Harry；　as　she　saw　Fortner　beginning　to　furbish　up　his　own　rifle　for　the　next　day's　duties。

That　she　was　no　stranger　to　the　work　was　shown　by　the　skill　with　which　she　addressed　herself　to　it。　　Nothing　that　a　Kentucky　mountaineer　does　has　more　of　the　aspect　of　a　labor　of　love；　than　his　caring　for　a　find　rifle；　and　any　of　them　would　have　been　put　to　shame　by　the　deftness　of　Aunt　Debby's　supple　hands。　　Removing　the　leathern　hood　which　protected　the　lock；　she　carefully　rubbed　off　the　hammer　and　nipple　with　a　wisp　of　soft　fine　tow；　and　picked　out　the　tube　with　a　needle。　　Wrapping　another　bit　of　tow　around　the　end　of　a　wiping…stick；　she　moistened　it　slightly　in　her　mouth；　and　carefully　swabbed　out　of　the　inside　of　the　barrel　every　suspicion　of　dust　and　dirt。　　Each　of　the　winding　rifles　was　made　clean　and　free　along　its　whole　course。　　Then　the　tow　swab　was　lightly　touched　with　sweet；　unsalted　goose…fat；　that　it　might　spread　a　rust…preventing　film　over　the　interior　surface。　　She　burnished　the　silver　and　brass　ornaments；　and　rubbed　the　polished　stock　until　it　shone。　　When　not　a　suspicion　of　soil　or　dirt　remained　any　where；　the　delicate　double　triggers　were　examined　and　set　so　that　they　would　yield　at　the　stroke　of　a　hair；　a　tuft　of　lightly…oiled　tow　was　placed　over　the　nipple　and　another　closed　the　muzzle。

〃Thar；〃　said　Aunt　Deby；　setting　the　gun　back　against　the　logs；　〃is　a　rifle　that'll　allers　do　hits　duty；　ef　the　man　a…holt　of　hit　does　his。　　Let's　see　how　the　ammunition　is。〃

The　powder　horn　was　found　to　be　well　filled　with　powder；　and　the　box　with　caps；　but　there　were　only　a　few　bullets。

〃I'll　run　ye　some；〃　she　said；　taking　from　a　shelf　a　small　iron　ladle；　a　few　bars　of　lead；　and　a　pair　of　bullet　molds。　　〃Fur　more'n　a　hunderd　years　the　women　uv　our　fam'ly　hev　run　all　the　bullets　our　menfolks　shot。　　They　b'lieved　hit　made　'em　lucky。　　Granfather　Fortner　killed　an　Injun　chief　acrost　the　Maumee　River　at　the　battle　of　Fallen　Timbers　with　a　bullet　thet　Granmother　hed　run　fur　him　an'　markt　with　a　little　cross。　　Afore　the　battle　begun　Franfather　tuck　the　bullet　outen　his　pouch　an'　put　hit　inter　his　mouth；　until　he　could　git　a　chance　ter　use　hit　on　big　game。　　He　brot　the　chief's　scalp　hum　ter　Granmother。〃

〃I　believe　the　bullets　you　cast　for　me　will　do　good　service；〃　said　Harry；　with　sincerity　in　his　tones。

〃I'm　sartin　of　hit；〃　she　returned；　confidently。　　〃I　hev　adopted　ye　in　my　heart　ez　a　son；　an'　I　feel　towards　ye　ez　ef　ye　were　raylly　uv　my　own　kin。　　I　know　ye'll　be　a　credit　to　yerself　an'　me。〃

While　the　lead　was　melting　upon　the　bed　of　coals　she　drew　out　on　the　hearth；　she　sat　in　her　low　chair　with　her　hands　clasped　about　her　knees；　and　her　great　gray　eyes　fixed　upon　the　depths　of　a　mass　of　glowing　embers　in　the　fireplace；　as　if　she　saw　there　vivid　pictures　of　the　past　or　revelations　of　the　future。

〃How　wonderfully　bright　an'　glowin'　hit　is　in　thar；〃　she　said　musingly；　〃hit's　purer　an'　brighter　then　ennything　else　on　arth。　'Purified　ez　by　fire；'　the　Book　says。　　My　God；　Thou　has　sent　Thy　fires　upon　me　ez　a　sweepin'　flood。　　Hev　they　purified　me　ez　Thou　wisht？　　How　hit　shines　an'　glows　away　in　thar！　　Hit　seems　so　deep　sometimes　thet　I　kin　skeercely　see　the　end。　　A　million　times　purer　an'　brighter　is　the　light　thet　shines　from　the　Throne　uv　God。　THEY'RE　lookin'　at　thet　now；　while　I　still　tarry　heah。　　Husband　an'　son；　when　will　I　go　to　ye？　　When　will　I　finish　the　work　the　Lord　hez　fur　me　ter　do？　　When　will　the　day　uv　my　freedom　come？　　May…be　to…morrermay…be　to…morrer。〃

She　began　singing　softly：


〃An'　when　a　shadder　falls　acrost　the　winder　　　　　　　　　Of　my　room；　When　I　am　workin'　my　app'inted　task；　I　lift　my　head　to　watch　the　door　an'　ask　　　　　　　　　If　he　is　come；　An'　the　angel　answers　sweetly　　　　　　　　　In　my　home：　'Only　a　few　more　shadders　　　　　　　　　An'　He　will　come。'〃


〃Aunt　Debby；　honey；〃　said　Fortner；　rousing　himself　from　a　nap　in　his　chair；　〃thet　thar　lead's　burnin'。　　Better　run　yer　bullets。〃

She　started　as　if　waked　from　a　trance；　pressed　her　slender　thin　hands　to　her　eyes　for　an　instant；　and　then　taking　the　molds　up　i