the red acorn-第27章

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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　in　herleft　hand　she　raised　the　ladle　with　her　right；　filled　them　from　it；　knocked　the　molded　balls　out　by　a　tap　on　the　floor；　and　repeated　the　process　with　such　dexterous　quickness　that　she　had　made　fifty　bullets　before　harry　realized　that　she　was　fairly　at　work。

〃Ye　men　hed　better　lay　down　an'　git　some　sleep；〃　she　said；　as　she　replaced　the　molds　and　ladle　on　the　shelf。　　〃Ye'll　need　all　yer　strength　to…morrer。　　I'll　neck　these　bullets；　an'　git　together　some　vittles　fur　the　trip；　an'　then　I'll　lay　down　a　while。　　We　orter　start　airlysoon　arter　daybreak。〃

They　did　start　early　the　next　morning；　with　Aunt　Debby　riding　upon　the　roads　that　wound　around　the　mountain　sides；　while　Fortner　led　the　men　through　the　shorter　by…paths。

Noon　had　passed　some　hours；　and　yet　they　had　come　across　no　signs　of　wagons。　　Aunt　Debby　was　riding　along　a　road　cut　out　of　the　rocks　about　mid…way　up　the　mountain。　　To　her　right　the　descent　was　almost　perpendicular　for　a　hundred　feet　or　more　to　where　a　creek　ran　at　the　bottom　of　a　cliff。　　To　her　left　the　hill　rose　up　steeply　to　a　great　height。　　Fortner　and　the　others　saw　Aunt　Debby　galloping　back；　waving　the　red　handkerchief　which　was　her　signal　of　the　approach　of　a　wagon。　　After　her　galloped　a　Rebel　Sergeant；　with　revolver　drawn　shouting　to　her　to　stop　or　he　would　fire。　　Abe　Bolton　stepped　forward　impulsively　to　shoot　the　Rebel；　missed　his　footing；　and　slid　down　the　hill；　landing　in　the　orad　with　such　force　as　to　jar　into　unintelligibiliy　a　bitter　imprecation　he　had　constructed　for　the　emergency。　　He　struck　in　front　of　the　Sergeant；　who　instantly　fired　at　Aunt　Debby's　mare；　sending　a　bullet　through　the　faithful　animal；　which　sank　to　her　knees；　and　threw　her　rider　to　the　ground。　　Without　waiting　to　rise；　and　he　was　not　certain　that　he　could；　Abe　fired　his　musket；　but　missed　both　man　and　horse。　　He　scrambled　to　his　feet；　and　ran　furiously　at　the　Rebel　with　raised　gun。　　The　Sergeant　fired　wildly　at　him；　when　Bolton　struck　the　animal　a　violent　blow　across　the　head。　　It　recoiled；　slipped；　and　in　another　instant　had　fallen　over　the　side　of　the　road；　and　crushed　his　rider　on　the　rocks　below。　　Five　of　the　wagon…guard　who　were　riding　ahead　of　the　wagon　galloped　forward　at　the　sound　of　the　shots。　　Fortner；　Edwards　and　Harry　Glen　fired　into　these；　and　three　saddles　were　emptied。　　The　remaining　two　men　whirled　their　horses　around；　fired　wildly　into　the　air；　and　dashed　back　upon　the　plunging　team；　with　which　the　driver　was　vainly　struggling。　　The　ground　quivered　as　the　frightened　animals　struck　together；　they　were　crushed　back　upon　their　haunches；　and　beat　one　another　cruelly　with　their　mighty　hoofs。　　Wagon；　horses　and　men　reeled　on　the　brink　an　agonizing　instant；　the　white…faced　driver　dropped　the　lines　and　sprang　to　the　secure　ground；　the　riders　strained　with　the　energy　of　deadly　fear　to　tear　themselves　loose　from　their　steeds；　but　in　vain。　　Then　the　frantic　mess　crashed　down　the　jagged　rocks；　tearing　up　the　stunted　cedars　as　if　they　were　weeds；　and　fell　with　a　sounding　splash　on　the　limestone　bed　of　the　shallow　creek。

Fortner；　Glen　and　Edwards　came　down　as　quickly　as　possible；　the　latter　spraining　his　ankle　badly　by　making　a　venturesome　leap　to　reach　the　road　first。　　They　found　a　man　that　Fortner　had　shot　at　stone　dead；　with　a　bullet　through　his　temple。　　The　other　two　had　been　struck　in　the　body。　　Their　horses　stood　near；　looking　wonderingly　at　their　prostrate　masters。

Bolton　was　rubbing　his　bruises　and　abrasions；　and　vituperating　everything；　from　the　conduct　of　the　war　to　the　steepness　of　Kentucky　mountains。　　Aunt　Debby　had　partially　recovered　from　the　stunning　of　her　fall；　and　limped　slowly　up；　with　her　long　riding…skirt　raised　by　one　hand。　　Her　lips　were　compressed；　an　her　great　gray　eyes　blazed　with　excitement。

They　all　went　to　the　side　of　the　road；　and　looked　down　at　the　crushed　and　bleeding　mass　in　the　creek。

〃My　God！　that's　awful；〃　said　Henry；　with　a　rising　sickness　about　his　heart；　as　the　excitement　began　subsiding。

〃Plenty　good　enuf　fur　scoundrels　who　rob　poor　men　of　all　they　hev；〃　said　Fortner　fiercely；　as　he　re…loaded　his　rifle。　　〃Hit's　not　bad　enuf　fur　thieves　an'　robbers。〃

〃Hit's　God's　judgement　on　the　wicked　an'　the　opporessor；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　with　solemn　pitilessness。

〃Hadn't　we　better　try　to　get　down　there；　and　help　those　men　out？〃　suggested　Harry。　　〃Perhaps　they　are　not　dead　yet。〃

〃Aunt　Debby；　thet　thar　hoss　thet's　rain'　his　head　an'　whinnyin'；〃　said　Fortner；　with　sudden　interest；　〃is　Joel　Sprigg's　roan　geldin'；　sho's　yore　bo'n；　honey。〃　　He　pointed　to　where　a　shapely　head　was　raised；　and　almost　human　agony　looked　out　of　great　liquid　eyes。　〃Thet　wuz　the　finest　hoss　in　Laurel　County；　an'　they've　stole　'im　from　Joel。　　Hit'll　'bout　break　his　heart；　fur　he　set　a　powerful　sight　o'store　on　thet　there　beast。　　Pore　critter！　hit　makes　me　sick　ter　see　'im　suffer　thet…a…way！　　I've　a　mind　ter　put　'im　outen　his　misery；　but　I'm　afeered　I　can't　shoot　'im；　so　long　ez　he　looks　at　me　with　them　big　pitiful　eyes　o'　his'n。　　They　go　right　ter　my　heart。〃

〃You'd　better　shoot　him；〃　urged　Aunt　Debby。　　〃Hit's　a　si　ter　let　an　innocent　critter　suffer　thet…a…way。〃

Fortner　raised　his　rifle；　and　sent　a　bullet　through　the　mangled　brute's　brain。

Aunt　Debby's　eyes　became　fixed　on　a　point　where；　a　mile　away　down　the　mountain；　a　bend　in　the　road　was　visible　through　an　opening　in　the　trees。

〃Look　out；〃　she　said；　as　the　echoes　of　the　shot　died　away；　〃thar　comes　a　hull　lot　on　'em。〃

They　looked　and　saw　plainly　a　large　squad　of　cavalry；　with　a　wagon　behind。

〃We　must　get　outen　heah；　an'　thet　quick；〃　said　Fortner　decisively。　He　caught　one　of　the　horses　and　shortened　a　stirrup　to　make　the　sadle　answer　for　a　side…saddle。　　〃Heah；　Aunt　Debby；　let　me　help　ye　up；　honey。　　Now　Bolton　and　Edwards；　I'll　help　ye　on　these　ere　other　critters。　　Now　skeet　out　ez　fast　ez　the　hosse's　legs　will　tote　ye。　　Don't　spar　'em　a　mite。　　Them　fellers'll　gin　ye　to　the　devil's　own　chase　ez　soon　ez　they　get　heah；　an'　see　what's　bin　done。　　Glen　and　me'll　go　acrost　the　mounting；　an'　head　'em　off　on　t'other　side。　　Don't　come　back　ef　ye　heah　shootin'；　but　keep　straight　on；　fur　we　kin　take　keer　o'　this　crowd　without　enny　help。　　glen；　you　sasshay　up　the　mounting　thar　ez　fast　ez　the　Lord'll　let　ye。　I'll　be　arter　ye　right　spry。〃

All　sped　away　as　directed。　　Fortner　had　been　loading　his　gun　while　speaking。　　He　now　rammed　the　bullet　home；　and　withdrawing　his　rammer　walked　over　to　the　cliff　beside　which　the　teamster　was　cowering。

〃O；　Mister　Fortner；　don't　kill　meplease　don't！〃　whined　the　luckless　man；　getting　awkwardly　upon　his　knees　and　raising　his　hands　imploringly。　　〃I　swar　ter　God　I'll　never　raise　a　hand　agin　a　Union　man　agin　ef　ye'll　only　spar　my　life。〃

〃Kill　ye；　Pete　Hoskins！〃　said　Fortner　with　unfathomable　contempt。　〃What　consete　ye　hev　ter　think　yer　wuth　the　powder　an'　lead。　　I　hain't　no　bullets　ter　waste　on　carr'on。〃

He　struck　the　abject　fellow　a　couple　of　stinging　blows　on　the　face　with　the　ramrod；　replaced　it　in　the　thimbles；　and　sprang　up　the　rocks　just　as　the　head　of　the　cavalry　appeared　around　the　bend　of　the　road　a　few　rods　away。

Overtaking　Harry　shortly；　he　heard　about　the　same　time　the　Rebels　on　the　road　below　strike　into　a　trot。

〃They　know　hit　all　now；〃　he　said；　〃an'　hev　started　in　chase。　　Let's　jog　on　lively；　an'　get　ter　whar　we　kin　head　'em　off。〃

Night　had　fallen　in　the　meantime；　but　the　full　moon　had　risen　immediately；　making　it　almost　as　light　as　day。

After　half　an　hour's　fast　walking；　the　two　Unionists　had　cut　across　the　long　horseshoe　around　which　the　Rebels　were　traveling；　and　had　come　down　much　ahead　of　them　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain；　and　just　where　the　road　led　up　the　steep　ascent　of　another　mountain。

There　was　a　loneliness　about　the　spot　that　was　terrible。　　Over　it　hung　the　〃thought　and　deadly　feel　of　solitude。〃　　The　only　break　for　miles　in　the　primeval　forest　was　that　made　for　the　narrow　road。　House　or　cabin　there　was　none　in　all　the　gloomy　reaches　of　rocks　and　gnarled　trees。　　It　was　too　inhospitable　a　region　to　tempt　even　the　wildest　squatter。

The　flood　of　moonlight　made　the　desolation　more　oppresive　than　ever；　by　making　palpable　and　suggestive　the　inky　abysses　under　the　trees　and　in　the　thickets。

Fortner　looked　up　the　road　to　his　right　and　listened　intently。

A　waterfall　mumbled　somewhere　in　the　neighborhood。　　The　pines　and　hemlocks　near　the　summit　sighed　drearily。　　A　gray　fox；　which　had　probably　just　supped　off　a　pheasant；　sat　on　a　log　and　barked　out　his　gluttonous　satisfaction。　　A　wildcat；　as　yet　superless；　screamed　its　envy　from　a　cliff　a　half　a　mile　away。

〃I　can't　heah　anything　of　Aunt　Debby　an'　the　others；〃　said　Fortner；　at　length；　〃so　I　reckon　they're　clean　over　the　mounting；　an'　bout　safe　by　this　time。　　Them　beasts　are　purty　good　travelers；　I　imagine；　an'　they　hain't　let　no　grass　grow　in　under　the'r　hufs。〃

〃But　the　Rebels　are　coming；　hand　over　hand；〃　said　Harry；　who　had　been　watching　to　the　left　and　listening。　　〃I　hear　them　quite　plainly。　Yes；　there　they　are；〃　he　continued；　as　two　or　three　galloped　around　a　turn　in　the　road；　followed　at　a　little　interval　by　others。

The　metallic　clang　of　the　rapid　hoof…beats　on　the　rocks　rang　through　the　somber　aisles　of　the　forest。　　Noisy　fox　and　aniphonal　wildcat　stopped　to　listen　to　this　invasion　of　sound。

〃Quick！　let's　get　in　cover；〃　said　Fortner。

〃Ye　make　fur　thet　rock　up　thar；〃　said　Fortner　to　Harry；　pointing　to　a　spot　several　hundred　yards　above　them；　〃and　stay　thar　tell　I　come。　　Keep　close　in　the　shadder；　so's　they　won't　see　ye。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　that　I　ought　to　stay　with　you；'　said　Harry；　indecisively。

〃No；　go。　　Ye　can't　do　no　good　heah。　　One's　better　nor　two。　　I'll　be　up　thar　soon。　　Go；　quick。〃

There　was　no　time　for　debate；　and　Harry　did　as　bidden。

Fortner　stepped　into　the　inky　shadow　of　a　large　rock；　against　which　he　leaned。　　The　great　broad　face　of　the　rock；　gray　from　its　covering　of　minute　ash…colored　lichens；　was　toward　the　pursuers；　and　shone　white　as　marble　in　the　flood　of　moonlight。　　The　darkness　seemed　banked　up　around　him；　but　within　his　arm's　length　it　was　as　light　as　day。　　The　long　rifle　barrel　reached　from　the　darkness　into　the　light；　past　the　corner　of　the　rock　against　which　it　rested。　　The　bright　rays　made　the　little　〃bead〃　near　the　muzzle　gleam　like　a　diamond；　and　lighted　up　the　slit　as　fine　as　a　hair　in　the　hind…sight。　　Three　little　clicks；　as　if　of　twigs　breaking　under　a　rabbit's　foot；　told　that　the　triggers　had　been　set　and　the　hammer　raised。

The　horsemen；　much　scattered　by　the　pursuit；　clattered　onward。　　In　ones　and　twos；　with　wide　intervals　between；　they　reached　along　a　half…mile　of　the　road。　　Twothe　best　mountedrode　together　at　the　head。　　Two　hundred　yards　below　the　great　white　rock；　which　shone　as　innocent　and　kindly　as　a　fleecy　Summer　cloud；　a　broad　rivulet　wound　its　way　toward　the　neighboring　creek。　　The　blown　horses　scented　the　grateful　water；　and　checked　down　to　drink　of　it。　　The　right…hand　rider　loosened　his　bridle　that　his　steed　might　gratify　himself。　　The　other　tightened　his　rein　and　struck　with　his　spurs。　His　horse　〃gathered；〃　and　leaped　across　the　s