the red acorn-第29章

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powerful　glad　ter　go。　　Jes'　git　a　note　ter　the　Jineral　at　Wildcat　ready　while　we　saddle　fresh　beasts；　an'　we'll　hev　hit　in　his　hands　afore　midnight。〃

The　proposition　was　immediately　accepted；　and　in　a　little　while　the　Kentuckians　were　speeding　their　way　back　to　Gen。　Schoepf；　with　a　letter　giving　the　news；　and　signed：　　〃Kent　Edwards；　Chief　of　Scouts。〃

That　evening　a　party　of　young　men　who　had　followed　the　Rebel　retreat　some　distance；　brought　in　a　wagon　which　had　been　concealed　in　an　out…of…the…way　place；　and　left　there。　　It　was　loaded　mainly　with　things　taken　from　the　houses；　and　was　evidently　the　private　collection　of　some　freebooting　subordinate；　who　did　not　intend　that　the　Southern　Confederacy　should　be　enriched　by　the　property。　Hence；　probably；　the　hesitation　about　taking　it　along　with　the　main　train。　　It　was　handed　over　to　Kent　as　the　representative　of　the　United　States；　who　was　alone　authorized　to　take　charge　of　it。　Assisted　by　Abe　he　started　to　make　an　inventory　of　the　contents。　A　portly　jug　of　apple　jack　was　kept　at　hand；　that　there　might　not　be　any　suffering　from　undue　thirst　during　the　course　of　the　operation；　which；　as　Kent　providently　remarked；　was　liable　to　make　a　man　as　dry　as　an　Arizona　plain。

The　danger　of　such　aridity　seemed　to　grow　more　imminent　continually；　judged　by　the　frequency　of　their　application　to　the　jug。　　It　soon　became　more　urgent　than　the　completion　of　the　inventory。　　Frequent　visits　of　loyal　Kentuckians　with　other　jugs　and　botles；　to　drink　to　the　renewed　supremacy　of　the　Banner　of　Beauty　and　Glory；　did　not　diminish　Kent's　and　Abe's　apprehensions　of　ultimate　thirst。　　Their　clay　seemed　like　some　other　kinds；　which　have　their　absorptive　powers　strengthened　by　the　more　they　take　up。　　They　belonged　to　a　not…unusual　class　of　men　whom　it　takes　about　as　long　to　get　thoroughly　drunk　as　it　does　to　heat　up　an　iron…furnace；　but　the　condition　that　they　achieve　then　makes　the　intoxication　of　other　and　ordinary　men　seem　a　very　mild　and　tame　exhilaration。

By　noon　the　next　day　this　process　was　nearing　its　completion。　　A　messenger　galloped　into　town　with　the　information　that　the　Union　forces　were　coming；　and　would　arrive　in　the　course　of　an　hour　or　two。

〃Shash　so？〃　said　Kent；　straightening　himself　up　with　a　crushing　dignity　that　always　formed　a　sure　guage　of　the　extent　to　which　inebriation　had　progressed。　　〃Shash　so？　　Troops　'she　United　States　'bout　to　enter　shis　lovely　metropolis　wish　all　pomp　and　shircumshtance　'reassherted　'thority。　　'Shtonishin'　event；　wonderful　'casion。　Never　happened　'fore；　probably　never'll　happen　again。　　Ought　to　be　'propriately　celebrated；　Abe！〃

That　gentleman　made　a　strong　effort　to　control　joints　which　seemed　unmanageable；　and　succeeded　in　assuming　a　tolerable　erectness；　while　he　blinked　at　his　companion　with　stolid　gravity。

〃Abe；　shis　ish　great　'casion。　　Greatest　in　she　annalsh　of　she　country。　We're　only　represhentatives　Government　in　she　town。　　Burden　whole　shing　fallsh　on　us。　　Understand？　　We　musht　do　everyshing。　　Understand？　Country　'spects　every　man　to　do　his　duty。　　Undershtand？〃

Abe　sank　down　on　a　bench；　leaned　his　head　against　the　wall；　and　looked　at　his　companion　with　one　eye　closed　wearily。

〃Yesshir；〃　Kent　resumed；　summoning　up　a　new　supply　of　oratorical　energy；　and　an　official　gravity　beneath　which　his　legs　trembeled。　〃Name　shis　town's　London。　　Shame　name's　big　town　'cross　ocean。　　Lots　history　c'nected　wish　name。　　Shtacks　an'　cords　of　it。　　Old　times　when　King　went　out　t'meet　him；　wish　shtyle　pile　on　bigger'n　a　haystack。　　Fact。　　Clothes　finer'n　a　peacock。　　Tendered　him　keys；　freed'm　city。　　All　shat　short　shing。　　Ver'　impreshive　shpectacle。　Everybody　felt　better'n　for　improvin'　sight。　　Undershtand？　　We'll　be　Lord　Mayor　and　train　for　shis　London。　　We　can　rig　out　right　here。　　Our　trouseau's　here　in　shis　hair　trunk。〃

〃Shall　we　get　anyshing　t'　drink？〃　inquired　Abe　making　a　temporary　collection　of　his　wits　with　a　violent　effort。

〃Abe！〃　the　freezing　severity　of　Kent's　tone　and　manner　would　have　been　hopelessly　fatal　to　early　vegetables。　　〃Abe　you've　many　good　qualitiesmore　of　'em　shan　any　man　I　know。　　but　a　degrading　passion　fur　shtrong　drink　is　ruinin'　you。　　I'm　your　besht　fren；　an'　shay　it　wish　tearsh　in　m'　eyes。　　Lemme　beg　o'　you　t'　reform　ere　it　ish　too　late。　　Beware　of　it；　my　fren；　beware　of　it。　　It　shtingeth　like　a　serpent；　an'　biteth　like　a　multiplierI　mean　an　adder。　　You　haven't　got　my　shuperb　self…control；　an'　so　yer　only　shafety　lies　in　total　abstinence。　　Cheese　it；　my　fren；　cheese　it　on　she　sheductive　but　fatal　lush。〃

〃Are　we　goin'　out　t'　meet　she　boysh？〃　inquired　Abe。

〃Shertainly　we　are。　　Yesshir。　　An'　we're　goin'　out　ash　I　proposed。　Yer　a　shplendid　feller；　Abe；〃　continued　Kent；　with　lofty　patronage。　〃A　shplendid　feller；　an'　do　great　credit　t'　yer　'portunities。　But　y'　haven't　had　my　'dvantages　of　mingling　constantly　in　p'lite　s'ciety；　y'know。　　Rough　diamond；　I　know；　'nall　that　short　o'　shing；　but　lack　polish　an'　easy　grace。　　So　I'll　be　th'　Lord　Mayor；　an'　y'll　be　th'　train。　　Undershtand？〃

He　lurched　forward；　and　came　near　falling　over　the　chair；　but　recovering　he　stiffened　up　and　gazed　on　that　useful　article　of　furniture　with　a　sternness　that　implied　his　belief　that　it　was　a　rascally　blackleg　trying　to　insinuate　itself　into　the　circle　of　refinement　and　chaste　elegance　of　which　he　was　the　particular　ornament。

〃Come；〃　he　resumed；　〃le's　bedizen　ourselves；　le's　assume　th'　shplendor　'propriate　t'　th'　'casion。〃

When　the　troops　marched　in　in　the　afternoon；　the　encountered　at　the　head　of　the　crowd　that　met　them　at　the　crossing　of　the　creek　just　ouside　of　town；　a　man　who　seemed　filled　with　deep　emotion；　and　clothed　with　strange　fancies。　　He　wore　a　tall　silk　hat　of　antique　patter；　carefully　brushed；　which　he　protected　from　the　rays　of　the　sun　with　a　huge　blue　cotton　umbrella。　　A　blue　broadcloth　coat；　with　gilt　buttons；　sat　jauntily　over　a　black　satin　vest；　and　nankeen　trousers。　　A　pair　of　gold　spectacles　reposed　in　magisterial　dignity　about　half　way　down　his　nose；　and　a　large　silver…headed　cane　in　the　left　hand　balanced　the　umbrella　in　the　right。　　By　the　side　of　the　man　with　rare　vestments　stood　another　figure　of　even　more　limpness　of　general　bearing；　whose　garb　consisted　of　a　soldier's　uniform　pantaloons　and　woolen　shirtnone　too　cleanset　off　by　a　black　dress…coat；　and　white　linen　vest。

As　the　head　of　the　column　came　up　he　in　the　blue　broadcloth　pulled　off　his　hat　and　spectacles；　and　addressed　himself　to　speech：

〃Allow　me；　shir；　to　welcome　you　with　hoshpitable　hands　to　a　bloodyno；　let　me　tender　you；　shir；　the　liberties　of　our　city；　and　reshoice　shat　she　old　banner　which　has　braved　she　battle；　hash…〃

The　column　had　stopped；　and　the　Captain　commanding　the　advance　was　listening　patiently　to　what　he　supposed　was　the　address　of　an　enthusiastic；　but　eccentric　old　Kentuckian；　when　one　of　the　sharp…eyed　ones　in　the　company　shouted　out：

〃I　declare；　it's　Kent　Edwards　and　Abe　Bolton。〃

The　yell　of　laughter　and　applause　at　the　ludicrous　masquerade　shook　the　hills。　　The　Colonel　rode　up　to　see　what　occasioned　it。　He　recognized　his　two　men；　and　his　face　darkened　with　anger。

〃You　infernal　rascals；〃　he　shouted；　〃you　have　been　off　plundering　houses；　have　you；　in　place　of　being　with　your　company。　　I'll　stop　this　sort　of　thing　mighty　sudden。　　This　regiment　shall　not　degrade　itself　by　plundering　and　robbing；　if　I　have　to　shoot　every　man　in　it。　　Captain；　arrest　those　men；　and　keep　thim　in　close　confinement　until　I　can　have　them　tried　and　properly　punished。〃





Chapter　XVII。　　Alspaugh　on　a　Bed　of　Pain。




This　is　the　very　ecstacy　of　love；　Whose　violent　property　foredoes　itself。　And　leads　the　will　to　desperate　undertakings　As　often　as　any　passion　under　Heaven　That　does　afflict　our　natures。Hamlet


Endurance　is　made　possible　by　reason　of　the　element　of　divisibility。　Metaphysical　mathematicians　imagine　that　there　is　possibly　a　〃fourth　dimension；〃　by　the　existence　of　which　many　hitherto　inexplicable　phenomena　may　be　explained。　　They　think　that　probably　this　fourth　dimension　is　SUCCESSION　OF　TIME。

So　endurance　of　unendurable　things　is　explainable　on　the　ground　that　but　a　small　portion　of　them　has　to　be　endured　in　any　given　space　of　time。

It　is　the　old　fable　of　the　clock；　whose　pendulum　and　wheels　stopped　one　day；　appalled　by　the　discovery　that　they　would　have　to　move　and　tick　over　three　million　times　a　year　for　many　wearisome　years；　but　resumed　work　again　when　reminded　that　they　would　only　have　to　tick　ONCE　each　second。

So　it　was　with　Rachel　Bond。

The　unendurable　whole　of　a　month's　or　a　week's　experience　was　endurable　when　divided　in　detail　and　spread　over　the　hours　and　days。

She　was　a　womanyoung　and　high…natured。

Being　a　woman　she　had　a　martyr…joy　in　affliction　that　comes　in　the　guise　of　duty。　　Young；　she　enjoyed　the　usefulness　and　importance　attached　to　her　work　in　the　hospital。　　High…natured；　she　felt　a　keen　satisfaction　in　triumphing　over　daily　difficulties　and　obstacles；　even　though　these　were　mainly　her　own　feelings。

Though　months　had　gone　by　it　seemed　as　if　no　amount　of　habituation　could　dull　the　edge　of　the　sickening　disgust　which　continually　assailed　her　sense　and　womanly　instincts。　　The　smells　were　as　nauseating；　the　sights　as　repulsive；　the　sounds　of　misery　as　saddening　as　the　day　when　she　first　set　foot　inside　the　hospital。

From　throbbing　heart　to　dainty　finger…tip；　every　fiber　in　her　maidenly　body　was　in　active　rebellion　while　she　ministered　to　the　rough　and　coarse　men　who　formed　the　bulk　of　the　patients；　and　whose　afflictions　she　could　not　help　knowing　were　too　frequently　the　direct　result　of　their　own　sins　and　willful　disobedience　of　Nature's　laws。

One　day；　when　flushed　and　wearied　with　the　peevish　exactions　of　a　hulking　fellow　whose　indisposition　was　trifling；　she　said　to　Dr。　Denslow：

〃It　is　distressing　to　find　out　how　much　unmanliness　there　is　in　apparently　manly　men。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　doctor；　with　his　customary　calm　philosophy；　〃and　it　is　equally　gratifying　to　find　out　how　much　real　manliness　there　is　in　some　apparently　unmanly　men。　　You　have　been　having　an　experience　with　some　brawny　subject？〃

〃Yes。　　If　the　fellow's　spirit　were　equal　to　his　bone　and　brawn；　he　would　o'ertop；　Julius　Caesar。　　Instead；　he　whimpers　like　a　school…girl。〃

〃That's　about　the　way　it　usually　goes。　　It　may　be　that　my　views　are　colored　by　my　lacking　three　or　four　inches　of　six　feet；　but　I　am　sometimes　strongly　inclined　to　believe　that　every　manbig　or　littleis　given　about　the　same　amount　of　will　or　vital　power；　and　the　bigger　and　more　lumbering　the　body　he　has　to　move　with　it；　the　less　he　accomplishes；　and　the　sooner　it　is　exhausted。　　You　have　found；　I　have　no　doubt；　that　as　a　rule　the　broad…chested；　muscular　six…footers；　whose　lives　have　ever　passed　at　hard　work　in　the　open　air；　groan　and　sigh　incessantly　under　the　burden　of　minor　afflictions；　worry　every　one　with　their　querulousness；　moan　for　their　wives；　mothers；　or　sweethearts；　and　the　comforts　of　the　homes　they　have　left；　and　finally　fret　and　grieve　themselves　into　the　grave；　while　slender；　soft…muscled　boys　bear　real　distress　without　a　murmur；　and　survive　sickness　and　wounds　that　by　all　rules　ought　to　prove　fatal。〃

〃There　is　certainly　a　good　deal　in　that；　but　wha