the red acorn-第3章

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〃Your　news　would've　been　fresh　and　interesting　last　night；〃　growled　Abe　Bolton。　　〃I　suppose　that's　what　we　brought　our　guns　along　for。〃

〃Yes；　but　somebody's　likely　to　get　killed。〃

〃Well；　you　nor　me　don't　have　to　pay　their　life　insurance；　as　I　know　on。〃

〃But　it　may　be　you　or　me；〃

〃The　devil'd　be　might　anxious　for　green　wood　before　he'd　call　you　in。〃

〃Come；　now；　don't　talk　that　way。　　This　is　a　mighty　serious　time。〃

〃I'll　make　it　a　durned　sight　seriouser　for　you　if　you　don't　keep　them　splay　feet　o'your'n　offen　my　heels　when　we're　marching。〃

〃Don't　you　think　we'd　better　pay；　orsomething？〃

〃You　might　try　taking　up　a　collection。〃

〃Try　starting　a　hymn；　Jake；〃　said　a　slender　young　man　at　his　right　elbow；　whose　face　showed　a　color　more　intimately　connected　with　the　contents　of　his　canteen　than　the　heat　of　the　day。　　〃Line　it　out；　and　we'll　all　join　in。　　Something　like　this；　for　example：

'Hark；　from　the　tombs　a　doleful　sound　　　Mine　ears　attend　the　cry。　Ye　living　men；　come　view　the　ground　　　Where　you　must　shortly　lie。'〃

Alspaugh　shuddered　visibly。

〃Come；　spunk　up；　Jake；〃　continued　the　slender　young　man。　　〃Think　how　proud　all　your　relations　will　be　of　you；　if　you　die　for　your　country。〃

〃I'm　mad　at　all　of　my　relations；　and　I　don't　want　to　do　nothing　to　please　'em；〃　sighed　Jake。

〃But　I　hope　you're　not　so　greedy　as　to　want　to　live　always？〃　said　the　slender　young　man；　who　answered　roll…call　to　Kent　Edwards。

〃No；　but　I　don't　want　to　be　knocked　off　like　a　green　apple；　before　I'm　ripe　and　ready。〃

〃Better　be　knocked　off　green　and　unripe；〃　said　Kent；　his　railing　mood　changing　to　one　of　sad　introspection；　〃than　to　prematurely　fall；　from　a　worm　gnawing　at　your　heart。〃

Jake's　fright　was　not　so　great　as　to　make　him　forego　the　opportunity　for　a　brutal　retort：

〃You　mean　the　'worm　of　the　still；'　I　s'pose。　　Well；　it　don't　gnaw　at　my　heart　so　much　as　at　some　other　folkses'　that　I　know'd。〃

Kent's　face　crimsoned　still　deeper；　and　he　half　raised　his　musket；　as　if　to　strike　him；　but　at　that　moment　came　the　order　to　march；　and　the　regiment　moved　forward。

The　enemy　was　by　this　time　known　to　be　near；　and　the　men　marched　in　that　silence　that　comes　from　tense　expectation。

The　day　was　intensely　hot；　and　the　stagnant；　sultry　air　was　perfumed　with　the　thousand　sweet　odors　that　rise　in　the　West　Virginia　forests　in　the　first　flush　of　Summer。

The　road　wound　around　the　steep　mountain　side；　through　great　thickets　of　glossy…leaved　laurel；　by　banks　of　fragrant　honeysuckle；　by　beds　of　millions　of　sweet…breathing；　velvety　pansies；　nestling　under　huge　shadowy　rocks；　by　acres　of　white　puccoon　flowers；　each　as　lovely　as　the　lily　that　grows　by　cool　Siloam's　shady　rillall　scattered　there　with　Nature's　reckless　profusion；　where　no　eye　saw　them　from　year　to　year　save　those　of　the　infrequent　hunter；　those　of　the　thousands　of　gaily…plumaged　birds　that　sang　and　screamed　through　the　branches　of　the　trees　above；　and　those　of　the　hideous　rattlesnakes　that　crawled　and　hissed　in　the　crevices　of　the　shelving　rocks。

At　last　the　regiment　halted　under　the　grateful　shadows　of　the　broad…topped　oaks　and　chestnuts。　　A　patriarchal　pheasant；　drumming　on　a　log　near　by　some　uxorious　communication　to　his　brooding　mate；　distended　his　round　eyes　in　amazement　at　the　strange　irruption　of　men　and　horses；　and　then　whirred　away　in　a　transport　of　fear。　　A　crimson　crested　woodpecker　ceased　his　ominous　tapping；　and　flew　boldly　to　a　neighboring　branch；　where　he　could　inspect　the　new　arrival　to　good　advantage　and　determine　his　character。

The　men　threw　themselves　down　for　a　moment's　rest；　on　the　springing　moss　that　covered　the　whole　mountain　side。　　A　hum　of　comment　and　conversation　arose。　　Jake　Alspaugh　began　to　think　that　there　was　not　likely　to　be　any　fight　after　all；　and　his　spirits　rose　proportionately。　　Abe　Bolton　growled　that　the　cowardly　officers　had　no　doubt　deliberately　misled　the　regiment；　that　a　fight　might　be　avoided。　　Kent　Edwards　saw　a　nodding　May…apple　floweras　fair　as　a　calla　and　as　odorous　as　a　pinkat　a　little　distance；　and　hastened　to　pick　it。　　He　came　back　with　it　in　the　muzzle　of　his　gun；　and　his　hands　full　of　violets。

A　thick…bodied　rattlesnake　crawled　slowly　and　clumsily　out　from　the　shelter　of　a　little　ledge；　his　fearful　eyes　gleaming　with　deadly　intentions　against　a　ground…squirrel　frisking　upon　the　end　of　a　mossy　log；　near　where　Captain　Bob　Bennett　was　seated；　poring　over　a　troublesome　detail　in　the　〃Tactics。〃　　The　snake　saw　the　man；　and　his　awkward　movement　changed　at　once　into　one　of　electric　alertness。　He　sounded　his　terrible　rattle；　and　his　dull　diamonds　and　stripes　lighted　up　with　the　glare　that　shines　through　an　enraged　man's　face。　The　thick　body　seemed　to　lengthen　out　and　gain　a　world　of　sinuous　suppleness。　　With　the　quickness　of　a　flash　he　was　coiled；　with　head　erect；　forked　tongue　protruding；　and　eyes　flaming　like　satanic　jewels。

A　shout　appraised　Captain　Bennett　of　his　danger。　　He　dropped　the　book；　sprang　to　his　feet　with　a　quickness　that　matched　the　snake's；　and　instinctively　drew　his　sword。　　Stepping　a　little　to　one　side　as　the　reptile　launched　itself　at　him；　he　dexterously　cut　it　in　two　with　a　sweeping　stroke。　　A　shout　of　applause　rose　from　the　excited　boys；　who　gathered　around　to　inspect　the　slain　serpent　and　congratulate　the　Captain　upon　his　skillful　disposition　of　his　assailant。

〃O；　that's　only　my　old　bat…stroke　that　used　to　worry　the　boys　in　town…hall　so　much；〃　said　the　Captain　carelessly。　　〃It's　queer　what　things　turn　out　useful　to　a　man；　and　when　he　least　expects　them。〃

A　long；　ringing　yell　from　a　thousand　throats　cleft　the　air；　and　with　its　last　notes　came　the　rattle　of　musketry　from　the　brow　of　the　hill　across　the　little　ravine。　　The　bullets　sang　viciously　overhead。　They　cut　the　leaves　and　branches　with　sharp　little　crashes；　and　struck　men's　bodies　with　a　peculiar　slap。　　A　score　of　men　in　the　disordered　group　fell　back　dead　or　dying　upon　the　green　moss。

〃Of　course；　we　might've　knowed　them　muddle…headed　officers　'd　run　us　right　slap　into　a　hornets'　nest　of　Rebels　before　they　knowed　a　thing　about　it；〃　grumbled　Abe　Bolton；　hastily　tearing　a　cartridge　with　his　teeth；　and　forcing　it　into　his　gun。

〃Hold　on；　my　weak…kneed　patriot；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　catching　Jake　Alspaugh　by　the　collar；　and　turning　him　around　so　that　he　faced　the　enemy　again。　　〃It's　awful　bad　manners　to　rush　out　of　a　matinee　just　as　the　performance　begins。　　You　disturb　the　people　who've　come　to　enjoy　the　show。　　Keep　you　seat　till　the　curatin　goes　down。　You'll　find　enough　to　interest　you。〃

The　same　sudden　inspiration　of　common…sense　that　had　flashed　upon　Captain　Bennett；　in　encountering　the　snake　now　raised　him　to　the　level　of　this　emergency。　　He　comprehended　that　the　volley　they　had　received　had　emptied　every　Rebel　gun。　　The　distance　was　so　short　that　the　enemy　could　be　reached　before　they　had　time　to　re…load。　But　no　time　must　be　lost　in　attempting　to　form；　or　in　having　the　order　regularly　given　by　the　Colonel。　　He　sprang　toward　the　enemy；　waving　his　sword；　and　shouted　in　tones　that　echoed　back　from　the　cliffs：

〃Attention；　BATTALION！　　Charge　bayonets！　　FORWARD；　DOUBLE…QUICK；　MARCH！〃

A　swelling　cheer　answered　him。　　His　own　company　ran　forward　to　follow　his　impetuous　lead。　　The　others　joined　in　rapidly。　　Away　they　dashed　down　the　side　of　the　declivity；　and　in　an　instant　more　were　swarming　up　the　opposite　side　toward　the　astonished　Rebels。　Among　these　divided　councils　reigned。　　Some　were　excited　snapping　unloaded　guns　at　the　oncoming　foe；　others　were　fixing　bayonets；　and　sturdily　urging　their　comrades　to　do　likewise；　and　meet　the　rushing　wave　of　cold　steel　with　a　counter　wave。　　The　weaker…hearted　ones　were　already　clambering　up　the　mountain…side　out　of　reach　of　harm。

There　was　no　time　for　debate。　　The　blue　line　led　by　Bennett　flung　itself　upon　the　dark…brown　mass　of　Rebels　like　an　angry　wave　dashing　over　a　flimsy　bank　of　sand；　and　in　an　instant　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　but　pursue　the　disrupted　and　flying　fragments。　　It　was　all　over。





Chapter　III。　　A　Race。




〃Some　have　greatness　thrust　upon　them。〃　　Twelfth　Night。


The　unexpected　volley　probably　disturbed　private　Jacob　Alspaugh's　mind　more　than　that　of　any　other　man　in　the　regiment。　　It　produced　there　an　effect　akin　to　the　sensation　of　nauseous　emetic　in　his　stomach。

He　had　long　enjoyed　the　enviable　distinction　of　being　the　〃best　man〃　among　combative　youths　of　Sardis；　and　his　zeal　and　invariable　success　in　the　fistic　tournaments　which　form　so　large　a　part　of　the　interest　in　life　of　a　certain　class　of　young　men　in　villages；　had　led　his　townsmen　to　entertain　extravagant　hopes　as　to　his　achievements　in　the　field。

But；　like　most　of　his　class；　his　courage　was　purely　physical；　and　a　low　order　of　that　type。　　He　was　bold　in　those　encounters　where　he　knew　that　his　superior　strength　and　agility　rendered　small　the　chances　of　his　receiving　any　serious　bodily　harm；　but　of　that　high　pride　and　mounting　spirit　which　lead　to　soldierly　deeds　he　had　none。

The　sight　of　the　dying　men　on　each　side　shriveled　his　heart　with　a　deadly　panic。

〃O；　Kent；〃　he　groaned；　〃Lemme　go；　and　let's　git　out　o'　here。　　This's　just　awful；　and　it'll　be　ten　times　wuss　in　another　minnit。　　Let's　git　behind　that　big　rock　there；　as　quick　as　the　Lord'll　let　us。〃

He　turned　to　pull　away　from　Kent's　detaining　hand；　when　he　heard　Captain　Bennett's　order　to　the　regiment　to　charge；　and　the　hand　relaxed　its　hold。　　Jake　faced　to　the　front　again　and　saw　Kent　and　Abe　Bolton；　and　the　rest　of　the　boys　rush　forward；　leaving　him　and　a　score　of　other　weak…kneed　irresolutes　standing　alone　behind。

Again　he　thought　he　would　seek　the　refuge　of　the　rock；　but　at　that　moment　the　Union　line　swept　up　to　the　Rebels；　scattering　them　as　a　wave　does　dry　sand。

Jake's　mental　motions　were　reasonably　rapid。　　Now　he　was　not　long　in　realizing　that　all　the　danger　was　past；　and　that　he　had　an　opportunity　of　gaining　credit　cheaply。　　He　acted　　promptly。　　Fixing　his　bayonet；　he　gave　a　fearful　yell　and　started　forward　on　a　run　for　the　position　which　the　regiment　had　gained。

He　was　soon　in　the　lead　of　the　pursuers；　and　appeared；　by　his　later　zeal；　to　be　making　amends　for　his　earlier　tardiness。　　As　he　ran　ahead　he　shouted　savagely：

〃Run　down　the　hellions！　　Shoot　'em！　　Stab　'em！　Bay'net　'em！　　Don't　let　one　of　'em　git　away。〃

There　is　an　excitement　in　a　man…chase　that　is　not　even　approached　by　any　other　kind　of　hunting；　and　Jake　soon　became　fairly　intoxicated　with　it。

He　quickly　overtook　one　or　two　of　the　slower…paced　Rebels；　who　surrendered　quietly；　and　were　handed　by　him　over　to　the　other　boys　as　they　came　up；　and　conducted　by　them　to　the　rear。

Becoming　more　excited　he　sped　on；　entirely　unmindful　of　how　far　he　was　outstripping　his　comrades。

A　hundred　yards　ahead　of　him　was　a　tall；　gaunt　Virginian；　clad　in　butternut…colored　jeans　of　queer　cut　and　pattern；　and　a　great　bell…crowned　hat　of　rough；　gray　beaver。　　Though　his　gait　was　shambling　and　his　huge　splay　feet　rose　and　fell　in　the　most　awkward　way；　he　went　over　the　ground　with　a　swiftness　that　made　it　rather　doubtful　whether　Jake　was　gaining　on　him　at　all。　　But　the　latter　was　encouraged　by　the　sings　of　his　chase's　distress。　　First　the　bell…crowned　hat　flew　off　and