the red acorn-µÚ33ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡future¡¡for¡¡every¡¡person¡¡in¡¡authority£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡President¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Fifth¡¡Corporal¡£
But¡¡for¡¡all¡¡this¡¡the¡¡400¡¡hardy¡¡boys¡¡who¡¡still¡¡remained¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡roll¡call£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡1£»100¡¡that¡¡had¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡Ohio¡¡River¡¡in¡¡September£»¡¡1861£»¡¡were¡¡as¡¡fine¡¡a¡¡body¡¡of¡¡fighting¡¡men¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡followed¡¡a¡¡flag£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡better¡¡soldier¡¡among¡¡them¡¡than¡¡Harry¡¡Glen¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡day¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡growth¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡trial¡¡had¡¡knit¡¡his¡¡spirit¡¡into¡¡firmer¡¡texture¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡awhile¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡conscience¡¡to¡¡take¡¡an¡¡active¡¡part¡¡in¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡his¡¡comrades¡¡were¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡Soon¡¡this¡¡became¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡pleasure£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡satisfaction¡¡of¡¡successfully¡¡leading¡¡them¡¡through¡¡difficulties¡¡and¡¡dangers¡¡more¡¡than¡¡compensated¡¡for¡¡the¡¡effort¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡while¡¡he¡¡had¡¡vindicated¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡their¡¡estimation£»¡¡he¡¡yet¡¡lacked¡¡that¡¡which¡¡the¡¡ordeal¡¡of¡¡a¡¡battle¡¡would¡¡give¡¡him¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡and¡¡more¡¡than¡¡all£»¡¡in¡¡Rachel's¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡nothing¡¡from¡¡or¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡consoled¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡the¡¡same¡¡means¡¡by¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡promptly¡¡informed¡¡of¡¡his¡¡misstep£»¡¡would¡¡convey¡¡to¡¡her¡¡an¡¡intimation¡¡of¡¡how¡¡well¡¡he¡¡was¡¡deserving¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡gained¡¡his¡¡laurels¡¡he¡¡would¡¡himself¡¡lay¡¡them¡¡at¡¡her¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡Until¡¡then¡¡he¡¡could¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡strive£»¡¡cherishing¡¡all¡¡the¡¡while¡¡the¡¡love¡¡for¡¡her¡¡that¡¡daily¡¡grew¡¡stronger¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart¡£
¡
A¡¡patient¡¡in¡¡her¡¡ward£»¡¡recovering¡¡from¡¡a¡¡fever£»¡¡attracted¡¡Rachel's¡¡attention¡¡soon¡¡after¡¡her¡¡entrance¡¡upon¡¡duty¡¡at¡¡Nashville¡£
Womanly¡¡intuition¡¡showed¡¡her¡¡that¡¡no¡¡ordinary¡¡spirit¡¡slumbered¡¡underneath¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡mountaineer¡¡characteristics¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡long£»¡¡lank£»¡¡black¡¡hair£»¡¡the¡¡angular¡¡outlines£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡uncouth¡¡gestures¡¡were¡¡common¡¡enough¡¡among¡¡those¡¡around¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡latent¡¡fire¡¡in¡¡the¡¡usually¡¡dull¡¡and¡¡languid¡¡eyes£»¡¡which¡¡transformed¡¡the¡¡man¡¡into¡¡one¡¡in¡¡whose¡¡brain¡¡and¡¡hand¡¡slept¡¡many¡¡possibilities¡¡that¡¡were¡¡liable¡¡to¡¡awaken¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡womanly£»¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡betraying¡¡this¡¡fact¡¡by¡¡singling¡¡him¡¡out¡¡as¡¡the¡¡recipient¡¡of¡¡many¡¡little¡¡attentions¡¡somewhat¡¡more¡¡special¡¡than¡¡those¡¡she¡¡bestowed¡¡on¡¡others¡£
On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡often¡¡as¡¡she¡¡moved¡¡about¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡she¡¡would¡¡in¡¡turning¡¡discover¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡fixed¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡movements¡¡with¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡earnest¡¡study¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡awhile¡¡the¡¡study¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡satisfactory£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Surgeon¡¡had¡¡informed¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡now¡¡in¡¡a¡¡condition¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡duty¡¡whenever¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡Rachel£º
¡¨Kin¡¡I¡¡speak¡¡ter¡¡ye¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡in¡¡private£»¡¡Miss£¿¡¨
¡¨Certainly£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Come¡¡right¡¡in¡¡here¡£¡¨
Entering¡¡the¡¡room¡¡he¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡survey¡¡of¡¡the¡¡windows£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡points¡¡of¡¡vantage¡¡for¡¡eavesdroppers¡£¡¡This¡¡done£»¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Rachel¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡his¡¡operations¡¡with¡¡much¡¡curiosity£»¡¡and¡¡said£º
¡¨Let's¡¡set¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡no¡¡one'll¡¡overhear¡¡us£»¡¡ef¡¡we're¡¡keerful¡£
¡¨Hev¡¡ye¡¡enny¡¡idee¡¡who¡¡I¡¡am£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡abruptly£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rude¡¡benches¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡room¡¡was¡¡furnished¡£
¡¨Not¡¡the¡¡slightest£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨except¡¡that¡¡you¡¡appear¡¡on¡¡the¡¡roll¡¡as¡¡'James¡¡Brown£»¡¡No¡£¡¡23£»'¡¡no¡¡company¡¡or¡¡regiment¡¡given¡£¡¨
¡¨Very¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡D'ye¡¡reckon¡¡thet¡¡enny¡¡o'¡¡them¡¡in¡¡thar¡¡hev£¿¡¨pointing¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡with¡¡his¡¡thumb¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ward¡£
¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡can¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡as¡¡to¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡never¡¡hear¡¡them¡¡say¡¡anything¡¡about¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡loyal¡¡East¡¡Tennesseans¡¡that¡¡are¡¡plentiful¡¡about¡¡here¡£¡¨
¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡afeered¡¡fur¡¡the¡¡last¡¡few¡¡days¡¡that¡¡some¡¡uv¡¡'em¡¡were¡¡Rebels¡¡in¡¡disguise£»¡¡an'¡¡thet¡¡they¡¡sort¡¡o'¡¡suspicioned¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡hev¡¡seed¡¡two¡¡on¡¡'em¡¡eyein'¡¡me¡¡mouty¡¡hard¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡has¡¡a¡¡red¡¡head£»¡¡an'¡¡'tother¡¡a¡¡long¡¡black¡¡beard¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡can¡¡perhaps¡¡set¡¡your¡¡anxiety¡¡at¡¡rest¡¡on¡¡that¡¡score¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡ARE¡¡Southerners£»¡¡but¡¡loyal¡¡ones¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Rebel¡¡army£»¡¡but¡¡made¡¡their¡¡escape¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡opportunity¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡naturally¡¡watch¡¡every¡¡Southern¡looking¡¡man¡¡with¡¡great¡¡interest£»¡¡fearing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡be¡¡an¡¡unpleasant¡¡acquaintance¡£¡¨
¡¨Desarters¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Rebel¡¡army£»¡¡be¡¡they£¿¡¡¡¡Thet¡¡makes¡¡me¡¡so'¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡thot¡¡I'd¡¡seen¡¡'em¡¡afore£»¡¡an'¡¡this¡¡makes¡¡me¡¡sartin¡£¡¡¡¡They're¡¡mouty¡¡bad¡¡pills£»¡¡an'¡¡they¡¡hain't¡¡heah¡¡fur¡¡no¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡but¡¡whar¡¡did¡¡I¡¡see¡¡'em£¿¡¡¡¡In¡¡some¡¡Rebel¡¡camp¡¡somewhar£¿¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡now¡¡I¡¡remember¡£¡¡¡¡Ef¡¡I¡¡hain't¡¡powerfully¡¡fooled¡¡them's¡¡the¡¡two¡¡laddie¡bucks¡¡thet¡¡Harry¡¡Glen¡¡an'¡¡me¡¡gobbled¡¡up¡¡one¡¡fine¡¡mornin'¡¡an'¡¡tuck¡¡inter¡¡Wildcat¡£¡¡¡¡They're¡¡bad¡¡aigs£»¡¡ef¡¡ther¡¡ever¡¡war¡¡bad¡¡aigs¡£¡¨
¡¨Harry¡¡Glen£»¡¡did¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡of¡¡Harry¡¡Glen£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡Her¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡in¡¡her¡¡mouth¡£
¡¨What¡¡do¡¡I¡¡know¡¡of¡¡harry¡¡Glen£¿¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡jest¡¡heaps¡¡an'¡¡more¡¡yit¡£¡¡¡¡He's¡¡one¡¡o'¡¡the¡¡best¡¡men¡¡thet¡¡ever¡¡wore¡¡blue¡¡clotes¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡thet's¡¡nuther¡¡heah¡¡nor¡¡thar¡£¡¡¡¡Thet¡¡hain't¡¡what¡¡I¡¡brung¡¡ye¡¡out¡¡heah¡¡ter¡¡talk¡¡on¡£¡¨
¡¨Go¡¡on£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Rachel£»¡¡resisting¡¡her¡¡eagerness¡¡to¡¡overwhelm¡¡him¡¡with¡¡questions¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡one¡¡man¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡world¡¡she¡¡most¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡about¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡spare¡¡you¡¡but¡¡little¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¡Miss¡£¡¡¡¡Ter¡¡begin¡¡with£»¡¡my¡¡name's¡¡not¡¡Brown¡£¡¡¡¡Nary¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡Hit's¡¡FortnerJim¡¡Fortnerthe¡¡'noted¡¡Scout£»'¡¡ez¡¡I¡¡heered¡¡ye¡¡readin'¡¡'bout¡¡'tother¡¡day£»¡¡when¡¡ye¡¡war¡¡givin'¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡the¡¡war¡¡news¡¡in¡¡the¡¡papers¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡well¡known¡¡ez¡¡a¡¡secret¡sarvice¡¡mantu¡¡well¡known£»¡¡I'm¡¡afeered¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡git¡¡'long¡¡'ithout¡¡quite¡¡ez¡¡menny¡¡'quaintances¡¡ez¡¡I¡¡hev¡¡gethered¡¡up¡¡lately¡£¡¡¡¡More¡¡'specially¡¡o'¡¡the¡¡kind£»¡¡fur¡¡menny¡¡on¡¡'em¡¡ar'¡¡only¡¡waitin'¡¡a¡¡good¡¡opportunity¡¡ter¡¡gin¡¡me¡¡a¡¡gran'¡¡interduction¡¡to¡¡'tarnity¡£¡¡¡¡I'd¡¡ruther¡¡know¡¡fewer¡¡folks¡¡an'¡¡better¡¡ones£»¡¡ez¡¡I¡¡wunst¡¡heered¡¡Harry¡¡Glen¡¡say¡£¡¨
¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡of¡¡¨¡¡Rachel¡¡started¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡finish¡¡the¡¡sentence¡¡Fortner¡¡resumed£º
¡¨I'm¡¡now¡¡'bout¡¡ter¡¡start¡¡on¡¡the¡¡most¡¡'portant¡¡work¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡done¡¡fur¡¡the¡¡Gover'mint¡£¡¡¡¡Things¡¡ar'¡¡ripenin'¡¡fast¡¡fur¡¡the¡¡orfulest¡¡battle¡¡ever¡¡fit¡¡in¡¡this¡¡ere¡¡co'ntry¡£¡¡¡¡Afore¡¡the¡¡Chrismuss¡¡snow¡¡flies¡¡this¡¡ere¡¡army'll¡¡fall¡¡on¡¡them¡¡thar¡¡Rebels¡¡'round¡¡Murfressboro¡¡like¡¡an¡¡oak¡¡tree¡¡on¡¡a¡¡den¡¡o'¡¡rattlesnakes¡£¡¡¡¡Blood'll¡¡run¡¡like¡¡water¡¡in¡¡a¡¡Spring¡¡thaw£»¡¡an'¡¡them¡¡fellers'll¡¡hev¡¡so¡¡menny¡¡fun'rals¡¡ter¡¡tend¡¡thet¡¡they¡¡won't¡¡hev¡¡no¡¡time¡¡for¡¡Chrismuss¡¡frolics¡£¡¡¡¡They've¡¡raced¡¡back¡¡an'¡¡forrard£»¡¡an'¡¡dodged¡¡up¡¡an'¡¡down¡¡fur¡¡a¡¡year¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡they're¡¡at¡¡the¡¡eend¡¡uv¡¡ther¡¡rope£»¡¡an'¡¡hit'll¡¡be¡¡a¡¡deth¡nooze¡¡fur¡¡'em¡£¡¡¡¡May¡¡the¡¡pit¡¡o'¡¡hell¡¡open¡¡fur¡¡'em¡£¡¨
He¡¡watched¡¡Rachel's¡¡face¡¡closely¡¡as¡¡he¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡neither¡¡blanched¡¡nor¡¡recoiled£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡lighted¡¡up¡¡as¡¡if¡¡with¡¡anticipation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡conflict£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡eagerly£º
¡¨O£»¡¡are¡¡you¡¡only¡¡quite¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡our¡¡army¡¡will¡¡be¡¡victorious£¿¡¨
His¡¡eyes¡¡shown¡¡with¡¡gratification¡£
¡¨I¡¡knowed¡¡thet's¡¡the¡¡way¡¡ye'd¡¡take¡¡the¡¡news¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knowed¡¡the¡¡minit¡¡I¡¡sot¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡ye¡¡thet¡¡ye¡¡war¡¡good¡¡grit¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡never¡¡git¡¡fooled¡¡much¡¡in¡¡my¡¡guess¡¡o'¡¡people's¡¡backbone¡£¡¡¡¡Thar¡¡wuz¡¡Harry¡¡Glenall¡¡his¡¡own¡¡comrades¡¡thot¡¡he¡¡wuz¡¡white¡¡'bout¡¡the¡¡liver£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡seed¡¡the¡¡minit¡¡I¡¡laid¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡onter¡¡him¡¡thet¡¡he¡¡hed¡¡ez¡¡good£»¡¡stan'¡up¡¡stuff¡¡in¡¡him¡¡ez¡¡ennybody£»¡¡w'en¡¡he¡¡got¡¡over¡¡his¡¡fust¡¡flightiness¡£¡¨
Had¡¡this¡¡man¡¡some¡¡scheme¡¡that¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡her¡¡lover¡¡and¡¡her¡¡together£¿¡¡¡¨But¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡of¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡Rachel¡¡asked£»¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡composure¡¡she¡¡could¡¡summon¡£
¡¨Suthing¡¡a¡¡cussed¡¡sight¡¡more¡¡hon'rable¡¡an'¡¡more¡¡useful¡¡ter¡¡ther¡¡Gover'mint¡¡then¡¡stayin'¡¡'round¡¡heah¡¡nussin'¡¡these¡¡loafers£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡¡roughly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Hist£¡¡¡thar's¡¡a¡¡shadder¡¡nigh¡¡yon¡¡winder¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡room¡¡with¡¡the¡¡quick£»¡¡silent¡¡tread¡¡of¡¡a¡¡panther£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡face¡¡darkened¡¡as¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡objectionable¡¡red¡headed¡¡and¡¡black¡bearded¡¡men¡¡walking¡¡away¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡parade¡ground£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡backs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Yer¡¡orful¡¡cute£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡alluding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡retiring¡¡figures£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡ef¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡gin¡¡ye¡¡a¡¡trip¡¡afore¡¡long¡¡thet'll¡¡make¡¡yer¡¡heels¡¡break¡¡yer¡¡pizen¡¡necks¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡I¡¡may¡¡never¡¡see¡¡Rockassel¡¡Mountings¡¡agin¡£¡¡¡¡I'd¡¡do¡¡hit¡¡now£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡a¡trailin'¡¡bigger¡¡game¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡hit's¡¡my¡¡day¡¡fur¡¡killin'¡¡skunks¡¡look¡¡outthet's¡¡all¡£¡¨
Returning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡expectant¡¡Rachel¡¡he¡¡continued£º
¡¨I¡¡leave¡¡ter¡night¡¡fur¡¡the¡¡Rebel¡¡army¡¡at¡¡Murfreesboro¡£¡¡¡¡Ole¡¡Rosy¡¡hisself¡¡sends¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡ter¡¡pick¡¡out¡¡the¡¡messengers¡¡ter¡¡send¡¡my¡¡news¡¡back¡¡ter¡¡him¡¡by¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡must¡¡hev¡¡sev'ral¡¡so's¡¡ter¡¡make¡¡dead¡¡sho'¡¡thet¡¡ev'rything¡¡reaches¡¡'im¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡want¡¡ye¡¡fur¡¡the¡¡main¡¡one£»¡¡becase¡¡ye've¡¡got¡¡brains¡¡an'¡¡san'£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡ye¡¡kin¡¡git¡¡thru¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡whar¡¡a¡¡man¡¡can't¡£¡¡¡¡thar'll¡¡be¡¡nothin'¡¡bad¡¡'bout¡¡hit¡£¡¡¡¡Ye'll¡¡ride¡¡ter¡¡Murfreesboro¡¡an'¡¡back¡¡on¡¡yer¡¡own¡¡hoss£»¡¡ez¡¡a¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡should£»¡¡an'¡¡if¡¡ye¡¡accomplish¡¡ennything¡¡hit'll¡¡be¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡sarvice¡¡tew¡¡the¡¡country¡¡then¡¡most¡¡men¡¡kin¡¡do¡¡in¡¡ther¡¡lives¡£¡¡¡¡Hit'll¡¡be¡¡sum'thing¡¡ter¡¡be¡¡proud¡¡of¡¡ez¡¡long's¡¡ye¡¡live¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡ye¡¡try¡¡hit£¿¡¨
¡¨Why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡bring¡¡back¡¡the¡¡information¡¡yourself£¿¡¡¡¡Can't¡¡you¡¡come¡¡back¡¡through¡¡the¡¡lines¡¡as¡¡easily¡¡as¡¡you¡¡go£¿¡¨
¡¨I¡¡mout£»¡¡an'¡¡then¡¡ag'in¡¡I¡¡moutn't¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡time¡¡I¡¡go¡¡inter¡¡the¡¡Rebel¡¡camps¡¡the¡¡chances¡¡get¡¡stronger¡¡thet¡¡I'll¡¡never¡¡come¡¡back¡¡ag'in¡£¡¡Ez¡¡Harry¡¡Glen¡¡sez£»¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡o'¡¡my¡¡onpleasant¡¡acquaintancesthe¡¡fellers¡¡thet's¡¡reachin'¡¡fur¡¡my¡¡top¡knotwidens¡£¡¡¡¡Thar's¡¡so¡¡many¡¡more¡¡on¡¡'em¡¡layin'¡¡fur¡¡me¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡thet¡¡the¡¡prospects¡¡keeps¡¡gittin'¡¡brighter¡¡every¡¡day¡¡thet¡¡by¡an'¡by¡¡they'll¡¡fetch¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡the¡¡arrant¡¡I'm¡¡a¡gwine¡¡on¡¡now¡¡is¡¡too¡¡important¡¡ter¡¡take¡¡any¡¡resks¡¡'bout¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡sartin¡¡to¡¡git¡¡the¡¡information¡¡thet¡¡Gineral¡¡Rosy¡¡wants£»¡¡but¡¡whether¡¡I¡¡kin¡¡git¡¡hit¡¡back¡¡ter¡¡him¡¡is¡¡ruther¡¡dubersome¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡must¡¡hev¡¡'some¡¡help¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡ye¡¡jine¡¡in¡¡with¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¨But¡¡how¡¡am¡¡I¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡all¡¡this¡¡is¡¡as¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¨
¡¨By¡¡readin'¡¡these¡¡'ere¡¡passes£»¡¡all¡¡signed¡¡by¡¡Gineral¡¡Rosencrans's¡¡own¡¡hand£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡takin'¡¡a¡¡walk¡¡with¡¡me¡¡up¡¡ter¡¡headquarters£»¡¡whar¡¡they'll¡¡tell¡¡ye¡¡thet¡¡I'm¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡an'¡¡ez¡¡straight¡¡ez¡¡a¡¡string¡£¡¨
¡¨But¡¡how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡do¡¡what¡¡you¡¡want£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡less¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡make¡¡a¡¡blunder¡¡that¡¡would¡¡spoil¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¨I'll¡¡resk¡¡the¡¡blunders¡£¡¡¡¡ye¡¡kin¡¡ride¡¡critter¡back¡¡can't¡¡ye£¿¡¨
Rachel¡¡owned¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡fair¡¡horse¡woman¡£
¡¨Then¡¡all¡¡ye¡¡hev¡¡ter¡¡do¡¡is¡¡ter¡¡git¡¡yerself¡¡up¡¡ez¡¡ye¡¡see¡¡the¡¡young¡¡women¡¡who¡¡are¡¡ridin'¡¡'round¡¡heah£»¡¡an'¡¡airly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡arter¡¡to¡morrow¡¡mornin'£»¡¡mount¡¡a¡¡blooded¡¡mar¡¡that¡¡ye'll¡¡find¡¡standin'¡¡afore¡¡the¡¡door¡¡thar£»¡¡all¡¡rigged¡¡out¡¡ez¡¡fine¡¡ez¡¡silk£»¡¡an'¡¡go¡¡down¡¡the¡¡Lavergne¡¡turnpike£»¡¡at¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡canter£»¡¡jes¡¡ez¡¡though¡¡ye¡¡war¡¡gwine¡¡somewhar¡£¡¡¡¡Nobody¡¡on¡¡our¡¡lines¡¡'ll¡¡be¡¡likely¡¡ter¡¡say¡¡anything¡¡ter¡¡ye£»¡¡but¡¡ef¡¡they¡¡do£»¡¡ye'll¡¡show¡¡'em¡¡a¡¡pass¡¡from¡¡Gineral¡¡Rosy£»¡¡which£»¡¡howsoever£»¡¡ye¡¡'ll¡¡tar¡¡up¡¡afore¡¡ye¡¡reach¡¡Lavergne£»¡¡fur¡¡ye¡¡'ll¡¡likely¡¡find¡¡some¡¡o'¡¡t'¡¡other¡¡folks¡¡thar¡£¡¡¡¡Ef¡¡any¡¡o'¡¡them¡¡at¡¡Lavergne¡¡axes¡¡ye¡¡imperent¡¡questions£»¡¡ye¡¡must¡¡hev¡¡a¡¡story¡¡ready¡¡'bout¡¡yer¡¡being¡¡the¡¡Nashville¡¡niece¡¡o'¡¡Aunt¡¡Debby¡¡Brill£»¡¡who¡¡lives¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left¡¡hand¡¡o'¡¡the¡¡Nashville¡¡pike£»¡¡jest¡¡north¡¡o'¡¡the¡¡public¡¡squar¡¡in¡¡Murfreesboro£»¡¡an'¡¡ye¡¡'re¡¡on¡¡yer¡¡way¡¡ter¡¡pay¡¡yer¡¡ole¡¡Aunty¡¡a¡¡long¡promised¡¡visit¡£¡¨
¡¨there¡¡is¡¡such¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡Murfreesboro£¿¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡an'¡¡she's¡¡talked¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡'bout¡¡her¡¡niece¡¡in¡¡Nashville£»¡¡who's¡¡comin'¡¡ter¡¡see¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¨the¡¡earnestness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡relaxed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡suspicion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡twinkle¡¨thet¡¡sometime¡¡I¡¡mout¡¡come¡¡across¡¡sich¡¡a¡¡niece¡¡fur¡¡the¡¡ole¡¡lady£»¡¡an'¡¡hit¡¡wuz¡¡well¡¡ter¡¡be¡¡prepared¡¡fur¡¡her¡£¡¨
¡¨But¡¡suppose¡¡they¡¡ask¡¡me¡¡about¡¡things¡¡in¡¡Nashville£¿¡¨
¡¨W'll£»¡¡ye¡¡must¡¡fix¡¡up¡¡a¡¡story¡¡'bout¡¡thet¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¡Ye¡¡needn't¡¡be¡¡ver¡¡partickelar¡¡what¡¡hit¡¡is£»¡¡so¡¡long's¡¡hit's¡¡awful¡¡savage¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Yankees¡£¡¡¡¡Be¡¡keerful¡¡ter¡¡say¡¡frequently¡¡thet¡¡the¡¡yankees¡¡is¡¡awful¡¡sick¡¡o'¡¡their¡¡job¡¡o'¡¡holdin'¡¡Nashville£»¡¡that¡¡their¡¡new¡¡Dutch¡¡Gineral¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mean¡¡brute£»¡¡an'¡¡a¡¡coward¡¡beside£»¡¡thet¡¡he's¡¡skeered¡¡'bout¡¡out'n¡¡his¡¡wits¡¡half¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡an'¡¡he's¡¡buildin'¡¡the¡¡biggest¡¡kind¡¡o'¡¡forts¡¡to