the red acorn-第36章

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They　cantered　on　into　the　town；　and　going　more　slowly　through　the　great　public　square　and　the　more　crowded　streets；　came　at　last　to　a　modest　house；　standing　on　a　corner；　and　nearly　hidden　by　vines　and　shrubbery。

A　peculiar　knock　caused　the　door　to　open　quickly；　and　before　Rachel　was　hardly　aware　of　it；　she　was　standing　inside　a　comfortable　room；　so　well　lighted　that　her　eyes　took　some　little　time　to　get　used　to　such　a　change。

When　they　did　so　she　saw　that　she　was　in　the　presence　of　a　slender；　elderly　woman；　whose　face　charmed　her。

〃This　is　yer　Aunt　Debby　Brill；〃　said　Fortner；　dryly；　〃who　ye　came　so　fur　ter　see；　an'　who's　bin　'spectin'　ye　quite　anxiously。〃

〃Ye're　very　welcome；　my　dear；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　after　a　moment's　inspection　which　seemed　to　be　entirely　satisfactory。　　〃Jest　lay　off　yer　things　thar　on　the　bed；　an'　come　out　ter　supper。　　I　know　ye're　sharp…set。　　A　ride　from　Nashville　sech　a　day　ez　this　is　mouty　good　for　the　appetite；　an'　we've　hed　supper　waitin'　ye。〃

Hastily　throwing　off　her　hat　and　gloves；　she　sat　down　with　the　rest；　to　a　homely　but　excellent　supper；　which　they　all　ate　in　silence。　During　the　meal　a　muscular；　well　knit　man　of　thirty　entered。

〃All　clar；　outside；　Bill？〃　asked　Fortenr。

〃All　clar；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃Everybody's　off　on　a　high　o'　some　kind。〃

Bill　sat　down　and　ate　with　the　rest；　until　he　satisfied　his　hunger；　and　then　rising　he　felt　along　the　hewed　logs　which　formed　the　walls；　until　he　found　a　splinter　to　serve　as　a　tooth…pick。　Using　this　for　a　minute　industriously；　he　threw　it　into　the　fire　and　asked：

〃Well？〃

〃Well；〃　answered　Fortner。　　〃I　reckon　hit's　ez　sartin　ez　anything　kin　well　be　thet　Wheeler's　and　Morgan's　cavalry　hez　been　sent　off　inter　Kentucky；　and　ez　thet's　what　Ole　rosy's　been　waitin'　fur；　now's　the　time　fur　him　ter　put　in　his　best　licks。　　Ye'd　better　start　afore　midnight　fur　Nashville。　　Ye'll　hev　this　news；　an'　alos　thet　thar's　been　no　change　in　the　location　o'　the　Rebels；　'cept　thet　Polk's　an'　Kirby　Smith's　corps　are　both　heah　at　Murfreesboro；　with　a　strong　brigade　at　Stewart's　creek；　an'　another　at　Lavergne。　　Ye'd　better　fallin　with　Boscall's　rijiment；　which'll　go　out　ter　Lavergne　to…night；　ter　relieve　one　o'　the　rijiments　thar。　　Ye'd　better　not　try　to　git　back　heah　ag'in　tell　arter　the　battle。　　Good　by。　　God　bless　ye。　　Miss；　ye'd　better　git　ter　bed　now；　ez　soon　ez　possible；　an'　rest　yerself　fur　what's　comin'。　　We'll　need　every　mite　an'　grain　of　our　strength。〃





Chapter　XIX。　　The　Battle　of　Stone　River。




O；　wherefore　come　ye　forth；　in　triumph　from　the　North；　　　With　your　hands　and　your　feet；　and　your　raiment　all　red？　And　wherefore　doth　your　rout；　send　forth　a　joyous　shout？　　　And　whence　be　the　grapes　of　the　wine…press　that　ye　tread？

O；　evil　was　the　root；　and　bitter　was　the　fruit；　　　And　crimson　was　the　juice　of　the　vintage　that　we　tred；　For　we　trampled　on　the　throng；　of　the　haughty　and　the　strong；　　　Who　sat　in　the　high　places　and　slew　the　saints　of　God。

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They　are　herethey　rush　onwe　are　brokenwe　are　gone　　Our　left　is　borne　before　them　like　stubble　in　the　blast。　　O；　Lord；　put　forth　thy　might！　　O；　Lord；　defend　the　right！　　　　Stand　back　to　back；　in　God's　name！　and　fight　it　to　the　last。

〃Battle　of　Naseby。〃*/


The　celebration　of　Christmas　in　the　camps　around　Nashville　was　abruptly　terminated　by　the　reception　of　orders　to　march　in　the　morning；　with　full　haversacks　and　cartridge…boxes。　　The　next　day　all　the　roads　leading　southward　became　as　rivers　flowing　armed　men。　Endless　streams　of　blue；　thickly　glinted　everywhere　with　bright　and　ominous　steel；　wound　around　the　hills；　poured　over　the　plains；　and　spread　out　into　angry　lakes　wherever　a　Rebel　outpost　checked　the　flow　for　a　few　minutes。

Four　thousand　troopers　under　the　heroic　Stanleythe　foam…crest　on　the　war…billowdashed　on　in　advance。　　Twelve　thousand　steadily…moving　infantry　under　the　luckless　McCook；　poured　down　the　Franklin　turnpike；　miles　away　to　the　right；　twelve　thousand　more　streamed　down　the　Murfreesboro　pike　on　the　left；　with　the　banner　of　the　over…weighted　Crittenden；　while　grand　old　Thomas；　he　whose　trumpets　never　sounded　forth　retreat；　but　always　called　to　victory；　moved　steadfast　as　a　glacier　in　the　center；　with　as　many　more；　a　sure　support　and　help　to　those　on　either　hand。

The　mighty　war…wave　rolling　up　the　broad　plateau　of　the　Cumberland　was　fifteen　miles　wide　now。　　It　would　be　less　than　a　third　of　that　when　it　gathered　itself　together　for　its　mortal　dash　upon　the　rocks　of　rebellion　at　Murfreesboro。

It　was　Friday　morning　that　the　wave　began　rolling　southward。　　All　day　Friday；　and　Saturday；　and　Sunday；　and　Monday　it　rolled　steadily　onward；　sweeping　before　it　the　enemy's　pickets　and　outposts　as　dry　sand　by　an　incoming　tide。　　Monday　evening　the　leading　divisions　stood　upon　the　ridge　where　Rachel　and　Fortner　had　stood；　and　looked　as　they　did　upon　the　lights　of　Murfreesboro；　two　miles　away。

〃Two　days　from　to…morrow　is　New　Year's；〃　said　Kent　Edwards。　　〃Dear　Festival　of　Egg…Nogg！　how　sweet　are　thy　memories。　　I　hope　the　Tennessee　hens　are　doing　their　duty　this　Winter；　so　that　we'll　have　no　trouble　finding　eggs　when　we　get　into　Murfreesboro　to…morrow。〃

〃We　are　likely　to　be　so　busy　tendering　the　compliments　of　the　season　to　Mr。　Bragg；〃　said　Harry；　lightly；　〃that　we　will　probably　have　but　little　time　to　make　calls　upon　the　lady…hens　who　keep　open　nests。〃

〃We　all　may　be　where　we'll　need　lots　o'　cold　water　more　than　anything　else；〃　said　Abe　grimly。

〃Well；〃　said　Kent　blithely；　〃if　I'm　to　be　made　a　sweet　little　angel　I　don't　know　any　day　that　I　would　rather　have　for　my　promotion　to　date　from。　　It　would　have　a　very　proper　look　to　put　in　the　full　year　here　on　earth；　and　start　in　with　the　new　one　in　a　world　of　superior　attractions。〃

〃Well；　I　declare；　if　here　isn't　Dr。　Denslow；〃　said　Harry；　delightedly；　as　he　recognized　a　horsemna；　who　rode　up　to　them。　　〃How　did　you　come　here？　　We　thought　you　were　permanently　stationed　at　the　grand　hospital。〃

〃So　I　was；〃　replied　the　Doctor。　　〃So　I　was；　at　least　so　far　as　general　orders　could　do　it。　　But　I　felt　that　I　could　not　be　away　from　my　boys　at　this　supreme　moment；　an　I　am　here；　though　the　irregular　way　in　which　I　detached　myself　from　my　post　may　require　explanation　at　a　court…martial。　　Anyhow；　it　is　a　grateful　relief　to　be　away　from　the　smell　of　chloride　of　lime；　and　get　a　breath　of　fresh　air　that　is　not　mingled　with　the　groans　of　a　ward…full　of　sick　men。　　It　looks；〃　he　continued；　with　a　comprehensive　glance　at　the　firmament　of　Rebel　camp…fires　that　made　Murfreesboro　seem　the　center　of　a　ruddy　Milky…way；　〃as　if　the　climax　is　at　last　at　hand。　Bragg；　like　the　worm；　will　at　last　turn；　and　after　a　year　of　footraces　we'll　have　a　fight　which　will　settle　who　is　the　superfluous　cat　in　this　alley。　　There　is　certainly　one　too　many。〃

〃The　sooner　it　comes　the　better；〃　said　Harry　firmly。　　〃It　has　to　be　sometime；　and　I'm　getting　very　anxious　for　an　end　to　this　eternal　marching　and　countermarching。〃

〃My　winsome　little　feet；〃　Kent　Edwards　put　in　plaintively；　〃are　knobby　as　a　burglar…proof　safe；　with　corns　and　bunions；　all　of　them　more　tender　than　a　maiden's　heart；　and　painful　as　a　mistake　in　a　poker　hand。　　They're　the　ripe　fruit　of　the　thousands　of　miles　of　side　hills　I've　had　to　tramp　over　because　of　Mr。　Bragg's　retiring　disposition。　　Now；　if　he's　got　the　spirit　of　a　man　he'll　come　out　from　under　the　bed　and　fight　me。〃

〃O；　he'll　come　outhe'll　come　outnever　you　fear；〃　said　Abe；　sardonic　as　usual。　　〃He's　got　a　day　or　two's　leisure　now　to　attend　to　this　business。　　A　hundred　thousand　of　him　will　come　out。　　They'll　swarm　out　o'　them　cedar　thickets　there　like　grass…hoppers　out　of　a　timothy　field。〃

〃Boys；〃　said　Harry；　returning　after　a　few　minutes'　basence；　〃the　Colonel　says　we'll　go　into　camp　right　here；　just　as　we　stand。　　Kent；　I'll　take　the　canteens　and　hunt　up　water；　if　you　and　Abe　will　break　some　cedar　boughs　for　the　bed；　and　get　the　wood　to　cook　supper　with。〃

〃All　right；〃　responded　Kent；　〃I'll　go　after　the　boughs。〃

〃That　puts　me　in　for　the　wood；〃　grumbled　Abe。　　〃And；　I　don't　suppose　there's　a　fence　inside　of　a　mile；　and　if　there　is　there's　not　a　popular　rail　in　it。〃

〃And；　Doctor；〃　continued　Harry；　flinging　the　canteens　over　his　shoulder；　〃you'll　stay　and　take　a　cup　of　coffee　and　sleep　with　us　to…night；　won't　you？　　The　trains　are　all　far　behind；　and　the　hospital　wagon　must　be　miles　away。〃

〃Seems　to　me　that　I've　heard　something　of　the　impropriety　of　visiting　your　friends　just　about　mealtime；〃　said　the　Doctor　quizzically；　〃but　a　cup　of　coffee　just　now　has　more　charms　for　me　than　rigid　etiquette；　so　I'll　thankfully　accept　your　kind　invitation。　　Some　day　I'll　reciprocate　with　liberality　in　doses　of　quinine。〃

In　less　time　than　that　taken　by　well…appointed　kitchens　to　furnish　〃Hot　Meals　to　Order〃　the　four　were　sitting　on　their　blankets　around　a　comfortable　fire　of　rails　and　cedar　logs；　eating　hard　bread　and　broiled　fat　pork；　and　drinking　strong　black　coffee；　which　the　magic　of　the　open　air　had　transmuted　into　delightfully　delicate　and　relishable　viands。

〃You　are　indebted　to　me；〃　said　Dr。　Denslow；　as　he　finished　the　last　crumb　and　drop　of　his　portion　of　the　food；　〃for　the　accession　to　your　company　at　this　needful　time；　of　a　tower　of　strength　in　the　person　of　Lieutenant　Jacob　Alspaugh。〃

Abe　groaned；　the　Doctor　looked　at　him　with　well…feigned　astonishment；　and　continued：

〃That　gore…hungry　patriot；　as　you　know；　has　been　home　several　months　on　recruiting　duty；　by　virtue　of　a　certificate　which　he　wheedled　out　of　old　Moxon。　　At　last；　when　he　couldn't　keep　away　any　longer；　he　started　back；　but　he　carefully　restrained　his　natural　impetuosity　in　rushing　to　the　tented　field；　and　his　journey　from　Sardis　to　Nashville　was　a　fine　specimen　of　easy　deliberation。　　There　was　not　a　sign　of　ungentlemanly　hurry　in　any　part　of　it。　　He　came　into　my　ward　at　Nashville　with　violent　symptoms　of　a　half…dozen　speedily　fatal　diseases。　　I　was　cruel　enough　to　see　a　coincidence　in　this　attack　and　the　general　marching　orders；　and　I　prescribed　for　his　ailments　a　thorough　course　of　open　air　exercise。　　To　be　sure　that　my　prescription　would　be　taken　I　had　the　Provost…Marshal　interest　himself　in　my　patient's　case；　and　the　result　was　that　Alspaugh　joined　the　regiment；　and　so　far　has　found　it　difficult　to　get　away　from　it。　　It's　the　unexpected　that　happens；　the　French　say；　and　there　is　a　bare　possibility　that　he　may　do　the　country　some　service　by　the　accidental　discharge　of　his　duty。〃

〃The　possibility　is　too　remote　to　waste　time　considering；〃　said　Harry。

They　lay　down　together　upon　a　bed　made　by　spreading　their　overcoats　and　blankets　upon　the　springy　cedar　boughts；　and　all　but　Harry　were　soon　fast　asleep。　　Though　fully　as　weary　as　they　he　could　not　sleep　for　hours。　　He　was　dominated　by　a　feeling　that　a　crisis　in　his　fate　was　at　hand；　and　as　he　lay　and　looked　at　the　stars　every　possible　shape　that　that　fate　could　take　drifted　across　his　mind；　even　as　the　endlessly…varying　cloud…shapes　sweptnow　languidly；　now　hurriedlyacross　the　domed　sky　above　him。　　And　as　the　moon　and　the　stars　shone　through　or　around　each　of　the　clouds；　making　the　lighter　ones　masses　of　translucent　glory；　and　gilding　the　edges　of　even　the