the red acorn-第38章

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Rachel　turned　to　Fortner。　　〃What　will　come　next？　　Will　this　end　it？　　Will　the　Rebels　fall　back　and　leave　this　place？〃

〃Hardly。　　This's　on'y　like　the　fust　slap　in　the　face　in　a　fight　atween　two　big　savage　men；　who've　locked　horns　ter　see　which　is　the　best　man。　　Hit's　on'y　a　sorter　limberin'　the　jints　fur　the　death　rassel。〃

〃Yes；　and　what　next？〃

〃Well；　Rosy's　started　fur　this　'ere　place；　an'　he's　bound　ter　come　heah。　　Bragg's　bound　he　sha'n't　come　heah；　an'　is　gittin'　his　men　back　to　defend　the　town。〃

〃What　am　Iwhat　are　we　to　do　in　the　meanwhile？〃

〃Ye're　ter　do　nothin'；　on'y　stay　in　the　house　ez　close　ez　ye　kin；　an'　wait　tell　the　chance　comes　ter　use　ye。　　Hit　may　be　ter…morrer；　an'　hit　mayn't　be　fur　some　days。　　These　army　moves　are　mouty　unsartin。　　Aunt　Debby　'll　take　keer　on　ye；　an'　ye　'll　not　be　in　a　mite　o'　danger。〃

〃But　we'll　see　you　frequently？〃

〃Ez　offen　ez　I　kin　arrange　hit。　　I'm　actin'　ez　orderly　an'　messenger　'bout　headquarters；　but　I'll　come　ter　ye　whenever　I　kin　git　a　chance；　an'　keep　ye　posted。〃

This　was　Friday　night。　　All　day　Saturday；　as　long　as　the　light　lasted；　Rachel　stood　at　the　window　and　watched　with　sinking　heart　the　steady　inflow　of　the　Rebels　from　the　north。　　That　night　she　and　Aunt　Debby　waited　till　midnight　for　Fortner；　but　he　did　not　come。　All　day　Sunday　she　stood　at　her　post；　and　watched　the　unabated　pouring…in　on　the　Nashville　pike。　　Fortner　did　not　come　that　night。　　She　was　downcast；　but　no　shade　disturbed　the　serenity　of　Aunt　Debby's　sweet　hymning。　　So　it　was　again　on　Monday　and　Tuesday。　The　continually…swarming　multitudes　weighed　down　her　spirits　like　a　millstone。　She　seemed　to　be　encompassed　by　millions　of　armed　enemies。　They　appeared　more　plentiful　than　the　trees；　or　the　rocks；　or　the　leaves　even。　　They　filled　the　streets　of　the　little　town　until　it　seemed　impossible　for　another　one　to　find　standing　room。　　Their　cavalry　blackened　the　faces　of　the　long　ranges　of　hills。　　Their　artillery　and　wagons　streamed　along　the　roads　in　a　never…ending　train。　　Their　camp…fires　lighted　up　the　country　at　night　for　miles；　in　all　directions。

Just　at　dusk　Tuesday　night　Fortner　came　in；　and　was　warmly　welcomed。

〃There　are　such　countless　hosts　of　the　Rebels；〃　Rachel　said　to　him　after　the　first　greetings　were　over；　〃that　I　quite　despair　of　our　men　being　able　to　do　anything　with　them。　　It　seems　impossible　that　there　can　be　gathered　together　anywhere　else　in　the　world　as　many　men　as　they　have。〃

〃I　don't　wonder　ye　think　so；　but　ef　ye'd　been　whar　I　wuz　to…day　ye'd　think　thet　all　the　world　wuz　marchin'　round　in　blue　uniforms。　Over　heah　hit　seems　ez　ef　all　the　cedars　on　the　hills　hed　suddintly　turned　inter　Rebel　soldiers。　　Three　miles　from　heah　the　blue…coats　are　swarmin'　thicker'n　bees　in　a　field　o'　buckwheat。〃

〃Three　miles　from　here！　　Is　our　army　within　three　miles　of　here？〃

〃Hit　sartinly　is；　an'　the　Lord…awfullest　crowd　o'　men　an'　guns　an'　hosses　thet　ever　tromped　down　the　grass　o'　this　ere　airth。　　Why；　hit　jest　dazed　my　eyes　ter　look　at　'em。　　Come　ter　this　other　winder。　D'　ye　see　thet　furtherest　line　o'　campfires；　'way　on　yander　hill？　Well；　them's　Union。　　Ef　ye　could　see　far　enuf　ye'd　see　they're　'bout　five　miles　long；　an'　they　look　purtier'n　the　stars　in　heaven。〃

〃But　if　they　are　so　close　the　battle　will　begin　immediately；　will　it　not？〃

〃Hit　ain't　likely　ter　be　put　off　very　long；　but　thar's　no　tellin'　what'll　happen　in　war；　or　when。〃

〃When　is　my　time　to　come？〃

〃Thet's　what　I've　come　furt　ter　tell　ye。　　Ef　we're　agwine　ter　be　of　sarvice　ter　the　Guv'MENT；　we　must　do　hit　to…night；　fur　most　likely　the　battle'll　begin　in　the　mornin'。　　Hit's　not　jest　the　way　I　intended　ter　make　use　of　ye；　but　hit　can't　be　helped　now。　　I　hev　information　thet　must　reach　Gineral　Rosencrans　afore　daybreak。　The　vict'ry　may　depend　on　hit。　　Ter　make　sure　all　on　us　must　start　with　hit；　fur　gittin'　through　the　lines　is　now　mouty　dangersome；　an'　somebodymebbe　severalis　bound　to　git　cotcht；　mebbe　wuss。　The　men　I　expected　ter　help　me　are　all　gone。　　I　hain't　nobody　now　but　ye　an　Aunt　Debby。　　D'ye　dar　try　an'　make　yer　way　through　the　lines　to…night？〃

Rachel　thought　a　minute　upon　the　dreadful　possibilities　of　the　venture；　and　then　replied　firmly：

〃Yes　I　dare。　　I　will　try　anything　that　the　rest　of　you　will　attempt。〃

〃Good。　　I　knowed　ye'd　talk　thet…a…way。　　Now　we　must　waste　no　time　in　gittin'　started；　fur　God　on'y　knows　what　diffikilties　we'll　meet　on　the　way；　an'　Rosencrans　can't　hev　the　information　enny　too　soon。　　Ev'ry　minute　hit's　kep'　away　from　him'll　cost　many　vallerable　livesmebbe　help　defeat　the　army。〃

〃Tell　me　quickly；　then；　what　I　must　do；　that　I　may　lose　no　time　in　undertaking　it。〃

〃Well；　heah's　a　plan　of　the　position　at　sundown　of　the　Rebels。　Hit's　drawed　out　moughty　roughly　but　hit'll　show　jest　whar　they　all　are；　an'　about　the　number　there　is　at　each　place。　　Hit　begins　on　the　right；　which　is　south　of　Stone　River；　with　Breckenridge's　men；　then　across　the　river　is　Withers；　an'　Cheatham；　an'　Cleburne；　with　McCown's　division　on　the　left；　an'　Wharton's　cavalry　on　the　flank。　　But　the　thing　o'　most　importance　is　thet　all　day　long　they've　been　movin'　men　round　ter　ther　left；　ter　fall　on　our　right　an'　crush　hit。　　They're　hid　in　the　cedar　thickets　over　thar；　an'　they'll　come　out　to…morrow　mornin'　like　a　million　yellin'　devils；　an'　try　ter　sweep　our　right　wing　offen　the　face　o'　the　arth。　　D'ye　understand　what　I've　tole　ye？〃

〃Yes。　　Breckenridge's　division　is　on　their　right；　and　south　of　Stone　River。　　Withers；　Cheatham；　and　Cleburne　come　next；　on　the　north　of　the　river；　with　McCown's　division　and　Wharton's　cavalry　on　the　left；　as　shown　in　the　sketch；　and　they　are　moving　heavy　forces　around　to　their　left；　with　the　evident　intention　of　falling　overwhelmingly　on　our　right　early　in　the　morning。〃

〃Thet's　hit。　　Thet's　hit。　　But　lay　all　the　stres　ye　kin　on　the　movin'　around　ter　ther　left。　　Thar's　mo'　mischief　in　thet　than　all　the　rest。　　Say　thet　thar's　20；000　men　gwine　round　thar　this　arternoon　an'　evening'。　　Say　thet　thar's　the　biggest　thunder…cloud　o'　danger　thet　enny　one　ever　seed。　　Say　hit　over　an'　over；　tell　everybody　understands　hit　an'　gits　ready　ter　meet　hit。　　Tell　hit　till　ye've　made　ev'ry　one　on　'em　understand　thet　thar　can't　be　no　mistake　about　hit；　an'　they　must　look　out　fur　heeps　o'　trouble　on　ther　right。　　Tell　hit　ez　ye　never　tole　anything　afore　in　yer　life。　Tell　hit　ez　ye'd　pray　God　Almighty　fur　the　life　o'　the　one　thet　ye　love　better　then　all　the　world　beside。　　An'　GIT　THAR　ter　tell　hitgit　thru　the　Rebel　linesef　ye　love　yer　God　an'　yer　country；　an'　ye　want　ter　see　the　brave　men　who　are　ter　die　tomorrer　make　their　deaths　count　somethin'　to'ard　savin'　this　Union。　　Hit　may　be　thet　yore　information'll　save　the　army　from　defeat。　　Hit　may　behit's　most　likelythet　hit'll　save　the　lives　o'　thousands　o'　brave　men　who　love　ther　lives　even　ez　yo　an'　me　loves　ourn。〃

〃Trust　me　to　do　all　that　a　devoted　woman　can。　　I　will　get　through　before　daybreak　or　die　in　the　attempt。　　But　how　am　I　to　go？〃

〃Hide　this　paper　somewhar。　　Aunt　Debby'll　fix　ye　up　ez　a　country　gal；　while　I'm　gittin'　yer　mar　saddled　an'　bridled　with　some　common　harness；　instid　o'　the　fancy　fixin's　ye　hed　when　ye　rode　out　heah。　Ef　ye're　stopt；　ez　ye　likely　will　be；　say　that　ye've　been　ter　town　fur　the　doctor；　an'　some　medicine　fur　yer　sick　mammy；　an'　are　tryin'　ter　git　back　ter　yer　home　on　the　south　fork　o'　Overall's　Creek。　Now；　go　an'　git　ready　ez　quick　ez　the　Lord'll　let　ye。〃

As　she　heard　the　mare's　hoofs　in　front　of　the　door；　Rachel　came　out　with　a　〃slat…sun…bonnet〃　on　her　head；　and　a　long；　black　calico　riding…skirt　over　her　linsey　dress。　　Fortner　gave　her　attire　an　approving　nod。　　Aunt　Debby　followed　her　with　a　bottle。　　〃This　is　the　medicine　ye've　bin　ter　git　from　Dr。　Thacker　heah　in　town；〃　she　said；　handing　the　vial。　　〃Remember　the　name；　fur　fear　ye　mout　meet　some　one　who　knows　the　town。　　Dr。　Thacker；　who　lives　a　little　piece　offen　the　square；　an'　gives　big　doses　of　epecac　fur　everything；　from　brakebone　fever　ter　the　itch。〃

〃Dr。　Thacker；　who　lives　just　off　the　square；〃　said　Rachel。　　〃I'll　be　certain　to　remember。〃

〃Take　this；　too；〃　said　Fortner；　handing　her　a　finely…finished　revolver；　of　rather　large　caliber。　　〃Don't　pull　hit　onless　ye　can't　git　along　without　hit；　an'　then　make　sho　o'　yer　man。　　Salt　him。〃

〃Good…byGod　bless　ye；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　taking　Rachel　to　her　heart　in　a　passionate　embrace；　and　kissing　her　repeatedly。　　〃God　bless　ye　agin。　　No　one　ever　hed　more　need　o'　His　blessin'　then　we'uns　will　fur　the　next　few　hours。　　Ef　He　does　bless　us　an'　our　work　we'll　all　be　safe　an'　sound　in　Gineral　Rosencrans'　tent　afore　noon。　　But　ef　His　will's　different　we'll　be　by　thet　time　whar　the　Rebels　cease　from　troublin'；　and　the　weary　are　at　rest。　　I'm　sure　thet　ef　I　thot　the　Rebels　war　gwine　ter　whip　our　men　I'd　never　want　ter　see　the　sun　rise　ter…morrer。　　Good…by；　we're　all　in　the　hands　o'　Him　who　seeth　even　the　sparrer's　fall。〃

Fortner　led　the　mare　a　little　ways；　to　where　he　could　get　a　good　view；　and　then　said：

〃Thet　second　line　o'　fires　which　ye　see　over　thar　is　our　linesthem　fires　I　mean　which　run　up　inter　the　woods。　　The　fust　line　is　the　Rebels。　　Ye'll　go　right　out　this　road　heah　tell　ye　git　outside　the　town；　an'　then　turn　ter　yer　right　an'　make　fur　the　Stone　River。　Ford　hit　or　swim　your　mar'　acrost；　an'　make　yer　way　thru　or　round　the　Rebel　line。　　Ef　ye　find　a　good　road；　an'　everything　favorable　ye　mout　try　ter　make　yer　way　strait　thru　ef　ye　kin　fool　the　gyards　with　yer　story。　　Ef　ye're　fearful　ye　can't　then　ride　beyond　the　lines；　an'　come　inter　ours　thet…a…way　Aunt　Deby'll　go　ter　the　other　flank；　an'　try　ter　git　a…past　Breckinridge's　pickets；　an'　I'll　'tempt　ter　make　my　way　thru　the　center。　　We　may　all　or　none　o'　us　git　thru。　　I　can't　gin　ye　much　advice；　ez　ye'll　hev　ter　trust　mainly　ter　yerself。　　But　remember　all　the　time　what　hangs　upon　yer　gittin'　the　news　ter　Rosy　afore　daybreak。　　Think　all　the　time　thet　mebbe　ye　kin　save　the　hull　army；　mebbe　win　the　vict'ry；　sartinly　save　heeps　o'　Union　lives　an'　fool　the　pizen　Rebels。　　This　is　the　greatest　chance　ye'll　ever　hev　ter　do　good　in　all　yer　life；　or　a　hundred　more；　ef　ye　could　live　'em。　　Good…by。　　Ef　God　Almighty　smiles　on　us　we'll　meet　ter…morrer　on　yon　side　o'　Stone　River。　　Ef　He　frowns　we'll　meet　on　yon　side　o'　the　Shinin'　River。　　Good…by。〃

He　released　her　hand　and　her　horse；　and　she　rode　forward　into　the　darkness。　　Her　course　took　her　first　up　a　main　street；　which　was　crowded　with　wagons；　ambulances　and　artillery。　　Groups　of　men　mingled　with　these；　and　crowded　upon　the　sidewalks。　　When　she　passed　the　light　of　a　window　the　men　stared　at　her；　and　some　few　presumed　upon　her　homely　garb　so　far　as　to　venture　upon　facetious　and　complimentary　remarks；　aimed　at　securing　a　better　acquaintance。

She　made　no　reply；　but　hurried　her　mare　onward；　as　fast　as　she　could　pick　her　way。　　She　soon　passed　out　of　the　limits　of　the　town　and　was　in　the　country；　though　she　was　yet　in　the　midst　of　camps；　and　still　had　to　thread　her　way　through　masses　of　men；　horses　and　wagons　moving　along　the　road。

The　first　flutter　of　perturbation　at　going　out　into　the　darkness　and　the　midst　of　armed　men　had　given　way　to　a　more　composed　feeling。　No　one　had　stopped　her；　or　offered　to；　no　one　had　shown　any　s