the red acorn-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ped　her；　or　offered　to；　no　one　had　shown　any　symptom　of　surprise　at　her　presence　there　at　that　hour。　　　She　began　to　hope　that　this　immunity　would　continue　until　she　had　made　her　way　to　the　Union　lines。　　she　had　left　the　thick　of　the　crowd　behind　some　distance；　and　was　going　along　at　a　fair　pace；　over　a　clear　road；　studying　all　the　while　the　line　of　fires　far　to　her　right；　in　an　attempt　to　discover　a　promising　dark　gap　in　their　extent。

She　was　startled　by　a　hand　laid　upon　her　bridle；　and　a　voice　saying：

〃Say；　Sis；　who　mout　ye　be；　an'　whar　mout　ye　be　a…mosyin'　ter　this　time　o'　night？〃

She　saw　a　squad　of　brigandish…looking　stragglers　at　her　mare's　head。

〃My　name's　Polly　Briggs。　　I　live　on　the　South　Fork　o'　Overall's　Creek。　　I've　done　been　ter　Dr。　Thacker's　in　Murfreesboro；　fur　some　medicine　fur　my　sick　mammy；　an'　I'm　on　my　way　back　home；　an'　I'd　be　much　obleeged　ter　ye；　gentlemen；　ef　ye'd　'low　me　ter　go　on；　kase　mammy's　powerful　sick；　an'　she's　in　great　hurry　fur　her　medicine。〃

She　said　this　with　a　coolness　and　a　perfect　imitation　of　the　speech　and　manner　of　the　section　that　surprised　herself。　　As　she　ended　she　looked　directly　at　the　squad；　and　inspected　them。　　She　saw　she　had　reason　to　be　alarmed。　　They　were　those　prowling　wolves　found　about　all　armies；　to　whom　war　meant　only　wider　opportunities　for　all　manner　of　villainy　and　outrage。　　An　unprotected　girl　was　a　welcome　prize　to　them。　　It　was　not　death　as　a　spy　she　had　to　fear；　but　worse。　　Now；　if　ever；　she　must　act　decisively。　　The　leader　took　his　hand　from　her　bridle；　as　if　to　place　it　on　her。

〃Yer　a　powerful　peart　sort　of　a　gal；　an'　ez　purty　ez　a　fawn。　　yer　mammy　kin　git　'long　without　the　medicine　a　little　while；　an'…〃

He　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　for　before　his　hand　could　touch　her　Rachel's　whip　cut　a　deep　wale　across　his　face；　and　then　it　fell　so　savagely　upon　the　mare's　flank　that　the　high…spirited　animal　sprung　forward　as　if　shot　from　a　catapult；　and　was　a　hundred　yards　away　before　the　rascals　really　comprehended　what　had　happened。

Onward　sped　the　mettled　brute；　so　maddened　by　the　first　cruel　blow　she　had　ever　received　that　she　refused　to　obey　the　rein；　but　made　her　own　way　by　and　through　such　objects　as　she　encountered。　　When　she　at　last　calmed　down　the　road　was　clear　and　lonely；　and　Rachel　began　searching　for　indications　of　a　favorable　point　of　approach　to　the　river；　that　hinted　at　a　bridge　or　a　ford。　　While　engaged　in　this　she　heard　voices　approaching。　　A　moment's　listening　to　teh　mingling　of　tones　convinced　her　that　it　was　another　crowd　of　stragglers；　and　she　obeyed　her　first　impulse；　which　was　to　leap　her　horse　over　a　low　stone　wall　to　her　right。　　Taking　her　head　again；　the　mare　did　not　stop　until　she　galloped　down　to　the　water's　edge。

〃I'll　accept　this　as　lucky；〃　said　Rachel　to　herself。　　〃The　ancients　trusted　more　to　their　horses'　instincts　than　their　own　perceptions　in　times　of　danger；　and　I'll　do　the　same。　　I'll　cross　here。〃

She　urged　the　mare　into　the　water。　　The　beast　picked　her　way　among　the　boulders　on　the　bottom　successfully　for　a　few　minutes。　　The　water　rose　to　Rachel's　feet；　but　that　seemed　its　greatest　depth；　and　in　a　few　more　yards　she　would　gain　the　opposite　bank；　when　suddenly　the　mare　stepped　upon　a　slippery　steep；　her　feet　went　from　under　her　instantly；　and　steed　and　rider　rolled　in　the　sweeping　flood　of　ice…cold　water。　　Rachel's　first　thought　was　that　she　should　surely　drown；　but　hope　came　back　as　she　caught　a　limb　swinging　from　a　tree　on　the　bank。　　With　this　she　held　her　head　above　water　until　she　could　collect　herself　a　little；　and　then　with　great　difficulty　pulled　herself　up　the　muddy；　slippery　bank。　　The　weight　of　her　soaked　clothes　added　greatly　to　the　difficulty　and　the　fatigue；　and　she　lay　for　some　little　time　prone　upon　her　face　across　the　furrows　of　a　cotton　field；　before　she　could　stand　erect。　　At　last　she　was　able　to　stand　up；　and　she　relieved　herself　somewhat　by　taking　off　her　calico　riding　skirt　and　wringing　the　water　from　it。　　Her　mare　had　also　gained　the　bank　near　the　same　point　she　had；　and　stood　looking　at　her　with　a　world　of　wonder　at　the　whole　night's　experience　in　her　great　brown　eyes。

〃Poor　thing；〃　said　Rachel　sympathetically。　　〃This　is　only　the　beginning。　　Heaven　knows　what　we　won't　have　to　go　through　with　before　the　sun　rises。〃

She　tried　to　mount；　but　her　watery　garments　were　too　much　for　her　agility；　and　with　the　wet　skirts　fettering　her　limbs　she　began　toiling　painfully　over　the　spongy；　plowed　ground；　in　search　of　a　stump　or　a　rock。　　She　thought　she　saw　many　around　her；　but　on　approaching　one　after　another　found　they　were　only　large　cotton　plants；　with　a　boll　or　two　of　ungathered　cotton　on　them；　which　aided　the　darkness　in　giving　them　their　deceptive　appearance。　　She　prevented　herself　from　traveling　in　a　circle；　by　remembering　this　aptitude　of　benighted　travelers；　and　keeping　her　eye　steadily　fixed　on　a　distant　camp…fire。　　When　she　at　last　came　to　the　edge　of　the　field　she　had　to　lean　against　the　fence　for　some　minutes　before　she　could　recover　from　her　fatigue　sufficiently　to　climb　upon　it。　　While　she　sat　for　a　minute　there　she　heard　some　cocks；　at　a　neighboring　farm…house；　crow　the　turn　of　night。

〃It　is　midnight；〃　she　said　feverishly；　〃and　I　have　only　begun　the　journey。　　Now　let　every　nerve　and　muscle　do　its　utmost。〃

She　rode　along　the　fence　until　she　came　to　an　opening　which　led　into　what　appeared　in　the　darkness　to　be　another　cotton　field；　but　proved　to　be　a　worn…out　one；　long　ago　abandoned　to　the　rank…growing　briars；　which　clung　to　and　tore　her　skirts；　and　seamed　the　mare's　delicate　skin　with　bleeding　furrows。　　The　flinching　brute　pressed　onward；　in　response　to　her　mistress's　encouragement；　but　the　progress　was　grievously　slow。

Presently　Rachel　began　to　see　moving　figures　a　little　way　ahead　of　her；　and　hear　voices　in　command。　　She　eralized　that　she　was　approaching　the　forces　moving　to　the　attack　on　the　Union　right。　There　was　something　grotesque；　weird；　even　frightful　in　the　sounds　and　the　aspect　of　the　moving　masses　and　figures；　but　she　at　last　made　out　that　they　were　batteries；　regiments　and　mounted　men。　　She　decided　that　her　best　course　was　to　mingle　with　and　move　along　with　them；　until　she　could　get　a　chance　to　ride　away　in　advance。　　For　hours　that　seemed　weeks　she　remained　entangled　in　the　slow…moving　mass；　whose　bewildering　vagaries　of　motion　were　as　trying　to　the　endurance　of　her　steed　as　they　were　exasperating　to　her　own　impatience。　Occasionally　she　caught　glimpses　of　the　Union　camp…fires　in　the　distance；　that；　low　and　smoldering；　told　of　the　waning　night；　and　she　would　look　anxiously　over　her　left　shoulder　for　a　hint　of　the　coming　of　the　dreaded　dawn。　　Her　mare　terrified　her　with　symptoms　of　giving　out。

At　last　she　saw　an　unmistakable　silvery　break　in　the　eastern　clouds。　　Half…frantic　she　broke　suddenly　out　of　the　throng　by　an　abrupt　turn　to　the　right；　and　lashing　her　mare　savagely；　galloped　where　a　graying　in　the　dense　darkness　showed　an　opening　between　two　cedar　thickets；　that　led　to　the　picket…fires；　half　a　mile　away。　The　mare's　hoofs　beat　sonorously　on　the　level　limestone　floor；　which　there　frequently　rises　through　the　shallow　soil　and　starves　out　the　cedar。

〃Halt！　　Go　back；〃　commanded　a　hoarse　voice　in　front　of　her；　which　was　accompanied　with　the　clicking　of　a　gunlock。　　〃Ye　can't　pass　heah。〃

〃Lemme　pass；　Mister；〃　she　pleaded。　　〃I'm　on'y　a　gal；　with　medicine　fur　my　mammy；　an'　I'm　powerful　anxious　ter　git　home。〃

〃No；　ye　can't　git　out　heah。　　Orders　are　strict；　besides；　ef　ye　did　the　Yankees　'd　cotch　ye。　　They're　jest　out　thar。〃

She　became　aware　that　there　were　heavy　lines　of　men　lying　near；　and　fearing　to　say　another　word；　she　turned　and　rode　away　to　the　left。　　She　became　entagled　with　a　cavalry　company　moving　toward　the　extreme　Union　right；　and　riding　with　it　several　hundred　yards；　turned　off　into　a　convenient　grove　just　as　the　light　began　to　be　sufficient　to　distinguish　her　from　a　trooper。　　She　was　now；　she　was　sure；　outside　of　the　Rebel　lines；　but　she　had　gone　far　to　the　south；　where　the　two　lines　were　wide　apart。　　The　Union　fifes　and　drums；　now　sounding　what　seemed　an　unsuspicous　and　cheerful　reveille；　were　apparently　at　least　a　mile　away。　　It　was　growing　lighter　rapidly；　and　every　passing　moment　was　fraught　with　the　weightiest　urgency。　She　concentrated　all　her　energies　for　a　supreme　effort；　and　lashed　her　mare　forward　over　the　muddy　cotton…field。　　The　beast's　hoofs　sank　in　the　loose　red　loam；　as　if　it　were　quicksand；　and　her　pace　was　maddeningly　slow。　　At　last　Rachel　came　in　sight　of　a　Union　camp　at　the　edge　of　a　cedar　thicket。　　The　arms　were　stacked；　the　men　were　cooking　breakfast；　and　a　battery　of　cannon　standing　near　had　no　horses　attached。

Rachel　beat　the　poor　mare's　flanks　furiously；　and　shouted。

〃Turn　out！　　The　Rebels　are　coming！　　The　Rebels　are　coming！〃

Her　warning　came　too　late。　　Too　late；　also；　came　that　of　the　pickets；　who　were　firing　their　guns　and　rushing　back　to　camp　before　an　awful　wave　of　men　that　had　rolled　out　of　the　cedars　on　the　other　side　of　the　cotton　field。

A　hundred　boisterous　drums　were　now　making　the　thickets　ring　with　the　〃long　roll。〃　　Rachel　saw　the　men　in　front　of　her　leave　their　coffee…making；　rush　to　the　musket　stacks　and　take　their　places　in　line。　　In　another　minute　they　were　ordered　forward　to　the　fence　in　front　of　them；　upon　which　they　rested　their　muskets。　　Rachel　rode　through　their　line　and　turned　around　to　look。　　The　broad　cotton　field　was　covered　with　solid　masses　of　Rebels；　rushing　forward　with　their　peculiar　fierce　yell。

〃Fire！〃　shouted　the　Colonel　in　front　of　her。　　The　six　field…pieces　to　her　right　split　her　ears　with　their　crash。　　A　thousand　muskets　blazed　out　a　fire　that　withered　the　first　line　of　the　advancing　foe。　　Another　crash；　and　the　Rebels　had　answered　with　musketry　and　artillery；　that　tore　the　cedars　around　her；　sent　the　fencerails　flying　into　the　air；　and　covered　the　ground　with　blue…coats。　　Her　faithful　mare　shied；　caught　her　hoof　in　a　crack　in　the　limestone；　and　fell　with　a　broken　leg。

So　began　that　terrible　Wednesday；　December　31；　1862。

Bragg's　plan　of　battle　was　very　simple。　　Rosencrans　had　stretched　out　a　long　thin　wing　through　the　cedars　to　the　right　of　the　pike。　At　the　pike　it　was　very　strong；　but　two　miles　away　it　degenerated　into　scattered　regiments；　unskilfully　disposed。　　Bragg　threw　against　these　three　or　four　to　one；　with　all　the　fury　of　the　Southern　soldier　in　the　onset。　　The　line　was　crumbled；　and　before　noon　crushed　back　to　the　pike。

Rachel　disengaged　herself　from　her　fallen　steed；　and　leaning　against　a　sapling；　watched　the　awful　collision。　　She　forgot　the　great　danger　in　the　fascination　of　the　terrible　spectacle。　　She　thought　she　had　seen　men　scale　the　whole　gamut　of　passion；　but　their　wildest　excesses　were　tame　and　frothy　beside　this　ecstacy　of　rage　in　the　fury　of　battle。　　The　rustic　Southerners　whom　she　had　seen　at　ball…play；　the　simple…hearted　Northerners　whom　she　had　alarmed　at　their　coffee…making；　were　now　transformed　into　furies　mad　with　the　delirium　of　slaughter；　and　heedless　of　their　own　lives　in　the　frenzy　of　taking　those　of　others。

〃You　had　better　run　back；　young　woman；〃　said　some　one　touching　her　elbow。　　〃The　whole　line's　going　to　fall　back。　　We're　flanked。〃

A