the red acorn-第4章

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y　the　sings　of　his　chase's　distress。　　First　the　bell…crowned　hat　flew　off　and　rolled　behind；　and　Jake　could　not　resist　the　temptation　to　give　it　a　kick　which　sent　it　spinning　into　a　clump　of　honeysuckles。　Then　the　Rebel　flung　off　a　haversack；　whose　flapping　interfered　with　his　speed；　and　this　was　followed　by　a　clumsily…constructed　cedar　canteen。　　The　thought　flashed　into　Jake's　mind　that　this　was　probably　filled　with　the　much…vaunted　peach…brandy　of　that　section；　and　as　ardent　sprits　were　one　of　his　weaknesses；　the　temptation　to　stop　and　pick　up　the　canteen　was　very　strong；　but　he　conquered　it　and　hurried　on　after　his　prey。　　Next　followed　the　fugitive's　belt；　loaded　down　with　an　antique　cartridge…box；　a　savage　knife　made　from　a　rasp　and　handled　with　buckhorn；　and　a　fierce…looking　horse…pistol　with　a　flint…lock。

〃I　seemed　to　be　bustin'　up　a　moosyum　o'　revolutionary　relics；〃　said　Jake　afterward；　in　describing　the　incident。　　〃The　feller　dropped　keepsakes　from　his　forefathers　like　a　bird　moltin'　its　feathers　on　a　windy　day。　　I　begun　to　think　that　if　I　kep　up　the　chase　purty　soon　he'd　begin　to　shed　Continental　money　and　knee…britches。〃

The　fugitive　turned　off　to　the　right　into　a　narrow　path　that　wound　through　the　laurel　thickets。　　Jake　followed　with　all　the　energy　that　remained　in　him；　confident　that　a　short　distance　more　would　bring　him　so　close　to　his　game　that　he　could　force　his　surrender　by　a　threat　of　bayoneting。　　He　caught　up　to　within　a　rod　of　the　Rebel；　and　was　already　foreshortening　his　gun　for　a　lunge　in　case　of　refusal　to　surrender　on　demand；　when　he　was　amazed　to　see　the　Rebel　whirl　around；　level　his　gun　at　him；　and　order　HIS　surrender。　Jake　was　so　astonished　that　he　stumbled；　fell　forward　and　dropped　his　gun。　　As　he　raised　his　eyes　he　saw　three　or　four　other　Rebels　step　out　from　behind　a　rock；　and　level　their　guns　upon　him　with　an　expression　of　bloodthirstiness　that　seemed　simply　fiendish。

Then　it　flashed　upon　him　how　far　away　he　was　from　all　his　comrades；　and　that　the　labyrinth　of　laurel　made　them　even　more　remote。　　With　this　realization　came　the　involuntary　groan：

〃O；　Lordy！　it's　all　up　with　me。　　I'm　a　goner；　sure！〃

His　courage　did　not　ooze　out　of　his　fingers；　like　the　historic　Bob　Acres's；　it　vanished　like　gas　from　a　rent　balloon。　　He　clasped　his　hands　and　tried　to　think　of　some　prayer。

〃Now　I　lay　me；〃　he　murmured。

〃Shan't　we　shoot　the　varmint？〃　said　one　of　the　Rebels；　with　a　motion　of　his　gun　in　harmony　with　that　idea。

〃O；　mistermisterGOOD　mister；　DON'T！　　PLEASE　don't！　　I　swear　I　didn't　mean　to　do　no　harm　to　you。〃

〃Wall；　ye　acted　monty　quare　fur　a　man　that　didn't　mean　no　harm；〃　said　the　pursued　man；　regaining　his　breath　with　some　difficulty。　〃A…chasin'　me　down　with　thet　ar　prod　on　yer　gun；　an'　a…threatenin'　to　stick　hit　inter　me　at　every　jump。　　Only　wanted　ter　see　me　run；　did　yer？〃

〃O；　mister；　I　only　done　it　because　I　wuz　ordered　to。　　I　couldn't　help　myself；　I　swear　I　couldn't。〃

〃Whar's　the　ossifers　thet　wuz　a…orderin'　ye？　　Whar's　the　captins　that　wuz　puttin'　ye　up　ter　hit？　　Thar　wan't　no　one　in　a　mile　of　ye。　　Guess　we'd　better　shoot　ye。〃

Again　Jake　raised　his　voice　in　abject　appeal　for　mercy。　　There　was　nothing　he　was　not　willing　to　promise　if　only　his　life　were　only　spared。

〃Wouldn't　hit　be　better　ter　bay'net　him？〃　suggested　one　of　the　Rebels；　entirely　unmoved；　as　his　comrades　were；　by　Jake's　piteous　pleadings。　　〃Ef　we　go　ter　shootin'　'round　yere　hit'll　liekly　bring　the　Yankees　right　onter　us。〃

〃I　'spect　hit　would　be　better　ter　take　him　back　a　little　ways；　any　way；〃　said　the　man　whom　Jake　had　pursued。　　〃Pick　up　his　gun　thar；　Eph。　　Come　along；　you；　an'　be　monty　peart　about　hit；　fur　we're　in　a　powerful　bad　frame　o'　mind　ter　be　fooled　with。　　I　wouldn't　gin　a　fi'…penny…bit　fur　all　yer　blue…bellied　life's　worth。　　The　boys　ar　jest　pizen　mad　from　seein'　so　many　o'　thar　kin　and　folks　killed　by　yer　crowd　o'　thievin'　Hessians。〃

Grateful　for　even　a　momentary　respite；　Jake　rose　from　his　knees　with　alacrity　and　humbly　followed　one　of　the　Rebels　along　the　path。　The　others　strode　behind；　and　occasionally　spurred　him　into　a　more　rapid　pace　with　a　prick　from　their　bayonets。

〃O；…ough；　mister；　don't　do　that！　　Don't；　PLEASE！　　You　don't　know　how　it　hurts。　　I　ain't　got　no　rhinoceros　skin　to　stand　such　jabs　as　that。　　That　came　purty　nigh　goin'　clean　through　to　my　heart。〃

〃Skeet　ahead　faster；　then；　or　the　next　punch'll　go　righ　smack　through　ye；　fur　sartin。　　Ef　yer　skin's　so　tender　what　are　ye　doin'　in　the　army？〃

They　climbed　the　mountain　laboriously；　and　started　down　on　the　other　side。　　About　midway　in　the　descent　they　came　upon　a　deserted　cabin　standing　near　the　side　of　the　road。

〃By　the　Lord　Harry；〃　said　one　of　the　Rebels；　〃I'm　a'most　done　clean　gin　out；　so　I　am。　　I'm　tireder　nor　a　claybank　hoss　arter　a　hard　day's　plowin'；　an'　I'm　ez　dry　ez　a　lime…kiln。　　I　motion　that　we　stop　yere　an'　take　a　rest。　　We　kin　put　our　Yank　in　the　house　thar；　an'　keep　him。　　I　wonder　whar　the　spring　is　that　the　folks　thet　lived　yere　got　thar　water　from？〃

〃Ef　I　don't　disremember；〃　said　another；　〃this　is　the　house　where　little　Pete　Higgenbottom　lived　afore　the　country　got　ruther　onhelthy　fur　him　on　account　of　his　partiality　for　other　people's　hosses。　　I　made　a　little　trip　up　yere　the　time　I　loss　thet　little　white…faced　bay　mar　of　pap's；　an　I'm　purty　sure　the　spring's　over　thar　in　the　holler。〃

〃Lordy；　how　they　must　've　hankered　arter　the　fun　o'　totin'　water　to　've　lugged　hit　clar　from　over　tha。　　I'd've　moved　the　house　nigher　the　spring　afore　I'd've　stood　thet　ere　a　month；　so　I　would。〃

〃The　distance　to　the　water　ortent　to　bother　a　feller　thet　gets　along　with　usin'　ez　little　ez　you　do；〃　growled　the　first　speaker。

〃A　man　whose　nose　looks　like　a　red…pepper　pod　in　August；　and　his　shirt　like　a　section　o'　rich　bottom　land；　hain't　no　great　reason　ter　make　remarks　on　other　folks's　use　o'　water。〃

Jake　plucked　up　some　courage　from　the　relaxation　in　the　savage　grimness　of　his　captors；　which　seemed　implied　by　this　rough　pleasantry；　and　with　him　such　recuperation　of　spirits　naturally　took　the　form　of　brassy　self…assertion。

〃Don't　you　fellers　know；〃　he　began　with　a　manner　and　tone　intended　to　be　placating；　but　instead　was　rasping　and　irritating；　〃don't　you　fellers　know　that　the　best　thing　you　can　do　with　me　is　to　take　me　back　to　our　people；　and　trade　me　off　for　one　of　your　fellers　that　they've　ketched？〃

〃An'　don't　ye　know　thet　the　best　thing　ye　kin　do　is　to　keep　thet　gapin'　mouth　o'　your'n　shet；　so　thet　the　flies　won't　git　no　chance　to　blow　yer　throat？〃　said　the　man　whose　nose　had　been　aptly　likened　to　a　ripe　red…pepper　pod；　〃an'　the　next　best　thing's　fur　ye　to　git　inter　that　cabin　thar　quicker'n　blazes　'll　scorch　a　feather；　an'　stay　thar　without　makin'　a　motion　toward　gittin'　away。　　Git！〃　and　he　made　a　bayonet　thrust　at　Jake　that　tore　open　his　blouse　and　shirt；　and　laid　a　great　gaping　wound　along　his　breast。　　Jake　leaped　into　the　cabin　and　threw　himself　down　upon　the　puncheon　floor。

〃Thar　war　none　of　our　crowd　taken；〃　said　another　of　the　squad；　who　had　looked　on　approvingly。　　〃They　wuz　all　killed；　an'　the　only　way　to　git　even　is　ter　send　ye　whar　they　are。〃

Jake　made　another　earnest　effort　to　recall　one　of　the　prayers　he　had　derided　in　his　bad　boyhood。

Leaving　the　red…nosed　man　to　guard　the　prisoner；　the　rest　of　the　Rebels　started　for　the　hollow；　in　search　of　water　to　cool　their　burning　thirst。

They　had　gained　such　a　distance　from　the　scene　of　the　fight；　and　were　in　such　an　out…of…the…way　place；　that　the　thought　of　being　overtaken　did　not　obtrude　itself　for　an　instant；　either　upon　their　minds　or　Jake's。

But　as　they　came　back　up　the　hill；　with　a　gourd　full　of　spring　water　for　their　companion；　they　were　amazed　to　see　a　party　of　blue…coats　appear　around　the　bend　of　the　road　at　a　little　distance。　　They　dropped　the　gourd　of　water；　and　yelled　to　the　man　on　guard：

〃Kill　the　Yank；　an'　run　for　yer　life！〃　and　disappeared　themselves；　in　the　direction　of　the　spring。

The　guard　comprehended　the　situation　and　the　order。　　He　fired　his　gun　at　Jake；　but　with　such　nervous　haste　as　to　destroy　the　aim；　and　send　the　charge　into　the　puncheon　a　foot　beyond　his　intended　victim；　and　then　ran　off　with　all　speed　to　join　his　companions。　the　Union　boys　sent　a　few　dropping　shots　after　him；　all　of　which　missed　their　mark。

Jake　managed　to　recover　his　nerves　and　wits　sufficiently　to　stagger　to　the　door　as　his　comrades　came　up；　and　grasp　one　of　the　guns　the　Rebels　had　left。

Questions　and　congratulations　were　showered　upon　him；　but　he　replied　incoherently；　and　gasped　a　request　for　water；　as　if　he　were　perishing　from　thirst。　　While　some　hunted　for　this；　others　sought　for　traces　of　the　Rebels；　so　he　gained　time　to　fix　up　a　fairly　presentable　story　of　a　desperate　and　long…continued　bayonet　struggle　in　which　he　was　behaving　with　the　greatest　gallantry；　although　nearly　hopeless　of　success；　when　the　arrival　of　help　changed　the　aspect　of　matters。　　He　had　so　many　gaping　wounds　to　confirm　the　truth　of　this　story；　that　it　was　implicitly　believed；　and　he　was　taken　back　to　camp　as　on　e　of　the　foremost　heroes　of　that　eventful　day。　　The　Colonel　made　him　a　Sergeant　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　tale；　and　regretted　much　that　he　could　not　imitate　the　example　of　the　great　Napoleon；　and　raise　him　to　a　commission；　on　the　scene　of　his　valiant　exploits。　　His　cot　at　the　hospital　was　daily　visited　by　numbers　of　admiring　comrades；　to　whom　he　repeated　his　glowing　account　of　the　fight；　with　marked　improvements　in　manner　and　detail　accompanying　every　repetition。

He　had　no　desire　to　leave　the　hospital　during　his　term　of　service；　but　his　hurts　were　all　superficial　and　healed　rapidly；　so　that　in　a　fortnight's　time　the　Surgeon　pronounced　him　fit　to　return　to　duty。　　He　cursed　inwardly　tha　officer's　zeal　in　keeping　the　ranks　as　full　as　possible；　and　went　back　to　his　company　to　find　it　preparing　to　go　into　another　fight。

〃Hello；　Jake；〃　said　his　comrades；　〃awful　glad　to　see　you　back。　　Now　you'll　have　a　chance　to　get　your　revenge　on　those　fellows。　　There'll　be　enough　of　us　with　you　to　see　that　you　get　a　fair　fight。〃

〃To　the　devil　with　their　revenge　and　a　fair　fight；〃　said　Jake　to　himself。　　That　evening　he　strolled　around　to　the　headquarters　tent；　and　said　to　the　commander　of　the　regiment：

〃Colonel；　the　doctor　seems　to　think　that　I'm　fit　to　return　to　duty；　but　I　don't　feel　all　right　yet。　　I've　a　numbness　in　my　legs；　so　that　I　kin　hardly　walk　sometims。　　It's　my　old　rheumatics；　stirred　up　by　sleeping　out　in　the　night　air。　　I　hear　that　the　man　who's　been　drivin'　the　headquarters　wagin　has　had　to　go　to　the　hospital。　I　want　to　be　at　something；　even　if　I　can't　do　duty　in　the　ranks；　and　I'd　like　to　take　his　place　till　him　and　me　gets　well。〃

〃All　right；　Sergeant。　　You　can　have　the　place　as　long　as　you　wish；　or　any　other　that　I　can　give　you。　　I　can't　do　too　much　for　so　brave　a　man。〃

So　it　happened　that　in　the　next　fight　the　regiment　was　not　gratified　by　any　thrilling　episodes　of　sanguinary；　single…handed　combats；　between　the　indomitable　Jake　and　bloodthirsty　Rebels。

He　had　deferred　his　〃revenge〃　indefinitely。





Chapter　IV。　　Disgrace。




For　of　fortune's　sharp　adversitie　　　The　worst　kind　of　infortune　is　this：　A　man　that　hath　been　in　prosperitie；