the red acorn-第40章
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〃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 disorderly stream of men； fragments of the shattered right； caught her in its rush； and she was borne back to the open fields lying along the pike。 There； as when a turbulent river empties into a bay； the force of the current subsided； and she was dropped like silt。 The cowardly ones； hatless and weaponless； ran off toward the pike； but the greater portion halted； formed in line； called for their comrades to join them； and sent for more cartridges。
Almost dropping with fatigue； Rachel made her way to a pile of cracker…boxes by an Osage…orange hedge； on a knoll； and sat down。 Some fragments of hard…bread； dropped on the trampled sod while rations were being issued； lay around。 She was so hungry that she picked up one or two that were hardly soiled； and nibbled them。
The dreadful clamor of battle grew louder continually。 The musketry had swollen into a sullen roar； with the artillery pulsating high above it。 Crashing vollies of hundreds of muskets fired at once； told of new regiments joining in the struggle。 Rebel brigades raised piercing treble yells as they charged across the open fields against the Union positions。 The latter responded with deep…lunged cheers； as they hurled their assailants back。 Clouds of slowly curling smoke rose above thickets filled with maddened men； firing into one another's breasts。 Swarms of rabbits and flocks of birds dashed out in terror from the dark coverts in which they had hitherto found security。
No gallantry could avail against such overwhelming numbers as assailed the Union right。 The stream of disorganized men flowing back from the thickets became wider and swifter every minute； every minute； too； the din of the conflict came closer； every minute the tide of battle rolled on to regiments lying nearer the pike。
A Surgeon with a squad of stretcher…bearers came up to where Rachel was sitting。
〃Pull down some of those boxes； and fix a place to lay the Colonel till we can make other arrangements；〃 said a familiar voice。 Rachel looked up； and with some difficulty reconciled a grimy…faced man in torn clothes with the trim Hospital Surgeon she had known。
〃Can that be you； Dr。 Denslow？〃 she said。
He had equal difficulty in recognizing her。
〃Is it possible that it is you； Miss Bond？〃 he said in amazement； after she had spoken to him again。 〃Yes； this is I； or as much as is left of me。 And here；〃 and his voice trembled； 〃is about all that is left of the regiment。 The rest are lying about the roots of those accursed cedars； a full mile from here。〃
〃And Harry Glenwhere is he？〃 she said； rising hurriedly from the boxes and passing along the line of stretchers； scanning each face。
A new pain appeared in the Doctor's face； as he watched her。
〃You'll not find him there；〃 he said。 〃The last I saw of him he was forming a handful of the regiment that were still on their feet； to retake cannon which the Rebels had captured。 I was starting off with the Colonel here； when they dashed away。〃
〃Come；〃 he said； after making some temporary provisions for the comfort of his wounded。 〃You must get away from here as quickly as possible。 I fear the army is badly defeated； and it may be a rout soon。 You must get away before the rush begins； for then it will be terrible。〃
He took her over the pike； and across it to where some wagons were standing。 As he was about to put Rachel in one of these their attention was arrested by an officer； apparently acting as Provost Marshal； dragging from behind a huge rock a Lieutenant who was skulking there。 They were too far away to hear what was said； but not so far that they could not recognize the skulker as Lieutenant Jacob Alspaugh。 The Provost Marshal apparently demanded the skulker's name； and wrote it in a book。 Alspaugh seemed to give the information； and accompanied it with a lugubrious pointint to a bandage around his knee。 The Provost Marshal stooped and took the handkerchief off； to find that not even the cloth of the pantaloons had been injured。 He contemptuously tore the straps from Alspaugh's shoulders； and left him。
〃The rascal's cowardice is like the mercy of God；〃 said Denslow； 〃for it endureth forever。〃
He put Rachel in the wagon； and ordered the driver to start at once for Nashville with her。 She pressed his hand； as they separated with fatigue and grief。
How had it been faring all this time with Harry Glen and those with him？
The fierce wave had dashed against the regiment early in the morning； and although the first fire received from the Rebels made gaps in the ranks where fifty men fell； it did not recoil a step； but drove its assailants back with such slaughter that their dead； lying in the open ground over which they crossed； were grimly compared by Abe Bolton to 〃punkins layin' in a field where the corn's been cut off。〃
Then the fight settled into a murderous musketry duel across the field； in which the ranks on both sides melted away like frost in the sun。 In a few minutes all the field officers were down； and the only Captain that remained untouched took command of the regiment； shouting to Harry Glen at the same moment to take command of the two companies on the right； whose Captains； and Lietenants had fallen。 Two guns escaping from the crush at the extreme right； had galloped down； and opened gallantly to assist the regiment。 Almost instantly horses and men went down under the storm of bullets。 An Aide broke through the cedars behind。
〃Fall backfall back； for God's sake！〃 he shouted。 〃The Rebels have got around the right； and will cut you off。〃
〃Fall back； boys；〃 shouted the Captain in command； 〃but keep together； listen to orders； and load as you go。〃 The same instant he fell with a ball through his chest。
〃Sergeant Glen； you're in command of the regiment； now；〃 shouted a dozen voices。
The Lieutenant of the batterya mere boyran up to Harry。 A stream of blood on his jacket matched its crimson trimmings。
〃Don't go off and leave my guns； after I've helped you。 Do not； for the love of Heaven！ I've saved them so far。 Bring them off with you。〃
Harry looked inquiringly around upon the less than one hundred survivors； who gathered about him； and had heard the passionate appeal。 Every face was set with mortal desperation。 An Irish boy on the left was kissing a cross which he had drawn from his bosom。
The tears which strong men shed in wild fits of rage were rolling down the cheeks of Edwards； Bolton； and others。
〃I don't want to live always！〃 shouted Kent with an oath； 〃let's take the … guns！〃
〃I don't want no better place to die than right here！〃 echoed Abe； still more savagely profane。 〃Le's have the guns； or sink into hell getting 'em！〃
The remnant of the Rebel regiment had broken cover and rushed for the guns。
〃Attention！〃 shouted Harry。 〃Fix bayonets！〃
The sharp steel clashed on the muzzles。
〃FORWARD； CHARGE！〃
For one wild minute shining steel at arm's length did its awful work。 Then three…score Rebels fled back to their leafy lair； and as many blue…coats with drew into the cedars； pulling the guns after them。
〃Pick up the Lieutenant； there； some of you who can do a little lifting；〃 said Kent； as they came to where the boy…artillerist lay dead。 〃This prod in my shoulder's spoilt my lifting for some time。 Lay him on the gun and we'll take himj back with us。 He deserves it； for he was game clear through。 Harry； that fellow that gave you that beauty…mark on the temple with his saber got his discharge from the Rebel army just afterwards； on the point of Abe's bayonet。〃
〃Is that so？ Did Abe get struck at all？〃
〃Only a whack over the nose with the butt of a gun； which will doubtless improve his looks。 Any change would。〃
〃Guess we can go back now with some peace and comfort；〃 said Abe； coming up； and alluding to the cessation of the firing in their front。 〃That last round took all the fight out of them hell…hounds across the field。〃
〃Some of you had better go over to the camp there and get our axes。 We'll have to cut a road through the cedars if we take these guns off；〃 said Harry； tieing a handkershief around the gaping saber wound in his temple。 〃The rest of you get around to the right； and keep a sharp look out for the flank。〃
So they worked their way back； and a little after noon came to the open fields by the pike。
…
As the wagon rolled slowly down the pike toward Nashville Rachel； in spite of anxiety； fell asleep。 Some hours later she was awakened by the driver shaking her rudely。
〃Wake up！〃 he shouted； 〃ef ye value yer life！〃
〃Where are we？〃 she asked； rubbing her eyes。
〃At Stewart's Creek；〃 answered the driver； 〃an' all o' Wheeler's cavalry are out thar' in them woods。〃
She looked out。 She could see some miles ahead of her； and as far as she could see the road was filled with wagons moving toward Nashville。 A sharp spurt of firing on the left attracted her attention； and she saw a long wave of horsemen ride out of the woods； and charge the wagon…guards； who made a sharp resistence； but at length fled before overwhelming numbers。 The teamsters； at the first sight of the formidable line； began cutting their wheel…mules loose； and escaping upon them。 Rachel's teamster followed their example。
〃The off…mule's unhitcht； jump on him； an' skip；〃 he shouted to her as he vanished up the pike。
The Rebels were shooting down the mules and such teamsters as remained。 Some dismounted； and with the axes each wagon carried； chopped the spokes until the wagon fell； while others ran along and started fires in each。 In a little while five hundred wagons loaded with rations； clothing； amunition and stores were blazing furiously。 Their work done； the cavalry rode off toward Nashville in search of other trains。
Rachel leaped from the wagon； before the Rebels approached； and took refuge behind a large tree； whence she saw her wagon share the fate of the rest。 When the cavalry disappeared； she came out again into the road and walked slowly up it； debating what she could do。 She was rejoiced to meet her teamster returning。 He had viewed the occurence from a prudent distance； and being kindly…natured had decided to return to her help； as soon as it could be done without risk。
He told her that there was a wagon up the pike a little ways with a woman in it； to which he would conduct her； and they would go back to the army in front of Murfreesboro。
〃It seems a case of 'twixt the devil and the deep sea；〃 he said； despairingly。 〃At any rate we can't stay out here； and my experience is that it is always safest where there is the biggest crowd。〃
They found the wagon with the woman in it。 Its driver had bolted irrevocably； so Rachel's friend assumed the reins。 It was slow work making their way back through the confused mass； but Rachel was lucky enough to sleep through most of it。 When she awoke the next morning the wagon was still on the pike； but in the center of the army； which filled all the open space round…about。
Everywhere were evidences of the terrible work of the day before； and of preparations for renewing it。 The soldiers； utterly exhausted by the previous
