the red acorn-第41章

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Everywhere　were　evidences　of　the　terrible　work　of　the　day　before；　and　of　preparations　for　renewing　it。　　The　soldiers；　utterly　exhausted　by　the　previous　days'　frightful　strain；　lay　around　on　the　naked　ground；　sleeping；　or　in　a　half…waking　torpor。

An　officer　rode　up　to　the　wagon。　　〃There　seems　to　be　some　flour　on　this　wagon；〃　said　the　voice　of　Dr。　Denslow。　　〃Well；　that　may　stay　the　boys'　stomachs　until　we　can　get　something　better。　　Go　on　a　little　ways；　driver。〃

〃O；　Doctor　Denslow；〃　called　out　Rachel；　as　the　wagon　stopped　again；　〃what　is　the　news？〃

〃You　here　again？〃　said　the　Doctor；　recognizing　the　voice：　　〃well　that　is　good　news。　　When　I　heard　about　Wheeler's　raid　on　our　trains　I　was　terribly　alarmed　as　to　your　fate。　　This　relieves　me　much。〃

〃But　how　about　the　army？〃

〃Well　it　seems　to　have　been　a　case　of　hammer　and　anvil　yesterday；　in　which　both　suffered　pretty　badly；　but　the　hammer　go　much　the　worst　of　it。　　We　are　in　good　shape　now　to　give　them　some　more；　if　they　want　it；　which　so　far　they　have　not　indicated　very　strongly。　Here；　Sergeant　Glen；　is　a　couple　barrels　of　flour；　which　you　can　take　to　issue　to　your　regiment。〃

Had　not　the　name　been　called　Rachel　could　never　have　recognized　her　former　elegant　lover　in　the　salwart　man　with　tattered　uniform；　swollen　face；　and　head　wrapped　in　a　bloody　bandage；　who　came　to　the　wagon　with　a　squad　to　receive　the　flour。

A　tumult　of　emotions　swept　over　her；　but　superior　to　them　all　was　the　feminine　feeling　that　she　could　not　endure　to　have　Harry　see　her　in　her　present　unprepossessing　plight。

〃Don't　mention　my　name　before　those　men；〃　she　said　to　Dr。　Denslow；　when　he　came　near　again。

〃Very　good；〃　he　answered。　　〃Sit　still　in　the　wagon；　and　nobody　will　see　you。　　I　will　have　the　wagon　driver　over　to　the　hospital　presently；　with　the　remainder　of　the　flour；　and　you　can　go　along。〃

All　the　old　love　seemed　to　have　been　out　at　compound　interest；　from　the　increment　that　came　back　to　her　at　the　sound　of　Harry　Glen's　voice；　now　so　much　deeper；　fuller　and　more　masterful　than　in　the　fastidious　days　of　yore。　　She　lifted　the　smallest　corner　of　the　wagon…cover　and　looked　out。　　The　barrel　heads　had　been　beaten　in　with　stones；　and　a　large　cupful　of　flour　issued　to　each　of　the　hungry　men。　　They　had　mixed　it　up　into　dough　with　water　from　the　ditch；　and　were　baking　it　before　the　fire　on　large　flat　stones；　which　abounded　in　the　vicinity。

〃I'll　mix　up　enough　for　all　three　of　us　on　this　board；〃　she　heard　Harry　say　to　Abe　and　Kent。　　〃With　your　game　arm；　Kent；　and　Abe's　battered　eyes；　your　cooking　skill's　about　gone。　　You　ought　to　both　of　you　go　to　the　hospital。　　You　can't　do　any　good；　and　why　expose　yourself　for　nothing？　　I've　a　mind　to　use　my　authority　and　send　you　to　the　hospital　under　guard。〃

〃You　try　it　if　you　dare；　after　my　saving　your　life　yesterday；〃　said　Abe。　　〃I　can　see　well　enough　yet　to　shoot　toward　the　Rebels；　and　that's　all　that's　necessary。〃

〃I　enlisted　for　the　war；〃　said　Kent；　〃and　I'm　going　to　stay　till　peace　is　declared。　　I　went　into　this　fight　to　see　it　through；　and　I'm　going　to　stay　until　we　whhip　them　if　there's　a　piece　of　me　left　that　can　wiggle。　　Bragg's　got　to　acknowledge　that　I'm　the　best　man　before　I'll　ever　let　up　on　him。〃

Rachel　longed　to　leap　out　of　the　wagon；　and　do　the　bread…making　for　these　clumsy　fellows；　but　pride　would　not　consent。

The　dough　was　browning　slowly　on　the　hot　stones；　but　not　yet　nearly　done；　when　the　spiteful　spirits　of　firing　out　in　front　suddenly　burst　into　a　roar；　with　a　crash　of　artillery。　　A　bugle　sounded　near。

〃Fall　in；　boys；〃　shouted　Harry；　springing　to　his　feet；　and　tearing　off　the　flakes　of　dough；　which　he　hastily　divided　with　his　comrades。　〃Right　dress。　　Right　face；　forward；　file　rightmarch！〃

〃If　there　is　anything　that　I　despise；　it's　disturbing　a　gentleman　at　his　meals；〃　said　Kent；　giving　the　fire　a　spiteful　kick；　as　he　tucked　the　bread　under　his　lame　arm；　took　his　musket　in　his　other　hand；　and　started　off　in　the　rear　of　the　regiment；　accompanied　by　the　purblind　Abe。

Rachel's　heart　sank；　as　she　saw　them　move　off；　but　it　rose　again　when　the　firing　died　down　as　suddenly　as　it　had　flamed　up。

Soon　Dr。　Denslow　took　the　wagon　off　to　a　cabin　on　a　high　bank　of　Stone　River；　which　he　was　using　as　a　hospital。

She　called　some　question　to　him；　as　he　turned　away　to　direct　the　preparation　of　the　flour　into　food　for　his　patients；　when　some　one　cried　out　from　the　interior　of　the　cabin：

〃Rachel　Bond！　　Is　that　you？　　Come　in　heah；　honey。〃

She　entered；　and　found　Aunt　Debby　lying　on　the　rude　bed　of　the　former　inhabitants　of　the　cabin。

〃O　my　lovemy　darlingmy　honey；　is　that　you？〃　said　the　elderly　woman；　with　streaming　eyes；　reaching　out　her　thin　arms　to　take　Rachel　to　her　heart。　　〃I　never　expected　ter　see　ye　ag'in！　　But　God　is　good。〃

〃Aunt　Debby；　is　it　possible？　　Are　you　hurt；　dear？〃

〃No；　not　hurt　child；　on'y　killed；〃　she　answered　with　a　sweet　radiance　on　her　face。

〃Killed？　　It　is　not　possible。〃

〃Yes；　honey；　it　is　possible。　　It　is　true。　　The　gates　open　for　me　at　last。〃

〃How　did　it　happen？〃

〃I　got　through　Breckenridge's　lines　all　right；　an'　reached　the　river；　but　thar　was　a　picket　thar；　hid　behind　a　tree；　and　ez　he　heered　my　hoss's　feet　splash　in　the　ford；　he　shot　me　through　the　back。　　An'　I　didn't　get　through　in　time；〃　she　added；　with　the　first　shade　of　melancholy　that　had　yet　appeared　in　her　face。　　〃Did　YOU？〃

〃No；　I　was　too　late；　too。〃

〃An'　Jim　must've　been；　too。　　Hev　ye　seed　him　any　whar？〃

〃No；〃　said　Rachel；　unable　to　restrain　her　tears。

〃Now；　honey；　don't　cry　for　medon't；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　pulling　the　young　face　down　to　where　she　could　kiss　it。　　〃Hit's　jest　ez　I　want　hit。　　On'y　let　me　know　thet　Bragg　is　whipt；　an'　I　die　happy。〃

All　day　Thursday　the　two　bruised　armies　lay　and　confronted　each　other；　as　two　bulldogs；　which　have　torn　and　mangled　one　another；　will　stop　for　a　few　minutes；　to　lick　their　hurts　and　glare　their　hatred；　while　they　regain　breath　to　carry　on　the　fight。

Friday　morning　it　was　the　same；　but　there　was　a　showing　of　teeth　and　a　rising　fierceness　as　the　day　grew　older；　which　was　very　portentous。

While　standing　at　the　door　of　the　cabin　Rachel　had　seen　Harry　Glen　march　down　the　bank　at　the　head　of　the　regiment；　and　cross　the　ford　to　the　heights　in　front　of　Breckenridge。　　She　picked　up　a　field…glass　that　lay　on　a　shelf　near；　and　followed　the　movements　of　the　force　the　regiment　had　joined。

〃What　d'　ye　see；　honey？〃　called　out　Aunt　Debby。　　She　was　becoming　very　fearful　that　she　would　die　before　the　victory　was　won。

〃Our　people；〃　answered　Rachel；　〃seem　to　be　concentrating　in　front　of　Breckenridge。　　There　must　be　a　division　over　there。　　Breckenridge　sees　it；　and　his　cannon　are　firing　at　our　men。　　He　is　bringing　men　up　at　the　double　quick。〃　　She　stopped；　for　a　spasm　of　fear　in　regard　to　Harry　choked　her。

〃Go　on；　honey。　　What　are　they　doing　now？〃

〃Our　men　have　formed　a　long　line；　reaching　from　the　river　up　to　the　woods。　　They　begin　to　march　forward。　　Breckenridge　opens　more　guns。　　They　cut　lanes　through　them。　　Now　the　infantry　begins　firing。　A　cloud　of　smoke　settles　down　and　hides　both　sides。　　I　can　see　no　more。　　O　my　God；　our　men　are　running。　　The　whole　line　comes　back　out　of　the　smoke；　with　men　dropping　at　every　step。　　If　Harry　were　only　safely　out　of　there；　I'd　give　my　life。〃

Aunt　Debby　groaned。　　〃Look　again；　honey；〃　she　said　after　a　moment's　pause。

〃It's　worse　than　ever。　　Breckenridge's　men　are　swarming　out　of　their　works。　　There　seems　to　be　a　myriad　of　them。　　They　cover　the　whole　hillside　until　I　can　not　see　the　ground。　　They　yell　like　demons；　and　drive　our　men　down　into　the　river。　　They　follow　them　to　the　water's　edge　and　shoot　them　down　in　the　stream。　　Ah；　there　goes　a　battery　on　the　gallop　to　the　hill　in　front　of　us。　　It　has　opened　on　the　Rebels；　and　its　shells　dig　great　holes　in　the　black　masses；　but　the　Rebels　still　come　on。　　There　goes　another　battery　on　the　gallop。　　It　has　opened。　　There　is　another。　　Still　another。　They　are　galloping　over　here　from　every　direction。〃

〃Glory！〃　shouted　Aunt　Debby。

〃There's　a　fringe　of　trees　near　the　water's　edge；　whose　tops　reach　nearly　tot　he　top　of　the　hill。　　The　cannon　shots　tear　the　branches　off　and　dash　down　the　great　ranks　of　Rebels　with　them。〃

〃The　arth　rocks　as　when　He　lays　his　finger　upon　hit；〃　said　Aunt　Debby。

The　ground　was　trembling　under　the　explosion　of　the　fifty…eight　pieces　of　artillery　which　Rosencrans　hastily　massed　at　four　o'clock　Friday；　for　the　relief　of　his　overpowered　left。　　〃What's　them　that　go　'boo…woo…woo；'　like　great　big　dogs　barkin'？〃

〃Those　are　John　Mendenhall's　big　Napoleons；〃　said　a　wounded　artillery　officer。　　〃Go　on；　Miss。　　What　now？〃

〃The　Rebels　have　stopped　coming　on。　　They　are　apparently　firing　back。　The　shells　and　the　limbs　of　the　trees　still　break　their　lines　and　tear　them　to　pieces。　　Now　our　men　dash　across　the　river　again；　and　begin　a　musketry　fire　that　mows　them　down。　　They　start　to　run；　and　our　men　charge　after　them；　cheering　as　they　run。　　Our　men　have　taken　their　cannon　away　from　them。　　The　Rebels　are　running　for　life　to　get　inside　their　works。　　The　hillside　is　dotted　with　those　who　have　fallen；　and　there　are　rows　of　them　lying　near　the　water。　　Now　everything　is　quieting　down　again。〃

〃Glory　ter　God！　for　He　has　at　last　given　the　enemy　inter　our　hands。　Come　and　kiss　me；　honey；　an'　say　good…by。〃

From　the　throats　of　twenty…five　thousand　excited　spectators　of　the　destruction　of　Breckenridge's　division　rose　cheers　of　triumph　that　echoed　to　the　clouds。

〃What　sweet　music　that　is！〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　half　unclosing　her　eyes。　　〃God　bless　ye；　honey。　　Good…by。〃

The　gentle　eyes　closed　forever。

Late　in　the　evening　Dr。　Denslow's　stretcher　corps　brough　in　Harry　Glen；　who　had　fallen　in　the　last　charge　with　a　flesh　wound　in　the　leg。　　Until　he　woke　the　next　morning　to　find　her　sitting　by　his　bedside；　Harry　thought　he　had　been　dreaming　all　the　time　that　Rachel　Bond　had　come　to　him；　dressed　in　quaint　country　garb；　and　loosed　with　gentle；　painless　fingers　the　stiff；　blood…encrusted　bandage　about　his　head；　and　replaced　it　with　something　that　soothed　and　eased　his　fevered　temples。

〃I　have　very　good　news　for　you；〃　she　said；　later　in　the　day。　　〃Kent　Edwards　says　that　you　are　　promoted　to　Captain；　by　special　orders；　for　'Conspicuous　gallantry　on　the　battle…field　of　Stone　River。'〃

〃And　when　are　we　to　be　married？〃　he　asked。

〃Just　as　soon　as　you　are　able　to　travel　back　to　Sardis。〃

They　looked　up　and　saw　Dr。　Denslow　standing　beside　them。　　A　stunned　look　on　his　face　indicated　that　he　had　heard　and　understood　all。　This　speedily　gave　away　to　his　accustomed　expression　of　serene　philosophy。

〃Forget　me；　except　as　a　friend；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　better　as　it　is　for　you；　Harry；　and　certainly　better　for　her。　　Possibly　it　is　better　for〃with　a　little　gasp〃me。　　The　sweets　of　love　are　not　for　me。　　They　are　irrational；　and　irrational　things　are　carefully　eliminated　from　my　scheme　of　life。〃

Towards　evening　Fortner　came　in　with　the　news　〃Thet　ole　Bragg　picked　up　his　traps　and　skipped　out　fur　Tullahoma；　ter　nuss　his　hurts；　leavin'　his　wounded　and　lots　o'　stores　in　our　hands。〃

So　was　gained　the　great　victory　of　Stone　River。







End