the red acorn-第9章

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　the　war；　and　that　a　meeting　would　be　held　that　evening　to　carry　the　intention　into　execution。　When　the　evening　came　Harry　walked　into　the　town　hall；　dressed　as　carefully　as　he　had　prepared　himself　for　his　visit　with　Rachel。　He　found　the　whole　company　assembled　there；　the　members　smoking；　chatting　with　their　friends；　and　recounting　to　admiring　hearers　the　wonderful　experiences　they　had　gone　through。　　The　enlistment　papers　were　being　prepared；　and　some　of　the　boys　who　had　not　been　examined　during　the　day　were　undergoing　the　surgeon's　inspection　in　an　adjoining　room。

Harry　was　coldly　received　by　everybody；　and　winced　a　little　under　this　contrast　with　the　attentions　that　all　the　others　were　given。

At　last　all　the　papers　and　rolls　seemed　to　be　signed；　and　there　was　a　lull　in　the　proceedings。　　Harry　rose　from　his　seat；　as　if　to　address　the　meeting。　　Instantly　all　was　silence　and　attention。

〃Comrades；〃　he　said；　in　a　firm；　even　voice；　〃I　have　come　to　say　to　you　that　I　feel　that　I　made　a　mistake　during　our　term　of　service；　and　I　want　to　apologize　to　you　for　my　conduct　then。　　More　than　this；　I　want　to　redeem　myself。　　I　want　to　go　with　you　again；　and　have　another　chance　to…〃

He　was　interrupted　by　an　enthusiastic　shout　from　them　all。

〃Hurrah！　　Bully　for　Lieutenant　Glen！　　Of　couse　we'll　give　you　another　show。　　Come　right　along　in　your　old　place；　and　welcome。〃

There　was　but　one　dissenting　voice。　　It　was　that　of　Jake　Alspaugh：

〃No；　I'll　be　durned　if　we　want　ye　along　any　more。　　We've　no　place　for　sich　fellers　with　us。　　We　only　want　them　as　has　sand　in　their　craws。〃

But　the　protest　was　overslaughed　by　the　multitude　of　assents。　　At　the　first　interval　of　silence　Harry　said：

〃No；　comrades；　I'll　not　accept　a　commission　again　until　I'm　sure　I　can　do　it　credit。　　I'll　enlist　in　the　company　on　the　same　footing　as　the　rest　of　the　boys；　and　share　everything　with　you。　　Give　the　lieutenancy　to　our　gallant　comrade　Alspaugh；　who　has　richly　earned　it。〃

The　suggestion　was　accepted　with　more　enthusiastic　cheering；　and　Harry；　going　up　to　the　desk；　filled　out　an　enlistment　blank；　signed　it　and　the　company　roll；　and　retired　with　the　surgeon　for　the　physical　examination。　　This　finished；　he　slipped　out　unnoticed　and　went　to　his　home。　　On　his　way　thither　he　saw　Rachel　as　she　passed　a　brilliantly　lighted　show…window。　　She　was　in　traveling　costume；　and　seemed　to　be　going　to　the　depot。　　She　turned　her　head　slightly　and　bowed　a　formal　recognition。

As　their　eyes　met　he　saw　enough　to　make　him　believe　that　what　he　had　done　met　her　approval。





Chapter　VII。　　Pomp　and　Circumstances　of　Glorious　War。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　But　man；　proud　man；　Dressed　in　a　little　brief　authority；　Most　ignorant　of　what　he's　most　assured；　　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　　　　　*　Plays　such　fantastic　tricks　before　high　Heaven　As　make　the　angels　weep；　who；　with　our　spleens；　Would　all　themselves　laugh　mortal。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Measure　for　Measure


〃Abe；　you　remember　how　that　man　who　made　the　speech　when　our　colors　were　presented　to　us　talked　of　'the　swelling　hearts　of　our　volunteers；'　don't　you？〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　as　he　and　Abe　Bolton　lounged　near　the　parade…ground　one　fine　afternoon；　shortly　after　the　arrival　of　the　regiment　in　camp　of　instruction。　　〃You　remember　that　that　was　his　favorite　figure　of　rhetoric；　and　he　repeated　it　several　times？〃

〃Don't　know　anything　about　figger　of　retterick；〃　growled　Abe；　who；　his　comrades　said；　had　the　evenest　temper　in　the　regiment；　〃for　he　was　always　mad。　　But　I　do　remember　that　he　said　that　over　several　times；　with　a　lot　o'　other　things　without　much　pint　to　'em；　until　I　thought　I'd　drop；　I　was　so　thirsty　and　tired。〃

〃Yes？　　Well；　now　if　you　want　to　get　a　good　idea　of　what　that　expression　meant；　look　over　there。　　Not　only　his　heart　swells；　but　he　swells　all　over。〃

〃I　should　think　he　did；〃　replied　Abe；　after　a　moment's　inspection。　〃Unless　his　hat　has　an　Injy…rubber　band；　he'll　have　to　git　it　cut　offen　his　head；　which　ought　to　be　hooped；　for　it　can't　swell　no　more　without　busting。〃

It　was　Jacob　Alspaugh　crossing　the　parade　ground　in　more　than　Solomonic　splendor　of　uniform。　　His　inflated　form　bore　upon　it　all　the　blue　and　tinsel　prescribed　by　the　Army　Regulations　for　the　raiment　and　insignia　of　a　First　Lietenant　of　Infantry；　with　such　additions　as　had　been　suggested　by　his　exuberant　fancy。　　His　blue　broadcloth　was　the　finest　and　shiniest。　　Buttons　and　bugles　seemed　masses　of　barbric　gold。　　From　broad…brimmed　hat　floated　the　longest　ostrich　feather　procurable　in　the　shops。　　Shining　leather　boots；　field…marshal　pattern；　came　above　his　knees。　　Yellow　gauntlets　covered　his　massive　hands　and　reached　nearly　to　his　elbows；　and　on　his　broad　shoulders　were　great　glittering　epauletsthen　seldom　worn　by　anyone；　and　still　more　rarely　by　volunteer　officers。　　He　evidently　disdained　to　hide　the　crimson　glories　of　his　sash　in　the　customary　modest　way；　by　folding　it　under　his　belt；　but　had　made　of　it　a　broad　bandage　for　his　abdominal　regions；　which　gae　him　the　appearance　of　some　gigantic　crimson…breasted　blue…bird。　　Behind　him　trailing；　clanking　on　the　ground　as　he　walked；　not　the　modest　little　sword　of　his　rank；　but　a　long　cavalry　saber；　with　glittering　steel　scabbard。　　But　the　sheen　of　gold　and　steel　was　dimmed　beside　the　glow　of　intense　satisfaction　with　hs　make…up　that　shone　in　his　face。　　There　might　be　alloy　in　his　gleaming　buttons　and　bullion　epaulets；　there　was　none　in　his　happiness。

〃I　feel　sorry　for　the　poor　lilies　of　the　field　that　he　comes　near；〃　sighed　Kent；　sympathetically。　　〃He　is　like　them　now；　in　neither　toiling　nor　spinning；　and　yet　how　ashamed　he　must　make　them　of　their　inferior　rainment。〃

〃Faugh！　it　makes　me　sick　to　see　a　dunghill　like　that　strutting　around　in　feathers　that　belong　to　game　birds。〃

〃O；　no；　no　game　bird　ever　wore　such　plumage　as　that。　　You　must　be　thinking　of　a　peacock；　or　a　bird…of…paradise。〃

〃Well；　then；　blast　it；　I　hate　to　see　a　peacock　hatched　all　at　once　out　of　a　slinking；　roupy；　barnyard　rooster。〃

〃O；　no；　since　circuses　are　out　of　the　question　now；　we　ought　to　be　glad　of　so　good　a　substitute。　　It　only　needs　a　brass　band；　with　some　colored　posters；　to　be　a　genuine　grand　entry；　with　street　parade。〃

Alspaugh's　triumphal　march　had　now　brought　him　within　a　few　feet　of　them；　but　they　continued　to　lounge　indifferently　on　the　musket　box　upon　which　they　had　been　sitting；　giving　a　mere　nod　as　recognition　of　his　presence；　and　showing　no　intention　of　rising　to　salute。

The　glow　of　satisfaction　faded　from　Alspaugh's　horizon；　and　a　cloud　overcast　it。

〃Here；　you　fellers；〃　he　said　angrily；　〃why　don't　ye　git　up　an'　saloot？　　Don't　ye　know　your　business　yit？〃

〃What　business；　Jake？〃　asked　Kent　Edwards；　absently；　paying　most　attention　to　a　toad　which　had　hopped　out　form　the　cover　of　a　budock　leaf；　in　search　of　insects　for　his　supper。

Alspaugh's　face　grew　blacker。　　〃The　business　of　paying　proper　respect　to　your　officers。〃

〃It　hasn't　occured　to　me　that　I　am　neglecting　anything　in　that　line；〃　said　Kent；　languidly；　shifting　over　to　recline　upon　his　left　elbow；　and　with　his　right　hand　gathering　up　a　little　gravel　to　flip　at　the　toad；　〃but　maybe　you　are　better　acquainted　with　our　business　than　we　are。〃

Abe　contributed　to　the　dialogue　a　scornful　laugh；　indicative　of　a　most　heartless　disbelief　in　his　superior　officer's　superior　intellectuality。

The　dark　cloud　burst　in　storm：　　〃Don't　you　know；〃　said　Alspaugh；　angry　in　every　fiber；　〃that　the　reggerlations　say　that　'when　an　enlisted　man　sees　an　officer　approach；　he　will　rise　and　saloot；　and　remain　standin'　and　gazin'　in　a　respectful　manner　until　the　officer　passes　five　paces　beyond　him？'　　Say；　don't　you　know　that？〃

Kent　Edwards　flipped　a　bit　of　gravel　with　such　good　aim　that　it　struck　the　toad　fairly　on　the　head；　who　blinked　his　bright　eyes　in　surprise；　and　hopped　back　to　his　covert。　　〃I　am　really　glad；〃　said　he；　〃to　know　that　you　have　learned　SOMETHING　of　the　regulations。　Now；　don't　say　another　word　about　it　until　I　run　down　to　the　company　quarters　and　catch　a　fellow　for　a　bet；　who　wants　to　put　up　money　that　you　can　never　learn　a　single　sentence　of　them。　　Don't　say　another　word；　and　you　can　stand　in　with　me　on　the　bet。〃

〃Had　your　head　measured　since　you　got　this　idea　into　it？〃　asked　Abe　Bolton；　with　well…assumed　interest。

〃If　he　did；　he　had　to　use　a　surveyor's　chain；〃　suggested　Kent；　flipping　another　small　pebble　in　the　direction　of　the　toad's　retreat。

Alspaugh　had　grown　so　great　upon　the　liberal　feed　of　the　meat　of　flattery；　that　he　could　hardly　make　himself　believe　that　he　had　heard　aright；　and　that　these　men　did　not　care　a　fig　for　himself　or　his　authority。　　Then　recovering　confidence　in　the　fidelity　of　their　ears；　it　seemed　to　him　that　such　conduct　was　aggravated　mutiny；　which　military　discipline　demanded　should　receive　condign　punishment　on　the　spot。　　Had　he　any　confidence　in　his　ability　to　use　the　doughy　weapon　at　his　side；　he　would　not　have　resisted　the　strong　temptation　to　draw　his　sword　and　make　an　example　then　and　there　of　the　contemners　of　his　power　and　magnificence。　　But　the　culprits　has　shown　such　an　aptitude　in　the　use　of　arms　as　to　inspire　his　wholesome　respect；　and　he　was　very　far　from　sure　that　they　might　not　make　a　display　of　his　broadsword　an　occasion　for　heaping　fresh　ridicule　upon　him。　An　opportune　remembrance　came　to　his　aid：

〃If　it　wasn't　for　the　strcit　orders　we　officers　got　yesterday　not　to　allow　ourselves　to　be　provoked　under　any　circumstances　into　striking　our　men；　I'd　learn　you　fellers　mighty　quick　not　to　insult　your　superior　officers。　　I'd　bring　you　to　time；　I　can　tell　you。　But　I'll　settle　with　you　yit。　　I'll　have　you　in　the　guard　hose　on　bread　and　water　in　short　meter；　and　then　I'll　learn　you　to　be　respectful　and　obedient。〃

〃He　means　'teach；'　instead　of　'learn；'〃　said　Kent；　apologetically；　to　Abe。　　〃It's　just　awful　to　have　a　man；　wearing　shoulder…straps；　abuse　English　grammar　in　that　way。　　What's　grammar　done　to　him　to　deserve　such　treatment？　　He　hasn't　even　a　speaking　acquaintance　with　it。〃

〃I　'spose　it's　because　grammar　can't　hit　back。　　That's　the　kind　he　always　picks　on；〃　answered　Abe。

〃You'll　pay　for　this；〃　shouted　Alspaugh；　striding　off　after　the　Seargent　of　the　Guard。

At　that　moment　a　little　drummer　appeared　by　the　flagstaff；　and　beat　a　lively　rataplan。

〃That's　for　dress…parade；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　rising。　　〃We'd　better　skip　right　over　to　quarters　and　fall　in。〃

〃Wish　their　dress…parades　were　in　the　brimstone　flames；〃　growled　Abe　Bolton；　as　he　rose　to　accompany　his　comrade。　　〃All　they're　for　is　to　stand　up　as　a　background；　to　show　off　a　lot　of　spruce　young　officers　dressed　in　fancy　rigs。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Kent；　lightly；　as　they　walked　along；　〃I　kind　of　like　that；　don't　you？　　We　make　picturesque　backgrounds；　don't　we？　you　and　I；　especially　you；　the　soft；　tender；　lithe　and　willowy；　and　I；　the　frowning；　rugged　and　adamantine；　so　to　speak。　　I　think　the　background　business　is　our　best　hold。〃

He　laughed　heartily　at　his　own　sarcasm；　but　Abe　was　not　to　be　moved　by　such　frivolity；　and　answered　glumly：

〃O；　yes；　laugh　about　it；　if　you　choose。　　That's　your　way：　　giggle　over　everything。　　But　when　I　play　background；　I　want　it　to　be　with　something　worth　while　in　the　foreground。　　I　don't　hank