a cumberland vendetta-第1章

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A　Cumberland　Vendetta

by　John　Fox　Jr。




TO　MINERVA　AND　ELIZABETH






A　Cumberland　Vendetta


　I

THE　cave　had　been　their　hiding…place　as　children；　it　was　a　secret　refuge　now　against　hunger　or　darkness　when　they　were　hunting　in　the　woods。　The　primitive　meal　was　finished；　ashes　were　raked　over　the　red　coals；　the　slice　of　bacon　and　the　little　bag　of　meal　were　hung　high　against　the　rock　wall；　and　the　two　stepped　from　the　cavern　into　a　thicket　of　rhododendrons。

Parting　the　bushes　toward　the　dim　light；　they　stood　on　a　massive　shoulder　of　the　mountain；　the　river　girding　it　far　below；　and　the　afternoon　shadows　at　their　feet。　　Both　carried　guns…the　tall　mountaineer；　a　Winchester；　the　boy；　a　squirrel　rifle　longer　than　himself。　　Climbing　about　the　rocky　spur；　they　kept　the　same　level　over　log　and　bowlder　and　through　bushy　ravine　to　the　north。　In　half　an　hour；　they　ran　into　a　path　that　led　up　home　from　the　river；　and　they　stopped　to　rest　on　a　cliff　that　sank　in　a　solid　black　wall　straight　under　them。　The　sharp　edge　of　a　steep　corn…field　ran　near；　and；　stripped　of　blade　and　tassel；　the　stalks　and　hooded　ears　looked　in　the　coming　dusk　a　little　like　monks　at　prayer。　In　the　sunlight　across　the　river　the　corn　stood　thin　and　frail。　　Over　there　a　drought　was　on　it；　and　when　drifting　thistle…plumes　marked　the　noontide　of　the　year；　each　yellow　stalk　had　withered　blades　and　an　empty　sheath。　Every…where　a　look　of　vague　trouble　lay　upon　the　face　of　the　mountains；　and　when　the　wind　blew；　the　silver　of　the　leaves　showed　ashen。　Autumn　was　at　hand。

There　was　no　physical　sign　of　kinship　between　the　two；　half…brothers　though　they　were。　The　tall　one　was　dark；　the　boy；　a　foundling；　had　flaxen　hair；　and　was　stunted　and　~lender。　He　was　a　dreamy~looking　little　fellow；　and　one　may　easily　find　his　like　throughout　the　Cumberland　…paler　than　his　fellows；　from　staying　much　indoors；　with　half…haunted　face；　and　eyes　that　are　deeply　pathetic　when　not　cunning；　ignorantly　credited　with　idiocy　and　uncanny　powers；　treated　with　much　forbearance；　some　awe；　and　a　little　contempt；　and　suffered　to　do　his　pleasure…nothing；　or　much　that　is　strange…without　comment。

〃I　tell　ye；　Rome；〃　he　said；　taking　up　the　thread　of　talk　that　was　broken　at　the　cave；　〃when　Uncle　Gabe　says　he's　afeard　thar's　trouble　comm'；　hit's　a…comm'；　'n'　I　want　you　to　git　me　a　Winchester。　　I'm　a…gittin'　big　enough　now。　I　kin　shoot　might'　nigh　as　good　as　you；　'n'　whut　am　I　fit　fer　with　this　hyeh　old　pawpaw　pop…gun？〃

〃I　don't　want　you　fightin'；　boy；　I've　told　ye。　Y'u　air　too　little　'n'　puny；　'n'　I　want　ye　to　stay　home　'n'　take　keer　o'　mam　'n'　the　cattle…ef　fightin'　does　come；　I　reckon　thar　won't　be　triuch。〃

Don't　ye？　〃　cried　the　boy；　with　sharp　contempt…〃　with　ole　Jas　Lewallen　a…devilin'　Uncle　Rufe；　'n'　that　blackheaded　young　Jas　a…climbin'　on　stumps　over　thar　'cross　the　river；　n'　crowin'　n'　sayin'　out　open　in　Hazlan　that　ye　air　afeard　o　him？　Yes；　'n'　he　called　me　a　idgit。〃　The　boy's　voice　broke　into　a　whimper　of　rage。

〃Shet　up；　Isom！　　Don't　you　go　gittin'　mad　now。　　You'll　be　sick　ag'in。　　I'll　tend　to　him　when　the　time　comes。〃　Rome　spoke　with　rough　kindness；　but　ugly　lines　had　gathered　at　his　mouth　and　forehead。　The　boy's　tears　came　and　went　easily。　He　drew　his　sleeve　across　his　eyes；　and　looked　up　the　river。　Beyond　the　bend；　three　huge　birds　rose　into　the　sunlight　and　floated　toward　them。　　Close　at　hand；　they　swerved　side…wise。

〃They　hain't　buzzards；〃　he　said；　standing　up；　his　anger　gone；　〃look　at　them　straight　wings！

Again　the　eagles　swerved；　and　two　shot　across　the　river。　　The　third　dropped　with　shut　wings　to　the　bare　crest　of　a　gaunt　old　poplar　under　them。

〃Hit's　a　young　un；　Rome　Y〃　said　the　boy；　excitedly。　〃He's　goin'　to　wait　thar　tell　the　old　uns　come　back。　Gimme　that　gun！

Catching　up　the　Winchester；　he　slipped　over　the　ledge；　and　Rome　leaned　suddenly　forward；　looking　down　at　the　river。

A　group　of　horsemen　had　ridden　around　the　bend；　and　were　coming　at　a　walk　down　the　other　shore。　　Every　man　carried　something　across　his　saddle…bow。　There　was　a　gray　horse　among　them　…　young　Jasper's　…　and　an　evil　shadow　came　into　Rome's　face；　and　quickly　passed。　Near　a　strip　of　woods　the　gray　turned　up　the　mountain　from　the　party；　and　on　its　back　he　saw　the　red　glint　of　a　woman's　dress。　With　a　half…smile　he　watched　the　scarlet　figure　ride　from　the　woods；　and　climb　slowly　up　through　the　sunny　corn。　On　the　spur　above　and　full　in　the　rich　yellow　light；　she　halted；　half　turning　in　her　saddle。　　He　rose　to　his　feet；　to　his　full　height；　his　head　bare；　and　thrown　far　back　between　his　big　shoulders；　and；　still　as　statues；　the　man　and　the　woman　looked　at　each　other　across　the　gulf　of　darkening　air。　A　full　minute　the　woman　sat　motionless；　then　rode　on。　　At　the　edge　of　the　woods　she　stopped　and　turned　again。

The　eagle　under　Rome　leaped　one　stroke　in　the　air；　and　dropped　like　a　clod　into　the　sea　of　leaves。　　The　report　of　the　gun　and　a　faint　cry　of　triumph　rose　from　below。　　It　was　good　marksmanship；　but　on　the　cliff　Rome　did　not　heed　it。　　Something　had　fluttered　in　the　air　above　the　girl's　head；　and　he　laughed　aloud。　She　was　waving　her　bonnet　at　him。

II

JUST　where　young　Stetson　stood；　the　mountains　racing　along　each　bank　of　the　Cumberland　had　sent　out　against　each　other；　by　mutual　impulse；　two　great　spurs。　　At　the　river's　brink　they　stopped　sheer；　with　crests　uplifted；　as　though　some　hand　at　the　last　moment　had　hurled　them　apart；　and　had　led　the　water　through　the　breach　to　keep　them　at　peace。　　To…day　the　crags　looked　seamed　by　thwarted　passion；　and；　sullen　with　firs；　they　made　fit　symbols　of　the　human　hate　about　the　base　of　each。

When　the　feud　began；　no　one　knew。　　Even　the　original　cause　was　forgotten。　　Both　families　had　come　as　friends　from　Virginia　long　ago；　and　had　lived　as　enemies　nearly　half　a　century。　　There　was　hostility　before　the　war；　but；　until　then；　little　bloodshed。　Through　the　hatred　of　change；　characteristic　of　the　mountaineer　the　world　over；　the　Lewallens　were　for　the　Union。　The　Stetsons　owned　a　few　slaves；　and　they　fought　for　them。　Peace　found　both　still　neighbors　and　worse　foes。　　The　war　armed　them；　and　brought　back　an　ancestral　contempt　for　human　life；　it　left　them　a　heritage　of　lawlessness　that　for　mutual　protection　made　necessary　the　very　means　used　by　their　feudal　forefathers；　personal　hatred　supplanted　its　dead　issues；　and　with　them　the　war　went　on。　The　Stetsons　had　a　good　strain　of　Anglo…Saxon　blood；　and　owned　valley…lands；　the　Lewallens　kept　store　and　made　〃moonshine〃；　so　kindred　and　debtors　and　kindred　and　tenants　were　arrayed　with　one　or　the　other　leader；　and　gradually　the　retainers　of　both　settled　on　one　or　the　other　side　of　the　river。　　In　time　of　hostility　the　Cumberland　came　to　be　the　boundary　between　life　and　death　for　the　dwellers　on　each　shore。　　It　was　feudalism　born　again。

Above　one　of　the　spurs　each　family　had　its　home；　the　Stetsons；　under　the　seared　face　of　Thunderstruck　Knob；　the　Lewallens；　just　beneath　the　wooded　rim　of　Wolf's　Head。　　The　eaves　and　chimney　of　each　cabin　were　faintly　visible　from　the　porch　of　the　other。　　The　first　light　touched　the　house　of　the　Stetsons；　the　last；　the　Lewallen　cabin。　　So　there　were　times　when　the　one　could　not　turn　to　the　sunrise　nor　the　other　to　the　sunset　but　with　a　curse　in　his　heart；　for　his　eye　must　fall　on　the　home　of　his　enemy。

For　years　there　had　been　peace。　　The　death　of　Rome　Stetson's　father　from　ambush；　and　the　fight　in　the　court…house　square；　had　forced　it。　After　that　fight　only　four　were　left…old　Jasper　Lewallen　and　young　Jasper；　the　boy　Rome　and　his　uncle；　Rufe　Stetson。　　Then　Rufe　fled　to　the　West；　and　the　Stetsons　were　helpless。　　For　three　years　no　word　was　heard　of　him；　but　the　hatred　burned　in　the　heart　of　Rome's　mother；　and　was　traced　deep　in　her　grim　old　face　while　she　patiently　waited　the　day　of　retribution。　It　smouldered；　too；　in　the　hearts　of　the　women　of　both　clans　who　had　lost　husbands　or　sons　or　lovers；　and　the　friends　and　kin　of　each　had　little　to　do　with　one　another；　and　met　and　passed　with　watchful　eyes。　　Indeed；　it　would　take　so　little　to　turn　peace　to　war　that　the　wonder　was　that　peace　had　lived　so　long。　Now　trouble　was　at　hand。　　Rufe　Stetson　had　come　back　at　last；　a　few　months　since；　and　had　quietly　opened　store　at　the　county…seat；　Hazlan…a　little　town　five　miles　up　the　river；　where　Troubled　Fork　runs　seething　into　the　Cumberland…a　point　of　neutrality　for　the　factions；　and　consequently　a　battIe…ground。　Old　Jasper's　store　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　town；　and　the　old　man　had　never　been　known　to　brook　competition。　　He　had　driven　three　men　from　Hazlan　during　the　last　term　of　peace　for　this　offence；　and　everybody　knew　that　the　fourth　must　leave　or　fight。　　Already　Rufe　Stetson　had　been　warned　not　to　appear　outside　his　door　after　dusk。　Once　or　twice　his　wife　had　seen　skulking　shadows　under　the　trees　across　the　road；　and　a　tremor　of　anticipation　ran　along　both　banks　of　the　Cumberland。

III

A　FORTNIGHT　later；　court　came。　Rome　was　going　to　Hazlan；　and　the　feeble　old　Stetson　mother　limped　across　the　porch　from　the　kitchen；　trailing　a　Winchester　behind　her。　Usually　he　went　unarmed；　but　he　took　the　gun　now；　as　she　gave　it；　in　silence。

The　boy　Isom　was　not　well；　and　Rome　had　told　him　to　ride　the　horse。　　But　the　lad　had　gone　on　afoot　to　his　duties　at　old　Gabe　Bunch's　mill；　and　Rome　himself　rode　down　Thunderstruck　Knob　through　the　mist　and　dew　of　the　early　morning。　　The　sun　was　coming　up　over　Virginia；　and　through　a　dip　in　Black　Mountain　the　foot…hills　beyond　washed　in　blue　waves　against　its　white　disk。　　A　little　way　down　the　mountain；　the　rays　shot　through　the　gap　upon　him；　and；　lancing　the　mist　into　tatters；　and　lighting　the　dew…drops；　set　the　birds　singing。　　Rome　rode；　heedless　of　it　all；　under　primeval　oak　and　poplar；　and　along　rain…clear　brooks　and　happy　waterfalls；　shut　in　by　laurel　and　rhododendron；　and　singing　past　mossy　stones　and　lacelike　ferns　that　brushed　his　stirrup。　On　the　brow　of　every　cliff　he　would　stop　to　look　over　the　trees　and　the　river　to　the　other　shore；　where　the　gray　line　of　a　path　ran　aslant　Wolf's　Head；　and　was　lost　in　woods　above　and　below。

At　the　river　he　rode　up…stream；　looking　still　across　it。　　Old　Gabe　Bunch　halloed　to　him　from　the　doorway　of　the　mill；　as　he　splashed　through　the　creek；　and　Isom's　thin　face　peered　through　a　breach　in　the　logs。　　At　the　ford　beyond；　he　checked　his　horse　with　a　short　oath　of　pleased　surprise。　　Across　the　water；　a　scarlet　dress　was　moving　slowly　past　a　brown　field　of　corn。　　The　figure　was　bonneted；　but　he　knew　the　girl's　walk　and　the　poise　of　her　head　that　far　away。　　Just　who　she　was；　however；　he　did　not　know；　and　he　sat　irresolute。　　He　had　seen　her　first　a　month　since；　paddling　along　the　other　shore；　erect；　and　with　bonnet　off　and　hair　down；　she　had　taken　the　Lewallen　path　up　the　mountain。　　Afterward；　he　saw　her　going　at　a　gallop　on　young　Jasper's　gray　horse；　bareheaded　again；　and　with　her　hair　loose　to　the　wind；　and　he　knew　she　was　one　of　his　enemies。　　He　thought　her　the　girl　people　said　young　Jasper　was　going　to　marry；　and　he　had　watched　her　the　more　closely。　　From　the　canoe　she　seemed　never　to　notice　him；　but　he　guessed；　from　the　quickened　sweep　of　her　paddle；　that　she　knew　he　was　looking　at　her；　and　once；　when　he　halted　o