a cumberland vendetta-第11章

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when　he　learned　of　the　changes　going　on　in　the　valley。　None　but　old　Gabe　knew　where　he　was；　to　be　sure；　but　with　his　own　enemies　to　guide　the　soldiers　he　could　not　hope　to　remain　hidden　long。　Still；　with　that　love　of　the　mountains　characteristic　of　all　races　born　among　them；　he　clung　to　his　own　land。　　He　would　rather　stay　where　he　was　the　space　of　a　year　and　die；　he　told　old　Gabe　passionately；　than　live　to　old　age　in　another　State。

But　there　was　another　motive；　and　he　did　not　hide　it。　　On　the　other　side　he　had　one　enemy　left…the　last；　too；　of　her　race…who　was　more　to　him　than　his　own　dead　kindred；　who　hated　him；　who　placed　at　his　door　all　her　sorrows。　For　her　he　was　living　like　a　wolf　in　a　cave；　and　old　Gabe　knew　it。　　Her…he　would　not　leave。

〃I　tell　ye；　Rome；　you've　got　to　go。　　Thar's　no　use　talkin'。　　Court　comes　the　fust　Monday　in　June。　The　soldiers　ull　be　hyeh。　Hit　won't　be　safe。　Thar's　some　that　s'picions　I　know　whar　ye　air　now；　'n'　they'll　be　spyin'；　'n'　mebbe　hit'll　git　me　into　trouble；　too；　aidin'　'n'　abettin'　a　man　to　git　away　who　air　boun'　to　the　law。〃

The　two　were　sitting　on　the　earthen　floor　of　the　cave　before　a　little　fire；　and　Rome；　with　his　hands　about　his　knees　and　his　brows　knitted；　was　staring　into　the　yellow　blaze。　His　unshorn　hair　fell　to　his　shoulders；　his　face　was　pale　from　insufficient　food　and　exercise；　and　tense　with　a　look　that　was　at　once　caged　and　defiant。

〃Uncle　Gabe；〃　he　asked；　quietly；　for　the　old　man's　tone　was　a　little　querulous；　〃　air　ye　sorry　ye　holped　me？　Do　ye　blame　me　fer　whut　I've　done？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　old　miller；　answering　both　questions；　〃I　don't。　I　believe　whut　ye　tol'　me。　Though；　even　ef　ye　had　'a'　done　it；　I　don't　know　as　I'd　blame　ye；　seem'　that　it　was　a　fa'r　fight。　I　don't　doubt　he　was　doin'　his　best　to　kill　you。〃

Rome　turned　quickly；　his　face　puzzled　and　darkening。

Uncle　Gabe；　whut　air　you　drivin'　at？　〃　The　old　man　spat　into　the　fire；　and　shifted　his　position　uneasily；　as　Rome's　hand　caught　his　knee。

Well；　ef　I　have　to　tell　ye；　I　s'pose　I　must。　Thar's　been　nothin'　pertickler　ag'in　ye　so　fer；　'cept　fer　breakin'　that　confederatin'　statute　'bout　bandin'　fightin'　men　together；　'n'　nobody　was　very　anxious　to　git　hol'　o'　ye　jes　fer　that；　but　now　〃…the　old　man　stopped　a　moment；　for　Rome's　eyes　were　kindling…〃　they　say　that　ye　killed　Jas　Lew　allen；　'n'　that　ye　air　a　murderer；　'n'　hit　air　powerful　strange　how　all　of　a　suddint　folks　seem　to　be　gittin'　down　on　a　man　as　kills　his　fellow…creetur；　'n'　now　they　means　to　hunt　ye　til　they　ketch　ye。〃

It　was　all　out　now；　and　the　old　man　was　relieved。　　Rome　rose　to　his　feet；　and　in　sheer　agony　of　spirit　paced　the　floor。

〃I　tol'　ye；　Uncle　Gabe；　that　I　didn't　kill　him。〃

So　ye　did；　'n'　I　believe　ye。　But　a　feller　seed　you　'n'　Steve　comm'　from　the　place　whar　Jas　was　found　dead；　'n'　whar　the　dirt　'n'　rock　was　throwed　about　as　by　two　bucks　in　spring…time。　Steve　says　he　didn't　do　it；　'n'　he　wouldn't　say　you　didn't。　　Looks　to　me　like　Steve　did　the　kuhn'；　'n'　was　lyin'　a　leetle。　He　hain't　goin'　to　confess　hit　to　save　your　neck；　'n'　he　can't　no　way；　fer　he　hev　lit　out　o'　these　mount'ins…long　ago。〃

If　Steve　was　out　of　danger；　suspicion　could　not　harm　him；　and　Rome　said　nothing。

〃Isom's　got　the　lingerin'　fever　ag'in；　'n'　he's　out〃i　his　head。　　He's　ravin'　'bout　that　fight。　Looks　like　ye　tol'　him　'bout　it。　He　says；'　Don't　tell　Uncle　Gabe'；　'n'　he　keeps　sayin'　it。　　Hit'll　'most　kill　him　ef　you　go　'way；　but　he　wants　ye　to　git　out　o'　the　mount'ins；　'n'；　Rome；　you've　got　to　go。〃

〃Who　was　it；　Uncle　Gabe；　that　seed　me　'n'　Steve　comm'　'way　from　thar？

He　air　the　same　feller　who　hev　been　spyin'　ye　all　the　time　this　war's　been　goin'　on；　hit's　that　dried…faced；　snaky　Eli　Crump；　who　ye　knocked　down　'n'　choked　up　in　Hazlan　one　day　fer　sayin'　something　ag'in　Isom。〃

〃I　knowed　it…I　knowed　it…oh；　ef　I　could　git　my　fingers　roun'　his　throat　once　more…jes　once　more…I'd　be　'mos'　ready　to　die。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hands　as　he　strode　back　and　forth；　with　his　fingers　crooked　like　talons；　his　shadow　leaped　from　wall　to　wall；　and　his　voice；　filling　the　cave；　was；　for　the　moment；　scarcely　human。　　The　old　man　waited　till　the　paroxysm　was　over　and　Rome　had　again　sunk　before　the　fire。

〃Hit　'u'd　do　no　good；　Rome；〃　he　said；　rising　to　go。　〃You've　got　enough　on　ye　now；　without　the　sin　o'　takin'　his　life。　You　better　make　up　yer　mind　to　leave　the　mount　ins　now　right　'way。　You're　a…gittin'　no　more'n　half…human；　livin'　up　hyeh　like　a　catamount。　　I　don't　see　how　ye　kin　stand　it。　Thar's　no　hope　o'　things　blowin'　over；　boy；　'n'　givin'　ye　a　chance　o'　comm'　out　ag'in；　as　yer　dad　and　yer　grandad　usen　to　do　afore　ye。　The　citizens　air　gittin'　tired　o'　these　wars。　They　keeps　out　the　furriners　who　makes　roads　'n'　buys　lands；　they　air　ag'in'　the　law；　ag'in'　religion；　ag'in'　yo'　pocket；　'n'　ag'in'　mine。　Lots　o'　folks　hev　been　ag'in'　all　this　fightin'　fer　a　long　time；　but　they　was　too　skeery　to　say　so。　　They　air　talkin'　mighty　big　now；　seem'　they　kin　git　soldiers　hyeh　to　pertect　'em。　So　ye　mought　as　well　give　up　the　idea　o'　staying　hyeh；　'less'n　ye　want　to　give　yourself　up　to　the　law。〃

The　two　stepped　from　the　cave；　and　passed　through　the　rhododendrons　till　they　stood　on　the　cliff　overlooking　the　valley。　The　rich　light　lay　like　a　golden　mist　between　the　mountains；　and　through　it；　far　down；　the　river　moaned　like　the　wind　of　a　coming　storm。

Did　ye　tell　the　gal　whut　I　tol'　ye？〃

〃Yes；　Rome；　hit　wasn't　no　use。　　She　says　Steve's　word's　as　good　as　yourn；　'n'　she　knowed　about　the　crosses。　　Folks　say　she　swore　awful　ag'in'　ye　at　young　Jas's　burial；　'lowin'　that　she'd　hunt　ye　down　herse'f；　ef　the　soldiers　didn't　ketch　ye。　　I　hain't　seed　her　sence　she　got　sick；　'pears　like　ever'body's　sick。　　Mebbe　she's　a　leetle　settled　down　now…no　tellin'。　No　use　foolin'　with　her；　Rome。　You　git　away　from　hyeh。　　Don't　you　worry　'bout　Isom…I'll　take　keer　o'　him；　'n'　when　he　gits　well；　he'll　want　to　come　atter　ye；　'n'　I'll　let　him　go。　He　couldn't　live　hyeh　without　you。　　But　y'u　must　git　away；　Rome；　'n'　git　away　mighty　quick。〃

With　hands　clasped　behind　him；　Rome　stood　and　watched　the　bent　figure　slowly　pick　its　way　around　the　stony　cliff。

〃I　reckon　I've　got　to　go。　　She's　ag'in'　me；　they're　all　ag'in'　me。　I　reckon　I've　jes　got　to　go。　Somehow；　I've　been　kinder　hopin'…〃　　He　closed　his　lips　to　check　the　groan　that　rose　to　them；　and　turned　again　into　the　gloom　behind　him。

XIV

JUNE　came。　The　wild　rose　swayed　above　its　image　along　every　little　shadowed　stream；　and　the　scent　of　wild　grapes　was　sweet　in　the　air　and　as　vagrant　as　a　bluebird's　note　in　autumn。　The　rhododendrons　burst　into　beauty；　making　gray　ridge　and　gray　cliff　blossom　with　purple；　hedging　streams　with　snowy　clusters　and　shining　leaves；　and　lighting　up　dark　coverts　in　the　woods　as　with　white　stars。　The　leaves　were　full；　woodthrushes　sang；　and　bees　droned　like　unseen　running　water　in　the　woods。

With　June　came　circuit　court　once　more…and　the　soldiers。　　Faint　music　pierced　the　dreamy　chant　of　the　river　one　morning　as　Rome　lay　on　a　bowlder　in　the　summer　sun；　and　he　watched　the　guns　flashing　like　another　stream　along　the　water；　and　then　looked　again　to　the　Lewallen　cabin。　Never；　morning；　noon；　or　night；　when　he　came　from　the　rhododendrons；　or　when　they　closed　about　him；　did　he　fail　to　turn　his　eyes　that　way。　Often　he　would　see　a　bright　speck　moving　about　the　dim　lines　of　the　cabin；　and　he　would　scarcely　breathe　while　he　watched　it；　so　easily　would　it　disappear。　Always　he　had　thought　it　was　Martha；　and　now　he　knew　it　was；　for　the　old　miller　had　told　him　more　of　the　girl；　and　had　wrung　his　heart　with　pity。　　She　had　been　ill　a　long　while。　The　〃furriners　〃　had　seized　old　Jasper's　cahin　and　land。　　The　girl　was　homeless；　and　she　did　not　know　it；　for　no　one　had　the　heart　to　tell　her。　She　was　living　with　the　Braytons；　and　every　day　she　went　to　the　cabin；　〃moonin''　n'　sorrowin'　aroun'；〃　as　old　Gabe　said；　and　she　was　much　changed。

Once　more　the　miller　came…for　the　last　time；　he　said；　firmly。　　Crump　had　trailed　him；　and　had　learned　where　Rome　was。　The　search　would　begin　next　day…perhaps　that　very　night…and　Crump　would　guide　the　soldiers。　Now　he　must　go；　and　go　quickly。　　The　boy；　too；　sent　word　that　unless　Rome　went；　he　would　have　something　to　tell。　Old　Gabe　saw　no　significance　in　the　message；　but　he　had　promised　to　deliver　it；　and　he　did。　　Rome　wavered　then；　Steve　and　himself　gone；　no　suspicion　would　fall　on　the　lad。　If　he　were　caught；　the　boy　might　confess。　　With　silence　Rome　gave　assent；　and　the　two　parted　in　an　apathy　that　was　like　heartlessness。　Only　old　Gabe's　shrunken　breast　heaved　with　something　more　than　weariness　of　descent；　and　Rome　stood　watching　him　a　long　time　before　he　turned　back　to　the　cave　that　had　sheltered　him　from　his　enemies　among　beasts　and　men。　In　a　moment　he　came　out　for　the　last　time；　and　turned　the　opposite　way。　Climbing　about　the　spur；　he　made　for　the　path　that　led　down　to　the　river。　When　he　reached　it　he　glanced　at　the　sun；　and　stopped　in　indecision。　　Straight　above　him　was　a　knoll；　massed　with　rhododendrons；　the　flashing　leaves　of　which　made　it　like　a　great　sea…wave　in　the　slanting　sun；　while　the　blooms　broke　slowly　down　over　it　like　foam。　Above　this　was　a　gray　sepulchre　of　dead；　standing　trees；　more　gaunt　and　spectre…like　than　ever；　with　the　rich　life　of　summer　about　it。　Higher　still　were　a　dark　belt　of　stunted　firs　and　the　sandstone　ledge；　and　above　these…home。　　He　was　risking　his　liberty；　his　life。　　Any　clump　of　bushes　might　bristle　suddenly　with　Winchesters。　If　the　soldiers　sought　for　him　at　the　cave　they　would　at　the　same　time　guard　the　mountain　paths；　they　would　guard；　too；　the　Stetson　cabin。　But　no　matter…the　sun　was　still　high；　and　he　turned　up　the　steep。　The　ledge　passed；　he　stopped　with　a　curse　at　his　lips　and　the　pain　of　a　knife…thrust　at　his　heart。　　A　heap　of　blackened　stones　and　ashes　was　before　him。　The　wild　mountain…grass　was　growing　up　about　it。　　The　bee…gums　were　overturned　and　rifled。　The　garden　was　a　tangled　mass　of　weeds。　The　graves　in　the　little　family　burying…ground　were　unprotected；　the　fence　was　gone；　and　no　boards　marked　the　last　two　ragged　mounds。　Old　Gabe　had　never　told　him。　He；　too；　like　Martha；　was　homeless；　and　the　old　miller　had　been　kind　to　him；　as　the　girl's　kinspeople　had　been　to　her。

For　a　long　while　he　sat　on　the　remnant　of　the　burned　and　broken　fence；　and　once　more　the　old　tide　of　bitterness　rose　within　him　and　ebbed　away。　There　were　none　left　to　hate；　to　wreak　vengeance　on。　It　was　hard　to　leave　the　ruins　as　they　were；　and　yet　he　would　rather　leave　weeds　and　ashes　than；　like　Martha；　have　some　day　to　know　that　his　home　was　in　the　hands　of　a　stranger。　　When　he　thought　of　the　girl　he　grew　calmer；　his　own　sorrows　gave　way　to　the　thought　of　hers；　and　half　from　habit　he　raised　his　face　to　look　across　the　river。　Two　eagles　swept　from　a　dark　ravine　under　the　shelf　of　rock　where　he　had　fought　young　Jasper；　and　made　for　a　sun…lighted　peak　on　the　other　shore。　From　them　his　gaze　fell　to　Wolf's　Head　and　to　the　cabin　beneath；　and　a　name　passed　his　lips　in　a　whisper。

Then　he　took　the　path　to　the　river；　and　he　found　the　canoe　where　old　Gabe　had　hidden　it。　Before　the　young　moon　rose　he　pushed　into　the　stream　and　drifted　with　the　current。　　At　the　mouth　of　the　creek　that　ran　over　old　Gabe's　wat