a cumberland vendetta-第4章

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ho　I　was？〃

The　old　man　was　waiting　for　the　pledge　that　seemed　on　his　lips；　but　he　did　not　lose　his　temper。

Not　till　to…day；〃　he　said；　quietly。

Rome　turned　abruptly；　and　the　two　separated　with　no　word　of　parting。　　For　a　moment　the　miller　watched　the　young　fellow　striding　away　under　his　rifle。

〃I　have　been　atter　peace　a　good　while；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃　but　I　reckon　thar's　a　bigger　hand　a…workin'　now　than　mine。〃　Then　he　lifted　his　voice。　　〃Ef　Isom's　too　sick　to　come　down　to　the　mill　to…morrer；　I　wish　you'd　come　'n'　holp　me。〃

Rome　nodded　back　over　his　shoulder；　and　went　on；　with　head　bent；　along　the　river　road。　Passing　a　clump　of　pines　at　the　next　curve；　he　pulled　a　bottle　from　his　pocket。

〃Uncle　Gabe's　about　right；　I　reckon；〃　he　said；　half　aloud；　and　he　raised　it　above　his　head　to　hurl　it　away；　but　checked　it　in　mid…air。　　For　a　moment　he　looked　at　the　colorless　liquid；　then；　with　quick　nervousness；　pulled　the　cork　of　sassafras　leaves；　gulped　down　the　pale　moonshine；　and　dashed　the　bottle　against　the　trunk　of　a　beech。　The　fiery　stuff　does　its　work　in　a　hurry。　　He　was　thirsty　when　he　reached　the　mouth　of　a　brook　that　tumbled　down　the　mountain　along　the　pathway　that　would　lead　him　home；　and　he　stooped　to　drink　where　the　water　sparkled　in　a　rift　of　dim　light　from　overhead。　　Then　he　sat　upright　on　a　stone；　with　his　wide　hat…brim　curved　in　a　crescent　over　his　forehead；　his　hands　caught　about　his　knees；　and　his　eyes　on　the　empty　air。

He　was　scarcely　over　his　surprise　that　the　girl　was　young　Lewallen's　sister；　and　the　discovery　had　wrought　a　curious　change。　　The　piquant　impulse　of　rivalry　was　gone；　and　something　deeper　was　taking　its　place。　　He　was　confused　and　a　good　deal　troubled；　thinking　it　all　over。　He　tried　to　make　out　what　the　girl　meant　by　looking　at　him　from　the　mountain…side；　by　waving　her　bonnet　at　him；　and　by　coming　to　old　Gabe's　mill　when　she　could　have　gone　to　her　own。　　To　be　sure；　she　did　not　know　then　who　he　was；　and　she　had　stopped　coming　when　she　learned；　but　why　had　she　crossed　again　that　day？　　Perhaps　she　too　was　bantering　him；　and　he　was　at　once　angry　and　drawn　to　her；　for　her　mettlesome　spirit　touched　his　own　love　of　daring；　even　when　his　humiliation　was　most　bitter…when　she　told　him　he　warred　on　women；　when　he　held　out　to　her　the　branch　of　peace　and　she　swept　it　aside　with　a　stroke　of　her　oar。　But　Rome　was　little　conscious　of　the　weight　of　subtle　facts　like　these。　　His　unseeing　eyes　went　back　to　her　as　she　combed　her　hair。　He　saw　the　color　in　her　cheeks；　the　quick　light　in　her　eyes；　the　naked；　full　throat　once　more；　and　the　wavering　forces　of　his　unsteady　brain　centred　in　a　stubborn　resolution…to　see　it　all　again。　　He　would　make　Isom　stay　at　home；　if　need　be；　and　he　would　take　the　boy's　place　at　the　mill。　　If　she　came　there　no　more；　he　would　cross　the　river　again。　　Come　peace　or　war；　be　she　friend　or　enemy；　he　would　see　her。　　His　thirst　was　fierce　again；　and；　with　this　half…drunken　determination　in　his　heart；　he　stooped　once　more　to　drink　from　the　cheerful　little　stream。　　As　he　rose；　a　loud　curse　smote　the　air。　　The　river；　pressed　between　two　projecting　cliffs；　was　narrow　at　that　point；　and　the　oath　came　across　the　water。　　An　instant　later　a　man　led　a　lamed　horse　from　behind　a　bowlder；　and　stooped　to　examine　its　leg。　　The　dusk　was　thickening；　but　Rome　knew　the　huge　frame　and　gray　beard　of　old　Jasper　Lewallen。　The　blood　beat　in　a　sudden　tide　at　his　temples；　and；　half　by　instinct；　he　knelt　behind　a　rock；　and；　thrusting　his　rifle　through　a　crevice；　cocked　it　softly。

Again　the　curse　of　impatience　came　over　the　still　water；　and　old　Jasper　rose　and　turned　toward　him。　　The　glistening　sight　caught　in　the　centre　of　his　beard。　　That　would　take　him　in　the　throat；　it　might　miss；　and　he　let　the　sight　fall　till　the　bullet　would　cut　the　fringe　of　gray　hair　into　the　heart。　　Old　Jasper；　so　people　said；　had　killed　his　father　in　just　this　way；　he　had　driven　his　uncle　from　the　mountains；　he　was　trying　now　to　revive　the　feud。　　He　was　the　father　of　young　Jasper；　who　had　threatened　his　life；　and　the　father　of　the　girl　whose　contempt　had　cut　him　to　the　quick　twice　that　day。　　Again　her　taunt　leaped　through　his　heated　brain；　and　his　boast　to　the　old　miller　followed　it。　　His　finger　trembled　at　the　trigger。

〃No；　by；　no！　〃he　breathed　between　his　teeth；　and　old　Jasper　passed　on；　unharmed。

VII

NEXT　day　the　news　of　Rufe　Stetson's　flight　went　down　the　river　on　the　wind；　and　before　nightfall　the　spirit　of　murder　was　loosed　on　both　shores　of　the　Cumberland。　　The　more　cautious　warned　old　Jasper。　　The　Stetsons　were　gaining　strength　again；　they　said；　so　were　their　feudsmen；　the　Marcums；　enemies　of　the　Braytons；　old　Jasper's　kinspeople。　　Keeping　store；　Rufe　had　made　money　in　the　West；　and　money　and　friends　right　and　left　through　the　mountains。　　With　all　his　good…nature；　he　was　a　persistent　hater；　and　he　was　shrewd。　　He　had　waited　the　chance　to　put　himself　on　the　side　of　the　law；　and　now　the　law　was　with　him。　But　old　Jasper　laughed　contemptuously。　　Rufe　Stetson　was　gone　again；　he　said；　as　he　had　gone　before；　and　this　time　for　good。　　Rufe　had　tried　to　do　what　nobody　had　done；　or　could　do；　while　he　was　alive。　　Anyway；　he　was　reckless；　and　he　cared　little　if　war　did　come　again。　　Still；　the　old　man　prepared　for　a　fight；　and　Steve　Marcum　on　the　other　shore　made　ready　for　Rufe's　return。

It　was　like　the　breaking　of　peace　in　feudal　days。　　The　close　kin　of　each　leader　were　already　about　him；　and　now　the　close　friends　of　each　took　sides。　　Each　leader　trading　in　Hazlan　had　debtors　scattered　through　the　mountains；　and　these　rallied　to　aid　the　man　who　had　befriended　them。　　There　was　no　grudge　but　served　a　pretext　for　partisanship　in　the　coming　war。　　Political　rivalry　had　wedged　apart　two　strong　families；　the　Marcums　and　Braytons；　a　boundary　line　in　dispute　was　a　chain　of　bitterness；　a　suit　in　a　country　court　had　sown　seeds　of　hatred。　　Sometimes　it　was　a　horse…trade；　a　fence　left　down；　or　a　gate　left　open；　and　the　trespassing　of　cattle；　in　one　instance；　through　spite；　a　neighbor　had　docked　the　tail　of　a　neighbor's　horse…had　〃　muled　his　critter；〃　as　the　owner　phrased　the　outrage。　　There　was　no　old　sore　that　was　not　opened　by　the　crafty　leaders；　no　slumbering　bitterness　that　they　did　not　wake　to　life。　　〃　Help　us　to　revenge；　and　we　will　he！p　you；〃　was　the　whispered　promise。　　So；　had　one　man　a　grudge　against　another；　he　could　set　his　foot　on　one　or　the　other　shore；　sure　that　his　enemy　would　be　fighting　for　the　other。

Others　there　were；　friends　of　neither　leader；　who；　under　stress　of　poverty　or　hatred　of　work；　would　fight　with　either　for　food　and　clothes；　and　others　still；　the　ne'er…do…wells　and　outlaws；　who　fought　by　the　day　or　month　for　hire。　Even　these　were　secured　by　one　or　the　other　faction；　for　Steve　and　old　Jasper　left　no　resource　untried；　knowing　well　that　the　fight；　if　there　was　one；　would　be　fought　to　a　quick　and　decisive　end。　　The　day　for　the　leisurely　feud；　for　patient　planning；　and　the　slow　picking　off　of　men　from　one　side　or　the　other；　was　gone。　　The　people　in　the　Blue　Grass；　who　had　no　feuds　in　their　own　country；　were　trying　to　stop　them　in　the　mountain。　　Over　in　Breathitt；　as　everybody　knew；　soldiers　had　come　from　the　〃　settlemints；〃　had　arrested　the　leaders；　and　had　taken　them　to　the　Blue　Grass　for　the　feared　and　hated　ordeal　of　trial　by　a　jury　of　〃bigoted　furriners。〃　　On　the　heels　of　the　soldiers　came　a　young　preacher　up　from　the　Jellico　hills；　half　〃　citizen；〃　half　furriner；〃　with　long　black　hair　and　a　scar　across　his　forehead；　who　was　stirring　up　the　people；　it　was　said；　〃　as　though　Satan　was　atter　them。〃　　Over　there　the　spirit　of　the　feud　was　broken；　and　a　good　effect　was　already　perceptible　around　Hazlan。　　In　past　days　every　pair　of　lips　was　sealed　with　fear；　and　the　non…combatants　left　crops　and　homes；　and　moved　down　the　river；　when　trouble　began。　Now　only　the　timid　considered　this　way　of　escape。　　Steve　and　old　Jasper　found　a　few　men　who　refused　to　enter　the　fight。　Several；　indeed；　talked　openly　against　the　renewal　of　the　feud；　and　somebody；　it　was　said；　had　dared　to　hint　that　he　would　send　to　the　Governor　for　aid　if　it　should　break　out　again。　But　these　were　rumors　touching　few　people。

For　once　again；　as　time　and　time　again　before；　one　bank　of　the　Cumberland　was　arrayed　with　mortal　enmity　against　the　other；　and　old　Gabe　sat；　with　shaken　faith；　in　the　door　of　his　mill。　For　years　he　had　worked　and　prayed　for　peace；　and　for　a　little　while　the　Almighty　seemed　lending　aid。　　Now　the　friendly　grasp　was　loosening；　and　yet　the　miller　did　all　he　could。　　He　begged　Steve　Marcum　to　urge　Rufe　to　seek　aid　from　the　law　when　the　latter　came　back；　and　Steve　laughed；　and　asked　what　justice　was　possible　for　a　Stetson；　with　a　Lewallen　for　a　judge　and　Braytons　for　a　jury。　　The　miller　pleaded　with　old　Jasper；　and　old　Jasper　pointed　to　the　successes　of　his　own　life。

〃I　hev　triumphed　ag'in'　my　enemies　time　'n'　ag'in；〃　he　said。　　〃The　Lord　air　on　my　side；　'n'　I　gits　a　better　Christian　ever'　year。〃　　The　old　man　spoke　with　the　sincerity　of　a　barbarism　that　has　survived　the　dark　ages；　and；　holding　the　same　faith；　the　miller　had　no　answer。　　It　was　old　Gabe　indeed　who　had　threatened　to　send　to　the　Governor　for　soldiers；　and　this　he　would　have　done；　perhaps；　had　there　not　been　one　hope　left；　and　only　one。　　A　week　had　gone；　and　there　was　no　word　from　Rufe　Stetson。　　Up　on　Thunderstruck　Knob　the　old　Stetson　mother　was　growing　pitiably　eager　and　restless。　　Every　day　she　slipped　like　a　ghost　through　the　leafless　woods　and　in　and　out　the　cabin；　kindling　hatred。　At　every　dawn　or　dusk　she　was　on　her　porch　peering　through　the　dim　light　for　Rufe　Stetson。　Steve　Marcum　was　ill　at　ease。　　Rome　Stetson　alone　seemed　unconcerned；　and　his　name　was　on　every　gossiping　tongue。

He　took　little　interest　and　no　hand　in　getting　ready　for　the　war。　　He　forbade　the　firing　of　a　gun　till　Rufe　came　back；　else　Steve　should　fight　his　fight　alone。　　He　grew　sullen　and　morose。　His　old　mother's　look　was　a　thorn　in　his　soul；　and　he　stayed　little　at　home。　　He　hung　about　the　mill；　and　when　Isom　became　bedfast；　the　big　mountaineer；　who　had　never　handled　anything　but　a　horse；　a　plough；　or　a　rifle；　settled　him…self；　to　the　bewilderment　of　the　Stetsons；　into　the　boy's　duties；　and　nobody　dared　question　him。　Even　old　Gabe　jested　no　longer。　　The　matter　was　too　serious。

Meanwhile　the　winter　threw　off　the　last　slumbrous　mood　of　autumn；　as　a　sleeper　starts　from　a　dream。　　A　fortnight　was　gone；　and　still　no　message　came　from　the　absent　leader。　　One　shore　was　restive；　uneasy；　the　other　confident；　mocking。　　Between　the　two；　Rome　Stetson　waited　his　chance　at　the　mill。

VIII。

DAY　was　whitening　on　the　Stetson　shore。　Across　the　river　the　air　was　still　sharp　with　the　chill　of　dawn；　and　the　mists　lay　like　flocks　of　sheep　under　shelter　of　rock　and　crag。　A　peculiar　cry　radiated　from　the　Lewallen　cabin　with　singular　resonance　on　the　crisp　air…the　mountain　cry　for　straying　cattle。　　A　soft　low　came　from　a　distant　patch　of　laurel；　and　old　Jasper's　girl；　Martha；　folded。　her　hands　like　a　conch　at　her　mouth；　and　the　shrill　cry　again　startled　the　air。

Ye　better　come；　ye　pieded　cow…brute。〃　Picking　up　a　cedar　piggin；　she　stepped　from　the　porch　toward　the　meek　voice　that　had　answered　her。　　Temper　and　exertion　had　b