a cumberland vendetta-第7章

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e　fightin'　over　thar；　'n'　ef　we　don't　watch　out；　they'll　be　a…doin'　it　hyeh；　when　we　start　our　leetle　frolic。　　We　hain't　got　no　time　to　fool。　　Old　Jas　knows　this　as　well　as　me；　'n'　thar's　goin'　to　be　mighty　leetle　chance　fer　'em　to　layway　'n'　pick　us　off　from　the　bresh。　　Thar's　goin'　to　be　fa'r　fightin'　fer　once；　thank　the　Lord。　　They　bushwhacked　us　dunn'　the　war；　'n'　they've　laywayed　us　'n'　shot　us　to　pieces　ever　sence；　but　now；　ef　God　A'mighty's　willin'；　the　thing's　a…goin'　to　be　settled　one　way　or　t'other　at　last；　I　reckon。〃

He　stopped　a　moment　to　think。　　The　men's　breathing　could　be　heard；　so　quiet　was　the　room；　and　Rufe　went　on　telling　in　detail；　slowly；　as　if　to　himself；　the　wrongs　the　Lewallens　had　done　his　people。　　When　he　came　to　old　Jasper　his　voice　was　low；　and　his　manner　was　quieter　than　ever。

〃Now　old　Jas　have　got　to　the　p'int　whar　he　says　as　how　nobody　in　this　county　kin　undersell　him　'n'　stay　hyeh。　　Old　Jas　druv　Bond　Vickers　out'n　the　mount　'ins　fer　tryin'　hit。　　He　druv　Jess　Hale　away；　'n'　them　two　air　our　kin。〃

The　　big　mountaineer　turned　then；　　and　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe。　　His　eyes　grew　a　little　brighter；　and　his　nostrils　spread；　but　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm　he　added；　still　quietly：

〃Y'　all　know　whut　he's　done。〃

The　gesture　lighted　memories　of　personal　wrongs　in　every　breast；　he　had　tossed　a　fire…brand　among　fagots；　and　an　angry　light　began　to　burn　from　the　eyes　that　watched　him。

〃Ye　know；　too；　that　he　thinks　he　has　played　the　same　game　with　me；　but　ye　don't　know；　I　reckon；　that　he　had　ole　Jim　Stover　'n'　that　mis'…able　Eli　Crump　a…hidin'　in　the　bushes　to　shoot　me　〃…again　he　grasped　the　torn　lapel；　〃that　a　body　warned　me　to　git　away　from　Hazlan；　n'　the　night　I　left　home　they　come　thar　to　kill　me；　'n'　s'arched　the　house；　'n'　skeered　Mollie　n'　the　leetle　gal　'most　to　death。〃

The　mountaineer's　self…control　was　lost　suddenly　in　a　furious　oath。　　The　men　did　know；　but　in　fresh　anger　they　leaned　forward　in　their　chairs；　and　twisted　about　with　smothered　curses。　The　old　woman　had　stopped　smoking；　and　was　rocking　her　body　to　and　fro。　　Her　lips　were　drawn　in　upon　her　toothless　gums；　and　her　pipe　was　clinched　against　her　sunken　breast。　　The　head　of　the　old　mountaineer　was　lifted；　and　his　eyes　were　open　and　shining　fiercely。

〃I　hear　as　how　he　says　I'm　gone　fer　good。　Well；　I　have　been　kinder　easy…goin'；　hatin'　to　fight；　but　sence　the　day　I　seed　Rome's　dad　thar　dead　in　his　blood；　I　hev　had　jes　one　thing　I　wanted　to　do。　　Thar　wasn't　no　use　stayin'　hyeh；　I　seed　that。　　Rome　thar　was　too　leetle；　and　they　was　too　many　fer　me。　　I　knowed　it　was　easier　to　git　a　new　start　out　West；　'n'　when　I　come　back　to　the　mount'in；　hit　was　to　do　jes…whut　I'm　…　going　…　to　…　do　…　now。〃　　He　wheeled　suddenly　upon　Rome；　with　one　huge　hand　lifted。　Under　it　the　old　woman's　voice　rose　in　a　sudden　wail：

Yes；　'n'　I　want　to　see　it　done　befoh　I　die。　I　hain't　hyeh　fer　long；　but　I　hain't　goin'　to　leave　as　long　as　ole　Jas　is　hyeh；　'n'　I　want　ye　all　to　know　it。　　Ole　Jas　hev　got　to　go　fust。　　You　hear　me；　Rome？　　I'm　a…talkin'　to　you；　I'm　a…talkin'　to　you。　　Hit's　yo'　time　now！

The　frenzied　chant　raised　Rome　from　his　chair。　　Rufe　himself　took　up　the　spirit　of　it；　and　his　voice　was　above　all　caution。

〃Yes；　Rome！　　They　killed　him；　boy。　　They　sneaked　on　him；　'n'　shot　him　to　pieces　from　the　bushes。　　Yes；　hit's　yo'　time　now！　　Look　hyeh；　boys！　〃　　He　reached　above　the　fireplace　and　took　down　an　old　rifle…his　brother's…which　the　old　mother　had　suffered　no　one　to　touch。　He　held　it　before　the　fire；　pointing　to　two　crosses　made　near　the　flash…pan。　　〃　Thar's　one　fer　ole　Jim　Lewallen！　　Thar's　one　fer　ole　Jas！　He　got　Jim；　but　ole　Jas　has　got　him；　'n'　thar's　his　cross　thar　yit！　　Whar's　yo'　gun；　Rome？　Shame　on　ye；　boy！〃

The　wild…eyed　old　woman　was　before　him。　She　had　divined　Rufe's　purpose；　and　was　already　at　his　side；　with　Rome's　Winchester　in　one　hand　and　a　clasp…knife　in　the　other。　　Every　man　was　on　his　feet；　the　door　was　open；　and　the　boy　Isom　was　at　the　threshold；　his　eyes　blazing　from　his　whitc　face。　　Rome　had　strode　forward。

Yes；　boy；　now's　the　time；　right　hyeh　before　us　all！

The　mother　had　the　knife　outstretched。　Rome　took　it；　and　the　scratch　of　the　point　on　the　hard　steel　went　twice　through　the　stillness…one　more　fer　the　young　un〃；　the　voice　was　the　old　mother's…then　twice　again。

The　moon　was　sinking　when　Rome　stood　in　the　door　alone。　　The　tramp　of　horses　was　growing　fainter　down　the　mountain。　　The　trees　were　swaying　in　the　wind　below　him；　and　he　could　just　see　the　gray　cliffs　on　the　other　shore。　The　morning　seemed　far　away；　it　made　him　dizzy　looking　back　to　it　through　the　tumult　of　the　day。　　Somewhere　in　the　haze　was　the　vision　of　a　girl's　white　face…white　with　distress　for　him。　　Her　father　and　her　brother　he　had　sworn　to　kill。　　He　had　made　a　cross　for　each；　and　each　cross　was　an　oath。　　He　closed　the　door；　and　then　he　gave　way；　and　sat　down　with　his　head　in　both　hands。　　The　noises　in　the　kitchen　ceased。　The　fire　died　away；　and　the　chill　air　gathered　about　him。　　When　he　rose；　the　restless　eyes　of　the　boy　were　upon　him　from　the　shadows。

X

IT　was　court…day　in　Hazlan；　but　so　early　in　the　morning　nothing　was　astir　in　the　town　that　hinted　of　its　life　on　such　a　day。　　But　for　the　ring　of　a　blacksmith's　anvil　on　the　quiet　air；　and　the　fact　that　nowhere　was　a　church…spire　visible；　a　stranger　would　have　thought　that　the　peace　of　Sabbath　overlay　a　village　of　God…fearing　people。　　A　burly　figure　lounged　in　the　porch　of　a　rickety　house；　and　yawned　under　a　swinging　sign；　the　rude　letters　of　which　promised〃　private　entertainment　〃　for　the　traveller　unlucky　enough　to　pass　that　way。　　In　the　one　long；　narrow　main　street；　closely　flanked　by　log　and　framed　houses；　nothing　else　human　was　in　sight。　Out　from　this　street；　and　in　an　empty　square；　stood　the　one　brick　building　in　the　place；　the　court…house；　brick　without；　brick　within；　unfinished；　unpencilled；　unpainted；　panes　out　of　the　windows；　a　shutter　off　here　and　there；　or　swinging　drunkenly　on　one　hinge；　the　door　wide　op　en；　as　though　there　was　no　privacy　within…a　poor　structure；　with　the　look　of　a　good　man　gone　shiftless　and　fast　going　wrong。

Soon　two　or　three　lank　brown　figures　appeared　from　each　direction　on　foot；　then　a　horseman　or　two；　and　by　and　by　mountaineers　came　in　groups；　on　horse　and　on　foot。　　In　time　the　side　alleys　and　the　court…house　square　were　filled　with　horses　and　mules；　and　even　steers。　　The　mountaineers　crowded　the　narrow　street：　idling　from　side　to　side；　squatting　for　a　bargain　on　the　wooden　sidewalks；　grouping　on　the　porch　of　the　rickety　hotel；　and　on　the　court…house　steps　loitering　in　and　out　of　the　one　store　in　sight。　Out　in　the　street　several　stood　about　a　horse；　looking　at　his　teeth；　holding　his　eyes　to　the　sun；　punching　his　ribs；　twisting　his　tail；　while　the　phlegmatic　owner　sat　astride　the　submissive　beast；　and　spoke　short　answers　to　rare　questions。　Everybody　talked　politics；　the　crop　failure；　or　the　last　fight　at　the　seat　of　some　private　war；　but　nobody　spoke　of　a　Lewallen　or　a　Stetson　unless　he　knew　his　listener's　heart；　and　said　it　in　a　whisper。　　For　nobody　knew　when　the　powder　would　flash；　or　who　had　taken　sides；　or　that　a　careless　word　might　not　array　him　with　one　or　the　other　faction。

A　motley　throng　it　was…in　brown　or　gray　homespun；　with　trousers　in　cowhide　boots；　and　slouched　hats　with　brims　curved　according　to　temperament；　but　with　striking　figures　in　it；　the　patriarch　with　long；　white　hair；　shorn　even　with　the　base　of　the　neck；　and　bearded　only　at　the　throat…a　justice　of　the　peace；　and　the　sage　of　his　district；　a　little　mountaineer　with　curling　black　hair　and　beard；　and　dark；　fine　features；　a　grizzled　giant　with　a　head　rugged　enough　to　have　been　carelessly　chipped　from　stone；　a　bragging　candidate　claiming　everybody's　notice；　a　square…　shouldered　fellow　surging　through　the　crowd　like　a　stranger；　an　open…faced；　devil…may…　care　young　gallant　on　fire　with　moonshine；　a　skulking　figure　with　brutish　mouth　and　shifting　eyes。　　Indeed；　every　figure　seemed　distinct；　for；　living　apart　from　his　neighbor；　and　troubling　the　law　but　little　in　small　matters　of　dispute；　the　mountaineer　preserves　independence；　and　keeps　the　edges　of　his　individuality　unworn。　　Apparently　there　was　not　a　woman　in　town。　　Those　that　lived　there　kept　housed；　and　the　fact　was　significant。　　Still；　it　was　close　to　noon；　and　yet　not　a　Stetson　or　a　Lewallen　had　been　seen。　The　stores　of　Rufe　and　old　Jasper　were　at　the　extremities　of　the　town；　and　the　crowd　did　not　move　those　ways。　　It　waited　in　the　centre；　and　whetted　impatience　by　sly　trips　in　twos　and　three　to　stables　or　side　alleys　for　〃mountain　dew。〃　Now　and　then　the　sheriff；　a　little　man　with　a　mighty　voice；　would　appear　on　the　courthouse　steps；　and　summon　a　witness　to　court；　where　a　frightened　judge　gave　instructions　to　a　frightened　jury。　　But　few　went；　unless　called；　for　the　interest　was　outside；　every　man　in　the　streets　knew　that　a　storm　was　nigh；　and　was　waiting　to　see　it　burst。

Noon　passed。　　A　hoarse　bell　and　a　whining　hound　had　announced　dinner　in　the　hotel。　　The　guests　were　coming　again　into　the　streets。　Eyes　were　brighter；　faces　a　little　more　flushed；　and　the　〃moonshine〃　was　passed　more　openly。　Both　ways　the　crowd　watched　closely。　　The　quiet　at　each　end　of　the　street　was　ominous；　and　the　delay　could　last　but　little　longer。　　The　lookers…on　themselves　were　getting　quarrelsome。　The　vent　must　come　soon；　or　among　them　there　would　be　trouble。

Thar　comes　Jas　Lewallen！　〃　　At　last。　　A　dozen　voices　spoke　at　once。　　A　horseman　had　appeared　far　down　the　street　from　the　Lewallen　end。　　The　clouds　broke　from　about　the　sun；　and　a　dozen　men　knew　the　horse　that　bore　him；　for　the　gray　was　prancing　the　street　sidewise；　and　throwing　the　sunlight　from　his　flanks。　Nobody　followed；　and　the　crowd　was　puzzled。　Young　Jasper　carried　a　Winchester　across　his　saddle…bow；　and；　swaying　with　the　action　of　his　horse；　came　on。

〃What　air　he　about？〃

〃He's　a　plumb　idgit。〃

He　mus'　be　crazy。〃

He's　drunk！

The　　wonder　ceased。　　Young　Jasper　was　reeling。　　Two　or　three　Stetsons　slipped　from　the　crowd；　and　there　was　a　galloping　of　hoofs　the　other　way。　　Another　horseman　appeared　from　the　Lewallen　end；　riding　hastily。　　The　new…comer's　errand　was　to　call　Jasper　back。　But　the　young　dare…devil　was　close　to　the　crowd；　and　was　swinging　a　bottle　over　his　head。

Come　back　hyeh；　Jas！　　Come　hyeh！〃　The　new…comer　was　shouting　afar　off　while　he　galloped。　　Horses　were　being　untethered　from　the　side　alleys。　　Several　more　Lewallen　riders　came　in　sight。　　They　could　see　the　gray　shining　in　the　sunlight　amid　the　crowd；　and　the　man　sent　after　him　halted　at　a　safe　distance；　gesticulating；　and　they；　too；　spurred　forward。

Hello；　boys！　〃　young　Jasper　was　calling　out；　as　he　swayed　from　side　to　side；　the　people　everywhere　giving　him　way。

〃Fun　to…day；　by…　！　fun　to…day！　　Who'll　hev　a　drink？　　Hyeh's　hell　to　the　Stetsons；　whar　some　of　'em　'11　be　afore　night！

With　a　swagger　he　lifted　the　bottle　to　his　lips；　and；　stopping　short；　let　it　fall　untouched　to　the　ground。　　He　had　straightened　in　his　saddle；　and　was　looking　up　the　street。　　With　a　deep　curse　he　threw　the　Winchester　to　his　shoulder；　fired；　and　before　his　yell　had　died　on　his　lips　horse　and　rider　were　away　like　a　shaft　of　light。　The　crow