the red acorn-第16节
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sumed an acute formbrought on doubtless by the change in the weatherand he is suffering greatly。 Please instruct the men to be very careful carrying him； so as to avoid all unnecessary pain； and also all exposure to the rain。 He will have a good room in the hospital； with a fire in it； and every attention； so that you need have no fears concerning him。〃
〃I never had；〃 said Kent； loud enough to be heard all over the right wing of the company。
〃I have；〃 said Abe。 〃There's every danger in the world that he'll get well。〃
Away the regiment marched； through the dismal rain； giong as fast as the heavily laden men could be spurred onward by the knowledge of their comrades' imminent need。
It was fearful hard work even so long as the pike lasted； and they had a firm； even foundation for their feet to tread upon。 But the pike ended at Crab Orchard； and then they plunged into the worst roads that the South at any time offered to resist the progress of the Union armies。 Narrow； tortuous； unworked substitutes for highways wound around and over steep； rocky hills； through miry creek bottoms； and over bridgeless streams； now so swollen as to be absolutely unfordable by less determined men； starting on a less urgent errand。
For three weary； discouraging days they pressed onward through the dispiriting rain and over all the exhausting obstacles。 On the morning of the fourth they reached the foot of the range in which Wildcat Gap is situated。 They were marching slowly up the steep mountain side； their soaked garments clinging about their weary limbs and clogging their footsteps。 Suddenly a sullen boom rolled out of the mist that hung over the distant mountain tops。
Every one stopped； held their breaths； and tried to check the beating of their hearts； that they might hear more。
They needed not。 There was no difficulty about hearing the succeeding reports； which became every instant more distinct。
〃By God； that's cannon！〃 said the Colonel。 〃They're attacking our boys。 Throw off everything； boys； and hurry forward！〃
Overcoats； blankets； haversacks and knapsacks were hastily pied； and the two most exhausted men in each company placed on guard over them。
Kent and Abe did not contribute their canteen to the company pile。 But then its weight was much less of an impediment than when they left Camp Dick Robinson。
They employed the very brief halt of the regiment in swabbing out the barrels of their muskets very carefully； and removing the last traces of moisture from the nipples and hammers。
〃At last I stand a show of getting some return from this old piece of gas…tube for the trouble it's been to me；〃 said Kent Edwards； as he ran a pin into the nipple to make assurance doubly sure that it was entirely free。 〃Think of the transportation charges I have against it； for the time I have lugged it around over Ohio and Kentucky； to say nothing of the manual labor and the mental strain of learning and prectising 'present arms；' 'carry arms；' 'support arms；' and such military monkey…shines under the hot sun of last Summer！〃
He pulled off the woolen rag he had twisted around the head of the rammer for a swab； wiped the rammer clean and bright and dropped it into the gun。 It fell with a clear ring。 Another dextrous movement of the gun sent it flying into the air。 Kent caught it as it came down and scrutinized its bright head。 He found no smirch of dirt or dampness。 〃Clean and clear as a whistle inside；〃 he said； approvingly。 〃She'll make music that our Secession friends will pay attention to； though it may not be as sweet to their ears as 'The Bonnie Blue Flag。'〃
〃More likely kick the whole northwest quarter section of your shoulder off when you try to shoot it；〃 growled Abe； who had been paying similar close attention to his gun。 〃If we'd had anybody but a lot of mullet…heads for officers we'd a'been sent up here last week； when the weather and the roads were good； and when we could've done something。 Now our boys'll be licked before we can get where we can help 'em。〃
Glen leaned on his musket； and listening to the deepening roar of battle； was shaken by the surge of emotions natural to the occasion。 It seemed as if no one could live through the incessant firing the sound of which rolled down to them。 To go up into it was to deliberately venture into certain destruction。 Memory made a vehement protest。 He recalled all the pleasant things that life had in store for him； all that he could enjoy and accomplish； all that he might be to others； all that others might be to him。 Every enjoyment of the past； every happy possibility of the future took on a more entrancing roseatenesss。
Could he give all this up； and die there on the mountain top； in this dull； brutal； unheroic fashion； in the filthy mud and dreary rain； with no one to note or care whether he acted courageously or otherwise？
It did not seem that he was expected to fling his life away like a dumb brute entering the reeking shambles。 His youth and abilities had been given him for some other purpose。 Again palsying fear and ignoble selfishness tugged at his heart…strings； and he felt all his carefully cultivated resolutions weakening。
〃A Sergeant must be left in command of the men guarding this property；〃 said the Colonel。 The Captain of Company A will detail one for that duty。〃
Captain Bennett glanced from one to another of his five Sergeants。 Harry's heart gave a swift leap； with hope that he might be ORDERED to remain behind。 Then the blood crimsoned his cheeks； for the first time since the sound of the firing struck his ears； he felt that every eye in the Company was upon him； and that his ignoble desire had been read by all in his look of expectancy。 Shame came to spur up his faltering will。 He set his teeth firmly； pulled the tompion out of his gun； and flung it away disdainfully as if he would never need it again； blew into the muzzle to see if the tube was clear； and wiped off the lock with a fine white handkerchiefone of the relics of his by…gone elegancewhich he drew from the breast of his blouse。
〃Sergeant GlanSergeant Glancey will remain；〃 said the Captain peremptorily。 Glancey； the Captain knew； was the only son and support of a widowed mother。
〃Now； boys；〃 said the Colonel in tones that rang like bugle notes； 〃the time has come for us to strike a blow for the Union； and for the fame of the dear old Buckeye State。 I need not exhort you to do your duty like men； I know you too well to think that any such words of mine are at all necessary。 Forward！ QUICK TIME！ MARCH！〃
The mountain sides rang with the answering cheers from a thousand throats。
The noise of the battle on the distant crest was at first in separate bursts of sound； as regiment after regiment came into position and opened fire。 The intervals between these bursts had disappeared； and it had now become a steady roar。
A wild mob came rushing backward from the front。
〃My God； our men are whipped！〃 exclaimed the young Adjutant in tones of Anguish。
〃No； no；〃 said Captain Bennett； with cheerful confidence。 〃These are only the camp riff…raff； who run whenever so much as a cap is burst near them。〃
So it proved to be。 There were teamsters upon their wheel…mules； cooks； officers' servants； both black and white； and civilian employees； mingled with many men in uniform； skulking from their companies。 Those were mounted who could seize a mule anywhere； and those who could not were endeavoring to keep up on foot with the panic…stricken riders。
All seemed wild with one idea： To get as far as possible from the terrors raging around the mountain top。 They rushed through the regiment and disordered its ranks。
〃Who are you a…shovin'； young fellowsay？〃 demanded Abe Bolton； roughly collaring a strapping hulk of a youth； who； hatless； and with his fat cheeks white with fear came plunging against him like a frightened steer。
〃O boys； let me pass； and don't go up there！ Don't！ You'll all be killed。 I know it； I'm all the one of my company that got awayI am； really。 All the rest are killed。〃
〃Heavens！ what a wretched remnant； as the dry…goods man said； when the clerk brought him a piece of selvage as all that the burglars had left of his stock of broadcloth；〃 said Kent Edwards。 〃It's too bad that you were allowed to get away； either。 You're not a proper selection for a relic at all； and you give a bad impression of your company。 You ought to have thought of this； and staid up there and got killed； and let some better…looking man got away； that would have done the company credit。 Why didn't you think of this？〃
〃Git！〃 said Abe； sententiously； with a twist in the coward's collar； that； with the help of an opportune kick by Kent； sent him sprawling down the bank。
〃Captain Bennett；〃 shouted the Colonel angrily； 〃Fix bayonets there in front； and drive these hounds off； or we'll never get there。〃
A show of savage…looking steel sent the skulkers down a side…path through the woods。
The tumult of the battle heightened with every step the regiment advanced。 A turn in the winding road brought them to an opening in the woods which extended clear to the summit。 Through this the torrent of noise poured as when a powerful band passes the
