the red acorn-第19节
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The Little Rockassel River runs round hits foot。 That's what's a…stoppin' 'em。 They'll hev a turrible time gittin' acrost hit。 Hit's mouty hard crossin' at enny time； but hit's awful now； fur the Rockassel's boomin'。 The big rains hev sent her up kitin'； an' hit's now breast…deep thar in the Ford。 We'll git round whar we kin see hit all。〃
Another wide detour to keep themselves in the concealment of the woods brough Fortner and Harry out upon an acclivity that almost overhung the ford； and those gathered around it。 The two Unionists crawled cautiously through the cedars and laurel to the very edge of the cliff and looked down upon their enemies。 They were so near that everything was plainly visible； and the hum of conversation reached their ears。 They could even hear the commands of the officers vainly trying to restore order； the curses of the teamsters upon their jaded animals； the ribald songs of the few whose canteens furnished them with forgetfulness of defeat； and contempt for the surrounding misery。
All the flooding showers which had been falling upon hundreds of square miles of precipitous mountin sides were now gorging through the crooked； narrow throat of the Little Rockcastle。 The torrent filled the ragged banks to the brim； and in their greedy swirl undermined and tore from there logs； great trees； and even rocks。
This wasthe barrier that stayed the flight of the fugitive throng； and it was this that they strove to put between thm and the presumed revengeful victors。
On the bank； field and line officers labored to calm their men and restore organization。 It was in vain that they pointed out that there had been no pursuit thus far； and the unlikelihood of there being one。 When did Panic yield to Reason？ In those demoralized ears the thunder of the cannon at Wildcat； the crash of the bursting shells； and the deadly whistle of bullets still rang louder than any words officers could speak。
The worst frightened crowded into the stream in a frenzy； and struggled wildly with the current that swept their feet off the slimy limestone bottom； with the logs and trees dashing along like so many catapult…bolts； and with the horses and teams urged on by men more fear…stricken still。 On the steep slope on the other side glimmered numbers of little fires where those who were lucky enough to get across were warming and drying themselves。
〃Heavens！〃 said Harry with an anticipatory shudder； 〃if our men should come up； the first cannon shot would make half these men drown themselves in trying to get away。〃
Fortner heeded him not。 The mountaineer's eyes were fixed upon a tall； imperious looking man； whose collar bore the silver stars of a Colonel。
〃He has found his man at last；〃 said Harry； noticing his companion's attitude； and picking up his own gun in readiness for what might come。
Fortner half…cocked his rifle； took from its nipple the cap that had been tehre an hour and flung it away。 He picked the powder out if the tube； replaced it with fresh from his horn； selected another cap carefully； fitted it on the nipple； and let the hammer down with the faintest snap to force it to its place。
His eyes had the look of a rattlesnake's when it coils for a spring； and his breast swelled out as if he was summoning all his strength。 He stepped forward to a tree so lightly that there came no rustle from the dead leaves he trod upon。 Harry took his place on the other side of the tree； and cocked his musket。
So close were they to hundreds of Rebels with arms in their hands； that it seemed simply an invitation to death to call their attention。
Fortner turned and waved Harry back as he heard him approach； but Glen had apparently exhausted all his capacity for fearing； in the march upon Wildcat； and he was now calmly desperate。
The Colonel rode out from the throng toward the level spot at the base of the ledge upon which the two were concealed。 The horse he bestrode was a magnificent thoroughbred； whose fine action could not be concealed； even by his great fatigue。
〃Go and find Mars；〃 said the Colonel to an orderly； 〃and tell him to build a fire against that rock there； and make us some coffee。 We will not be able to get across the ford before midnight。〃 The orderly rode off； and the Colonel dismounted and walked forward with the cramped gait of a man who had been long in the saddle。
Still louder yells arose from the ford。 A powerful horse； ridden by an officer who was trying to force his way across； had slipped on the river's glassy bedstones； in the midst of a compact throng； and carried many with it down into the deep water below the crossing。
The Colonel's lip curled with contempt as he continued his walk。
A sharp little click sounded from Fortner's rifle。 He had set the hair trigger。
He stepped out clear of the tree； and gave a peculiar whistle。 The Colonel started as he heard the sound； looked up； saw who uttered it； and instinctly reached his hand back to the holster for a revolver。
Down would scarcely have been ruffled by Fortner's light touch upon the trigger。
Fire flamed from the rifle's muzzle。
The Colonel's haughty eyes became sterner than ever。 The holster was torn as he wrenched the revolver out。 A clutch at the mane； and he fell forward on the wet brown leavesdead！
Dumb amazement fille dthe horse's great eyes； he stretched out his neck and smelled his lifeless master inquiringly。
A shot from Harry's musket； fifty from the astounded Rebels； and the two Unionists sped away unhurt into the cover of the dark cedars。
Chapter XI。 Through the Mountains and the Night。
God sits upon the Throne of Kings； And Judges unto judgement brings： Why then so long Maintain your wrong； And favor lawlesss things？
Defend the poor； the fatherless； Their crying injuries redress： And vindicate The desolate； Whom wicked men oppress。 George Sandy's Paraphrase of Psalm XXXII。
Fortner and Glen were soon so far away from the Ford that the only reminder of its neighborhood were occasional glimpses； caught through rifts in he forest； of the lofty slope of Rockcastle Mountain； now outlined in the gathering darkness by twinkling fires； which increased in number； and climbed higher towards the clouds as fast as the fugitives succeeded in struggling across the river。
〃That's a wonderful sight；〃 said Harry； as they paused on a summit to rest and catch breath。 〃It reminds me of some of the war scenes in Scott； or the Illiad。〃
〃Hit looks ter me like a gineral coon…hunt；〃 said Fortner； 〃on'y over thar hit's the coons； an' not the hunters； that hev the torches。 I wish I could put a bum…shell inter every fire。〃
〃You are merciless。〃
〃No more'n they are。 They've ez little marcy ez a pack o' wolves in a sheep…pen。〃
〃Well；〃 continued Fortner； meditatively； 〃Ole Rockassel's gittin' a glut to…night。 She'd orten't ter need no more now fur a hundred yeahs。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 said Harry。
〃Why； they say thet the Rockassel hez ter hev a man every Spring an' Fall。 The Injuns believed hit； an' hit's bin so ever sence the white folks come inter the country。 Last Spring hit war the turn o' the Fortner kin to gi'n her a man； an' she levied on a fust cousin o' minea son o' Aunt Debby Brill。 But less jog on； we've got a good piece fur ter go。〃
It was now nightblack and starless； and the dense woods through which they were traveling made the darkness thick and impenetrable。 But no check in Fortner's speed hinted at any ignorance of the course or encountering of obstacles。 He continued to stride forward with the same swift； certain step as in the day time。 But for Harry； who could see nothing but his leader's head and shoulders； and； whose every effort was required to keep these in sight； the journey was full of painful toil。 The relaxation from the intense strain manifested itself in proportion as they seemed to recede from the presence of the enemy； and his spirits flagged continually。
In the daylight the brush and briers had been annoying and hurtful； and the roughness of the way very trying。 Now the one was wounding and cruel； the other made every step with his jaded limbs a torture。 With the low spirits engendered by the great fatigue； came a return of the old fears and tremors。 The continual wails of the wildcats roundabout filled him with gloomy forebodings。 Every hair of his head stood stiffly up in mortal terror when a huge catamount； screaming like a fiend； leaped down from a tree； and confronted them for an instant with hideously…gleaming yellow eyes。
〃Cuss…an'…burn the nasty varmint！〃 said Fortner angrily； snatching up a pine knot from his feet and flinging it at the beast； which vanished into the darkness with another curdling scream。
〃Don't that man know what fear is？〃 wondered Harry； ignorant that the true mountaineer feels toward these vociferous felidae about the same contempt with which a plainsman regards a coyote。
At length Fortner slackened his pace； and began to move with caution。
〃Are we coming upon the enemy again？〃 asked Harry； in a loud whisper； which had yet a perceptible quaver in it。
〃No；〃 answered Fortner； 〃but we're a…comin' ter what is every bit an' grain ez dangersome。 Heah's
