the red acorn-第40节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　the　Ohio　River；　and　again　back　across　Kentucky　to　Nashville；　beside　side　marches　as　numerous　as　the　branches　on　a　tree；　50　per　cent。　of　its　number　had　fallen　vicitms　to　sickness　and　hardship；　and　10　per　cent。　more　had　been　shot；　here　and　there；　a　man　or　two　at　a　time；　on　the　picket　or　skirmish　line；　at　fords　or　stockades　guarding　railroad　bridges。　　But　while　other　regiments　which　had　suffered　nothing　like　it　had　painted　on　their　banners　〃Mill　Springs；〃　〃Shiloh；〃　and　〃Perryville；〃　its　colors　had　yet　to　receive　their　maiden　inscription。　　This　was　the　hard　luck　of　many　of　the　regiments　in　the　left　wing　of　Buell's　army　in　1862。

Kent　Edwards；　whose　promotion　to　the　rank　of　Sergeant；　and　reduction　for　some　escapade　had　been　a　usual　monthly　occurence　during　the　year；　was　fond　of　saying　that　the　regiment　was　not　sent　to　the　field　to　gain　martial　glory；　but　to　train　as　book　agents　to　sell　histories　of　the　struggle；　〃When　This　Cruel　War　is　Over。〃　　Whereupon　Abe　Bolton　would　improve　the　occasion　to　invoke　a　heated　future　for　every　person　in　authority；　from　the　President　down　to　the　Fifth　Corporal。

But　for　all　this　the　400　hardy　boys　who　still　remained　to　answer　roll…call；　out　of　the　1；100　that　had　crossed　the　Ohio　River　in　September；　1861；　were　as　fine　a　body　of　fighting　men　as　ever　followed　a　flag；　and　there　was　no　better　soldier　among　them　than　Harry　Glen。　　Every　day　had　been　a　growth　to　him；　and　every　trial　had　knit　his　spirit　into　firmer　texture。　　For　awhile　he　had　made　it　a　matter　of　conscience　to　take　an　active　part　in　everything　that　his　comrades　were　called　upon　to　do。　　Soon　this　became　a　matter　of　pleasure；　for　the　satisfaction　of　successfully　leading　them　through　difficulties　and　dangers　more　than　compensated　for　the　effort。　　But　while　he　had　vindicated　himself　in　their　estimation；　he　yet　lacked　that　which　the　ordeal　of　a　battle　would　give　him　at　home；　and　more　than　all；　in　Rachel's　eyes。　　He　heard　nothing　from　or　of　her；　but　he　consoled　himself　with　the　hope　that　the　same　means　by　which　she　had　been　so　promptly　informed　of　his　misstep；　would　convey　to　her　an　intimation　of　how　well　he　was　deserving　her。　　When　he　gained　his　laurels　he　would　himself　lay　them　at　her　feet。　　Until　then　he　could　only　hope　and　strive；　cherishing　all　the　while　the　love　for　her　that　daily　grew　stronger　in　his　heart。

…

A　patient　in　her　ward；　recovering　from　a　fever；　attracted　Rachel's　attention　soon　after　her　entrance　upon　duty　at　Nashville。

Womanly　intuition　showed　her　that　no　ordinary　spirit　slumbered　underneath　the　usual　mountaineer　characteristics。　　The　long；　lank；　black　hair；　the　angular　outlines；　and　the　uncouth　gestures　were　common　enough　among　those　around　her；　but　she　saw　a　latent　fire　in　the　usually　dull　and　languid　eyes；　which　transformed　the　man　into　one　in　whose　brain　and　hand　slept　many　possibilities　that　were　liable　to　awaken　at　any　moment。　　Still　womanly；　she　could　not　help　betraying　this　fact　by　singling　him　out　as　the　recipient　of　many　little　attentions　somewhat　more　special　than　those　she　bestowed　on　others。

On　the　other　hand；　often　as　she　moved　about　the　ward　she　would　in　turning　discover　his　eyes　fixed　upon　her　movements　with　an　expression　of　earnest　study。　　After　awhile　the　study　seemed　to　show　that　it　had　been　satisfactory；　and　one　day；　when　the　Surgeon　had　informed　him　that　he　was　now　in　a　condition　to　return　to　duty　whenever　he　saw　fit　to　do　so；　he　asked　Rachel：

〃Kin　I　speak　ter　ye　a　moment　in　private；　Miss？〃

〃Certainly；〃　she　replied。　　〃Come　right　in　here。〃

Entering　the　room　he　closed　the　door　behind　them；　and　made　a　minute　survey　of　the　windows；　and　other　points　of　vantage　for　eavesdroppers。　This　done；　he　returned　to　where　Rachel　was　watching　his　operations　with　much　curiosity；　and　said：

〃Let's　set　down。　　I　guess　no　one'll　overhear　us；　ef　we're　keerful。

〃Hev　ye　enny　idee　who　I　am？〃　he　asked　abruptly；　as　they　sat　down　on　one　of　the　rude　benches　with　which　the　room　was　furnished。

〃Not　the　slightest；〃　she　answered；　〃except　that　you　appear　on　the　roll　as　'James　Brown；　No。　23；'　no　company　or　regiment　given。〃

〃Very　good。　　D'ye　reckon　thet　enny　o'　them　in　thar　hev？〃pointing　over　his　shoulder　with　his　thumb　to　the　ward。

〃Of　course　I　can　not　tell　as　to　that。　　I　never　hear　them　say　anything　about　you。　　They　seem　to　think　that　you　are　one　of　the　loyal　East　Tennesseans　that　are　plentiful　about　here。〃

〃I've　been　afeered　fur　the　last　few　days　that　some　uv　'em　were　Rebels　in　disguise；　an'　thet　they　sort　o'　suspicioned　me。　　I　hev　seed　two　on　'em　eyein'　me　mouty　hard。　　One　has　a　red　head；　an'　'tother　a　long　black　beard。〃

〃I　can　perhaps　set　your　anxiety　at　rest　on　that　score。　　They　ARE　Southerners；　but　loyal　ones。　　They　were　forced　into　the　Rebel　army；　but　made　their　escape　at　the　first　opportunity。　　They　naturally　watch　every　Southern…looking　man　with　great　interest；　fearing　that　he　may　be　an　unpleasant　acquaintance。〃

〃Desarters　from　the　Rebel　army；　be　they？　　Thet　makes　me　so'。　　I　thot　I'd　seen　'em　afore；　an'　this　makes　me　sartin。　　They're　mouty　bad　pills；　an'　they　hain't　heah　fur　no　good。　　but　whar　did　I　see　'em？　　In　some　Rebel　camp　somewhar？　　No；　now　I　remember。　　Ef　I　hain't　powerfully　fooled　them's　the　two　laddie…bucks　thet　Harry　Glen　an'　me　gobbled　up　one　fine　mornin'　an'　tuck　inter　Wildcat。　　They're　bad　aigs；　ef　ther　ever　war　bad　aigs。〃

〃Harry　Glen；　did　you　say？　　What　do　you　know　of　Harry　Glen？〃　　Her　heart　was　in　her　mouth。

〃What　do　I　know　of　harry　Glen？　　Why；　jest　heaps　an'　more　yit。　　He's　one　o'　the　best　men　thet　ever　wore　blue　clotes。　　But　thet's　nuther　heah　nor　thar。　　Thet　hain't　what　I　brung　ye　out　heah　ter　talk　on。〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　Rachel；　resisting　her　eagerness　to　overwhelm　him　with　questions　concerning　the　one　man　of　all　the　world　she　most　desired　to　learn　about。　　〃I　can　spare　you　but　little　time。〃

〃All　right；　Miss。　　Ter　begin　with；　my　name's　not　Brown。　　Nary　a　time。　　Hit's　FortnerJim　Fortnerthe　'noted　Scout；'　ez　I　heered　ye　readin'　'bout　'tother　day；　when　ye　war　givin'　the　boys　the　war　news　in　the　papers。　　I'm　well…known　ez　a　secret…sarvice　mantu　well…known；　I'm　afeered。　　I　could　git　'long　'ithout　quite　ez　menny　'quaintances　ez　I　hev　gethered　up　lately。　　More　'specially　o'　the　kind；　fur　menny　on　'em　ar'　only　waitin'　a　good　opportunity　ter　gin　me　a　gran'　interduction　to　'tarnity。　　I'd　ruther　know　fewer　folks　an'　better　ones；　ez　I　wunst　heered　Harry　Glen　say。〃

〃What　do　you　know　of…〃　Rachel　started　to　say；　but　before　she　could　finish　the　sentence　Fortner　resumed：

〃I'm　now　'bout　ter　start　on　the　most　'portant　work　I　ever　done　fur　the　Gover'mint。　　Things　ar'　ripenin'　fast　fur　the　orfulest　battle　ever　fit　in　this　ere　co'ntry。　　Afore　the　Chrismuss　snow　flies　this　ere　army'll　fall　on　them　thar　Rebels　'round　Murfressboro　like　an　oak　tree　on　a　den　o'　rattlesnakes。　　Blood'll　run　like　water　in　a　Spring　thaw；　an'　them　fellers'll　hev　so　menny　fun'rals　ter　tend　thet　they　won't　hev　no　time　for　Chrismuss　frolics。　　They've　raced　back　an'　forrard；　an'　dodged　up　an'　down　fur　a　year　now；　but　they're　at　the　eend　uv　ther　rope；　an'　hit'll　be　a　deth…nooze　fur　'em。　　May　the　pit　o'　hell　open　fur　'em。〃

He　watched　Rachel's　face　closely　as　he　spoke。　　She　neither　blanched　nor　recoiled；　but　her　eyes　lighted　up　as　if　with　anticipation　of　the　coming　conflict；　and　she　asked　eagerly：

〃O；　are　you　only　quite　sure　that　our　army　will　be　victorious？〃

His　eyes　shown　with　gratification。

〃I　knowed　thet's　the　way　ye'd　take　the　news。　　I　knowed　the　minit　I　sot　eyes　on　ye　thet　ye　war　good　grit。　　I　never　git　fooled　much　in　my　guess　o'　people's　backbone。　　Thar　wuz　Harry　Glenall　his　own　comrades　thot　he　wuz　white　'bout　the　liver；　but　I　seed　the　minit　I　laid　my　eyes　onter　him　thet　he　hed　ez　good；　stan'…up　stuff　in　him　ez　ennybody；　w'en　he　got　over　his　fust　flightiness。〃

Had　this　man　some　scheme　that　would　bring　her　lover　and　her　together？　〃But　what　do　you　want　of　me？〃　　Rachel　asked；　with　all　the　composure　she　could　summon。

〃Suthing　a　cussed　sight　more　hon'rable　an'　more　useful　ter　ther　Gover'mint　then　stayin'　'round　heah　nussin'　these　loafers；〃　he　answered　roughly。　　〃Hist！　thar's　a　shadder　nigh　yon　winder。〃　　He　crossed　the　room　with　the　quick；　silent　tread　of　a　panther；　and　his　face　darkened　as　he　saw　the　objectionable　red…headed　and　black…bearded　men　walking　away　toward　the　parade…ground；　with　their　backs　to　the　window。　　〃Yer　orful　cute；〃　he　said　talking　to　himself；　and　alluding　to　the　retiring　figures；　〃but　ef　I　don't　gin　ye　a　trip　afore　long　thet'll　make　yer　heels　break　yer　pizen　necks　I　hope　I　may　never　see　Rockassel　Mountings　agin。　　I'd　do　hit　now；　but　I'm　a…trailin'　bigger　game。　　When　hit's　my　day　fur　killin'　skunks　look　outthet's　all。〃

Returning　to　the　expectant　Rachel　he　continued：

〃I　leave　ter…night　fur　the　Rebel　army　at　Murfreesboro。　　Ole　Rosy　hisself　sends　me；　but　I'm　ter　pick　out　the　messengers　ter　send　my　news　back　ter　him　by。　　I　must　hev　sev'ral　so's　ter　make　dead　sho'　thet　ev'rything　reaches　'im。　　I　want　ye　fur　the　main　one；　becase　ye've　got　brains　an'　san'；　and　then　ye　kin　git　thru　the　lines　whar　a　man　can't。　　thar'll　be　nothin'　bad　'bout　hit。　　Ye'll　ride　ter　Murfreesboro　an'　back　on　yer　own　hoss；　ez　a　young　lady　should；　an'　if　ye　accomplish　ennything　hit'll　be　a　greater　sarvice　tew　th