the red acorn-第47节

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fancy　fixin's　ye　hed　when　ye　rode　out　heah。　Ef　ye're　stopt；　ez　ye　likely　will　be；　say　that　ye've　been　ter　town　fur　the　doctor；　an'　some　medicine　fur　yer　sick　mammy；　an'　are　tryin'　ter　git　back　ter　yer　home　on　the　south　fork　o'　Overall's　Creek。　Now；　go　an'　git　ready　ez　quick　ez　the　Lord'll　let　ye。〃

As　she　heard　the　mare's　hoofs　in　front　of　the　door；　Rachel　came　out　with　a　〃slat…sun…bonnet〃　on　her　head；　and　a　long；　black　calico　riding…skirt　over　her　linsey　dress。　　Fortner　gave　her　attire　an　approving　nod。　　Aunt　Debby　followed　her　with　a　bottle。　　〃This　is　the　medicine　ye've　bin　ter　git　from　Dr。　Thacker　heah　in　town；〃　she　said；　handing　the　vial。　　〃Remember　the　name；　fur　fear　ye　mout　meet　some　one　who　knows　the　town。　　Dr。　Thacker；　who　lives　a　little　piece　offen　the　square；　an'　gives　big　doses　of　epecac　fur　everything；　from　brakebone　fever　ter　the　itch。〃

〃Dr。　Thacker；　who　lives　just　off　the　square；〃　said　Rachel。　　〃I'll　be　certain　to　remember。〃

〃Take　this；　too；〃　said　Fortner；　handing　her　a　finely…finished　revolver；　of　rather　large　caliber。　　〃Don't　pull　hit　onless　ye　can't　git　along　without　hit；　an'　then　make　sho　o'　yer　man。　　Salt　him。〃

〃Good…byGod　bless　ye；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　taking　Rachel　to　her　heart　in　a　passionate　embrace；　and　kissing　her　repeatedly。　　〃God　bless　ye　agin。　　No　one　ever　hed　more　need　o'　His　blessin'　then　we'uns　will　fur　the　next　few　hours。　　Ef　He　does　bless　us　an'　our　work　we'll　all　be　safe　an'　sound　in　Gineral　Rosencrans'　tent　afore　noon。　　But　ef　His　will's　different　we'll　be　by　thet　time　whar　the　Rebels　cease　from　troublin'；　and　the　weary　are　at　rest。　　I'm　sure　thet　ef　I　thot　the　Rebels　war　gwine　ter　whip　our　men　I'd　never　want　ter　see　the　sun　rise　ter…morrer。　　Good…by；　we're　all　in　the　hands　o'　Him　who　seeth　even　the　sparrer's　fall。〃

Fortner　led　the　mare　a　little　ways；　to　where　he　could　get　a　good　view；　and　then　said：

〃Thet　second　line　o'　fires　which　ye　see　over　thar　is　our　linesthem　fires　I　mean　which　run　up　inter　the　woods。　　The　fust　line　is　the　Rebels。　　Ye'll　go　right　out　this　road　heah　tell　ye　git　outside　the　town；　an'　then　turn　ter　yer　right　an'　make　fur　the　Stone　River。　Ford　hit　or　swim　your　mar'　acrost；　an'　make　yer　way　thru　or　round　the　Rebel　line。　　Ef　ye　find　a　good　road；　an'　everything　favorable　ye　mout　try　ter　make　yer　way　strait　thru　ef　ye　kin　fool　the　gyards　with　yer　story。　　Ef　ye're　fearful　ye　can't　then　ride　beyond　the　lines；　an'　come　inter　ours　thet…a…way　Aunt　Deby'll　go　ter　the　other　flank；　an'　try　ter　git　a…past　Breckinridge's　pickets；　an'　I'll　'tempt　ter　make　my　way　thru　the　center。　　We　may　all　or　none　o'　us　git　thru。　　I　can't　gin　ye　much　advice；　ez　ye'll　hev　ter　trust　mainly　ter　yerself。　　But　remember　all　the　time　what　hangs　upon　yer　gittin'　the　news　ter　Rosy　afore　daybreak。　　Think　all　the　time　thet　mebbe　ye　kin　save　the　hull　army；　mebbe　win　the　vict'ry；　sartinly　save　heeps　o'　Union　lives　an'　fool　the　pizen　Rebels。　　This　is　the　greatest　chance　ye'll　ever　hev　ter　do　good　in　all　yer　life；　or　a　hundred　more；　ef　ye　could　live　'em。　　Good…by。　　Ef　God　Almighty　smiles　on　us　we'll　meet　ter…morrer　on　yon　side　o'　Stone　River。　　Ef　He　frowns　we'll　meet　on　yon　side　o'　the　Shinin'　River。　　Good…by。〃

He　released　her　hand　and　her　horse；　and　she　rode　forward　into　the　darkness。　　Her　course　took　her　first　up　a　main　street；　which　was　crowded　with　wagons；　ambulances　and　artillery。　　Groups　of　men　mingled　with　these；　and　crowded　upon　the　sidewalks。　　When　she　passed　the　light　of　a　window　the　men　stared　at　her；　and　some　few　presumed　upon　her　homely　garb　so　far　as　to　venture　upon　facetious　and　complimentary　remarks；　aimed　at　securing　a　better　acquaintance。

She　made　no　reply；　but　hurried　her　mare　onward；　as　fast　as　she　could　pick　her　way。　　She　soon　passed　out　of　the　limits　of　the　town　and　was　in　the　country；　though　she　was　yet　in　the　midst　of　camps；　and　still　had　to　thread　her　way　through　masses　of　men；　horses　and　wagons　moving　along　the　road。

The　first　flutter　of　perturbation　at　going　out　into　the　darkness　and　the　midst　of　armed　men　had　given　way　to　a　more　composed　feeling。　No　one　had　stopped　her；　or　offered　to；　no　one　had　shown　any　symptom　of　surprise　at　her　presence　there　at　that　hour。　　　She　began　to　hope　that　this　immunity　would　continue　until　she　had　made　her　way　to　the　Union　lines。　　she　had　left　the　thick　of　the　crowd　behind　some　distance；　and　was　going　along　at　a　fair　pace；　over　a　clear　road；　studying　all　the　while　the　line　of　fires　far　to　her　right；　in　an　attempt　to　discover　a　promising　dark　gap　in　their　extent。

She　was　startled　by　a　hand　laid　upon　her　bridle；　and　a　voice　saying：

〃Say；　Sis；　who　mout　ye　be；　an'　whar　mout　ye　be　a…mosyin'　ter　this　time　o'　night？〃

She　saw　a　squad　of　brigandish…looking　stragglers　at　her　mare's　head。

〃My　name's　Polly　Briggs。　　I　live　on　the　South　Fork　o'　Overall's　Creek。　　I've　done　been　ter　Dr。　Thacker's　in　Murfreesboro；　fur　some　medicine　fur　my　sick　mammy；　an'　I'm　on　my　way　back　home；　an'　I'd　be　much　obleeged　ter　ye；　gentlemen；　ef　ye'd　'low　me　ter　go　on；　kase　mammy's　powerful　sick；　an'　she's　in　great　hurry　fur　her　medicine。〃

She　said　this　with　a　coolness　and　a　perfect　imitation　of　the　speech　and　manner　of　the　section　that　surprised　herself。　　As　she　ended　she　looked　directly　at　the　squad；　and　inspected　them。　　She　saw　she　had　reason　to　be　alarmed。　　They　were　those　prowling　wolves　found　about　all　armies；　to　whom　war　meant　only　wider　opportunities　for　all　manner　of　villainy　and　outrage。　　An　unprotected　girl　was　a　welcome　prize　to　them。　　It　was　not　death　as　a　spy　she　had　to　fear；　but　worse。　　Now；　if　ever；　she　must　act　decisively。　　The　leader　took　his　hand　from　her　bridle；　as　if　to　place　it　on　her。

〃Yer　a　powerful　peart　sort　of　a　gal；　an'　ez　purty　ez　a　fawn。　　yer　mammy　kin　git　'long　without　the　medicine　a　little　while；　an'…〃

He　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　for　before　his　hand　could　touch　her　Rachel's　whip　cut　a　deep　wale　across　his　face；　and　then　it　fell　so　savagely　upon　the　mare's　flank　that　the　high…spirited　animal　sprung　forward　as　if　shot　from　a　catapult；　and　was　a　hundred　yards　away　before　the　rascals　really　comprehended　what　had　happened。

Onward　sped　the　mettled　brute；　so　maddened　by　the　first　cruel　blow　she　had　ever　received　that　she　refused　to　obey　the　rein；　but　made　her　own　way　by　and　through　such　objects　as　she　encountered。　　When　she　at　last　calmed　down　the　road　was　clear　and　lonely；　and　Rachel　began　searching　for　indications　of　a　favorable　point　of　approach　to　the　river；　that　hinted　at　a　bridge　or　a　ford。　　While　engaged　in　this　she　heard　voices　approaching。　　A　moment's　listening　to　teh　mingling　of　tones　convinced　her　that　it　was　another　crowd　of　stragglers；　and　she　obeyed　her　first　impulse；　which　was　to　leap　her　horse　over　a　low　stone　wall　to　her　right。　　Taking　her　head　again；　the　mare　did　not　stop　until　she　galloped　down　to　the　water's　edge。

〃I'll　accept　this　as　lucky；〃　said　Rachel　to　herself。　　〃The　ancients　trusted　more　to　their　horses'　instincts　than　their　own　perceptions　in　times　of　danger；　and　I'll　do　the　same。　　I'll　cross　here。〃

She　urged　the　mare　into　the　water。　　The　beast　picked　her　way　among　the　boulders　on　the　bottom　successfully　for　a　few　minutes。　　The　water　rose　to　Rachel's　feet；　but　that　seemed　its　greatest　depth；　and　in　a　few　more　yards　she　would　gain　the　opposite　bank；　when　suddenly　the　mare　stepped　upon　a　slippery　steep；　her　feet　went　from　under　her　instantly；　and　steed　and　rider　rolled　in　the　sweeping　flood　of　ice…cold　water。　　Rachel's　first　thought　was　that　she　should　surely　drown；　but　hope　came　back　as　she　caught　a　limb　swinging　from　a　tree　on　the　bank。　　With　this　she　held　her　head　above　water　until　she　could　collect　herself　a　little；　and　then　with　great　difficulty　pulled　herself　up　the　muddy；　slippery　bank。　　The　weight　of　her　soaked　clothes　added　greatly　to　the　difficulty　and　the　fatigue；　and　she　lay　for　some　little　time　prone　upon　her　face　across　the　furrows　of　a　cotton　field；　before　she　could　stand　erect。　　At　last　she　was　able　to　stand　up；　and　she　relieved　herself　somewhat　by　taking　off　her　calico　riding　skirt　and　wringing　the　water　from　it。　　Her　mare　had　also　gained　the　bank　near　the　same　point　she　had；　and　stood　looking　at　her　with　a　world　of　wonder　at　the　whole　night's　experience　in　her　great　brown　eyes。

〃Poor　thing；〃　said　Rachel　sympathetically。　　〃This　is　only　the　beginning。　　Heaven　knows　what　we　won't　have　to　go　through　with　before　the　sun　rises。〃

She　tried　to　mount；　but　her　watery　garments　were　too　much　for　her　agility；　and　with　the　wet　skirts　fettering　her　limbs　she　began　toiling　painfully　over　the　spongy；　plowed　ground；　in　search　of　a　stump　or　a　rock。　　She　thought　she　saw　many　around　her；　but　on　approaching　one　after　another　found　they　were　only　large　cotton　plants；　with　a　boll　or　two　of　ungathered　cotton　on　them；　which　aided　the　darkness　in　giving　them　their　deceptive　appearance。　　She　prevented　herself　from　traveling　in　a　circle；　by　remembering　this　aptitude　of　benighted　travelers；　and　keeping　her　eye　steadily　fixed　on　a　distant　camp…fire。　　When　she　at　last　came　to　the　edge　of　the　field　she　had　to　lean　against　the　fence　for　some　minutes　before　she　could　recover　from　her　fatigue　sufficiently　to　climb　upon　it。　　While　she　sat　for　a　minute　there　she　heard　some　cocks；　at　a　neighboring　farm…house；　crow　the　t