sally dows-第1节

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Sally　Dows


by　Bret　Harte







CONTENTS


SALLY　DOWS

THE　CONSPIRACY　OF　MRS。　BUNKER

THE　TRANSFORMATION　OF　BUCKEYE　CAMP

THEIR　UNCLE　FROM　CALIFORNIA




SALLY　DOWS。


PROLOGUE。

THE　LAST　GUN　AT　SNAKE　RIVER。


What　had　been　in　the　cool　gray　of　that　summer　morning　a　dewy
country　lane；　marked　only　by　a　few　wagon　tracks　that　never
encroached　upon　its　grassy　border；　and　indented　only　by　the　faint
footprints　of　a　crossing　fox　or　coon；　was　now；　before　high　noon；
already　crushed；　beaten　down；　and　trampled　out　of　all　semblance　of
its　former　graciousness。　　The　heavy　springless　jolt　of　gun…carriage
and　caisson　had　cut　deeply　through　the　middle　track；　the　hoofs　of
crowding　cavalry　had　struck　down　and　shredded　the　wayside　vines　and
bushes　to　bury　them　under　a　cloud　of　following　dust；　and　the　short；
plunging　double…quick　of　infantry　had　trodden　out　this　hideous　ruin
into　one　dusty　level　chaos。　　Along　that　rudely　widened　highway
useless　muskets；　torn　accoutrements；　knapsacks；　caps；　and　articles
of　clothing　were　scattered；　with　here　and　there　the　larger　wrecks
of　broken…down　wagons；　roughly　thrown　aside　into　the　ditch　to　make
way　for　the　living　current。　　For　two　hours　the　greater　part　of　an
army　corps　had　passed　and　repassed　that　way；　but；　coming　or　going；
always　with　faces　turned　eagerly　towards　an　open　slope　on　the　right
which　ran　parallel　to　the　lane。　　And　yet　nothing　was　to　be　seen
there。　　For　two　hours　a　gray　and　bluish　cloud；　rent　and　shaken　with
explosion　after　explosion；　but　always　closing　and　thickening　after
each　discharge；　was　all　that　had　met　their　eyes。　　Nevertheless；
into　this　ominous　cloud　solid　moving　masses　of　men　in　gray　or　blue
had　that　morning　melted　away；　or　emerged　from　it　only　as　scattered
fragments　that　crept；　crawled；　ran；　or　clung　together　in　groups；　to
be　followed；　and　overtaken　in　the　rolling　vapor。

But　for　the　last　half　hour　the　desolated　track　had　stretched　empty
and　deserted。　　While　there　was　no　cessation　of　the　rattling；
crackling；　and　detonations　on　the　fateful　slope　beyond；　it　had
still　been　silent。　　Once　or　twice　it　had　been　crossed　by　timid；
hurrying　wings；　and　frightened　and　hesitating　little　feet；　or　later
by　skulkers　and　stragglers　from　the　main　column　who　were　tempted　to
enter　it　from　the　hedges　and　bushes　where　they　had　been　creeping
and　hiding。　　Suddenly　a　prolonged　yell　from　the　hidden　slope
beyondthe　nearest　sound　that　had　yet　been　heard　from　that　ominous
distancesent　them　to　cover　again。　　It　was　followed　by　the　furious
galloping　of　horses　in　the　lane；　and　a　handsome；　red…capped
officer；　accompanied　by　an　orderly；　dashed　down　the　track；　wheeled；
leaped　the　hedge；　rode　out　on　the　slope　and　halted。　　In　another
instant　a　cloud　of　dust　came　whirling　down　the　lane　after　him。　　Out
of　it　strained　the　heavy　shoulders　and　tightened　chain…traces　of
six　frantic　horses　dragging　the　swaying　gun　that　in　this　tempest　of
motion　alone　seemed　passive　and　helpless　with　an　awful　foreknowledge
of　its　power。　　As　in　obedience　to　a　signal　from　the　officer　they
crashed　through　the　hedge　after　him；　a　sudden　jolt　threw　an
artilleryman　from　the　limber　before　the　wheel。　　A　driver　glanced
back　on　the　tense　chain　and　hesitated。　　〃Go　on！〃　yelled　the
prostrate　man；　and　the　wheel　went　over　him。　　Another　and　another　gun
followed　out　of　the　dust　cloud；　until　the　whole　battery　had　deployed
on　the　slope。　　Before　the　drifting　dust　had　fairly　settled；　the
falling　back　of　the　panting　horses　with　their　drivers　gave　a
momentary　glimpse　of　the　nearest　gun　already　in　position　and　of　the
four　erect　figures　beside　it。　　The　yell　that　seemed　to　have　evoked
this　sudden　apparition　again　sounded　nearer；　a　blinding　flash　broke
from　the　gun；　which　was　instantly　hidden　by　the　closing　group　around
it；　and　a　deafening　crash　with　the　high　ringing　of　metal　ran　down
the　lane。　　A　column　of　white；　woolly　smoke　arose　as　another　flash
broke　beside　it。　　This　was　quickly　followed　by　another　and　another；
with　a　response　from　the　gun　first　fired；　until　the　whole　slope
shook　and　thundered。　　And　the　smoke；　no　longer　white　and　woolly；
but　darkening　and　thickening　as　with　unburnt　grains　of　gunpowder；
mingled　into　the　one　ominous　vapor；　and　driving　along　the　lane　hid
even　the　slope　from　view。

The　yelling　had　ceased；　but　the　grinding　and　rattling　heard　through
the　detonation　of　cannon　came　nearer　still；　and　suddenly　there　was
a　shower　of　leaves　and　twigs　from　the　lower　branches　of　a　chestnut…
tree　near　the　broken　hedge。　　As　the　smoke　thinned　again　a　rising
and　falling　medley　of　flapping　hats；　tossing　horses'　heads　and
shining　steel　appeared　for　an　instant；　advancing　tumultuously　up
the　slope。　　But　the　apparition　was　as　instantly　cloven　by　flame
from　the　two　nearest　guns；　and　went　down　in　a　gush　of　smoke　and
roar　of　sound。　　So　level　was　the　delivery　and　so　close　the　impact
that　a　space　seemed　suddenly　cleared　between；　in　which　the　whirling
of　the　shattered　remnants　of　the　charging　cavalry　was　distinctly
seen；　and　the　shouts　and　oaths　of　the　inextricably　struggling　mass
became　plain　and　articulate。　　Then　a　gunner　serving　the　nearest
piece　suddenly　dropped　his　swab　and　seized　a　carbine；　for　out　of
the　whirling　confusion　before　them　a　single　rider　was　seen
galloping　furiously　towards　the　gun。

The　red…capped　young　officer　rode　forward　and　knocked　up　the
gunner's　weapon　with　his　sword。　　For　in　that　rapid　glance　he　had
seen　that　the　rider's　reins　were　hanging　loosely　on　the　neck　of　his
horse；　who　was　still　dashing　forwards　with　the　frantic　impetus　of
the　charge；　and　that　the　youthful　figure　of　the　rider；　wearing　the
stripes　of　a　lieutenant；although　still　erect；　exercised　no
control　over　the　animal。　　The　face　was　boyish；　blond；　and　ghastly；
the　eyes　were　set　and　glassy。　　It　seemed　as　if　Death　itself　were
charging　the　gun。

Within　a　few　feet　of　it　the　horse　swerved　before　a　brandished
rammer；　and　striking　the　cheeks　of　the　gun…carriage　pitched　his
inanimate　rider　across　the　gun。　　The　hot　blood　of　the　dead　man
smoked　on　the　hotter　brass　with　the　reek　of　the　shambles；　and　be…
spattered　the　hand　of　the　gunner　who　still　mechanically　served　the
vent。　　As　they　lifted　the　dead　body　down　the　order　came　to　〃cease
firing。〃　　For　the　yells　from　below　had　ceased　too；　the　rattling　and
grinding　were　receding　with　the　smoke　farther　to　the　left。　　The
ominous　central　cloud　parted　for　a　brief　moment　and　showed　the
unexpected　sun　glittering　down　the　slope　upon　a　near　and　peaceful
river。

The　young　artillery　officer　had　dismounted　and　was　now　gently
examining　the　dead　man。　　His　breast　had　been　crushed　by　a　fragment
of　shell；　he　must　have　died　instantly。　　The　same　missile　had　cut
the　chain　of　a　locket　which　slipped　from　his　opened　coat。　　The
officer　picked　it　up　with　a　strange　feelingperhaps　because　he　was
conscious　himself　of　wearing　a　similar　one；　perhaps　because　it
might　give　him　some　clue　to　the　man's　identity。　　It　contained　only
the　photograph　of　a　pretty　girl；　a　tendril　of　fair　hair；　and　the
word　〃Sally。〃　　In　the　breast…pocket　was　a　sealed　letter　with　the
inscription；　〃For　Miss　Sally　Dows。　　To　be　delivered　if　I　fall　by
the　mudsill's　hand。〃　　A　faint　smile　came　over　the　officer's　face；
he　was　about　to　hand　the　articles　to　a　sergeant；　but　changed　his
mind　and　put　them　in　his　pocket。

Meantime　the　lane　and　woods　beyond；　and　even　the　slope　itself；　were
crowding　with　supports　and　waiting　troops。　　His　own　battery　was
still　unlimbered；　waiting　orders。　　There　was　a　slight　commotion　in
the　lane。

〃Very　well　done；　captain。　　Smartly　taken　and　gallantly　held。〃

It　was　the　voice　of　a　general　officer　passing　with　his　staff。
There　was　a　note　of　pleasant　relief　in　its　tone；　and　the　middle…
aged；　care…drawn　face　of　its　owner　was　relaxed　in　a　paternal　smile。
The　young　captain　flushed　with　pleasure。

〃And　you　seem　to　have　had　close　work　too；〃　added　the　general；
pointing　to　the　dead　man。

The　young　officer　hurriedly　explained。　　The　general　nodded；
saluted；　and　passed　on。　　But　a　youthful　aide　airily　lingered。

〃The　old　man's　feeling　good；　Courtland；〃　he　said。　　〃We've　rolled
'em　up　all　along　the　line。　　It's　all　over　now。　　In　point　of　fact；　I
reckon　you've　fired　the　last　round　in　this　particular　fratricidal
engagement。〃

The　last　round！　　Courtland　remained　silent；　looking　abstractedly　at
the　man　it　had　crushed　and　broken　at　his　feet。

〃And　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　you　got　your　gold…leaf　for　to…day's
work。　　But　who's　your　sunny　Southern　friend　here？〃　he　added；
following　his　companion's　eyes。

Courtland　repeated　his　story　a　little　more　seriously；　which；
however；　failed　to　subdue　the　young　aide's　levity。　　〃So　he
concluded　to　stop　over；〃　he　interrupted　cheerfully。　　〃But；〃　looking
at　the　letter　and　photograph；　〃I　saylook　here！　　'Sally　Dows？'
Why；　there　was　another　man　picked　up　yesterday　with　a　letter　to　the
same　girl！　　Doc　Murphy　has　it。　　And；　by　Jove！　the　same　picture
too！eh？　　I　say；　Sally　must　have　gathered　in　the　boys；　and　raked
down　the　whole　pile！　　Look　here；　Courty！　you　might　get　Doc　Murphy's
letter　and　hunt　her　up　when　this　cruel　war　is　over。　　Say　you're
'fulfilling　a　sacred　trust！'　　See？　　Good　idea；　old　man！　　Ta…ta！〃
and　he　trotted　quic