sally dows-第13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！


armory？〃

〃To　defend　yourselves　TOGETHER　under　orders　if　attacked；　not　to
singly　threaten　with　them　in　a　street　row。　　Together；　you　would
stand　some　chance　against　those　men；　separately　they　could　eat　you
up；　Cato。〃

〃I　wouldn't　trust　too　much　to　some　of　dem　niggers　standing
together；　sah；〃　said　Gate　darkly。　　〃Dey'd　run　before　de　old
mastersif　they　didn't　run　to　'em。　　Shuah！〃

A　fear　of　this　kind　had　crossed　Courtland's　mind　before；　but　he
made　no　present　comment。　　〃I　found　two　of　the　armory　rifles　in　the
men's　cabins　yesterday；〃　he　resumed　quietly。　　〃See　that　it　does　not
occur　again！　　They　must　not　be　taken　from　the　armory　except　to
defend　it。〃

〃Yes；　sah。〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　　Then　it　was　broken　by　a　sudden　gust
that　swept　through　the　columns　of　the　portico；　stirring　the　vines。
The　broad　leaves　of　the　ailantus　began　to　rustle；　an　ominous
pattering　followed；　the　rain　had　recommenced。　　And　as　Courtland
rose　and　walked　towards　the　open　window　its　blank　panes　and　the
interior　of　the　office　were　suddenly　illuminated　by　a　gleam　of
returning　lightning。

He　entered　the　office；　bidding　Cato　follow；　and　lit　the　lamp　above
his　desk。　　The　negro　remained　standing　gloomily　but　respectfully　by
the　window。

〃Cato；　do　you　know　anything　of　Mr。　DumontMiss　Dows'　cousin？〃

The　negro's　white　teeth　suddenly　flashed　in　the　lamplight。　　〃Ya！
ha！　I　reckon；　sah。〃

〃Then　he's　a　great　friend　of　your　people？〃

〃I　don't　know　about　dat；　sah。　　But　he's　a　pow'ful　enemy　of　de　Reeds
and　de　Higbees！〃

〃On　account　of　his　views；　of　course？〃

〃'Deed　no！〃　said　Cato　with　an　astounded　air。　　〃Jess　on　account　of
de　vendetta！〃

〃The　vendetta？〃

〃Yes；　sah。　　De　old　blood　quo'll　of　de　families。　　It's　been　goin'　on
over　fifty　years；　sah。　　De　granfader；　fader；　and　brudder　of　de
Higbees　was　killed　by　de　granfader；　fader；　and　brudder　of　de
Doomonts。　　De　Reeds　chipped　in　when　all　de　Higbees　was　played　out；
fo'　dey　was　relations；　but　dey　was　chawed　up　by　some　of　de　Dowses；
first　cousins　to　de　Doomonts。〃

〃What？　　Are　the　Dows　in　this　vendetta？〃

〃No；　sah。　　No　mo'。　　Dey's　bin　no　man　in　de　family　since　Miss
Sally's　fader　dieddat's　let　de　Dows　out　fo'　ever。　　De　las'
shootin'　was　done　by　Marse　Jack　Doomont；　who　crippled　Marse　Tom
Higbee's　brudder　Jo；　and　den　skipped　to　Europe。　　Dey　say　he's　come
back；　and　is　lying　low　over　at　Atlanty。　　Dar'll　be　lively　times　of
he　comes　here　to　see　Miss　Sally。〃

〃But　he　may　have　changed　his　ideas　while　living　abroad；　where　this
sort　of　thing　is　simple　murder。〃

The　negro　shook　his　head　grimly。　　〃Den　he　wouldn't　come；　sah。　　No；
sah。　　He　knows　dat　Tom　Higbee's　bound　to　go　fo'　him　or　leave　de
place；　and　Marse　Jack　wouldn't　mind　settlin'　HIM　too　as　well　as　his
brudder；　for　de　scores　is　agin'　de　Doomonts　yet。　　And　Marse　Jack
ain't　no　slouch　wid　a　scatter　gun。〃

At　any　other　time　the　imminence　of　this　survival　of　a　lawless
barbarism　of　which　he　had　heard　so　much　would　have　impressed
Courtland；　now　he　was　only　interested　in　it　on　account　of　the
inconceivable　position　in　which　it　left　Miss　Sally。　　Had　she
anything　to　do　with　this　baleful　cousin's　return；　or　was　she　only
to　be　a　helpless　victim　of　it？

A　white；　dazzling；　and　bewildering　flash　of　lightning　suddenly　lit
up　the　room；　the　porch；　the　dripping　ailantus；　and　the　flooded
street　beyond。　　It　was　followed　presently　by　a　crash　of　thunder；
with　what　seemed　to　be　a　second　fainter　flash　of　lightning；　or
rather　as　if　the　first　flash　had　suddenly　ignited　some　inflammable

substance。　　With　the　long　reverberation　of　the　thunder　still
shaking　the　house；　Courtland　slipped　quickly　out　of　the　window　and
passed　down　to　the　gate。

〃Did　it　strike　anything；　sah？〃　said　the　startled　negro；　as
Courtland　returned。

〃Not　that　I　can　see；〃　said　his　employer　shortly。　　〃Go　inside；　and
call　Zoe　and　her　daughter　from　the　cabin　and　bring　them　in　the
hall。　　Stay　till　I　come。　　Go！I'll　shut　the　windows　myself。〃

〃It　must　have　struck　somewhere；　sah；　shuah！　　Deh's　a　pow'ful　smell
of　sulphur　right　here；〃　said　the　negro　as　he　left　the　room。

Courtland　thought　so　too；　but　it　was　a　kind　of　sulphur　that　he　had
smelled　beforeon　the　battlefield！　　For　when　the　door　was　closed
behind　his　overseer　he　took　the　lamp　to　the　opposite　wall　and
examined　it　carefully。　　There　was　the　distinct　hole　made　by　a
bullet　which　had　missed　Cato's　head　at　the　open　window　by　an　inch。


CHAPTER　VI。


In　an　instant　Courtland　had　regained　complete　possession　of
himself。　　His　distracting　passionhow　distracting　he　had　never
before　realizedwas　gone！　　His　clear　sightno　longer　distorted　by
sentimenthad　come　back；　he　saw　everything　in　its　just　proportion
his　duty；　the　plantation；　the　helpless　freedman　threatened　by
lawless　fury；　the　two　womenno　longer　his　one　tantalizing　vision；
but　now　only　a　passing　detail　of　the　work　before　him。　　He　saw　them
through　no　aberrating　mist　of　tenderness　or　expediencybut　with
the　single　directness　of　the　man　of　action。

The　shot　had　clearly　been　intended　for　Cato。　　Even　if　it　were　an
act　of　mere　personal　revenge；　it　showed　a　confidence　and　security
in　the　would…be　assassin　that　betokened　cooperation　and　an
organized　plan。　　He　had　availed　himself　of　the　thunderstorm；　the
flash　and　long　reverberating　roll　of　soundan　artifice　not　unknown
to　border　ambushto　confuse　discovery　at　the　instant。　　Yet　the
attack　might　be　only　an　isolated　one；　or　it　might　be　the　beginning
of　a　general　raid　upon　the　Syndicate's　freedmen。　　If　the　former　he
could　protect　Cato　from　its　repetition　by　guarding　him　in　the
office　until　he　could　be　conveyed　to　a　place　of　safety；　if　the
latter；　he　must　at　once　collect　the　negroes　at　their　quarters；　and
take　Cato　with　him。　　He　resolved　upon　the　latter　course。　　The
quarters　were　half　a　mile　from　the　Dows'　dwellingwhich　was　two
miles　away。

He　sat　down　and　wrote　a　few　lines　to　Miss　Dows　stating　that；　in
view　of　some　threatened　disturbances　in　the　town；　he　thought　it
advisable　to　keep　the　negroes　in　their　quarters；　whither　he　was
himself　going。　　He　sent　her　his　housekeeper　and　the　child；　as　they
had　both　better　remain　in　a　place　of　security　until　he　returned　to
town。　　He　gave　the　note　to　Zoe；　bidding　her　hasten　by　the　back
garden　across　the　fields。　　Then　he　turned　to　Cato。

〃I　am　going　with　you　to　the　quarters　tonight；〃　he　said　quietly；
〃and　you　can　carry　your　pistol　back　to　the　armory　yourself。〃　　He
handed　him　the　weapon。　　The　negro　received　it　gratefully；　but
suddenly　cast　a　searching　glance　at　his　employer。　　Courtland's
face；　however；　betrayed　no　change。　　When　Zoe　had　gone；　he　continued
tranquilly；　〃We　will　go　by　the　back　way　through　the　woods。〃　　As　the
negro　started　slightly；　Courtland　continued　in　the　same　even　tone：
〃The　sulphur　you　smelled　just　now；　Cato；　was　the　smoke　of　a　gun
fired　at　YOU　from　the　street。　　I　don't　propose　that　the　shot　shall
be　repeated　under　the　same　advantages。〃

The　negro　became　violently　agitated。　　〃It　was　dat　sneakin'　hound；
Tom　Higbee；〃　he　said　huskily。

Courtland　looked　at　him　sharply。　　〃Then　there　was　something　more
than　WORDS　passed　between　him　and　you；　Cato。　　What　happened？　　Come；
speak　out！〃

〃He　lashed　me　with　his　whip；　and　I　gib　him　one　right　under　the
yeah；　and　drupped　him；〃　said　Cato；　recovering　his　courage　with　his
anger　at　the　recollection。　　〃I　had　a　right　to　defend　myse'f；　sah。〃

〃Yes；　and　I　hope　you'll　be　able　to　do　it；　now；〃　said　Courtland
calmly；　his　face　giving　no　sign　of　his　conviction　that　Cato's　fate
was　doomed　by　that　single　retaliating　blow；　〃but　you'll　be　safer　at
the　quarters。〃　　He　passed　into　his　bedroom；　took　a　revolver　from
his　bedhead　and　a　derringer　from　the　drawer；　both　of　which　he
quickly　slipped　beneath　his　buttoned　coat；　and　returned。

〃When　we　are　in　the　fields；　clear　of　the　house；　keep　close　by　my
side；　and　even　try　to　keep　step　with　me。　　What　you　have　to　say；　say
NOW；　there　must　be　no　talking　to　betray　our　positionwe　must　go
silently；　and　you'll　have　enough　to　do　to　exercise　your　eyes　and
ears。　　I　shall　stand　between　you　and　any　attack；　but　I　expect　you
to　obey　orders　without　hesitation。〃　　He　opened　the　back　door；
motioned　to　Cato　to　pass　out；　followed　him；　locked　the　door　behind
them；　and　taking　the　negro's　arm　walked　beside　the　low　palings　to
the　end　of　the　garden；　where　they　climbed　the　fence　and　stood　upon
the　open　field　beyond。

Unfortunately；　it　had　grown　lighter　with　the　breaking　of　the　heavy
clouds；　and　gusty　gleams　of　moonlight　chased　each　other　over　the
field；　or　struck　a　glitter　from　standing　rain…pools　between　the
little　hillocks。　　To　cross　the　open　field　and　gain　the　fringe　of
woods　on　the　other　side　was　the　nearest　way　to　the　quarters；　but
for　the　moment　was　the　most　exposed　course；　to　follow　the　hedge　to
the　bottom　of　the　field　and　the　boundary　fence　and　then　cross　at
right　angles；　in　its　shadow；　would　be　safer；　but　they　would　lose
valuable　time。　　Believing　that　Cato's　vengeful　assailant　was　still
hovering　near　with　his　comrades；　Courtland　cast　a　quick　glance　down
the　shadowy　line　of　Osage　hedge　beside　them。　　Suddenly　Cato　grasped
his　arm　and　pointed　in　the　same　direction；　where　the　boundary　fence
he　had　noticeda　barrier　of　rough　palingscrossed　the　field。
With　t