sally dows-第14节

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he　had　noticeda　barrier　of　rough　palingscrossed　the　field。
With　the　moon　low　on　the　other　side　of　it；　it　was　a　mere　black
silhouette；　broken　only　by　bright　silver　openings　and　gaps　along
its　surface　that　indicated　the　moonlit　field　beyond。　　At　first
Courtland　saw　nothing　else。　　Then　he　was　struck　by　the　fact　that
these　openings　became　successively　and　regularly　eclipsed；　as　with
the　passing　of　some　opaque　object　behind　them。　　It　was　a　file　of
men　on　the　other　side　of　the　fence；　keeping　in　its　shelter　as　they
crossed　the　field　towards　his　house。　　Roughly　calculating　from　the
passing　obscurations；　there　must　have　been　twelve　or　fifteen　in
all。

He　could　no　longer　doubt　their　combined　intentions；　nor　hesitate
how　to　meet　them。　　He　must　at　once　make　for　the　quarters　with　Cato；
even　if　he　had　to　cross　that　open　field　before　them。　　He　knew　that
they　would　avoid　injuring　him　personally；　in　the　fear　of　possible
Federal　and　political　complications；　and　he　resolved　to　use　that
fear　to　insure　Cato's　safety。　　Placing　his　hands　on　the　negro's
shoulders；　he　shoved　him　forwards；　falling　into　a　〃lock　step〃　so
close　behind　him　that　it　became　impossible　for　the　most　expert
marksman　to　fire　at　one　without　imperiling　the　other's　life。　　When
half　way　across　the　field　he　noticed　that　the　shadows　seen　through
the　openings　of　the　fence　had　paused。　　The　ambushed　men　had
evidently　seen　the　double　apparition；　understood　it；　and；　as　he
expected；　dared　not　fire。　　He　reached　the　other　side　with　Cato　in
safety；　but　not　before　he　saw　the　fateful　shadows　again　moving；　and
this　time　in　their　own　direction。　　They　were　evidently　intending　to
pursue　them。　　But　once　within　the　woods　Courtland　knew　that　his
chances　were　equal。　　He　breathed　more　freely。　　Cato；　now　less
agitated；　had　even　regained　something　of　his　former　emotional
combativeness　which　Courtland　had　checked。　　Although　far　from
confident　of　his　henchman's　prowess　in　an　emergency；　the　prospect
of　getting　him　safe　into　the　quarters　seemed　brighter。

It　was　necessary；　also；　to　trust　to　his　superior　wood…craft　and
knowledge　of　the　locality；　and　Courtland　still　walking　between　him
and　his　pursuers　and　covering　his　retreat　allowed　him　to　lead　the
way。　　It　lay　over　ground　that　was　beginning　to　slope　gently；　the
underbrush　was　presently　exchanged　for　springy　moss；　the　character
of　the　trees　changed；　the　black　trunks　of　cypresses　made　the　gloom
thicker。　　Trailing　vines　and　parasites　brushed　their　faces；　a
current　of　damp　air　seemed　to　flow　just　above　the　soil　in　which
their　lower　limbs　moved　sluggishly　as　through　stagnant　water。　　As
yet　there　was　no　indication　of　pursuit。　　But　Courtland　felt　that　it
was　not　abandoned。　　Indeed；　he　had　barely　time　to　check　an
exclamation　from　the　negro；　before　the　dull　gallop　of　horse…hoofs
in　the　open　ahead　of　them　was　plain　to　them　both。　　It　was　a　second
party　of　their　pursuers；　mounted；　who　had　evidently　been　sent　to
prevent　their　final　egress　from　the　woods；　while　those　they　had
just　evaded　were　no　doubt　slowly　and　silently　following　them　on
foot。　　They　were　to　be　caught　between　two　fires！

〃What　is　there　to　the　left　of　us？〃　whispered　Courtland　quickly。

〃De　swamp。〃

Courtland　set　his　teeth　together。　　His　dull…witted　companion　had
evidently　walked　them　both　into　the　trap！　　Nevertheless；　his
resolve　was　quickly　made。　　He　could　already　see　through　the
thinning　fringe　of　timber　the　figures　of　the　mounted　men　in　the
moonlight。

〃This　should　be　the　boundary　line　of　the　plantation？　　This　field
beside　us　is　ours？〃　he　said　interrogatively。

〃Yes；〃　returned　the　negro；　〃but　de　quarters　is　a　mile　furder。〃

〃Good！　　Stay　here　until　I　come　back　or　call　you；　I'm　going　to　talk
to　these　fellows。　　But　if　you　value　your　life；　don't　YOU　speak　nor
stir。〃

He　strode　quickly　through　the　intervening　trees　and　stepped　out
into　the　moonlight。　　A　suppressed　shout　greeted　him；　and　half　a
dozen　mounted　men；　masked　and　carrying　rifles；　rode　down　towards
him；　but　he　remained　quietly　waiting　there；　and　as　the　nearest
approached　him；　he　made　a　step　forward　and　cried；　〃Halt！〃

The　men　pulled　up　sharply　and　mechanically　at　that　ring　of　military
imperiousness。

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　said　Courtland。

〃We　reckon　that's　OUR　business；　co'nnle。〃

〃It's　mine；　when　you're　on　property　that　I　control。〃

The　man　hesitated　and　looked　interrogatively　towards　his　fellows。
〃I　allow　you've　got　us　there；　co'nnle；〃　he　said　at　last　with　the
lazy　insolence　of　conscious　power；　but　I　don't　mind　telling　you
we're　wanting　a　nigger　about　the　size　of　your　Cato。　　We　hain't　got
anything　agin　YOU；　co'nnle；　we　don't　want　to　interfere　with　YOUR
property；　and　YOUR　ways；　but　we　don't　calculate　to　have　strangers
interfere　with　OUR　ways　and　OUR　customs。　　Trot　out　your　niggeryou
No'th'n　folks　don't　call　HIM　'property；'　you　knowand　we'll　clear
off　your　land。〃

〃And　may　I　ask　what　you　want　of　Cato？〃　said　Courtland　quietly。

〃To　show　him　that　all　the　Federal　law　in　h…ll　won't　protect　him
when　he　strikes　a　white　man！〃　burst　out　one　of　the　masked　figures；
riding　forward。

〃Then　you　compel　me　to　show　YOU；〃　said　Courtland　immovably；　〃what
any　Federal　citizen　may　do　in　the　defense　of　Federal　law。　　For　I'll
kill　the　first　man　that　attempts　to　lay　hands　upon　him　on　my
property。　　Some　of　you；　who　have　already　tried　to　assassinate　him
in　cold　blood；　I　have　met　before　in　less　dishonorable　warfare　than
this；　and　THEY　know　I　am　able　to　keep　my　word。〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　the　barrel　of　the　revolver　he　was
holding　at　his　side　glistened　for　an　instant　in　the　moonlight；　but
he　did　not　move。　　The　two　men　rode　up　to　the　first　speaker　and
exchanged　words。　　A　light　laugh　followed；　and　the　first　speaker
turned　again　to　Courtland　with　a　mocking　politeness。

〃Very　well；　co'nnle；　if　that's　your　opinion；　and　you　allow　we　can't
follow　our　game　over　your　property；　why；　we　reckon　we'll　have　to
give　way　TO　THOSE　WHO　CAN。　　Sorry　to　have　troubled　YOU。　　Good…
night。〃

He　lifted　his　hat　ironically；　waved　it　to　his　followers；　and　the
next　moment　the　whole　party　were　galloping　furiously　towards　the
high　road。

For　the　first　time　that　evening　a　nervous　sense　of　apprehension
passed　over　Courtland。　　The　impending　of　some　unknown　danger　is
always　more　terrible　to　a　brave　man　than　the　most　overwhelming　odds
that　he　can　see　and　realize。　　He　felt　instinctively　that　they　had
uttered　no　vague　bravado　to　cover　up　their　defeat；　there　was　still
some　advantage　on　which　they　confidently　reckonedbut　what？　　Was
it　only　a　reference　to　the　other　party　tracking　them　through　the
woods　on　which　their　enemies　now　solely　relied？　　He　regained　Cato
quickly；　the　white　teeth　of　the　foolishly　confident　negro　were
already　flashing　his　imagined　triumph　to　his　employer。　　Courtland's
heart　grew　sick　as　he　saw　it。

〃We're　not　out　of　the　woods　yet；　Cato；〃　he　said　dryly；　〃nor　are
they。　　Keep　your　eyes　and　ears　open；　and　attend　to　me。　　How　long
can　we　keep　in　the　cover　of　these　woods；　and　still　push　on　in　the
direction　of　the　quarters？〃

〃There's　a　way　roun'　de　edge　o'　de　swamp；　sah；　but　we'd　have　to　go
back　a　spell　to　find　it。〃

〃Go　on！〃

〃And　dar's　moccasins　and　copperheads　lying　round　here　in　de　trail！
Dey　don't　go　for　us　ginerallybut；〃　be　hesitated；　〃white　men　don't
stand　much　show。〃

〃Good！　　Then　it　is　as　bad　for　those　who　are　chasing　us　as　for　me。
That　will　do。　　Lead　on。〃

They　retraced　their　steps　cautiously；　until　the　negro　turned　into　a
lighter　by…way。　　A　strange　mephitic　odor　seemed　to　come　from　sodden
leaves　and　mosses　that　began　to　ooze　under　their　feet。　　They　had
picked　their　way　in　silence　for　some　minutes；　the　stunted　willows
and　cypress　standing　farther　and　farther　apart；　and　the　openings
with　clumps　of　sedge　were　frequent。　　Courtland　was　beginning　to
fear　this　exposure　of　his　follower；　and　had　moved　up　beside　him；
when　suddenly　the　negro　caught　his　arm；　and　trembled　violently。
His　lips　were　parted　over　his　teeth；　the　whites　of　his　eyes
glistened；　he　seemed　gasping　and　speechless　with　fear。

〃What's　the　matter；　Cato？〃　said　Courtland　glancing　instinctively　at
the　ground　beneath。　　〃Speak；　man！have　you　been　bitten？〃

The　word　seemed　to　wring　an　agonized　cry　from　the　miserable　man。

〃Bitten！　　No；　but　don't　you　hear　'em　coming；　sah！　　God　Almighty！
don't　you　hear　dat？〃

〃What？〃

〃De　dogs！　de　houns！DE　BLOODHOUNS！　　Dey've　set　'em　loose　on　me！〃

It　was　true！　　A　faint　baying　in　the　distance　was　now　distinctly
audible　to　Courtland。　　He　knew　now　plainly　the　full；　cruel　purport
of　the　leader's　speech；those　who　could　go　anywhere　were　tracking
their　game！

Every　trace　of　manhood　had　vanished　from　the　negro's　cowering
frame。　　Courtland　laid　his　hand　assuringly；　appealingly；　and　then
savagely　on　his　shoulder。

〃Come！　　Enough　of　this！　　I　am　here；　and　will　stand　by　you；　whatever
comes。　　These　dogs　are　no　more　to　be　feared　than　the　others。　　Rouse
yourself；　man；　and　at　least　help　ME　make　a　fight　of　it。〃

〃No！　no！〃　screamed　the　terrified　man。　　〃Lemme　go！　　Lemme　go　back　to
de　Massas！　　Tell　'em　I'll　come！　　Tell　'em　to　call　de　houns　off　me；
and　I'll　go　quiet！　　Lemme　go！〃　　He　struggled　violently　in　his
companion's　grasp。

In　all　Courtl