a cumberland vendetta-第13节

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　through　the　undergrowth；　over…head；　the　dogwood　tossed　its　snow…flakes　in　gusts　through　the　green　and　gold　of　new　leaves　and　sunlight；　and　higher　still　waved　the　poplar　blooms；　with　honey　ready　on　every　crimson　heart　for　the　bees。　Down　in　the　valley　Rome　Stetson　could　see　about　every　little　cabin　pink　clouds　and　white　clouds　of　peach　and　of　apple　blossoms。　Amid　the　ferns　about　him　shade…loving　trilliums　showed　their　many…hued　faces；　and　every　opening　was　thickly　peopled　with　larkspur　seeking　the　sun。　The　giant　magnolia　and　the　umbrella…tree　spread　their　great　creamy　flowers；　the　laurel　shook　out　myriads　of　pink　and　white　bells；　and　the　queen　of　mountain　flowers　was　stirring　from　sleep　in　the　buds　of　the　rhododendron。

With　the　spring　new　forces　pulsed　the　mountain　air。　　The　spirit　of　the　times　reached　even　Hazlan。　　A　railroad　was　coming　up　the　river；　so　the　rumor　was。　When　winter　broke；　surveyors　had　appeared；　after　them；　mining　experts　and　purchasers　of　land。　　New　ways　of　bread…making　were　open　to　all；　and　the　feudsman　began　to　see　that　he　could　make　food　and　clothes　more　easily　and　with　less　danger　than　by　sleeping　with　his　rifle　in　the　woods；　and　by　fighting　men　who　had　done　him　no　harm。　　Many　were　tired　of　fighting；　many；　forced　into　the　feud；　had　fought　unwillingly。　Others　had　sold　their　farms　and　wild　lands；　and　were　moving　toward　the　Blue　Grass　or　westward。　　The　desperadoes　of　each　faction　had　fled　the　law　or　were　in　its　clutches。　The　last　Lewallen　was　dead；　the　last　Stetson　was　hidden　away　in　the　mountains。　There　were　left　Mareums　and　Braytons；　but　only　those　who　felt　safest　from　indictment；　in　these　a　spirit　of　hostility　would　live　for　years；　and；　roused　by　passion　or　by　drink；　would　do　murder　now　on　one　side　of　the　Cumberland　and　now　on　the　other；　but　the　Stetson…Lewallen　feud；　old　Gabe　believed；　was　at　an　end　at　last。

All　these　things　the　miller　told　Rome　Stetson；　who　well　knew　what　they　meant。　He　was　safe　enough　from　the　law　while　the　people　took　no　part　in　his　capture；　but　he　grew　apprehensive　when　he　learned　of　the　changes　going　on　in　the　valley。　None　but　old　Gabe　knew　where　he　was；　to　be　sure；　but　with　his　own　enemies　to　guide　the　soldiers　he　could　not　hope　to　remain　hidden　long。　Still；　with　that　love　of　the　mountains　characteristic　of　all　races　born　among　them；　he　clung　to　his　own　land。　　He　would　rather　stay　where　he　was　the　space　of　a　year　and　die；　he　told　old　Gabe　passionately；　than　live　to　old　age　in　another　State。

But　there　was　another　motive；　and　he　did　not　hide　it。　　On　the　other　side　he　had　one　enemy　left…the　last；　too；　of　her　race…who　was　more　to　him　than　his　own　dead　kindred；　who　hated　him；　who　placed　at　his　door　all　her　sorrows。　For　her　he　was　living　like　a　wolf　in　a　cave；　and　old　Gabe　knew　it。　　Her…he　would　not　leave。

〃I　tell　ye；　Rome；　you've　got　to　go。　　Thar's　no　use　talkin'。　　Court　comes　the　fust　Monday　in　June。　The　soldiers　ull　be　hyeh。　Hit　won't　be　safe。　Thar's　some　that　s'picions　I　know　whar　ye　air　now；　'n'　they'll　be　spyin'；　'n'　mebbe　hit'll　git　me　into　trouble；　too；　aidin'　'n'　abettin'　a　man　to　git　away　who　air　boun'　to　the　law。〃

The　two　were　sitting　on　the　earthen　floor　of　the　cave　before　a　little　fire；　and　Rome；　with　his　hands　about　his　knees　and　his　brows　knitted；　was　staring　into　the　yellow　blaze。　His　unshorn　hair　fell　to　his　shoulders；　his　face　was　pale　from　insufficient　food　and　exercise；　and　tense　with　a　look　that　was　at　once　caged　and　defiant。

〃Uncle　Gabe；〃　he　asked；　quietly；　for　the　old　man's　tone　was　a　little　querulous；　〃　air　ye　sorry　ye　holped　me？　Do　ye　blame　me　fer　whut　I've　done？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　old　miller；　answering　both　questions；　〃I　don't。　I　believe　whut　ye　tol'　me。　Though；　even　ef　ye　had　'a'　done　it；　I　don't　know　as　I'd　blame　ye；　seem'　that　it　was　a　fa'r　fight。　I　don't　doubt　he　was　doin'　his　best　to　kill　you。〃

Rome　turned　quickly；　his　face　puzzled　and　darkening。

Uncle　Gabe；　whut　air　you　drivin'　at？　〃　The　old　man　spat　into　the　fire；　and　shifted　his　position　uneasily；　as　Rome's　hand　caught　his　knee。

Well；　ef　I　have　to　tell　ye；　I　s'pose　I　must。　Thar's　been　nothin'　pertickler　ag'in　ye　so　fer；　'cept　fer　breakin'　that　confederatin'　statute　'bout　bandin'　fightin'　men　together；　'n'　nobody　was　very　anxious　to　git　hol'　o'　ye　jes　fer　that；　but　now　〃…the　old　man　stopped　a　moment；　for　Rome's　eyes　were　kindling…〃　they　say　that　ye　killed　Jas　Lew　allen；　'n'　that　ye　air　a　murderer；　'n'　hit　air　powerful　strange　how　all　of　a　suddint　folks　seem　to　be　gittin'　down　on　a　man　as　kills　his　fellow…creetur；　'n'　now　they　means　to　hunt　ye　til　they　ketch　ye。〃

It　was　all　out　now；　and　the　old　man　was　relieved。　　Rome　rose　to　his　feet；　and　in　sheer　agony　of　spirit　paced　the　floor。

〃I　tol'　ye；　Uncle　Gabe；　that　I　didn't　kill　him。〃

So　ye　did；　'n'　I　believe　ye。　But　a　feller　seed　you　'n'　Steve　comm'　from　the　place　whar　Jas　was　found　dead；　'n'　whar　the　dirt　'n'　rock　was　throwed　about　as　by　two　bucks　in　spring…time。　Steve　says　he　didn't　do　it；　'n'　he　wouldn't　say　you　didn't。　　Looks　to　me　like　Steve　did　the　kuhn'；　'n'　was　lyin'　a　leetle。　He　hain't　goin'　to　confess　hit　to　save　your　neck；　'n'　he　can't　no　way；　fer　he　hev　lit　out　o'　these　mount'ins…long　ago。〃

If　Steve　was　out　of　danger；　suspicion　could　not　harm　him；　and　Rome　said　nothing。

〃Isom's　got　the　lingerin'　fever　ag'in；　'n'　he's　out〃i　his　head。　　He's　ravin'　'bout　that　fight。　Looks　like　ye　tol'　him　'bout　it。　He　says；'　Don't　tell　Uncle　Gabe'；　'n'　he　keeps　sayin'　it。　　Hit'll　'most　kill　him　ef　you　go　'way；　but　he　wants　ye　to　git　out　o'　the　mount'ins；　'n'；　Rome；　you've　got　to　go。〃

〃Who　was　it；　Uncle　Gabe；　that　seed　me　'n'　Steve　comm'　'way　from　thar？

He　air　the　same　feller　who　hev　been　spyin'　ye　all　the　time　this　war's　been　goin'　on；　hit's　that　dried…faced；　snaky　Eli　Crump；　who　ye　knocked　down　'n'　choked　up　in　Hazlan　one　day　fer　sayin'　something　ag'in　Isom。〃

〃I　knowed　it…I　knowed　it…oh；　ef　I　could　git　my　fingers　roun'　his　throat　once　more…jes　once　more…I'd　be　'mos'　ready　to　die。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hands　as　he　strode　back　and　forth；　with　his　fingers　crooked　like　talons；　his　shadow　leaped　from　wall　to　wall；　and　his　voice；　filling　the　cave；　was；　for　the　moment；　scarcely　human。　　The　old　man　waited　till　the　paroxysm　was　over　and　Rome　had　again　sunk　before　the　fire。

〃Hit　'u'd　do　no　good；　Rome；〃　he　said；　rising　to　go。　〃You've　got　enough　on　ye　now；　without　the　sin　o'　takin'　his　life。　You　better　make　up　yer　mind　to　leave　the　mount　ins　now　right　'way。　You're　a…gittin'　no　more'n　half…human；　livin'　up　hyeh　like　a　catamount。　　I　don't　see　how　ye　kin　stand　it。　Thar's　no　hope　o'　things　blowin'　over；　boy；　'n'　givin'　ye　a　chance　o'　comm'　out　ag'in；　as　yer　dad　and　yer　grandad　usen　to　do　afore　ye。　The　citizens　air　gittin'　tired　o'　these　wars。　They　keeps　out　the　furriners　who　makes　roads　'n'　buys　lands；　they　air　ag'in'　the　law；　ag'in'　religion；　ag'in'　yo'　pocket；　'n'　ag'in'　mine。　Lots　o'　folks　hev　been　ag'in'　all　this　fightin'　fer　a　long　time；　but　they　was　too　skeery　to　say　so。　　They　air　talkin'　mighty　big　now；　seem'　they　kin　git　soldiers　hyeh　to　pertect　'em。　So　ye　mought　as　well　give　up　the　idea　o'　staying　hyeh；　'less'n　ye　want　to　give　yourself　up　to　the　law。〃

The　two　stepped　from　the　cave；　and　passed　through　the　rhododendrons　till　they　stood　on　the　cliff　overlooking　the　valley。　The　rich　light　lay　like　a　golden　mist　between　the　mountains；　and　through　it；　far　down；　the　river　moaned　like　the　wind　of　a　coming　storm。

Did　ye　tell　the　gal　whut　I　tol'　ye？〃

〃Yes；　Rome；　hit　wasn't　no　use。　　She　says　Steve's　word's　as　good　as　yourn；　'n'　she　knowed　about　the　crosses。　　Folks　say　she　swore　awful　ag'in'　ye　at　young　Jas's　burial；　'lowin'　that　she'd　hunt　ye　down　herse'f；　ef　the　soldiers　didn't　ketch　ye。　　I　hain't　seed　her　sence　she　got　sick；　'pears　like　ever'body's　sick。　　Mebbe　she's　a　leetle　settled　down　now…no　tellin'。　No　use　foolin'　with　her；　Rome。　You　git　away　from　hyeh。　　Don't　you　worry　'bout　Isom…I'll　take　keer　o'　him；　'n'　when　he　gits　well；　he'll　want　to　come　atter　ye；　'n'　I'll　let　him　go。　He　couldn't　live　hyeh　without　you。　　But　y'u　must　git　away；　Rome；　'n'　git　away　mighty　quick。〃

With　hands　clasped　behind　him；　Rome　stood　and　watched　the　bent　figure　slowly　pick　its　way　around　the　stony　cliff。

〃I　reckon　I've　got　to　go。　　She's　ag'in'　me；　they're　all　ag'in'　me。　I　reckon　I've　jes　got　to　go。　Somehow；　I've　been　kinder　hopin'…〃　　He　closed　his　lips　to　check　the　groan　that　rose　to　them；　and　turned　again　into　the　gloom　behind　him。

XIV

JUNE　came。　The　wild　rose　swayed　above　its　image　along　every　little　shadowed　stream；　and　the　scent　of　wild　grapes　was　sweet　in　the　air　and　as　vagrant　as　a　bluebird's　note　in　autumn。　The　rhododendrons　burst　into　beauty；　making　gray　ridge　and　gray　cliff　blossom　with　purple；　hedging　streams　with　snowy　clusters　and　shining　leaves；　and　lighting　up　dark　coverts　in　the　woods　as　with　white　stars。　The　leaves　were　full；　woodthrushes　sang；　and　bees　droned　like　unseen　running　water　in　the　woods。

With　June　came　circuit　court　once　more…and　the　soldiers。　　Faint　music　pierced　the　dreamy　chant　of　the　river　one　morning　as　Rome　lay　on　a　bowlder　in　the　summer　sun；　and　he　watched　the　guns　flashing　like　another　stream　along　the　water；　and　then　looked　again　to　the　Lewallen　cabin。　Never；　morning；　noon；　or　night；　when　he　came　from　t