a cumberland vendetta-第5节

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；　a　loud　curse　smote　the　air。　　The　river；　pressed　between　two　projecting　cliffs；　was　narrow　at　that　point；　and　the　oath　came　across　the　water。　　An　instant　later　a　man　led　a　lamed　horse　from　behind　a　bowlder；　and　stooped　to　examine　its　leg。　　The　dusk　was　thickening；　but　Rome　knew　the　huge　frame　and　gray　beard　of　old　Jasper　Lewallen。　The　blood　beat　in　a　sudden　tide　at　his　temples；　and；　half　by　instinct；　he　knelt　behind　a　rock；　and；　thrusting　his　rifle　through　a　crevice；　cocked　it　softly。

Again　the　curse　of　impatience　came　over　the　still　water；　and　old　Jasper　rose　and　turned　toward　him。　　The　glistening　sight　caught　in　the　centre　of　his　beard。　　That　would　take　him　in　the　throat；　it　might　miss；　and　he　let　the　sight　fall　till　the　bullet　would　cut　the　fringe　of　gray　hair　into　the　heart。　　Old　Jasper；　so　people　said；　had　killed　his　father　in　just　this　way；　he　had　driven　his　uncle　from　the　mountains；　he　was　trying　now　to　revive　the　feud。　　He　was　the　father　of　young　Jasper；　who　had　threatened　his　life；　and　the　father　of　the　girl　whose　contempt　had　cut　him　to　the　quick　twice　that　day。　　Again　her　taunt　leaped　through　his　heated　brain；　and　his　boast　to　the　old　miller　followed　it。　　His　finger　trembled　at　the　trigger。

〃No；　by；　no！　〃he　breathed　between　his　teeth；　and　old　Jasper　passed　on；　unharmed。

VII

NEXT　day　the　news　of　Rufe　Stetson's　flight　went　down　the　river　on　the　wind；　and　before　nightfall　the　spirit　of　murder　was　loosed　on　both　shores　of　the　Cumberland。　　The　more　cautious　warned　old　Jasper。　　The　Stetsons　were　gaining　strength　again；　they　said；　so　were　their　feudsmen；　the　Marcums；　enemies　of　the　Braytons；　old　Jasper's　kinspeople。　　Keeping　store；　Rufe　had　made　money　in　the　West；　and　money　and　friends　right　and　left　through　the　mountains。　　With　all　his　good…nature；　he　was　a　persistent　hater；　and　he　was　shrewd。　　He　had　waited　the　chance　to　put　himself　on　the　side　of　the　law；　and　now　the　law　was　with　him。　But　old　Jasper　laughed　contemptuously。　　Rufe　Stetson　was　gone　again；　he　said；　as　he　had　gone　before；　and　this　time　for　good。　　Rufe　had　tried　to　do　what　nobody　had　done；　or　could　do；　while　he　was　alive。　　Anyway；　he　was　reckless；　and　he　cared　little　if　war　did　come　again。　　Still；　the　old　man　prepared　for　a　fight；　and　Steve　Marcum　on　the　other　shore　made　ready　for　Rufe's　return。

It　was　like　the　breaking　of　peace　in　feudal　days。　　The　close　kin　of　each　leader　were　already　about　him；　and　now　the　close　friends　of　each　took　sides。　　Each　leader　trading　in　Hazlan　had　debtors　scattered　through　the　mountains；　and　these　rallied　to　aid　the　man　who　had　befriended　them。　　There　was　no　grudge　but　served　a　pretext　for　partisanship　in　the　coming　war。　　Political　rivalry　had　wedged　apart　two　strong　families；　the　Marcums　and　Braytons；　a　boundary　line　in　dispute　was　a　chain　of　bitterness；　a　suit　in　a　country　court　had　sown　seeds　of　hatred。　　Sometimes　it　was　a　horse…trade；　a　fence　left　down；　or　a　gate　left　open；　and　the　trespassing　of　cattle；　in　one　instance；　through　spite；　a　neighbor　had　docked　the　tail　of　a　neighbor's　horse…had　〃　muled　his　critter；〃　as　the　owner　phrased　the　outrage。　　There　was　no　old　sore　that　was　not　opened　by　the　crafty　leaders；　no　slumbering　bitterness　that　they　did　not　wake　to　life。　　〃　Help　us　to　revenge；　and　we　will　he！p　you；〃　was　the　whispered　promise。　　So；　had　one　man　a　grudge　against　another；　he　could　set　his　foot　on　one　or　the　other　shore；　sure　that　his　enemy　would　be　fighting　for　the　other。

Others　there　were；　friends　of　neither　leader；　who；　under　stress　of　poverty　or　hatred　of　work；　would　fight　with　either　for　food　and　clothes；　and　others　still；　the　ne'er…do…wells　and　outlaws；　who　fought　by　the　day　or　month　for　hire。　Even　these　were　secured　by　one　or　the　other　faction；　for　Steve　and　old　Jasper　left　no　resource　untried；　knowing　well　that　the　fight；　if　there　was　one；　would　be　fought　to　a　quick　and　decisive　end。　　The　day　for　the　leisurely　feud；　for　patient　planning；　and　the　slow　picking　off　of　men　from　one　side　or　the　other；　was　gone。　　The　people　in　the　Blue　Grass；　who　had　no　feuds　in　their　own　country；　were　trying　to　stop　them　in　the　mountain。　　Over　in　Breathitt；　as　everybody　knew；　soldiers　had　come　from　the　〃　settlemints；〃　had　arrested　the　leaders；　and　had　taken　them　to　the　Blue　Grass　for　the　feared　and　hated　ordeal　of　trial　by　a　jury　of　〃bigoted　furriners。〃　　On　the　heels　of　the　soldiers　came　a　young　preacher　up　from　the　Jellico　hills；　half　〃　citizen；〃　half　furriner；〃　with　long　black　hair　and　a　scar　across　his　forehead；　who　was　stirring　up　the　people；　it　was　said；　〃　as　though　Satan　was　atter　them。〃　　Over　there　the　spirit　of　the　feud　was　broken；　and　a　good　effect　was　already　perceptible　around　Hazlan。　　In　past　days　every　pair　of　lips　was　sealed　with　fear；　and　the　non…combatants　left　crops　and　homes；　and　moved　down　the　river；　when　trouble　began。　Now　only　the　timid　considered　this　way　of　escape。　　Steve　and　old　Jasper　found　a　few　men　who　refused　to　enter　the　fight。　Several；　indeed；　talked　openly　against　the　renewal　of　the　feud；　and　somebody；　it　was　said；　had　dared　to　hint　that　he　would　send　to　the　Governor　for　aid　if　it　should　break　out　again。　But　these　were　rumors　touching　few　people。

For　once　again；　as　time　and　time　again　before；　one　bank　of　the　Cumberland　was　arrayed　with　mortal　enmity　against　the　other；　and　old　Gabe　sat；　with　shaken　faith；　in　the　door　of　his　mill。　For　years　he　had　worked　and　prayed　for　peace；　and　for　a　little　while　the　Almighty　seemed　lending　aid。　　Now　the　friendly　grasp　was　loosening；　and　yet　the　miller　did　all　he　could。　　He　begged　Steve　Marcum　to　urge　Rufe　to　seek　aid　from　the　law　when　the　latter　came　back；　and　Steve　laughed；　and　asked　what　justice　was　possible　for　a　Stetson；　with　a　Lewallen　for　a　judge　and　Braytons　for　a　jury。　　The　miller　pleaded　with　old　Jasper；　and　old　Jasper　pointed　to　the　successes　of　his　own　life。

〃I　hev　triumphed　ag'in'　my　enemies　time　'n'　ag'in；〃　he　said。　　〃The　Lord　air　on　my　side；　'n'　I　gits　a　better　Christian　ever'　year。〃　　The　old　man　spoke　with　the　sincerity　of　a　barbarism　that　has　survived　the　dark　ages；　and；　holding　the　same　faith；　the　miller　had　no　answer。　　It　was　old　Gabe　indeed　who　had　threatened　to　send　to　the　Governor　for　soldiers；　and　this　he　would　have　done；　perhaps；　had　there　not　been　one　hope　left；　and　only　one。　　A　week　had　gone；　and　there　was　no　word　from　Rufe　Stetson。　　Up　on　Thunderstruck　Knob　the　old　Stetson　mother　was　growing　pitiably　eager　and　restless。　　Every　day　she　slipped　like　a　ghost　through　the　leafless　woods　and　in　and　out　the　cabin；　kindling　hatred。　At　every　dawn　or　dusk　she　was　on　her　porch　peering　through　the　dim　light　for　Rufe　Stetson。　Steve　Marcum　was　ill　at　ease。　　Rome　Stetson　alone　seemed　unconcerned；　and　his　name　was　on　every　gossiping　tongue。

He　took　little　interest　and　no　hand　in　getting　ready　for　the　war。　　He　forbade　the　firing　of　a　gun　till　Rufe　came　back；　else　Steve　should　fight　his　fight　alone。　　He　grew　sullen　and　morose。　His　old　mother's　look　was　a　thorn　in　his　soul；　and　he　stayed　little　at　home。　　He　hung　about　the　mill；　and　when　Isom　became　bedfast；　the　big　mountaineer；　who　had　never　handled　anything　but　a　horse；　a　plough；　or　a　rifle；　settled　him…self；　to　the　bewilderment　of　the　Stetsons；　into　the　boy's　duties；　and　nobody　dared　question　him。　Even　old　Gabe　jested　no　longer。　　The　matter　was　too　serious。

Meanwhile　the　winter　threw　off　the　last　slumbrous　mood　of　autumn；　as　a　sleeper　starts　from　a　dream。　　A　fortnight　was　gone；　and　still　no　message　came　from　the　absent　leader。　　One　shore　was　restive；　uneasy；　the　other　confident；　mocking。　　Between　the　two；　Rome　Stetson　waited　his　chance　at　the　mill。

VIII。

DAY　was　whitening　on　the　Stetson　shore。　Across　the　river　the　air　was　still　sharp　with　the　chill　of　dawn；　and　the　mists　lay　like　flocks　of　sheep　under　shelter　of　rock　and　crag。　A　peculiar　cry　radiated　from　the　Lewallen　cabin　with　singular　resonance　on　the　crisp　air…the　mountain　cry　for　straying　cattle。　　A　soft　low　came　from　a　distant　patch　of　laurel；　and　old　Jasper's　girl；　Martha；　folded。　her　hands　like　a　conch　at　her　mouth；　and　the　shrill　cry　again　startled　the　air。

Ye　better　come；　ye　pieded　cow…brute。〃　Picking　up　a　cedar　piggin；　she　stepped　from　the　porch　toward　the　meek　voice　that　had　answered　her。　　Temper　and　exertion　had　brought　the　quick　blood　to　her　face。　　Her　head　was　bare；　her　thick　hair　was　loosely　coiled；　and　her　brown　arms　were　naked　almost　to　the　shoulder。　　At　the　stable　a　young　mountaineer　was　overhauling　his　riding…gear。

Air　you　goin'　to　ride　the　hoss　to…day；　Jas？〃　she　asked；　querulously。

〃That's　jes　whut　I　was　aimin'　to　do。　　I'm　a…goin'　to　town。〃

Well；　I　'lowed　I　was　goin'　to　mill　to…day。　The　co'n　is　'mos'　gone。〃

〃Well；　y'u　'lowed　wrong；〃　he　answered；　imperturbably。

Y'u're　mean；　Jas　Lewallen；〃　she　cried；　hotly；　〃　that's　whut　ye　air；　mean…dog…mean！

The　young　mountaineer　looked　up；　whistled　softly；　and　laughed。　　But　when　he　brought　his　horse　to　the　door　an　hour　later　there　was　a　bag　of　corn　across　the　saddle。

〃As　ye　air　so　powerful　sot　on　goin'　to　mill；　whether　or　no；　I'll　leave　this　hyeh　sack　at　the　bend　O'　the　road；　'n'　ye　kin　git　it　thar。　　I'll　bring　the　meal　back　ef　ye　puts　it　in　the　same　place。　　I　hates　to　see　women…folks　a…ridin'　this　horse。　　Hit　spiles　him。〃

The　horse　was　a　dapple…gray　o