a cumberland vendetta-第8节

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e　trouble　now。　　I　hear　as　how　young　Jasper　hev　been　talkin'　purty　tall　about　ye…'lowin'　as　how　ye　air　afeard　O'　him。〃

Rome　felt　his　mother's　burning　look。　　He　did　not　turn　toward　her　nor　Rufe；　but　his　face　grew　sullen；　and　his　voice　was　low　and　harsh。　〃I　reckon　he'll　find　out　about　that　when　the　time　comes；〃　he　said；　quietly…too　quietly；　for　the　old　mother　stirred　uneasily；　and　significant　glances　went　from　eye　to　eye。　Rufe　did　not　look　up　from　the　floor。　　He　had　been　told　about　Rome's　peculiar　conduct；　and；　while　the　reason　for　it　was　beyond　guessing；　he　knew　the　temper　of　the　boy　and　how　to　kindle　it。　　He　had　thrust　a　thorn　in　a　tender　spot；　and　he　let　it　rankle。　　How　sorely　it　did　rankle　he　little　knew。　The　voice　of　the　woman　across　the　river　was　still　in　Rome　5　ears。　　Nothing　cuts　the　mountaineer　to　the　quick　like　the　name　of　coward。　It　stung　him　like　the　lash　of　an　ox…whip　then；　it　smarted　all　the　way　across　the　river　and　up　the　mountain。　　Young　Jasper　had　been　charging　him　broadcast　with　cowardice；　and　Jasper's　people　no　doubt　believed　it。　　Perhaps　his　own　did　…his　uncle；　his　mother。　　The　bare　chance　of　such　a　humiliation　set　up　an　inward　rage。　　He　wondered　how　he　could　ever　have　been　such　a　fool　as　to　think　of　peace。　　The　woman's　gossip　had　swept　kindly　impulses　from　his　heart　with　a　fresh　tide　of　bitterness；　and；　helpless　now　against　its　current；　he　sullenly　gave　way；　and　let　his　passions　loose　to　drift　with　it。

〃Whar　d'　ye　git　the　guns；　Rufe？　〃　　Steve　was　testing　the　action　of　the　Winchester　with　a　kindling　look；　as　the　click　of　the　locks　struck　softly　through　the　silence。

〃Jackson；　'way　up　in　Breathitt；　at　the　eend　of　the　new　road。〃

〃No　wonder　y'u've　been　gone　so　long。〃

〃I　had　to　wait　thar　fer　the　guns；　'n'　I　had　to　travel　atter　dark　comm'　back；　'n'　lay　out'n　the　bresh　by　day。　　Hit's　full　eighty　mile　up　thar。〃

〃Air　ye　shore　nobody　seed　ye？〃

The　question　was　from　a　Marcum；　who　had　come　in　late；　and　several　laughed。　　Rufe　threw　back　his　dusty　coat；　which　was　ripped　through　the　lapel　by　a　bullet。

They　seed　me　well　'nough　fer　that；〃　he　said；　grimly；　and　then　he　looked　toward　Rome；　who　thought　of　old　Jasper；　and　gave　back　a　gleam　of　fierce　sympathy。　　There　were　several　nods　of　approval　along　with　the　laugh　that　followed。　　It　was　a　surprise…so　little　consideration　of　an　escape　so　narrow…from　Rufe；　for；　as　old　Gabe　said；　Rufe　was　big　and　good…natured；　and　was　not　thought　fit　for　leadership。　But　there　was　a　change　in　him　when　he　came　back　from　the　West。　　He　was　quieter；　he　laughed　less　　No　one　spoke　of　the　difference；　it　was　too　vague；　but　every　one　felt　it；　and　it　had　an　effect。　　His　flight　had　made　many　uneasy；　but　his　return；　for　that　reason；　brought　a　stancher　fealty　from　these；　and　this　was　evident　now。　　All　eyes　were　upon　him；　and　all　tongues；　even　old　Sam's；　waited　now　for　his　to　speak。

〃Whut　we've　got　to　do；　we've　got　to　do　mighty　quick；〃　he　began；　at　last。　　〃　Things　air　changin'。　　I　seed　it　over　thar　in　Breathitt。　　The　soldiers　'n'　that　scar…faced　Jellico　preacher　hev　broke　up　the　fightin'　over　thar；　'n'　ef　we　don't　watch　out；　they'll　be　a…doin'　it　hyeh；　when　we　start　our　leetle　frolic。　　We　hain't　got　no　time　to　fool。　　Old　Jas　knows　this　as　well　as　me；　'n'　thar's　goin'　to　be　mighty　leetle　chance　fer　'em　to　layway　'n'　pick　us　off　from　the　bresh。　　Thar's　goin'　to　be　fa'r　fightin'　fer　once；　thank　the　Lord。　　They　bushwhacked　us　dunn'　the　war；　'n'　they've　laywayed　us　'n'　shot　us　to　pieces　ever　sence；　but　now；　ef　God　A'mighty's　willin'；　the　thing's　a…goin'　to　be　settled　one　way　or　t'other　at　last；　I　reckon。〃

He　stopped　a　moment　to　think。　　The　men's　breathing　could　be　heard；　so　quiet　was　the　room；　and　Rufe　went　on　telling　in　detail；　slowly；　as　if　to　himself；　the　wrongs　the　Lewallens　had　done　his　people。　　When　he　came　to　old　Jasper　his　voice　was　low；　and　his　manner　was　quieter　than　ever。

〃Now　old　Jas　have　got　to　the　p'int　whar　he　says　as　how　nobody　in　this　county　kin　undersell　him　'n'　stay　hyeh。　　Old　Jas　druv　Bond　Vickers　out'n　the　mount　'ins　fer　tryin'　hit。　　He　druv　Jess　Hale　away；　'n'　them　two　air　our　kin。〃

The　　big　mountaineer　turned　then；　　and　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe。　　His　eyes　grew　a　little　brighter；　and　his　nostrils　spread；　but　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm　he　added；　still　quietly：

〃Y'　all　know　whut　he's　done。〃

The　gesture　lighted　memories　of　personal　wrongs　in　every　breast；　he　had　tossed　a　fire…brand　among　fagots；　and　an　angry　light　began　to　burn　from　the　eyes　that　watched　him。

〃Ye　know；　too；　that　he　thinks　he　has　played　the　same　game　with　me；　but　ye　don't　know；　I　reckon；　that　he　had　ole　Jim　Stover　'n'　that　mis'…able　Eli　Crump　a…hidin'　in　the　bushes　to　shoot　me　〃…again　he　grasped　the　torn　lapel；　〃that　a　body　warned　me　to　git　away　from　Hazlan；　n'　the　night　I　left　home　they　come　thar　to　kill　me；　'n'　s'arched　the　house；　'n'　skeered　Mollie　n'　the　leetle　gal　'most　to　death。〃

The　mountaineer's　self…control　was　lost　suddenly　in　a　furious　oath。　　The　men　did　know；　but　in　fresh　anger　they　leaned　forward　in　their　chairs；　and　twisted　about　with　smothered　curses。　The　old　woman　had　stopped　smoking；　and　was　rocking　her　body　to　and　fro。　　Her　lips　were　drawn　in　upon　her　toothless　gums；　and　her　pipe　was　clinched　against　her　sunken　breast。　　The　head　of　the　old　mountaineer　was　lifted；　and　his　eyes　were　open　and　shining　fiercely。

〃I　hear　as　how　he　says　I'm　gone　fer　good。　Well；　I　have　been　kinder　easy…goin'；　hatin'　to　fight；　but　sence　the　day　I　seed　Rome's　dad　thar　dead　in　his　blood；　I　hev　had　jes　one　thing　I　wanted　to　do。　　Thar　wasn't　no　use　stayin'　hyeh；　I　seed　that。　　Rome　thar　was　too　leetle；　and　they　was　too　many　fer　me。　　I　knowed　it　was　easier　to　git　a　new　start　out　West；　'n'　when　I　come　back　to　the　mount'in；　hit　was　to　do　jes…whut　I'm　…　going　…　to　…　do　…　now。〃　　He　wheeled　suddenly　upon　Rome；　with　one　huge　hand　lifted。　Under　it　the　old　woman's　voice　rose　in　a　sudden　wail：

Yes；　'n'　I　want　to　see　it　done　befoh　I　die。　I　hain't　hyeh　fer　long；　but　I　hain't　goin'　to　leave　as　long　as　ole　Jas　is　hyeh；　'n'　I　want　ye　all　to　know　it。　　Ole　Jas　hev　got　to　go　fust。　　You　hear　me；　Rome？　　I'm　a…talkin'　to　you；　I'm　a…talkin'　to　you。　　Hit's　yo'　time　now！

The　frenzied　chant　raised　Rome　from　his　chair。　　Rufe　himself　took　up　the　spirit　of　it；　and　his　voice　was　above　all　caution。

〃Yes；　Rome！　　They　killed　him；　boy。　　They　sneaked　on　him；　'n'　shot　him　to　pieces　from　the　bushes。　　Yes；　hit's　yo'　time　now！　　Look　hyeh；　boys！　〃　　He　reached　above　the　fireplace　and　took　down　an　old　rifle…his　brother's…which　the　old　mother　had　suffered　no　one　to　touch。　He　held　it　before　the　fire；　pointing　to　two　crosses　made　near　the　flash…pan。　　〃　Thar's　one　fer　ole　Jim　Lewallen！　　Thar's　one　fer　ole　Jas！　He　got　Jim；　but　ole　Jas　has　got　him；　'n'　thar's　his　cross　thar　yit！　　Whar's　yo'　gun；　Rome？　Shame　on　ye；　boy！〃

The　wild…eyed　old　woman　was　before　him。　She　had　divined　Rufe's　purpose；　and　was　already　at　his　side；　with　Rome's　Winchester　in　one　hand　and　a　clasp…knife　in　the　other。　　Every　man　was　on　his　feet；　the　door　was　open；　and　the　boy　Isom　was　at　the　threshold；　his　eyes　blazing　from　his　whitc　face。　　Rome　had　strode　forward。

Yes；　boy；　now's　the　time；　right　hyeh　before　us　all！

The　mother　had　the　knife　outstretched。　Rome　took　it；　and　the　scratch　of　the　point　on　the　hard　steel　went　twice　through　the　stillness…one　more　fer　the　young　un〃；　the　voice　was　the　old　mother's…then　twice　again。

The　moon　was　sinking　when　Rome　stood　in　the　door　alone。　　The　tramp　of　horses　was　growing　fainter　down　the　mountain。　　The　trees　were　swaying　in　the　wind　below　him；　and　he　could　just　see　the　gray　cliffs　on　the　other　shore。　The　morning　seemed　far　away；　it　made　him　dizzy　looking　back　to　it　through　the　tumult　of　the　day。　　Somewhere　in　the　haze　was　the　vision　of　a　girl's　white　face…white　with　distress　for　him。　　Her　father　and　her　brother　he　had　sworn　to　kill。　　He　had　made　a　cross　for　each；　and　each　cross　was　an　oath。　　He　closed　the　door；　and　then　he　gave　way；　and　sat　down　with　his　head　in　both　hands。　　The　noises　in　the　kitchen　ceased。　The　fire　died　away；　and　the　chill　air　gathered　about　him。　　When　he　rose；　the　restless　eyes　of　the　boy　were　upon　him　from　the　shadows。

X

IT　was　court…day　in　Hazlan；　but　so　early　in　the　morning　nothing　was　astir　in　the　town　that　hinted　of　its　life　on　such　a　day。　　But　for　the　ring　of　a　blacksmith's　anvil　on　the　quiet　air；　and　the　fact　that　nowhere　was　a　church…spire　visible；　a　stranger　would　have　thought　that　the　peace　of　Sabbath　overlay　a　village　of　God…fearing　people。　　A　burly　figure　lounged　in　the　porch　of　a　rickety　house；　and　yawned　under　a　swinging　sign；　the　rude　letters　of　which　promised〃　private　entertainment　〃　for　the　traveller　unlucky　enough　to　pass　that　way。　　In　the　one　long；　narrow　main　street；　closely　flanked　by　log　and　framed　houses；　nothing　else　human　was　in　sight。　Out　from　this　street；　and　in　an　empty　square；　stood　the　one　brick　building　in　the　place；　the　court…house；　brick　without；　brick　within；　unfinished；　unpencilled；　unpainted；　panes　out　of　the　windows；　a　shutter　off　here　and　there；　or　swinging　drunkenly　on　one　hinge；　the　door　wide　op　en；　as　though　there　was　no　privacy　within…a　poor　structure；　with　the　look　of　a　good　man　gone　shiftless　and　fast　going　wrong。

Soon　two　or　three　lank　brown　figures　app