a cumberland vendetta-第11部分
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spring； and circling about to get at each other's throats； with mouths set； eyes watching eyes； and hands twitching nervously。 Young Jasper leaped first； and the Stetson； wary of closing with him； shrank back。 There were a few quick； heavy blows； and the Lewallen was beaten away with blood at his lips。 Then each knew the advantage of the other。 The Stetson's reach was longer； the Lewallen was shorter and heavier； and again he closed in。 Again Rome sent out his long arm。 A turn of Jasper's head let the heavy fist pass over his shoulder。 The force of the blow drove Rome forward； the two clinched； and Jasper's arms tightened about the Stetson's waist。 With a quick gasp for breath Rome loosed his hold； and； bending his enemy's head back with one hand； rained blow after blow in his face with the other。 One terrible stroke on the jaw； and Jasper's arms were loosed； the two fell apart； the one stunned； the other breathless。 One dazed moment only； and for a third time the Lewallen came on。 Rome had been fighting a man； now he faced a demon。 Jasper's brows stood out like bristles； and the eyes under them were red and fierce like a mad bull's。 Again Rome's blows fell； but again the Lewallen reached him； and this time he got his face under the Stetson's chin； …'id the heavy fist fell upon the back of his head； and upon his neck； as upon wood and leather。 Again Rome had to gasp for breath； and again the two were fiercely locked…their corded arms as tense as serpents。 Around and around they whirled； straining； tripping； breaking the silence only with deep； quick breaths and the stamping of feet； Jasper firm on the rock； and Rome's agility saving him from being lifted in the air and tossed from the cliff。 There was no pause for rest。 It was a struggle to the end； and a quick one； and under stress of excitement the figure at the pine…tree had risen to his knees… jumping even to his feet in plain view； when the short； strong arms of the Lewallen began at last to draw Rome closer still； and to bend him backward。 The Stetson was giving way at last。 The Lewallen's vindictive face grew blacker； and his white teeth showed between his snarling lips as he fastened one leg behind his enemy's； and； with chin against his shoulder； bent him slowly； slowly back。 The two breathed in short； painful gasps； their swollen muscles trembled under the strain as with ague。 Back … back … the Stetson was falling； he seemed almost down； when…the trick is an old one…whirling with the quickness of light； he fell heavily on his opponent； and caught him by the throat with both hands。
〃'Nough？ 〃 he asked； hoarsely。 It was the first word uttered。
The only answer was a fierce struggle。 Rome felt the Lewallen's teeth sinking in his arm； and his fingers tightened like twisting steel； till Jasper caught his breath as though strangling to death。
〃'Nough？〃 asked the hoarse voice again。
No answer； tighter clinched the fingers。 The Lewallen shook his head feebly； his purple face paled suddenly as Rome loosed his hold； and his lips moved in a whisper。
〃'Nough！〃
Rome rose dizzily to one knee。 Jasper turned； gasping； and lay with his face to the rock。 For a while both were quiet； Rome； panting with open mouth and white with exhaustion； looking down now and then at the Lewallen； whose face was turned away with shame。
The sun was blazing above Wolf's Head now； and the stillness about them lay unbroken on the woods below。
〃I've whooped ye； Jas；〃 Rome said； at last； 〃I've whooped ye in a fa'r fight； 'n' I've got nothin' now to say 'bout yer tall talk； 'n' I reckon you hevn't nuther。 Now； hit's understood； hain't it； that y'u'll leave these mount'ins？
Y'u kin go West；〃 he continued； as the Lewallen did not answer。 〃 Uncle Rufe used to say thar's a good deal to do out thar； 'n' nobody axes questions。 Thar's nobody left hyeh but you 'n' me； but these mount'ins was never big 'nough fer one Lewallen 'n' one Stetson； 'n' you've got to go。 I reckon ye won't believe me； but I'm glad I didn't hev to kill ye。 But you've promised to go； now； 'n' I'll take yer word fer it。〃 He turned his face； and the Lewallen； knowing it from the sound of his voice； sprang to his feet。
〃Oh…！〃
A wild curse burst from Rome's lips； and both leaped for the guns。 The Lewallen had the start of a few feet； and Rome； lamed in the fight； stumbled and fell。 Before he could rise Jasper had whirled； with one of the Winchesters above his head and his face aflame with fury。 Asking no mercy； Rome hid his face with one arm and waited； stricken faint all at once； and numb。 One report struck his ears； muffled； whip…like。 A dull wonder came to him that the Lewallen could have missed at such close range； and he waited for another。 Some one shouted…a shrill hallo。 A loud laugh followed； a light seemed breaking before Rome's eyes； and he lifted his head。 Jasper was on his face again； motionless； and Steve Marcum's tall figure was climbing over a bowlder toward him。
〃That was the best fight I've seed in my time； by God；〃 he said； coolly； 〃 'n'； Rome； y'u air the biggest fool this side o' the settlements； I reckon。 I had dead aim on him； 'n' I was jest a…thinkin' hit was a purty good thing fer you that old long…nosed Jim Stover chased me up hyeh； when； damn me； ef that boy up thar didn't let his ole gun loose。 I'd a…got Jas myself ef he hadn't been so all…fired quick o' trigger。〃
Up at the root of the pine…tree Isom stood motionless； with his long rifle in one hand and a little cloud of smoke breaking above his white face。 When Rome looked up he started down without a word。 Steve swung himself over the ledge。
〃I heerd the shootin'；〃 said the boy； 〃 up thar at the cave； 'n' I couldn't stay thar。 I knowed ye could whoop him； Rome； 'n' I seed Steve； too； but I was afeard…〃 Then he saw the body。 His tongue stopped； his face shrivelled； and Steve； hanging with one hand to the ledge； watched him curiously。
〃 Rome；〃 said the boy； in a quick whisper； 〃is he daid？
〃 Come on！ 〃 said Steve； roughly。 〃They'll be up hyeh atter us in a minute。 Leave Jas's gun thar； 'n' send that boy back home。〃
That day the troops came…young Blue Grass Kentuckians。 That night； within the circle of their camp…fires； a last defiance was cast in the teeth of law and order。 Flames rose within the old court… house； and before midnight the moonlight fell on four black walls。 That night； too； the news of young Jasper's fate was carried to the death…bed of Rome's mother； and before day the old woman passed in peace。 That day Stetsons and Lewallens disbanded。 The Lewallens had no leader； the Stetsons； no enemies to fight。 Some hid； some left the mountains； some gave themselves up for trial。 Upon Rome Stetson the burden fell。 Against him the law was set。 A price was put on his head； his house was burned…a last act of Lewallen hate…and Rome was homeless； the last of his race； and an outlaw。
XIII
WITH the start of a few hours and the sympathy of his people one mountaineer can defy the army of the United States； and the mountaineers usually laugh when they hear troops are coming。 For the time they stop fighting and hide in the woods； and when the soldiers are gone； they come out again； and begin anew their little pleasantries。 But the soldiers can protect the judge on his bench and the county…seat in time of court； and for these purposes they serve well。
The search for Rome Stetson； then； was useless。 His friends would aid him； his enemies feared to betray him。 So the soldiers marched away one morning； and took their prisoners for safe… keeping in the Blue Grass； until court should open at Hazlan。
Meantime； spring came and deepened…the mountain spring。 The berries of the wintergreen grew scarce； and Rome Stetson； 〃 hiding out；〃 as the phrase is； had to seek them on thc northem face of the mountains。 The moss on the naked winter trees brightened in color； and along the river； where willows drooped； ran faint lines of green。 The trailing arbutus gave out delicate pink blossoms； and the south wind blew apart the petals of the anemone。 Soon violets unfolded above the dead leaves； azaleas swung their yellow trumpets 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 su
