the deliverance-第32部分

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　it。　Then　he　covered　him　with　blankets；　and；　after　closing　the　door；　came　back　and　stood　watching　for　him　to　fall　asleep。　A　slight　draft　blew　from　the　boarded　window；　and；　taking　off　his　coat；　he　hung　it　carefully　across　the　cracks；　shading　the　lantern　with　his　hand　that　its　light　might　not　flash　in　the　sleeper's　face。

At　his　step　Will　gave　a　stifled　moan　and　looked　up　in　terror。

〃I　thought　you'd　left　me。　Don't　go；〃　he　begged；　stretching　out　his　hand　until　it　grasped　the　other's。　With　the　hot；　nerveless　clutch　upon　him；　Christopher　was　conscious　of　a　quick　repulsion；　and　he　remembered　the　sensation　he　had　felt　as　a　boy　when　he　had　once　suddenly　brought　his　palm　down　on　a　little　green　snake　that　was　basking　in　the　sunshine　on　an　old　log。　Yet　he　did　not　shake　the　hand　off；　and　when　presently　the　blanket　slipped　from　Will's　shoulders　he　stooped　and　replaced　it　with　a　strange　gentleness。　The　disgust　he　felt　was　so　evenly　mingled　with　compassion　that；　as　he　stood　there；　he　could　not　divide　the　one　emotion　from　the　other。　He　hated　the　boy's　touch；　and　yet；　almost　in　spite　of　himself；　he　suffered　it。

〃Well；　I'm　not　going；　so　you　needn't　let　that　worry　you；〃　he　replied。　〃I'll　stretch　myself　alongside　of　you　in　the　straw；　and　if　you　happen　to　want　me；　just　yell　out；　you　know。〃

The　weak　fingers　closed　tightly　about　his　wrist。

〃You　promise？〃　asked　the　boy。

〃Oh；　I　promise；〃　answered　the　other；　raising　the　lantern　for　a　last　look　before　he　blew　it　out。

By　early　daybreak　Will's　condition　was　still　more　alarming；　and　leaving　him　in　a　feverish　stupor　upon　the　pallet；　Christopher　set　out　hurriedly　shortly　after　sunrise　to　carry　news　of　the　boy's　whereabouts　to　Fletcher。

It　was　a　clear；　cold　morning；　and　the　old　brick　house；　set　midway　of　the　autumn　fields；　appeared；　as　he　approached　it；　to　reflect　the　golden　light　that　filled　the　east。　Never　had　the　place　seemed　to　him　more　desirable　than　it　did　as　he　went　slowly　toward　it　along　the　desolate　November　roads。　The　somber　colours　of　the　landscape；　the　bared　majesty　of　the　old　oaks　where　a　few　leaves　still　clung　to　the　topmost　boughs；　the　deserted　garden　filled　with　wan　specters　of　summer　flowers；　were　all　in　peculiar　harmony　with　his　own　mood　as　with　the　stern　gray　walls　wrapped　in　naked　creepers。　That　peculiar　sense　of　ownership　was　strongly　with　him　as　he　ascended　the　broad　steps　and　lifted　the　old　brass　knocker；　which　still　bore　the　Blake　coat　of　arms。

To　his　astonishment　the　door　opened　instantly　and　Fletcher　himself　appeared　upon　the　threshold。　At　sight　of　Christopher　he　fell　back　as　if　from　a　blow　in　the　chest；　ripping　out　an　oath　with　a　big　downward　gesture　of　his　closed　fist。

〃So　you　are　mixed　up　in　it；　are　you！　Whar's　the　boy？〃　From　the　dusk　of　the　hall　his　face　shone　dead　white　about　the　eyes。

〃If　you　want　to　get　anything　out　of　me　you'd　better　curb　your　tongue；　Bill　Fletcher；〃　replied　Christopher　coolly；　feeling　an　animal　instinct　to　prolong　the　torture。　〃If　you　think　it's　any　satisfaction　to　me　to　have　your　young　idiot　thrown　on　my　hands　you　were　never　more　mistaken　in　your　life。　I've　been　up　half　the　night　with　him；　and　the　sooner　you　take　him　away　the　better　I'll　like　it。〃

〃Oh；　you　leave　him　to　me　and　I'll　settle　him；〃　responded　Fletcher；　reaching　for　his　hat。　〃Jest　show　me　whar　he　is　and　I'll　git　even　with　him　befo'　sundown。　As　for　you；　young　man；　I'll　have　the　sheriff　after　you　yit。〃

〃In　the　meantime；　you'd　better　have　the　doctor。　The　boy's　ill；　I　tell　you。　He　came　to　me　last　evening；　run　to　death　and　with　a　high　fever。　He　slept　in　the　barn；　and　this　morning　he　is　decidedly　worse。　If　you　come；　bring　Doctor　Cairn　with　you；　and　I　warn　you　now　you've　got　to　use　a　lot　of　caution。　Your　grandson　is　mortally　afraid　of　you；　and　he　threatens　to　run　away　if　I　let　you　know　where　he　is。　He　wants　me　to　sit　at　the　door　with　a　shotgun　and　keep　you　off。〃

He　delivered　his　blows　straight　out　from　the　shoulder；　lingering　over　each　separate　word　that　he　might　enjoy　to　the　full　its　stupendous　effect。

〃This　is　your　doing；〃　repeated　Fletcher　hoarsely；　〃it's　your　doing；　every　blamed　bit　of　it。〃

Christopher　laughed　shortly。　〃Well；　I'm　through　with　my　errand；〃　he　said；　moving　toward　the　steps　and　pausing　with　one　hand　on　a　great　white　column。　〃The　sooner　you　get　him　out　of　my　barn　the　better　riddance　it　will　be。　There's　one　thing　certain；　though；　and　that　is　that　you　don't　lay　eyes　on　him　without　the　doctor。　He's　downright　ill；　on　my　oath。〃

〃Oh；　it's　the　same　old　trick；　and　I　see　through　it；〃　exclaimed　Fletcher　furiously。　〃It's　pure　shamming。〃

〃All　the　same；　I've　got　my　gun　on　hand；　and　you　don't　go　into　that　barn　alone。〃　He　hung　for　an　instant　upon　the　topmost　step；　then　descended　hurriedly　and　walked　rapidly　back　along　the　broad　white　walk。　It　would　be　an　hour；　at　least；　before　Fletcher　could　follow　him　with　Doctor　Cairn；　and　after　he　had　returned　to　the　barn　and　given　Will　a　glass　of　new　milk　he　fed　and　watered　the　horses　and　did　the　numberless　small　tasks　about　the　house。　He　was　at　the　woodpile；　chopping　some　light　wood　splinters　for　Cynthia；　when　the　sound　of　wheels　reached　him；　and　in　a　little　while　more　the　head　of　Fletcher's　mare　appeared　around　the　porch。　Doctor　Cairn；　a　frousy；　white…bearded　old　man；　crippled　from　rheumatism；　held　out　his　hand　to　Christopher　as　he　descended　with　some　difficulty　between　the　wheels　of　the　buggy。

Christopher　motioned　to　the　barn；　and　then；　taking　the　reins；　fastened　the　horse　to　the　branch　of　a　young　ailanthus　tree　which　grew　near　the　woodpile。　As　he　watched　the　figures　of　the　two　men　pass　along　the　little　path　between　the　fringes　of　dead　yarrow　he　drew　an　uneasy　breath　and　dug　his　boot　into　the　rotting　mould　upon　the　ground。　The　barn　door　opened　and　closed；　there　was　a　short　silence；　and　then　a　sudden　despairing　cry　as　of　a　rabbit　caught　in　the　jaws　of　a　hound。　When　he　heard　it　he　turned　impulsively　from　the　horse's　head　and　went　quickly　along　the　path　the　men　had　taken。　There　was　no　definite　intention　in　his　mind；　but　as　he　reached　the　barn　door　it　shot　open　and　Fletcher　put　out　a　white　face。

〃The　Doctor　wants　you；　Mr。　Christopher；〃　he　cried；　〃Will　has　gone　clean　mad！〃

Without　a　word；　Christopher　pushed　by　him　and　went　into　the　great　dusky　room；　where　the　boy　was　struggling　like　a　madman　to　loosen　the　doctor's　grasp。　He　was　conscious　at　the　moment　that　the　air　was　filled　with　fine　chaff　and　that　he　sucked　it　in　when　he　breathed。

At　his　entrance　Will　lay　quiet　for　a　moment　and　looked　at　him　with　dazed；　questioning　eyes。

〃Keep　them　out；　Christopher！〃　he　cried；　in　anguish。

Christopher　crossed　the　room　and　laid　his　hand　with　a　protecting　gesture　on　the　boy's　head。

〃Why；　to　be　sure　I　will；〃　he　said　heartily；　〃the　devil　himself　won't　dare　to　touch　you　when　I　am　by；　〃



BOOK　III

THE　REVENGE


CHAPTER　I。　In　Which　Tobacco　is　Hero

On　an　October　afternoon　some　four　years　later；　at　the　season　of　the　year　when　the　whole　county　was　fragrant　with　the　curing　tobacco；　Christopher　Blake　passed　along　the　stretch　of　old　road　which　divided　his　farm　from　the　Weatherbys'；　and；　without　entering　the　porch；　called　for　Jim　from　the　little　walk　before　the　flat　whitewashed　steps。　In　response　to　his　voice；　Mrs。　Weatherby；　a　large；　motherly　looking　woman；　appeared　upon　the　threshold；　and　after　chatting　a　moment；　directed　him　to　the　log　tobacco　barn；　where　the　recently　cut　crop　was　〃drying　out。〃

〃Jim　and　Jacob　are　both　over　thar；〃　she　said；　〃　an'　a　few　others；　for　the　matter　of　that；　who　have　been　helpin'　us　press　new　cider　an'　drinkin'　the　old。　I'm　sure　I　don't　see　why　they　want　to　lounge　out　thar　in　all　that　smoke；　but　thar's　no　accountin'　for　the　taste　of　a　man　that　ever　I　heard　tell　of　an'　I　reckon　they　kin　fancy　pretty　easy　that　they　are　settin'　plum　in　the　bowl　of　a　pipe。　It　beats　me；　though；　that　it　do。　Why；　one　mouthful　of　it　is　enough　to　start　me　coughin'　for　a　week；　an'　those　men　thar　jest　swallow　it　down　for　pure　pleasure。〃　Clean；　kindly；　hospitable；　she　wandered　garrulously　on；　remembering　at　intervals　to　press　the　young　man　to　〃come　inside　an'　try　the　cakes　an'　cider。〃

〃No；　I'll　look　them　up　out　there；〃　said　Christopher；　resisting　the　invitation　to　enter。　〃I　want　to　get　a　pair　of　horseshoes　from　Jim；　the　gray　mare　cast　hers　yesterday；　and　Dick　Boxley　is　laid　up　with　a　sprained　arm。　Oh；　no；　thanks；　I　must　be　going　back。〃　With　a　friendly　nod　he　turned　from　the　steps　and　went　rapidly　along　the　path　which　led　to　the　distant　barn。

As　Mrs。　Weatherby　had　said；　the　place　was　like　the　bowl　of　a　pipe；　and　it　was　a　moment　before　Christopher　discovered　the　little　group　gathered　about　the　doorway；　where　a　shutter　hung　loosely　on　wooden　hinges。

The　ancient　custom　of　curing　tobacco　with　open　fires；　which　had　persisted　in　Virginia　since　the　days　of　the　early　settlers；　was　still　commonly　in　use；　and　it　is　possible　that　had　one　of　Christopher's　colonial　ancestors　appeared　at　the　moment　in　Jacob　Weatherby's　log　barn　it　would　have　been　difficult　to　convince　him　that　between　his　death　and　his　resurrection　there　was　a　lapse　of　more　than　two　hundred　years。　He　would　have　found　the　same　square；　pen…like　structure；　built　of　straight　logs　carefully　notched　at　the　corners；　the　same　tier…poles　rising　at　intervals　of　three　feet　to　the　roof；　the　same　hewn　plates　to　support　the　rafters；　the　same　〃daubing〃　of　the　chinks　with　red　clay；　and　the　same　crude　door　cut　in　the　south　wall。　From　the　roof　the　tobacco　hung　in　a　fantastic　decoration；　shading　from　dull　green　to　deep　bronze；　and　appearing；　when　viewed　from　the　ground　below；　to　resemble　a　numberless　array　of　small　furled　flags。　On　the　hard　earth　floor　there　were　three　parallel　rows　of　〃unseasoned〃　logs　which　burned　slowly　day　and　night；　filling　the　barn　with　gray　smoke　and　the　pungent　odour　of　the　curing　tobacco。

〃It　takes　a　heap　of　lookin'　arter；　an'　no　mistake；〃　old　Jacob　was　remarking；　as　he　surveyed　the　fine　crop　with　the　bland　and　easy　gaze　of　ownership。　〃Why；　in　a　little　while　them　top　leaves　thar　will　be　like　tinder；　an'　the　first　floatin'　spark　will　set　it　all　afire。　That's　the　way　Sol　Peterkin　lost　half　a　crop　last　year；　an'　it's　the　way　Dick　Moss　lost　his　whole　one　the　year　before。〃　At　Christopher's　entrance　he　paused　and　turned　his　pleasant；　ruddy　face　from　the　fresh