the red acorn-第14部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　persimmonone　that　hadn't　been　touched　by　the　frost。　It's　puckered　my　mouth　so　that　I　will　never　get　it　straight　again。　It's　worse　than　a　pound　of　alum　and　a　gallon　of　tanbark　juice　mixed　together。　　O；　laugh；　if　you　want　tothat's　just　what　I'd　expect　from　you。　　That's　about　all　the　sense　you've　got。〃

…

There　was　enough　excitement　in　camp　to　prevent　any　danger　of　ennui。　The　probability　of　battle　gave　the　daily　drills　an　interest　that　they　never　could　gain　in　Ohio。　　The　native　Rebels　were　numerous　and　defiant；　and　kept　up　such　demonstrations　as　led　to　continual　apprehensions　of　an　attack。　　New　regiments　came　in　constantly；　and　were　received　with　enthusiasm。　　Kentucky　and　East　Tennessee　Loyalists；　tall；　gaunt；　long…haired　and　quaint…spoken；　but　burning　with　enthusiasm　for　the　Government　of　their　fathers；　flocked　to　the　camp；　doffed　their　butternut　garb；　assumed　the　glue；　and　enrolled　themselves　to　defend　the　Union。

At　length　it　became　evident　that　the　Rebel　〃Army　of　Liberation〃　was　really　about　crossing　the　Cumberland　Mountains　to　drive　out　the　〃Yankees〃　and　recover　possession　of　Kentucky　for　the　Southern　Confederacy。

Outposts　were　thrown　out　in　all　directions　to　gain　the　earlies　possible　intelligence　of　the　progress　of　the　movement；　and　to　make　such　resistance　to　it　as　might　be　possible。　　One　of　these　outposts　was　stationed　at　Wildcat　Gap；　an　inexpressibly　wild　and　desolate　region；　sixty　miles　from　Camp　Dick　Robinson；　where　the　road　entering　Kentucky　from　Tennessee　at　Cumberland　Gap　crosses　the　Wildcat　range　of　mountains。

One　day　the　startling　news　reached　camp　that　an　overwhelming　Rebel　force　under　Gen。　Zollicoffer　was　on　the　eve　of　attacking　the　slender　garrison　of　Wildcat　Gap。　　The　〃assembly〃　was　sounded；　and　the　regiment；　hastily　provided　with　rations　and　ammunition；　was　hurried　forward　to　aid　in　the　defense　of　the　threatened　outpost。

Nature；　as　if　in　sympathy　with　the　gathering　storm　of　war；　ceased　her　smiling。　　The　blue；　bending　skies　were　transformed　intoa　scowling；　leaden…visaged　canopy；　from　which　fell　a　chill　incessant　rain。

When　the　order　to　prepare　for　the　march　came；　Glen；　following　the　example　of　his　comrades；　packed　three　days'　cooked　rations　in　his　haversack；　made　his　blankets　into　a　roll；　tieing　their　ends　together；　threw　them　scarf…fashion　over　his　shoulder；　and　took　his　accustomed　place　as　file…closer　in　the　rear　of　his　company。　　He　was　conscious　all　the　time；　though　he　suffered　no　outward　sign　to　betray　the　fact；　that　he　was　closely　watched　by　the　boys　who　had　been　with　him　in　Western　Virginia；　and　who　were　eager　to　see　how　he　would　demean　himself　in　this　new　emergency。

He　was　shortly　ordered　to　assist　in　the　inspection　of　cartridge…boxes　and　the　issuing　of　cartridges；　adn　the　grim　nature　of　the　errand　they　were　about　to　start　upon　duly　impressed　itself　upon　his　mind　as　he　walked　down　the　lines　in　the　melancholy　rains；　examined　each　box；　and　gave　the　owner　the　quantity　of　cartridges　required　to　make　up　the　quota　of　forty　rounds　per　man。

Those　who　scrutinized　his　face　as　he　passed　slowly　by；　saw　underneath　the　dripping　eaves　of　his　broad…brimmed　hat　firm…set　lines　about　his　mouth；　and　a　little　more　luminous　light　in　his　eyes。

〃Harry　Glen's　screwing　his　courage　to　the　sticking　point。　　He's　bound　to　go　through　this　time；〃　said　Kent　Edwards。

〃The　more　fool　he；〃　answered　Abe　Bolton；　adjusting　his　poncho　so　as　to　better　protect　his　cartridges　and　rations　from　the　rain。　　〃If　he　wanted　to　play　the　warrior　all　so　bold　why　didn't　he　improve　his　opportunities　in　West　Virginia；　when　it　was　fine　weather　and　he　only　had　three　months　to　do　it　in？　　Now　that　he's　in　for　three　years　it　will　be　almighty　strange　if　he　can't　find　a　pleasanter　time　to　make　his　little　strut　on　the　field　of　battle　than　in　this　infernal　soak。〃

〃I　have　seen　better　days　than　this；　as　the　tramp　remarked　who　had　once　been　a　bank　cashier；〃　murmured　kent；　tightening　the　tompion　in　his　musket…muzzle　with　a　piece　of　paper；　the　better　to　exclude　the　moisture；　and　wrapping　a　part　of　the　poncho　around　the　lock　for　the　same　purpose。　　〃Where　is　that　canteen？〃

〃It's　where　it'll　do　you　no　good　until　you　need　it　much　worse'n　you　do　now。　　O；　I　know　you　of　old；　Mr。　Kent　Edwards；〃　continued　Abe；　with　that　deep　sarcasm；　which　was　his　nearest　approach　to　humor。　〃I　may　say　that　I've　had　the　advantages　of　an　intimate　acquaintance　with　you　for　years；　and　when　I　trust　you　with　a　full　canteen　of　apple…jack　at　the　beginning　of　such　a　march　as　this'll　be；　I'll　be　ready　to　enlist　in　the　permanent　garrison　of　a　lunatic　asylum；　I　will。　　This　canteen　ony　holds　three　pints；　that's　great　deal　less'n　you　do。　　It's　full　now；　and　you're　empty。　　Fill　up　some　place　else；　and　tomorrow　or　next　day；　when　you'd　give　a　farm　for　a　nip；　this'll　come　in　mighty　handy。〃

The　Hospital　Steward　approached；　and　said：

〃Captain；　the　Surgeon　presents　his　compliments　and　requests　that　you　send　four　men　to　convey　your　First　Lieutenant　Alspaugh　to　comfortable　quarters　which　have　been　prepared　for　him　in　the　hospital　barracks。　His　rheumatic　trouble　has　suddenly　assumed　an　acute　formbrought　on　doubtless　by　the　change　in　the　weatherand　he　is　suffering　greatly。　　Please　instruct　the　men　to　be　very　careful　carrying　him；　so　as　to　avoid　all　unnecessary　pain；　and　also　all　exposure　to　the　rain。　　He　will　have　a　good　room　in　the　hospital；　with　a　fire　in　it；　and　every　attention；　so　that　you　need　have　no　fears　concerning　him。〃

〃I　never　had；〃　said　Kent；　loud　enough　to　be　heard　all　over　the　right　wing　of　the　company。

〃I　have；〃　said　Abe。　　〃There's　every　danger　in　the　world　that　he'll　get　well。〃

Away　the　regiment　marched；　through　the　dismal　rain；　giong　as　fast　as　the　heavily　laden　men　could　be　spurred　onward　by　the　knowledge　of　their　comrades'　imminent　need。

It　was　fearful　hard　work　even　so　long　as　the　pike　lasted；　and　they　had　a　firm；　even　foundation　for　their　feet　to　tread　upon。　　But　the　pike　ended　at　Crab　Orchard；　and　then　they　plunged　into　the　worst　roads　that　the　South　at　any　time　offered　to　resist　the　progress　of　the　Union　armies。　　Narrow；　tortuous；　unworked　substitutes　for　highways　wound　around　and　over　steep；　rocky　hills；　through　miry　creek　bottoms；　and　over　bridgeless　streams；　now　so　swollen　as　to　be　absolutely　unfordable　by　less　determined　men；　starting　on　a　less　urgent　errand。

For　three　weary；　discouraging　days　they　pressed　onward　through　the　dispiriting　rain　and　over　all　the　exhausting　obstacles。　　On　the　morning　of　the　fourth　they　reached　the　foot　of　the　range　in　which　Wildcat　Gap　is　situated。　　They　were　marching　slowly　up　the　steep　mountain　side；　their　soaked　garments　clinging　about　their　weary　limbs　and　clogging　their　footsteps。　　Suddenly　a　sullen　boom　rolled　out　of　the　mist　that　hung　over　the　distant　mountain　tops。

Every　one　stopped；　held　their　breaths；　and　tried　to　check　the　beating　of　their　hearts；　that　they　might　hear　more。

They　needed　not。　　There　was　no　difficulty　about　hearing　the　succeeding　reports；　which　became　every　instant　more　distinct。

〃By　God；　that's　cannon！〃　said　the　Colonel。　　〃They're　attacking　our　boys。　　Throw　off　everything；　boys；　and　hurry　forward！〃

Overcoats；　blankets；　haversacks　and　knapsacks　were　hastily　pied；　and　the　two　most　exhausted　men　in　each　company　placed　on　guard　over　them。

Kent　and　Abe　did　not　contribute　their　canteen　to　the　company　pile。　But　then　its　weight　was　much　less　of　an　impediment　than　when　they　left　Camp　Dick　Robinson。

They　employed　the　very　brief　halt　of　the　regiment　in　swabbing　out　the　barrels　of　their　muskets　very　carefully；　and　removing　the　last　traces　of　moisture　from　the　nipples　and　hammers。

〃At　last　I　stand　a　show　of　getting　some　return　from　this　old　piece　of　gas…tube　for　the　trouble　it's　been　to　me；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　as　he　ran　a　pin　into　the　nipple　to　make　assurance　doubly　sure　that　it　was　entirely　free。　　〃Think　of　the　transportation　charges　I　have　against　it；　for　the　time　I　have　lugged　it　around　over　Ohio　and　Kentucky；　to　say　nothing　of　the　manual　labor　and　the　mental　strain　of　learning　and　prectising　'present　arms；'　'carry　arms；'　'support　arms；'　and　such　military　monkey…shines　under　the　hot　sun　of　last　Summer！〃

He　pulled　off　the　woolen　rag　he　had　twisted　around　the　head　of　the　rammer　for　a　swab；　wiped　the　rammer　clean　and　bright　and　dropped　it　into　the　gun。　　It　fell　with　a　clear　ring。　　Another　dextrous　movement　of　the　gun　sent　it　flying　into　the　air。　　Kent　caught　it　as　it　came　down　and　scrutinized　its　bright　head。　　He　found　no　smirch　of　dirt　or　dampness。　　〃Clean　and　clear　as　a　whistle　inside；〃　he　said；　approvingly。　　〃She'll　make　music　that　our　Secession　friends　will　pay　attention　to；　though　it　may　not　be　as　sweet　to　their　ears　as　'The　Bonnie　Blue　Flag。'〃

〃More　likely　kick　the　whole　northwest　quarter　section　of　your　shoulder　off　when　you　try　to　shoot　it；〃　growled　Abe；　who　had　been　paying　similar　close　attention　to　his　gun。　　〃If　we'd　had　anybody　but　a　lot　of　mullet…heads　for　officers　we'd　a'been　sent　up　here　last　week；　when　the　weather　and　the　roads　were　good；　and　when　we　could've　done　something。　　Now　our　boys'll　be　licked　before　we　can　get　where　we　can　help　'em。〃

Glen　leaned　on　his　musket；　and　listening　to　the　deepening　roar　of　battle；　was　shaken　by　the　surge　of　emotions　natural　to　the　occasion。　It　seemed　as　if　no　one　could　live　through　the　incessant　firing　the　sound　of　which　rolled　down　to　them。　　To　go　up　into　it　was　to　deliberately　venture　into　certain　destruction。　　Memory　made　a　vehement　protest。　　He　recalled　all　the　pleasant　things　that　life　had　in　store　for　him；　all　that　he　could　enjoy　and　accomplish；　all　that　he　might　be　to　others；　all　that　others　might　be　to　him。　　Every　enjoyment　of　the　past；　every　happy　possibility　of　the　future　took　on　a　more　entrancing　roseatenesss。

Could　he　give　all　this　up；　and　die　there　on　the　mountain　top；　in　this　dull；　brutal；　unheroic　fashion；　in　the　filthy　mud　and　dreary　rain；　with　no　one　to　note　or　care　whether　he　acted　courageously　or　otherwise？

It　did　not　seem　that　he　was　expected　to　fling　his　life　away　like　a　dumb　brute　entering　the　reeking　shambles。　　His　youth　and　abilities　had　been　given　him　for　some　other　purpose。　　Again　palsying　fear　and　ignoble　selfishness　tugged　at　his　heart…strings；　and　he　felt　all　his　carefully　cultivated　resolutions　weake