the red acorn-第15部分

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　selfishness　tugged　at　his　heart…strings；　and　he　felt　all　his　carefully　cultivated　resolutions　weakening。

〃A　Sergeant　must　be　left　in　command　of　the　men　guarding　this　property；〃　said　the　Colonel。　　The　Captain　of　Company　A　will　detail　one　for　that　duty。〃

Captain　Bennett　glanced　from　one　to　another　of　his　five　Sergeants。　Harry's　heart　gave　a　swift　leap；　with　hope　that　he　might　be　ORDERED　to　remain　behind。　　Then　the　blood　crimsoned　his　cheeks；　for　the　first　time　since　the　sound　of　the　firing　struck　his　ears；　he　felt　that　every　eye　in　the　Company　was　upon　him；　and　that　his　ignoble　desire　had　been　read　by　all　in　his　look　of　expectancy。　　Shame　came　to　spur　up　his　faltering　will。　　He　set　his　teeth　firmly；　pulled　the　tompion　out　of　his　gun；　and　flung　it　away　disdainfully　as　if　he　would　never　need　it　again；　blew　into　the　muzzle　to　see　if　the　tube　was　clear；　and　wiped　off　the　lock　with　a　fine　white　handkerchiefone　of　the　relics　of　his　by…gone　elegancewhich　he　drew　from　the　breast　of　his　blouse。

〃Sergeant　GlanSergeant　Glancey　will　remain；〃　said　the　Captain　peremptorily。　　Glancey；　the　Captain　knew；　was　the　only　son　and　support　of　a　widowed　mother。

〃Now；　boys；〃　said　the　Colonel　in　tones　that　rang　like　bugle　notes；　〃the　time　has　come　for　us　to　strike　a　blow　for　the　Union；　and　for　the　fame　of　the　dear　old　Buckeye　State。　　I　need　not　exhort　you　to　do　your　duty　like　men；　I　know　you　too　well　to　think　that　any　such　words　of　mine　are　at　all　necessary。　　Forward！　QUICK　TIME！　MARCH！〃

The　mountain　sides　rang　with　the　answering　cheers　from　a　thousand　throats。

The　noise　of　the　battle　on　the　distant　crest　was　at　first　in　separate　bursts　of　sound；　as　regiment　after　regiment　came　into　position　and　opened　fire。　　The　intervals　between　these　bursts　had　disappeared；　and　it　had　now　become　a　steady　roar。

A　wild　mob　came　rushing　backward　from　the　front。

〃My　God；　our　men　are　whipped！〃　exclaimed　the　young　Adjutant　in　tones　of　Anguish。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Captain　Bennett；　with　cheerful　confidence。　　〃These　are　only　the　camp　riff…raff；　who　run　whenever　so　much　as　a　cap　is　burst　near　them。〃

So　it　proved　to　be。　　There　were　teamsters　upon　their　wheel…mules；　cooks；　officers'　servants；　both　black　and　white；　and　civilian　employees；　mingled　with　many　men　in　uniform；　skulking　from　their　companies。　　Those　were　mounted　who　could　seize　a　mule　anywhere；　and　those　who　could　not　were　endeavoring　to　keep　up　on　foot　with　the　panic…stricken　riders。

All　seemed　wild　with　one　idea：　　To　get　as　far　as　possible　from　the　terrors　raging　around　the　mountain　top。　　They　rushed　through　the　regiment　and　disordered　its　ranks。

〃Who　are　you　a…shovin'；　young　fellowsay？〃　demanded　Abe　Bolton；　roughly　collaring　a　strapping　hulk　of　a　youth；　who；　hatless；　and　with　his　fat　cheeks　white　with　fear　came　plunging　against　him　like　a　frightened　steer。

〃O　boys；　let　me　pass；　and　don't　go　up　there！　　Don't！　　You'll　all　be　killed。　　I　know　it；　I'm　all　the　one　of　my　company　that　got　awayI　am；　really。　　All　the　rest　are　killed。〃

〃Heavens！　what　a　wretched　remnant；　as　the　dry…goods　man　said；　when　the　clerk　brought　him　a　piece　of　selvage　as　all　that　the　burglars　had　left　of　his　stock　of　broadcloth；〃　said　Kent　Edwards。　　〃It's　too　bad　that　you　were　allowed　to　get　away；　either。　　You're　not　a　proper　selection　for　a　relic　at　all；　and　you　give　a　bad　impression　of　your　company。　　You　ought　to　have　thought　of　this；　and　staid　up　there　and　got　killed；　and　let　some　better…looking　man　got　away；　that　would　have　done　the　company　credit。　　Why　didn't　you　think　of　this？〃

〃Git！〃　said　Abe；　sententiously；　with　a　twist　in　the　coward's　collar；　that；　with　the　help　of　an　opportune　kick　by　Kent；　sent　him　sprawling　down　the　bank。

〃Captain　Bennett；〃　shouted　the　Colonel　angrily；　〃Fix　bayonets　there　in　front；　and　drive　these　hounds　off；　or　we'll　never　get　there。〃

A　show　of　savage…looking　steel　sent　the　skulkers　down　a　side…path　through　the　woods。

The　tumult　of　the　battle　heightened　with　every　step　the　regiment　advanced。　　A　turn　in　the　winding　road　brought　them　to　an　opening　in　the　woods　which　extended　clear　to　the　summit。　　Through　this　the　torrent　of　noise　poured　as　when　a　powerful　band　passes　the　head　of　a　street。　　Down　this　avenue　came　rolling　the　crash　of　thousands　of　muskets　fired　with　the　intense　energy　of　men　in　mortal　combat；　the　deeper　pulsations　of　the　artillery；　and　even　the　firece　yells　of　the　fighters；　as　charges　were　made　or　repulsed。

Glen　felt　the　blood　settle　around　his　heart　anew。

〃Get　out　of　the　road　and　let　the　artillery　pass！　　Open　up　for　the　artillery！〃　shouted　voices　from　the　rear。　　Everybody　sprang　to　the　side　of　the　road。

There　came　a　sound　of　blows　rained　upon　horses　bodiesof　shouts　and　oaths　from　exited　drivers　and　eager　officersof　rushing　wheels　and　of　ironed　hoofs　striking　fire　from　the　grindng　stones。　　Six　long…bodied；　strong…limbed　horses；　their　hides　reeking　with　sweat；　and　their　nostrils　distended　with　intense　effort；　tore　past；　snatching　after　them；　as　if　it　were　a　toy；　a　gleaming　brass　cannon；　surrounded　by　galloping　cannoneers；　who　goaded　the　draft　horses　on　with　blows　with　the　flats　of　their　drawn　sabers。　　Another　gun；　with　its　straining　horses　and　galloping　attendants；　and　another；　and　another；　until　six　great；　grim　pieces；　with　their　scres　of　desperately　eager　men　and　horses；　had　rushed　by　toward　the　front。

It　was　a　sight　to　stir　the　coldest　blood。　　The　excited　infantry　boys；　wrought　up　to　the　last　pitch　by　the　spectacle；　sprang　back　into　the　road；　cheered　vociferously；　and　rushed　on　after　the　battery。

Hardly　had　the　echoes　of　their　voices　died　away；　when　they　heard　the　battery　join　its　thunders　to　the　din　of　the　fight。

Then　wounded　men；　powder…stained；　came　straggling　backmen　with　shattered　arms　and　gashed　faces　and　garments　soaked　with　blood　from　bleeding　wounds。

〃Hurrah；　boys！〃　each　shouted　with　weakened　voice；　as　his　eyes　lighted　up　at　sight　of　the　regiment；　〃We're　whipping　them；　but　hurry　forward！　　You're　needed。〃

〃If　you　ain't　pretty　quick；〃　piped　one　girl…faced　boy；　with　a　pensive　smile；　as　he　sat　weakly　down　on　a　stone　and　pressed　a　delicate　hand　over　a　round　red　spot　that　had　just　appeared　on　the　breast　of　his　blouse；　〃you'll　miss　all　the　fun。　　We've　about　licked　'em　already。　Oh！〃

Abe　and　Kent　sprang　forward　to　catch　him；　but　he　was　dead　almost　before　they　could　reach　him。　　They　laid　him　back　tenderly　on　the　brown　dead　leaves；　and　ran　to　regain　their　places　in　the　ranks。

The　regiment　was　now　sweeping　around　the　last　curve　between　it　and　the　line　of　battle。　　The　smell　of　burning　powder　that　filled　the　air；　the　sight　of　flowing　blood；　the　shouts　of　teh　fighting　men；　had　awakened　every　bosom　that　deep…lying　KILLING　instinct　inherited　from　our　savage　ancestry；　which　slumbersgenerally　wholly　unsuspectedin　even　the　gentlest　man's　bosom；　until　some　accident　gives　it　a　terrible　arousing。

Now　the　slaying　fever　burned　in　every　soul。　　They　were　marching　with　long；　quick　strides；　but　well…closed　ranks；　elbow　touching　elbow；　and　every　movement　made　with　the　even　more　than　the　accuracy　of　a　parade。　　Harry　felt　himself　swept　forward　by　a　current　as　resistless　as　that　which　sets　over　Niagara。

They　came　around　the　little　hill；　and　saw　a　bank　of　smoke　indicating　where　the　line　of　battle　was。

〃Let's　finish　the　canteen　now；〃　said　Kent。　　〃It　may　get　bored　by　a　bullet　and　all　run　out；　and　you　know　I　hate　to　waste。〃

〃I　suppose　we　might　as　well　drink　it；〃　assented　Abethe　first　time　in　the　history　of　the　regiment；　that　he　agreed　with　anybody。　　〃We　mayn't　be　able　to　do　it　in　ten　minutes；　and　it　would　be　too　bad　to　've　lugged　that　all　the　way　here；　just　for　some　one　else　to　drink。〃

An　Aide；　powder…grimed；　but　radiant　with　joy；　dashed　up。　　〃Colonel；〃　he　said；　〃you　had　better　go　into　line　over　in　that　vacant　space　there；　and　wait　for　orders；　but　I　don't　think　you　will　have　anything　to　do；　for　the　General　believes　that　the　victory　is　on；　and　the　Rebels　are　in　full　retreat。〃

As　he　spoke；　a　mighty　cheer　rolled　around　the　line　of　battle；　and　a　band　stationed　upon　a　rock　which　formed　the　highest　part　of　the　mountain；　burst　forth　with　the　grand　strains　of　〃Star…spangled　Banner。〃

The　artillery　continued　to　hurl　screaming　shot　and　shell　down　into　the　narrow　gorge；　through　which　the　defeated　Rebels　were　flying　with　mad　haste。





Chapter　X。　　The　Mountaineer's　Revenge。




And　if　we　do　but　watch　the　hour；　There　never　yet　was　human　power　Which　could　evade；　if　unforgiven；　The　patient　search　and　vigil　long　Of　him　who　treasures　up　a　wrong。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Byron。


Harry　Glen's　first　feeling　when　he　found　the　battle　was　really　over；　was　that　of　elation　that　the　crisis　to　which　he　had　looked　forward　with　so　much　apprehension；　had　passed　without　his　receiving　any　bodily　harm。　　This　was　soon　replaced　by　regret　that　the　long…coveted　opportunity　had　been　suffered　to　pass　unimproved；　and　still　another　strong　sentimentthat　keen　sense　of　disappointment　which　comes　when　we　have　braced　ourselves　up　to　encounter　an　emergency；　and　it　vanishes。　　There　is　the　feeling　of　waste　of　valuable　accumulated　energy；　which　is　as　painful　as　that　of　energy　misapplied。

Still　farther；　he　felt　sadly　that　the　day　of　his　vindication　had　been　again　postponed　over　another　weary　period　of　probation。

All　around　was　intense　enthusiasm；　growing　stronger　every　instant。　It　was　the　first　battle　tha　the　victors　had　been　engaged　in；　and　they　felt　the　tumultuous　joy　that　the　first　triumph　brings　to　young　soldiers。　　It　was　the　first　encounter　upon　the　soil　of　Kentucky；　it　was　the　first　victory　between　the　Cumberland　Mountains　and　the　Mississippi　River；　and　the　loss　of　the　victors　was　insignificant；　compared　with　that　of　the　vanquished。

The　cold　drench　from　the　skies；　the　dreary　mudeven　the　dead　and　woundedwere　forgotten　in　the　jubilation　at　the　sight　of　the　lately　insolent　foe　flying　in　confusion　down　the　mountain　side；　recking　for　nothing　so　much　as　for　personal　safety。

The　band　continued　to　play　patriotic　airs；　and　the　cannon　to　thunder　long　after　the　last　Rebel　had　disappeared　in　the　thick　woods　at　the　bottom　of　the　gloomy　gorge。

A　detail　of　men　and　some　wagons　were　sent　back　after　the　regiment's　baggage；　and　the　rest　of　the　boys；　after　a　few　minutes　survey　of　the　bat