the red acorn-第30部分

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iding。

〃Plenty　good　enuf　fur　scoundrels　who　rob　poor　men　of　all　they　hev；〃　said　Fortner　fiercely；　as　he　re…loaded　his　rifle。　　〃Hit's　not　bad　enuf　fur　thieves　an'　robbers。〃

〃Hit's　God's　judgement　on　the　wicked　an'　the　opporessor；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　with　solemn　pitilessness。

〃Hadn't　we　better　try　to　get　down　there；　and　help　those　men　out？〃　suggested　Harry。　　〃Perhaps　they　are　not　dead　yet。〃

〃Aunt　Debby；　thet　thar　hoss　thet's　rain'　his　head　an'　whinnyin'；〃　said　Fortner；　with　sudden　interest；　〃is　Joel　Sprigg's　roan　geldin'；　sho's　yore　bo'n；　honey。〃　　He　pointed　to　where　a　shapely　head　was　raised；　and　almost　human　agony　looked　out　of　great　liquid　eyes。　〃Thet　wuz　the　finest　hoss　in　Laurel　County；　an'　they've　stole　'im　from　Joel。　　Hit'll　'bout　break　his　heart；　fur　he　set　a　powerful　sight　o'store　on　thet　there　beast。　　Pore　critter！　hit　makes　me　sick　ter　see　'im　suffer　thet…a…way！　　I've　a　mind　ter　put　'im　outen　his　misery；　but　I'm　afeered　I　can't　shoot　'im；　so　long　ez　he　looks　at　me　with　them　big　pitiful　eyes　o'　his'n。　　They　go　right　ter　my　heart。〃

〃You'd　better　shoot　him；〃　urged　Aunt　Debby。　　〃Hit's　a　si　ter　let　an　innocent　critter　suffer　thet…a…way。〃

Fortner　raised　his　rifle；　and　sent　a　bullet　through　the　mangled　brute's　brain。

Aunt　Debby's　eyes　became　fixed　on　a　point　where；　a　mile　away　down　the　mountain；　a　bend　in　the　road　was　visible　through　an　opening　in　the　trees。

〃Look　out；〃　she　said；　as　the　echoes　of　the　shot　died　away；　〃thar　comes　a　hull　lot　on　'em。〃

They　looked　and　saw　plainly　a　large　squad　of　cavalry；　with　a　wagon　behind。

〃We　must　get　outen　heah；　an'　thet　quick；〃　said　Fortner　decisively。　He　caught　one　of　the　horses　and　shortened　a　stirrup　to　make　the　sadle　answer　for　a　side…saddle。　　〃Heah；　Aunt　Debby；　let　me　help　ye　up；　honey。　　Now　Bolton　and　Edwards；　I'll　help　ye　on　these　ere　other　critters。　　Now　skeet　out　ez　fast　ez　the　hosse's　legs　will　tote　ye。　　Don't　spar　'em　a　mite。　　Them　fellers'll　gin　ye　to　the　devil's　own　chase　ez　soon　ez　they　get　heah；　an'　see　what's　bin　done。　　Glen　and　me'll　go　acrost　the　mounting；　an'　head　'em　off　on　t'other　side。　　Don't　come　back　ef　ye　heah　shootin'；　but　keep　straight　on；　fur　we　kin　take　keer　o'　this　crowd　without　enny　help。　　glen；　you　sasshay　up　the　mounting　thar　ez　fast　ez　the　Lord'll　let　ye。　I'll　be　arter　ye　right　spry。〃

All　sped　away　as　directed。　　Fortner　had　been　loading　his　gun　while　speaking。　　He　now　rammed　the　bullet　home；　and　withdrawing　his　rammer　walked　over　to　the　cliff　beside　which　the　teamster　was　cowering。

〃O；　Mister　Fortner；　don't　kill　meplease　don't！〃　whined　the　luckless　man；　getting　awkwardly　upon　his　knees　and　raising　his　hands　imploringly。　　〃I　swar　ter　God　I'll　never　raise　a　hand　agin　a　Union　man　agin　ef　ye'll　only　spar　my　life。〃

〃Kill　ye；　Pete　Hoskins！〃　said　Fortner　with　unfathomable　contempt。　〃What　consete　ye　hev　ter　think　yer　wuth　the　powder　an'　lead。　　I　hain't　no　bullets　ter　waste　on　carr'on。〃

He　struck　the　abject　fellow　a　couple　of　stinging　blows　on　the　face　with　the　ramrod；　replaced　it　in　the　thimbles；　and　sprang　up　the　rocks　just　as　the　head　of　the　cavalry　appeared　around　the　bend　of　the　road　a　few　rods　away。

Overtaking　Harry　shortly；　he　heard　about　the　same　time　the　Rebels　on　the　road　below　strike　into　a　trot。

〃They　know　hit　all　now；〃　he　said；　〃an'　hev　started　in　chase。　　Let's　jog　on　lively；　an'　get　ter　whar　we　kin　head　'em　off。〃

Night　had　fallen　in　the　meantime；　but　the　full　moon　had　risen　immediately；　making　it　almost　as　light　as　day。

After　half　an　hour's　fast　walking；　the　two　Unionists　had　cut　across　the　long　horseshoe　around　which　the　Rebels　were　traveling；　and　had　come　down　much　ahead　of　them　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain；　and　just　where　the　road　led　up　the　steep　ascent　of　another　mountain。

There　was　a　loneliness　about　the　spot　that　was　terrible。　　Over　it　hung　the　〃thought　and　deadly　feel　of　solitude。〃　　The　only　break　for　miles　in　the　primeval　forest　was　that　made　for　the　narrow　road。　House　or　cabin　there　was　none　in　all　the　gloomy　reaches　of　rocks　and　gnarled　trees。　　It　was　too　inhospitable　a　region　to　tempt　even　the　wildest　squatter。

The　flood　of　moonlight　made　the　desolation　more　oppresive　than　ever；　by　making　palpable　and　suggestive　the　inky　abysses　under　the　trees　and　in　the　thickets。

Fortner　looked　up　the　road　to　his　right　and　listened　intently。

A　waterfall　mumbled　somewhere　in　the　neighborhood。　　The　pines　and　hemlocks　near　the　summit　sighed　drearily。　　A　gray　fox；　which　had　probably　just　supped　off　a　pheasant；　sat　on　a　log　and　barked　out　his　gluttonous　satisfaction。　　A　wildcat；　as　yet　superless；　screamed　its　envy　from　a　cliff　a　half　a　mile　away。

〃I　can't　heah　anything　of　Aunt　Debby　an'　the　others；〃　said　Fortner；　at　length；　〃so　I　reckon　they're　clean　over　the　mounting；　an'　bout　safe　by　this　time。　　Them　beasts　are　purty　good　travelers；　I　imagine；　an'　they　hain't　let　no　grass　grow　in　under　the'r　hufs。〃

〃But　the　Rebels　are　coming；　hand　over　hand；〃　said　Harry；　who　had　been　watching　to　the　left　and　listening。　　〃I　hear　them　quite　plainly。　Yes；　there　they　are；〃　he　continued；　as　two　or　three　galloped　around　a　turn　in　the　road；　followed　at　a　little　interval　by　others。

The　metallic　clang　of　the　rapid　hoof…beats　on　the　rocks　rang　through　the　somber　aisles　of　the　forest。　　Noisy　fox　and　aniphonal　wildcat　stopped　to　listen　to　this　invasion　of　sound。

〃Quick！　let's　get　in　cover；〃　said　Fortner。

〃Ye　make　fur　thet　rock　up　thar；〃　said　Fortner　to　Harry；　pointing　to　a　spot　several　hundred　yards　above　them；　〃and　stay　thar　tell　I　come。　　Keep　close　in　the　shadder；　so's　they　won't　see　ye。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　that　I　ought　to　stay　with　you；'　said　Harry；　indecisively。

〃No；　go。　　Ye　can't　do　no　good　heah。　　One's　better　nor　two。　　I'll　be　up　thar　soon。　　Go；　quick。〃

There　was　no　time　for　debate；　and　Harry　did　as　bidden。

Fortner　stepped　into　the　inky　shadow　of　a　large　rock；　against　which　he　leaned。　　The　great　broad　face　of　the　rock；　gray　from　its　covering　of　minute　ash…colored　lichens；　was　toward　the　pursuers；　and　shone　white　as　marble　in　the　flood　of　moonlight。　　The　darkness　seemed　banked　up　around　him；　but　within　his　arm's　length　it　was　as　light　as　day。　　The　long　rifle　barrel　reached　from　the　darkness　into　the　light；　past　the　corner　of　the　rock　against　which　it　rested。　　The　bright　rays　made　the　little　〃bead〃　near　the　muzzle　gleam　like　a　diamond；　and　lighted　up　the　slit　as　fine　as　a　hair　in　the　hind…sight。　　Three　little　clicks；　as　if　of　twigs　breaking　under　a　rabbit's　foot；　told　that　the　triggers　had　been　set　and　the　hammer　raised。

The　horsemen；　much　scattered　by　the　pursuit；　clattered　onward。　　In　ones　and　twos；　with　wide　intervals　between；　they　reached　along　a　half…mile　of　the　road。　　Twothe　best　mountedrode　together　at　the　head。　　Two　hundred　yards　below　the　great　white　rock；　which　shone　as　innocent　and　kindly　as　a　fleecy　Summer　cloud；　a　broad　rivulet　wound　its　way　toward　the　neighboring　creek。　　The　blown　horses　scented　the　grateful　water；　and　checked　down　to　drink　of　it。　　The　right…hand　rider　loosened　his　bridle　that　his　steed　might　gratify　himself。　　The　other　tightened　his　rein　and　struck　with　his　spurs。　His　horse　〃gathered；〃　and　leaped　across　the　stream。　　As　the　armed　hoofs　struck　sparks　from　the　smooth　stones　on　the　opposite　side；　the　rider　of　the　drinking　horse　saw　burst　out　of　the　white　rock　above　them　a　gray　cloud；　with　a　central　tongue　of　flame；　and　his　comrade　fell　to　the　ground。

His　immediate　reply　with　both　barrels　of　his　shotgun　showed　that　he　did　not　mistake　this　for　any　natural　phenomenon。　　The　sound　of　the　shots　brought　the　rest　up　at　a　gallop；　and　a　rapid　fire　was　opened　on　the　end　of　the　rock。

But　the　instant　Fortner　fired　he　sprang　back　behind　the　rock；　and　then　ran　under　its　cover　a　little　distance　up　the　mountain　side　to　a　dense　laurel　thicket；　in　which　he　laid　down　behind　a　log　and　reloaded　his　rifle。　　He　listened。　　The　firing　had　ceased；　and　a　half…dozen　dismounted　men　were　carefully　approaching　the　spot　whence　he　had　sent　the　fatal　shot。　　He　heard　the　Captain　order　a　man　to　ride　back　and　bring　up　the　wagon；　that　the　body　of　the　dead　man　might　be　put　in　it。　　As　the　wagon　was　heard　rumbling　up；　the　dismounted　men　reported　to　the　Captain　that　the　bushwhacker　had　made　good　his　escape　and　was　no　longer　behind　the　rock。

〃Well；　he　hasn't　gone　very　far；〃　said　the　Captain　with　a　savage　oath。　　〃He　can't　have　got　any　distance　away；　and　I'll　have　him；　dead　or　alive；　before　I　leave　this　spot。　　The　whole　gang　of　Lincolnite　hellhounds　are　treed　right　up　there；　and　not　one　of　them　shall　get　away　alive。〃　　He　put　a　bone　whistle　to　his　lips；　and　sounded　a　shrill　signal。　　A　horseman　trotted　up　from　the　rear　in　response　to　the　call；　leading　a　hound　with　a　leash。　　〃Take　the　dog　up　to　that　rock；　there；　Bill；〃　said　the　Captain；　〃and　set　him　on　that　devil's　trail。　　Five　more　of　you　dismount；　and　deploy　there　on　the　other　side　of　the　road。　　All　of　you　move　forward　cautiously；　watching　the　dog；　and　make　sure　you　'save'　teh　whelp　when　he　is　run　out。〃

The　men　left　their　saddles　and　moved　forward　with　manifest　reluctance。　They　had　the　highly　emotional　nature　usual　in　the　poor　white　of　the　South；　and　this　was　deeply　depressed　by　the　weird　loneliness　that　brooded　over　everything；　and　the　bloodshed　they　had　witnessed。　Their　thirst　for　vengeance　was　being　tempered　rapidly　by　a　growing　superstitious　fear。　　There　was　something　supernatural　in　these　mysterious　killings。　　Each　man；　therefore；　only　moved　forward　as　he　felt　the　Captain's　eye　on　him；　or　his　comrades　advanced。

The　dog；　after　some　false　starts；　got　the　scent；　and　started　to　follow　Fortner's　footsteps。

〃He's　done　tuck　the　trail；　Cap'n；〃　called　back　one　of　the　men。

〃All　right；〃　answered　the　officer；　〃don't　take　your　eyes　off　of　him　for　a　second　till　he　trees　the　game。〃

But　the　logs　and　rocks　and　the　impenetrable　darkness　in　the　shadows　made　it　impossible　to　follow　the　movements　of　the　hound　every　moment。　　Only　Fortner　was　able　to　do　this。　　He　could　see　the　great　greenish…yellow　eyes　burn　in　the　pitchy…depths　and　steadily　draw　nearer　him。　　They　entered　the　laurel　thicket；　and　the　beast　growled　as　he　felt　the　nearness　of　his　prey。

〃Wolf　must　be　gitten　close　ter　him；〃　said　one　of　the　men。

Fortner　laid　his　rifle　across　the　log；　and　drew　from　hi