the red acorn-第34部分

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r。　　Imagination　painted　the　present　and　future　in　hues　of　dazzling　radiance。　　Everything　was　as　delightful　as　it　could　be　now；　and　would　become　more　charming　as　time　rolled　on。　　But　with　Abe　Bolton　drinking　tended　to　develop　moroseness　into　savagery。

〃Ah；　comfort　me　with　apple…jack；　and　stay　me　with　flagons　of　it；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　setting　down　the　jug　with　the　circumspection　of　a　man　not　yet　too　drunk　to　suspect　that　he　is　losing　exact　control　of　his　legs　and　arms。　　〃That　gets　better　the　deeper　down　you　go。　First　it　was　like　swallowing　a　chestnut　burr；　now；　old　hand…made　Bourbon　couldn't　be　smoother。〃

〃A　man　can　get　used　to　a'most　anything；〃　said　Bolton。

〃I　get　gladder　every　day；　Abe；　that　I　came　into　the　army。　　I　wouldn't　have　missed　all　this　experience　for　the　finest　farm　in　the　Miami　Valley。


''Twere　worth　ten　years　of　peaceful　life；　　　To　soldier　have　a　day；'


Sir　Walter　Scott　saysas　I　improve　him。〃

〃'Specially　one　of　them　soaking　days　when　we　were　marching　through　the　mud　to　Wildcat。〃

〃O；　those　were　just　thrown　in　to　make　us　appreciate　good　weather　when　we　have　it。　　Otherwise　we　wouldn't。　　You　know　what　the　song　says：


'For　Spring　would　be　but　gloomy　weather；　　　If　we　had　nothing　else　but　Spring。'〃


〃Well；　for　my　part；　one　o'　them　days　was　enough　to　p'ison　six　months　o'　sunshine。　　I　declare；　I　believe　I'll　feel　mildewed　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　　I　know　if　I　pulled　off　my　clothes　you　could　scrape　the　green　mold　off　my　back。〃

〃And　I'm　sure　that　if　we'd　had　the　whole　army　to　pick　from；　we　couldn't've　got　in　with　a　better　lot　of　boys　and　officers。　　Every　one　of　them's　true　blue；　and　a　MAN　all　the　way　through。　　It's　the　best　regiment　in　the　army；　and　our　company's　the　best　company　in　the　regiment；　and　I　flatter　myself　the　company　hasn't　got　two　other　as　good　men　as　we　are。〃

〃Your　modesty'll　ruin　you　yet；　Kent；〃　said　Abe；　sardonically。　〃It's　very　painful　to　see　a　man　going　'round　unerrating　himself　as　you　do。　　If　I　could　only　get　you　to　have　a　proper　opinion　of　yourselfthat　is；　believe　that　you　are　a　bigger　man　than　General　Scott　or　George　B。　McClellan；　I'd　have　some　hopes　of　you。〃

〃We'll　have　one　grand；　big　battle　with　the　Secessionists　now；　pretty　sooneverything's　getting　ripe　for　itand　we'll　whip　them　like　Wellington　whipped　Napoleon　at　Waterloo。　　Our　regiment　will　cover　itself　with　glory；　in　which　you　and　I　will　have　a　big　share。　　Then　we'll　march　back　to　Sardis　with　flags　flying　and　drums　beating；　everybody　turning　out；　and　the　bands　playing　'See；　the　Conquering　Hero　Comes；'　when　you　and　I　come　down　the　street；　and　we'll　be　heroes　for　the　rest　of　our　natural　lives。〃

〃Go　ahead；　and　tell　the　rest　of　it　to　the　mash…tubs　and　the　still。　I've　heard　as　much　as　I　can　stand；　an　I　must　have　a　breath　of　fresh　air。　　I'm　going　into　the　other　cabin　to　see　what's　there。〃

Kent　followed　him　to　the　door；　with　the　jug　in　his　hand。

〃Kent；　there's　a　man　coming　down　the　path　there；〃　said　Abe；　pulling　himself　together；　after　the　manner　of　a　half…drunken　man　whose　attention　is　powerfully　distracted。

〃Where？〃　asked　Kent；　setting　the　jug　down　with　solicitous　gentleness；　and　reaching　back　for　his　musket。

〃There；　by　that　big　chestnut。　　Can't　you　see　him？　or　have　you　got　so　much　whisky　in　you；　that　you　can't　see　anything？　　He's　in　Rebel　clothes；　and　he's　got　a　gun。　　I'm　going　to　shoot　him。〃

〃Maybe　he's　one　of　these　loyal　Kentuckians。　　Hold　on　a　minute；　till　you　are　sure；〃　said　Kent；　half　cocking　his　own　gun。

〃The　last　words　of　General　Washington　were　'Never　trust　a　nigger　with　a　gun。'　　　A　man　with　that　kind　o'　cloze　has　no　business　carrying　weapons　around　in　this　country。　　I'm　going　to　shoot。〃

〃If　you　shoot　with　your　hands　wobbling　that　way；　you'll　make　him　aas　full　of　holes　as　a　skimmer。　　That'd　be　cruel。　　Steady　yourself　up　a　little；　while　I　talk　to　him。

〃Halt；　there！〃　commanded　Kent；　with　a　thick　tongue。　　〃Who　are　you；　and　how　many　are　with　you？〃

〃I'm　a　Union　man；〃　said　Fortner；　for　it　was　he；　〃an'　I'm　alone。〃

〃Lay　down　your　gun　and　come　up　here；　if　you　are　a　friend；〃　ordered　Kent。

The　swaggering　imperiousness　in　Edward's　tone　nettled　Fortner　as　much　as　the　order　itself。　　〃I　don't　make　a　practice　of　layin'　down　my　gun　for　no　man；〃　he　said　proudly。　　〃I'm　ez　good　Union　ez　ary　of　you'uns　dar　be；　an'　I　don't　take　no　orders　from　ye。　　I　could've　killed　ye　both；　ef　I'd　a　wanted　ter；　afore　ye　ever　seed　me。〃

Bolton's　gun　cracked；　and　the　bullet　buried　itself　in　the　thick；　soft　bark　of　the　chestnut；　just　above　Fortner's　head；　and　threw　dust　and　chips　in　his　eyes。　　He　brushed　them　away　angrily；　and　instinctively　raised　his　rifle。　　Kent　took　this　as　his　cue　to　fire；　but　his　aim　was　even　worse　than　Abe's。

〃Ruined　again　by　strong　drink；〃　he　muttered　despairingly；　as　he　saw　the　failure　of　his　shot。　　〃Nothing　but　new　apple　jack　could　make　me　miss　so　fair　a　mark。〃

〃Now；　ye　fellers；　lay　down　YORE　guns！〃　shouted　Fortner；　springing　forward　to　where　they　were；　with　his　rifle　cocked。　　〃Lay　'em　down！　I　say。　　Lay　'em　down；　or　I'll　let　daylight　through　ye！〃

〃He's　got　us；　Abe；〃　said　Kent；　laying　down　his　musket　reluctantly。　His　example　was　followed　by　Abe；　who；　however；　did　not　place　his　gun　so　far　that　he　could　not　readily　pick　it　up　again；　if　Fortner　gave　him　an　instant's　opportunity。　　Fortner　noticed　this；　and　pushed　the　musket　farther　away　with　his　foot；　still　covering　the　two　with　his　rifle。

〃Ye　see　now；〃　he　said　〃thet　I　hev　ye　at　my　marcy；　ef　I　wanted　ter　kill　or　capture　ye。　　Efi　I　gin　ye　back　yer　guns；　ye'll　admit　thet　I'm　yer　friend；　and　not　yer　inimy；　won't　ye？〃

〃It'll　certainly　look　like　an　overture　to　a　permanent　and　disinterested　friendship；〃　said　Kent；　brightening　up；　and　Abe；　who　was　gathering　himself　up　for　a　spring　to　catch　Fortner's　rifle；　let　his　muscles　relax　again。

〃Well；　ye　kin　take　up　yer　guns　agin　and　load　'em；〃　said　Fortner；　letting　down　the　hammer　of　his　rifle。　　〃I'm　Jim　Fortner；　supposed　ter　be　the　pizenest　Union　man　on　the　Rockassel！　　Come　along　ter　my　house；　an　I'll　gin　ye　a　good　meal　o'　vittels。　　Hit's　on'y　a　little　piece　off；　an'　I've　got　thar　one　of　yer　fellers。　　His　name's　Harry　Glen。





Chapter　XIV。　　In　the　Hospital。




As　the　tall　ship　whose　lofty　prore　Shall　never　stem　the　billows　more　Deserted　by　her　gallant　band；　Amid　the　breakers　lies　astrand　Soon　his　couch　lay　Rhoderick　Dhu；　And　oft　his　fevered　limbs　he　threw　In　toss　abrupt；　as　when　her　sides　Lie　rocking　in　the　advancing　tides；　That　shake　her　frame　with　ceaseless　beat；　Yet　can　not　heave　her　from　her　seat；　O；　how　unlike　her　course　on　sea！　Or　his　free　step　on　hill　and　lea！Lady　of　the　Lake。


An　Army　Hospital　is　the　vestibule　of　the　Cemeterythe　ante…room　where　the　recruiting…agents　of　DeathWounds　and　Diseaseassemble　their　conscripts　to　prepare　them　for　the　ranks　from　which　there　is　neither　desertion　nor　discharge。　　Therein　enter　those　who　are　to　lay　aside　〃this　muddy　vesture　of　decay；〃　for　the　changeless　garb　of　the　Beyond。　　Thither　troop　the　Wasted　and　Stricken　to　rest　a　little；　and　prepare　for　the　last　great　journey；　the　first　milestone　of　which　is　placed　over　their　heads。

Humanity　and　Science　have　done　much　for　the　Army　Hospital；　but　still　its　swinging　doors　wave　two　to　the