the red acorn-第55部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　horror　the　scout　had　stopped；　half…turned　his　horse；　and　was　watching　her　as　if　debating　whether　or　not　to　come　back　after　her。　　She　yielded　to　the　impulse　of　fear；　struck　her　mare　a　stinging　blow；　and　the　animal　flew　away。

Her　fright　subsided　as　she　heard　no　hoof…beats　following　her；　and　when　she　raised　her　eyes；　she　saw　that　she　was　approaching　the　village　of　Lavergne；　half…way　to　Murfreesboro；　and　that　a　party　of　Rebel　cavalry　were　moving　toward　her。　　She　felt　less　tremor　at　this　first　sight　of　the　armed　enemy　than　she　had　expected；　after　her　panic　over　the　scout；　and　rode　toward　the　horsemen　with　perfect　outward；　and　no　little　inward　composure。

The　Lieutenant　in　command　raised　his　hat　with　the　greatest　gallantry。

〃Good　morning；　Miss。　　From　the　city；　I　suppose？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　in　tones　as　even　as　if　speaking　in　a　parlor；　〃fortunately；　I　am　at　last　from　the　city。　　I　have　been　trying　to　get　away　ever　since　it　seemed　hopeless　that　our　people　would　not　redeem　it　soon。〃

The　conversation　thus　opened　was　carried　on　by　Rachel　giving　copious　and　disparaging　information　concerning　the　〃Yankees；〃　and　the　Lieutenant　listening　in　admiration　to　the　musical　accents；　interrupting　but　rarely　to　interject　a　question　or　a　favorable　comment。　　He　was　as　little　critical　as　ardent　young　men　are　apt　to　be　of　the　statements　of　captivating　young　women；　and　Rachel's　spirits　rose　as　she　saw　that　the　worst　she　had　to　fear　from　this　enemy　was　an　excess　of　devotioni。　　The　story　of　her　aunt　at　Murfreesboro　received　unhesitating　acceptance；　and　nothing　but　imperative　scouting　orders　prevented　his　escorting　her　to　the　town。　　He　would；　however；　send　a　non…commissioned　officer　with　her；　who　would　see　that　she　was　not　molested　by　any　one。　　He　requested　permission　to　call　upon　her　at　her　aunt's；　which　Rachel　was　compelled　to　grant；　for　lack　of　any　ready　excuse　for　such　a　contingency。　　With　this；　and　many　smiles　and　bows；　they　parted。

All　the　afternoon　she　rode　through　camps　of　men　in　gray　and　butternut；　as　she　had　ridden　through　those　of　men　in　blue　in　the　morning。　　In　these；　as　in　the　others；　she　heard　gay　songs；　dance　music　and　laughter；　and　saw　thousands　of　merry　boys　rollicking　in　the　sunshine　at　games　of　ball　and　other　sports；　with　the　joyous　earnestness　of　a　school…house　playground。　　She　tried；　but　in　vain；　to　realize　that　in　a　few　days　these　thoughtless　youths　would　be　the　demons　of　the　battle…field。

Just　before　dusk　she　came　to　the　top　of　a　low　limestone　ridge；　and　saw；　three　miles　away；　the　lights　of　Murfreesboro。　　At　that　moment　Fortner　appeared；　jogging　leisurely　toward　her；　mounted　on　a　splendid　horse。

〃O　there's　my　Cousin　Jim！〃　she　exclaimed　gleefully；　〃coming　to　meet　me。　　Sergeant；　I　am　deeply　obliged　to　you　and　to　your　Lieutenant；　for　your　company；　and　I　will　try　to　show　my　appreciation　of　it　in　the　future　in　some　way　more　substantial　than　words。　　You　need　not　go　any　farther　with　me。　　I　know　that　you　and　your　horse　are　very　tired。　　Good　by。〃

The　Sergeant　was　only　too　gald　of　this　release；　which　gave　him　an　opportunity　to　get　back　to　camp；　to　enjoy　some　good　cheer　that　he　knew　was　there；　and　bidding　a　hasty　good…night；　he　left　at　a　trot。

Fortner　and　Rachel　rode　on　slowly　up　the　pike；　traversing　the　ground　that　was　soon　to　run　red　with　the　blood　of　thousands。

They　talked　of　the　fearful　probabilities　of　the　next　few　days；　and　halted　for　some　minutes　on　the　bridge　across　Stone　River；　to　study　the　wonderfully　picturesque　scene　spread　out　before　them。　　The　dusk　was　just　closing　down。　　The　scowling　darkness　seemed　to　catch　around　woods　and　trees　and　houses；　and　grow　into　monsters　of　vast　and　somber　bulk；　swelling　and　spreding　like　the　〃gin〃　which　escaped　from　the　copper　can；　in　the　〃Arabian　Nights；〃　until　they　touched　each　other；　coalesced　and　covered　the　whole　land。　　Far　away；　at　the　edge　of　the　valley；　the　tops　of　the　hills　rose；　distinctly　lighted　by　the　last　rays　of　the　dying　day；　as　if　some　strip　of　country　resisting　to　the　last　the　invasion　of　the　dark　monsters。

A　half…mile　in　front　of　the　bridge　was　the　town　of　Murfreesboro。　Bright　lights　streamed　from　thousands　of　windows　and　from　bonfires　in　the　streets。　　Church　bells　rang　out　the　glad　acclaim　of　Christmas　from　a　score　of　steeples。　　The　happy　voices　of　childhood　singing　Christmas　carols；　the　laughter　of　youths　and　maidens　strolling　arm　in　arm　through　the　streets；　the　cheery　songs　of　merry…making　negroes；　silver…throated　bands；　with　throbbing　drums　and　gently…complaining　flutes；　playing　martial　airs；　long　lines　of　gleaming　camp…fires；　stretching　over　the　undulating　valley　and　rising　hills　like　necklaces　of　burning　jewels　on　the　breast　of　night；this　was　what　held　them　silent　and　motionless。

Rachel　at　last　spoke：

〃It　is　like　a　scene　of　enchantment。　　It　is　more　wonderful　than　anything　I　ever　read　of。〃

〃Yes'm；　hit's　mouty　strikin'　now；　an'　when　ye　think　how　hit'll　all　be　changed　in　a　little　while　ter　more　misery　then　thar　is　this　side　o'　hell；　hit　becomes　all　the　more　strikin'。　　Hit　seems　ter　me　somethin'　like　what　I've　heered　'em　read　'bout　in　the　Bible；　whar　they　went　on　feastin'　an'　singin'；　an'　dancin'　an'　frolickin'；　an'　the　like；　an'　at　midnight　the　inimy　broke　through　the　walls　of　ther　city；　an'　put　'em　all　ter　the　sword；　even　while　they　wuz　settin'　round　thar　tables；　with　ther　drinkin'　cups　in　ther　hands。〃

〃To　think　what　a　storm　is　about　to　break　upon　this　scene　of　happiness　and　mirth…making！〃　said　Rachel；　with　a　shudder。

〃Yes；　an'　they　seem　ter　want　ter　do　the　very　things　thet'll　show　ther　contempt　o'　righteousness；　an'　provoke　the　wrath　o'　the　Lord。　Thar；　where　ye　see　thet　house；　all　lit　up　from　the　basement　ter　the　look…out　on　the　ruf；　is　whar　one　o'　the　most　'ristocratic　families　in　all　Tennessee　lives。　　There　datter　is　bein'　married　to…night；　an'　Major…Gineral　Polk；　the　biggest　gun　in　all　these　'ere　parts；　next　ter　ole　Bragg；　an'　who　is　also　'Piscopalian　Bishop　o'　Tennessee；　does　the　splicin'。　　They've　got　ther　parlors；　whar　they'll　dance；　carpeted　with　'Merican　flags；　so　thet　the　young　bucks　an'　gals　kin　show　ther　despisery　of　the　banner　thet　wuz　good　enough　for　ther　fathers；　by　trampin'　over　hit　all　night。　　But　we'll　show　hit　ter　'em　in　a　day　or　two　whar　they　won't　feel　like　cuttin'　pigeon…wings　over　hit。　　Ye　jes　stand　still　an'　see　the　salvation　o'　the　Lord。〃

〃I　hope　we　will；〃　said　Rachel；　her　horror　of　the　storm　that　was　about　to　break　giving　away　to　indignation　at　the　treatment　of　her　country's　flag。　　〃Shan't　we　go　on？　　My　long　ride　has　made　me　very　tired　and　very　hungry；　and　I　know　my　horse　is　the　same。〃

Shortly　after　crossing　the　river　they　passed　a　large　tent；　with　a　number　of　others　clustered　around　it。　　All　were　festooned　with　Rebel　flags；　and　brilliantly　lighted。　　A　band　came　up　in　front　of　the　principal　one　and　played　the　〃Bonnie　Blue　Flag。〃

〃Thet's　ole　Gineral　Bragg's　headquarters；〃　explained　Fortner。　　〃He's　the　king　bee　of　all　the　Rebels　in　these　heah　parts；　an'　they　think　he　kin　'bout　make　the　sun　stand　still　ef　he　wants　ter。〃

They　cantered　on　into　the　town；　and　going　more　slowly　through　the　great　public　square　and　the　more　crowded　streets；　came　at　last　to　a　modest　house；　standing　on　a　corner；　a