the red acorn- 第16部分

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　battle…field；　were　set　to　work　building　fires；　cooking　rations　and　preparing　from　the　branches　and　brush　such　shelter　as　could　be　made　to　do　substitute　duty　for　the　tents　left　behind。

Little　as　was　Harry's　normal　inclination　to　manual　labor；　it　was　less　than　ever　now；　with　these　emotions　struggling　in　his　mind；　and　leaving　his　comrades　hard　at　work；　he　wandered　off　to　where　Hoosier　Knob；　a　commanding　eminence　on　the　left　of　the　battle…field　seemed　to　offer　the　best　view　of　the　retreat　of　the　forces　of　Zollicoffer。　　Arriving　there；　he　pushed　on　down　the　slope　to　where　the　enemy's　line　had　stood；　and　where　now　were　groups　of　men　in　blue　uniforms；　searching　for　trophies　of　the　fight。　　In　one　place　a　musket　would　be　found；　in　another　a　cap　with　a　silver　star；　or　a　canteen　quaintly　fashioned　from　alternate　staves　of　red　and　white　cedar。　　Each　〃find〃　was　proclaimed　by　the　discoverer；　and　he　was　immediately　surrounded　by　a　group　to　earnestly　inspect　and　discuss　it。　　It　was　still　the　first　year　of　the　war；　the　next　year　〃trophies〃　were　left　to　rot　unnoticed　on　the　battle…fields　they　covered。

Harry　took　no　interest　in　relic…hunting；　but　walked　onward　toward　another　prominence　that　gave　hopes　of　a　good　view　of　the　Rebels。　The　glimpses　he　gained　from　this　of　the　surging　mass　of　fugitives　inflamed　him　with　the　excitement　of　the　chaseof　the　most　exciting　of　chases；　a　man…hunt。　　He　forgot　his　fearsforgot　how　far　behind　he　was　leaving　all　the　others；　and　became　eager　only　to　see　more　of　this　fascinating　sight。　　Before　he　was　aware　of　it；　he　was　three　or　four　miles　from　the　Gap。

Here　a　point　ran　boldly　down　from　the　mountain　into　the　valley；　and　ended　in　a　bare　knob　that　overlooked　the　narrow　creek　bottom；　along　which　the　beaten　host　was　forging　its　way。　　Harry　unhesitatingly　descended　to　this；　and　stood　gazing　at　the　swarming　horde　below。　It　was　a　sight　to　rivet　the　attention。　　The　narrow　level　space　through　which　the　creek　meandered　between　the　two　parrallel　ranges　of　heights　was　crowded　as　far　as　he　could　see　with　an　army　which　defeat　had　degraded　to　a　demoralized　mob。　　All　semblance　of　military　organization　had　well…nigh　disappeared。　　Horsemen　and　footmen；　infantry；　cavalry　and　artillery；　officers　and　privates；　ambulances　creaking　under　their　load　of　wounded　and　dying；　ponderous　artillery　forges；　wagons　loaded　with　food；　wagons　loaded　with　ammunition；　and　wagons　loaded　with　luxuries　for　the　delectation　of　the　higher　officers；all　huddled　and　crowded　together；　and　struggled　forward　with　feverish　haste　over　the　logs；　rocks；　gullies　and　the　deep　waters　of　the　swollen　stream；　and　up　its　slippery　banks；　through　the　quicksands　and　quagmires　which　every　passing　foot　and　wheel　beat　into　a　still　more　grievous　obstacle　for　those　that　followed。　Hopelessly　fagged　horses　fell　for　the　last　time　under　the　merciless　blows　of　their　frightened　masters；　and　added　their　great　bulks　to　the　impediments　of　the　road。

The　men　were　sullen　and　depressedcast　down　by　the　wretchedness　of　earth　and　sky；　and　embittered　against　their　officers　and　each　other　for　the　blood　uselessly　shedoppressed　with　hunger　and　weariness；　and　momentarily　fearful　that　new　misfortunes　were　about　to　descend　upon　them。　　In　brief；　it　was　one　of　the　saddest　spectacles　that　human　history　can　present：　　that　of　a　beaten　and　disorganized　army　in　full　retreat；　and　an　army　so　new　to　soldiership　and　discipline　as　to　be　able　to　make　nothing　but　the　worst　out　of　so　great　a　calamityit　was　a　rout　after　a　repulse。

Nearly　all　of　the　passing　thousands　were　too　much　engrossed　in　the　miseries　of　their　toilsome　progress　to　notice　the　blue…coated　figure　on　the　bare　knob　above　the　road。　　But　the　rear　of　the　fugitives　was　brought　up　by　a　squad　of　men　moving　much　more　leisurely；　and　with　some　show　of　order。　　They　did　not　plunge　into　the　mass　of　men　and　animals　and　vehicles；　and　struggle　with　them　in　the　morass　which　the　road　had　now　become；　but　deliberately　picked　their　way　along　the　sides　of　the　valley　where　the　walking　was　easier。　　They　saw　Harry；　and　understood　as　soon　as　they　saw；　who　he　was。　　Two　or　three　responded　to　their　first　impulse；　and　raising　their　guns　to　their　shoulders；　fired　at　him。　　A　bullet　slapped　against　the　rock　upon　which　he　was　partially　leaning；　and　fell　at　his　feet。　　Another　spattered　mud　in　his　face；　and　flew　away；　singing　viciously。

At　the　reports　the　fear…harrassed　mob　shuddered　and　surged　forward　through　its　entire　length。

The　companions　of　those　who　fired　seemed　to　reproach　them　with　angry　gestures；　pointing　to　the　effect　upon　the　panicky　mass。　　Then　the　whole　squad　rushed　forward　toward　the　hill。

Deadly　fear　clutched　Harry　Glen's　heart　as　the　angry　notes　of　the　bullets　jarred　on　his　senses。　　Then　pride　and　the　animal　instinct　of　fighting　for　life　flamed　upward。　　So　swiftly　that　he　was　scarcely　conscious　of　what　he　was　doing　he　snatched　a　cartridge　from　the　box；　tore　its　end　between　his　teeth；　and　rammed　it　home。　　He　replaced　the　ramrod　in　its　thimbles　with　one　quick　thrust；　and　as　he　raised　his　eyes　from　the　nipple　upon　which　he　had　placed　the　cap；　he　saw　that　the　Rebel　squad　had　gained　the　foot　of　the　knoll　and　started　up　its　side。　　He　raised　teh　gun　to　fire；　but　as　he　did　so　he　heard　a　voice　call　out　from　behind　him：

〃Skeet　outen　thar！　　Skeet　outen　thar！　　Come　up　heah；　quick！〃

Harry　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　voice。　　He　saw　a　tall；　slender；　black…haired　man　standing　in　the　woods　at　the　upper　edge　of　the　cleared　space。　　He　was　dressed　in　butternut　jeans；　and　looked　so　much　like　the　Rebels　in　front　that　Harry　thought　he　was　one　of　them。　　The　stranger　noticed　his　indecision；　and　called　out　again　still　more　peremptorily：

〃Skeet　outen　thar；　I　tell　ye！　　Skeet　outen　thar！　　Come　up　heah。　I'm　a　friendI'm　Union。〃

His　rifle　came　to　his　face　at　the　same　instant；　and　Harry　saw　the　flame　and　white　smoke　puff　from　it；　and　the　sickening　thought　flashed　into　his　mind　that　the　shot　was　fired　at　him；　and　that　he　would　feel　the　deadly　ball　pierce　his　body！　　Before　he　could　more　than　formulate　this　he　heard　the　bullet　pass　him　with　a　screech；　and　strike　somewhere　with　a　plainly　sharp　slap。　　Turning　his　head　he　saw　the　leading　Rebel　stagger　and　fall。　　Harry　thre　his　gun　up；　with　the　readiness　acquired　in　old　hunting　days；　and　fired　at　the　next　of　his　foes；　who　also　fell！　　The　other　Rebels；　as　they　came　up；　gathered　around　their　fallen　comrades。

Harry　ran　back　to　where　the　stranger　was；　as　rapidly　as　the　clinging　mud　and　the　steep　hillside　would　permit　him。

〃Purty　fa'r　shot　that；〃　said　the　stranger；　setting　down　the　heavy　rifle　he　was　carefully　reloading；　and　extending　his　hand　cordially　as　Harry　came　panting　up。　　〃That's　what　I　call　mouty　neat　shootingknock　yer　man　over　at　150　yards；　down　hill；　with　that　ole　smooth…bore；　and　without　no　rest。　　The　oldest　han'　at　the　business　couldn't've　done　no　better。〃

Harry　was　too　much　agitated　to　heed　the　compliment　to　his　markmanship。　He　looked　back　anxiously　and　asked：

〃Are　they　coming　on　yet？〃

〃Skacely　they　hain't；〃　said　the　stranger；　with　a　very　obvious　sneer。　〃Skacely　they　hain't　comin'　on　no　more。　　They've　hed　enuff；　they　hev。　　Two　of　their　best　men　dropt　inter　blue　blazes　on　the　first　jump　will　take　all　the　aidge　off　ther　appetite　for　larks。　　I　know　'em。〃

〃But　they　will　come　on。　　They'll　pursue　us。　　They'll　never　let　us　go　now；〃　said　Harry；　reloading　his　gun　with　hands　trembling　from　the　exertion　and　excitement。

He　was　yet　too　young　a　soldier　to　understand　that　his　enemy's　fright　might　be　greater　than　his　own。

〃Nary　a　time　they　won't；〃　said　the　stranger；　derisively。　　〃Them　fellers　are　jest　like　Injuns；　they're　red…hot　till　one　or　two　gits　knocked　over；　an'　then　they　cool　down　mouty　suddent。　　Why；　me　an'　two　others　stopt　the　whole　of　Zollicoffer's　army　for　two　days　by　shootin'　the　officer　in　command　of　the　advance…guard　jest　ez　they　war　a…comin'　up　the　hill　this　side　of　Barboursville。　　Fact！　　They'd　a'　been　at　Wildcat　last　Friday　ef　we　hedn't　skeered　'em　so。　　They　stopt　an'　hunted　the　whole　country　round　for　bushwhackers　afore　they'd　move　ary　other　step。〃

〃But　who　are　you？〃　asked　Harry；　looking　again　at　his　companion's　butternut　garb。

〃I'm　called　Long　Jim　Forner；　an'　I've　the　name　o'　bein'　the　pizenest　Union　man　in　the　Rockassel　Mountains。　　Thar's　a　good　s'tifkit　o'　my　p'litical　principles〃　（pointing　with　his　thumb　to　where　lay　the　men　who　had　felln　under　their　bullets）。　　Harry　looked　again　in　that　direction。　　Part　of　the　squad　were　looking　apprehensively　toward　hiim；　as　if　they　feared　a　volley　from　bushwhackers　concealed　near　him；　and　others　were　taking　from　the　bodies　of　the　dead　the　weapons；　belts；　and　other　articles　which　it　was　not　best　to　leave　for　the　pursuers；　and　still　others　were　pointing　to　the　rapidly　growing　distance　between　them　and　main　body；　apparently　adjuring　haste　in　following。

The　great　mental　and　bodily　strain　Harry　had　undergone　since　he　had　first　heard　the　sound　of　cannon　in　the　morning　at　the　foot　of　Wildcat　should　have　made　him　desperately　weary。　　But　the　sight　of　the　man　falling　before　his　gun　had　fermented　in　his　blood　a　fierce　intoxication；　as　unknown；　as　unsuspected　before　as　the　passion　of　love　had　been　before　its　first　keen　transports　thrilled　his　heart。　Like　that　ecstacy；　this　fever　now　consumed　him。　　All　fear　of　harm　to　himself　vanished　in　its　flame。　　He　had　actually　slain　one　enemy。　Why　not　another？　　He　raised　his　musket。　　The　mountaineer　laid　his　hand　upon　it。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that's　not　the　game　to　hunt。　　They'll　do　when　thar's　nothin'　better　to　be　had；　but　now　powder　an'　lead　kin　be　used　to　more　advantage。　　Besides　they're　outen　range　o'　your　smooth…bore　now。　　Come。〃

As　Fortner　threw　his　rifle　across　his　shoulder　Harry　looked　at　it　curiously。　　It　had　a　long；　heavy；　six　sided　barrel；　with　a　large　bore；　double　triggers；　and　a　gaily　striped　hickory　ramrod　in　its　thimbles。　　The　stock；　of　fine；　curly　rock…maple；　was　ornamented　with　silver　stars　and　crescents；　and　in　the　breech　were　cunning　little　receptacles　for　tow　and　patches；　and　other　rifle　necessaries；　each　closed　by　a　polished　silver　cover　that　shut　with　a　snap。　　It　was　evident