the red acorn- 第39部分

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；　and　nearly　hidden　by　vines　and　shrubbery。

A　peculiar　knock　caused　the　door　to　open　quickly；　and　before　Rachel　was　hardly　aware　of　it；　she　was　standing　inside　a　comfortable　room；　so　well　lighted　that　her　eyes　took　some　little　time　to　get　used　to　such　a　change。

When　they　did　so　she　saw　that　she　was　in　the　presence　of　a　slender；　elderly　woman；　whose　face　charmed　her。

〃This　is　yer　Aunt　Debby　Brill；〃　said　Fortner；　dryly；　〃who　ye　came　so　fur　ter　see；　an'　who's　bin　'spectin'　ye　quite　anxiously。〃

〃Ye're　very　welcome；　my　dear；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　after　a　moment's　inspection　which　seemed　to　be　entirely　satisfactory。　　〃Jest　lay　off　yer　things　thar　on　the　bed；　an'　come　out　ter　supper。　　I　know　ye're　sharp…set。　　A　ride　from　Nashville　sech　a　day　ez　this　is　mouty　good　for　the　appetite；　an'　we've　hed　supper　waitin'　ye。〃

Hastily　throwing　off　her　hat　and　gloves；　she　sat　down　with　the　rest；　to　a　homely　but　excellent　supper；　which　they　all　ate　in　silence。　During　the　meal　a　muscular；　well　knit　man　of　thirty　entered。

〃All　clar；　outside；　Bill？〃　asked　Fortenr。

〃All　clar；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃Everybody's　off　on　a　high　o'　some　kind。〃

Bill　sat　down　and　ate　with　the　rest；　until　he　satisfied　his　hunger；　and　then　rising　he　felt　along　the　hewed　logs　which　formed　the　walls；　until　he　found　a　splinter　to　serve　as　a　tooth…pick。　Using　this　for　a　minute　industriously；　he　threw　it　into　the　fire　and　asked：

〃Well？〃

〃Well；〃　answered　Fortner。　　〃I　reckon　hit's　ez　sartin　ez　anything　kin　well　be　thet　Wheeler's　and　Morgan's　cavalry　hez　been　sent　off　inter　Kentucky；　and　ez　thet's　what　Ole　rosy's　been　waitin'　fur；　now's　the　time　fur　him　ter　put　in　his　best　licks。　　Ye'd　better　start　afore　midnight　fur　Nashville。　　Ye'll　hev　this　news；　an'　alos　thet　thar's　been　no　change　in　the　location　o'　the　Rebels；　'cept　thet　Polk's　an'　Kirby　Smith's　corps　are　both　heah　at　Murfreesboro；　with　a　strong　brigade　at　Stewart's　creek；　an'　another　at　Lavergne。　　Ye'd　better　fallin　with　Boscall's　rijiment；　which'll　go　out　ter　Lavergne　to…night；　ter　relieve　one　o'　the　rijiments　thar。　　Ye'd　better　not　try　to　git　back　heah　ag'in　tell　arter　the　battle。　　Good　by。　　God　bless　ye。　　Miss；　ye'd　better　git　ter　bed　now；　ez　soon　ez　possible；　an'　rest　yerself　fur　what's　comin'。　　We'll　need　every　mite　an'　grain　of　our　strength。〃





Chapter　XIX。　　The　Battle　of　Stone　River。




O；　wherefore　come　ye　forth；　in　triumph　from　the　North；　　　With　your　hands　and　your　feet；　and　your　raiment　all　red？　And　wherefore　doth　your　rout；　send　forth　a　joyous　shout？　　　And　whence　be　the　grapes　of　the　wine…press　that　ye　tread？

O；　evil　was　the　root；　and　bitter　was　the　fruit；　　　And　crimson　was　the　juice　of　the　vintage　that　we　tred；　For　we　trampled　on　the　throng；　of　the　haughty　and　the　strong；　　　Who　sat　in　the　high　places　and　slew　the　saints　of　God。

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They　are　herethey　rush　onwe　are　brokenwe　are　gone　　Our　left　is　borne　before　them　like　stubble　in　the　blast。　　O；　Lord；　put　forth　thy　might！　　O；　Lord；　defend　the　right！　　　　Stand　back　to　back；　in　God's　name！　and　fight　it　to　the　last。

〃Battle　of　Naseby。〃*/


The　celebration　of　Christmas　in　the　camps　around　Nashville　was　abruptly　terminated　by　the　reception　of　orders　to　march　in　the　morning；　with　full　haversacks　and　cartridge…boxes。　　The　next　day　all　the　roads　leading　southward　became　as　rivers　flowing　armed　men。　Endless　streams　of　blue；　thickly　glinted　everywhere　with　bright　and　ominous　steel；　wound　around　the　hills；　poured　over　the　plains；　and　spread　out　into　angry　lakes　wherever　a　Rebel　outpost　checked　the　flow　for　a　few　minutes。

Four　thousand　troopers　under　the　heroic　Stanleythe　foam…crest　on　the　war…billowdashed　on　in　advance。　　Twelve　thousand　steadily…moving　infantry　under　the　luckless　McCook；　poured　down　the　Franklin　turnpike；　miles　away　to　the　right；　twelve　thousand　more　streamed　down　the　Murfreesboro　pike　on　the　left；　with　the　banner　of　the　over…weighted　Crittenden；　while　grand　old　Thomas；　he　whose　trumpets　never　sounded　forth　retreat；　but　always　called　to　victory；　moved　steadfast　as　a　glacier　in　the　center；　with　as　many　more；　a　sure　support　and　help　to　those　on　either　hand。

The　mighty　war…wave　rolling　up　the　broad　plateau　of　the　Cumberland　was　fifteen　miles　wide　now。　　It　would　be　less　than　a　third　of　that　when　it　gathered　itself　together　for　its　mortal　dash　upon　the　rocks　of　rebellion　at　Murfreesboro。

It　was　Friday　morning　that　the　wave　began　rolling　southward。　　All　day　Friday；　and　Saturday；　and　Sunday；　and　Monday　it　rolled　steadily　onward；　sweeping　before　it　the　enemy's　pickets　and　outposts　as　dry　sand　by　an　incoming　tide。　　Monday　evening　the　leading　divisions　stood　upon　the　ridge　where　Rachel　and　Fortner　had　stood；　and　looked　as　they　did　upon　the　lights　of　Murfreesboro；　two　miles　away。

〃Two　days　from　to…morrow　is　New　Year's；〃　said　Kent　Edwards。　　〃Dear　Festival　of　Egg…Nogg！　how　sweet　are　thy　memories。　　I　hope　the　Tennessee　hens　are　doing　their　duty　this　Winter；　so　that　we'll　have　no　trouble