the red acorn-第32部分

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As　Dr。　Denslow　had　surmised；　his　faults　were　mainly　superficial；　and　underneath　them　was　a　firm　gristle　of　manhood；　which　would　speedily　harden　into　bone。　　With　the　experience　he　had　been　having；　days　would　mature　this　as　rapidly　as　ordinary　years。　　He　was　himself　hardly　aware　of　the　transformation；　but　only　felt；　as　his　physical　exhaustion　disappeared；　a　new　eagerness　to　participate　in　the　great　work　of　the　war。　　He　was　gratified　to　know　a　little　later　that　this　was　no　transient　feeling。　　In　the　course　of　the　evening　Jim　Fortner　came　back　in；　with　Kent　Edwards　and　Abe　Bolton。　　After　they　had　all　satisfied　their　hunger；　Fortner　informed　Harry　and　Aunt　Debby　that　the　enemy　had　fallen　back　to　London；　from　which　point　he　was　sending　out　wagons　into　the　surrounding　country；　to　gather　up　food；　forage；　arms；　clothing；　ammunition；　etc。；　with　the　double　object　of　depriving　the　Union　men　of　them；　and　adding　the　same　to　the　Rebel　resources。　　A　long　train　had　also　been　sent　out　to　the　Goose　Creek　Salt　Workstwenty…five　miles　northeast　of　Londonto　bring　away　a　lot　of　salt　stored　there；　of　which　the　Rebels　had　even　more　need　than　of　food。

Fortner　proposed　to　go　out　in　the　morning；　and　endeavor　to　capture　some　of　these　wagons。　　It　seemed　altogether　probably　that　a　few　might　be　caught　in　such　a　position　that　their　guards　could　be　killed　or　driven　off。

All　readily　agreed　to　this　plan；　Aunt　Debby　leading　off　by　volunteering　to　ride　ahead　on　her　mare；　as　a　scout。

Harry　suddenly　remembered　that　he　was　weaponless。　　〃What　shall　I　do　for　a　gun？〃　he　asked；　anxiously。

〃I　declar；　I　done　forgot　all　'bout　gittin'　ye　a　gun；〃　said　Fortner　with　real　concern。　　〃My　mind　was　disturbed　by　other　things；〃　he　added　with　a　suspicion　of　a　grin　at　Edwards　and　Bolton；　but　they　were　leaning　back　in　their　chairs　fast　asleep。　　Apple　jack；　fatigue　and　a　hearty　supper　together　made　a　narcotic　too　potent　to　resist。

Fortner　rose；　spread　a　few　blankets　on　the　floor；　added　a　sack　of　bran　for　a　pillow；　and　with　some　difficulty　induced　the　two　sleepers　to　lie　down　and　take　their　slumbers　in　a　more　natural　position。

〃I'll　find　ye　a　gun；〃　said　Aunt　Debby；　as　this　operation　was　finished；　and　walking　to　a　farther　corner　of　the　room；　she　came　back　bearing　in　her　hand　a　rifle　very　similar　to　the　one　Fortner　carried。

〃Thar；〃　she　said；　setting　the　delicately…curved　brazen　heel　down　upon　the　hearth；　and　holding　the　muzzle　at　arm's　length　while　she　gazed　at　the　gun　with　the　admiration　one　can　not　help　feeling　for　a　magnificent　weapon；　〃is　ez　true　a　rifle　ez　ever　a　man　put　to　his　shoulder。　　Ef　I　didn't　b'lave　ye　ter　be　ez　true　ez　steel　ye　shouldn't　tech　hit；　fur　hit　b'longed　ter　the　truest　man　in　this　livin'　world。〃

〃Hit　wuz　her　husband's；〃　explained　Fortner；　as　her　lips　met　firmly；　as　if　choking　down　bitter　memories。

〃I'm　givin'　hit　ter　ye　ter　use　ez　he'd　a…used　hit　ef　he　war　a…livin'；〃　she　said；　steadying　her　tones　with　a　perceptible　effort。　　〃I'm　glad　thet　my　hands　can　put　inter　yours　the　means　ter　avenge　him。〃

Harry　tried　in　vain　to　make　an　appropriate　response。

〃I'll　clean　hit　up　for　ye；〃　she　said　to　Harry；　as　she　saw　Fortner　beginning　to　furbish　up　his　own　rifle　for　the　next　day's　duties。

That　she　was　no　stranger　to　the　work　was　shown　by　the　skill　with　which　she　addressed　herself　to　it。　　Nothing　that　a　Kentucky　mountaineer　does　has　more　of　the　aspect　of　a　labor　of　love；　than　his　caring　for　a　find　rifle；　and　any　of　them　would　have　been　put　to　shame　by　the　deftness　of　Aunt　Debby's　supple　hands。　　Removing　the　leathern　hood　which　protected　the　lock；　she　carefully　rubbed　off　the　hammer　and　nipple　with　a　wisp　of　soft　fine　tow；　and　picked　out　the　tube　with　a　needle。　　Wrapping　another　bit　of　tow　around　the　end　of　a　wiping…stick；　she　moistened　it　slightly　in　her　mouth；　and　carefully　swabbed　out　of　the　inside　of　the　barrel　every　suspicion　of　dust　and　dirt。　　Each　of　the　winding　rifles　was　made　clean　and　free　along　its　whole　course。　　Then　the　tow　swab　was　lightly　touched　with　sweet；　unsalted　goose…fat；　that　it　might　spread　a　rust…preventing　film　over　the　interior　surface。　　She　burnished　the　silver　and　brass　ornaments；　and　rubbed　the　polished　stock　until　it　shone。　　When　not　a　suspicion　of　soil　or　dirt　remained　any　where；　the　delicate　double　triggers　were　examined　and　set　so　that　they　would　yield　at　the　stroke　of　a　hair；　a　tuft　of　lightly…oiled　tow　was　placed　over　the　nipple　and　another　closed　the　muzzle。

〃Thar；〃　said　Aunt　Deby；　setting　the　gun　back　against　the　logs；　〃is　a　rifle　that'll　allers　do　hits　duty；　ef　the　man　a…holt　of　hit　does　his。　　Let's　see　how　the　ammunition　is。〃

The　powder　horn　was　found　to　be　well　filled　with　powder；　and　the　box　with　caps；　but　there　were　only　a　few　bullets。

〃I'll　run　ye　some；〃　she　said；　taking　from　a　shelf　a　small　iron　ladle；　a　few　bars　of　lead；　and　a　pair　of　bullet　molds。　　〃Fur　more'n　a　hunderd　years　the　women　uv　our　fam'ly　hev　run　all　the　bullets　our　menfolks　shot。　　They　b'lieved　hit　made　'em　lucky。　　Granfather　Fortner　killed　an　Injun　chief　acrost　the　Maumee　River　at　the　battle　of　Fallen　Timbers　with　a　bullet　thet　Granmother　hed　run　fur　him　an'　markt　with　a　little　cross。　　Afore　the　battle　begun　Franfather　tuck　the　bullet　outen　his　pouch　an'　put　hit　inter　his　mouth；　until　he　could　git　a　chance　ter　use　hit　on　big　game。　　He　brot　the　chief's　scalp　hum　ter　Granmother。〃

〃I　believe　the　bullets　you　cast　for　me　will　do　good　service；〃　said　Harry；　with　sincerity　in　his　tones。

〃I'm　sartin　of　hit；〃　she　returned；　confidently。　　〃I　hev　adopted　ye　in　my　heart　ez　a　son；　an'　I　feel　towards　ye　ez　ef　ye　were　raylly　uv　my　own　kin。　　I　know　ye'll　be　a　credit　to　yerself　an'　me。〃

While　the　lead　was　melting　upon　the　bed　of　coals　she　drew　out　on　the　hearth；　she　sat　in　her　low　chair　with　her　hands　clasped　about　her　knees；　and　her　great　gray　eyes　fixed　upon　the　depths　of　a　mass　of　glowing　embers　in　the　fireplace；　as　if　she　saw　there　vivid　pictures　of　the　past　or　revelations　of　the　future。

〃How　wonderfully　bright　an'　glowin'　hit　is　in　thar；〃　she　said　musingly；　〃hit's　purer　an'　brighter　then　ennything　else　on　arth。　'Purified　ez　by　fire；'　the　Book　says。　　My　God；　Thou　has　sent　Thy　fires　upon　me　ez　a　sweepin'　flood。　　Hev　they　purified　me　ez　Thou　wisht？　　How　hit　shines　an'　glows　away　in　thar！　　Hit　seems　so　deep　sometimes　thet　I　kin　skeercely　see　the　end。　　A　million　times　purer　an'　brighter　is　the　light　thet　shines　from　the　Throne　uv　God。　THEY'RE　lookin'　at　thet　now；　while　I　still　tarry　heah。　　Husband　an'　son；　when　will　I　go　to　ye？　　When　will　I　finish　the　work　the　Lord　hez　fur　me　ter　do？　　When　will　the　day　uv　my　freedom　come？　　May…be　to…morrermay…be　to…morrer。〃

She　began　singing　softly：


〃An'　when　a　shadder　falls　acrost　the　winder　　　　　　　　　Of　my　room；　When　I　am　workin'　my　app'inted　task；　I　lift　my　head　to　watch　the　door　an'　ask　　　　　　　　　If　he　is　come；　An'　the　angel　answers　sweetly　　　　　　　　　In　my　home：　'Only　a　few　more　shadders　　　　　　　　　An'　He　will　come。'〃


〃Aunt　Debby；　honey；〃　said　Fortner；　rousing　himself　from　a　nap　in　his　chair；　〃thet　thar　lead's　burnin'。　　Better　run　yer　bullets。〃

She　started　as　if　waked　from　a　trance；　pressed　her　slender　thin　hands　to　her　eyes　for　an　instant；　and　then　taking　the　molds　up　in　herleft　hand　she　raised　the　ladle　with　her　right；　filled　them　from　it；　knocked　the　molded　balls　out　by　a　tap　on　the　floor；　and　repeated　the　process　with　such　dexterous　quickness　that　she　had　made　fifty　bullets　before　harry　realized　that　she　was　fairly　at　work。

〃Ye　men　hed　better　lay　down　an'　git　some　sleep；〃　she　said；　as　she　replaced　the　molds　and　ladle　on　the　shelf。　　〃Ye'll　need　all　yer　strength　to…morrer。　　I'll　neck　these　bullets；　an'　git　together　some　vittles　fur　the　trip；　an'　then　I'll　lay　down　a　while。　　We　orter　start　airlysoon　arter　daybreak。〃

They　did　start　early　the　next　morning；　with　Aunt　Debby　riding　upon　the　roads　that　wound　around　the　mountain　sides；　while　Fortner　led　the　men　through　the　shorter　by…paths。

Noon　had　passed　some　hours；　and　yet　they　had　come　across　no　signs　of　wagons。　　Aunt　Debby　was　riding　along　a　road　cut　out　of　the　rocks　about　mid…way　up　the　mountain。　　To　her　right　the　descent　was　almost　perpendicular　for　a　hundred　feet　or　more　to　where　a　creek　ran　at　the　bottom　of　a　cliff。　　To　her　left　the　hill　rose　up　steeply　to　a　great　height。　　Fortner　and　the　others　saw　Aunt　Debby　galloping　back；　waving　the　red　handkerchief　which　was　her　signal　of　the　approach　of　a　wagon。　　After　her　galloped　a　Rebel　Sergeant；　with　revolver　drawn　shouting　to　her　to　stop　or　he　would　fire。　　Abe　Bolton　stepped　forward　impulsively　to　shoot　the　Rebel；　missed　his　footing；　and　slid　down　the　hill；　landing　in　the　orad　with　such　force　as　to　jar　into　unintelligibiliy　a　bitter　imprecation　he　had　constructed　for　the　emergency。　　He　struck　in　front　of　the　Sergeant；　who　instantly　fired　at　Aunt　Debby's　mare；　sending　a　bullet　through　the　faithful　animal；　which　sank　to　her　knees；　and　threw　her　rider　to　the　ground。　　Without　waiting　to　rise；　and　he　was　not　certain　that　he　could；　Abe　fired　his　musket；　but　missed　both　man　and　horse。　　He　scrambled　to　his　feet；　and　ran　furiously　at　the　Rebel　with　raised　gun。　　The　Sergeant　fired　wildly　at　him；　when　Bolton　struck　the　animal　a　violent　blow　across　the　head。　　It　recoiled；　slipped；　and　in　another　instant　had