the red acorn-第4部分

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s　the　reptile　launched　itself　at　him；　he　dexterously　cut　it　in　two　with　a　sweeping　stroke。　　A　shout　of　applause　rose　from　the　excited　boys；　who　gathered　around　to　inspect　the　slain　serpent　and　congratulate　the　Captain　upon　his　skillful　disposition　of　his　assailant。

〃O；　that's　only　my　old　bat…stroke　that　used　to　worry　the　boys　in　town…hall　so　much；〃　said　the　Captain　carelessly。　　〃It's　queer　what　things　turn　out　useful　to　a　man；　and　when　he　least　expects　them。〃

A　long；　ringing　yell　from　a　thousand　throats　cleft　the　air；　and　with　its　last　notes　came　the　rattle　of　musketry　from　the　brow　of　the　hill　across　the　little　ravine。　　The　bullets　sang　viciously　overhead。　They　cut　the　leaves　and　branches　with　sharp　little　crashes；　and　struck　men's　bodies　with　a　peculiar　slap。　　A　score　of　men　in　the　disordered　group　fell　back　dead　or　dying　upon　the　green　moss。

〃Of　course；　we　might've　knowed　them　muddle…headed　officers　'd　run　us　right　slap　into　a　hornets'　nest　of　Rebels　before　they　knowed　a　thing　about　it；〃　grumbled　Abe　Bolton；　hastily　tearing　a　cartridge　with　his　teeth；　and　forcing　it　into　his　gun。

〃Hold　on；　my　weak…kneed　patriot；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　catching　Jake　Alspaugh　by　the　collar；　and　turning　him　around　so　that　he　faced　the　enemy　again。　　〃It's　awful　bad　manners　to　rush　out　of　a　matinee　just　as　the　performance　begins。　　You　disturb　the　people　who've　come　to　enjoy　the　show。　　Keep　you　seat　till　the　curatin　goes　down。　You'll　find　enough　to　interest　you。〃

The　same　sudden　inspiration　of　common…sense　that　had　flashed　upon　Captain　Bennett；　in　encountering　the　snake　now　raised　him　to　the　level　of　this　emergency。　　He　comprehended　that　the　volley　they　had　received　had　emptied　every　Rebel　gun。　　The　distance　was　so　short　that　the　enemy　could　be　reached　before　they　had　time　to　re…load。　But　no　time　must　be　lost　in　attempting　to　form；　or　in　having　the　order　regularly　given　by　the　Colonel。　　He　sprang　toward　the　enemy；　waving　his　sword；　and　shouted　in　tones　that　echoed　back　from　the　cliffs：

〃Attention；　BATTALION！　　Charge　bayonets！　　FORWARD；　DOUBLE…QUICK；　MARCH！〃

A　swelling　cheer　answered　him。　　His　own　company　ran　forward　to　follow　his　impetuous　lead。　　The　others　joined　in　rapidly。　　Away　they　dashed　down　the　side　of　the　declivity；　and　in　an　instant　more　were　swarming　up　the　opposite　side　toward　the　astonished　Rebels。　Among　these　divided　councils　reigned。　　Some　were　excited　snapping　unloaded　guns　at　the　oncoming　foe；　others　were　fixing　bayonets；　and　sturdily　urging　their　comrades　to　do　likewise；　and　meet　the　rushing　wave　of　cold　steel　with　a　counter　wave。　　The　weaker…hearted　ones　were　already　clambering　up　the　mountain…side　out　of　reach　of　harm。

There　was　no　time　for　debate。　　The　blue　line　led　by　Bennett　flung　itself　upon　the　dark…brown　mass　of　Rebels　like　an　angry　wave　dashing　over　a　flimsy　bank　of　sand；　and　in　an　instant　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　but　pursue　the　disrupted　and　flying　fragments。　　It　was　all　over。





Chapter　III。　　A　Race。




〃Some　have　greatness　thrust　upon　them。〃　　Twelfth　Night。


The　unexpected　volley　probably　disturbed　private　Jacob　Alspaugh's　mind　more　than　that　of　any　other　man　in　the　regiment。　　It　produced　there　an　effect　akin　to　the　sensation　of　nauseous　emetic　in　his　stomach。

He　had　long　enjoyed　the　enviable　distinction　of　being　the　〃best　man〃　among　combative　youths　of　Sardis；　and　his　zeal　and　invariable　success　in　the　fistic　tournaments　which　form　so　large　a　part　of　the　interest　in　life　of　a　certain　class　of　young　men　in　villages；　had　led　his　townsmen　to　entertain　extravagant　hopes　as　to　his　achievements　in　the　field。

But；　like　most　of　his　class；　his　courage　was　purely　physical；　and　a　low　order　of　that　type。　　He　was　bold　in　those　encounters　where　he　knew　that　his　superior　strength　and　agility　rendered　small　the　chances　of　his　receiving　any　serious　bodily　harm；　but　of　that　high　pride　and　mounting　spirit　which　lead　to　soldierly　deeds　he　had　none。

The　sight　of　the　dying　men　on　each　side　shriveled　his　heart　with　a　deadly　panic。

〃O；　Kent；〃　he　groaned；　〃Lemme　go；　and　let's　git　out　o'　here。　　This's　just　awful；　and　it'll　be　ten　times　wuss　in　another　minnit。　　Let's　git　behind　that　big　rock　there；　as　quick　as　the　Lord'll　let　us。〃

He　turned　to　pull　away　from　Kent's　detaining　hand；　when　he　heard　Captain　Bennett's　order　to　the　regiment　to　charge；　and　the　hand　relaxed　its　hold。　　Jake　faced　to　the　front　again　and　saw　Kent　and　Abe　Bolton；　and　the　rest　of　the　boys　rush　forward；　leaving　him　and　a　score　of　other　weak…kneed　irresolutes　standing　alone　behind。

Again　he　thought　he　would　seek　the　refuge　of　the　rock；　but　at　that　moment　the　Union　line　swept　up　to　the　Rebels；　scattering　them　as　a　wave　does　dry　sand。

Jake's　mental　motions　were　reasonably　rapid。　　Now　he　was　not　long　in　realizing　that　all　the　danger　was　past；　and　that　he　had　an　opportunity　of　gaining　credit　cheaply。　　He　acted　　promptly。　　Fixing　his　bayonet；　he　gave　a　fearful　yell　and　started　forward　on　a　run　for　the　position　which　the　regiment　had　gained。

He　was　soon　in　the　lead　of　the　pursuers；　and　appeared；　by　his　later　zeal；　to　be　making　amends　for　his　earlier　tardiness。　　As　he　ran　ahead　he　shouted　savagely：

〃Run　down　the　hellions！　　Shoot　'em！　　Stab　'em！　Bay'net　'em！　　Don't　let　one　of　'em　git　away。〃

There　is　an　excitement　in　a　man…chase　that　is　not　even　approached　by　any　other　kind　of　hunting；　and　Jake　soon　became　fairly　intoxicated　with　it。

He　quickly　overtook　one　or　two　of　the　slower…paced　Rebels；　who　surrendered　quietly；　and　were　handed　by　him　over　to　the　other　boys　as　they　came　up；　and　conducted　by　them　to　the　rear。

Becoming　more　excited　he　sped　on；　entirely　unmindful　of　how　far　he　was　outstripping　his　comrades。

A　hundred　yards　ahead　of　him　was　a　tall；　gaunt　Virginian；　clad　in　butternut…colored　jeans　of　queer　cut　and　pattern；　and　a　great　bell…crowned　hat　of　rough；　gray　beaver。　　Though　his　gait　was　shambling　and　his　huge　splay　feet　rose　and　fell　in　the　most　awkward　way；　he　went　over　the　ground　with　a　swiftness　that　made　it　rather　doubtful　whether　Jake　was　gaining　on　him　at　all。　　But　the　latter　was　encouraged　by　the　sings　of　his　chase's　distress。　　First　the　bell…crowned　hat　flew　off　and　rolled　behind；　and　Jake　could　not　resist　the　temptation　to　give　it　a　kick　which　sent　it　spinning　into　a　clump　of　honeysuckles。　Then　the　Rebel　flung　off　a　haversack；　whose　flapping　interfered　with　his　speed；　and　this　was　followed　by　a　clumsily…constructed　cedar　canteen。　　The　thought　flashed　into　Jake's　mind　that　this　was　probably　filled　with　the　much…vaunted　peach…brandy　of　that　section；　and　as　ardent　sprits　were　one　of　his　weaknesses；　the　temptation　to　stop　and　pick　up　the　canteen　was　very　strong；　but　he　conquered　it　and　hurried　on　after　his　prey。　　Next　followed　the　fugitive's　belt；　loaded　down　with　an　antique　cartridge…box；　a　savage　knife　made　from　a　rasp　and　handled　with　buckhorn；　and　a　fierce…looking　horse…pistol　with　a　flint…lock。

〃I　seemed　to　be　bustin'　up　a　moosyum　o'　revolutionary　relics；〃　said　Jake　afterward；　in　describing　the　incident。　　〃The　feller　dropped　keepsakes　from　his　forefathers　like　a　bird　moltin'　its　feathers　on　a　windy　day。　　I　begun　to　think　that　if　I　kep　up　the　chase　purty　soon　he'd　begin　to　shed　Continental　money　and　knee…britches。〃

The　fugitive　turned　off　to　the　right　into　a　narrow　path　that　wound　through　the　laurel　thickets。　　Jake　followed　with　all　the　energy　that　remained　in　him；　confident　that　a　short　distance　more　would　bring　him　so　close　to　his　game　that　he　could　force　his　surrender　by　a　threat　of　bayoneting。　　He　caught　up　to　within　a　rod　of　the　Rebel；　and　was　already　foreshortening　his　gun　for　a　lunge　in　case　of　refusal　to　surrender　on　demand；　when　he　was　amazed　to　see　the　Rebel　whirl　around；　level　his　gun　at　him；　and　order　HIS　surrender。　Jake　was　so　astonished　that　he　stumbled；　fell　forward　and　dropped　his　gun。　　As　he　raised　his　eyes　he　saw　three　or　four　other　Rebels　step　out　from　behind　a　rock；　and　level　their　guns　upon　him　with　an　expression　of　bloodthirstiness　that　seemed　simply　fiendish。

Then　it　flashed　upon　him　how　far　away　he　was　from　all　his　comrades；　and　that　the　labyrinth　of　laurel　made　them　even　more　remote。　　With　this　realization　came　the　involuntary　groan：

〃O；　Lordy！　it's　all　up　with　me。　　I'm　a　goner；　sure！〃

His　courage　did　not　ooze　out　of　his　fingers；　like　the　historic　Bob　Acres's；　it　vanished　like　gas　from　a　rent　balloon。　　He　clasped　his　hands　and　tried　to　think　of　some　prayer。

〃Now　I　lay　me；〃　he　murmured。

〃Shan't　we　shoot　the　varmint？〃　said　one　of　the　Rebels；　with　a　motion　of　his　gun　in　harmony　with　that　idea。

〃O；　mistermisterGOOD　mister；　DON'T！　　PLEASE　don't！　　I　swear　I　didn't　mean　to　do　no　harm　to　you。〃

〃Wall；　ye　acted　monty　quare　fur　a　man　that　didn't　mean　no　harm；〃　said　the　pursued　man；　regaining　his　breath　with　some　difficulty。　〃A…chasin'　me　down　with　thet　ar　prod　on　yer　gun；　an'　a…threatenin'　to　stick　hit　inter　me　at　every　jump。　　Only　wanted　ter　see　me　run；　did　yer？〃

〃O；　mister；　I　only　done　it　because　I　wuz　ordered　to。　　I　couldn't　help　myself；　I　swear　I　couldn't。〃

〃Whar's　the　ossifers　thet　wuz　a…orderin'　ye？　　Whar's　the　captins　that　wuz　puttin'　ye　up　ter　hit？　　Thar　wan't　no　one　in　a　mile　of　ye。　　Guess　we'd　better　shoot　ye。〃

Again　Jake　raised　his　voice　i