the red acorn-第20节

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〃No；〃　answered　Fortner；　〃but　we're　a…comin'　ter　what　is　every　bit　an'　grain　ez　dangersome。　　Heah's　whar　the　path　winds　round　Blacksnake　Clift；　an'　ye'll　hev　ter　be　ez　keeful　o'　your　footin'　ez　ef　ye　war　treadin'　the　slippery　ways　o'　sin。　　The　path's　no　wider　'n　a　hoss's　back；　an'　no　better　ter　walk　on。　　On　the　right　hand　side　hit's　several　rods　down　ter　whar　the　creek's　tearin'　'long　like　a　mad　dog。　　Heah　hit　now；　can't　ye？〃

For　some　time　the　roar　of　the　torrent　sweeping　the　gorge　had　filled　Harry's　ears。

〃Ye　want　ter　walk　slow；〃　continued　Fortner；　〃an'　feel　keefully　with　yer　foot　every　time　afore　ye　sot　hit　squar'ly　down。　　Keep　yer　left　hand　a…feelin'　the　rocks　above　yer；　so's　ter　make　shore　all　the　time　thet　ye're　close　ter　'em。　　'Bout　half　way；　thar's　a　big　break　in　the　path。　　Hit's　jess　a　long　step　acrost　hit。　　Take　one　step　arter　I　say　thet　I'm　acrost；　the　feel　keerfully　with　yer　left　foot　fur　the　aidge　o'　the　break；　an'　then　step　out　ez　long　ez　ye　kin　with　yer　right。　　That'll　bring　ye　over。　　Be　shore　o'　yer　feet；　an　ye'll　be　all　right。〃

Harry　trembled　more　than　at　any　time　before。　　They　were　already　on　the　path　around　the　steep　cliff。　　The　darkness　was　inky。　　The　roar　of　the　waters　below　rose　loudlyangrily。　　The　wails　of　the　wildcats　behind；　overhead　and　in　front　of　them；　made　it　seem　as　if　the　sighing　pines　and　cedars　were　inhabited　with　lost　spirits　shrieking　warnings　of　impending　disaster。

Harry's　foot　came　down　upon　a　boulder　which　turned　under　his　weight。　He　regained　his　balance　with　a　start；　but　the　stone　toppled　over。　He　listened。　　There　were　scores　of　heart…beats　before　it　splashed　in　the　water　below。

〃Not　so　much　as　a　twig　between　here　and　eternity；〃　he　said　to　himself；　with　a　shudder。　　Then　aloud：　　〃Can't　we　stay　here；　some　place；　and　not　go　along　there　to…night？〃

The　roar　of　the　water　drowned　his　voice　before　it　reached　Fortner's　ears；　and　Harry；　obeying　the　instinct　to　accept　leadership；　followed　the　mountaineer　tremblingly。

In　a　little　while　he　feltmore　than　sawFortner　stop；　adjust　his　feet；　and　make　a　long　stride　forward　with　one　of　them。　　Glen　collected　himself　for　the　same　effort。　　He　had　need　of　all　of　his　resolution；　for　the　many　narrow　escapes　which　he　had　made　from　slipping　into　the　hungry　torrent；　had　shaken　every　nerve。

〃I'm　over；〃　called　out　Fortner。　　〃Ye　try　hit　now。〃

Harry　balanced　his　gun　so　as　to　embarrass　him　the　least；　and　carefully　felt　with　his　left　foot　for　the　edge　of　the　chasm。　　The　catamount　announced　his　renewed　presence　by　a　vindictive　scream。　The　clouds　parted　just　enough　to　let　through　a　rift　of　gray　light；　but　it　fell　not　upon　the　brink　of　the　black　gap　in　the　path。　　It　showed　for　an　instant　the　whirlpool；　with　fragments　of　tree　trunks；　of　ghastly　likeness　to　drowned　human　bodies；　eddying　dizzily　around。

〃Come　on；〃　called　out　Fortner；　impatiently。

Harry　stepped　out　desperately。　　For　a　mental　eternity　he　hung　in　air。　His　hands　relaxed　and　his　gun　dropped　with　a　crash　and　a　splash。　Then　his　foot　touched　the　other　side　with　nervous　doubtfulness。　It　slipped；　and　he　felt　himself　fallingfalling　into　all　that　he　feared。　　Fortner　grasped　his　collar　with　a　strong　hand；　and　dragged　him　up　against　the　rocky　wall　of　the　path。

〃Thar；　yer　all　right；〃　he　said；　panting　with　the　exertion；　〃but　hit　wuz　a　mouty　loud　call　for　ye。　　Gabriel's　ho'n　couldn't've　made　a　much　mo'　powerful　one。〃

〃I've　lost　my　gun；〃　said　Harry；　regretfully；　as　soon　as　he　could　compose　himself。

〃Cuss…an'…burn　the　blasted　ole　smooth…bore；〃　said　Fortner；　contemptuously。　　〃Don't　waste　no　tear　on　that　ole　kick…out…behind。　We'll　go　'long　'tween　Wildcat　an'　the　Ford；　an'　pick　up　a　wagon…load　uv　ez　good　shooters　ez　thet　clumsy　chunk　o'　pot…metal　wuz。　　Shake　yourself　together。　　We've　on'y　got　a　mile　or　so　ter　go　now。〃

In　Harry's　condition；　the　〃mile　or　so〃　seemed　to　be　stretching　out　a　long　ways　around　the　globe；　and　he　began　to　ask　himself　how　near　he　was　to　the　much…referred…to　〃heart　of　the　Southern　Confederacy。〃

At　length　a　little　fading　toward　gray　of　the　thick　blackness；　to　that　they　had　emerged　from　the　heavy　woods　into　more　open　country。　Harry　thought　they　were　come　to　fields；　but　he　could　see　nothing；　and　without　remark　plodded　painfully　after　his　leader。

Suddenly　a　large　pack　of　dogs　immediately　in　front　of　them　broke　the　stillness　with　a　startling　diapason；　ranging　from　the　deep　bass　of　the　mastiff　to　the　ringing　bark　of　the　fox…hounds。　　Mingled　with　this　was　the　sound　of　the　whole　pack　rushing　fiercely　forward。　Fortner　stopped　in　his　tracks　so　abruptly　that　Glen　stumbled　against　him。　　The　mountaineer　gave　the　peculiar　whistle　he　had　uttered　at　the　Ford。　　The　rush　ceased　instantly。　　The　deep　growls　of　the　mastiffs　and　bull…dogs　stopped　likewise；　only　the　hounds　and　the　shrill…voiced　young　dogs　continued　barking。

The　darkness　was　rent　by　a　long　narrow　lane　of　light。　　A　door　had　been　opened　in　a　tightly…closed　house；　just　beyond　the　dogs。

〃Down；　Tige！　　Git　out；　Beauty！〃　said　Forstner；　imperiously。　　〃Lay　down；　Watch！　　Quiet　Bruno！〃

The　clamors　of　the　gang　changed　to　little　yelps　of　welcome。

〃Is　that　you；　Jim？〃　inquired　a　high…pitched　but　not　unpleasant　voice；　from　the　door。

〃Yes；　Aunt　Debby；〃　answered　Fortner；　〃an'　I　hev　some　one　with　me。〃

As　the　two　approached；　surrounded　by　the　fawning　dogs；　a　slender；　erect　woman　appeared　in　the　doorway；　holding　above　her　head；　by　its　nail　and　chain；　one　of　the　rude　iron　lamps　common　in　the　houses　of　the　South。

〃Everything　all　right；　Aunt　Debby？〃　asked　Fortner；　as；　after　entering；　he　turned　from　firmly　securing　the　door；　by　placing　across　it　a　strong　wooden　bar　that　rested　in　the　timbers　on　either　side。

〃Yes；　thank　God！〃　she　said　with　quiet　fervor。　　She　stepped　with　graceful　freedom　over　the　floor；　and　hung　the　lamp　up　by　thrusting　the　nail　into　a　crack　in　one　of　the　logs　forming　the　walls　of　the　room。　　〃An'　how　is　hit　with　ye？〃　she　asked；　facing　Fortner；　with　her　large　gray　eyes　eloquent　with　solicitude。

〃O；　ez　fur　me；　I'm　jes　ez　sound　ez　when　I　left　heah　last　week；　'cept　thet　I'm　tireder　'n　a　plow　mule　at　night；　an'　hongrier　nor　a　b'ar　thet's　lived　all　Winter　by　suckin'　hits　paws。〃

〃I　s'pose　y'　air　tired　an'　hongry；　ye　look　hit；〃　said　the　woman；　with　a　compassionate　glance　at　Harry；　who　had　sunk　limpy　into　a　chair　before　the　glowing　wood…fire　that　filled　up　a　large　part　of　the　end　of　the　room。

〃Set　down　by　the　fire；〃　she　continued；　〃an'　I'll　git　ye　some　pone　an'　milk。　　Thar's　nothin'　better　ter　start　in　on　when　yer　rale　empty。〃　　She　went　to　a　rude　cupboard　in　the　farther　part　of　the　room；　whence　the　note　of　colliding　crockery　soon　gave　information　that　she　was　busy。

Fortner　took　a　bunch　of　tow　from　his　pouch；　and　with　it　wiped　off　every　particle　of　dampness　from　the　outside　of　his　rifle；　after　which　he　laid　the　gun　on　two　wooden　hooks　above　the　fireplace；　and　hung　the　accouterments　on　deer　horns　at　its　breech。

〃Pull　off　yer　shoes　an'　toast　yer　feet；〃　he　said　to　Harry。　　〃The　fire'll　draw　the　tiredness　right　out。〃

Harry's　relaxed　fingers　fumbled　vainly　with　the　wet　and　obstinate　shoe…strings。　　Aunt　Debby　came　up　with　a　large　bowl　of　milk　in　each　hand；　and　a　great　circular　loaf　of　corn…bread　under　her　arm。　　She　placed　her　burden　upon　the　floor；　and　with　quick；　deft　fingers　loosened　the　stubborn　knots　without　an　apparent　effort；　drew　off　the　muddy　shoes　and　set　them　in　a　dark　corner　near　the　fireplace　before　Harry　fairly　realized　that　he　had　let　a　woman　do　this　humble　office　for　him。　　The　sight　and　smell　of　food　aroused　him　from　the　torpor　of　intense　fatigue；　and　he　devoured　the　homely　fare　set　before　him　with　a　relish　that　he　had　never　before　felt　for　victuals。　　As　he　ate　his　senses　awakened　so　that　he　studied　his　hostess　with　interest。　　Hair　which　the　advancing　years；　while　bleaching　to　a　snowy　white　had　still　been　unable　to　rob　of　the　curling　waves　of　girlhood；　rippled　over　a　broad　white　brow；　sober　but　scarcely　wrinkled；　large；　serious　but　gentle　gray　eyes；　and　a　small；　firm　mouth；　filled　with　even　white　teeth　were　the　salient　features　of　a　face　at　once　resolute；　refined　and　womanly。　　Long；　slender　hands；　small　feet；　covered　with　coarse　but　well…fitting　shoes；　a　slight；　erect　figure；　suggestive　of　nervous　strength；　and　clad　in　a　shapely　homespun　gown　stamped　her　as　a　superior　specimen　of　the　class　of　mountaineer　woman　to　which　she　belonged。

〃Heah's　'nuther　pone；　honey；〃　she　said　to　Fortner；　as　she　handed　both　of　them　segments　of　another　disk　of　corn…bread；　to　replace　that　which　they　had　ravenously　devoured。　　〃An'　le'　me　fill　yer　bowls　agin。　　Hit　takes　a　powerful　sight　o'　bread　an'　milk　ter　do　when　one's　rale　hongry。　　But　'tain't　like　meat　vittels。　　Ye　can't　eat　'nuff　ter　do　ye　harm。〃

She　took　from　its　place　behind　the　rough　stones　that　formed　the　jam　of　the　fireplace　a　rude　broom；　made　by　shaving　down　to　near　its　end　long　slender　strips　from　a　stick　of　pliant　green　hickory；　then　turning　these　over　the　end　and　confining　them　by　a　band　into　an　exaggerated　mop　or　brush。　　With　this　she　swept　back　from　the　hearth　of　uneven　stones　the　live　coals　flung　out　by　the　fire。

〃Thar's　some　walnut　sticks　amongst　thet　wood；〃　she　said　as　she　replaced　the　hearth…broom；　〃an'　they　pops　awful。〃

From　a　pouch…like　baske