the red acorn-第26节

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he　regiment　would　be！　　Cavalry'd　be　nowhere。〃

Toward　the　foot　of　the　mountain　their　path　led　them　across　a　noisy；　swollen　little　creek；　whose　overflowing　waters　were　dyed　deeply　red　and　yellow　by　the　load　of　hill　caly　they　were　carrying　away　in　their　headlong　haste。　　A　little　to　the　left　lay　a　corpse　of　more　striking　appearance　than　any　they　had　yet　seen。　　It　was　that　of　a　tall；　slender；　gracefully　formed　young　man；　clad　in　an　officer's　uniform　of　rich　gray　cloth；　lavishly　ornamented　with　gilt　buttons　and　gold　lace。　　The　features　were　strong；　but　delicately　cut；　and　the　dark　skin　smooth　and　fine…textured。　　One　shapely　hand　still　clasped　the　hilt　of　a　richly　ornamented　sword；　with　which　he　had　evidently　been　directing　his　men；　and　his　staring　gray　eyes　seemed　yet　filled　with　the　anger　of　battle。　　A　bullet　had　reached　him　as　he　stood　upon　a　little　knoll；　striving　to　stay　the　headlong　flight。　Falling　backward　his　head　touched　the　edge　of　the　swift　running　water；　which　was　now　filling　his　long；　black　locks　with　slimy　sediment。

〃The　ounce　o'　lead　that　done　that　piece　o'　work；〃　said　Abe；　〃was　better'n　a　horseload　o'　gold。　　A　few　more　used　with　as　good　judgement　would　bring　the　rebellion　to　an　end　in　short　meter。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Kent；　〃he's　one　of　the　Chivalry；　one　of　the　main　props；　one　of　the　fellows　who　are　trying　to　bring　about　Secession　in　the　hopes　of　being　Dukes；　or　Marquises；　or　EarlsHigh　Keepers　of　His　Majesty　Jeff。　Davis's　China　Spittoons；　or　Grand　Custodians　of　the　Prince　of　South　Carolina's　Plug　Tobacco；　when　the　Southern　Confederacy　gains　its　independence。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Abe；　raising　the　Rebel's　hat　on　the　point　of　his　bayonet；　and　laying　it　across　the　corpse's　face；　〃he's　changed　bosses　much　sooner　than　he　expected。　　Jeff。　Davis's　blood…relation；　who　presides　over　the　Sulphur　Confederacy；　will　put　on　his　shoulder…straps　with　a　branding…iron；　and　serve　up　his　rations　for　him　red…hot。　　I　only　wish　he　had　more　going　along　with　him　to　keep　him　company。〃

〃Save　your　feelings　against　the　Secessionists　for　expression　with　your　gun　in　the　next　fight；　and　come　along。　　I'm　getting　thirstier　every　minute。〃

They　walked　on　rapidly　for　a　couple　or　three　hours；　without　finding　much　encouragement　in　their　search。　　The　rugged　mountain　sides　were　but　thinly　peopled；　and　the　few　poor　cabins　they　saw　in　the　distance　they　decided　were　not　promising　enough　of　results　to　justify　clambering　up　to　where　they　were　perched。　　At　last；　almost　wearied　out；　they　halted　for　a　little　while　to　rest　and　scan　the　interminable　waves　of　summits　that　stretched　out　before　them。

〃Ah；〃　said　Kent；　rising　suddenly；　〃let's　go　on。　　Hope　dawns　at　last。　　I　smell　apples。　　That's　a　perfume　my　nose　never　mistakes。　We're　near　an　orchard。　　Where　there's　an　orchard　there's　likely　to　be　a　pretty　good　style　of　house；　and　where　in　Kentucky　there's　a　good　style　of　house　there's　a　likelihood　of　being　plenty　of　good　whisky。　　Now　there's　a　train　of　brilliant　inductive　reasoning　that　shows　that　nature　intended　me　to　be　a　great　natural　philosopher。　Come　on；　Abe。〃

The　smell　of　apples　certainly　did　grow　more　palpable　as　they　proceeded；　and　Abe　muttered　that　even　if　they　did　not　get　any　thing　to　drink　they　would　probably　get　enough　of　the　fruit　to　make　an　agreeable　change　in　their　diet。

They　emerged　from　the　woods　into　a　cleared　space　where　a　number　of　roads　and　paths　focused。　　To　the　right　was　a　little　opening　in　the　mountain…side；　hardly　large　enough　to　be　called　a　valley；　but　designated　in　the　language　of　the　region　as　a　〃hollow。〃　　At　its　mouth　stood　a　couple　of　diminutive　log…cabins；　of　the　rudest　possible　construction；　and　roofed　with　〃clapboards〃　held　in　place　by　stones　and　poles。　　A　long　string　of　wooden　troughs；　supported　upon　props；　conducted　the　water　from　an　elevated　spring　to　the　roof　of　one　of　the　cabins；　and　the　water　could　be　seen　issuing　again　from　underneath　the　logs　at　one　side　of　the　cabin。　　A　very　primitive　cider　milltwo　wooden　rollers　fastened　in　a　frame；　and　moved　by　a　long　sapling　sweep　attached　to　one　of　themstood　near。　　The　ground　was　covered　with　rotting　apple　pomace；　from　which　arose　the　odor　that　had　reached　Kent's　nose。

〃Hello！〃　said　the　latter；　〃here's　luck；　here's　richness！　　We've　succeeded　beyond　our　most　sanguine　expectations；　as　the　boy　said；　who　ran　away　from　school　to　catch　minnows；　and　caught　a　ducking；　a　bad　cold　and　a　licking。　　We've　struck　an　apple…jack　distillery；　and　as　they've　been　at　work　lately；　they've　probably　left　enough　somewhere　to　give　us　all　that　we　can　drink。〃

Abe's　sigh　was　eloquent　of　a　disbelief　that　such　a　consummation　was　possible；　short　of　the　blissful　hereafter。

Inside　of　one　of　the　cabins　they　found　a　still　about　the　size　of　a　tub；　with　a　worm　of　similar　small　proportions；　kept　cook　by　the　flow　from　the　spring。　　Some　tubs　and　barrels；　in　which　the　lees　of　cider　were　rapidly　turning　to　vinegar；　gave　off　a　fuity；　spirituous　odor；　but　for　awhile　their　eager　search　did　not　discover　a　bit　of　the　distilled　product。　　At　last；　Kent；　with　a　cry　of　triumph；　dragged　from　a　place　of　cunning　concealment　a　small　jug；　stopped　with　a　corncob。　　He　smelled　it　hungrily。

〃Yes；　here　is　some。　　It's　apple…jack；　not　a　week　old；　and　as　rank　as　a　Major　General。　　Phew！　　I　can　smell　every　stick　they　burned　to　distil　it。　　Abe；　watch　me　closely　while　I　drink。　　I　magnanimously　take　the　lead；　out　of　consideration　for　you。　　If　I　ain't　dead　in　five　minutes；　you　try　it。〃

〃O；　stop　monkeying；　and　drink；〃　was　the　impatient　answer。

Kent　put　the　jug　to　his　mouth　and　took　a　long　draught。　　〃Shade　of　old　Father　Noah；　the　first　drunkard；〃　he　said　as　he　wiped　the　tears　from　his　eyes；　〃another　swig　like　that　would　pull　out　all　the　rivets　in　my　internal　pipings。　　Heavens！　it　went　down　like　pulling　a　cat　out　of　a　hole　by　the　tail。　　I'm　afraid　to　wipe　my　mouth；　lest　my　breath　burn　a　hole　in　the　sleeve　of　my　blouse。〃

Three…quarters　of　an　hour　later；　the　spirits　in　the　jug　were　lowering　and　those　in　the　men　rising　with　unequal　rapidity。　　Under　the　influence　of　the　fiery　stimulant；　Kent's　sanguine　temperament　boiled　and　bubbled　over。　　Imagination　painted　the　present　and　future　in　hues　of　dazzling　radiance。　　Everything　was　as　delightful　as　it　could　be　now；　and　would　become　more　charming　as　time　rolled　on。　　But　with　Abe　Bolton　drinking　tended　to　develop　moroseness　into　savagery。

〃Ah；　comfort　me　with　apple…jack；　and　stay　me　with　flagons　of　it；〃　said　Kent　Edwards；　setting　down　the　jug　with　the　circumspection　of　a　man　not　yet　too　drunk　to　suspect　that　he　is　losing　exact　control　of　his　legs　and　arms。　　〃That　gets　better　the　deeper　down　you　go。　First　it　was　like　swallowing　a　chestnut　burr；　now；　old　hand…made　Bourbon　couldn't　be　smoother。〃

〃A　man　can　get　used　to　a'most　anything；〃　said　Bolton。

〃I　get　gladder　every　day；　Abe；　that　I　came　into　the　army。　　I　wouldn't　have　missed　all　this　experience　for　the　finest　farm　in　the　Miami　Valley。


''Twere　worth　ten　years　of　peaceful　life；　　　To　soldier　have　a　day；'


Sir　Walter　Scott　saysas　I　improve　him。〃

〃'Specially　one　of　them　soaking　days　when　we　were　marching　through　the　mud　to　Wildcat。〃

〃O；　those　were　just　thrown　in　to　make　us　appreciate　good　weather　when　we　have　it。　　Otherwise　we　wouldn't。　　You　know　what　the　song　says：


'For　Spring　would　be　but　gloomy　weather；　　　If　we　had　nothing　else　but　Spring。'〃


〃Well；　for　my　part；　one　o'　them　days　was　enough　to　p'ison　six　months　o'　sunshine。　　I　declare；　I　believe　I'll　feel　mildewed　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　　I　know　if　I　pulled　off　my　clothes　you　could　scrape　the　green　mold　off　my　back。〃

〃And　I'm　sure　that　if　we'd　had　the　whole　army　to　pick　from；　we　couldn't've　got　in　with　a　better　lot　of　boys　and　officers。　　Every　one　of　them's　true　blue；　and　a　MAN　all　the　way　through。　　It's　the　best　regiment　in　the　army；　and　our　company's　the　best　company　in　the　regiment；　and　I　flatter　myself　the　company　hasn't　got　two　other　as　good　men　as　we　are。〃

〃Your　modesty'll　ruin　you　yet；　Kent；〃　said　Abe；　sardonically。　〃It's　very　painful　to　see　a　man　going　'round　unerrating　himself　as　you　do。　　If　I　could　only　get　you　to　have　a　proper　opinion　of　yourselfthat　is；　believe　that　you　are　a　bigger　man　than　General　Scott　or　George　B。　McClellan；　I'd　have　some　hopes　of　you。〃

〃We'll　have　one　grand；　big　battle　with　the　Secessionists　now；　pretty　sooneverything's　getting　ripe　for　itand　we'll　whip　them　like　Wellington　whipped　Napoleon　at　Waterloo。　　Our　regiment　will　cover　itself　with　glory；　in　which　you　and　I　will　have　a　big　share。　　Then　we'll　march　back　to　Sardis　with　flags　flying　and　drums　beating；　everybody　turning　out；　and　the　bands　playing　'See；　the　Conquering　Hero　Comes；'　when　you　and　I　come　down　the　street；　and　we'll　be　heroes　for　the　rest　of　our　natural　lives。〃

〃Go　ahead；　and　tell　the　rest　of　it　to　the　mash…tubs　and　the　still。　I've　heard　as　much　as　I　can　stand；　an　I　must　have　a　breath　of　fresh　air。　　I'm　going　into　the　other　cabin　to　see　what's　there。〃

Kent　followed　him　to　the　door；　with　the　jug　in　his　hand。

〃Kent；　there's　a　man　coming　down　the　path　there；〃　said　Abe；　pulling　himself　together；　after　the　manner　of　a　half…drunken　man　whose　attention　is　powerfully　distracted。

〃Where？〃　asked　Kent；　setting　the　jug　down　with　solicitous　gentleness；　and　reaching　b