the red acorn-第19章
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d clear to the summit。 Through this the torrent of noise poured as when a powerful band passes the head of a street。 Down this avenue came rolling the crash of thousands of muskets fired with the intense energy of men in mortal combat； the deeper pulsations of the artillery； and even the firece yells of the fighters； as charges were made or repulsed。
Glen felt the blood settle around his heart anew。
〃Get out of the road and let the artillery pass！ Open up for the artillery！〃 shouted voices from the rear。 Everybody sprang to the side of the road。
There came a sound of blows rained upon horses bodiesof shouts and oaths from exited drivers and eager officersof rushing wheels and of ironed hoofs striking fire from the grindng stones。 Six long…bodied； strong…limbed horses； their hides reeking with sweat； and their nostrils distended with intense effort； tore past； snatching after them； as if it were a toy； a gleaming brass cannon； surrounded by galloping cannoneers； who goaded the draft horses on with blows with the flats of their drawn sabers。 Another gun； with its straining horses and galloping attendants； and another； and another； until six great； grim pieces； with their scres of desperately eager men and horses； had rushed by toward the front。
It was a sight to stir the coldest blood。 The excited infantry boys； wrought up to the last pitch by the spectacle； sprang back into the road； cheered vociferously； and rushed on after the battery。
Hardly had the echoes of their voices died away； when they heard the battery join its thunders to the din of the fight。
Then wounded men； powder…stained； came straggling backmen with shattered arms and gashed faces and garments soaked with blood from bleeding wounds。
〃Hurrah； boys！〃 each shouted with weakened voice； as his eyes lighted up at sight of the regiment； 〃We're whipping them； but hurry forward！ You're needed。〃
〃If you ain't pretty quick；〃 piped one girl…faced boy； with a pensive smile； as he sat weakly down on a stone and pressed a delicate hand over a round red spot that had just appeared on the breast of his blouse； 〃you'll miss all the fun。 We've about licked 'em already。 Oh！〃
Abe and Kent sprang forward to catch him； but he was dead almost before they could reach him。 They laid him back tenderly on the brown dead leaves； and ran to regain their places in the ranks。
The regiment was now sweeping around the last curve between it and the line of battle。 The smell of burning powder that filled the air； the sight of flowing blood； the shouts of teh fighting men； had awakened every bosom that deep…lying KILLING instinct inherited from our savage ancestry； which slumbersgenerally wholly unsuspectedin even the gentlest man's bosom； until some accident gives it a terrible arousing。
Now the slaying fever burned in every soul。 They were marching with long； quick strides； but well…closed ranks； elbow touching elbow； and every movement made with the even more than the accuracy of a parade。 Harry felt himself swept forward by a current as resistless as that which sets over Niagara。
They came around the little hill； and saw a bank of smoke indicating where the line of battle was。
〃Let's finish the canteen now；〃 said Kent。 〃It may get bored by a bullet and all run out； and you know I hate to waste。〃
〃I suppose we might as well drink it；〃 assented Abethe first time in the history of the regiment； that he agreed with anybody。 〃We mayn't be able to do it in ten minutes； and it would be too bad to 've lugged that all the way here； just for some one else to drink。〃
An Aide； powder…grimed； but radiant with joy； dashed up。 〃Colonel；〃 he said； 〃you had better go into line over in that vacant space there； and wait for orders； but I don't think you will have anything to do； for the General believes that the victory is on； and the Rebels are in full retreat。〃
As he spoke； a mighty cheer rolled around the line of battle； and a band stationed upon a rock which formed the highest part of the mountain； burst forth with the grand strains of 〃Star…spangled Banner。〃
The artillery continued to hurl screaming shot and shell down into the narrow gorge； through which the defeated Rebels were flying with mad haste。
Chapter X。 The Mountaineer's Revenge。
And if we do but watch the hour； There never yet was human power Which could evade； if unforgiven； The patient search and vigil long Of him who treasures up a wrong。 Byron。
Harry Glen's first feeling when he found the battle was really over； was that of elation that the crisis to which he had looked forward with so much apprehension； had passed without his receiving any bodily harm。 This was soon replaced by regret that the long…coveted opportunity had been suffered to pass unimproved； and still another strong sentimentthat keen sense of disappointment which comes when we have braced ourselves up to encounter an emergency； and it vanishes。 There is the feeling of waste of valuable accumulated energy； which is as painful as that of energy misapplied。
Still farther； he felt sadly that the day of his vindication had been again postponed over another weary period of probation。
All around was intense enthusiasm； growing stronger every instant。 It was the first battle tha the victors had been engaged in； and they felt the tumultuous joy that the first triumph brings to young soldiers。 It was the first encounter upon the soil of Kentucky； it was the first victory between the Cumberland Mountains and the Mississippi River； and the loss of the victors was insignificant； compared with that of the vanquished。
The cold drench from the skies； the dreary mudeven the dead and woundedwere forgotten in the jubilation at the sight of the lately insolent foe flying in confusion down the mountain side； recking for nothing so much as for personal safety。
The band continued to play patriotic airs； and the cannon to thunder long after the last Rebel had disappeared in the thick woods at the bottom of the gloomy gorge。
A detail of men and some wagons were sent back after the regiment's baggage； and the rest of the boys； after a few minutes survey of the battle…field； were set to work building fires； cooking rations and preparing from the branches and brush such shelter as could be made to do substitute duty for the tents left behind。
Little as was Harry's normal inclination to manual labor； it was less than ever now； with these emotions struggling in his mind； and leaving his comrades hard at work； he wandered off to where Hoosier Knob； a commanding eminence on the left of the battle…field seemed to offer the best view of the retreat of the forces of Zollicoffer。 Arriving there； he pushed on down the slope to where the enemy's line had stood； and where now were groups of men in blue uniforms； searching for trophies of the fight。 In one place a musket would be found； in another a cap with a silver star； or a canteen quaintly fashioned from alternate staves of red and white cedar。 Each 〃find〃 was proclaimed by the discoverer； and he was immediately surrounded by a group to earnestly inspect and discuss it。 It was still the first year of the war； the next year 〃trophies〃 were left to rot unnoticed on the battle…fields they covered。
Harry took no interest in relic…hunting； but walked onward toward another prominence that gave hopes of a good view of the Rebels。 The glimpses he gained from this of the surging mass of fugitives inflamed him with the excitement of the chaseof the most exciting of chases； a man…hunt。 He forgot his fearsforgot how far behind he was leaving all the others； and became eager only to see more of this fascinating sight。 Before he was aware of it； he was three or four miles from the Gap。
Here a point ran boldly down from the mountain into the valley； and ended in a bare knob that overlooked the narrow creek bottom； along which the beaten host was forging its way。 Harry unhesitatingly descended to this； and stood gazing at the swarming horde below。 It was a sight to rivet the attention。 The narrow level space through which the creek meandered between the two parrallel ranges of heights was crowded as far as he could see with an ar
