the red acorn-第24章
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verthrow and destroy their Canaanitish oppressors。
〃O； God！〃 she said in low； thrilling tones； 〃Thou's aforetimes gi'n me much ter be thankful fur； as well ez much ter dumbly ba'r when Thy rod smote me fur reasons thet I couldn't understand。 Thou knows how gladly I'd've gi'n not on'y my pore； nigh…spent life； but also those o' my kinsmen； which I prize much higher； fur sech a vict'ry ez this over the inimies of Thee an' Thy people。 But Thou'st gi'n hit free ez Thy marcy； without axin' blood sacrifice from any on us。 I kin on'y praise Thee an' Thy goodness all my days。〃
Fortner rose and listend with bowed head while she spoke。 When she finished he snatched up the ball of shriveling yarn and quenched its smoking with his hand。 Looking fixedly at this he said softly： 〃Aunt Debby； honey； I hain't tole ye all yit。〃
〃No； Jim？〃
〃No；〃 said he； slowly winding up the yarn； 〃Arter the fouten wuz thru with at the Gap I slipt down the mounting； an' come in on the r'ar uv those fellers； an' me an' this ere man drapt two on 'em。〃
〃I kinder 'spected ye would do something uv thet sort。〃
〃Then we tuk a short cut an' overtuk 'em agin； an' we drapt another。〃
Aunt Debby's eyes expressed surprise at this continued good fortune。
〃An' then we tuk 'nuther short cut； an' saved 'nuther one。〃
Aunt Debby waited for him to continue。
〃At lastjess ez they come ter the FordI seed OUR man。〃
〃Seed Kunnel Bill Pennington？〃 The great gray eyes were blazing now。
〃Yes。〃 Fortner's speech was the spiritless drawl of the mountains； and it had now become so languid that it seemed doubtful if after the enunciation of each word whether vitality enough remained to evolve a successor。 〃Yes；〃 he repeated with a yawn； as he stuck the ball of yarn upon the needles and gave the whole a toss which landed it in the wall…basket； 〃an' I GOT him； tew。〃
〃O； just God！ Air ye shore？〃
〃Jess ez shore ez in the last great day thar'll be some 'un settin' in judgement atween him an' me。 I wanted him ter be jess ez shore about me。 I came out in plain sight； and drawed his attention。 He knowed me at fust glimpse； an' pulled his revolver。 I kivered his heart with the sights an' tetcht the trigger。 I'm sorry now thet I didn't shoot him thru the belly； so thet he'd been a week a…dyin' an' every minnit he'd remembered what he wuz killed fur。 But I wuz so afeered that I would not kill him ef I hit him some place else'n the heartthet's a wayall pizen varmints hevthet I didn't da'r resk hit。 I wuz detarmined ter git him； too； ef I had ter foller him clean ter Cumberland Gap。〃
〃Ye done God's vengence；〃 said Aunt Debby sternly。 〃An' yit hit wuz very soon ter expect hit。〃 She clasped her hands upon her forehead and rocked back and forth； gazing fixedly into the mass of incandescent coals。
〃Hit's gwine to cla'r up ter…morrow；〃 said Fortner； returning from an inspection of the sky at the door。 〃Le's potter off ter bed；〃 he continued rousing up Harry。 They removed their outer garments and crawled into one of the comfortable beds in the room。
Later in the night a sharp pain in one of Harry's over…strained legs awoke him out of his deep slumber； for a few minutes。 Aunt Debby was still seated before the fire in her chair； rocking back and forth； and singing softly：
〃Thy saints in all this glorious war； Shall conquer ere they die。 They see the triumph from afar By faith they bring hit nigh。 Sure I must suffer ef I would reign； Increase my courage； Lord。 I'll bear the toil； endure the pain。〃
He went to sleep again with the sweet strains ringing in his ears； as if in some way a part of the marvelous happenings of that most eventful day。
Chapter XII。 Aunt Debby Brill。
Beneath the dark waves where the dead go down； There are gulfs of night more deep； But little they care； whom the waves once drown； How far from the litght they sleep。
And dark though Sorrow's fearful billows be； They have caverns darker still。 O God！ that Sorrow's waves were like the sea； Whose topmost waters kill。 …Anonymous。
It was nearly noon when Harry awoke。 The awakening came slowly and with pain。 In all his previous experiences he had had no hint even of such mental and bodily exhaustion as now oppressed him。 Every muscle and tendon was aching a bitter complaint against the strain it had been subjected to the day before。 Dull； pulseless pain smoldered in some； in others it was the keen throb of the toothache。 Continued lying in one position was unendurable； changing it； a thrill of anguish； and the new posture as intolerable as the first。 His brain galled and twinged as did his body。 To think was as acute pain as to use his sinews。 Yet he could not help thinking any more than he could help turning in the bed； though to turn was torture。
Every organ of thought was bruised and sore。 The fearful events of the day before would continue to thrust themselves upon his mind。 To put them out required painful effort； to recall and comprehend them was even worse。 Reflecting upon them now； with unstrung nerves； made them seem a hundred…fold more terrible than when they were the spontaneous offspring of hot blood。 With the reflection came the thoguhts that this was but a preludean introductionto an infinitely horrible saturnalia of violence and blood； through which he was to be hurried until released by his own destruction。 This became a nightmare that threatened to stagnate the blood in his veins。 He gasped； turned his back to the wall with an effort that thrilled him with pain； and opened his eyes。
Naught that he saw reminded him of the preceding day。 Sunny peace and contentment reigned。 The door stood wide open； and as it faced the south； the noonday sun pushed inclear to the opposite walla broad band of mellow light； vividly telling of the glory he was shedding where roof nor shade checked his genial glow。 On the smooth； hard； ashen floor； in the center of this bright zone； sat a matronly cat； giving with tongue and paw dainty finishing touches to her morning toilet； and watching with maternal pride a kittenish game of hide…and…seek on the front step。 Through the open doorway came the self…complacent cackling of hens； celebrating their latest additions to their nests； and the exultant call of a cock to his feathered harem to come； admire and partake of some especially fat worm； which he had just unearthed。 Farther away speckled Guinea chickens were clamoring their satisfaction at the improvement in the weather。 Still farther； gentle tinklings hinted of peacfully…browsing sheep。
Inside the house； bunches of sweet…smelling medicinal herbs； hanging agains the walls to dry； made the air heavy with their odors。 Aunt Debby was at work near the bright zone of sun…rays； spinning yarn with a 〃big wheel。〃 She held in one hand a long slender roll of carded wool； and in the other a short stick； with which she turned the wheel。 Setting it to whirling with a long sweep of the stick against a spoke； she would walk backward while the roll was twisted out into a long； thin thread； and then walk forward as they yarn was wound upon the spindle。 When she walked backward； the spindle hummed sharply； when she came forward it droned。 There was a stately rhythm in both； to which her footsteps and graceful sway of body kept time； and all blended harmoniously with the camp…meeting melody she was softly singing：
〃Jesus； I my cross have taken； All to leave and follow Thee； Naked； poor； despised； forsaken； Thou from hence my all shalt be。 Perish every fond ambition All I've sought； or hoped； or known； Yet how rich is my condition God and Heaven still my own。〃
A world of memories of a joyous past； unflecked by a single one of the miseries of the present； crowded in upon Harry on the wings of this well…remembered tune。 It was a favorite hymn at the Methodist church in Sardis； and the last time he had heard it was when he had accompanied Rachel to the church to attend services conducted by a noted evangelist。
Ah； Rachel！what of her？
He had not thought of her since a swift recollection of her words at the parting scene on the piazza had come to spur up his faltering r
