the red acorn-第28章

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gth。　　〃It's　no　wonder　these　Kentuckians　are　such　hard　drinkers。　　There's　something　in　the　atmosphere　that　makes　me　drier　the　farther　we　advance　into　the　State。　　Maybe　the　pursuit　of　glory　has　something　desiccating　in　it。　　At　least；　all　the　warriors　I　ever　heard　of　seemed　composed　of　clay　that　required　as　much　moistening　as　unslaked　lime。　　I　will　hie　me　to　teh　hill　of　frankincense　and　the　mountain　of　myrrh；　in　other　words；　I'll　go　back　where　Abe　is；　and　get　what's　left　in　the　canteen。〃

He　found　his　saturine　comrade　sitting　on　a　log　by　a　comfortable　fire；　restoring　buttons　which；　like　soldiers；　had　become　〃missing　by　reason　of　exigencies　of　the　campaign。〃

The　temptation　to　believe　that　inanimate　matter　can　be　actuated　by　obstinate　malice　is　almost　irresistible　when　one　has　to　do　with　the　long　skeins　of　black　thread　which　the　soldiers　use　for　their　sewing。　　These　skeins　resolve　themselves；　upon　the　pulling　of　the　first　thread；　into　bunches　of　entanglement　more　hopelessly　perverse　than　the　Gordian　knot；　or　the　snarls　in　a　child's　hair。　　To　the　inexperienced　victim；　desirous　of　securing　the　wherewithal　to　sew　a　button　on；　nothing　seems　easier　than　to　pull　a　thread　out　of　the　bunch　of　loose　filament　that　lies　before　him。　　Rash　man！　　That　simple　mesh　hat　a　baffling　power　like　unto　the　Labyrinth　of　Arsino；　and　long　labor　of　fingers　and　teeth　aided　by　heated　and　improper　language；　frequently　fails　to　extract　so　much　as　a　half　foot　of　thread。

Abe　had　stuck　his　needle　down　into　the　log　beside　him。　　Near；　were　the　buttons　he　had　fished　out　of　his　pocket；　and　he　was　laboring　with　clumsy　fingers　and　rising　temper　at　an　obdurate　bunch　of　thread。

〃I've　been　round　looking　over　the　field；〃　said　Kent；　as　he　came　up。

A　contemptuous　snort　answered　him。

〃You　ought　to've　been　along。　　I　saw　a　great　many　interesting　things。〃

〃O；　yes；　I　s'pose。　　Awful　interesting。　　Lot　o'　dead　men　laying　around　in　the　mud。　　'Bout　as　interesting；　I　should　say；　as　a　spell　o'　setting　on　a　Coroner's　jury。　　The　things　you　find　interesting　would　bore　anybody　else　to　death。〃

Abe　gave　the　obstinate　clump　a　savage　twist　which　only　made　its　knots　more　rebellious；　and　he　looked　as　if　strongly　tempted　to　throw　it　into　the　fire。

〃Don't　do　it；　Abe；〃　said　Kent；　with　a　laugh　that　irritated　Abe　worse　still。　　〃Thread's　thread；　out　here；　a　hundred　miles　from　nowhere。　You　don't　know　where　you'll　get　any　more。　　Save　itmy　dear　fellowsave　it。　　Perchance　you　may　yet　sweetly　beguile　many　an　hour　of　your　elegant　leisure　in　unraveling　its　fantastic　convolutions　with　your　taper　fingers；　and…〃

〃Lord！　　Lord！〃　said　Abe　with　an　expression　of　deep　weariness；　but　without　looking　in　Kent's　direction；　〃Who's　pulled　the　string　o'　that　clack…mill　and　set　it　going？　　When　it　gets　started　once　it　rolls　out　big　words　like　punkins　dropping　out　o'　the　tail　of　a　wagon　going　up　hill。　　And　there's　no　way　o'　stopping　it；　either。　You've　just　got　to　wiat　till　it　runs　down。〃

〃The　Proverbs　say　so　fittingly　that　'A　fool　delighteth　not　in　wise　instruction；'〃　said　Kent；　as　he　stepped　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　fire。　　His　foot　fell　upon　a　projecting　twig；　the　other　end　of　which　flew　up　and　landed　a　very　hot　coal　on　the　back　of　Abe's　hand。　　Abe's　action　followed　that　of　the　twig；　in　teh　suddenness　of　his　upspringing。　　He　hurled　an　oath　and　a　firebrand　at　his　comrade。

〃This　is　really　becoming　domestic；〃　said　Kent　as　he　laughingly　dodged。　　〃The　gentle　amenities　could　not　cluster　more　thickly　around　our　fireside；　even　if　we　were　married。〃

When　Abe　resumed　his　seat　he　did　not　come　down　exactly　upon　the　spot　from　which　he　had　arisen。　　It　was　a　little　farther　to　the　right；　where　he　had　stuck　the　needle。　　He　had　forgotten　about　it；　but　he　rose　with　a　howl　when　it　keenly　reminded　him　that　like　the　star…spangled　banner；　it　〃was　still　there。〃

〃Don't　rise　on　my　account；　I　beg；〃　said　Kent　with　a　deprecatory　wave　of　the　hand；　as　he　hurried　off　to　wher　he　could　laugh　with　safety。　A　saucy　drummer…boy；　who　neglected　this　precaution；　received　a　cuff　from　Abe's　heavy　hand　that　thrilled　the　rest　of　the　drum…corps　with　delight。

When　Abe's　wrath　subsided　from　this　ebullient　stage　back　to　its　customary　one　of　simmer；　Kent　ventured　to　return。

〃Say；〃　said　he；　pulling　over　the　coats　and　blankets　near　the　fire；　〃where's　the　canteen？〃

〃There　it　is　by　the　cups。　　Can't　you　see　it？　　If　it　was　a　snake　it'd　bite　you。〃

〃It's　done　that　already；　several　times；　or　rather　its　contents　have。　You　know　what　the　Bible　says；　'Biteth　liek　a　serpent　and　stingeth　like　an　adder？'　　Ah；　here　it　is。　　But　gloomy　forebodings　seize　me：　it　is　suspiciously　light。　　Paradoxically；　its　lightness　induces　gravity　in　me。　　But　that　pun　is　entirely　too　fine…drawn　for　camp　atmosphere。〃

He　shook　the　canteen　near　his　ear。　　〃Alas！　no　gurgle　responds　to　my　fond　caresses


Canteen；　Mavourneen；　O；　why　art　thou　silent；　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thou　voice　of　my　heart？


It　iswoe　is　meit　is　empty。〃

〃Of　course　it　isyou　were　the　last　one　at　it。〃

〃I　hurl　that　foul　imputation　back　into　thy　teeth　base　knave。　　Thou　thyself　art　a　very　daughter　of　a　horse…leech　with　a　canteen　of　whisky。〃

Abe　looked　at　him　inquiringly。　　〃You　must've　found　some；　some　place；〃　he　said；　〃or　you　wouldn't　be　so　awful　glib。　　It's　taken　'bout　half…a…pint　to　loosen　your　tongue　so　that　it'd　run　this　way。　I　know　you。〃

〃No；　I've　not　found　a　spoonful。　　The　eloquence　of　thirst　is　the　only　inspiration　I　have　at　present。　　I　fain　would　stay　its　cravings　by　quaffing　a　beaker　of　mountain…distilled　hair…curler。　　Mayhap　this　humble　receptacle　contains　yet　a　few　drops　which　escaped　thy　ravenous　thirst。〃

Kent　turned　the　canteen　upside　down　and　placed　its　mouth　upon　his　tongue。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　with　deep　dejection；　〃all　that　delicious　fluid　of　yesterday　is　now　like　the　Father　of　his　Country。〃

〃Eh？〃　asked　Abe；　puzzled。

〃Because　it　is　no　moreit　is　no　more。　　It　belongs　to　the　unreturning　past。〃

〃I　say；〃　he　continued　after　a　moment's　pause；　〃let's　go　out　and　hunt　for　some。　　there　must　be　plenty　in　this　neighborhood。　　Nature　never　makes　a　want　without　providing　something　to　supply　it。　Therefore；　judging　from　my　thirst；　this　country　ought　to　be　full　of　distilleries。〃

They　buckled　on　their　belts；　picked　up　their　guns　and　started　out；　directing　their　steps　to　the　front。

In　spite　of　the　sunshine　the　walk　through　the　battle…field　was　depressing。　　A　chafing　wind　fretted　through　the　naked　limbs　of　the　oaks　and　chestnuts；　and　drew　moans　from　the　pines　and　the　hemlocks。　The　brown；　dead　leaves　rustled　into　little　tawny　hillocks；　behind　protecting　logs　and　rocks。　　Frequently　those　took　on　the　shape　of　long；　narrow　mounds　as　if　they　covered　the　graves　of　some　ill…fated　being；　who　like　themselves；　had　fallen　to　the　earth　to　rot　in　dull　obscurity。　　The　clear　little　streams　that　in　Summer…time　murmured　musically　down　the　slopes；　under　canopies　of　nodding　roses　and　fragrant　sweet…brier；　were　now　turbid　torrents；　brawling　like　churls　drunken　with　much　wine；　and　tearing　out　with　savage　wantonness　their　banks；　matted　with　the　roots　of　the　blue　violets；　and　the　white…flowered　puccoon。

Scattered　over　the　mountain…side　were　fatigue…parties　engaged　in　hunting　up　the　dead；　and　burying　them　in　shallow　graves；　hastily　dug　in　clay　so　red　that　it　seemed　as　if　saturated　with　the　blood　shed　the　day　before。　　The　buriers　thrust　their　hands　into　the　pockets　of　the　dead　with　the　flinching；　nauseated　air　of　men　touching　filth；　and　took　from　the　garments　seeping　with　water　and　blood；　watches；　letters；　ambrotypes；　money　and　trinkets；　some　of　which　they　studied　to　gain　a　clue　to　the　dead　man's　identity；　some　retained　as　souvenirs；　but　threw　the　most　back　into　the　grave　with　an　air　of　loathing。　　The　faces　of　the　dead　with　their　staring　eyes　and　open　mouths　and　long；　lank　hair；　cloyed　with　the　sand　and　mud　thrown　up　by　the　beating　rain；　looked　indescribably　repulsive。

The　buriers　found　it　better　to　begin　their　work　by　covering　the　features　with　a　cap　or　a　broad…brimmed　hat。　　It　was　difficult　for　the　coarsest　of　them　to　fling　a　spadeful　of　dank　clay　directly　upon　the　wide…open　eyes　and　seemingly…speaking　mouth。

〃Those　fellows'　souls；〃　said　Kent；　regarding　the　corpses；　〃seem　to　have　left　their　earthly　house