the red acorn-第46章
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own hoss； ez a young lady should； an' if ye accomplish ennything hit'll be a greater sarvice tew the country then most men kin do in ther lives。 Hit'll be sum'thing ter be proud of ez long's ye live。 Will ye try hit？〃
〃Why don't you bring back the information yourself？ Can't you come back through the lines as easily as you go？〃
〃I mout； an' then ag'in I moutn't。 Every time I go inter the Rebel camps the chances get stronger thet I'll never come back ag'in。 Ez Harry Glen sez； the circle o' my onpleasant acquaintancesthe fellers thet's reachin' fur my top…knotwidens。 Thar's so many more on 'em layin' fur me all the time； thet the prospects keeps gittin' brighter every day thet by…an'…by they'll fetch me。 the arrant I'm a…gwine on now is too important ter take any resks 'bout。 I'm sartin to git the information thet Gineral Rosy wants； but whether I kin git hit back ter him is ruther dubersome。 I must hev 'some help。 Will ye jine in with me？〃
〃But how am I to know that all this is as you say？〃
〃By readin' these 'ere passes； all signed by Gineral Rosencrans's own hand； or by takin' a walk with me up ter headquarters； whar they'll tell ye thet I'm all right； an' ez straight ez a string。〃
〃But how can I do what you want？ I know nothing of the country； nor the people； and still less of this kind of service。 I would probably make a blunder that would spoil all。〃
〃I'll resk the blunders。 ye kin ride critter…back can't ye？〃
Rachel owned that she was a pretty fair horse…woman。
〃Then all ye hev ter do is ter git yerself up ez ye see the young women who are ridin' 'round heah； an' airly on the day arter to…morrow mornin'； mount a blooded mar that ye'll find standin' afore the door thar； all rigged out ez fine ez silk； an' go down the Lavergne turnpike； at a sharp canter； jes ez though ye war gwine somewhar。 Nobody on our lines 'll be likely ter say anything ter ye； but ef they do； ye'll show 'em a pass from Gineral Rosy； which； howsoever； ye 'll tar up afore ye reach Lavergne； fur ye 'll likely find some o' t' other folks thar。 Ef any o' them at Lavergne axes ye imperent questions； ye must hev a story ready 'bout yer being the Nashville niece o' Aunt Debby Brill； who lives on the left hand o' the Nashville pike； jest north o' the public squar in Murfreesboro； an' ye 're on yer way ter pay yer ole Aunty a long…promised visit。〃
〃there is such a woman in Murfreesboro？〃
〃Yes； an' she's talked a great deal 'bout her niece in Nashville； who's comin' ter see her。 I thought〃the earnestness of the eyes relaxed to a suspicion of a twinkle〃thet sometime I mout come across sich a niece fur the ole lady； an' hit wuz well ter be prepared fur her。〃
〃But suppose they ask me about things in Nashville？〃
〃W'll； ye must fix up a story 'bout thet too。 Ye needn't be ver partickelar what hit is； so long's hit's awful savage on the Yankees。 Be keerful ter say frequently thet the yankees is awful sick o' their job o' holdin' Nashville； that their new Dutch Gineral is a mean brute； an' a coward beside； thet he's skeered 'bout out'n his wits half the time； an' he's buildin' the biggest kind o' forts to hide behind； an' thet he won't dar show his nose outside o' themleastways not this 'ere Winter。 Talk ez much ez ye kin 'bout the sojers gwine inter Winter quarters； 'bout them being mortally sartin not ter do anything tell next Spring； an' 'bout them desartin' by rijimints an' brigades； an' gwine home； bekase they're sick an' tired o' the war。〃
〃My；〃 said Rachel； with a gasp； 〃what awful things to tell！〃
〃Yes；〃 returned the scout complacently； 〃I s'posed hit'd strike you thet…a…way。 But my experience with war is thet hit's jest plum full o' awful things。 In fact hit don't seem ter hev much else in hit。 All ye hev ter ax yerself is whether this is nigh on ter ez awful ez the the things they 'uns do to we 'uns。 Besides； we 'uns are likely ter give they 'uns in a few days a heap more interestin' things ter think about then the remarkable stories told by young ladies out fur a mornin' ride。〃
〃I'll take some hours to think this matter over；〃 said Rachel； 〃and give you your answer this afternoon。 That'll be time enough； will it not？〃
〃Heaps an' plenty； ma'am；〃 he answered； as he rose to go。 〃She'll go；〃 he added to himself。 〃I'm not fooled a mite on thet 'ere stock。 I'll jest go to headquarters an' git things ready for her。〃
He was right。 The prospect of doing an important service on a grand occasion was stimulous enough for Rachel's daring spirit； to make her undertake anything； and when Fortner returned in the afternoon he found her eager to set out upon the enterprise。
But as the evening came on with its depressing shadows and silence； she felt the natural reaction that follows taking an irrevocable step。 The loneliness of her unlighted room was peopled with ghostly memories of the horrors inflicted upon spies； and of tales she had heard of the merciless cruelty of the Rebels among whom she was going。 She had to hold her breath to keep from shrieking aloud at the terrors conjured up before her vision。 Then the spasm passed； and braver thoughts reasserted themselves。 Fortner's inadvertent words of praise of Harry Glen were recalled； and began glowing like pots of incense to sweeten and purify the choking vapors in her imagination。
Could it be that Harry had really retrieved himself？ He had certainly gained the not…easily…won admiration of this brave man； and it had all been to render himself worthy of her！ There was rapture in the thought。 Then her own heroic aspirations welled up again； bringing intoxication at the prospect of ending the distasteful routine of nursing； by taking an active part in what would be a grand event of history。 Fears and misgivings vanished like the mists of the morning。 She thought only of how to accomplish her mission。
She lighted a candle and wrote four lettersone to her mother； one to Dr。 Denslow； one to Harry Glen in care of his mother； and one to the Hospital Steward； asking him to mail the letters in case he did not receive any contrary request from her before the 10th of January。
She was too excited to sleep in the early part of the night； and busied her waking hours in packing her clothing and books； and maturing her plans。
She had much concern about her wardrobe。 Never in all the days of her village belleship had she been so anxious to be well…dressed as now； when about to embark upon the greatest act of her life。 She planned and schemed as women will in such times； and rising early the next morning she visited the stores in the city； and procured the material for a superb riding habit。 A cutter form a fashionable establishment in Cincinnati was found in an Orderly Sergeant in one of the convalescent wards； and enough tailors responded to the call for such artisans； to give him all the help required。 By evening she was provided with a habit that； in material and that sovereign but indescribable quality called 〃style；〃 was superior to those worn by the young ladies who cantered about the streets of Nashville on clean…limbed throroughbreds。
As she stood surveying the exquisite 〃set〃 of the garment in such mirrors as she could procure； she said to herself quizzically：
〃I feel now that the expedition is going to be a grand success。 No woman could fail being a heroine in such an inspiration of dress。 There is a moral support and encouragement about a perfectly made garment that is hardly equaled by a clear conscience and righteousness of motive。〃
The next morning she came forth from her room attired for the journey。 A jaunty hat and feather sat gracefully above her face； to which excitement had given a striking animation。 One trimly…gauntleted hand carried a dainty whip； the other supported the long skirts of her riding habit as she moved through the ward with such a newly…added grace and beauty that the patients； to whom her appearance had become familiar； raised in their beds to follow the lovely spectacle with their eyes； and then turned to each other to comment upon her beauty。
At the door she found an orderly； holding a spirited young mare； handsome enough for a Queen's palfrey； and richly caparisoned。
She sprang into the
