sally dows-第16章
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foot。 They were to be caught between two fires！
〃What is there to the left of us？〃 whispered Courtland quickly。
〃De swamp。〃
Courtland set his teeth together。 His dull…witted companion had
evidently walked them both into the trap！ Nevertheless； his
resolve was quickly made。 He could already see through the
thinning fringe of timber the figures of the mounted men in the
moonlight。
〃This should be the boundary line of the plantation？ This field
beside us is ours？〃 he said interrogatively。
〃Yes；〃 returned the negro； 〃but de quarters is a mile furder。〃
〃Good！ Stay here until I come back or call you； I'm going to talk
to these fellows。 But if you value your life； don't YOU speak nor
stir。〃
He strode quickly through the intervening trees and stepped out
into the moonlight。 A suppressed shout greeted him； and half a
dozen mounted men； masked and carrying rifles； rode down towards
him； but he remained quietly waiting there； and as the nearest
approached him； he made a step forward and cried； 〃Halt！〃
The men pulled up sharply and mechanically at that ring of military
imperiousness。
〃What are you doing here？〃 said Courtland。
〃We reckon that's OUR business； co'nnle。〃
〃It's mine； when you're on property that I control。〃
The man hesitated and looked interrogatively towards his fellows。
〃I allow you've got us there； co'nnle；〃 he said at last with the
lazy insolence of conscious power； but I don't mind telling you
we're wanting a nigger about the size of your Cato。 We hain't got
anything agin YOU； co'nnle； we don't want to interfere with YOUR
property； and YOUR ways； but we don't calculate to have strangers
interfere with OUR ways and OUR customs。 Trot out your niggeryou
No'th'n folks don't call HIM 'property；' you knowand we'll clear
off your land。〃
〃And may I ask what you want of Cato？〃 said Courtland quietly。
〃To show him that all the Federal law in h…ll won't protect him
when he strikes a white man！〃 burst out one of the masked figures；
riding forward。
〃Then you compel me to show YOU；〃 said Courtland immovably； 〃what
any Federal citizen may do in the defense of Federal law。 For I'll
kill the first man that attempts to lay hands upon him on my
property。 Some of you； who have already tried to assassinate him
in cold blood； I have met before in less dishonorable warfare than
this； and THEY know I am able to keep my word。〃
There was a moment's silence； the barrel of the revolver he was
holding at his side glistened for an instant in the moonlight； but
he did not move。 The two men rode up to the first speaker and
exchanged words。 A light laugh followed； and the first speaker
turned again to Courtland with a mocking politeness。
〃Very well； co'nnle； if that's your opinion； and you allow we can't
follow our game over your property； why； we reckon we'll have to
give way TO THOSE WHO CAN。 Sorry to have troubled YOU。 Good…
night。〃
He lifted his hat ironically； waved it to his followers； and the
next moment the whole party were galloping furiously towards the
high road。
For the first time that evening a nervous sense of apprehension
passed over Courtland。 The impending of some unknown danger is
always more terrible to a brave man than the most overwhelming odds
that he can see and realize。 He felt instinctively that they had
uttered no vague bravado to cover up their defeat； there was still
some advantage on which they confidently reckonedbut what？ Was
it only a reference to the other party tracking them through the
woods on which their enemies now solely relied？ He regained Cato
quickly； the white teeth of the foolishly confident negro were
already flashing his imagined triumph to his employer。 Courtland's
heart grew sick as he saw it。
〃We're not out of the woods yet； Cato；〃 he said dryly； 〃nor are
they。 Keep your eyes and ears open； and attend to me。 How long
can we keep in the cover of these woods； and still push on in the
direction of the quarters？〃
〃There's a way roun' de edge o' de swamp； sah； but we'd have to go
back a spell to find it。〃
〃Go on！〃
〃And dar's moccasins and copperheads lying round here in de trail！
Dey don't go for us ginerallybut；〃 be hesitated； 〃white men don't
stand much show。〃
〃Good！ Then it is as bad for those who are chasing us as for me。
That will do。 Lead on。〃
They retraced their steps cautiously； until the negro turned into a
lighter by…way。 A strange mephitic odor seemed to come from sodden
leaves and mosses that began to ooze under their feet。 They had
picked their way in silence for some minutes； the stunted willows
and cypress standing farther and farther apart； and the openings
with clumps of sedge were frequent。 Courtland was beginning to
fear this exposure of his follower； and had moved up beside him；
when suddenly the negro caught his arm； and trembled violently。
His lips were parted over his teeth； the whites of his eyes
glistened； he seemed gasping and speechless with fear。
〃What's the matter； Cato？〃 said Courtland glancing instinctively at
the ground beneath。 〃Speak； man！have you been bitten？〃
The word seemed to wring an agonized cry from the miserable man。
〃Bitten！ No； but don't you hear 'em coming； sah！ God Almighty！
don't you hear dat？〃
〃What？〃
〃De dogs！ de houns！DE BLOODHOUNS！ Dey've set 'em loose on me！〃
It was true！ A faint baying in the distance was now distinctly
audible to Courtland。 He knew now plainly the full； cruel purport
of the leader's speech；those who could go anywhere were tracking
their game！
Every trace of manhood had vanished from the negro's cowering
frame。 Courtland laid his hand assuringly； appealingly； and then
savagely on his shoulder。
〃Come！ Enough of this！ I am here； and will stand by you； whatever
comes。 These dogs are no more to be feared than the others。 Rouse
yourself； man； and at least help ME make a fight of it。〃
〃No！ no！〃 screamed the terrified man。 〃Lemme go！ Lemme go back to
de Massas！ Tell 'em I'll come！ Tell 'em to call de houns off me；
and I'll go quiet！ Lemme go！〃 He struggled violently in his
companion's grasp。
In all Courtland's self…control； habits of coolness； and
discipline； it is to be feared there was still something of the old
Berserker temper。 His face was white； his eyes blazed in the
darkness； only his voice kept that level distinctness which made it
for a moment more terrible than even the baying of the tracking
hounds to the negro's ear。 〃Cato；〃 he said； 〃attempt to run now；
and； by God！ I'll save the dogs the trouble of grappling your
living carcass！ Come here！ Up that tree with you！〃 pointing to a
swamp magnolia。 〃Don't move as long as I can stand here； and when
I'm downbut not till thensave yourselfthe best you can。〃
He half helped； half dragged； the now passive African to the
solitary tree； as the bay of a single hound came nearer； the negro
convulsively scrambled from Courtland's knee and shoulder to the
fork of branches a dozen feet from the ground。 Courtland drew his
revolver； and； stepping back a few yards into the open； awaited the
attack。
It came unexpectedly from behind。 A sudden yelp of panting cruelty
and frenzied anticipation at Courtland's back caused him to change
front quickly； and the dripping fangs and snaky boa…like neck of a
gray weird shadow passed him。 With an awful supernaturalness of
instinct； it kept on in an unerring line to the fateful tree。 But
that dread directness of scent was Courtland's opportunity。 His
revolver flashed out in an aim as unerring。 The brute； pierced
through neck and brain； dashed on against the tree in his impetus；
and then rolled over against it in a quivering bulk。 Again another
bay coming from the same direction told Courtland that his pursuers
had outflanked him； and the whole pack were crossing the swamp。
But he was prepared； again the same weird shadow； as spectral and
monstrous as a dream； dashed out into the brief light of the open；
but this time it was stopped； and rolled over convulsively before
it had crossed。 Flushed； with the fire of fight in his veins；
Courtland turned almost furiously from the fallen brutes at his
feet to meet the ons
