a cumberland vendetta-第2章

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ew　months　since；　and　had　quietly　opened　store　at　the　county…seat；　Hazlan…a　little　town　five　miles　up　the　river；　where　Troubled　Fork　runs　seething　into　the　Cumberland…a　point　of　neutrality　for　the　factions；　and　consequently　a　battIe…ground。　Old　Jasper's　store　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　town；　and　the　old　man　had　never　been　known　to　brook　competition。　　He　had　driven　three　men　from　Hazlan　during　the　last　term　of　peace　for　this　offence；　and　everybody　knew　that　the　fourth　must　leave　or　fight。　　Already　Rufe　Stetson　had　been　warned　not　to　appear　outside　his　door　after　dusk。　Once　or　twice　his　wife　had　seen　skulking　shadows　under　the　trees　across　the　road；　and　a　tremor　of　anticipation　ran　along　both　banks　of　the　Cumberland。

III

A　FORTNIGHT　later；　court　came。　Rome　was　going　to　Hazlan；　and　the　feeble　old　Stetson　mother　limped　across　the　porch　from　the　kitchen；　trailing　a　Winchester　behind　her。　Usually　he　went　unarmed；　but　he　took　the　gun　now；　as　she　gave　it；　in　silence。

The　boy　Isom　was　not　well；　and　Rome　had　told　him　to　ride　the　horse。　　But　the　lad　had　gone　on　afoot　to　his　duties　at　old　Gabe　Bunch's　mill；　and　Rome　himself　rode　down　Thunderstruck　Knob　through　the　mist　and　dew　of　the　early　morning。　　The　sun　was　coming　up　over　Virginia；　and　through　a　dip　in　Black　Mountain　the　foot…hills　beyond　washed　in　blue　waves　against　its　white　disk。　　A　little　way　down　the　mountain；　the　rays　shot　through　the　gap　upon　him；　and；　lancing　the　mist　into　tatters；　and　lighting　the　dew…drops；　set　the　birds　singing。　　Rome　rode；　heedless　of　it　all；　under　primeval　oak　and　poplar；　and　along　rain…clear　brooks　and　happy　waterfalls；　shut　in　by　laurel　and　rhododendron；　and　singing　past　mossy　stones　and　lacelike　ferns　that　brushed　his　stirrup。　On　the　brow　of　every　cliff　he　would　stop　to　look　over　the　trees　and　the　river　to　the　other　shore；　where　the　gray　line　of　a　path　ran　aslant　Wolf's　Head；　and　was　lost　in　woods　above　and　below。

At　the　river　he　rode　up…stream；　looking　still　across　it。　　Old　Gabe　Bunch　halloed　to　him　from　the　doorway　of　the　mill；　as　he　splashed　through　the　creek；　and　Isom's　thin　face　peered　through　a　breach　in　the　logs。　　At　the　ford　beyond；　he　checked　his　horse　with　a　short　oath　of　pleased　surprise。　　Across　the　water；　a　scarlet　dress　was　moving　slowly　past　a　brown　field　of　corn。　　The　figure　was　bonneted；　but　he　knew　the　girl's　walk　and　the　poise　of　her　head　that　far　away。　　Just　who　she　was；　however；　he　did　not　know；　and　he　sat　irresolute。　　He　had　seen　her　first　a　month　since；　paddling　along　the　other　shore；　erect；　and　with　bonnet　off　and　hair　down；　she　had　taken　the　Lewallen　path　up　the　mountain。　　Afterward；　he　saw　her　going　at　a　gallop　on　young　Jasper's　gray　horse；　bareheaded　again；　and　with　her　hair　loose　to　the　wind；　and　he　knew　she　was　one　of　his　enemies。　　He　thought　her　the　girl　people　said　young　Jasper　was　going　to　marry；　and　he　had　watched　her　the　more　closely。　　From　the　canoe　she　seemed　never　to　notice　him；　but　he　guessed；　from　the　quickened　sweep　of　her　paddle；　that　she　knew　he　was　looking　at　her；　and　once；　when　he　halted　on　his　way　home　up　the　mountain；　she　half　turned　in　her　saddle　and　looked　across　at　him。　　This　happened　again；　and　then　she　waved　her　bonnet　at　him。　It　was　bad　enough；　any　Stetson　seeking　any　Lewallen　for　a　wife；　and　for　him　to　court　young　Jasper's　sweetheart…it　was　a　thought　to　laugh　at。　But　the　mischief　was　done。　The　gesture　thrilled　him；　whether　it　meant　defiance　or　good…will；　and　the　mere　deviltry　of　such　a　courtship　made　him　long　for　it　at　every　sight　of　her　with　the　river　between　them。　At　once　he　began　to　plan　how　he　should　get　near　her；　but；　through　some　freak；　she　had　paid　no　further　heed　to　him。　He　saw　her　less　often…for　a　week；　in…deed；　he　had　not　seen　her　at　all　till　this　day…and　the　forces　that　hindrance　generates　in　an　imperious　nature　had　been　at　work　within　him。　The　chance　now　was　one　of　gold；　and　with　his　life　in　his　hand　he　turned　into　the　stream。　Across；　he　could　see　something　white　on　her　shoulder…an　empty　bag。　It　was　grinding~day；　and　she　was　going　to　the　mill…the　Lewallen　mill。　She　stopped　as　he　galloped　up；　and　turned；　pushing　back　her　bonnet　with　one　hand；　and　he　drew　rein。　But　the　friendly；　expectant　light　in　her　face　kindled　to　such　a　blaze　of　anger　in　her　eyes　that　he　struck　his　horse　violently；　as　though　the　beast　had　stopped　of　its　own　accord；　and；　cursing　himself；　kept　on。　A　little　farther；　he　halted　again。　　Three　horsemen；　armed　with　Winchesters；　were　jogging　along　toward　town　ahead　of　him；　and　he　wheeled　about　sharply。　The　girl；　climbing　rapidly　toward　Steve　Bray…ton's　cabin；　was　out　of　the　way；　but　he　was　too　late　to　reach　the　ford　again。　　Down　the　road　two　more　Lewallens　with　guns　were　in　sight；　and　he　lashed　his　horse　into　the　stream　where　the　water　was　deep。　　Old　Gabe；　looking　from　the　door　of　his　mill；　quit　laughing　to　himself；　and　under　cover　of　the　woods；　the　girl　watched　man　and　horse　fighting　the　tide。　　Twice　young　Stetson　turned　his　head。　　But　his　enemies　apparently　had　not　seen　him；　and　horse　and　rider　scrambled　up　the　steep　bank　and　under　shelter　of　the　trees。　　The　girl　had　evidently　learned　who　he　was。　Her　sudden　anger　was　significant；　as　was　the　sight　of　the　Lewallens　going　armed　to　court；　and　Rome　rode　on；　uneasy。

When　he　reached　Troubled　Fork；　in　sight　of　Hazlan；　he　threw　a　cartridge　into　place　and　shifted　the　slide　to　see　that　it　was　ready　for　use。　Passing　old　Jasper's　store　on　the　edge　of　the　town；　he　saw　the　old　man's　bushy　head　through　the　open　door；　and　Lewallens　and　Braytons　crowded　out　on　the　steps　and　looked　after　him。　All　were　armed。　Twenty　paces　farther　he　met　young　Jasper　on　his　gray；　and　the　look　on　his　enemy's　face　made　him　grip　his　rifle。　With　a　flashing　cross…fire　from　eye　to　eye；　the　two　passed；　each　with　his　thumb　on　the　hammer　of　his　Winchester。　The　groups　on　the　court…house　steps　stopped　talking　as　he　rode　by；　and　turned　to　look　at　him。　He　saw　none　of　his　own　friends；　and　he　went　on　at　a　gallop　to　Rufe　Stetson's　store。　　His　uncle　was　not　in　sight。　Steve　Marcum　and　old　Sam　Day　stood　in　the　porch；　and　inside　a　woman　was　crying。　　Several　Stetsons　were　near；　and　all　with　grave　faces　gathered　about　him。

He　knew　what　the　matter　was　before　Steve　spoke。　　His　uncle　had　been　driven　from　town。　A　last　warning　had　come　to　him　on　the　day　before。　　The　hand　of　a　friend　was　in　the　caution；　and　Rufe　rode　away　at　dusk。　　That　night　his　house　was　searched　by　men　masked　and　armed。　The　Lewallens　were　in　town；　and　were　ready　to　fight。　　The　crisis　had　come。

IV


BACK　at　the　mill　old　Gabe　was　troubled。　Usually　he　sat　in　a　cane…bottomed　chair　near　the　hopper；　whittling；　while　the　lad　tended　the　mill；　and　took　pay　in　an　oaken　toll…dish　smooth　with　the　use　of　half　a　century。　But　the　incident　across　the　river　that　morning　had　made　the　old　man　uneasy；　and　he　moved　restlessly　from　his　chair　to　the　door；　and　back　again；　while　the　boy　watched　him；　wondering　what　the　matter　was；　but　asking　no　questions。　　At　noon　an　old　mountaineer　rode　by；　and　the　miller　hailed　him。

〃Any　news　in　town？〃　he　asked。

〃Hain't　been　to　town。　　Reckon　fightin'　's　goin'　on　thar　from　whut　I　heerd。〃　　The　careless；　high…pitched　answer　brought　the　boy　with　wide　eyes　to　the　door。

Whut　d'ye　hear？　〃　asked　Gabe。　Jes　heerd　fightin'　's　goin'　on！

Then　every　man　who　came　for　his　meal　brought　a　wild　rumor　from　town；　and　the　old　miller　moved　his　chair　to　the　door；　and　sat　there　whittling　fast；　and　looking　anxiously　toward　Hazlan。　The　boy　was　in　a　fever　of　unrest；　and　old　Gabe　could　hardly　keep　him　in　the　mill。　　In　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　the　report　of　a　rifle　came　down　the　river；　breaking　into　echoes　against　the　cliffs　below；　and　Isom　ran　out　the　door；　and　stood　listening　for　another；　with　an　odd　contradiction　of　fear　and　delight　on　his　eager　face。　　In　a　few　moments　Rome　Stetson　galloped　into　sight；　and；　with　a　shrill　cry　of　relief；　the　boy　ran　down　the　road　to　meet　him；　and　ran　back；　holding　by　a　stirrup。　Young　Stetson's　face　was　black　with　passion；　and　his　eyes　were　heavy　with　drink。　At　the　door　of　the　mill　he　swung　from　his　horse；　and　for　a　moment　was　hardly　able　to　speak　from　rage。　There　had　been　no　fight。　　The　Stetsons　were　few　and　unprepared。　They　had　neither　the　guns　nor；　without　Rufe；　the　means　to