a cumberland vendetta-第6章

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g　to　stop　them　in　the　mountain。　　Over　in　Breathitt；　as　everybody　knew；　soldiers　had　come　from　the　〃　settlemints；〃　had　arrested　the　leaders；　and　had　taken　them　to　the　Blue　Grass　for　the　feared　and　hated　ordeal　of　trial　by　a　jury　of　〃bigoted　furriners。〃　　On　the　heels　of　the　soldiers　came　a　young　preacher　up　from　the　Jellico　hills；　half　〃　citizen；〃　half　furriner；〃　with　long　black　hair　and　a　scar　across　his　forehead；　who　was　stirring　up　the　people；　it　was　said；　〃　as　though　Satan　was　atter　them。〃　　Over　there　the　spirit　of　the　feud　was　broken；　and　a　good　effect　was　already　perceptible　around　Hazlan。　　In　past　days　every　pair　of　lips　was　sealed　with　fear；　and　the　non…combatants　left　crops　and　homes；　and　moved　down　the　river；　when　trouble　began。　Now　only　the　timid　considered　this　way　of　escape。　　Steve　and　old　Jasper　found　a　few　men　who　refused　to　enter　the　fight。　Several；　indeed；　talked　openly　against　the　renewal　of　the　feud；　and　somebody；　it　was　said；　had　dared　to　hint　that　he　would　send　to　the　Governor　for　aid　if　it　should　break　out　again。　But　these　were　rumors　touching　few　people。

For　once　again；　as　time　and　time　again　before；　one　bank　of　the　Cumberland　was　arrayed　with　mortal　enmity　against　the　other；　and　old　Gabe　sat；　with　shaken　faith；　in　the　door　of　his　mill。　For　years　he　had　worked　and　prayed　for　peace；　and　for　a　little　while　the　Almighty　seemed　lending　aid。　　Now　the　friendly　grasp　was　loosening；　and　yet　the　miller　did　all　he　could。　　He　begged　Steve　Marcum　to　urge　Rufe　to　seek　aid　from　the　law　when　the　latter　came　back；　and　Steve　laughed；　and　asked　what　justice　was　possible　for　a　Stetson；　with　a　Lewallen　for　a　judge　and　Braytons　for　a　jury。　　The　miller　pleaded　with　old　Jasper；　and　old　Jasper　pointed　to　the　successes　of　his　own　life。

〃I　hev　triumphed　ag'in'　my　enemies　time　'n'　ag'in；〃　he　said。　　〃The　Lord　air　on　my　side；　'n'　I　gits　a　better　Christian　ever'　year。〃　　The　old　man　spoke　with　the　sincerity　of　a　barbarism　that　has　survived　the　dark　ages；　and；　holding　the　same　faith；　the　miller　had　no　answer。　　It　was　old　Gabe　indeed　who　had　threatened　to　send　to　the　Governor　for　soldiers；　and　this　he　would　have　done；　perhaps；　had　there　not　been　one　hope　left；　and　only　one。　　A　week　had　gone；　and　there　was　no　word　from　Rufe　Stetson。　　Up　on　Thunderstruck　Knob　the　old　Stetson　mother　was　growing　pitiably　eager　and　restless。　　Every　day　she　slipped　like　a　ghost　through　the　leafless　woods　and　in　and　out　the　cabin；　kindling　hatred。　At　every　dawn　or　dusk　she　was　on　her　porch　peering　through　the　dim　light　for　Rufe　Stetson。　Steve　Marcum　was　ill　at　ease。　　Rome　Stetson　alone　seemed　unconcerned；　and　his　name　was　on　every　gossiping　tongue。

He　took　little　interest　and　no　hand　in　getting　ready　for　the　war。　　He　forbade　the　firing　of　a　gun　till　Rufe　came　back；　else　Steve　should　fight　his　fight　alone。　　He　grew　sullen　and　morose。　His　old　mother's　look　was　a　thorn　in　his　soul；　and　he　stayed　little　at　home。　　He　hung　about　the　mill；　and　when　Isom　became　bedfast；　the　big　mountaineer；　who　had　never　handled　anything　but　a　horse；　a　plough；　or　a　rifle；　settled　him…self；　to　the　bewilderment　of　the　Stetsons；　into　the　boy's　duties；　and　nobody　dared　question　him。　Even　old　Gabe　jested　no　longer。　　The　matter　was　too　serious。

Meanwhile　the　winter　threw　off　the　last　slumbrous　mood　of　autumn；　as　a　sleeper　starts　from　a　dream。　　A　fortnight　was　gone；　and　still　no　message　came　from　the　absent　leader。　　One　shore　was　restive；　uneasy；　the　other　confident；　mocking。　　Between　the　two；　Rome　Stetson　waited　his　chance　at　the　mill。

VIII。

DAY　was　whitening　on　the　Stetson　shore。　Across　the　river　the　air　was　still　sharp　with　the　chill　of　dawn；　and　the　mists　lay　like　flocks　of　sheep　under　shelter　of　rock　and　crag。　A　peculiar　cry　radiated　from　the　Lewallen　cabin　with　singular　resonance　on　the　crisp　air…the　mountain　cry　for　straying　cattle。　　A　soft　low　came　from　a　distant　patch　of　laurel；　and　old　Jasper's　girl；　Martha；　folded。　her　hands　like　a　conch　at　her　mouth；　and　the　shrill　cry　again　startled　the　air。

Ye　better　come；　ye　pieded　cow…brute。〃　Picking　up　a　cedar　piggin；　she　stepped　from　the　porch　toward　the　meek　voice　that　had　answered　her。　　Temper　and　exertion　had　brought　the　quick　blood　to　her　face。　　Her　head　was　bare；　her　thick　hair　was　loosely　coiled；　and　her　brown　arms　were　naked　almost　to　the　shoulder。　　At　the　stable　a　young　mountaineer　was　overhauling　his　riding…gear。

Air　you　goin'　to　ride　the　hoss　to…day；　Jas？〃　she　asked；　querulously。

〃That's　jes　whut　I　was　aimin'　to　do。　　I'm　a…goin'　to　town。〃

Well；　I　'lowed　I　was　goin'　to　mill　to…day。　The　co'n　is　'mos'　gone。〃

〃Well；　y'u　'lowed　wrong；〃　he　answered；　imperturbably。

Y'u're　mean；　Jas　Lewallen；〃　she　cried；　hotly；　〃　that's　whut　ye　air；　mean…dog…mean！

The　young　mountaineer　looked　up；　whistled　softly；　and　laughed。　　But　when　he　brought　his　horse　to　the　door　an　hour　later　there　was　a　bag　of　corn　across　the　saddle。

〃As　ye　air　so　powerful　sot　on　goin'　to　mill；　whether　or　no；　I'll　leave　this　hyeh　sack　at　the　bend　O'　the　road；　'n'　ye　kin　git　it　thar。　　I'll　bring　the　meal　back　ef　ye　puts　it　in　the　same　place。　　I　hates　to　see　women…folks　a…ridin'　this　horse。　　Hit　spiles　him。〃

The　horse　was　a　dapple…gray　of　unusual　beauty；　and　as　the　girl　reached　out　her　hand　to　stroke　his　throat；　he　turned　to　nibble　at　her　arm。

〃I　reckon　he'd　jes　as　lieve　have　me　ride　him　as　you；　Jas；〃　she　said。　　〃　Me　'n'　him　have　got　to　be　great　friends。　　Ye　orter　n't　to　be　so　stingy。〃

Well；　he　ain't　no　hoss　to　be　left　out'n　the　bresh　now；　'n'　I　hain't　goin'　to　'low　it。〃

Old　Jasper　had　lounged　out　of　the　kitchen　door；　and　stood　with　his　huge　bulk　against　a　shrinking　pillar　of　the　porch。　　The　two　men　were　much　alike。　　Both　had　the　same　black；　threatening　brows　meeting　over　the　bridge　of　the　nose。　　A　kind　of　grim　humor　lurked　about　the　old　man's　mouth；　which　time　might　trace　about　young　Jasper's。　　The　girl's　face　had　no　humor；　the　same　square　brows；　apart　and　clearly　marked；　gave　it　a　strong；　serious　cast；　and　while　she　had　the　Lewallen　fire；　she　favored　her　mother　enough；　so　the　neighbors　said；　〃to　have　a　mighty　mild；　takin'　way　about　her　ef　she　wanted。〃

You're　right；　Jas；〃　the　old　mountaineer　said；　〃the　hoss　air　a　sin　'n'　temptation。　　Hit　do　me　good　ever'　time　I　look　at　him。　　Thar　air　no　sech　hoss；　I　tell　ye；　this　side　o'　the　settlements。〃

The　boy　started　away；　and　the　old　man　followed；　and　halted　him　out　of　the　girl's　hearing。

〃Tell　Eli　Crump　'n'　Jim　Stover　to　watch　the　Breathitt　road　close　now；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃　See　all　them　citizens　I　tol'　ye；　'n'　tell　'em　to　be　ready　when　I　says　the　word。　　Thar's　no　tellin'　whut's　goin'　to　happen。〃

Young　Jasper　nodded　his　head；　and　struck　his　horse　into　a　gallop。　　The　old　man　lighted　his　pipe；　and　turned　back　to　the　house。　　The　girl；　bonnet　in　hand；　was　starting　for　the　valley。

〃Thar　ain't　no　use　goin'　to　Gabe　Bunch's　fer　yer　grist；〃　he　said。　　〃　The　mill　on　Dead　Crick's　a…runnin'　ag'in；　'n'　I　don't　want　ye　over　thar　axin　favors；　specially　jes　now。〃

〃I　lef'　somethin'　fer　ye　to　eat；　dad；〃　she　replied；　〃　ef　ye　gits　hungry　before　I　git　back。〃

You　heerd　me？　〃　he　called　after　her；　knitting　his　brows。

Yes；　dad；　I　heerd　ye；〃　she　answered；　adding　to　herself；　〃　But　I　don't　heed　ye。〃　　In　truth；　the　girl　heeded　nobody。　　It　was　not　her　way　to　ask　consent；　even　her　own；　nor　to　follow　advice。　At　the　bend　of　the　road　she　found　the　bag；　and　for　an　instant　she　stood　wavering。　　An　impulse　turned　her　to　the　river；　and　she　loosed　the　boat；　and　headed　it　across　the　swift；　shallow　water　from　the　ford　and　straight　toward　the　mill。　At　every　stroke　of　her　paddle　the　water　rose　above　the　prow　of　the　boat；　and；　blown　into　spray；　flew　back　and　drenched　her；　the　wind　loosed　her　hair；　and；　tugging　at　her　skirts；　draped　her　like　a　statue；　and　she　fought　them；　wind　and　water；　with　mouth　set　and　a　smile　in　her　eyes。　　One　sharp　struggle　still；　where　the　creek　leaped　into　freedom；　the　mouth　grew　a　little　firmer；　the　eyes　laughed　more；　the　keel　grated　on　pebbles；　and　the　boat　ran　its　nose　into　the　withered　sedge　on　the　Stetson　shore。

A　tall　gray　figure　was　pouring　grain　into　the　hopper　when　she　reached　the　door　of　the　mill。　She　stopped　abruptly；　Rome　Stetson　turned；　and　again　the　two　were　face　to　face。