a cumberland vendetta-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　instant　of　lighting；　they　wheeled　away；　each　with　a　warning　scream　to　the　other。　A　figure　lying　flat　behind　the　pine　had　frightened　them；　and　now　a　face　peeped　to　one　side；　flushed　with　eagerness　over　the　coming　fight。　　Both　were　ready　now；　and　the　Lewallen　grew　suddenly　white　as　Rome　turned　again　and　reached　down　for　the　guns。

〃I　reckon　I'll　put　'em　a　leetle　furder　out　o'　the　way；〃　he　said；　kicking　the　knife　over　the　cliff；　and；　standing　on　a　stone；　he　thrust　them　into　a　crevice　high　above　his　head。

〃Now；　Jas；　we'll　fight　this　gredge　out；　as　our　grandads　have　done　afore　us。〃

Lewallen　and　Stetson　were　man　to　man　at　last。　Suspicion　was　gone　now；　and　a　short；　brutal　laugh　came　from　the　cliff。

〃I'll　fight　ye！　Oh；　by　God；　I'll　fight　ye！〃

The　ring　of　the　voice　struck　an　answering　gleam　from　Rome's　gray　eyes；　and　the　two　sprang　for　each　other。　It　was　like　the　struggle　of　primeval　men　who　had　not　yet　learned　even　the　use　of　clubs。　For　an　instant　both　stood　close；　like　two　wild　beasts　crouched　for　a　spring；　and　circling　about　to　get　at　each　other's　throats；　with　mouths　set；　eyes　watching　eyes；　and　hands　twitching　nervously。　Young　Jasper　leaped　first；　and　the　Stetson；　wary　of　closing　with　him；　shrank　back。　　There　were　a　few　quick；　heavy　blows；　and　the　Lewallen　was　beaten　away　with　blood　at　his　lips。　Then　each　knew　the　advantage　of　the　other。　The　Stetson's　reach　was　longer；　the　Lewallen　was　shorter　and　heavier；　and　again　he　closed　in。　Again　Rome　sent　out　his　long　arm。　A　turn　of　Jasper's　head　let　the　heavy　fist　pass　over　his　shoulder。　The　force　of　the　blow　drove　Rome　forward；　the　two　clinched；　and　Jasper's　arms　tightened　about　the　Stetson's　waist。　With　a　quick　gasp　for　breath　Rome　loosed　his　hold；　and；　bending　his　enemy's　head　back　with　one　hand；　rained　blow　after　blow　in　his　face　with　the　other。　One　terrible　stroke　on　the　jaw；　and　Jasper's　arms　were　loosed；　the　two　fell　apart；　the　one　stunned；　the　other　breathless。　One　dazed　moment　only；　and　for　a　third　time　the　Lewallen　came　on。　Rome　had　been　fighting　a　man；　now　he　faced　a　demon。　Jasper's　brows　stood　out　like　bristles；　and　the　eyes　under　them　were　red　and　fierce　like　a　mad　bull's。　Again　Rome's　blows　fell；　but　again　the　Lewallen　reached　him；　and　this　time　he　got　his　face　under　the　Stetson's　chin；　…'id　the　heavy　fist　fell　upon　the　back　of　his　head；　and　upon　his　neck；　as　upon　wood　and　leather。　Again　Rome　had　to　gasp　for　breath；　and　again　the　two　were　fiercely　locked…their　corded　arms　as　tense　as　serpents。　　Around　and　around　they　whirled；　straining；　tripping；　breaking　the　silence　only　with　deep；　quick　breaths　and　the　stamping　of　feet；　Jasper　firm　on　the　rock；　and　Rome's　agility　saving　him　from　being　lifted　in　the　air　and　tossed　from　the　cliff。　There　was　no　pause　for　rest。　　It　was　a　struggle　to　the　end；　and　a　quick　one；　and　under　stress　of　excitement　the　figure　at　the　pine…tree　had　risen　to　his　knees…　jumping　even　to　his　feet　in　plain　view；　when　the　short；　strong　arms　of　the　Lewallen　began　at　last　to　draw　Rome　closer　still；　and　to　bend　him　backward。　The　Stetson　was　giving　way　at　last。　The　Lewallen's　vindictive　face　grew　blacker；　and　his　white　teeth　showed　between　his　snarling　lips　as　he　fastened　one　leg　behind　his　enemy's；　and；　with　chin　against　his　shoulder；　bent　him　slowly；　slowly　back。　The　two　breathed　in　short；　painful　gasps；　their　swollen　muscles　trembled　under　the　strain　as　with　ague。　Back　…　back　…　the　Stetson　was　falling；　he　seemed　almost　down；　when…the　trick　is　an　old　one…whirling　with　the　quickness　of　light；　he　fell　heavily　on　his　opponent；　and　caught　him　by　the　throat　with　both　hands。

〃'Nough？　〃　he　asked；　hoarsely。　It　was　the　first　word　uttered。

The　only　answer　was　a　fierce　struggle。　Rome　felt　the　Lewallen's　teeth　sinking　in　his　arm；　and　his　fingers　tightened　like　twisting　steel；　till　Jasper　caught　his　breath　as　though　strangling　to　death。

〃'Nough？〃　asked　the　hoarse　voice　again。

No　answer；　tighter　clinched　the　fingers。　The　Lewallen　shook　his　head　feebly；　his　purple　face　paled　suddenly　as　Rome　loosed　his　hold；　and　his　lips　moved　in　a　whisper。

〃'Nough！〃

Rome　rose　dizzily　to　one　knee。　Jasper　turned；　gasping；　and　lay　with　his　face　to　the　rock。　For　a　while　both　were　quiet；　Rome；　panting　with　open　mouth　and　white　with　exhaustion；　looking　down　now　and　then　at　the　Lewallen；　whose　face　was　turned　away　with　shame。

The　sun　was　blazing　above　Wolf's　Head　now；　and　the　stillness　about　them　lay　unbroken　on　the　woods　below。

〃I've　whooped　ye；　Jas；〃　Rome　said；　at　last；　〃I've　whooped　ye　in　a　fa'r　fight；　'n'　I've　got　nothin'　now　to　say　'bout　yer　tall　talk；　'n'　I　reckon　you　hevn't　nuther。　　Now；　hit's　understood；　hain't　it；　that　y'u'll　leave　these　mount'ins？

Y'u　kin　go　West；〃　he　continued；　as　the　Lewallen　did　not　answer。　〃　Uncle　Rufe　used　to　say　thar's　a　good　deal　to　do　out　thar；　'n'　nobody　axes　questions。　Thar's　nobody　left　hyeh　but　you　'n'　me；　but　these　mount'ins　was　never　big　'nough　fer　one　Lewallen　'n'　one　Stetson；　'n'　you've　got　to　go。　　I　reckon　ye　won't　believe　me；　but　I'm　glad　I　didn't　hev　to　kill　ye。　But　you've　promised　to　go；　now；　'n'　I'll　take　yer　word　fer　it。〃　He　turned　his　face；　and　the　Lewallen；　knowing　it　from　the　sound　of　his　voice；　sprang　to　his　feet。

〃Oh…！〃

A　wild　curse　burst　from　Rome's　lips；　and　both　leaped　for　the　guns。　The　Lewallen　had　the　start　of　a　few　feet；　and　Rome；　lamed　in　the　fight；　stumbled　and　fell。　　Before　he　could　rise　Jasper　had　whirled；　with　one　of　the　Winchesters　above　his　head　and　his　face　aflame　with　fury。　Asking　no　mercy；　Rome　hid　his　face　with　one　arm　and　waited；　stricken　faint　all　at　once；　and　numb。　One　report　struck　his　ears；　muffled；　whip…like。　　A　dull　wonder　came　to　him　that　the　Lewallen　could　have　missed　at　such　close　range；　and　he　waited　for　another。　Some　one　shouted…a　shrill　hallo。　A　loud　laugh　followed；　a　light　seemed　breaking　before　Rome's　eyes；　and　he　lifted　his　head。　Jasper　was　on　his　face　again；　motionless；　and　Steve　Marcum's　tall　figure　was　climbing　over　a　bowlder　toward　him。

〃That　was　the　best　fight　I've　seed　in　my　time；　by　God；〃　he　said；　coolly；　〃　'n'；　Rome；　y'u　air　the　biggest　fool　this　side　o'　the　settlements；　I　reckon。　I　had　dead　aim　on　him；　'n'　I　was　jest　a…thinkin'　hit　was　a　purty　good　thing　fer　you　that　old　long…nosed　Jim　Stover　chased　me　up　hyeh；　when；　damn　me；　ef　that　boy　up　thar　didn't　let　his　ole　gun　loose。　　I'd　a…got　Jas　myself　ef　he　hadn't　been　so　all…fired　quick　o'　trigger。〃

Up　at　the　root　of　the　pine…tree　Isom　stood　motionless；　with　his　long　rifle　in　one　hand　and　a　little　cloud　of　smoke　breaking　above　his　white　face。　When　Rome　looked　up　he　started　down　without　a　word。　Steve　swung　himself　over　the　ledge。

〃I　heerd　the　shootin'；〃　said　the　boy；　〃　up　thar　at　the　cave；　'n'　I　couldn't　stay　thar。　I　knowed　ye　could　whoop　him；　Rome；　'n'　I　seed　Steve；　too；　but　I　was　afeard…〃　　Then　he　saw　the　body。　His　tongue　stopped；　his　face　shrivelled；　and　Steve；　hanging　with　one　hand　to　the　ledge；　watched　him　curiously。

〃　Rome；〃　said　the　boy；　in　a　quick　whisper；　〃is　he　daid？

〃　Come　on！　〃　said　Steve；　roughly。　〃They'll　be　up　hyeh　atter　us　in　a　minute。　　Leave　Jas's　gun　thar；　'n'　send　that　boy　back　home。〃

That　day　the　troops　came…young　Blue　Grass　Kentuckians。　　That　night；　within　the　circle　of　their　camp…fires；　a　last　defiance　was　cast　in　the　teeth　of　law　and　order。　　Flames　rose　within　the　old　court…　house；　and　before　midnight　the　moonlight　fell　on　four　black　walls。　That　night；　too；　the　news　of　young　Jasper's　fate　was　carried　to　the　death…bed　of　Rome's　mother；　and　before　day　the　old　woman　passed　in　peace。　That　day　Stetsons　and　Lewallens　disbanded。　The　Lewallens　had　no　leader；　the　Stetsons；　no　enemies　to　fight。　Some　hid；　some　left　the　mountains；　some　gave　themselves　up　for　trial。　　Upon　Rome　Stetson　the　burden　fell。　Against　him　the　law　was　set。　A　price　was　put　on　his　head；　his　house　was　burned…a　last　act　of　Lewallen　hate…and　Rome　was　homeless；　the　last　of　his　race；　and　an　outlaw。

XIII

WITH　the　start　of　a　few　hours　and　the　sympathy　of　his　people　one　mountaineer　can　defy　the　army　of　the　United　States；　and　the　mountaineers　usually　laugh　when　they　hear　troops　are　coming。　For　the　time　they　stop　fighting　and　hide　in　the　woods；　and　when　the　soldiers　are　gone；　they　come　out　again；　and　begin　anew　their　little　pleasantries。　　But　the　soldiers　can　protect　the　judge　on　his　bench　and　the　county…seat　in　time　of　court；　and　for　these　purposes　they　serve　well。

The　search　for　Rome　Stetson；　then；　was　useless。　　His　friends　would　aid　him；　his　enemies　feared　to　betray　him。　　So　the　soldiers　marched　away　one　morning；　and　took　their　prisoners　for　safe…　keeping　in　the　Blue　Grass；　until　court　should　open　at　Hazlan。

Meantime；　spring　came　and　deepened…the　mountain　spring。　The　berries　of　the　wintergreen　grew　scarce；　and　Rome　Stetson；　〃　hiding　out；〃　as　the　phrase　is；　had　to　seek　them　on　thc　northem　face　of　the　mountains。　　The　moss　on　the　naked　winter　trees　brightened　in　color；　and　along　the　river；　where　willows　drooped；　ran　faint　lines　of　green。　The　trailing　arbutus　gave　out　delicate　pink　blossoms；　and　the　south　wind　blew　apart　the　petals　of　the　anemone。　Soon　violets　unfolded　above　the　dead　leaves；　azaleas　swung　their　yellow　trumpets　through　the　undergrowth；　over…head；　the　dogwood　tossed　its　snow…flakes　in　gusts　through　the　green　a