第 11 节
作者:津夏      更新:2024-07-12 09:32      字数:9322
  thoughts were across the river where Martha; broken at last; sat at her death vigils。 He knew what her daring ride that day had cost her; with old Jasper dead out there in the woods; and as she passed him he had grown suddenly humbled; shamed。 He grew heart…sick now as he thought of it all; and the sight of his mother on her bed in the corner; close to death as she was; filled him with bitterness。 There was no help for him。 He was alone now; pitted against young Jasper alone。 On one bed lay his uncle…nigh to death。 There was the grim figure in the corner; the implacable spirit of hate and revenge。  His rifle was against the wall。  If there was any joy for him in old Jasper's death; it was that his hand had not caused it; and yet…God help him!…there was the other cross; the other oath。
  XII
  THE star and the crescent were swinging above Wolf's Head; and in the dark hour that breaks into dawn a cavalcade of Lewallens forded the Cumberland; and galloped along the Stetson shore。 At the head rode young Jasper; and Crump the spy。
  Swift changes had followed the court…house fight。 In spite of the death of Rufe Stetson from his wound; and several other Stetsons from ambush; the Lewallens had lost ground。 Old Jasper's store had fallen into the hands of creditors …〃 furriners 〃…for debts; and it was said his homestead must follow。  In a private war a leader must be more than leader。 He must feed and often clothe his followers; and young Jasper had not the means to carry on the feud。 The famine had made corn dear。  He could feed neither man nor horse; and the hired feudsmen fell away; leaving the Lewallens and the Braytons and their close kin to battle alone。 So Jasper avoided open combat and resorted to ambush and surprise; and; knowing in some way every move made by the Stetsons; with great daring and success。  It was whispered; too; that he no longer cared who owned what he might want for himself。 Several dark deeds were traced to him。 In a little while he was a terror to good citizens; and finally old Gabe asked aid of the Governor。 Soldiers from the settlements were looked for any day; and both factions knew it。 At the least this would delay the war; and young Jasper had got ready for a last fight; which was close at hand。
  Half a mile on the riders swerved into a wooded slope。  There they hid their horses in the brush; and climbed the spur stealthily。 The naked woods showed the cup…like shape of the mountains there…a basin from which radiated upward wooded ravines; edged with ribs of rock。 In this basin the Stetsons were encamped。 The smoke of a fire was visible in the dim morning light; and the Lewallens scattered to surround the camp; but the effort was vain。 A picket saw the creeping figures; his gun echoed a warning from rock to rock; and with yells the Lewallens ran forward。 Rome sprang from his sleep near the fire; bareheaded; rifle in hand; his body plain against a huge rock; and the bullets hissed and spat about him as he leaped this way and that; firing as he sprang; and shouting for his men。 Steve Marcum alone answered。 Some; startled from sleep; had fled in a panic; some had run deeper into the woods for shelter。 And bidding Steve save himself; Rome turned up the mountain; running from tree to tree; and dropped unhurt behind a fallen chestnut。 Other Stetsons; too; had turned; and answering bullets began to whistle to the enemy; but they were widely separated and ignorant of one another's position; and the Lewallens drove them one by one to new hiding…places; scattering them more。  To his right Rome saw Steve Marcum speed like a shadow up through a little open space; but he feared to move; for several Lewallens had recognized him; and were watching him alone。 He could not even fire; at the least exposure there was a chorus of bullets about his ears。 In a moment they began to come obliquely from each side…the Lewallens were getting around him。 In a moment more death was sure there; and once again he darted up the mountain。 The bullets sang after him like maddened bees。 He felt one cut his hat and another sting his left arm; but he raced up; up; till the firing grew fainter as he climbed; and ceased an instant altogether。 Then; still farther below; came a sudden crash of reports。 Stetsons were pursuing the men who were after him; but he could not join them。 The Lewallens were scattered everywhere between him and his own man; and a desccnt might lead him to the muzzle of an enemy's Winchester。 So he climbed over a ledge of rock and lay there; peeping through a crevice between two bowlders; gaining his breath。 The firing was far below him now; and was sharp。  Evidently his pursuers were too busy defending themselves to think further of him; and he began to plan how he should get back to his friends。 But he kept hidden; and; searching the cliffs below him for a sheltered descent; he saw something like a slouched hat just over a log; scarcely fifty feet below him。  Presently the hat was lifted a few inches; a figure rose cautiously and climbed toward the ledge; shielding itself behind rock and tree。  Very quietly Rome crawled back to the face of the cliff behind him; and crouched behind a rock with his cocked rifle across his knees。 The man must climb over the ledge; there would be a bare; level floor of rock between them…the Lewallen would be at his mercy…and Rome; with straining eyes; waited。 There was a footfall on the other side of the ledge; a soft clink of metal against stone。 The Lewallen was climbing slowly…slowly。 Rome could hear his heavy breathing。 A grimy hand slipped over the sharp comb of the ledge; another appeared; clinched about a Winchester…then the slouched hat; and under it the dark; crafty face of young Jasper。 Rome sat like the stone before him; with a half…smile on his lips。 Jasper peered about with the sly caution of a fox; and his face grew puzzled and chagrined as he looked at the cliffs above him。
  〃Stop thar!〃
  He was drawing himself over the ledge; and the low; stern voice startled him; as a knife might have done; thrust suddenly from the empty air at his breast。 Rome rose upright against the cliff; with his resolute face against the stock of a Winchester。
  〃Drap that gun!〃
  The order was given along Stetson's barrel; and the weapon was dropped; the steel ringing on the stone floor。 Rome lowered his gun to the hollow of his arm; and the two young leaders faced each other for the first time in the life of either。
  Seem kinder s'prised to see me;〃 said the Stetson; grimly。  〃 Hev ye got a pistol?
  Young Jasper glared at him in helpless ferocity。
  〃Naw!〃
  〃Knife?〃
  He drew a long…bladed penknife from his pocket; and tossed it at Rome's feet。
  〃Jes' move over thar; will ye?〃
  The Lewallen took his stand against the cliff。 Rome picked up the fallen rifle and leaned it against the ledge。
  〃Now; Jas Lewallen; thar's nobody left in this leetle trouble 'cept you 'n' me; 'n' ef one of us was dead; I reckon t'other could live hyeh; 'n' thar'd be peace in these mount'ins。 I thought o' that when I had ye at the eend o' this Winchester。  I reckon you would 'a' shot me dead ef I had poked my head over a rock as keerless as you。〃  That is just what he would have done; and Jasper did not answer。  〃I've swore to kill ye; too;〃 added Rome; tapping his gun; 〃I've got a cross fer ye hyeh。〃
  The Lewallen was no coward。 Outcry or resistance was useless。  The Stetson meant to taunt him; to make death more bitter; for Jasper expected death; and he sullenly waited for it against the cliff。
  〃You've been banterin me a long time now; 'lowin' as how ye air the better man o' the two; n' I've got a notion o' givin' ye a chance to prove yer tall talk。  Hit's not our way to kill a man in cold blood; 'n' I don't want to kill ye anyways ef I kin he'p it。  Seem s'prised ag'in。  Reckon ye don't believe me?  I don't wonder when I think o' my own dad; 'n' all the meanness yo folks have done mine; but I've got a good reason fer not killin' ye…ef I kin he'p it。  Y'u don't know what it is; 'n' y'u'll never know; but I'll give yer a chance now fer yer life ef y'u'll sw'ar on a stack o' Bibles as high as that tree thar that y'u'll leave these mount'ins ef I whoops ye; 'n' nuver come back ag'in as long as you live。  I'll leave; ef ye whoops me。 Now whut do ye say?  Will ye sw'ar?
  〃I reckon I will; seem' as I've got to;〃 was the surly answer。  But Jasper's face was dark with suspicion; and Rome studied it keenly。 The Lewallens once had been men whose word was good; but he did not like Jasper's look。
  〃I reckon I'll trust ye;〃 he said; at last; more through confidence in his own strength than faith in his enemy; foi Jasper whipped would be as much at his mercy as he was now。  So Rome threw off his coat; and began winding his homespun suspenders about his waist。 Watching him closely; Jasper did the same。
  The firing below had ceased。  A flock of mountain vultures were sailing in great circles over the thick woods。 Two eagles swept straight from the rim of the sun above Wolf's Head; beating over a turbulent sea of mist for the cliffs; scarcely fifty yards above the ledge; where a pine…tree grew between two rocks。 At the instant of lighting; they wheeled away; each with a warning scream to the other。 A figure lying f